The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 8.22.2021 by Times Media Group

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Van Gogh for it / P. 26

Mesa athlete mourned / P. 4 An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Sunday, August 22. 2021

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Water cuts won’t hit Mesa but some worry

INSIDE

This Week

BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor

NEWS .......................... 10 MCC teacher is state's climatologist.

he topic of water made quite a splash this week. While monsoon storms pummeled Mesa, the federal government announced drought conditions at Lake Mead and the Colorado River will lead to signi�icant cuts of Arizona water allocation. Mesa of�icials stressed the cuts will not di-

rectly impact the city. Mayor John Giles said the city saw this coming long ago. “Mesa has long prepared for this reality, with careful planning, an ongoing educational campaign for our residents and a robust Water Shortage Management Plan,” Giles said. Even so, some are wondering how a growing city that has been rolling out the welcome mat to water-guzzling data centers will deal with the potential of a dwindling water supply.

When City Council approved a development deal for a massive Facebook data center, Vice Mayor Jenn Duff was the lone voice of opposition. “I cannot in good conscience approve this mega-data center using 1.4 million gallons per day,” Duff said, her voice cracking in emotion. “We already have seven or eight data centers in this area. Data Centers are not a

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Live music plugs back into downtown Mesa

COMMUNITY .............. 15 Mesa veteran/ex-cop mentors kids.

SPORTS ....................... 23 Eastmark coach aiming for state crown. COMMUNITY ............................... 15 BUSINESS ..................................... 17 OPINION .. ..................................... 21 SPORTS ........................................ 23 GET OUT ........................................ 26 PUZZLES ...................................... 28 CLASSIFIED ................................. 30 Zone

BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor

fter nearly a year of creepy quiet, live music – big, loud and un�iltered – has plugged back in downtown Mesa. Even as the Delta variant spreads, unmasked crowds are gathering by the hundreds at music venues. Last week, bands played in front of roaring fans at the Nile Theater and Mesa Amphitheatre for the �irst time in more than a year. At the Nile Theater, fronted by a coffeehouse on Main Street, Michelle Donovan was �inally able to �lip on the lights and crank up the sound system. “We had a �irst show last Friday (Aug. 13) and starting this weekend we will be back to somewhat of a normal schedule,” Donovan said. She has owned the theater since 2010, resurrecting a dormant space. Last year, the Nile again went dark. Though Donovan could have hosted touring rock/metal bands with smaller audi-

Shortly after restarting live music at the Nile Theater in downtown Mesa, Michelle Donovan joined a group of Valley venues that will require vaccinations or COVID-19 test results before admission. (Pablo Robles/Staff photographer)

ences, “the nature of our business is large gatherings.” With restrictions on capacity, “We held off

until we could open at full capacity and do it

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

WATER �� 1

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responsible use of water and it’s time to stop and allow other forms of manufacturing and technology to in�ill.” That was about two months before this week’s stunning declaration of the �irstever water shortage at Lake Mead, a reservoir on the Colorado River. After years of drought conditions, the Bureau of Reclamation said this week it will cut Arizona’s annual water from Lake Mead by 18 percent. Hours before the announcement, the Mesa Water Department �ired off its own press release about the water shortage and cuts to Arizona. “The city of Mesa has anticipated this declaration based on current hydrology and months of speculation. Stage One shortage on the (Colorado) river does not affect supply to Mesa water customers,” it stated. About 55 percent of Mesa’s water comes from the Colorado River/Lake Mead, delivered to the city via the Central Arizona Project. Salt River Project provides about 31 percent of Mesa’s water. As water supplies are challenged by droughts, Mesa’s demand for water has increased. The current water use in Mesa is regularly published, but the city has not provided projected use �igures to the Tribune. Asked for projections of commercial water use for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, Weston Brown, a Mesa Water Department spokesman, referred to the 2018 Water Master Plan Update. However, those years are not listed in the report – which was prepared before the development of the Elliot Tech Corridor in booming southeast Mesa. Six national and international companies -- Comarch, based in Poland, EdgeCore, RagingWire/NTT, Apple, Google and most recently Facebook -- have signed development agreements to build data centers along the Elliot Road Tech Corridor. Apple is the only data center in operation, with Google’s plans remaining a mystery. The others have started construction. Duff told the Tribune last week, “I have since learned we only have three of the data centers that use water. The others are air cooled.” Even so, she added, “I still have concerns about data centers that use water for cooling in the desert. It is the most valuable resource we have in the desert.” One big question: How much water will these huge data centers use?

City data shows water consumption has increased in Mesa over the past five years, when residential and commercial growth accelerated. (City of Mesa) “Data centers need a lot of water for cooling. They’re getting more ef�icient,” said Sarah Porter, director of ASU’s Kyl Center for Water Policy. She is far from anti-data centers, noting, “Practically everything that is economic activity uses water. It’s not necessarily a question, ‘Is this a big water user or not?’It’s more what are the various bene�its this commitment of water resources brings to the community. “Every city should think about how it wants to use its water resources. That’s really what city councils are supposed to be doing,” Porter said. Porter suggested a way to look at economic development is “What are the jobs per million gallons of water? “The thing people don’t like about data centers is they use a lot of water, but they don’t tend to provide a huge number of jobs and the jobs they have don’t tend to be super high-paying.” But Porter stressed it is up to each community to decide how to prioritize its resources. “Mesa is a comparatively water-rich city,” she said, noting the allocations from CAP and SRP. “The people in Mesa have made the decision that using some of the allocation for data centers is a good thing.” According to Melanie Roe, a Facebook spokeswoman, the Facebook data center in Eastmark will be a boon for Mesa. “This data center will represent an $800 million investment, support 100-plus jobs in the data center and approximately 1,500 construction jobs at peak,” she said. The centers that will line Elliot Road will be “farming data” on land that was once

used to grow cotton and vegetables. “It’s kind of interesting that we are losing agriculture – agriculture is losing its Colorado River water,” Porter mused. “But then in place of other ag are springing up data centers that are potentially fairly high water use.” Facebook says it’s taking aggressive steps to mitigate its water use. “Facebook is committed to restoring more water than the new data center will consume,” Roe said. “The company has invested in three water restoration projects that will together restore over 200 million gallons of water per year in the Colorado River and Salt River basins and will help provide greater water security for the entire state.” According to Roe, “We do not have an estimated water use number for this data center.” Roe provided a report showing water consumption in Facebook data centers (10 in the U.S., three in Europe) totaled 2.2 million cubic meters last year. Roe said the Mesa data center is closest in size to the Facebook data center in Los Lunas, New Mexico, which used 140,000 cubic meters of water last year. One cubic meter is the equivalent of about 264 gallons, so New Mexico’s center uses about 37 million gallons of water. “Arizona is drier and hotter, so we do anticipate it will likely require more water,” Roe said of the Mesa operation.

‘Bring your own water’

As Porter noted, Mesa’s neighbor Chan-

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NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

Former Westwood player loses battle with cancer

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

dward DeLuna Jr. thrived off the memory of his late grandmother and his love for football. Those two things are what kept him motivated during his �ight against bone cancer. For 10 months he battled the disease, undergoing various amounts of chemotherapy treatment until a 14-hour surgery resulted in an infection at the surgery site. Chemo was stopped for two months so he could properly heal. But it was during that time the cancer took hold of him. Edward DeLuna Jr., who recently graduated from Westwood after Edward died Aug. 13 playing football for the team, lost his battle to cancer on Friday, at age 18. Aug. 13. He was 18 years old. (Courtesy Shannon DeLuna) “The tumors just grew back,” said Shannon DeLuna, Ed- and the rest of the family would be OK. She ward’s mother. “It was kind of a �ine line. didn’t want him to be in pain anymore. As We could keep doing chemo but then that she left the room, Edward’s sister and fawould lower his counts and he could die ther were the only ones who remained. Shannon said he woke up and began to from the infection, or we cure the infection but stop chemo. He didn’t have chemo mumble as if he was speaking to someone long enough and they were growing at a before he drew his last breath. She believes he was talking to his crazy fast rate.” Edward was diagnosed with Ewing Sar- grandmother. Her picture was hung coma, a rare form of cancer, in early Octo- above his bed. “I saw him and told him that if he wanted ber last year after suffering from pain in his pelvic area during practice with West- to keep �ighting, we would do whatever it wood’s varsity football team. Multiple takes,” Shannon said. “But if he was in too much pain, I told him it was ok for him to tests revealed a baseball-sized tumor. Chemotherapy limited the growth of be with Nana Rose. I believe she was there new tumors. But when he was forced to to help him get him over to the other side.” Edward’s strength in his own battle enpause treatment, several more grew. Shannon said one grew on the top of his couraged others around him. The Westskull. The one taken out during surgery in wood football team rallied around him in November when he was able to be with January on his thigh grew back. Doctors were out of options. Edward them on the sideline for the �irst time. was moved to Ryan’s House, a pediatric The Warriors won that night over rival hospice care facility in Phoenix after a Mesa High. His two younger brothers both followed two-month stay in the hospital with few in his footsteps playing football. Matthew, visitors allowed due to COVID. His condition quickly deteriorated to the closest to Edward in age, is on the Westwood roster this season. Kristofer, the point where he was in constant pain. The night he died, Shannon told him she who played with Saguaro’s feeder program

school plans to hold a ceremony for Edfor several years, enrolled as a Sabercat. But that decision didn’t come easy. ward and his family during one of the The family bleeds blue and orange. football team’s home games this upcomBut Edward, who recognized the talent ing season. Kristofer has on the �ield, encouraged him Edward, even while not able to physito follow his teammates to Saguaro. He cally be present last season, was one of the wanted what was best for him. key pieces to the Westwood football team. “(Edward) told him he would love for Head football coach Kyle Ide said the team him to go to Westwood to follow in his wanted to play for him. They were ecstatic and Matthew’s footsteps,” Shannon said. he was able to be with them for their �inal “But he knew he had already been playing game of the season in 2020. with some of the Saguaro kids and he felt He motivated them and continues to do Kristofer would do great things there. He so today. gave him advice.” “Edward was such a great kid,” Ide said. Edward graduated from Westwood in “The good thing is he was able to come out May. Due to his condition, he wasn’t able and inspire the kids. How strong he was, to attend. how tough he was, we use that as motivaDays before he passed away, Westwood tion. We have some kids who were really Principal Chris Gilmore, Athletic Direc- close to him. tor Brady Pond and Special Education “Just a really great family and it’s hard.” Site Leader Wendy Clifford held a private A GoFundMe has been set up in Edgraduation ceremony for him at his hos- ward’s honor. All proceeds will go toward pice facility. his funeral. So far, nearly $3,400 has been He was given his cap and gown, diploma raised in two days. and his No. 55 Westwood football jersey. To make a donation: gofund.me/ It was an emotional moment for not f8bf3135 ■ only Edward’s family, but for the Westwood administrators. “It’s hard to explain because it was such a special moment and I wish he could’ve had more moments,” Pond said. “He embodies what we are here at Westwood. All he ever wanted was to be around his teammates. Playing football was awesome but being around his teammates is what set him apart. We wanted to make sure as a commu- Days before Edward passed, Westwood Principal Chris Gilmore, Athletic nity we rallied Director Brady Pond and Special Education Site Leader Wendy Clifford held a private graduation ceremony for him and presented him with his around him.” Pond said the diploma and his No. 55 jersey. ((Courtesy Shannon DeLuna)

