Scottsdale Progress - 7.18.2021 by Times Media Group

Affordable housing panel mulled / P. 10

Kids book art exhibit / P. 24

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

NEWS.............................. 18 4-year headache about to begin.

NEIGHBORS.............. 19 Scottsdale man eats his way to glory.

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Downtown street closure plan stirs debate BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

proposal by some Scottsdale City Council members to temporarily shut down some downtown streets to make way for street fairs and other pedestrian-friendly activities has drawn a mixed response from their colleagues as well as downtown business owners.

The city’s strategic plan initially included a goal to “consider pilot to temporarily turn some Old Town streets into walk-only zones for one weekend per month.” Council later removed the “walk-only” stipulation after some pushback from local business owners, instead opting to “consider pilot to temporarily turn some Old Town streets into more walkable areas to encourage more foot traffic and business activities

Phoenix Open Net keepers parking pact a boon for city

including focused activities and events.” Councilman Tom Durham, who supported the proposal, said he has lived in and visited numerous locales that use similar tactics to make space for festivals and street fairs. He said the events could drive larger crowds to downtown Scottsdale.

see STREETS page 6

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

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cottsdale has inked a new deal to provide parking for the Phoenix Open that could generate millions of dollars for the city after years of little direct compensation from the wildly popular golf tournament. City Council approved a deal with The Thunderbirds – the Valley fraternal organization that operates the golf tournament – to provide parking for fans, staff and volunteers at West-

see PARKING page 8

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Zach Conger and other kids listen to coaches' instructions at Behind The Mask Goalie School, which has returned to the Ice Den in Scottsdale. To see why the kids are excited over its post-pandemic return, see page 22. (Tim Sealy/Special for the Progress)

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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 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 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 Photographers Pablo Robles | Probles@scottsdale.org Design Veronica Thurman | vthurman@scottsdale.org Production Coordinator Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 | production@scottsdale.org Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@scottsdale.org Scottsdale Progress is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegratedmedia.com

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

Council doles out $2M for social services PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

n recent months, Scottsdale City Council has approved the disbursement of over $2 million to local social services organizations and resident programs. That included $160,000 that came directly from the city’s residents through Scottsdale Cares, a program created in 1995 that allows residents to add an extra $1 per month to their utility bill to support human services programs. On June 22, Council approved the use of that money to fund awards to 14 valley organizations that provide services in the community. That included $24,000 each to Phoenix Rescue Mission and Community Bridges as well as Tempe Community Action Agency, which provides a food pantry, emergency rent and utility assistance and other services. The city has partnered with Community Bridges and Phoenix Rescue mission to use federal pandemic relief funds for services and housing to people experiencing homeless. According to the city, the new allocations will continue one of those programs called Scottsdale Works. The program, a partnership with Phoenix Rescue Mission, pays five participants minimum wage for five hours of work three days each week to work with the city’s Brick-by-Brick program, which produces earthen bricks that can later be used to construct city projects or housing for the homeless. Other recipients of funds this year included Scottsdale Community Partners, which received $22,500 award. The local nonprofit helps provide a number of different programs out of the city’s Vista Del Camino Community Center, including food programs for families and seniors, back-to-school drives for students and emergency utility and housing assistance. Family Promise of Greater Phoenix and Save the Family Foundation, which both provide services for families experiencing homelessness, received $15,500 and $10,000, respectively. Scottsdale also awarded $5,000 grants to Best Buddies; Big Brothers,

Scottsdale Works, which provides employment to homeless individuals in the city’s Brick-by-Brick program, is one of dozens of social services funded by over $2 million in grant awards approved by Council this year. (City of Scottsdale)

Big Sisters of Central Arizona; Cortney’s Place; Free Arts for Abused Children; Health World Education; Homeward Bound; notMykid; and Valley of the Sun YMCA. During the same vote on June 22, the Council also approved seven additional awards funded by $100,000 from grants generated through gaming on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Under Arizona law, tribes are required to share 12 percent of their gaming revenue to provide for government services. The grants funded an $18,500 award to Duet Partners in Aging and Health. It also provided $18,000 grants to Family Promise and A New Leaf, the Mesa-based non-profit that provides a range of services and resources for individuals in need. Other entities receiving gaming grants included Community Legal Services, $15,000; Catholic Charities, $15,000; UMOM New Day Centers, $8,000; and Chrysalis Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, $7,500. Earlier this year, the City Council approved the use of nearly $1.7 million in federal grant funding to assist low

income residents and those in need of housing options. That included $1.3 million Community Development Block Grants and $344,448 in HOME grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city will use $786,000 of that money to fund programs that aid residents in need of housing rehabilitation, home repair and roof replacement. About $190,000 of the CDBG grant money will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, Chicanos Por La Causa, Chrysalis Shelter of Victims of Domestic Violence and seven other local organizations to provide services to the homeless, at-risk youth, and other communities in need. Another $81,376 will fund the community assistance office at Apache Park that helps administer grant funding to local communities. The bulk of the HOME grants will go to the Affordable Rental Movement of Save the Family, which places working poor families and individuals in affordable housing and offers support services to help increase their self sufficiency.

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STREETS from front

“My instincts told me it’d be a good idea,” Durham said. “A lot of issues highlighted in the Downtown 2.0 study is that there is a lack of vibrancy downtown, and I think these types of things would help that out, create a bit of buzz and vibrancy and bring people in.” He was referring to a 2018 downtown economic feasibility study, conducted by Conventions, Sports and Leisure International, that stated: “There are many unique shops within the Old Town and 5th Avenue areas, but the pedestrian infrastructure can be underwhelming and a sense of ‘same old’ is prevalent. There are several Downtown events, some of which are nationally known, but added event activity will be beneficial to generate an increased customer base.” Research by Experience Scottsdale in 2016 came to a similar conclusion. “One of the key drivers for travelers in selecting a travel destination was identified as ‘a good place to walk around,’ but Scottsdale rated poorly in this area when compared to other attributes and against many in our competitive set,” said Rachel Pearson with Experience Scottsdale. “This was identified, therefore, as a key opportunity to improve.” Durham said temporary closures or restrictions could allow for live music and other small events downtown that could be timed to capitalize on larger events up north like the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pilot program concept generated little fanfare when three Council members supported adding it to the draft strategic plan in June. But by the time the plan came up for a vote in July, it had picked up opposition from some local business owners and other Council members. Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield requested more discussion, calling the proposal “very controversial.” “I have had a number of people call me and talk to me for quirt literally hours on end about this, and they’re outraged…I can’t imagine anything we could do in the Old Town area that would outrage more of our business owners down there than doing something like this,” Littlefield said. Some opponents downtown expressed concern that shutting down streets

Enjoying a walk around Old Town Scottsdale last week were Keith and Ashley Willet and their children, Alaire, 5, and Rosie, 3. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

Some members of the Scottsdale City Council support a pilot program to temporarily shut down or restrict vehicles on some downtown streets once a month to make room for street fairs and other pedestrian-friendly activities. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

would hurt their businesses by limiting available parking and increasing traffic congestion. In an email to Council, downtown Gallery owner Bob Pejman argued that during busier times of the year, such a program would leave the downtown

under-parked. “This could prove to be an absolute disaster for many Old Town merchants, restaurants, and their clients,” he wrote. Laura Weaver, who owns a retail shop on the Southbridge area, expressed similar concerns.

“It’s enough that we’ve had to deal with a pandemic and our worsening economy nationally but this just adds insult to injury,” she wrote. The concept is not actually a new one. Downtown businesses can already request street closures themselves through the city’s special events permitting process. “The special event permit process requires that the group requesting the closure obtain signatures from nearby businesses that shows whether or not they support the closures.,” said Scottsdale Tourism and Events Director Karen Churchard. The main difference in the new proposal is the city would likely play a role in organizing and administering the pilot program, Durham said. Council members who supported the concept were quick to point out that the city would not pursue temporary street closures or restrictions for the pilot program without buy-in from businesses. “We’re not going to do this without cooperation with local merchants,” Durham said. “We wouldn’t do this without small business and I don’t think we could, but I think if the city were able to put some money behind it for street performers, music, things like that, that would help get this off the ground.” Councilwoman Linda Milhaven also noted that just because the idea was included in the strategic plan does not mean it will go into effect anytime soon. “It says ‘consider a pilot,’ so we are a long way away from closing any streets,” she said. Scottsdale resident David Free, who owns properties on Craftsman Court near 5th Avenue, said the concept is in the very early stages and the city has not yet done outreach or presented any concepts to the community. But he agreed with Durham and Caputi that the proposal has the potential to bring more traffic to downtown businesses. He said it could also be a way for downtown stakeholders to work together after years of butting heads over issues of surrounding redevelopment and increased heights and density downtown. “It has the potential to increase foot traffic without the debate over development, decrease vehicle traffic, funnel

see STREETS page 18

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

PARKING from front

world, Scottsdale Sports Complex and the new Bell Road Sports Complex. The tournament has long used a mix of city properties and State Trust Land for parking but until now, the city received no direct payments in return, though the city does benefit from the increase in tax revenues connected to the influx of Open visitors. Assistant City Manager Bill Murphy confirmed that the Thunderbirds have not paid the city in the past for use of parking space at Westworld and the Scottsdale Sports Complex, though the organization did contribute financially when the city built the $12.4-million complex back in the mid-2000s, he said. Under the deal, the Thunderbirds will pay the city a $1 per paid attendee retroactively for this year. That rate will increase to $2 next year and $3 in 2025. The PGA’s Phoenix Open tournament has been played at the city’s Tournament Players Club course since 1987 and has grown into the tour’s largest tournament, regularly attracting well over 500,000 fans each year. In recent years the state has begun selling off that trust land – much of which sits in highly sought locations fronting Loop 101 – limiting the future parking options for the tournament and other major events. At a meeting of Council’s Capital Improvement Plan Subcommittee in early 2019, City Manager Jim Thompson said the city “could find ourselves challenged” for parking in the near future. At that meeting, the subcommittee was considering adding a $47-million sports fields project to a bond package scheduled to go before voters later that year. The fields would also double as parking for major events a few weeks each year. Council initially balked at the cost of the project but ultimately approved adding a $40 million line item for sports fields and parking to the $319-million bond package approved by voters in 2019. A portion of that $40-million was allocated for the 37-acre Bell Road Sports Complex at Bell Road and 94th Street, which will include up to 13 fields and can hold up to 3,000 to 3,500 cars during special events. The project is expected to be completed this January. The city is considering building a similar facility east of Westworld with bond funds. During the initial bond discussions in

The Scottsdale City Council approved a parking contract with The Thunderbirds organization that operates the Waste Management Phoenix Open at the city’s TPC golf course every year. (Progress file photo)

early 2019, Councilwoman Linda Milhaven questioned why the city would invest even more public money to provide free parking for successful private events like the Open. “I don’t know that as a community we have a responsibility to create infinite parking to support the Open at the level that it is,” Milhaven said then. She told the Progress that the new parking deal addresses her concerns. General admission tickets at the Open have increased from $15 per day in 1987 to $75 next year, and the tournament now sells specialty memberships, cabanas and skybox packages that cost as much as $20,000. “It was the middle of nowhere, especially when the golf tournament moved out there,” Milhaven said. “In the meantime, it was free parking. But the price of the tickets has skyrocketed over that length of time and the city deserves to make some money on it, so I’m glad to see we’ve got an agreement in place.” It is unclear exactly how much money the city will make from the deal because its cut is based on attendance. But if history is any indication, the city

could net over $1 million per year starting in 2022. This year’s cut, based on attendance at February’s pandemic-restricted tournament, will be significantly less. Because of COVID-19, attendance was held to 5,000 people per day, meaning the city could net somewhere around $35,000. It is unclear how much of the attendance will be considered “paid attendees” under the contract. But city revenues from the deal could jump to over $1 million next year when the city’s cut increases to $2 per paid attendee – if the tournament can return to pre-pandemic attendance levels. The Open has attracted as many as 700,000 fans in a single year. Murphy declined to speculate on expected revenues, citing uncertainty about future attendance. “We are optimistic that next year the Open event will be very successful but not sure on what the number of paid attendees might be at this time,” he said. A spokesman for the Thunderbirds did not respond to a request to comment. The money paid to Scottsdale will fund

the city’s parking master plan at Westworld, maintenance of the parking areas and improvements, Murphy said. That could include “repair expenses, utility cost throughout user areas, debt service requirements for the athletic fields at the Scottsdale Sports Complex, Bell Road Sports Complex and Westworld Sports Complex, and access areas within Westworld Facility,” he said. The contract expires after the 2023 tournament but will automatically renew through 2025 unless either party opts out. Murphy said he anticipates the the deal will be renewed, though the parking fee could change. “We are hopeful that our partnership with the Thunderbirds will continue to grow and look for extension after this first three-year contract,” he said. “The rate might be adjusted since we will both have better idea on paid attendees moving forward.” Murphy also confirmed that city is in negotiations with Barrett-Jackson on a similar contract for its car auction, which takes place at Westworld in January every year.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

Council to mull affordable housing group BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

cottsdale City Council will convene a working group to explore solutions to address affordable housing issues in the community. Council voted unanimously to support a motion by Councilwoman Linda Milhaven for a formal discussion about a group on Aug. 24. Scottsdale, like many other Valley cities, is facing a shortage of affordable housing options as housing prices and rents skyrocket. Over the past two years, the median sale price of Scottsdale home has risen 35 percent to $798,350, according to the Cromford Report, a Valley real estate market report. The median sales price in the historically affordable 85257 zip code grew even faster, rising 73 percent to $485,000 during the same span. At the same time, rents are also on the rise.

On July 2, the Scottsdale City Council voted unanimously to have a discussion on forming a community working group to discuss affordable housing issues. (Progress file photo)

According to Apartment List, Scottsdale rents increased by 21.2 percent over the past 12 months – far outpacing the 18.9 percent state average and 8.4 percent average nationwide.

The median cost for a two-bedroom apartment in Scottsdale is now $1,750 – the highest mark among large Valley cities. Homelessness is also on the rise in the city. Scottsdale’s annual Point-in-Time count found the number of homeless people contacted in the city increased from 50 in 2017 to 102 people in 2020. The booming market has caused concern for some in the community who are worried that moderate and low-income families and elderly residents on fixed incomes will be priced out by the increase in housing costs. Council has discussed those issues sporadically in recent months and voted 6-1 in June to include up to $10 million for affordable housing solutions in the city’s new budget, though it is still unclear exactly where the money will come from or how it will be spent. Mayor David Ortega suggested the city could pull the funds from the city’s $29-million allocation of federal pandemic relief but said the city was still awaiting guidance

on exactly how it could spend that money. Milhaven was the only Councilmember to vote against the $10 million allocation due to concerns that the funding source was not explicitly spelled out. She also has suggested that Council needs to define the issues it wants to address because “affordable housing” could cover a broad swath of problems, from shelters for the homeless to increasing the city’s supply of workforce housing. “There’s a lot of confusion around it – is it workforce housing, is it affordable housing, is it housing the homeless?” Milhaven said. Once the goals are set, the city can have a community dialogue on spending the $10 million, she said. The new working group will likely feature a broad representation of residents, industry experts and Council members. Milhaven said she would like to see the development community represented “to bring some expertise to the table to help us understand what our options are.”

see HOUSING page 13

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

Valley man recalls Florida condo collapse BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Progress Staff Writer

icholas Balboa shrugs off any suggestion that he’s brave. The former Glendale resident was walking his dog in Surfside, Florida, outside of Miami, when Champlain Towers South collapsed a block away from him. He felt the ground shake and went to investigate. It was then he heard the cries of a teenage boy and other victims buried in the rubble. “It was something I wasn’t expecting,” Balboa said. “In that moment, you see it and it doesn’t register that a building just fell. It’s an inanimate object, but there's people inside. I was still processing. I began to take photos, and I got closer to the building. As I got closer, I could hear people yelling and screaming in the debris.” Balboa responded to the 15-year-old boy, Jonah Handler, who raised his hand through the rubble. Balboa told Jonah he would find first responders. “He said, ‘Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me,’” Balboa recalled. “I grabbed my flashlight and flashed it toward the first responders to get their attention. “A police officer came over to me and

Champlain Towers South is believed to have collapsed due to long-term degradation of reinforced concrete support structures in the underground parking garage. (Photo by Nicholas Balboa)

told me to get back. I told him there was somebody here. I led the police officer to him and then the officer called over fire-

fighters and they began their extraction.” Jonah’s 54-year-old mother, Stacie Dawn Fang, was rescued as well, but died after

being taken to the hospital for treatment. Jonah was one of two survivors in, what’s been called, the deadliest unintentional building collapses in the United States. The building was quickly demolished 11 days later due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Elsa. On July 7, the search transitioned from rescue to recovery, and the missing victims are presumed dead. “I ended up doing motocross full time,” Balboa said. “The dream was to go pro, but once you realize the economics behind it, it’s not feasible. It’s a money pit and only a handful of people really get to go pro and make money.” Balboa, who attended Chapparal, Pinnacle and Boulder Creek high schools, transferred to Primavera High School so he could pursue a career in motocross. Balboa, 31, has been in Florida since Memorial Day, when he left the Valley after the end of a seven-year relationship. “I was using it just for ‘me’ time,” he said. “All of a sudden, we had a death in the family on Father’s Day. Three days later was Surfside. “Sadly, the operation has changed from a rescue to a recovery. I think, at this point, they’ve basically said nobody was going to come out alive.”

Scottsdale man earns Merchant Marine commission PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of ﬁve U.S. federal service academies. It educates and graduates licensed Merchant Marine ofﬁcers to serve the nation during peace and war.

rawford Mills, son of Larry and Jennifer Mills, of Scottsdale recently graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. Mills earned a BS degree, a commission in the U. S. Armed Forces and a Merchant Marine officer license, qualifying him to serve as an officer on any ship in the U.S. flag merchant marine. Mills is a graduate of Scottsdale Christian Academy. The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of five U.S. federal service academies. It educates and graduates licensed Merchant Marine officers to serve the nation during peace and war.

Crawford Mills

In addition to the rigorous academic and physical requirements for admission, applicants must be nominated by their congressman or senator. Mills was nominated by Congressman David Schweikert.

All USMMA graduates incur an obligation to serve the United States. The U.S. Flag Merchant Marine secures the nation’s country’s commerce in peacetime and delivers warfighters, weapons, and military supplies in times of conflict. The majority of “Kings Pointers” serve for eight years as Navy reservists in the Strategic Sealift Officer Program while working aboard U.S. flag vessels; others will serve on active duty in our nation’s armed forces. As part of his education, Mills spent a year training as a cadet aboard ocean going vessels. Mills reported to Fort Rucker, Alabama, for flight school and is fulfilling his service commitment as an active duty United States Army Aviator, 2nd Lieutenant.

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

HOUSING from page 10

“Folks like to talk about affordable housing, but there are things we can and cannot do,” she said. Noting state law now forbids municipalities from requiring developers to devote part of their units toward affordable housing. Joanna Carr, research and policy director for the Arizona Housing Coalition, told the Progress that Arizona is one of three states to ban so-called inclusionary zoning. “It’s a real challenge, because then the cities have to incentivize developers to include affordable units, and why would they if they don’t have to?” Carr said. Milhaven said the work by the shortterm rental group inspired her to request the new group to address housing issues. She acknowledged that the affordable housing shortage – which is a problem nationwide – will likely be more complicated than the short-term rental issue. But she hopes the same dynamic – residents, industry experts and the city working together – will bear similar, positive results. “That was the key lesson – just bringing a bunch of people together to talk about it gave us some options we didn’t know we had,” Milhaven said.

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

ADOT preparing motorists for a helluva ride

by Monday through Fridays just to chat about the work. It also has scheduled has scheduled a virtual open house on the project 5:307 p.m. Aug. 4 at i10broadwaycurve.com/ meetings-and-presentations. All this, Noetzel explained, is being done “to create that awareness and make sure that people know where to get resources.” Indeed, ADOT has spent two years talking with people about the project, she said, because “one of the underlying tenets of our communications approach in this is no surprises.”

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Progress Executive Editor

tarting this week, billboards, social media and television and print media will carry messages urging thousands of motorists to prepare for four years of disruptions in their driving routines. It’s not exactly Armageddon that the Arizona Department of Transportation will be heralding. But it won’t be a walk in the park for car and truck traffic on I-10 and motorists going to and from Sky Harbor International Airport. And even if you don’t use I-10, you can expect significant increases in traffic along freeways in the East Valley and major arterials as motorists try to evade the inevitable tie-ups that will be caused by the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it,” said ADOT spokeswoman Kim Noetzel. “It’s going to be impactful.” Seven years in the planning, the work is ready to begin as crews next week start scraping the asphalt along 11 miles of Interstate 10 between the junction of the San Tan and South Mountain freeways and I-17 near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. This weekend, some I-10 ramps were closed through 4 a.m. Monday for preliminary work. The project also will involve work about a mile of east- and westbound US 60 between I-10 and Hardy Drive and a one mile of north- and southbound State Route 143 between I-10 and the southern end of the SR 143 bridge over the Salt River. Motorists’ pain will only increase as the work picks up steam on a project aimed at preventing virtually round-the-clock rush hour gridlock on I-10 in the heart of Maricopa County. “When the first phase of construction begins this summer,” ADOT spokeswoman Alexandra Albert said in a virtual briefing last week for Tempe residents, “drivers should prepare for weekend closures on I-10 and US 60.” ADOT already wants commuters to prepare by studying and then taking different routes –especially if they work in

This chart illustrates the components of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project, a four-year effort to improve safety and efficiency for tens of thousands of Valley motorists. (ADOT)

downtown Phoenix. The highway agency is going to unprecedented lengths to help them do that. “We very much want to do everything that we can so that motorists, visitors, businesses can plan in advance to lessen the impacts,” Noetzel said. “We’re doing things with this project that we’ve never done before.” In a recent virtual briefing for Tempe residents, ADOT representative Alexandra Albert put it another way: “ADOT is doing some really significantly different things than they have in the past and it’s because of the size and the scope and the location of this project.”

For the first time, ADOT has developed a project-specific mobile app. It has prepared an advertising blitz on TV, radio and in newspapers. It’s ordered up billboards and even putting warnings and reminders on gas pumps. It has created a home page for the project at i10broadwaycurve.com where people can stay up to date and get the mobile app. ADOT representatives have been briefing dozens of chambers of commerce and other economic development organizations from Glendale to Gilbert, holding town halls and planning to open a field office for the general public in Phoenix where anyone will be able to drop

A first and significant scope ADOT calls the Broadway Curve project “the first major urban freeway reconstruction project in Maricopa County.” Its major components include: • Widening I-10 to six general purpose lanes and two high-occupancy-vehicle, or HOV, lanes in each direction between US 60 and I-17 and adding a fourth general purpose lane in each direction between Ray Road and US 60. • Adding collector-distributor roads that parallel I-10 between Baseline Road and 40th Street to separate through-traffic on I-10 from local traffic entering or exiting the highway. Unlike frontage roads along portions of the existing freeway system, these CD roads will not intersect with perpendicular roads. • Rebuilding the I-10 interchange with SR 143 to improve traffic flow and create direct connections to and from SR 143 for drivers in the I-10 HOV lanes. This part of the project will reduce lane changes and often hair-raising weaving between Interstate 10 in the Broadway Curve and the entire SR 143 and I-10 interchange will be replaced by ramps that make a direct connection for drivers from the general and HOV lanes and eliminates the existing cloverleaf ramp that connects southbound SR 143 with eastbound I-10. • Razing and replacing the Broadway Road bridge over I-10 as well as replacing the 48th Street bridges over I-10 and widening the I-10 bridges over the Salt River;

see ADOT page 16

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

ADOT from page 14

• Building two bridges for pedestrians and bicyclists over I-10, erecting seven sound and retention walls and installing a wrong-way driver detection system including thermal cameras, flashing signs and other specialized equipment that ties into ADOT’s intelligent transportation system. Of the project’s total $776.6 million cost – less than half the cost of the South Mountain Freeway – $676.6 million will be spent on construction, with $615.6 million going to the developer, a joint venture of Pulice Construction, FNF Construction and Flatiron Constructors that goes under the name of Broadway Curve Constructors. The remainder of the project’s total cost covers the intelligent transportation system signal upgrades, right-of-way acquisition and paid advertising aimed at motorists. As a “design-build” project, contractors are “encouraged to use innovation and develop alternative concepts to reduce project time and impacts to the traveling public and community while construction is underway,” ADOT notes.

Better now than later The Broadway Curve project covers roughly a third of the 31-mile I-10-/I-17 corridor that the Maricopa Association of Governments – the Valley’s major highway planning group – and ADOT call “The Spine” because it handles 40 percent of all Valley traffic daily. The Spine comprises a total 37 access points, 40 bridges, 26 pump stations and 25 arterial streets that become snarled as a result of traffic jams on I-10 and I-17. Combined daily east and westbound traffic already comes close to 300,000 vehicles through the Broadway Curve daily, and that number is expected to increase as the Valley’s population steadily grows. ADOT Director John Halikowski at one point noted, “Interstate 10 is a key commerce corridor that supports Arizona’s efforts to succeed in the global trade market and a vital transportation route for millions of people who live in, work in and visit our state every year. Improving safety and reducing congestion will truly benefit everyone who relies on our highway system, as well as thousands of businesses along the I-10 corridor. We

The Broadway Curve looked a lot different in the early 1970s. (ADOT)

This chart illustrates daily vehicle trip projections on I-10 in the Broadway Curve project area. (ADOT)

are proud to deliver a project that will improve quality of life for so many people throughout the region.” Though the pandemic significantly reduced traffic volume, no one expects that to remain the case. Traffic crawls are creating a phenomenon called “peak spreading,” which basically means rush hours get longer. If nothing is done, one ADOT study warns, by 2040, “congestion will spread to other times of the day, and in some portions of the corridor will extend to more than 12 hours.” The 2018 study estimated it would cost at least $2.5 billion to cover all the improvements it recommends along the entire 31 miles of the Spine Corridor. If nothing was done with the Broadway Curve, ADOT’s environmental impact study notes, it “would result in increased

traffic congestion in the area as growth and development continue.” “The level of congestion is anticipated to be more severe in various segments of the corridor, if no improvements were implemented and there is a need for improvements to maintain the functionality and mobility in this corridor,” it adds, warning: “By year 2040, the traffic operations along the I-10 and interchanges in the study area would further degrade with the growth indicators forecasted for the foreseeable future. Without major improvements, the I-10 in the study area (the area covered by the Broadway Curve project) would suffer degraded traffic conditions, travel delays, and challenging mobility for moving goods, services, and people through the study area.”

The gain after pain After the project’s pain comes what ADOT sees as a gain – not just for the 1,200 construction jobs it will create but also for the future of more than 4,600 businesses, that include 50 of the region’s largest employers. Noting that I-10 “is part of a key commerce corridor that connects ports in California with markets in Texas and beyond,” ADOT’s environmental study states, “The improvements will make I-10 a more favorable route for commercial truckers whose travels through the region support our local businesses.” ADOT envisions the project will accommodate current and planned system linkages for bus services using I-10, facilitating more ridesharing and rapid transit use. It also promises to make driving safer by reducing lane changes. Then there is the project’s overall impact on traffic, which ADOT describes thusly: “With the addition of new travel lanes, HOV lanes and the CD roads, capacity on I-10 will increase by 60 percent. This will better accommodate existing traffic and increased traffic as the region continues to grow. “Adding capacity to I-10 will reduce congestion and travel times. Greater efficiency means drivers can get to and from the places they need to be in less time. According to an economic evaluation conducted by MAG in 2020, the improvements will save motorists 2.5 million hours annually otherwise spent in traffic – totaling $130 million a year in time savings. These savings are due to quicker commutes made possible by the improvements vs. slower travel times without them.” For motorists whose stomach knots in traffic, the study puts it another way: “The current average speed on eastbound I-10 between I-17 and US 60 during afternoon rush hour is 32 mph. The average speed is projected to increase to 40 mph by 2025 with the improvements. Without improvements that speed limit is projected to decrease to 29 mph by 2025.” But first, the pain The environmental study says that while motorists can expect “temporary

see ADOT page 18

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

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CITY NEWS

STREETS from page 6

vehicles toward our underused parking garages, draw family friendly attractions to the downtown area, and create unique areas of interest in some downtown neighborhoods that could really use a boost,” he said. Caputi said she was surprised that the idea was so controversial, because the goal of the pilot is to increase traffic to downtown businesses. “It’s now apparently a controversial issue, which I never really imagined…our whole goal on Council is to increase the economic activity in Old Town, particularly for our small business owners,” she said. Supporters on Council – including Caputi, Durham, Milhaven and Solange Whitehead – said they spoke with business owners in the area who support the idea. Rather than hurting businesses, Caputi said, it would increase pedestrian traffic and encourage downtown visitors to walk around and visit multiple establishments instead of parking in front of one store, shopping and leaving. “Wouldn’t it be way better if we could get people to drive downtown, park in a lot and then walk around on the street and perhaps see other businesses that they might not have even realized were

ADOT from page 16

delays and slower speeds,” access to businesses and neighborhoods in the area “would be maintained at all times. “Traffic delays and slower speeds would be experienced equally by everyone who lives or passes through the study area,” it says. “Traffic operations would remain

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

there and create an experience?” she said. Tempe has for years provided a case study on what can happen when a city shuts down streets downtown for special events. The Tempe Festival for the Arts shuts down Mill Avenue for a few days in the spring and fall every year to host artists booths and hundreds of thousands of visitors. Lori Foster, chief strategy officer with Downtown Tempe Authority, said that some businesses in the area are impacted by the street closures, specifically client-based businesses like doctor’s offices and salons or delivery-based businesses. But she said for most other businesses in the area, she believes “the increase in pedestrians offsets the loss of vehicular traffic. It’s a big festival and it brings in a lot of business for the majority of merchants.” Mayor David Ortega – who was lukewarm at best on the idea and said it is a “low priority” in the strategic plan – said the city has tried similar tactics in the past with little success. He said the Thieves Market and Art Faire, a Tempe street fair that used to be located in downtown Scottsdale, ate into parking and featured jewelry vendors that competed with local businesses. challenged, and congestion would become more prominent, particularly in the peak periods,” the environmental study anticipates. ADOT anticipates the I-10 will be shut down in both directions in the project area at least 50 times over the next four years. Most of these closures will occur on weekends though some also will occur during the work week.

Ortega said it would also cost the city money and police manpower to close down streets and monitor the events. Downtown property owner Janet Wilson said she did not want to dismiss the new proposal out of hand, but she did want to make sure any event did not bring in vendors that would compete directly with local businesses. “I like activity like that maybe once a month, not all the time,” she said Wilson also came up with a different pitch that could have a similar impact downtown without shutting down streets. She suggested the city clean up its alleys downtown to create more walkable, open space. “It’s a big deal right now that a lot of cities all over the United States are doing this, and it’s been probably the last eight years that they’re realizing how much value their alleyways have to make their cities walkable,” Wilson said. She cited cities like Seattle and Detroit, which have used private investment, city funds and grants to clean up alleys and decorate them with lighting, seating and artwork. According to the Seattle Times, that city embarked on an effort in 2015 to transform alleys from grimy spaces for trash pickup into gathering spots for book readings, jazz concerts and dining.

The detours, closures and lane restrictions the project will generate explain why ADOT hopes even occasional users of the freeways and byways impacted by the project will download the mobile app and pay attention to the other channels of communication it is deploying for the duration of the work. That’s especially true for people driving to or from Sky Harbor.

Wilson said that if Scottsdale and businesses could work together to clean up the alleys, they could provide space for outdoor dining, new entrances and connectivity for retail stores and convenient pedestrian walkways that bisect through downtown and avoid busier streets like Goldwater or Scottsdale Road. She also acknowledged the plan would face significant hurdles as many alleys currently house messy restaurant dumpsters and connect with private parking lots. But she, suggested the city collaborate with architectural students at Arizona State University to brainstorm solutions. “I think it would be a fun project to offer to the students at ASU to come up with ideas and then we could have input from our citizens (about) what they want,” Wilson said. Then , there is the question of who will pay for it. Other cities have funded similar projects through a mix of public funding, grants, donations and private investment. If Scottsdale can pull it off, Wilson thinks it would pay dividends in the long run for local businesses. “Just get people moving and walking in our downtown – I just think it would be so neat,” she said. Noetzel said ADOT and its construction partners have been talking with airport officials for more than year – and not just about the impending impact of the project itself. “We need to start talking now about educational campaigns on getting people to the airport once construction is complete,” she said, adding, “Our first goal is to get them to the airport while construction is going on.”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

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He's a top dog in hot dog eating contests

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

rik “The Red” Denmark works in aerospace procurement contracting by day, but he pursues a unique hobby when he’s not on the job. Denmark is a competitive eater in Major League Eating, which hosts several contests – including the famous Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest that occurs every July 4 at Coney Island. Denmark placed 10th in this year’s contest but has finished as high as fourth in previous eat-ins. He also holds world records for eating 9 3/4 of Native American fry bread in eight minutes and over four pounds of spot shrimp in 12 minutes. He began competing in 2005 but it was an event that happened four years prior that really inspired him. “I was always fascinated by it but when (Takeru) Kobayashi doubled the world record with 50 hot dogs in 2001, that blew

Erik “The Red” Denmark relaxes after eating 32 hot dogs and placing sixth at the 2010 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. (Courtesy of Shea Communications.

my mind,” Denmark said. Denmark always considered himself to be a competitive eater even before he be-

gan competing. “I had always thought I was a big eater. I ate really fast and I would never turn down

a challenge,” Denmark said. “I would always do a lot of hot sauce chugging contests or eat the spiciest things.” It was when he entered a chicken wing eating contest in San Francisco and finished in the top five that changed things for the man known in Major League Eating as “The Red.” “That contest got me hooked and ever since then I’ve been trying to do the best that I can,” Denmark said. He has competed in the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest since 2006; this year marked the first year he competed since 2018. Denmark admits that this contest posed more challenges than any other. “This contest gave me a shorter runway since the logistics of having the contest were in doubt until mid-May due to the restrictions in New York that were just lifted,” Denmark said. Denmark would traditionally train for

see HOT DOG page 20

Scottsdale man taking over Baseball Hall of Fame

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Progress Staff Writer

osh Rawitch was in his last week as an executive with the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was the All-Star week and he was just leaving a meeting about the Suns Road Game Rally at Chase Field. Rawitch sounded confident but sentimental about the decade he has spent with the D-backs, most recently as senior vice president, content and communications. On Sept. 9, the 44-year-old Scottsdale resident will begin his tenure as the eighth president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. He, his wife, Erin, and their children, Emily and Braden, will

Scottsdale resident Josh Rawitch, his wife Erin and thier childrn, Emily and Braden, are packing up to move to Cooperstown, N.Y., where he'll head the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. (Kelsey Grant/Arizona Diamonbacks)

move east on Aug. 6. His last day with the D-backs was July 16 – nearly 10 years to the day when he joined the team. “It’s hard to put into words how cool of a position this is,” Rawitch said about the presidency. “We’ve gone through the process and were able to visit Cooperstown several more times. We’re really, really excited. We loved our decade here, though, and so did the family.” Jane Forbes Clark, chair of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, is looking forward to working with Rawitch as well. “On behalf of our board of directors, I

see FAME page 20

NEIGHBORS

HOT DOG �� page 19

about three to four months prior to the contest and would enter a qualifying contest to compete on the Coney Island stage. He would train by cooking as many hot dogs that he thought he could eat and then time himself for 10 minutes. If there were any hot dogs left over at the end of the 10-minutes, he would still try to eat as many as he could. Denmark has described this hobby of his as taking as much dedication as being a powerlifter. “This profession almost takes the same amount of discipline as weightlifting in my opinion,” Denmark said. “There’s a lot of guys that switch over from weightlifting or professional training careers because they’re used to a regimen training schedule where they build muscle, but in this case, they stretch muscles.” He also explained that after a big calorie intake during a practice, he often must scale back in the days following the practice. “After I’m done eating in a practice, I have

FAME �� page 19

am delighted to welcome Josh as the Hall of Fame’s next president, and to welcome him and his family to Cooperstown,” Clark said in a statement. “Josh brings to the Hall of Fame a wealth of expertise from his many years representing the game as a respected baseball executive. We are very much looking forward to his presidency at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.” A graduate of Indiana University, Rawitch has spent 27 seasons working in baseball. In his most recent role with the D-backs, Rawitch helmed player and media relations, corporate communications, broadcasting, content production, social media, creative services, in-game entertainment, Spring Training business operations, team archives, alumni relations, publications and photography. So few businesses, he explained, have an outcome almost daily that can impact an office — happy or sad — at the end of the day. “Derrick (Hall, CEO) has created such a special place to come to work every day, to the extent is I’m going to share that with Cooperstown. “From the first day, Ken Kendrick has blown me away with the way he genuinely cares about the organization and this city and see what this franchise has become.”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | JULY 18, 2021

to eat really light with some salads and lots of liquids the following days so that I’m not constantly putting my body in distress,” Denmark said. Denmark also said that he likes to stay active and spend as much time outside either hiking or playing volleyball, even during the heat of summer, to burn off excess calories. “I think people imagine competitive eaters as being really big eaters or people that were out of shape but as you get more into it, you realize that it’s more beneficial to be in better shape,” Denmark said. Being in good shape is a benefit when it comes to being a competitive eater but having strong focus is another key to success in the sport. “The biggest thing is to stay focused. You only have 10 minutes in this sport and have to be totally focused and cannot let any of the elements get to you,” Denmark said. Denmark has a pre-contest ritual that helps him maintain his focus as he competes.

The D-backs’ managing general partner, Kendrick is on the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Board of Directors. Rawitch has been grateful for this time with Kendrick, Hall and Cullen Maxey, executive vice president, business operations and chief revenue officer. He joined the Diamondbacks after 15 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office. A native of Los Angeles, Rawitch joined the Dodgers’ staff in 1995 and spent parts of five seasons in the team’s marketing department before shifting to public relations. He left the organization to serve as a beat reporter for Major League Baseball Advanced Media from 2001-02, after which he returned to the Dodgers, eventually rising to the position of vice president of communications. With decades in baseball, Rawitch is clearly passionate about the sport. It’s a longtime love, as he scored an internship with the Dodgers after his freshman year of college. “The world was very different,” he said. “The field was not nearly as competitive. After my internship, I returned for three summers. I was hired full time the week after I graduated. I was there for 15 years.” He left for two years, spending one year covering the Dodgers and another for the

“A couple of minutes before the contest, I try to get focused on the first few bites and really try to focus on chewing and swallowing and all the things that I’m there to do,” Denmark said. Though he was focused throughout the contest, he also fed off of the crowds energy. “It was a completely different energy than I’ve ever felt there before,” Denmark said. “A lot of the emotion in the crowd was relief,” “There were a lot of people there that wanted to celebrate restrictions being lifted and being able to get back to life.” The energy was so high that it made him feel emotional. “I got more emotional on stage than I ever have because I started thinking of the journey that we’ve been on as a country and the journey that New York went on,” Denmark said. “It was an honor to be on stage and to be a part of the rejuvenation of our country.” When the competition began and the hot dogs began rushing into his mouth, the only thing rushing through his mind was to keep eating. San Francisco Giants for MLB.com. “There’s just something about this sport,” Rawitch said. “It’s intoxicating. With the daily grind of it, you have to love the sport to work in the sport. I grew up loving it as a kid.” He almost transferred to baseball operations with the Dodgers because he’s such a student of the game. Rawitch loves the atmosphere, the game and the business of it. He enjoys creating content, social media and sharing story ideas with editors. “Everything about it is so much fun for me,” Rawitch said. “To get the chance to work in the mecca of the baseball world is so unreal.” Rawitch heard about the open position from Hall of Fame Interim President Jeff Idelson. “He thought I’d be a really good fit for this,” he said. “It’s such an interesting position. It had to be someone within the baseball community, given the relationships you had to have. There was a list of people who might be a good fit. I’m very grateful that I came out on the top.” That’s not to say he hasn’t had a series of highlights with the D-backs. “The 2017 Wild Card and that entire season is unmatched,” Rawitch said. “It was so much fun. That’s at the top of the list. “Several of the trips we took to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the

“When I’m going for 10-minutes, I have to push through the discomfort and make sure I don’t take any breaks because that’s when I begin to feel it,” Denmark said. After the contest was over and Denmark had downed 28 hot dogs, that was where the real challenge began. “I try to slow my breathing down and relax for about 10 to 15 minutes after so that the food doesn’t come back up,” Denmark said. Contestants who regurgitate are immediately disqualified. He feels he could have eaten about six more hotdogs and plans to return next year to make a bigger push to the top. “It was motivating enough to know that I don’t need to retire, and I can go back and do better,” Denmark said. In the meantime, he plans to do something he has not done in the past months. “I would love to eat a hot dog and just enjoy it,” Denmark said. “I still like to enjoy a nice hot dog with some mustard and maybe a little relish and I certainly will enjoy a hot dog before the summer is over.”

Dominican Republic were highlights. For someone who loves to travel, it was a highlight to travel while doing my job and raising the international profile of the organization.” His coworkers, players and executives made an impact on Rawitch — and will continue. “My wife and kids feel the same way,” Rawitch said. “Arizona is a second home for us. Living life in Arizona was so fantastic for a decade. The people, the trips and the 2017 Wild Card were the highlights. I actually watched much of that game from the stands with my family. To experience the game like a fan, even though I was working, and to see so much joy in the city was great. We’re seeing it again with the Suns and this watch party. “All the cool community programs we’ve done really stand out. Seeing my kids wear D-backs uniforms and feel the pride is amazing. I feel very, very lucky.” Rawitch is also impressed with the strong and dedicated fans who have stuck with the D-backs during its rough 2021 season. “That’s a true sports town,” he said. “I think it’s because this organization is so ingrained in the community. People do realize it’s more than just a baseball team on the field. It’s a civic entity trying to help fans.”

BUSINESS

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Apex Camps provide coaching in historic building BY ZACH ALVIRA Progress Sports Editor

imi Sommers always knew she wanted to get into the business of helping kids ful�ill their athletic dream. But it wasn’t until her own son needed an outlet that she decided to make it happen. EJ was still in elementary school when he began to play basketball at a competitive level. But �inding the right coach and summer camp where he could receive adequate training was a challenge for Sommers and her family. So, in 2017, she founded DreamTeam Academy, an organization that thrives on youth development in a variety of sports teaching them the basic fundamentals and expanding from there. Five years later, DreamTeam Academy and Apex Sports Camps, the summer camp through Sommers’ business, has now expanded into a multipurpose facility inside of one of the most historic buildings in the Scottsdale area, the pyramid. “Our son inspired us to make an impact on the community,” Sommers said. “We kind of took a leap of faith when the opportunity came up to move into the pyramid. It was a huge risk, but it was a win-win. The response has been overwhelming.” Now known as the Pyramid Sports Complex, located near Tatum and Shea boulevards, was built in the 1970s and served the community as a church for decades. It was recently purchased by a former NFL player who remodeled the facility into a multi-purpose sports complex, equipped with courts that could accommodate basketball, volleyball and other recreational activities. The sports complex partnered with AZ Kings volleyball initially before Sommers was approached by the club through a mutual friend. They offered her the opportunity to move her existing sports camp site – in

The camps take place in the Pyramid Sports Complex, a historic building recently remodeled and outﬁtted with several courts where campers can receive coaching in a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, pickle ball and more. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff)

Mimi Sommers started DreamTeam Academy as an outlet for her son to receive top-notch coaching in basketball. Now, it’s grown to include several day camps known as Apex Sports Camps. (Courtesy Apex Sports Camps)

a warehouse near the Scottsdale Airpark – to the pyramid. She immediately jumped on the opportunity. “We share the space for tournaments and it’s a great venue for the community,” Sommers said. “It’s really exciting to have it located right near the Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley area.” Sommers’ organization had already been responsible for training at least 2,500 basketball players in the �ive years since she founded it. But she was quickly outgrowing her old warehouse space. Just in the last month of being at the pyramid she has seen new campers of all skill

levels join her programs. Many seek basketball training but there are some looking for some sort of outlet after the dif�iculties families faced last year due to the pandemic. She and her camps thrive off the help from two full-time coaches, who have experience playing at a high level collegiately. But she also has several high school and college interns who help on a daily basis for summer credits. The camp is speci�ically designed for children ages 6 to 14. Along with top-notch training in basketball, campers also have the opportunity to compete in badminton, pickle ball, dodgeball NERF football and a variety of other sports. Perhaps one of the most appealing factors aside from parents �inally having an outlet to send their kids after a year cooped up inside their homes is the pyramid itself. Sommers said the unique venue has drawn endless amounts of interest from parents of campers who grew up in awe of its unique design. “The parents tell me they’ve always wanted to go into the pyramid when they were little,” Sommers said. “Some of the kids think it looks like a spaceship. That helps

our visibility. It helps kind of sell us. All they do is walk in the door and they want to be here.” The camp offers a variety of packages for kids to enjoy. There are �ive, 10 and 20-day packages that start at $325, or $65 per day. The camp also offers daily rates and half-day rates that run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., respectively. Sommer said there are also after-school packages from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays where not only will kids get the same experience in athletics but they will also receive help with homework. Having the opportunity to make a positive impact on the community in this way has always been the goal for Sommers. Even with EJ now entering his freshman year at Pinnacle in the fall, she aims to still provide an opportunity to younger athletes. “We want kids to have a fun, safe place to be themselves, socialize and learn some skills and gain con�idence along the way,” Sommers said. “This is deeper than just providing a service for us. Parents need help. People always say, ‘it takes a village.’ “We are that village.”

SPORTS & RECREATION

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Behind The Mask’s goalie school returns to Ice Den BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

fter losing a summer of its famous Goalie School, Behind The Mask welcomed students back to the Ice Den for �ive days of on-ice training. Goalies whose skill levels ranged from top tier travel to high school and recreational leagues took their skills to the next level after 10 hours of on ice training at Behind The Mask’s Goalie School. However, this camp differed from camps in the past. Previous Goalie School camps consisted of 10 hours of on ice training along with �ive hours of off-ice training throughout the camp. “This year was a little different because of COVID-19,” Patrick Young, who guards the goal for the 14U AA Junior Coyotes said. “Usually, we do a lot of off-ice training which is really fun, but we couldn’t do that this year.” Though students could not get an off-ice workout, they were able to pick the brains of coaches who have played high levels of hockey, including one who played at the highest level. “A lot of the goalies who come here want to work hard and get better,” said Randy Exelby, who owns Behind The Mask and played for the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers between 1989 and 1990. “Just having someone who played at those high levels be able to talk to you about how they got there and what they had to do in terms of their work ethic was a really good learning tool,” Young said. Goalies also received instruction from coaches who played college hockey like David Volkmann, who played for Iowa State University; Jordan Nash-Boulden, who played for Arizona State University’s women’s hockey team’ and Anthony Ciurro, the starting goaltender for the University of Arizona.

Randy Exelby, in the green hat, addresses his students and coaches at the conclusion of the 2021 Goalie School. (Tim Sealy/Special for the Progress)

able to provide the students with was something that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. “Knowing that I had a guy who played at a higher level made me feel comfortable in retaining the information he gave me,” said Reid Westerman, who paZach Conger along with other students listen to instructions trols the crease for from Behind The Mask Goalie School’s coaches. (Tim Sealy/Special Mountain Ridge High for the Progress) School. Not only were stu“Having a coach like Coach Volkmann dents able to pick the who played for Iowa State was great be- brains of goalies who have played high levcause he was able to pass on the skills and els, they also hope these coaches are able to training that we would need to play at that help them get their feet in the door to play level,” said Ben Thomas, who tends the college hockey. twine for Horizon High School. “I worked with Coach Ciurro at a U of A The experience that these coaches were camp as well and he gave me a lot of help.

Plus, I was able to show him what I can do which will hopefully help get me a connection to play at the U of A in college,” said Zach Conger, who shares the net with Thomas at Horizon. Jordan Nash-Boulden and her skating drills had the biggest impact on the students as she designed drills for their skill levels. “If she knew how hard you could work or what you could do, that’s how she would set up the drill for you speci�ically rather than for the group,” Young said. “She doesn’t let anything stop her, which was really inspirational,” Conger said. One of the stations that pushed the students to compete the hardest was one with three nets stacked side-by-side where students had to stop a single shooter. Another station that tested the goaltenders had a machine that shot pucks up to 60 mph. The school concluded with a shootout where students faced off one-on-one against the camp’s shooters and were eliminated from the contest once they were scored on. Once the shootout was over, Exelby presented some students with awards and left them with some string advice. “‘If you are not working hard, somebody else is. Talent only takes you so far and hard work takes you even further,” Exelby said. He also reminded the students “It’s easier to do things once at 100 percent than two to three times at 60 or 70 percent.” Students hope the skills they learned over the �ive days at Behind The Mask’s Goalie School will help them succeed this season. “Ben and I are just hoping to have a better season than last year and make a deeper run in the playoffs,” Conger said. Exelby added, “I hope these goalies had fun, our shooters were awesome this year and they had a few laughs with the goalies.” Info: Behindthemask.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Children’s book art on display at Scottsdale Library BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

“

Pictures Tell Stories: Children’s Book Illustrations” is the newest exhibit at the Civic Center Public Gallery inside the Scottsdale Civic Center Library and will stay there until Sept. 20. The art has been collected by retired librarians Cathy Bonnell and Mary J. Wong and aims to provide joy to audiences of all ages. “Adults might feel nostalgia and joy as these are stories they might recognize from their youth or that their kids might recognize,” said Wendy Raisanen, curator of collections and exhibitions for Scottsdale Public Art. Planning for the exhibit began in 2015, when Raisanen first heard of Bonnell and Wong’s passion for collecting children’s book art. But it was not until two years ago when Raisanen found the perfect venue to display the art. “About two years ago, we got this new gallery, and this is perfect for the show because it’s nice and intimate,” she said. With the venue locked in, Raisanen then began sifting through Bonnell’s and Wong’s vast collections. “For me, as far as choosing from the hundreds of pieces that these wonderful ladies have, was the novelty of the materials, the graphicness, the impact of the art and the cuteness,” Raisanen said. The exhibit features art from artists like: Juana Martinez-Neal who illustrated “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story” and “La Madre Goose;” Tempe resident Molly Idle, whose work is in “Flora and the Flamingo;” Tucson resident Adam Rex, who worked on “Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich.” Other artists and their books repre-

Cathy Bonnell, Mary J. Wong and Wendy Raisanen opened their exhibit of children’s book illustrations recently at the Civic Center library in Scottsdale. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

sented in the show are: Rafael López, “Drum Dream Girl” and “Tito Puente Mambo King;” Robin Brickman, “One Night in the Coral Sea;” and Wendy Watson, “Bedtime Bunnies.” “These artists all have a distinct style,” said Bonnell. “Kids probably wouldn’t get the chance to see art like this if there weren’t exhibits like this.” Visitors will see the various techniques used by the artists, from traditional painting to color pencil coloring. “There’s a lot of mastery, technique and actual texture that you can see on these original artworks,” Raisanen said. Though the art was at times costly, the duo discovered that collecting these kinds of works is their passion. “We know the literature and as we

met different authors and illustrators, we got a passion for this beautiful art,” Bonnell said. Bonnell also began to grow more passionate about the art while working as a librarian in the Washington School District. “When you work with the books and you’re surrounded with trying to get kids to read these books, you begin to appreciate the art that goes into it more yourself,” Bonnell said. