Queen Creek Tribune 02/05/2023

QC senator casts doubts on school spending cap waiver

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

State lawmakers took the first tentative steps last week to ensure that public schools don’t have to shut down before the end of the academic year.

But it remains unclear whether there are the votes in the full Legislature to make that happen – especially as a Queen Creek lawmaker has raised doubts about whether

school districts have earned it.

Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, head of the Freedom Caucus, said the group’s members – about a third of all legislative Republicans – have questions about whether the money the schools already have is being properly spent. As proof, he cited figures that only 28% of eighth graders are considered “proficient’’ in reading.

“And only 32% of 11th graders were able to pass the state’s math assessment,’’

Riding

Hoffman said.

The problem, he said, is that schools are not emphasizing “the basics.’’

“They’ve now embarked on ideologies and political ideologies that, unfortunately, don’t help children achieve proficiency in reading or math or English or history or science,’’ Hoffman said. He specifically mentioned “critical race theory, comprehensive

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

Thompson Thrift Commercial, a national real estate company, has paid Queen Creek-based Barney Farms about $30-million for 67 acres of land at the southwest corner of Germann and Meridian roads for the first phase of a mammoth light industrial center.

The 67 acres will be home to 400,000 square feet of light industrial space for the Germann Commerce Center, which will total 1-million square feet at buildout.

“Queen Creek is one of the fastest growing cities in Arizona and has emerged as a preeminent industrial submarket,” said Ashlee Boyd, managing partner for Thompson Thrift Commercial.

“We value the relationship our company has established with the city of Queen Creek over the years, and we are excit-

The Queen Creek Police Department brought some smiles to this little girl, identified only as Liliana by her parents, and hundreds of other kids when it showed up with an all-terrain vehicle at Gilbert Regional Park for the Truck-A-Palooza presented by Earnhardt Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Jan. 28. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

New town manager eager to fill his mentor’s big shoes

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

When Town Manager Bruce Gardner’s family moved to Queen Creek in 1990, he landed a job that kept him on his feet and, in a way, set him on what eventually became his career path.

“I was working with my brother in the summer reading water meters,” Gardner chuckled. “That was one of my first jobs. You had to hand read them. Lift up the meter cover and look at the numbers on there and write them down.”

Now, Gardner is creating the town’s budget, water meters and all, after he was hired to replace his predecessor John Kross, who stepped down after more than 26 years in Queen Creek government, serving as town manager since 2007.

“Definitely some big shoes to fill,” Gardner said of Kross. “John has seen everything for the most part that has impacted Queen Creek. And while I see that as big shoes to fill, I appreciated the opportunity to work for him.”

Taking the reins from his mentor and eager to make his own mark on the position, Gardner said he is content, at least for a little while, with being in Kross’s shadow.

“That’s going to remain for a little bit,”

Garner said. “And I’m OK with that. John has done an excellent job. I am going to put my own stamp on the town manager role. What that stamp is kind of remains to be seen but I hope when I look back in three to five years as I serve in this position that it’s something I very proud to look back on.”

Bruce’s older brother, Paul, is the town utilities director. It was not planned that way; neither brother was involved in each other’s hiring, nor had any influence or input in the process.

But the Gardner family and Queen Creek have a long association.

“My grandfather lived in Queen Creek since the ‘50’s,” Bruce Gardner said. “My grandfather ran the water company. He worked for the Ellsworth family that was farming out here.

“Somehow, he ended up with the water company portion of that farming company. That’s the ties that I have with Queen Creek. My grandfather was one of the original families out here.”

Gardner was assistant town manager during the entire time Kross held his

position.

He had a front row seat to Kross’s management style as he worked with the Town Council as well as Queen Creek’s regional partners and residents. Gardner said he will use the lessons he learned from Kross going forward.

“The goal of me taking this role is to continue that momentum that John has created,” Gardner said.

Gardner said he will prioritize working with Mayor Julia Wheatley and council members on infrastructure projects, economic development, public safety, financial programs, and the never-ending growth issue, which can pose challenges even in a well-managed town.

“Queen Creek continues to be one of the fastest growing communities not only in Arizona, but in the country,” he said. “And that’s one of the challenges that has remained for several years and will continue to remain.”

Gardner said communication with the council is as important as leadership, and

BRUCE GARDNER

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Town centralizes its volunteer program

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Citing 84,000 hours of donated community service in 2022, Queen Creek is centralizing its volunteer program to help streamline and enhance the opportunities residents have to give back – and encourage them to get involved with their community.

Based on the estimated value of a volunteer hour, people donated more than $2.5 million dollars’ worth of time and talent last year, according the town.

“We so appreciate the time and service our volunteers provide,” said Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “Our residents have such a mix

of skills and knowledge; it is exciting to know it will be easier than ever to share those talents.

“Not only does volunteering increase community engagement, and save taxpayer dollars, it really is hard not to smile when you’re serving.”

The program includes one place to find all town volunteer opportunities, a primary point of contact, background screenings for applicable positions, and options for volunteers to provide feedback.

Statewide, 30% of residents volunteered almost 161-million hours of service last year with a monetary value of about $3.8-billion, ranking

see VOLUNTEERS page 6

he has made that a priority right away.

“I want to make sure I continue that

level of information sharing,” he said. “Council is only effective as the information that is shared with them. One of the main roles as town manager is to make

sure they have the information they need to set the agendas.”

Gardner said he also intends to provide leadership to department heads and employees, listening and assessing their needs while adhering to the guidance of the town’s Master Plan.

“This role manages an organization that’s near 500 employees,” he said. “So that is a challenge in itself.”

Given all the obligations and responsibilities he faces, Gardner said his most important priority will be drafting a spending plan for the council’s consideration, which currently totals more than $730-million.

“Over the first six months I will be working with our financial team to create a town manager budget that I can submit to the council for their approval for next fiscal year,” he said. “I have felt that local government is where you can make the most impact on the residents that you serve.”

“My goal as I take this role is to look back and not have any regrets of serving our council and our community. I live here. My kids went to school here and I want to do everything that I can to improve the quality of life of not only my family but also the residents who work here.”

Queen Creek is doing a national search to fill Gardner’s assistant town manager position. 

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

Queen Creek resident Donna Johnson is one of the town’s many volunteers. (Special to the Tribune)

sexuality education, gender confusion ideology.’’

Hoffman also told KTAR talk show host Mike Broomhead he is not concerned about the issues raised by Horne about closing schools and how parents might resent lawmakers whose votes against waiving the limit would force schools to close before the end of the year.

“I understand there is the concern about political fallout,’’ he said.

“But the reality is, doing the right thing is our job,’’ Hoffman continued, saying he and his supporters want to support students going to public schools. “So if that means I don’t win my reelection because I’m standing up for parents and standing up for the kids that are in our schools, so be it.’’

