Scottsdale Progress - 03-15-2020 by Times Media Group

Scottsdale recycling hosts spiral upward / P. 12

Saguaro High alums reunited on �ilm / P. 39

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

This Week

Virus widens impact in Scottsdale Spring ball, events fall victim to COVID-19. see page 18

NEWS............................... 6

Councilman's ethics hearing begins tomorrow.

NEIGHBORS ......... 24 Artist pours it on.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

he coronavirus began making a major impact on Scottsdale last week as several big events and the rest of Spring Training season were cancelled and concerns

elevated for senior citizens, considered a high-risk for the disease. Among the events that fell victim to concerns about "community spread" of COVID-19 were all performances were weekend performances at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and the 50th Scottsdale Arts Festival. Scottsdale Arts President/CEO Gerd Wuestermann said future performances at the arts center will be reassed on a daily basis as to

whether they will go forward as planned. Meanwhile, although some school districts in the Valley announced prolonged spring breaks, Scottsdale Unified as of press time planned to resume classes this week. Governor Doug Ducey and other state officials held a conference call with some 400 school administrators across the state on

City's food tax One site, many eateries could be voted out by Council

see VIRUS page 16

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

BUSINESS ............... 34 A friend for mom and the kids.

NEIGHBORS ......................................... 24 BUSINESS .............................................. 34 OPINION ................................................ 36 SPORTS ...................................................37 ARTS ........................................................ 39 FOOD & DRINK .................................. 43 CLASSIFIEDS .......................................46

fter some prompting from one of its former members, the Scottsdale City Council will consider eliminating or reducing the city’s sales tax on food eaten at home. On March 18, the City Council will consider eliminating the 1.75 percent tax or reducing it by as much as 1 percent. Just weeks ago, the City Council voted 6-1 to send all revenues from the tax on food con-

see FOOD TAX page 14

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Dan Santos is the general manager of Kitchen United Mix, a unique food hall in Scottsdale where guests can order from a variety of local, regional and national restaurants under one roof for takeout or delivery. To read how it works, see page 43. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

SUSD put more money in classroom last year 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 Copy Editor April Morganroth | 480-656-9667 | amorganroth@ timespublications.com Production Coordinator Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 | production@scottsdale.org Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@scottsdale.org Marketing Director Lynette Carrington | 480-898-5621 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, and for subscription information, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegatedmedia.com.

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ueled by additional state dollars, Scottsdale schools are spending a greater percentage of their available dollars this year in the classroom than last year, falling in line with a statewide trend. New figures from the Auditor General’s Office show that, on average, districts across Arizona spent 54.7 percent of what they had on instruction. That’s the third consecutive year with an increase in the past 15 years. That trend largely held true in Scottsdale. The Scottsdale Unified School District is spent 56 percent of available funds on instruction in 2019, up 1.6 percent over 2018, and Cave Creek Unified saw a bump of 2.3 percent to 55.6 percent in 2019. However, instructional spending remained relatively flat in Paradise Valley Unified School District, which spent 58.6 percent of funds on instruction in 2019, an increase of just 0.1 percent over the year prior. Auditor General Lindsey Perry said increased spending reflects a 7.1 percent increase in the average teacher salary statewide between the 2017-2018 school year and the 2018-2019 year, bringing the figure to $52,441. There are no figures yet for the current school year. At SUSD, teacher salaries were slightly higher at $53,477 in 2019. Salaries were below the state average at PVUSD ($51,500) and CCUSD ($48,126) in 2019. But Perry said the percentage of total dollars spent in the classroom is still 3.9 percentage points less than it was in 2004. The difference, she said, is that spending on other operational expenses, ranging from utilities and transportation to food services, have increased faster, “meaning that districts shifted spending from instruction to other areas.’’ SUSD was actually one of the more efficient districts in the state when it came to food service, spending $2.54 per meal, well below the state average of $3.08 Still, the district’s instruction spending in 2019 was four percent lower than it was in 2006. Perry, in her annual report, said some

districts have shown to be more efficient, even when factors like the size and location are considered. The report also found that Arizona schools overall spend less than the national average, by a wide margin. Perry pegged total per pupil spending at $10,928 in Arizona, compared with $14,009 for the rest of the nation. And that national figure is two years old. SUSD spent significantly more per pupil in 2019 at $11,574, due largely to operational costs. The district spent $723 more per pupil on operational costs than the state average – and $1,207 more than average peer districts – due to inflated cost of land and buildings, equipment and interest payments. That, in turn, reflect on how much there is to spend on instruction, a category that includes salaries and benefits for teachers and instructional aides, and supplies like pencils, paper and workbooks. It also includes instructional software, athletics and “cocurricular’’ activities like band and choir. The figure for Arizona was $4,869, more than $2,500 less than the two-yearold national average. Even with its inflated operational costs, SUSD spent $76 more per student on instruction than the state average and $44 more than peer districts. Even with less money for instruction, though, Perry found that Arizona schools, on average, spend a lower percentage of their available resources on instruction than the national figure. “Many factors may account for Arizona’s lower percentage of instructional spending, one of which is average teacher salary,’’ Perry wrote. Using the most recent national data available, she found teacher salaries here averaging about $11,500 less than nationally. But that’s not all. “Another factor that may account for Arizona’s lower percentage of instructional spending is class size,’’ she reported. In Arizona, there are an average of 18.4 students per teacher, compared with 16 in the rest of the country. Class sizes in SUSD are lower than the state average at just over 17 students per teacher, though that is still higher than other districts nationwide.

Classes sizes were also smaller than average in PVUSD (17.6 students per teacher) but higher at CCUSD (19.4) Perry said it’s not administrative expenses that are cutting into available funds for classrooms. She put the latest average figure here at $903 per student versus the national average for 2017 – the most recent year available – at $1,383. SUSD’s per pupil administrative cost of $787 was lower than the state average, but was $40 higher than comparable districts despite having a similar student per administrator ratio. Statewide, Perry said, schools here spend a larger percentage of the cash they get on plant operations, including utilities, equipment repair and security, than schools elsewhere in the country. The share of dollars spent on food services also is higher than the national average, as are transportation costs. SUSD bucked that trend in some cases with exceptionally low food service and plant operations cost per square foot. Still, the audit noted, SUSD has a higher square footage per student than the state average. SUSD also has transportation costs significantly higher than peer districts. The district, which has struggled to hire enough bus drivers in recent years, pays $4.59 per mile, well above the $4.02 paid, on average, by similar districts. SUSD’s cost per rider ($1,564) was also over $100 higher than peer districts. Perry also found Arizona schools spend a higher percentage than their national counterparts on student support, a category that includes counselors, audiologists, nurses, social workers and speech pathologists. But this isn’t just a percentage issue. Student support was the lone area where Arizona schools, on average, spend more in actual dollars than the national average. Perry said that some of this may be a direct relation to needs in certain districts. “For example, increases in a district’s poverty rate or the percentage of students with special needs could increase student support costs because many of these services are directed toward these student populations.

see AUDIT page 8

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

Phillips’ ethics hearing slated tomorrow

natures and anonymous donations to a GoFundMe page set up to benefit Phillips may have violated city ethics rules and campaign finance law. Norton alleged that Cora Phillips received a preferential pay rate and that the anonymous GoFundMe donations may have been tied to Southbridge Two opponents with the PAC. On Feb. 3, City Attorney Sherry Scott

referred the complaint to an independent ethics panel made up of three retired Arizona judges following the recommendation of Hon. Ken Fields, the city’s independent ethics officer and a retired judge who reviewed the complaint. In his motion for dismissal, Phillips had denied any wrongdoing, arguing that Cora Phillips was paid a fair rate for gathering signatures and no improper payments occurred. “There was no evidence that the job was created for her and, in fact, the evidence is quite the opposite since other people were hired to do the same thing,” Phillips wrote. Phillips also said the payments could not constitute a conflict of interest because Cora Phillips did not begin gathering signatures until after the Council voted on Southbridge Two. Phillips wrote that that the GoFundMe account was set up by Scottsdale resident Susan Wood to help without his knowledge to help him following an injury he suffered on while working with the HVAC contracting company he owns. Phillips said he did not solicit the gift from Wood, a friend, and there was no

conflict of interest because Wood is not a member of the Old Town PAC and did not have any other business before the city. Wood signed an affidavit affirming those arguments. Wood told the Progress in January that she took consulted City Clerk Carolyn Jagger before setting up the GoFundMe, but her affidavit makes no mention of that. A city spokesperson said Jagger declined to comment, because she may be contacted as a witness in the ongoing ethics investigation. The GoFundMe ultimately raised $2,470 from 18 anonymous donations, which were used to pay a medical bill as well as bills for cell phone service, car insurance and another bill from a Valley HVAC supplier, according to Wood’s affidavit. Both Phillips and Wood have said Phillips did not know the identity of the anonymous donors. Phillips also argued the donations could not have influenced any of his decisions, because he did not know the identity of the donors. According to an email sent to Norton by

local political action committee started by two neighboring property owners opposed to the height and density started the referendum drive in an attempt to reverse the City Council’s approval. Janet Wilson, chair of the PAC, blamed the City Council for the ensuing fight for allowing increased heights and density downtown. In January, the Scottsdale City Clerk certified that the Committee for the Preservation of Old Town Scottsdale PAC had gathered 14,807 valid signatures, enough to put the issue on the ballot. On Feb. 5, Unger filed a lawsuit that initially alleged that approximately 3,800 signatures should be invalidated for various violations of the state referendum law. However, Unger’s attorney Kory Langhofer later changed course and sought to invalidate the referendum based solely

on the argument that notaries failed to administer a verbal oath to some petition circulators. “According to Petitioners, testimony from (Emily) Austin and another notary, Alice Stambaugh, established that they sometimes failed to administer oaths to the circulators whose affidavits they notarized,” according to court records. Citing language in Arizona state law requiring “strict compliance” with referendum law, Langhofer argued the failure to administer a verbal oath should disqualify signatures. Thomason disagreed. “Petitioners claim that the notary must give the circulators a verbal oath. There is no such requirement,” according to the decision. He wrote that the affidavits signed by referendum circulators and affirmed by the notaries included all the necessary

language to satisfy the state’s requirements. In effect, by requiring a verbal oath Langhofer was “essentially arguing that two oaths must be administered. One in writing and the second where the affiant actually raises his or her hand and is sworn in,” Thomason wrote. Timothy LaSota, an attorney for the Old Town PAC, praised the decision. “I’m gratified that the court seems to have had little difficulty in rejecting this argument, which sought to create additional hurdles, not found in law, to citizens’ direct access to the ballot through referendum,” LaSota said. “I hope that this ruling settles the matter so that the citizens of Scottsdale can have their say on Election Day.” There is still some question about

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

cottsdale Councilman Guy Phillips will appear before the city’s independent ethics panel Monday losing his bid for dismissal of a complaint filed against him in January. The March 16 hearing will be the first in the city since the City Council adopted the ethics code in 2006. The ethics complaint is tied to the divisive Southbridge Two development in downtown Scottsdale, which was approved by the City Council on 4-3 vote on Dec. 4. Phillips voted against the development and later volunteered with a political action committee that pursued a referendum drive to put Southbridge Two before Scottsdale voters in November. Resident Mike Norton filed the complaint on Jan. 21 alleging that Phillips improperly benefited from his opposition to Southbridge Two. The complaint alleged that payments made by the Committee for the Preservation of Old Town Scottsdale PAC to Phillips’ wife Cora Phillips for gathering sig-

A complaint against Scottsdale Councilman Guy Phillips will go before an ethics panel on March 16. (Progress file photo)

see PHILLIPS page 10

Judge upholds Southbridge Two referendum BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

Maricopa County Superior Court judge has upheld the Southbridge Two referendum that would put the downtown Scottsdale redevelopment before voters in November. On March 12, Hon. Timothy Thomason dismissed a lawsuit filed by Southbridge Two developer Carter Unger that sought to kill the referendum by invalidating signatures collected to put it on the ballot. Unger told the Progress he plans to appeal. The lawsuit stems from opposition to Southbridge Two, Unger’s 10-acre redevelopment of much of the 5th Avenue shopping district in downtown Scottsdale. The Scottsdale City Council approved the development on Dec. 4, 2019, but a

see SOUTHBRIDGE page 8

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

CITY NEWS

AUDIT from page 4

Food costs are driven by different factors. Perry said some districts cited the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 which took effect in 2013. She said that established more stringent nutritional requirements that include an increase in the amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in meals. But Perry also said that she and her auditors believe that there are things within the control of districts. She said

SOUTHBRIDGE from page 6

whether Southbridge Two will actually make it on to the ballot, though. Unger said if his appeal fails, he will ask the City Council to repeal the zoning decision from Dec. 4 that precipitated the referendum, rendering the referendum moot. Wilson said that won’t go over well with referendum supporters. “If the City Council does away with the referendum, I think they’re going to hear from a lot of the citizens, because I think they want to send a message to the coun-

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

some district have higher staffing for administration, plant operations, food service or transportation, even when compared with similar districts. That variance shows up in the report. For example, she said the 30 districts with the highest spending on transportation costs average out at $684 per student, By contrast, the 30 at the bottom end were spending just $405. While SUSD has a higher-than-normal cost per rider, its total cost per student for transportation of $360 is actually $21 lower than peer districts.

cil: don’t pass anymore of these buildings that are so high,” Wilson said. Unger said he would then either sell the land to another developer or pursue a project under the original zoning. That project would likely include fourstory apartments with limited retail space and a small hotel on the site of the Rose Garden parking lot that the city agreed to sell to Unger in December. Wilson acknowledged that Unger still had the right as the property owner to build within the confines of existing zoning. “Like we’ve said all along, we’re not

