Scottsdale Progress 11-13-22

Sun Jewish Community Center homing in on 20 years.

Trends differ in council, board elections

Graham maintains his sizeable lead over Carter

BY J. GRABER Progress Staff Writer

4 SUSD board hopefuls in squeaker

Scottsdale dentist brings keen eye for art to work.

Barry

Graham jumped to an early lead in the Scott sdale City Council elec tion and no change emerged in the latest tally before the Prog ress’ print deadline.

Graham was leading over Pa mela Carter 58% to 42% with 92,084 ballots counted.

“I feel really good about it,” Graham said. “There’s a lot of cautious optimism.”

BY J. GRABER Progress Staff Writer

Four of the five candidates for the two Scottsdale Unified Governing Board seats were in a squeaker of an election as votes continued to be counted.

Following the last tabula tion before the Progress’ print deadline, Amy Carney and Robb Vaules garnered 24% see SCHOOLS page 10see COUNCIL page 10

2 big multifamily projects pass first test

BY J. GRABER Progress Staff Writer

Two complexes that would bring a combined 492 apartments to an area near the intersection of 92nd Street and Shea Boulevard have won their

first round of city approvals.

The Scottsdale Development Review Board voted Nov. 3 to recommend City Council and City Planning Commission approval of the Mercado Courtyards, for mally known as 92 Ironwood, and the ad jacent renamed 94 hundred Shea.

Board Chairwoman and Councilwoman Solange Whitehead noted that while they are two separate projects, the public sees them as one large project.

“From the perspective of the constitu

Chaparral boys swim to top state honors.

Barry Graham

Amy Carney

Robb Vaules

Andrew

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

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Birdwell co-defendants could go free

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Thetwo former Arizona State Uni versity officials accused of breaking the state’s procurement law when Higley Unified School District awarded two costly leases for its middle schools could go free.

Maricopa County Superior Court on Nov. 4 granted Steven Nielsen’s and Gary Aller’s requests to remand their cases to the state grand jury.

The grand jury in July 2021 indicted Nielsen and Aller on the same three fel ony counts related to fraudulent schemes and practices, fraudulent schemes and artifices, and conspiracy.

The other co-defendants in the crimi nal case are attorney Kay Hartwell Hun nicutt and former Higley Unified superin tendent Dr. Angela Denise Birdwell, who became Scottsdale Unified’s superinten dent after leaving Higley.

The court gave the state 15 days to send Nielsen’s and Aller’s cases back for review. Aller previously filed a notice to join Nielsen’s motion to remand.

“The decision will be prompt,” said attorney David Black, who represents Nielsen. “If the grand jury fails to indict or the state dismisses these counts, Nielsen will have no remaining charges.”

State Attorney General Mark Brnov ich’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Defense attorneys in September argued before Judge Adam Driggs that the state presented a tainted case to the grand jury.

They disputed the state’s allegations that Aller and Nielsen received inside information from Birdwell and archi tect Brian Robichaux, who died in 2020. Prosecutors say that gave their company an unfair advantage when it bid for and eventually received a $2.5 million proj ect development services contract from HUSD.

The attorneys argued that the Arizona law prohibiting people who had input in the request for proposal process on a project from bidding on it didn’t take ef fect until 2015, which means Aller and Nielsen didn’t violate any law.

The attorneys argued that Aller and Nielsen, who were never officially pro curement advisors, could give input until 2015 because the law didn’t exist in 2012.

In the Nov. 4 ruling, the judge wrote “that substantive changes and clarifying language was added to the procurement code in 2015, which affect the very provi sions that Aller and Nielsen are charged with violating, and that the 2015 code was not the applicable law when the al leged crimes occurred.

“Those changes raise due process con cerns, which the court will not ignore.”

The judge also said that the state’s read ing of the wrong provision of the Arizona Administrative Code “deprived Aller and Nielsen of a substantial procedural right, and that remanding these applicable counts to the grand jury is appropriate so that the grand jury will be properly and adequately informed as to the applicable code.”

Driggs said that at the remand should the state allege Aller and Nielsen violated the procurement code, it would need to specifically identify the code provision or provisions that have been violated. He set a Nov. 28 status conference on the issue.

“Reading between the lines in this de cision, I hope you can see that Nielsen and Aller did nothing wrong,” Black said last week in an email. “The law did not prohibit our client’s conduct in 2011.

“For more than a year we have been begging the attorney general to tell us which provisions of law our clients vio lated. The truth was, we now know, that the only possibly relevant provisions did

not get written into law until 2015.”

Black claimed “political prosecution” of Nielsen brought on by charter-school advocates unhappy with the two new middle schools being funded and built.

“Steven Nielsen is a good guy and in 2011 was acting with the advice of sever al law firms, including the District’s law yers, when this deal was penned,” Black said.

The judge, however, denied Hun nicutt’s motion to remand.

Hunnicutt claimed that she was only charged with tax fraud and dragged into the case after the state used a joint bank account as the alleged link between her, Robichaux and Birdwell, which was not clearly supported by exculpatory evi dence to the grand jury.

The judge disagreed with Hunnicutt and that she failed to provide sufficient basis to merit remand to the grand jury.

Birdwell, who left the district in 2015 after six years at the helm to go to Scott sdale Unified, allegedly rigged bids and took payoffs from contractors.

She faces trial on 18 felony counts, in cluding conflict of interest, procurement fraud and misuse of public funds over the construction of two district middle schools.

When Birdwell executed the lease agreements for the two middle schools –Sossaman and Cooley – it put the district in a financial bind that continues today. At the time the district was experienc ing rapid student enrollment and was near its bond limit to fund the two new schools on its own.

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The state alleged that Birdwell and Robichaux, who was operating as Hig ley’s procurement advisor, were in regu lar contact with Nielsen and Aller during the procurement process, sharing key details about the project and RFP that were not shared with other prospective vendors.

Birdwell was one of three members of the selection committee and her evalu ation of Aller and Nielsen’s bid gave it the only perfect score. The panel rec ommended Higley award the contract to them, which the governing board ap proved in July 2012, according to the

ents I represent, it’s just a change in traffic,” she said.

The board ultimately decided that the two projects meet the city’s criteria, such as compatibility with other devel opment in the area and their benefit to the city and adjacent neighborhoods.

That criteria also includes a determi nation that the project has environmen tally responsive plans incorporating green building codes and contributes to the city’s design guidelines and design objectives.

The board also decided the projects significantly increase solar shading of adjacent land in comparison what could be developed under existing zon ing and that they promote connectivity and provide visible open space visible that is useful to the development.

Mercado Courtyard would leave 24,375 square feet of commercial space on the north side in place and house 273 apartments on 8.52 acres, giving it a density of 32.04 dwelling units per acre.

The proposal calls for a four-story building, which the current zoning al lows. At 109,700 square feet, the proj ect offers almost three times the open space required by the city.

The proposed 544-space garage will be wrapped inside the building.

The main vehicle access will be at the intersection of 92nd Street and E. Co chise Drive, where the developer will install a traffic signal. That will also be the access point for 94 hundred Shea.

Mercado will generate 82% fewer vehicle trips a day than uses currently allowed on the site, according to Court Rich, an attorney representing the de veloper Caliber.

There will be 172 box trees measur ing 24 inches planted on the site. Also, the fourth floor has been reduced to housing just 38 units located in the back.

“From a pedestrian view point or an automobile viewpoint, you’re not going to be able to see that fourth floor from 92nd Street,” Rich said.

There would also be a step-back of the third floor along 92nd Street so only two floors are visible from the road.

Also, 100% of the landscaping will be irrigated with gray water from the site and the project will comply with the in ternational green building codes.

There will be a 10% discount on leas es for essential workers (medical staff,

teachers and first responders) as well as anyone working within a mile of the site. Application fees will also be waived for those people and there will be a 5% cap on rental renewal increases. They will also get a 90-day head start in ap plying for an apartment once the units are ready.

There is no cap on how many essen tial workers can take advantage of the program.