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

WATER �� 3

dler in 2015 passed an ordinance “that if a new, high-volume water user wants to come in ...that high-volume water user needs to get its own water.” Mesa has a “bring your own water” ordinance governing high-water users, though it involves credits, as opposed to actual water. As Giles put it, “Securing our water resources for residents and businesses is top priority, and our Large Customer Sustainable Water Allowance Ordinance protects Mesa’s water supplies from being compromised while allowing industries to bring economic development opportunities to Mesa. “Large water users are held to their water budget and in some cases, they are required to bring their own water,” Giles added. In May, the city and developer Redale, which is building the data center for Facebook, signed a Sustainable Water Service Agreement for the 396 acres on East Elliot and South Ellsworth roads, where Facebook will operate. “The project and property are anticipated to have a demand for water utility service that exceeds 500 kilogallons/ day, water use that exceeds 550 acre-feet of water on an annual average basis and peak demand suf�icient to require installation of an 8-inch or larger water meter or the equivalent in multiple meters,” the agreement stated. An acre foot of water equals about 326,000 gallons, or enough water to cover an acre of land 1-foot deep, according to the Water Education Foundation. So Facebook’s projected water use would be the equivalent of a shallow pond on the property. That’s just for the �irst phase, which entails construction and two buildings. By the time the entire six-building data center is fully operational, water use is projected at 1,400 acre feet per year, according to the agreement. As such, Mesa’s city code requires “the transfer of long-term storage credits to the city in order to maintain the water allowance….”

Water use history

According to Mesa’s 2018 water plan study, “The overall number of water accounts has increased since 1990, but the amount of water being used per account

Mesa has welcomed data centers. Apple is the only center that is operational, with others in varying stages of construction. (Tribune archives) has been trending down ...The lower water use per account may be attributed to water conservation efforts, low-use landscaping techniques on new homes, and higher ef�iciency plumbing code changes with appliances and plumbing �ixtures.” According to the 2018 report, “Commercial accounts make up 8 percent of the accounts but 33 percent of water consumption Prolonged drought may result in reductions in SRP and/or CAP surface water deliveries. Such a reduction would impact both water resources and production infrastructure. In drought years, a reduction in surface water supplies would be offset with increased groundwater pumping. Projections show that if the City continues to bank an average of 5,000 acre-feet of long-term storage credits in years of normal supply, groundwater reserves will be available to offset signi�icant reductions in surface water deliveries during drought years. The potentially more dif�icult issue in times of drought is not the availability of back-up resources (i.e. groundwater credits), but rather the available production and pumping capacity of back-up facilities such as wells and transfer stations Water use is typically highest in summer months. City data shows commercial and residential water use measured in kilogallons; one kilogallon equals 1,000 gallons, so a million kilogallons is a billion gallons. In July 2015, commercial users in Mesa consumed 1.09 million kilogallons, with

residents using 1.42 million kilogallons. In July 2020, commercial users here went through 1.24 million kilogallons, with residents drinking and washing their way through 1.57 million kilogallons. This July, commercial use crept up to 1.3 million kilogallons, with residents still at 1.57 million kilogallons. So, over the last six July’s, commercial water use increased by 19 percent, while residential water use increased by 10 percent. For the entire year of 2015, Mesa went through 27 million kilogallons of water. Last year, water use increased to 30.4 million kilogallons, roughly a 13 percent increase. The “high water mark,” so to speak, in Mesa was August 2020, when commercial users went through 1.3 million kilogallons and residents 1.6 million kilogallons (both were just a few sips higher than August 2017). In August 2015, commercial users went through 1.14 billion gallons while residents used 1.39 billion gallons of water. In �ive years, August commercial consumption increased by 14 percent, with residential consumption increasing by 15 percent.

Water credits

This week’s Mesa Water Department press release noted in anticipation of shortages and as one of many sustainable water management strategies, about two years ago the Mesa City Council approved the Large Customer Sustainable Water Allowance ordinance. “This policy creates a water ‘budget’ for large water users who project their de-

mand to be a half-million gallons or more of water per day. The ordinance requires these large users to stay within their water budgets and in some cases, they must bring their own water to the table – for example, in the form of long-term storage credits.” But, when the Tribune asked the names of the companies that will use a halfmillion gallons or more of water per day, a water department spokesman said he could not answer. “Due to customer privacy protocol we cannot give out any information about our customers,” Weston Brown said. When asked to provide the number of gallons consumed by Mesa’s biggest users, without providing the name, Brown again declined to answer. “We are not able to disclose individual customer utility information including customer usage,” he said. He said an Arizona law makes it “unlawful for a person to procure a public utility record in Arizona without the authorization of the customer to whom the record pertains.” In its marketing material, the city pitches ample water as one of the bene�its of the technology area where Facebook and others landed: “Power, land, water, natural gas, �iber, market access, quick entitlement process, Foreign Trade Zone – the Elliot Road Technology Corridor has everything high-tech manufacturers need to get up and running fast at a very competitive cost. Just ask Apple, which recently opened it’s $2 billion, 1.3-million-square-foot global command center in the Corridor... or EdgeCore, which just completed building phase one of a 1.25-million-square-foot data center campus.” Also, according to the pitch on the city’s economic development website, “Recently, the city has invested more than $150 million to construct the Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant, which has added an additional 24 million gallons per day of pumping capacity to the area.” Duff, for one, is cynical about the water credit system. “The water storage credits have been over-allocated. There’s been more water storage credits allocated than we have water. It’s an overdraft,” Duff said. She said she fears the increased demand will lead to “more restrictions, higher

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prices, stretching our capacity for water.”

Water cut impacts

Facebook says it is committed to restoring more water than its new data center in southeast Mesa will consume. (Special to the Tribune) a broad basin community, to use less water for all our water users,” Fleck said. “That’s politically dif�icult because you can get voted out of of�ice for saying stuff like that, but that’s, I think, what leadership requires,” he said. As ASU’s Porter told the Tribune, “There

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WATER �� 6

According to Arizona Farm Bureau President Stefanie Smallhouse, everyone in the state should be concerned about the water cuts. “To ensure that food can continue to be safely and affordably produced in the west, signi�icant investments in water infrastructure are needed,” she said. And, she stressed, “Pinal County agriculture faces a dire reality. Beginning in 2022, farms in Central Arizona will lose access to nearly half of the water on which they now rely to grow food and �iber for Arizona’s families... surrounding communities will feel the ripple effects for years to come.” The Lake Mead cuts dominated national news this week. A Politico story quotes John Fleck, director of the University of New Mexico’s water resources program. “I am concerned that we are not seeing leadership in the upper Colorado River basin that grasps the depth of the challenge that we face in terms of the need, as

are a lot of dif�icult discussions going on. Asking questions about water and bene�its to the community is more important than ever.” Asked by the Tribune if the federal water cuts to central Arizona are a “warning sign” to Mesa, Giles didn’t hesitate

C A S H to answer. “We take the Stage One Water Shortage on the Colorado River very seriously,” he said. “It’s not just a warning sign for our city, it’s a call to action for our region and the states that depend on this water source.” Porter also brought up an interesting point about the functions of data centers. “We want to point our �ingers at the data center... and yet we all use the services of a data center all the time. How many sel�ies do you have on the cloud you will never look at again? “Stuff on the cloud is being maintained in data centers.” Her suggestion: “Delete sel�ies – save water.” ■

GOT NEWS?

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

NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

New LDS center in Mesa serves many purposes BY JIM WALSH Tribune Contributor

esa’s historical connection with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is impossible to overlook, from the covered wagons �illed with settlers, to the streets named after pioneers, to the temple that has been a part of downtown since 1927. The Church’s newly opened Mesa Arizona Tempe Visitors Center seeks to chronicle that heritage and build on it for future generations. It also serves as a vital step toward the reopening of the historic temple in December, with the two facilities expected to work in tandem for years to come. “We are living in a dif�icult time when people are losing their connection with God,’’ Elder Ulisses Soares, one of the highranking Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said during a press conference after the center’s dedication. “This building will help people understand what we believe and to introduce people to the temple,’’ he said. The new visitors center combines several different functions in one building, chronicling the history of Mesa and how it intersects with the church while also serving a missionary function by introducing non-members to the church’s beliefs and practices. The church’s focus on genealogy also provides members and non-members alike with a unique free service, where volunteers will help them trace their family roots back for many generations. The center also has spaces speci�ically designed for young adults with the intention of helping them develop their identity and to foster a spirit of belonging. For practical reasons, the visitors center serves an important function for the church because of its own rules. While the church is anticipating that hundreds of thousands of members and non-members will tour the renovated temple in October and November, such access is very rare and will not be allowed after the dedication. Only church members in good standing are allowed to enter temples, where “sacred ordinances’’ are practiced, including weddings and baptisms. Even members are required to have a recommendation from church of�icials to gain entry to the temple.

The center serves a wide variety of church members and non-members alike. (Pablo Robles/

Tribune Staff)

For this and other reasons, the visitors center features a realistic model of the temple and explains its functions. Temples differ from the church facilities of other denominations because they do not have an assembly area where members would attend services. Church members attend services at stake centers instead, with the temples devoted to sacred ordinances. “Our hope is that church members will invite friends and family members to see the temple,’’ said Denny Barney, a church spokesman, former Maricopa County supervisor and president of the PHX East Valley Partnership. “Our objective is not conversion,’’ Barney said. “It’s to give people a sense of who we are and what we believe.’’ He said the church has about 435,000

members in Arizona. An estimated 400,000 to 500,000 guests are expected to tour the temple between Oct. 16 and Nov. 20, except on Sundays. Barney said the visitors center is “really focused on young adults, 18-25, who are feeling disconnected from their families and their faith.’’ “It’s really more of a unifying resource than a social service resource,’’ he said, with other departments providing counseling services. The visitor’s center is open to the public daily. Anyone wishing a tour of the temple should make a reservation at mesatemple.org. The ancestry research center, located on the second �loor, includes a series of computers and large computer displays where volunteers will help visitors develop their family tree.