Perry acknowledged, there are certain differences in spending among districts that may be beyond their control. Consider the issue of size. “Larger districts tend to have lower administrative costs per pupil, primarily because of their economies of scale and abilities to spread some costs over more students,’’ the report says. This trend played out in Scottsdale, where SUSD, considered a very large district at just under 22,000 students, had per pupil administrative costs above peer districts but $16 below the

against redevelopment; it’s just the height and the mass of the whole project,” Wilson said. Prior to the court’s ruling, Unger had offered a compromise to the Old Town PAC if it pulled its referendum off the table. The compromise included Unger dropping the purchase of the city’s Rose Garden parking lot and committing to not building for 10 years on the project’s Site C, the area located on the north side of 5th Avenue between Marshall Way and Goldwater Boulevard. That area contains retail shops along

state average. Paradise Valley, another very large district with nearly 30,000 students, had per pupil spending on administration that was over $60 less than the state average and slightly less than peer schools. Cave Creek, on the other hand, is a medium-sized district with over 5,000 students and spending on admin right in line with state averages at just over $900 per pupil. Progress Managing Editor Wayne Schutsky contributed to this report 5th Avenue that would be redeveloped under the Southbridge Two plan approved by the City Council – something opposed by the PAC, which has argued in favor of preserving the character of the area. Under the deal, Southbridge Two would still build a 150-foot hotel and 128-foot office building at Scottsdale Road and 6th Avenue and a three-story building on 5th Avenue west of Scottsdale Road. “If they truly cared about the merchants and preserving 5th Avenue, this does that,” Unger said.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

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PHILLIPS from page 6

GoFundMe customer support, “While you can make your donation anonymous on the public GoFundMe campaign, there is no way to make your donation completely anonymous from the campaign organizer or beneficiary.” In his motion, Phillips said there was never any discussion about his voting record or anything else political in relation to the GoFundMe account. According to Phillips’ filing, he disclosed the GoFundMe gift to the City Clerk’s office in December. Phillips’ most recent required financial disclosure statement does include a letter disclosing the GoFundMe account, but the letter is on an undated sheet of paper. The disclosure statement itself includes the date Dec. 19, 2019, next to Phillips’ signature but lacks a timestamp from the City Clerk’s office. Other gift declarations included with the disclosure, including $1,000 worth of tickets to the Scottsdale Arts Gala and $85 tickets a holiday event at the Princess resort, were submitted on official city “Declaration of Gifts” forms and included a timestamp Norton has suggested Phillips disclosure statement and/or the GoFundMe letter may have been added after the fact. “Unfortunately, the record as produced by the City also lacks a date,” Norton wrote the ethics panel, adding: “This is a highly irregular situation since it is the custom and practice of the City to Date and Time stamp all such documents at the time they are received. Without a date and time stamp, questions arise about when Phillips really filed this report. That becomes even more important due to another highly irregular page in that report.”

Phillips declined to comment for this story, citing the hearing. In an email to Norton, Scott, the city attorney, said she did not believe any protocols were violated by Phillips’ disclosures and it, along with all City Council financial disclosures, were filed by the due date on Jan. 31. In another email to Norton, Scott wrote that the timestamp issue may have been a simple clerical issue. Norton has also raised questions about a late disclosure by Phillips revealing that he has received pro bono legal services from former City Attorney Bruce Washburn, who retired in 2019. According to a recent gift filing time stamped on March 5, Phillips received “Pro bono/legal advice and help from a retired lawyer who is a personal friend. This help from a friend is not considered a gift required to be declared as defined by the Ethic’s Code (sic). I am declaring this only in order to be completely transparent.” The form later identifies the friend as Washburn and states that the gift has no face value and/or the value is unknown. Phillips, who is currently running for reelection, declined to comment on why he was unable to assign a value to the services. Norton alleged Washburn helped Phillips author the motion to dismiss and only filed the gift disclosure when Norton raised questions about who was offering the councilman’s legal services. According to city rules, the ethics panel has 60 days from the date it received the complaint to review the case and report back to the council. The council must then consider the report in a public meeting and either accept or reject the findings.

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

Scottsdale recycling due for another hit BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

hen an East Valley recycling facility burned down last fall, the City of Scottsdale’s sweetheart recycling deal went with it. As other Valley cities cut back or outright cancelled their recycling programs due to rising costs over the course of 2019, Scottsdale was still bringing in around $10,000 each month from its program due to pricing floors negotiated into its contract with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community and its operator Republic Services years ago. That $10,000 pales in comparison to the $97,275 the city made in just one month in 2017, but it was still preferable to the approximately $800,000 increase in annual cost the city would take taken on under a new proposed recycling agreement with City of Phoenix. Scottsdale is just the latest Valley city to confront rising recycling costs. Over the past two years, cities across the country have seen once-lucrative recycling contracts turn into fiscal liabilities. The sudden drop in recycling revenues for cities was due to a global shift in the market resulting from a decision by China in 2018 to reject most recyclable materials from outside nations due to rampant contamination issues. China’s decision cut off the U.S. and other nations from what had been the world’s single largest importer of recyclable materials over the past 25 years caused a steep drop off in the value of recyclable materials worldwide. In July 2017, the market price for a ton of cardboard was about $250 per ton and by last July, it had fallen to $75, said Dan Worth, Scottsdale’s public works chief. That drop in price, coupled with processing costs of around $75 per ton, meant cities began paying hefty sums to continue their recycling programs last year – a stark change from the reality just a few years ago. Scottsdale was only able to maintain its modest recycling revenues in 2019 due to a $5 per ton commodity floor negotiated into its contract – meaning that no matter how far commodity prices fell, the city would receive at least $5 per ton for its recyclables through its contract with SRPMIC.

Scottsdale’s Public Works Department is asking the Council to increase the solid waste rate for residents from $18.75 to $21.51 – an increase of 14.75 percent – to offset increased recycling costs. (Special to the Progress)

Last October, Worth told the Progress that equaled approximately $100,000 per year in revenue for the city. Worth told the City Council that without those floors in place, Scottsdale would have actually paid $69 per ton to recycle its materials in September 2019. Chandler is estimating it will spend up to $1.2 million on a one-year extension with its recycling contractor after bringing in around $500,000 in recycling revenues just two years ago. Now, Scottsdale is in the same boat. In late October 2019, the SRPMIC recycling facility that accepted Scottsdale’s recycling burned down. The fire was sparked by a lithium-ion battery and spread due to 60 MPH winds, according to a press release from the Town of Fountain Hills, which also sent its recycling to the Republic facility. The fire left Scottsdale without a home for the city’s recycling. Since then, Scottsdale has had to divert its recyclables to the landfill – meaning it’s not being recycled, Worth said. Not only is the situation bad for the environment, it’s also costing the city money. According to a City Council memo, landfilling the city’s recyclable waste costs $27 per ton. That is not a permanent solution, though. Worth said city is in the process of negotiating an intergovernmental agreement with City of Phoenix, which owns two recycling facilities operated by Republic Services. Scottsdale’s recycling costs would go up by about $800,000 per year under the

agreement, according to a City Council memo. Under the agreement, Scottsdale will pay a $75 per ton fee that will be partially offset by the price the commodities can be sold for on the open market. Worth told the Council on March 3 that the city received quotes from private providers, including Waste Management and United Fiber. However, he said the Phoenix IGA was the most cost-efficient. “The primary benefit was that we could do it quickly, and it was the best price that we could find out there,” Worth said. “We’re not bringing out a proposal and competing it, (because) there’s very few entities that would be able to respond.” “Compared to quotes that we’re getting from other sources, it was a good deal,” Worth said. Council may consider the IGA with Phoenix on March 18, though it is unclear when the agreement will actually go into effect. Yvette Roeder, a spokesperson for Phoenix Public Works, said there is not currently a timeline for the Phoenix City Council to approve the agreement. “The earliest possible date would be some time April, but nothing has been included in any meeting agenda,” she said. When it goes into effect, the Phoenix deal would be compatible with the city’s existing contract with SRPMIC, which runs through 2021, Worth said. Scottsdale could still send recycling to SRPMIC under that old contract if the community rebuilds its facility. However, even if the facility is rebuilt, the

days of Scottsdale getting paid for its recycling are likely long gone. The city was already renegotiating the contract when the facility burned down. “We recognize that the market has changed (and) that our vendor is in a bind,” Worth said in 2019. “We want to continue providing the service. We don’t want to force them out of business, so we want to be reasonable.” The two sides were already in negotiations last fall, though the city had rebuffed an initial proposal by Republic over concerns it transferred all risks from market volatility to the city. City Auditor Sharron Walker audited the proposal from the company last year and found that it overstated processing costs by an average of 26 percent and overstated Republic Services’ losses by an average of 44 percent. The audit found Republic failed to justify its projected costs and depreciated assets at an accelerated rate. Worth declined to comment on the state of a new contract with SRPMIC, citing ongoing negotiations, though he said he doesn't believe SRPMIC would consider rebuilding its facility under the current agreement. In any scenario, recycling costs are going to go up for Scottsdale residents. Scottsdale’s Public Works Department is asking the Council to increase the solid waste rate for residents from $18.75 to $21.51 – an increase of 14.75 percent. The increase is more than the 8.7 percent increase the department anticipated for residential services, and above the 3-percent across-the-board increase the department is asking for other services, such as commercial trash pickup. Worth said that increase is almost entirely due to the increased recycling costs. Worth said there were some concerns about whether or not Phoenix, or any facility in the Valley, had the capacity to potentially take on 100 percent of Scottsdale’s recycling. Roeder said, “We do believe adequate capacity does exist to accept and process the material from Scottsdale.” “Any agreement regarding recycling processing, however, would need to provide both municipalities with the flexibility to adjust operations to changing conditions, including facility capacity,” Roeder said.

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

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sumed at home back to the General Fund, reversing a 2016 decision earmarking those funds for the city’s capital projects. In 2016, the City Council was trying to wean the General Fund off its dependence on the food tax, former City Councilman David Smith said. The 2016 decision directed city staff to incrementally shift revenues from the tax away from the General Fund and to the Capital Improvement Program over the next three years. However, the Council froze those transfers last year. Smith addressed the Council on Feb. 4, urging it not to send the tax back to the General Fund, calling the change “a bold reversal of 2016 policy direction.” Smith, formerly the city’s treasurer and CFO, asked that the Council instead get rid of the tax altogether. Mayor Jim Lane later made a motion to discuss an elimination of the tax at a future meeting, which passed the Council on a 6-1 vote, with only Councilwoman Linda Milhaven in opposition. City Treasurer Jeff Nichols told the Council that staff felt the change was appropriate because the money was no longer needed in the CIP budget due to the passage of the $319-million bond last year and a new 0.1 percent sales tax for road improvements in 2018. Smith argued the tax is no longer necessary in the General Fund, citing the fact that the city has underspent its approved budget for several years in a row and had an undesignated fund balance of $55 million going into this fiscal year. “So, ask yourself, if the CIP fund doesn’t need the money – and it probably doesn’t given the recent bond election – then why not eliminate the tax on the citizens?” Smith asked. According to a City Council memo, the elimination of the tax would result in a yearly savings of $225.18 for an average family of four. Removing the tax, in turn, would cost the city millions of dollars. The tax brought in $13.5 million last year and the city projected it could bring in over $16 million this year. It’s unclear what the Council will decide to do with the tax, though Smith has at least one ally in Councilman Guy Phillips. In a column appearing in today’s Progress, Phillips echoed much of Smith’s sen-

Former Scottsdale Councilman David Smith prompted an upcoming City Council discussion to possible eliminate Scottsdale’s 1.75 percent tax on food for home consumption. (Progress file photo)

timents, arguing the city did not need the additional revenue from the food tax and that continuing the tax puts a burden on low and fixed-income residents. Not everyone on Council favor its elimination. Milhaven said she believes the 2016 decision to jettison the tax from the General Fund was driven by an outdated need to fund critical infrastructure at the cost of city services. With the passage of the bond in 2019, Milhaven said that kind of compromise is no longer needed. “Now that bond has been passed, I think it is fair for us to say we don’t need to compromise existing programs to fund capital, because thankfully the citizens were willing to pay for the bond,” Milhaven said. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead also argued against getting rid of the tax but for different reasons, questioning why the city would transfer it away from capital projects in the first place. Even with the passage of $319-million bond, Whitehead said she would like to see the city use the existing food tax revenues to offset bond expenditures to allow the city to potentially borrow less than what voters approved. “Personally, if I can borrow less, I’m always going to borrow less, and so, yes the voters approved these bonds, but they didn’t say ‘go at it,’” Whitehead said. “They just said please be careful wit with the money.” But Milhaven said that putting the money back in the General Fund would allow the city fully fund programs, operating

see FOOD TAX page 20

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Thursday to discuss school closures, which have been ordered in numerous cities and states across the nation. After that call, Ducey, state Health Director Cara Christ and state schools Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said they saw no need to order schools to close. Meanwhile, senior living communities in Scottsdale and city government to take extra precautions to protect residents. The City of Scottsdale last week stepped up cleaning regimens at its senior centers but had no plans to cancel events or activities as of March 12. The Centers for Disease Control said at-risk populations should practice good hygiene, avoid contact with sick people, clean surfaces regularly with household cleaners and stock up on medicines and food in the event of an illness. Proper hygiene includes regularly washing hands for 20 seconds and using hand sanitizer It also warned that if the virus is spreading locally, at-risk residents should “stay home as much as possible and avoid crowds.” COVID-19 is a respiratory infection with symptoms including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Only a handful of Arizona residents have caught the virus, but at least a dozen elderly people in Washington State have died from it. The CDC said most people with the disease have mild symptoms and won’t require medical intervention. On March 11, Ducey declared a state of emergency and issued an executive order to discourage price gouging, require insurance companies to cover testing and require assisted living and similar facilities to screen visitors. Scottsdale’s senior centers are still open for business, though the city is taking cleaning precautions. City spokesperson Kelly Corsette said staff at the city’s senior centers has stepped up its cleaning protocols for restrooms, dining tables, service counters, weight rooms and other facilities. Other than the cleaning “it’s business as usual,” Corsette said. City human services staff also comes into regular contact with elderly residents through social services provided at Granite Reef and Via Linda senior centers as well as food assistance and

