BY CECILIA CHAN Tribune Staff Writer
The teachers’ union and Higley Unified School District have inked a new agreement to negotiate labor issues despite a board member’s contention that the association doesn’t have students’ best interest at heart.
The HUSD Governing Board approved the
hoenix’s announcement of its exit from the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport will likely increase the clout of Queen Creek and other smaller East Valley communities in the management of the Mesa airport.
Although it historically has served as a reliever for Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix announced on June 30 that it will pull out of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority next June.
agreement with the Higley Education Association (HEA) June 28 on a 4-1 vote with Anna Van Hoek the sole dissenter. It went into effect July 1.
“Obviously they support teachers and not necessarily students,” Van Hoek said. “I believe if teachers want to be part of HEA, obviously they’re welcome to do that on their own.
“But I don’t believe that the district needs to be signing an agreement with the union.”
Van Hoek was elected in November and endorsed by Purple for Parents, a group that grew out of the frustration with the Red for Ed movement.
The grassroots demonstration in 2018 saw teachers walking out of the classroom for six days demanding higher pay. The walkout shut down schools statewide
Officials on both sides of the partnership framed the move as a demonstration of GatePhoenix and Gateway Airport officials cited the Southeast Valley facility’s growth over the time Phoenix has been a member. (File photo)
Chas Roberts, a local family-owned A/C, heating and plumbing provider, launched the 14th annual Cool Play Giveaway.
As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting its community, Chas Roberts is giving away three new air conditioning units to deserving families or nonprofits in need. Nominations are being accepted online through Thursday, July 20.
“The Cool Play Giveaway has become a cherished tradition for us, allowing our team to give back to our community that has supported us for so many years,” said CEO Sissie Roberts Shank.
“At Chas Roberts, we understand the importance of comfort and safety, especially during the hot summer months in Arizona. This is our way of giving back and having a positive impact in the lives of those who may be experiencing financial difficulties.”
Individuals or nonprofits in need of an air conditioning unit are encouraged to apply at chasroberts.com/coolplay. Winners must be an Arizona resident.
Chas Roberts’ partners, Carrier, Goodman and Lennox will once again donate the A/C systems, Smiley Crane will provide the crane service and Chas Roberts will coordinate the program and provide the installation.
Christina at 480-898-5647 or christina@timeslocalmedia.com
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way’s progress toward becoming an international cargo hub and commercial passenger airport.
Besides Mesa, the authority that owns and manages the former Williams Air Force Base includes Apache Junction, Queen Creek, Gilbert and the Gila River Indian Community.
They assumed control of the 3,000-acre site from the federal government in 1998 to operate a civilian airport surrounded by commercial and industrial development.
In departing from the Gateway Authority, Phoenix will give up its powerful vote on its board of directors and cease paying $1.3 million in annual “operating investments” to the airport.
Phoenix currently holds the second most influential power on the board after Mesa in weighted votes, thanks to its cumulative financial contributions of $25 million over the years.
Because the intergovernmental agreement caps Mesa’s vote share at 50%, Phoenix’s votes will be divvied among the remaining municipalities and the GRIC.
Phoenix and Gateway officials said their respective aviation departments will con-
tinue to cooperate with each other and that the separation is occurring on friendly terms.
Phoenix Councilmember Jim Waring, who represents Phoenix on the Gateway board as its vice chair, issued a statement that cited Gateway’s “strength and financial solvency.”
Noting that Phoenix must continue making financial investments in its own system of airports, Waring said, “Now is the right time to conclude participation on the PMGA Board.”
Phoenix said it was providing a year’s notice before leaving “to help ensure an orderly transition and provide the (PGMA) authority ample time to account for the reduction in member contributions associated with the city of Phoenix departure.”
Gateway Authority President J. Brian O’Neill said the announcement did not come as a surprise and that he is not worried about losing Phoenix’s annual contribution.
He said the city’s payment amounts to about 1% of the airport’s annual operating budget of $128 million.
When asked whether he agreed with Waring that it was the “right time” for Phoenix to leave, O’Neill said, “Sure.”
When Phoenix joined the board in 2006, “Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport … was in a much different place than it is today,” O’Neill said.
“At that time, the airport benefited from the resources, aviation experience and leadership provided by (Phoenix) and its aviation department,” he explained, adding:
“Today, Gateway Airport is experiencing record commercial passenger growth and is thriving operationally and financially. The authority doesn’t need the same assistance it did almost two decades ago.”
Phoenix was not one of the original members of the airport authority but accepted an invitation from fledgling Gateway Authority, then known as Williams Gateway Airport.
Southeast Valley officials sought Phoenix officials’ knowledge of running a large airport, its money and its connections with Federal Aviation Administration officials to help develop and implement a master plan.
One of the benefits for Phoenix was the opportunity to shape Gateway in a way that would complement the services offered at Sky Harbor.
The parties ultimately decided that Sky Harbor would market itself as a primary passenger hub that also handles overnight package air cargo, while PMGA would focus on domestic point-to-point passenger service and international cargo.
Both airports seem to have stayed in their lanes, with Gateway developing according to plan.
With shipping giant DSV Air & Sea beginning weekly service this year and continued growth at SkyBridge, a section of the airport dedicated to cargo services, Gateway is well on its way to becoming a cargo hub.
Regional passenger service is well established at Gateway, though growth has been anemic this year.
Allegiant Airlines is trimming flights amid a pilot shortage and three Canadian airlines deciding to stop seasonal service for next year. Two of those airlines will continue flights to the region via Sky Harbor.
Currently, the mayors of the Gateway Authority’s member entities serve on the board, excepting Phoenix and GRIC, which sends Lt. Governor Monica Antone. The board has final say over everything
The Chandler Unified School District Governing Board got its first look at the budget for the next school year June 28, and two realities will make the budget more challenging in the future.
First, the cash the federal government handed out to get the nation through the pandemic is coming to an end. Second, CUSD’s enrollment is in decline.
Fewer students means fewer dollars from the state.
The budget for fiscal year 2023-24 reflects that reality with a drop in the total aggregate budget.
“Our overall total aggregate expenditure limit you’re going to see … has actually dropped by approximately $9 million,” said Lana Berry, the district’s chief financial officer.
“The majority of that we’re going to talk about is related to the federal dollars … that’s going to be where the major reduction of our overall budget capacity is. Our M&O (maintenance and operations) has gone up and so has our capital, but federal programs have gone down.”
This year’s total aggregate school district budget is $455,022,884. Last year’s was $465,951,058.
The good news for district workers is salaries are going up. The average salary of all teachers is $67,657 for the new school year. It was $64,895 in the year just concluded. That’s an increase of $2,762, or 4%.
The board approved publication of the tentative budget at its late June meeting. As required by law, Berry must hold a public hearing on the budget and plans to do so on July 12. The board will then be
asked to officially adopt the budget.
CUSD bases its aggregate budget on three separate funds.
The largest is maintenance and operations, which is $373,9 million. The second biggest is its unrestrictive capital fund at $43.1 million and the final component comprises federal dollars, which total $37.9 million.
Because of the higher salaries, M&O is up about $6.2 million while the unrestrictive capital has increased about $1.1 million. However, the federal project money decreased by $18.3 million.
Berry said the district is projecting at least 200 fewer students for this coming
school year, which means about $1 million less from the state.