The Mesa Arizona Temple Visitors Center has eye-popping decor. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff)

Visitors can also look up whether they are related to one of Mesa’s pioneer families. Mark Freeman, a Mesa City Council member and a retired Mesa �ire�ighter, proudly displayed his family tree on his cell phone at the press conference. Freeman’s roots date back to the family of Charles Crismon, who is considered one of Mesa’s four founding fathers. Crismon is memorialized on a statue at Pioneer Park, across the street from the Visitors center, along with fellow pioneers Frances Pomeroy, Charles Robson and George W. Sirrine. “I would like to invite anyone to come to the center to �ind your ancestry. I think it’s invaluable for people to know their ancestry,’’ Freeman said. “It brings you prospective, to know what people have done for us.’’ Beyond developing a sense of identity, the genealogical research is a vital tool in which church members practice their faith through the sometimes-controversial ritual of baptizing the dead. Tanner Kay, project manager and experience creator, is a Mesa native who helped to design the center. He said his work was deeply personal for him because his family dates back seven generations in the city. “When I was a young man, I read my great, great, great grandfather’s journals,’’ Kay said, stating the experience has strongly in�luenced his life. A video on the second �loor of the visitor’s center explains the church’s baptismal practices, which start with full immersion. The religious purpose of the ancestral search is to �ind relatives who died decades ago and to baptize their “spirits.’’ After locating the records, church members enter a baptismal font and “represent’’ their ancestors during baptismal ceremonies. It is up to the spirits to accept baptism or not, he said. The church has been criticized in the past, however, for baptizing Holocaust victims, celebrities and politicians with no obvious relation to their church. In response, the church initiated a series of safeguards, requiring church members to obtain permission from a living relative before baptizing anyone. “All Church members are instructed to submit names for proxy baptism only for their own deceased relatives as an offering of familial love,’’ according to the church’s web site. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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NEWS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Managing Editor

Daytime highs are hardly the only thing Saffell studies. Regarding the East Valley, “I was born and raised there. I can understand temperatures at night are warmer than they used to be. That’s largely a function of the urban heat island,” Saffell said. After spending her early years in Scottsdale, Saffell came with her family to Mesa and graduated from Mesa High in 1984. Most of her family still lives in Mesa, she said. Her busy schedule includes teaching classes at MCC and ASU (she studied at both schools). “Dr. Erinanne Saffell’s decades of experience teaching and researching the pressing issues of climate we are facing, both locally and globally, have prepared her well to serve as Arizona’s top climate expert,” ASU President Michael Crow said, after Saffell’s appointment as state climatologist. “Her knowledge on topics like drought and extreme weather will help to advance a more sustainable and informed Arizona.” Indeed, Saffell said, “My earliest memories are �looding. I was born in Phoenix, then spent my �irst years in Scottsdale near Indian Bend Wash. I remember my family having to sandbag in 1970. Then with Hurricane Joanne in 1972 all the �looding was terrifying to me,” Saffell said. Asked what the average person can do to reduce his or her “carbon footprint,” Saffell advised: Make your own shade. “We’re in Arizona, so the thing that impacts us most is energy from the sun. So if you can block that in some way, your house isn’t going to get as hot and you’re not going to use as much energy to cool it. Shade trees- that’s one helpful way. And some folks paint their roof white, so it bounces (sunlight) back out,” Saffell said. According to Reuters news agency, “Humans are ‘unequivocally’ to blame, the report from the scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said. Rapid action to cut greenhouse gas emissions could limit some impacts, but others are now locked in. “The deadly heat waves, gargantuan hurricanes and other weather extremes that are already happening will only become more severe.” ■

MCC teacher and Mesa resident named state climatologist

hen Erinanne Saffell was a girl growing up in Mesa, she recalled, “I lived down the street from Mesa High.” “There were a lot of farms right next to my house,” she said with a fond chuckle at her current home in east Mesa. “I remember growing up with a horse farm right across the street from my house, and there was a lot of agriculture. I remember riding my bike to school, smelling the dairy farms along Stapley Drive.” Now, not so much. Many of the farms of her old neighborhood, like much of the agricultural land around the city, have been “�lipped” to homes, shopping centers and warehouses. The neighborhood where she now lives is a short drive from “Data Center Alley,” the stretch near Eastmark that is soon to feature one big tech project after another. “Urban heat islands” isn’t just something she studies: she is living it. Saffell, director of Mesa Community College’s Geography program and an ASU professor, became Arizona’s state climatologist last week. She was appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey, though she notes “the state climatologist is not a political position.” “This is a position that was initiated in 1973,” Saffell said. “I’m the sixth state climatologist. I think I’m the only state climatologist that was born and raised in Arizona, so I’m very proud of that.” Her new position will involve “a lot of interaction with committees, on the city level, county level, state level and federal level. I am co-chair of the Arizona Department of Resources Drought Committee… Every year, we report to the governor our level of drought.” Saffell talked to the Tribune the same day the U.S. government declared the �irstever water shortage at Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir by volume. And the Bureau of Reclamation said it will cut Lake Mead water to Arizona by 18 percent. Saffell said about 38 percent of the state’s water supply comes from the Colorado River, which in turn runs to Lake Mead. But she noted the cuts will impact farm-

Erinanne Saffell, director of Mesa Community College’s Geography program and an ASU professor, became Arizona’s state climatologist last week. (Special to the Tribune) ers directly, not East Valley residents: “The majority of Colorado River water from the CAP (Central Arizona Project) is used for agriculture. The larger consequence for Tier 1 restrictions in Arizona will largely be felt in our agricultural �ields.” While for many locals, monsoon rains bring welcome relief to the brutal summer temperatures, for the likes of Saffell, precipitation is a cause for celebration. “Wow -- have we got a tremendously wet monsoon (season), that’s thrilling,” she beamed. “Starting with July precipitation, we were able to adjust some of our drought levels and show improvements in some of our drought levels,” she added. “We’ve already seen how our exceptional rain this summer has helped mitigate some of the agricultural and ecological drought.” Even so, some long-timers gripe that monsoons ain’t what they used to be. Saffell listens, but takes a big-picture view. “I really value information folks can bring to me about their own history...But in Phoenix, since 1948 with monsoon seasons, it’s been kind of �lat. We’re not really seeing any change...some years have nothing, like the ‘nonsoon’ last year. Then some years you have a lot.” At her comfortable home, Saffell sat in

front of a photo of a “supercell” taken by a student in a storm-chasing class. Talk about a “perfect storm.” She became the state climate guru the day after a disturbing report from the U.N. Climate Panel. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres described the report as a “code red for humanity.” “The alarm bells are deafening,” he said in a statement. “This report must sound a death knell for coal and fossil fuels, before they destroy our planet.” But Saffell didn’t �ind the report “scary” or alarming. “The report is kind of consistent with what they’ve been saying for a few years. It was not anything unexpected,” she said. “What I’m interested in (from) those reports is how they impact Arizona. They’re looking at a larger scale.” She noted it is certainly getting hotter here. “When we look at temperatures in Arizona, we can see over a longer period of time, the last 100 years, we’ve had an increase of about 2 degrees Fahrenheit in that last 100 years. I try to make sense of that, ‘What does it mean?’ … I want to understand patterns. “Are we going to be able to reach 130 degrees in Phoenix in the next 30 years? We probably won’t.”

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

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

MUSIC �� 1

as safely as possible.” On a business and personal level for the music lover, it was a brutal year. “We went from having a sold-out show March 10, 2020, to completely closed for one-and-a-half years ... You didn’t see it coming. And at �irst we were like, ‘OK, it will be a few months.’ Then it kept going,” Donovan said. The coffee shop allowed her to keep some staff employed, with a few quirky events: “We even did a socially distanced haunted house and some drive-in movies.” Now, with restrictions lifted, she felt ready to crank up the Nile. “Tours started being booked again. Things started to normalize. We felt with certain mitigation efforts — like having a fully vaccinated staff — we could resume and do so ethically and safely,” she said. But she stressed the Nile is aware of its surroundings. “Right now, with the Delta variant doing what it is doing we are taking each show one at a time,” she said. “Some (bands) are requiring all patrons to be vaccinated. Some want all masks... It is really a day-today, show-to-show call at this point.” Also this week, the Nile joined several other clubs around the Valley in requiring patrons to show vaccination cards or recent COVID-19 test results showing no infections. “At the Nile, it will go into effect Sept. 20,” Donovan said. Until then: “Staff is masked. We have

On Aug. 15, Cypress HIll headlined the Mesa Amphitheatre’s first show in nearly two years. The venue’s 2020 concert scheduled was cancelled by the pandemic. (Special to the Tribune) free masks for patrons if they choose to wear one.” The music continues at the Nile this week, with “Arizona thrash and speed metal icons” Flotsam and Jetsam cranking it up to 10 Saturday, Aug. 28. A few blocks from the Nile, the Mesa Amphitheatre – aka “The Amp” – also cranked up the volume this week. At the venue inside the Mesa Convention Center at 263 N. Center St. fans went “insane in the membrane” as hip-hop vets Cypress Hill headlined a show Sunday,

Aug. 15. “Our �irst concert since COVID,” Luis F. Ruiz, general manager of the Amp, said. The city-owned venue has a blend of city employees and contracted workers. Staff agencies “are still trying to get to their pre-COVID forces and aren’t always able to provide the number of personnel we prefer,” Ruiz said. After �irst being temporarily shuttered March 16, 2020, a month later, a Facebook post told fans, “In the interest of public health and safety amidst the unprecedent-

public starting Thursday (Aug. 19), but people can still watch online and provide comments through zoom if they prefer. The information and links are posted on our website (mesa.gov).” Asked about masks, Mayor John Giles said, “The City of Mesa does not have a mask requirement in place for its buildings, and this includes City Council Chambers where Council meetings are held. We encourage everyone to be re-

sponsible and take precautions against getting or transmitting the virus…And in following with the CDC guidance, the City of Mesa also encourages those who are not vaccinated to wear a mask indoors,” Giles added. Mesa Public Schools board meetings have been open for the public to attend for several months. Unlike at least a dozen districts around the state, meanwhile, MPS is not requir-

ed health crisis caused by COVID-19, the city of Mesa has extended the temporary closure of Mesa Amphitheatre until further notice.” That was followed by months and months of posts about community news (food bank at the Convention Center), links to at-home concerts and fond memories of shows past (Too Short, 2006; Smashing Pumpkins, 2018). Last May, the Amp had a mournful Facebook post: “We’re missing live music just as much as you are! Until we can rock out again, check out the lunch and evening concert series happening in #DowntownMesa.” The mellow (and socially distant) downtown shows hardly sated the appetite for big, loud, raging shows and so the Cypress Hill concert was a pretty big deal, for Ruiz. “This was the �irst show in nearly two years,” he said. Attendance was 2,200, less than half the 5,000 capacity. “Currently we are not requiring masks or proof of vaccination,” Ruiz said. “The city of Mesa’s policy is to encourage unvaccinated people to wear masks and there is no change to the policy at this time, but the city of Mesa will be monitoring the situation and we will issue any changes to our guidelines on our website.” Next up at the Amp: New York-based hard rockers Coheed and Cambria plug in Aug. 28. For more information: mesaamp.com or theniletheater.com ■

Meanwhile, at Mesa Council Chambers, public welcome

ock venues aren’t the only places where people can gather in person in Mesa. As of last Thursday, Aug. 19, live audiences were permitted at a Mesa City Council study session for the �irst time since the pandemic last year forced of�icials to close Council Chambers to the general public. According to city spokeswoman Ana Pereira, “Meetings will be open to the

ing students and staff to wear masks in schools. The district also is no longer posting data on the number of students with COVID-19, and did not respond to a Tribune request for comment. County data updated this week shows the communities served by MPS have 298 COVID cases per 100,000 people, up 18 percent from 252 per 100,000 the previous week.■