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

all of its communities to close family and medically-necessary visits The Vi communities are taking it a step further. They have closed the communities to all visitors for the time being, with exceptions for special situations like end of life visits or residents with dementia that require emotional support. Visitors to the Vi community will also be screened using guidelines from the CDC. MBK has also cancelled Elderly Scottsdale residents – many of whom come into regular contact with city staff and facilities at all planned activities that senior centers that provide activities, events and social services – are at a higher risk of developing a take residents to pubserious illness from COVID-19. (Progress file photo) lic spaces, according to other programs run out of the Vista del ficer with LivGenerations, said his comthe statement from MiCamino Community Center. pany created a task force two weeks ago chael Bardelmeier, MBK’s senior vice The city Human Services department to update its policies and procedures president of operations. did not respond to a request for com- with best practices to prevent illness Mary Lynn Kasunic, president/CEO of ment. and respond to potential COVID-19 in- the Area Agency on the Aging Region 1, Maricopa County, though, has taken fections at its communities. expressed the same observations. steps to keep crowds away from vulnerThat included training staff in proper Her agency contracts with 42 subconable elderly residents. hand washing and other techniques. tractors to provide a range of services The Associated Press reported on LivGenerations operates senior living to senior citizens. Among those subconMarch 12 that Maricopa County is re- communities in Scottsdale, Gilbert and tractors are the cities of Chandler and locating five polling stations, including Ahwatukee. Mesa, as well as the Town of Gilbert. one in Scottsdale, that were located at “The key here is to stay nimble and “We don’t seem to be hearing much in watch this virus closely…and make the way of any concerns,” she said, addchanges to the protocol as necessary,” ing senior centers have not reported Where to �ind information McCutcheon said. any decrease in attendance. The Area Agency for the Aging has The company has also stockpiled She also reported there has been no a 24-hour hotline at 602-264-HELP cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer and increase in calls from seniors to the (4357). even invested in machines that mists agency’s 24-hour hotline. Maricopa County Health departcommon areas with sanitizer. She said her agency has been sharing ment: maricopa.gov/5460/CoronaviMcCutcheon said LivGenerations has communications from the CDC and othrus-Disease-2019. cancelled all community-sponsored out- er government health agencies about U.S. Centers for Disease Control: ings for residents and implemented a the latest news on the coronavirus with cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html. screening process at its concierge desks. agency contractors. Individuals are still welcome to visit Kasunic said her two primary consenior living facilities in order to pro- family and friends at Liv Generations cerns were that seniors who had been tect vulnerable residents. communities, but the company has attending "congregant meals" at senior The change affects about 3,000 vot- postponed large events and family par- centers continued to get those meals ers, who will be notified of their new ties in the wake of the virus outbreak. even if they had to be delivered and polling place via postcard, Maricopa Other Scottsdale communities are that seniors who live alone and sought Elections Department spokesperson taking similar steps. company at those centers weren't left Megan Gilbertson told the AP. McDowell Village, Vi at Grayhawk and feeling isolated. The county decision is in line with Vi at Silverstone all issued statements Two West valley centers she serves new protocols at some area senior liv- outlining their responses to the virus. were closed and she said 50 Ameriing communities, which have ramped MBK Senior Living, McDowell Vil- Corps workers would be calling seniors up cleaning efforts and already began lage’s parent company, is requiring all "to let them know someone cares for screening visitors before the Gover- visitors to complete a screening ques- them."mes where they already have to nor’s executive order went into effect. tionnaire to weed out anyone exposed wear gloves and other protective gear, Scott McCutcheon, chief operating of- to the virus and is limiting visitors at she said.

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

Amid cancellations, some events and venues defy pandemic BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

rom the remainder of the Cactus League season to the 50th Scottsdale Festival of the Arts, some local events began feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as cancellations and postponements were called last week. But organizers of other events stayed the course and museums planned to remain open even as they made plans for additional precautions to protect patrons’ health. Major League Baseball’s suspension of the Spring Training games that had yet to be played by March 24 hit Scottsdale especially hard, washing out home games for the San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks. “This action is being taken in the interests of the safety and well-being of our players, Clubs and our millions of loyal fans,” the MLB statement read. “Nothing is more important to us than the health and

safety of our players, employees and fans.” Several days before the league decision, city spokesman Kelly Corsette said attendance at Giants games was “solid so far” and that custodians at city facilities were paying special attention to door handles and other frequently contacted surfaces. Late last week, Scottsdale Arts President/ CEO Gerd Wuestermann annnounced closing of weekend performances as well as the revered arts festival, admitting the pain from the virus will be widespread. "Artists will suffer from the loss of income. Arts organizations will be seriously impacted and our spirits will be poorer for it," he said, urging ticket holders to not request refunds on tickets they've purchased for any events that have been or will be cancelled. Mounting concerns over the virus also prompted Valley Leadership to postpone its 71st annual Man & Woman of the Year Featuring Inaugural Person of the Decade & Impact Expo.

It had no new date for the event, which had been scheduled for April 2. “The safety and health of our former honorees, alumni and community is of utmost importance to our staff and board. We appreciate your support of this event,” Valley Leadership said in a statement. Zacory Boatright, Scottsdale Arts spokesman reported that “ a very limited number of volunteers (chose) to withdraw from events due to health and safety concerns.” “We’ve encouraged our entire community to be cautious and make sure they’re acting in the interest of their safety first. So far, the majority of our volunteers have chosen to continue to show their support by giving us their time, energy, and enthusiasm,” Boatright said. Organizers of Scottsdale Fashion Week also have no plans to postpone or cancel the four-day event taking place at various venues throughout Scottsdale from March 26 to 29. “We expect business as usual for this

year’s event,” said Jamie LeVine, CCO of Steve LeVine Entertainment and partowner of SFW. Last year, the event had approximately 3,000 attendees. LeVine said they are not fearful of diminished attendance this year. “We are implementing precautions as recommended by the CDC,” LeVine said. “We encourage them to review the CDC’s website, which extensively covers COVID-19 and includes detailed information, situation updates. “We are requiring that anyone who feels ill or is a member of an at-risk group as noted by the CDC does not attend,” he said. Organizers of the 24th annual Fresh Start Gala have no plans to interrupt, change or cancel the event. Taking place March 21 at The Phoenician, the Fresh Start Gala is Fresh Start Women’s Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser. Last year, the gala had 700 guests.

see VIRUS SIDE page 20

Ducey taking measured approaches on virus BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey declared a public health emergency last to give state officials more leeway and tools to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. Nothing in the governor’s decision actually restricts what people can do or where they can go. And state Health Director Cara Christ said there are no plans to limit large public gatherings as governors in other states have done. But even as Christ was saying there is no need to cancel events or urge closure of public facilities, Arizona State University President Michael Crow announced his school would switch to online instruction “wherever possible’’ for the next two weeks over concerns about the virus. At press time, no decision had been made to close Scottsdale Community College and its sister campuses. What the Ducey’s declaration includes: Easing licensing requirements for health officials and facilities, potentially

Gov. Doug Ducey and state Health Director Cara Christ held several briefings on the coronavirus in Arizona last week. (Capitol Media Services)

making room for more patients as they are diagnosed; Allowing hospitals and health care facilities, including nursing homes, additional “flexibility’’ to question and screen both employees and visitors; Giving health officials new authority to procure “needed medical supplies.’’ The governor also issued a separate executive order directing insurance

companies and health plans to pay for care provided to patients who see doctors and laboratories who are not part of their network. And Ducey said his order also protects consumers against “price gouging’’ by private labs and health care providers for testing for the new virus. Only thing is, the Republican-controlled Legislature rebuffed a bid more

than a decade ago by then-Attorney General Terry Goddard to give the governor the power to declare a “supply emergency.’’ That would have required not only a finding that a product was in danger of being in short supply but also that it was “essential to the health, safety and welfare of the people of this state.’’ The governor was undeterred. “We’ve consulted with attorneys,’’ Ducey said. Meanwhile, lawmakers approved an emergency $50 million infusion into the Department of Health Services for whatever the director says she needs to combat COVID-19. The Legislature also is looking to limit public access at the Capitol, including closing off the House and Senate gallery, ending things like visits of school children, and seeking to limit committee testimony to the extent possible. Christina Corieri, the governor’s health advisor, said she reads that authority to prosecute price gouging exists

see VIRUS STATE page 20

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CITY NEWS

VIRUS SIDE from page 18

“The Fresh Start Gala is our largest annual fundraiser, and we rely on the funds to continue providing programs and services to local women in our community,” said Vice President of Development Cathy Kleeman. Kleeman added: “Our supporters are a passionate group of individuals who truly believe in our mission, and we believe there will be a strong showing of support from our community. “We trust that attendees will make decisions on attending based on their own health histories, knowledge, and recommendations of the professionals at the CDC and Arizona Department of Health Services.” Kleeman said they are working closely with the Phoenician team to incorporate recommended preventative measures. “The Fresh Start Board of Directors and Gala Committee are closely following the public heath recommendations of the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Center for Disease Control, and Prevention

VIRUS STATE from page 18

under state laws allowing the Attorney General’s Office to investigate consumer fraud. But Ryan Anderson, a top aide to Attorney General Mark Brnovich, said that’s not true. “Arizona does not have laws prohibiting price gouging or charging high prices in times of emergency or heightened public health concerns,’’ he told Capitol Media Services. He said the laws cited by the governor’s office deal with things like fraud, deceptive practices, false promises or misrepresentation in the sale or advertising or merchandise. Ducey’s declaration came just hours after legislative Democrats asked the governor to declare a special session – to

FOOD TAX from page 14

costs and capital projects. “We don’t have to make those hard choices anymore because, thanks to the bond, we can have it all, or a lot,” Milhaven said. Still, Smith argued that the general fund has “clearly been getting along nicely without this revenue source.”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

and the World Health Organization,” Kleeman added. So far, neither Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (SMoW) nor Scottsdale Arts’ have experienced a decline in museum attendance. “Attendance remains relatively steady and is well inside, or above, norms for this time of year,” Boatright said. “It’s hard to predict how prevalent COVID-19 will be in Arizona, but we are taking measures to ensure that patrons feel safe when they choose to visit the museum.” Both institutions implemented new cautionary procedures for staff and volunteers. “New signs recommended by the CDC are being hung in bathrooms throughout Scottsdale Arts facilities, reminding patrons and staff to wash their hands,” Boatright said, adding: “We are working to acquire and provide hand sanitizer stations for public use. Our facilities team is also doing its part by increasing the frequency of rotations to clean and disinfect public spaces within our facilities.” “All of these measures have either al-

run concurrent with the regular session they are now in – to approve more farreaching proposals. These include creating funds to pay for mandatory testing, providing for free evaluation and testing for those without health insurance, and creating a fund to pay for sick leave for public employees under quarantine or sick. The governor, however, said he was taking a much more measured approach, saying the problems in Arizona are not that severe, at least not now. “These are proactive measures to limit community spread,’’ he said, situations where people who have no known contact with anyone who was ill still contract the disease. For example, he said, there is no evidence that any of the two confirmed cases and seven suspected cases were in nurs-

“At some point, the Council has to confront this reality,” Smith said. “We either do it now in the good times or we will never do it.” Milhaven argued that the city needs the additional revenue to pay for staffing and operational needs associated with bond projects, such as new fire fighters for stations built under a previous bond. Nichols said city staff disagreed with

ready been implemented or are in the process of coming online this week to address growing concerns,” he said According to CEO and Director Mike Fox, SMoW held a staff training session regarding appropriate procedures. “While it is the time our country is bracing itself against the coronavirus, it is also the time when our employee and volunteer groups must be vigilant in our collective efforts to focus on prevention and workplace safety,” Fox said. “We have been proactive while trying to anticipate any concerns.” While SMoW has not had volunteers cancel or express any concerns “about being amongst our public in different capacities,” Fox said, SMoW is keeping close attention to what other public venues are doing with regard to the postponement of special events. “We have followed what our state and federal governments have been communicating on the subject from early on in their management of the epidemic, and we will responsibly make decisions in the very best interest of our staff and constituents

ing homes and long-term care facilities. “If that happened, we want DHS to be equipped to act immediately, and with urgency,’’ Ducey said. He also said his executive order is designed to “do more to protect vulnerable populations.’’ Christ said the situation remains fluid. “We are constantly monitoring the local, national and global activities so that we can make data-driven decisions that protect our communities while having as minimal an impact on Arizonans’ daily lives as possible,’’ she said. That, Christ said, fits into the decision to not cancel mass gatherings. “We are working right now with the CDC on brand-new community mitigation guidance they just put out,’’ she said. “And we are not at a point where we would recommend those things,’’ Christ continued. “But we are constantly evaluatSmith and anticipated increased operational costs associated with bond projects that cannot be paid with bond funds as well as other city programs that will need additional funding. Nichols said staff “felt it was not needed anymore on the General Fund capital side…(but) there was a need on the General Fund operating side. We saw that need coming at us, so we wanted to change the

as we all learn more about the coronavirus and what are the most prudent preventive protective measures to implement at any given time,” Fox said. Boatright earlier in the week had remained optimistic, stating that Scottsdale Arts will “continue to serve its mission and monitor recommended measures from federal, state and city health authorities. If a change is necessary, we will not hesitate to take action when it’s called for by public health authorities.” “If we all practice common sense and good hygiene, we can continue to enjoy the city during the best time of the year," he said. But that was before Wuestermann made the cancellation announcement, showing again how quickly circumstances are changing as the virus and concerns about it continue to mount. Yet, even Wuestermann tried to include a positive message, stating, "I firmly believe that we will stand together as a people and defeat COVID-19. We will be here in the future to celebrate that moment with great arts experiences."

ing to see if those measures do make sense.’’ Christ said that the provisions easing licensing requirements is designed to provide more flexibility to meet changing health needs. For example, she said, a health care facility licensed for a certain number of beds might have space where it could house additional patients. “We would be able to go in there are rapidly license them,’’ Christ said, without having to go through the normal process. She also said her department could waive requirements for “overwhelmed’’ doctors to complete their annual requirements for continuing medical education. But Christ said nothing in the order allows someone to engage in medical practices beyond their scope. So even with an emergency a nurse could not perform the duties of a doctor. policy over time.” If the Council decides to eliminate the tax, it would bring Scottsdale in line with larger Valley cities like Phoenix and Mesa, which already do not tax food for home consumption. However, several cities similar in size to Scottsdale in the Valley do have taxes on that food, including Chandler, Gilbert and Glendale.

