QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE, JANUARY 1, 2023

QC chief targets 10 challenges for his force

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

Despite countless successes and first-ever accomplishments in its first year of existence, Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice said there is still a lot to do to get the department where he wants it to be as it nears its first anniversary Jan. 11.

“This was an extraordinary endeavor for a lot of different reasons,” Brice said. “There’s no step-by-step manual, and to do that in the middle of a pandemic with COVID and supply chains and a lot of the national conversation about policing, in general, it was quite the lift.”

Prior to the department’s formation, Queen Creek was patrolled by the Maricopa

County Sheriff’s Office. Brice said that was a large task for a department that stretched thin by the sheer lack of officers covering a huge swath of geography.

Brice anticipates a quick expansion of the town’s police force, which currently has 74 sworn police officers and 14 administration staff.

“The next five years we are really looking

Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice will be marking his department’s first year of operation Jan. 10, and while he is proud of its accomplishments, he says the force has a long way to get to where he wants it. (Tribune file photo)

2023 will see a spurt of new businesses in town

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

As

for them..

“All these new roadways create new economic corridors,” said Doreen Cott, Queen Creek’s economic development director the last 17 years. “And those hard corners create opportunities for neighborhood retail and shopping centers.

“We anticipate there will be some new retail and restaurants, new neighborhood-business-type services coming in the year ahead.”

Among larger projects, Cott points to a

Central Arizona College Paths to Great Careers

Council rings out the old as it prepares for the new

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

Queen Creek Town Council said its final farewell to three long-time local officials Dec. 21 as their replacements prepare to start their jobs this month.

Council honored the late Mayor Gail Barney, Councilwoman Emilena Turley and Town Manager John Kross, who is leaving after nearly 27 years in Queen Creek government.

Council held the largely ceremonial first half of its meeting in front of a large portrait of Barney, who died in June at age 74.

“Tonight, we honor his service to his beloved town,” Brown said.

A Queen Creek resident since he was 6 months old, Barney reportedly got involved in local politics when he was having trouble getting his tractor across

Germann road. He served on the Planning and Zoning Commission between 1998 and 2002, was appointed to a vacant seat on the council and elected mayor in 2010.

“Instrumental in many of the town’s milestones, Mayor Barney assisted council with strategic decisions that helped propel the community forward including opening Ellsworth loop, starting a fire department, and providing municipal water services,” Brown said.

Turley retired after eight years as a council member, including vice mayor. She cited support from her family and fellow council members for what she considered a successful tenure after being elected in 2014 and again in 2018.

“These council members are my friends,” she said. “I think between the seven us, we likely covered the entire spectrum of the political perspective.

I mean really, we’re quite an array and I think that’s a gift to our community.”

Turley said she had “physical challenges” that made 2020 a difficult year and that those challenges have resurfaced this year “with a vengeance,” which she said made it difficult for her to work as hard as she likes to on town business.

“Being a go-getter and a commitment keeper, it really pulled at me not to feel like I was always doing everything I could. Yet in the midst of that all I had was compassion and support and love,” she said.

Turley said it was time for her to retire and focus on healing.

Mayor-elect Julia called Turley “a kind, compassionate soul.”

Brown called Kross “a man who has seen literally every traffic light.”

“Everything you see out there, literally, to this point has John’s fingerprints

on it,” Brown said.

Kross was honored and sometimes roasted by council members at the meeting, but received a standing ovation.

“I’d like to start out by saying ‘I think I’ve changed my mind,’” Kross joked.

Councilwoman Laura Martineau said in addition to the town projects Kross was focused on, she wondered how he was able to work with seven different personalities on council.

“I think you made each of us feel like the favorite,” Martineau said. “What an amazing legacy you get to leave and see grow.”

Kross is succeeded by assistant town manager Bruce Gardner whose brother Paul Gardner is the town’s public utilities director.

Political newcomers Travis Padilla and Bryan McClure will take seats on the council.

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new Costco store scheduled to open at the end of this month as a major anchor to Queen Creek Crossing at the corner of Ellsworth and Queen Creek roads.

That strip mall also will include the popular Hobby Lobby store and other retailers.

Another large retail project is being developed at the northwest corner of Gantzel and Combs roads, where Vineyard Town Center will feature Queen Creek’s second Sprouts location as well as other retailers.

The site sits southeast of iconic Schnepf Farms, which once sat miles from any development whatsoever. Vineyard Town Center also is just up the street from the relatively new Banner Ironwood Medical Center.

Then there’s the corner of Ellsworth and Riggs roads, where Fry’s Marketplace and a host of other retailers are setting up shop. It also is adjacent to Pecan Plaza, which is under construction, and is across the street from the Fat Cat’s family entertainment venue.

“Retail does follow the rooftops,” Cott said. “We have had very strong residential growth over the last many years, and particularly the last couple.”

Cott said new roads and other capital improvement projects create “economic development corridors offering these opportunities for these new commercial centers.”