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

Researchers push for updating U.S. poverty measure

BY CHASE HUNTER News21

imothy Smeeding began his research career in public affairs and economics by sitting across from the woman who created the of�icial poverty measure of the United States – a standard he’s worked most of his career to change. The stakes are high. The poverty line directs tens of billions of dollars annually in aid to the nation’s poorest people – for public housing, subsidized rent, food stamps, free school lunches, college grants, Medicaid and federal grants to nonpro�its that serve low income communities. But the equation used to set the poverty line hasn’t been updated since the 1960s. Consider 1967: The annual median income was $7,143; the median rent was less than $100 per month; and a gallon of gas cost 31 cents. A year at the University of Pennsylvania was less than $2,000. “The of�icial poverty measure was something that we created 70, 65 years ago, and it was appropriate for that time and period. But it isn’t anymore,” said Smeeding, a professor at Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Most expenses, such as housing, fuel and college tuition, have skyrocketed. But the cost of food – which the poverty measure was mainly based on – has become cheaper because of better farming practices and more ef�icient supply chains. The federal government determines who is in poverty based on the cost of food to sustain a household, adjusted by the number of people in a family. Today, a family of four falls into poverty based on an annual household income of $26,500. Economists who study poverty and inequality said the measure is outdated and may leave behind millions of people who might be eligible for assistance. “If we were going to kind of have a more realistic measure, I think it would probably show that instead of 10 percent of kids roughly being under or near the poverty line, it would be more like 20 percent,” said Shawn Fremstad, a senior fellow who studies poverty and income inequality at the Center for Economic Policy and Research in Washington, D.C. Shailly Gupta Barnes, policy director for the Kairos Center, a social equity and anti-

Mollie Orshansky, a social science research analyst in the Office of Research and Statistics at the Social Security Administration during the Kennedy Administration, developed the official measurement of poverty used by the U.S. government. (Special to the Tribune) poverty group in New York, said the formula doesn’t effectively serve low-income communities. “It was evident that of the measures that we had, the programs that were pegged to it were not suf�iciently meeting the need that we saw,” said Barnes, who also works with the nonpro�it Poor People’s Campaign. She said 4 out of 10 people in the U.S. “are one emergency away from economic ruin.” But an adjustment to more accurately capture poverty in the U.S. also would balloon the costs of pro-grams for food and rent assistance, health care and other government aid programs. The budget for Medicaid, which provides free or low-cost health care to some people with low incomes, was more than $450 billion in 2020, according to the Of�ice of Management and Budget. And the budget for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which distributes bene�its once known as food stamps, is more than $100 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Of�ice. Smeeding said the poverty line issue is further complicated because such government assistance doesn’t consider the �inancial bene�its already provided to the poorest families in the form of SNAP bene�its and tax refunds that aren’t considered income.

“You need some measure that takes account of the programs that you’re using,” he said. By continuing to use an archaic poverty measure, Smeeding said, it’s not possible to see the impact of SNAP, Medicaid and other government assistance programs. And the impact of the poverty line goes beyond money, Smeeding said. “In effect, it has a role to play in public debate and public understanding,” he said, by shaping the under-standing of what poverty is and how prevalent it is. Fremstad recommends the U.S. follow the model used by many European countries: a relative poverty measure. There, the poverty line is anywhere from 40-70 percent of the median household income. For example, if the median household income in France is $50,000 and the poverty line is set at 50 percent of the median, households making less than $25,000 would be considered in poverty. Smeeding said the cost of living in different parts of the U.S. should factor into any measure on poverty; what $1,000 buys in Billings, Montana, does not go nearly as far in San Francisco. A more accurate poverty measure also should factor in the cost of housing, education and child care, he said. “Most people think that those needs should some-how change with living standards,” Smeeding said. Many state and local jurisdictions have “largely stopped using the poverty line to determine eligibility for social programs,” according to Stanford Social Innovation Review. Instead, local governments often set program eligibility at a percentage of the federal poverty line. In Arizona, the state has its own measurements for some of its programs, including cash assistance. These measures rose in the early 1960s, Smeeding said, when the Kennedy administration acted to help families making less than $3,000 per year. However, the $3,000 was an arbitrary �igure. An economist on Kennedy’s Council of Economic Advisers suggested creating a more systematic approach to identifying and measuring poverty. The job was handed to Mollie Orshansky, a social science research analyst in the Of�ice of Research and Statistics at the Social Security Administration.

Her goal: devise a system that would create a fair and accurate measurement of poverty in the U.S. that could be applied to a country of 180 million people. The data available to Orshansky in the mid-1960s was a fraction of what is available today. But using data from the Department of Agriculture and studies on nutritionally adequate diets, Orshansky developed conclusions to calculate a poverty threshold. Discovering that most non-farm families at the time spent one-third of their income on food, she used the family food budget to calculate the poverty threshold, giving the federal government a widely applicable and systematic approach for the �irst time. Orshansky’s measure was adopted in 1969. In the 1970s, Smeeding said, a few small voices wanted the poverty measure to re�lect a more holistic view of a changing economy. He was one of them. In 1972 – while sharing an of�ice with Orshansky at the Social Security Administration – Smeeding wrote his Ph.D. dissertation for the University of WisconsinMadison, saying there were �laws in the Orshansky Poverty Thresholds. “I accepted her poverty line. I just said that the income measure, the resource measure needed to be changed to re�lect taxes and bene�its,” Smeeding re-called." When Orshansky’s model began guiding U.S. policy more than �ive decades ago, the American economy was heavily based on manufacturing and agriculture, Smeeding said, but now it’s driven by technology and information. Fremstad and Smeeding said policy creators need to keep Orshanky’s original intention in mind – to accurately pinpoint poverty. That means throwing out a six-decadeold standard. “The inability to measure poverty accurately re�lects an inability of our society to address problems of need and want suf�iciently,” Barnes said. “And that’s not the kind of society that any of us need.” This story was produced in collaboration with the Walter Cronkite School-based Carnegie-Knight News21 “Unmasking America,” a national reporting project on the lingering toll of COVID-19. ■

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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Retired Mesa cop gives back by mentoring youth BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

ome people can’t stop serving their fellow man. Giving back to their country or community is hard-wired into their DNA. Ben Alexander is that kind of guy. The Mesa man served in the U.S. Marine Corp. from 1997-2001, then joined the Mesa Police Department in 2007, where he eventually became a sergeant in charge of the Youth Development Unit, where one core program is called Making Every Student Accountable (MESA) Program. The early intervention strategy by Mesa PD, Mesa Public Schools and community stakeholders provides support and tries to improve relationships with underserved youth, operating for nine weeks twice a year at Kino Junior High School. And the spirit of that program still motivates Alexander even though he retired from the police department. While Alexander was still with the department, he discovered the Travis Man-

Ben Alexander address students earlier this month at Kino Junior High at the start of the first of his two nine-week programs. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer) ion Foundation in 2017 and incorporated its Character Does Matter program into the MESA operation.

The foundation is named after another Marine who gave back with the ultimate sacri�ice in 2007 when he was fatally shot

in Iraq as he drew enemy �ire away from wounded members of his patrol unit. The foundation enlists veterans and families of fallen warriors to become mentors whose aim is to “develop character in future generations” and “create a nation of purpose-driven individuals and thriving communities that is built on character.” That mission �it right in with Alexander’s character and drive after he suffered PTSD in an on-duty motor vehicle collision involving a stolen vehicle and retired from the department in 2019. “This adds to why I am so involved with the foundation,” he said. As a Travis Manion Foundation Spartan, Alexander and his fellow mentors offer presentations at schools and to youth programs in various settings and for varying lengths of time on the elements of good character, often drawing on their experiences in military service and the sacri�ices that people like Lt. Travis Man-

�� MENTOR �� 16

United Food Bank launching �itness campaign TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

nited Food Bank is launching a new campaign next month that will help people stay �it while they save their less fortunate neighbors from hunger. The Mesa nonpro�it is one of 200 food banks across the country partners with Feeding America, a nonpro�it that helps feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies. Forbes ranks Feeding America as the second largest U.S. charity by revenue. Because September is Hunger Action Month, United Food Bank is urging people to join the Fit to Feed Fitness Challenge, which enables participants to meet new health goals while raising funds for 100,000 meals.

Registration for the month-long challenge is open now at �ittofeedaz.org. Participants will log activities such as going to the gym, hiking, volunteering, fundraising and even meditating to compete for weekly prize giveaways and support United Food Bank and their own healthy habits. They also will have access to free exclusive events during September, and the �irst 75 people to sign up for the Fit to Feed Fitness Challenge will receive a free Arizona State Park day pass. “All registered participants are invited

�� FOODBANK �� 16

United Food Bank in Mesa last year 27 million pounds of food, providing 22.5 million meals. (Facebook)

COMMUNITY

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

MENTOR �� 15

ion made. The foundation also organizes the nationwide 9/11 Heroes Run (the Mesa run is virtual this year), Operation Legacy service projects honoring fallen heroes and deeper dives into character and leadership development. Alexander speaks enthusiastically about the young people he has met and whose leadership qualities have blossomed under his mentoring and points to a study by the foundation that found 50 percent of the youths under its mentors’ wings have led or been part of a service project. “These kids are nothing short of spectacular,” he said. “Statistics show one in three young people feel as though they have never had a positive role model or mentor,” Alexander said. “Coupled with the fact that up to 60 percent of veterans feel disconnected to their communities

upon exiting service, the Character Does Matter Program can have mutually bene�icial results. “For me personally, I have worked with young people in various capacities for over 20 years. Once constant I have found is that young people not only need, but crave direction and personal growth. When given the proper instruction, their success is limitless.” Trained Veteran Mentors from the foundation led back-to-school events in close to 30 cities across the country for middle and high school students. They not only taught them con�idence, character, and leadership but provided school supplies needed for a successful academic year. The group estimates it impacts 50,000 young people a year across the country and, a foundation spokesman noted, “as a result, communities prosper and the character of our nation’s heroes lives on in the next generation.” Information: travismanion.org. ■

FOODBANK �� 15

to work their muscles at the United Food Bank Volunteer Center on Sept. 1 to help pack food bags for its 165 partner agencies who serve people in need throughout the East Valley and southeastern Arizona,” a spokeswoman for the food bank said. The site charges an entry fee of a minimum $10 to a maximum $30 to register, but that earns points and money for the food bank to continue its mission. United Food Bank has provided hunger relief to people in the East Valley and eastern Arizona since 1983. As a Feeding America member, it distributes food to about 165 partner agencies and programs serving over 345,000 households annually in �ive counties. In 2020, due to COVID-19, United Food Bank distributed more than 27 million pounds of food, providing 22.5 million meals, a 20 percent increase over our distribution in 2019. Information: UnitedFoodBank.org. ■

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BUSINESS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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Racing icon’s mega go kart center coming to S. Chandler BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor

major entertainment venue with ties to an auto racing legend is coming to south Chandler. Andretti Karting & Games last month shelled out $4.9 million to buy 10.2 acres on the southwest corner of Cooper Road and the Santan Loop 202 Freeway from hotel developer Drury Development Company and DDC Hotels LLL. Named after racing legend Mario Andretti, the company already operates three venues in Texas, two in Georgia and one in Orlando, Florida. And when it opens either late next year or early 2023, company spokesman Stan Manousos told the SanTan Sun News, it will offer the same stunning array of hitech entertainment options, mostly focused around auto racing. “We like Chandler and we like the area by the 202,” Manousos said, adding that his company is impressed with the access it gives to the broader Phoenix Metro market. And, of course, “We like that there are many families living in the area,” he said. The cornerstone of each venue is hightech electric go kart racing on intricately designed tracks that even offer “mini Mario go karts” for kids as young as 4. Manousos said that while each track is unique to each venue, they all are built with the features that Andretti Karting boasts for its Marietta, Georgia, venue: “Experience the adrenaline rush of our electric go kart races with instant acceleration as you put the pedal to the metal around hairpin turns, up and down elevation changes and long straightaways on our indoor climate-controlled tracks.” Manousos said the sites usually offer two tracks that can be linked together for a different driving experience. The Orlando, Florida, site, for example, can be rented out and the tracks can be coupled for one big circuit that accommodates 30 to 40 people at a time for a race.