“Overall, 200 to 400 students is what we’re thinking,” Berry said. “We’re thinking through that process that there is $982,000 there.”
Much of the increase in salaries are coming in the form of stipends, Berry said.
The CUSD Governing Board gave classified staff $2,000 each and certified administrative staff $1,000.
For the second-largest district in Arizona, that cost a total of just over $7 million, Berry said.
Berry said the largest increases in the capital budget are for technology up-
grades. The district has been purchasing laptops and tablets to ensure students can be productive at home.
They’ve also been upgrading their own technology as needed.
“Our technology budget is $30 million,” Berry said. “There’s infrastructure related to network drops, Wi-Fi and hubs. If you think you have to replace laptops about … one in every four years, there’s going to be in the 50,000 between staff and students needing replacing every four years. We also have security cameras that are a part of that.
“We are a school district to 45,000 students and 5,000 staff members. We’re bigger than most Midwestern towns, and so, unfortunately, we haven’t … been able to invest a lot in technology.
“This just helps us get up to par related to having one device for every student and employee, (and) being able to have a interactive boards in the front of the classroom.”
The state allocates money to districts and schools based on its ADM (average daily membership). That is calculated by getting the total number of students attending on the 100th day of the school year, since the student population changes often during the course of a school year.
According to the Arizona Auditor General report, Chandler Unified had an ADM of 41,945 for the recent school year. Its high was 44,501 in the 2019-20 school year before the pandemic began.
CUSD’s enrollment has been in decline since, and it could fall behind Tucson Unified to become the third largest district in Arizona this year. Mesa Public Schools is
and spurred then-Gov. Doug Ducey to sign a budget plan that boosted teacher salaries 20% by 2020.
Van Hoek claimed that the HEA is a political arm of the Arizona Education Association, which is part of the National Education Association — a frequent target of Republicans.
“They definitely did not have the best interest of our students since they started walking out on them since 2018,” Van Hoek said.
“We also saw what they did during COVID. They pushed masking, school closures and so many experiences for students were ruined such as graduations, prom and end-of-year celebrations, and let’s not forget academic loss.”
She said that teachers were still free to join the union and opposed paying a $4,000 annual stipend to the Higley chapter’s president for representation.
“I’d like to know what that means,” she said. “Is that half-day to lobby, half-day to teach? Does the HEA president teach part time for the district?
“We shouldn’t be using tax dollars to fund the political activities of the union. Is this a gift of public funds, because we have laws against that. How is this not considered using taxpayer money to influence political ideas and agendas?”
Board member Amanda Wade, a former teacher, immediately rebuked Van Hoek for her statements.
“If you don’t have teacher support, you don’t have schools,” Wade said. “There’s no way around it.”
She said union membership was low partly because of the cost of joining.
“So, taking more of my paycheck to do something that I feel doesn’t necessarily have a lot of weight is hard,” Wade said. “It is hard to be part of the HEA.”
She also said it was unfair of Van Hoek to blame teachers for the in-school mask mandate as it was state law.
“There was no law for masks,” Van Hoek responded. Wade countered by citing Ducey’s executive order in July 2020 — which has the force of law — that ordered all school districts and charter schools to mandate masks on campuses.
Wade told Van Hoek that she was putting weight on things that have absolutely nothing to do with the agreement before the board.
Wade added that it was valuable to show
teachers that they matter.
She also noted that part of the reason why Van Hoek called the HEA and “every other education association ‘political’ is because they advocate for things that benefit them.”
“Life is politics,” Wade said. “The only time that we say something is ‘political’ is when it is against what we already feel. That is an unfair statement to assess to individuals who are vying for their job.”
She said the board has spent a lot of time discussing the problem of teachers leaving the profession.
“If you are not a teacher, you have no idea what it is like — none,” Wade said. “You assume so because often we remember what it was like when we had teachers and that ain’t today.
“We are asking of our teachers far more than we should and the idea that you would sit here and say an organization that is here to support them, an organization that bends over backwards repeatedly for their students, and to say because you are advocating for yourself, that’s harming others?”
She said she struggled with Van Hoek characterizing the partnership with the union as political.
“Our service to this community is our students, and you do that with teachers,” she said. “Without those teachers we have nothing.”
She said the HEA helps new teachers acclimate, sometimes with mentorships and after-school meetings.
Wade also castigated Van Hoek’s statement that the union was advocating for things that harmed students, calling it disingenuous.
“I think it paints a picture or a narrative
that I recognize is valuable when you want to keep people paid less, when you want to keep people in a position that is harmful,” Wade said. “We are at a tipping point.
“We are losing teachers. We have increased salaries, and we still lose teachers,” Wade continued. We are literally talking about this at almost every single board meeting. So to say that we shouldn’t be a part of the HEA or keep that up — where do you hope to keep teachers then?”
She said the district doesn’t have to negotiate with teachers without an agreement.
Wade maintained that the 2018 school closing didn’t harm students and that Van Hoek painted a picture that was not necessarily accurate.
She added that not supporting teachers — whom she called the backbone of education — was actually more harmful to students.
“Again, I feel like you continuously put words in my mouth,” Van Hoek said. “What I said was we don’t need an agreement with the union in order for our teachers to have that support from them.”
She said teachers can continue to support the HEA with their dues.
Van Hoek also contended that it’s “been proven fact that since 2018 the unions have pushed walkouts on our children” and have affected students for the last four to five years.
“It has been a known issue, not just here,” Van Hoek said. “All across the U.S has been an issue, which is why we’ve had so much uproar in board meetings because of what the unions push and they can continue to support teachers, but when it impacts the students, that’s where I have a problem.”
Wade asked Van Hoek what it is she
thinks the HEA’s role is in the district.
“Other than sit there and heckle me as I talk, they obviously help negotiate salaries and benefits for teachers,” Van Hoek said. “I’m just saying as a district, I don’t think that it’s necessary to have a contract in place in order for them to be able to do that.
“They get paid to support teachers to be able to advocate for them, not the students but the teachers, and when their actions impact students I have a problem with that.
“If we don’t have students in our schools, we have nobody. There’s nobody to teach. So again, we have to ensure that our children that come to this district are priority and that their needs are being met, and when we have the union advocating not for the students, it’s a problem.”
Board President Tiffany Shultz asked that without an agreement in place, what would give teachers peace of mind that the district would listen to them?
“What would be the benefit to teachers wanting to be a part of somewhere they didn’t have any representation?” Shultz said.
“Would they even want to be a part of a district that doesn’t agree to meet with teachers and it doesn’t agree to an agreement to meet with them?
“It’s also very unfair to compare HEA to unions outside the state because we are a right-to-work state and we do have different union laws than other states do,” Shultz added.
Van Hoek reiterated that regardless of a contract, the union would still be there to support teachers “because they get
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money from these teachers to be part of their union.”
Board member Kristina Reese said that during the Red for Ed walkout, the impact to HUSD was much less than in other districts due to the established relationship between the HEA and then-Superintendent Michael Thomason.
“Dr. Thomason always knew what was going on,” Reese said. “They had an understanding. They had an expectation so we could communicate to our parents in a timely manner, and that wasn’t happening in all districts.”
She said HUSD was unlike other districts that were left trying to figure out at 9 p.m. if they would have any teachers the next day.
“Our relationship with HEA and our district, it was by 4 p.m. we knew what was
CUSD from page 5
the largest.