She said the town’s growth, wellplanned infrastructure, high median income and a relatively young and upwardly mobile population make Queen Creek attractive to retailers who make a well-placed bet that they will make a profit on their investment.

“We are an attractive location for new retailers that are looking for expansion sites. And grocery stores. They go where the people are. People need groceries. That’s driving those types of developments,” Cott said.

“We definitely planned for this. We work really hard to identify sites that makes sense based on the transportation that’s available, based on the planned rooftops in the area and the surrounding uses.”

First and foremost, she said, retail developers work from the town’s General Plan when any development is occurring – and doing so strategically.

“They don’t put Costcos every mile, right? So, they are very strategic in where they want to locate so we worked very closely with them to identify a site that met their site selection needs, but also worked well in our own community,” she said.

Queen Creek also expanded its commercial development footprint when it annexed 4,100 acres of State Trust Land in the northern part of town that will be prime property for commercial development, Cott said. With convenient access to the State Route 24, that area will be attractive to developers, too.

“And so that alone is going to be a tremendous opportunity for us with the freeway access, the amenities that are nearby with Phoenix Mesa-Gateway, ASU Polytechnic, our town center and our downtown, our wonderful schools within Queen Creek.

“That’s going to offer a tremendous opportunity and set us apart,” she said. “It’s a really great site for future industrial advanced manufacturing development.”

With the development come employment opportunities, as well, though Queen Creek is facing an affordable housing shortage. According to a recent study commissioned by the town, the average two-bedroom apartment rents for over $2,000 per month, far outpacing the wages commercial or retail employees will be earning.

As a result, many people who work in Queen Creek can’t afford to live here.

Beyond all the retail and commercial development opportunities, Queen Creek is sitting on perhaps some of the most coveted real estate in its town center, where Cott said developers are working to create a walkable downtown.

“What that means is creating those more urban blocks,” she said. “So that when you’re walking it doesn’t seem like such a long stretch. We’re trying to create those urban blocks, so shorter blocks.”

Cott said developers will begin a project early this year that will create eastwest “connector roads” that “will connect old Ellsworth Road to Ellsworth Loop Road in our downtown and that is going to be a really important piece of infrastructure because it’s going to create those urban blocks.”

Cott said the town has also created special zoning and design standards for the downtown core to entice entertainment venue development, including modified building height requirements, reduced building setbacks and different parking opportunities.

“All of those factor into creating a vibrant downtown,” she said.

There is prime real estate on the market in the downtown area right now. Cott said Queen Creek has reached a deal for 7 acres west of the library with an entity she declined to identify. The town also is in initial talks with a potential buyer for 3 acres near the U.S. Post Office.

“We really hope to see the downtown development,” she said. 

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Creek Tribune is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Queen Creek

Queen Creek Economic Development Director Doreen Cott sees some exciting developments in retail coming to town this year. (YouTube)

at growing the department rapidly to make sure that we are staying ahead of that curve, rather than being a responsive agency being a proactive agency,” Brice said.

“I would not be surprised if we increase the department by doubling it in the next five years. I think the data is telling us that we’re moving that quickly.”

Brice said the department will need additional professional staff to support the growing number of patrol officers.

“We knew that,” he said. “We just needed to make sure we had enough cops on the street. The support staff are so important.”

As the department enters its second year, Brice is focusing on the top 10 areas that kept officers busy last year – and which will be areas of renewed focus in 2023.

Number 1: Suspicious persons, vehicles, or circumstances.

Brice said the department uses this metric to measure how engaged the community is, which is the number one focus for the department.

“It’s part of our overall strategy to reduce property crime,” he said. “More than 90% of the theft that happens out in the neighborhoods is happening because people are leaving their cars unlocked, their garage doors open, their side gates unlocked, stuff out in the open.”

Brice encourages people to call if they see something suspicious. “It went from one of our really low calls to one of our number one calls, which is great. That means people are helping us.”

Number 2: Mental health emergencies

“This one kind of shocked me when

I first got here,” Brice said. “I saw more mental health calls in town than I have in my entire career in one concentration.”

Brice blames difficult emotional and social situations created by the pandemic for the high number of mental health emergencies, which is close to the top of the list in the number of calls.

He said the department is partnering with other agencies and organizations in town to better understand and serve the needs of people in crisis or dealing with a mental health emergency.

“We have people out there who are specially trained to de-escalate and deal with these crises,” he said.

Number 3: Alarm calls

Brice said this is another high-volume call generator, mostly because of so many false burglar alarms from homes or businesses. He said at least two officers are taken off the street and are not available to respond to a real emergency when they handle a false alarm.

“We are going to be reimplementing a false alarm program that will at some

point have some sort of fees involved if you get a certain number. That is still being worked on right now,” Brice said.

Number 4: Shoplifting/theft

This is a difficult area to police, Brice said, because retailers often have their own deterrents and policies in place for shoplifting.

He said roughly two dozen merchants in town have formed an advisory coalition that meets monthly with the police department and shares information about shoplifting trends, which are often associated with larger, statewide theft operations.

