Queen Creek Tribune, October 23, 2020

Gateway Airport expansion gets big boost

Council draws line on multifamily projects

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

TheTown Council last week took a deep dive into a lack of multi-family housing options in Queen Creek, acknowledging that it is facing a shortage of housing options while simultaneously working to attract em ployers whose workers will need affordable places to live.

But council members drew a line in the sand for any prospective apartment project

Default threatens owners’ hold on Bell Bank Park

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

The organization that built the $280 million, 320-acre youth and amateur sports complex known as Bell Bank Park in southeast Mesa is in default of its loan that covered the project.

A formal notice issued Oct. 18 by bond trustee OMB Bank to investors states that Legacy has missed monthly payments on in terest and principal, failed to submit audits and financial statements, and has unpaid con struction company liens on the property.

Over the summer, at least 10 subcontrac

developer: They directed town staff to draft a General Plan amendment that would keep apartment projects exclusively in or near commercial or employment areas.

Mayor-elect Julia Wheatley said allowing multifamily uses within areas zoned Neigh borhood would depart from the town found ers’ vision for Queen Creek.

“While our General Plan was well-intend ed,” Wheatley said, “it really did not envision a trend where in one fiscal year, a third of all of our housing permits were multifamily.”

“I believe that’s a departure from our Gener al Plan,” Wheatley said. “And from the original founders’ vision for the community.”

All of this puts Queen Creek in a pinch.

The town will have created jobs, but thanks to economic conditions and superheated sin gle-family and rental markets, the town will of fer housing that only high-earners can afford.

“When you’ve got median home prices of a single-family home in your community of

Looking for help

To see this group of bus drivers, mechanics and transportation services workers for Queen Creek Unified School District, you’d think the district is flush with people to man its fleet. You’d be wrong. Like many districts through the Valley, Queen Creek Unified, it’s begging for workers. So, it is resorting to novel techniques to try and fill those spots behind the wheel. See page 3 for the story. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

QC Unified goes extra mile to find bus drivers

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

The Queen Creek Unified School District is resorting to a hiring tac tic once reserved for elite athletes and upper-end business executives to fill its withering ranks of bus drivers.

The district is offering signing bonuses and retention incentives to recruit, hire and keep them.

A highly-skilled and specially licensed bus driver can receive as much as $2,500 just for signing on.

“QCUSD’s strategic goal is to recruit and retain exceptional personnel,” said Dr. Patty Rogers, human resources direc tor for the district.

During last week’s governing board meeting, Rogers cited a report from a school administrators association that shows 970 vacant bus driver positions in Arizona.

“QCUSD had 35 vacant positions in September,” Rogers said.

In order to get bus drivers hired and then keep them, the district has crafted a

detailed sign-on and retention plan that offers a $2,500 “new hire” bonus to qual ified candidates who have a commercial driver’s license with a special passenger

and school bus designation.

A new hire with a basic CDL can re ceive a $2,000 sign on bonus, and “if we hire them and they are just a bus driv

er trainee, they would receive $1,500,” Rogers said.

People already on the job can earn $500 for referring a person who ends up getting hired as a driver.

“Send us your referrals,” said board Pres ident Ken Brague. “Make some money.”

As part of the plan, the district would pay the new hires with no experience an hourly wage while they are in training. They would not transport students until they are fully trained.

To sweeten the pot still further, the district will also cover the expense of a driver who trains to get a CDL – a cost that can total several thousand dollars in Arizona.

“QCUSD offers paid training for CDL and passenger and school bus endorse ments at no cost to the employee,” said Jessica Bautista, district spokeswoman.

“New employees that come with no credentials are hired on as bus driver trainees and earn an hourly wage while we facilitate the required training in-

Kruze Mingus, director of transportation for Queen Creek Unified School District, oversees a big task at the Ed Hennerley Transportation Facility. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

CONTACT INFORMATION

house. They do not drive before complet ing training,” Bautista said.

Right now, the hourly wage for Queen Creek school bus drivers ranges between $18.22 and $24.79, according to the dis trict’s pay scale.

As part of the incentive/retention plan to keep existing drivers, the district will pay an additional $2 per hour on top of their hourly rate.

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The existing drivers would be paid that stipend for routes driven through next May 25 and it would be “distribut ed in December 2022 and May 2023,” the district said.

Those lump sum payments would re place getting more money in each pay check, which would be the norm in a normal hourly job.

“The stipend also incentivizes daily driver attendance which is imperative to the department’s success,” Bautista said.

The signing bonuses for new hires would be paid at three different times during the year, according to the board:

• Upon release to the terminal after successfully obtaining a CDL license and completing training.

• Five months after hiring date or the end of the school year, whichever comes first.

• End of September of the following school year.

Like other school districts across the state, Queen Creek has been so desperate for buses and people to drive them that it has been forced to contract with outside companies just to be able to complete es tablished routes every day.

The signing bonus and existing em ployee incentive plan also will have a big budgetary impact.

“In order to transport our students safely to school QCUSD worked with two third party companies to fill these vacan cies,” Rogers said. “By hiring our own drivers, and keeping our current drivers, QCUSD will save $735,000 annually.”

Steve Bullard works underneath a school bus on a lift in the shop at the district’s bus depot. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

The district says in addition to the sav ings, Queen Creek schools will be able to add necessary bus routes to support current enrollment growth while at the same time reducing redundant ones.

While the plan does take aim at hiring and retaining drivers, it does not specif ically appear to ad dress the shortage of school buses themselves.

Queen Creek has been strug gling with getting enough vehicles because of the meteoric student population growth and the number of kids choosing to ride the school bus.

“Which isn’t really manageable for a district,” Stouard said at a recent Cham ber of Commerce meeting. “Like if the A/C breaks down or something.”

QCUSD offers paid training for CDL and passenger and school bus endorsements at no cost to the employee.

- Jessica Bautista, district spokeswoman.

Stouard said having no wiggle room in its fleet makes scheduling even routine maintenance difficult and leaves absolutely no mar gin should a bus to break down. In their doc uments, Queen Creek school of ficials also noted they are losing bus drivers to other districts in addition to simply having trouble hiring them in the first place.

Amber Stouard, the district’s Chief Operating Officer, said Queen Creek cur rently operates 22 school buses, all of which are on the road every day, and that number will need to increase as the stu dent population continues to climb.

“Along with our initiative to continue to recruit and at tract bus drivers, this action is being tak en as a method to retain current employ ees and remain competitive within the region through the additional compen sation,” Rogers said. 

Know anything interesting going on in Queen Creek?

to pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.com

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Hopes were high among investors and some East Valley officials when ground was broken for Bell Bank Park, now the focus of a widening financial and legal mess. (Tribune file photo)

from page 1

tors that worked on the project filed liens totaling millions of dollars against the property owner for non-payment for ser vices, according to the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office.

Legacy Cares doesn’t own the land, but leases it from Pacific Proving LLC, a joint venture between William Levine and Ar turo Moreno, owner of the Los Angeles Angels MLB baseball team.

Levine and Moreno were partners in the billboard company Outdoor Systems, which they sold to Infinity Broadcasting for $8.7 billion in 1999. Pacific Proving purchased 1,800 acres of the General Mo tors testing facility, which has provided land for Mesa’s tremendous expansion in the southeast.

Liens make the 320-acre property dif ficult to sell or mortgage, and one of the terms of Legacy’s lease with Pacific Prov ing is that no liens be allowed on the prop erty for more than 20 days – a time frame that has long passed.

Executives for Legacy Cares told the Tri bune on Sept. 14 there was no danger of the facility defaulting on its loans, saying, “We’re right on track in the fall and winter heading into a position where we don’t an ticipate having any shortfalls whatsoever.”

On Oct. 4, though, the trustee informed Legacy that conditions exist for a “default,” including the failure to make its month ly loan payments. After managers for the sports complex failed to resolve the con ditions, the trustee issued the notification and called a meeting of bondholders for Oct. 25.

Stephen Griffin, a whistleblower in Rhode Island who is a former executive and investor in a failed youth sports com pany in Boston, has been predicting trou ble for Bell Bank Park since September.

Griffin, an accountant for major firms before becoming an investor, doesn’t think the Mesa project is capable of generating the revenue needed to cover its current obligations.

He said the revenue potential and eco nomic benefits of destination sports facil ities like Bell Bank Park have been overhyped to communities across the country.

That’s also been true in the East Val ley, where Mesa and Queen Creek offi cials have been especially enthusiastic about the park and its future potential as a magnet for visitors to their municipali ties. Although some Gilbert officials were concerned about the park’s impact on the town’s Cactus Park sports venue, they too took a broader favorable view of its tour ist potential.