The House Education Committee voted 8-1 late Tuesday for a one-year waiver of the constitutional “aggregate expenditure limit’’ on what schools can spend.

If there is not final action by the Legislature by March 1, schools collectively will be forced to cut nearly $1.4 billion they already have been allocated for the current year about 17% of their annual

State Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, seen here in at a press conference last month with members of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, said he’s not worried about threats by schools of massive layoffs if the spending cap is not lifted on districts. (Capitol Media Services)

budgets -- and do it before the end of June, which translates out to cutting 70% of their budget for the last few months of the school year.

That would leave Higley with $16 million it can’t spend, Gilbert Public Schools with $39.9 million and Chandler Unified

with $54.4 million in state funding that would essentially be frozen, according to state Department of Education estimates. State schools chief Tom Horne, a Republican like a majority of lawmakers, urged committee members to approve the measure to avoid what he said would

be “an incredible disaster.’’

“If we have a 70% cut and two-thirds of the teachers are laid off, I believe parents all over the state, of all political ideologies, will greatly resent what was done to their kids,’’ he said.

Horne pointed out all the waiver does is permit schools to spend the money already approved by the Legislature.

“I think it is in the interests of everyone in this room that the actions of the Legislature be respected,’’ he said.

“And that means respecting the budget that was passed,’’ Horne explained. “And that means we must pass HCR 2001 and provide an exception to the aggregate expenditure limit

Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, who is the sponsor of HCR 2001 to waive the limit, said shuttering schools should not be acceptable to fellow Republicans. It remains to be seen, however, whether the Republicans who control the House and Senate will provide the necessary votes or insist on some concessions from Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs to approve some of the things they want. And what some want is what they call “reforms.’’

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Cook told Capitol Media Services he is open to looking at these issues – but not now.

“Those are discussions to happen after this,’’ he said. “This is to clean up last year’s budget.’’

That has to do with the fact that legislators last year, with a state budget surplus, provided additional dollars to public schools, restoring many of the cuts made in the prior decade.

A 1980 voter-approved constitutional amendment caps total education spending at what it was then, with annual adjustments for inflation and student growth. But the new infusion of funds, coupled with a decline in enrollment due to COVID, puts that cap now at close to $1.4 billion less than what the nearly $7.8 billion schools already have.

That 1980 constitutional amendment does allow lawmakers to enact one-year waivers, which is what HCR 2001 seeks to do.

Approval takes a two-thirds vote of

VOLUNTEERS

from page 4

Arizona 34th in the country, according to the AmeriCorps, a national group that coordinates and keeps track of volunteer efforts in all the states.

Utah tops that list, with 51% of people saying they volunteer in their community, according to AmeriCorps.

The Queen Creek program will help people develop skills and provide new opportunities for volunteers to use them in the community.

“The Town is also committed to provid-

both the House and Senate. And that, in turn, means a minority of lawmakers – 21 representatives out of 60 and 11 of the 30 senators – can effectively veto the waiver unless they get what they want.

Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, told Capitol Media Services he will not bring the waiver to the floor unless a majority of his 16 Republicans agree. So that gives just nine of them a veto.

The most recent report by state Auditor General Lindsay Perry says Arizona schools, on average, spend 55.3% of their dollars on instruction. But she said that figure does not paint the whole picture of what is effectively going into the classroom.

For example, Perry said, student support, consisting of counselors, audiologists, speech pathologists, nurses, social workers and attendance services, all necessary parts of running a school, ate up another 9.1% of every dollar.

And there was 5.8% for instructional support, defined as librarians, teacher

ing a safe, positive and friendly environment, while providing recognition and appreciation for volunteers,” the statement said.

Right now, volunteer opportunities include assisting with events, participating in the town’s Citizen Leadership Institute, a program for senior citizen and to take part in the Community Emergency Response Team.

For more on volunteer opportunities and to sign up: QueenCreekAZ.gov/Volunteer. 

training, curriculum development and instruction-related technology services. That brought what she considers total classroom spending up to 70.2% versus 69.3% the prior year.

Schools also spent an average of 11.7% on building maintenance, equipment repair and the costs to heat and cool buildings.

There also was 4.0% for food service and 3.7% for the cost of operating the school bus fleet.

What’s left is 10.4% for administration. That includes superintendents, principals business manages and other staff who do everything from accounting to payroll.

And there is data to show that Arizona schools spend less on administration on a per-student basis than the national average.

Hoffman, however, said he is not convinced that teachers and classroom instruction are getting as much as they should.

“So we’re calling for these reforms to accompany the AEL’’ waiver, he said.

“And we need Katie Hobbs and we need Republican leadership and Democrats to come to the table,’’ Hoffman continued. “This is something we should all be able to agree upon.’’

Hobbs, however, has given no indication she wants to deal.

A temporary waiver would solve the problem for only this year.

Hobbs said earlier this month at an event in Avondale that it is time for the expenditure limit to go away, since this is the second year in a row the limit was reached and it is likely to happen again.

“We can keep suspending it every year and going through this exercise, but we need to repeal it,’’ Hobbs said. That, however, requires a public vote.

“And if the Legislature is not willing to refer a measure to the ballot to do that, then I’m willing to lead that effort to get the initiative on the ballot to that,’’ the governor said.

Bob Christie of Capitol Media Services contributed to this report. 

ed to bring another great project to this dynamic community,” she added.

“With strong demand from industries such as electric vehicle manufacturing, distribution, aerospace and defense, and pharmaceutical users we expect that the Germann Commerce Center will be a welcome addition to this dynamic region.”

Thompson Thrift also has been involved in Queen Creek Town Center development.

The Germann Commerce Center is located near the site where Korea-based LG Manufacturing would be building the lithium battery plant.

“The potential for the LG battery plant to go in basically kitty corner to this site is certainly not the major driver, but is certainly an important factor,” said developer Jason Barney, who helped broker the family’s sale of the land to Thompson Thrift.

LG has not given any recent indication of a timetable for the plant’s construction.

Queen Creek has also expanded its access to the State Route 24, making the

from page 1 Student Choice. Student Voice.

area more attractive to potential employers and employees. It also annexed 4,100 acres of State Trust Land in 2019 for which it has actively been courting industrial development.

“This project will bring a significant amount of speculative industrial space to the community,” town Economic Development Director Doreen Cott said of the new Germann Commerce Center.

“The project is also located in an area

where the Town has seen significant interest from large employers and businesses looking for industrial space due to its proximity to SR24 and other key assets in the area.

“This industrial development will help support the Economic Development Department’s efforts to bring new employers to Queen Creek,” she said.

This is the latest in a series of land deals that Barney Farms has made.