“Part of this coalition is for us to provide the vendors of the businesses training on better ways to deter (crime) or on how the investigations need to be handled and for businesses to share best practices as well as teach us how they want things done when we respond,” Brice said.

He said prior to the formation of the coalition, some businesses were not even reporting shoplifting and simply absorb -

ing them as a “cost of doing business.”

Number 5: Missing persons

Brice said this is one of the department’s more challenging issues since many people reported missing are runaways.

“The amount of resources that every runaway takes is very cumbersome because a detective has to be assigned, there has to be constant follow up, we have to put people out on the road looking for these people,” Brice said.

“Often times, that’s not just local. It moves out to other jurisdictions and sometimes out of state.”

The department also uses night vision, drones, and other technology to help solve missing person cases which are sometimes made more difficult by people who do not want to be found.

Number 6: Vehicle collisions

In its first 10 months of service, Queen Creek officers made 5,685 traffic stops and issued 2,227 citations, far fewer than they could have issued.

“We hand out more warnings than we do citations and that’s on purpose,” Brice said. “It’s not about generating tickets. It’s about changing behavior. Our focus right now is to decrease the injuries.”

Brice said just below community engagement, traffic is the department’s number one priority and is continuing to add resources, including motorcycle officers who can get to places quickly and easily.

“This is one area where I know we need to expand quickly, so our next year’s staffing will be focused heavily on adding traffic enforcement components.”

He also said as the number of roads in-

Queen Creek Police launched their first patrol a year ago Jan. 11. (YouTube)

creases, collisions will decrease because there are multiple routes to the same destination, opening up traffic flow and reducing congestion.

Number 7: DUIs, other trafficrelated crimes

Since the department’s inception, Queen Creek officers have made close to 150 DUI arrests, according to Brice, a number he recently told Town Council will “triple if not quadruple” as the department adds more officers to take aim at DUIs, which he plans to do this year.

“We don’t have a lot of collisions that are necessarily alcohol-related, which is great,” he said. “So that means we are making an impact. We are getting the DUIs off the road before we have people that are injured, but we have had a few. One of our first fatals was alcohol-related.”

The department received $153,000 in grants last fall from the governor’s office of traffic safety to purchase vehicles and new technology to investigate DUI cases.

Number 8: Sex or child-related crimes

Brice said that these crimes are common not just in Queen Creek but in neighboring jurisdictions, and the frequency of calls means residents trust officers enough to report them.

“There’s not a serial rapist or anything like that going around,” Brice said. “We don’t have the random rapes that are happening in other jurisdictions. These are known suspects for the most part that are committing these

crimes. Whether it’s a family member or a significant other or someone they met. These are people we know.”

Brice called these extremely complex cases with very sensitive issues which take well-trained officers to gather evidence, working with schools, hospitals, and other partner agencies in town.

There are currently three detectives assigned to these types of issues, and more will be added, Brice said.

Number 9: Domestic violence

Brice said these types of cases are growing in tandem with the population increase.

He said the department is working to build rapport with the community, encouraging more people to call the police in these types of cases when they may not have in the past for fear of retribution from their partner, or of the cases being dismissed or never investigated due to a lack of officers.

“These are difficult cases and situ-

ations that people are in,” Brice said. “These victims are sometimes reluctant to get out of that cycle. I guess the message out there is if you’re involved in a domestic situation there are ways to improve your situation. There are people who care and we are here to help.”

Number 10: Trespassing, disturbances, noise

Brice sees an increased number of calls

in this category as a positive because people call, which Brice said builds trust between residents and officers.

Brice said noisy parties, trespassing violations or other non-violent offenses are also frequently reported, which allows officers to be proactive and perhaps keep something from turning violent.

“Where we have problems is where if we don’t get involved early and have a way to mitigate those smaller issues, they sometimes grow,” Brice said. “We want that call early and often… if we can intercede early on in a lesser crime, then I’m happy.”

Brice continues to remind people that, as has been the case since day one, the Queen Creek Police Department is focused first and foremost on community engagement and that he considers policing the town a partnership with residents.

“What we want the community to know is that you have a well-trained organization and we have the tools, we have the training and we have the great staff to respond to every call that you call us on,” Brice said. “Community-focused all the time.”

Queen Creek Police have identified 10 priority areas in the community, though Chief Randy Brice said the most important goal for his department is that it remain “community focused all the time.” (Queen Creek Police)

Dogs, parents unite for Super Bowl run/walk in Mesa

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tribune Staff Writer

The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee is holding events around the Valley but for its new fun run in Mesa, it’s bringing four-legged friends into the fold.

Registration is open for the Arizona Super Host Committee 5K-9 Fun Run Presented by PetSmart at azsuperbowl. com/5k9. The family- and pet-friendly event kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Mesa’s Riverview Park.

“Mesa’s been such a great partner,” said Jay Parry, president and chief executive officer at Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee.

