Scottsdale Progress - 01.17.2021 by Times Media Group

Local lawmakers take aim / P. 8

Ducey slams closures / P. 10

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

New Council wants more General Plan work BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

NEIGHBORS .............. 17 Scottsdale nonagenarian pens 2nd kids book.

ARTS............................... 23 Artists to blitz Scottsdale at Holland Center.

FOOD..............................25 Honky-tonk menu comes to Old Town.

NEIGHBORS .......................................... 17 SPORTS ................................................... 21 ARTS ........................................................ 23 FOOD ........................................................25 CLASSIFIEDS ....................................... 26

Sunday, January 17, 2021

cottsdale City Council opened the door to further delays in the process to approve a new General Plan, the city’s guiding development document that has not received a voter-approved update

in two decades. The current draft of General Plan 2035 was reviewed for months by a committee made up of members of city boards and commissions and the city planned to bring that plan before voters in November following a lengthy public review process required by state law.

Airport business Game on is �lying high in Scottsdale

But at Council’s Jan. 12 meeting, Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield asked her colleagues to consider creating a new nine-member task force charged with reviewing the recommended plan, gather citizen input and provide a new draft for Council review.

see GENERAL page 14

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

cottsdale Airport appears to have escaped the worst impacts of the coronavirus with both construction and operations booming in spite of the pandemic’s negative impact on the airline industry as a whole. The airport’s operations initially dipped in March and April due to COVID-19, dropping six percent compared to 2019, according to flight data from the Federal Aviation Administration. But that data shows activity recovered in the following months and the airport is

see AIRPORT page 6

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Scores of angry students and parents last Tuesday gathered at the offices of the Arizona Interscholastic Association to protest its Jan. 8 decision to cancel winter school sports. After an AIA executive board member changed his vote, the board gave the greenlight to winter sports, starting tomorrow, Jan. 18, but under strict health guidelines that include masks. Story on Page 21. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Reporter)

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

Scottsdale Community College bucks enrollment dip An edition of the East Valley Tribune Scottsdale Progress is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Scottsdale. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of Scottsdale Progress, please visit www.Scottsdale.org. CONTACT INFORMATION Main number 480-898-6500 | Advertising 480-898-5624 Circulation service 480-898-5641 Scottsdale Progress 4301 N 75th St., Suite 201, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Publisher Steve T. Strickbine Vice President Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising 480-898-6309 Classifieds/Inside Sales Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@scottsdale.org TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@scottsdale.org Advertising Office Manager Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@scottsdale.org Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@scottsdale.org NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 | pmaryniak@scottsdale.org Managing Editor Wayne Schutsky | 480-898-6533 | wschutsky@scottsdale.org Staff Writers Kristine Cannon | 480-898-9657 | kcannon@scottsdale.org Jim Walsh | 480-898-5639 | jwalsh@scottsdale.org Photographers Pablo Robles | Probles@scottsdale.org Design Veronica Thurman | vthurman@scottsdale.org Production Coordinator Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 | production@scottsdale.org Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@scottsdale.org Scottsdale Progress is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegratedmedia.com

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

ucking a nationwide trend, Scottsdale Community College has a positive enrollment outlook in spite of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Heading into the spring 2021 semester, seven of the ten community colleges in the Maricopa County Community Colleges District anticipated enrollment loss compared to spring 2020, according to information presented to the Governing Board on Dec. 8. SCC was one of just two colleges, along with Rio Salado and Gateway, anticipating an enrollment gain. According to information presented at the meeting, SCC was on track to increase enrollment by 7.7 percent in spring 2021. Cumulatively, the Maricopa County Community College District was tracking for an overall enrollment decline of 15.5 percent in the spring. That follows a trend that has seen community colleges across the country struggle to keep students in enrolled during the pandemic. Nationally, overall community enrollment dropped 9.5 percent, with some schools seeing declines of up to 30 percent, according to data presented at the meeting. Those enrollment declines were likely exacerbated by the economic fallout of the pandemic that put additional financial strain on students. “It isn’t always, the cost of college; it’s the cost of life that keeps our students from continuing with us in succeeding,” said Dr. Karla Fisher, district provost of the Maricopa County Community College District.

SCC was able to buck the downward enrollment trend by implementing changes to increase options and flexibility for students, interim SCC President Chris Haines said. She told the board that efforts to expand the college’s eight-week course offerings have been a cornerstone of that effort. Since taking over SCC in 2018, Haines has advocated for use of eight-week courses over traditional 16-week schedules as a tool to combat enrollment declines. “Research shows that students drop out due to the challenges of life,” Haines said. “The shorter eight-week timeframe allows students the ability to focus and complete the class while still managing personal issues, work and life. “ SCC was already in the process of integrating eight-week classes into its course offerings prior to the emergence of COVID-19, but the pandemic accelerated that schedule. In fall 2019, approximately 15 percent of the college’s courses were delivered in eight weeks. By fall 2020, that number rose to 40 percent and the college is anticipating a similar level this spring. Haines said 78 percent of students in traditional online eight-weeks passed their classes in fall 2020, up from 73 percent in fall 2019 and students in eightweek courses tended to take more credit hours. “Seventy-five percent of SCC students are part-time so many are working, managing children and more, along with all the uncertainty of COVID and being remote and quarantined life,” Haines said. “Therefore, it’s more reasonable to complete a class during 8 weeks vs. the tradi-

Scottsdale Community College interim President Chris Haines said an effort to increase eight-week course offerings helped the college stave off enrollment declines during the pandemic. (Scottsdale Community College)

tional 16 weeks of the semester.” Haines said SCC also took steps to improve students’ experience online – which became especially important after most classes moved online in the wake of the pandemic. SCC also launched the Online Learning Center last year to provide support for students and received a 2020 Excellence Award from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development for work done in preparing for the accreditation of its online programs. Nearly the college’s entire residential faculty took training focused on improving students’ online experience, and 55 participated in a boot camp over the summer “aimed at instructional design for alternative course delivery and modality,” Haines said.

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

Council OKs plan for park near DC Ranch BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

cottsdale City Council approved plans to build a new park west of the DC Ranch neighborhood that will double as a water supply for a new sports complex in the area. On Jan. 12, the Council unanimously approved the site plan for the first phase of the DC Ranch Neighborhood Park, which will be located at 91st Street and Trailside View and feature a lake, landscaping, a ramada and a walking trail that connects to 91st street and the future Bell Road Sports Complex at 94th Street and Bell Road. The park’s lake and an on-site pump station will provide treated reclaimed wastewater to irrigate fields at the Bell Road Sports Complex, a project located south of the park that will feature up to six multiuse sports fields that can double as parking for major special events at Westworld and other area venues.

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The sports complex and parts of the DC Ranch park will be funded with bond money approved by voters in 2019. Council’s vote on the DC Ranch park had been scheduled for December but was delayed to allow city staff more time to address neighbors’ concerns. The city received hundreds of comments on the project, including some from residents who contended an irrigation facility would violate a longtime deed restriction that restricts the site’s use to a park. City Attorney Sherry Scott disagreed, stating, “we’re very satisfied that the terms of the deed restriction will be complied with as this project has been explained to you today.” Vice Mayor Solange Whitehead praised the project for killing two birds with one stone. “People sometimes complain that government is inefficient; I would argue that…every aspect of this project serves so many different needs,” she

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said. Council approved a site plan for a park in 2003. It was later considered as the future site for a public park that would double as sports fields for Great Hearts charter school but that plan was scrapped in 2017 in the face of resident opposition. Chris Irish, director of public affairs for DC Ranch, said the new plans addressed most resident concerns. The Scottsdale City Council included plans for a new neighCouncil included borhood park west of DC Ranch that will feature a lake to an additional stipu- provide irrigation for fields at the forthcoming Bell Road lation requested by Sports Complex at 94th Street and Bell Road. (City of Scottsdale) Irish requiring the city to install lowity and voter faith and confidence as level lighting around the park’s lake. you move through a more complicat“We’ve worked well together to en- ed question than whether or not the sure that the lake is a park amenity engineering is proper and the water that the public will enjoy,” Irish said. flows well." “I think it’s equally important that we A project description published by work together to make certain that the city said the project would “build it’s as safe as possible.” up to 13 multi-use sports fields at two Some residents were also concerned locations… up to six, lighted multiuse about park maintenance and mosqui- fields at 94th St. and Bell Rd. and up toes in the lake. to seven, lighted multi-use fields at Kroy Ekblaw, Scottsdale preserve Thompson Peak Pkwy. and McDowelldirector, said the city is responsible Mountain Ranch Rd.” for all maintenance and that the lake It also stated, “Costs included purwas designed to maximize water chasing land, designing and conmovement, which will limit issues structing necessary reclaimed water, with mosquitoes and algae. sewer and drainage improvements The project created a stir at the elev- and service lines to accommodate waenth hour after resident Mike Norton ter delivery to the recreation fields.” voiced concerns about how the city Norton said the new Council could would finance the project. lose the trust of residents if it authoNorton pointed out that the $40-mil- rized a project that commingled bond lion sport fields project approved by funds or used them inappropriately to voters in 2019 only authorized new pay for a park not mentioned in the fields at two sites and made no men- bond pamphlet. tion of one next to DC Ranch. Norton, who served on the political Bond funds can only be used to pay action committee that supported pasfor projects explicitly presented to sage of the bonds, said the deed revoters in official election materials. striction, coupled with the bond issue, Norton said the issue posed a challenge to Council "to maintain credibilsee BOND page 6