The family recently sold the longtime Barney Family Sports Complex on E. Queen Creek Road to the town for $11-million.

The town plans to convert it to a public safety storage and evidence facility for the fire and police services following a $45-million renovation.

The Barney name is nearly synonymous with Queen Creek. The family dates to the 1940s in town, as does the family farm, for which Jason Barney partly oversees deals like the one that resulted in the Germann Commerce Center.

“The Barney family and the town of Queen Creek started working together in the 1990’s to attract employment users to Queen Creek and specifically to Barney Farms,” Jason Barney said, “so there has been a lot of work over those thirty years to make that happen.

“This is for sure the first large-scale employment user to come to Barney Farms,” he continued. “And as far as I understand, this is the first large scale employment user to come out of the ground in Queen Creek.

“In terms of actual new construction

COMMERCIAL page 10

The Germann Commerce Center will be home to a million square feet of light industrial space when it’s finished. (Special to the Tribune)

for employment-based use, this is a culmination of a long-time of Queen Creek and the Barney family working together to make this happen.”

Barney said the farm originally spread over about 960 acres, bordered by Germann, Queen Creek, Meridian, and Signal Butte Roads, and the family has sold the farm off in pieces over the years – more than half of it to Fulton Homes.

The family has also sold land that was developed into a plant nursery, an area that will become home to an apartment complex and other developments.

But some of the parts of that square mile and a half of land have a more interesting history, according to Barney, including the land at the southwest corner of Ryan and Signal Butte Roads.

“Newell Barney was famous for growing watermelons and giving them away,” Jason Barney said of one of the first family members of the family to settle in Queen Creek. “That watermelon patch used to be on the site that is now being constructed for Frontier Park. It was part of the original farm.”

The 85-acre Frontier Family Park will be home to muti-purpose sports fields, a playground, fishing lake and walking track, among other amenities. Frontier Family Park, along with Mansel Carter Oasis Park, is scheduled to open later this year.

Right now, about 80-acres of the original Barney Farms still remain in the family’s hands. While nostalgic about protecting the family’s heritage, Barney has also been an aggressive developer, sometimes swimming against the tide.

He thought better of pushing ahead with a proposed high-density residential housing project last year, and withdrew his plan when he realized he did not have the town’s support.

However, he remains bullish on Queen Creek, its economic development, and the employment outlook.

“Queen Creek wants jobs all these years,” he said. “They’re finally getting them.”

Thompson Thrift is well-established throughout Arizona with more than 20 retail, multifamily and industrial developments with an estimated volume of more than $1.5 billion, according to a statement. 

Bell Bank Park could see management shakeup

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Ayear after Bell Bank Park opened to great expectations, the park has hosted hundreds of thousands visitors and reported 4.3 million individual visits in Mesa, but it remains under a dark financial cloud since defaulting on the terms of its loan in October.

The profits the park was expected to generate never materialized, putting its owner’s ability to make loan payments on the $280 million in tax-free municipal bonds that financed it in jeopardy.

Queen Creek officials consider the park a major selling point in its plans to lure tourists to the town.

Most recently, Legacy Cares missed a $10 million payment due Jan. 1, and it still owes contractors $30 million in back payments for the park’s construction,

The project’s cash is down to $22 million left in a reserve fund for loan payments, leaving questions for some about how Legacy Cares has spent $260 million on its development.

After Legacy Cares missed a January deadline to submit an audited financial report for fiscal year 2022, the public remains in the dark.

What all this financial doom and gloom will ultimately mean for users at the 320-acre park is unclear but a recent court filing, hints that a management change could be coming.

What that means is the possible removal of Randy Miller and his sons – who conceived of the park, drove its construction and run Legacy Sports, the for-profit entity that manages the park for nonprofit Legacy Cares.

In online reviews, users have criticized the park’s management for poor execution. A league owner said he is taking his business to another venue after a disappointing experience last year.

After Bell Bank Park started to flounder financially, Chad Miller, the CEO of Legacy Sports, and other managers insisted in calls with bondholders and interviews that COVID had caused the park to underperform.

But those assertions are at odds with

statements Legacy made in a May podcast with Visit Mesa, when they said that COVID had lifted demand for youth sports travel and helped the facility book events through 2022.

People would “do anything to make sure their kids were taken care of or in sports,” Chad Miller said at the time.

“You also saw a lot of people coming in from California to Arizona to still compete in tournaments” amid continued uncertainty in some states on reopening guidelines, he said.

The revelation that Bell Bank Park’s creditors are eyeing a management change came in a monthly status update for Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Dewain Fox filed by an attorney for Okland Construction, the construction manager for the park’s vertical buildings.

Okland filed a lien against the Bell Bank Park property in May for $25 million in unpaid bills.

After Legacy Cares defaulted on its bonds in October, Okland and other lien holders began talks with Legacy Cares

and senior bondholders to delay foreclosure proceedings while the park’s owner figured tried to come up with the money it owes.

State law grants contractors the power to force foreclosure to collect unpaid bills, a process that could complicate Bell Bank Park’s efforts to secure new financing.

In November, a judge ordered the lien holders to suspend new filings until Jan. 31, buying Bell Bank Park time to arrange a prospective $400 million in new bonds.

In Okland’s January update to the court, the company said it has been told that Bell Bank Park’s refinancing plan with Chicago-based investment bank Loop Capital “remains likely to close and should generate funds sufficient to pay contractor and subcontractor claims.”

But Okland attorney James Csontos also explained at length that his clients understood the plan to be contingent on a management change at the facility.

“The senior bondholders, who are

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likely purchasers of new bonds, are expected to require management changes to improve the performance of the complex,” Csontos wrote.

Before Bell Bank Park opened, Legacy Sports entered into a partnership with global venue development and investment company Oak View Group to negotiate naming rights and manage the park once it opened.

Oak View Group manages many high-profile arenas, stadiums, amphitheaters and other venues. Locally, OVG manages Hohokam Stadium and Sloan Park in Mesa, and Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.

OVG’s website does not currently list Bell Bank Park as a venue it operates.

Csontos wrote in the January filing, “It is presumed that the Oak View Group will reassume a greater amount of responsibility (for Bell Bank Park). This shift is believed to increase the marketability of the bonds needed to fund the refinance.”

If OVG is managing the park, and the nonprofit Legacy Cares needed to access the municipal bond market, that leaves the Miller’s for-profit Legacy Sports cut out of the park.

Chad Miller did not respond to a request for comment.

Long-time Bell Bank Park watcher and Securities and Exchange Commission whistleblower Stephen Griffin told the Tribune that in municipal bond defaults, a “hornet’s nest of litigation” can ensue when the existing managers of a project do not want to leave.