The district has started an aggressive marketing campaign to try and convince families within its boundaries, and the ones who live near it, to send their children to CUSD schools in an effort to minimize the drop in attendance.
So far, the district has not been forced to lay off any staff because of the drop in attendance and state funds. Berry said the district prefers to handle the need for fewer teachers by not replacing some retiring employees when a new school year begins. In addition to state funds, the district gets
GATEWAYfrom page 4
from airport spending to contracts and master plans.
Consensus has reigned on the board — in public at least — and members have handed the airport’s professional staff unanimous approval on major decisions
happening, so we could communicate with our parents, and that was the mutual respect,” Reese said.
Reese also said that the stipend is compensation for the HEA president for extra duties such as showing up at the Welcome Back Rally or new teacher orientations and not for lobbying or doing political things.
She also said that the agreement was a memorandum of understanding and not a legal contract and that Arizona does not recognize unions.
She said HEA is not a union but a professional organization.
“They help guide us, so there is a mutual benefit from this agreement,” Reese said.
“They help both sides.
“It’s a professional agreement on what can be expected on both sides, and I think the organization is beneficial to the district as well as teachers.”
some of its money from property taxes.
Most homeowners will be paying more in property tax because the assessed value of their homes will be increasing 5%, the maximum Arizona law allows. The district is lowering its portion of the primary property tax from 3.5274 to 3.4093.
The secondary property tax rate is increasing slightly, from 2.3938 to 2.3945. Those are due to the override and sale of bonds approved by voters.
That’s the rate for every $100 of assessed value to the property. In addition to schools, which get the most of each tax dollar, the county and city also get a slice.
for at least the last year and a half.
Gateway Airport has landed numerous successes in the last year, including a $100 million private investment in a maintenance hub by business jet maker Gulfstream and a manufacturing facility for space tourism company Virgin Galactic
AHigley school board member is one of three Arizona mothers of biological girls who have asked a federal judge for permission to intercede in a case to keep their daughters from having to compete against transgender females.
They have declared they want to defend the 2022 law that says public schools and any private schools that compete against them must designate their interscholastic and intramural sports strictly as male, female or coed.
It spells out that teams designated for women or girls “may not be open to students of the male sex.” And the statute says that is defined as the “biological sex” of the participant.
Higley Governing Board member Anna Van Hoek of Gilbert said she is sending one of her two daughters to an unidentified high school in the Chandler Unified School District to play softball on the school team after playing for a Higley middle school.
“Ms. Van Hoek believes these benefits would disappear because ‘the presence of biological boys creates a significant obstacle to girls achieving their best performance,’” attorney James Rogers states in his request to intervene, adding:
“Her two daughters have experienced these obstacles firsthand, and her younger daughter would give up on softball if she were forced to play on a team with biological boys, or to compete against biological boys.”
Whether Van Hoek and the other two moms will get to participate in the case is not clear. The attorneys for the two transgender girls — one from Tucson and the other from Kyrene School District — who are suing to overturn the law already have told Rogers they will oppose the three mothers’ move.
Kyrene, which covers Ahwatukee and parts of Chandler and Tempe, has told the judge it will not defend itself in the suit — mirroring the position taken by state Attorney General Kris Mayes.
The same position has also been taken by the private Tucson school named as a defendant in the case, along with State Superintendent of Public Schools
That’s not the view of the three women who want their day in court to defend the law.
Rogers said all three mothers believe that participating in girls’ team sports has dramatically benefited their daughters’ personal and social development.
“Their experiences have built their self-confidence and allowed them to experience a type of camaraderie and friendship that could not be replicated anywhere else,” he told Zipps. “If their teams also included persons born as biological males, virtually all those benefits would evaporate.”
The Maricopa mom, Amber Zenczak, said her youngest daughter’s basketball team already played a game against another girls team that had a biological player.
Tom Horne and the Arizona Interscholastic Association, which governs high school sports.
The lawsuit claims the ban is a violation of Title IX because it is discrimination on the basis of sex.
It also says the ban would cause the girls “to experience shame and stigma, denies them well-known physical and mental benefit that arise from playing school sports and directly contributes to negative physical and emotional health consequences.”
Kyrene Governing Board members denounced the law when they made it part of the district’s official policy — an action they could not avoid because the district risked the loss of at least some state funding if they did not adopt it.
Because Mayes won’t defend the statute, state Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, and House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Glendale, have intervened.
So too has Horne, who unsuccessfully tried to get the case transferred from Tucson to the federal court in Phoenix.
The other two mothers seeking to intervene are from Glendale and the city of Maricopa.
Legal papers filed by Rogers, who is with the America First Legal Foundation, is representing the three mothers and a
group called Arizona Women in Action. He argues they have a right to defend the law because most of the defendants won’t.
Rogers argues that while Horne is a defendant, he is hobbled by a lack of legal resources and that Horne’s job requires him to consider the needs of all public school students, including transgender females.
By contrast, Rogers says, the three women have a specific and immediate interest in upholding the law: the real possibility that their daughters will have to compete against those born male.
He told U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer Zipps, it appears that already has happened in at least two cases involving the mothers who want to intervene.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights and other attorneys are not seeking to overturn the 2022 law entirely and entitle all transgender girls to participate on girls’ teams.
Instead they are arguing that each bid by a transgender girl should be considered individually. And in this case, they say that since neither girl is experiencing puberty — one is too young and the other is on puberty blockers — they should be allowed to play with and against other girls.
“This transgender player violently fouled Ms. Zenczak’s daughter, but the referees did not make any calls on this obvious foul, evidently because of fear of accusations of discrimination and to avoid retaliation from trans activists,” Rogers wrote.
In a written declaration, Zenczak said the prospect of biological males in female-only spaces such as locker room would make the girls “feel self-conscious and frustrated by having to change clothes or shower in the presence of a teammate having male genitalia in the locker room.”
Rogers argues that the three women “have standing under federal and Arizona law to sue to protect their daughters’ interests.”
Also seeking to intercede is Arizona Women of Action, described as originating in October 2020 as a text chain and organized as a political action committee in 2021.
While it has no formal membership, the lawsuit says a survey of the organization’s email subscribers showed 99.6% support the 2022 law.
Horne contends that, puberty or not, there is medical evidence that those born male are inherently stronger than those born female at all stages of development.
And that, Horne said, makes inclusion of transgender girls both unfair and potentially dangerous to biological female athletes. .
Here’s some self-wisdom I gleaned from the internet recently. It’s called, “Don’t Wash Your Hair in the Shower.”
“It’s so good to get a health warning that is useful to me finally. I don’t know why I didn’t figure this out sooner. When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body, and printed on the shampoo label very clearly are the words, ‘For Extra Body and Volume.’ No wonder I have been gaining weight.
“Well, I got rid of that shampoo and will start showering using Dawn dishwashing liquid instead. Dawn’s label reads, ‘Dissolves Fat that Is Otherwise Difficult to Remove.’ Problem solved. If I don’t answer the phone, I’ll be in the shower!”
Well, that’s her self-driven reality. Nice thought, though.
Today, let’s access some self-awareness about the “self.” I think the primary task of our time is to understand and know how to deal with the nature and nurture of the human spirit or what I call in this article “self.”
Margaret Wheatly says, “We must understand that the great cry of people today is, ‘Will you know my name? Will you know that I exist?’ People want to find each other and be recognized for their uniqueness.”