“We hope that we’ll have folks join us from around the Valley. We do expect a big turnout from Mesa. We’re excited

to kick off the new year with this. It’s a month from gameday. We want people who are excited about the Super Bowl and want to be a part of it to come out and join us.”

Registration is $30 per person, and a portion of each registration will benefit PetSmart Charities. Plus, two-legged participants receive a commemorative State Forty Eight T-shirt, along with a special bandana for four-legged participants.

Will Smith, PetSmart senior vice president and chief marketing officer, said he is looking forward to the event.

“We know pet parents enjoy getting outside and being active with their pets, so we wanted to offer pets and their people a way to make some great memories together,” Smith said.

“The 5K-9 Fun Run is a chance to share a special experience with your pet, and

it’s fun that supports a cause. Every registration benefits PetSmart Charities, so participants are directly impacting work that transforms the lives of pets and the people who love them.”

The timing is perfect as it aligns with many people’s New Year’s resolutions, Parry added.

“It’s the perfect way to shake off the holidays,” she said. “We will all want to be active for a good new year. Following the fun run – which could also be a fun walk – the participants can ‘TAILgate.’ There will be lots of fun activities at the tailgate – treats and drinks for participants and their dogs.”

The PetSmart MVPets TAILgate experience will allow pet parents to create a custom football player card with their pet’s photo, complete with a souvenir lanyard. The event will also feature

a photo booth, agility platforms and adoptable dogs local animal welfare organizations.

The first 800 pet parents to visit the booth receive free custom-engraved pet tags from TagWorks.

“PetSmart Charities does such a great job here and across the country as the leading fundraiser of pet animal welfare,” Parry said. “We’re so lucky to have them headquartered here in Arizona.” 

Arizona Super Host Committee 5K-9 Fun Run

Presented by PetSmart

When: 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 Where: Riverview Park, 2100 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa Cost: $30 Info: azsuperbowl.com/5k9

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5631 or pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.com

City of Chandler, college partner on student jobs

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

The City of Innovation is doing it again.

“Other municipalities are calling me saying, ‘How’d you guys do that?’” said Rae Lynn Nielsen, the city’s human resources director.

They’re calling about a new internship partnership between Chandler and Chandler-Gilbert Community College, asking, “What are you guys doing? What does it look like?’”

Like many other employers, the city is having trouble filling open position. Nielsen said they currently have about 110 openings. The college has about 13,000 students who are looking for real-world work experience to both give them an edge when they enter the work force, and also to give them a taste for different jobs that are out there to make sure they are on the right career path.

The city and college have teamed up address both of their needs. They are sharing one employee, Devon Mohan, to coordinate CGCC students taking on internships with the city.

The city and college are splitting the cost of Mohan’s salary and benefits in half. He has two supervisors, one who works for the college and Nielsen, who works for the city.

A pilot program kicks off this month with an expected hire of 10 interns to work at city departments for between 10 and 19 hours a week. The city will pay them for their work. The internships will last either 12 or 16 weeks.

Nielsen said the city has a history of finding some good employees through internships. “We have 25-year employees that are here based on those programs,” she said. “So I think that’s our goal is to hopefully bring them in and keep them.”

Mohan has been meeting with the city’s department heads to figure out how CGCC students can help.

“That was a really exciting piece for me, was getting to go around and meet all of the various departments that are

here, ask them ... ‘where could you see an intern fitting in with your department, your division? What would they learn,’ and then I would get to tie it back to the academic programs that we offer at the college.”

Mohan’s job will be to match what students want to learn with openings the city has. For example, one student

wants to be a wedding planner, which is not something the city does. However, the city does have an events coordinator, who stages major events like the Parade of Lights and Chandler Contigo festival.

Nielsen said many inside the city are looking forward to the interns starting. “There’s a lot of buzz at the director

level,” Nielsen said. “’When are we going to start this?’”

The city used to get most of its high school interns from the Cooperative Office Education program, but Nielsen said they phased that out. She said they hope to bring it back at some point.

She said a number of those 25-year employees she was talking about earlier came from that program. The city also takes interns from other schools, including Arizona State University.

However, the partnership with Chandler-Gilbert Community College is a new concept that they hope will inspire college students to think about careers in city government.

Nielsen said, “I mean, I’ve been in local government at three different places, and people always think of police, fire, garbage.

“When we start talking about the museum and the Center for the Arts, and all the social media side of it, we’re really trying to highlight all of the exciting things that we have.”

The city is just one employer looking to get students interested in their openings. The college often hears from businesses that are also struggling to bring in new employees.

“In career services, we do get constant emails and phone calls from employers saying we have all these gaps to fill help us, and everyone’s saying, ‘Oh, can we come to make classroom presentations?’” said Deb Ruiz, the manager for academic advisement and career services for the college. She’s Mohan’s other supervisor. “We can’t have 100 employers come and take classroom time away to make a presentation.”

Mohan said he’s eager to get to work, for both the city and the college.

“I’m excited,” Mohan said. “I don’t think that all of the students at Chandler Gilbert Community College are aware of the amount of opportunities that are just a couple traffic lights down.