Legacy Sports’ 40-year management agreement with Legacy Cares contains a long section on the termination of the agreement, and it appears to give Legacy Sports a generous payout for termination under certain conditions.

Csontos said in his report that Okland is “skeptical” a refinancing deal will come to fruition.

He noted that Legacy Cares originally aimed to go before the Arizona Industrial Development Authority Board of Directors to request the new round of bonds in November, but that has been delayed several months, most recently in January.

Legacy Cares is now gunning for AZIDA’s Feb. 16 meeting, he said.

But the stay of foreclosure proceedings for Legacy’s lien holders expired Jan. 31, and Okland is hedging its bets.

“While we understand that the (refinancing) transaction continues to move forward,” Csontos told the Tribune, “we intend to move forward aggressively with the foreclosure litigation in the meantime. 

Queen Creek

‘Ruck 4 Freedom’ raising money for those who serve

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

At least 200 people are expected to gather this weekend in Queen Creek to compete in the town’s first Ruck 4 Freedom, a 5k race/walk event to raise money for the town’s active military and first responders.

They will do it with a 45-pound pack on their back.

“We give the gift of therapy to those who can’t afford it,” said Jennifer Hilderbrand, CEO of Hope Mental Health Foundation, which is sponsoring the Ruck 4 Freedom event.

This is not an official military maneuver, but it is designed to feel like one.

Soldiers carry everything they might need in their rucksack, or ruck for short, on their back. It is not light duty having to carry a ruck over often difficult terrains or through dangerous conditions, as soldiers in the battlefield must do. In this case, the rucks will cause people to raise a sweat, but will also raise funds.

“This event is being put on by our foundation as a way to raise money to help pay for therapy for veterans, first responders and their families,” Hilderbrand said.

“There is this gap sometimes between what insurance is covering and sometimes a specialty of a certain therapist that they need to see or maybe there’s different types of therapy services,” she added.

“We want to be able to give the veterans and the first responders the ability to have the services provided by therapists that maybe aren’t covered by their insurance.”

Motivated by her son, a soldier in the U.S. Army, Hilderbrand wanted to hold an event that would do something to show Armed Forces personnel

4 Freedom walk/race.

gratitude for the freedom people in America enjoy.

She also hopes the community will not only participate, but also feel on a smaller scale what soldiers feel when carrying their rucks in battle or even in live-action drills.

She said the money raised at the event will be used on a first-come first-served basis and be distributed following an application process, based on need.

Noting the demand is real and the need for mental health services is high, she explained: “I can tell you that this last month we had 32 applicants for sponsorship. That

was really high and the first time that we have had that many. Ultimately, as long as there is the financial need, we would like to be able to award every sponsorship that is applied for.”

This is the first of what Hilderbrand hopes will be an annual Ruck 4 Freedom fundraiser in Queen Creek. At last count, about 200 contestants were entered for this weekend’s event.

“What I wanted to do was create an event where families could come out, have the opportunity to wear a weighted back pack to feel a little bit of ‘hard,’ and to go out and do something for all those who serve us to give back and signify how grateful we are for our freedom.”

Participants can compete in the race if they wish, they can simply strap on their ruck and walk the 5k course non-competitively, or just walk the 5k with no ruck.

While Hilderbrand hopes the event will be fun and challenging either way, she wants people to realize the sacrifice soldiers and their families make in the line of service.

“When they say ‘freedom isn’t free,’ it really isn’t. There is a cost,” she said. Hilderbrand said after her son joined the Army out of high school, she was prompted to think about what people really give up when they join the military,

whether they ever see combat, or not.

“There are families that are separated, husbands who are missing children’s births, soldiers all around the world are experiencing hard things and I just felt in my own life everything was so comfortable and even though we had hard things it was not anything in comparison to what they were going through.”

Which brings the focus back to needed therapy. Troops who do see combat suffer long after they leave the battlefield.

According to the Veterans Administration, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) varies depending on which era soldiers served in.

Veterans who served in the Vietnam War still suffer from PTSD 50 years later, the VA said in a recent study posted on its website, and reported that at least 271,000 Vietnam veterans still report symptoms, for example.

But veterans of other conflicts, including the Gulf War and Desert Storm operations of the 1990s report suffering from PTSD, and a third of soldiers who served in America’s more recent conflicts including in Iraq and Afghanistan do, too.

A 2020 report by the VA shows PTSD was the second-most reported severe mental injury sustained during military service, after sleep issues, in the veterans and active-duty service men and women participating in the study.

The Queen Creek Ruck 4 Freedom will be held Saturday, Feb. 11, at 8 a.m., starting in the parking lot of the American Leadership Academy at 19935 E. Chandler Heights Road. The entry fee is $35.

“The goal is as many people as we can reach will take time and with intention go out and, get some exercise and think about all the gifts that we have,” Hilderbrand said.

Information: RuckForFreedom.org. 

Jennifer Hilderbrand and U.S. Army Specialist Hilderbrand (she did not want to use his first name) are organizing the town’s first Ruck

(Special to the Tribune)

Backyard Taco celebrates 10 years in region

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

The business evolved from a backyard party in Mesa and that’s how Backyard Taco’s five East Valley locations recently celebrated 10 years of “Mexcellence.”

Voted “Best of Mesa” the last eight years, Backyard Taco has become a legendary eatery and founder Ruben Alvarez said the secret to its decade-long success is easy to understand.

“Honest, everything is made with love and we get everything fresh,” Ruben said, citing a recipe that derives from love of family, love of food and love of flavor.

Throw in the fresh ingredients and unique seasonings into food cooked on a mesquite grill and everything in the world is good, he added.

The restaurants’ simple, authentic Mexican food attracts a diverse array of customers.

Hailing from Mazatlán, Mexico, Ruben and Marisela Alvarez immigrated to Mesa in 1995 but didn’t start sharing their love of good food and culture until a decade after that.

In 2005, Ruben said Marisela just wanted to earn some extra money on the side and started serving up tacos for family and friends.

Eventually word spread and more and more people came as the legend of their tasty tacos grew and soon there was a line to their backyard a mile long filled with people mesmerized by the mesquite-infused aromas of Tacos al Carbon.

There was just one small problem: their backyard off Stapley Drive between Southern Avenue and Broadway Road was too small for the big demand.

In 2012, the couple opened their restaurant at 1524 E. University Drive in Mesa, and Backyard Taco was born.

The couple also celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with three kids –

“Right now, she’s 17,” Ruben said. “So, she started cashier and I hope she’s pret-

ty soon manager.”

Like all championships, it took a team effort to build the company from the ground up and Ruben credits Steve Beck and Tyler Robison with helping make “the dream come true.

“Honestly, we just thought about opening one and maybe two, but we got a good relationship with my two partners,” Ruben said.

