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COVID hits EVIT / P. 12
Huge mask project / P. 3
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS ...................... 10 MPS board candidates address issues.
COMMUNITY ......... 14 EV orchestra gets nonprofit status.
OPINION ................. 18 Mesa firefighter's valiant fight.
SPORTS .................. 20 Game time for schools on Oct. 2. COMMUNITY ............................... 14 BUSINESS ..................................... 16 OPINION ....................................... 18 SPORTS ........................................ 20 PUZZLES ...................................... 23 CLASSIFIED ................................. 28 Zone 2
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE THE EAST VALLEY) | TheMesaTribune.com
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Mesa upping aid for utility, rent delinquencies BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
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esa will signi�icantly expand the utilities assistance and eviction-prevention programs, using federal COVID-19 relief funds to avert a spike in homelessness. Both efforts are under the Mesa Cares umbrella of social programs launched in response to the pandemic after the city received $90 million in federal aid earlier this year. That lofty amount will swell by another $6 million in relief funds being allocated by Maricopa County through A New Leaf, a major social service agency that is acting as Mesa’s partner in processing applications for assistance. The city now has $17.25 million earmarked for rental assistance, eviction prevention and utility aid, according to Deputy City Manager
As classrooms reopen, students’ mental health a big concern
Natalie Lewis. "We want to keep people in their homes," she said. "We need the community that needs help to contact us now. The city even has established a hotline, 480644-5440, for people who need help. The federal funds are not a blank check and come with different rules, some of which have deterred applicants because they must document their need, of�icials said. The city’s pandemic-relief money must be spent by the end of 2020 while other federal funds must be spent by September 2021. Other Mesa CARES funding has increased the number of food boxes, helped move homeless people off the street to slow the spread of the virus, funded the purchase of laptops for elementary school students and provided free COVID-19 testing and �lu shots in certain zip codes.
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Funds allocated to the eviction and foreclosure prevention program will grow from $1.4 million to $3 million, while the utilities assistance program will increase from $1 million to $8 million as city of�icials hope to prevent a rash of utility cutoffs scheduled to start after Oct. 1. Mary Brandon, Mesa’s deputy community services assistant director, said her department has received 300 applications for assistance, but 200 applicants are having dif�iculty providing the documentation necessary to prove they have been �inancially impacted by COVID-19. She said those who qualify have praised the program as a godsend because it can pay three months of back rent and can cover another two months under some circumstances.
��� UTILITIES ���� 4
BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
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s children and teens begin returning to Mesa classrooms, teachers and administrators aren’t just focused on addressing “learning loss” among many students during months of online instruction. They also are focusing on the impact of campus closures and pandemic-related stress on students’ mental and emotional well-being. While they are addressing academics as well as numerous new protocols aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19, schools also have developed plans to address the fallout from months of uncertainty, isolation and stress. Experts say that fallout has triggered wide range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, drug overdoses and suicide
��� SUICIDE ���� 6
Ruso Santiago Robles fires up some meat at Backyard Taco on Stapley Drive in Mesa. A business that actually began in a Mesa backyard and was started by four people with no experience in the restaurant business is poised to open its fourth eatery this week with an eye toward a fifth location soon. Details: Page 16. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Photographer)
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
The Mesa Tribune is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the East Valley.
Times Media Group: 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, Arizona, 85282
CONTACT INFORMATION Main number: 480-898-6500 | Advertising: 480-898-5624 Circulation service: 480-898-5641
Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Senior Account Sales: Ryan Brown | 480-898-6482 | rbrown@timespublications.com Local Advertising Sales: Chris Ross | 480-898-5649 | cross@timespublications.com Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@evtrib.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@evtrib.com Advertising Office Manager: Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@evtrib.com Director of National Advertising: Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@evtrib.com NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor: Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 | pmaryniak@timespublications.com Reporters: Jim Walsh | 480-898-5639 | jwalsh@timespublications.com Kevin Reagan | 480-898-5638 | kreagan@timespublications.com Sports Editor: Zach Alvira | 480-898-5630 | zalvira@timespublications.com Get Out Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski | 480-641-4518 christina@timespublications.com Photographer: Pablo Robles |Probles@timespublications.com Designer: Ruth Carlton | rcarlton@timespublications.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@timespublications.com Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@evtrib.com The Mesa Tribune is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegatedmedia.com.
The content of any advertisements are the sole responsibility of the advertiser. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for the claims of any advertisement.
© 2020 Strickbine Publishing, Inc.
NEWS
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Huge mask-making project launched here BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
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olunteers are mobilizing to sew 600,000 medical-grade face masks for use in hospitals throughout the Phoenix area as the masks become a part of everyday life throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arizona Masks for Medical Workers project is patterned after a similar project in Salt Lake City sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its community service arm, JustServe.org and LDS Charities. But Jennifer Wheeler, a church spokeswoman, said the mask undertaking is an ecumenical project that also involves Catholic and Protestant churches, with everyone united in the goal of protecting medical workers. “We are thrilled to be working side by side with many different faith groups to sew masks for our valued healthcare providers,’’ Wheeler said. In the East Valley, the Central Christian Church is participating through it’s Mesa and Gilbert campuses. To learn more about the project, go to AZMasksforMedicalWorkers.org. “We invite all who are able and willing to sew medical grade masks to join us as we work together to ensure that caregivers battling COVID-19 have the equipment they need to stay safe. Your personal contributions to this effort will help save lives,’’ the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints said in a statement. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is recruiting 6,000 volunteers to pick up 6,000 kits of pre-cut materials for making the masks next week and sew them together. Each kit contains enough materials to make 100 masks, including pre-cut pieces of polypropylene and either elastic or fabric ties. The goal is to produce the masks
Correction
T
Each mask in the project takes five to 10 minutes to sew, depending on a volunteer's experience. With material for 100 masks, the kit takes about 10 to 15 hours to complete. (Special to the Tribune)
during a four-week period. Each mask is expected take about �ive to 10 minutes to sew, depending upon the volunteer’s experience and each kit taking 10-15 hours. A self-help video is included on the JustServe.org website, along with instructions on where to pick up and drop off the completed kits. The project kicked off on Saturday. “All we are trying to do is serve, working shoulder to shoulder in the community,’’ said Debbie Jensen, a community outreach specialist for JustServe in west Mesa. “This is the best of both worlds. They can do it from home and make a big difference,’’ Jensen said. Although we live in a disposable world, Jensen said there are many women like her who love to sew and sewing remains a major industry. She said enthusiasm for the service project is running high, with people calling her steadily, asking for details. She said sewing the masks is easy, although she expects to receive plenty of calls from volunteers asking for additional instruction. “If someone owns a sewing machine and they can sew a straight stitch, that’s all they need to do,’’ Jensen. “This is really easy. Anyone can do this with a little bit of instructions.’’
Jensen said she prepared for her mission by watching the video herself and sewing some masks. “I’ve made a ton of them. I made sure I did 20 or 30 of them so I know what I’m talking about,’’ she said. Wheeler said that JustServe will donate the completed masks to several healthcare providers throughout the state, including the Banner Health Foundation, Valleywise Health Foundation, Dignity Health Foundation, Honor Health Foundation and Phoenix Children’s Hospital. In a statement, Banner Health thanked JustServe.org in advance for the masks, saying that they will be put to good use, but stopping short of saying they will be used by staff while treating COVID-19 patients. Megan Brownell, vice president of communications and external relations for the Banner Health Foundation, said “Continuous masking will be routine for the foreseeable future, and nowhere is this more important than in healthcare settings.” Andy Kramer Petersen, president and CEO of Banner Health Foundation, added that donations like these “help Banner Health to ensure adequate supplies for patients and hospital staff as we remain vigilant in slowing the spread of viruses. We sincerely appreciate this support.”
he Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts has been canceled this year because of COVID-19 concerns. The DTMesaFest Artists Emporium, located at 6 N. Macdonald, will remain open. See Facebook or website for current hours and/or updates. A story in last week’s edition incorrectly reported that MACFest, from which the downtown event evolved, would be held. The DTMesaFest Artists Emporium will be open to the public 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and more hours will be added Oct. 1. There are open spots for artists to rent. People can shop online for curbside pickup at dt-mesa-fest.square.site. Information: artistsemporium@dtmesafest.com
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NEWS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
9/11 slaying of Mesa Sikh not forgotten BY OLIVIA MUNSON Cronkite News
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albir Singh Sodhi was helping with the landscaping outside his Mesa gas station on Sept. 15, 2001, when he was killed in a drive-by shooting by a white gunman, enraged by the 9/11 attacks days earlier. The shooter, Frank Roque, thought he was targeting a Muslim. But Sodhi was a Sikh, who wore the turban and beard his faith required. He is considered by many to be the �irst victim of a hate crime post-9/11. But not the last. Kiran Gill, executive director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said Sikhs across the nation were targeted and mistaken for Muslims in the wake of 9/11. Almost 20 years later, she said, the threats have not slowed down. The FBI reported that hate crimes committed against Sikhs nationwide tripled from 20 in 2017 to 60 in 2018. In 2001, when Sodhi was murdered, crimes against Sikhs were not even counted in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report. “My father didn’t go to work for a few weeks after 9/11 because it was a scary time. People were being murdered,” said Gurwin Singh Ahuja, co-founder and adviser for the National Sikh Campaign. That sense of fear and apprehension is still present during daily life, for Sikhs and
UTILITIES ���� ���� 1
A presentation to City Council said that 44 applications have been approved for $100,177 in assistance, with the average family receiving $2,300. “They need something to prove they have been impacted by COVID. Those are the requirements we need that are holding back these people,’’ Brandon said. To address this logjam, Brandon said city librarians are helping applicants obtain the necessary documentation. While the city takes steps to reach more people in need, “we’re trying to make it easier so there are no roadblocks when they apply,’’ she said. Brandon said the department also received another pot of $900,000 in federal grants that could be used to help 25-30 families, supplying them with vouchers that be used for Section 8 federally sub-
BALBIR SINGH SODHI
Muslims alike, they said. Azra Hussain, president and co-founder of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona, recalls “an element of fear that my fellow citizens were scared of me” after 9/11. She said her organization, founded in 1999, saw calls drop off after 9/11, and that the rhetoric since then has not improved things for minorities in Arizona and the nation. “Sometimes I think ignorance spawns fear and from that fear people will listen to anything that feeds into the narrative they are willing to listen to,” Hussain said. Organizations like Hussain’s, Gill’s, and Ahuja’s are working to educate and change the narrative about Muslims and Sikhs, pushing for local education reform and providing speakers and panels to
sidized housing if more landlords can be located to accept them. “Our hope is that we can use these for homeless families,’’ Brandon said. Meanwhile, city of�icials are attempting to contact utility customers who are behind in their payments and facing city utility cutoffs scheduled to start next month, after a moratorium expires. “I think we will be doing a great deal of assistance for those in our community who are in a hardship,’’ said Ed Quedens, Mesa’s business services director. “It’s very commendable, what the city is doing, helping the people in the community. No one wants those accounts turned off.’’ He said the biggest problem has been that customers are slow to respond by asking for the assistance, creating a potential last-minute effort to prevent a disastrous surge of more than 10,000 cutoffs. City Manager Chris Brady said the cut-
present information about religion. In 2018, the Arizona State Board of Education approved new history and social science standards that would include Sikhism and other world religions, an initiative pushed by Anjleen Kaur Gumer and the Sikh Coalition. “For Arizona, it was extremely important, and on a personal level, since I have two young boys who attend public school here,” said Gumer, a local advocate for the Sikh Coalition. She wants her sons to share who they are with their friends without fear of harassment, even though she said studies have shown that two of three children who wear turbans are bullied. A 2013 study by the Sikh American Legal Defense Education Fund found that 48 percent of Americans associated a turban and a beard with Islam, and not Sikhism. “The idea that the turban is signifying something related to 9/11 was completely incorrect,” said Gujari Singh, the fund’s spokesperson. State Rep. Athena Salman, whose district includes part of Mesa, believes the discrimination toward Muslims, Arabs and those mistaken for them – such as Sikhs – comes from a lack of awareness. Salman, who is of Arab and Palestinian descent, explained the isolation she felt living in a white, conservative Arizona neighborhood after 9/11.