Here are some thoughts by others about the subject of self. “A person needs self-acceptance, or they won’t be able to live with themselves; they need self-criticism, or others can’t live with them” (James Pike). “The greatest burden we must carry in life is self; the most difficult thing we must manage is self” (Hannah Smith). “I have more trouble with D. L. Moody than with any other man I ever met” (Dwight L. Moody). “You have an ego — a consciousness of being an individual. But that doesn’t mean you are to worship yourself, to think constantly of yourself, and to live entirely for yourself” (Billy Graham).
Think of all the “self” words we use in today’s world: self-appraisal, self-capacity, self-centeredness, self-confidence; self-consciousness, self-control, self-criticism, self-delusion, self-denial, self-discovery, self-destruction, self-dislike, self-evaluation, self-growth, self-image, self-importance, self-improvement, self-
ishness, selflessness, self-knowledge, selfpity, self-praise, self-restraint and self-victory. These self-words are just the tip of the iceberg. Issues about self sell. Why? Self is something everyone deals with. And today, multitudes are obsessed with “selfies.” Self is a good thing, but good things — taken to extremes — can become destructive things. The problem is we don’t even know it. Self is a wonderful servant but a terrible master. Often the problem with self is that it’s hard to see when my eyes are on me. The only difference between run and ruin is “I.” Self-absorption is like bad breath. Everyone knows that you have it but you. Self-centeredness and happiness do not go hand in hand. And no person is as important as they sound at their alum banquet. By the way, people who sing their self-praises usually do so without accompaniment.
Let’s explore some constructive and destructive self-issues by seasoned veterans who have gained knowledge and experience in handling themselves. Remember, handle yourself, or yourself will handle you. If we could see ourselves as others see us, we’d probably have our eyes examined. Here’s some wisdom about self-appraisal. “You damage yourself and your relations with others if you think too much or too little of yourself. Take a modest, realistic view of yourself. And don’t wear a false front because you want to seem to be what you’re not” (Marion Jacobsen). Here’s some wisdom about self-consciousness. “We would worry less about what others think of us if we realized how seldom they think about us” (Ethel Barrett).
Consider this quote about self-capacity. “A famous athletic coach once said
that most people, including some athletes, are ‘holdouts.’ They always hold back. They do not invest themselves 100% in competition. Because of quasi-self-giving, they never achieve the highest degree of their capacity. Don’t be a holdout. Be an all-out or allin. Do this, and life will not hold out on you” (Norman Peale).
Let’s explore self-evaluation. “Most of us don’t like to look inside ourselves for the same reason we don’t like to open a letter with bad news” (Fulton Sheen). “You have no idea what a poor opinion I have of myself and how little I deserve it” (W. S. Gilbert). And finally, remember this: Forget what people think about you. You’re a “people.” What do you think of you?
Then there’s self-pity. “What poison is to food, self-pity is to life” (Oliver Wilson). “Self-pity is when you begin to feel that no man’s land is your island” (Dana Robbins). Self-pity goes along with self-destruction. “Many people go throughout life committing partial suicide — destroying their talents, energies and creative qualities. Indeed, to learn how to be good to oneself is often more difficult than to learn how to be good to others” (Joshua Liebman).
Let’s finish with self-growth. “There is nothing wrong with having deficiencies. It’s what we do about them that counts. Better expand our energies improving, rather than deploring. To work at overcoming weaknesses and reinforcing strengths is the way we grow” (Doris Dickelman).
The best this world can get is you, being you, with God all over you. So, discover yourself — your authentic self. That will require personal responsibility. The person who embraces self-growth makes themselves better and everyone they encounter better, too. Selah.
As a special education teacher, Morena Garcia brought creatures like a leopard gecko and a tarantula for her students to interact with.
As she continued to teach kids about her animals outside of the classroom, Garcia said a friend suggested she start a petting zoo. Four years ago, Creature Kingdom Exotic Mobile Petting Zoo in Queen Creek was born.
“Eventually, it got to the point where the petting zoo was busy enough that I was able to quit teaching and do this full time,” Garcia said.
Creature Kingdom Exotic Mobile Petting Zoo offers various packages, including its popular one-hour package, which allows guests to choose 10 animals from Garcia’s collection and lets guests gather to hold, pet and interact with.
Packages start at $30 for “host-a-pet” two-day minimum with one animal. The “supreme package” — more than 15 animals for two hours — is $549.
For those adrenaline aficionados, the “Fear Factor” package ($249, one hour) — based on the popular TV game show — allows customers to choose the level of fear and Creature Kingdom picks the animals.
The point is to focus less on scaring people and more on helping people overcome their fears.
“I never want anyone actually leaving more afraid of an animal,” Garcia said. “By the end, I try to work with them and be like, ‘OK, so that challenge is maybe scary, but let’s look at this,’ because we want people to leave loving the animals even more.”
If a ball python snake or hissing cockroaches are a bit much, Garcia offers more cuddly animals like fluffy bunnies named Pumpkin, S’Mores and Flopsy.
In fact, the bunnies are so popular, Creature Kingdom even offers “bunny yoga,” which allows up to eight friends to do yoga for one hour in a place of their choice ($249). The preferred spots are on tile or hard-floor home space, back porch, backyard or local park. The package includes yoga mats, bunnies (guaranteed ador-
able) and an area fence for the yoga space. There’s also “snake yoga” for the same price, up to seven people.
Along with chinchillas, fancy pigeons and fancy chickens, Garcia also has Guinea pigs with names like Bingo, Brownie and Peach, along with their newest familial relative, Bilbo, a Patagonian Cavy.
After a friend adopted a mini-Australian shepherd, Garcia said she became interested in responsible breeding and now owns four of them as well.
Naming each of her animals can be difficult, but most derive from pop-culture references that kids understand, as well as by inspiration from the animal’s country of origin.
Like a parent choosing their top child, Garcia said she enjoys all her animals and simply rotates her favorites based on the day.
“Truly, they’re all so diverse that each day is just like, ‘You’re great. You’re great. You’re great,’” Garcia said. “Or some days I just love snakes, I’m like, ‘Wow, snakes are the best,’ and then I’m like, ‘You know
what? Guinea pigs. They’re so great. They’re underrated.’ So it varies.”
Her business has been successful. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Garcia slowly transitioned out of teaching, she rescheduled many of the clientele she had initially taken on. Once the pandemic subsided, business began to boom again.
“It was nice. We didn’t necessarily lose clientele, we just had to postpone certain events,” Garcia said.
“It’s gotten busier and busier … and it just allows us to like grow and improve.”
But long before Garcia had a traveling zoo or offered animal handling in her classroom, she grew up rescuing and raising animals with her dad in Gilbert. She has always been passionate about sharing her love for animals with others.
As a child, Garcia said she remembers caring for bunnies, as well as helping her dad breed parakeets for fun as their pets.
Although she has enjoyed animals her entire life, Garcia said she chose to pursue special education as a career simply be-
cause she wanted to help people, and Creature Kingdom still lets her do exactly that.
“I still get to work with people with special needs, but then I also can step away and focus on animals,” Garcia said.
While her husband, Josh, didn’t know he’d take on more than a new wife when they got married five years ago, the couple’s 3-year-old daughter fits right in.
“She loves the bunnies, but recently she’s also really loved the lizards,” Garcia said.