“The location and the abilities to have synergies with the hospital and the nurses and the medical staff that work there are something this project really values,” Rich said. “We do have a letter of support that we got from the Arizona Nurses Association.”

The project has the support of re tail shops in the area as well as Honor Health, which operates a hospital in the area.

Also, 10% of the units will be reserved for seniors.

The Mercado Courtyard is the second iteration of the 92 Ironwood project, which had been slated for a council vote in February when the developer requested a second continuance.

When Council denied that request and began debating, the developer pulled the project from the agenda – forcing a new round of city reviews.

Spurred by a question from board member William Scarborough, Court listed a number of changes to the proj ect that were made as a result of public input.

They included stepping back the fourth floor, reducing density and add ing more sustainable features.

Ultimately, the Development Review Board voted 6-0 to recommend ap proval of the project (board member Ali Fakih recused himself from the vote).

“I liked the project the first time it came through and I like it even more now,” said board member Michal Ann Joyner. “The stepbacks and the way you staggered the floors, especially the fourth floor, I commend you on that. I like the way it looks.”

The board then voted 5-1 to recom mend approval of 94 hundred Shea. Fakih recused himself again and White head cast the lone vote against it.

“For me, the building itself is very, very large,” she said. “I think someone talked about stepbacks. I know it’s tucked in at a very nice location but just from my non-architectural background, it does not yet fit … My feeling is the looks just are not where they could be.”

She also took issue with the open space, which she felt could be larger, and pedestrian connectivity, which she felt was not yet what it could be. She would also like to see solar power in stalled on the roofs of the commercial space.

“And then there’s the traffic issues,” she said.

Her main concern there was that the agreement between developers of both projects for a common access at 92nd Street and E. Cochise Drive is not yet fi

nalized.

“It’s just an unfortunate reality that you’re locked in and I hate to move for ward … without that committed ease ment to 92nd street,” she said.

Formerly called 9400 Shea, the 94 hundred Shea calls for 219 apartments on 11 acres, giving it a density of 19.9 dwelling units per acre in a four-story building. The current zoning allows for a four-story building.

The developer proposes to keep 85,187 square feet of existing com mercial space on the north end and build 387,454 square feet of residen tial space. The residential building will wrap around ta 375-space garage.

The project calls for 126,685 square feet of open space while the city only requires 47,916 square feet.

Vehicle trips would be reduced by 45% over what an office building would generate, according to Paul Gilbert, an attorney for the developer Harmel and Kaplan.

“The property is not only zoned for medical office. It has a site plan that is approved for a medical office so … if the property doesn’t develop as multi-fam ily, it will develop as an office building and we submit this project with multi family is a significant improvement for the city, for the neighbors and, frankly, for us over what the existing zoning en tails,” Gilbert said.

He listed an array of its sustainabil

The Mercado Courtyards would house 273 apartments and offer breaks on rent and application fees to applicants working within a mile of it. (City of Scottsdale)

Arizona GUN SHOWS

from page 6

ity features, such as low-flow plumb ing features and energy efficient appli ances.

Board members did have their issues with the project.

“Why are there no stepbacks?” Joyner asked. “The architecture is straight up and down, at least what I’m seeing. I thought we really encouraged step backs on our designs so we got away from that boxy look.”

She also warned she would not vote for it the next time it comes before the board if the 94 hundred Shea and Mer cado Courtyards don’t have an agree ment on the common access point.

Shakir Gushgari, praised the project’s architecture.

“There’s a lot of indentations; there’s

a lot of shading there are lot of blocks that give it a different character … I like the way it looks,” he said.

Commissioner Jeff Brand felt the loca tion of the two projects is perfect.

“I’m in support of both of these cases,” he said. “I feel that just from a use lo gistics, this greatly enhances the ability of these long-term shop owners (in the area) and the commercial properties to have vitality for a much lengthier pe riod of time with adjacent residential if it’s walkable and bicycle available from these residences.

“It really revitalizes the retail, which I think desperately needs it in this area.”

This is also a second iteration of the 94 hundred Shea, which was originally scheduled to go before council in Octo ber 2021. Gilbert withdrew it, saying it needed to be fine-tuned.

Design Review Board members had differing opinions of the look of 94 hundred Shea, which would share the same access point with the adjacent Mercado Court yards. (City of Scottsdale)

High court upholds law allowing 8-member juries

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

It's not allowed in 44 states but the U.S. Supreme Court refused last week to void an Arizona law that allows criminal trials to be conducted with ju ries of just eight people.

Without comment, the majority of the justices upheld the statute that says that a 12-member jury is necessary only when the crime charged carries a prison term of 30 years or more.

They saw no reason to even address the law given that Ramin Khorrami faced no more than 12.5 years on charges of theft and fraudulent schemes in connec tion with his bid to extort money from a married woman with whom he was hav ing an affair.

The high court in 1970 refused to dis turb a Florida law that allowed someone to be convicted by a six-member jury. But the decision not to even review the law drew a stinging dissent from Justice Neil Gorsuch, appointed to the court in 2017, who said that 1970 ruling "was wrong the day it was decided.''

"It remains wrong today,'' he contin ued. "And it impairs both the integrity of the American criminal justice system and the liberties of those who come be fore our nation's courts.''

Only Justice Brett Kavanaugh sided with Gorsuch.

According to court records, Khorrami began a romantic relationship in 2012 with a woman living in Arizona. She told him she planned to leave her husband.

A year later the relationship soured and he threatened to tell her husband unless she paid him $30,000 and con tinued the affair. Eventually after pay ing him another $4,000 she realized he would not keep his end of the bargain and told her husband, who reported Khorrami to the police.

The eight-member jury unanimously convicted him of the two charges. He was placed on probation which included a two-month jail term.

Only later, on appeal, did he say he was constitutionally entitled to a 12-member jury, an argument rejected by the state

Court of Appeals which the Arizona Su preme Court refused to overturn. That led to his petition to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Attorney General Mark Brnovich urged the justices to spurn the request, citing the precedent of the 1970 deci sion. And he argued that reversing that ruling would upset not just the law in Arizona but also in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts and Utah.

Gorsuch, however, called that 1970 ruling an aberration to what he said has been centuries of understanding and precedent requiring a 12-member jury.

It starts, he said, with the Sixth Amend ment requiring a trial by jury.

"A mountain of evidence suggests that, both and the time of the amendment's adoption and for most of our nation's history, the right to a trial by jury for serious criminal offenses meant a trial before 12 members of the community –nothing less,'' he wrote in his 10-page dissent, adding:

"By the time of the Sixth Amend ment's adoption, the 12-person crimi nal trial was an institution with a nearly 400-year-old tradition in England.''

Gorsuch also pointed out that the court itself addressed the situation as far back as 1898 when it concluded a 12-person jury was clearly the intent of Congress.

All that changed in 1970, he said, when the majority simply assumed that the 12-member rule "rests on little more than mystical or superstitious insights'' and suggested there was no reason to assume a smaller jury would be less fair.

"None of this supplies a sound basis for judicial tinkering with an ancient tradition,'' Gorsuch said.

In fact, he said, evidence presented to the justices eight years after the 1970 decision suggested that smaller juries are less likely to foster effective group deliberation and raised doubts about the accuracy of results. There even was the conclusion that as juries become smaller, the variance works against the defense.

And Gorsuch said there has been other

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He felt slowing the pace of develop ment within the city was the dominant issue in the campaign. “Nobody expects zero growth,” he said “Nobody is antigrowth. People want investment, they want renewal. They want people to in vest in the city and build things, but they also want people to respect our zoning and respect the character of the city.”

Both candidates claimed the same slow-growth stance. However, Graham has a history of 10 years on various city boards and commissions.

On the Planning Commission, he voted against the Greenbelt 88 and the 9400 Shea mixed-use developments, both of which faced considerable resident op position.

“I think the voters looked at our cam paigns,” Graham said. “They looked at my campaign and saw someone with years and years of experience in the city. They saw somebody with a proven resi dent friendly voter record on the com missions for several years and they saw who was endorsing us.”

