Queen Creek can’t build schools fast enough.Inascramble to keep up with the breakneck pace of growth, QCUSD is seeking money from the state to help build 2 new K-6 schools, ready for students in 2027 and 2028.Student enrollment has ballooned 148% in the past decade. The district has added a new school in each of the last five years. There are two more on the horizon, and there is no slow down in sight. The student population is projected to grow by another third in the next 5 Nineyears.of14 of the district’s schools will be near or over capacity by the 2023–2024 schoolQueenyear.Creek needs classrooms for the kids who are already here and those about to arrive, and they are arriving almost over night.“Next time you pass cleared land and you see that sign for an incoming subdivision you can think to yourself ‘there’s a hun dred families,’” district spokeswoman Jes sica Bautista said. “There is an elementary school’s worth of children.”
BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer S chool officials and Town police re main tight lipped about any forth coming disciplinary action against a fourth grader who brought a weapon onto the campus of Legacy Traditional School in Queen Creek Aug. 24 as Princi pal Megan Alvarado remains on admin istrative leave. “I hope you will understand that there is a pending investigation at the police level and the school is conducting its own review,” said Legacy spokesman see GUN page 6 Legacy school stays tight-lipped on campus gun
School district seeks millions to handle growth
School interestvoucherlow/P.8 Sunday, September 4, 2022FREE | QueenCreekTribune.comAn edition of the East Valley Tribune see SCHOOL page 3 SUBSCRIPTIONFREE
COMMUNITY ........................ 17 BUSINESS .............................. 19 OPINION ................................. 20 SPORTS 22 GET OUT 23 CLASSIFIEDS ........................ 26 SPORTS ............... 22 Casteel football Coach Bobby Newcome prepares for a big battle INSIDE BUSINESS ........... 19 QC lawyer Scott Roney aims to help businesses. NEWS .................. 15 QC baseball coach
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Scores of organizations across the East Valley, including in Queen Creek, are using this week to remem ber the thousands of civilians and first responders who perished in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks while a special memorial will be erected all next weekend for the Tempe Healing Field. As you’ll read on pages 10-14, it’s all part of a major local effort to remember the dead – and the unifying effect the tragedy had on our nation. (Special to the Tribune)
BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer Mikel takes one for the team. Lest we forget
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Strictly formulaic and based on pro jections, the funding puzzle is complex enough that the state recruits social sci entists to help put the pieces together.
Republican Gov. Doug Ducey recent ly signed Empowerment Scholarship Account,” or ESA, legislation providing access to a $7,000 voucher to use for tu ition to private schools, should families soThatchoose.makes the funding puzzle pieces slightly rougher around the edges. “We need to project with some con fidence and accuracy what those space needs will be in order to provide the best possible learning environment for thousands of Arizona children,” Swindell said. “At the same time, we have an obliga tion to make sure we do not over-pro vide such space and waste taxpayer money on these capital expenditures.” Perhaps no one feels the pressure to managing new resources than Lamb. It ultimately falls to him to handle the growth, shortage of classroom space and the unceasing demand on buildings. “Everybody always needs something,” he said. Lamb has his finger on the district’s planning details. “There are a lot of houses coming in. We are trying to prepare for that growth so when it comes, we can be ready for it,” he QCUSDsaid.is growing so quickly that schools are considering adding portable classroom space at a cost of $5.5-million to both alleviate the overcrowding and to keep the student-teacher ratio lower, although Lamb says this isn’t the bestcaseThescenario.portables are not constructed to the same standards as permanent build
SCHOOL from page 1 see SCHOOL page 4
QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 3NEWS QCUSD is asking the School Facilities Oversight Board for nearly $40-mil lion, which it would combine with local money. That would be combined with a $198-million bond measure if voters ap prove it in November.
The third leg of the funding stool – if the SFOB allocation and voter-approved bond money don’t cover everything –would be local money.
“For this project, the primary role is studying the changing trends in the number of children within relatively small geographic areas (school dis tricts) in order to determine if and how many square feet of new learning space is needed for a given public school dis trict,” said David Swindell, an ASU de mographer who works with the state board.Using the past as a basis for how to project future development, Swindell looks at things like birth rates, student retention from one grade to the next, population growth and a new charter school opening or closing as factors in determining how to allocate funding re quests.“Doing projections on how many kids will need learning space several years in the future is challenging,” Swindell said. Those projections are made especially challenging by the proliferation of char ter schools, which can siphon students away from traditional public schools – and which stand to see increasing en rollment if the state’s school voucher program withstands a possible referen dum in Supporters2024. of blocking the program till then have until Sept. 23 to submit enough petitions to get it on the Novem ber 2024 ballot. With more than a dozen charter schools already operating in Queen Creek, nobody can say for certain how many of the students moving into the district will choose charter schools over traditional K-12 classrooms.
“It is one of the fastest growing school districts in Arizona. There are several projects we need in the district, not only to keep up with the growth, but as well as to maintain the usability of our exist ing spaces,” said QCUSD Director of Op erations and Construction Jim Lamb. In addition to helping pay for those new elementary schools, the bond mon ey would be used to pay for upgrades to existing schools, completion of Eastmark High, major renovations for Queen Creek High, security improvements, new buses and renovations to Fine Arts buildings and athletic facilities district-wide.
page 3
Schools would appear to continue to be on Queen Creek’s front burner for the foreseeable future.
“It is a challenge but it is the best chal lenge a school district can have,” said Bautista. “We have some of the best people in the field who are planning.”
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4 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022NEWS
The state School Facilities Board takes all of those Census figures into account when budgeting for schools, and is able to predict with some level of accuracy, according to Swindell, when the growth will peak and slow down.
(QCUSD) SCHOOL
Until then, Queen Creek’s unbridled growth appears to be continuing apace with new students moving in every day.
ings are and, as such, are not as efficient, according to Lamb. So, it costs more to cool and maintain portable space than it does the same amount of permanent space, for example.
“Districts will see this too and likely reduce their requests for new construc tion. One of the other tasks for which we conduct these projections is to assist SFOB with recommendations concern ing districts’ requests for reduction of square footage,” Swindell said.
“That money to run the A/C comes out of the same pot of money that it takes for salaries and benefits,” Lamb said. “So, we’d like to keep that in house so we can use it for other things that are important … teacher salaries, staff salaries, curric ulum needs, that kind of thing.” Staying ahead of the growth curve will be QCUSD’s challenge given the increas ing enrollment, projected growth and uncertainly surrounding charter and private schools.
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With boundaries that stretch from Warner Road south to the Hunt Highway and from Gary Road west to Sossamon Road, the district is among the state’s fastest growing.
QCUSD is encouraging a “yes” vote on the bond project and added a voter reg istration link to its website for new res idents.With all of the best laid plans, the fate of Queen Creek schools is in residents’ hands, all contingent upon the results of the Nov. 8 election. If the bond pass es, the decision and allocation plans will shift to the School Facilities Board. “We will also analyze to determine if any additional projects are needed,” said Megan Rose, a spokesperson for the SFOB. “We will wrap up our annual Cap ital Plan cycle by Dec. 15.”
the
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“If we do the projections well and take the growth and housing develop ment patterns into account correctly, we should see the leveling off of demand for new space years in advance,” he said.
Tribune Queen
Many Queen Creek Unified schools are likely to see their enrollment exceed capacity soon. from
For right now at least, slowing down and reducing square footage isn’t even on Queen Creek’s radar for any of its in frastructure needs.
An edition of East Valley Creek is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Queen Creek INFORMATION Main number: 480-898-6500 | Fax: 480-898-562 Circulation: 480-898-5641 Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine Vice President: Michael Hiatt DEPARTMENT Display Advertising: 480-898-6309 Classifieds/Inside Sales: Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@TimesLocalMedia.com TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@TimesLocalMedia.com Steve Insalaco | 480-898-5635 sinsalaco@TimesLocalMedia.com Advertising Sales Executive: Jane Meyer | 480-898-5633 | jane@TimesLocalMedia.com NEWSExecutiveDEPARTMENTEditor: Paul Maryniak | pmaryniak@TimesLocalMedia.com480-898-5647 Managing Editor: Cecilia Chan | 480-898-5613 |cchan@TimesLocalMedia.com Reporters: Mark Moran | 480-898-5601 | mmoran@TimesLocalMedia.com Ken Sain | 928-420-5341 | ksain@TimesLocalMedia.com Sports Editor: Zach Alvira | 480-898-5630 | zalvira@TimesLocalMedia.com Photographer: Dave Minton | dminton@TimesLocalMedia.com Design: Nathalie Proulx | nproulx@TimesLocalMedia.com Production Coordinator: Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@TimesLocalMedia.com CIRCULATION : 623-535-8439 Circulation Director: Aaron Kolodny | aaron@phoenix.org Distribution Manager: Brian Juhl | brian@timeslocalmedia.com
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QCPD does not currently have one at Legacy as the department’s da ta-driven approach to putting offi cers at schools where the most calls are didn’t warrant one at Legacy. That could change as demands shift.
The “Consequence Chart and Defi nitions of Violations” section adds, “Due to the nature of the behavior or act, discipline up to expulsion may be considered, even for a first offense.” Parents remain leery of sending their kids back to the Legacy school until there is some resolution to their concerns, such as how the stu dent was able to enter campus in the first place with a gun in their back pack and why Legacy put Alvarado on administrative leave almost im mediately after the incident.
Some restrictions apply. See website for additional information. O ers expire 12/31/2022.
The police response does not vary between charter, traditional or pri vate schools, Brice said. Officers take the same approach regardless of the source of the emergency.
At a recent Town Council meeting, Brice announced that the department has hired an engagement officer to interact with the public and with stu dents when it’s not an emergency. “Guns at schools are always a con cern. QCPD continues to work with all of our schools to ensure they re spond appropriately when they en counter such situations, and that they have a plan in place,” Brice said. “Officers continue to engage with school officials to ensure the police department is notified as soon as possible when school officials learn about such situations. We also strive to make sure everyone is coordinat ed and using appropriate response protocols,” he said. Police are likely to adjust preven tive measures that could keep this from happening again in the future. They could include additional school resource officers, or SROs, at more schools.