During the summer months, Garcia said the family’s home can become a bit crowded given that she has to keep all the animals inside and “utilize space well.”
“It takes up a lot more space, whereas when we have spring and winter and the nice months everybody can stretch their legs outside, bunnies can run around in the yard,” Garcia said.
Currently, Creature Kingdom operates with a staff of seven employees and a handful of volunteers, and that’s as close to what Garcia has dreamt of as a child.
“I always wanted to own a zoo,” Garcia said. “I knew the intensity that that would entail.”
She’s thinking a physical establishment like Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park in Litchfield Park, which offers a more intimate zoo setting. It’s more manageable than a full-scale zoo grounds.
Bringing more exotic animals — such as her dream of owning a fox — would not only require special licensing but more time and resources.
“So, it’s like when you commit to that you really have to be committed with everything they need and know that they are not going to be a domestic animal,” Garcia said.
For now, Garcia said she wants to ensure the longevity of her traveling zoo and that it gives her family the option to work as much or as little as possible.
“So we’ve just kept it very chill at the moment and let the business grow as it is, and then we kind of will see animal-by-animal what we want to expand to,” Garcia said. Creature Kingdom Exotic Mobile Petting Zoo 480-201-5536 | creature-kingdom.com
Portillo’s, the fast-casual restaurant concept known for its menu of Chicago-style street food, will open a Queen Creek location by the end of the year.
The new Portillo’s restaurant will be at the southeast corner of Ellsworth and E. Walnut, across the street from Costco. Designed with a Southwest garage theme, the 7,800-square-foot restaurant will feature seating for 180 guests inside as well as a seasonal outdoor patio with room for about 50 more guests.
It will also feature the brand’s signature double drive-thru lanes to accommodate off-premise guests.
“Arizona has been a great market for Portillo’s,” Portillo’s CEO Michael Osanloo said.
“We’ve loved serving the Phoenix area since first opening in Scottsdale in 2013. Queen Creek gives us even more opportunity to bring our unrivaled Chicago street food to both longtime fans and newcomers to Portillo’s.”
When the new restaurant opens for business later this year, guests can expect to enjoy Portillo’s signature menu items like Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, char-grilled burgers and Portillo’s chocolate cake.
Portillo’s will soon begin hiring managers and shift leaders for the restaurant. The chain offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, flexible schedules, growth opportunities and an employee stock purchase plan. Visit portillos.com/careers for more information. Guests can sit in on a free sneak peek training meal prior to the opening of the restaurant by visiting portillos.com/ queencreek.
BY J.D. HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist
These words were written on July 2 for a much better reason than simply beating a holiday week deadline.
On this day 247 years ago and 2,342 miles distant, far more eloquent words were passionately delivered by a Virginia delegate on the floor of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
“Why then sir, why do we longer delay? Why still deliberate? Let this happy day give birth to an American republic!”
As the youngest delegate from Virginia, Thomas Jefferson’s way with words won him the assignment of drafting a detailed document that was at the center of the debate, as he was much more
comfortable with the written word than the spoken.
But another Virginian proved an effective communicator in both print and speech. The resolution he had drafted almost a month earlier — which was on the floor for an early July vote — was as direct as it was impassioned.
“Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown; and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
Sadly, the name of this forgotten Founding Father seems to have been written in disappearing ink. In the recollection of this baby boomer, the name was only encountered once in a middle school textbook for American history.
He was Richard Henry Lee.
Think of him as a Revolutionary hero remembered by few and the most important Founding Father you may never have heard of.
In this age of “wokeness,” Lee’s anonymity is actually an asset. Consider that three public schools bear the name “Richard Henry Lee Elementary” — one in Glen Burnie, Maryland; another in Chicago; and the third in Rossmoor, California.
Thus far, no efforts have been undertaken to strip Lee’s name from those schools — but, of course, that could change.
Then again, the inevitable abbreviations, “R.H. Lee School” in Chicago or “Lee Elementary” in California sound somewhat innocuous. Only the Maryland institution uses Lee’s full name on its school building.
Richard Henry was one of “those Lees” — the wealthy and influential family in
Virginia politics and American history. He was not “Lighthorse Harry” Lee. That nickname belonged to Henry Lee III, a cavalry officer in the Revolutionary Army and the father of Gen. Robert E. Lee, who led the Army of Northern Virginia against the Union Army in the Civil War.
The reputation of Richard Henry Lee has been adversely affected by the actions of his younger, distant relative — at least in the entertainment arena.
A half-century ago, there was no “woke,” but there was the musical “1776.” And dramatic license — actually, comic necessity — turned Richard Henry Lee into a singing stumblebum.
In the rhythmic, revisionist plot of the stage play, more familiar names in history — Ben Franklin and John Adams
see HAYWORTH page 16
BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist
In my neighborhood, the explosions started shortly after sunset on the Fourth of July. I didn’t hear the first blast, but Lucy and Ethel, our mutts, immediately began quivering like two tubs of Jello on a roller coaster. Neither dog could be pried from human contact all night.
Welcome to the annual Independence Day festivities at my house.
Now that it’s over, it seems like a good time to address how we celebrate America’s birthday. There’s the good, the bad and the ugly.
Let’s start on a positive note. In many small towns, the Fourth of July calls for a parade. If you’ve never been to one, well, you can stage one yourself easily enough. Hand your kids American flags, hand your neighbors any beer except Bud Light,
and have them jog up and down the nearest parking lot. Play Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA.” Boom!
In all seriousness, parades are the best part of the Fourth, because for about an hour, we all can stand each other again in this divided nation.
The flag, patriotism, unity — these are elements of national life I’ve missed since we last experienced them after Sept. 11, 2001. While I would never, ever wish for another mass tragedy, we could do with less political bitterness and more celebration of our common roots.
OK, enough of my soapbox. Onward to more jokes.
The bad side of Independence Day is the annual Fourth of July homage to Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, a 39-year-old Kentuckian who once again won perhaps the dumbest of all competitive events — the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Chestnut crammed down 62 weenies and buns in 10 minutes to take home his
16th “Mustard Belt” Nathan’s championship in 17 years.
Afterward, he went on the Pat McAfee Show and explained, “I’m so bloated. I’m walking around Manhattan right now, had an arugula salad, and I’m terrorizing some toilets around here. It’s not pretty, but I got it done.”
Why anyone cares what this guy wolfs down for fun is beyond me. So is why we celebrate Independence Day with an act of massive kosher gluttony.
Actually, check that. If there’s anything more American than pointless mass consumption, I’m not sure what it is.
Note to Costco: How about an annual Charmin’s Toilet Paper Wipe Off featuring the lady in front of me in line, who always seems to buy enough TP to wipe up (or out) a country the size of Eritrea?
Finally, there’s the ugly part of the holiday, in which we celebrate American independence by destroying stuff via gunshots and fireworks.
In Glendale, police arrested 29-yearold Conrad Washington on July 4 after this genius fired his rifle into the air more than 100 times in the middle of a crowded neighborhood. Washington faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault and violating Shannon’s Law, which makes negligently firing a gun into the air a felony in Arizona.
The law was created in 2001, following a campaign by Otis and Lori Smith, whose 14-year-old daughter, Shannon, was killed by a falling bullet while talking on a portable phone in their central Phoenix backyard.
This year’s Fourth of July destruction toll included more than 50 fires across the Valley sparked by fireworks.