Graham was endorsed by former councilman Paul Messinger, the Coali tion of Greater Scottsdale, Treasurer Jim Davis, current council membersBetty Janik and Kathy Littlefield, city Planning Commissioner Barney Gonzales, Protect Our Preserve President Howard Myers,

Scottsdale Development Review Board

Member Michal Joyner and state Rep. Joseph Chaplik.

Carter is a retired business woman and cable television channel director and talk show host. She has no experi ence volunteering with the city but she said her professional work put her di rectly in touch with Scottsdale residents.

She was endorsed by business owner and former candidate for Superinten dent of Public Instruction Shiry Sapir and state Sen. Nancy Barto, as well as several candidates for state offices. She also said she had the endorsement of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA – a conservative student out reach program.

Carter did not respond to calls from the Progress for this story.

Carter out-raised Graham in the final weeks of the campaign, according to fi nancial reports the candidates filed Oct. 25. Carter raised $10,444 dur ing the reporting period to Graham’s $4,810.

Carter started the reporting period with $3,795 and entered Election Day with a balance of $5,172.

Of the money she raised, $9,586.04 came from donations of more than $100 and contributions of less than that to taled $808.

Among Carter’s larger supporters was Scottsdale retiree Marilyn Hayden with

$3,650 and local restaurateur Randon Miller with $3,500.

Giving $500 were Victoria Angelone, owner of Holy Land Books and Gifts, and Marvin Spatz, a manager at an un disclosed business.

What appears to be a breakdown of donations from Eventbrite shows retir ee Rose Sampieri giving $268; Douglas Fant, who listed an address of an An them cemetery with $108.

Lisa Reed, David Hyde Mary Crisci and Stacy DeCanti each gave $108 but list ed no addresses. Others who gave that amount were Phyllis Zanichkowsky, a Scottsdale resident and senior loan offi cer at American Financial Network, and retirees Kevin Dobbs of Phoenix and Robin Miller of Scottsdale.

Carter’s largest expenses were $2,585 to Times Media Group for advertising, $2,000 to Cox Media for advertising and $1,690 to Axtion for texting services. She also listed spending $409 with Zell–Tate Tate for to a Fountain Hills company call Sign Art.

Zelle is an Internet company that al lows people to send money back and forth. Carter used Zelle to pay Sign Art, which identifies itself as “Zelle – Tate Tate” on the service.

Graham started the reporting period with $26,137, raised $4,810 and spent $4,097. That leaves him with a war chest of $26,849.

Of the money he raised, $3,330 came from donations of more than $100 and $480 was the total of donations of $100 or less. Graham also loaned his cam paign $1,000.

Giving $500 were Scottsdale down town property owner Dewie Schade; Randy Jones president of Scottsdalebased company Wastewater Resources; and retired Scottsdale resident Cath erine Smith.

Giving $200 were Valerie Giramberk, a retired Scottsdale resident and treasur er of the Legislative District 4 Republi cans; Scottsdale resident Pamela Mundy and Craig Bennett, a Scottsdale resident and salesman with Utility Trailer Manu facturing.

Giving $150 were Robert Lettieri, chief financial officer of Seaton Hill; re tired resident Rudy Fischer; and Tim LaSota, a Phoenix attorney specializing in election law, governmental relations and litigation.

Donations of $100 came from local ac tivist Patricia Badenoch, Scottsdale De velopment Review Board member Mi chal Joyner and retirees Sunny Hauke, James Heitel, and Roy Pederson.

Graham’s only expenses for the period were $4,028 to Phoenix-based Primary Consultants for texts, signs, printing and consulting; and $69 to San Franciscobased Square (a small-business transac tion service) for credit card fees.

and 23% of the vote, respectively.

But nipping at their heels were Ca rine Werner with 22% and Mary Gau dio with 21%. Andrea Keck garnered 10% of the vote.

A bit clearer was the trend of voting for the school district’s additional as sistance override, which was passing 53% to 47%.

Carney, who describes herself as a freelance writer, is a mother of six children, all of whom either graduated from SUSD schools or currently attend them. She lists her top goal for the posi tion as improving academics.

She did not respond to the Progress’ call for comment for this story.

Carney spent the second largest amount of money during the October campaign finance period, behind only Werner’s expenditures, according to their latest campaign finance reports.

Carney started October with a bal ance of $34,852, raised $1,330 and spent $23,498. That left a balance of $12,684.

Carney’s top expenses during the reporting period were $19,275 to the Phoenix-based The Resolute Group, a conservative public relations/cam paign management firm, for profes sional services, $2,400 to Independent Newspapers and $806 to the Mesa-Sign Shop.

All of the money Carney raised during the period came from contributions of greater than $50.

Contributing at the $250 level were from Paradise Valley Realtor Leslie Mc Carver and Paradise Valley resident Ju lie Pace, an attorney with Messner and Reeves.

Paradise Valley business owner Jeff Adams gave $200 in cash and another $200 in an in-kind contribution.

Retired Paradise Valley resident Rene Romero gave $125. Giving $100 were Paradise Valley residents Tom Lathrop and Paul Couture.

Vaules, 58, married and the father of a special needs student in the district, is a senior vice president for marketing and sales with a telemedicine practice.

He lists his top priority, if elected, as

being a voice of reason as well as sup port and protect the district teachers, staff and administration staff.

Vaules said he did file an October preelection report but it was not yet posted on the County Elections Department’s website. Vaules said he was working with the department to figure out why it is not yet posted.

Werner is a mother of three. She and her husband own a real estate invest ment and development consultancy. Her top issues are championing the Ar izona Parents Bill of Rights; transpar ency in school and district operations; and recognizing and rewarding teach ers. She did not respond to the Prog ress’ call for comment for this story.

Werner outspent everyone in the race in October.

Werner started the period with $30,266. She raised $3,140 and spent $23,787, leaving a balance of 9,619.

Werner’s largest expenses for the period were $19,275 to the Resolute Group, $2,400 to Independent News papers and $806.84 to the Mesa Sign Shop.

Her largest contributions where $1,500 from Paradise Valley resident David Eaton, a partner in the JDM Real Estate Agency).

Lindy Lutz, a Phoenix resident and owner of All Good Shutter and Blinds, gave $300.

Julie Place, a Paradise Valley resident and an attorney for Messner & Reeves gave $250, as did Leslie McCarver, a Paradise Valley resident who works as a real estate agent for Homesmart.

Retired Paradise Valley resident Rene Romero donated $125.

And giving $100 were Kathy Visser, a Scottsdale resident and an habilitation specialist with Arizona Autism United as well as retired Paradise Valley resi dents Tom Lathrop and Paul Couture.

Gaudio started the period with $16,125, raised $1,105 and spent $12,409. That left a balance of $4,821.

Gaudio spent the third largest amount of money during the October reporting period.

Her largest expenses were $7,000 to

SCHOOLS from front

Valley of the Sun JCC striding toward 20th anniversary

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Twenty years ago, the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center was only a fraction of what it is today.

And although Valley of the Sun JCC CEO Jay Jacobs has only been with the center for just over a quarter of that time, he attributes the facility’s goals of offering comprehensive programming and con tinuously meeting the needs of the com munity as reasons for its success.

“Our goal is, to the best of our ability, to be as comprehensive as possible in terms of programming to make sure that we truly are staying up to date,” Jacobs said.

Though the basic needs of providing places to maintain fitness, provide social stimulation and childcare have remained constant over the past two decades, it is the delivery of those programs where Ja cobs has witnessed the biggest change.

“Part of our challenge always is to un derstand – regardless of the demographic – what's the difference between a fad and a trend,” he said. “A fad comes and goes but a trend stays.”

Because of this, a third of the gym equipment is switched out every year so that machines never are older than 3 years. Sports like pickleball have been in tegrated onto the basketball courts. Preschool has begun offering more program ming, including day- and after-school care.

“I don't think the needs have changed (for) them for the last 50 years,” Jacobs said. “We always want childcare and we always know that there is the need for socialization – and you can throw fitness into that — but the biggest thing is we’ve been prepared to make the adjustments and shift to meet the ever-changing

needs of the community.”

Over the years, the facility has maxi mized its once compact fitness area into a top-floor iron paradise, created yearround programming for its two pools that are heated in the wintertime and, most recently, is undergoing an interior renovation.

The once-travertine floors have since been replaced with bright white tile and the carpet has been updated.

Next up on the list of renovations is a fresh coat of paint for the walls, updated lighting and new countertops before the facility opens its doors on its 20th-anni versary gala on Dec. 3.

“Part of it is still always reinvesting to make sure this place stays up to date,” Ja cobs said.

With his facility featuring a more mod ern interior, Jacobs hopes to build on his current pool of 2,100 units of member ships – which equates to roughly 7,000 people.

“We have a significant number of fami lies with a significant number of adults and we have a significant number of young adults,” Jacobs said.

“We've got a fair amount of people with kids working out, we have 185 kids in our preschool and the key to having people continue to be walking in the building is the making sure that our programming is

meeting the needs of all the different de mographics.”

Another key element of retention has been the commitment to safety and secu rity at the Valley of the Sun JCC.

“It's a different world today. and we want people to feel safe when they walk in this building,” Jacobs said.

“And we know it's working, because, for example, the unfortunate incident in Texas back in the summer happened a few days before our camp started and we did not get one phone call from anybody who asked us what ‘we were going to do?’ They trusted that we would be doing what we need to do.”

With a deep commitment to security and continually refreshing programming, Jacobs hopes to see more of the same things as the Valley of the Sun JCC grows older.

“I don't think the goal ever changes but how we do it may change,” he said. “We want to be a hub of the community, but how do we continue to make the adjust ments that keep us that way? Our job is to protect it.”

Info:  Valley of the Sun JCC is lo cated at 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, vosjcc.org, 480-483-7121

Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center CEO Jay Jacobs said, “We have a significant number of families with a significant number of adults and we have a significant number of young adults,” (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

A water aerobics class uses the heated outdoor pool area at Valley of the Sun Jew ish Community Center. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

5 Scottsdale teachers get wishes granted

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

PaloVerde Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted five Scottsdale teachers their wishes, giving each $2,500 to make them come true.

The Scottsdale teachers are among 400 elementary and secondary educators statewide to benefit from the Fiesta Bowl Organization’s annual tradition of “honor ing, supporting and celebrating educators,” organizers said.

Presented by Salt River Project, the over all batch of awards means that “nearly 212,000 students across 321 schools and 95 districts will be positively impacted by their teachers’ wishes with this year’s group,” which collectively represents “more than 5,300 years of experience in the classroom,” they said.

Recipients included people teaching the arts to science, both gifted and special education, and languages and life skills amongst a diverse group of subjects.

“The 400 wishes granted will benefit teachers who will aim to enrich the lives of their students through technology im provements, addition of educational pro grams and fitness equipment and much

more,” organizers said.

Randal Norton, Fiesta Bowl board chair, added, “Teachers are truly selfless indi viduals who help shape the futures of our students here in Arizona and we are proud to play a part in supporting our teachers to do more in the classroom for the leaders of tomorrow.”

Kory Raftery, manager of external affairs at Palo Verde, said the winners “are inspir ing tomorrow’s leaders both inside and outside of the classroom.”

Created in 2016, the Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers program grants classroom wishes to Arizona teachers. Public and charter school K-12 teachers across the state are invited to apply each fall with the recipients verified and selected by a ran dom drawing.

This year’s $1 million total donation brings the Wishes for Teachers’ sevenyear cumulative grant total to $5.7 mil lion awarded to 1,600 teachers, impacting more than 700,000 students across Ari zona.

“Providing teachers with the tools and resources they need benefits Arizona’s children. Partnering with the Fiesta Bowl on the Wishes for Teachers campaign is

one of the many ways SRP supports teach ers,” said Andrea Moreno, program man ager of SRP Community Stewardship.

Here are the Scotts dale winners and what they intend to buy for their classroom and stu dents:

Lydia MacKay, speech therapist at Se quoya Elementary, new iPads for students

Mary MacKay, Eng lish teacher at Sunrise Middle School, tables for the classroom.

Christine Nobley, English teacher at Des ert Shadows Middle School, new books.

Merissa Remus, chemistry, psychol ogy and neuroscience teacher at BASIS Scott sdale, new science labo ratory equipment.

Melanie Townley, special education teach

er at Desert Sun Academy, flexible seating and desks for students.

DAR guest

The Grand Canyon Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, were treated to a presenta tion by Steve Ziomek, flanked here by Vice Regent Yvonne Sagave, left, and Regent Stephanie Troth. Ziomek is chair man and president of the Thunderbird Field and Veterans Memorial discussed the history of World War 11 and the use of what is now Scottsdale Airpark and gave an update on the Scottsdale Veterans Memorial. Ziomek is a U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduate and former Coast Guard rescue helicopter and fixed-wing pilot. He is the recipient of the Air Medal and Coast Guard Commendation Medal and is listed on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Wall of Honor. (Betty Heenan)

Notre Dame Prep accepts national Blue Ribbon award

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

Notre Dame Preparatory Presi dent Jill Platt and Principal Dr. Gene Sweeney flew to Washing ton D.C. along with other members of the school’s administration and faculty to accept the 2022 National Blue Rib bon Award from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Scottsdale school is the only high school in Arizona to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award this year and one of only five Catholic schools nationwide. NDP was selected for its excellence in education and academic inclusion programs.

"The receipt of this award is a credit to all of our faculty, staff, students, re ligious personnel, and parents," said Sweeney. "Together, we have created a culture of excellence and an expecta tion of continuous improvement.”

Preparing the application for the Na tional Blue Ribbon School Award took several months and the coordinated

Accepting Notre Dame Preparatory's Blue Ribbon were, from left, Tracey Heisler assis tant principal of student learning;NDP president Jill Platt and Principal Gene Sweeney. They gathered in Washington D.C. Nov. 4 to accept the National Blue Ribbon School Award on behalf of Scottsdale school. (Special to the Progress)

efforts of faculty, staff and adminis trators from NDP, including Assistant Principal Tracey Heisler, teachers Tra cy McBride and Jan Carteaux, staffers Sydney Glenn, Kim Haub and Pauline

Zaro.

"The National Blue Ribbon Award is a symbol of teaching and learning ex cellence, and it affirms the hard work of our educators and students," Heisler

said. "I am so proud of our school."

A school holds the honor for five years. After that, a new application must be submitted to be considered for another five-year award.

This was the first time NDP applied for the award, but it won't be the last, according to school leaders.

Sweeney and Platt “have worked with several members of the commu nity on a strategic plan for the contin ued excellence of school operations and outcomes,” the school said in a release.

"It is an honor to be in the same company of many elite schools in the country and to have the opportunity to share stories and ideas," Platt said. "It was an extraordinary and a truly blessed day for Notre Dame Prep."

Notre Dame Prep is a Catholic dioc esan college preparatory high school with a co-ed enrollment of 864 stu dents. The school has received nation al recognition for the caliber of its aca demic, arts and athletic programs.

Whitehead (husband of Scottsdale Councilwoman Solange Whitehead).

Phoenix-based Sutton & Smart Cam paigns for social media ads, $3,176.87 to Phoenix-based J&R Graphics and Printing for campaign materials and $1,891 to the U.S. Postal Service. Retired Paradise Valley resident Bar bara Rosenberg contributed $200. Giving $100 were Paradise Valley retiree Linda Wiener, Scottsdale re tiree Steven Martin, Scottsdale resi dent Robert Sinclair (president of Ap plied Process Equipment) and Michael

The district additional assistance override request for $14.5 million or 10% of the revenue control limit (whichever is lower) per year for seven years also appeared headed for victory.

The money will go to pay for things like laptops and software, curriculum materials, equipment for athletics, per forming arts and safety, classroom fur niture and playground and shade struc tures.

The lion’s share of the money, 56%,

parading as law.''

research since.

"These studies suggest that 12-mem ber juries deliberate longer, recall infor mation better, and pay greater attention to dissenting voices,'' he said.

The bottom line, Gorsuch said, was the 1970 decision abandoned the his torical understanding that a trial by jury meant 12 members on the panel "and enshrined in its place bad social science

"That mistake continues to undermine the integrity of the nation's judicial pro ceedings and deny the American people a liberty their predecessors long and justly considered inviolable,'' he said.

"Today's (Arizona) case presented us with an opportunity to correct the error and admit what we know the law is and has always been,'' Gorsuch continued. "Respectfully, we should have done just that.''

will go toward technology. Curriculum materials come in a distant second at 17%.

The request comes to a bill of $112.17 annually on $497,840, the median val ue of a home within the district.

"The DAA override is important to our district,” said school board presi dent Julie Cieniawski. “Following the early results, it appears that more resi dents approve of supporting our com munity and future leaders and this is great! We'll continue to make SUSD the best and our residents proud of our im

provements and success.'

The district’s current district addi tional assistance override is for $8.5 million or 10% of the revenue control limit.

It was passed in 2016 and doesn’t end until June 2024 but the Govern ing Board wanted to get a new funding source in place before the current one runs out.

If the override request holds on to pass, it will replace the current over ride.

The Stagecoach Village Art on the Plaza brings a unique gathering of local and regional artists and craftsmen exhibiting throughout the open-air plaza. Patrons enjoy patio dining and live music, while strolling through the Village - A place where Art meets the West.

Neighbors

Local golf attire company, Teen Lifeline partner

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

BadBirdie, a Scottsdale-based golf apparel company that made the national scene in an episode of the Shark Tank TV show, is collaborating with the Phoenix-based teen suicide preven tion nonprofit, Teen Lifeline.

All proceeds from sales of two new, limited-edition polo shirts, a long sleeve T-shirt and two bucket hats, known in the garment industry as a capsule, will be do nated directly to Teen Lifeline.

“Shoppers interested in purchasing the apparel in support of Teen Lifeline are en couraged to place their orders as soon as possible,” the company said in a release, adding that the items are “expected to sell out quickly, especially as the holiday shop ping season is about to begin.”

“We’ve never collaborated with a non profit on sales of an apparel capsule be fore,” said Bad Birdie founder Jason Rich ardson.

“But there are so many teens in Arizona

This long-sleeved t-shirt is one of the items which Bad Birdie and Teen Lifeline are partnering on. (Courtesy Bad Birdie)

who play golf and wear our products, we believe it’s important for us to make an impact for them and their mental health.”

Teen peer counselors, ages 15 to 19, at Teen Lifeline responded to more than 22,000 calls and 20,000 text messages from troubled youths throughout Arizona in 2021. That’s 115 calls or texts per day, on average, with one in three being from a teen considering suicide.

“I wish I had known about Teen Lifeline when I was in high school,” said Richard son. “It could have made such a difference for some of my friends and classmates who struggled to feel hope for the future.”

Richardson engaged students at Pinna cle High School and Paradise Valley High School in Paradise Valley to model the cap sule’s apparel and will use product photos taken by Pinnacle students for the Bad Birdie website.

The five products in the new capsule include: a Nocturnal by Nature polo and bucket hat in dark blue with an organic black pattern, a Green Tee Shots polo and bucket hat in dark green with a tan floral pattern and a black long sleeve T-shirt car rying a message inspired by the Teen Life line tagline that says “You’re Not Alone.”

“Our goal at Teen Lifeline is for every teen to feel connected to those around them and to know they’re not alone,” said Michelle Moorhead, executive director at Teen Lifeline. “We’re grateful to Jason Richardson and his team at Bad Birdie for

the opportunity to collaborate and share that message with even more teens.”

Teens who are struggling to feel hope in their lives are encouraged to call Teen Lifeline at any time 24/7/365 at 602-248TEEN (8336) or 800-248-TEEN. Teens can also text with a teen peer counselor at 602-248-8336 between noon and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. on weekends.

The 24-hour hotline is staffed by teen peer counselors from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. daily. Trained, professional counselors are available at all other times.

Bad Birdie brands itself as “a modernday golf apparel brand ushering in a new generation of players who prioritize a good game and a better time without com promising performance.”

It landed Number 202 on Inc 5000's Fastest Growing Companies in America in 2022. Their products are sold in over 1,000 retail and pro shops nationwide as well as in their retail shop at Kierland Commons.

Cyber security expert to speak at gun club

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

Alocal expert on digital privacy and security will be lead a work shop on protecting sensitive in formation at the Scottsdale Gun Club.

Ishaan Reyna, founder of the Cyber Guard Academy, will speak from noon2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the gun club, 14860 N. Northsight Blvd., Scott sdale Tickets are $40 for members and $60 for non-members. Tickets are at scottsdalegunclub.com/classes/cyber guard-academy/ Reyna, a Harvard University gradu ate student, will teach attendees how

to identify, isolate and remove sensi tive information from the internet and show people how they can reduce their digital footprint.

“This course is for anyone who values privacy and personal security,” the club said in a release. “All skill levels are welcome.”

“With every click and every transac tion your personal information is ex posed to the public, making you a tar get to criminals and those who wish to do you harm,” it added.

Reyna also will discuss common in ternet scams.

There also will be an in-class raffle

that includes over $4,000 in security related prizes.

Reyna is a cyber security advisor, uni versity guest lecturer, and founder of Cyber Guard Academy, a concierge dig ital security firm operating at the in tersections of open source intelligence, data privacy, and risk mitigation.

With experience in both the enter tainment industry and intelligence community, Reyna has worked with law enforcement, military, and others to understand the crucial importance of cyber security for the protection of personal assets and safety of loved ones.

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Ishaan Reyna

National Park and Glacier Bay National Park on the same incredible trip! Cruise through the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage as you discover the best of the Frontier State by land and by sea.

Experience the stunningly red rocks of these 6 iconic southwestern national parks. Travel through deserts, forests, mountains, and to the very edge of the Grand Canyon on this tour.

Contemporary art glams up dentist’s offices

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Dr.Daniel Sluyk has always viewed dentistry as an art form, even though he hadn’t always contem plated following in his father’s footsteps.

The Scottsdale man’s father, Dr. Steve Sluyk, was a dentist and endodontist, he said, “but I never really thought I would become a dentist.

“I always loved the medical field and wanted to do something to help people and I also really loved the artistic side of things. I play instruments and like to draw.”

But, he explained, “as I explored the dif ferent fields of medicine, I realized den tistry has the artistic component, the re lationships you get to have with patients, and then that scientific kind of medical side to it. So, it drew me in.”

Though Sluyk sees stained, crooked and plaque-covered teeth as his canvas, he quickly learned that his patients often came into his office feeling anxious and

reluctant to flash a toothy grin.

So, when he opened his first practice in May 2016, he was determined to address that stigma.

He began by gutting the Tuscan interior of his building – just off the TPC Scotts dale golf course near the Loop 101 and Bell Road – and giving the space a sleek, bright and modern look.

He also upgraded his equipment with the latest gadgets needed to make smiles glimmer and installed televisions on the ceilings that pair with noise-canceling headphones.

He earned his certification to adminis ter anesthetics, nitrous oxide, and laugh ing gas, and began adding fun days to his calendar, such as “Country Music Thurs days. “

But his patients still couldn’t seem to get past their phobia about dentist of fices.

About three years ago, Sluyk and his father-in-law, Kevin Dale Nutt, came up with another idea to calm patients' nerves.

Since Nutt is a contemporary artist who creates paintings of buildings and landscapes and calming abstract paint ings and multi-textured two-dimension al works, they decided to showcase his work in Sluyk’s waiting room and teethcleaning rooms.

“What we noticed was as people were sitting there for an hour looking around at what was around them made a big im pact and there were certain pieces that just really spoke to people,” Sluyk said.

“So we got together and he custom de signed pieces to create a (calming) feel ing and a mood for the patient and it's been amazing to see how it impacts the experience.”

Some patients felt so moved that they left the office with new artwork. Because of this, the artwork is frequently swapped out.

Some pieces currently on display have become favorites of his 1,500 patients –like an abstract painting of a champion diver plummeting into a pool while per forming a dive that scored 9.5.

With customers calmed by thoughtprovoking and soothing artworks, Sluyk,

an alum of Desert Mountain High School, can sculpt patients’ smiles into what he considers to masterpieces.

He offers porcelain crown veneers and Invisalign clear aligners in addition to typical teeth whitening.

He also employs his father to do root canals throughout each week.

Though Sluyk’s goal is to give patients a shimmering smile that beams from year to ear, his biggest goal remains to elimi nate the stigma associated with a trip to the dentist.

“My focus is always just to give the ab solute best customer service experience and change that stigma of the dental of fice being a scary place,” he said. “I want people to feel comfortable and then I also want to do the highest quality dentistry possible and transform lives by my giving people new confident smiles.”

Info:  Sluyk Family Dentistry is lo cated at 8591 E. Bell Road, Scotts dale, 480- 367-0300, Scottsdaleaz dentist.com

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Scottsdale dentist Daniel Sluyk is proud with the computer generated triptych “Wave length” that’s part of the collection of fine art in his offices. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

The acrylic-on-canvas painting, titled “Blue Gold,” hangs in one of the dental treatment rooms at Daniel Sluyk’s offices. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

Let’s re-create Scottsdale’s iconic Neon Cowboy

BY PETER CORBETT Progress Guest Writer

Imagine a new attraction for Scotts dale. Imagine a 30-foot Neon Cow boy, blinking on at dusk and lighting up the desert night in Old Town.

Las Vegas has Vegas Vic as its iconic Western image. Scottsdale had its own Neon Cowboy for 25 years, standing tall and welcoming moviegoers to the Round Up Drive-In Theatre on Thomas Road west of 68th Street.

It’s time to bring the Neon Cowboy back to the West’s Most Western Town. Here’s my idea:

— Hire a sign maker to re-create the Neon Cowboy based on the Round Up Drive-In Sign.

— Find a tourist-friendly spot in Old Town with a small plaza perfect for selfies with the Neon Cowboy. What would it take to bring the Neon Cowboy back to Scottsdale?

A preliminary estimate from Yes co Custom Electric Signs, based in

Chandler, sets the price at between $300,000 to $350,000 to re-create, build and install the Neon Cowboy sign. This would be a modern electric sign using LED light strands, rather than neon.

Actual neon would be better but also more expensive to create and maintain with the risks of vandalism.

Another key element is finding a site to install the Neon Cowboy.

Ideally, this would be in Old Town, Fifth Avenue, Main Street, or near the Western museum. Somewhere that would allow visitors and locals to take selfies with the Neon Cowboy.

If nothing else, a Neon Cowboy would be an ideal piece of public art at WestWorld.

One funding possibility would be a major downtown project that could pay for the Neon Cowboy as its public art donation. Otherwise a public/pri vate partnership could fund the cow boy sign using tourism development funds and private donations.

It’s not an inexpensive project but the return on investment would be sub stantial by adding an iconic new visual element to Scottsdale’s streetscape.

And it’s important to note that the Neon Cowboy has an authentic and colorful back story.

Scottsdale’s first mayor, Malcom White, opened the Round Up in 1955 and later sold it to theater operator Harry L. Nace. Years later, Nace closed the Round Up Drive-In and the Neon Cowboy went dark in February 1980.

Scottsdale Community College foot ball coach John Avianantos tried to convince SCC President Art DeCa booter that the towering cowboy sign would be a useful message board for the college. DeCabooter declined. Others tried to convince the city of Scottsdale to find a place for the 30foot Neon Cowboy with his 10-gallon hat and welcoming smile. No takers.

Enter a secret posse of pranksters, calling itself the Neon Cowboy Libera tion Front. They carted off the cow

boy’s head and briefly held it hostage, demanding that the city save the Neon Cowboy. When that failed, the prank sters returned the cowboy’s head to a fountain at the Civic Center Mall.

It was later reported that Nace sold the Neon Cowboy to a Flagstaff devel oper who planned to post the cowboy at a site in the Valley. That never hap pened and the Neon Cowboy was lost in the dark night of history.

Scottsdale does have a modest cow boy sign at Main Street and Scottsdale Road that’s been around since the 1950s. It’s well loved and is a magnet for tourist selfies.

But a three-story Neon Cowboy would truly be a show-stopper for visi tors. Photos of the iconic dude would spread far and wide to boost Scotts dale and its Western roots.

Peter Corbett is a former Scottsdale Progress city editor and Arizona Repub lic reporter and editor. He has lived in Scottsdale for 30 years.

It’s time to bring re-create an iconic neon sign and bring it back to the West’s Most Western Town, the author believes. (Courtesy Peter Corbett)

Neuropathy Is Often Misdiagnosed

Muscle cramping, difficulty walk ing, burning, tingling, numbness, and pain in the legs or feet are symptoms of neuropathy people live with every day,” explains Dr. Kerry Zang, podi atric medical director of CIC Foot & Ankle. “The thing is PAD has very sim ilar symptoms. So similar that in many cases, people are told it’s neuropathy when it may not be.”

Medicine is often prescribed. “Pills aren’t a cure, they just suppress the symptoms,” says Zang. “If neuropathy

isn’t causing the symptoms, the real problem could get worse.”

It’s important to determine if PAD (pe ripheral artery disease) is causing the pain or making it worse. PAD is plaque in the arteries which causes poor circulation. “Blood brings oxygen and nutrients to your feet which they need to stay healthy,” explains Zang, “When your feet aren’t get ting an adequate supply, they start send ing signals.” Those signals include pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or cramping.

The good news is PAD is treatable in

an office setting. Dr. Joel Rainwater, MD endovascular specialist explains, “We go into the bloodstream to find the blockage using imaging guidance. Then with small tools that can go into the smallest arteries, remove the blockage, and restore blood flow.”

Getting the proper diagnosis is the first step to getting better. “It’s all about find ing out what’s causing the problem,” says Zang. “When your feet burn, tingle, or feel numb, it’s your body telling you it needs help, and you should listen.”

If your neuropathy medication is not working, your symptoms may be an indication of another condition.

Stiff Joints Interfere with Everyday Living

One in 40 people over the age of 50 may find themselves limiting their activi ty because of a condition called hallux rigidus. It’s a degenerative disease of the big toe joint. As it progresses, the pain in the joint increases and motion decreases.

Our doctors can help tell you what they are saying.

Does foot pain prevent you from doing your favorite activity?

Do you have burning or tingling in your legs or feet?

Do you have leg or foot cramps with activity or at rest?

“People don’t realize the impact their big toe has on their life. It plays a role in balance, shock absorption, and forward movement as you walk,” explains Dr. Daniel Schulman, of CiC Foot & Ankle. “When the joint is stiff, it’s not able to bend and rotate properly, and it changes how we walk without us even realizing it.” These changes can lead to back or knee pain as well as discomfort in other parts of the foot.

“It always concerns me to hear that someone is playing less golf or stay ing home because they’re in pain,” says Schulman. “There are ways to help.”

The goal is to protect your feet from the repetitive stress of everyday activities. “We have several treatment options to not only relieve foot pain but help im prove how your feet work. If we can help your feet function better, in many cases the need for surgery can be avoided or at the very least postponed,” says Schul man. “Patients are always happy to learn about ways to alleviate their symptoms.”

For golfers, a stiff big toe can make their game suffer.

Sports & Recreation

Chaparral boys, Desert Mt. girls swim to victory

BY JOEY PLISHKA Progress Contributing Writer

Ayear removed from its defeat at the hands of Desert Vista, the Chaparral boys swim team re turned to the state finals in 2022 with a goal to achieve what they did in 2020, win the state championship.

Desert Vista boys beat Chaparral by only two points in the 2021 finals. Since last year, the Firebirds have had their eye on a championship in 2022.

“On the boys’ side, we’ve been moti vated since a year ago,” Chaparral coach Russel Krzyzanowski said.

Chaparral made it clear that they were not going to go down easy as both the boys and girls’ teams would dominate the day at the pool with each team walk ing away with a championship trophy. It is the second time they have accom plished the feat in three years.

“We’re just looking for redemption this year and try to bring one back for Chaparral,” senior Tristan Dalbey said.

Chaparral boys soared above second place Desert Vista, finishing with a total of 390.5 points while Desert Vista man aged 273 points – a difference of 117.5 points.

The two teams set the tone early in the opening 200 medley relay with Des ert Vista setting a state record during the opening race with a time of 1:31.75 and Chaparral finishing not far behind with a time of 1:32.48.

Although the Thunder won the open ing race, the Firebirds responded by fin ishing with podium positions in the in dividual races as well as a pair of relays to break open the scoring in their favor.

“We couldn’t be happier, honestly,” Desert Vista head coach Stacey Gibson said. “We broke a state record in the medley relay, and we’re excited to take that home.”

Despite the second-place finish, the Thunder was happy about their ability to stay competitive throughout the day.

Dalbey took first in the 50-freestyle, finishing with a time of 20.63 and beat ing out Hamilton’s Ian Pickles by 0.05 seconds. Casteel’s August Vetsch would finish third in that race, making him the third swimmer to reach All-American Consideration in the race.

Dalbey would also finish third in the 100-freestyle with a time of 45.94, while also being a crucial piece in the 200-freestyle relay and the 400 free style relay wins to close out the victory for the Firebirds.

Desert Vista’s Tres Mungia took first in the 200 individual medley and was a reliable swimmer in the 200 free style and 400 freestyle relays, helping

the Thunder finish second and third in those races respectively.

Other notable performances came from Higley’s Keaton Jones, who set a state record in the 200-freestyle with a time of 1:35.72. Jones also earned All American Auto in the 100-backstroke with a time of 48.28.

“I feel like I’ve been working so hard for so long and you can win so many times but once your names at the top, it feels so good,” Jones said.

Chaparral’s girls won their ninth con secutive state championship, finishing the day with 315 points with Horizon scoring 262 and Desert Vista scoring 224 to round out the top three. They took two of three relays, finishing first in the 200-medley relay in 1:47.88 and the 400-freestyle relay with a time of

3:30.33.

Red Mountain’s Sophia Jahn had a no table day posting two individual wins in the 100-butterfly with a time of 54:33 and the 50 freestyle, both of which were good for All-American Auto recognition.

Chaparral’s Ella Cosgrove had a suc cessful day as well, taking first place in two individual races. Cosgrove won the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle while also leading the relays for the Firebirds.

“Ella led off (the relays) and hopefully she’s the girls’ swimmer of the year,” Krzyzanowski said.

In Division II, Desert Mountain’s girls took home the state title yet again while the boys were upset by Millennium for

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The Chaparral boys and girls swim teams won the 2022 state championships Saturday, Nov. 5 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa. Desert Vista's boys placed second. (Joey Plishka/Progress Contributor)

the title.

Gabrielle Primiano was key for the Wolves in their state championship, as she took home gold in the 200 individ ual medley, 100 breaststroke and was part of the team that won the 200-med ley relay and 400-freestyle relay.

As a result, Primiano received Swim mer of the Year honors while her coach, Crystal Strimple, was named Coach of the Year.

At the end of the day, Chaparral com pleted the state sweep in convincing fashion, leaving behind no doubt that they worked hard to achieve the sweep.

That goal became a reality Saturday night. As both boys’ and girls’ teams huddled together, both trophies broke through the blazing orange Arizona sunset, setting up a picture-perfect setting for a picture-perfect ending for Chaparral’s season

“We have a mission and a team bond ing event to come together as a whole and to compete as something bigger than ourselves,” Krzyzanowski said.

The Desert Mountain girls swim program repeated as state champions last Saturday in Mesa, as they were led by strong perfor mances from Gabrielle Primiano, who was named Swimmer of the Year. (Courtesy Desert Mountain High School)

Arts & Entertainment

Artists return to the hills for two-weekend art studio tour

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Hotoff the heels of its silver anni versary, artists from around the Valley are set to reconvene in the northern hills of the Valley for the 26th annual Hidden in the Hills beginning Fri day, Nov. 18.

Joining the cast of 175 artists sheltered in 47 private studios scattered across northern Scottsdale, Carefree and Cave Creek are a mixed bag of veteran artists from the Sonoran Arts League.

They include Scottsdale-based glass ar tisan Mark Lewanski, who has become a staple at the expansive art gathering; and artists like Chandler-based mixed-media artist Phil Webster and Scottsdale-based international fiber artist Kristin Kleyer Magnum, who are showing off their art for the first time.

“Our philosophy, at least at my studio,

is to try to have a good quality group of people who are exhibiting very exquisite work,” said Lewanski, who will house four other artists at his studio located off of Scottsdale Road and Lone Mountain road marked as studio number 15 on the map.

Though this year will mark Lewanski’s fifth year of showing off his popular glass art and opening his studio to fellow ar tisans, he remains as excited as ever to take to the hills for the two late-Novem ber weekends.

“We have this definite sense of com munity and a synergy that I think echoes in everything we do,” Lewanski said. “We try to put on a nice event by providing some nice little treats for the guests and (trying) to make things a very positive experience.”

Lewanski is far from the only artist anx ious to hide in the hills this year as Web ster and Magnum are equally exhilarated

to make their Hidden in the Hills debut.

“I learned about Hidden in the Hills in November 2020 while apartment hunt ing with my wife and we were just blown away by the breadth and quality of the artwork,” Webster said. “I immediately knew I wanted to take part in it.

I wasn't quite ready last year to jump in but at the beginning of this year, I said ‘OK, this is the year, I'm doing it.’”

Magnum, who attended her first Hid den in the Hills last year, felt the same sentiment.

“For me, it was the best way to explore the desert. I just set my navigation and went for a beautiful drive in areas I don't think I ever would have been,” Magnum said. “And then for me, as an artist, I love seeing other home studios and then see ing the wide variety of ceramics, fibers, paintings, glass, and everything, to me

Pups fund, gallery team up for benefit event

the more dogs we can home, the merrier,” Silver said.

Aftera successful event last year, the Art One Gallery and its neigh bor, The Paper Place, have joined hands in hosting an event to benefit the Two Pups Wellness Fund.

Returning for its second year, the sec ond annual Pup!Art Experience is set to double its artwork scale and feature an overwhelming number of dogs looking for a new home, according to Two Pups Wellness Fund founder Nancy Silver, coowner of The Paper Place.

The event will be held in the breezeway in front of the Art One Gallery and The Paper Place.

“We've been saving dogs left and right;

Art One Gallery manager Max Smith heard about Silver’s efforts to save dogs’ lives and began drafting a way that his nonprofit art gallery and Silver’s non profit could do more outside of the con fines of their neighboring businesses.

Smith sees this year's event as an op portunity to auction off a plethora of animal-inspired art created by 30-plus artists, including interactive artists dis playing works in progress.

Silver sees this as a perfect collabora tion.

“They're helping children and they are such an incredible foundation that uses student art and they supply all the sup

plies and grants for students,” Silver said. “Meanwhile we're helping animals and I want the world you know what Two Pups and Art One are.”

Because of this, she is recruiting live music help, offering local holiday shop ping inside her store, and bringing back the fan-favorite taco truck Taco Juan and bartenders Eddie and Al.

Though the fanfare will be plentiful, the main goal of the shindig is to drive home the missions of the neighboring business es and nonprofits.

The event is open to the public and free to attend however, guests are encouraged to bid on artwork, buy raffle tickets, shop,

The Pup!Art experience is set to return for its second consecutive year on Friday, Nov. 18 with twice as many works of art and an abundance of animals to adopt.

Scottsdale.org l @ScottsdaleProgress /ScottsdaleProgress

Scottsdale-based fiber artist Kristin Kleyer Magnum will be bringing her one-of-akind fiber sculptures featuring fibers she collects while traveling the world at Hid den in the Hills this year. (Special to the Progress)

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

‘Knee Deep’ in Catharsis, Zac Brown Band ready to wrap tour at Chase Field

BY JORDAN ROGERS Progress Staff Writer

Oneof the most successful tour ing acts of the last decade, the Zac Brown Band is making a stop — and its last on the “Out in The Middle Tour” — at Chase Field on Wednesday, No vember 19.

Coy Bowles, who plays guitar and keys for the decorated country band, said the tour has been exactly what the band has needed coming out of the COVID-19 pan demic.

“This tour has been going really, really well,” Bowles said. “It's pretty cathartic and there has been a lot going on in the world so not getting to play music for a considerable amount of time and then jumping back into a really well designed, well thought out tour (has been great).”

Bowles said those attending can expect a concert that really features three differ ent acts. In addition, Phoenix specifically, has always been a rewarding stopping point for the Zac Brown Band. The group is looking forward to being here.

“It's (the shows) been feeling really good,” he said. “When you leave, you're like, ‘Wow, that was a lot of music. We gave everybody what they came and showed up for.’ So, it's been really cool. It's exciting to get to take that to all these different cities, and Phoenix has always been great to us.

“We've always had great shows out there.”

HILLS from page 26

that was just so worthwhile and it was really neat to see as an art lover.”

In gearing up for this year's art celebra tion, the artists have been hard at work stockpiling artworks to sell.

Lewanski has over 30 glass works primed to sell at Hidden in the Hills — the most of his work that anyone can see in the country — whereas Webster plans to have around 30 pieces of wall art, roughly 15 lamps, and nearly a dozen sculptures and Magnum plans to bring nearly 40 woven pieces made from fibers she collected while traveling to countries like Czechia, Iceland, Poland, and South Africa.

“My personal goal was to go to all seven

If Bowles had to pick a favorite track that he and the rest of the band have per formed on the tour, he said the answer is easily the title track for the band’s latest album — “The Comeback.”

“When we were recording that song in the studio, it was really kind of an anthem of what it's going to be like for everything to come back around,” he said. “There's a certain arm hair raising up, back in the neck, whatever it is, that happens when we play that song.

For Bowles, the track “paints a picture of what we just went through and where we're at now.” He is grateful to be able to be back playing live on stage with the rest of the Zac Brown Band, and “Comeback” just encapsulates that feeling of gratitude.

“It's really hard not to let it all sink in,” he said. “It's really hard not to just go, ‘Wow, man, I'm really grateful to be able to be with my friends again on stage and make music.’”

Getting to perform at baseball fields is a sticking point for the Zac Brown Band. The Georgia natives are made up of “die hard” Atlanta Braves fans, so getting to go on tour and play at baseball fields, such as Chase Field, is something the band really enjoys doing and has almost a “majestic” feel to it. In the past, the group has per formed at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Truist Park in Atlanta and Fenway Park in Boston — where they currently hold the record for most consecutive sold out shows.

“When we go play these baseball fields

… it's almost like wearing a superhero cape or something,” Bowles said. “Being able to be a part of what you are so into, there's this super majestic part about the stadiums.”

To date, the group has won three Gram my Awards, sold more than 30 million sin gles and 9 million albums, amassed over 10 billion catalog streams, and achieved 16 No. 1 radio singles. And while Bowles knows the band has released some in credibly special work, “The Comeback,” he said, may be the band’s best work to date.

“I remember leaving the studio and driv ing back home to Atlanta from Nashville and just going, ‘Wow, this might be the best album we've ever recorded,’” Bowles said.

Sydney said the songs they’ve been writ ing are in line with “Hang Around.” Now

the “songs are flowing like crazy.”

“We don’t want to stop ourselves from writing just because we have a lot of songs at this point. But, at a certain point, we will get this finished and narrow down which songs we want to use. They definitely all feel like they’re part of the same family.”

If you go:

Zac Brown Band w/Sam Hunt and Robert Randolph Band

When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 Where: Chase Field, 401 E. Jeffer son Street, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $30 Info: ticketmaster.com

continents by the time I was 40, so I've been to over 100 countries on all seven continents to seek out my fiber,” Magnum said, “The colors are based on the land scape and the architecture and that all plays into my sculptures.”

Though these artists will be part of a cast of four to five artists showing off their art at their respective studios, they all share the same eagerness to mingle with customers and fellow artists during the two weekends of Hidden in the Hills

“There's just so many good things about it. It's a chance to regroup with our friends every year since a lot of us haven't seen each other for several months as we've been going different ways and traveling for business,” Lewanski said. “I (also) generally do pretty well with sales

so we’re looking forward to having a little bump in your income because it's a really good, successful show for us.”

If you go:

Hidden in the Hills

When: Friday, November 18, to Sunday, November 20, and Fri day, November 25 to Sunday, November 27.

Where: Downloadable maps and details about participating artists are available at HiddenInThe Hills.org.

Cost: Free Info: HiddenInTheHills.org or call 480-575-6624.

Scottsdale-based glass artisan Mark Le wanski is returning to the hills for his fifth year as a host to show off his largest selec tion of glass art at this year’s Hidden in the Hills. (Special to the Progress)

The Zac Brown Band is bringing a high-energy show to Phoenix next weekend. (Special to the Progress)

from

and make donations. Proceeds from the evening benefit both The Art One Foundation – a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing fi nancial assistance to underprivileged student artists – and Two Pups Wellness Fund. Silver founded the Wellness Fund in 2017 “as a vital community resource to give financial assistance through our shelters and rescues to those animals who have been injured, neglected and/or abandoned that are in need of life-saving care.”

If you go:

Pup!Art Experience

Echosmith writes music without boundaries

side co-writers.

Echosmith’s

latest single “Hang Around” has been called a “pop mas terpiece.” Singer/keyboardist Syd ney Sierota thanks the band’s newfound freedom for the results.

“This song was really fun to make be cause we really just gave ourselves the freedom to make music without boundar ies or telling ourselves, ‘We have to write this kind of song today.’ We just let it flow,” she said.

“When you get to be creative with that perspective, it’s so much better. It’s really easy to get in your head about creativity and your ‘job’ because music is our job. But it’s also a creative thing. There are some days you’re feeling it more than oth ers. And some days, you’re like, ‘I can’t do the creative thing today — and that’s OK.”

She said the band was “just naturally inspired” and let it flow. “Hang Around” is also one of the first songs Echosmith has released that’s been written without out

“Hang Around” is a sonic shift, too, a re turn to their stripped-back roots. With its breezy vocals and delicate guitar tones, “Hang Around” was also self-produced by bassist Noah Sierota with assistant pro duction from their big brother and former band member Jamie Sierota.

“This was the first one that unlocked what we wanted to do musically, which is, of course, a huge moment for any band as you’re making new music and trying to figure out where you want to go with that,” added Sydney, who moved from LA to San Diego to live with her husband, Allstar Weekend’s Cameron Quiseng.

Echosmith is best known for the track “Cool Kids,” which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 1.2 mil lion copies in the United States. The song was Warner Bros. Records’ fifth biggestselling digital song of 2014, with 1.3 mil lion downloads sold.

Recently, Echosmith released a reimag ined version of “Cool Kids,” shedding the glossy pop production of the original and

adding a bridge. The band revamped the song just as it began trending on TikTok, for which more than 1.3 million videos were made by people using the original song to look back at their younger selves and appreciate how far they’ve come, she said.

“This song has completely defined our career and our lives,” Sydney said.

“In so many ways, when the song came back this summer and started going viral on TikTok and Instagram, we were very surprised by it and didn’t really know how or why it happened. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this song came out nine years ago.

If you go:

Echosmith

When: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18

Where: Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix

Cost: Tickets start at $25 Info: 4rescentphx.com

n a l t y f e e s a p p l y f o r e a r l y c l o s u r e w i t h d r a w a l s . F e e s c o u l d r e d u c e e a r n i n g s . I n t e r e s t w i l l c o m p o u n d d a i l y a n d c r e d i t m o n t h l y . C a l l f o r c o m p l e t e d e t a i l s a n d r e s t r i c t i o n s . M E M B E R F D I C .

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