Griffin pointed out that a similar sports complex in Indiana, the 400-acre Grand Park, was recently appraised for just $85 million.

Griffin said in his experience the youth sports market is “a mom and pop indus try” that’s “impossible to do at scale.”

“The destination youth sports complex concept is a bubble,” he said.

He said when he heard about the project and looked into it, he was surprised Bell Bank Park was financed with municipal bonds, and he thought the 7.5% interest rates offered were “really high for bonds.”

ALAN SMITH

FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 15

I will be your Citizen Legislator!

Volunteer, Education Advocate, Scoutmaster, Grandfather

Our Democracy. It is threatened by FALSE claims of massive election fraud.

Women’s Rights and especially, Women’s Privacy & Healthcare Rights

Strong public schools, community colleges and state universities.

Statewide water planning and conservation

Common sense gun legislation

Continued use of early and mail-in voting

Infrastructure improvements: transportation, electrical grid & clean energy

shape

Student Choice. Student Voice.

Smith

Arizona. Authorized by Alan Smith

IT IS TIME FOR A CITIZEN INSTEAD OF A PROFESSIONAL POLITICIAN TO REPRESENT YOU IN OUR LEGISLATURE.

Ballot measure could weaken citizen initiatives

BY EMILEE MIRANDA Cronkite News

WhenArizona voters approved a measure in 2020 that would have increased school funding by raising income taxes on high er earners, they did so by a comfortable 52-48% margin.

That was too comfortable for support ers of Proposition 132 on this fall’s ballot, which would require any initiative that raises taxes to get approved by at least 60% of voters to pass.

Supporters say the higher threshold is needed to keep special-interest groups from coming to Arizona and spending mil lions of dollars to win tax increases at the ballot box that they could not win in the Legislature, where any higher taxes must be approved by a two-thirds majority.

Those outside groups think “they can get a slim majority to impose a new tax … on a minority of the population,” said Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free En terprise Club. “So, we think a 60% thresh old for tax increases is appropriate.”

But critics say it’s not external groups who will be affected by Proposition 132 –it’s Arizona voters, who will see their con stitutional right to pass laws at the ballot box severely weakened.

from

It all seemed too good to be true.

Having read the loan documents “five times,” Griffin believes there are omis sions and distortions in Legacy Cares’ sales pitch “meant to excite bondholders.”

Griffin said he is providing information to the Securities and Exchange Commis sion about Legacy Cares. He shared an email exchange with the Tribune show ing communication with Rebecca Olsen, deputy chief of the SEC’s Public Finance Abuse Unit.

A spokesman for the SEC said the agen cy “does not comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible investigation.”

Griffin said the notice of default and bondholder meeting could likely be the start of “a very complicated, messy, liti gious situation for the next 12 months.”

He said that a possible next step in the default process is bondholders could hire an outside consultant to manage

“If we’re about to start changing every thing from the state’s inception, it’s really disappointing that the first thing that leg islators want to do is take away the voice of the people that they represent,” said Arizona Education Association President Marisol Garcia.

That was echoed by Christie Black, Ar izona chapter coordinator of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, who said the ballot process is there to give voters a voice in their governance, which is es pecially important when the Legislature fails to act in their best interest.

Currently, any ballot initiative can pass with a simple majority of 50% plus one vote.

Proposition 132 would amend the Ari zona Constitution to require a superma jority for approval of initiatives or refer endums proposing new or higher taxes.

It would apply only to those measures –all others would still only need a majority.

Critics call the supermajority require ment a solution in search of a problem.

David Lujan, president and CEO of Chil dren’s Action Alliance, points to Proposi tion 301 in 2000, a 20-year increase in the sales tax to support public education, and Proposition 203 in 2006, which raised tobacco taxes in the state to fund early childhood education.

the facility.

If the principals of Legacy Cares and Legacy Sports, the for-profit group that manages the facility, resisted giving up control, it could unleash a “hornets’ nest of lawyers and litigation.”

Legacy Cares did not respond to a re quest for comment before press time, but the organization may be seeking a way out by refunding the bonds, or finding new investors who will put up the capi tal to cover the current bonds and loan to Legacy under new terms.

On Oct. 5, Legacy notified bondholders of a potential “refunding and defeasance of all or a portion of the Bonds by defea sance, redemption, open market purchase and/or exchange.”

Griffin said it might be difficult to find new investors, saying that in addition to possible concerns about revenue potential of the project, the investors would be on the hook for paying the interest through at least 2027, increasing the cost of taking

He said both were “very popular and passed by Arizona voters … but neither one reached the 60% threshold,” with both getting about 53% of the vote.

“Had Prop 132 been in place, these would have failed,” said Andrew Sugrue, an official with the Arizona Center for Economic Progress.

“For years, Arizonans have used direct democracy – the initiative and referen dum process – to voice and enact their priorities,” like schools, roads, parks and early childhood development programs, Sugrue said in a statement opposing Proposition 132

Critics say the proposition would needlessly “move the goalposts” on that process.

“Most people in the United States be lieve in majority rule, right?” asked Garcia.

“What this does is actually move the goalposts to 60%, which is not something we were ever raised with, something that is not even necessary to win the presiden cy, to win the governor’s race, to win a school board, to win anything.”

But the proposition’s backers say rev enue proposals are different, pointing to the higher threshold in the Legislature.

They argue that if there is an issue on the ballot that Arizonans believe in strongly enough, more than 60% of them

over the debt.

There are also millions in contractors’ liens on the property that have to be taken care of before proceeding.

Most of the contractors that filed liens with the county this summer are based in Phoenix or other Valley cities, and most of the lien amounts are in the high six fig ures, several over $1 million.

For example, Kearney Electric in Phoe nix filed a lien for $1 million on July 21 and Siteworks Landscape Development filed a lien for $826,000 on the same day.

As its troubles have mounted, Legacy Cares has also gotten pushback from ath letes and their families.

Under pressure from its bondholders to maximize revenue, the facility has started collecting parking fees Friday through Sunday. It also enforces prohi bitions on outside food and beverages, except water.

Some visitors to Bell Bank Park have complained in online reviews about hav

will vote for it.

“Ensuring that future tax increases garner broad public support is good policy and creates needed stability in Arizona’s tax code,” said a statement in support of Proposition 132 from Kevin McCarthy, president of the Arizona Tax Research Association.

But Pinny Sheoran, president of the League of Women Voters of Arizona, calls the 60% level almost impossible to meet.

As proof, she notes that the legislation that put Proposition 132 on the ballot was only able to garner support 53% o f votes in the state Senate and 51% in the House.

The “very same Legislature that has brought this in could not get a superma jority to support the referendum,” Sheo ran said. 

ing to pay for parking and admission to see their children play in addition to tour nament fees, as well as paying for food and beverage in the venue.

One sentiment is that visitors are being “nickeled and dimed” and not getting a re turn on value for the fees.

Bell Bank Park has a two-star rating out of five on review website Yelp. The rating is 3.4 on Google, but several recent view ers have savaged the facility for the fees.

“They charge $5 per vehicle per day to park in their dirt lot,” one poster wrote.

“This place is at the ends of the earth in Mesa, why is there a charge to park?”

Whatever the outcome of Legacy Cares’ default and upcoming bondholders’ meet ing, a statement Griffin posted in early September to kick off his whistleblowing campaign is resonating today.

“Whoever said municipal bonds are boring has never been to Mesa, Arizona. Stay tuned – this story is incredible,” he wrote.

QC school board raises substitute teacher pay

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

After more than a year since their last raise, substitute teachers in the Queen Creek Unified School district will be paid more to spend a day in the classroom.

The school board voted to increase the pay for substitute teachers by $25 a day for certified teachers and by $12 a day for classified ones.

It is the first increase for Queen Creek substitute teachers in over a year.

Certified substitute teachers will be paid $145 a day, up from $120 in Queen Creek, and classified substitutes will earn $112 per day, according to documents the dis trict governing board members discussed last week.

“Substitutes are an integral part of the continuity of our students’ education,” said Dr. Patty Rogers, district HR director.

The overall budgetary impact, according to Rogers, is $306,000.

The board listed several advantages to

boosting the substitute pay.

Officials said the raise would increase the “fill rate,” which means how quickly the schools are able to get a certified or classified substitute teacher when they need one, often at the last minute.

They also said it will reduce preparation time for current employees to get the sub stitutes up to speed on classroom materi als and remaining competitive with other East Valley schools.