Ruben is a concrete worker and painter, Beck a commercial real estate agent and developer and Robison an orthodontist.

“But we have all worked together, used the skills we each possessed and have been blessed to make this little venture a pretty exciting success,” Robison boasted.

The latest Backyard Taco opened last August at 24842 South Ellsworth Road in Queen Creek.

But Ruben said they’re not done growing as they prepare to open their sixth location near Signal Butte Road and US 60.

“We think about opening more, double what we have right now,” Ruben said.

Unlike some businesses that closed during pandemic, Ruben said they struggled but didn’t have to permanently shut down any of their restaurants.

“We think we were going to shut down but the people, they don’t let us,” Ruben said. “It’s not easy but we made it.”

From the help of local vendors to their loyal customer base, Ruben said he wouldn’t have made it this far without their support.

“We appreciate it for the whole community support [of] us,” Ruben said. “Of the loyalty, customers we have. We love that.”

Information: backyardtaco.com.

one of whom works as a cashier at the Stapley Drive location.

An anniversary banner hangs in front of the menu board inside the original Backyard Taco restaurant on East University Drive in Mesa. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

Marisela and Ruben Alvarez of Backyard Taco celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and the 10th anniversary of their growing number of Backyard Taco restaurants. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

State universities must halt their new ‘pledge’

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

You could say it before you could spell it.

And even now—years later—you can recite the words with ease.

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Yes, the Pledge has been amended… most notably in the 1950’s, when the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, led a public campaign to add the words “under God.” On June 14, 1954—Flag Day—President Eisenhower signed a bill into law adding that phrase to the Pledge.

Might someone mount a similar effort today?

If so, who…and what changes would they want to make?

It’s not a wild leap of imagination to conclude that the “Woke” among us might offer the following alterations:

“I choose to express my conditional support for this flag, which represents the People, who can freely change what it stands for, through their collective will, based on their genuine feelings. While Haters promote division, We the Enlightened embrace a future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for all.”

Don’t laugh.

It’s already happening.

What amounts to a “pledge” to uphold DEI—Diversity, Equity and Inclusion—is in statewide circulation.

No, it’s not occurring in elementary schools.

Granted, it is not performed as a public recitation.

Instead, Arizona’s taxpayer supported universities are getting it in writing…

and while it does not focus on the flag, a leading public policy organization has quite properly “flagged” it.

The Goldwater Institute released a report last month that most assuredly will not be the last word on the long-term leftist goal of redefining indoctrination as education.

The January study is entitled “The New Loyalty Oaths: How Arizona’s Public Universities Compel Job Applicants to Endorse Progressive Politics.”

The Goldwater scholars and researchers took to Twitter to reveal the report’s disturbing conclusion:

“Arizona’s public universities FORCE job applicants to provide MANDATORY “diversity statements.” It’s a full-frontal attack on free expression and equal opportunity for ALL…”

If you’re scoring at home—or more importantly, if your hard-earned money is being used to pay tuition at one of our three state-supported univer-

sities—it’s only fair to ask: “Just how widespread is this mandated ‘profession of faith’ in DEI?”

ASU (USA spelled backwards) leads the way, making such statements mandatory in 81 percent of its job postings; NAU requires the same in 73 percent of its job applications; and the U of A lags far behind at a surprisingly low 28 percent.

Unsurprisingly, the Goldwater Institute advises that all of this nonsense should stop. “The Arizona Board of Regents and/or state lawmakers must prohibit this practice.”

Such a prohibition would “restore the ideological neutrality of taxpayer-funded universities and restore compliance with the state constitution’s ban on political tests.”

The not-so-funny thing is that the way in which DEI is utilized in “woke” constructs. It clearly fails the contextual re-

Conspiracy theories hide a simple truth

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

Minutes after the conclusion of the AFC Championship Game, won 23-20 by the Kansas City Chiefs – courtesy of a number of controversial plays culminating in a game-deciding late-hit penalty against the Cincinnati Bengals – the phrase #NFLrigged began trending on Twitter.

Because, gee, why wouldn’t it?

The theory, in a nutshell: The powers that be in the National Football League wanted the Kansas City Chiefs to advance to the Super Bowl, thus the referees failed to call several penalties against the Chiefs late in the game meanwhile flagging Bengals defend-

er Joseph Ossai for a late hit that advanced the Chiefs into field goal range with three seconds left.

Chiefs kicker Harrsion Butker converted the 45-yard kick. Let the accusations of a massive conspiracy commence.

Normally, I would ignore such silliness, except conspiracies, cover-ups and illogical reasoning have never been more rampant.

Back in the day, you used to hear t he occasional doozy – the CIA assassinated President Kennedy; Roswell is the site of an alien landing; Sept. 11 never happened.

Now everything is fixed, fake, or staged by a powerful cabal intent on screwing the rest of us.

There’s the 2020 election, which according to President Donald Trump was “rigged.” Or as he put it, absent

any evidence: “It’s about poll watchers who were not allowed to watch. So illegal. It’s about ballots that poured in and nobody but a few knew where they came from. ... It’s about machinery that was defective, machinery that was stopped.”

Not to be outdone, losing Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has continued to assert that she, too, was the victim of outright theft – again, absent a scintilla of evidence that her loss was due to votes not counted or fraudulently counted.

As Lake told her supporters at yet another fraud-fest rally last week: “Our experts actually testified, with 99.999% accuracy and certainty, that a minimum of 140,000 fraudulent mail-in ballots with bad signatures were counted in our election. It’s outrageous. Bo -

gus signatures.”

There’s a word for that claim. It rhymes with, uh, “bull twit.”

Already, Lake’s case has been tossed out of court for lack of evidence, but so long as she can continue to raise money claiming fraud – $2.5 million and counting since Election Day, according to campaign finance reports – she will continue to spew falsehoods.

Lest you believe I think only the political right is capable of bad logic and fantasy, let me assure you that’s not the case. I’m equally tired of the political left and its ability to take one incident or a string of incidents and use it to damn an entire swath of humanity.

An example? The recent awful beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands

HAWTHORN from page 18

quirements needed for passing the most elemental of freshman vocabulary tests. “Diversity” is not “uniformity”; “equity” is not “equality”; and “inclusion” does not promote “exclusion.”

Then again, “War is Peace…Freedom is Slavery…Ignorance is Strength,” reads the official motto of the fictional nation of Oceania, in George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece, “1984.”

The administrative “educrats” in charge of our three public universities are so collectively comatose that they are choosing to restrict the rights guaranteed in our Constitution. And, in so doing, they are helping establish a real-life American Dystopia.

It seems the least they could do is rearrange the order of the acronym to which they pledge their allegiance.

Sure, “Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity” are not arranged alphabetically… but it would more accurately reflect the fate these so-called intellectual elites would insure for our Republic.