“So I have the ones who are already reaching out to me, but I am excited to continue to reach out to the other students as well.” 

Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s Deb Ruiz works with a federal work student at the school as part of her job overseeing a new partnership with the city to place students in internships. (Chandler-Gilbert Community College)

Devon Mohan works for both the City of Chandler and Chandler-Gilbert Community College to help place students in city internships. (City of Chandler)

Chandler Unified to launch open enrollment this month

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

Trish Do said she values being able to speak in multiple languages.

“I feel like a second language is very important, especially in Arizona, especially the Spanish language,” she said. “It will help them so much for jobs in the future.”

Trish enrolled her son Leo in kindergarten at Chandler Traditional Academy—Freedom Campus after that school started a Spanish dual language immersion program.

In addition to learning Spanish for half a day at school - he spends the other half in English-speaking classes – Leo speaks Vietnamese at home. If he continues, Leo should be fluent in three languages by the time he reaches high school.

CTA Freedom will be expanding its dual language immersion program next year to include first grade, Principal Christina Lucas-Sheffield said.

“That’s the beautiful thing about the program is that it attracted people from near and far,” Lucas-Sheffield said. “So we have some existing family, some community members, that have already been established at CTA Freedom. And then we have families who are coming all the way from Queen Creek or Phoenix.”

Open enrollment beings Jan. 9 for Chandler Unified School District for families that live outside of the current attendance boundaries. The enrollment period for families inside the boundary begins Jan. 11.

Chandler Unified School District is trying to draw more students in from outside its boundaries because of declining enrollment. The district is currently de-

bating what to do with nine schools as officials expect fewer students will be attending in the future.

The primary cause for declining enrollment, according to a study session the district held last spring, is the high cost of housing in the Chandler area. Young families can’t afford to live or move here, so they are moving to areas with cheaper housing.

To combat that, CUSD is spending more money on marketing, nearly $500,000 this year, to convince families Chandler Unified is a premier district of choice.

And, the district is offering more programs officials hope will entice families to choose CUSD. That includes dual language immersion programs. In addition to Spanish at four schools, the district

also has schools (Tarwater Elementary and Bogle Junior High) that have a Mandarin program.

Stephanie Ingersoll, the district’s executive director of marketing and communications, said the key thing to know about open enrollment is that applications are time-stamped. So, getting them in early could help when it comes to placement at some of the district’s most attractive schools.

“It’s a very busy day,” Ingersoll said of the first day of open enrollment. “The phones are ringing off the hook, people are coming in. Everything is taken based on that timestamp.”

Chandler Unified is also offering gifted academies for students who test high enough on the Cognitive Abilities Testing.

The district also offers the Chandler Traditional Academy campuses, where teachers and parents work in a partnership to improve their children’s education. Arizona College Prep is ranked as one of the best high schools in the nation.

For parents who are unsure which school might be best for their child, the district is offering to help guide them to the best choice.

For Do, and her son Leo, that was CTA Freedom.

“I wish they offered it for my son, my oldest, because it’s amazing how [Leo’s] doing,” Do said. “He’s learning and it hasn’t really hasn’t affected the English portion at all. So his grades are still up in English and his grades are pretty good in Spanish.”

That’s exactly what Principal Lucas-Sheffield likes to hear. She said she pushed to add a dual language immersion program.

“What type of educational experience would I like my child to have?” she asked herself when she first considered it. “I was thinking why not provide students with the gift of a second language? I started talking to community members, different parents, and I surveyed our staff. They wanted us to do it.” 

CUSD Open Enrollment

When: Opens 7:30 a.m., Jan. 9 for students outside the attendance area; it opens 9 a.m., Jan. 11 for in-boundary registration.

How to register: cusd80.com

Open house: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Jan. 23

Kindergarten students at Chandler Traditional Academy Freedom Campus participate in a Spanish immersion class. The school plans to expand its dual language immersion program to first grade next year. (Ken Sain/Tribune Staff)

Waste Not leader chosen for special program

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

Each year, sustainability nonprofit Arizona Forward selects a handful of professionals from around the state to become “emerging leaders in sustainability action.”

So it was no surprise that Arizona Forward President/CEO Lori Singleton welcome Hillary Bryant to the Emerging Sustainability Leaders 2022-23 program for her commitment, professionalism, and passion for environmental sustainability.

“I have a very deep love for my environment,” said Bryant, executive director of the Scottsdale nonprofit Waste Not, which at 35 years claims to be one of the oldest food rescue organizations in the U.S.

Its aim is to “transform a broken system by connecting tens of thousands of Arizonans with quality food that would otherwise go to waste” and said it has “diverted more than 100 million meals from landfills to the plates of struggling families.”

“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as an Emerging Leader in Sustainability through Arizona Forward’s leadership program,” Bryant said in a statement. “This year’s cohort is full of extraordinary people that are dedicated to climate action and sustainability, and I am proud to walk alongside them as we continue to create meaningful change and impact in Arizona.”