In Chandler, fireworks decimated the playground at the Paseo Vista Recreation Area. Glendale firefighters risked their lives to save multiple houses threat-
LEIBOWITZ page 16
BY JUDY BLUHM Tribune Columnist
Shrinkflation. When the size or quantity of a product is reduced, while the price remains the same or is increased. In other words, we are being ripped off!
That’s right, dear readers, the research has been done and the evidence is in … we are paying the same or more for less. It is the saga of the incredible shrinking packages, and ounce by ounce, inch by inch, we are being robbed!
Wondering why the toilet paper rolls look smaller? That’s because they are! As much as 6% less tissue and the rolls are 3/8 of an inch smaller in size. This situation stinks! Let’s forget that paper towels have fewer sheets, the average box of
HAYWORTH from page 15
— persuade Lee to introduce the “Independence Resolution,” since Franklin has offered Adams the candid advice that the man from Massachusetts is too unpopular to expect success were he to author and offer that course of action.
A direct appeal to Lee’s vanity produces the desired results, through a song entitled “The Lees of Old Virginia.”
Away from the roar of the greasepaint
tissue has about five to 10 fewer tissues. Just about every single paper product is packaged so we, the paying public, are getting less.
A bag of potato chips seems like it is filled with air. Oh yeah, the ads say we can’t eat just one, but they are giving us an ounce less in the bag, which means we had better eat just one!
Bars of soap that used to be solid rectangles are now curved — so we pay the same or more for a smaller bar. And look at how skinny the cereal boxes have become.
Holy guacamole! The trickery never ends. A common brand of guacamole now has domed the package upward, so it looks bigger. Lies! It is actually smaller, and the clever packaging is supposed to fool us, the unsuspecting consumer. I guess the packaging industry paid close
and the smell of the crowd, the real-life John Adams sang the praises of Richard Henry Lee, calling him a “masterly man.”
Lee certainly proved that with his bold resolution demanding independence for the “United Colonies.”
And Lee’s floor speech July 2, 1776, proved that the Virginia aristocrat took on a leadership role second-to-none in establishing the United States.
Even if most Americans don’t know who he is.
attention to the airlines. They’ve been watching the seats being removed to make for more rows, while passengers are squeezed into tight, little suffocating spaces. Pay more for less is the new business motto!
A mother of three emailed me to say she packs 15 lunches a week. She noticed that American cheese slices are now 20 in a package instead of 24. This doesn’t sound very “American” to me. It’s funny that this entire “shrinkflation” phenomenon seems to be done on the sly. Like we consumers won’t notice the difference. Well, we do!
This disturbing trend is so depressing (to our pocketbooks) that it makes me want to eat a cookie. But since major brand cookies have “downsized” from a 14.5-ounce packages to 11.3 ounces, I better grab something more healthy and less expensive, like yogurt. But wait, isn’t
LEIBOWITZ from page 15
ened by a fireworks-induced brushfire.
And in Gilbert, a family’s house burned down after their fireworks reignited in a trash can. That blaze claimed the life of a family dog.
At my house, Lucy and Ethel survived. Maybe next year, you folks can celebrate with a parade and by eating more hot dogs than Joey Chestnut.
What could be more American?
Greek yogurt now in smaller little cups? Yes, a 12% decrease in volume has been reported. We are into global shrinking product sizes, from canned goods and frozen pizzas to packages of rice, beans and flour. Sadly, smaller is the new normal. Have you noticed that the usual 5-pound bag of sugar is really a 4-pound bag? And if you want a cracker, chew slowly, because there are fewer crackers in the box. Yikes, we are being bamboozled one bite, one ounce, one chip, one slice and one gulp at a time!
Companies like to call shrinkflation “downsizing.” Then charge us less! I guess we better not cry about it. After all, there are fewer tissues in the box.
Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local realtor. Contact Bluhm at judy@judybluhm. com or aroundthebluhmintown.com.
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Queen Creek Tribune welcomes letters that express readers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number. Queen Creek Tribune will print the writer’s name and city of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received, and they are subject to editing. Queen Creek Tribune will not publish consumer complaints, form letters, clippings from other publications or poetry. Letters’ authors, not Queen Creek Tribune, are responsible for the “facts” presented in letters.
Everything we do supports Chandler families after losing a loved one. From expanded services and personalized attention to every detail to greater savings, your family is what matters most at Legacy.
For inflation-proof preplan arrangements, Call (480) 207-2286 or visit AZLegacyFuneralHome.com
Diamondbacks infielder Geraldo Perdomo has been working toward success at the major league level since he was signed at age 16. Now, it’s coming to fruition after his rocky 2022 season.
“Last year I had a tough year,” Perdomo, 23, said in the D-backs dugout. “But I learned from that season.”
Perdomo was added to the D-backs’ 40-man roster after the 2020 season. On April 3, 2021, Perdomo was promoted to the major leagues to fill in for the injured Nick Ahmed. He made his MLB debut that night, filling in for Josh Rojas at shortstop. A little over a year later, he hit his first home run, a grand slam, against Jared Solomon of the Cincinnati Reds.
As of July 2, the switch hitter was batting .284 with 33 RBIs and five home runs.
see PERDOMO page 19
Diamondbacks/Submitted)
Pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport, has taken the Valley by storm, and the Phoenix area has more pickleball facilities than anywhere else in the state.
Pickleball is easy to pick up, thanks to its social nature and accessible play style.
“In seven years of pickleball coaching, I have never seen more families involved in pickleball or more activity in our pickleball leagues,” said Steve Manolis, a certified pro ambassador at the Paseo Highlands Pickleball Complex at 3435 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix.
With an estimated 36.5 million pickleball players in 2022, it’s no surprise local businesses have jumped on the bandwagon.
Ryan Trefry, pickleball director at Legacy Sports USA complex in Mesa, said,
“Pickleball has been growing exponentially in the Phoenix area. More courts are being built every year, and the number of players playing has been exploding.”
There are an estimated 4.8 million pickleball players in the United States, and the sport grew 14.8% from 2020 to 2021. There are 10,320 pickleball facilities nationally, according to Pickleheads, a court data provider and an online destination for pickleball players.
The sport, a cross between pingpong,
see PICKLEBALL page 19
Pickleball is easy to learn, thanks to its social nature and accessible play style. (Pickleheads/ Submitted)
Stacey Boyd admits he is still in disbelief about the growth of his Ahwatukee-based AZ Speed track club. Since its first season in 2022, the program has doubled in size, filling up the Mountain Pointe track twice a week. There is already a waitlist for next season. He and Malia Austin, the co-founder of the club, estimate they’ll expand the roster to around 75 athletes ranging in age from 6 to high school.
But right now, their focus is on the present. Along with doubling in size, the club has more than tripled the number of participants it is taking to regionals this weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Stacey said he believes that feat was accomplished due to the coaches he surrounded himself with in the program — Dennis, Leo, Jah, J and Olivia.
“We have a number of committed coaches, and we are all on the same page with the idea of supporting athletes,” Stacey said. “We have the conversations about what we need to do to support individual athletes, along with the mentoring aspect of it.
“We push our kids really hard. We push them to the limit.”
AZ Speed took four participants to regionals and nationals last season. Three of them are returning alongside 12 others.
Fifteen athletes from the program will compete after dominating various events at the state championships. Their performance as a club didn’t come as much of a shock, however. Many of the athletes dominated all season. Some even picked up new events.