It would D-I-E.

That’s easy to spell. 

LEIBOWITZ from page 18

of five Memphis police officers has been used to advance the notion that all police officers are thugs, racists, and violent predators.

Currently, there are 670,000 sworn men and women in law enforcement in this country. Nichols’ death, while absolutely tragic, says little to nothing about any cop who wasn’t present that night, in exactly the same way that a crime committed by one member of a race or religion says nothing exact about every other member of that group.

As a devoted subscriber to Occam’s Razor, my predisposition is to believe in the simplest explanation possible.

The refs, fallible humans, blew calls in Kansas City. Trump and Lake lost in elections marked by a few anomalies, not widespread fraud. And five cops in Memphis who deserve to be prosecuted for homicide do not mean an entire profession is evil.

Call me overly simplistic if you’d like. But in 2023, the same old saying remains viable: What you see is still exactly what you get. 

Less pop. More culture.

Arsenal Soccer taking next step toward pro development

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

Since 1992, Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club has been one of the go-to programs for youth soccer players to compete at a high level in and outside Arizona.

The club expanded to join the United Premier Soccer League and Women’s Premier Soccer League to cater to players ranging in ages 18 to 30 years old. The semi-professional environment has been a hit ever since for the premier flagship soccer club out of Bell Bank Park in Mesa. But now, Arsenal is looking to further extend its reach in the soccer space. The club announced on January 19 it would join the United Soccer League, League Two, a division of the USL Championship that houses professional teams such as Phoenix Rising FC. It’s a monumental step for a club that aims to be seen as a direct path to a professional career in the sport for as-

Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club is further expanding its reach into the semi-professional realm of soccer by joining USL League Two, a division of the United Soccer League which is home to the Phoenix Rising. Games will be played at Bell Bank Park in Mesa. (Dave Minton/Staff)

piring players.

“This is huge. We thought we were go -

ing to stick with the UPSL and WPSL, that was the move we made last year but we’re always looking to expand,” said Ty Iannone, Arsenal’s pre pro general manager and an assistant coach at Desert Vista.

“We’re always looking to create a better soccer environment in Arizona and to benefit our soccer membership at Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club. It felt like the move we had to make when the opportunity came forward to us.”

USL League Two is two steps down from the championship league, which houses professional clubs awaiting an opportunity to join Major League Soccer. Founded in 1995, USL League Two is a semi-professional developmental league with 16 division across four conferences. Teams are spread out throughout the country, with several in

see ARSENAL page 21

NFL hosting Play 60 event at Hamilton High School

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

Super Bowl LVII is set.

One of the biggest annual sporting events in the world will feature the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, winners of their respective conferences in last weekend’s championship games. But the two storied franchises aren’t the only ones who will have a unique opportunity to enjoy the game of football next weekend.

As part of Super Bowl weekend in the Valley, the National Football League has announced it will host its annual Play 60 Football Family Festival at Hamilton High School on Saturday, Feb. 11, a day before the big game in Glendale.

The event, held annually in the host state of the Super Bowl, is free for families to enjoy an interactive foot-

ball experience.

“We are thrilled to host our fifth Play Football Festival during the week of Super Bowl LVII,” NFL Vice President of Football Development Roman Oben said in a press release. “This year’s event will offer participants the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of football from current and former NFL players and coaches.

“We are dedicated to our youth and high school football communities, fans and coaches, and we are excited about providing memorable experiences they’ll hold on to forever.”

The free event will cater to young athletes and their parents with unique opportunities across the football field at Hamilton.

Families will be able to take in the Nike

The NFL will host its annual Play 60 Football Family Festival at Hamilton High School on Saturday, Feb. 11, a day before the big game in Glendale. Admission for families is free.” (Specia to the Tribune)l

the western part of the United States. FC Tucson was an expansion team in USL League Two last season.

Arsenal’s League Two team will cater to collegiate athletes mostly but will be open to elite players in the 16- to 17-yearold age group as well as up to 30 years old. The League Two team will now become the flagship for the club. It will still have teams in the UPSL and WPSL also, as those will cater to those who are on the cusp of making the jump to the League Two team.

Arsenal still caters to the younger age groups as well.

“To see how much the club has grown from my time playing here to what it is now, it’s super exciting to be a part of it,” Iannone said. “I’m grateful for it and excited to see where it can grow in the next five to 10 years as we continue to grow.”

While an exciting new venture for the club and its players, it doesn’t come without added expenses.

Iannone said the cost for the team to travel across the southwest region of the United States will be steep. They’ve looked into various sponsorships from local businesses across the Valley.

While it will be difficult, he is confident the club will be able to achieve their financial goals and put together a

to be a great opportunity for everybody to really interact with the community.”

competitive team to compete in the USL League Two.

“It’s a big jump up, I’ll be honest,” Iannone said. “It’s expensive but we thought to create a better landscape of soccer in Arizona and to give a better opportunity to Arsenal alumni, collegiate athletes and aspiring professional athletes, we thought, ‘Let’s do this thing.’

“We want to make it as competitive and impactful for the state as we can.”

Arsenal’s League Two team will be coached by Adam Burke, whose soccer coaching experience includes time with the Rising and most recently St. Louis youth teams.

Arsenal will soon hold tryouts for the

League Two team. The team will play 14 matches in the regular season, seven of which will be held at Bell Bank Park’s stadium. The season will run from May to mid-July.

“I’m a kid in a candy shop,” Iannone said. “This is something Technical Director Dave Belfort and I have had in the works for a long time. We finally got it approved about a month ago and to get this announced and see the reactions on social media, it was super exciting.

“The hard work isn’t done yet. But as soon as that first whistle is blown on that first game, I know it’ll be super exciting for everybody that was involved putting this together.” 

Experience, a set up by the official sponsor of the NFL. There will also be equipment fittings with football equipment giant Riddell and a game truck with NFL video games.

Additionally, flag football skills and drills will be set up for athletes, while parents can enjoy a forum led by NFL legends. Autograph signings, giveaways and appearances by current Arizona Cardinals players are also expected at the event, as well as food trucks on site.

“It gives the families a great opportunity to have a good experience and let the community see what the NFL Play 60 is all about,” said Riczer Desvaristes, Manager of Youth and High School Football for the Arizona Cardinals. “It’s going

The NFL Play 60 event is yet another way the NFL and Arizona Cardinals are actively getting involved in the community. This past fall, the Cardinals began spearheading the growth of girls’ flag football across the state, partnering with the Chandler Unified School District and Mesa Public Schools to support district programs.

The Cardinals made donations to the programs, at times upwards of $10,000 for new equipment, uniforms and to help appeal to more girls across campuses. A CUSD All-Star game was hosted by the Cardinals with linebacker Markus Golden as an honorary coach.