From a young age, Bryant grew up in Gilbert when the town still had a strong farm presence. She also would visit her grandfather’s house in the White Mountains and the area near Show Low.

“As I grew up, I started volunteering for different types of nonprofits, none of them were really sustainability focused, per se, but I grew to love my community,” Bryant said.

Not until college did Bryant join her love for the environment with a love for her community.

In 2017, she graduated with a bachelor’s in public health from Northern Arizona University, where she focused much of her degree program on environmental health and creating systems that help people and the planet, specifically how our communities and environment shape us and our health.

Bryant said she is dedicated to creating lasting, systemic change in Arizona and is excited by Arizona Forward’s opportunity to meet and learn from others who have advanced sustainability efforts in the state.

“I am so excited to be immersed in this program for the next seven months and to create partnerships that can bring awareness to the connection between food waste, climate change, and

the well-being of local communities,” she said.

Bryant said the program consists of experts from government, architecture, energy, water, and land and forest conservation.

But Bryant said she’s only one of two people in the program that focuses on food systems, and she loves that.

“I really love bringing the perspective of food waste and circular economy,” Bryant said. “Because it’s not necessarily a part of sustainability that people think about right away.”

“We really have a dual mission of alleviating hunger and then also keeping good food out of the landfill, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions, specifically methane,” Bryant said.

It’s that dual mission that attracted Bryant to join the nonprofit in the first place.

Waste Not comprises a team of professional drivers and food rescue volunteers to collect fresh food from local food businesses such as catering companies, resorts, and event venues, and deliver that food the same day to nonprofits who provide critical community services, such as housing and employment assistance.

Each year, 40% of food is thrown away, while nearly 1 million people in Arizona are struggling with food insecurity, and last year, Waste Not “rescued” nearly 2.4 million pounds of food and redirecting it to critical community services such as housing and employment assistance.

“I really love that we’re so efficient that we can tackle two problems at once, in such a meaningful way,” Bryant said.

Anyone can reduce food waste, Bry-

Hillary Bryant has been recognized for her commitment to sustainability as head of the nonprofit Waste Not. (Social Television Network)

ant said.

They can consider composting, paying attention to expiration dates, planning out household portions more accurately, utilizing clear containers to know what is being stored in the refrigerator and then following the FIFO Method – first in, first out.

“The things that basically have an expiration date that’s closer, you put that at the front of your fridge and you use those things first,” Bryant said.

Bryant said she looks forward to the rest of the program and learning from other experts.

“I think it’s very much needed and I’m really happy to be alongside other emerging leaders that care deeply about the same issues that I do,” Bryant said.

Hillary will be part of “a talented and diverse group of other young professionals that will be leading the charge to expand environmental sustainability in their communities and their places of business,” Singleton said. 

WARNING! PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND

CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT

WORKING!!

Mesa AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

Thankfully, Mesa is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Aspen Medical in Mesa AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00.

Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Aspen Medical begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until January 31st 2023. Call (480) 274-3157 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers Y OU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (480) 274-3157 NOW!! We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Aspen

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

QC passes short-term rental registrations

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

By a vote of 3-2, Town Council has placed new restrictions on shortterm rental properties in Queen Creek and will require owners to obtain a business license with the town.

Vice Mayor Jeff Brown, council members Robin Benning and Dawn Oliphant voted in favor of the resolution while Laura Martineau and mayor-elect Julia Wheatley voted against. Councilwoman Emelina Turley retired earlier in the meeting, thus did not vote on the measure.

Brown called the measure good for Queen Creek. “It’s not draconian,” he said. “It’s not an example where government is overstepping its bounds, in my estimation.”

In addition to requiring owners to have a license to rent out their properties, the new restrictions establish certain guidelines and penalties for conduct at the homes as well as on who can rent them out.

According to AirDNA.com, which tracks many short-term rentals, Queen Creek has 64 properties for rent. Of them, 51% are listed on Airbnb, 20% listed on Vrbo and 29% on both.

Guidelines require be renters are not registered sex offenders, convicted of any felony act that resulted in death or serious physical injury, or convicted of any felony use of a deadly weapon within the last five years. Owners must show that their property is registered with the County, and “proof of lawful presence in the United States.”

The measure also establishes fines of between $500 and $3,500 for violators. The regulation drew spirited debate among council members.

Queen Creek has 64 short-term rentals that advertise on either Airbnb, Vrbo or both, according to AirDNA.com, which tracks such properties. (AirDNA)

“I’m going to have to move forward and not support this ordinance change, just because to me it’s more regulation, red tape. I think we all have benefitted, I know I have benefitted renting out Airbnb’s or whatever short-term rentals,” said Martineau.

“I think it’s a very creative way that our society has come about being able to go and visit and to travel and so I’d hate to put any limitation on that or to make it so that anyone might not want to do that because of any type of regulation,” she said.

Wheatley agreed, saying the measure creates additional bureaucracy that could eventually require an additional town staff person to oversee.

“It’s difficult because I definitely see both sides, but for me it’s that additional regulation and how cumbersome that can be,” Wheatley said. “Ultimately, at the end of the day, with this type of thing it truly is something the free mar-

ket will determine.

“If it is not something that is clean or sanitary or all of the things that you can regulate against, then people do not rent that Airbnb,” she continued. “The ratings go down and ultimately it sells and changes hands. At the end of the day, I don’t know what it is accomplishing… just additional regulation on property rights.”

Neither Benning nor Oliphant spoke to support their yes votes, but Brown offered more support for the measure.

“The ordinance in front of us is for public safety and quality of life,” Brown said, adding:

“In large part, what we are talking about here are investment type properties, some of which are literally being run like hotels and they are operating in otherwise quiet, family oriented suburban neighborhoods.

“We’re here to get out in front of the issue so that we don’t have a shooting at one of these things like they had in

Scottsdale recently.”

Brown added that while short term rentals have been a largely successful business proposition for the property owners, often the neighbors of these properties complain of excessive noise, drunken parties, vandalism and other neighborhood rule violations that can sometimes require police presence.

The Legislature passed a measure in 2022 that allowed but did not mandate short term rental operators to obtain a business license from their city or town, and that allowed municipalities to impose additional regulations, if they so desired.

Brown reiterated that Queen Creek’s restrictions are relatively minor, but that if not passed, the town could see a lot more short-term rental traffic than it currently does.

“Queen Creek is not now a magnet for this type of property,” Brown said. “We’re not necessarily near some of the highest attractions in terms of like a Super Bowl or a Phoenix Open golf tournament.”

But Brown went on to say, other communities that are adopting more stringent protocols could drive more short-term rental traffic to Queen Creek, making it “the place to go because it’s so much easier to operate,” he said. “That’s a huge problem for me.”

Nationally and even internationally, Airbnb has recently imposed limits on properties listed on its site, which are designed to keep renters from advertising parties at the rental properties.

Airbnb has an entire page on its website devoted to describing various bans and restrictions on its services, from license requirements and zoning ordinances to tax laws and landlord-tenant restrictions. 

QueenCreekTribune.com | @QCTribune @QCTribune

Sinema helps Congress stick it to taxpayers

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

If you thought the “Christmas Rush” that you and other holiday shoppers faced was daunting, think again.

In Washington, an allegedly “lame duck” Congress churned furiously through fetid swamp water in a “Christmas Rush” of its own.

Smelling jet fumes, the dirty birds in charge of both the House and Senate hatched a scheme for a high-priced and low-down flight path out of town… and the “gift” they gave you will keep on taking.

Our kids and grandkids—not to mention today’s taxpayers—just got stuck with a huge holiday shopping expenditure: a $1.7 trillion 4,000-plus page “Omnibus Bill,” with interest payments on our national debt compounded by the nanosecond.

What the legislative leaders lacked in originality, they more than made up for in the astronomical price tag and the slapdash way in which this “buying binge” was formulated.

“Omnibus” translates to “everything, including the kitchen sink.”

“Ominous” is the rhyming well-worn one-word joke played on the American people with disturbing regularity. And, as so often in the past, the calculations

were not mathematical, but strategic.

Democrats in the House, Senate, and White House knew that they could cram one bill full of pork, policies, and their priorities, then get enough Republicans to “roll over” so everybody could leave town and head home for Christmas.

Add to that conspiring “Capitol Gang” one newly-minted “Independent” from Arizona.

As explained a couple of weeks ago in this space, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s boldly proclaimed “independence” is instead disguised deference to the Senate Democrat leadership.

A sudden and shameful reversal on a key vote by Arizona’s senior senator reveals the Grand Canyon-sized gulf between Kyrsten’s rhetoric and the ugly reality.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced an amendment that would have preserved Title 42, the Trump executive action helping to stem the flow of illegals across our southern border.

Of course, the “Biden Bunch” is eager to rescind it, even though it would mean that the number of alien invaders would rise even higher.

Lee had high hopes that his amendment would pass, as he later told the Fox Business Network. “For eight glorious minutes, we had it won,” Lee said.

“Then, all of a sudden, [Democrat Leader] Chuck Schumer pulled a couple of members off the floor—Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin. He twisted their arms—who knows what he told them, what he threatened them with – they came back and changed their votes.”

Not much imagination is needed to know what Schumer said to Sinema. Most likely, it went something like this: “Kyrsten, I like you personally. Politically, I want to do for you what Mitch McConnell did on the other side for Lisa Mur-

kowski. Wasn’t that something?

“His Leadership PAC bought seven million bucks worth of ads to keep Lisa in her seat in Alaska. Of course, that was easier for him to do because Lisa remained a Republican.

“I know Arizona is different from Alaska, and you did what you thought you needed to do…but it’s gonna be tough for me to keep the DSCC from sending money to a Democrat candidate for your seat. And it will be even tougher if you support this GOP Amendment. It will be easier for me to help you if you switch your vote to ‘no’ on this amendment, and then vote ‘yes’ on final passage.”

Do we know for certain that Schumer said that? No, but we do know that Sinema switched her vote to kill that amendment, then voted for the entire Omnibus Bill…all $1.7 trillion of it.

There is border security funding in that monstrosity, but none of it will be spent here.

Instead, there’s $410 million to strengthen borders in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Oman. You read that right: money for middle east borders, but nothing for this border state in the southwest.

And Uncle Sam keeps playing Santa Claus in the Ukraine. The Omnibus provides another $45 billion there, bringing the total to over $100 billion in aid to that nation. While it is true that Russia invaded Ukraine, the United States is also being invaded, and our southern border erased.

Spending $100 billion here would fund 20 border walls, but Sinema remains silent on that type of expenditure to protect Arizona and America.

Sinema has made it clear: her “Declaration of Independence” came at a heavy price to American taxpayers.

But it remains a cheap stunt. 

Gem and mineral show coming to Mesa

BY MARC FLEISCHER GetOut Contributor

Some people know Evan A. Jones as a member of Xtra Ticket, a Grateful Dead tribute band that started in 1994.

The Cave Creek resident takes on Bob Weir’s role, playing guitar and vocals.

But Jones is well established as a serious gem and mineral collector and dealer and he’s taking part in the 50th annual Flagg Gem & Mineral Show next weekend, Jan 6-8, in Mesa Community College’s southwest parking lot at Southern Avenue and Dobson Road.

The Flagg Gem & Mineral Show is very special to Jones, the son of Bob Jones, editor of Rock and Gem Magazine and author of “The Frugal Collector.”

The younger Jones has been surrounded by minerals his entire life.

“My father gave me a fossil set at age 7 along with fossil and geology books, which really started things for me. Prior to that, minerals were just the cool things in my dad’s cabinets and collection drawers. No other family members were really interested at the time,” Jones said.

By age 12, he was attending shows with his father. Later, as an adult, he began participating as a dealer.

“Back in the old days it was all about visiting rock shops and attending shows,” he said. “What’s great about the Flagg show is that many of the dealers have been participating for decades, and they’ve passed their love of collecting down to their kids and grandkids.”

It’s the largest and longest-running gem and mineral show in the metro Phoenix area and attracts thousands of people every year, ranging from serious collectors to families with young children. Admission and parking are free. This year’s golden anniversary event

will feature more than 100 dealers who will showcase and sell a variety of minerals, fossils, gems, beads, jewelry and lapidary materials. In addition, several organizations will exhibit educational information and the event features fun children’s activities, including gold panning.

A native of Arizona, Jones found it natural to specialize and collect minerals from the Grand Canyon State. He was on the advisory board in the early planning stages of the new Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Over the years, he has split his time between performing with his band, buying and selling minerals, and attending

gem and mineral shows.

“I chose to join a Grateful Dead tribute band because it’s my favorite genre of music,” Jones said.

“They basically invented what’s now known as ‘jam band’ music. Xtra Ticket has played for deadheads all over the country.”

He said he knows many mineral collectors and dealers who started collecting or vending while on Grateful Dead or other jam band tours.

In addition to going to shows, Jones has explored more than 100 underground mines throughout the state. “Most were devoid of specimens, but the thrill of exploring underground is a strong pull,” he said.

He estimates that his current collection has more than 1,000 specimens, all from Arizona.

“It’s hard to pick a favorite. I really love wulfenite, the official state mineral of Arizona,” he said.

“It has tabular crystals with a bright orange-red to yellow-orange color. I also love azurite, which is characterized by its soft, deep blue color. Cuprite is also a mineral I enjoy collecting. A soft, heavy, red oxide mineral, it’s also called red copper ore and it can form beautiful crystals.”

Jones credits the internet with reviving interest in collecting gems and minerals. “I’m seeing a lot of new collectors, and many are very knowledgeable and sophisticated,” he said.

But attending a show provides a chance to meet dealers and examine specimens in person.

“If you’re just starting your collection, go to as many shows as you can,” Jones said. “Look at mineral dealers’ inventory, examine their specimens and read the labels. That’s the quickest way to learn minerals and the hobby.”

Jones said one reason he likes the Flagg Gem & Mineral Show is because there’s really something for everyone.

“I like the friendly, hometown attitude and easygoing nature of the show,” he said. “There’s good camaraderie with other dealers, there are plenty of great finds for seasoned and new collectors, it’s a ton of fun for kids, and there are amazing deals and fair prices.”

The Flagg Mineral Foundation is a memorial to A.L. Flagg who was a renowned and inspirational founder of the Mineralogical Society of Arizona. The Flagg Mineral Foundation is a non-profit scientific and educational organization.

Information: flaggmineralfoundation.org 

Evan A. Jones will showcase his collection at the Flagg Gem & Mineral Show Jan. 6-8. (Courtesy of Evan A. Jones)

Now Hiring in Mesa!