offs will be staggered to prevent a crisis. When there is a cutoff, “we are now in a health and safety crisis for that individual,’’ Brady said. “What we really need desperately is for these accounts to contact us.’’ “What we are really hoping for is to get the customers who are about to get cut off to engage with us, so we can work out a solution.’’ A presentation to the City Council demonstrated the problem, documenting that 102 Mesa customers have received $51,801 in assistance while 64 Salt River Project customers have received $33,558. But Quedens conceded that he is disappointed that the aid received so far is vastly overshadowed by the 10,041 accounts that were delinquent by Sept. 15, with a balance of $5,159,374. When the city �irst started monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on utility payments, 4,967 accounts were delinquent as of April 2 with a past due balance of more
“There’s a lot of ignorance that still exists and there’s a lot of education that still needs to be done across the spectrum,” Salman said. The groups doing that work said they are following the tenets of their religions. Sikhs “believe there are no theological grounds to discriminate against people on the basis of their social identities, whether gender, caste, ethnicity, or otherwise,” according to the Sikh Coalition’s website. And Hussain said one goal of Islam is to make everyone around you a neighbor, regardless of differences. Sodhi’s brother, Rana Singh Sodhi, reportedly forgave Roque for his crime, according to news reports. Roque is currently serving a life term. Jaswant Sachdev, a Sikh who lives in Arizona, said the work being done to inform people in Arizona about the religion has helped shift public perception, but these efforts are not over. Sachdev, Gumer’s father-in-law, said he has been getting the message out since 2001, when he started to present to schools and colleges about Sikhism. “I am very positive about it, somehow I carry that attitude. But I don’t want to say things have completely improved,” Sachdev said. “Balbir Singh Sodhi believed in this country, and Sikh Americans do as well,” she said. than $2 million. Mayor John Giles said it’s obvious that many residents are in a dire �inancial situation. Brady said it’s not surprising that most of the past-due accounts are in the same west and central Mesa ZIP codes with a higher number of positive COVID-19 tests than other areas. “I’m concerned; this is a big problem,’’ Giles said. “For whatever reason, people haven’t got the message there is help out there.’’ Residents interested in applying for the eviction and foreclosure prevention program should go to mesaaz.gov/evictionprevention. They also can email evictionprevention@mesaaz.gov or call the Mesa CARES Community Resource Center at (480) 644-CARE. Any Mesa resident in need of utility payment assistance can visit mesaaz.gov/ MesaCARES and click on the “Residential Utility Assistance Program’’ link.
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
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NEWS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
SUICIDE ���� ���� 1
noticed that stressed-out parents trying to cope with a job loss, �inancial stresses or sickness and death within a family, unwittingly in�luence the children’s emotional and mental state. Often a child’s mental state would improve after therapy sessions involving the child and a parent, she said. Nikki Koontz, clinical director of Teen Lifeline, said teens have been struggling with social isolation caused by the pandemic but they also are concerned about becoming carriers for COVID and infecting their families if they return to school. “Going back to school is politicized. Many kids feel their opinion doesn’t matter," Koontz said. “They are struggling with there being no control over anything." She said the pandemic has created an opportunity for parents to have the sort of deep conversations that can lead to stronger emotional connections. At the same time, however, the pandemic’s effect have also given rise to more family con�licts. The usual warnings about the dangers of social media have been pushed aside a bit during COVID, Koontz said. “The lack of connection with their peers can make them feel very lonely," she said. Even though teens have spent more time with their families, “there still can be a sense of loneliness. They don’t feel people understand." “I can’t imagine how things would be without technology. That’s how we are all staying connected," Koontz said. “One of the biggest protective factors is a sense of connection." A return to school may help many teens emotionally, Koontz said, because “a lot of their social and emotional growth comes from their associations with friends and peers." Koontz said Teen Lifeline has been helping school districts prepare for the return of their students, running training sessions on digital platforms throughout the summer for employees to spot the warning signs of teen suicide, with as many as 25-30 employees attending. Adelayo said it only stands to reason that more emotional problems among children will be spotted when they return to school. “Anytime you have more oversight, you will be able to see better. You have more people keeping an eye on you," she said. “Your parents may be working two or three jobs."
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ideation and attempts. Suicide is already the leading cause of death among children 11-14 years old, Gov. Doug Ducey noted two weeks ago. Katey McPherson, an East Valley education consultant and suicide prevention advocate, estimates that there have been at least six suicides of students between the ages of 12 and 18 that have occurred since campuses were closed in mid-March. She said the East Valley could lose a child to suicide every six to eight weeks. But, she added, “The awareness has grown and people are talking about mental health. We have made great strides.” “I’m excited for my own children to get back to school, but it will probably take 90 to 120 days for them to settle in," said McPherson, a former assistant principal at a Gilbert junior high school. “We all want to think home is a safe place, but for many children, it’s not." Schools also are making progress on dealing with mental health issues among students. The state Department of Education has developed competencies that teachers and administrators are learning in order to recognize and help troubled youngsters. Some districts hired more counselors and social workers after the Ducey administration set aside $20 million for additional grants to pay for them, although the demand far exceeded available dollars. Two new state laws also are taking effect at the same time campuses are reopening. Teachers, administrators and other school employees who regularly come in contact with students in grades 6-12 must receive mandatory training in recognizing and responding to the warning signs of suicide. That law is dubbed the Mitch Warnock Act, named in honor of a Tempe teen who was lost to suicide in 2016. Also taking effect is Jake’s Law, which expands the availability of behavioral health assistance for children in school and will eventually lead to the creation of a panel that will investigate the root causes of teen suicides. Denise Denslow of Gilbert – who started the JEM Foundation with her husband Ben and spearheaded a grassroots movement to get Lake’s Law passed after her teenage son’s death by suicide – said the $8 million Behavioral Health Services Fund will
Gov. Doug Ducey two weeks ago called attention to the problem of suicide among young Arizonans, noting the millions of dollars his administration has been putting into programs to help troubled children and teens. (Capitol
Media Services)
help students get emotional help at school more readily. She said the investigative panel has been delayed and it will take a year to implement new regulations that require insurance companies to cover mental health needs the same they cover physical health treatment. Still, the pandemic has had a far-reach impact on children and teens. “They’re really struggling," Denslow said. “It’s the social isolation, the uncertainty and the fear." Teen Lifeline reported a 46 percent increase in calls and texts during June and July from stressed teens. Teens contemplating suicide or feel the need for help can call the hotline 24/7 for supportive services. Mesa-based Community Bridges, which provides services to address addiction and behavioral health issues, also experienced an increase in referrals for East Valley youngsters and teens. “I would say that across the board, behavioral health is pretty busy," said Natalia Chimbo Andrade, director of community education and outreach for Community Bridges. “We have seen an increase in referrals for suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression," she said. “What is going on with the pandemic is a contributing factor in depression and anxiety in teenagers." A child psychiatrist also said she has seen an unusual increase in suicide
attempts. “We’ve de�initely seen more suicide attempts than generally what I have seen during my career," said Dr. Adeola Adelayo, of Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale, a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry. “It pushes them over," she said as teens struggle with social isolation and other interruptions in the normal school year. “The ones who are prone to abusing substances, we have seen more overdoses," Adelayo said. While Adelayo believes that going back to school may generally improve the mental state of many children and teens, she said the bene�its must be weighed against the risks of contracting the virus. “I’m de�initely hopeful," she said. “Kids are going back to normalcy. It sends the message that things are getting better." The return to classrooms “gives some kind of structure. Every human being needs structure, especially kids," Adelayo said. She said teens in particular need space to grow up and develop their identity. “That’s where they get their socialization from, being out of the home, being able to make friends," Adelayo said. “They need some space to �igure out their own morals, their own values," or whether they continue on the same path imparted by their parents. “They are trying to �igure out who they are." During the pandemic, Adelayo said she
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NEWS
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
Arizona ranks low on vaccine scale, including COVID
BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
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wo new reports suggest that Arizonans will be among the least likely to get immunized against COVID-19 once a vaccine becomes available. A new poll being released Tuesday by OH Predictive Insights �inds just 38% of Arizonans said they would get the shots if it were offered to them. An identical number said they would refuse, even if offered for free. That compares with national surveys showing about half of Americans saying they would get the vaccine, with about 20 percent refusing. Separately, the �inancial advice website WalletHub �inds only nine states where the rate of people getting vaccinated for existing diseases already is lower than here. And among children and teens, the vaccination rate is even lower than that, with Arizona �ifth from the bottom. And with the record showing Arizonans tend to be more distrustful of inoculations in general, that suggests the refusal rate here for a COVID-19 vaccine would be higher than most of the rest of the country. All this comes as new data shows that the coronavirus may once again be on the upswing in Arizona. New numbers show the state’s R-naught �igure at 1.05. That number represents the effective reproduction rate of the virus, meaning how many secondary infections are likely to occur from a single infection in a given area. Values over 1.0 means more cases are likely; numbers below 1.0 show a declining spread. That 1.05 is the highest since June 18, right before Gov. Doug Ducey conceded
he had made a mistake in allowing certain businesses to reopen and ordered many of them shut. Since then, however, the state now is allowing more businesses to operate, albeit under certain restrictions, even as that R-number slides back up. On Monday, gubernatorial press aide Patrick Ptak sought to downplay the increase. “The model is sensitive to days with high reports of cases or low lab numbers, which may not provide the full picture when comparing to all data,’’ he said. Ducey touted the importance of the Rnumbers in late July, bragging when they hit 0.81. The rate has been on an upswing ever since then. And there are now 32 states with lower R-numbers. Ptak pointed to other “encouraging signs’’ like a decreasing percentage of tests for the virus that come back positive and a low hospitalization rate of people with COVID-like symptoms. Still, he conceded that the data show the virus is still circulating. All that then goes to the question of whether Arizonans facing the risk of infection will roll up their sleeves for a COVID vaccine. The WalletHub �indings in particular underline what has become a political issue in Arizona. It looked at what is known as the “combined 7 vaccine series’’ which includes protection for a host of diseases including diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, pneumonia, chickenpox and a certain strain of �lu. It found 66.5 percent of those age 19 to 35 months were vaccinated, putting Arizona �ifth from the bottom.