Teams from Chandler and Mesa, as well as Xavier and Mountain Pointe,

played flag football at State Farm Stadium during halftime of the Cardinals’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Cardinals also host various youth camps throughout the year, an extension of what will come Saturday during the NFL Play 60 Football Family Festival.

“We’re definitely getting involved and this is another step for us to work with the high school football community,” said Desvaristes, who helped host a similar event last year in Los Angeles when

he was with the Chargers. “It went really well last year. I’m expecting an even more amplified Super Bowl here in Arizona and to see everyone in Arizona come together and really take this to another level.

“L.A. was really good, but I know Arizona is going to top it.”

The NFL Play 60 Football Family Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Hamilton High School. 

WM Phoenix Open brings the noise to Scottsdale

BY JOE MCHUGH Tribune Staff Writer

After record-breaking attendance in 2022 with over 719,000 fans, the WM Phoenix Open returns to TPC Scottsdale tomorrow, Feb. 6.

“We’re going to have probably 90,000 people per day at a minimum,” said tournament Chairman Pat Williams.

“Certainly, on the weekend, we’re going to have more, so with the sheer size and scale of our tournament, we’ll have almost five or six days of people at our tournament that will match the Super Bowl crowd every day, which is really fun and exciting.”

Organized by the Thunderbirds, the 2023 WM Phoenix Open runs through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 12.

It will host free practice rounds, and other peripheral events like Annexus Pro Am, the Special Olympics Putting contest starting Feb.9.

The 132-player field is loaded this year, with a commitment from the world’s top golfer, Rory McIlroy, as well as defending champion and No. 2-ranked Scottie Scheffler.

Other top-ranked players in the field

are Xander Schauffele (6), Will Zalatoris (7), Justin Thomas (8), Collin Morikawa (9), Tony Finau (12), Sam Burns (13), Max Homa (16), Cameron Young (17), Sungjae Im (19), Shane Lowry (20) and Tommy Fleetwood (24). Golfers had to com-

Mesa partnership abuzz with about bees

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

Anew local partnership reinforces importance of bees in Arizona’s agricultural economy.

Visit Mesa has partnered with Freeman Farms and international company Alvéole to support bee education and sustainability on what it calls the Fresh Foodie Trail.

The new collaboration focuses on sharing Mesa’s role in agriculture and sustainability and teach people how they can do their part to save urban bee colonies.

Zoe Shircel, spokeswoman for Visit Mesa, said this newest stop on the “ultimate foodie road trip” brings to light the importance

and ties into Visit Mesa’s sustainability efforts.

“Because they make up so much of the environment, we feel like it’s our duty as well to give that education to our community to make sure that we can help protect our bees,” Shircel said.

While visitors can’t access the two beehives located at Freeman Farms, Shircel said visitors can “geocache” on the farm site as part of Visit Mesa’s Fresh Foodie Trail Geo Tour.

Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, using a GPS and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches,” at specific locations marked by coordinates around the world.

The Fresh Foodie Trail links a collection of agricultural and culinary experiences at local farms that weaves visitors through the East Valley with more than 10 stops on the geo tour that connects visitors to Mesa and the surrounding area’s farms and foodie attractions with exclusive collectible stickers representing each farm.

Those stops include True Garden Urban Farm, Agritopia, Superstition Farm, Vertuccio Farms, Steadfast Farm at Eastmark, Queen Creek Olive Mill, Schnepf Farms, The Windmill Winery and Freeman Farms.

People can also receive hive

mit by last Friday.

“It’s just going to have a tremendous effect on our tournament overall,” Williams said. “Our fans who are there to see golf, are going to see the best players in the world. It’s really exciting for us to have a field that really will rival any major tournament, or one of the majors in golf, so we couldn’t be more excited.”

Another player joining the field is 2022 WM Phoenix Open T14 finisher Chris Kirk, who will be looking to capture the title. Kirk has participated in the WM Phoenix Open 10 times in the last 11 years. Only being cut twice in that span, Kirk knows how to navigate the course.

“I think that the course just sets up really great for me,” Kirk said. “It gets a little bit of a reputation of bombers playing well there, but I feel like you’ve got to drive really good out there, especially the par fives, it’s really important

After record-breaking attendance in 2022 with over 719,000 fans, the WM Phoenix Open returns to TPC Scottsdale, tomorrow, Feb. 6. (Courtesy of the WM Phoenix Open)

Urban beekeeper Amanda Harder with Alveole shows off several beekeeping tools and answers questions about the Italian Honeybees at Freeman Farms in Mesa. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

to hit fairways.”

Kirk was on a roll in the 2021-2022 season, coming off one of the better years. He’s placed well in big tournaments like the PGA Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Honda Classic and RBC Canadian Open, finishing top 10 in each event.

His momentum has carried into the new season, as he has played in seven events, only missing two cuts. His success continues this season, missing the same number of cuts.

The WM Phoenix Open is one of 17 tournaments this season designated for a bigger purse. The players will compete for a $3.6 million first-place prize, more than double the 2022 purse. This prize is pulled from a $20 million purse in 2023,

updates on social media when they link to the hives online web page while the social media page features regular updates on the colony, what these bees are currently pollinating and their honey production.

Honeybees are responsible for the earth’s biodiversity through the pollination of thousands of plants, trees, and flower species, including the crops we get our food from every day.

At the forefront, Alvéole uses their global platform and beekeeping services to cultivate an environmental education opportunity for visitors to learn more about bee’s role.

The goal is to encourage a love for bees will ultimately lead to ecological preservation.

Amanda Harder caught the buzz for this line of work as a student at Northern Arizona University working toward a business degree with dreams of becoming a pastry chef.

But one elective class on sustainability altered her life’s course.

From student to teacher’s assistant, Harder followed the professor’s work as a beekeeper, even visiting the beehives he kept at his home.

Combined with the professor’s “super passionate” beekeeping, Harder said that experience and getting up close with the bees changed her mindset.

“I wasn’t ever necessarily afraid of them, I just never considered beekeeping as a career or even a hobby that I could

$11.8 million above the $8.2 million purse last year, as well as 500 FedEx Cup points.

“I’m expecting a great field, maybe the best field we’ve ever had,” Williams said. “At the core, what makes this work is the players and we need and want a good field every year. It’s very important to the success of the tournament.”

One of the oldest events on the PGA Tour, the WM Phoenix Open will be entering its 88th iteration. The structure of the golf tournament has evolved, turning from an ordinary golf event to a spectacle.

The 2023 WM Phoenix Open experience will feature many of the things that were at last year’s event, like the return of the 36,000-square-foot Fairway House, a general admission structure on the highest point of the golf course that offers the best views.