Though track configurations differ at each site, all the Andretti Indoor Karting sites boast “hairpin turns, up and down elevation changes and long straightaways on our indoor climate-controlled tracks.” (Andretti Indoor Karting) Touting “the best model of electric karts in the industry, the Biz Kart Ecovolt GP,” the website calls the vehicles “powerful, ergonomic, safe and environmentally friendly.” Beyond the centerpiece attraction, Andretti Indoor Karting sites offer an array of other entertainment options as well as an extensive dining menu with vegan and gluten options. Besides a pinball and video arcade and “boutique bowling” with black-lit racingthemed lanes, the venue offers a variety of virtual amusements, including racing simulations and games with “advanced graphic technology and full sensory immersion.” “Andretti’s racing simulators are the most advanced on the market and deliver big-time on thrills and heart-pounding excitement,” the company brags. “It’s so realistic that you actually feel the motion and vibrations of the car, experience the tension in the seatbelt, and hear the sounds of the race track.” With panoramic screens, the simulators “are the same kind that professional race car drivers use,” the company said, and its “full motion actuators” “give the

feel of driving at high speeds.” Another attraction, called the 7D Xperience, offers “a 3D interactive movie experience with amazing special effects. Up to eight riders at a time compete for the highest score using laser blasters and battling on-screen enemies. You actually feel the earth-rumbling movement and wind,” the website states. Some venues also offer laser tag, rope climbing and zip lines. Pricing is similar in all six Andretti venues, which do not charge an admission to enter. Go kart racing ranges in price from $23 for a single adult spin along the track on weekdays to a $55 three-race package. Other attractions range in price from $11 for a 10-minute weekday laser tag experience to $30 to $35 for bowling for an hour with up to six people on one lane to a $90 VIP package that combines one race, six other attractions and a $10 game card. Patrons who posted reviews on travel sites gave various Andretti Indoor Karting Venues generally high marks. While some posts warned of sticker shock, the pricing apparently is no major obstacle: the Orlando, Florida, venue reportedly draws close to a half million guests a year. Florida developer Eddie Hamann opened

the original Andretti Indoor Karting and Games in Roswell in 1999, naming it after his friend Mario Andretti, one of only two drivers to have won races in Formula One, IndyCar, the World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR. Hamann, who is Manouso’s partner, said he eventually met John Andretti, a nephew of Mario and another champion race car driver. “We decided to build the �irst facility in Melbourne, Florida in 1999: an outdoor facility with go karts, video games, miniature golf, bumper boats, a couple of rides and laser tag,” Hamann told a Florida newspaper. By the time they opened their �irst corporate facility in 2001 in Georgia, “the rest of the Andretti family were involved.” “The Andretti team is aware that customers today are very sophisticated. At a very early age, they start handling social media and cutting-edge technology. It’s just part of their day-to-day life at home,” Hamann added. Mario Andretti told Georgia newspapers he “did whatever they needed me to do to make it work” and largely provided �inancial backing for his nephew John and partners. John died in 2020 after a three-year battle with colon cancer at age 56 and the Andretti Indoor Karting websites all tie into a foundation that supports colon cancer research. Mario recalled, “John asked me

�� KART �� 20

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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OPINION

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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Twin 33s a viable solution to green shipping BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

he scroll of the dead contains 49 names: 48 men and a woman killed between April 2004 and December 2014 in Afghanistan. To my way of thinking, each of these Arizonans is a hero – a neighbor of ours, a defender of freedom, killed nearly 8,000 miles away in a fetid foreign hell. That sad war ended last week in a blitz of disgraceful images showing the Taliban taking hold and Afghan civilians opting to die now rather than face the torture and mayhem sure to come. Pundits branded the war a stain on America not seen since Vietnam. I am not here to debate history. Instead, let’s take a moment to remember the dead. It is the very least we owe them in return for their epic sacri�ice. Spec. Patrick D. Tillman and Staff Sgt. Brian S. Hobbs died in 2004.

My former party is abandoning democracy

Isn’t it funny that some of the same people insisting the 2020 election was riddled with voter fraud are the same ones trying to perpetuate voter fraud of their own? At least, it’s funny in a laugh-to-keep-fromcrying kind of way. Fraud, after all, is misleading people into doing something. If you take out an insurance policy in case your house burns down, and then you burn your house down, that’s insurance fraud. If you vote while claiming to be someone else, that’s voter fraud. And if you hold an election, telling people their votes will determine which presidential candidate gets Arizona’s Electoral College votes, and then you nullify their votes and overrule the voters – well, what is that but its own kind of voter fraud? Across the country, Republicans are doing just that. There have been over 380 restrictive voting bills introduced – primarily by Republi-

Lance Corp. Kevin B. Joyce and Sgt. Kenneth G. Ross died in 2005. Chief Warrant Of�icer Hershel D. McCants, Jr.; Sgt. Charles R. Browning; PFC. Mykiel F. Miller; and Spec. Hugo V. Mendoza died in 2007. PFC Ara T. Deysie; Hospitalman Dustin K. Burnett; Lance Corp. Juan CastanedaLopez; Pvt. Joseph F. Gonzales and Corp. Charles P. Gaffney, Jr. died in 2008. In 2009, we lost Master Sgt. David L. Hurt; Staff Sgt. Timothy L. Bowles; Spec. Adam J. Hardt; Staff Sgt. Eric J. Lindstrom; Capt. Cory J. Jenkins; Sgt. Thomas Rabjohn; and Sgt. Justin Gallegos. The deadliest year was 2010. The killed included Spec. Robert Donevski; Lance Cpl. Alejandro J. Yazzie; SFC. Glen J. Whetten; Spec. Christian Adams; Sgt. John M. Rogers; Sgt. Martin A. Lugo; PFC. Barbara Vieyra; SFC. Todd M. Harris; Lance Corp. Matthew J. Broehm; Lance Corp. Randy R. Braggs; and Sgt. Aaron B. Cruttenden.

In 2011, PFC. Dustin J. Feldhaus; PFC. John C. Johnson; Staff Sgt. Martin R. Apolinar; Staff Sgt. Donald V. Stacy; Spec. Michael D. Elm; and SFC. Johnathan B. McCain died. In 2012, Corp. Phillip D. McGeath; First Lt. Alejo R. Thompson; SFC. Barrett W. McNabb; Staff Sgt. Carl E. Hammar; Staff Sgt. Richard L. Berry; Staff Sgt. Orion N. Sparks; and SFC. Ryan J. Savard died. The bloodshed ebbed in 2013. The dead: Staff Sgt. Jonathan D. Davis; Second Lt. Justin L. Sisson; First Lt. Jonam Russell; and CWO Joshua B. Silverman. Operation Enduring Freedom ended on the last day of 2014, but not before the death of Spec. Wyatt J. Martin., a 22-year-old from Mesa killed two weeks before Christmas. These 49 obituaries are full of details about these heroes: How Kevin Joyce, 19 when he died, was the guy his fellow Marines turned to when they’d been dealt a lousy MRE for dinner. Joyce kept extras in his locker and was always happy to trade.

Corp. Gaffney, 42 and a father of two, told a family friend he re-enlisted “for the women of Afghanistan.” Gaffney said, “the women of Afghanistan are so mistreated, they’re not really people like we are in this country.” Sgt. 1st Class McNabb hailed from Chino Valley. He went by the nickname “Bear.” Martin Apolinar attended Trevor Browne High School, where his fellow seniors voted him “Prettiest Eyes.” He enlisted in the Army in 2004 and earned his Special Forces quali�ication at Fort Bragg. In Iraq, he received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Apolinar’s �inal deployment was to Wardak Province in Afghanistan, where his vehicle was decimated by an improvised explosive device. He died at 29, leaving behind a wife and a son. In a perfect world, we would never have lost this war. In a better world, each of us would remember forever the 49 Arizonans who never came home from hell. ■

cans – in almost every state. Limits on absentee and early voting, bans on ballot drop boxes, and empowering partisan poll watchers are all being kicked around state capitals. For what seems like the millionth time, the 2020 election was not spoiled by voter fraud, or rigged, or manipulated by bamboo ballots or any other kind of malarkey. It was free, fair, and secure – so said the Trump administration, judges at every level, and Republicans from Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer all the way up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Yet some members of the Arizona legislature are backing some of the worst election bills in the country. Controversial changes to the early voter registration list as well as limits to who can drop off absentee ballots have already passed. But perhaps scariest was Rep. Shawnna Bolick’s proposal that would give state legislators the ability to overturn the will of the voters after all the votes were cast, and reassign Arizona’s Electoral College votes just because they don’t like how Arizonans voted.