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

AIRPORT ��

That deal, approved by City Council in December 2018, included plans to redevelop a portion of the site and open an FBO at the airport. Jet Aviation announced its new hangar terminal will open for business in December. The Jet Aviation project is just one of several major construction projects that has popped up in and around the airport in recent years. The airport reported that a mixture of private and public projects has generated more than $92 million in direct construction costs since 2017. There's no shortage of planes or business at Scottsdale Airport, as visitors and people who work “This is the most conthere have seen in recent months. (Special to the Progress) struction activity I have seen at the airport and AirThat is backed by the experience of said Ken Casey, director of sales and acquisitions with Pinnacle Aviation, a park, since 2000 and 2001,” said Scottscharter operators at the airport. “The first couple of weeks in the pan- Scottsdale-based company that offers dale Aviation Director Gary Mascaro. That includes the $27-million Busidemic, we were extremely busy moving charter and management services. people where they had to go…then in “We weren’t doing hardly any business ness Aviation Center building the city opened in 2018 and three separate priApril and May we were very, very slow,” because nobody was going anywhere.” But Casey said activity started to re- vate hangar projects valued at around $23 million, Ferrara said cover in June. “We became deﬁnitely Scottsdale Airport is also in the pro“We became definitely very busy… very busy…a majority of a majority of the people that want to cess of building up to 14 new box hanthe people that want to do whatever they can not to get on the gars on site. Phase one of construction, which will airlines, not to be exposed, not to go do whatever they can through the whole airport process and include seven hangars, was approved by not to get on the airlines, risk infection,” Casey said. City Council in March at a cost of $4.1 million. The airport could become even busier not to be exposed, not Council approved six leases for seven as it welcomes a third fixed-base operato go through the whole of the new hangars in June 2019 and the tor, or FBO, to Scottsdale. airport process and risk In 2019, Jet Aviation acquired a stake revenue generated by those leases over in Scottsdale Jet Center, which had taken the next 20 years will cover the cost of infection.” construction, according to the city. over leases at the airport in 2018.

now on track to surpass 2019 activity. Overall, between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, Scottsdale Airport saw nearly 82,000 flights – a four percent increase over the same time period in 2019. “It is highly likely that our airport operations and based aircraft numbers will exceed last year’s numbers,” airport spokeswoman Sarah Ferrara said. According to the airport, there are currently 455 aircraft based at Scottsdale Airport – up from 442 in 2019. The number of total aircraft visiting the airport between September and November – excluding those based in Scottsdale – was also up by just about one percent this year compared to 2019, though those numbers were buoyed by a strong September. Visiting aircraft were actually down by 929 flights, or five percent, in October and November. The overall increase in flights in Scottsdale comes as activity at all airports nationwide was down 23 percent from January through October, according to the FAA. Ferrara said the success at Scottsdale Airport is likely due to the fact that it caters to chartered flights, which have seen a rise in popularity lately. As a general aviation airport, Scottsdale Airport does not host commercial airlines, which have been hit hardest by the pandemic. “So, in our opinion, we think that people, especially with some of the impact of some of the pandemic, are starting to use more charter operations and maybe even up their use of business aviation, which is pretty much our bread and butter,” Ferrara said.

BOND �� page 4

put the city in a difficult situation. “If we just treated the waste water holding pond as the single installation that was going to go in at 91st street, the bond funds could be used but we’d be violating the deed,” Norton said. “If we treat the pond as part of a lake, the pond development can be funded through the bond…but the remainder of the park development can’t be funded through general obligation bonds.” City staff and some council mem-

bers disagreed, stating the city would use bond funds only for the portions of the project that were authorized by voters, including the lake and irrigation infrastructure. “We can create irrigation and put it in a place and build a beautiful park around it,” Councilwoman Linda Milhaven said. City spokeswoman Erin Walsh said the project is still in the design phase and a final determination on funding has not been. “Generally speaking, the types of items that are eligible for bond fund-

ing are the lake, pump station, an access drive to service the pumps and the required grading, native plant salvage and restoration of disturbed areas,” she said. Walsh said the ramada, trails, parking stalls and the landscape buffer around the edges of the site would use an alternative funding source. Scott said that split funding would satisfy the city’s legal obligation regarding how it spends bond funds. Resident Brion Neely, chair of the city’s Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee, told the Progress he was ini-

tially concerned by the issues brought up by Norton, but added, “I’m mostly satisfied with the City Attorney’s response.” “I think the city can do a better job of differentiating between the sports fields bond project and the DC Ranch park city project,” he added. Construction should progress quickly this year in order to provide water for the nearby sports complex. Ekblaw said the city plans to install turf at the complex this summer in order to be prepared for field reservations at the end of 2021.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

Scottsdale lawmakers prominent in emergency powers push BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

he 2021 legislative session is being brought to you by the letter E – as in emergency powers, election legislation and education funding – and two Scottsdale lawmakers are figuring prominent in the debate over the first part of this trifecta. The session got off to a quick start last week as one of the first act of lawmakers will be to determine whether it’s time to pull the plug on the state of emergency that Gov. Doug Ducey declared 10 months ago – an action, if it gets a majority vote, the governor cannot veto. Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, already has the language crafted. Her measure, SCR 1001, seeks to take advantage of a provision in the law that gave Ducey the power to unilaterally declare an emergency in the first place. It says the emergency ends when the governor says it does or when a majority of legislators vote to say it’s over. But there is no clear law about whether the governor can simply turn around and declare a new one and reinstate all the provisions, such as what businesses can be open and under what conditions. That possibility has Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, asking Attorney General Mark Brnovich whether that would require the legislature to have yet another vote to swat down the governor. And he wants to know whether that would automatically terminate any reinstated actions “or would a court have to issue an order?’’

Then there’s the question of whether lawmakers have other options. For example, Kavanagh wants to know whether the legislature could impose some sort of self-destruct measure into an existing emergency, like saying it has to end when hospital or infection levels drop below a certain level. The governor, in an interview with Capitol Media Services, said pulling the plug on his declaration would be a bad idea. “We’re still in that public health emergency,’’ he said. “That’s why state law and the constitution provide for executive emergency authorities in situations like that.’’ State election laws present a different set of problems. Arizona already has statutes designed to prevent fraud and determine the accuracy of vote counts. For example, unlike some states, early ballots are mailed only to those who request them, whether on an election-byelection basis or signing up for the permanent early voter list. And the law requires a hand count of the votes from 2 percent of precincts or vote centers, comparing what the machines tallied with what humans have determined are the votes. “I do think we do elections well,’’ Ducey said. Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, wants that hand count increased to 5 percent along with provisions allowing the attorney general, the secretary of state or the legislative council to demand more. Potentially more sweeping, he also wants to allow anyone with enough money to cover the costs to demand a full recount of

Sen. Michelle Rita-Ugenti already has the language for her bill to curb the governor’s emergency powers. (Progress file photo)

any election. Now, the only way that happens is if the margin of victory falls within certain margins, like 200 votes for a statewide race. There is some discussion about tightening up that permanent early voter list, requiring names be purged if people don’t vote in two election cycles and don’t respond to a postcard. During a webcast sponsored by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, south Chandler’s delegation to the Legislature outlined their priorities and Mesnard said another election was his concern as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee – namely, passage of Prop 208, which puts an

Rep. John Kavanagh is trying to determine what happens if Gov. Doug Ducey vetoes legislation curbing emergency powers. (Progress file photo)

income surcharge on the wealthiest wage earners in the state to finance education at all levels. “Obviously this gives us one of the higher income tax rates in the country and we’re already starting to hear about businesses from other states that are not going to be relocating here any longer or businesses here that are going to be migrating out of the state – which is not good,” Mesnard said. “So we’re going to be looking at how we can make sure Arizona remains competitive.”

see LEGISLATURE page 13

Issues from short-term rentals to sex ed await BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

hile issues surrounding the ongoing emergency and election laws are likely to command a lot of legislative heat and light, there are dozens of other subjects, great and small, that will be debated. One of the big battles will be what new hurdles lawmakers will try to put in the path of individuals and groups seeking to propose their own laws. The approval of Proposition 208 to

raise taxes on the state’s wealthiest to add cash to K-12 education stung the business community which waged a fullcourt press against it. And those same interests are now working to get a judge to void the voter-approved 3.5% income tax surcharge on individual earnings above $250,000 and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. Now the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry already is trotting out what it calls “potential reforms’’ to the system. One is requiring more than a simple majority of votes cast to enact any changes.

Had that provision been in place it would have quashed many of the measures that have been approved in recent years, including Proposition 208. Another proposes that the required signatures to put measures on the ballot come from each of the state’s 30 legislative districts or what will be 10 congressional districts. On one hand that ensures that circulators cannot qualify for the ballot simply with support from the Phoenix metro area. But the flip side is it effectively gives residents of any one area of the state veto

power. And there also is a proposal to have anything approved by voters self-destruct after a given number of years unless reenacted at the ballot box. That, however, forces those who got a measure approved in the first place to again have to spend money to keep it on the books. Even if the Republican-controlled legislature agrees to any or all changes, there is a check on their power. These all need constitutional amendments which can

see LEGISLATURE SIDE page 12

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

Hon. Maria Elena Cruz issues the oath of office to new Scottsdale Council members, from left, Tammy Caputi, Tom Durham and Betty Janik on Jan. 12. (City of Scottsdale)

Ortega reimposes mask mandate in Scottsdale BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

he coronavirus pandemic remained front and center when Scottsdale’s new council members were sworn into office on Jan. 12. New Mayor David Ortega wasted little time, issuing two proclamations aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, including reinstating the city’s mask mandate. Shortly before being sworn in by Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Maria Elena Cruz, Ortega addressed the crowd at the small swearing-in ceremony outside City Hall and focused on the need to remain vigilant in the effort to slow the spread of the virus. “Too many have fallen ill, too many have passed on, and too many are struggling to make ends meet,” Ortega said. During the swearing-in ceremony, other new members of the council, including Betty Janik and Tammy Caputi, also focused on the need to get the pandemic under control in order to support local businesses and residents and relieve stress on the healthcare system.

Just minutes after being sworn in, Ortega signed off on an emergency declaration that essentially continued a previous declaration issued by his predecessor, former Mayor Jim Lane. That declaration gave broad authority to City Manager Jim Thompson to take steps to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Scottsdale, including restricting or closing city buildings, limiting hours of operations at public facilities and imposing screening measures for entry to city facilities. Hours later, Council approved the declaration at its first meeting of the year. A day later on Jan. 13, Ortega reinstated Scottsdale’s mask mandate. Lane initially issued an order in June 2020 requiring mask wearing in most public places in Scottsdale but allowed that order to lapse in September because Maricopa County had, by then, issued its own over-arching mandate that covered all cities in the county. That county mandate is still in effect in Scottsdale and other cities. According to a city press release, the

see SWEARIN page 12

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Ducey defends record on �ighting COVID-19 BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey used his State of the State speech last week for a fullthroated defense of what he has and has not done to deal with COVID-19 even as the state continues setting new records. In his seventh annual speech, the governor also proposed: • lowering taxes on both individuals and businesses which he said will preserve the state’s competitive advantage; • selling off state buildings which he said are not necessary given the shift to remote work by employees; • requiring summer school, longer school days and targeted tutoring of students to help them catch up after the closures and online learning have made them fall behind; • a “modernized gaming compact’’ that would expand casino gaming on Arizona reservations in a way to generate more cash for both tribes and the state;

• expanding access to broadband; • having Arizona continue to be a leader on “water innovation.’’ On that last point, Ducey, giving his shortest State of the State ever and remotely from his office – said he will not provide any additional cash to public schools that have fewer children in classrooms due to the pandemic. Instead, the governor said he wants to get students “back where they belong.’’ “With every public health professional, from Dr. Fauci and the CDC on down, saying that the safest place for kids to be is in schools, we will not be funding empty seats or allowing schools to remain in a perpetual state of closure,’’ he said. “Children still need to learn, even in a pandemic.’’ After the speech, press aide C.J. Karamargin said his boss is not considering cutting off funds to schools who instruct students either in whole or in part online. He said Ducey supports virtual options for parents who want them. “When he references not funding ‘emp-

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“The rest of life doesn’t stop in a pandemic, least of all our basic responsibilities. People still have bills to pay, children in need of schooling, businesses to run and employees who depend on them.’’

Unlike last year, when he addressed the Legislature in person, Gov. Doug Ducey last week gave his annual State of the State address via live video from his office because of the pandemic. (Capitol Media Services)

ty seats,’ he simply means that for parents who have chosen a new option for their kids, the money will follow that student to their new public school,’’ Karamargin said. Those options include other district schools as well as charters. Ducey saved his strongest word to take aim at those who have suggested that the virus can be curbed through new restrictions on business operations, closed schools and public gatherings. “It’s a question that only makes sense if you forget about everything else, all the other troubles that lockdowns set in motion,’’ the governor said. “The rest of life doesn’t stop in a pandemic, least of all our basic responsibilities,’’ he continued. “People still have bills to pay, children in need of schooling, businesses to run and employees who depend on them.’’ Several lawmakers are moving to dissolve the emergency declaration the governor declared in March. And in that declaration, he specifically forbade local governments from imposing any restrictions that he, himself, had not approved. If the statewide declaration no longer exists, local governments would again be

free to use their own powers to decide what to implement. “I’m not going to hand over the keys to a small group of mayors who have expressed every intention of locking down their cities,’’ he said. Ducey’s argument comes as the Arizona Department of Health Services continues reporting increases in virus cases and hospitalizations. The county health department on Jan. 14 released new data showing that all three metrics measuring virus spread are in the substantial range and increasing in Scottsdale. Cases per 100,000 jumped from 354 to 560 and positive new test result rose from 14 percent to nearly 22 percent. Ducey said many Arizonans do not have the option of remote work and are not getting direct deposits. “To make a living, they have to show up somewhere,’’ he said. “And if the doors are closed, then at a certain point they are never going to open again.’’ He also cited increased opioid abuse, alcoholism, addiction, mental health issues and “the sheer loneliness of isolation,’’ including suicide. The governor said he doesn’t believe that other states with stricter mandates are having any better luck in curbing the spread of the virus. “They’re still dealing with the worst of it, just as we are,’’ he said. All that leads into Ducey’s position on getting kids back in school – and ways to get students caught up on what they’ve missed. “Before COVID, we had an achievement gap in our schools,’’ he said. “And it’s only

see DUCEY page 12

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LEGISLATURE SIDE �� page 8

want public policy to encourage people to get back into the workforce.” He acknowledged that the Arizona economy is not back to pre-pandemic levels. The state Office of Economic Opportunity said that the state has recovered just 201,200 of the nearly 295,000 jobs lost since February. Water also will again be a focus as lawmakers realize the “drought contingency plan’’ adopted in 2019 is not a permanent and long-term solution. House Speaker Rusty Bowers wants to look to “augment’’ supplies. But that depends on finding those with water rights elsewhere willing to sell them. At the same time there is discussion about restricting the transfer of water from one county to another, a concern of some rural lawmakers who fear developers and cities buying up groundwater rights and leaving communities with limited reserves for growth. Among other likely subjects for legislative consideration: • Curbing the power of the Arizona Corporation Commission to set energy policy, including requirements for renewable energy, leaving the panel solely with the abil-

ity to set rates. • Deciding whether sex education classes, which already are optional, should not be available for anyone younger than the fifth grade. • Considering whether Arizona should have a lieutenant governor who would be elected on the same ticket with the governor, like the president and vice president. • Restoring the right of local governments to impose restrictions on vacation rentals. • Eliminating requirements for students to be vaccinated before they can attend school. • Debating whether to reduce prison sentences for certain nonviolent offenses. • Allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees as a less-expensive alternative to state universities. Similar plans have been beaten back in prior years by the Arizona Board of Regents. • Requiring that doctors seeking to perform breast enhancement surgery on women provide more complete disclosure of the side effects. • Raising the tax on gasoline or finding other revenue sources for road construction and maintenance, as the fund has taken a major hit with less travel during

the pandemic. • Setting new restrictions on drone operators. • Requiring that any new or renovated school buildings have windows that open. • Banning the sale of eggs that do not come from cage-free chickens. • Repealing a constitutional amendment that excuses lawmakers from arrest in all cases except treason, felony crimes and breach of the peace. It also allows legislators to avoid civil process during legislative sessions and for 15 days prior to each session. • Levying fees on internet platforms that act as “publishers,’’ meaning they edit and remove certain content versus simply allowing anyone to post. • Making it more difficult for police and prosecutors to use civil procedures to seize cars, money and other property if there is no underlying criminal conviction. • Mandating that police and prosecutors put officers who have been judged to be dishonest on a publicly available “Brady list.’’ • Restricting access to weapons by people determined to be a danger to self or others.

SWEARIN �� page 9

including grocery stores, restaurants and bars, gyms, retail stores and special events. The order applies to anyone 6 and up. The order includes several exceptions, including individuals who are eating or drinking at restaurants, engaged in religious services, exercising outdoors and those who should not

wear masks due to medical or mental health conditions. There are also exceptions for public safety personnel to avoid impeding with their work and certain other situations with small groups where social distancing can be maintained. The mask mandate could remain in effect until the overarching emergency

declaration has ended, but it will be reviewed periodically, according to the text of the order. “Community health supports all other aspects of neighborhood life, business activity, medical services, and education,” Ortega said. “And of course, good health drives our hospitality-centered economy.”

DUCEY �� page 10

summer school, longer school days or private tutoring. “We’ll provide funding to schools for families that want it,’’ he said. Ducey called it a “small mercy’’ of the pandemic that, in general, the virus does not seem to harm children. Still, he acknowledged, that doesn’t apply to teachers. The governor said, though, that teachers have been put into the category of people who, in most counties, are now eligible for the vaccine. The governor never made a direct reference to the decision by voters to approve a 3.5 percent income tax surcharge on earnings of Arizonans about $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for married

be approved only if voters ratify them in 2022. There is one proposal out there that does not have the support of the business community: Allowing those circulating initiative petitions to use the same online system for gathering signatures that is available for political candidates. Democrats, who remain in the minority, are hoping to focus attention on the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. “There are a number of Arizonans that are hurting,’’ said Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios. One priority is altering the maximum unemployment benefit available to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. At $240 a week, it hasn’t been altered in 17 years. Only Mississippi pays less. But Gov. Doug Ducey, in an interview with Capitol Media Services, showed no interest in altering that formula. “We certainly want to make sure that if somebody is displaced that they don’t fall through the cracks and that there’s a social safety net for them,’’ he said. “But I

new Scottsdale mandate is designed to support “Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s “Mask Up Arizona” campaign and is aligned with Maricopa County’s face covering requirement.” Ortega’s order requires masks and social distancing in most public spaces,

gotten worse,’’ the governor said, with a definite correlation between that gap and economic and racial lines. “Distance learning has not been good for these students, who often don’t have wi-fi or a laptop available,’’ the governor said. And that, he said, leads to his suggestions of summer school, longer school days and one-on-one targeted instruction and tutoring. “It should be our goal that every student graduates high school on time and at grade level,’’ Ducey said. Karamargin stressed, though, that the governor was not seeking to mandate

“Why on earth would we ever want to follow their failed and depressing example?’’ he asked. The governor said he wants to “reform and lower taxes’’ to “preserve Arizona’s good name as a responsible, competitive state.’’ couples filing jointly. But Ducey, who opposed Proposition 208, said states that take more money from residents “chase away opportunity

with their new taxes.’’ “Why on earth would we ever want to follow their failed and depressing example?’’ he asked. The governor said he wants to “reform and lower taxes’’ to “preserve Arizona’s good name as a responsible, competitive state.’’ An aide to the governor said what his boss has in mind includes both reductions in both business and individual taxes. Ducey also said he wants lawmakers to create “better roads and bridges.’’ But the governor has consistently opposed any effort to raise gasoline taxes that finance those improvements even as vehicles are more fuel efficient and revenues are not keeping pace with traffic.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

LEGISLATURE �� page 8

He cited several platform items on the Chamber’s legislative wish list and said that tax reform, including “the disproportionate share of the property tax businesses face” are big priorities. Rep. Jeff Weninger said one of his priorities will be security immunity for businesses from most lawsuits filed by employees who contract COVID-19 in the workplace – a measure that passed the House but stalled last year when the session was abruptly canceled because of the pandemic. He also said he wants to make it easier for to-go sales of alcoholic beverages for restaurants. Rep. Jennifer Pawlik said various education-related issues are her primary concern. She wants to stabilize education funding for schools, and improve funding for special education and early childhood education. She also is supporting more funding for higher education and workforce development, stating, “We want to make sure the students who are leaving our high schools are ready to go right into jobs.” The issue of education funding goes to what Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, believes is a broken promise. When the pandemic hit, schools went to online learning. But the state funding formula provides fewer dollars for each child who is not sitting in a classroom. On top of that, some students didn’t come back, leaving districts with fixed costs but less state aid which is based on the number of students. Ducey announced in June he was setting aside $370 million to guarantee that schools this academic year would have at least 98 percent of the funding they were getting last year. But that money ran out, leaving many districts with less. “I really think we need to make sure we deliver on our promises,’’ said Boyer who chairs the Senate Education Committee. But the governor said not to look for him to supplement that $370 million appropriation. “That’s been sent to schools,’’ Ducey said. “Unfortunately, districts saw much higher declines in enrollment than they originally anticipated.’’ Boyer said he is still trying to figure out how much more schools need, either because of the lower reimbursement for online learning or declining enrollment. “The principle for me is holding schools harmless,’’ he said.

CITY NEWS

GENERAL ��

“Although I like and agree with some of what they have done, especially in the later chapters, I cannot support the draft as it stands now,” Littlefield said. “I truly believe it has some very serious weaknesses.” Council on a 4-3 vote approved Littlefield’s request and will vote on the task force Tuesday, Jan. 19. Council members Solange Whitehead, Betty Janik and Tom Durham joined Littlefield in supporting the measure. Mayor David Ortega, Linda Milhaven and Tammy Caputi opposed it. “My concern is when a bureaucracy starts piling on bureaucracy,” said Ortega, the only member who was also on council in 2002 the last time voters approved a new General Plan. City Manager Jim Thompson said any new committee review could cause further delays in the public review process that would likely push the vote into 2022. But Littlefield said it was more important to “get it right” than to finish the process quickly, stating, “I am very afraid if we do not (create a new task force), regardless of what we do in our meetings, it’s not going to pass.” The city has not passed a new general plan with voters in nearly 20 years despite a state law requiring municipalities to receive voter approval of a new plan or plan update every 10 years. Council adopted a new plan in 2011 but it failed at the ballot box the next year.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

A second attempt a few years later failed after Council declined to bring a draft before voters. In 2019, following an inquiry by the Progress, the Legislative Council at the Arizona State Legislature provided an opinion to Rep. John Kavanagh that found Scottsdale is likely in violation of state law. The city disagreed with the opinion. Erin Perreault, the city’s long range planning services manager told the Progress in 2019 that “Planning staff has been advised that the 2011 General Plan update process satisfied Scottsdale’s 10-year state required General Plan update requirement.” Despite the potential violation, the Legislative Council also determined that state law includes no enforcement mechanism or penalty for failure to update the plan. “There is no follow-up provision that contemplates what is to occur if and when a city does not pass a motion or reconsider a motion to readopt a plan or adopt a new plan,” the Legislative Council memo stated, adding: “Accordingly, we are unable to state whether or not the City of Scottsdale is required to take further action on the general plan under these circumstances.” In 2019, Kavanagh, whose district covers most of Scottsdale, said “it’s really depressing” when cities don’t follow the law and said he could introduce a bill in the future to add enforcement. However, in the years since, Kavanagh, who was re-elected in 2020, has not followed through with a bill closing the general plan loophole.

In late 2019, he told the Progress “There is currently a legislative mechanism, which is the 1487 action, but it would potentially strip Scottsdale of millions of dollars in revenue. I am not prepared to do that to my constituents. It will be up to the Attorney General to litigate it in court or the voters to change leadership at the polls.” Still, at the Jan. 12 meeting, Milhaven suggested the city was at risk, albeit a small one, that city could lose state shared revenues under a broad state law prohibiting cities from falling out of compliance with state law. City Attorney Sherry Scott said she did not believe the city was at risk, because its good faith attempts to pass a plan satisfied the “spirit” of the law. “I’m not concerned as the city attorney, but there is a perception issue that we are in violation,” she said. Both Milhaven and Caputi disagreed with the argument the city has not done enough public outreach or that it was somehow rushing the process, citing the fact that Council already approved a process involving the old citizen review committee and had worked on the issue for months. But supporters of creating the new commission said they had serious issues with the draft general plan and would like the new fresh eyes, including those who do not serve on boards and commissions, to provide additional feedback. They expressed concerns that hundreds of comments and requested chang-

es submitted by the public were not included in the draft revised by the citizen review committee. “There’s substantial opposition from parts of our community, and it’s not just one particular section; it’s basically all the way from north to south,” Councilwoman Betty Janik said. Janik said the pandemic severely hampered the ability of the public to participate in the process. However, Ortega said many of those comments were not submitted until the committee’s last meeting and there was little time to add them to the draft before the committee dissolved. But Ortega said the end of the committee review was not the end of the public comment process – far from it. “Remember that the public comment is not closed…only the work of the (committee) was terminated,” he said. Under state law, the draft plan still had to undergo a six-month review process that includes public comment and multiple reviews before the Planning Commission and Council. That process will now likely be delayed to give a new task force the time to review the 310-page draft general plan. More will be known about the potential composition of the new committee when the Council meets on Jan. 19. Littlefield indicated membership would be open to any resident and encouraged all interested parties to apply. Council would appoint members from applications submitted to the city.

gle to cope with the trauma endured by pets, the emotional distress and stressful social interactions in a line of work where the patient can’t speak, and pet owners facing life and death decisions. Veterinarians are 2.7 times more likely than the general public to die by suicide, according to a 2020 study from Merck Animal Health in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Association. Female veterinarians have higher levels of suicidal thoughts, but male veterinarians have a higher rate of suicide attempts, the study found. Shortly after Sweitzer’s scare, he became a founding board member of Not

One More Vet, an organization working to help prevent veterinarian suicide. It was founded after a California veterinarian died by suicide in 2014. Jordan benShea, the executive director of the VIN Foundation, has seen some of the struggles veterinarians share with the network firsthand. “I think the two most challenging factors in the veterinary profession right now are mental health and student debt, and they play off each other,” benShea said. The VIN Foundation’s student debt center includes a map that lists general costs for all veterinarian schools within the U.S., the U.K., Australia and

the Caribbean. The most expensive U.S. school is the Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine in Glendale, Arizona, where the average cost is $421,137. Medical schools of any kind come with steep prices, but one factor makes it more difficult for those in animal medicine to climb out of debt: Veterinarians face that debt while making about half what doctors in human medicine earn. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a veterinarian in California in 2019 was

High rate of veterinarian suicide a problem BY ALISON CUTLER Cronkite News

n 2014, veterinarian Jason Sweitzer started his 10-minute drive home from the clinic where he routinely treated animals that had been stabbed, shot, abused and made to suffer other horrors. This time, his thoughts drifted to suicide. “No one else was on the road. What if my car just veered off the highway?” Sweitzer recalled. Hundreds of other veterinarians have traveled the same path as Sweitzer. Many veterinarians face a mountain of debt after medical school and strug-

see VET page 16

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Former COVID patients’ plasma sought

donation organizations are collecting blood that hospitals can administer. “It’s an emergency need for more convalescent plasma donors, especially now as we’re seeing cases rising,” Vitalant spokeswoman Sue Thew said. “As people recover, that’s one way that they can give back in a way that nobody else can.” Phoenix police Officer Santos Robles contracted COVID-19 in July and experienced life-threatening symptoms that

twice put him in intensive care. He said he received five plasma transfusions and believes with each procedure, his health improved. “It shortens the symptoms that you have,” Robles said. “The fevers start to kind of dissipate, and you start feeling a little bit better.” Carlos Sanchez, director of public affairs in Hidalgo County, Texas, received a plasma transfusion after contracting

COVID-19 this summer. He remembers feeling better but isn’t sure whether the benefits were real or psychological. “I don’t know that (the symptoms) disappeared magically, but in my mind (they) did,” Sanchez said. “I just felt a cool feeling. … Whether it had ancillary, physical help, I’ll never know.” Clinical trials, including one overseen by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, are continuing to determine whether plasma transfusions have real benefits. Dr. Marilyn Glassberg Csete, chief of pulmonary medicine at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine, said more proof is still needed. “They can’t say there is evidence unless there’s a randomized, double-blind, robustly constructed and conducted trial,” she said. The donation itself takes about an hour, and donors must have been symptom-free for at least four weeks. Robles recently donated blood in hope of paying it forward. “Somebody wanted to help somebody when they donated the plasma that I got,” he said. “So therefore, if the plasma that I give helps somebody, that’s the goal – because it helped me.”

when Pion went windsurfing and almost didn’t turn back to shore. Other board members could testify to the hard days on the job as well. Many of the accounts led back to one memory: euthanasia. Sweitzer graduated in 2009 from the prestigious UC Davis Veterinary School, where in one clinic, the colored dye of the euthaniasia drugs was changed frequently so it wouldn’t be as traumatic for the veterinarians. UC Davis’ VetMed department has its own counseling services to serve student needs, and coordinator Dr. Zachary Ward has heard students share their anxiety, fear and grievances. A major concern he has involves the trauma of putting down animals on a sometimes daily basis. Common responses to an animal being put down include relief that they

“aren’t in pain anymore” or they’re “in a better place.” Such comments can begin to bleed into veterinarian philosophy, Ward said. “Veterinarians have much greater access to the means that they would use to end their life, and are quite literally trained on how to euthanize another living thing,” he said. “They’ve really come to understand that euthanasia can be a viable treatment plan for suffering and it can be a natural next step for them to think that it could be a viable treatment plan for their own suffering.” A common misconception between veterinarians and clients is how expensive animal medicine is. More than 70 percent of respondents claimed that scathing reviews and customer’s unwillingness to pay for animal health care were a major concern

in the veterinary field, according to the survey by Merck Animal Health. What many owners don’t realize, benShea said, is that some of their pet’s medical bills are significantly high because pet owners lack health insurance. According to a 2020 research report from IBISWorld, as little as 3 percent of companion animals in the U. S. are insured. A survey conducted by LendEDU stated that those without insurance had an average expense of $1,458 annually on their pet’s medical expenses. Around the country, the demand for mental health assistance in the veterinary field is high. UC Davis’ VetMED counseling program is expanding, the VIN Foundation receives emails from veterinarians asking for help and Not One More Vet has grown to more than 20,000 members in six years.

BY HARRY CROTON Cronkite News

s vaccinations for COVID-19 continue nationwide, blood donation agencies are stepping up efforts to encourage those who have had the disease and recovered to donate their plasma to help treat the sick. January is National Blood Donor Month, a time when agencies typically work to recruit more donors as bad winter weather and seasonal illnesses reduce donations. This year, the American Red Cross and other groups are heightening calls for donations of blood and plasma, the liquid portion of blood that contains antibodies that can fight off infections. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 on an emergency basis. Some studies show that plasma therapy may speed recovery time for COVID patients, but research is ongoing, and one study published in November in the New England Journal of Medicine found no significant differences between those who received plasma and those who did not. Vitalant of Scottsdale and other blood-

VET �� page 14

$116,440, while surgeons and physicians in the state on average made $208,740 annually. Nationally, veterinarians make an average of $104,820 annually; in Arizona the average is $107,700. Mental health concerns have led to support groups like VIN Foundation’s Vet4Vet organization, a counseling program offering worldwide confidential peer support for veterinarians. Paul Pion, a board certified veterinarian and a founder of the Veterinary Information Network, remembers his internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City in 1983. Some nights he was the only veterinarian on duty from midnight to 8 a.m. It was traumatic for a new graduate. There were days after rough shifts

Firefighters last fall gave plasma and blood in a special drive at the Hall of Flame Museum. (Cronkite News)

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MLK Day observance is virtual this year BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

cottsdale nonprofit Community Celebrating Diversity’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration will continue as planned – albeit, with two major changes. This year, due to the pandemic, the CCD’s 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration is free and held virtually. The annual event is currently available for viewing on the CCD’s website through the rest of the month. “We never considered canceling,” said CCD Board President Kevin Richardson. “We always knew from the very beginning that we’d either postpone for a safe time or go virtual and make the move towards, how do we always keep the message alive and help everyone in our world understand diversity?”

Former Scottsdale Community College President Dr. Jan Gehler and recently retired Scottsdale Police Chief Alan Rodbell will be honored at the virtual 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration. The annual event is currently available to view on the CCD’s website. (CCD)

A major fundraiser for CCD, the MLK Community Celebration event typically draws 400 to 500 people, including Scottsdale business, faith, political and diversity leaders, and features nationally renowned speakers who represent “honoring the history and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” By hosting the event virtually, however, Richardson said he hopes to reach even more people. “We’re very proud of the work that’s been done and how we’re going to be able to connect with so many different people in the Scottsdale community – and hopefully worldwide now – by taking our events online in a virtual format for the first time ever,” Richardson said. The 26th annual celebration features peace activist, motivational speaker and video journalist Ken E. Nwadike, Jr.

see MLK page 18

Author’s books teach kids love, acceptance BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

am Baker’s childhood was no ordinary one. Growing up in a small southern town in Mississippi during the Great Depression, Baker would spend his days listening to the radio or feeding the large green caterpillars that’d crawl on the dill plants in the backyard — or even playing with his pet white rat. A friend gave him the pet rat when he was about 10 and it became the inspiration of a children’s book that he wrote nearly 90 years later. “Oscar The Mouse” is Baker’s second book, which he wrote while quarantined at his retirement home.

Sam Baker, a 98-year-old Scottsdale resident and WWII veteran, recently published his second children’s book while in quarantine, “Oscar The Mouse.” (Courtesy of Sam Baker)

“After the publication of my first book, ‘The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm,’ I thought it was time for book No. 2,” Baker said. “I just let my mind wander and I filtered out many ideas, until I remembered my pet white rat and thought that it could develop into a great story.” With illustrator Lisa Morris by his side, Baker spent three to four months writing and creating “Oscar The Mouse,” a book that tells the story of a mischievous little mouse who becomes a little girl’s first pet. “She was large but ever so friendly — and clean as could be,” Baker recalled of his pet rat. “However, my mother would not let me bring her into the

see BAKER page 18

NEIGHBORS

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MLK �� page 17

community events and provide scholarships to students. Since 2007, 45 students have been awarded a total of $109,000 in scholarships. And although the CCD offers the event for free this year, the organization was able to secure sponsorships. The MLK celebration event will also honor two Diversity Champions, former Scottsdale Community College President Dr. Jan Gehler and recently retired Scottsdale Police Chief Alan Rodbell. Diversity Champions are described as individuals who exemplify King’s philosophy and “have enriched the community by empowering others.” Gehler said that as SCC president, she sponsored a variety of clubs and services reflecting Scottsdale’s diversity — “for all students of color, for the LGBTQ community, for older students, and those of other diverse backgrounds.” Gehler was also committed to working

with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Community to create opportunities for Native American students. Rodbell also participated on the CCD board and led a variety of local and regional efforts bringing racial and social justice to Scottsdale. He also served as an advisory board member of the East Valley NAACP and a member of the Arizona Black Law Enforcement Employees Association among numerous civic and charitable organizations. The CCD is a Scottsdale-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to “enhance the perception and understanding of diversity” and provide opportunities “for citizens to recognize similarities and to acknowledge differences.” The MLK celebration has already been recorded and the final touches were put together earlier this month. “This event never disappoints,” Gehler

said. “Though it will be very different this year, the keynote speaker ... and other program pieces are likely just what we all need to hear right now. These are challenging times for many reasons. Folks who ‘attend’ this wonderful event are sure to walk away better informed and spiritually enriched – just as Dr. King would have wanted.” Gehler continued to say that she wonders what Dr. King would be thinking, saying or doing amid this time of unrest. “Through the quagmire of today’s unrest, I think he would be asking us to focus on what is right, to let our words and deeds reflect our humanity, and to leave our place on earth a bit better than we found it. He would ask us to right a wrong, meet another’s need, to ‘serve’ in whatever way possible,” she said. “His life is always an inspiration.” To view the free event, visit CCDArizona.org.

BAKER �� page 17

dren with “Oscar The Mouse.” “Our nation is going through a time of change, a change that is long overdue, but not accepted by all,” Baker said. “Every effort, no matter how small, to achieve the needed change, it needed, and I feel that our book has contributed to the change.” “The future of this nation and the world depends on the children of today,” he continued. “They will determine the future. If the stories they read as children, can direct them to the right path of the future, and my book helped guide them, all my efforts have been richly rewarded.” “We have given away many copies of ‘Oscar’ and will continue to do so, so that those children who didn’t get a book can get the chance to read ‘Oscar’ and be guided by its story,” Baker said. “I have always thought that the gift of a printed children’s book is a gift that lasts a lifetime and one that you

can then pass on to your children,” he added. The most popular reaction he’s received from the book? Three words: “Read it again.” Baker’s daughter, Sally Baker Simon, isn’t surprised her father took up writing children’s books “because he has a wonderful imagination.” “I love the energy and joy of Oscar and his mischievous sweet nature,” she said. “My dad created Oscar to help children playfully address their fears of things under the bed. My dad also loves creating talking animals who bring fun and joy into people’s lives.” “He invented stories for us when we were young, mostly about a green tomato worm named Herman that got into all kinds of antics, even sneaking into space capsule with John Glenn!” Baker’s first book is inspired by the childhood bedtime stories he told them, Simon added.

“I think writing children’s books has brought out a more playful side of my father,” she said. “Oscar” helped Baker tap into his creative side amid a pandemic. “He had something to look forward to during a challenging time,” Simon said. “I think both books improved his life. He loved being involved in the process of creating a book and working with people over Zoom.” In addition to dedicating the book to Baker’s grandchildren, Baker has dedicated “Oscar” to healthcare workers and first responders. “Lisa and I would also like to honor all the medical professionals, civil servants, military, first responders, truckers, volunteers, and those behind the scenes during the battle against COVID-19,” Baker wrote. “God bless you all.” To purchase the book, visit sambakerbooks.com.

Known as the “Free Hugs Guy,” Nwadike is the founder of the Free Hugs Project, created in 2014 in response to the bombing of the Boston Marathon. As part of the Free Hugs Project, Nwadike produces motivational videos to spread love, inspire change, and raise awareness of social issues. So far, his videos have been viewed a staggering 150 million times. “Speakers like Ken come talk about how they’re still keeping diversity alive or what their specific niche is and how they’re helping diversity,” Richardson said. “He’s had to de-escalate violence and protests and riots, and he’s been out there in the United States trying to help the divide go away and help people better understand each other.” The proceeds from the CCD’s signature dinner allows the nonprofit to support

house.” While “The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm” is a chapter book about unconditional love, “Oscar The Mouse” is a picture book about inclusivity and acceptance. “The basis for the story resided in my childhood. My father was a cotton farmer, who had many, many people of color living on his farm,” Baker said. Both Baker’s father and mother treated everyone who lived at or visited the family farm with respect, regardless of the color of their skin, Baker said. “What I learned from my parents guided my actions and thoughts, for my entire life,” he added. “It’s reflected in how I treat people, how I judge people, and how my wife and I taught our children to view people.” It’s what Baker hopes to teach chil-

Tell our readers about your opinions. Send letters to the editor to pmaryniak@scottsdale.org

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AIA board reverses course, allows winter sports BY ZACH ALVIRA Progress Sports Editor

ust days after the Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board voted to cancel the winter sports season amid the surge in COVID-19, the board reversed its decisions Jan. 12. The 5-4 re-vote in favor of winter sports beginning on Jan. 18 followed an identical margin to cancel them. Jim Love, who represents the Flowing Wells Uni�ied Arizona School Boards Association, changed his vote and joined proponents of the Jan. 18 start date. Love said his change of heart was largely due to his desire to give schools the choice whether to have sports on campus. “This has been a very dif�icult decision for the Executive Board,” AIA Executive Director David Hines said in a press release. “They have been weighing the concerns of the medical community, including the AIA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, and the requests by our member schools. We all want winter sports to happen, but it must be done safely.” The AIA board’s initial decision to cancel winter sports was met with backlash from players, parents and coaches across the state. A small protest of athletes formed outside AIA of�ices shortly after the initial Jan. 8 announcement to cancel winter sports. A group of athletes and parents returned Jan. 12. A petition calling for a re-vote was created by a North Canyon student and shared across several social media platforms. The petition was signed by over 30,000 people in just a few hours. Additionally, administrators and coaches immediately began brainstorming basketball, soccer and wrestling leagues independent of the Arizona Interscholastic Association. Several schools said they would explore options to give athletes an opportunity to compete at some capacity.

Saguaro boys’ basketball coach Lucas Ramirez said he was thankful his team will have a season after the AIA Executive Board voted Tuesday to move forward with winter sports. (Courtesy Saguaro Basketball)

it from the beginning.” In approving the winter sports season, new recommendations were also adopted. The board voted unanimously to allow two parents or guardians per player to attend. Each school will be required to complete the AIA COVID-19 Athlete and Coach Monitoring Form on the day of athletic events. Those forms must be As the AIA Executive Board met to vote again on winter exchanged with oppossports Tuesday, a crowd gathered outside its ofﬁces to protest the initial ruling Friday, Jan. 8 to cancel the sea- ing teams and will be monitored by of�icials. son. (Pablo Robles/Staff) If the forms are not ex“We are grateful for the AIA’s reversal changed, of�icials will be of the decision,” Saguaro boys’ basketball pulled from the contest. coach Lucas Ramirez said. “We understand Additionally, masks must be worn at all the realities of the virus and have respected times by coaches, of�icials and athletes,

even those actively participating. Hines said any school that violates the guidelines will lose access to of�icials. Ramirez said he and his team have done their best to follow strict guidelines since they were �irst able to begin practices in November. On Tuesday night, hours after the vote, he and his team returned to the court and practiced in masks. He acknowledged how dif�icult a decision it was for the AIA, and how thankful he is for the opportunity to play after initially looking grim. “While this decision was not an easy one to make, we will honor it by doing the right thing every day by continuing to follow protocol and procedures given to us by health and medical professionals,” Ramirez said. The AIA Executive Board emphasized throughout Tuesday’s zoom meeting the need for schools, players, coaches and parents to abide by the new guidelines to ensure the safest possible environment for winter sports to continue. Overall, they acknowledged the possible risk to the already strained healthcare system across Arizona due to COVID-19 and emphasized it will take action from all of those involved to make the season a success. “This has been a very challenging situation. While we all desire to have our high school students in school and participate in interscholastic sports and activities, we feel it is imperative to consider the recommendations of medical professionals based on their expertise,” the board said in a joint statement. “Reinstating the winter season poses a risk to the healthcare system, which could impact students who may be injured. We believe that these additional modi�ications will serve to mitigate this risk as much as possible. Our member schools and families must understand how critical it is to adhere completely to all modi�ications.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 23

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Sage Art mart offers an array of artists BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

eople looking for a way to support Arizona’s local artists can do so at the Arizona Sage Art Market this month. Held on Jan. 20 at the Holland Center in Scottsdale, the sixth annual event features more than 30 juried artists and their work, and offers a variety of mediums – including paintings, jewelry and glass art – for viewing and for purchase. “The artists are incredible this year,” said Betsy Anderson, program and events manager at The Holland Center. The free event will take place both indoors and outdoors to allow for social distancing. Everyone will be required to wear masks, including participating

This year marks northern Scottsdale resident Joanie Wolter’s (left) first time participating in the Arizona Sage Art Market, a day-long art market offering purchasable artworks by 30 different local artists. (Susan Kern-Fleischer/Special to the Progress)

artists and attendees. “Our primary concern is that people be safe and healthy,” Anderson said. “But we also realize that isolation is taking a toll on people, and we want to provide them with a safe venue so they can get out and enjoy themselves. “We feel that the Arizona Sage Art Market will fulfill that role in a responsible and safe way.” Anderson said staff will sanitize all surfaces throughout the event and tables will be more spread out. The number of artists accepted into the event was also reduced by a third to comply maintain adequate social distancing. “We gave the artists the opportunity

see SAGE page 24

Popular Jewish film fest goes virtual this year

BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

he Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival marks its 25th anniversary this year and will celebrate it virtually. Celebrating Jewish culture through film, the festival – Feb. 14 through March 3 – is typically held in three cities across the Valley, including Scottsdale but instead takes place online with three extra days of screenings. Considered the longest-running film festival in the Valley, this year’s festival features more than 30 feature-length and short films. Its virtual format will allow attendees to easily build a flexible, customized schedule. “There is something for everyone: drama, comedy, biographical documentaries, thrillers, spy stories, musicals,

“Hunting Elephants” is a heartwarming caper comedy, starring Sir Patrick Stewart, about a precocious teen conspiring with three senior citizens to rob a bank to save his mother’s house. (GPJFF)

family films,” said Co-Executive Director Jerry Mittelman.

Mittelman said screening committees viewed about 100 films and selected

what they thought the audiences would enjoy. “Their successful choices in the past years have proven to be winners and they will again this year,” he said. Participants will also have the opportunity to watch interviews with filmmakers and experts following many of the screenings. This year’s festival also features a free screening of the documentary “Shared Legacies” on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., coinciding with Black History Month. The documentary highlights the coalition and friendship between the Jewish and African American communities during the Civil Rights Movement. “This film focuses on a proud chapter in modern American history when two communities of different backgrounds

see GPJFF page 24

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SAGE �� page 23

to choose an outdoor space in the parking lot. This is the first time we have done that,” Anderson said. Another big change this year is the cancelation of their Friday evening show. Typically, the Arizona Sage Art Market event kicks off with an opening reception the night before where attendees enjoy snacks and drinks provided by the artists. “It was more social and the social distancing would have been a challenge,” Anderson said. Among this year’s artists is northern Scottsdale resident Joanie Wolter, a first-time participant but frequent attendee. “I’ve always attended as a shopper and have gotten some wonderful gifts that usually end up being for me. This year, I decided to create some new pieces and participate,” Wolter said. Wolter said she decided to take part because it’s a “wonderful show.” “People know of the quality of the art, and it’s well attended,” she said. “Not to mention, it gives all us artists a venue to show our work. In this time of COVID, that’s a big deal.” Wolter is a fiber clay sculpting artist who creates “whimsical” pieces “meant to make people smile.”

GPJFF �� page 23

collaborated to transform the moral conscience of the nation,” Mittelman added. And as a community service, the festival is also offering a free film each month to more than 40 senior residence facilities throughout the Valley. “Our aim is to provide quality films to those who are shut in, or don’t get around the town,” Mittelman said. “Residents are able to view the films on their closed-circuit house TV.” Last year, the festival featured 30 films and saw a turnout of close to 13,000 attendees over a two-week period. “When I started volunteering 23 years ago, if we had 2,000 tuchuses in the seats over a six-film, one-week period, that was considered a winner year,” Mittelman said. “The attendance has grown by leaps and bounds.” When COVID-19 took hold of the

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

“This year, I’ve decided to do something special for any show I’m in. For the Sage Market, not only will a percent go to the Holland Center, but I have created some bunnies and the sales from those will go to benefit the Furrytail Bunny Rescue,” Wolter said. The Furrytail Bunny Rescue is a domestic rabbit rescue and sanctuary that rescues, cares for and works to place domestic rabbits in forever homes. “They, like so many other rescues, need help; so, I chose them,” Wolter said. “My At the sixth Annual Arizona Sage Art Market, attendees will be creations are a hoot able to purchase works of art from a variety of mediums, includ- and will be aweing painting, jewelry, glass art and more. (The Holland Center/Facebook) some as Valentine’s or Easter gifts. I At the art market, she will have a few think they will be a fiber clay bunnies for sale benefiting a huge success.” Rio Verde-based nonprofit. Fifteen percent of the Arizona Sage Art state, however, festival organizers never considered cancelling this year’s event. “The board of directors was unanimous that we would have a festival, and at a meeting in spring, made another decision to do it virtually,” he said. It was a challenge to shift to a virtual format, too, but Mittelman noted they had time on their side to learn. “None of us knew anything about how to do this,” he said. “The past nine months were as if we had to rebuild from the inside out. And mazel tov — a new baby was born!” A custom-made website ticketing system, which had to be integrated with a streaming service, was created by Cinesend and OrderTech. Viewers will have 72 hours from the posted time to begin to watch and 48 hours from when they start the film to complete viewing. They will be able to

pause, rewind and even switch devices within the house over the 48 hours. Mittelman is confident the audience will be pleased with the virtual format. “We feel the technical changes won’t deter our viewers,” he said. “No rush to get to the theater! No parking or driving at night problems! All the refreshments you can eat!” Mittelman added that they will have support phone lines should anyone encounter any technical and billing problems. Looking ahead, organizers are considering transforming their film festival into a hybrid format, with some features available for viewing in a theater and others virtually. “Virtual offers some advantages that the theater doesn’t, so it may turn out to be highly acceptable to many,” Mittelman said. “But there is nothing like sharing a good film with an appreciative audience, the munch of good pop-

Market proceeds will go to the Holland Center to support its programming. The Holland Center is a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing arts, education and community in the Desert Foothills region. The Center offers an array of programs, including Lifelong Learning classes, fine arts exhibits, performing arts through the Desert Foothills Theater and more. “I suggest folks come out to this show to support the Holland Center,” Wolter said. “They do so much for the community and are so willing to reach out to artists to help them show their work. Also, you’ll find some unique and wonderful items here. As a person who is usually a shopper, I can tell you firsthand you won’t be disappointed.” “And we have 29 artists who are willing to share their passion with others, at this very difficult time, in a safe environment,” Anderson added. “What could be better than that?”

If You Go

Arizona Sage Art Market Where: The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th Street When: Jan. 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: Free admission Website: hollandcenter.org corn and a really big screen. If we go hybrid, then it starts all over again.” According to Mittelman, organizers are elated to reach a 25-year milestone – and grateful to the community for helping them reach it. “We have been successful operating as an all-volunteer working board of directors, screening and planning for over a year for each succeeding year; and the attendance and financial support from the entire community, not just Jewish people, has been overwhelming,” Mittelman said.

If You Attend

Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival When: Feb. 14-March 3 Tickets: $12 per ﬁlm, $180 Festival Pass (watch all ﬁlms) Website: gpjff.org

FOOD & DRINK

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Old Town gets a down-home Nashville kitchen BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

rescott may have Whiskey Row, but if restaurant owner Mike Haley’s vision for Scottsdale comes to fruition, Scottsdale could soon have Honky-Tonk Row. And it all starts with Old Town’s newest restaurant-bar, Belle’s Nashville Kitchen. “The whole idea of [Belle’s] is to really be a Nashville-style honky-tonk where there’s live music all day, every day,” Belle’s owner Haley said. “My vision in 10 years would be that all Main Street would be the new Honky-Tonk Row.” Bringing the taste of Music City to Old Town, Belle’s specializes in Nashville staples, like the hot chicken sandwich, and southern classics, like jambalaya. “That chicken has gotta be moist. It’s gotta be cooked properly. It’s gotta be cooked evenly. I don’t think you can hide, no matter what you put on it, the quality and how the chicken is prepared,” Haley said. And that is what makes Belle’s signature menu

Mike Haley owns the newly opened honky-tonk-themed restaurant and bar, Belle’s Nashville Kitchen. (Tim Fuchs)

The Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich is Belle’s Nashville Kitchen signature menu item. It’s a house-fried chicken doused in spices and seated on a brioche bun with slaw and dill pickles. (Tim Fuchs)

item, the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, so special. “And the hot paste that Sam [Roberts] created is just awesome,” Haley added. The menu was developed by awardwinning chef Samantha Roberts, who has also developed menus for Riot Hospitality Group restaurants and bars such as Riot House, El Hefe Mexican Restaurant and Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row. It is also sprinkled with more Scottsdalefriendly dishes, like a poke board and spicy barbecue sauce-baked salmon with pineapple salsa and almond rice. “I want people to keep coming back because the food’s great, but you can’t eat fried food every day,” Haley said of his healthier fare. As for why Haley and Roberts ditched the BBQ, another Nashville staple? “Old Town Scottsdale is not really that spot,” Haley said. “People see barbecue once in a while. They don’t come back to the barbecue.” Since Belle’s opened on Dec. 12, the Honky-Tonk Brunch has been popular

among patrons. Belle’s Honky-Tonk Brunch, held on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., features everything from biscuits and gravy and build-your-own Bloody Marys to their $12 Hot Chicken Biscuit, a hot chicken topped with melted cheddar, an overmedium egg, bacon, honey drizzle sandwiched between a fresh-baked biscuit. Live music also plays an important role at Belle’s — as any Nashville-inspired restaurant and bar should. An acoustic guitarist perform during brunch and Belle’s will launch a live music event on Tuesday evenings called Tune-Up Tuesdays featuring local singer-songwriter, Blaine Long. “He’s a super nice guy, incredible voice, and he was the very �irst person to play at Belle’s,” Haley said. The restaurant is inspired by Nashville but also pays homage to historic Scottsdale restaurant Lulu Belle’s, which once existed in the space Belle’s occupies today. The legendary Lulu Belle’s was a popular Gay-1890s-themed bar and restaurant

and the “only watering hole in town” that operated from the 1950s to the 1990s. According to JoAnn Handley, manager of the Scottsdale Historical Museum, Lulu Belle’s opened around the same time as Valley Ho Hotel (now known as Hotel Valley Ho), just after the Safari. It was described in media accounts as an upscale spot where Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood had their wedding dinner. “From everything I’ve seen, all the pictures I’ve seen, it just looks like everybody’s there to eat some good food, have a good time hanging out with their friends. It seems like it’s got good energy, and I just want to continue that, just in a different theme,” Haley said of what he hopes Belle’s adds to the building’s history. Haley said he also hopes to hang up some images of Lulu Belle’s inside his honky-tonk restaurant. “It’s cool to put on the walls a little extra history,” he said. Belle’s also offers happy hour specials from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and reverse happy hour on Sundays through Thursdays from 10 p.m. to close. This year, Haley’s hopes for Belle’s is to secure a conditional use permit allowing for ampli�ied music to showcase two- and three-piece bands. “And I’m hoping that the pandemic goes away, so we can start doing some dancing, some line dancing, some good old honkytonk-feeling vibes,” Haley added. He’s also looking for spot No. 2. “I’d love to put it right down the street,” Haley said. “Maybe it’s a little different concept — maybe a little bit honky-tonk. HonkyTonk Row just has a good ring to it.”

If You Go

Belle’s Nashville Kitchen 7212 E. Main Street 480-590-3190 bellesnashvillekitchen.com

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

Public Notices

NOTICE OF BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the Board of Adjustment of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hold a public hearing on February 3, 2021, at 5:00 P.M. Until further notice, Board of Adjustment meetings will be held electronically. While physical facilities are not open to the public, Board of Adjustment meetings are televised on Cox Cable Channel 11 and streamed online at ScottsdaleAZ.gov (search “live stream”) to allow the public to listen/view the meeting in progress. 19-BA-2020 (Sherwood Heights Appeal) Appeal of the Zoning Administrator's written interpretation, dated October 19, 2020, as supplemented; related to Section 7.201.A. Adjustment of front yard requirements, as applicable to a corner lot within the R1-10 PRD Zoning District, including the method of calculation for the front yard setbacks. Staff contact person Nate Tonnemacher, 480-312-4205. Applicant contact person is George A Schade Jr, (480) 949-8946. 22-BA-2020 Request for a variance from the City of Scottsdale Zoning Ordinance, section 5.504.E.5, pertaining to the required setback from the longer street frontage on a corner lot for a property with Single Family (R1-7) zoning located at 7138 E. Orange Blossom Lane. Staff contact person is Omar Smailbegovic, 480-312-3087. Applicant contact person is Vito Dascoli, (480) 241-5180. 23-BA-2020 Request by owner for a variance to the City of Scottsdale Zoning Ordinance Section 5.204.E.2. pertaining to the required side yard setback for a property with Single-Family Residential (R1-35) zoning located at 10629 N. 83rd Street. Staff contact person is Nate Tonnemacher, 480-312-4205. Applicant contact person is Ed Lisogar, (602) 3705670. 24-BA-2020 Request for a variance from the City of Scottsdale Zoning Ordinance, section 5.304.E.2 as amended in Zoning Case 5-ZN-1996, pertaining to the required setbacks for a property with Single Family Residential with Planned Residential Development overlay (R1-18 PRD) zoning located at 11194 E North Lane. Staff contact person is Omar Smailbegovic, 480-312-3087. Applicant contact person is Natasha Hartrick, (480) 776-9778. For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov search "Scottsdale Planning Case Files" or in your URL search bar you can type in https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/. A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND ANY MEETING LOCATION UPDATES, IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING Online at: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/boards/board-of-adjustment ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE INVITED TO LISTEN/VIEW THIS MEETING. CHAIRMAN BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT Attest Karen Hemby Planning Specialist For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/boards/board-of-adjustment Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting Staff at 480-312-7767. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange accommodations. For TTY users, the Arizona relay service (1-800-367-8939) may contact Staff at 480-312-7767 Published: Scottsdale Progress, Jan. 17, 2021/ 35652

CLASSIFIEDS 27

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NOTICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hold a public hearing on February 4, 2021, at 6:00 P.M Until further notice, Historic Preservation Commission meetings will be held electronically. While physical facilities are not open to the public, Historic Preservation Commission meetings are available on Scottsdale’s YouTube channel to allow the public to virtually attend and listen/view the meeting in progress. Go to ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “live stream”, Click on “Scottsdale YouTube Channel”, Scroll to “Upcoming live streams”, Select the applicable meeting. Instructions on how to provide Public Comments will be provided on the posted agenda 10-ZN-2020 (The Triangle “The Kimsey Building”) Request by owner for a Zoning District Map Amendment from Central Business Downtown Overlay (C-2 DO) district to Downtown/ Downtown Multiple Use Type-2 Planned Block Development Downtown Overlay Historic Property (D/DMU-2 PBD DO HP) district, including a Historic Preservation Plan, on +/- 0.40 acres of a +/3.87acre site located at 7120 E. Indian School Road. Staff contact person is Bryan Cluff, 480-312-2258. Applicant contact person is John Berry, 480-385-2727.

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For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov search “Scottsdale Planning Case Files” or in your URL search bar you can type in https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/. A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND ANY MEETING LOCATION UPDATES, IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING Online at: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/boards/historic-preservation-commission ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE INVITED TO LISTEN/VIEW THIS MEETING. CHAIRMAN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Attest Karen Hemby

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For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/boards/historic-preservation-commission Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting Staff at 480-312-7767. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange accommodations. For TTY users, the Arizona relay service (1-800-367-8939) may contact Staff at 480-312-7767. Published: Scottsdale Progress, Jan. 17, 2021/ 35651

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JANUARY 17, 2021

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