Starting on Monday, the first of two pro-am events, the Carlisle Pro-Am, will be held and has free admission.

The following day is a free practice round, where the pros will be in action, sharpening their game and concocting a winning game plan. Tuesday will also include the Special Olympics putting contest, paving the way for the tournament thank organizations for supporting the event.

Come Wednesday, the stars are out to shine in the Annexus Pro-Am. Participants include former Arizona Cardinals running back and Super Bowl champion, Emmitt Smith, ASU alumni and the most decorated Olympic athlete, Michael Phelps and three-time MVP Albert Pujols.

“Wednesday is maybe my favorite day of the week,” Williams said. “Wednesday is our pro-am day, but it’s also our shot

pursue,” Harder said. “It was more just like a side passion, something I was really interested in.”

Since March 2022, Harder has worked for Alvéole and cares for the two-dozen hives spanning 18 locations across the Valley including the Arizona Biltmore and Tanger Outlets.

That’s typical of Alvéole to have urban locations like those around the world including on a 30-story skyscraper in New York City.

Fear not a sting though as Harder said Alvéole uses Italian honeybees, which are less aggressive than their Africanized counterparts.

at glory which, if fans haven’t been to that, shot of glory is a fantastic honor and tribute to our military. And we have a really neat event where, where we’ll have some people hit shots at the 16th hole for charity.”

“As much as I am excited, I’m just proud that myself and the support of 54 other active Thunderbirds, and 200 plus more-like Thunderbirds have all worked very hard this year to make this tournament what it will be,” Williams said. 

If You Go...

What: The WM Phoenix Open

Where: TPC Scottsdale-Stadium Course, 17020 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale

When: Various times Feb. 6-12. Cost: Tickets start at $50 Info: wmphoenixopen.com

ing babies and the queen.

Jars of honey, beekeeper suit masks and other bee related items are used by urban beekeeper Amanda Harder as she teaches people about honeybees at Freeman Farms.

(David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

come to be known for.

“It kind of shows people that bees aren’t something we need to fear, it’s something we should start loving,” Harder said.

That education adds to the awareness for the multitude of threats facing declining bee populations around the world.

They include destruction of their natural habitats due to global warming and infestation from pests such as the Varroa mite that in the last decade has all led to “Colony Collapse Disorder.”

Her awareness of many of these issues and the importance of bees in the world’s ecosystem compel Harder remains to continue this line of work.

“There’s always something that we can do to positively benefit the earth to kind of start taking back all the negative things that have been happening,” Harder said.

Mesa City Councilman Mark Freeman knows this importance of bees all too well considering his family has farmed in the Valley since 1878.

While Visit Mesa wanted to connect and show what agriculture does for the country as well as in Mesa, Arizona, Freeman said he wants to show people the importance of bees in agriculture and that “almost everything that we touch and eat is pollinated by a bee.”

With farming the foundation of many of the state’s communities, bees play an integral part in Arizona’s agriculture cash receipts that totaled more than $3.85 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.

“I think as a society we need to understand again the importance of bees and how they apply to our food supply,” Freeman said.

Harder said that species difference helps with the education aspect since she’s able to work on the hive without the awkward suit most beekeepers have

The Environmental Protection Agency defines Colony Collapse Disorder as the phenomenon that occurs when most of the worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind a queen, plenty of food and a few nurse bees to care for the remain-

“I’m thankful to be able to harbor and have some bees here on the farm, and they’ve been good neighbors,” he added.

On a recent media trip invite from Visit Mesa, freelance travel writer Sara

from page 23 see BEES page 25

BEES

Move over beignets. Move over fritters. Move over donut holes.

Welcome to the prettiest, tastiest bite-sized deep fried dessert treat that will wow anyone who sets their eyes on them.

This recipe was such a surprise! As a matter of fact, I ran across it a while back on a YouTube video about old heritage recipes. The narration was all in Turkish, and so it took me hours to try to translate the ingredients and directions.

But I knew the minute I saw it I had to make them. I’m so happy I did, and even happier to share this Turkish delight with you. Have fun with this recipe and enjoy the sweet taste of these billowy, crispy, light and airy Bloomin’ Dessert Flowers!

Ingredients:

4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp vanilla powder

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

With JAN D’ATRI

GetOut Columnist

Bloomin’ Dessert Flowers a Turkish after-meal delight

½ cup butter, softened to room temperature, but not melted

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix together the flour, vanilla powder, salt and butter. Mix to form a sand-like consistency.

2. Add egg, vinegar and 8 tablespoons of the blossom water. Form into a ball, adding the remainder of the blossom water as needed. Place dough onto a floured surface and knead to form a soft dough. Cut into two pieces. Cover with plastic wrap and Let rise in a covered bowl in the frig for 1-2 hours.

3. When chilled, roll out each ball into a rectangle. Keep laminating and rolling until you get a thin, thin sheet, making sure your work surface is floured.

4. Using a 2 inch square scalloped cookie cutter, cut out square shapes. On each square, Make a half inch cut in the middle of each side of the square, leaving the center of the square uncut.

Stack three squares on top of each other, at different angles. Press your finger in the center of the

BEES from page 24

Broers toured the Fresh Foodie Trail and praised Mesa’s agricultural economy.

“So, I’m an Iowa farm girl and I would say that Mesa, Arizona really understands farm-to-table fresh foods and the whole agriculture scene, and I think the Ag tourism scene here is second to none,” Broers said.

Following the news about declining bee population, Broers said in Iowa, where they once destroyed invasive pants such as milkweeds, they’ve started to leave them be.

“People are understanding that bees are important,” Broers said. “But this type of an attraction here is a way to educate folks coming in and it’s an opportunity to do something, see something but also get some education along the way.”

For more info:

Visit Mesa Fresh Foodie Trail visitmesa.com/things-to-do/farmsagritourism

Alveole Bee Blog myhive.alveole.buzz/visitmesa

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1 egg

1 TBSP white vinegar

10 TBSP orange blossom water

Vegetable oil for frying

1 cup pistachio, chopped very fine

1 cup honey, heated in microwave for 10 seconds

three stacked squares so they stick together in the center. Repeat until all squares are used up.

5. In a Dutch oven, heat oil to 365 degrees. (To test the oil for frying, drop a small piece of dough into the hot oil. If it vigorously bubbles up, it is ready for frying.)

6. Carefully place one 3-square flour on the end of a wooden spatula handle. Press it gently in the center of the squares. Carefully drop the flower into the oil using the wooden spoon handle to hold it in the oil for a few seconds.

7. When the flowers turn a golden brown, remove with a spider or slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel lined sheet pan.

8. Drizzle the flower with a small amount of with heated honey and sprinkle the center with a tiny amount of pistachios. Makes about 15 flowers. 

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