This would further restrict the power of the Secretary of State, whose of�ice was already stripped of key litigation authority. These efforts have failed for now. But other Republicans across the country are picking up the pace. Multiple Republican states have proposed legislation that shifts authority away from non-partisan election of�icials and gives power to partisan politicians, potentially allowing politicians themselves to subvert the will of the people As a former Arizona Republican, I admired John McCain’s unwavering support for democracy. Turns out the current Republican Party wants to destroy his legacy by systematically undermining our democratic process. Each Arizona voter has a duty to try and prevent such terrible proposals from becoming law. But one Arizonan has a much greater obligation: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Our senior senator has rapidly become one of the most independent and in�luential members of Congress, which means she shoulders extra responsibility to stave off this anti-dem-

ocratic wave. Sen. Sinema made it clear that she wouldn’t vote for S. 1, the Democrats’ over-ambitious wish list of a bill. That’s �ine. But Sen. Manchin, another principled Democrat, has introduced the outlines of a compromise proposal that would secure our elections from interference and tampering. His plan would maintain states’ ability to oversee their election systems while enforcing minimum security standards, requiring voter ID and making Election Day a national holiday. Most importantly, the proposal trims the fat that made S. 1 so tough to swallow. To be sure, Manchin’s proposal is not perfect. But it is a starting point for negotiation, not an ultimatum. Manchin is clearly trying to �ind a viable compromise that protects our democratic process. He will need help from other senators who aren’t afraid to buck the leadership of both parties. It’s time for Sen. Sinema, a true Arizona maverick, to stand and deliver. -Kim Walker

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

OPINION

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 28

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

Americans forgotten in Afghan chaos BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

ver 30 years have passed since “Clarissa Explains it All” premiered on the kids’ cable channel Nickelodeon. But recently a real-life Clarissa—Clarissa Ward – CNN’s chief international correspondent and a graduate of Yale – offered an eyewitness account from Afghanistan so incredible that it prompted both chuckles and the temptation to “upchuck.” Clad in a burqa to re�lect the return of the Taliban to power, Ward described the collective disposition of the victorious jihadists for CNN’s dwindling audience: “They’re chanting ‘Death to America’ but they seem friendly at the same time.” Her on-the-ground assessment prompted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to tweet out an obvious question: “Is there an enemy of America for whom CNN won’t cheerlead?” The Associated Press delayed picking up the pom poms long enough to report on the curious way the Taliban displayed their “friendly disposition” elsewhere in Afghanistan. In Takhar province, a woman was shot and killed for not wearing a burqa when she went out in public. Meantime, the public “face” of the Taliban, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, held a press conference to insist that women’s rights would be honored in the newly renamed Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, but included a huge caveat. The Taliban, he said, is “committed to the rights of women under the system of Sharia law.” Sharia law? Guess that means it’s still okay to kill women not wearing burqas in public. In Washington, the burqa-less and seemingly clueless White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki, offered the Biden Administration’s new de�inition of “American Exceptionalism,” which apparently now means that the U.S. Government places a priority on helping people leave Afghanistan – except those who are American citizens. When asked if the U.S. could offer “any guarantee” to Americans who might be stuck in Afghanistan past the Administration’s withdrawal deadline of August 31, Ms. Psaki responded “that is day by day, getting as many American citizens, as many

SIV (Special Immigrant Visa) applicants, as many members of vulnerable populations who are eligible to be evacuated, to the airport and out on planes.” Jen may have listed Americans �irst in her response, but in reality, the emphasis was on non-Americans. On Aug. 15, a U.S. Air Force C-17 was packed with 640 Afghan Refugees, who escaped to Qatar. Three days later, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued this security alert: The United States government cannot ensure safe passage to the Hamid Karzai International Airport. The fact that the alert was composed in capital letters underscored the urgency of the message, and the dilemma confronting the American citizens who are stuck in Afghanistan, numbering between 10,000 and 40,000. In his televised address of Aug. 16, President Biden claimed that “we planned for every contingency,” but he also admitted “this did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated.” Then, he dusted off a line that was a combination of Richard Nixon and Harry Truman: “I am President of the United States of America, and the buck stops with me.” Apparently satis�ied that his remarks would placate the population, Mr. Biden had returned to politicizing the pandemic by midweek. But there is no vaccine for the collective vexation of American voters. Independents who watched the speech reacted by giving it an “F.” An “F-word” is undoubtedly on the minds of the Americans stranded in Afghanistan: Forgotten. With Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin telling reporters they’ll only evacuate Americans “until the clock runs out,” our fellow Americans trapped there must dream of “turning the clock back.” Some entire families are stranded; they undoubtedly are concerned that they could become captives in a type of “rerun” of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis – only larger, longer, and with their lives on the line. To placate their kids, some worried parents are probably pulling out dusty video discs… and watching old Nickelodeon shows… including “Clarissa Explains it All.” ■

SPORTS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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Football Preview: Eastmark ready to contend for 3A title BY DREW SCHOTT Tribune Staff Writer

his is part one of a two-part series previewing the upcoming 2021 high school football season in Mesa. For 13 seasons, Scooter Molander served as the head coach at Brophy Prep. During that time, Molander won two championships, took the Broncos to the state �inals three times and the semi�inals �ive times, and made the playoffs in 12 of his 13 years on the sideline. Molander stepped down from his position in 2017 to care for his parents. While away from the �ield, he began assisting Brophy’s baseball program. For a year-and-ahalf, he took on responsibilities such as leadership of the team’s athletic enhancement program and assistant coach of the freshman team. These experiences made him fall in love with coaching again. So when the head coaching position for Eastmark High School’s football team became available, he applied. On Dec. 18, 2018, Molander became the �irst head coach in Eastmark history. Now heading into his third season in Mesa, he believes the Firebirds are ready to take the next step towards a 3A title. “When it’s on, it’s on,” Molander said. “They understand how to work. They’ve

Eastmark head football coach Scooter Molander, a legend for his time at Brophy, felt the itch to coach again after stepping down in 2017. Now three years in, he’s ready to lead Eastmark to the same success he had with the Broncos. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff) really matured just this last year in the offseason. That’s what I think really gives me the most hope and excitement about this team.” Despite a 2-6 campaign in 2020, Molander saw benchmarks for future success. The Firebirds won two of their last four contests and developed a battle-

tested unit, many of whom are upperclassmen in 2021. Senior offensive guard and nose guard Ryan Maichl is one of these players. Transferring to Eastmark from Queen Creek High School ahead of his sophomore season, Maichl joined Molander’s �irst group of players in the school’s opening year. At �irst, Maichl was not aware of Molander’s gridiron success. When he learned his coach previously worked at Brophy, he looked up the program. Maichl reacted with surprise: “Coach Molander coached them?” “I trust everything he does,” Maichl said. “He’s also a very trustworthy coach. He pushes us to our limits all the time, but it’s all for the greater good. We all get better.” This summer, the Firebirds were hard at work. In June, Molander held practice from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. before sending his team to the weight room for a one-hour lift. Eastmark started donning helmets and shoulder pads last month and now with school in session, the squad usually starts practice at 3:15 p.m. Working out in the Arizona heat are several impact players that Eastmark returns for the 2021 season. They include Javien Celaya, who averaged 160 rushing yards per game in four contests last season. Cornerback Austin

Johnston, a two-way starter, led the Firebirds in tackles and racked up nearly 10 interceptions on the way to a First Team All Region nod. Kaiden McCarty, a wide receiver and defensive back, notched a First Team All Region honor as well for his performance at wideout. In addition to team leaders like Maichl and an abundance of juniors returning to Mesa, Molander is breaking in young talent such as outside linebacker and tight end Jordan Howard, who started on the defensive line as a freshman last year. “I think we can win a state championship this year,” Johnston said. “We’re not losing any guys. Going into next season, we’re all going to be seniors and that’s going to help as well.” Being a part of the Firebirds is personal for Johnston. His father Mike, now Eastmark’s special teams and tight ends coach, faced Molander on opposing sidelines when he worked at Hamilton High School. At Eastmark, Johnston has found not only a supportive community from his coach, who invites players over for lifting sessions. It resonates throughout the surrounding neighborhood, as Johnston said supporters of the program live near the school.

�� EASTMARK �� 25

Fall preview: Westwood sees increasing sports participation numbers BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

he COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on schools and athletic programs since it began in March 2020. The spring season was canceled that year. Fall sports programs that summer were barred from having even a remotely normal offseason schedule. That carried over into the winter before spring sports, two years removed from competition, saw a break in cases. Even before the pandemic, schools were seeing less athletes participate in sports. Lower-level football programs were merged or canceled, and schools eliminat-

ed some sports all together. That was worsened by restrictions and some level of fear toward COVID-19. But as fall sports begin to kick off once again across the East Valley, Westwood, one of the oldest schools in Mesa Public Schools, is thriving. “Not only is our enrollment up but our participation is up,” Westwood Athletic Director Brady Pond said. “We’ve done a really good job of recruiting on campus and hiring coaches as teachers and teachers as coaches. We are all tied into the community.” There have been 175 newly registered

�� FALL �� 24

As the fall sports season prepares to kick off, Westwood High School has once again seen an increase in participation among its students. Athletic Director Brady Pond credits the coaches on staff, most of which are Westwood alums. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Staff)

SPORTS

FALL �� 23

fall athletes in the last three years at Westwood. Bond gives credit to the coaches on staff for that growth. Kyle Ide, now in his �ifth year leading the Warrior football program, said most of his coaches are on campus and have a gift of �inding athletes in the school. He said it’s not uncommon for new players to show up after one of his assistants approach them in the school hallways. All three levels – varsity, junior varsity and freshman – have at least 40 or more players on the roster. Some schools, where participation numbers are decreasing, have been forced to merge lower-level teams. “Our numbers have been good, our commitment has been good, there’s a lot of really good things happening,” Ide said. “When I got the job, I think there was maybe me and one other guy on staff. Now we have maybe 10. And they’re all really good about connecting with kids on campus. It’s still hard. We’ve lost some kids because it’s hot. But our numbers overall are good.” Similar growth has been seen in the volleyball program, where Westwood alum Laurel Beisner has seen �irst-hand how participation numbers in the program have �luctuated. She was part of Westwood’s only championship volleyball team in 1994. She is determined to help lead the Lady Warriors back to the top of the 6A Conference. But to get there, it starts with the lower levels and club volleyball teams feeding athletes into the program. That has been Beisner’s main goal since she was hired to take over the volleyball program. Finally, it seems to be paying off. “We are starting them young to the point where when they get here, they already know how to play and are comfortable being in the programs,” Beisner said. “Being able to run clubs during the offseason has been huge for us. We don’t have as much money as some other schools, but we �ind ways to provide opportunities for a diverse population of students. I take pride in Westwood.” Hiring coaches who graduated from

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

Westwood has been key for Pond. It creates a different level of camaraderie within the athletics department. Athletes tend to trust their coaches more when they can relate on more than just the sport itself. These coaches truly understand what it’s like to walk the halls as a student. Along with Ide and Beisner, the head coaches of the cross country, soccer, badminton and boys volleyball are all Westwood alums. “It’s something cool where I think when the kids who go to the school �ind out their coaches played here, they want to see what it is all about,” Pond said. “The kids want to play for them. At the end of the day, we will win some and lose some. As long as they are learning the things they learned when they went here, that’s what is most important.”

Desert Ridge

Desert Ridge’s fall 2020 campaign saw 11 of its swimmers or relay teams place in the top 10 of their respective events, including a �irst-place �inish in girls’ 1-meter diving by Alexandra Robertson and twotime state champion Essias Smith. Head coach Brock Harr has become one of the top coaches in the state in recent years and will have his team once again primed to compete for a title.

Dobson

Dobson’s swim program saw some success last year from Carson Hamblin, who

is now a junior. He will once again be leaned upon by the program to compete for an individual state title in the boys’ 500-yard freestyle, where he placed second last year. The Mustangs will look to rebound from a tough year that included a winless girls’ volleyball team and no state placers in cross country or swim.