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State’s hens could get more room BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

rizona shoppers could end up having to pay more for eggs as state lawmakers look to protect the state’s major producer from an animal rights initiative drive. And that’s not making some lawmakers like Rep Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, happy. Legislation given preliminary approval last week by the state House would mandate that, beginning next year, major egglaying operations must provide at least one square foot of space for each hen instead of the current standard of 66 square inches. The real change would be in 2025 when the affected companies would have to go to cage-free operations. That can – but does not have to – mean actually allowing them outdoors. More significant, HB 2724 would preclude the sale of eggs in Arizona that did not come from cage-free hens.

That prospect concerned Chelsea McGuire who lobbies for the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation. During a committee hearing, she told lawmakers that a local grocery chain was charging $2.59 a dozen for cage-free eggs. By contrast, those without that designation were selling for $1.49. “That is the kind of price increase that Arizona consumers will not have a choice to avoid if this legislation goes forward,’’ McGuire said. Grantham warned Hickman and others who are backing HB 2724 based on the promises of the Humane Society. “It’s very dangerous for us to cow to an organization that is not going to stop (its efforts) by trying to insert into law their demands and then hope they go away,’’ he said. Grantham also worried about the costs to Arizona consumers. But the federation found itself up against Hickman’s Family Farms, the state’s largest producer. Company president Glenn Hickman said

it’s not that he particularly wants new state regulation of how he does business. But he said the potential alternative was worse: the threat of an initiative by the Humane Society of the United States which, if approved by voters, would mandate cagefree production on a much more aggressive schedule. “We don’t want to see a proposition come to this state and leave us out of the process,’’ Hickman said. Kellye Pinkleton, senior state director of Humane Society, told Capitol Media Services that her organization worked with Hickman’s firm to come up with this compromise. “And if this bill were to become law, we would have no interest in pursuing new Arizona legislation regarding egg-laying hens,’’ she said. “This is a truce,’’ said Hickman’s lobbyist Joe Sigg. Hickman told lawmakers that the price is set by retailers. But during a committee hearing he provided no specifics on the price difference he charges retailers be-

tween cage-free and other eggs. Rep. Gerae Peten, D-Goodyear, said she feared that the law would create a de facto duopoly for Hickman’s and Rose Acre Farms, the other major producer, with the prohibition against the sale of eggs from caged hens. But Hickman said that eggs “travel very well’’ and out-of-state operations with cage-free operations would remain free to ship their eggs here. Small egg producers with fewer than 3,000 hens also would be locked out of the Arizona commercial market. While they would be exempt from the requirement for cage-free operations they would not be able to sell their eggs to commercial groceries. But Dunn said they would remain free to offer their eggs at places like farmers’ markets. McGuire took issue with the whole premise that cage-free hens are happier. She said conventional cages “make sure that chickens and safe and healthy.’’ The measure still needs a final roll-call vote before going to the Senate.

fering four-year degrees without any new investment and without raising local taxes. Larry Penley, president of the Arizona Board of Regents, told lawmakers there is no real need. He said the state’s three universities already have working relationships with community colleges around the state, partnering with them in ways to offer fouryear degrees. And he said there even is reduced tuition for university courses that are taught on community college campuses. But Keith Alexander, assistant to the president of Eastern Arizona College, said much of what’s taught is by computer links. He said that’s no substitute for actually having faculty on campus. And Alexander said there are gaps in what kind of degrees are available in his rural community. “We have jobs that are not filled there, the majority of those requiring bachelor’s degrees,’’ he said. “And there aren’t people there to fill them.’’

None of the legislators who voted against the proposal disputed there may be needs, particularly in rural areas, for additional paths to a four-year degree. But their concern was the breadth of the legislation, opening the door without restriction to community colleges being able to offer any degree they want. “Just simply opening the gates ... creating a Dodge City atmosphere where you could have multiple nursing programs, multiple accredited programs, you could have all kinds of unhealthy competition,’’ said Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix. She said there may be some options. But this bill, Brophy McGee said, is not it. “This has to be put together thoughtfully, carefully,’’ she said, perhaps with more study and a pilot program. Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, however, said he looks at it from the perspective of students. “This help out low-income families,’’ he said, with degrees at community colleges likely to cost far less than what universities

charge. And Borrelli said he was not concerned about the effect on universities, suggesting if they were forced to compete, they might lower their own costs. But Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Phoenix, said that’s making an assumption. He pointed out that there is nothing in the legislation that precludes community colleges, granted the ability to offer four-year degrees, do not raise their tuition. That possibility of higher tuition didn’t impress Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake. She said universities, which have no statemandated cap on tuition, have been increasing tuition now for decades. Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson, said not every community college in the state wants this authority. She suggested the issue needs further study. That did not go down well with Sen. Rick Gray, R-Sun City. “It’s been talked at for decades now, decades!’’ he said. “From the last century, it’s been talked about.’’

Senate panel kills community college bill BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

rizona’s community colleges won’t be offering four-year degrees, at least not in the immediate future. On a 6-3 vote last week, the Senate Education Committee quashed legislation which would have allowed these colleges to start offering baccalaureate degrees. The 6-3 vote came despite the same measure having gained bipartisan House approval last month on a 42-18 margin. Rep. Becky Nutt, R-Clifton, the prime sponsor, argued that the current system requires rural students who want fouryear degrees to leave their homes, affecting families and undermining efforts to promote local economic development. She said nothing in HB 2790 would force any community college to expand its reach. But Nutt said many of these already have buildings and other infrastructure in place that would allow them to start of-

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2 area students in state spelling bee BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

wo Scottsdale-area students are among the 27 State of Arizona Spelling Bee finalists this year. Copper Canyon Elementary sixth-grader Amara Ellisor, 12, and Mountainside Middle School eighth-grader Victoria Leung, 13, will take part in the 22nd annual Arizona State Spelling Bee on March 21 at 12 p.m. in the Arizona PBS studios on the downtown Phoenix campus of Arizona State University. The top speller will be crowned Arizona Educational Foundation Arizona State Spelling Bee Champion and will represent Arizona in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. later this spring.

This year’s top spellers range in age from 9 to 14 and grades 4th through 8th. “It feels unbelievable to be a finalist,” Amara said. “I never thought I would make it this far.” After correctly spelling the word “vireo,” Amara won the Maricopa County Regional II Spelling Bee held on Feb. 21 at Deer Valley Unified School District. A total 44 students participated in the 12-round bee. To prepare for the upcoming state bee, Amara said she will study the provided word list as well as review stems, vocabulary words, and language rules she’s learned over the past year. “I’m feeling slightly nervous about the spelling bee because

see SPELLING BEE page 26

Copper Canyon Elementary sixthgrader Amara Ellisor, 12, is among the Arizona Spelling Bee finalists. (Paradise Valley Unified School District)

Mountainside Middle School eighth-grader Victoria Leung, 13, who is congratulated by Principal Adam Kohnenwill take part in the 22nd annual Arizona State Spelling Bee on March 21. (Mountainside Middle School)

Lavish Pour is crushing the art game BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

er Lavish Pour classes continue to gain popularity. She was a featured artist in the Persian New Year Festival’s VIP art exhibit and reception earlier this month. Her vibrant murals and custom UV bar tops can be found all over the Valley and beyond, from behind the bar at Schmooze Bar & Breakfast in Scottsdale to Streetside in San Diego. Her family owns the renowned, highend luxury contemporary furniture store located in the Scottsdale Airpark called Parnian Furniture, which she managed for nearly 10 years. Longtime northern Scottsdale resident

Northern Scottsdale resident Leila Parnian (sitting) hosts monthly pour art classes called Lavish Pour at her studio located inside Parnian Furniture. (Special to the Progress)

Leila Parnian is currently crushing the art game. But getting here wasn’t an easy road for the artist, who experienced her fair share of rejections and heartbreaks. “It’s taken almost 20 years for me to become whole with myself,” Parnian said, adding a lot of her work – including the mannequins she paints – come from a “really sad place.” “It’s more therapeutic for me. And if you look in the studio, on the back of them [the mannequins], I’ll write poetry. It’s a lot of heartbreak that inspires me a lot, just stuff that’s happened in the past,” Parnian explained. But Parnian’s personality and her art

see LEILA page 26

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LEILA �� page 24

are anything but. “It’s very bright and bold,” Parnian said. “I don’t do subtle art,” she added. “I want people to look at it and be happy. And I think it comes from, I’ve had so much sadness I don’t want to make art to make someone sad.” Parnian’s art studio is located mere steps from the entrance of her family’s furniture store, which opened after they moved from Iran to Scottsdale in 1977. If customers are lucky enough, they’ll catch Parnian creating pieces live in said studio. “It’s one thing I realized is how much people enjoy seeing art. They can watch me paint,” she said. “And it’s cool because, when I work with clients, I’m also selling them my art.” Parnian, who sold her first painting at the age of 19 and is also a comedian, pianist, poet and philanthropist, has about 20 of her original pieces on display throughout the furniture showroom. She works with oils, acrylics, veneers, brushed metal, dichroic glass, mirrors and high-gloss lacquer. “On weekends, if I’m doing sales and interior design, [customers] will be like, ‘This is such a cool piece. I wonder if the artists can do a custom piece.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m the artist,’ and then I can like show them around,” she said. At the studio, Parnian hosts her increasingly popular, monthly pour art classes called Lavish Pour, which she started in January 2019.

SPELLING BEE �� page 24

the program will be recorded and mainstreamed to the public and the other participants are very skilled spellers,” Amara said. “However, I know I stand a good shot as well.” This is Amara’s first time as a finalist in the Arizona State Spelling Bee. “We are so proud of Amara,” said Copper Canyon Elementary Principal Ann Furnish in a prepared statement. “She is an excellent student and a very sweet girl. Her teachers always share she is such a beautiful person, inside and out. We wish Amara the very best of luck in the Arizona Bee!” This year also marks Victoria’s first time competing in the State Bee.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

Parnian hosts private classes at the in-store studio, too. “The thing I would say separates me from a lot of other art classes you’re going to go to is I make every single person, whether it’s a little kid or an adult, write an intention on the back [of the canvas],” she said. One of Parnian's more recent projects includes painting mannequins for Genius Recovery Foundation, a nonprofit with a mission to “change the global conversation around addiction and recovery.” Money raised from sold mannequins goes directly to the nonprofit. “I’m very passionate about Leila Parnian has acquired a large following for her Lavish Pour events. (Special to the Progress) helping people,” Parnian said. “I was with a former addict “Anyone who’s been following me ity to paint because it’s just a matter of who ended up in rehab, and since a couple of years ago, they’ve re- mixing colors,” she said. “Some people one of my neighbors recently died from ally seen me take off, and they’ve really are like, ‘What if I’m not good at color an overdose.” seen even just the pour art [class and] combination?’ I’ll help them.” When she’s not creating or teachhow much it’s grown,” she said. Parnian’s next class is March 15 at 7 ing art, Parnian is also hard at work Pour art is a type of technique used to p.m. and costs $50. rebranding the store from “very, very, create paintings by pouring paint over a Those who cannot make her classes, very, very high-end” to more approachcanvas versus using a paintbrush. however, can message Parnian on Ins- able with more mid-range brands. At Parnian’s classes, students can tagram (@leilaparnian) to order one of “I want to make this really fun. I’m goexpect to learn the “dirty pour” tech- her pour art kits. ing to bring a lounge in here and TVs,” nique, where different colors of paint “It includes everything: the plastic you she said. “I’ll probably start having are poured into one cup before they’re put underneath the cups, two canvases, events here at night with DJs, networkpoured onto the canvas. paints, instructions. I will customize the ing events with interior designers.” Parnian estimates she’s had more colors for you. I let you pick four colors,” To book a Lavish Pour class: leilaparthan 200 people take her pour art class. she said. “I make this cute little kit for nian.com. “The nice thing about this is you don’t you, and you take it home, open it, and Parnian Furniture is located at 16219 have to have any actual physical abil- do it.” N. 82nd Street. “I am very excited about this opportunity,” Victoria said. “Although I have made it to the Regional Level two years in a row, the State Spelling Bee is a new and welcome challenge.” Victoria, who also competed in the Maricopa County Region II Spelling Bee, said her preparation involves reviewing the 2020 Words of the Champions spelling list. “In addition, I will supplement this with my hobby of reading. I primarily self-study and do not have any formal tutoring,” she said, adding she’s both excited and nervous for the upcoming bee. “I am continually amazed at what a group of people can accomplish when focused on obtaining a goal,” Victoria said.

“Although I will be participating against the finest spellers of Arizona, I am eager to see how far I can go. Irrespective of the outcome, I am certain I will learn much from this experience.” “We have always placed emphasis on the importance of discipline, confidence, and perseverance to our children,” Victoria’s mother, Karin Leung, said. “We truly believe every person possesses tremendous potential that will manifest when facing noteworthy difficulties. Victoria’s current achievements reinforce these principles. We are extremely proud of her,” Karin added. This year’s bee is sponsored by AEF, a statewide non-profit organization based in Scottsdale. Leading up to the state bee, schools

throughout the state have held qualifying bees since December. Winners then competed in district bees in January, followed by county and regional bees in February. Private, public, charter, and homeschool students were eligible to compete. After the program airs on PBS, it will be made available on the Arizona PBS website. “My husband [Bryan Ellisor] and I are beyond proud of Amara,” Amara’s mother, Nicole Ellisor, said. “She has worked so hard to achieve her goal of making it into the state spelling bee. We feel so lucky to share in this amazing experience with her. We know she will do her absolute best!” Information: azedfoundation.com/ spelling-bee.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

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The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or national origin. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the career and technical education programs of the District. The Maricopa County Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information, as well as a listing of all coordinators within the Maricopa College system, visit www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020 paces are welcomed. Information: 480-481-1797.

SCORE mentoring

SCORE’s large network of volunteer business mentors will offer questions to business questions 1-5 p.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Free. Registration is required. Information: 602-745-7250.

Days MARCH

Sunday

15 Knights of North Castle applications

The North Scottsdale United Methodist Church is accepting registrations for a 2020 summer camp from 9 a.m. to noon June 15-19 for children ages 3 to 12. The requested donation is $45 per child for the week. The church, located at 11735 N. Scottsdale Road, is accepting registrations now. Information: 480-948-0529.

Basketball league

Young basketball players will participate in 10 weeks of skill development and exciting game play weekly with sessions noon-5 p.m. Sundays in March. Times vary with players’ grade level. Cost is $135 to $190.

Monday

16 New Faces AA

Find recovery from alcohol addiction alongside this support group at 7:45 a.m. at North Scottsdale Fellowship Club, 10427 N. Scottsdale Road Club membership is not required to attend meetings.

Guitar club

Kids 8 to 11 can learn guitar basics including warm-up techniques, tuning, hand positions, note-reading and more 4-5 p.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. No prior experience needed. Participants are

encouraged to attend the class for six weeks. Information: 480-312-7323.

Books 2 boogie

Children up to 5 and their caregivers are invited to participate in music, movement and song 10 a.m. at Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street. Information: 480-312-7323.

ESL class

All conversation levels are encouraged to practice the English language with experienced teachers and other students 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street. Information: 480-312-7323.

‘Last Christmas’

Enjoy the holiday romance, “Last Christmas,” at 1:30 p.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Information: 480-312-7323.

Homework help

Students 8 to 18 can stop by the Arabian Library at 10215 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road for help on any subject 3:30-5:30 p.m. Information: 480-312-7323.

Tuesday

17 Young Professionals

Enjoy a special Spring Training game and fundraiser hosted by Windom Security Strategies benefitting the PTSD Foundation of America Phoenix chapter in collaboration with Scottsdale Leadership and the Scottsdale Rising Young Professionals. Admission is free for both members and non-members in the young professionals 23-39 years old. Advanced registration is required for the

Cards and games

event, which runs 5-8:30 p.m. at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N. Pima Road Limited to the first 100 registrants. Free admission, food and drinks on the Pepsi Patio. Donation opportunities available online and at the event.

Tail waggin’ tales

Children 6 to 10 can practice their reading skills with a certified therapy dog 4-4:45 p.m. at Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street. Information: 480312-7323.

E-reader help

Receive help with downloadables. Bring your device, library card and questions noon-1 p.m. at Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street. Information: 480312-7323.

‘The Good Liar’

Enjoy the drama, “The Good Liar,” at 1:30 p.m. at the Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street. Information: 480-3127323.

Wednesday

18 Speedy bridge

Join others in a fast round of bridge at 10:30 a.m. at Via Linda Senior Center, 10440 E. Via Linda. Registration is required. Information: 480-3125810.

Walkin’ Wednesdays

Make friends while exercising during a brisk 1.5 mile walk through The J neighborhood 9-10 a.m. at Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road Bring water and walking shoes and meet at the campus’ flagpole. Strollers, dogs and all walking

Enjoy a variety of games including card games 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. at Appaloosa Library, 7377 E. Silverstone Drive Information: 480-312-7323.

Thursday

19 Tai Chi

Everyone is welcome to join a class that focuses on gentle and controlled movements that center the mind, body and spirit for health benefits 3-3:45 p.m. at Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers, 8880 E. Desert Cove Avenue. Information: 480-314-6660.

AM Connect

Participate in a networking opportunity 7:30-9 a.m. at Chickfil-A, 14995 N. 87th Street. This very popular breakfast gathering is comprised of business professionals dedicated to promoting each other’s businesses with a strong commitment to mutual success. Be prepared to share a couple apps that you find useful for your business. Open to Scottsdale Chamber members and non-members. Free to members. Cost is $30 to $35 for guests.

Little libros

Learn fun songs, stories and rhymes in English and Spanish from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Information: 480-312-7323.

Memory Cafe

Join Memory Cafe for a group session designed for community members with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their caregivers. Today’s meeting will celebrate all things Irish with an imaginary excursion to Ireland

and a fun St. Patrick’s themed craft. The group meets 10-11 a.m. at Appaloosa Library, 7377 E. Silverstone Drive Information: 480-312-7323.

Literate Lizards

Read “Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders for a library book discussion 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street. Information: 480948-2651.

Friday

20 In stitches knitters

Gather with other knitters to work on individual projects, share advice and talk with others 1-3 p.m. at Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Information: 480312-7323.

Advanced beginner bridge

Join others in playing a fun game of bridge 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. at Appaloosa Library, 7377 E. Silverstone Drive Information: 480-312-7323.

Chair Pilates

Pilates improves the cardio system, eases back pain, improves bone density and boosts heart rate. Join a class to better physical health 1-2 p.m. at Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers, 8880 E. Desert Cove Avenue. Information: 480-314-6660.

Tai Chi

The Taoist Tai Chi Society offers a four-week introductory Tai Chi class throughout March 4:30-5:30 p.m. Fridays at Scottsdale Neighborhood Arts Place, 4425 N. Granite Reef Road Cost is $25 for full course. Information: www.taoisttaichi.org.

Saturday

21 Etiquette workshop

Registered teens will practice handshaking, eye contact, body language, the art of small talk, social media etiquette, dating etiquette, interviewing, groom-

ing and more 1-4 p.m. on Mar. 21 and 22 at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, 10755 N. 124th Street. Attendance is $295. Information: 480-5106346.

Littlest Scientists

Children ages 2 to 5 can enjoy a scientific world of discovery through exploration and play 10:30 a.m.- noon at Arabian Library, 10215 E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road Space is limited, so please see a staff person prior to the start of the program to pick up a ticket which will be your registration. Information: 480-312-7323.

Sunday

22 Story stop

Build children’s literacy with a free picture book program 2-2:15 p.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Information: 480-312-7323.

TV Talk

Long-time television personalities Kent Dana and Jerry Foster will share some of their more memorable experiences during their years in television 3-5 p.m. at Beth Ami Temple, 3535 E. Lincoln Blvd.

Monday

23 Business Energizer

Learn about setting weekly goals and generate business ideas with fellow business owners 9-10 a.m. This group meets virtually. To join, meet the group online through the “Monday Business Energizer” group LinkedIn page. Free. Information: edgar@compasscbs.com.

‘Motherless Brooklyn’

Enjoy the dramatic mystery, “Motherless Brooklyn,” at 5 p.m. at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Information: 480-3127323.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

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Scottsdale Airpark is enamored with Agapi Pita BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Progress Staff Writer

North

shur Zai’s dream was to open Sco ttsdale a restaurant. So, when he married his wife, Nikki, in May 2018, the two embarked on a culinary journey with Agapi Pita Mediterranean Grill in Scottsdale. “We love this kind of food and we hope others do as well,” Nikki said. “Ashur always wants to add more to the menu. I have to tell him to slow down. He has so many recipes. He does it out of love. He loves to cook.” “Love” is the operative word here, as “agapi” is Greek for “love.” “When you do it from love, everything turns out good,” she said. “I think it’s the energy. Every day we’re getting return customers.” The Glendale couple have won over the Scottsdale Airpark businesses with their steak and chicken shawarma and their gyros. The chicken shawarma ($10.50) comes with marinated dark and white chicken, served with rice, pita bread, tomatoes, onions and Tzatziki sauce. Steak can be added Ashur Zai enjoys talking to his customers as it helps improve his English. (Photo by Pablo Robles) for $3.50. The steak plate is marinated beef, broiled is available too, as is baba ghanouj (egg- the Valley, including Olive Mediterranean very hard for me. I wanted to find a good on a vertical skewer, thinly sliced and plant). Lentil soup ($3.50), dolmas ($5.50), in Phoenix and Pita Heaven in Chandler. He wife and family. It’s hard to move to a new served with rice, pita bread, tomatoes, on- vegetarian platter ($10.25) and falafel and helped the couple start Agapi Pita Mediter- country and start with zero. I was very, very upset with my life when I moved here— ions and Tzatziki sauce for $10.75. Chicken hummus ($9.75) round out the appetizers. ranean Grill. Salads—Greek, Mediterranean and Cae“He helped us with the back-end stuff,” then I met Nikki.” can be added for $3.50. The Zais help each other accomplish Gyros, pork, salmon, steak and hummus, sar—are available with or without protein. said Nikki, whose father cooked in private and chicken and hummus plates are avail- Unsure about Mediterranean food? There residences in his home country of Iraq. “All their dreams. are chicken tenders, fish and chips and the recipes are my husband’s, though.” “His dream was to open a restaurant and, able, too, for $10.50 to $12.75. The Scottsdale Airpark location was per- when we moved in, we couldn’t believe it Nikki hails from Chicago, while Ashur, hamburgers are on the menu, too. Ashur makes everything from scratch fect for them, as Nikki’s sister has a salon in was ours,” Nikki said. “It was so surreal. I who is Syrian, moved here from Sweden. Nikki’s Windy City influence comes with natural ingredients without MSG or the same shopping center. The location is a wanted him to just pinch me. He was very excited and for both of us it’s been a new through via pizza puffs ($7 for two). The chemicals. He keeps a keen eye on what former hot dog restaurant. Agapi Pita Mediterranean Grill has prov- adventure.” pastries are filled with pork sausage, moz- customers order and what they toss because, perhaps, they didn’t care for the dish. en the couple can be successful, but there’s zarella and pizza sauce. “I try to find what’s going on,” he said. “I’m another benefit. Agapi Pita Mediterranean Grill Ashur puts a Mexican spin on hummus “It helps with his English,” Nikki said with 13802 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 130, by adding cilantro and jalapeno ($5.25, in- very observant with customers.” Food has a heavy hand in both of their a smile. “He speaks pretty good for only Scottsdale cludes two pitas). The hummus is house480-626-9224, agapipita.com, blended chickpeas, tahini olive oil, fresh lives. Ashur’s family cooked together, while moving here in 2016.” Ashur said, “When I moved here, it was agapifood@gmail.com. garlic and lemon juice. Traditional hummus Nikki’s brother owns restaurants around

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Scottsdale jeweler extends ‘Ring Invitational’ BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

South

rench Designer Jeweler Sc ottsdale owner French Thompson is currently reading Francesca Cartier Brickell’s “The Cartiers,” a book published in November relates the untold story of the family behind the jewelry empire. So far, one of the family’s quotes has resonated with the Scottsdale jewelry gallery owner of more than 20 years: “Don’t Copy. Create.” “That was a motto they had for a long period of time and it’s what got Cartier to the point where they had really good designing and they focused on designing — and it’s what these artists do, French Thompson is the owner of French Designer Jeweler, 700-square-foot galtoo, is they’re focusing on being true to lery in the heart of the Scottsdale Arts District. (Special to the Progress) their own nature and coming up with original creative work,” Thompson ex- wanted to extend the time beyond the winplained. Thompson is referring to the 12 dow of a traditional designers he handpicked for French trunk show. “Sometimes, people Designer Jeweler’s inaugural Ring Invitational, a new month-long event cannot decide on a highlighting some of the most sought- piece in just three after, diverse, high-end ring masterpiec- days, so this event gives them more time es from designers around the world. “We’ve done invitational events in the to consider the perpast in the fine art arena, and I’ve been fect piece to add to wanting to try it with an array of well- their collections,” he known ring designers. If we can do it explained. Featuring anyfor fine art, why not with fine jewelry?” where from 70 to Thompson asked. Taking place at the 700-square-foot 80 rings ranging in New York-based jewelry designer Elizabeth Garvin is one of 12 designers taking part in The Ring Invitational at French gallery in the heart of the Scottsdale price from $5,000 to Designer Jeweler. (Special to the Progress) $50,000, the Ring Arts District, the Ring InInvitational different times,” Thompson said. vitational kicked off March had its first sale on opening “It wasn’t hard for me to be able to 5 during the Native Spirit night — a ring sold for more do, to pick this group. The hardest thing Gold Palette ArtWalk. than $5,000. was whittling it down to just that many “We probably had easily Artists include Califor- people.” over 10,000 people walknia-based Alishan and Thompson chose the artists based on ing around down here,” New York-based Eliza- not only the quality of the fine jewelry Thompson said. beth Garvin, among oth- they create but also based on how cre“We got really great feeders. ative, beautiful and wearable the rings back,” he added. “We had a “I know way more design- are – and if it “enhances a person’s life.” lot of people who came in ers than I could ever fit All the artists Thompson represents trying things on, and it was fun to see which ones they This ring is the creation into my store. So, a lot of in his jewelry gallery create original were going to right off the of Japan-based jewelry these people are people work. designer, little h, one of I’ve known their work “We don’t follow trends here; trends bat.” 12 artists whose work is The Ring Invitational currently featured in The for a long, long time. and styles come out of what these peowill continue through Ring Invitational. (Special to Some of them are people do,” he said. “We’re representing ple I’ve represented at people that are truly artists, designers April 5 because Thompson the Progress)

are original people, they don’t make work that looks like everything else.” The idea for the Ring Invitational was the brainchild of Vicky Boyce, a gallerist who works with Thompson at French Designer Jeweler. “She has worked for years for some of the major galleries that were here before,” Thompson said. “It was really at her suggestion we put something like this together.” They spent about one year putting the event together. “It was an undertaking to be able to bring these items in and to stay on top of the artists, to get the work here on time, and to be able to get it entered into the inventory and photograph them and have them available for the clients. It’s a huge amount of work, but it’s turning out brilliantly,” Thompson said. The Ring Invitational will be held annually, and Thompson already has plans to showcase different types of jewelry in future shows. “Because we have a small gallery and don’t have a lot of room for a lot of different artists, this is a way of highlighting artists who we don’t normally represent and to be able to bring them in at the height of our season and be able to showcase them to as many people as possible at this time of the year,” Thompson explained. Thompson’s goal with the event — and with his gallery, in general — is to show guests they deserve to own a unique piece of jewelry. “That, in itself, is something I want more people be aware of in this world of consumerism: People deserve to be able to have something unique in their life,” Thompson said. “We’re exposing them to these artists and letting them see the uniqueness and the beauty and creativity.”

If you go

The Ring Invitational When: Through April 5 Where: 7148 E. Main Street Cost: Free to attend Call: 480-994-4717 Website: frenchonmain.com

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

BUSINESS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

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They want to be wherever moms are BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

mong the 80 specialty shops making up the 5th Avenue Shopping District in Old Town Scottsdale is Cricket + Ruby – a modern bohemian boutique for infants, children and moms. The 700-square-foot boutique is relatively new to the shopping district; owners Savannah Strehlow and Elena Shaw opened the brick and mortar store in October 2018. But this fall, Strehlow and Shaw will soon welcome Scottsdale’s storefront sibling into the world: the second Cricket + Ruby brick and mortar store located at The Frederick, a neighborhood retail center on Missouri Avenue in North Central Phoenix consisting of a restaurant, a cafe and eight small businesses. “We’re really excited to be in a space where I think it’ll attract mostly all locals, and we can start rebuilding those relationships,” Shaw said. Cricket + Ruby carries a hand-picked selection of globally sourced, unique, bohe-

Savannah Strehlow and Elena Shaw are the founders and owners of Cricket + Ruby, a modern bohemian boutique for babies, children, and moms located in the 5th Avenue Shopping District in Old Town Scottsdale. (Chris Mortenson/Progress Staff Photographer)

mian-inspired goods by local artisans and independent designers.

“We much took all these brands we really love from all over the world and brought

kids computer skills. The result was a technology curriculum provider called Future Kiddie Chan and his sister Linda have ran ever since. Future Kiddie introduces kids 3 to 7 computer navigation, keyboarding and the principles of science, technology, engineering and math in a fun atmosphere at preschools throughout the Valley. The Hong Kong natives, who immigrated to the U.S. with their family in 1996, also run another company in Chandler, called Mighty PC, that they started in 2011 to provide low-cost, slightly used computers and related equipment that has evolved into an international business.

Starting Future Kiddies was a rocky road at first, Ken recalled. “It was often difficult to work with schools and families who were focused on cutting costs,” he explained. “Budget is still a big consideration for many of the schools that we work with. “By bringing in the equipment and instructors needed for the classes, however, preschools are able to provide important early tech instruction to kids without having to buy and store computers and hire staff. It’s a win-win for educators wanting to provide tech training.” The classes are taught once day per week or bi-weekly at 20 participating

them in so our customers could have a totally different shopping experience,” Shaw said. “We have a lot of Australian brands. We have Nicaragua, Peru, Bali, a few European brands.” Prices range from $10 for accessories to about $200 for matching mom-andme sets. The average sale is about $100; and according to Strehlow, their most popular item at the moment are their $12 bows. “It’s really hard to find good bows,” Strehlow said. “All of our customers tell us they love our bows.” Strehlow and Shaw started Cricket + Ruby because Shaw was in search of baby and maternity clothes, herself. “When I got pregnant,” she said, “a lot of those brands we like actually make baby clothes, but not a lot of people know about them and not very many people bring them into the U.S. So, we were just thinking, ‘Why wouldn’t we bring all of these brands we know people love? Our friends are buying

see CRICKET page 35

Valley firm gets kids on the hi-tech road early PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

leven years ago, Ken Chan was working in real estate, not too happy about that gig in the aftermath of the housing industry collapse, when he heard a remark that changed his life around. “One of my best friends noticed how good I was with children,” recalled Chan, 41. “She kept telling me that I needed to start a business involving kids.” So he checked out a computer software program called Puterbugs, liked what he saw and started approaching schools and parents about teaching their

preschools in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale and other area communities. Each class averages 30-40 minutes and begins with group circle time to discuss the lesson for the day, followed by age-appropriate games to teach typing and basic to advanced computer skills. Each child has access to their own computer to learn technology concepts, letter and number recognition and also leadership and teamwork development. “Future Kiddie teaches children in a way that they can easily comprehend,”

see CHAN page 35

BUSINESS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

CHAN �� page 34

Ken said. “Computers are integrated as a tool – not taught in isolation. This results in a genuine understanding and appreciation of technology.” Students also learn keyboarding, which he said, “is important because it prepares the child for online testing which starts in 3rd grade in many schools.” Not surprisingly, mastering keyboarding is often the biggest challenge for children. “Some of our students take six to eight months to learn how to position their little fingers on the home row. Kids have the hardest time with proper finger placement on the top and bottom row,” Ken explained, adding: “That is understandable because even adults can take a long time to get used to a keyboard – imagine little children learning it.” Kate Strohmeyer, director of the Saint Maria Goretti School in Scottsdale, said the Chans fill a void when it comes to teaching children so young the bhasics of a tool they probably will use most of their lives. “The designated space and expense of a computer lab is not conducive to a school for young children,” she said. “But this is a convenient and fun way to incorporate important technology skills. In a S.T.E.M. curriculum, it is easier on the budget to leave out the technology part and focus on the science and engineering, but Future Kiddie makes the ‘tech’ possible in our S.T.E.M. goals, and the students love it.” Linda Chan added, “Students learn how to use a computer properly and to respect technology as a meaningful tool they will use all their lives. In addition, the highest paying jobs of the future will require these skills. We like to think that our programs help kids get on the right track.” And that’s exactly why she and her brother believe their company can provide critical training to kids at just the right age. “Future Kiddie prepares kids for their future by teaching young children how to respect computers as a meaningful tool, not just a toy, that they will use all their lives,” Ken said. Information: futurekiddie.com, 480-331-3068 or FutureKiddie@ FutureKiddie.com.

CRICKET �� page 34

them, following them on Instagram, and spending a ton of money on shipping.” Shaw and Strehlow launched the Cricket + Ruby online boutique in 2017 and opened their pop-up store in central Phoenix in 2018. “A lot of it had to do with the pricing, honestly,” Shaw said of their move from Phoenix to Scottsdale. “In uptown Phoenix where we were looking, the prices were just astronomical. ” Now, the Scottsdale location drives a lot of foot traffic, mainly by tourists. “It’s like our biggest market right in Old Town, which is really different than what we had in Phoenix. In Phoenix, we had mostly all locals, so we were able to really build up our local clientele,” Shaw said. In addition to the globally sourced products, the “mommy wear” also sets Cricket + Ruby apart. “Everything we bring in is bumpfriendly or breastfeeding-friendly, too,” Strehlow added. “We try really hard with the women’s stuff where it’s cute even if you’re not pregnant. We both wear it all the time, so they’re not true maternity style.”

And with the opening of the new, 750-square-foot store, Strehlow and Shaw plan to expand their women’s wear offerings at the Scottsdale location. “We would love for more women to know they can come in and shop for themselves, even if they don’t have a baby,” Strehlow said. “Instead of it being mama and child, it’d be more like child and woman.” Shaw said she and Strehlow work hard to choose the right products for their customers, describing the process as an “Instagram rabbit hole.” “We’re constantly thinking, ‘What’s the next thing we can do? What’s the next brand we can bring in?” she said. Strehlow added they also work hard to create a community within the store. “Like, we know if you’ve shopped here more than once. We know your name. We know who you are. We know what your baby’s wearing,” she explained. As they work to open the second store, Strehlow and Shaw have paused progress on their clothing line. “It’s definitely still in the works. It’s not something we’ve forgotten about,” Strehlow said. “As soon as the Fred is up and running, then we can focus the other

portion of our time on doing this. We’re very passionate about it.” Shaw describes the line as “elevated basics really easy to wear.” “For example, for our girls’ stuff, a vision we have is a very cute cropped tank for babies — maybe go up to size 4 — and an elevated bloomer. Most of it will be sold as sets unless it’s a romper, which we have ideas for as well,” Shaw said. But what they won’t put on hold are attending pop-up events, like selling at Phoenix Flea or taking part in any momcentered events throughout the Valley. “No matter how much we grow, we will still want to have our faces in the community. We’ll be at these events, we will be meeting moms, we want to be wherever the moms are and we want to know what they want. That’s our goal, to make sure that we’re constantly doing that,” Shaw said.

If You Go

Cricket + Ruby Where: 7150 E. 5th Avenue. Call: 480-516-6240 Website: cricketandruby.com

OPINION

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Tell City Council to eliminate food tax BY GUY PHILLIPS Progress Guest Writer

ou’ve heard it before, the onerous and regressive food tax Scottsdale imposed upon its residents for over 60 years. Mostly likely you don’t notice it because it doesn’t add up to that much – about $80 dollars a year for grocery shoppers. Still, it can be a month’s groceries for the less fortunate and �ixed-income residents in Scottsdale. On March 17, your city council will decide the fate of the food tax. We could leave it as is, reduce a portion or slowly wean us off it by

putting a percentage into the Capital Projects fund each year until it’s out of the general fund. The latter is what former Councilman David Smith came up with a few years ago and the council agreed. Recently, and I don’t know who advanced it, the council agenda had an item to put the portion of the food tax from Capital Projects back into the general fund. All sorts of reasons were put forth, from needing the money to cover an ominous public safety retirement liability in 2025 to covering in�lationary costs to the city. Frankly, I was shocked to see it there as no one from staff talked to me about it beforehand. I was further shocked when the council voted to put it back.

It was a food tax coup of sorts. That was not the intention of the former council, and I had promised David I would work towards removing it, so I voted no. The Mayor asked that we put the question on a future agenda; council agreed, and so now we are here. On the 17th, we have the chance to �inally remove the food tax once and for all. Scottsdale does not need the revenue it generates – about $12 million a year. We are in the black as the economy has continually improved with Scottsdale’s sales tax revenue going up about 8.4 percent a year since 2016. Some will argue we need it to purchase

more land for the Preserve, but we will not get the discounted price of land on the last two parcels that we got for the rest of the Preserve. That was the deal with the State Trust Land Dept. The city has also passed a $320-million dollar bond issue and a 0.1 percent transportation tax that further covers our infrastructure costs. One could argue that we are now collecting a tax that is simply not needed, a tax on food that most other cities do not tax at all. I will be voting to remove the food tax for home consumption on the 17th of March and if you agree it’s time has come I urge you to let the council know how you feel. -Guy Phillips is a member of the Scottsdale City Council.

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Arizona sports community braces for virus BY COLE BAILEY Cronkite News

“I know it’s a big thing and a scare, but the best thing I can do as a person is try and take care of myself and be healthy, wash my hands and make sure I get enough sleep and nutrition. Just try and stay away from being sick. Whatever else happens, that’s out of my control.”

s the world continues to deal with the impact of COVID-19, a novel strain of the coronavirus that has killed more than 3,000 people and infected more than 95,000 others across the world, concerns have seeped into the Arizona sports community. The 15 Cactus League teams that play spring training in Arizona received a memo from Major League Baseball recommending players don’t take baseballs and pens from fans to sign autographs. Scouts from the NHL Coyotes have been told to take precautions, and the state’s governing body for high school sports is taking its lead from the national federation. “We have to be aware that it could potentially hit our area, and we want to be mindful and we want to prepare as we move forward,” said David Hines, the executive director of the Arizona Interscholastic Federation. “We don’t want to panic yet, but we want to pay attention.” On a global scale, many sports organizations have taken aggressive action in order to prevent further spread of the disease. The status of the Summer Olympics, which are scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, just four months from now, is in question. The IOC remains committed to holding the Games as scheduled, but talks of postponement or cancellation have come about in recent weeks. In Italy, all sporting events – including Serie A soccer, one of the biggest leagues in the entire world – will be played without spectators for at least the next month. In Japan, preseason baseball games have already started to be played without fans in attendance. Switzerland has taken a similar stance, as all public

Even before Major League Baseball on Wednesday cancelled the rest of Spring Training Season, it advised the Texas Rangers and other Cactus League players not to touch pens or autograph books from fans. (Cronkite News)

gatherings with more than 1,000 people have been disallowed until March 15 at the earliest. Arizona sports institutions currently in season, which include spring training, professional and college basketball, and high school athletics, have not taken steps as drastic as these quite yet. Despite this, those directly involved with these sports – like Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell – have started to take notice. “We’re certainly talking about it and formulating how we’re going to have to address it,” Counsell said. “I think it’s a little bit on everyone’s mind. If something’s there, we want to do our best to be prepared.” Major League Baseball does not have any current plans to cancel or postpone spring training games, but it did send out a memo to baseball officials recommending that players don’t take baseballs and pens from fans to sign autographs.

Counsell understands why but regrets that this is the case. In his view, spring training is the ideal situation for young fans to connect with their favorite players. “It’s a shame that that’s what this has gotten to,” Counsell said. “I think spring training is probably the best time for that intimate fan interaction with players and getting autographs, so it’s a shame if it was suggested otherwise.” In a sport such as baseball where players are close together in the clubhouse and are constantly sharing the same ball on the field, the need for good hygiene is paramount. Giants catcher Tyler Heineman recognizes this, and he has received tips from the team as well as his wife, who is in healthcare, about things he should and should not do. “I know it’s a big thing and a scare, but the best thing I can do as a person is try and take care of myself and be healthy, wash my hands and make sure I get

enough sleep and nutrition,” Heineman said. “Just try and stay away from being sick. Whatever else happens, that’s out of my control.” Similarly to baseball, the NBA has also sent out a memo to teams discouraging autographs and high-fives on the court. It is difficult to monitor these types of things, Suns coach Monty Williams said, but he believes his team has started to take the necessary precautions. “I think everybody is aware and cautious, just because it’s something you have to take seriously,” Williams said. “We had a presentation a couple days ago to give us an idea as to what to look for, how to take care of yourself, and where it is across the country. “I think all of our guys are cautious, but that’s about all I can say about it. I’m not watching to see if guys are fist bumping or elbow bumping or anything like that. You just hope everybody is trying to be as safe as they can. “I think if anything were to happen, the team would be on top of it and make decisions based on the safety of our players and the safety of everybody around,” Williams continued, adding:

see VIRUS page 38

SPORTS & RECREATION

VIRUS �� page 37

“The league has always been ahead of the curve in situations like this, so I’m sure that they have precautions in place. I’m hopeful that it doesn’t come to that, but we’ll see.” The AIA, the governing body of over 260 high school athletics programs in the state of Arizona, has already started to be proactive in its efforts to stop the potential spread of the coronavirus at events. The AIA has already started to share information given to it by the National

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

Federation of State High School Associations with its member schools, Hines said. “We’re not the experts, so as an association, we rely on the experts,” Hines said. “We have a sports medicine advisory committee that we meet with made up of doctors and athletic trainers, and so anytime we do anything medical, we’re paying attention to the experts. “With the county health department, the state health department, the governor’s office, and all those entities, they know way more than we do. They know what we need to do, they know how we

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can be helpful to the people of Arizona and the people that are supporting high school sports.” In Hines’ view, the AIA has been fortunate from a timing perspective. Sports like basketball and wrestling, which take place in small gymnasiums that are more likely to have parents and fans within close proximity of each other, recently had their respective seasons come to an end. Spring sports, such as baseball and track and field that have recently begun their seasons, on the other hand, do not have this issue to the extent that their

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winter counterparts do. Even so, Hines still recognizes the need to be vigilant in responding to the threat that the coronavirus poses. “Most of the activities that we now have for the spring are outside activities, so we have a little less of an issue with a lot of confinement,” Hines said. “But the big thing is, ‘Let’s pay attention and listen to the CDC and all the information that comes from the public health department,’ because they’re going to let us know where it is for us in Arizona and the issues that we’re having and how we can be supportive.”

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Scottsdale gallery opens a sister in NYC BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

or 17 years, Bonner David Galleries on Main Street in Old Town Scottsdale has offered a dual exhibition space, boasting a well-balanced collection of both traditional and contemporary art. Though just shy of their 20-year anniversary, gallery owners Christi Bonner Manuelito and Clark David Olson are, in a way, celebrating early — and clear across the country – with the opening of their new dual-concept gallery Bonner David Art Boutique located in New York City. “It’s very exciting,” Olson said. “We always wanted another location, and we’ve been reading about New York, and our director there has been looking for a space for a while.” Bonner David Art Boutique is located just steps from the Metropolitan Museum

Bonner David Galleries Founding Partners Clark David Olson and Christi Bonner Manuelito recently opened a second gallery in New York City, Bonner David Art Boutique. (Chris Mortenson/Progress Staff Photographer)

of Art in the heart of museum mile on the Upper East Side. “If you’re going to the Guggenheim or

the Neue [Galerie New York] or The Frick [Collection] or the Whitney [Museum of American Art], you are just within steps

of Bonner David,” Olson said. According to a press release, Bonner David Art Boutique will not only represent the finest contemporary artists and noted traditional artists but also epitomize the highest standards for collecting fine art — much like the Scottsdale gallery. Bonner David Art Boutique held its grand opening reception on March 7, an event where about 60 guests were greeted with champagne and were free to roam the 2,600-square-foot space. “There were a ton of art fairs and a lot of different art things going on [in New York City that weekend] that it was a great time for people who are interested in art to be congregating there. So, we wanted to let them know that Bonner David is now in New York with a special event,” Olson said.

see BONNER page 40

Saguaro alums starring in new film BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

hinking back on his teen years at Saguaro High School, John Way uses three words to describe fellow Saguaro alum Savanah McMahon, who was two years his senior: “the cat’s meow.” “She was everything and I was a dorky, nerdy freshman,” Way said with a laugh. One production of “Grease” at Saguaro and nearly 10 years later, the two reconnected in a very untraditional way. Not only did they meet again at their 10-year high school reunion, but they are on the set of the film “Sweet Sun-

“Sweet Sunshine” is a romantic musical drama that features a soundtrack of catchy country pop songs. (Fit Via Vi Film Productions)

shine,” which makes its debut at Roadhouse Cinemas in Scottsdale with a one-week run from March 13-18. “To think we’d be working with each other just under a decade later, it was just crazy fun. What an awesome happenstance,” Way said. Written, directed, and produced by Craig McMahon, “Sweet Sunshine” is a romantic musical drama that tells the story of TJ Millhouse (Way), a young superstar who suffers a tragedy and eventually meets Sunshine (McMahon), a talented young woman who gives him the strength he needs to believe in himself again.

see SUNSHINE page 40

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BONNER �� page 39

Olson and Manuelito secured the New York space on Jan. 1 and will later host a grand opening event on June 6. Bonner David Art Boutique is a threestory space with unique features, including a garden, courtyard, open ceilings, beautiful staircases, and an open kitchen. Bonner David in Scottsdale, however, is 4,000 square feet and one of the largest galleries in Scottsdale. “One of the challenges was just getting the art out there and getting it set up,” Olson said of converting the space. “We had to get a truck and get [the artwork] out there from here. In the future, we’ll have our artists’ work sent directly to New York.” After deciding how they would design the space and how the space would be lit, the Bonner David team then had their first artwork hanging. “That’s always exciting,” Olson said, adding, “You’ve got to make the gallery look inviting and beautiful.” Bonner David will represent the same artists at both galleries. “The art will look the same. We’ll stay as contemporary as we always do,” Olson said. “We’re always adding in two or

SUNSHINE �� page 39

“What initially attracted me [to ‘Sweet Sunshine’] was the plot itself,” Savanah said. “It’s about two people who are living in parallel worlds, very different but also similar in that they’re both facing hardship. They’re both trying to figure out a way to see those challenges as opportunities; and I thought that that’s a really important message.” According to Way, the essence of the film can be described with three words: “love, family and music.” “This is a show the whole family can go and see; and hopefully if you leave humming a couple of tunes, I think it’s mission accomplished for ‘Sweet Sunshine,’” he said. Way, a classically trained actor who has won several national awards for his work in Shakespeare productions, spent about a month filming and recording original songs for the film; McMahon about two-and-a-half weeks. “Filming ‘Sweet Sunshine’ was almost a double pleasure because it was

The Bonner David Galleries owns have realized a longterm dream of opening a dual-concept gallery in the Big Apple. (Special to the Progress)

three new artists, so our long-term clientele have new people to look at because they tend to like our tastes.” Artists include Los Angeles-based Catalan artist Quim Bové, San Franciscobased Gail Morris, abstract artist Max Hammond, figurative painter Michael Carson, New York artist Hunt Slonem, landscape artists Gary Ernest Smith and Romona Youngquist, British figurative

artist Peregrine Heathcote, and more. Olson and Manuelito considered other cities for their second gallery, but New York was too good to pass up. “We always thought about Santa Fe; that’s probably the one we had most seriously considered,” Olson said. “But, New York’s obviously the mecca of art in, really, the world.” Manuelito and Olson partnered with

“Sweet Sunshine” stars Saguaro High School graduates John Way and Savanah McMahon. (Fit Via Vi Film Productions)

not only working, but it felt like a vacation most of the time,” said Way. Way lives in New York but spent his high school years in southern Scottsdale. “We just had great sets, a great cast, a great crew.” “Sweet Sunshine” was shot in many locations throughout Arizona, including Heber. “We loved the locations, from mountains to desert. Arizona has it all in one state,” Craig said. “Other states offered tax incentives, but we shot here because of locations and access to fantastic local talent.” In addition to Way and Savanah, the film also features Miss Arizona and fellow Saguaro grad Savannah Wix, who plays Tonya. For Savanah, filming in the state in which she grew up was very important to her.

Rebecca Rosenfield, who will serve as gallery director. “She was an intern with us here at Bonner David when she was an undergraduate, and then we hired her. She was somebody we’re real familiar with and just trusted,” Olson said of why they chose Rosenfield. Bonner David Galleries recently held an opening reception on March 6 for its newest exhibition, “Painterly Memories” by Romona Youngquist. “Youngquist’s paintings nurture the soul,” the exhibition’s description states. “Nature, as a comforting source of physical and spiritual sustenance, is depicted with modulated tonalities and balanced proportions. “Youngquist uses a limited palette, and mixes every hue with extreme care, while allowing splashes of vibrant colors to instill energy and guide the eye.” “Painterly Memories” will be on display at Bonner David Galleries through March 25. The gallery will then hold an opening reception for “True Blue Arizona,” which features new works by award-winning botanical artist Dyana Hesson. Information: bonnerdavid.com, 480941-8500 “Phoenix and Arizona, in general, is a pretty underrated place that not a lot of people talk about. It’s kind of one of those hidden gems. And I think there’s a lot of talent here. Why not show off not only the people, but [also] the landscape? “It’s beautiful, it’s spectacular, and especially moving somewhere else and reflecting back on what it means to me, I miss it. I miss that a lot,” said Savanah, who moved to Connecticut in July to start her residency in pathology at Yale New Haven Hospital. Savanah describes Sunshine as a “really fun, very outgoing, pretty outspoken” person. “She doesn’t let life’s obstacles get her down, and I thought that that would be really, really fun to channel,” she added. It’s a character Savanah said she greatly relates to: “[In] my career as a physician, you face a lot of adversity through that education. It’s a very difficult course,

see SUNSHINE page 42

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SUNSHINE �� page 40

and I feel like if you just treat those obstacles like chances to succeed and become a stronger person from it, that’s really important. “Sunshine definitely emulates a lot of those aspects, not completely similar to going to med school, but she has obstacles of her own that she gets to overcome.” Savanah has always been interested in the arts. She grew up singing and playing the guitar with her father, who would teach her new chords. “That’s how we bonded, and through that, that morphed into theater work, being on stage and performing in front of people, and then that morphed into acting,” she said. While Savanah always had dreams of becoming a musician or actor, she also had a love for science. “I try to do both as much as I possibly can. I don’t think that I’ll ever leave the acting world. I think it will always be a part of me, just as being a physician will be. I think nobody has to limit themselves to just one career. If you make the

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 15, 2020

time for both and you figure out a way to do both, why not?” Savanah said. Way, on the other hand, is a full-time actor. A National YoungArts award winner, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon, and certified by the Royal Academy of Dance, Way has not only guest-starred in the Amazon Prime series “The Romanoffs,” but his next major film project is “The Boardinghouse Reach” starring David Arquette. It’s slated to hit theaters in 2021. Way describes his character, TJ, as an artist and a dreamer — two words he said he also uses to describe himself. “He’s a kid with a dream that was born in some pretty hard circumstances and continues to have many challenges throughout his life. But he always moves forward in pursuit of that goal no matter what obstacle lies in his path. And I think that’s something that we can all relate to on some level,” Way said. The most difficult part about taking on this role, Way said, was getting into the headspace of TJ. “He goes through a lot of hardships in, and not to spoil it, but he suffers the

death of a family member who gets a pretty critical illness,” he said, adding: “You have to renegotiate the worth of his life at every step and what matters and what doesn’t matter. Dealing with those circumstances, even just for a moment, was certainly challenging.” The most rewarding part of filming “Sweet Sunshine,” according to Savanah, was recording the original songs for the seven-song soundtrack. Way and Savanah are both trained in vocal performance. “That is definitely the first time [she recorded original songs], and I’m so happy I did it. Pretty much one of my favorite parts about the entire film,” Savanah said. “I’m happy with the way that the songs came out,” she added. “They are very catchy melodies that I think will resonate well with the audience. When I immediately heard them, I was very excited to record them.” The songs were written by Lou Yoelin and produced by Chad Rubin; the soundtrack is currently available on Spotify and SoundCloud. “It was really cool to be in a profes-

sional recording studio,” Savanah said. “It actually inspired me to seek it out in the future. I hope that if there’s any gigs out there that require backup vocals or something, I would love to be a part of it.” To celebrate the opening of “Sweet Sunshine,” a red carpet VIP reception will be held at Roadhouse Cinemas on March 14 for cast, creatives, press and specially invited guests. Snacks and refreshments will be served, and cast and crew will be in attendance, including Savanah and Way. An audience Q&A with the special guests will take place after Saturday’s screenings. “Honestly, I really love the movie,” Savanah said. “It’s really well made, and I think that because everybody had such a good time filming it, it really shows on screen. I think that the audience is going to see that as well.” “Sweet Sunshine” will become available on streaming platforms this spring, starting with Amazon Prime on March 20. For more information about the film, visit sweetsunshinemovie.com. For tickets, visit roadhousecinemas.com.

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Choose from many restaurants at one site BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

t first sight, Kitchen United Mix in northern Scottsdale may look like your average food hall: the kiosks, the variety of restaurants, the group of tables. But the second the conveyer belt in the front of the house activates, everything you thought you knew about food halls is thrown out the window. Welcome to Kitchen United Mix, a 14,000-square-foot facility. Under one roof, customers can order and get food quick from an assortment of restaurants and restaurant employees work in the back of the house to prepare and deliver orders from within their 240- to 340-square-foot work spaces. “People freak out when that thing turns on,” General Manager Dan Santos said of the conveyer belt. “People are getting up. A lot of people take pictures, some people

The conveyor belt helps Food Kitchen and its tenants reduce labor costs. (Pablo Robles/ Progress Staff Photographer)

take videos. [They] think it’s super cool.” Kitchen United opened on Shea Boulevard Dec. 9 and has steadily increased its restaurant offerings. “Scottsdale is an excellent market for our

concept as the residents nearby are quickly adopting food delivery, along with pick-up and catering, showing their preference for the convenience of food delivery over preparing food at home,” said Joy Lai, chief

marketing officer of Kitchen United. Currently, Kitchen United’s members include Saladworks, Boston Market, Island Loco, Thai Chili2go, Shimogamo, Send Some Noods and Wing Wing Hello. White Castle is slated to open there sometime this month and Matt’s Big Burger is expected to launch around the end of the month. In two weeks, P.F. Chang’s will join the space; and in June, Texas-based Teji’s Indian Restaurant will open. By the summer, Kitchen United will be 100 percent occupied with total of 14 local, regional and national restaurant brands. “Keep an eye on the location, and you’ll see several new restaurants opening over the next month or two,” Lai teased. The most popular feedback among guests, Santos said, is they like that the entire family can come in and order what they want from different restaurants.

see KITCHEN page 44

High cuisine compliments high-tech bowling

BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

fter about a four-month delay, Octane Raceway’s sister concept Mavrix has finally opened its doors at the Pavilions at Talking Stick in Scottsdale. Here at the 50,000-square-foot entertainment hub, guests are greeted to new, unique experiences. They include 24 lanes of upscale bowling with eight high-tech VIP alleys that use Spark technology where laser projectors actually interact with the lanes. And there’s Mavrix’s 5,000-square-foot restaurant, the Trophy Room, where patrons can choose from a wide variety of culinary offerings, including unexpected,

Mavrix’s executive chef is Taylor Carlberg (left), and the bar manager is Bretlee Blair (right). (Chris Mortenson/Progress Staff Photographer)

elevated dishes. “Being a scratch kitchen, our food is super fresh. It’s not your typical bowling alley food by any means,” said Executive Chef Taylor Carlberg. For example, the Trophy Room serves up hand-pressed, cooked to order burgers made from a unique blend of ground brisket, short rib and chuck steak. “We have one of the best burgers in town, hands down,” Carlberg raved. Also on the menu is oven-roasted salmon with fresh herbs, root vegetables, baby arugula, dried cranberries and lemon. Two standout dishes are the blueberry pizza with prosciutto, goat cheese, grilled

see MAVRIX page 44

FOOD & DRINK

KITCHEN �� page 43

“A family four can come in, go up to the kiosk, [and] everybody can order something different. They could literally order one thing from every member,” he said. “This is a novel concept of multiple restaurants under one roof,” one Yelp reviewer wrote. “It was an interesting concept where you order at a kiosk and they pack the order to go,” another said. Kitchen United also has plans to open a second location in Tempe, in addition to expanding to Austin, Texas; Miami, Florida; Seattle, Washington; and Boston, Massachusetts. “We see Tempe as an excellent market for Kitchen United Mix and it’s still a market we’re interested in,” Lai said. “There were some construction standard related hurdles that slowed and complicated our build process in Scottsdale, and we’d like to see these resolved before building Tempe.” Kitchen United began as a new way for restaurant brands to expand via off-premise optimized kitchen centers. Through “cloud kitchens” like Kitchen United, restaurants now have a low-cost, turnkey way to expand their reach. But through Kitchen United, restaurants are also offered tools and services to grow their business. In addition to providing standard equipment in the leased private kitchen spaces, back- and front-of-the-house services, deep cleaning, city permitting, onboard support and storage, Kitchen United also offers tech and marketing services, including consumer lead generation, launch marketing support and more. “[Kitchen United] gives them the opportunity to grow. As long as they meet our criteria, they can open a spot and they can grow their business,” Santos said. “We have a member back here, Shimogamo in

MAVRIX �� page 43

onions, fresh blueberries, baby arugula and honey; and the braised short rib with hatch pepper and cotija rice, short rib gravy, crispy onions, and micro cilantro. “That’s an entree that, honestly, you could find at one of the nicest restaurants in Scottsdale — but we offer it here,” Carlberg said of the short rib dish. What makes the blueberry pizza special, according to Carlberg, are the fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

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Chandler, and they were actually looking at expanding up this way and this gave them a really low-cost location.” Kitchen United works with experienced and emerging restaurant brands that already have a following and an online presence. “Although we do marketing, we would be marketing for something that people really don’t know, and it’s a hard draw, especially in this environment where the guests can’t come in and sit down and interact with a server, interact with the host, interact with a manager,” Santos explained. This is why Santos said Kitchen United wouldn’t consider itself a “ghost kitchen.” “The biggest distinction I would say is this: Ghost kitchens, many times, have no affiliation to restaurants that already exist. Many times, it’s a company that wants to develop their own virtual brands that have no legs, have no following, nobody knows who they are,” he explained. “It’s just a virtual thing. Whereas for us, we’re really trying to partner with the restaurants and help them be successful. It’s only partially about us. It’s really more about them and what we can do to help them because it’s a cooperative effort,” he added. According to reports, the food delivery market is expected to grow from $43 billion in 2017 to $76 billion by 2022. Further, the 2019 National Restaurant Association State of the Industry Report states that the projected restaurant industry sales in 2019 were $863 billion. A William Blair study titled “Takeout or Delivery? Digesting the Rapidly Growing Online Food Ordering Industry” states that the revenue from off-premises operations in 2018 was $279 billion. And according to NDP Group, a market research company, the $26.8 billion online ordering market is the fastest-growing source of restaurant sales in the United

“All our pizzas are topped with superfresh produce,” he said, adding that the blueberry pizza “has a fantastic flavor profile. It’s social media-friendly, so we’re expecting that to be a highlight of our menu, for sure.” Carlberg trained as a sous chef at the award-winning Chimney Park Restaurant & Bar in Windsor, Colorado before signing on as executive chef of Topgolf’s Centennial, Colorado location. “I actually, just by coincidence, did my training here for when I opened the Top-

States with digital orders growing about 20 percent a year. As demand for pickup and delivery orders in the restaurant industry continues to increase, Kitchen United is one way for restaurants to increase revenue through expanding their off-premises order business. “Consumers increasingly seek con- Each restaurant has its own private leased space to prepare meals. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer) venience when it comes to getting their sanitize high-touch areas. Every handle next meal, so growth in off-premise is in the building gets wiped down, and the here to stay,” said Jim Collins, chief execu- light switches, all of that gets wiped,” Santive officer of Kitchen United, in a pre- tos said. pared statement. Santos added that the director of opera“Kitchen United offers a unique model, tions created and disseminated internaallowing operators to offload congestion tional documentation that detailed proper in their restaurants caused by the popu- hand washing techniques, how to clean up larity of delivery and pick-up.” bodily fluids if there’s a spill, proper sanitaKitchen United also helps limit labor tion techniques. through its conveyer belt set-up. Santos said he doesn’t anticipate a slow“The two drags on earnings in a restau- down in business due to COVID-19. rant are labor and food. Here, they could “In my experience in 30 years, the only essentially, on a slow day, get by with two thing that ever slows anything down — employees to work the day: one in the and, really, it doesn’t even slow it down morning, one at night. They don’t need a — is when there’s a problem with food host, a server, a busser or runner, a dish- supply,” he said. “But this thing with the washer, a manager, four or five cooks to get coronavirus, I don’t think it’s going to affect the job done. They can literally get the job anything.” done with two people,” Santos explained. Kitchen United plants to open 40 more Members have their own storage racks kitchens in cities across the U.S. through in the back of the house, and they share 2020. freezer space. And because of this communal environment, the Kitchen United members and staff clean and sanitize the space three Kitchen United Mix times a day –– though in the wake of coroWhere: 7127 E. Shea Blvd. navirus, they’ve increased sanitizing to Call: 480-704-5590 five to six times a day. Website: kitchenunited.com “One of our tasks is to go through and

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golf in Centennial. I trained here for eight weeks,” he said. Carlberg worked on the Mavrix menu for about eight months with Bradley Rishmany, culinary director for Trifecta Management Group. “We wanted a menu that would offer something special and interesting for children and adults alike,” said Scott Sanders, CEO of Octane Raceway and owner of Octane Entertainment, the company that created Mavrix. “We knew we needed someone with

Chef Taylor’s training and expertise to deliver on our vision and provide the same high-quality experience in the restaurant that we offer throughout Mavrix,” Sanders added. The bar menu boasts rotating craft beers, including beers from local breweries, as well as robust wine, whiskey, bourbon, scotch, and cocktail menus. Mavrix’s two signature drinks are the Royal Apple Mule and the Smoked Old

see MAVRIX page 45

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MAVRIX �� page 44

Fashioned. “It’s one of my personal recipes,” Bar Manager Bretlee Blair said of the Royal Apple Mule. “It’s fun, like guests can come up and see a show.” Blair said the drink tastes like “orange Christmas.” “In a lime boat, I put orange extract oil in it, and it lights and creates a flame. Then, I do a cinnamon sprinkle, which gets a light show that comes up, and I extinguish it with the same stick,” Blair said. The Smoked Old Fashioned, on the other hand, is a concoction of Rittenhouse Rye, agave syrup, and angostura bitters, smoked and garnished with an orange twist. “It has a nostalgic campfire smell to it. It’ll bring you back, and you’ll instantly feel like you’re camping. It’s wellMavrix’s on-site restaurant is called the Trophy Room balanced,” Blair assured. with menu highlights like braised short rib and the Carlberg recommends blueberry pizza. (Chris Mortenson/Progress Staff Photographer) pairing the Smoked Old Carlberg also plans to create seasonal Fashioned with the braised short rib and pairing the Royal Apple Mule and rotating menu items, likely launching the first seasonal menu in the summer. with the blueberry pizza. “We’re for sure planning on launching at “You get a little bite from the alcohol and then the fruit side of it pairs very nicely,” least one new dessert really soon because we want to expand our dessert offerings a Carlberg explained. Mavrix has four bars and in a few weeks, little bit,” Carlberg said. “It’s going to be an will open the outdoor games patio that’ll Arizona-driven cactus cake with a dessert feature a bar made from two shipping sauce sunset.” Other Mavrix features include 85 arcade containers. Via the beer garden, which will fit close games, state-of-the-art laser tag, billiards to 80 people, guests will be able to walk tables, 4K televisions throughout the venbetween the two venues, Mavrix and Oc- ue, and plenty of hand sanitizer stations. “There’s multiple sanitizing stations tane, and use shared arcade game cards at all around the restaurant, including the both sites. “We have a patio that’s going to open up back of house,” Carlberg said, adding that that’s going to really like be a staple for they’re also offering sanitizing wipes to us. In the summer, everyone will be being all guests. Mavrix will host a grand opening celebraable to enjoy local beers in the beer garden, play games, and have a good time,” tion at a still-to-be-determined date. Blair said. While the restaurant itself can fit about 200 guests, Mavrix also has private dining rooms and 1,500 square feet of meeting Mavrix and event space. Where: 9139 E. Talking Stick Way “We plan to have dinners where we Call: 480-291-7500 work with a local brewery and pair up to Website: mavrix.com five different beers,” Carlberg said.

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This Motor City marvel grabs the checkered flag

uddy’s Pizza in Detroit, Michigan is famous for its deep dish pizza with racing stripes. Instead of mozzarella, Buddy’s uses shredded jack cheese for an extra punch, and the stripes of pizza sauce go on top of the cheese instead of the bottom. Ingredients: 2 (16 oz) packages, refrigerated pizza dough (Trader Joe’s brand) 16 oz shredded Jack cheese 1 (12 oz) container refrigerated Pizza Sauce (Trader Joe’s near pizza dough) 1 (5 oz) package pepperoni (Volpi at Trader Joe’s) Red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese for topping, if desired Directions: On a floured surface, combine the two packages of dough into one ball. Stretch out to fit a 9 x 13 inch baking sheet (also called a quarter sheet pan) or shallow casserole dish. With the pepperoni, make two racing stripes lengthwise. Spoon pizza sauce over the top of the pepperoni. Make one more racing stripe with just the pizza sauce down the center of the pizza. Bake at 450 degrees for about 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. When done, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, if desired. Alternative: Homemade Pizza Dough: Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups warm water 2 teaspoons dried yeast (1 packet) 4 cups plain flour 1 teaspoon salt

It’s fun, and simple and delicious! To make this recipe even easier, I picked up some refrigerated pizza dough and pizza sauce from Trader Joe’s and decided to give this racing stripe recipe a test drive. This pizza takes the checkered ﬂag.

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½ teaspoon sugar Cornmeal, optional Directions: In a bowl or measuring cup, add water and sprinkle yeast over top of water. Stir gently and then let sit for about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, add flour, salt and sugar. Make a well and pour yeast into the center. With a fork, slowly begin incorporating yeast into dough until dough comes together and becomes too hard to mix with your fork. Flour your hands and begin to make it into a ball. Knead the dough on a floured surface until you have a smooth, springy, soft dough ball. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let double in size, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Divide the dough into 4 balls. (Balls can be wrapped and frozen for later.) Flour and cover balls with cloth. Let rest for 15 minutes. Dust surface with flour. With rolling pins or by hand, create the desired shape and thickness of pizza. Stretch out to fit a 9 x 13 inch baking sheet (also called a quarter sheet pan). Follow instructions for Racer Stripe Pizza. Watch my how-to video: jandatri.com/recipe/ racer-stripe-pizza

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