“The substitute rates have not increased since February of 2021,” Rogers said. “In order to honor our current substitutes, attract new substitutes and remain com petitive in the East Valley, we are recom mending the” new rates.

Rogers said a question at a recent board meeting prompted the substitute pay rate discussion.

Someone asked the board whether it in tended to recommend an increase in pay for substitute teachers this school year.

“After that meeting, the Human Resourc es Department researched substitute rates across the East Valley and found that

QCUSD was one of the lowest rates,” Rog ers said.

There will also be a boost for what are known as long-term substitutes, which are teachers who accept longer term as signments.

“Those are “substitutes after they have worked 20 consecutive days,” Rogers said. “On the 21st day, they will go from $150 to $165 a day.”

“I just want to say thank you guys for looking into this,” said board member Jen nifer Revolt. “I think it’s a significant jump and will help us get a lot of good substi tutes in our district.”

The pay raise for substitutes, which many other school districts around the state have also implemented, is timely. Federal money was made available to schools as part pandemic relief legislation known as the CARES Act.

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief or ESSER fund is part of that act will terminate next year and man districts used that money to pay substi tute teachers.

Queen Creek’s increase brings them more in line with other school districts in the East Valley. Mesa, for example, pays a certified teacher $140 a day and a substi tute with a teaching certificate $170 a day.

They pay long term substitutes $100 for a half day and $200 for a full day in the classroom, and Gilbert lists its daily sub stitute rate at $150.

Arizona schools have had such a hard time filing teaching vacancies and especial ly finding ready and willing substitutes due to the labor shortage that the Legislature this year that removed a 120-day class room limitation on substitutes. That allows them to stay as long as it takes for the dis trict to hire a permanent, full-time teacher.

The state also now issues a substitute’s certification for two years instead of one to “reduce the administrative burden on the emergency substitute and the school,” according to a memo from the state Edu cation Department. “This means emer gency substitute teachers do not have to return to receive a new certification ev ery year.” 

Rains washed out Trunk or Treat for this year

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Queen Creek was forced to cancel one of its biggest events of the year Oct. 15 when thunderstorms and flash floods washed through the Valley and upended the Trunk or Treat Halloween. It won’t return this year.

“In addition to keeping event partic ipants safe, the Town must also ensure public safety resources are available to respond to increased calls that are typical ly associated with this level of predicted storm,” the town said in announcing the cancellation on Oct. 14.

“We are disappointed we have to cancel our largest event of the year, but are com mitted to the safety of our community.”

The town also said it can’t resched ule the event “due to the availability of vendors, equipment and logistics that

are required to plan a large-scale com munity event.

“Stay tuned for updates on how you can score some TOT candy,” it advised.

Queen Creek had been busily solicit ing candy donations and volunteers for the event, now in its 11th year, and is typically attended by thousands of peo ple. Sponsors had also made investments and plans to help, including Rock Point Church.

“Large-scale community events like Trunk or Treat provide an opportunity for businesses, families, and individuals to come together and connect in ways they likely would not without it,” said Rock Point Outreach and Events Coordinator Sharon Johnson.

Despite the cancellation, there are still family-friendly Halloween-themed events planned for Queen Creek.

Mobile entertainment company 5 Gents Events is parking their haunted school bus, The Wreckoning, for a second year at Schnepf Farm popular Pumpkin & Chili Party.

“We’re excited to bring this experience back to Schnepf and the people of the East Valley,” said Dan Knudson, one of the founders of 5 Gents Events.

“Our past mobile experiences have been more time consuming, which we know has been a barrier for some. This haunt ed house, though, you’ll be in and out in 5 minutes. That is…if you make it out,” Knudson joked.

Knudson and his partners have used this bus, which they purchased from Gil bert Public Schools, as an escape room in the past. Turning it into a haunted bus for Halloween was always on their radar.

“When we bought the bus in January

of 2019, the goal was always to make a haunted house,” said Knudson. “The es cape room idea came after trying to figure out what to do with the other 11 months of the year.”

Participants wander through narrow lanes in the bus and happen upon several scenes, some with paid actors, mostly from local high schools, waiting to scare them.

The bus will be parked at the Schnepf Farm Pumpkin & Chili Festivalt, accord ing to Mark Schnepf, the farm’s owner. The haunted bus attraction will require a separate $5 ticket purchase either online or on site.

The bus, which will be open Thurs day-Sunday this week, is not recommend ed for unaccompanied children.

Information: pumpkinandchiliparty.

State’s jobless rate ticks up even as jobs stay unfilled

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

The state’s jobless rate ticked up again last month – the third time in four months – even as the national rate dropped.

But Doug Walls, the labor market an alyst for the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, said he’s not seeing anything causing him great concern.

He noted the 3.7% seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, while up two-tenths of a percent from August, is still below the state’s pre-pandemic average.

Some of that is job creation in Arizo na, up by 102,500 as reported by private sector employers since last year. But what’s growing even faster is the num ber of people in the labor force, both em ployed and not.

A household survey last month showed total employment approaching 3.5 mil lion – up by 3,242 from August.

But the labor force increased by 11,717. So more people available to work, wheth er by reentering the labor market or mov

ing to Arizona, translates to a higher un employment figure.

And Walls said a separate report shows there are close to two open jobs for every unemployed person.

“So I think the labor market is still tight,’’ he said.

“There are employers that are looking for employees,’’ Walls continued. “They still are not able to find them.’’

That search for workers, in turn, is hav ing ripple effects.

Average hourly wages in Arizona hit $30.57 in September. That’s up 7.8% from the same time a year earlier.

By contrast, wages on the national level are up 4.9% year over year, though the average of $32.40 is still higher than the state.

Still, costs at the state level are eating up pay increases at an even faster rate.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the September consumer price index for Mar icopa and Pinal counties -- the only are in Arizona they measure -- was up 13% from the same time a year earlier. That is being driven not just by the price of gas

oline, with energy prices up 19.2%, but the cost of housing, especially for renters where costs are up 21.4%.

National inflation was up just 8.2%.

One area of the economy that may bear watching in the coming months is the construction industry.

Sharply higher mortgage rates appear to be finally driving housing prices down in Arizona.

The median listing price of a home in the state dropped last month to $477,500, down close to $12,000 from the prior month.

And while that’s still 6.2% higher than the same time a year earlier, it appears to be a trend, with the data from Real tor.com showing a continuing decline from earlier this year when the average his $520,950.

At the same time, the number of homes on the market increased to 23,791 in Sep tember. That’s up 2.3% from August and 128.5% from last year.

The median number of days proper ties are on the market increased to 48 days last month from 40 days the

month before.

And housing starts, as measured by the number of new building permits, de creased 2.8% in August, the most recent figures available.

Walls said that’s all being affected by the decisions by the Federal Reserve Board to raise interest rates.

“With interest rates increasing, that does impact the monthly mortgage rate that a buyer would have to pay,’’ he said.

“So individuals that might have been able to afford a house when interest rates are low, they might either be thinking twice about that.’’

And Walls said buyers, seeing some trends in prices, might be holding off on making a purchase.

But all that could reduce the number of people needed in construction.

“We haven’t seen it yet,’’ Walls said. “But we have to wait and see where construc tion employment goes from here.’’

One other area of the economy also could be affected. Fewer home buyers and fewer people seeking mortgages could translate to fewer loan officers. 

24th annual Barktoberfest promises fun in Gilbert

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

One of Gilbert’s longest running annual festivals will be held next weekend, combining a celebration of dogs and Halloween.

Barktoberfest, which will feature shop ping, trick-or-treating and a parade among other activities, will be held 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Friends for Life Animal Rescue, 952 W. Melody Ave., Gilbert.

Barktoberfest is a big fundraiser for Friends for Life, a registered nonprofit, nokill shelter that has sponsored the event the last 23 years.

It will include food trucks, booths with wares from local vendors as well as sponsors and suppliers, a dog wash, lure course, agility obstacle course, dog adop tions, a raffle and contests for best trick and best costume.

It also will have a DogVinci booth where pups step in safe paints and walk onto a

Costumed dogs are the hit of Barktobefest’s Halloween parade. (Friends for Life)

Two marquee Gateway Airport users surprise

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Phoenix-Mesa

Gateway Airport grabbed headlines this past year when two major aerospace com panies – business jet maker Gulfstream and space tourism company Virgin Ga lactic – announced plans to set up oper ations there.

Despite current economic uncertainty surrounding inflation and interest rates, airport staff reported last week that those projects are moving ahead rapidly.

In a sign that Gulfstream is finding suc cess recruiting workers in a tight labor market and attracting jet maintenance businesses to Mesa, Gulfstream an nounced Oct. 17 that it has leased a sec ond hangar at Gateway for its regional maintenance and operations facility

The company is leasing the two han gars while it constructs its own $100 million facility on the airport’s east side.

Gulfstream’s future 225,000-squarefoot facility is expected to begin opera tions sometime next year, but Vice Presi dent Joe Rivera told the airport board in May that the company likes “to establish a beachhead to start to hire staff” ahead of the opening of new operations.

Gulfstream’s plans to provide mainte nance and service to customers of the jet maker’s high-end, multi-million-dollar aircraft at Gateway.

In the recent press release, it said it has hired and trained more than 80 employ ees, and the company anticipates grow ing its Mesa workforce to more than 200 when the larger facility is complete.

The company has consistently praised its partnerships with Arizona State

University and Gilbert-Chandler Com munity College.

“A lot of credit goes to the Chandler-Gil bert Community College” for the compa ny’s decision to locate in Mesa, Rivera said.

“Today, we have a flight safety course going on. They’re teaching specifically our G650 (model jet) course to local stu dents, our local employees, a lot of kids in school. … That’s a win-win for all of us.”

Gateway Airport spokesman Ryan Smith said the Gulfstream expansion wasn’t expected, but the airport is excit ed to see it.

“It’s proof that Gulfstream is not only exceeding expectations from what they originally thought, but they are finding that they’re able to find success here.”

“It was such a big announcement to have them come here,” Smith added. “We continue to talk to other aerospace and related companies that are looking to

locate here because Gulfstream is here. Having them here truly is a magnet for all sorts of aerospace companies.”

Gateway airport also made headlines in July when Virgin Galactic, a space tour ism company headed by British billion aire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, announced plans to lease three hangars at the airport to assemble “spaceships.”

Virgin plans to use the hangars at Gateway Executive Park near Sossaman and Ray Roads for final assembly of its six-person, rocket-powered ships that carry paying passengers to the edge of space after detaching from a large “mothership.”

When Virgin announced the Mesa deal, the hangars were still under con struction, and Smith said the company is working furiously to complete them.

But there has been one speed bump.

Airport Director J. Brian O’Neill said the steel framing of hangar two needed

to be taken down and re-erected at sig nificant cost for the company because it needed to be taller to accommodate the twin-engine mothership.

Virgin Galactic will use to that to ferry the finished spaceships to the company’s New Mexico spaceport.

Despite the setback, work is moving forward.

“Now they’re pouring the floor for han gar three, which is about 130,000 square feet, and that’s where they’re going to construct those six spaceships every year,” O’Neill said. “They’re going to at tach them to the mothership, and they’re going to fly them to New Mexico for their horizontal launch.”

O’Neill paused after saying “moth ership” for the second time in his presentation.

“I tell people in my neighborhood about the ‘mothership,’ and it seems like we don’t have as many visitors at the house as we used to,” O’Neill joked.

“I laugh … but those are the words that they use, so we’re going to have to get used to it as they continue to play a big ger role here at the airport,” he said.

Virgin Galactic has said its goal is to have the Mesa facility fully operational by late 2023.

Smith said he was not surprised Gulf stream and Virgin Galactic were moving full-steam ahead in spite of economic un certainties.

“These are multigenerational compa nies,” Smith said. “They go through the ups and the downs of economic cycles. While they face economic pressures just like ev eryone else does, they’re here for the long haul. Those are the companies you want to have located at your airport.” 

Gulfstream, a giant in the private jet industry, is adding to this planned facility at Gateway Airport. The building pictured above in a rendering is under construction. (Tribune files)

$600,000, it’s hard to build a work force,” said Rick Brammer, who spoke to Council Oct. 19 on behalf of Applied Economics, a consulting firm the town hired to assess the state of multi-family housing avail ability here.

The jobs that Queen Creek is trying to attract likely won’t pay enough for some one to rent an apartment here, either, giv en a recent 76% increase in rental rates, Brammer said.

“We have two-bedroom apartment rents in the area that are averaging $2,500 a month,” Brammer said. “To me, that’s a mortgage. Your rents tend to be the high est in metro-Phoenix and we know Met ro Phoenix has been one of the highest rent-increased market in the entire U.S.”

As a percentage of total housing units available in town, only 5% are multifam ily in Queen Creek, compared to 30% in Chandler, 28% in Mesa and 17% in Gilbert.

However, data shared at the council meeting shows that number will rise to 13% in Queen Creek when projects that are under construction or have been ap proved are completed.

That number does not take into account projects that have simply been proposed but not approved, though those aren’t likely to ease the problem, either.

“Knowing average income for multi-fam ily requires $118,000 and the median in come of Queen Creek is $104,000,” said Wheatley, “literally half of our residents could not afford these apartments that are coming in here.”

Recent reports nationally and locally say permits for single-family housing have dropped in recent months as builders pull back because of rising mortgage rates. On the other hand, the Cromford Report, a elading Valley housign market analyst, reported sharp increases in permits for apartment complex construction.

Queen Creek has continued to receive requests for multifamily development, but

The percentage of Queen Creek’s land zoned for multifamily development is substantially lower than the same percentages in neighboring municipalities. (Town of Queen Creek)

town officials are taking a methodical and strategic approach to creating it.

Developer Jason Barney withdrew a re zoning request to build 665 new townho mes near Frontier Park that he said would create a “neighborhood-y vibe.”

Currently Queen Creek has 3,669 multi family units either existing, or under con struction, or with an approved site plan.

They include 1,813 apartment units, 1,625 medium density residential units for rent and 231 condominiums or town houses for sale or rent. Last fiscal year, Queen Creek issued 900 multifamily building permits.

Town officials are trying to keep up, but not at the expense of the town’s character.

Wheatley conceded amending the Gen eral Plan will be “recognizing the need, the importance of” multifamily projects…,but

some activities might require a donation to participate.

also not wanting to have the departure from the vision of Queen Creek.”

In effect, she said, the move is “really nar rowing in where we want that multifamily.”

Brammer said, “The combination of the prices is so exacerbated by the increase in interest rates that we really have a seri ous housing affordability problem and it could lead into economic development issues down the road.”

The town is actively recruiting light in dustrial businesses.

“Those manufacturers are going to be looking for a workforce,” Brammer said, “and the workforce needs a place to live. The situation on the working-class people has become especially critical.”

That will not be a strong selling point for companies still deciding whether to locate here, knowing their employees will likely

have to commute from elsewhere just to be able to afford to have a place to live, and then have to commute to work in a town already plagued by traffic snarls and midday gridlock on its main streets, typical of any town that is growing as fast as Queen Creek is.

With the growth, prices have skyrock eted and appear to continue trending up ward as Queen Creek is becoming a victim of its own success, Brammer suggested.

“We’ve always been undervalued in terms of our housing,” Brammer said. “ It was one of our key economic advan tages was that we had such affordable housing for all of our infrastructure. And sadly, this is putting us more on par with like Riverside, California. This is probably be the prices you see right now in Riverside.” 

canvas, creating a canine masterpiece.

Also featured is an alumni parade for those who have adopted dogs from Friends for Life.

Sponsors and vendors will be passing out candy for kids so dogs aren’t the only ones getting treats

Admission to the event is free but

All funds raised from this event aid in helping Friends for Life save the lives of homeless dogs and cats in its community.

The presenting sponsor is Dogs 24/7 of Chandler, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe.

Sponsors, merchants and raffle items are still needed and interested people can

email bark@azfriends.org. For further in formation on Barktoberfest, visit Friends for Life Facebook page at: facebook.com/ AZfriendsforLife and click on the Events tab, or call 480-497-8296.

The volunteer-based organization fo cuses on rescuing stray animals from off the streets and the rural desert areas of Arizona communities.

Friends for Life provides medical at

tention and care for the animals in its 12,000-square-foot shelter and actively seeks adoptive families.

No appointment is needed to check out animals that need a home. Just come by during hours of operation.

At Friends for Life, animals are al tered, vaccinated, microchipped, and dewormed. Cats are also tested for FELV/FIV.

WARNING!

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

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

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

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

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

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

1. Finding the underlying cause

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

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

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

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

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

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

It’s completely painless!

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

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

Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until October 31st 2022 Call (480) 274 3157 to make an appointment

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

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

on

neuropathy

cost almost nothing

QueenCreekTribune.com

@QCTribune @QCTribune

Queen Creek’s vibrancy includes housing

BY MELANIE NEMETZ Tribune Guest Writer

Creek has become a vibrant town and is the third fastest growing city in the nation, according to the U.S. Cen sus Bureau show.

The growth is seen and felt by all resi dents including road construction, com mercial building, large scale companies choosing to bring their businesses here, the SR24 freeway, and of course, many new housing communities under de velopment. Bell Bank Park has been a strong addition.

Although it is technically a Mesa ad dress, its location serves both Queen Creek and Mesa quite well.

Most Queen Creek residents, as well as some Gilbert and Mesa residents, are anxiously waiting for Costco to open just

North of Rittenhouse on the East side of Ellsworth.

QueenWhile this may add to some conges tion, there is simply a statement that is made about an area when a Costco lays down their roots in your town.

Housing has been booming in Queen Creek for a number of years now. It’s been so exciting to see Queen Creek con tinue to develop and become a place that buyers want to call home.

As mentioned in last month’s article, you may be seeing headlines that refer to our national real estate market and yet we want to focus on our hyperlocal real estate market and how that pertains to Queen Creek residents.

On that note, our local real estate mar ket in Queen Creek offers new builds and resale homes. Depending on a buyer’s time frame as well as pricing, a buyer may focus on one over the other.

Builders have stepped up their conces

sions in an effort to not only draw buyers in their doors but also in an effort to se cure a sale.

Builders know they are competing with one another as well as with resale homes. A home that has already broken ground on the construction is a home they want sold. The further along the construction process, the more they want the home sold.

A completed home, or one within 30 days of completion will be the homes that cost the builder the most to carry financially. This is good news for a buyer.

Buyers can anticipate concessions from the builder in the builder’s effort to get the home sold. Any new build near ing completion is in direct competition with a resale home.

Builders have leverage over the aver age home seller as they may have deeper pockets when it comes to concessions.

Resale homes have been experienc

ing price reductions after 30 plus days on the market. As we enter the typically slower season for real estate, we expect sellers to reach 50 plus days on market.

This may mean an increase in fre quency of reductions as well as increase in the dollar amount of the reduction. Most price reductions can be one to two percent of the list price, if not more, with some seeing three to five percent price drops.

So, how is this great for Queen Creek? Buyers still want to move to Queen Creek.

Even though interest rates are substan tially higher than they were six months ago, buying in Queen Creek is more ap pealing than ever. They can move to the town they choose and be able to negoti ate the price of the home.

All of this helps bring homeowners that want to live in Queen Creek, not just

Short-term rental owners should keep these things in mind

BY LEVI CLARIDGE AFN Guest Writer

home-shar ing, such as Airb nb, VRBO and HomeAway, has become increasingly popular for both hosts and guests.

According to a recent study by Roof stock, a real estate investment market place, about 10.6 million people in the U.S. earn money from more than 17 million rental properties.

According to Statista, there will be 64.7 million home-sharing users in 2022 and more than 68 million in 2023.

While it can be very appealing for the property owner to secure extra income, there are risks associated with renting out your home to strangers. Knowing

these risks and liabilities before jumping in can save you a lot of headaches and fu ture expenses.

OnlineBelow is a list of four things to consider before renting out your home:

Follow city, county and state regula tions. When considering home sharing, it’s important to understand your city, county and state laws.

For example, in Phoenix, renters are required to be registered with the City of Phoenix, and all residential rental units – including vacation and short-term rentals – must be registered with Maricopa County.

It’s also important to consider your con tracts with leases, condo boards, mort gage lenders, HOAs, etc. There may be lim itations you need to be aware of.

Be aware of tax implications. You’ll have to pay taxes on your earnings, but you can also deduct some expenses related to your

rental. It’s also important to understand the various taxes applicable when renting your home.

Phoenix assesses a sales tax on proper ty rentals and a transient lodging tax for guest stays less than 30 days. Consulting a tax expert is always a good idea.

Check your insurance. Before renting out your house, you must ensure you have appropriate insurance coverage. Most homeowners assume they have protec tion under their homeowners’ policy, but this may not be the case.

Websites like Airbnb offer some prop erty protection for hosts against property damage by a guest but do not include li ability insurance. You may need to invest in an umbrella insurance policy that will cover loss due to injury, loss of belongings or damage to your home.

If you rent your home with Airbnb, Ho

meAway, VRBO or the like, you will need landlord protection insurance or vacation rental insurance.

Know what you are getting into. Rent ing your home short-term can be a big re sponsibility. In addition to the above-men tioned risks, a renter should also consider additional expenses that will incur, such as stocking the home with all the neces sities like towels, kitchen essentials, toilet paper, etc.

It’s also likely you will see high er-than-normal utility bills. Additionally, Airbnb, for example, charges hosts 3% per reservation. And, of course, don’t have anything in the home that you’d be heart broken of if it was damaged.

If you’re thinking of renting your home out as a side hustle, don’t forget to do your

For more Business News visit QueenCreekTribune.com

because they can afford it but also be cause Queen Creek is where they choose to live. This makes for happy homeown ers and overall better communities. In the end, that is what most homeowners want within their community.

Melanie Nemetz, the owner and founder of The Melanie Nemetz Team with Keller Williams Integrity First can be reached at 480-221-3034, mel anie@fosteringre.com or www.foster ingre.com

research. There’s much more to it than just deciding and listing it on websites like Airbnb. Consult with an attorney on the legal implications and do your homework when it comes to the demand in your area, pricing, laws, taxes and insurance. Happy renting!

Levi Claridge is a member at The Cavanagh Law Firm and represents clients in commercial litigation, transporta tion, insurance defense, and products liability.

QueenCreekTribune.com | @QCTribune @QCTribune

This month evokes memories of a survivor

BY RACHEL ALLEN Tribune Guest Writer

Toa lot of people, this month means the rusty, earthy hues of autumn but there’s another October color – a bold purple meant to bring awareness to domestic violence and the many resourc es available.

To me, October always brings me back to the time I met a now beloved survivor. Through her story, I came to realize that domestic violence can be any mix of abuse: physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, social, spiritual and financial.

A phone call came in about the needs of a woman over 1,200 miles away. The woman’s safety plan included mov ing to Arizona and she needed Winged Hope’s help.

This woman and her teen fled their home with only two backpacks crammed with a couple changes of clothes.

They stayed in emergency lodging while we gathered donations and prepared an apartment. Because their move-in was late at night, we took over beds in my truck and left the other things for the next trip. While my husband and I stood out side of her door, a woman with a conta gious smile and a small load of groceries stepped out of an Uber.

Looking back over her scattered grocery bags, I asked what she had put back or re luctantly walked past in the store. Her list included simple things such as hand soap, plates, silverware and towels.

I took to social media, desperately en listing help from my friends and family. Using every penny received, we extended her wish list so much that the shopping cart became hard to see over and difficult to maneuver.

I saw a lift in the mom as some burdens fell off her shoulders when she saw the bags. I eagerly presented this mother with a new, soft comforter in her favorite col or… purple and saw that spark of hope she carried with her fully ignite.

She hugged me and then the blanket before hurrying down the hall to make her bed. I didn’t know it then but this bed would change her life and mine, too.

We continued emptying my garage and hauling in loads over the next few days –newly painted bedroom furniture for the boy and a black headboard for the mom.

I bought her a tool set as a gift, unaware of the inspirational moment that purchase would bring.

The mom became eager to build her bed, with an interesting mix of restless ness and giddy behavior. She asked how we were going to put it all together and I ceremoniously presented her with her

own toolbox.

Her response has stayed with me for years now and I never want to forget her enthusiasm. Just after the tools were put into her hands, she raised them overhead saying, “I have the POWER!”

I was taken back. With the authority in her voice, I knew she believed what she said.

After many days and loads of physical goods, I finally asked this woman her full name. We talked and among other details I learned her favorite author was Maya Angelou and her favorite holiday was Halloween.

She then told me about the day she fully committed to safety. She had her son, her backpack, and an ability to purchase two one-way tickets.

She looked at her flight options and chose Arizona for its sun. She’d lived in the Pacific Northwest where the rain felt inescapable and the dark clouds always hung over her.

A few minutes later she shared why she was so driven to set up her bed. She’d lived with her abuser for over 10 years and endured all sorts of physical and emotional pain in that relationship but in all that time he never allowed her to sleep on a real bed.

He said she needed to “live humbly” in order to arrive at a good life and then forced her to sleep on a thin mattress on the floor. The situation didn’t change even when she’d saved money from her own job for a bed.

He didn’t work, yet he had control of all the finances. He took her earnings and dignity.