Shayden Boyd, Stacey and Malia’s 9-year-old son, had perhaps one of the better seasons for a kid his age in the state. Maybe the country.
He broke two indoor track records in the 200 and 400 while competing at NAU. He broke the outdoor 400 and 800 at Mesa Community College. All four records were previously held by former Chandler and NFL wideout Marcus Wheaton and Mountain Pointe star Paul Lucas. Both of their fathers congratulated Shayden shortly after he beat the records. Lucas and Wheaton sent him personal messages, which included a FaceTime call.
Ahwatukee-based AZ Speed, a youth track club, sent 15 youth athletes to compete in regionals in Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 6 to July 9. All 15 have a chance to place in the top eight of their events and move on to nationals at the end of July in Oregon. (Dave Minton/Staff Photographer)
“It felt really great,” said Shayden, who runs the 200, 400 and 800. “I was really excited for myself. I’m looking to beat some more records.”
Stacey said it’s special to see Shayden accomplish all he has at a young age. But Shayden has big aspirations for himself. He routinely looks at the record boards at Mountain Pointe. He said he wanted to beat Lucas’ records when he gets to that point. He now has his sights set on Jayden Davis, a 2023 Mountain Pointe grad who set the state record in the 400 and will compete for ASU next year.
“Shayden is one of those kids who sets his own goals and asks what he has to do to obtain them,” Stacey said. “Pretty amazing for a kid that’s 9 years old and knows what he wants to do.”
Like Shayden, Cammy Kellogg has enjoyed a breakout season on the track. The Queen Creek resident has been with Stacey for more than five years, well before AZ Speed was created.
An avid soccer player and equestrian, she’s had a busy club season juggling all three sports but has still found a way to excel in the 800, 1500 and javelin. She looks forward to the opportunity to compete at regionals again. She aims to return to nationals for the second straight year.
The 10-year-old hopes with a good performance her parents will give in and buy her a ferret.
“I plan on getting one this year,” Kellogg said. “It’s been really fun. I’ve gotten a lot more first place (finishes). My goal is to get top five so I can move on.”
AZ Speed, while based in Ahwatukee, have begun to attract athletes from all over the Valley.
Trenton Matthews, Khalid and Khalia Navarro, Omega Richardson and Amarion Tasto are all from Phoenix and will compete at regionals.
Jakhari and Jayvon Russell make the drive from Maricopa for practices. They’ll also compete at regionals with Tempe resident Cam Stevenson.
Gilbert resident Niko Chattic has excelled on the track, while nearby Chandler residents Dom Brambila, Brenden Torgerson and Devyn Walker have also been impressive.
Sports have become a big part of Chandler resident Camden Dentz’s life from an early age. His mother, Lenica Ruiz, is the athletic director at Marcos de Niza High School. His father, Sam, is the head basketball coach at McClintock.
Dentz advanced to regionals in the 400, 800 and 4x400 relay, his favorite event.
“It’s really fun, and I’ve been doing it since I started doing track,” Dentz said, adding that his goal is simple at regionals. “Trying to get first. It would feel good.”
Stacey has high expectations for his group this weekend. He expects 11 to 12 of them to qualify for nationals. Yet he wouldn’t be surprised if they all do.
Many of the athletes have also taken on a field event this season. Chattic and Kellogg are two of the top javelin throwers in their age group.
He was looking forward to seeing them excel on the track in New Mexico and move on to do the same at Oregon’s state-of-the-art facility that hosts Team USA on a regular basis. He knows it’s an opportunity they will never forget, which is partly the reason he created the club in the first place.
He wants to provide an outlet for kids. And he’s doing that by helping them reach regionals with a chance to go further.
“I’m anticipating, I’m anxious, I’m excited,” Stacey said. “It’s an amazing feeling to take 15 athletes and see what they’re going to do.”
Divine Movement has set up a GoFundMe to help with travel costs to nationals in Oregon. To donate, visit gofund.me/ca27d037.
PERDOMO from page 17
Perdomo attributes his improvement to God, but he put in a significant amount of work last offseason to get to this point. When the season ended, Perdomo says the D-backs wanted him to stay in Arizona to continue training. Perdomo was on board, but he had another idea. He returned to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball. In six games for Aguilas Cibaeñas, he earned a .450 batting average in the Dominican Winter League. Playing in the Dominican Winter League gave Perdomo the chance to get into a routine and strengthen his lower body.
from page 17
badminton and tennis, was invented by three vacationers on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, in 1965.
New courts are popping up every month, and Pickleheads reports more than 11,000 places to play across the nation. The website also says there are 298 pickleball courts in Arizona, ranking 13th in the United States.
Here are some of the most popular public places to play pickleball in the metro Phoenix area:
Pecos Park Pickleball Courts
17010 S. 48th Street, Phoenix phoenix.gov
Home of the Pecos Pickleball Club, there are 16 outdoor pickleball courts available from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. for anyone visiting the park. If the weather takes a turn, there are also three indoor courts with events and clinics for beginners inside the community center.
The outdoor courts are free, but the city charges a fee to use the indoor pickleball complex.
Gilbert Regional Park
3005 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert gilbertaz.gov
A slice of paradise, offering 16 ded-
“I believe that, when you are consistent — like, very consistent all the time — it will be good,” Perdomo said.
He’s enjoying the D-backs’ winning season. The D-backs have largely outperformed what many experts’ predicted. He chalks it up to the clubhouse’s energy.
“I feel blessed,” Perdomo said. “When you come from a tough season and get to success the next season, it feels really, really good.
“The energy has been the key from day one to right now. It doesn’t matter if we’re losing or we’re up by like 10 runs. It doesn’t matter. We’ve been here still with the same energy all the time. I think
that’s our key right now.”
The rookies have added fuel to that fire, but don’t count out the veterans, he said.
“The rookies and the vets together, we learn from those guys, from (Ketel) Marte, (Evan) Longoria, (Nick) Ahmed,” Perdomo said.
It’s about time cynics started talking about the D-backs, he said.
“If everybody’s locked in right now, our energy will be high. Like I always said, we’ve been competing. Nobody talks about the Diamondbacks. Well, we’re improving,” Perdomo said.
Perdomo has been doing his fair
icated pickleball courts available on a first-come, first-served basis. The stateof-the-art, competition-ready outdoor courts are all fully fenced and floodlit, with shaded rest areas.
Other amenities range from a skatepark to basketball courts and a 25-acre water park.
If you fancy something quieter and more focused, check out Phoenix’s pri-
Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.
share to liven up the clubhouse by wearing flashy clothes, rivaling Marte. Donning gold and maroon stirrups and elbow pads, Perdomo is also sending a message.
“For us, it’s just to bring the light in. To show everyone like, ‘Hey! We’re coming.’ That’s why I wear it,” Perdomo said.
Arizona Diamondbacks dbacks.com
Geraldo Perdomo
Instagram: @geraldoperdomo93
within a new, air-conditioned building.
Athletes can take advantage of the free Pickleball 101 classes for beginners who can build themselves up to their open play sessions, leagues and tournaments.
Legacy Park
6321 S. Ellsworth Road, Mesa elitesportsaz.com
Legacy Park, formerly known as Bell Bank Park, houses 41 courts, including four medal courts with spectator stands and a stadium court that seats 2,500 people. It features training, tournaments and programs for adults and kids. For the pickleball partygoer, they also host social events, such as Dink and Dunk morning mixers and Dink and Drink evening get-togethers.