Eastmark

In just its second year of existence, Eastmark High School has started to make a name for itself in the athletics community. The girls’ volleyball program, with all freshmen, sophomores and one junior, went 7-8 overall in the regular season. Now, that entire team returns, including sophomore outside hitter Kayla Wheaton, who led the team with 136 kills last season. Like the volleyball team, all Eastmark sports programs are still building. There has not been a graduating class as of yet, which could result in more competitive Firebird teams this season.

Mesa

Mesa’s girls volleyball program, a perennial contender in the 6A Conference, is under new leadership this season after legendary coach Vee Hiapo made the move from Williams Field. She inherits a team that made it to the postseason last year but fell in the opening round. The team’s top leaders in kills from last season, Jazlyn Jackson and Quincy Cummard, return for their junior and senior seasons, respec-

tively. Mesa hopes for more success in its other fall sports programs after a dif�icult 2020 season.

Mountain View

Mountain View’s cross country program had a strong showing in 2020, with the boys’ placing sixth overall and the girls seventh. Tessa Christiansen, as a freshman, led the way for the Lady Toros. The Mountain View volleyball program had one of its best seasons ever at 16-3 overall. With several returning varsity players, the Toros are poised for another big season on the court. The Mountain View swim team, a perennial contender, saw 16 of its swimmers place in the top 10 but will have to replace star Emma Becker, who �inished her high school career with a state title in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Red Mountain

Red Mountain’s boys golf program looks to improve on its ninth place �inish last season with returning starters. Noah Czajkowski, a state champion track runner, will once again be leaned upon by the Red Mountain cross country team. Last year, he placed fourth overall in the state �inal, which helped the Mountain Lions place fourth in the team rankings. The swim program also looks to build off a successful 2021 campaign. Last year, the girls placed third overall while the boys placed seventh. Trevor Dixon, Sophia Jahn and several other swimmers who hold places in the Red Mountain record books, will return this season.

Skyline

Since Pond took over as athletic director three years ago, Westwood’s fall sports participation numbers have increased by 175 athletes. All three levels of football are filled with rosters of 40 or more players. The same goes for other programs, including volleyball. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Staff)

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The Skyline girls volleyball program struggled to �ind a rhythm last year, winning just two games. However, the Coyotes return most of their starters, including Rebekah O’Day, Janae Moore and Faith Murray, who combined for 182 kills last season. The Skyline cross country team will look to build off its ninth-place �inish last season but will have to do so without its top two runners from last season. Diego Brown, a junior was the third-best runner on the team and will be leaned upon to improve in his third high school season. ■

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

SPORTS

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

Mesa football programs ready for 2021 season

EASTMARK �� 23

This supportive atmosphere can be linked to the growth of McCarty on the gridiron. When he started at Eastmark, McCarty had never played tackle football before. Eventually, his coaches developed his technique and con�idence, allowing him to not only be one of the team’s top players, but also a mentor for future Firebirds. “It’s showing the younger guys how to do things,” McCarty said. “Show them the correct ways. Being a role model or a big brother and helping them out with whatever they need, whether it’s school or football, or just being able to talk to them.” Playing through the COVID-19 pandemic brought Eastmark closer together — a program already bonded by the creation of a recently-built school. Molander knows his team isn’t the fastest or the biggest. But if he is sure of one thing, it’s that his team is united in reaching new heights. “I get goosebumps when I say that I know these kids and they know me because I’ve coached them since they walked on that campus,” Molander said. “We know each other. We trust each other.”

Mesa

Following a 3-5 campaign in 2020, Mesa High School is looking to bounce-back and increase its success in Division 6A contests. The Jackrabbits return Tre Brown and Josh Irish, who combined for 766 yards and eight touchdowns through the air. Leading rusher Craig Montgomery will be back for his senior season after running for 711 yards and seven touchdowns in 2020. On defense, leading tacklers Andy Nastal and Al Ynigues have graduated, opening the door for players such as cornerbacks Christopher Figueroa (55 tackles) and Etwood Williams (48 tackles). The team’s secondary saw success last season, notching seven interceptions. Eastmark’s Austin Johnston, “left,” and Kaiden McCarty are confident in their team’s ability to take the next step toward a state championship run this upcoming season. (Pablo

Robles/Tribune Staff)

The Firebirds kick off the 2021 season Friday, Aug. 27 against River Valley. ■

Dobson

The Mustangs struggled in 2020, �inishing with just two wins and six losses at an average of 37 points per game, including three shutouts against Mountain View, Corona del Sol and Casa Grande. Now, the squad is looking to get back on track.

With a passing attack that averaged 78.4 yards per game and 120.5 rushing yards per game, Dobson’s offense will need to click in 2021 for improvement. Junior quarterback Jordan Legg — who threw for 311 yards, two touchdowns and �ive interceptions — returns, as well as junior running back Jashawn Kinney, who ran for 228 yards and one touchdown.

Westwood

Last season, Westwood lost its �irst �ive games before winning two of their last three contests against Skyline and Mesa. Finishing its regular season with a 36-35 victory over Mesa, the Warriors are hoping to transition their late season momentum into the 2021 campaign. Returning under center will be senior Gavin Letourneau, who threw for 1,313 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2020. Additionally, leading rusher Ryan Willis (351 yards and four touchdowns) and receiver Korwyn Brantley-Ellis (421 yards and one touchdown) return to help Letourneau lead an offense with a large upperclassmen presence. ■

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Van Gogh comes to life this week in Valley BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff Writer

incent Van Gogh’s art has been sweeping the nation with its revival in the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit and now fans of his work will be �locking to Scottsdale to see it. The digitally interactive exhibits – which span 500,000 cubic feet of projector screens – opens Thursday, Aug. 26, at Lighthouse Artspace in Old Town and will run through Nov. 28. “This show is a new way of looking at art,” Immersive Van Gogh Creative Director Rowan Doyle said. “On one hand it is an art exhibit, but that’s only the beginning,” Corey Ross, President of Lighthouse Productions said. “Technically it’s a short-animated �ilm.” The exhibit offers several ways for guests to explore the many works of Vincent Van Gogh, the Dutch painter who is best known for paintings like “The Starry Night,” “Sun�lowers” and several selfportraits. “Van Gogh was the hi-tech artist of his day,” Ross said. “His inspiration and his ability to capture ‘The Starry Night’ was a technological innovation.” Beyond his postmortem fame for innovation and creativity as an artist, Van Gogh also has gained notoriety for his battle with mental health – which culminated in him cutting off his own ear and eventually taking his life. “I think Van Gogh as a subject matter works well because dif�iculties he had with depression and isolation have become more relatable,” Ross said. “When you come out into these galleries and realize that he struggled with the same things that many of us have had to in the last year and that the art has transcended the troubles that he had, people were �inding that cathartic and inspirational, so I think that’s part of why the show has become part of the zeitgeist.” The last years of Van Gogh’s life have become the most studied time of his

Among the exhibits are several of Van Gogh’s self portraits. (PabloRobles/Tribune Staff Pho-

tographer )

life, and the exhibit offers more of a re�lection of what may have been �lashing through Van Gogh’s mind before his passing created by videographer Massi-

miliano Siccardi. “This is really a �ilm that Massimiliano Siccardi has created and the way he explains it is he’s trying to capture what

More than 500,000 square feet of screens create an immersive experience for exhibit attendees. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)

might have �lashed before Van Gogh’s eyes the moments before he passed away,” Ross said. The 40-minute �ilm, played on a continuous loop, features visual representations of some of Van Gogh’s most celebrated works – synchronized with music created by composer Luca Longobardi – across walls covered by projection screens that re�lect onto the �loor of the exhibit, giving viewers an immersive experience. Beyond the main exhibit, Immersive Van Gogh offers several other attractions that help understand the mysterious life of the famed artist. The exhibit has a timeline of the artist’s life and quotes from some of the 800 letters he penned, mostly to his brother Theo. In total, there are over 40 paintings featured and over 400 images have been licensed as part of the exhibit. “To have a show like this, which is the �irst thing that many people have experienced coming out of their homes and coming in to see any type of entertainment or exhibit has been very rewarding for our audiences,” Ross said. There are several measures in place to encourage social distancing within the exhibit like circles for people to stand in the main exhibit and tickets that can be purchased to attend at a certain time of the day. “We give people a time to arrive so we can control the volume of people in the gallery, but we don’t give people a time to leave, so people will often come in and stay for a couple iterations of it,” Ross said. VanGogh is the �irst exhibit to inhabit Lighthouse Productions, which used to be the of�ice space for corporate tenants like Carvana. “Lighthouse Artspace Scottsdale is really a new cultural art space that merges art, technology and immersive world

�� VAN GOGH �� 27

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LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR MEDICARE OPTIONS. Get answers to your important questions.

The experience at the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit in Scottsdale is enhanced by special music. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)

VAN GOGH �� 26

building in a unique entertainment experience,” Diana Rayzman, Immersive Van Gogh co-producer and co-founder of Impact Museums. Lighthouse Productions is also committed to bring more shows to Scottsdale after Immersive Van Gogh closes. “This is not a touring show, this is a permanent installation here,” Ross said. “Our hope is that Massimiliano (Siccardi) and other artists will bring us fabulous creations that we can exhibit in the years to come.” Rayzman hopes that the exhibit will be bene�icial to the many other artistic sites in Scottsdale. “After a really dif�icult year and a half, we are so thrilled to bring thousands of

visitors every day to this community and hope that our guests will stay to experience the many things this town has to offer,” she said. Ross is also excited to see how the exhibit works in Scottsdale and believes it will change the way we view art. “I really think this is the beginning of a whole movement and will be really exciting to see where this goes,” he said. ■

If You Go...