This donated bed made her feel loved and respected.

After years of suffering, she had her needs met by strangers and that love was symbolized by a black headboard and pur ple comforter.

Her abuser attempted to control her

For more Community News visit QueenCreekTribune.com

Gathering beneath the Gilbert Water Tower as its lights change to mark October as Domes tic Violence Awareness Month are, from left, Winged Hope board President Joyce McLaren, Emily Caron, Gilbert Family Violence Unit victim advocate; and Winged Hope founder Jessi ca Nicely. (Courtesy of Winged Hope Family Advocacy Foundation)

by withholding a bed, which the Winged Hope Family Advocacy Foundation deliv ered upon meeting her.

He threatened her enough that sleep felt impossible but our team provided her with a comfortable night’s rest before even knowing her last name.

Our advocates created safety in her

environment and poured love back into her for no reason other than that is what she deserved!

Through her I was able to see how empowering compassionate care is and witness the transforming power of community.

She had a new life trajectory and the hope came through in her words, “I’m so happy I am safe now. I am free! I can be

any emotion I want to and it’s OK. I won’t get in trouble for it. I can be myself and I haven’t been that in a very long time.”

If you want to join us in our efforts, please consider a financial donation through our website. Winged Hope relies on donor support to continue providing services to families statewide.

Rachel Allen is a volunteer at the nonprofit Winged Hope Foundation in Gil

bert. Information about the foundation: wingedhope.org or 480-757-7030.

If you are struggling, know that you don’t have to do it alone. Please reach out to us at www.wingedhope.org or speak to someone at the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-7233.

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Ex-paramedic now responds to different emergencies

BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer

For Sean Levine, the mold surprised him most.

A former paramedic from Washing ton State, LeVine, 45, moved to Queen Creek a year and half ago and started a business called PuroClean of San Tan.

It specializes in all kinds of emergency restoration, including cleaning up water damage, damage from fire and smoke, bio hazards and mold removal.

“The desert doesn’t have floods, and it certainly doesn’t have mold. I hope you have enough work,” LeVine remembers hearing form friends and family in Wash ington, all too familiar with damp and moldy conditions.

“I kind of tended to agree with them that we wouldn’t be doing a lot of mold remov al, but that hasn’t been the case,” Levine said. “The mold here has been surprising to me, that I deal with mold. That’s been my primary workload recently.”

For 21 years, LeVine was a paramedic for Whidbey Health Emergency Medical Services north of Seattle. Armed with an MBA and a desire to learn the business end of emergency medical services, he was on track to become director for Whid bey until his daughters, who attended Grand Canyon University, decided that a permanent move to drier and sunnier climes was in order.

Having retired from his paramedic job, LeVine detoured away from emergency medical care and agreed that it was time to make the change. So, he moved south.

“It was COVID,” Levine said. “A lot of peo ple were doing big life changes. So, my wife and I decided that if our children are going to be down in Arizona maybe we ought to go with them. So, we all ended up down here and ultimately that’s the reason was to keep the family all together.”

LeVine believes that his training as a paramedic makes him uniquely qualified to respond to all types of emergencies,

even those that don’t necessarily deal with critical injuries or illnesses.

He is employing the same emergency re sponse mindset to his business that he had as a paramedic and is infusing the same

values in his PuroClean franchise that he learned during his career in paramedi cine – an occupation almost completely defined by moments of helping people in their most critical times of need.

Thought it might not seem so on the sur face, his career in paramedicine and run ning a restoration business has remark able similarities.

“In terms of seeing all walks of life in all stages of it,” LeVine said. “From helping a new mom birth a child to somebody on their worst day to dealing with death and destruction.

“Dealing with somebody that’s having property damage is not quite the same but it certainly is a crisis to them and it cer tainly could be their worst day.”

To an outsider, it might seem obvious that when someone suffers property dam age, they will call a restoration company right away.

But that assumes they are thinking clearly and logically. LeVine says this is al most never the case.

“There certainly are times when you walk in and someone’s house is flooded

and they have no idea what to do, where to turn,” LeVine said. “It’s even worse in some ways because they don’t have a 911 to call. They don’t know who to call.

Perhaps also surprisingly, property own ers are not always glad to see a restoration company show up, according to Levine. Nor are they always receptive to the advice that the property clean-up experts have. This is also similar to what LeVine experi enced as a paramedic.

“In paramedicine, you do have to con vince people to do things they don’t want to do,” LeVine said. “Like … I have to poke you with a needle. I have to put stickers on your chest to do an EKG.

“There are invasive things that you have to do and coming into somebody’s house, into their personal space, and telling them that we have to move your furniture, we may have to cut some drywall … that can be pretty invasive as well, so you have to be able to navigate those situations.”

LeVine points out that, just like during his days as a paramedic, he’s on-call 24/7, 365 and deals with restoration experienc es that run the gamut, from “small house hold mishaps to large scale disasters,” he said.

LeVine said he chose restoration rath er than forming a construction company, which he also considered, because it most closely aligned with what he was doing in emergency medicine, and he sees the growth of Queen Creek as a chance to serve the community.

“It gives me the opportunity to kind of continue to do what I was doing in that I help people who are in crisis, when their property is in crisis. It really fit the mold for my personality, my background,” he said.

“Helping people in times of need. “Those are the reasons that I specifically chose the restoration industry.”

PuroClean is a franchise, which brings with it training and support for people who buy-in. LeVine said the education,

QueenCreekTribune.com

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Sean Levine switched careers from a para medic to an emergency restoration business owner when he moved to Queen Creek. (Special to the Tribune)

Sean Levine has no regrets tradiing in an ambulance for his new franchise truck (Special to the Tribune)

that he got from

him to put his emergen

to work right away.

While LeVine said that he has spent more time on marketing than he anticipat ed, he attributes his initial success to the small-town, tight knit feel of Queen Creek. “All but one job that I have had have come from word of mouth,” LeVine said. “Just referrals from people that we talk to or groups we’ve been involved with. That surprised me. I know that word of mouth advertising is the best kind. But I didn’t anticipate that a vast majority of my work would come from word of mouth.”

Information: puroclean.com/queencreek-az-puroclean-san-tan, 480-5662300 or slevine@puroclean.com.

1 Annual amount based on possible monthly or quarterly amounts. 2 Allowance amount does not carry over to the next quarter or the following year. All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation. The Cigna name, logos, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/service area. Limitations, exclusions, and restrictions may apply. Contact the plan for more information. This information is not a complete description of benefits, which vary by individual plan. You must live in the plan’s service area. Call 1-888-284-0268 (TTY 711) for more information. Cigna is contracted with Medicare for PDP plans, HMO and PPO plans in select states, and with select State

programs. Enrollment in Cigna depends on contract renewal. © 2022 Cigna Some content provided under license.

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Border policies spell ‘election erasure’ for Dems

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

Efforts

to erase our southern border are accelerating as Elec tion Day approaches.

The timing is absurdly dangerous—first and foremost for the security of all Amer ican citizens— but also for the political prospects of the Democratic Party.

While the Left will likely pay a political price for this deliberate effort to shred our sovereignty and national security, the sheer brazenness of these latest actions should culminate with even larger Demo crat losses in the midterms.

The latest initiative from the Biden Bunch is best described as “Americans Last.”

Alejandro Mayorkas, who has surpassed ex-Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano in the “Hall of Shame” as the worst Homeland

Security Secretary of all time, has report edly issued an “All Bureaucrats Bulletin,” requesting volunteers from every govern ment agency to deploy to the border in support of the ongoing illegal invasion.

These “volunteers”—who would be paid for their efforts and reimbursed for travel expenses with our tax dollars during their 60 days of “service”—would essentially become personal assistants to illegal aliens.

You read that right.

Their “volunteer duties” would include meal preparation, basic housekeeping, and running errands for the “newcomers.”

So much for securing the border.

Actually, all of this began in April as an underreported—and therefore little-no ticed initiative—that at the time was fo cused exclusively on employees of Home land Security.

What makes it news now, and even

more of an election issue, is the effort to expand this peculiar type of “vol unteerism” into every agency of the federal government.

It is bad enough that DHS workers are volunteering to destabilize the homeland security they supposedly provide.

Now we could very well see personnel from the Departments of Defense and Justice take a two-month sabbatical from their jobs to undercut both national secu rity and existing immigration law.

You can’t make this up.

But some back it up.

Predictably, many in Washington— whether holding a government post or a reporting job—have rationalized the poli cy outlined above as—wait for it—rational.

Among the DC-based press corps, there seems to be an indulgent attitude of trust ing the current crowd in charge.

That “trust-the-bureaucrats” outlook

was on full display during CNN’s Oct. 16 telecast of “State of the Union.”

The aptly-named Dana Bash hosted backto-back interviews with Arizona’s Republi can and Democrat nominees for Governor.

When discussing border issues with GOP candidate Kari Lake, the CNN report er cited a DHS statistic claiming that less than one percent of migrants encountered at the border have a criminal record.

The Republican nominee politely took issue, then pointed out: “We have a million ‘gotaways’—these are people who are in tentionally entering our country—mainly through the Tucson Sector—and we don’t know what their background is. There’s a reason to try to get in unnoticed. It’s be cause they have a criminal background.”

Viewers could not help but notice the on-camera reaction of Dana Bash, which

Candidate’s hopes shrivel when caught red-handed

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

Finally we have a de finitive test about the ignorance of voters and the notion that when it comes to public relations, any story that builds more name recognition is a win.

That test is named Randy Kaufman and he’s a candidate for the Maricopa County Community College District at-large seat.

His race appears on the front of your seemingly endless November ballot, in the middle column.

Kaufman’s opponent in the battle to help oversee the district’s 10 colleges and $763 million annual budget is Kelli Butler, a state legislator seeking to switch roles and potentially the luckiest candidate in the history of Arizona elections.

Caution: The rest of this column is not safe for work, dirtier than “50 Shades of

Gray” and full of awful puns. You have been warned.

On Tuesday news broke – courtesy of Hank Stephenson, a reporter for the Arizona Agenda website – that on Oct. 4, candidate Kaufman had been ar rested in the parking lot of Rio Salado College in Surprise.

Per the police report, Kaufman was in the midst of watching porn and pleasur ing himself in his Ford F-150 pickup truck when a police officer approached and, uh, caught him red-handed.

“Seriously?” the cop asked.

“I’m sorry,” Kaufman replied. Then, in the understatement of 2022 so far, he add ed: “I (expletive) up. I’m really stressed.”

Henceforth, I believe this will be known as both an interesting election strategy and a disgusting erection strategy by seri ous journalists everywhere. Not only was Kaufman fully visible in a busy parking lot, he also was within sight of a childcare cen

ter where little kids were outside playing.

Officer: “What brings you down here?”

Kaufman: “I live in Buckeye, but I came out here to buy rebar nearby. I was stressed and just pulled into the lot.”

I myself have purchased rebar, com monly used to put up election signs. While I have not personally found buying hard ware items super stressful, each of us tol erates Home Depot to varying degrees.

Also, like MCCCD says in its mission statement, I also “value and embrace an innovative and risk-taking approach” in the dogged pursuit of excellence.

To his credit, Kaufman requested to “say something off the record,” before name-dropping Jim Hill, president of the Maricopa County Colleges Police Officers Association, which endorsed Kaufman be fore his citation for public sexual indecen cy, a possible felony given his close prox imity to the pre-school.

By day’s end, Kaufman, running for the

non-partisan seat as a MAGA conserva tive complete with flag-draped head shots, had been spurned by the Arizona Republican Party.

Hours later, he released a statement sus pending his campaign because “a personal legal matter has recently arisen.”

Yep, those things sometimes arise out of nowhere, am I right?

It should be noted that Kaufman waited to address the incident until after early ballots had been mailed, thus allowing people to vote for him with no knowledge of his arrest.

I’ll also note that back in May, he posted on Facebook that he was running to keep “our children protected (from) the pro gressive left.”

I’m assuming he meant the woke bri gade and not his left hand, but I guess only Kaufman knows for sure.

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conveyed both frustration and irritation, amplified by her effort to counter the candidate’s assertion: “Let me just tell you that this stat—that this stat that I just cited comes from the Department of Homeland Security!”

Duly noted, Dana.

Of course, it should also be noted that there seems to be a profound disinter est on the part of many in the so-called “mainstream media” concerning the “factually challenged” assertions made by DHS personnel.

Where was the coverage concerning Secretary Mayorkas and the knowingly false statements he made about the al leged “whipping” of illegals by Border Pa trol agents on horseback?

How many reports appeared on CNN or the “alphabet networks” spelling out the details of late-night flights of illegals from the border to various locations around the country?

No matter. If the media won’t hold government officials accountable, voters will.

Prepare for the “electoral erasure” of sev eral Democrat incumbents on Nov. 8. 

This race now stands as a perfect litmus test of voter education and PR value. Until last week, perhaps a handful of voters had ever heard of Randy Kaufman, a former prison guard turned political wannabe.

He had a couple of political endorse ments and zero name ID. Now? His cam paign has been featured everywhere from the New York Post to the London tabloids. Being caught with your pants down can still make a candidate famous, even in 2022.

Now we’ll know for sure: Will people ac tually cast a vote for him?

Casteel volleyball thriving under new coach

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

CoryChandler is no stranger to suc cess in the world of volleyball.

He’s built several programs at various levels from the ground up. His most recent success came at Chaminade High School in California, where he took a struggling pro gram and turned it into a state and national power while living in Arizona and commut ing for practices and games.

Volleyball is more than just a game to Chandler, it’s a lifestyle. And even when he thought he could step away from coaching last year, the opportunity to lead Casteel’s struggling program presented itself and he jumped on it.

Now, the Colts are thriving despite a rough start.

“It was rough in the beginning. It was rough in the middle. But now, they’re see ing that if they come in and work, it can be fun,” Chandler said. “We laugh on the bench, I’m not all high strung. They’re thriving and getting better. It’s fun.”

Chandler was hired last April to be the program’s fifth coach in seven seasons. It was a difficult transition process, and his coaching style and level of discipline dif fered from those in the past.

But he was able to gain trust from the girls and administration early on when he expressed his intentions to stay for sever al years. That helped build what is now a strong bond between him and his players. It took time, though.

There were tears, there were some raised voices and there was some shock factor at how hard he was on them. But that has helped mold the team to what it is today, a contender in the 5A Conference.

“All credit goes to the girls,” Chandler said. “Without them, we don’t do this. But for the program and for the goals the girls set at the beginning of the year, it shows we can accomplish them. And we will ac complish (winning a region title).

“I’m not going anywhere. I might be here 13, 14, 15 years. We’re going to be here to

establish that stabilization.”

Casteel was 24-9 on the year heading into last Thursday’s match against Higley. In just his first season Chandler has al ready helped the program secure the most wins in its history. Many of the Colts’ wins have come during tournaments this year, including House of Payne in September and the Tournament of Champions held at Bell Bank Park in Mesa earlier this month.

They followed up a strong showing at the Tournament of Champions with a trip to Cal ifornia to play in the Redondo Molten Power Classic. There, Chandler aimed to challenge his team. He requested they play a match against Mira Costa, one of the top programs in California and No. 4 in the nation.

While Casteel lost to Mira Costa, Chan dler said it opened their eyes as to what they can be, especially as a team with sev eral freshmen starters and other younger players who contribute in major ways to the team’s success.

Since that loss to Mira Costa and Lake wood – another California power – Casteel has won seven straight matches. In those seven wins, the Colts have given up just

two sets to opponents.

“Being able to come into a program as a fresh man and see it already get better is amazing to see and great for the fu ture,” freshman outside hitter Ava Kretchsman said. “Our coach has a big impact on us. He pushes us a lot and I think this team pushes each other. We want to make each other better every day.”

Kretchsman is one of the four freshmen mak ing a significant impact on Casteel this season. She and Sahara Griggs, Ella Witte and Kamille Scott credit Chandler for his coaching style.

Kretchsman also credits the chemistry she has with some of the younger girls and the leadership from captain Addy White and other seniors, including Maliyah Halguin, Sophia Di Gian, Bella Moon, Aaliyah Duncan and Ellie Zincke.

They’ve taken her and the other young er players under their wings this season and began to build the close bond the team has today. That bond has paid dividends on the floor as the Colts have been com petitive in losses and dominant in wins.

A win over Hig ley in the first of two consecutive matches with the Knights put the Colts in the driv er’s seat of the

San Tan Region, a monumental feat for the program that won just four games two sea sons ago.

“It’s super exciting because we came from nothing,” White said. “Having differ ent coaches every year and now having someone who has a whole new plan for us, it gives us motivation and gives us hope that we can be something big.”

No matter how the rest of the season progresses, White is happy to have been part of a senior class that has set a new standard for Casteel volleyball. They’ve shown resiliency with several new head coaches, grit with tough seasons and an ability to have fun and crack jokes with Chandler while still improving on the court this season.

While White will be across the country playing beach volleyball at Florida State next year, she plans to keep an eye on how the Colts fare moving forward. But for now, she plans to do everything she can to deliv er the program’s first region title and more.

“We are right there,” White said. “We’re all buying into this, and you can tell we’re locked in. We have moments where we get down but we’re having less of those. To be able to have a good impact on this school … I’m excited to see where they go.” 

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New Casteel coach Cory Chandler has changed the culture and mindset of the program. He was hard on them at first, something Ava Kretchsman and Addy White admit, but they quickly began to mesh as a team, and it has led to success. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)

From top left: senior Addy White, freshman Ava Kretchsman, freshman Ella Wittie, freshman Sahara Griggs, junior Jadyn Orava and freshman Kamille Scott have all played key roles in Casteel’s successful season so far. The Colts are currently in control of the 5A San Tan Region and are moving up in the rankings with play offs just weeks away. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)

SanTan Gardens patio hosting al fresco events

BY GERI KOEPPEL GetOut Contributor

Eversince it opened its brewpub in downtown Chandler in September 2007, SanTan Brewing Company has continued to grow.

Its latest addition is a 2,000-square foot patio that joins its retail shop, tasting room and production facility on Warner Road just east of Arizona Avenue, where it hosts live music and other public and private events.

The idea for the al fresco area at SanTan Gardens was sparked by the earlier days of the pandemic when people were con cerned about keeping six feet apart, said SanTan Brewing Company founder/brew er Anthony Canecchia of Gilbert.

“It evolved from “a place for people to socially distance to a genuine events cen ter that can hold upwards of 250 people,” he said.

Originally, the outdoor area was only around 10 by 10 feet, but they removed a door and windows to open up the space. Then they got the idea to add a stage for live music.

“It kept snowballing,” Canecchia said. “The catering department came over and asked, ‘When are we going to be able to use this for events?’”

SanTan Gardens began testing the wa ters over the summer with gatherings such as psychedelic jam sessions on Sat urdays and “Whiskey Wednesdays” fea turing live music and specials on whiskey cocktails and bottles.

Events ramped up in September with “Beer, Bourbon, BBQ + Band,” featuring a pig roast; a roster of live music and other happenings is ongoing.

Canecchia said SanTan Brewing Compa ny built some large events in downtown Chandler over the years, but they became overwhelming.

“The last one we did was Oktoberfest 2019, and we looked at each other and said, ‘It was successful, it was great, I think we’re done.’ It takes so much energy and

months and months of planning.

“When we said, ‘Let’s start doing events at Warner,’ it was, ‘Yes, they’re intimate, they’re manageable,’” he remarked.

SanTan Gardens events are “mellow er; there’s not a lot of pomp and circum stance,” Canecchia noted, and they don’t run past 10 p.m.

Upcoming activities include A Grateful Dead Halloween and a comedy series with headliners such as Harland Williams, Ja mie Kennedy and Jay Mohr.

SanTan Brewing Company’s tasting room and SanTan Gardens is generally open 3-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday for retail sales, tastings and tours, and all special events are listed on the website.

There’s no kitchen, but food trucks are present at some special events.

The patio and tasting room also are avail able to rent for private parties such as wed dings, reunions and more. In the tasting room, barrels stacked eight high against the 25-foot ceilings make for a fun back drop, and the patio can be dressed up with centerpieces, flowers and other decor.

The website lists blackout dates when it’s closed to the public.

SanTan Brewing Company has expand ed exponentially since its start as a small brewpub on historic San Marcos Square, which was one of the early brewpubs in the Valley.

Canecchia originally was a home brewer and worked at Four Peaks Brewing Com pany in Tempe as its first employee start ing in 1996.

After the brewpub launched, it helped revitalize a then-sleepy downtown Chan dler. Its craft beer made on-site along with a menu of comfort food favorites with a Southwestern twist — including meats smoked on hickory and oak out back — drew lines of people waiting for tables.

However, the Great Recession soon hit, and the brewery “scrambled and started distributing our beers,” to other restau rants and retailers, Canecchia said.

A year later, they signed to a major dis tributor, and before long, they outgrew their production capacity at the brewpub and opened the bigger facility on Warner Road in 2010.

The company also got its Series 1 license in 2015, which “allows us to produce any type of alcohol you can think of,” Canec chia said.

Back then, few breweries were making other alcohol, but now, “it’s becoming very popular for people to diversify beyond beer,” he noted.

The brewery makes a variety of styles, including IPAs, lagers, stouts, wheat beers and more, and SanTan Spirits distills vod ka, gin, whiskey, bitters, canned cocktails and other occasional special releases, such as coffee liqueur or brandy.

A wall in the tasting room displays the copious number of awards it has received.

In addition to its retail/tasting room and live entertainment, a major focus at San Tan Gardens is education. Tours at the pro duction facility started in 2019; they cost $15 and can be booked online.

The tours, which last an hour or more, discuss the company’s history and the nuts and bolts of making beer and spirits, with explanations about the ingredients, the distilling, the canning and more.

The Warner location produces 98 per cent of the company’s beer in its 50-barrel brewing system and all of its spirits in a specially designed artesian pot still.

SanTan Brewing Company is now the state’s largest independent brewer and distiller. It brews about 50,000 barrels of beer — roughly 16.5 million cans — and more than 10,000 cases of whiskey.

Yanina Santos of Mesa, who took a tour on Sept. 24, said “I think I have a new ap preciation for beer and what goes into it than I had before.”

Her husband, Isaac Santos, said, “It was pretty cool learning the history of it and learning that the main owner designed the still and all that.” He added, “They make a great caramel whiskey, which is the big takeaway.” 

If You Go...

What: SanTan Garden

Where: 495 E. Warner Rd, Chandler.

Hours: 3-8 p.m. Monday-Friday; noon8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

Contact: 480-534-7041; santanbrewing. com/santan-gardens

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SanTan Gardens’ patio is open daily except for private parties, and often hosts live bands and special public events. (Geri Koeppel/Contributor)

With JAN D’ATRI

GetOut Columnist

Planning a party? Think paella and plenty of sangria

Itwas on this day, decades ago, that my momma and I celebrated my birthday in Madrid, Spain.

She took me on a magnificent trip to six European countries on our way to her hometown of Treviso, Italy. It was in Madrid where we both fell in love…. with paella. The place was Restauran te Botin, the oldest restaurant in the world, according the Guinness Book of World Records – and to this day, one of the most charming establishments I’ve ever visited.

We bought our paella pan there and have loved making this authentic Spanish dish ever since.

Ingredients:

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 large sweet yellow onion, chopped fine

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 1 ½ tsp salt, divided

• 1 lb. calamari, cut into rings

• ½ cup tomato sauce

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 12 raw jumbo shrimp, peeled & deveined

Directions:

1. Mince 3 cloves of garlic. Chop onion fine. Dice red bell pepper.

2. Slice calamari into thin rings.

3. Heat a paella pan with a medium-high heat and add in 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil. After 1 minute season the olive oil with 1 teaspoon of sea salt.

4. Add the calamari and cook for 2 minutes then remove from the pan and set aside.

5. Add the garlic and onions to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and continue to sauté until the vegetables are soft and tender, about 4 minutes.

6. Add the tomato sauce, smoked paprika ½ tsp salt and pepper. Stir to incorporate and then cook for 2 minutes or until the tomato sauce has thickened. Add the calamari back into the

If you’re in the mood to party, a paella party (with plenty of sangria to wash it down!) can be a very tasteful get-together!

• ½ lb Spanish chorizo, cut into small pieces

• 12 fresh mussels, cleaned

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• 3 cups fish broth (Can be made with Better Than Bouillon Seafood Paste)

• 1 teaspoon saffron threads or powder

• 1 cup uncooked Carnaroli or Arborio rice

• 1 cup finely chopped parsley

• 1 large lemon, sliced into wedges

pan and stir.

7. Add the fish broth and bring to a boil.

8. Add Carnaroli or Arborio rice, mix well and cook for 20 minutes.

9. Add the shrimp and mussels, and cook for another 10 minutes.

10. Lower the heat to medium low, and simmer until the broth has been absorbed by the rice and the rice is tender.

11. Return the heat to medium high, stir the mixture once and then leave it undisturbed to achieve the socarrat. (Socorrat in paella is the thin layer of toasted rice that sticks to the bottom of the pan. The rice should smell toasted, make a crackling sound.)

12. After 5 minutes, garnish the paella with lemon wedges and finely chopped parsley. Serves 6

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