GUN from page 1 Know anything interesting going on in Queen Creek? Send your news to pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.com
Legacy has not made additional statementsAccordingsince.tothe National Alliance for Charter Schools website, Lega cy Traditional Schools is the largest K-8 charter school system in Arizona with about 20,000 students and uses what it calls a “back to basics” cur riculum in a “structured, accelerated classroom environment.” Still relatively new, the Queen Creek Police Department respond ed to 2,000 service calls at schools in town, including charters and tra ditional public schools, though very few of those calls came from elemen taryOnlyschools.5%were criminal in nature, but Brice says the incident at Lega cy reinforces the need for more offi cers to be visible publicly and in the schools.“QCPD embraces community-ori ented policing strategies and em ploys a very proactive approach to create, improve, and maintain rela tionships with schools and parents,” Chief Randy Brice said. “This incident just highlights the need for preparation, prevention, and robust communication. QCPD is well trained, proactive, and properly equipped for these situations.”
Just in time for Haboob Season Matt Benson. It’s not clear what the disciplinary action will be, but a Queen Creek Po lice Department spokesperson says that charges, if any, will not be an nounced until this week at the ear liest.The disciplinary policy posted on the Legacy school’s website says, “Possessing any gun/firearm, knife, explosive device or dangerous in strument, dangerous item or simu lated weapon” puts a student at risk of being expelled.
“Ensuring a safe and healthy envi ronment for all students is one of our top strategic priorities,” said district spokeswoman Jessica Bautista. “We routinely remind students to report any threatening behavior against any other student, individu al, or the school. In this way, we are all working together to keep our stu dents and schools safe.”
That in and of itself raised con cerns.“Did she know beforehand?” Amanda Clarke, the parent of a Leg
6 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022NEWS 480-725-3511
Principal Alvarado has been placed on administrative leave pending completion of this review.”
“Our response is the same when it comes to investigative or proactive policing efforts,” Brice said.
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Though they are governed sepa rately from charter schools, Queen Creek Unified Schools responded to the Legacy school gun incident.
acy student told ABC15, “What hap pened? What took place that was not right already? I don’t know his state of being why he brought the gun. I don’t know how he got the gun. We don’t want maybe a round two.” Legacy is not responding to ques tions but did release the following statement upon putting Alvarado on administrative leave. “The wellbeing of Legacy students, teachers and staff members is our highest priority, and that includes supporting a safe, inclusive and wel coming learning environment,” the statement said. “We are investigating the circum stances around Thursday’s discovery of an armed student on campus, and this inquiry includes making cer tain the administration at all times followed Legacy security protocols.
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“These numbers are an early in dication of the popularity of this program,’’ he said. “It is just getting started.’’Butwhat it already does show is more than $34 million of public funds would replace those private dollars, assuming an average vouch er of $7,000. Those numbers should come as no surprise. Even before HB 2853 became law, legislative budget analysts estimat ed the first-year cost of providing vouchers to those already in pri vate schools or those being homeschooled would approach $30 mil lion. That doesn’t count another $2.2 million in new administrative costs.And by the third year, the report said, the price tag for paying for kids picking up vouchers versus paying their own way will approach $120 million. That is above and beyond the $176 million the state is now paying for vouchers for students who have been eligible under prior standards. Arizona lawmakers approved the first vouchers in 2011. State and fed eral courts ruled that providing mon ey as vouchers for the parents to use does not violate state constitutional provisions forbidding the state from giving money to private and parochi al Sinceschools.that time, there has been an incremental expansion of eligibility to the point where vouchers are now available to foster children, children of military families, reservation resi dents and students in schools rated D or TheF. new law scraps all precondi tions, potentially allowing vouchers to go to all 1.1 million youngsters now in public schools.
8 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022NEWS N early 6,500 Arizona children have applied for the new uni versal vouchers to attend pri vate and parochial schools at taxpay er expense. And it appears the vast majority are youngsters whose parents al ready are paying for them to go there. The legislation approved earlier this year was billed by supporters as providing more choices to stu dents stuck in neighborhood public schools.Butthe state Department of Ed ucation says 75% of those applica tions are from children not in public schools.Thatis drawing concern from the state superintendent of public in struction.“TheESA program was intended to provide more options for children with special needs or unique circum stances, like military families,’’ said Kathy“WithHoffman.thecurrent status of ap plicants, it is not achieving those goals,’’ she continued. “Instead, it is just a taxpayer funded coupon for the wealthy.’’ C.J. Karamargin, press aide to Gov. Doug Ducey, who signed the massive expansion of the program into law, would not answer questions about whether his boss is disturbed by the fact that the vouchers are being sought by children already attend ing these schools, presumably using available family resources. Instead, he said too much should not be read into the report.
“This is really early in this pro cess,’’ Karamargin said.
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Capitol Media Services see VOUCHERS page 9
All this presumes the new law will take effect as scheduled on Sept. 24. Foes of expansion, led by Save Our Schools Arizona, are circulating pe titions to delay implementation un til voters get the last word. If they get 118,823 valid signatures by Sept. 23 the law could not take ef fect until after the 2024 election.
QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 9NEWS
The record suggests antipathy to ward more Lawmakersvouchers.approved a vast ex pansion of the program in 2017, only to have the measure referred to the 2018 ballot where it was rejected by a margin of close to 2 to 1. Beth Lewis, the group’s executive director, said she is “optimistic’’ there will be enough signatures col lected to survive any challenge.
Proponents have defended the change as providing more options for parents beyond neighborhood schools. That includes former state schools chief Tom Horne, a Republi can running against Hoffman to get his old job back.
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“My view is competition always makes everybody better,’’ he said. “That’s why the United States is prosperous and the Soviet Union was not.”Horne said he saw the same thing during his 24 years on the Paradise Valley Unified School District Gov erning Board, saying the advent and expansion of charter schools “made usOpponentsbetter.’’ said such comparisons with private schools are not valid because they can accept only the stu dents they want.
An early version of the legislation would have required that students in private and parochial schools using these vouchers of state funds to take some standardized tests, similar to those already administered in public schools.Theresults, as in the case of public schools, would have been reported on an aggregate basis. That requirement was removed from the final version by Rep. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, who said what’s happening at private schools is none of the government’s busi ness. But voucher foes like Rep. Kelli Butler, D-Paradise Valley, said the fact that tax dollars will be flowing to those schools is precisely what gives the state an interest. “We will not know if students are using our tax dollars – $7,000 is the typical award – if they’re using that money to learn anything,’’ she said.Horne said he is not concerned about the fact that so many of the re quests for vouchers are coming from families whose kids already are in private and parochial schools. “All of these people already pay tax es,’’ he said. Anyway, Horne said, the alternative could be some of these children moving to public schools which get more per-student state aid than the typical voucher, meaning a higher cost to taxpayers.
There’s also the question of ac countability.
10 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022NEWS
Information: Drop donations off at the Chamber office, 22246 S. Ellsworth Road or the Town Municipal Services and Rec Annex. Infor mation: see the Chamber’s Facebook page. What: Help the Resurrection Street Ministry clean up the lot behind its S.T.U.F.F. store at 1135 E. Main St. Mesa, which helps food banks. The ministry wants to put up individual huts for un sheltered people and to serve food to twice a day. Event runs 6-11 a.m. Sept. 10.
Information: Andrea Fisher (480) 398-4470 Email: akfisher@unitedfoodbank.org.
How EV residents can honor 9/11 victims
Information: Valerie Young-Grimm 405- 3867799, valerieg1@gmail.com.
What: Vitalant Arizona Blood Drive 8 a.m.noon at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Building, 1720 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction. Call 877-258-4825 to make an appoint ment and mention Peralta Trail Stake or visit do nors.vitalant.org and use code: P1X66.
What: Mesa Fire and Medical Department Fall Prevention Grab Bars Installation Day. 8:30 a.m.noon, Sept. 22 at N. Center St, Mesa.
“I just love seeing that act of kindness am plified when people get together, because
BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer
Here are some of the opportunities to par ticipate in a service project this week in honor of those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Most of the events are on Sept. 10, the National 9/11 Day of Service. What: Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce description food drive through Sept. 12. Most needed items include cereals, oatmeal, peanut butter, soups, chili, stews, beans, canned fruits and vegetables, canned or dried milk, canned tuna or chicken, canned tomato products, rice and pasta. You can make a tax-deductible cash contribution using the QR code.
Information: Lori Neff, 480-332-3258, just serve.css@gmail.com.
see INTERFAITH page 12
What: House of Refuge grounds beautification 8-11a.m. Sept. 10 at 6858 E. Ursula Ave., Mesa. Information: Corrine Parsons 480-698-8673 or corrine@houseofrefuge.org.
“This day of service is also intended to in vite people to unify and rekindle the extraor dinary spirit of togetherness and compas sion that arose in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy,” said Jennifer Wheeler a spokeswoman for the LDS Church.
Information: Janice Dell 480- 644-4638, Jan ice.Dell@MesaAZ.gov.
The drive is among a number of activities organized under the umbrella of two groups, JustService and 9/11 Day, to encourage a day of service during the week leading up to Sept. 11 to honor those who were killed, in jured or responded to the 9/11 attacks.
What: Canyon State Academy varsity football team assistance. It means a lot to the athletes when volunteers sponsor the team by bringing snacks/ treats/drinks for 40 for after the game. Game days Sept. 9, 15, 23 and 30 and Oct. 21 at Canyon State Academy: 20275 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek.
United by faith, tears and blood
Information: Susan Manning, 480-987-9700 or susan.manning@rop.com.
What: Mesa Public Library Make Cards for First Re sponders project 5-7 p.m. Sept. 6 at the library, 64 E. 1st St., Mesa. Cards made at home can be dropped off through Sept. 7 at the first floor service desk. In terested in delivering cards? Email a note with your interest and submit your cross streets.
What: LDS Mesa Alma Stake clothing drive at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, 2540 W. Baseline Road, Mesa, to fill a 20-foot Deseret In dustries Container 7-11 a.m. Sept. 10. Drive-thru donation drop off of gently-used clothing to support Paz de Cristo, Native American Fathers & Families Association, and others in need.
Information: Chandra Hansen, 480-329-7350, chandra.hansen@gmail.com.
What: United Food Bank food bag assem bly 9-11 a.m. Sept. 12, 358 E. Javelina Drive, Mesa. Closed-toed shoes required.
What: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Boulder Creek Stake Sept. 10 with flag ceremony at 8 a.m., followed by a food drive, craft kits assembly and two bounce houses for kids through 9:30 a.m. at Mariposa Park, 2345 South Hawes Road, Mesa. Information: Pat Nelson 559-280-2148 bcjust serve@gmail.com.
What: Usery Mountain Trail Maintenance 7-11 a.m. Sept. 8 at 3939 N. Usery Road, Mesa. Bring your own gloves, proper clothing for outdoor work, closed-toed hiking shoes and water/snacks.
Information: Brent Strickland, 480-644-3388, brenton.strickland@mesaaz.gov.
In Arizona and across the country, Just Serve is inviting non-profits, government, individuals, families, co-workers, congrega tions, schools and businesses to volunteer for these projects. Local projects can be found at Finlinson,justserve.org/az911day.theblooddrivecoordinator for the Chandler West Stake and the faith groups behind the blood drive have worked together for similar events but this year is one the few times all three of their schedules have“Wheneveraligned. possible, we get all three groups together,” Finlinson said. Along with remembering the attacks of 9/11, Finlinson said this project is one of her favorite traditions because it brings together people of different faiths and helps those in need. It also comes at a time when there is a nationwide blood supply shortage.
What: LDS Chandler South Stake Women of Light Interfaith Service Event 9 a.m.-noon, Sun Valley Community Church’s Gilbert campus, 5545 S. Lindsay Road, Gilbert. Women 8 and older from all faiths can join Sun Valley Community Church in Gilbert and the Chandler South Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Bloodshed united the nation as it mourned the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and Pennsylvania and on the Pentagon.
Information: Betty Thomas 772-249-6610, bluewatern2@yahoo.com.
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
On Sept. 9, leaders of the Interfaith 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive hope to unite people again. The blood drive will bring together the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Phoenix, the East Valley Jewish Community Center, and the Chandler West Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It will run noon-6 p.m. Sept. 9 at 1950 West Galveston St., Chandler. Those interest ed in donating must make an appointment at redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code: 9/11memorial. Since 2015, the interfaith group has held the drive as a unifying tool for the communi ty despite doctrinal differences. “We’re all trying to help humanity in some way,” said Robin Finlinson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chandler West Stake. “And saving lives literally by do nating blood is a great way to do that.”
Organizers of the Interfaith 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive include, from left, Shahzad Amjad, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Phoenix, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chandler West Stake President Dan Shkapich, East Valley JCC CEO Rabbi Michael Beyo and Imam Ah mad Salman of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Phoenix. (David Minton/Srizonan Staff Photographer)
Information: Jared Angstead, 602-506-9541 or Bill Klewer, 602-506-9512, bill.klewer@maricopa.gov.
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Rabbi Michael Beyo, CEO of the East Val ley Jewish Community Center, has lived in Arizona since 2015 and has been a rabbi for nearly 30 years. He said he lived in Israel in September 2001 and remembers receiving a call from his father about the initial reports of a small plane crashing into the Twin Towers.
more people are helped when we do things together,” Finlinson said.
Chandler West Stake President Dan Shka pich has led the stake for nearly three years and said it’s a thrill to continue this partner ship with the other two faith groups.
“We welcome this opportunity to work to gether for a great cause, to raise awareness, and at the same time save lives, regardless of color and creed,” Salman said. Salman was born in Pakistan but attended high school in Canada and said he remembers watching the terror attacks unfold on TV. After 9/11, Salman said the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was the first Muslim community ever to launch a Muslims For Life campaign. In working with American Red Cross, the community has helped do nate about 120,000 pints of blood across the country.
Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:
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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
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Finlinson said she was a teacher in Mesa in 2001 and remembers, like many others, waking up that Tuesday morning and watch ing the events unfold live on TV. While attending a former roommate’s wedding in Washington, D.C., in December 2001, Finlinson said she drove up to New York City and witnessed the destruction at site of the World Trade Center firsthand. Finlinson held back tears as she recalled experiencing such “a sacred place” that held so much death and destruction and said she couldn’t bear herself to even take a photo.
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 Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (480) 274 3157 WNOW!!eare extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Imam Ahmad Salman, who recently moved here from Puerto Rico, said the drive offers a great opportunity to show these faiths have more in common than different.
“If I would have been there just a week lat er or the terrorist who would have decided to do this a week earlier, I might not be here,” BeyoBeyosaid.became a U.S. citizen about four years ago but said back then, it didn’t matter what nationality you identified with. “I think that everybody felt that this is an attack against democracy, against peace, against peace-loving people,” Beyo said.
Shkapich said watching the news that morning of Sept. 11 and recognized the “very somber” time that our worlds had changed.
“We need to have these events to cultivate the understanding that, although we may seem divided, we have a lot more in com mon,” Salman said.
“Since that time, it’s just been heartwarm ing, inspiring and uplifting to see how, not just America, but how the world responds to terrorists,” Shkapich said.
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 Thankfully,action.
The same passage, he said, also states that if someone saves a life, it’s as if he’s saved all of humanity.
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“It doesn’t matter what faith group or if they are people of faith if they’re willing to give up their blood to help save that person in a time of need,” Finlinson said.
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INTERFAITH from page 10
Finlinson said she knows people of Mus lim faith who seek to actively help people and these blood drives help drive their repu tation in a positive light.
“It’s a great blessing for us to come togeth er in different faiths to have a combined fo cus to help one another,” Shkapich said.
Eventually, like many that day, he watched the second plane hit the second tower on TV and it personally shook him to his core, con sidering he stood inside the towers exactly one week before that day.
“When we have a common goal of loving one another, serving one another, helping one another. It unites us even though we may have different beliefs in religion,” he said.
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 As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves 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.
Beyo said he has a “strong belief” that most Americans want to keep the unity and hold values that won’t allow extremist of any kind to tear us apart, and events like this remain a positive sign that we can work to gether despite our differences.
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“I wasn’t offended by those who did, but I felt like I just couldn’t because I knew what happened,” Finlinson said.
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Salman said that although the events of 9/11 were committed in the name of Islam, the true teachings of the religion and the Qu ran emphasize that if someone kills a person to cause disorder in the land, it’s as if he’s killed all of humanity.
“We have to come together to be able to heal, and to persevere and ultimately to get stronger going forward,” Shkapich said. “So in an interesting way, these kinds of events really make us stronger, and unite us more than ever before.”
Shkapich said he enjoys coming together with other faiths to continue this tradition.
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QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 13 PHX EAST VALLEY PARTNERSHIP APS STATESPERSONS’ LUNCHEON Keynote Speaker Ron Brownstein: All About the Midterms: A Look at Arizona’s Political Landscape 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 Doubletree by Hilton Phoenix-Mesa • (1011 W. Holmes, Mesa) Register today. Tables of 8: $1,000/Individual Tickets: $125 480.532.0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com A Zoom option may be available.
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PRESENTED BY: Midterms are approaching and Arizona is a state to watch. At this event, you’ll get unfiltered and nonpartisan insights on the state of politics in Arizona from Ron Brownstein, senior editor of The Atlantic, contributing editor for National Journal and a senior political analyst for CNN. Part journalist, part historian, and all shrewd political observer, Brownstein will de liver sharp analysis on politics, policy, the electorate, media and the range of issues informed by his strong sense of American political and national history. Following the keynote address, you’ll hear from candidates in key races share their plans for building on Arizona’s economic momentum while addressing our communities’ most pressing issues.
In 2001, Bastian was living in Mesa and working as a residential Realtor when he woke up to a surreal moment on TV. Like millions of Americans on that Tuesday morning, Bastian watched United Airlines Flight 175 crash into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Bastian said that moment still lives with him to this day and why he wants to remind people what happened, not just on that day, but in the days following, especially for those not born at the time – like his three teenage sons. “It really just felt like our country came together as Americans,” Bastian said. “And that’s something that I’ll certainly never for get and I hope other people don’t.”
The event costs approximately $30,000 annually to put up and store the three-footby-five-foot US flags, Bastian said.
“Some of the emotion that I’ve seen and felt, you really can’t describe it,” Bastian said. “We just want to make sure that people don’t ever forget what happened that day.”
In years past, the impressive feat begins with hundreds of volunteers showing up at 6 a.m. the first day of the event and within an hour-and-a-half, a sea of green grass be comes a sea of flags. It might look like clockwork repeated year-after-year, but Bastian said the orga nization puts a lot of work into the massive undertaking.
After a few years, Bastian joined The Tempe Exchange Club. This year’s event located at 80 W. Rio Sal ado Parkway in Tempe will begin on Friday, Sept. 9, at 6 a.m. with “Stand Up Flags” set up and volunteers are greatly welcomed.
that captures the horror that America witnessed 21 years ago will return to Tempe Beach Park thisTheweek.21st annual Tempe Healing Field tribute will be held Sept. 9-11 for what Chairman Nick Bastian said is an effort to not only memorialize victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks but capture the uni ty that immediately followed.
Fifteen years ago, Bastian said he start ed out as a volunteer putting up flags and eventually returned the next couple years.
Amemorial
The Tempe Exchange Club will plant one flag for each person that was killed that day – nearly 3,000, according to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. “If you have a loved one that was lost that day, we can actually show you where that person’s flag is,” Bastian said.
in Tempe
On Saturday, Sept. 10, the event continues with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation 5k Run/Walk at the Tempe Beach Park at 8 a.m. Visitors are welcome to visit throughout the day and on Saturday, the event will end the day with a Freedom Concert from 6:309 p.m. The Healing Field Tribute will include a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Sunday. The pub lic is welcome to join in reading the names towards the end of the ceremony.
The event officially ends with a “Stand Down the Field” on Monday, Sept. 12, at 6 a.m., when volunteers are again needed to help in taking down the flags. For more information, call Nick Bastian at 602-803-6425 or visit TempeHealing Field.org.
“There really is a lot of moving parts and we put a lot of hours into it,” Bastian said.
BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer
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Healing Fields honor the 9/11 dead
For the past 20 years, Bastian said people from all over the world have attended the Healing Fields memorial.
Past events have shown flags fill the crescent-shaped grass field at the heart of the Tempe Beach Park. That area primarily commemorates the victims inside the Twin Towers. Smaller areas around the large field com memorates victims inside the Pentagon and inside the airliner that was crashed into a field in BastianPennsylvania.saidhe’sserved as the chair for the Healing Fields Committee for the past three years and it’s the largest event the Tempe Exchange Club supports.
“I suspended myself for a year. That sus pension started a week and a half ago,” Moreno said. “I’m not allowed to go on the field with baseball at Queen Creek. My players knew, my parents knew what we were going to do because I wanted to have an open line of communication with them.
The board’s vote to give the program a warning was unanimous.
The difference required an extra day of rest, which would have made him ineligi ble to pitch against Hamilton.
An investigation by the AIA found More no hadn’t used an approved device to count pitches during its postseason match up against Chaparral. The Bulldogs record ed 55 pitches for their starter. Chaparral, using an approved device, recorded 64.
The corrective action also said the two would have weekly meetings throughout the baseball season to ensure bylaws are being followed. The baseball program will also adopt GameChanger, a new applica tion that tracks pitch counts that will be run by a parent. Additionally, pitch counts from every varsity game will be submitted to Driving Hawk on an approved AIA form. According to the corrective action, Moreno will also serveHowever,discipline.atthe time the initially correc tive action was submitted to the AIA, it did not include a full year suspension.
“We do not want to put students and stu dent-athletes in a position where they’re punished for the actions of adults and adult behavior,” Dean said. “That being said, the AIA bylaws are very specific on how schools are handled. We are appreciative of both Queen Creek and the Chandler school district for their further reflection, their further corrective action,” he continued, adding:
Coach sacrifices job to save QC baseball
Renee Regoli, the current athletic direc tor at Dobson who was in the same posi tion at Queen Creek last year, recused her self from the vote.
“I live my life the way I live my life,” Moreno said. “Maybe 10 games would’ve worked. I don’t know. I wasn’t willing to risk an opportunity for the boys for my needs. “My boys are very important to me and I do the best I can to get them prepared for whatever comes their way in life or base ball. It’s a severe penalty but again, it’s one I felt needed to happen for the boys.
Queen Creek submitted corrective ac tion to the AIA for the pitch discrepancy. It included a meeting between Athletic Di rector Chris Driving Hawk and Moreno to review pitch count bylaw 21.1.5.
Queen Creek High head baseball coach Mikel Moreno gave up his job for the season in order to spare the team from a probation that would have cost his players post-season play. (Caela Fox/Cronkite News)
Moreno said parents, players and ad ministration felt him being away from the team for a year was excessive. They lob bied for 10 games or to miss half of Queen Creek’s power-point contests. But Moreno didn’t want to take the risk of that still not being enough for the AIA board.“They thought that was extreme.” More no said. “In order to give the boys the best chance moving forward, I felt we needed to do that. I would have been really upset if we did half the season and the boys didn’t get the opportunity. I wanted to put our best foot Morenoforward.”saidhis players were in disbe lief of his willingness to sacrifice himself for their own good. They tried to have him change course. But Moreno declined. He owned his mistake with pitch counts. He acknowledged it was an error on his part, not anybody else. So, he felt the best action was to remove himself from the sit uation for the time being in hopes of giving his players a chance to win a title.
“We are happy to see a different outcome today than we had a couple of weeks ago.”
AIA officials did not disclose the addi tional corrective action by Queen Creek. Head baseball coach Mikel Moreno said he suspended himself for the duration of the 2022-23 school year.
BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
Arizona Interscholastic Associa tion Executive Board voted Tuesday to rescind the probation it placed on the Queen Creek baseball program for a pitch count violation, opting instead for a warning.Butitcost the coach his job for the season. The decision stemmed from corrective actions submitted by the school and Queen Creek Unified School District in an appeal hearing heard by the board on Tuesday.
The board’s vote on Queen Creek came shortly after it voted to rescind probation for the Hamilton football program, which was placed on probation at the same time for a recruiting violation.
The pitcher in question came in as a re liever against the Huskies and led Queen Creek to a win. However, the Bulldogs were later disqualified by the AIA and placed Hamilton back into the tournament, which it went on to “Unfortunately,win. they were not able to continue with the playoffs,” AIA Execu tive Director David Hines said on Aug. 15. “Then, the board has to address the vio lation that occurred. Based on the infor mation the board was able to get from all involved, a decision was made.”
Queen Creek was initially placed on probation by the Executive Board during its first meeting of the school year on Aug.The15.decision stemmed from a pitch count violation that occurred during the 6A baseball tournament last spring.
QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 15NEWS The
“We had no conversations with the AIA for what they were looking for. They’re looking for blood. That’s my opinion. I just wanted to make sure we did everything we could for the boys.”
As a result, the Queen Creek baseball program is eligible to participate in the postseason tournament.
Dr. Jim Dean, the president of the Execu tive Board, said they appreciated the work done by the entire Queen Creek adminis tration – which is new this year and inher ited the violation – to further investigate the matter.
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ASHINGTON – While the rest of the nation was posting a record increase in traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2022, highway deaths in Arizona were falling by nearly a third, according to a recent report.Thereport from the National High way Traffic Safety Administration said 190 people died on Arizona roads in the first quarter of this year, a 31.4% drop from the 277 who were killed in the first three months of 2021. That was the fourth-steepest per centage drop in the nation, trailing only the much-smaller states of Rhode Island, North Dakota and Montana. Nationwide, highway fatalities rose by 7% over the first quarter of 2021, from 8,935 to an estimated 9,560, as 29 states saw gains in the number of deaths.Thedecrease in Arizona followed several years of a steadily climbing highway death toll. “I welcome any good news regard ing our traffic numbers,” said Alberto Gutier, executive director of the Arizo na Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “I’m very surprised, but very happily surprised.”Expertssaid the increase in deaths nationally could be the result of having more people on the roads post-pandem ic, combined with higher speeds and more distracted and reckless drivers.
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Gutier hopes traffic fatalities contin ue to trend downward for the rest of the“We’reyear. great. We’re a really great state,” he said. “Arizona is doing the best they can in traffic enforcement.” NEWS AZLegacyFuneralHome.com
Traffic fatalities falling in Arizona – report
“When you combine all of these fac tors, it’s a deadly combination,” he said. But he thinks the return to normal traffic flows might be the reason Ari zona numbers have decreased so far: With more people on the road com muting to work and school, he said, drivers may be taking fewer chances.
The U.S. Department of Transporta tion said Arizona can expect to get ap proximately $5.3 billion over five years in federal highway formula funding for highways and bridges under that bill.
The first-quarter improvements have continued through 2022, accord ing to the most recent numbers from Gutier’s office. It reported 398 traffic fatalities – including car, pedestrian and bike deaths – through July, com pared to 700 through the same period in 2021. But with Labor Day travel approach ing, AAA expects more people on the road – and more challenges for drivers.
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“The trend overall in the country is very concerning, and has been going on for awhile,” said Russ Rader, senior vice president of communications at the In surance Institute of Highway Safety. “State by state numbers may jump around, but nationally the trend is un fortunately an increase and a rather sharp increase,” Rader said. Gutier agrees that speeding, reck less driving and impaired driving are among the factors that have driven up deaths in Arizona.
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“Be prepared,” said John Treanor, the AAA spokesperson for Western states. “You may not have dealt with high-traf fic situations. Your car may not have been on long road trips. Have a plan.” Highway deaths nationally in the first quarter were the highest since 2002, according to the report. NHTSA Administrator Steven Cliff said that while those numbers are “moving in the wrong direction,” the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law should help change the direction.
“While the mission is serious, the goal is to have fun,” the group said in a release. Attendees will have a chance to enjoy a car show, which also features eye-catching motorcycles, trucks and bikes. There will also be food trucks, ice cream, cookies, raf fles, a DJ and more.
see SPENCER page 18 TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
Jennie Bever runs 4th Trimester AZ, a nonprofit that helps mothers cope after birthing a baby. (Courtesy of Jennie Bever)
The event will take place at the Gilbert Civic Center, 50 Civic Center Drive, from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. It is hosted by Shields & Stripes, a non profit with a mission to help first line de fenders heal and live meaningful lives in service to their communities.
So did Gilbert mom Jillian Seamans, who felt like she was sent off home from the hos pital with nothing but some paperwork, Vi codin and a baby. “As a new mom, I was surprised at how little support and guidance I received from my doctors and at the hospital after having a baby,” she said. “I had an emer gency c-section, so not only was I recov ering from the most intense and invasive surgery of my life, but I was also trying to figure out breastfeeding and how to take care of a Traditionally,baby.”
Bever holds a doctorate in biology from the University of California at San Diego and is also a lactation specialist. She owns the Arizona Breastfeeding Center in Tempe, which she established in 2010.
The fourth trimester comprises the first three months after a baby is born.
BY SRIANTHI PERERA Tribune Contributor
OBGYN is focused on physi cal healing, Bever said. “However, there are many more prob lems new mothers face, including postpar tum mood and anxiety disorders, that are not adequately addressed in the postpar tum“Moreperiod.than 50 percent of maternal deaths happen after a baby is born,” she added. Created on the theme that “it takes a village to raise a child,” 4th Trimester Ari zona offers monthly villages, or meetings, specialized for each area of the Valley and in Tucson. The East Valley Village meets from 10-11:30 a.m. the third Thursday of the month on Zoom and Facebook Live; the topic for September is “Postpartum Hacks: Infant Feeding Challenges.” The Central Village meets 10-11:30 a.m. in person on the second Wednesday of the month at the i.d.e.a. Museum, 150 W. Pep per Place, Mesa. The organization also offers annual conferences. A free online summit called the 4th Trimester Ecosystem Summit for those who support parents is planned for Sept.Conferences27-28. are attended by 200 to 400 people each year, and the villages serve about 60 new parents each month, while hundreds watch the videos that are posted on social Seamansmedia.attended a fourth trimester conference that provided her with a lifeline.
The Spencer Calzadilla Car Show & Wellness Expo – a free, family-friend ly event to help Arizona’s active duty and veteran military and frontline respond ers grappling with PTSD and honoring the memory of Gilbert veteran Spencer Calza dilla – will be held in Gilbert next weekend.
“The conference completely changed the way I feel about motherhood. Of course, it didn’t fix all of my new-mom struggles, but it helped me to realize that I wasn’t the only one who found the fourth-trimester stage extremely difficult,” she said. “Not only did I learn what the fourth tri mester even was, but I also learned that there were resources out there to help during this time,” she added. She vowed to do better with her next baby, and she did. “I found myself a little angry and pas sionate about the way Americans view the fourth trimester period. When I found my
Calzadilla, 28, took his life in March be cause of the debilitating effects of post-trau matic“Westress.hope this event increases awareness about the effects of PTS and helps our firstline defenders and their loved ones under stand they don’t have to go it alone, there’s help and hope,” Ballester said. Ballester, of Gilbert, retired from the Air Force in March 2020 after 20 years of ser
First-line defenders and their loved ones will also have a chance to receive free health and wellness resources and connect with Shields & Stripes and other communi ty organizations eager to help them. “We decided to host this event with Spen cer’s dad because Spencer was a big car en thusiast,” said Eric Ballester, the event orga nizer and Shields & Stripes treasurer.
Free EV car show honors fallen local vet
For most parents, the fourth trimester lasts much longer than three months, Bever said, and at 4th Trimester Arizona, the fo cus is on the parent’s mental, emotional and physical health in the first five years after a baby is Beverborn.found first hand that very little is fo cused on postpartum care for new mothers.
Chandler mom’s nonprofit helps new mothers
see NONPROFIT page 18
Soon after the birth of her first son, Chandler mom Jennie Bever found herself struggling in the day-to-day. She suffered from mastitis, a painful in fection of the breast tissue, her employer expected her to work while she took six weeks of short-term disability and she be came“Mysleep-deprived.bodychanged, my focus changed, all my relationships changed overnight after having a baby, and there really was no sys tem set up to support me beyond my part ner and my mom,” said Bever. Now the mother of three sons, ages 16, 10 and 7, she runs 4th Trimester Arizona, a nonprofit organization created to bring awareness to this phase of life, to create community for new mothers and to change the culture of new parenthood.
“During this time, infants require 24/7 care, including feeding every few hours, and near constant holding,” Bever said. “This first three months is also the time that the new parent is healing from pregnancy and birth, learning how to be a 24/7 caregiv er, how to feed baby, and dealing with the financial and relationship implications of now being a parent.”
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SPENCER from page 17 self pregnant with my second baby, I ref erenced the resources and connected with the community that I was introduced to at the 4th Trimester conference,” she said. Her goal was to utilize any and all re sources to help ease the weight of the fourth trimester so she could heal, rest, bond and focus on her baby.
“Eric’s decision to become a special war fare commando was motivated by his pas sion for having the largest impact on the battlefield,” according to the biography on the nonprofit’s website.
NEXTGENSUITE MAINHOUSE vice, ending his career at the Joint Special Operations Command, 724th Special Tac tics Group as a combat controller. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the military like all the men in his family.
4489 W Maggie Drive, Queen Creek NEXTGEN home in San Tan Heights
Each office is independently owned and operated
Welcome to the NEXTGEN home in San Tan Heights. The NEXTGEN suite has its own front door and its own door to the backyard. The kitchenette includes a full size fridge, a dishwasher, and a microwave and lots of cabinetry. Relax in the spacious family room. The bedroom is private with a door to the bedroom and includes a walk in closet. The main house includes 3 bedrooms, all with walk in closets, & 2 bathrooms. You’ll enjoy cooking in this kitchen which includes maple cabinets and granite counters. Low maintenance front & backyards with desert landscaping. Come see this home that offers so many possibilities with the NEXTGEN suite. Use it as an office, for inlaws, or simply additional living space. Situated in San Tan Heights which has its own community pool & close to hiking at San Tan Mountain Regional Park. Call Melanie Nemetz for your showing today (480) 221-3034.
Proceeds from the event will fund Shields & Stripes A Hero’s Journey program, which provides customized mental, physical, cognitive and nutritional services to help first-line de fenders heal and be their best selves. Car show entries, vendor registration and sponsorship details can be found at ti nyurl.com/SpencerCalzadilla.
18 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022COMMUNITY 480.221 .3034 www.fosteringre.com
NONPROFIT from page 17
Details: 4thtrimesteraz.org Gilbert resident Eric Ballester and the rest of the team at Shields & Stripes are holding a family-friendly free car show in Gilbert Saturday. (Special to the Tribune)
“His exceptional ability to adapt and over come and his drive to improve constantly propelled him past his peers resulting in his selection as the 2016 Combat Controller of the Year. His 10 combat deployments were in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and East Africa. During his military career, he earned cer tifications as a combat controller, Ranger, freefall jumpmaster, Marine combatant diver, static-line jumpmaster, joint terminal attack controller – instructor, air traffic controller and air assault. He earned three 3 Bronze Stars, and Air Force Combat Action Medal, and Army and Air Force commendations. He said he realized that after serving on 10 combat deployments, he had to pri oritize his physical and mental health and helped form Shields & Stripes.
This NexGen home has its own primary home with a suite attached to it, offering its own separate entrance and exit, kitchen, family room and bedroom and bath.
“We have experienced a lot of growth in the past two years, and our biggest chal lenge is having the funding and resources to meet the needs of parents and those who support them,” Bever said.
“I connected with the lactation specialists who again noticed that my second baby had a tongue tie as well. I hired a postpartum doula, had postpartum cranial sacral ther apy for myself and my baby, a postpartum massage, and nourished myself with the foods and drinks that I learned help a post partum body,” she said. Her second son was a preemie. “I also utilized services that I learned about to help me track his milestones. I met with some one on a monthly basis who monitored my son’s growth,” she added. Bever runs The Arizona Breastfeeding Center, a clinical lactation practice of Inter national Board Certified Lactation Consul tants that serve families for infant feeding support as well as train future lactation consultants.“Thefamilies I work with at the Arizona Breastfeeding Center were and continue to be my inspiration and motivation as we work towards changing the culture of par enting so no one has to do it alone, and all families are embraced by their communities in their transition to parenting,” Bever said.
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“I have an extended family that’s guiding me along this pathway to healing and understanding,” said Ballester. “My wife Sandra and I are paying it forward to reach out to other veterans like Spencer, before it’s too late, to make sure they’re getting the care and support we have benefited from so greatly.”
Own one home offering two separate homes!
4th Trimester Arizona operates with five staffers and a host of volunteers, espe cially during events. It’s funded by grants, sponsorships and individual donations. A tech-support person and a full-time coordi nator are on its wish-list.
“I developed a passion to support smaller business es after years of enjoying the benefits and resources of a large organization and realizing how difficult it is for smaller businesses to survive and compete in the challenging modern regula toryRoneyenvironment.”isalso offering something fairly unique when it comes to billing … what he calls an “alterna tive fee model.” Lawyers typically charge a standard hourly rate, a fee most often based sole ly on the lawyer’s own opinion of their work, which is “not exactly the best ap proach to encourage efficiency,” he said.
“I knew almost every company person and lawyer portrayed in the movie,” he said. “Three of our executives went to prison. It was pretty crazy watching it in the theater, seeing my own town and company and people I knew personally quite well on the big screen in not a flat tering light.”
“No business or executive wants to end up in that situation. It is incredibly painful and can ruin your life,” he said.
“Lawyers need to think like business leaders to truly help businesses be suc cessful,” he explained. “We have a pro fessional obligation to advise them ap propriately and let business owners and executives make important decisions about legal issues. “But that doesn’t mean practicality and economics go out the window. You never eliminate all risk, so you want to make sure businesses understand the risks and make smart decisions about spending money to reduce them. If it doesn’t make sense to pay me to prepare a policy or draft a contract to try and re duce legal risk, I’m going to tell my client that,” he said.
Information: 85 W. Combs Road, Queen Creek; 682-800-2993, scott@roneybusi nesslaw.com or roneybusinesslaw.com.
“Smaller businesses of ten don’t even realize the legal risks they are facing until a prosecutor or reg ulator contacts them or they get a lawsuit,” he said.
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Having worked at law firms serving huge clients on a national and some times international scale, Roney is bet ting that he has found a niche serving smaller and medium sized businesses in Queen Creek, which he believes is home to potential businesses that may not even know that they need legal advice. That, he said, is often what gets them in trouble in the first place.
“I don’t know that there is another firm approaching it that way, from a more preventative standpoint and try ing to partner with businesses on an on going basis as opposed to ‘Hey, I’ve got someone threatening to sue me, can you help me with this? or I’ve got a lawsuit already,’” Roney said.
The movie and the circumstances that led to it had a huge impact on Roney, both personally and professionally. ”The Informant” shaped his career and pro fessional motivations for the better.
Roney believes his approach will help his clients succeed in the right ways, helping them thrive and, perhaps most importantly, keeping them off the silver screen at Queen Creek’s only theater in town.“Iwant to see businesses succeed and owners and executives keep their atten tion focused on the business, not legal problems,” he said.
BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer Scott Roney
Years down the road and following stints in rural Indiana, Nashville and other parts of suburban Phoenix, Roney has recently settled in Queen Creek and opened a law firm that he specifically designed to help his clients avoid legal trouble before they are actually in it.
“Including what was at the time,” Roney said, “the largest antitrust fine leveled by the United States Depart ment of Justice, a case which resulted in a movie ‘The Informant,’ starring Matt Damon.”Hewas part of a team of attor neys-turned-adrenaline junkies han dling high profile, white-knuckle legal cases involving intrigue, high-dollar white-collar crime, international inves tigations and global prosecutions. The kind that get lots of media attention.
Lawyer aims to keep businesses out of hot water
“I want clients to treat me like a part of their team and feel comfortable call ing me for routine questions, not just se rious problems,” Roney said. “My goal is to keep them out of trouble, rather than get them out of trouble. Staying out of le gal trouble is generally much less costly than responding to and fixing the prob lem in an enforcement or litigation con text,” he said.
Roney will charge clients a monthly fee, a subscription model if you will, for a defined scope of legal support. It would go on the to-do list with the rest of the company’s monthly bills.
Payroll, utilities, membership dues, IT services, for example, and pay the lawyer. “That takes away the fear of being charged $100 for a 15-minute phone call,” Roney said.
Queen Creek attorney Scott Roney didn’t grow up with dreams of becoming a movie star. But for a lawyer, which is what he became, he did the next best thing. He worked shoulder to shoulder with a lot of high-profile colleagues who be came famous on the silver screen… but for the wrong reasons.
Roney says he intends to take a com mon sense approach to his potential clients, trying to dispel the stereotype that all lawyers are bad and should be avoided and reminding them that it’s better for a business to have legal repre sentation on their side in case they need it rather than waiting until they are in a pinch and have to get it.
An example: Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my father, who died in March last year in a strange hospice bed. I was 2,000 miles away when he passed, not there to hold his hand, not there to tell him one more time that I loved him. His mind was gone by then, and his body, too, addled by dementia, wracked with Parkinson’s disease. Did I do enough for him? Did he under stand in those final moments how much I cared, how proud I was to be his son? These questions still gnaw at me 18 months later, weighing down like heavy stones. This is the way I have come to de fine myself – as a bad son, selfish, broken BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist
Now, almost 60 years later, he had a different perspective: He was no longer that person, and had not been for de cades, almost since the moment he was shot. Rather than set down that story for the world to chew over, he wished instead he had made peace with the moment and moved on, as he has made peace with every tribulation ever since, including a stroke that has made walk ing difficult. His message to us was simple, but su premely wise – which is why I am pass ing it along to you. “We need to let go of what’s bothering us and move on,” I wrote in my note book. “Will you let challenges steal all the joy from you? Or will you let go, get over it and move on?”
QueenCreekTribune.com | @QCTribune @QCTribune Opinion For more Opinions visit QueenCreekTribune.com 20 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022OPINION
Undoubtedly, Joe Biden has the gift of blarney; he also has the curse of advancing age and retreating cog nition. Whatever his intellectual challenges, a half-century on Wash ington’s political stage has endowed him with a reflexive muscle memory. That comes in handy when he slings rhetorical mud—and worse— at his opponents, but also in his sin gle-minded quest for greater power.
BY JD HAYWORTH
No matter how hard it is, learn to let it go
Tribune Columnist
One of my dear friends, a throughoutmentormy adult life, shocked me a few days ago with a confession. He is in his seventies now, among the wisest humans I know, an oracle of smart advice people pay vast sums to hear. The subject of one of his books arose – a selfhelp title that is on my bookshelf in a place of honor – and his face grew sullen.
I t wasn’t exactly “small potatoes.” That was just part of Smallit.potatoes, diseased potatoes – and in some areas, no potatoes – all combined in “The Great Irish Potato Famine” which was the scourge of the Emerald Isle from the mid-tolateAlso1840’s.known as the “Great Hunger,” close to a million Irishmen died, and over a million fled the country. In fact, in the ten years from 1845-55, more than two million people left Ireland. Many of them emigrated to the United States…including the an cestors of the current occupant of the White House.
Ironically, one sign of Ol’ Joe’s per verse “progress” invokes the image of his ancestral home. The Federa tion for American Immigration Re form (FAIR) points out that during the first 18 months of Biden’s time in the White House, over 4.9 million illegal aliens have entered our coun try. That’s equivalent to the current population of Ireland! There’s only one word for it. That’sInvasion.what National Public Ra dio—you read that right—NPR — discovered in a recent poll. Much to its collective editorial and administrative chagrin, the leftist ra dio “service” financed in part with the tax dollars of “non-listeners like you,” found that a clear majority—54 per cent of Americans—believe the border crisis is, in fact, an invasion.
see LEIBOWITZ page 21
see HAYWORTH page 21
“I wish I had never written it,” he told us. “I wish I had never told that story.” The story concerns his being shot in Vietnam. He was 19 years old, 9,000 miles from home with his guts exposed, courtesy of three enemy bullets.
Border ‘invasion’ is hardly small potatoes
One area where Joe and the rest of the Biden Bunch remain resolute can be found on our southern border…at least what’s left of it. The erasure of our national bound ary, the erosion of our national sov ereignty, and the eventual extinction of our nation itself appear within the grasp of this administration.
Setting aside the routine “assault by euphemism” on the English lan guage, describing the law-breaking border crossers by the legal term “immigrants,” it’s fair to question
True to its “open borders ideology,” NPR sought to minimize the impact of the findings,and disparage the use of the term, claiming that “immigrant advocates say the word has a long history in white nationalist circles.” Then, for good measure, NPR al lowed those same so-called “immi grant advocates” to demonize the legitimate concerns of American cit izens, warning “that such extreme rhetoric could provoke more vio lence against immigrants.”
Chances are good, dear reader, that you and I will never cross paths in the world. You know me only from my col umns, which I assure you is a distorted view of who I am. On this page, I offer some opinions, a few tales, but not much at all about the kind of man I am. Which, frankly, suits me fine. Because the truth is, I have shamed myself many times in my life, because I have failed to do right in moments that were difficult. These failures are things I have car ried with me no less tangibly than my wallet and car keys – and they’re much harder to lose.
Once, that tale was a pillar of his story telling arsenal, a testament to his ability to survive whatever life threw at him.
How to get a letter published E-mail: pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.com
NPR’s insistence on framing this through the dubious premise that using the word “invasion” will some how inspire violence against illegals. What of the violence committed by illegals against law-abiding Americans? Is that underreported, or worse, rou tinely omitted from NPR’s coverage?
LEIBOWITZ from page 20
How long will you mourn me, she de manded? Three weeks, he suggested –because what do you say to such a ques tion? She scoffed. “Life is for the living,” his great grand ma insisted. “Life is for the living.” Somewhere out there, one of you is carrying the Sisyphean weight of shame. Take it from someone who knows: Let it go, move on. We are never who we were once forev er. Stories define us until they no longer do. Life is for the living, so live.
HAYWORTH from page 20
What cannot be omitted from the results of the NPR/Ipsos poll, con ducted in late July with a sample of 1,116 adults, is the fact that 40 per cent of self-identified Democrats—a sizable minority—agree with the 76 percent of Republican respondents about the border situation being best described as an “invasion.” And independents—long regarded as swing voters—are fast approach ing the “tipping point.” 46 percent of respondents with no party prefer ence likewise believe the term “inva sion” offers an apt description. As our nation approaches the No vember midterms, one clear real ity emerges. You need not live in a border state to find that Joe Biden’s approach to illegal immigration bor ders on Illegalinsanity.immigrants from 200 coun tries—from Mauritania as well as Mexico, from Ethiopia as well as Ire land—are pouring into America. And given the current situation, no thinking American would describe border issues as “small potatoes.”
QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 21
OPINION in some profound way. My friend’s life was shaped by his great grandma, who in the days before her death exhorted him to get over her loss immediately and not one moment later.
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. The Foothills Focus 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.
It’s a unique experience for all Arizo na teams to travel out of state. But more than anything, it’s a way to continue put ting the state on the map as one of the best for high school football.
He has confidence in his team to im prove from last season, and it began this past Friday against a Mountain Ridge team that figured to be improved. Then, it’s Upland. “My excitement level is through the roof right now,” Jury said. “I think it will be a unique and great bonding experi ence to travel out of state and play anoth erJuryopponent.”andCasteel’s success will depend on the weapons he has around him mak ing plays. That includes Casteel’s do-it-all play maker, Jeremiah “JJ” Newcombe.
QueenCreekTribune.com | @QCTribune @QCTribune Sports For more Sports News visit QueenCreekTribune.com 22 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022SPORTS BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
This past Friday, Chandler and Red Mountain participated in The Honor Bowl in San Diego. Desert Vista also played in the showcase on Saturday.
Jury, who is now in his second season leading the Colt offense, had a thrilling spring and summer. He showed more poise as he became more comfortable in the offense. He also has more confidence now as a senior.
“It will take a lot of preparation and film study,” Jury said. “Also believing in each other as a team and a positive mindset.”
“It’s exciting to take a trip like that as a team,” Newcombe said. “We’re taking quite a bit of guys with us so they can ex perience the adventure. We’re really ex cited to take on that group and I’m glad they were willing and able to play us.”
On defense, he is a lockdown corner. He had 953 all-purpose yards last sea son on offense with seven touchdowns.
Newcombe believes Upland presents a chal lenge for his team due to the Highlanders’ athleticism. However, he knows his team is also athletic and poised to make a statement in Cal ifornia. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)
On defense, he had 37 tackles and sev en interceptions, among the most in the state during his sophomore season. Ger ayes Grimes returns to help man the sec ondary with JJ, while Ryder Cost, Austin Young and Joseph Mularski return to lead the linebackers. Mularski can also play defensive end for the Colts. Casteel is one of many East Valley teams to take on out-of-state opponents within the first two weeks of the season.
The Upland roster doesn’t have star power like it did when Flowe was around, but it has returning talent and home-field advantage over Casteel.
The pandemic put a wrench in the plans of several East Valley high school football programs the last twoManyyears.had sought matchups with oppo nents in California and other surround ing states before COVID-19 put a halt to that.But that is now in the past, and several East Valley teams have made it a priority to start schedule teams from out of state within the first few weeks of their season. Casteel is no exception. The Colts will travel to the Los Angeles area to take on Upland, which has had some up and down years as of late. “I think they’ll have great athleticism, and they’ll be coached really, really well,” Casteel coach Bobby Newcombe said. “They’ll be competitive. But we’re com petitive, too. We’re athletic, too. We’re strong, too. We’re really looking for ward to getting out there and competing against those guys.” In 2018 Upland went 12-3 and lost to powerhouse Sierra Canyon in the playoffs. That was followed by a 6-6 campaign in 2019 and a winless 0-4 season during the pandemic. Upland was most notably known for the roster it had during that 2018 season, which featured Justin Flowe, the unani mous No. 1 linebacker in the country who is now starring at Oregon. While a cou ple of years removed from having Flowe, the Highlanders still present a challenge to the Colts due to the returning players they do have.
Casteel football preparing for trip to Upland
JJ has quickly become one of the most electrifying playmakers in the state. The junior has played quarterback, running back and wideout for the Casteel offense.
Casteel senior quarterback Landon Jury knows his team has to be prepared.
Williams Field, Campo Verde and Queen Creek participate in the Moorpark Classic north of Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday, while Mountain View trav eled to play Helix and Basha Los Alami tos, led by a pair of five-star recruits at quarterback and wide receiver.
From left: senior Landon Jury, juniors Joseph Mularski and Jeremiah “JJ” Newcombe, and head coach Bobby Newcombe look to lead the Casteel Colts in California as they will travel to take on Upland for their second game of the season. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)
Last year, he threw for 1,228 yards and eight touchdowns. He led Casteel to a 5-7 record which included a trip to the 6A Con ference playoffs and first-round win over Desert Vista, the No. 8 seed, in Ahwatukee.
Perry traveled to Nevada to take on Las Vegas’ Spring Valley, while Saguaro wel comed New Jersey power Bergen Catho lic to NextScottsdale.Friday,along with Casteel, Hamil ton will travel to take on Bishop Gorman Friday in the Polynesian Classic in Las Vegas. Mountain Pointe will play Arbor View Saturday in the same showcase, and Highland is taking a trip to visit Lone Peak High School in Utah.
Upland returned its top passer in Sean York from a year ago. Rickey Allen and Zivan Ardines also return after the two combined to rush for more than 1,300 yards in 2021. The Highlanders also re turn their top wideout in Theo Thomp son and Brendan Ash, who had the sec ond-most tackles on the team last season.
“These people came to hear music,” Travis recalls Peterson saying, “If you want to talk, Applications are open for performers ages 12 to 25 to compete in Alice Coo per’s Solid Rock Teen Center’s annual music and dance competition. The winner or winners will receive up to $1,000 cash and the opportunity to open for Alice Cooper and many other celebrity musi cians on December 3rd at the annual Christ mas Pudding fundraiser concert. Applications are being accepted until Sept. 16. Not long after that musicians will com pete in a series of four gigs spread across four venues and eight nights to determine who is fit to open for the godfather of shock rock at his famous annual concert. “We’ve been a charity for 26 years and the core fundraiser that our nonprofit does is called Christmas Pudding,” said Randy Spencer, a consultant for Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center and head of community partnerships. “So, we wanted to have an opportunity for the young people at our teen centers and people in the community to possibly per form that event and create some more com munity awareness for the Christmas pud ding fundraiser,” he explained. Other than age, Spencer said there are no limits to the number of performers who can apply. Past acts have come from as far as North Carolina.
see JAZZ page 24
Now, 88-year old former commercial air line pilot and Mesa resident Bill Travis is coming to the rescue of musicians like Pear son by bringing the art form to a nondescript strip mall in east Mesa to keep it alive and thriving.With$25,000 of his own money and some really good connections in the music commu nity, Travis has started the Mesa Jazz and Blues Theater inside the Connect Church at 5255 East Brown Road, Mesa, near Higley Road.
Alice Cooper competition seeks hopefuls
Travis discovered percussion, settled on drums and wanted to become a pro. His parents moved to Detroit in the 1940s in search of factory jobs. That opened a whole new world of musi cal opportunity for Travis. By age 13, and with a lot of exposure to jazz and blues in the big city, he was hooked on soon-to-become legends like Sarah Vaughn, Nat King Cole, Earl Bostic and “Big Pete,” regulars in Detroit at places like the Fox Lounge and Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, where he once watched jazz pianist Oscar Peterson stop mid-performance to scold someone in the audience for talking.
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“I think it’s a wonderful thing that he’s try ing to preserve it,” Pearson said. “It’s kind of dying out. All of the old blues artists that were around are kind of slipping away from us.”
Travis aims to change that with his non profit.With 29 shows booked through the end of next year, he’s slated a grand opening Oct. 2 featuring half a dozen performers, including Pearson.
“I was a country boy,” said Travis, who with his family were regulars in the audience at the original Ryman Auditorium.
BY ALEX GALLAGHER Tribune Staff Writer BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer
Travis was born in 1933 in Dickson, Ten nessee, less than an hour outside of Nashville.
“It’s for the purpose of preserving the mu sic,” he said. “It was born in the United States, in the South. “It’s something I love, and I like to stay busy.
“I was about 7 years old,” Travis said. “My mother had me take guitar lessons. All you had there was country music from the Grand Ole Opry and so that was my favorite, but the guitar lessons didn’t last long.” And neither did his interest in country music.ForTravis, it was all about jazz from the first time he heard it. “It was the improvisation,” he said. “I learned right away what they were doing and it just amazed me. They could make up a song on the fly, make up a melody and never repeat the same melody.”
Traditional acoustic jazz and blues was born in the cotton fields of the South as ways for slaves to communicate but Pete “Big Pete” Pearson says, “It doesn’t mat ter what color you are. Everybody can have the blues, man. “It’s really been my life,” said 88-year-old blues man Pearson, who has played multiple instruments over the years and now sings. He played his first show at the Triple J bar in Austin, Texas, around the time he was 9 and over the years has played with pretty much every blues legend you can think of –most notably, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Ray Charles. “It’s a part of history for one thing. It’s not just blues. It’s about people’s lives and a way of living and the way they have carried them selves down through the years,” he said. “It explains about slavery and how it got started. Blues tells a lot of stories. Blues had a baby and they named it rock ‘n roll.” But unlike rock and roll, traditional jazz and blues has been dwindling in both popu larity and availability.
Applications are being accepted until Sept. 16 to compete for a chance to open for famed shock rocker Alice Cooper at his annual Christmas Pudding show. (Courtesy of Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers.) see COMPETITION page 24
“Anybody over here that wants to hear jazz has to go across the city. Mostly what’s here is tribute bands and country and 70s rock,” he said. “You find some blues in some of the bars, but you don’t find the top blues.”
Bold project brings jazz club to E. Mesa
I was convinced that if someone shut a door too forcefully or raised their voice too loudly while the bread was still in the oven, it could cause the bread to fall. That poor family. For one hour every single day, they had to tip-toe around and whisper until my loaf came out safe and sound. For some reason, they put up with it, and I don’t think the bread was even that good. That was just bread. Can you imagine what a mess I would have been had I obsessed over soufflé instead?Ah,soufflé. Whether savory or sweet, it’s one of those things that people tend to fret over. Will it puff up? Will it fall? Where did I go wrong? So when I came across a very old soufflé recipe in a school fundraising cookbook, I almost passed on it.But that would have been a huge mistake. This recipe for broccoli soufflé is about as delicious and fool-proof as it gets, and is now one of my very fa vorite veggie Interestingly,dishes.the recipe calls for heating the milk and adding chicken bouillon to it, which I had never heard of before. It added so much flavor to the dish that I wish I would have known about that technique years ago! Somebody knew what they were doing with this broccoli soufflé and I’ll bet they didn’t even drive their family crazy in the process.
In addition to providing a platform for local youth to show off their musical prow ess, Spencer hopes to raise awareness for all of the things that Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center has to offer.
For some reason I became obsessed with mak ing homemade bread and culturing my own yogurt for the family. I made a loaf of fresh bread every single day and drove my family absolutely nuts in the process.
With JAN D’ATRI GetOut Columnist This broccoli soufflé recipe is virtually fool-proof – and tasty
Ingredients: • 2 cups milk • 2 chicken bouillon cubes (or 1 teaspoon bouil lon paste)
Travis worked his way into gigs playing drums in a band and making $5 on a good night before his career hit a detour in 1953 when he was drafted into the Army. He kept his dream of being a pro drummer alive by playing in the Army’s 4th armored division band while stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, playing in officer’s clubs and other military venues. In 1957, he put the Army behind him but not the music. To keep performing professionally, he considered becoming a “territory musician,” a group that covered “maybe two or three states” playing for pay.
Information: Alicecoopersolidrock.com
“We’re not looking for anyone that’s cute and we’re not looking for anyone that’s only hard rock just because it’s Alice Cooper,” Spencer“We’resaid.looking for great entertainers, we’re looking for great musicianship and great positions. That could be in mariachi, it can be in hip hop or it can be in metal, we just want greatness.”
Looking back, I feel so guilty. It was the late 60’s. I was in my teens – the years my Mom referred to as “my little hippy daughter’s crazy time.”
“There’s an opportunity to engage with kids year-round and all the kids that are part of the visa competition and they are engaged year-round,” he said. “We do workshops with them throughout the year and jam sessions with a lot of popu lar musicians, so it’s not only a competition, but it’s truly a community.
Although there are no limits to the types of music and dance that performers can show off, Spencer admits that some com mon trends emerge among the performers each year. “When you have someone like Ed Sheeran is really big and popular, you get a lot of kids doing loops and things like that and then we also got a lot of kids kind of emulating the Billie Eilish type of style,” Spencer said.
“Every year we have R&B, hip hop, EDM, metal and blues, so it’s it is a hybrid of every thing, But if Bruno Mars is successful, you’ll see a lot of kids kind of doing the Bruno Mars kind of thing or if Coldplay is successful that year, etc. you see a lot of kids probably emu lating that.” The first show is set to take place at Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center in North Phoenix Sept. 27-29. From there, the sound travels to Paradise Valley Community Col lege Oct. 14-15 and with Copper Blues Live at Desert Ridge Marketplace on Oct. 24-25 before concluding at the Mesa Arts Center on Nov. 15. It is at those shows where Spencer says the performers’ nerves usually kick in. “It’s pretty nerve-racking for a lot of these kids, but a lot of these kids are so brave when we see them,” Spencer said.
He eventually wound up as a Pan Amer ican Airlines pilot for 28 years but always kept his hands on his drum set, playing when and where he could. He finally stopped per forming in 2004 and retired to Dreamland Villa in WhileMesa.volunteering at a local community theater in the sound department, he was asked to book some of the performances.
“People need a safe space and a positive space to play and we also want more people to know about our teen center is what we do every day,” he said.
24 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022GET OUT go outside.”
•3 tablespoons butter • 1 medium sweet yellow onion, chopped fine • 3 eggs • dash fresh grated nutmeg • 1/2 teaspoon sugar • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon pepper • 4-5 cups broccoli floweret’s, cooked Directions: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In the microwave, steam broccoli until tender, about 5 minutes. Set aside. In a small saucepot, heat milk until scalded. Add bouillon, stirring to dissolve.Inalarge sauté pan with butter, sauté onion until very soft and slightly golden brown. Add seasoned milk to onions and stir to com bine. Add nutmeg, sugar, salt and pepper, mixing well. Cook until thickened. Remove from heat. In a bowl, whisk eggs. Temper by adding a small amount of cream sauce to eggs and whisk ing to combine. Add eggs into cream sauce and whisk. Fold in cooked broccoli flowerets. Mix gently until combined. Pour mixture into a casse role dish. Place dish into a large baking dish with 1-2 inches of water. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until knife comes up clean. The egg/milk mixture should be well set like custard. Serve immediately.
Because of this, Spencer added, this is more than just a music competition.
“We just wanted to create a safe atmo sphere that young people who also don’t might get an opportunity to perform at Mesa Art Center at the beginning of your career, or perform at cool venues like Paradise Valley Community College is a beautiful theater and just give them a platform so they can have something positive to do and they can get to know 100 plus other young musicians.”
COMPETITION from page 23 JAZZ from page 23
“After a while I decided to leave and start booking performances on my own at another venue,” he says on the theater’s website. And while he was forced by the pandemic to shutdown, he got his big idea.
“I decided to put together a board of direc tors to develop a non-profit theater special izing in jazz and blues music, R&B, soul and Motown music, utilizing top-level local, and nationally known musicians.” For more information: mesajazzblues. com
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26 JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 Ahwatukee Chandler Gilbert Glendale Mesa North Valley Peoria Ahwatukee Chandler Gilbert Glendale Mesa North Valley Peoria Phoenix SanTan Scottsdale Queen Creek West Valley To Advertise Call: 480-898-6465 or email Class@TimesLocalMedia.com CLASSIFIEDS.PHOENIX.ORG Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship New 3-Ton 14 SEER AC Systems Only $5,995 INSTALLED! New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS! QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE! Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252 833-777-8337 Plumbing Heating & Air PlumbSmart $49 Seasonal A/C Tune-up! Air Conditioning/Heating www.BrewersAC.com Service Call (with repair) • Second OpinionFREEFREE 480-725-3511 SINCE 1982 ROC #C39-312643 40 Serving the Central Valley Years We are offering $40 OFF our Brewer’s Deluxe 20 point Tune up HERE IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE OUR 40 YEARS IN BUSINESS REG. $119 Air Duct Cleaning Air Duct Cleaning & Dryer Vents BY JOHN (480) 912-0881 – Licensed & Insured ★ 30+ Years ExperienceHVAC ★ Disinfected & Sanitized With Every Job Handyman All Estimates are Free • Call: 520.508.1420 www.husbands2go.com LLC Ask me about FREE water testing! • Drywall Repair • RemodelingBathroom • Home Renovations • Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949 SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Glass/Mirror GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR Call 480-306-5113 wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY CALL CLASSIFIEDS 480-898-6465 We'llGetYourPhonetoRing! www.queencreektribune.com Subscribehere Receive your digital flip-thru edition every week in your e-mail box! 匀琀漀渀攀䌀爀攀攀欀䘀甀爀渀椀琀甀爀攀⸀挀漀洀 Amid yet another snafu by the Pinal County Elections Department, at least one of the three Queen Creek Town Council seats could be headed for a November run-off following the results of Tuesday’s primary. With some ballots countywide still being counted as of the Tribune’s print deadline Friday, results from the Maricopa County Recorder’s Officer showed incumbent Dawn Oliphant with 27% of the vote; Bryan McClure, 25%; Travis Padilla, 25% and Matt McWilliams, 23%. The Pinal County results had Oliphant with 27%; McWilliams, 25%; McClure, 24% and Padilla, 23%. According to the latest available data, Pinal reported that a total 2,559 ballots had been cast in its portion of Queen Creek while the Maricopa portion saw 10,482 ballots. The threshold for an outright win involves dividing the total number of votes by the number of available seats, then dividing by 2. As of Friday, the whole numbers put Padilla ahead of McWilliams, 6,100-5874. But the math may be further compli-
PENSION page 10 QC an exception amid big pension debt Pinal snafus muddy outcome of QC council races
BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer East Valley municipalities in the last fiscal year took advantage of unantici pated general fund revenue increases to make big additional payments on their debt to pensions earned by thousands of retired police officers and firefighters. But Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler and Scottsdale still have a long way to go before they erase their huge unfunded liabilities. Those five municipalities still owe a to tal $1.4 billion for pensions covering 955 retired firefighters, 1,471 retired cops and see
BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor
COMMUNITY........................ 16 BUSINESS .............................. 18 OPINION................................. 20 SPORTS ................................... 22 GET OUT ................................. 23 CLASSIFIEDS ........................ 26 SPORTS...............22 QC dad, son cherish last season together. INSIDE BUSINESS...........18 QC women run unique Lego store. NEWS....................4 Council discusses QC road median headache. EV stage-boundband / P. 23 Sunday, August 7, 2022 FREE QueenCreekTribune.com An edition of the East Valley Tribune see ELECTIONS page 6 SUBSCRIPTIONFREE The plane is on the way A jet engine may seem a bit of an unusual sight at high school, but a plane may soon be on the way at the new LeadershipAmericanAcade-mycampusineastMesa.Thesprawling223,000-square-footcharterschoolistak-inganewapproachtovocationaleducation,asyou’llreadonpage8. (Enrique Contributor)Garcia/Tribune Easy-To-Read Digital Edition
QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 | JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG 27
In addition, Queen Creek would acquire five existing well sites, three of which are located west of North Schnepf Road between Sherry Lane and East Alvarado Drive, and two of which are located west of Schnepf Road and south of Stagecoach Pass DocumentationAvenue.regarding the proposed project is available for review at WIFA, 100 N. 7th Avenue, Suite 130, Phoenix, Arizona 85007. All written requests for information or letters containing written comments should be addressed to WIFA at the address above. All written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., 30 days from the publishing date. WIFA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Alternative formats for the project documentation are available upon request. Inquiries, requests and comments should be directed to Lindsey Jones, Senior Program Administrator, at (602) 364-1324.
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Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact
The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) has received a request for financial assistance from Town of Queen Creek for a Clean Water infrastructure project. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public and request comments. WIFA staff analysis concluded that the following project neither individually nor cumulatively has a significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, the following project qualifies for a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The Town of Queen Creek’s proposed project includes the installation of more than 30,000 feet of wastewater line within existing and planned road rights-of-way in the Town’s expansion area. All lines would be constructed with PVC. The wastewater lines would be installed via trenches, which would consist of digging a minimum depth of 6 to 10 feet and width of 5 feet to allow adequate room to install the lines. The construction area for each wastewater line would range from 24 feet to up to 40 feet wide along the installation route. Documentation regarding the proposed project is available for review at 100 N. 7th Avenue, Suite 130, Phoenix, Arizona 85007. All written requests for information or letters containing written comments should be addressed to WIFA at the address above. All written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., 30 days from the publishing date. WIFA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Alternative formats for the project documentation are available upon request. Inquiries, requests, and comments should be directed to Lindsey Jones, Senior Program Administrator, at (602) 364-1324.
For the Town of Queen Creek Water System ConstructionComprehensivePlan
Published: West Valley View, Sept X, 2022 / 48xxx
Public Notices
Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact For the Town of Queen Creek Wastewater System ConstructionComprehensivePlan
Deadline for Sunday's Edition is the Wednesday prior at 5pm. Please call Elaine at 480-898-7926 to inquire or email your notice to: legals@evtrib.com and request a quote.
Published: Queen Creek, Sept 4, 2022 / 48997
LEGAL NOTICES
Public Notices
The Town of Queen Creek’s proposed projects include approximately the installation and replacement of 67,000 feet of waterlines, acquisition and replacement or retrofitting of three existing wells, replacement or retrofitting of two Town-owned wells, construction of two new water tank and booster sites on Town-owned lands, and construction of Town expansion area water infrastructure.
The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) has received a request for financial assistance from the Town of Queen Creek for a Drinking Water infrastructure project. The purpose of this notice is to inform the public and request WIFAcomments.staffanalysis concluded that the following project neither individually nor cumulatively has a significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, the following project qualifies for a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
28 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2022