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Who would take a shot
Are Arizonans willing to take a coronavirus vaccine right now? Group
Yes
No
Unsure
Democrat
38%
42%
20%
Republican
41%
38%
21%
18-54-years old
38%
38%
28%
Independent 55+
35%
43%
35%
35%
30%
22%
This table reflects the results of two separate recent polls related to how Arizonans feel about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. (Special to the Tribune)
Part of that likely relates to state laws on what vaccines are required before a child can attend schools. All states have medical exemptions. And most have religious exemptions. But Arizona is among only 15 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, that allows parents to opt out strictly for personal, moral or other beliefs. Last year, Rep. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, pushed several measures that public health advocates said could have resulted in fewer children being inoculated, including one that would have eliminated a requirement that parents sign a state-prepared exemption form acknowledging the risk to their youngsters for refusing to inoculate, including serious injury and death. Barto called the form government coercion. Another would have mandated that parents be given extensive information about the risks of vaccines. And a third would have required parents be told they have the option of having their children tested �irst, ahead of any vaccinations, to see if they already have immunity. All the bills faltered after Ducey said he would veto them. “The governor is pro-vaccination,’’ Ptak said Monday. “He encourages all parents to vaccinate their kids.’’
He had no comment about the current low vaccination rates. As to a COVID vaccine, Ptak said the governor wants to be “ready and prepared’’ when one becomes available. But Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, said Monday concerns remain, especially now that Ducey has declared a public health emergency. One provision of that law allows the governor to mandate vaccinations to those who “may reasonably be expected to be exposed’’ to certain highly contagious and highly fatal diseases. Townsend said she doesn’t expect Ducey to exercise that power, but her bigger concern is on the commercial level. She pointed out that businesses already refuse service to patrons who are not wearing masks. Townsend fears that would extend to those who have not been inoculated. And if it seems like that would be impossible for business owners to enforce, she pointed to research being done at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which would not only deliver vaccines but plant �luorescent “quantum dots’’ beneath the skin which emit near-infrared light that can be detected by a specially equipped smartphone to show who has been inoculated.
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
MPS board candidates discuss issues in forum
BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor
T
he six candidates running for three open seats on the Mesa Public Schools Governing Board all oppose a comprehensive sex education program, agree on the district’s strengths and most think of�icials have done the best they could do in managing the thorny issues posed by COVID-19 The candidates – incumbent Kianna Marie Sears and Vikki Johnson, Rich Crandall, Lara Ellingson, Cara Lee Schnepf Steiner and Joe O’Reilly – gave their views on a variety of questions Sept. 10 during a 90-minute forum hosted by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Cigna Healthcare of Arizona. The session is archived on youtube.com and can be found by using the search term “Mesa Public Schools Board Candidate Forum.” The Governing Board’s decision to gradually open schools prompted criticism from some parents who demanded a full reopening and some teachers who have urged that the district stay in full at-home learning. But the candidates took no one’s side although some suggested the board and district missed opportunities. Crandall, a former MPS board member and legislator, noted that three of his 13 children are in universities or schools where students are in classrooms on campuses where a number of safety protocols
RICH CRANDALL
are in effect and that the district should have investigated the use of other public buildings to accommodate students whose parents wanted them in classrooms. “We need to have extensive communication,” Crandall said. “And I want that communication to come from the local principals – that’s what I’m used to having. And then I want to see us go back and utilize all resources – the city of Mesa Library, city buildings, county buildings. If we’re worried about 3,500 people being on one campus, let’s spread it out a little bit.” O’Reilly, director of the Arizona State University Decision Center for Educational Excellence and the former 30-year director of MPS’s Research and Evaluation Department and Student Achievement Support, expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the district’s current online learning format. “I do believe that the people at the district have tried very hard,” he said. “I do know that students need to learn and they’re not learning very well under the current remote-learning situation. People need to be safe and people need to have choices.” O’Reilly said that while there has been “a lot of discussion about where do we do instruction,” he has not heard much about “the how and why what we’re doing." Of the hybrid model, which mixes inclass and in-home instruction, he said, “I don’t think it’s not as effective right now” and that “there are some places that are doing better with online instruction.”
Ellingson, a former fulltime teacher and current MPS substitute teacher, said that while MPS of�icials “have been trying their best,” she thinks “the paradigm should be shifted – instead of how do we keep us out of school to how do we get back in.” “I would like to see us move to in-person �ive days a week – a choice for the students and teachers that want that more quickly than they’re doing,” Ellingson said, adding that the current hybrid plan “isn’t my favorite, ideal situation.” Steiner, a retired MPS teacher and elementary school principal and department chair of Central Arizona College’s Associate of Arts in Elementary Education & Professor of Teacher Preparation Program, said that while “the district has done a nice job, I do believe there’s still that battle” between teachers who think in-class learning is unsafe and parents who demand �ive-day in-class learning. “I believe that they’ve done a pretty good job on focusing on the metrics, on the data at hand,” Steiner said. “I do believe it’s a hard situation to be in as a board. I don’t believe that being unkind solves any problems and being able to be a problem solver is really an important piece of being a board member. Communication and clear and concise communication on the metrics that go with that benchmarking is really important.” Johnson, the physician liaison for her family’s practice, Advanced Hearing Group, said it was dif�icult to apply hind-
LARA ELLINGSON
sight to the board’s decision-making on reopening. “I would say that the board’s done the best they could with the knowledge that they had at the time that they needed to make decisions,” Johnson said. "And I really respect the hard decisions that they had to make because it’s not easy to make those decisions when you have polarized comments coming from all directions and very strong feelings." "The one thing that I would have really liked to see is providing N95 masks for teachers, especially now that they’re becoming more available" she continued, referring to what’s considered the most effective masks on the market. Regretting that candidates only had a minute to answer questions as complex as the reopening one, Sears noted that as a board member, she has “been able to get behind the scenes and the compromises that have been made to get us where we are.” “I keep hearing the people who don’t want to go back versus choice,” she said. “There is no ideal, good choice that pleases everyone. …We thought long and hard to make sure that we’re ready to meet the needs of children even though you’ve heard a lot about safety. We need to make sure our schedules are there and all the needs of children are there, so that’s what brings us to this tough time.” On the board issue of MPS’ strengths and weaknesses, the candidates uniformly cited the expertise of district teachers and
VIKKI JOHNSON
NEWS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
staff as well as the community’s support of the school system ranked high, although several said the board needed to rebuild trust and increase transparency. But the candidates differed somewhat on where they thought the district needs to shore up its effectiveness. “We’ve really got a few different challenges,” Crandall said. "Number one – choice. We have demographic shifts that require a different approach to education. They’ve got the students who are not succeeding under our current education model. We need to be innovative. “We also have increased competition and Mesa needs to step up,” he continued. “Parents are looking for different choices. I �irmly believe in school choice, but that means Mesa has to offer the options that meet the needs of parents.” Steiner praised the district’s “portrait of a graduate” that emphasizes preparing students for life after high school whether it be college or the workforce. “There are so many strengths that we have at the moment,” Steiner said. “There’s always room for improvement and I think that’s true of life as well. I believe that platform of strengthening our community, strengthening the trust that we hold for the board is very important and I think I can offer a lot.” Calling the district’s diversity a strength, Sears said, “Our greatest challenge with Mesa Public Schools is the 21st century and the uncertainty. It’s about caring together and being built up as well as getting the educational resources and realizing that times are changing and we have to
JOE O'REILLY
change…It’s time that we incorporate a lot of 21st century thinking, including moving on to include everyone to make Mesa Mesa strong.” Johnson praised the wide variety of choice in school programs and said, “I think that trust is a big issue right now with our district and I think it’s important that we rebuild that trust because in the past, we’ve always had really large and strong support from our community. "And so I think that we need to work with them. You want meetings, a little bit extra focus on transparency over the next couple of years so that we get the support back as quickly as possible and we can continue moving forward as a strong community and a strong school district.” O’Reilly praised the city’s involvement in helping the district achieve academic success, and speci�ically cited its decision to allocate money to buy laptops for needy students so they could participate in online learning and Mayor John Giles’ program to have 3- and 4-year-old children ready for kindergarten. Ellingson said one of the challenges facing the district stems from the fallout of the pandemic – primarily the community division over when to reopen classrooms �ive days a week. “We need to reunify our district,” she said. “We need to reunify teachers and parents and know that we’re working together. We need to help with the learning loss that’s happened in our children, and also there’s going to be many social and emotional needs from this and we will need to be able to work with that and
work with the children and families.” On having the district and the business community work together to prepare students for life after high school, Sears said the district needs to approach businesses and “let us know what you need, help us design what you need and let’s have those internships, those externships.” She said skills and academics “have to come together” and that students need both critical thinking and practical skills. Steiner said, “I believe that Mesa Public School’s has done a really good job of preparing students for college and/or career choice. She agreed with Sears that an emphasis should be placed on “breaking down those barriers, providing internships or apprenticeships, to be able to help students move forward.” Crandall applauded those responses, but noted how he recently had to work with Cochise County and the East Valley Institute of Technology to set up a training program in response to Amazon’s request for a program that trained young people as cloud-computing managers because Maricopa County couldn’t move fast enough to institute a program in its community colleges. Noting Cochise County will start that kind of training program in January, Crandall said: “We don’t have that ability yet in Mesa to move that quickly, but we can get there. And so, if you’re going to meet the needs and the demands of the workforce today, you have to be able to move as quickly as they do. That’s something I’ll push for
KIANA SEARS
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hard on the board.” Ellingson said, “We want to be able to work with our communities and businesses here in Mesa because they’re awesome. Partnerships and interests like you mentioned before are a great idea.” Johnson said a greater emphasis on skill training is essential, partly because of the cost of college and the dif�iculty many college grads encounter in trying to �ind a job after graduation. “We need to make sure that there’s a balance in what we’re promoting” and that “a white-collar position is not any better than a blue color position,” she said. “If they work on a skill and they decide they want to go to college, they could be making real money while they’re in college versus �lipping burgers and waiting to get their careers going and be very in debt,” Johnson said. O’Reilly said he surveys high school grads annually and that “99 percent said ‘I need to further my education,’ 85 percent said ‘I’m going on to college right after high school' and yet “only over half show up, only about 28 percent get a degree within six years.” “We’re not even producing enough students to replace the people we have now in the community,” O’Reilly said. “We have thousands of graduates every year. We only have hundreds of concentrators in career technical education. …I think this is a very important topic that we have to prepare students. I don’t think we’re doing a good enough job and we have to really step up on what we’re doing to serve our students.”
CARA LEE SCHNEPFSTEINER
NEWS
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
EVIT reported 5 COVID cases in �irst 3 weeks of school
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
F
ive cases of COVID-19 were reported by the East Valley Institute of Technology in the �irst three weeks of the school year, but since then none have cropped up at either of its Mesa locations. EVIT spokeswoman CeCe Todd told the Tribune that while the cases were reported to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health as well as on its website, the school is not divulging to the general public whether they involved students or faculty because of privacy rules. The district for the same reason also is not publicly disclosing the schools or communities that the infected individuals come from. EVIT serves high school juniors and seniors from 11 East Valley school districts as well as students from charter and private schools and households that home-school their teens. “We can’t separate the number of stu-
dents from staff because we would risk violating the con�identiality of the staff at the East Campus, where the number of employees is much smaller. That’s why when we set up the page, we combined the staff and student numbers. We can’t say which districts the students come from because we would risk violating the con�identiality of students from our smaller districts, such as Fountain Hills and Cave Creek,” Todd said. EVIT opened for full �ive-day in-class opening when its school year began Aug. 17. Todd said that to her knowledge, none of the cases ended in hospitalization. She said both the county and EVIT health aides do follow-up interviews with the individuals for Todd said the county EVIT reports all cases to Maricopa County Public Health, which follows up with feeder schools on potential exposures.
“Our EVIT health aides also interview infected students and staff for contact tracing purposes,” Todd said. Students or staff who are diagnosed with COVID-19 but have no symptoms are required to stay at home for 10 days from the date of their �irst positive COVID-19 test. Those who are diagnosed with COVID-19 and have at least one symptom must stay at home for 10 days since their �irst symptoms developed and after having no fever for at least 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medication. Before those students can return to school, their parents must contact the campus health aide to get their OK, Todd said. The cases did not require temporary suspension of any EVIT classes, according to Todd. She said EVIT has contracted with a janitorial services provider for cleaning and disinfecting services. “When there is a COVID-19 exposure on
campus, the janitorial service disinfects all exposed areas, cleans the affected area with appropriate chemicals, disinfects the area again and removes disinfectant residue,” she said. “They use EPA-recommended chemicals in a Protexus Electrostatic sprayer. That’s in addition to the regular cleaning and disinfecting of the campus that’s going on throughout the day.” Medical experts say that it is not surprising that once schools open for in-class learning that some COVID-19 infections will occur. “It’s not a question of if, but when outbreaks will occur,” said Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and the former health commissioner of Baltimore, in an interview last week with the New York Times. It also quoted Dr. Benjamin Linas, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University, who said, “We have to be realistic. If we are opening schools, there will be some COVID.”
school year began. In “normal’’ years, Wing said there always are new teachers who quickly conclude that the job isn’t what they expected and decide to pursue another career. This year, he said, the problem appears to be directly related to COVID-19. The 145 school districts and charter schools that responded to the survey reported 751 teachers leaving at the beginning of the year. Of that, 326 of those resignations were teachers who said they were quitting outright or retiring because of the coronavirus. Another 342 said they were taking a year off without pay due to COVID-19. The districts also reported 633 other non-teaching staff who resigned or retired, citing the virus as the primary reason. COVID-19 aside, Wing said the “why’’ behind the staf�ing problems is unclear though salaries remain an issue. “Even though pay has gone up, we were in a big hole,’’ he said. Facing a teacher walkout in 2018, Gov.
Doug Ducey pushed through funding designed to provide a 20 percent average pay hike over four years. This is the �inal year of that increase. That did not mean all teachers are getting that much more, with variables including what teachers were making before and how district of�icials chose to allocate those dollars. “We’ve climbed that ladder but we’re still not out of that hole,’’ Wing said. “We’re still bottom �ive in average salaries.’’ But Wing said there are bigger issues: “The main one is, why are high school kids not going into the teaching profession?” He acknowledged that state lawmakers have altered requirements to become a teacher, allowing people to make mid-career switches without having to go back to school for a full-blown education degree. And that, Wing said, has been important. But Wing said the solution is going to have to come from getting more people into the profession right out of college. That, he said, is going to remain a problem.
For example, he said Arizona has one of the highest student-teacher ratios in the country.’ State schools chief Kathy Hoffman said the results of the annual survey “are startling but not altogether shocking for the education community.’’ She, too, said she has seen the impact of COVID-19. “Some educators make the dif�icult decision to leave the classroom,’’ Hoffman said in a prepared statement. “I know this decision is deeply personal to each educator,’’ she continued. “And I hope that one day we can recruit them back to our schools.’’ Hoffman cited the work of her agency’s Educator Recruitment and Retention Team that she formed last November. Aides to the schools chief said it is designed to function as a hub of information about what has worked at some schools to keep teachers in the classroom as well as to provide help to other schools which are having challenges.
Virus now helps drive teacher vacancies in state BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
A
n average 20 percent boost in teacher salaries over the past four years has apparently done little to entice people into the classroom and keep experienced staffers there. A new report released last week by the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association said schools surveyed �illed just 28 percent of the vacancies they had due to retirement and other reasons. That’s not to say there weren’t adults standing in front of classrooms. But districts had to make up the difference, largely by having their current teachers work extra hours or using long-term substitutes. Justin Wing, the organization’s immediate past president, acknowledged that �illing vacancies has been a perennial problem in Arizona schools. But Wing said there’s something different in this year’s report: the number of experienced teachers who resigned as the
GOT NEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
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COMMUNITY
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
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Pangean Orchestra uses down time to plan BY SRIANTHI PERERA Tribune Contributor
T
he East Valley’s Pangean Orchestra, which gathers musicians and instruments from various cultures, has achieved nonpro�it status and is now looking for four board members and �ive volunteers. “By being recognized, we open Pangean up to a vast wealth of people power,” said orchestra founder Colin O’Donohoe of Chandler. “We believe our organization is a force for good that others would want to be a part of,” he said. “Volunteers can be a part of a powerful organization spreading a message of peace and understanding among diverse people.” Nonpro�it status enables the group to accept tax-deductible donations. Moreover, O’Donohoe added, many companies encourage and reward employees to volunteer in their community if the organization is a federally recognized nonpro�it. The Pangean Orchestra, earlier known as The Immigrant Orchestra, was founded in 2010 by O’Donohoe with the aim of uniting people with the language of music. Musicians drawn from various countries
The Pangean Orchestra performs at Tempe History Museum but canceled this year. (Tempe Historical Museum)
play their traditional instruments, harmonizing seemingly incompatible instruments such as the stringed qanun, from Iraq; the percussion tabla, from India and the goblet drum, djembe, from West Africa. They play music in new ways. Members of the group, now numbering 100, have performed in the East Valley, New York and Turkey. All members don’t play in each concert as the number of musicians at a concert depends on the stage and what the venue can afford to pay.
Pangean has held concerts at the Tempe History Museum since 2011, averaging about 160 attendees – a full house for the place. A concert is tentatively planned for next July. “They �ill up our stage and it is always a fun challenge to set up sound for such varied instruments – from didgeridoos to tablas to cellos to sitars,” said Dan Miller, the museum’s exhibit curator. “They always theme the show around creating a small bit of world peace by bringing together
“As it became obvious that the traditional parade format would not be feasible in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, we looked for a new way of holding our annual event to honor and thank our active and retired military as a community,” said parade President/Director Lisa Sandoval. “This way, the parade will go on and people will still have an opportunity to support past and present members of our military through an active and public display.” This year’s parade theme will be “Celebrating Lives of Service,” in recognition of both military service on behalf of our
country as well as the many ways veterans continue to serve their communities through �irst responder and medical careers and other ongoing volunteer service. Details on the parade route, participating entries and timing will be announced soon. When the annual Mesa Veterans Parade fell victim to necessary budget cuts in 2006, local residents Gerry Walker and Frank “Gunny” Alger spoke out on behalf of the 40-year-old Mesa tradition. Walker remarked at one point, “There will be a Veterans Day parade if it is only me marching down the street with Frank watching.”
musicians from all over the world.” Due to COVID-19, no concerts are slated for 2020; the group is using the down time to plan and raise money for next year. The Pangean’s mission and motive is relevant today as never before. Together, the musicians are dedicated to promoting understanding among a diverse population. O’Donohoe’s description of a potential volunteer underscores its mission “If someone is looking for a meaningful way to change the hurtful rhetoric of hatred against minority groups and wants to offer an alternative to the ignorance and hate, it is my hope they would �ind what Pangean is doing as a great group to work with,” he said. “We show everyone how working together can sound amazing and give such a strong positive feeling.” A typical volunteer, besides being motivated and engaged, should believe that by working for Pangean, they are doing good for the community. “Often, someone begins as a volunteer and wants to become more helpful by being a board member and taking ownership over solving problems faced by Pangean,” O’Donohoe said.
��� PANGEAN ���� 15
EV Veterans Parade will have a twist this year
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
T
he East Valley Veterans Parade is adapting to pandemic concerns with a radically new format – a “parade in reverse.” Instead of canceling the Nov. 11 event, organizers will station parade entries along the traditional route and spectators will become the parade by driving past them. Participants also will be encouraged to decorate their own vehicles with patriotic themes as a sign of appreciation for the men and women who served in the military.
The Marine Corps League Saguaro Chapter in Mesa took the lead and the Mesa Veterans Parade Association was formed. In 2013, the all-volunteer organization changed its name to the East Valley Veterans Parade Association to re�lect the participation of parade entrants and sponsors from most East Valley communities. Donations to this 501c3 nonpro�it organization are tax-deductible. Information: evvp.org and/or its Facebook page at facebook.com/EastValleyVeteransParade. East Valley residents can also watch for details in the Mesa Tribune.
COMMUNITY
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
Colin O’Donohoe, founder of Pangean Orchestra, plays the keyboard at a concert. (Courtesy of Pangean Orchestra)
PAGEAN ���� ���� 14
Volunteers also should have different perspectives. “I hope that the people volunteering are as diverse as the musicians. We can only be a global orchestra when we have global personnel offering many approaches to our endeavors,” he said. Volunteers should also ideally work outside of music and have business and communication skills and a passion to see the orchestra grow in popularity and success, O’Donohoe added. The former mayor of Gilbert, John Lewis, is a fan of the group and said he was glad to hear of its continued success. “Part of a ‘clean, safe, vibrant’ community includes the blessing of individuals like Colin who have vision and persistence,” he wrote from Cambodia, where he’s currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “The Pangean Orchestra adds vibrancy to a community and brings communities together from all over the world.” Miller said a Pangean Orchestra concert is the quintessential gathering of such diverse community members in a most entertaining way. Shreyas Iyer on tabla, Andrew Ecker on percussion and Mayan trumpet and Elissa Nova on doumbek play at a Tempe concert. (Courtesy of Pangean Orchestra)
“We are a community history museum that welcomes performances by members of our diverse community. The orchestra is always welcome at Tempe History Museum,” he said. The path forward is not always smooth for the group. Last year, O’Donohue ran a crowdfunding campaign to record professional videos and recordings and fell far short of the goal. Instead, he used the funds to apply for the 501c3 status to solidify as a company. O’Donohue wants to make Pangean a household name. “I want us to be a shining example of what happens when many different people work together,” he said. “A year ago, we said that our country was in a vulnerable place with tension among our people at a high level. Sadly, over the next year we’ve seen the anger from a year ago turn into violence,” he added. “We need Pangean desperately in our country. We need powerful examples of different people working and creating together as a catalyst for a real change in our mentality towards co-existence and mutual respect for one another,” he said. Details: thepangeanorchestra.com
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BUSINESS
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COVID-19 no match for Backyard Taco’s continued growth TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
E
ven COVID-19 can’t beat a good taco. At least that seems to explain how Mesa-born Backyard Taco has been able to continue its rapid expansion through the East Valley with its fourth location ready to open in Chandler this week and a groundbreaking expected soon for another in Queen Creek. The new location at 2400 S. Gilbert Rd., between Germann and Queen Creek, is the �irst Backyard Taco in Chandler. It joins two in Mesa and another in Gilbert. “This Chandler store has been planned well over a year now and before COVID came along,” said Dr. Tyler Robison, who owns Backyard Taco along with Ruben and Marisela Alvarez and Steve Beck. “Even with COVID, we always have thought this would be a transient thing since regardless, people always seem to want high quality, inexpensive and delicious tacos,” Robison said. Besides, in some ways the pandemic has spurred their business. “We have realized that due to COVID, most travel plans have been curtailed, leaving many more people here for the long hot summer than usual,” Robison said. “Those same people are tired of being cooped up at home I think and going out to eat is a way to break up the monot-
Backyard Taco developed a cult following long before eatery opened. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)
Backyard Taco owners include, from left, Dr. Tyler Robison, Marisela Alvarez and Steve Beck. Not pictured is Marisela's husband Ruben. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)
ony and enjoy life a bit.” “The last few months we have been blessed immensely as our business has actually surprisingly been up an average of about 25 percent over last year,” he added, relieved they were able to make a comeback from a sharp plummet in customers during the initial weeks of the pandemic. That can-do attitude toward a pandemic pretty much de�ines Backyard Taco’s genesis and growth. None of the owners have a pedigree in the industry. Ruben was a concrete worker and painter, Beck a commercial real estate agent and developer and Robison is an orthodontist. “But we have all worked together, used the skills we each possessed and have been blessed its first brick-and-mortar to make this little venture a pretty ex-
with all these people �looding our stores,” Robison recalled. “We were quite ill prepared for the crushing crowds and learned so much from our �irst two stores.” “I think our success can be summed up …with the line about offering high quality, inexpensive and delicious authentic Mexican food,” said Robison, who with his partners talk about achieving “Mexellence” in their menu of street tacos with mesquitegrilled meats and vegetables and homemade salsas. “Everything is our restaurant is made fresh daily in house and nothing is frozen,” he said. The food also is affordable: the tacos are all under $3 and the most expensive items are $9.60. The owners are excited about their new Chandler location, calling that city a natural for their expansion because “Chandler is a vibrant, thriving and growing community.” The new location, like two of the other three will have a drive-thru, which Robison also credits as a saving feature when in-house dining was not allowed for two months earlier this year. Backyard Taco is located at 1420 S. Higley Road, Gilbert and at 1633 S. Stapley Drive and 1524 E. University Drive in Mesa. The Chandler store opens tomorrow, Sept. 21. Information: backyardtaco.com.
citing success,” Robison boasted. It also helped that before they opened their �irst brick-and-mortar restaurant in December 2012 on University Drive in Mesa, he added, the four owners “had already established a cult-like following for several years in the Alvarezes’ backyard in west Mesa.” Mazatlan, Mexico, natives Ruben and Maricela had started making tacos in their backyard seven years before the �irst eatery was opened. Word spread to the point that sometimes there was a mile-long line of taco enthusiasts waiting to get into their backyard. Even after they went brick-andmortar, Backyard Taco owners were still learning. “When we started out, honestly our biggest concern Backyard Taco's Stapley Drive eatery is one of two in Mesa, joining one in Gilbert was how do we deal and, as of this week, one in Chandler. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
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18
OPINION
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
Share Your Thoughts:
Send your letters on local issues to: pmaryniak@timespublications.com TheMesaTribune.com
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Mesa �ire�ighter unbeaten, unbowed in cancer �ight
I
t’s late on Day 548 since Trevor Madrid learned about the rare cancer attacking his gut and the 35-year-old is laughing long and loud. It should not surprise that a Mesa �ire �ighter who runs into burning buildings for a living laughs in the face of the Big C. His laughter keeps coming, as do his expressions of conviction. “I don’t worry that I’m not going to beat this thing,” says the father of two. “I have no doubt in my mind that we’re going to get through this. It’s going to be rough, but there’s no way I’m not going to make it for my family.” In this lost year we call 2020, Madrid radiates positivity the way some of us
broadcast �irst-world problems. He is the latest in a long line of Arizona �ire�ighters �ighting cancer caused by the job and the wicked carcinogens laced in smoke. Yet even among cancer-af�licted �irst responders, Madrid is a rarity. He’s battling synovial sarcoma, which attacks soft tissue. For every million Americans, one or two share Madrid’s each year. Give or take, doctors annually report about 500 cases of synovial sarcoma out of 1.8 million cancer diagnoses. “Most oncologists will never see this cancer in their lifetime,” says Angela, Trevor’s high school sweetheart, wife and rock. “You have a better chance of winning the lottery.” Which is how Trevor Madrid feels about life, even with those 548 days of cancer.
He joined Mesa Fire in 2007 at age 21. He married Angela seven years ago. Along came daughter Mila, now three, and son Maverick, 11 months old. It’s all great – with the possible exception of the 25 radiation treatments and �ive weeks of chemotherapy Madrid is facing, to be followed by two surgeries to remove the �ive-centimeter tumor lodged between his bladder and tailbone. “If we have a bad day, usually there’s not two in a row,” Trevor explains. “That’s the promise Ang and I made to each other and we call each other out on it.” They’ve had some practice. Day One with cancer happened last March, when Madrid experienced a ton of abdominal swelling. He’s a macho �ire�ighter – so naturally he refused to go to the doctor. Besides, this was basically the best week of the
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Madrids’ marriage, ever. Angela had just found she was pregnant again. And her online baby clothing business, Kind Knots, was racking up record sales. “Everything we had just unraveled at that moment,” says Trevor. “It all came to a screeching halt. Time almost freezes.” Since then, Trevor has been through dozens of radiation treatments, high dose chemo, surgeries, endless trips to Mayo Clinic and Sloan Kettering in New York City. His fellow �ire�ighters have donated thousands of hours of leave, so he can take time off for treatment, and perfect strangers continue to donate to a GoFundMe run by the East Valley Fire Fighter Charities: (gofundme.com/f/ zs6yp-help-trevor-beat-cancer). For a while, Trevor thought he had cancer licked – he even returned to work in February – but a scan revealed this new tumor. A lesser man might have cracked. Madrid? He started making funny cancer videos on TikTok and Instagram. He’s kind of a big deal now, the �ire �ighter you can �ind at @kind_knots. His videos have 2.7 million views and 150,000 followers. They’re full of joy, inspiration and perseverance – exactly like the man himself. “I’m willing to do whatever I have to do to be here with my family,” says Trevor Madrid. “I just have a mindset that we are going to get through this, no matter what it takes.”
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SPORTS
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
TheMesaTribune.com @EVTNow /EVTNow
AIA adjusts metric, clears way for football to begin BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
A
fter months of speculation, worry, optimism and most importantly, stress surrounding the Arizona high school football season, it seems all systems are a go. The Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Governing Board, in conjunction with its Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, adjusted a key COVID-19 benchmark the association is using to determine when safe for competition to begin. Previously, SMAC recommended cases in each county drop to 10 per 100,000 people, a near impossible number to achieve, before games could take place as scheduled on Sept. 30. After the latest revisions however, the target number is now 75 cases per 100,000 people. Maricopa County has hovered around 50 cases per 100,000 the last two weeks, along with other counties. “There were several things in play that led to the change,” AIA Executive Director David Hines said. “We fortunately had other states that went before us, that was very helpful. They have mitigation strategies in place similar to what we have. We needed to see how that was going. “The board also wants to make sure our modi�ications are adhered to. That was very important with our sports medicine people to limit exposure as much as possible.” The initial benchmarks were adopted by the AIA Executive Board as a recommendation from SMAC on Sept. 3. It was at that same time the board approved the existing fall sports timeline. On Sept. 4, Hines sent an email to school administrators and coaches explaining the benchmarks SMAC was using to determine whether it is safe for games. The 10 per 100,000 cases metric was identi�ied as the one that would present the biggest challenge. The other benchmarks, which
The Arizona Interscholastic Association and its Sports Medicine Advisory Committee approved new guidelines that relax benchmark requirements and give the all clear for high school football games to begin Sept. 30. (Pablo Robles/ Tribune Staff)
include the percentage of hospitalizations for COVID-19 and the percentage of positive tests, had already been met by most counties. Hines explained the document is “living,” meaning is could be updated with approval from the board. That was made clear Thursday. “We’ve been given an opportunity to compete in football,” Hines said. “But it could get shut down if people don’t follow the procedures if cases go up and people don’t follow protocol. If that happens, schools, districts and health departments could come in and say, ‘no more.’” The metric caused an uproar in the Arizona high school football community. A parent group led by Brad and Brooke Schweigert, Max and Carine Werner and Bryan and Elena Bernardo, sent a letter to board members on Sept. 9, demanding
for the guidelines to be changed. Along with the metric, the group also called for revisions to the “close contact” guideline put in place by SMAC, which requires an athlete who has been exposed to someone that tests positive for the virus to be away from team activities for 21 days. All six parents signed the letter, noting it also had support from the “Parents in support of 2020 football in Arizona” Facebook group, which has more than 1,300 members. “We would expect our parents to support our kids,” Hines said. “As a former parent, yes, you are very passionate about your own child. But we have to look at the entire picture and we have an entire state that is all over the board. “We are going to use the medical people, our administrators and our experts to do what is best for all of the kids.” The updated guidelines pave the way for
Have an interesting sports story?
Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.
the AIA to allow games to begin Sept. 30. Ultimately, however, it remains up to districts. Most East Valley districts have given teams a green light to begin contact, but with some modi�ications. Tempe Union High School District still requires the use of face masks for all athletes under helmets. Restrictions lighten up farther east. In Scottsdale, schools have still been barred from contact despite being able to put on pads. In other parts of the Valley, some districts have yet to allow teams on school grounds to practice at all. Tolleson Union High School District and Phoenix Union High School District teams haven’t had an of�icial practice since June. Both districts, however, plan to begin competition later in October. Hines said he hopes the updated metrics help school districts �ind a clear path to allow athletes to play this fall. “We know some districts have been able to do more than others,” Hines said. “To be honest, that happens when we aren’t in the middle of a pandemic. Knowing we have some scrimmages next week, we wanted to help teams have the ability to get some hitting in before they had a scrimmage.” Several scrimmages between teams have already been scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 23, Thursday, Sept. 24 and Friday, Sept. 25. It’ll be the �irst live action for most teams since the end of the season last December. Starting Wednesday, Sept. 30, the lights above stadiums will once again burn bright. Hines said it will be a welcoming site after a tense summer. “I think any of us that have any interest at all in high school athletics knows how important it is for our kids,” Hines said. “I’m excited for the kids, the coaches and the schools, I just have to caution us. “We have to keep our nose to the ground to do the things that are required so we can continue.”
SPORTS
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
21
Expectations high for Mtn. View swim as season begins
BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
M
ountain View’s girls swimming program found itself among the top-three teams in the state last season after both the Division I �inal and Meet of Champions. With a slew of returning star swimmers for the 2020 season, head coach Glen Coy admitted winning is one of the top priorities of the program. But this season has already presented more challenges than in previous year’s due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Challenging is a good word for it,” Coy said. “We are lucky in the sense that we have enough room to spread them out in the pool. We can only have three per lane so while it’s a bit of a challenge to walk from one end of the pool to the other to coach, some programs have to split their practices into two. “The �irst few weeks were really tough with new kids. Especially having to learn names but stay spread out.” But if there’s one thing Coy and the Mountain View swim program has going for the 2020 season, it’s returning swimmers Emma Becker, Jessica Franco and Anna Thompson. All three were catalysts in the Toros’ success last season, and Coy will once again look to them as leaders both in and out of the water. “Emma is an obvious one that will be strong for us,” Coy said. “But Jessica Franco has done really well, she’s been swimming fantastic throughout the season. Anna Thompson has really stepped up and has swam some fast times in practice.” Becker, a junior, was hurt most of the offseason heading into her sophomore year. It wasn’t until about this time last year she was �inally healthy enough to compete both in practice and dual meets. But even while lagging behind her teammates, she thrived in her two events, 100yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley (IM). Becker won the state title in the 100yard breaststroke and placed third overall in the 200-yard IM. At the Meet of Champions, she placed second in both events. “I only won the 100-breast so I’m de�initely aiming to win both of my events this year and then into my senior year,” Becker
Mountain View junior Emma Becker has seen herself emerge as a leader both in and out of the pool for the Toros while also becoming one of the top swimmers on the team and in the state. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff)
said. “I think we have a strong team dynamic. As long as we can come together and rally behind one another, I think we have what it takes to take that next step.” Like most swim programs, the girls and boys of Mountain View felt as if they were in limbo throughout the summer. It wasn’t until the AIA Executive Board voted to approve the fall sports timeline in early August that they began practices. The AIA in its return-to-play guidelines
said teams could compete virtually at their separate training facilities. For Mountain View, that would mean utilizing Kino Aquatic Center. While still a competition, Becker said it would be less than ideal for the meet to be held virtually. “Fingers crossed it isn’t virtual,” Becker said. “It’s really fun to see your friends and compete against them on another team. It’s one thing to see them on SnapChat or Instagram but being in-person just makes
it better.” Robert Ronan, the head coach of the Mountain View boys swim team, said he hopes the logistics get worked out in a timely manner to allow both teams to prepare. “As a coaching staff, we are cautiously optimistic on the possibility of live meets,” Ronan said. “Our focus every day is on everyone being safe and staying healthy, just being thankful that we have the opportunity to get together each day and do something we all love.” Expectations remain high on the boys side as well for the Toros, as they have nine key returning swimmers from last year’s team that placed sixth at state. Ronan said he aims for them to step up as leaders on and off the pool deck, motivating teammates during their individual races in meets. He understands the 2020 season presents a unique challenge in itself with all that has transpired outside of the pool. But Ronan feels his boys are prepared enough to take that next step and compete with the likes of Brophy, who the Toros face Thursday, and Chaparral for a state title. “While we miss all of the Mountain View traditions that usually occur during a season, they boys are surprisingly upbeat about just being able to get together and train as a team,” Ronan said. “The kids are excited to do just about anything that feels normal.” Both the Mountain View boys and girls swim teams will have their �irst dual meet of the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 24 beginning at 4 p.m. The girls will face Xavier Prep, while the boys take on Brophy.
Have an interesting sports story? Mountain View jhead girls swimming Coach Glen Coy said his team is determined to compete at a high level after a strong 2019 campaign. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Staff)
Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.
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Public Notices CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA LEHI SRP SERVICE LINE RELOCATION LEHI ROAD AND MESA DRIVE PROJECT NO. CP0875 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, October 15, 2020, 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: The scope of services for this project includes final engineering plans for gas and water service relocations along Lehi Road and Mesa Drive. The project consists of relocating services for approximately 45 water services and 29 gas services, along the south side of Lehi Road and east side of Mesa Drive. Salt River Project (SRP) will be constructing a new pipeline at Lehi Road and Mesa Drive. The proposed pipeline alignment is parallel to existing SRP facilities. The facilities include an unlined irrigation ditch along the south side of Lehi Road, east of Mesa Drive. The proposed pipeline inverts are in conflict with the existing water and gas services. The Engineer’s Estimate range is $930,000 to $1,140,000. For all technical, contract, bid-related, or other questions, please contact Donna Horn at donna. horn@mesaaz.gov. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified above. Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https:// order.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
Public Notices
will be no more than $25 which is non-refundable. Partial bid packages are not sold. You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the website at the address listed above. Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pick-up. For a list of locations nearest you, go to www.e-arc.com. One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ. Please call 480-644-2251 prior to arriving to ensure that the documents are available for viewing. In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34.104c. If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site.” Work shall be completed within 120 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed. Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier's check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/ business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements. The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, Sept 13, 20 2020 / 33127
CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Construction Manager at Risk for the following: NORTHWEST WATER RECLAMATION PLANT (NWWRP) FOOD TO ENERGY PHASE 1: FLARE TO FUEL PROJECT NO. CP0870 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to provide Pre-Construction Services assistance and complete Construction Services as the CMAR for the Northwest Water Reclamation Plant (NWWRP) Food To Energy Phase 1: Flare To Fuel Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The following is a summary of the project. The required tasks will be reviewed with the selected CMAR and defined to meet the needs of the project as part of the contract scoping. This project includes the installation of a 200 scfm max. capacity Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) System at Northwest Water Reclamation Plant (NWWRP) to convert the plant’s digester biogas stream to pipeline quality Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and connect the RNG product gas to the City’s natural gas distribution network. The system will have a turndown capacity of 60 scfm. Appurtenances to the PSA system will include a thermal oxidizer to treat the tail gas and a gas monitoring station to track the quality of the product RNG entering the City’s distribution network. An initial GMP is anticipated to cover the purchase of long-lead equipment items and second GMP to cover the balance of the work and system implementation. The estimated construction cost is 3,000,000.00. A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on September 16, 2020, 2020 at 8 am through Microsoft Teams. Parties interested in attending should request an invitation from Stephanie Gishey at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov. At this meeting, the project team, including City staff will discuss the scope of work, general contract requirements and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the Pre-Submittal Conference is not mandatory. All interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether they attend the conference or not. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Sub-
mittal Conference. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below. RFQ Lists. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/construction-manager-at-risk-and-job-order-contracting-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter that contains current company/firm contact information including a valid phone number and email address, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by 2:00PM on Thursday, September 24, 2020. Maximum file size shall not exceed 20MB. SOQ’s that are unable to be opened by City staff will not be considered for award. Submitters may request a single opportunity to verify that a test email and attachment are received and can be opened by City staff. Test emails must be sent to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Construction Manager at Risk selection process or contract issues should be directed to Stephanie Gishey of the Engineering Department at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, Sept. 13, 20, 2020 / 33132
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
26 CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA
Public Notices
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
CITY OF MESA
w.e-arc.com.
MESA, ARIZONA
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.
PD Main Sanitary Sewer and Landscape Improvements 130 N. Robson PROJECT NO. LF0317PD ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, October 15, 2020, at 1:30 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: Replacement of the existing sanitary sewer line in front of PD Main and furnish a new connection to the existing sewer main down Robson. In addition to the sewer line the landscaping is to be revised in front of PD Main. The Engineer’s Estimate range is $115,000 $135,000. For all technical, contract, bid-related, or other questions, please contact Stephanie Gishey at stephanie.gishey@mesaaz.gov. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified above. Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https:// order.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 $11.00, 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 pickup. For a list of locations nearest you, go to ww-
In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34.104c.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant for the following: ELLSWORTH ROAD AND WILLIAMS FIELD ROAD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AND SPINE ROAD
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.”
ELLSWORTH ROAD AND WILLIAMS FIELD ROADS
Work shall be completed within 90 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed.
The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant to provide design services for the Ellsworth Road and Williams Field Road Intersection Improvements and Spine Road Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier’s check. PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/ business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements. The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, Sept. 13, 20, 2020 / 33136
PROJECT NO. CP1015
The following is a summary of the project. The required tasks will be reviewed with the selected Design Consultant and defined to meet the needs of the project as part of the contract scoping. Utility and Alignment study (30% design) for the proposed Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport spine road between Ellsworth Road and Hawes Road. Future easements will need to be identified as well as utilities, including water and sewer improvements, through the spine road. Preparation of detailed construction plans and specifications for Ellsworth Road and Williams Field Road Intersection, a 6-lane arterial road intersection. Preparation of detailed construction plans and specifications to address drainage on both sides of the intersection and for a structure crossing an existing drainage channel on the west side of the intersection improvements. Preparation of detailed utility construction plans and specifications to comply with the utility study as described above. Roadway easement documents for roadway and utility uses along the spine road. Preparation of detailed construction plans and specifications for a portion of the spine road. Similar improvements along the spine road, Williams Field Road, or Ellsworth Road may be included in future phases. Utility coordination with private utility companies for future service to the area.
the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Anyone interesting in attending the pre-submittal conference should request an invitation from Donna Horn (donna.horn@mesaaz.gov). Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below. RFQ Lists. This RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/architectural-engineering-design-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications by October 15, 2020, by 2 pm. Directions for submitting electronically can be found at: https://www.mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/ architectural-engineering-design-opportunities. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered and activated in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/ vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Consultant selection process or contract issues should be directed to Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov. BETH HUNING City Engineer
SECTION II – OVERVIEW OF PROJECT
ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen, City Clerk
An electronic Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on October 1, 2020 through Microsoft Teams. At this meeting, City staff will discuss
Published: East Valley Tribune, Sept. 13, 20, 2020 / 33131
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
27
Public Notices
Public Notices CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA
the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking qualified Consultants for the following: ON-CALL CONSULTING SERVICES FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING GENERAL DESIGN SERVICES The City of Mesa is seeking qualified Consultants to provide design services and/or construction administration services on an on-call basis in the following area/category: Electrical Engineering General Design Services. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). From this solicitation, the Engineering Department will establish a list of on-call consultants for Electrical Engineering General Design Services. This category is further defined below: Electrical Engineering General Design projects might involve studies, new construction, upgrades, rehabilitation, or other modifications. Typical projects include, but are not limited to, lighting, building power supply, pedestrian lighting, instrumentation and controls, and general site and facility electrical improvements. A Pre-Submittal Conference will not be held. Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this RFQ (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, assure that contract decisions are made in public and to protect
RFQ Lists. This RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/ engineering/architectural-engineering-design-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter that contains current company/firm contact information including a valid phone number and email address, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by 2:00PM on Thursday, October 1, 2020. Maximum file size shall not exceed 20MB. SOQ’s that are unable to be opened by City staff will not be considered for award. Submitters may request a single opportunity to verify that a test email and attachment are received and can be opened by City staff. Test emails must be sent to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered and activated in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Consultant selection process or contract issues should be directed to Michele Davila of the Engineering Department at Michele.Davila@mesaaz.gov BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, Sept. 13, 20, 2020 / 331
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CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant for the following: SIGNAL BUTTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION 10950 E. Elliot Road PROJECT NO. CP0372 The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Consultant to provide design services for the Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The following is a summary of the project. The required tasks will be reviewed with the selected Design Consultant and defined to meet the needs of the project as part of the contract scoping. • The Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant (SBWTP) site is located at the northeast corner of Signal Butte and Elliot Roads in the City of Mesa. The City con-structed a 24 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) plant, which was commissioned in 2018. With the rapid growth in southeast Mesa, the City plans to expand the plant from 24 MGD to 48 MGD. The project scope will include the addition of a new 8 MG buried concrete reservoir and expansion of the processes in the exist-ing plant to meet the new capacity. • The original Basis of Design Report (BDR) that covered all phases of the water treatment plant at this site was prepared in 2004 and was supplemented in 2010 and updated post construction in 2019. The supplemented and updated BDR will be made available with the RFQ. All other records related to the SBWTP, in-cluding record drawings, design studies, etc., are considered sensitive and protected information will not be available to proposers. • The project scope covered by this RFQ will consist of a Preliminary Design Report (PDR) which will build on the BDR to evaluate the current processes, look for opportunities to improve plant efficiencies, evaluate the regional growth impacts on the water demand, review new treatment technologies, and evaluate construction sequencing. This PDR will be used to optimize the scope of the Design to expand facilities at the site to the max design capacity of 48 MGD. • Following completion of the PDR, the design team will complete a detailed design. Design shall include 30%, 60%, 90% and 100% submittals, and be done in coordination with the CMAR contractor. Areas of consideration for design include full build out to 48 MGD, sizing of a second reservoir, improvements to exist-ing plant systems, and improvements to plant redundancies, as determined in the PDR. • The City anticipates construction commencing in 2023. An electronic Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on September 30, 2020, at 8 am through
Microsoft Teams. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Any parties interested in attending the Pre-Submittal Conference should request a meeting invitation from Donna Horn (donna.horn@mesaaz.gov). Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsult-ants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below. RFQ Lists. This RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/architectural-engineering-design-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz. gov by October 15, 2020, by 2 pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer. Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered and activated in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/ vendor-self-service). Questions. Questions pertaining to the Consultant selection process or contract issues should be directed to Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov. BETH HUNING City Engineer ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen, City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, September 20, 27, 2020/33217
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
28
Obituaries Joanne Catherine Jesse
Obituaries Neria Hockaday Kohl Ryder June 27, 1927 – August 7, 2020
Neria was born in New York City to Gerald Samuel Kohl and Neria Irving Hockaday Kohl on June 27, 1927. Neria’s parents met at Columbia University. Mother from the South and father from the North; Neria was their only child. Childhood included Friday night trips to the lights of Broadway, learning to drive in then-undeveloped Flushing Meadows when age 12 and seeing big bands in Manhattan in the 1940s. Every year they visited her beloved grandmother, “Mama” Kohl of Centralia, Illinois and cousins Margery, Bill, Gordon, and Jean whom she loved. Neria grew up in Jackson Heights, NY and went to Garden Country Day School where she graduated as Valedictorian and earned a graduation trip to Texas from her aunt Ela Hockaday, founder of The Hockaday School in Dallas. Neria attended Wellesley College and majored in mathematics. Cousin Gordon introduced her to James Ryder of the Sigma Chi fraternity at MIT and they married on July 2, 1949. For income while Jim was at law school and although married women were scarcely hired, Neria became a “computer” for physicists at MIT before the age of semiconductors, performing calculations by slide-rule. Her inherited passion for math lives on in her descendants as did her love for Wellesley influencing her daughter and granddaughter to attend. Moving from Cambridge to Jackson Heights and then to New Jersey they soon had five children. Neria often said these were the happiest years in Chatham. Mothering included taking children and friends on overnight trips to Gettysburg, Williamsburg, and Chincoteague Island, or day trips including to the 1964 World’s Fair in New York where we had to run to see all the exhibits. She divided time for each child, be it Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, or swim team.
But some times were for her such as having her teenage son drive to NYC while husband was out of town to see the ballet with Reggie Jackson. Neria loved a party and hosted many dinners. After little finger holes showed up in a party dessert, she thereafter made a second one just for the children. After her marriage ended Neria moved to Tempe in 1976 and stayed for 40 years. She was a real estate broker in her new life practicing into her 80s and thereafter took up an earlier pastime, knitting - using her mathematical ability in truly creative stitch patterns, colors and styles. Neria was a lifelong Unitarian, active in the Valley UU Congregation of Chandler, volunteering every week. She had many fast friends there of all ages and in 2007 the congregation specially recognized her service. Neria traveled until very late in life as her children had children, being there for the first grandchild’s birth, and many of the next 10, and flying far and wide to Singapore at 82, New Zealand several times including at 87, and weddings in France at 86, all the way to her final trip to Ohio at 90 after which her health kept her away but not her spirit. Neria is survived by her 5 children - Neria Douglass and husband Paul of Auburn ME, Duncan Ryder of Washington DC, Kristin Altieri and husband Phil of Mason OH, Evan Ryder and wife Rosanna Paterson of Onaero, New Zealand, and Malcolm Ryder of Tucson AZ; by 11 grandchildren - Ryan Douglass and fiancée Anna Abajyan, Nathan Douglass and wife Anne Constance, Neria Lauren Douglass and husband Alvaro Garcia, Camilla Ryder, Evan Spanogians and wife Kaitlin Jacobi, David Spanogians and wife Alex, Hali Spanogians and husband Steven Owens, Duncan James Ryder, Eamon Ryder, Colin Ryder and Madeline Ryder; and by 7 great-grandchildren Augustin, Zélie and Maximilien Douglass, Ryder Garcia, Kora, Otto and Esme Spanogians. Funeralalternatives.net has a guestbook for Neria. When the Pandemic is under control, the family will have a memorial service in Centralia, IL.
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Loving sister, aunt, wife, friend and colleague, Joanne Catherine Jesse, of 71 years, from Apache Junction, AZ, passed away August 13, 2020 in Bismarck, ND, while visiting. Joanne was born to the late Jake and Mary Fries of Mott, ND. After graduation from Mott Lincoln High School, Joanne attended nursing school in Dickinson, ND. Joanne moved to Bismarck, ND, which was her home for many years. She pursued her RN and BSNR, married Terri Jesse and started her Mary Kay career. Joanne’s career in nursing was mostly spent in Bismarck, ND, where she became Head of the Pediatrics Unit, she was also a teacher of nursing just to name a few of the positions she held. Joanne was highly respected by her colleagues. Joanne moved to Arizona where she continued in nursing at the Banner Hospice House. Joanne’s success in Mary Kay was rewarded with 14 pink cars and she led her unit to the circle of achievement eight times, and became the number one director in North Dakota. Many numerous friendships were forged over those years. While living in Arizona Joanne married her late High School sweetheart Bill M. Griffin. Several nicknames and phrases said by the many people who knew and loved her were: “Florence Nightingale”, “Angel of Mercy and Angel here on Earth. Joanne is survived by her younger sister, Carol Dixon, Jan Bishop (Rance), Doug Fries (Ruth) and Tom Fries (Luann), sisters-in-law, Sandi Fries and Annette Fries; step-daughters, Tammy Griffin and Jennifer Markvich (Richard), stepson, Ricky Griffin (Lindsay) and numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews, step nieces and nephews and step grand nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly, cousins, and aunts and uncles. Joanne’s husband Bill Griffin; her younger brother, Jerry Fries and Rod Fries, stepson, Casey Griffin (Cheryl) have predeceased her. Joanne is dearly missed by her loved ones. Due to Covid-19, services will be scheduled at a later date. At that time her ashes will be laid to rest with her late husband Bill M. Griffin at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND. Condolences may be sent through our website at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com.
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Family Owned & Operated
Three Phase Mechanical
480-671-0833
Real Estate
www.3phasemech.com
For Rent
Sales, Service & Installation NO TRIP CHARGE • NOT COMMISSION BASED
Apartments ACCREDITED BUSINESS
APACHE TRAIL & IRONWOOD Secluded Cute Studio, A/C $650/Month Bad Credit ok No Deposit. Water/Trash Inc. (602) 339-1555 ALMA SCH & MAIN Income verified UTILITIES INCLUDED Bad Credit OK. No Deposit Close to Lightrail $700 (602) 339-1555
Manufactured Homes
THE LINKS ESTATES Why Rent The Lot When
YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home
Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship Summer AC Tune Up - $99 New 3-Ton AC Units - now $3,995 New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS!
‘A’ RATED AC REPAIR FREE ESTIMATE SAME DAY SERVICE
ROC# 247803 Bonded • Insured
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It! • Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed
We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used Appliances Working or Not
480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured Cleaning Services
Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252
480-405-7588
Homes For Sale
3br, 2ba, 1728sf 45+ Community $305,500 654 Leisure World, Mesa, 85206
ItsJustPlumbSmart.com RESIDENTIAL & SMALL BUSINESS CLEANING SPECIALISTS SINCE 2007 Weekly, biweekly, tri-weekly, or monthly; same talented crew each visit Flexible, customized services to meet individual needs of each client GREEN eco-friendly products used to clean and sanitize Move-in/move-out and seasonal deep cleans Small, family-owned company with GUARANTEED high quality services Always dependable, excellent references, bonded, and insured
FreeFree estimates estimatesat at 480-802-1992 480-802-1992 or or dennis@simplygrandcleaningaz.com reed@simplygrandcleaningaz.com
Concrete & Masonry
Block Fence * Gates
FROM THE UPPER 100’S
602-789-6929 Roc #057163
ASK US HOW YOUR $105,000 CASH INVESTMENT AND OUR SENIOR LOAN PROGRAM ENABLES QUALIFIED 62+ SENIORS MAKING THE LINKS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE HAVE NO MORTGAGE PAYMENT & NO LOT RENT AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN HOME.
Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley
Gawthorp & Associates Realty
YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!
40667 N Wedge Dr • San Tan Valley, AZ 85140
602-402-2213
www.linksestates.net
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
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Concrete & Masonry
DESERT ROCK
CONCRETE & MASONRY CONCRETE BLOCKWALL RETAINING WALL BLOCK FENCE PLANTER BBQ
FOUNDATION DRIVEWAY SIDEWALK PATIO
PAVER • CONCRETE REMOVAL • HARDSCAPE BONDED & INSURED • ROC#321648 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! FREE ESTIMATES • 16 YEARS EXPERIENCE RESIDENTIAL CALL JOHN: 480.797.2985 COMMERCIAL
Doors OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE SERVICING & INSTALLING GARAGE DOORS AND OPERATORS
OPEN 24/7
Home Improvement
Garage/Doors GARAGE DOOR SERVICE East Valley/ Ahwatukee
Broken Springs Replaced Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610
Not a licensed contractor
Handyman HANDYMAN 37 years experience. Drywall, framing, plumbing, painting, electrical, roofing and more. Stan, 602-434-6057 WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO SERVE YOUR CLASSIFIED NEEDS
480.898.6465 • SERVING ALL OF METRO PHOENIX • HONEST AND REPUTABLE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM
HOME REMODELING REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING Move a wall; turn a door into a window. From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all. Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more. All trades done by hands-on General Contractor. Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable. 40 years' experience. Call Ron Wolfgang Office 480-820-8515 Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934
Handyman
Landscape/Maintenance Superstition Landscape Maintenance
Junk Removal PLUS House Cleaning Call or Text Adrian
480•376•9803 or 480•925•1418
Honest & Reliable
Home Improvement
LLC
FREE Estimates
Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician
ACTION CONTRACTING INC. WE DO IT ALL!
Bath & Kitchen Remodels • Car-Port to Garage Conversion Drywall & Stucco Repairs • Plumbing • Electrical • Can Lights Windows • Doors • Cabinets • Painting • Block Fences Wrought Iron Gates • Remodeling • Additions • Patios Tenant Improvements
East Valley
ANOZIRA DOOR SYSTEMS
480-833-7353 - Office 480-430-7737 - Cell A+
-S
C IN
E1
97
8-
LIC/BONDED/INSURED Res/Comm’l ROC#218802
Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems
Call Lance White
480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com
ROC# 256752
Irrigation
aaaActionContractingInc.com
Drywall
JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Baseboards, Crown Molding Reliable, Dependable, Honest!
• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations
• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair
GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY
520.508.1420
All Estimates arethe Free Call: Marks Spot• for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Painting • Flooring • Electrical www.husbands2go.com Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Licensed, Bonded & Insured Decks • Tile••ROC#317949 More!
QUICK RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL!Marks the Spot for ALL Your Ask me about FREE Needs! water testing! Handyman
15 Years Experience • Free Estimates Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! Quality Work Since 1999 Tile • More! josedominguez0224@gmail.com Decks •Affo rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, Not a licensed contractor. 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Electrical Services Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens 9 199 ce Sin rk Wo HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY Affordable, Quality ceBSMALLMAN@Q.COM ✔ Bathrooms 2010, 2011 9 199 Sin rk 2012, “No 2013, Job Too Affordable, Quality Wo And More! 2010, 2011 Small Man!” Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2014 • Panel Changes
480.266.4589
Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 andResident/ Repairs References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor Ahwatukee / References Call Ahwatukee Bruce at 602.670.7038
2012, 2013, 2014
Since 1999 Affordable, Quality Work
Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ a Licensed Contractor • Installation of Insured/ Not Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038
• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •
Hauling
Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel
ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932 Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured
2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014
Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor
MISSED THE DEADLINE? Call us to place your ad online!
480-898-6564
General Contacting, Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198
One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766 Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists
Sprinkler & Drip Systems Repairs • Modifications • Installs
All Remodeling, Additions, Kitchen, Bath, Patio Covers, Garage, Sheds, Windows, Doors, Drywall & Roofing Repairs, Painting, All Plumbing, Electrical, Concrete, Block, Stucco, Stack Stone, All Flooring, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Welding, Gates, Fences, All Repairs.
Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!
Irrigation
• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service
NTY
5-YEAR WARRA
480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671
• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty
480.345.1800 ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded
THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
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Landscape/Maintenance
Painting
High Quality Results
Jose Dominguez Painting & Drywall SEE OUR AD IN DRYWALL! Quick Response to your Call! 15 Years Exp 480-266-4589
TRIM TREES ALL TYPES GRAVEL - PAVERS SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
Not a licensed contractor
Complete Clean Ups
Jose Martinez Not a licensed contractor.
602.515.2767 Insured/Bonded Free Estimates
ALL Pro
T R E E
S E R V I C E
L L C
Prepare for Monsoon Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE
Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com
480-354-5802 Painting
East Valley PAINTERS
480-477-8842
SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY
HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs
We Are State Licensed and Reliable!
480-338-4011
BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED ROC 3297740
ROC#309706
Plumbing
Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541 affinityplumber@gmail.com
www.affinityplumbingaz.com
Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor
10% OFF
We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!
480-688-4770
www.eastvalleypainters.com Now Accepting all major credit cards
Over 30 yrs. Experience
480-706-1453
Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099
Juan Hernandez
Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair
PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!
FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable
Call Juan at
480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.
Anything Plumbing Same Day Service Water Heaters
24/7
Inside & Out Leaks
Bonded
Toilets
Insured
Faucets
Estimates Availabler
$35 off
Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident
Pool Service / Repair
Free Estimates • Senior Discounts
Any Service
Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting
Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131
HYDROJETTING
Your leaks stop here! New Roofs, Repairs, Coatings, Flat Roof, Hot Mopping & Patching & Total Rubber Roof Systems
FREE ESTIMATES & MONSOON SPECIALS
SAME DAY SERVICE 30 Years Experience References Available
Disposals
Voted #1
Family Owned & Operated
Roofing
Plumbing
Licensed Bonded Insured ROC 286561
ACCREDITED BUSINESS ®
Not a licensed contractor
PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! Beat Any Price By 10% • Lifetime Warranty Water Heaters Installed - $799 Unclog Drains - $49 FREE RO UNIT w/Any WATER SOFTENER INSTALL NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 Months!! ‘A’ RATED PLUMBING REPAIR Free Estimates • Same Day Service
Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709
480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com
SHARE WITH THE WORLD! Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today! Call us for details.
class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465 Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online!! Classifieds 480-898-6465
Senior & Military Discounts
480-280-0390
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THE MESA TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 20, 2020