Scottsdale Progress - 05-31-2020 by Times Media Group

Forum grills mayoral hopefuls / P. 2

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

NEWS ................................ 6 Anasazi principal "Rookie of the Year."

NEIGHBORS ............. 16 Artist spruces up Old Town cowboy.

FOOD...............................21 Eateries primed for Restaurant Week.

NEIGHBORS ..........................................16 BUSINESS ...............................................18 OPINION ................................................20 FOOD ........................................................ 21 CLASSIFIEDS ........................................22

City getting $29M in virus aid / P. 10

FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF SCOTTSDALE) | scottsdale.org

Sunday, May 31, 2020

What virus? Crowds inundate Scottsdale bars BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

undreds of patrons packed into a handful of downtown Scottsdale bars and clubs over Memorial Day weekend in apparent defiance of social distancing guidelines, drawing sharp criticism from city leaders. “The images from Old Town Scottsdale this weekend are disturbing and frankly show a real lack of common sense and civic responsibility,” Mayor Jim Lane said in a statement on May 26. Lane two days later softened his stance after meeting with club owners and management. He said the clubs took some precautions but were overwhelmed by an unexpectedly robust turnout that may have included visitors from California, Las Vegas and even the Midwest seeking to escape more stringent closures.

Patrons at Bottled Blonde in downtown Scottsdale were packed in shoulder to shoulder on Memorial Day. (Photo by Wayne Schutsky)

Lane said seven area hotels were booked to capacity over the weekend – a stark change from just weeks ago, when hotel occupancy in the area dropped below 10 percent.

“And even with some well-meaning entertainment venue owners and their protocols

this August. But those guidelines, which Hoffman was expected to release May 30 – after the Progress’ deadline – will only be the beginning of a difficult task for Scottsdale Unified and other districts as they peer into a murky future that’s only about eight weeks away. Even before report cards were finished

and virtual graduations conducted, incoming Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel and Superintendent Dr. John Kriekard “have discussed the planning that is needed and have agreed on a process,” said SUSD spokeswoman Amy Bolton.

see BARS page 4

COVID-19 cloud hangs over next school year BY PAUL MARYNIAK Progress Executive Editor

erhaps the most significant announcement Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman will ever make was expected this weekend as she rolls out guidelines for reopening schools

Andrew Bloom REALTOR®, Senior Partner Andrew@BVOLuxury.com VOTED #1 SCOTTSDALE REAL ESTATE TEAM FOR 2018

see SCHOOLS page 8

(480) 999-2948 www.BVOLuxuryGroup.com

CITY NEWS

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

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

Mayor hopefuls debate city’s budget, future BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

he city’s economic recovery and the future of development downtown dominated the conversation at the first forum in the 2020 Scottsdale mayoral race. The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, Scottsdale Coalition for Today and Tomorrow (SCOTT) and Scottsdale Leadership presented the online forum, which can be viewed at youtu.be/Ug5Xpq5Ft0A. All five candidates participated, including former Councilwoman Lisa Borowsky, Councilwoman Suzanne Klapp, Councilmember Virginia Korte, former Councilman Bob Littlefield and former Councilman David Ortega. The candidates also differed on their views of the city budget, which has undergone significant changes in recent months due to pandemic-driven revenue shortfalls. While some candidates called for longterm structural changes in city spending, others advocated for more nuanced cuts. Klapp said the city made large structural changes to the budget during the Great Recession but did not envision similar changes this time around. Still, she said, the city should make “strategic cuts” such as those already included in the proposed budget for next year, which included over $30 million in spending reductions. “But I think the changes that we now make will be more strategic and aimed toward making sure that we can maintain our city services and also provide all the capital projects that the voters have requested from us,” Klapp said. Littlefield took a different approach, calling for wholesale changes to city spending, including doing away with all no-bid contracts. “We need to do a whole lot of things that are structural changes to make our budget not just balanced every year but sustainable,” Littlefield said. Borowsky said structural changes could be made to the budget to increase efficiencies, such as combining staff positions or eliminating those made obsolete by new technologies. Korte said the city has already reacted to the immediate shortfall and said it is too soon to make wholesale structural changes to the budget.

“I do not believe it’s wise to make structural decisions at this point because we don’t have data to make those decisions upon,” Korte said. Ortega called for both short-term and long-term adjustments, using community feedback from the ongoing general plan outreach. “The long-term vision and our ability to stay in art city and keep moving forward has to be based on where we came from and where we want to go,” Ortega said. Beyond the city’s immediate financial condition, the candidates were also asked about the future of the city’s downtown core and what role developers and their advocates should play at City Hall. The conversation was largely spurred by the recent debate over Southbridge Two, which was ultimately pulled by the developer. Some critics of the project and other large developments have argued that developers and their campaign contributions have too much influence over the decision-making process at the Planning Commission and City Council. Borowsky, who referred to “the Southbridge Two debacle,” pushed for more citizen feedback, arguing that new development should keep “with the character of Scottsdale” and that moderation is key. She said that city should not give in to all developer demands for 150-foot buildings downtown. “I’m the first one to say that I think downtown and Old Town needs restoration and some redevelopment…there should be a vision though,” Borowsky said. Ortega, a longtime opponent of Southbridge Two, drew on his professional career as an architect who has built buildings in downtown Scottsdale and called for “more sensible balance with lower profile buildings.” Korte pushed back at Borowsky’s contention that the city lacks vision for downtown redevelopment. She argued there is already a vision for downtown Scottsdale in the form of the Old Town Character Area Plan adopted unanimously by the City Council in 2018. It included the allowances for 150-feet in some areas of downtown that were used by the defunct Southbridge Two project and other successful developments like Museum Square and Marquee.

But Littlefield argued that residents do not see it that way, using the recent elections and Southbridge Two referendum to support his contention that developers have too much sway over City Council. “It’s pretty clear that the citizens of Scottsdale are not happy with the direction the current council majority is taking, and they want something different,” Littlefield said. Klapp called for a balanced approach that brought together residents, businesses and the development community. “In the final analysis when it relates to downtown…it has to be what’s good for the entire 258,000 citizens in Scottsdale, not just a small group of people,” Klapp said. Klapp disagreed that the city was not adequately taking residents’ perspectives into account when it considers new developments, citing surveys stating “96 percent of the people in the city feel that the city is doing a great job in listening to their interests and providing the services that they want.” It’s unclear what metrics Klapp was citing. The city’s 2018 citizen survey found 96 percent rated the city positively for quality of life, 56 percent gave positive marks for treating all citizens fairly and 65 percent approved of the city’s overall direction. All the candidates called for plans to unify the city through a common vision. Both Littlefield and Ortega called on the city to adhere more strictly to the city’s General Plan. Littlefield said he would put “together a group and come up with a resonant friendly general plan update…then we need to stick to that because that’s the only thing the voters say that is our plan for the future.” Borowsky called for restoration of the citizen budget commission that she championed during her time on Council as well as increased citizen involvement in other city processes. Korte proposed starting a long-term community outreach process, which she dubbed Scottsdale Community Conversations 2050, to elicit feedback on the longterm direction of the city. Klapp said she would work to unite Council while reaching out to Scottsdale’s various communities to “have the ability to come together to come to some common ground that will actually work for the benefits city of Scottsdale.”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

VIRTUAL TOURS AVAILABLE WITH ALL LISTINGS!! We are positively disrupting the way luxury real estate is bought and sold. Our omnichannel strategy leaves no stone unturned to bring a buyer to your home!

IT ED

Every Home Sale Directly Benefits Phoenix Children’s Hospital

TE TA

E ND

T AC D UN

$7,750,000

T IR

F OL

P IN

L AC

E EP

V IE

O LT

AI AV

SERENITY SHORES CONDOMINIUM 4777 S Fulton Ranch Blvd 1059 Chandler AZ 85248 3 BD | 2 BA | 1,721 SF

U TS SA

$2,000,000 CALL BVO 480.999.2948

ANCALA COUNTRY CLUB 11861 E Desert Trail Road Scottsdale AZ 85259 5 BD | 8.5 BA | 6,518 SF

U TS SA

$1,495,000 CALL BVO 480.999.2948

SINCUIDADOS | OWNER AGENT 8300 E Dixileta Drive 213 Scottsdale AZ 85266 4 BD | 4 BA | 4,073 SF

-3 OP

0 T1 SA

-2

T1 SA

$598,900 CALL BVO 480.999.2948

SIERRA VISTA ESTATES 1005 E Sierra Vista Drive Phoenix AZ 85014 5 BD | 3.5 BA | 2,482 SF

$399,500

GRAYHAWK 19550 N Grayhawk Drive 2053 Scottsdale AZ 85255 3 BD | 2 BA | 1,795 SF

$675,000 CALL BVO 480.999.2948

CAREFREE SENTINEL ROCK 35419 N 58th Street Carefree AZ 85377 3 BD | 2.5 BA | 2,613 SF