Chicken N Pickle
Westgate Entertainment District
9330 W. Hanna Lane, Glendale chickennpickle.com
vate pickleball courts:
Pickleball Kingdom
4950 W. Ray Road, Chandler pickleballkingdom.com
A dedicated pickleball facility with 15 indoor courts, event spaces and a raised viewing platform. It also offers locker rooms and shower facilities, as well as a snack bar and pro shop, all contained
The new Chicken N Pickle is a growing chain that’s proven incredibly popular for social gatherings across the country. A selection of indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, all serviced by a range of bars and dining areas.
pickleheads.com
Carlos “SparXz” Caraballo has won medals for hip-hop dance as a member of Coolidge-based Exiles.
The Chandler resident parlayed his performance skills into a gig with Feld Entertainment’s “Jurassic World Live Tour,” which comes to the Footprint Center Friday, July 28, to Sunday, July 30.
The production features more than 24 film-accurate, life-size dinosaurs with “scale, speed and ferocity, operated by animatronics and performers.”
Fans of the Netflix animated series “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” will also recognize Bumpy, the friendly and food-motivated dinosaur, as she goes from baby to adult fairly quickly.
The show will turn the Footprint Center into the dense jungles of Isla Nublar, where real Gyrospheres roll through the valley and scientists work to unravel a corrupt plan and save a new dinosaur
from a terrible fate.
“It’s way different than Hip-Hop International,” he said with a laugh. “It’s basically an immersive experience into the ‘Jurassic World’ franchise. It’s based on the ideas of the movie, so there are dinosaurs, soldiers and Isla Nublar.
“It’s a new, original storyline with original characters. You get an extra reward if you see the movies. It’s a totally new story, though, so everyone enjoys it.”
In the show, the “dino-teer” plays Jeanie, the main character, a Troodon.
“That species of dinosaurs is smarter,” he said. “In the storyline, scientists are trying to read its emotions and take care of it. With any good deed, people try to take the technology and use it for evil. You follow the scientists throughout their adventure and save the dinosaur’s baby eggs.”
The Mesquite High School and ASU graduate began performing at age 13, eventually becoming a member of United Dance Crew, formerly known as Reach Ministries.
“I was an athlete as a kid and never thought of being a performer,” he said via telephone from a stop in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. “Then, one day, I saw Reach Ministries perform at a youth church event and I got hooked. I didn’t even know where to start, but I was determined to find out. I asked them how I could join, and the rest is history.”
He is a four-time silver medalist in the USA Hip-Hop Dance Championship in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. He landed in fifth place in the World Hip-Hop Dance Championship with the Exiles in 2018.
The troupe then performed on NBC’s “World of Dance” season three.
“Competing on NBC’s ‘World of Dance’ during the duels round was memorable,” he said.
“During this round, teams were matched up against each other head to head. We (Exiles) were matched up against one of the strongest teams in the competition and nearly took them out.
Despite losing in our duel, we had such a high score that we were brought back to perform again later that night to stay in the competition.”
On tour, he explores coffee shops, as he loves diving into the intricacies of coffee brewing.
“My favorite way to brew right now is with an AeroPress, but I also have an espresso machine, V60 pour-over device, French press, cold brew coffee maker and a standard coffee pot,” said Caraballo, who enjoys watching MMA.
He counts his father and his Exiles teammate as role models.
“My dad is loyal, reliable, generous and has a work ethic that I hope to live up to,” he said.
He was hired by Feld Entertainment after he met a former cast member of “Jurassic World.” His contract runs through summer 2024.
“He said ‘Jurassic World’ was coming
back and I should try out for it,” Caraballo recalled. “There are stunts, fighting and action in it. I thought, I’m a dancer and acrobat. Where in the world could I fit in? I tried out to see what happens, and it turns out having a sports, dance and acrobatic background makes for a great dinosaur.”
His goal is to be a professional stunt performer in live shows, television or film, or motion capture.
“I want to create as many memories as I can doing what I love,” he said.
Caraballo is enjoying living on the road, as it forces him to live simply. However, he misses his wife, whom he married in February 2021.
“There is a lot you have to give up,” Caraballo said.
“For me, that’s mostly a good thing. Having less gives you less to think about and less to stress about.”
He’s looking forward to performing at home — and coming home.
“Honestly, having a Phoenix show is part of the reason why I came back,” he said.
“Last season, we did an East Coast run and then we went into the Midwest as well. When they said the show was coming to Arizona the next season, that was a huge selling point.
“It was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever done. You’re literally gone from your home for months and months and months at a time. It’s a brand-new city every single week. We did close to 200 shows last season. This puts it into perspective: In one season, I tripled the number of states that I had been to.”
WHAT: “Jurassic World Live Tour”
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, July 28; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 29; and noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, July 30
WHERE: Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix
COST: Tickets start at $25
INFO: ticketmaster.com, jurassicworldlivetour.com
IWith JAN D’ATRI GetOut Columnist
walked into my cooking class recently knowing full well what I was up against.
I was teaching the art, science… and frustration of making macarons.
I knew the class would be divided. Half of my students would want to learn how to make these tricky little treats. The other half were there because they have attempted to make macarons and failed miserably.
The pressure was on.
The first thing I tell the group is that no matter how much YouTube tutorials, Instagram posts or TikTok videos tout a “no-fail” macaron recipe, do not believe it.
No such thing.
The only way to make a “no-fail” macaron is practice. With practice you will learn all the things that can sabotage macarons: your oven, the temperature and humidity outside, the way you fold the egg whites into the almond flour ingredients, and how you pipe the batter onto a baking sheet. Having said that, if you’re willing to take a little time and don’t get flustered if the first batch or two don’t turn out perfectly, you may get as addicted to making macarons as I am.
I’ve also included a delicious strawberry filling for your French delights.
Ingredients
• 2/3 cup almond flour, sifted several times
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 large egg whites, room temperature
• 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1-2 drops red or pink food coloring
Directions
Sift the almond flour several times through a mesh sieve, and then sift the almond flour and powdered sugar together through the sieve.
In a stand mixer, whisk the egg whites and sugar until foamy, about 45 seconds. Turn to high, and whip to stiff peaks. (The egg white peaks should stand straight up.)
Blend in the gel food coloring.
With a rubber spatula, fold half of the almond flour mixture into the whites and stir for 2-3 minutes, digging down to the bottom of the bowl. Add the remaining flour and keep mixing just until batter flows like lava.
(Don’t overmix, or mixture will be too runny.)
Spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a 1/2-inch round tip. Pipe 1 1/4-inch rounds onto silpat or parchment-
• Filling
• 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
• 3 1/2 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons strawberry jam
lined baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. (To make it easier, look for a macaron template on line, and place it under the parchment paper or silpat.)
Rap the baking sheet firmly on the countertop, a few times, to release any large air bubbles. Let the cookies stand, uncovered, at room temperature, for 15-30 minutes, or until a crust begin to forms on top.
Bake for 15-20 minutes at 300 degrees. (Use conventional bake or convection bake, not pure convection.)
When done, they should easily detach from the liner. Makes 24.
For the filling, combine the butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and jam. Pipe a small amount in between two macarons and press together.