What: Immersive Van Gogh Where: Lighthouse Artspace 4301 N. Scottsdale Road When: Aug. 26-Nov. 28 Cost: Tickets: $55-$100 Info: Immersivevangogh.com

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

King Crossword ACROSS 1 4 8 12 13 14 15

17 18 19 21 24 25 26 28 32 34 36 37 39 41 42 44 46 50 51 52 56 57 58 59 60 61

Soviet space station Dance move Actress Fisher -- out a living Abode Punch Shares with followers on social media Fury MSN rival Fuming Cop’s badge Flamenco cheer Triumphed Half a dozen Travels by jet Throat clearer Jewel Early Peruvian Cleaning agent Fawn’s mom Junior Carried out French cathedral city Tea urn Business mag Pressing thing? “The Handmaid’s Tale” author Atwood King of the jungle Always Notable time “I did it!” Faction Cowboy moniker

With JAN D’ATRI GetOut Contributor

R 40 43 45 46 47

Asylum seeker, perhaps Titled women -- jiffy Sediment “Carmen” solo

48 49 53 54 55

Sudoku

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 16 20 21 22 23 27 29 30 31 33 35 38

Disposition Sitarist Shankar Roulette bet Before Levy

Sea, to Henri Mamie’s man Lawyer’s fee Beach souvenirs Water tester 911 responders Green sauce Haifa native Bridge coup Olympic sled On in years Misery Sprite Clear the decks? Jolly laugh Use a shovel Deleted Behind closed doors Nobel Prize subj. Without “Material Girl” singer Extinct bird VII doubled

PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 22

Caponata hits the spot on hot days

ight about this time of the year in Arizona, we look at big, heavy meals and well, they just don’t look appetizing because of the heat. That’s when charcuterie boards and light bites are a welcome meal or appetizer. Caponata is the perfect choice for days like that; when noshing is the most satisfying. This dish called Caponata, a sweet and savory fresh vegetable sauté comes from the Sicilian side of my family, my father’s side. I’ve share with you before that I grew up in a civil war zone of sorts, between the North and the South. Momma is from Venice, (northern Italy) and dad came from Trapani, the southernmost tip of Sicily’s “boot.” Friendly battles have raged at the kitchen table all of my life, with the northern contingency (Mom) insisting that food from the north, like risotto, polenta and osso buco are much preferred over southern Italy’s arancini, calzones and of course, caponata. Guess who was the big winner in the plate wars? Me! I loved it all, and didn’t mind the friendly fire of food one bit. Caponata is delicious either as an appetizer on toasted baguette slices or as or a light afternoon meal served over pasta or steamed rice. If you’ve heard the term “agrodolce,” caponata’s sauce is the perfect example. Its name comes from “agro” meaning sour and “dolce” meaning sweet. The sweetness comes from sautéed

yellow onion and a little bit of sugar, while the sour is derived from the capers and vinegar. There are a whole lot of delicious flavors in between, and the best part is, you can make up a big batch and enjoy it all week long in various recipes. This week, Dad’s side wins the battle, but the Italian food war is far from over! ■

Ingredients: ½ cup olive oil, divided 1 cup chopped sweet yellow onion 1 cup chopped celery 1 large eggplant, peeled and cut into one inch cubes 1 (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce 1 (4 oz) jar of small capers

½ cup fresh or dried basil ¼ cup red wine vinegar 3 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 (6oz) large can of black pitted ripe olives, sliced 8 large green olives stuffed with pimiento, sliced

Directions: Heat in a large (12-inch) skillet, 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil. Add onions and celery, cooking for 6 minutes. Add cubed eggplant. Cook for 12 minutes stirring occasionally. Add remainder of olive oil a little at a time during the 12 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, capers, basil, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Simmer until all vegetables are fork tender, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon mixture into large bowl and add black and green olives. Serve mixture warm or at room temperature. Refrigerate remaining caponata. Serve with pasta, rice or crustini (toasted baguette.) Note: Make at least one day in advance of serving. Mixture can be frozen in large batches. ■

For more great recipe ideas and videos, visit jandatri.com.

THE MESA TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

Need help writing an obituary? We have articles that will help guide you through the process.

Obituaries Carol A May

Carol Ann (Adams) May, 76, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Friend, and Chief Executive Ofﬁcer and Chair, Board of Directors of Wisdom Natural Brands® (makers of SweetLeaf® Sweeteners), returned to her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, surrounded by her family in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Women in Business in both 2014 and 2015, (including Lifetime Achievement, Entrepreneur of the Year, Executive of the Year in Business, Lifetime Achievement and Entrepreneur of the Year in Consumer Products). Carol was named one of the Top Women in Grocery in 2013 by Progressive Grocer Magazine, to the Arizona State University Sun Devil 100 during 2017 and 2019, and into the ASU President’s Club in 2019. Carol was inducted (with her husband) into the prestigious Natural Products Industry Hall of Legends 2016. She was recognized as one of the 50 Most Inﬂuential Women in Arizona by AZ Business Magazine in 2015, and one of the Most Admired Leaders of Arizona in 2019.

Carol was born on July 31, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She then moved with her family, at age 15, to Phoenix, Arizona. Two years later, Carol was awarded a scholarship to study acting in New York City. Her lifelong passion was the love of theater. However, fate stepped in when Carol met the love of her life, James May. The two married at the Mesa Arizona Temple on November 22, 1963, and her future with James began. The couple shared a lifetime of love. Together they had six children: David, James Jr., Steve, Michael, Shannon, and Erin. Although she had a full house, Carol was accomplished with her education. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology, Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University; M.A. in Education, Summa Cum Laude, Northern Arizona University; M.C. Professional Degree in Counseling Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, Arizona State University. In 1985, Carol joined her husband at Wisdom Natural Brands (now in Gilbert AZ) and together they built an international company doing business in over 50 countries.

As an ambassador for health and wellness, Carol enjoyed participating in the Dean’s Council of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Arizona State University, and partnering with their Department of Psychology in developing prevention research pertaining to the intake of dietary sugars in order to reduce cardiovascular risk. Carol served on the American Heart Association’s Industry Nutrition Advisory Forum. She represented her company in the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Directors in the East Valley Partnership. In the past, she has served as a member of the Calorie Control Council and the Women’s Alliance, both international groups, and has been active in state and regional programs for children and families, as well as children’s hospitals.

Carol has been recognized with ﬁve international Stevie Awards for

Carol focused on improving the quality of life for others. She had a love of family history and was a member of the Arizona State Genealogy Association. Her commitment to family, company, and community were tireless. Over the years, Carol served on the ASU Psychology for Life Advisory Board; Banner Health, Pediatric Advisory Council; Regional Advisory

Board on Metabolic Testing of Infants; Advisory Board to the AZ Department of Education on Chronically Ill Children; Member of the Advisory Board to AZ Department of Health (Children’s Division); Member of Maricopa County Medical Society committee on Pediatrics; Advisory Board for the Food and Beverage Industry; Member in the Organization of Women in International Trade; Member of the American Herbal Products Association; Member of the Institute of Food Technology and the National Specialty Food Association; and in various volunteer positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Carol was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother and a beloved friend to many, near and far. She will be remembered as a never-tiring, always-focused business leader, community advocate, and Wisdom Natural Brands® ambassador of health and well-being. Her company’s products give consumers the tools to make enjoyable, better-for-you dietary choices to meet the needs of busy lifestyles. Carol’s legacy will always be remembered as being committed to being a part of everyone’s journey to live a longer, healthier, happier life. She is survived by her sons, Steve and Michael (Christine), and daughters, Shannon (Jay) and Erin, and 7 grandchildren: Nathaniel, Emily, Andrew, Daniel, Jonathan, Chloe, and Julia. A celebration of her life and legacy will be held on Monday, August 16. The morning will start with 9am Visitation, 9:45am Family Prayer, 10am Memorial Service, and 11am Luncheon for family and close friends at the LDS Church on 2835 E Des Moines St., Mesa, AZ 85213 with graveside service at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix AZ.

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Obituaries H E A D STO N E S

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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The Mesa City Council will hold a public hearing concerning the following ordinances at the August 30, 2021 City Council meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the Mesa City Council Chambers, 57 East First Street. 1. Amending Title 2, Chapter 21 (Economic Development Advisory Board), Sections 1 and 2 of the Mesa City Code to increase the number of ex officio non-voting members on the Economic Advisory Board. (Citywide) 2. ZON21-00293 (District 1) Within the 1900 block of East McKellips Road (north side). Located west of Gilbert Road on the north side of McKellips Road (0.2± acres). Rezone from Agriculture (AG) to Limited Commercial (LC). This request will allow commercial uses on the property. Sean Lake, Pew &amp; Lake, PLC, applicant; Orange Tree Marketplace II, owner. 3. ZON20-00585 (District 5) Within the 7300 block of East Southern Avenue (north side) and within the 1100 block of South Rowen (east side). Located west of Sossaman Road on the north side of Southern Avenue (1.77± acres). Rezone from Limited Commercial with a Planned Area Development overlay (LC-PAD) to Multiple Residence 2 with a Planned Area Development overlay (RM-2-PAD-PAD). This request will allow for the development of attached single residences. Jared Malone, Associated Architects, applicant; Cardon Hiatt Investments, LLC &amp; CB Equity, LLC, owner. 4. ZON20-00700 (District 5) Within the 8100 block of East Brown Road (south side). Located west of the 202 Red Mountain Freeway on the south side of Brown Road (3.21± acres). Rezoning from RS-9 to RM-2-PAD; and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for the development of attached single residences. Zach Collins, applicant; Thrive Development, LLC, owner. 5. ZON20-00792 (District 6) Within the 6600 block of South Mountain Road (east side). Located west of Meridian Road and north of Pecos Road (5.17±acres). Rezone from Agricultural (AG) to General Industrial (GI). This request will allow industrial uses on the property. Shaine Alleman, Tiffany &amp; Bosco, P.A., applicant; Sonoran Desert Property Holdings, LLC, owner. 6. ZON21-00394 (District 6) Within the 7600 to 7800 block of east Warner Road (south side) and within the 4400 to 4700 block of the South Sossaman Road alignment (east side). Located east of the Sossaman Road alignment on the south side of Warner Road (101.7± acres). Rezone from Light Industrial (LI) and Agricultural (AG) to Light Industrial with a Planned Area Development (LI-PAD) overlay; and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for the development of an industrial business park. Wendy Riddell, Berry Riddell LLC, applicant; Gateway Business Park LLC/Tonto Corp., owner. 7. ZON19-00832 (District 3) Within the 1800 block of West Main Street (north side) and within the 100 block of North Dobson Road (east side) and within the 0 to 200 blocks of North Sycamore (west side). Located east of Dobson Road and north of Main Street (21± acres). Modification to the Sycamore Station Smart Growth Community Plan. This request will allow for a mixed-use transit-oriented development. Neil Calfee, Miravista Holdings, LLC, applicant; Dobson Station, LLC; City of Mesa; Pride Ventures, LLC, owners. DATED at Mesa, Arizona, this 22nd day of August 2021. DEE ANN MICKELSEN, City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, AUG 22, 2021 / 40734

Meetings/Events?

Sell Your Stuff! Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

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

Get Free notices in the Classifieds!

As a consumer, being aware of the law is for your protection. You can check a businesses ROC s t a t u s a t :

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http://www.azroc .gov/

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

Public Notices CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA

Work shall be completed within 200 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

SOUTH CANAL SHARED USE PATH

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&#39;s check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The following forms are to be submitted with the Bid Proposal for Federal-Aid Projects.

FEDERAL PROJECT NO. MES-0(234)D ADOT TRACS NO. 0000 MA MES T0122 01C CITY OF MESA PROJECT NO. CP0671 DAVIS BACON WAGES APPLY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, September 16, 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: Construct a Shared Use Path along the South Canal from the consolidated Canal to McKellips Road per approved plans and specifications. The Engineer’s Estimate range is $1,500,000.00 $2,000,000.00 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.e-arc.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 $35.00, 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.”

1. Surety (Bid) Bond 2. Non-Collusion Bidding Certification (See Proposal Documents and Forms) 3. Certificate With Regard to the Performance of Previous Contracts (See Proposal Documents and Forms) 4. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Goal Assurance with DBE Goal of 10.34% (Form 3102C – See Proposal Documents and Forms) The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System (http:// mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements. The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa. The City of Mesa, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (Public Law 100.259). Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in any contact entered into pursuant to this advertisement, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk

Published: East Valley Tribune August 8, 15, 22, 2021 / 40516

THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | AUGUST 22, 2021

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The Mesa Tribune - Zone 2 - 8.22.2021

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