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

$1,650,000 CALL BVO 480.999.2948

$410,000

GRAYHAWK 19700 N 76th Street 2175 Scottsdale AZ 85255 3 BD | 2 BA | 1,796 SF

$995,000

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

LOS GATOS 8617 E Los Gatos Drive Scottsdale AZ 85255 4 BD | 4.5 BA | 5,486 SF

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

AI AV

CRESTVIEW AT FOUNTAIN HILLS 10831 N Pulve Court Fountain Hills AZ 85268 4 BD | 7 BA | 7,770 SF

MIRABEL CLUB 36791 N 102nd Place Scottsdale AZ 85262 5 BD | 5.5 BA | 5,469 SF

RANCHO MANANA 38925 N 54th Street Cave Creek AZ 85331 3 BD | 4.5 BA | 4,280 SF

T SY

$2,500,000

$2,125,000

$420,000 CALL BVO 480.999.2948

$1,225,000

AI AV

$2,125,000

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

R DE

R OU

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

MIRABEL VILLAGE 10968 E Scopa Trail Scottsdale AZ 85262 5 BD | 4.5 BA | 4,232 SF

$1,449,000

1T1 SA

I VA RA

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

LOS GATOS 8617 E Los Gatos Drive Scottsdale AZ 85255 4 BD | 4.5 BA | 5,486 SF

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

BOCARA 24422 N 73rd Street Scottsdale AZ 85255 4 BD | 4.5 BA | 3,759 SF

U TO

U RT

REALTOR®

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

TATUM GARDEN ESTATES 9421 N 50th Place Paradise Valley AZ 85253 5 BD | 5.5 BA | 4,853 SF

DESERT HIGHLANDS 10040 E Happy Valley Road 919 Scottsdale AZ 85255 4 BD | 4.5 BA | 5,606 SF

$1,899,000

1T1 SA

-5

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

CRESTVIEW AT FOUNTAIN HILLS 11007 N Crestview Drive Fountain Hills AZ 85268 5 BD | 6.5 BA | 6,903 SF

L AB

$2,800,000

R VI

$1,950,000

$2,150,000

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

DESERT HIGHLANDS 10040 E Happy Valley Road 600 Scottsdale AZ 85255 5 BD | 4 BA | 7,157 SF

CORAL GABLES ESTATES 14402 N 15th Drive Phoenix AZ 85023 5 BD | 5.5 BA | 6,277 SF

B RA

2 AT NS

$2,234,000

Director of Expansion

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

LOS GATOS 8601 E Los Gatos Drive Scottsdale AZ 85255 5 BD | 8 BA | 7,819 SF

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

SHEA CORRIDOR 12504 E Gold Dust Ave Scottsdale AZ 85259 5 BD | 7 BA | 6,818 SF

$2,500,000

AUSTIN BLOOM

Director of Marketing Director of Client Care

$3,500,000

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

BABS BLOOM

Senior Partner REALTOR®

E OM

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

PRADO ESTATES 24066 N 90th Way Scottsdale AZ 85255 6 BD | 7.5 BA | 8,561 SF

T1 SA

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

SILVERLEAF 10412 E Robs Camp Road Scottsdale AZ 85255 6 BD | 7 BA | 10,975 SF AI AV

$4,495,000

CALL BVO 480.999.2948

R OU

480.400.1985

ANDREW BLOOM

$299,000 CALL BVO 480.999.2948

VILLAGE AT MARKET STREET CONDOMINIUM 20801 N 90th Place Unit 108 Scottsdale AZ 85255 2 BD | 2 BA | 1,298 SF

$299,000 CALL BVO 480.999.2948

BUENA VISTA 9911 W Thunderbird Blvd Sun Lakes 85351 1 BD | 1 BA | 1,019 SF

w w w . B V O L U X U R Y G R O U P. c o m

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

BARS from front

in place there was an overwhelming of what they could do, a near-mob scene in some cases,” Lane said. Videos showing packed pool parties and crowded bars at venues like Maya Day & Nightclub, W Scottsdale hotel and the INTL went viral over the long weekend, making headlines across the country. Management at the bars also insisted they are taking necessary safety precautions despite those photos and videos. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead urged both businesses and patrons to adhere to recommendations from health officials. “I respect the governor’s decision to reopen the economy, but the intent was that he trusted all of us – the business owners, the residents and visitors – to acknowledge and behave like we are in a pandemic to protect everybody else,” Whitehead told the Progress. She said most restaurants in the city have put precautions in place but that “a few bad eggs are going to risk the whole economy, so yes, I’m very disappointed.” Beginning on May 23, photos and videos began circulating on social media showing hundreds of patrons packed in to popular Scottsdale hotspots like Maya and the pool at the W Scottsdale. The same night, Instagram posts by Floyd Mayweather made national news, showing the boxer partying in Scottsdale with his crew without masks in the crowded INTL club. According to posts on Instagram, staffs at both Maya and the W Scottsdale were wearing masks but patrons were not. The videos also showed patrons closely packed in pools, tables and at the bar. While cloth masks do not stop the wearer from becoming sick, medical experts have said they can help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Thus far, Gov. Doug Ducey has been mum on the conditions at the downtown Scottsdale bars, which appear to conflict with guidance issued by his office when her allowed restaurants to reopen on May 11. The May 11 order did not actually include bars but it appears some downtown Scottsdale clubs that serve food opened under the assumption they qualify as restaurants. The guidance he put in place was meant to continue a downward trend in new virus cases, but some state numbers in-

Posts on social media on Memorial Day weekend showed large groups of people congregating at the pool at Maya Day & Nightclub, seemingly in conflict with social distancing guidelines from Governor Doug Ducey. (Instagram)

dicate cases are still increasing and local pols and health experts have warned that opening too soon or without the proper precautions in place could result in a new spike in cases. Rep. Amish Shah, D-24, posted an update on Facebook on May 4 that acknowledged the need to reopen businesses but also emphasized the need to do so safely. Shah, an emergency room doctor who represents parts of southern Scottsdale, wrote “Clearly, Arizona and the country will need to reopen, as we cannot remain in an economic and social freeze for months.” “But we do not want to see our sacrifices wasted and eventually experience a greater loss of life,” Shah wrote. “The virus is still out there, and if we suddenly remove all of our restrictions, it will quickly run amok and cause mayhem.” Whitehead warned that the effects on the economy could be even worse if another surge causes a new round of business shutdowns or stay-at-home orders. “It’s not about protecting yourself,” Whitehead said. “It’s about protecting everybody else and the economy, because just as (Ducey) opened the economy, he can close it and the economists say if it closes, it will deeper (and) it will be longer and it will hurt all the restaurants.”

A model by University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicted that the number of cases in Arizona would increase significantly following the gradual reopening of the economy. The model predicted infections in Arizona began rising again on May 4 and will continue to rise through mid-June – reaching an estimated peak of 13,974 daily infections – before starting to decline. The Washington Post reported that a presentation prepared by Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency predicted a second wave of infections could overwhelm ventilator stocks in multiple states, including Arizona. But others – including protesters who showed up at the state capital weeks ago to protest the shut down – have argued the measures implemented by the governor are hurting businesses and that the state’s hospitals were not as taxed during the first wave as health experts predicted. In early May, Scottsdale Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita and Rep. Kelly Townsend, RMesa, said they planned to make motions to terminate Ducey’s emergency declaration that included the executive orders shutting down businesses. “Why isn’t the governors top concern both, public health AND economic

health?” Ugenti-Rita posted on Twitter on May 4. “We do not have to choose one or the other. Both can exist in harmony.” In Scottsdale, the bars appear to have adopted some pieces of Ducey’s guidance while ignoring others. Bottled Blonde, for instance, had signs encouraging patrons to stay six feet apart but there was no enforcement. Social media posts from both Maya and the W hotel pool showed large groups of people partying closely together. Management at those venues said they are taking the proper steps to protect customers and staff. Representatives from both Bottled Blonde and Spellbound Entertainment Group – which manages Maya and the poolside deck at the W hotel – said they were limiting tables to 10 people at a time. “Our focus is a more intimate setting once we reopen to closely focus on the social distancing aspect set forth,” Spellbound Director of Operations Jason Adler said prior to reopening. “Patrons will be able to mingle and dance as they choose and no more than 10 people will be at a table at a time.” However, dozens of photos and images posted by W and Maya patrons over the course of the weekend showed the opposite. Bottled Blonde, located across the street from Maya, had a dense crowd of patrons standing four to five people deep around its entire bar and people dancing in front of the DJ booth at around 3 p.m. on Memorial Day. “Our goal as soon as we reopened was to make sure that we followed all of the CDC and Governor Ducey’s social distancing guidelines,” Bottled Blonde GM Charlie Brooks said. Bottled Blonde reduced its capacity from 436 to 250 people, Brooks said. He also said the bar took a number of steps to comply with the governor’s order, including putting up Plexiglas between booths, limiting booth seating to 10 people, placing hand sanitizer throughout the venue, and requiring all staff to wear masks. Scottsdale’s response to the situation has differed from Tempe’s after crowds at a bar there elicited criticism on the day that restaurants reopened. On May 12, Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell issued an emergency proclamation re-

see BARS page 11

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

GS... OR SAVINGS... AY ER ON OR 0ORE MAY

TH, 2020

$500 o

$O5r0de0rob ff fyf 4O/3rd

$500 SAVINGS... ORDER ON OR $500 SAVINGS... $500 SAVINGS... $500 SAVINGS... $500 SAVINGS... BEFORE MAY ORDER ON ORON OR ORDER $500 SAVINGS... ORDER ON OR $500 SAVINGS... ORDER ON OR 30TH,ORDER 2020 BEFORE MAY ON BEFORE OR BEFORE MAY ORDER ONMAY OR BEFORE JUNE 30TH, 2020 30TH, 2020 BEFORE MAY $50030TH, SAVINGS... BEFORE MAY 2020 30, 2020 30TH, 2020 30TH, ORDER ON OR 2020 $500 SAVINGS...

0e/r2b0y2 0

$500 o

4/30/ 2 02 0

Order f f b 4/30/ y 2 02 0

$500 SAVINGS... BEFOREON ORDER OR ORDER ONMAY OR 30TH, 2020 BEFORE MAY BEFORE MAY 30TH, 2020 30TH, 2020

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 4454 E. Thomas Rd. Phoenix | 602.508.0800 VISIT OUR SHOWROOM 4454liwindow.com E. Thomas Rd. Phoenix

Mon-Thurs 8:30-5 p.m.

Fri 8:30-4 p.m.

Sat 9-2 p.m.

ROC#179513

Sat 9-2 p.m.

ROC#179513

602.508.0800 | liwindow.com

Mon-Thurs 8:30-5 p.m.

Fri 8:30-4 p.m.

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

Anasazi principal named Rookie of Year BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

ore than 40 decked-out vehicles were parked in front of Anasazi Elementary School in northern Scottsdale on Tuesday, packed with staff, students, and parents, some wearing costumes and others standing through sunroofs as they awaited the guest of honor. And the second that Principal Jennifer Waldron and Dr. Ini Haghighat, Scottsdale Unified assistant superintendent of elementary education, stepped out, they were met by cheers and honking horns. They were celebrating Waldron’s recent designation as Elementary Principal Rookie of the Year by the Arizona School Administrators – a deserving honor, according to Haghighat, who nominated her. “Ms. Waldron has worked so hard to achieve so much, earning the trust and respect of her students, staff, parents and community,” Haghighat said. The ASA award recognizes an outstanding new elementary principal who has

SmoothLaseTM

Michael L. Bleeker, DMD 7502 E Pinnacle Peak Rd., 8-119 Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Anasazi Elementary School Principal Jennifer Waldron was named the Elementary Principal “Rookie of the Year.” (SUSD)

been on the job less than three years and has demonstrated exemplary leadership to both the school and community. Waldon became Anasazi’s principal in 2018 and the elementary school has since become an International Baccalaureate Pri-

Non-surgical Facelift! No Fillers - No Toxins

Laser assisted approach to boosting yout body’s own natural collagen production. No incision, no injection, no downtime! Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Before

CALL US TODAY! TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME!

480-306-8510 www.scottsdalelaserdentistry.com

After

MENTION THIS AD WHEN YOU CALL TO SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION AND 20% OFF BUNDLED SERVICES!

A surprise parade for Anasazi Elementary School Principal Jennifer Waldron was organized by Assistant Principal Andrea Martin. (SUSD)

mary Years Programme Candidate School. “She has raised academic expectations through the school’s IB pre-candidacy, while providing the needed support to all. Ms. Waldron is a strong communicator and empowers, motivates and inspires others to do their best,” Haghighat said. A prestigious, internationally recognized pre-kindergarten through high school curriculum framework, the IB aims to create global student citizens who learn to think critically and creatively about the world and its issues and how they relate to them. Anasazi joins nearby Mountainside Middle School, a Candidate School for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the feeder middle school for Anasazi students, and Desert Mountain High School, which has offered the IB Diploma Programme since 1999. Anasazi would be the sixth public school in Arizona with the IB designation. “I am so proud of the culture of learning that helps define our school and the great lengths we have come this past school year in our International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme candidacy,” Waldron said. In July, just before two dozen teachers at Anasazi Elementary took a two-day workshop for IB PYP training, SUSD Superintendent Dr. John Kriekard called Waldron “totally committed” to raising the bar for Anasazi students. “It doesn’t surprise me that Principal Waldron is pursuing the IB’s rigorous requirements with determination,” Kriekard

said. “We are excited about what this opportunity offers Anasazi. These young leaders will have a clear path in front of them, from pre-kindergarten through high school, to pursue a global education, right here in Scottsdale, Arizona.” Waldron said she was pleasantly surprised by both the award and the parade, which was organized by Anasazi Assistant Principal Andrea Martin. “I go to Anasazi every day with the intent of serving the students, staff and community, so this honor isn’t just mine, but all of ours,” Waldron said. Haghighat isn’t alone in calling Waldron’s award well-deserved. “I find her motivating, creative, and always thinking out-of-the-box,” said Desert Mountain High School Principal Dr. Lisa Hirsch. “You can tell when you set foot on the Anasazi campus that the atmosphere is cohesive and inspiring, by design.” And Mountainside Middle School Principal Adam Kohnen calls Waldron “one of the hardest-working, dedicated and driven principals” he knows. “[Waldron] always keeps in mind what is best for her school, staff and, above all, her students. Anasazi is extremely lucky she is their leader,” Kohnen said. Waldron will be formally recognized by the ASA in a virtual program on June 15. “The outpouring of love was a wonderful way to close the 2019-2020 school year,” Waldron said. Information: azsa.org

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

SCHOOLS from front

a high and frequent level of disinfecting – posing another new expense. But even as that all goes on, school officials have an even bigger worry: who will even come to school if campuses reopen? The question involves both teachers and students. Scottsdale Unified and most other districts are surveying teaching staff to see who plans to return to the classroom when school begins. While available data suggests the spread of the virus among children may be low, the data is mixed on the frequency of child-to-adult transfers. Even without children, however, interactions among school staff could pose a concern for at least some school employees, particularly those who are older. Some districts report that given the number of teachers who have signed contracts for the new school year after the pandemic broke, staffing does not appear to be a problem. Then there are worries about how many parents might not want to send their children to school – a prospect with major financial implications because the bulk of school districts’ state funding is based on enrollment. Those concerns run the gamut: Some may have elderly family members in the household and might fear their child will inadvertently infect them. Some parents of special-needs children might fear for their kids’ safety. Then there are parents who may fear that a second wave of the virus will force another round of closures and decide to simply hold off sending their kids back until they see what happens. Bolton said Scottsdale Unified just completed a parent survey on Friday and officials are awaiting the results. The Arizona Board of Education earlier this month acknowledged those concerns by establishing a new way for districts to expand their online learning programs to all grades so that students whose parents opt for distance learning will count in the state’s reimbursement formula. Scottsdale Unified has no worry on that score. Bolton said the district is already certified for provide K-12 online instruction. Scottsdale Unified and other districts also are assessing how they will handle transportation.

The two men took suggestions to the district’s Incident Command Team on May 15 for their input, she said. The team, a pre-defined group of leaders that works in a National Incident Management System set-up to manage emergencies, pre-dates the current pandemic but is charged with planning, responding, recovering and preventing emergencies – such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Mirroring what is happening in most school districts across Arizona, Kriekard and Menzel have created three subcommittees that already are at work addressing an array of issues related to the 202021 school year. They include subcommittees for teaching and learning, chaired by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Guerin; operations and logistics, chaired by Dennis Roehler; and social/emotional needs, chaired by Shannon Cronn. In turn, Cronn’s and Guerin’s subcommittees are enlisting teachers, parents, administrators and students to help in brainstorming strategies and “identifying various possible scenarios and as many possible issues to be resolved,” Bolton said, And, they will be waiting for what Gov. Doug Ducey and Hoffman will be rolling out as guidelines. President Trump has said schools should reopen and Ducey last week said schools would reopen on time and that school sports could resume, though the Arizona Interscholastic Association issued a long list of recommendations for student athletes and coaches to follow as football practice is set to begin soon. And while Ducey said “we need parents and teachers and superintendents to be prepared” for reopening schools, districts are confronting see a myriad of complex – and expensive – issues impacting them. Districts already are developing scenarios that include a hybrid that might have some students in classes and others learning at home as well as complete distance learning for all in case another round of campus closures occurs. The guidelines Hoffman and Ducey will be only that. During a meeting last Tuesday between some superintendents and Ducey and Hoffman, the governor “was very, very clear to say that Arizona has guidelines and the state superintendent says that

Gov. Doug Ducey last week said schools will reopen in time but that will be easier said than done as districts face a vast array of issues. (Capitol Media Services)

we will have guidelines. Those are not mandates,” Mesa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Andi Fourlis told her governing board. “I was sitting next to the superintendent the Navajo Nation. He has a very different problem to solve than we do. So we have to the statewide plan has to be nimble,” said Fourlis, one of 89 school officials from across the state who were asked to weigh in on the state’s plans. The issues districts confront are staggering in their complexity and breadth. They affect how students will get to and from school, how they will sit and move around inside them, how they will eat and play. Field trips and extracurriculars activities – from sports to choral to band – also await scrutiny. Officials also must assess what Fourlis called “learning loss” among students over the last three months of distance learning as well as the continuing “digital divide” between students with internet access and those without. Even the impact of closures on students’ mental health is an issue, given the prolonged alarm over the virus and their long separation from classmates and campus life. School officials also will confront financial issues since they receive millions of dollars from sales tax revenue, which has been in freefall as a result of business closures. Bolton could not give an estimate of that revenue for SUSD but it is in the

millions, given figures supplied by districts of comparable size to Scottsdale. Although the Trump Administration had shelved a 62-page set of guidelines created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for reopening the country, the voluminous document was leaked. It contained 19 specific recommendations – not rules - for reopening schools that AASA, The Superintendents Association, urged school districts should follow. Those recommendations include spacing desk 6 feet apart, canceling field trips and limited extracurricular activities, repeated emphasis on washing hands and related hygiene practices, canceling most work gatherings, staggering the use of cafeterias and other gathering places like playgrounds so they can be disinfected after every use, staggering arrival and dropoff times and even locations, assigning supplies like crayons and pens to individual students and restricting visits from parents or other nonessential people. Districts are closely examining every inch of space for the possibility that libraries, multipurpose rooms and other areas on campus will be turned into classrooms so desks can be kept sufficiently apart from each other. Bolton said that issued “will be addressed in the appropriate subcommittee.” Districts also will be examining the most efficient and effective way to achieve

see SCHOOLS page 12

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

GROW YOUR POTENTIAL:

Career and Technical Education

Scottsdale Community College helps prepare you for high-demand jobs in a variety of industries – or simply add the professional skills needed for advancement and re-careering for a brighter future. • 100+ degree and certificate programs • Flexible schedules and fast-track options • Tight-knit community dedicated to your success • Courses available via classroom, hybrid and online • Easy credit transfers • Low tuition

CTE PROGRAMS SCC OFFERS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN AREAS SUCH AS: Business & Management Computer Information Systems Culinary & Hospitality CAD/Architectural Technology Administration of Justice Visual & Performing Arts VIEW THE COMPLETE LIST OF DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS AT

scottsdalecc.edu/ degrees-certificates

Make it happen at Scottsdale REGISTER FOR SUMMER AND FALL SEMESTER!

(480) 423-6700 • scottsdalecc.edu/cte 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.

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

Scottsdale getting $29.6M in virus relief BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ith a possible lawsuit looming, Gov. Doug Ducey has let go of some of the federal cash he got for local communities – including Scottsdale. Scottsdale will receive $29.6 million from the pool, the second largest allocation behind Chandler’s $30 million. Ducey is allocating $441 million, a quarter of the more than $1.9 billion Arizona is getting in coronavirus relief dollars. Most of the rest, he said, will be set aside for future needs of the state, including the possibility of replenishing the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund if it runs dry. That amount computes out to $114.80 per city or town resident. Counties get the same amount, but only for the population living in unincorporated areas. The move by the governor comes two weeks after the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted to file suit to force

Ducey to let go of the cash. Maricopa and Pima counties, as well as Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa, got their pandemic relief funds straight from the federal government because they each have populations of more than 500,000. The $29.6 million distributed to Scottsdale is out well below rough estimates by City Treasurer Jeff Nichols. At a May 19 budget meeting, Nichols told the Scottsdale City Council could receive $45 million if the money was allocated based on the same formula used to determine the direct allocations to larger municipalities like Phoenix and Tucson. Ducey brushed aside questions about the Pinal County lawsuit, saying “There’s no lawsuit necessary. The funds are distributed.’’ Strictly speaking, the dollars that Ducey is giving out are supposed to be earmarked for public safety and health needs. But the program is set up so that communities can replace the local dollars

they were using for those programs with the new state aid. That, in turn, frees up those dollars for other programs. Ducey said it gives maximum flexibility to each city, town or county to decide how best to allocate the dollars. The money could be used to help Scottsdale businesses and the city itself, both of which took significant revenue hits due to the drop in tourism associated with the covid-19 pandemic. Scottsdale’s tentative budget for next year includes a $23 million sales tax revenue decrease compared to precovid projections – with much of that hit coming from projected declines in restaurant and hotel sales tax revenues. A discussion at the May 19 Scottsdale City Council meeting hinted how some members would like to use the cash. “I know there’s many in the business community who are really looking to the city for financial assistance,” Councilwoman Linda Milhaven said while discussing the budget on May 19.

☛ ☛ ☛ ☛ ☛ ☛ ☛ ☛

N E P

Covered RV and Boat Storage Air Conditioned Storage Gated Access Drive-Up Access All Ground Floor storage Individually Alarmed Units Security Camera Surveillance Managers live on site

W O N

www.AzStorage.com

Self-Storage Units For Business And Personal Needs

Councilwoman Solange Whitehead also called on the city to aid small businesses while also using funds for rental assistance. “Investments, like these, will strengthen the economy,” Whitehead said. “For instance, keeping people in their homes protects the renter,

see CARES page 12

Lawyer thanks healthcare workers in special way BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

34707 N 7th Street Phoenix, AZ 85086 623-234-9100

“Investments, like these, will strengthen the economy. For instance, keeping people in their homes protects the renter, the landlord, and prevents homelessness. Helping small businesses survive the downturn protects jobs, the landlords, and the unique character that attracts tourists.”

Scottsdale lawyer donated 500 care packages to healthcare workers at HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center as a thank you for the care provided to his family when his wife went into premature labor last year. David Shapiro said he was looking for a way to give back after staff took care of his wife – and later their twin boys – after she went into labor at just 21 weeks at HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center. She remained in the hospital for six weeks before giving birth to the twins prematurely. Shapiro’s children would spend three to four months in the neonatal intensive care unit before going home. “It was just brutal given the fact that we couldn’t take our babies home, but that

NICU organization completely took care of our kids, saved their lives and brought them back to incredible, incredible health,” Shapiro said. Shapiro said his sons are now thriving and the family has “a very special bond with that hospital.” When Shapiro heard that HonorHealth and other hospitals were running low on critical protective equipment and other supplies, he saw his chance to pay it forward to the hospital. He was able to source N-95 protective masks from a vendor who sources shirts for his business, David Shapiro Law. Ultimately, Shapiro donated 500 backpacks filled with N95 masks, hand sanitizer, latex gloves, hand lotion and sleep masks to frontline healthcare workers at the Thompson Peak hospital. In a statement provided to the Progress,

see SHAPIRO page 11

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

SHAPIRO from page 10

HonorHealth thanked Shapiro for the donations. “HonorHealth is grateful to David Shapiro Law for their incredibly generous gift to our healthcare providers,” according to the statement. “The 500 donated care kits will be extremely helpful both personally and professionally for our physicians and clinicians, as items such as hand sanitizer and procedural gloves are in short supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” Shapiro wasn’t alone in his efforts to provide needed supplies for those healthcare workers. Volunteers from his office and Christ Cares Ministiries at Phoneix’ Christ

BARS from page 4

quiring some venues, including bars that serve food, to file reopening plans with the city documenting how they will comply with distancing guidelines. Mitchell told reporters that violations would come with a warning and fines will be left up to the discretion of Tempe Police. Lane said Scottsdale would not follow

Church-Lutheran helped the law firm assemble the care packages. Then, Family Movers, the Phoenix-based moving company Shapiro hired to help deliver the goods, offered to do the work for free. “And when they realized what they were doing, they refuse to charge me as well,” Shapiro said. Shapiro said he hopes his donation will inspire other businesses to support the healthcare community. “One of my goals was obviously wanting to give back and take care of the people that took care of my family, but secondly, hopefully some other businesses take the same kind of action as my office,” Shapiro said.

that path but was taking steps to ensure compliance with a law enforcement summit with area business owners hosted by Scottsdale Police Department on May 28. It’s unclear how effective the summit will be, however, as Brooks said he gave Scottsdale officers a walk-through on Memorial Day weekend to show them the bar’s protocols prior to the situation that caused the controversy. According to the governor’s May 4 press

Scottsdale-based David Shapiro Law donated 500 care packages to frontline healthcare workers at HonorHealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center. (Special to the Progress)

release, “The operators must establish and implement safety protocols and best practices, including enacting physical distancing policies.” But another document, entitled “Guidance for Restaurants Providing Dine-In Services.” seems to indicate wiggle room for operators. “To the extent possible, restaurant establishments should take measures to ensure that customers may follow these

guidelines,” it states. Whitehead said it’s up to the businesses to use common sense to protect public safety. “I’m sick and tired of businesses saying ‘well, it says here we can do x,y,z’…the businesses should not worry about the letter of the law, they should worry about the intent of the law,” Whitehead said. Kristine Cannon contributed to this report.

Got Medicaid and Medicare? Get the only 4-star plan for you, Arizona. UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete®.

Enroll now. Talk to a licensed agent today.

1-877-749-3139, TTY 711 UHCCP.com/AZdual Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Valid on UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete H0321 plans. Other Physicians/Providers are available in our network. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply. Y0066_191113_040827_M CST28104A

CST28104_DU20_AZ_Q1_4Star_Ads.indd 7

1/17/20 12:12 PM

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

SCHOOLS from page 8

While some states have talked about staggering start times so fewer children are on a bus, there is no agreement nationally on whether this will be necessary. However, there is agreement among bus transportation professionals that additional sanitizing and protective measures will be needed. During a webinar last month on the subject, Mike Martin, executive director/ CEO of the National Association of Pupil Transportation said that because the COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving, there is no set best practice for sanitizing available yet. His organization also asked its members to “work with their school leadership to issue a statement to parents about cleanliness on their school buses” since parental confidence in hygiene is important to maintain. In that same webinar, Charlie Hood, executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation and Services, said that buses are not designed for social distancing. Hence, Hood asserted, school districts will have to determine how to protect both students and drivers and that in the short-run, drivers may have to be equipped with protective clothing to enhance their safety. Governing boards in Scottsdale and throughout Arizona are now in the process of finalizing budgets for the next school year. To help districts meet some of the new costs and revenue losses associated with the pandemic, Congress allotted $30.6 billion of its $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act for

CARES from page 10

the landlord, and prevents homelessness. Helping small businesses survive the downturn protects jobs, the landlords, and the unique character that attracts tourists.” Phoenix and Mesa both have allocated tens of millions of dollars in grants for small businesses, though Mesa now believes it will need less than $10 million for its program. Both cities also are developing grant programs to aid households with grants covering a month’s rent and

school districts. Arizona’s share is $275 million and most districts have already been advised as to what they can expect. Scottsdale Unified expects roughly $1.8 million. But not all of that money may go toward Scottsdale Unified. There’s a national controversy over that money after U.S. Education Secretary Betsy Devos advised that private schools – those that charge tuition – must share in those funds. Moreover, her department advised, private schools’ share should be based on the total number of all its students while public schools’ share must be based on the number of students who come from families at or below the poverty line.

Private schools within each district must request that money from the district. Moreover, “schools must notify the private schools, but many privates have already reached out because it’s a much larger sum than in the past,” said Dr. Mark Joraanstad, executive director of the Arizona School Administrators. Asked if any private schools have put their hand out, Bolton said, “We are expecting them to ask.” Joraanstad has urged all Arizona superintendents to write to their congressional representatives and ask that Congress step in to blunt Devos’ advisory. “It appears the House is considering putting further guidance language on their intent,” he told the Progress.

“Whether the Senate would do so is more questionable. However, some senators have expressed concern over abandoning the poverty standard that has a history going back to the mid 1960’s.” The backlash against Devos’ plan, however, is growing among both Democrats and Republicans. Indiana’s Republican state superintendent of education already has declared she state will ignore Devos’ directive. Republican Sen. Alexander Lamar, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, has publicly expressed concern about her interpretation of the CARES Act. “My sense was that the money should have been distributed in the same way we distribute Title I money,” Alexander told reporters. “I think that’s what most of Congress was expecting.” According to the website politico.com, “DeVos defended her interpretation of the law” and that she said, “it’s our interpretation that it is meant literally for all students and that includes students, no matter where they’re learning.” Two weeks ago, Devos seemed to be backing down a bit, saying districts could provide services rather than dollars. But last week she sounded a more determined view. Last week, The Hill reported that despite opposition from congressmen on both sides of the aisle DeVos accused state education leaders of having a “reflex to share as little as possible with students and teachers outside of their control.” Last Friday, Devos said she would issue a rule that making her guidance mandatory and “resolve any issues in plenty of time for the next school year.”

three months of delinquent utility bills. Another $150 million of the money going to Arizona is being allocated to what the governor calls the Express Pay Program. This is designed to provide quick cash to entities seeking public assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency but need the money more immediately. Eligible recipients include not just local governments but also tribes, state agencies, nonprofit hospitals, school districts, fire districts and skilled nursing and assisted living providers.

Everything else, Ducey said, is going to be banked. “This is a significant amount of money that we get to spend once,’’ the governor said, stressing that it can’t all be given out to local governments because he’s waiting to see what the state’s financial situation is. “We are going to have needs at the state level,’’ he said. That includes the fact that more than 600,000 Arizonans have applied for unemployment insurance since the virus outbreak. “Those are dollars that need to be replenished’’ he said, if the account goes

to zero. Under normal circumstances, the fund would borrow money from the federal government. That’s what happened a decade ago when the state needed to borrow $420 million. In that case, it took a surcharge on employers -- the people who finance the fund in the first place -- to repay the cash. Ducey suggested that the state might instead decide to finance the deficit, letting employers off the hook. Progress Managing Editor contributed to this report.

State Health Services Director Cara Christ said schools will have to implement measures that protect children and staff from COVID-19. (Capitol Media Services)

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

BRAND NEW COMMUNITY OPENING THIS FALL Take comfort in knowing this brand new, never lived-in community, is 100% clean and safe. We are also taking many safeguards to further ensure the health of our residents and associates. We distinguish ourselves from others by embracing a Personal Touch Culture that strives to make a heart-to-heart connection with those we serve.

Good Things Come

Schedule Your Visit Today & Ask About Our Move-In Incentives!

TO THOSE WHO WAIT

MODEL UNITS COMING SOON!

Age in place at Arizona’s premier senior living community. SENIOR LIVING

| ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE

Independent Living

Assisted Living

Memory Care

Services that make life easier

Help with daily living

A secure environment for peace of mind

Legacy Village of Salt River is Arizona’s premier independent living community. Independent living services are designed for seniors who want to trade the responsibility of maintaining a home for a lifestyle of social, educational, cultural and leisure activities. Our residents enjoy restaurant-style dining, beautifully decorated living areas and a variety of apartment ﬂoor plans including studio, one bedroom & two bedroom options – all in a beautiful setting.

At Legacy Village of Salt River, assisted living services are designed for seniors who can no longer manage on their own but do not require intensive, 24-hour medical care. We provide a combination of residential living, health and recreational services, and help with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, eating and medications in a warm, home-like environment.

Our Alzheimer’s care community, called The Cottage, is staffed by professionally trained caregivers that provide specialized care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. Our expert, assisted living caregivers provide residents with memory support, assistance and supervision for many daily activities – all in a secure environment.

Go online to view a full list our services and amenities that are included with Assisted Living at Legacy Village of Salt River.

Enjoy private apartments furnished with personal belongings and mementos that make it feel like home. Activities are also specially designed to meet the needs of our residents.

At Legacy Village of Salt River, we offer the best of both worlds: private living along with services that make life easier.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Legacy Village of Salt River...it just feels like home.

Quality.

Warmth.

Value.

We are committed to quality and constantly look for ways to better serve our residents.

We strive to make a heart-to-heart connection with those we serve.

We provide peace-of-mind for residents and families.

Located in Beautiful Scottsdale at 8170 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale • AZ 85258 LEGACY VILLAGESALTRIVER.COM | 480.527.2000

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

CONGRATULATIONS

GRADUATES from Grand Canyon University! It’s not too late to get started on your college journey. We have virtual, interactive campus tours available and plenty of scholarship opportunities!

Visit gcu.edu to apply for free today! 855-428-7884 For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org). GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/titleIX. The information printed in this material is accurate as of MAY 2020. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. ©2020 Grand Canyon University 20GTR0463

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

Arizona AG suing Google for millions BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ttorney General Mark Brnovich is suing Google, claiming the internet giant is defrauding Arizona consumers by collecting private information. “Google willfully misleads and deceives users into enabling collecting of their location data and using and storing their location data in ways users do not know or understand,’’ the state argues in the lawsuit filed in Maricopa County Superior Court. All that information, Brnovich charges, has a purpose. “Google’s advertising revenues are driven by the company’s collection of detailed information about its users, including information about where those users are located,’’ he said. That data, Brnovich said, allows Google to enable advertisers – companies that paid Google $135 billion in 2019 – to target users in specific geographic locations. “Hundreds of millions of dollars of these advertising revenues were generated from ads presented to millions of users in the state of Arizona,’’ he said. The problem, Brnovich charges, is that the tactics the company uses to “surveil’’ users’ locations are “willfully deceptive and unfair’’ – violating the state’s Consumer Fraud Act. Brnovich wants a judge to order Google to surrender any profits it has made “by means of any unlawful practice.’’ He also wants “full restitution’’ to Arizona customers and for the company to pay a fine of up to $10,000 for each willful violation of Arizona law. Finally, he wants a court order barring Google from engaging in similar practices in the future. That would cover not just Google devices but also its Android operating system and its popular search engine. A call to a Google spokesperson was not immediately returned. But when Capitol Media Services first inquired about the practice two years ago when Brnovich awarded a contract to a private law firm to investigate the company’s activities, a spokesman said

the information the company gathers “helps us provide useful services when people interact with our products, like locally relevant search results.’’ He also said there are ways for users to delete location history and web activity. But Brnovich said it’s not a simple act. He said the company makes it “exceedingly hard for users to understand what is going on with their location information, let alone opt-out of this morass.’’ “Google makes it impractical if not impossible for users to meaningfully optout of Google’s collection of location information, should users seek to do so,’’ he charged. He told Capitol Media Services that users should be concerned. “This includes physical location, everything about where you’re going, your doctor’s office,’’ he said. And what’s worse, Brnovich said, is that the company effectively is lying to people about how they can stop that from happening. “Even if a consumer or customer turns off their location, they’ve got their loca-

tion history off, Google surreptitiously is collecting information through other settings, other apps, other web activity,’’ he said. In the lawsuit, Brnovich details various settings, all of which provide information on a user’s location. Some are specific and simple, like the device’s main setting which allows the use of GPS to determine an individual’s location. Then there is scanning for WiFi, Bluetooth, location history, location sharing and the company’s own ad personalization. “The array of location-related settings described above misleads and deceives users of Google’s products into believing that they are not sharing location information when they actually are,’’ Brnovich said. All that, he said, is complicated by a “complex web of setting and purported ‘consents’ ... that misleads users into handling over their location data to Google.’’ Some of the problems, Brnovich con-

ceded, have been fixed since an initial Associated Press story in 2018 explained how Google records the movements of users even when they believe they have set the parameters of their devices to specifically block that. But even then, he said, Google still made it difficult to understand how to turn off any location history. On top of all that, Brnovich said, is that Google has set up its devices to undermine the choices made. “Presumably, the entire point of including various toggles and consents on devices and accounts is to give the user control over the state of their device and/or account,’’ he said. “However, Google has pushed a variety of updates that automatically change a user’s location settings and defaults without informing the user, much less seeking or obtaining consent,’’ he added. He said, Google is making representations to Arizona consumers that once they turn off location services that the practice stops. That, he said is not true.

The world has changed. Our commitment hasn’t. In 2020, we’ve experienced extraordinary circumstances. Through this new normal, we remain devoted to safely serving customers with stability, personal service and 24/7 accessibility through StearnsConnect digital banking.

Whatever tomorrow brings, we’ll face it together. Learn more at StearnsBank.com

| (480) 314-4200 |

NEIGHBORS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

Neighbors

Scottsdale.org l

@ScottsdaleProgress

/ScottsdaleProgress

Iconic cowboy sign gets a long-overdue re-do BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

s businesses reopen and foot traffic picks up in the Old Town area, residents might notice a facelift on the northeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Main Street. The iconic “Most Western Town” cowboy sign received a fresh coat of paint by southern Scottsdale resident Patricia Badenoch over Easter weekend. “The weather was perfect,” she said. “Lots of families on bikes, strollers and even children with their training wheels still on now roamed the sidewalks and streets of Old Town taking advantage of no traffic.” Badenoch spent six hours repainting the sign Easter Sunday. While she used the same colors — red, blue, and tan for the chaps — what she did differently is repaint the original design

Southern Scottsdale resident Patty Badenoch gave the iconic cowboy sign on the northeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Main Street a facelift over Easter weekend. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

for the rope around the lariat, which she discovered while scraping the old paint off. “That was fun seeing that original rope design,” she said. “And because I was raised on a ranch and had my own horse and so forth, I had a sense of a Western look.” Badenoch said, “It was evident much of the painting needed attention.” “About a year ago, I noticed that the paint was fading, particularly the one that faces out to the street because the sun hits it. The red was turning pink,” she added. Badenoch knew the quarantine was the best time to pack up a ladder, her paint and her brushes and paint the sign while the streets were unusually quiet for spring. This wasn’t Badenoch’s first time touching up the sign. The first time she repainted it was in 2006, with the help of Darlene Peterson, and again around 2013.

see COWBOY page 17

Children’s Hospital honors Scottsdale nurse BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

eralded as “healthcare heroes,” nurses have gone above and beyond to fight COVID-19, many flying to assist the hardest-hit parts of U.S. Locally, hospitals are recognizing their nurses’ achievements during this National Nurses Month, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, which recently announced the recipients of their 16th annual Nursing Excellence Awards – including Northern Scottsdale resident Gretchen Schwindt, named this year’s Transformational Leader. “It’s very exciting, for sure,” Schwindt said. The Transformational Leader Award recognizes nurses who “embody a lead-

Northern Scottsdale resident Gretchen Schwindt received the Transformational Leader award from Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she works as a clinical manager. (Gretchen Schwindt)

ership style that fosters an environment where nurses feel their voices are heard, their input is valued, and their practice is supported.” Children’s Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Julie Bowman said Schwindt received numerous nominations for the award. “It’s so exciting that she was nominated and selected by staff and she is very deserving of this award,” Bowman said. “As a tenured nurse but new clinical manager, Gretchen has natural leadership abilities with a spirited approach to leading improvement work in her clinical area of responsibility.” Schwindt may be relatively new to the role of clinical manager – taking the position in August – but she’s been at Children’s nearly 17 years. After 14 years in the neonatal intensive

care unit, she transitioned to nurse coordinator, working for a fetal care program. “My plan was always to be in leadership,” Schwindt said. So, when her colleague Jennifer Mutascio asked if she’d like to take on her position as clinical manager, it was an easy “yes.” “It definitely helped that she sought me out and that she knew what her team wanted and needed. I think that’s what made the easy transition for me to come in,” Schwindt said. “Well deserved,” “one of my favorite nurses,” and “a true leader and wonderful person” are just a few ways Schwindt’s team describes her. “It was really exciting for sure to be

see GRETCHEN page 17

NEIGHBORS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

COWBOY �� page 16

Last May, Badenoch also spent about 50 hours repainting the weather-beaten fiberglass horse propped on the second level of the historic Porter’s Tavern building on Brown Avenue. “I was a little intimidated and felt challenged by it because this is kind of an icon. It’s like the cowboy, because it’s been there for years and years and years. Lots of people have energy on this, especially the people in the historic Old Town. So, I was a little nervous,” Badenoch told the Progress at the time. The cowboy sign has been a symbol of The West’s Most Western Town since the first version was erected by the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce in 1952. Its purpose then was to easily, cheaply and frequently promote community events on the chalkboard inside cowboy’s lariat. “It quickly became the ‘iconic’ photo backdrop for many individual tourists and convention groups coming to Scottsdale – and continues to be,” said local historian Joan Fudala. Fudala added that what many might not know is that the cowboy had a “kinfolk” starting in 1956. Replicas of the cowboy sign were posted in 15 locations throughout Scottsdale and the surrounding area to indicate the direction and mileage to Scottsdale. Today, however, only one cowboy remains: the one in Old Town. After the sign was remade from its original Masonite into sheet metal in the late ‘60s, it received its first facelift in late 1995, just in time for the first Super

GRETCHEN �� page 16

nominated, and to be nominated by my own staff was amazing. I was completely overwhelmed and surprised,” Schwindt said. Schwindt calls the award a “group award.” “I have only been able to do what I’m doing because I lean on them so much to learn so much of the management role that I didn’t have experience in,” Schwindt said. Schwindt was admittedly nervous to fill Mutascio’s shoes because of her extensive management experience and because Mutascio’s team respected her so much. So, when Schwindt took on the role, she

Bowl in Arizona. “I think the Cowboy sign, now 68 years old, is one of the most beloved symbols of Scottsdale,” Fudala said. “It’s a touchstone to the past and a familiar face as we look to the future. Multiple generations have been able to have a ‘Kodak moment’ — can we still say that in the digital photo op and selfie age? — next to the sign, and millions of motorists have driven past the Cowboy’s friendly welcome to Old Town.” It’s this very reason Badenoch has been so committed to preserving the sign over the years. “I realized that ... there was always people photographing themselves with it. It was almost more sought after then the Love sculpture; it’s amazing icon,” she said. Badenoch said while some want to “morph out of the ‘Most Western Town’ look” and make room for more businesses and high-rises, she still considers Old Town an attraction. “Not only is it an attraction for people coming from out of town, but it’s also an attraction for people who live here, even the younger generation, especially with the referendum thing. That was a major symbolic gesture on the part of the citizens of Scottsdale wanting to maintain some kind of authenticity to the downtown area,” she said, referring to the 17,000 signatures on a petition for a nowmoot referendum on the now-scuttled Southbridge Two project. “That was an amazing accomplishment to get that and that led credence to my sense of the importance of maintaining some sort of historic character and the heritage of that area; and a cowboy is symbolic of that to me,” she said.

concentrated on building relationships with her team members first. Within a few months, she has helped improve the team’s communication, transparency and overall wellness. “They wanted to make sure they had the opportunity to meet with senior leadership, that visibility. So, we started a quarterly breakfast with a VP,” Schwindt said. “It’s an open forum … and they can ask any questions they want to ask or tell them any concerns they have.” Schwindt also helped create a second wellness center in the East Building at Phoenix Children’s Hospital main campus, where she works with new graduates and experienced nurses. Schwindt helped convert a room on the

The old cowboy sign was originally used to easily, cheaply, and frequently promote community events on the chalkboard inside cowboy’s lariat. (Scottsdale Progress archives)

third floor of the building into their own wellness room complete with a shoulder massage, a sound machine, yoga mats, healthy snacks, and more. “Sometimes, it’s really hard at work and you don’t have the opportunity to get away and you bring some of that negativity home and it affects your personal life,” Schwindt said, calling the wellness room “a place to go away for a few moments, to re-center themselves, get ready for the rest of their shift and keep them mentally healthy, too.” “I would not want to work anywhere else. I absolutely love working at PCH,” Schwindt said. “Our senior leadership is so supportive and amazing. “Right now, with everything that was

happening with COVID and our census being down, a lot of hospitals were furloughing, and our leadership team wants our nurses, they want to keep them here. So, they just had a program where they’re supporting our nurses and they’re able to get their full paycheck,” she continued. Phoenix Children’s Pay Protection Program ensured that all full-time and parttime employees receive pay for 100 percent of their budgeted hours in April and recently extended through June 6. “That support from senior leadership down, it’s why you want to work here. You want to work here because of the children, and you have a great support system and leadership,” Schwindt said. Information: phoenixchildrens.org

BUSINESS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

Business

Scottsdale.org l

@ScottsdaleProgress

/ScottsdaleProgress

Nearly 24K jobless claims �iled in Scottsdale PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

t least 23,676 Scottsdale residents have lost their jobs or been furloughed since social distancing guidelines and business closures were implemented to control the spread of COVID-19, according to tracking maps from Maricopa Association of Governments. MAG released the map May 21 – the same day the state reported that unemployment in Arizona spiked to 12.7 percent and the same day that state House Republicans turned back an effort to increase Arizona’s unemployment compensation, the second lowest in the country. The MAG data show 85251 – with 4,600 claims – as the hardest hit in the city and among the most devastated in Maricopa County. ZIP codes 85254, with 3,750 claims, and 85257 also have seen a high number of claims, with 3,750 and 3,234, respectively. The data cover claims �iled between March 14 and May 14, and with new reports of new claims being issued by the state in the last two weeks, the Scottsdale numbers likely have increased. Another 24,723 Arizonans �iled �irsttime claims for unemployment bene�its in the week end May 23. The addition brings the total since the COVID-19 outbreak and the limits imposed by Gov. Doug Ducey on the Arizona economy and travel to 601.518 – 17 percent of the total state workforce. Still in question is whether the numbers actually re�lect all those who are out of work. Brett Bezio, spokesman for the Department of Economic Security, said throughout this month his agency has seen an average of 7,200 calls answered each day. But Bezio acknowledged to Capitol Media Services that DES is getting anywhere from 70,000 to 12,000 calls per day, whether from those seeking to apply or

Gov. Doug Ducey said some of the federal pandemic relief money Arizona has received may be needed to replenish the fund for unemployment compensation. (Capitol Media Services)

those seeking to renew bene�its. Put another way, the agency is able to get to only one call out of 10 that is coming in. Bezio said efforts are underway to improve the situation. “We have expanded our unemployment insurance team substantially to nearly 700,’’ he said. “We will continue to grow our team to ensure we can provide applicants with the assistance they need.’’ And, in a bid to deal with the crush, DES opened its call center this past Sunday and Monday, even with the latter being a holiday. Meanwhile, the agency is still playing catch-up with the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. That is the special $600-a-week coverage available for those who are ineligible for regular state jobless bene�its, including the self-employed and workers in the “gig’’

environment like Uber drivers. MAG’s maps shows there are no areas in the state has escaped a rising unemployment claims, but that Maricopa County recorded the biggest numbers of job losses with two thirds of all unemployment claims �iled here. Other areas with traditionally stable employment numbers also were affected, MAG said. “We went from record low-unemployment levels to record increases in weekly unemployment claims,” said Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney, chair of MAG’s Economic Development Committee. “The impact of the pandemic on our workforce is staggering.” In releasing the data, MAG said, “While the death toll continues to rise, the preventative measures in place to minimize that death toll have had an enormous impact on the national and local economies. One measure of that impact has been job loss. “From record low unemployment levels early in 2020 to record increases in weekly unemployment claims, the impact of the pandemic on employment �igures is staggering.” Other hard-hit areas include 85283 in Tempe, with 4,031 claims, and 85282, just south of that, had 5,229 claims. Chandler ZIP codes 85224 had 4,080 claims while adjacent 85225 had 6,121. “These maps can be used by employers and policymakers to understand where there are large numbers of people looking for work,” said Mesa Councilman David Luna and vice chairman of the EDC. “We can use that knowledge to target resources to the local economies that need help the most.” The biggest lost, not surprisingly, is in the leisure and hospitality industry. That includes the bars and restaurants that were ordered shuttered except for take-out. Still, for the �irst time in years, the situation actually is better than the rest of the

county, with the United States posting a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 14.7 percent. Wallethub.com, a personal �inance website, said Arizona ranks 23 among the 50 states for sustaining the worst unemployment impact during the third week of May and 44th overall in the country. But wallethub also said unemployment in Arizona increased by 550 percent this year over last and 1322 percent since March 1. MAG released its maps at the same time House Democrats were attempting to use procedural maneuvers to get a vote on measures to increase bene�its and allow people to get unemployment payments if they leave their jobs due to unsafe working conditions. Rep. Kelli Butler, D-Paradise Valley proposed amendments about unemployment insurance to three bills set for consideration by the House Committee on Health and Human Services. But because they were unrelated to the underlying Senate-passed bills on breast implants, pelvic exams and outpatient treatment centers for behavioral health, the amendments would have wiped out the underlying bills. Butler and Rep. Andres Cano, D-Tucson, acknowledged the importance of those bills. But they argued that, given the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant �lood of people seeking unemployment bene�its – 577,000 since the virus hit and the governor ordered businesses shut down – the problems of people out of work took higher priority. House Republicans made their own procedural motions to prevent the amendments from even being offered. The Legislature �inally pulled the plug on its session last week, but may be convened in a special session by the governor later this year to address pandemic-related issues.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

PERSONAL

TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

WHAT CAN GROOVYTEK DO FOR YOU?

GroovyTek empowers you to take control of your personal technology devices. To do that, they provide in-home (house calls) and over-the-phone sessions with empathetic trainers. These trainers are knowledgeable about the questions you have regarding your own technology, and teach you to do it yourself! By answering your questions, working out your problems, and arming you with knowledge, GroovyTek is an all-in-one technology training solution for anyone who didn’t grow up with a smartphone in their hand. You can expect your personal agenda to be front and center. With GroovyTek, you won’t have to worry about being talked down to. You also won’t need to deal with trainers pushing products and updates that you don’t want. GroovyTek’s trainers consistently listen to what you want to do, and teach you how to accomplish it yourself. Once they leave, you’ll be empowered with all the tools you need to have fun with the new tech tips and tricks you’ve learned. GroovyTek trainers give patient demonstrations, take notes for you that outline necessary steps, and make sure your goals have been reached before the session ends!

Experience a service unlike any other! Call today and take advantage of the 3 for 2 introductory pricing.

ENDS FRIDAY 6/5/20 NEW CLIENT SPECIAL PRICING

BOOK TODAY, SCHEDULE AT YOUR CONVENIENCE

IN-HOME PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY TRAINING WITH

WWW.GROOVYTEK.COM

OPINION

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

Opinion

Send your opinions to opinions@scottsdale.org Scottsdale.org l

@ScottsdaleProgress

/ScottsdaleProgress

Letters

Value those who take care of the elderly

o you realize that what caregivers for the elderly do is so important in so many ways? It’s not just the daily living skills, bathing assistance, and household help they provide. It’s that daily smile, laughs, conversation, companionship, caring or recreational activity. The stuff that feeds one’s soul. Makes them feel alive. A reason to smile. Caregivers are the stars in the sky. Breaths of fresh air.

High points of the day. Our senior’s well-being depends on them! And how much is that worth??? Their job is not easy. It requires a lot of skill and knowledge to understand seniors, to have the required patience, to recognize their individual cognitive skill levels to meet their needs accordingly. And to tolerate the abuse that inherently comes with the decline in mental processes of percep-

tion, memory, judgement, and reasoning. To remain calm when they want to scream. They care for people and then find a way to care a little more. Your seniors need these people – and so do you. More than you realize. Treat them accordingly. Value them. Honor them. Reward them. Respect them. They are to be cherished, My dear mother-in-law resides at The Gardens of Scottsdale. I appreci-

ate each and every caregiver there. And the maintenance man. He takes care of every single need in their mind. Things we think are unimportant are like an IRS audit to seniors... Stressful until it’s taken care of. Even if it means several visits a day. I wish I could give each of them a million dollars. That’s how much they are worth. Especially now. -Denise Heinrich

Chapman Ford was able to reach more customers at home, adjust their operations to accommodate new health protocols and grow online sales and personal delivery of vehicles. Mr. Countryman says he’s been “optimistically surprised.” They are learning to do more with less, and thinking creatively about operations. Bill Callahan, president/CEO of Arizona Bank and Trust, says retail business has shifted but not declined. Arizona Bank and Trust has transitioned to drive-through tellers and electronic banking, which is now 75 percent of their transactions. Commercial banking employees are working successfully from home. They were able to process over 4,000 PPP loans for $1.5 billion – all remotely. They expect to continue de-emphasizing brick and mortar stores. Callahan says the city can help the recovery by moving forward with the infrastructure projects in the recent bond approvals, especially while interest

rates are so low, to stimulate the local economy and create jobs. Ronen Aviram, general manager of the Hotel Valley Ho, saw a 93 percent drop in revenue for April. They furloughed 85 percent of staff but brought them back with PPP loans. They have used the downtime to renovate, re-train staff on safety protocols, deep clean and reset. Pools are now open and guests are trickling back but meeting reservations are still down. Aviram says the city can help restore the hotel industry by offering the best possible product. We need to continually evolve to attract tourists, offering a unique experience, not just the sun. Downtown has stagnant areas that have to be activated. Callahan sees the future direction in developing more recession-proof industries, growing and innovating along the Cure Corridor and finding ways to attract younger families to our community to improve our financial demographics. It’s important to pay attention

to the different sectors in our city in order to attract younger people. Aviram says his hotel chose Scottsdale for the positive business environment; the unique blend of urban and suburban, vertical and horizontal public spaces. He thinks an answer lies in more business and community support of the labor market, partnering with institutions like SCC to develop vocational training and provide jobs upon graduation tailored to skills. The full interview can be viewed at tammycaputi.com under “News & Events.” The crisis should be teaching us that we must be visionary and look at things in a different way. Our quality of life depends on tourism and economic activity, which is generated from a few very small geographic areas. Scottsdale cannot stay still. We can’t bubble wrap the city and close our eyes; the future is ours to create. -Tammy Caputi

Pandemic should teach us to be visionary

cottsdale is a vibrant community, blessed with engaged residents and natural beauty. We enjoy high amenities and low residential property taxes. But we are far more than a wonderful place to live. We are an economically robust employment hub. Our central Valley location helps fuel 18,000 businesses employing nearly 200,000 people, which is critical to supporting our lifestyle. More than half of the city’s budget is funded from sales tax revenues and only 10 percent from property taxes. I recently spoke with three industry leaders in Scottsdale on how the COVID-19 crisis has affected their businesses, and listened to their thoughts on how to pivot and recover. Steve Countryman, general manager of Chapman Ford, reports that sales were actually up in April compared to last year, particularly to customers in the construction industry – which has remained active.

FOOD & DRINK

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

Food & Drink

Scottsdale.org l

@ScottsdaleProgress

/ScottsdaleProgress

Scottsdale gears up for Restaurant Week BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

he pandemic won’t stop Arizona Restaurant Week from returning for its 13th year. With restaurants reopening with new service protocols, ARW will now take place June 19 through 28. The Arizona Restaurant Association has adapted to social distancing for the more than 200 Valley-wide participating restaurants. “As Arizona Restaurant Week returns in a modi�ied format to include dine-in, take out and liquor to-go options, we are hopeful that our wonderful community of food enthusiasts will continue to show their support in any way they feel comfortable,” said ARA President and CEO Steve Chucri. ARW gives patrons the opportunity to try three-course, prix-�ixe menus for $33 or $44 per person. Some restaurants even offer wine pairings at an additional cost. New to ARW this year are two Scottsdalearea restaurants, the House Brasserie and Sel. “It’s a great way to introduce our establishment to a new audience, to transition from season to summer, [and] to be knitted into the community,” said the House Brasserie owner and manager Joe Ieraci. This year means more to us, a chance to gain new guests for summer and future visits, a chance to create some buzz and interest, a chance that all restaurants need coming out of this shutdown,” he added. Located on Main Street downtown, Charleston’s Restaurant Where: 17001 N. Scottsdale Road Call: 480-563-7666 Website: charlestons.com The House Brasserie Where: 6936 E. Main Street Call: 480-634-1600 Website: thehousebrasserie.com

ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho is one of many Scottsdale-area restaurants participating in Arizona Restaurant Week next month. (Hotel Valley Ho)

House Brasserie serves a re�ined New American menu. Its ARW menu includes guests’ choice of three diverse entrees: Peruvian Rock Shrimp Linguini, Creekstone Skirt Steak, or Veal Jaeger Schnitzel. “We chose these dishes to show our creativity and diversity,” Ieraci said. The House Brasserie is operating at 30 percent on weekdays and 50 percent on weekends. Typically, the restaurant allows for 150 guests. “Some of the challenges consist in staffing and inventory, not knowing what to expect on guest count ... Other challenges are simply making the guests feel comfortable,

sanitizing, spacing tables, and trying to conduct business with some kind of normalcy,” Ieraci said. According to recent stats from Open-Table, a real-time online restaurants reservation service, dine-in seating at restaurants surveyed in Arizona is down 60 percent from the same time last year. Chucri said the ban on in-house dining has cost restaurants statewide a collective $27 million a day in lost revenues. This has pushed restaurants like ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho to make smarter choices when it comes to reservations – “and using forecasting to determine how much space to leave open for hotel guests,” said Seth Widdes, ZuZu general manager. “Our top priority is providing a safe environment,” he said, “and this includes reduced capacity, which can be limiting on busier periods like weekends.” Because ZuZu’s currently running at 50 percent capacity, they encourage reservations, including for ARW, in which the restaurant has participated for the better part of a decade. “Before dine-in service was suspended, we were about to launch our new menu. So, for Arizona Restaurant Week, we will be rolling out some savory new menu items, including Crispy Cast Iron Chicken Thighs, Sweet Corn Agnolotti, and a Tropical Cheesecake Crème Puff with Pineapple Sorbet, just to name a few,” Widdes said. Marcellino Ristorante is another ARW returner for their fourth year. “We are �inding a surge of people want-

LOCAL PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE:

Los Sombreros Where: 2534 N. Scottsdale Road Call: 480-994-1799 Website: lossombreros.com

Marcellino Ristorante Where: 7114 E. Stetson Drive Call: 480-990-9500 Website: marcellinoristorante.com

Pasta Brioni Where: 4416 N. Miller Road Call: 480-994-0028 Website: pastabrioni.com

PHX Beer Co. Where: 8300 N. Hayden Road Call: 480-571-8645 Website: phxbeerco.com

ing to dine with us, and we have had to turn people away due to diminished seating,” said Sima Verzino, who co-owns the restaurant with husband and chef Marcellino Verzino. “The second challenge we have been facing is that we cannot offer our live music program every Thursday and Saturday evenings due to the fact that we would have to take out more tables to house our musicians,” Sima added. Marcellino Ristorante’s ARW menu this year showcases “the diversity of Chef Marcellino’s cuisine,” including his hand-crafted pastas and homemade desserts. “We have all been crushed economically due to closings and the challenges that continue now with having to work at less than 50 percent capacity of our restaurant. We need the support of our public more than ever and are so very grateful for them,” Sima said. Other participating Scottsdale restaurants include Barrio Queen, the Canal Club, Charleston’s Restaurant, Los Sombreros, Pasta Brioni, PHX Beer Co., Prado, Preston’s Steakhouse, Roaring Fork, and Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen. ARW will return Sept. 18-27. “We are so grateful for the support of our local dining community in the weeks that followed restaurant closures in March,” Chucri said. “The quick creation of Arizona Takeout Weeks and Arizona Restaurant Strong efforts could not have been possible without them.” Visit arizonarestaurantweek.com for the full list of participating restaurants.

Preston’s Steakhouse

Where: 8700 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, #115

Call: 480-629-5087 Website: prestonsscottsdale.com ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho Where: 6850 E. Main Street Call: 480-421-7997 Website: hotelvalleyho.com

CLASSIFIEDS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 31, 2020

Oh, What Fun!

The Place “To Find” Everything You Need |

Scottsdale Progress

Deadlines

Classified: Thursday at 10am Obituaries & Legals: Wednesday at 5pm

Bird Food • Feeders Garden Accents • Unique Gifts

20% OFF

Real Estate for Sale Recreation/Vacation/Timeshare

7001 N. Scottsdale Rd. Suite 174

In the Seville Shopping Center, Two doors from Wildflower Bread Company

(480) 306-5153 • www.wbu.com/scottsdale

602.910.2908 Phoenix

4545 E Shea Blvd, Ste 174

Cleaning Services

your hearing treatment plan. Expires 6/30/20. Georgine Ray, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology Amanda McInroy, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology Elaine Slepak, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology

HearPhoenix.com

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752 Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

L L C

Prepare for Spring Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com

Carpet, Tile-Grout, Air Duct Cleaning, & House Cleaning

Serving Scottsdale Residential

FREE ESTIMATES

www.pnponecarecleaning.com

$500 OFF

Irrigation Repair Services Inc.

Call Lance White Time share for sale in Beautiful Scottsdale near 101. Holiday Club Vacations. Pools/activities for kids and the entire family. Enjoy TPC golf, shopping, dining, and nightlife in the city. More! Free Wi-Fi/prkg. Many amazing attractions near! Info: Contact Karla princesskk21@gmail.com

Scottsdale Progress - 05-31-2020

Articles inside

OPINION

NEIGHBORS

BUSINESS

FOOD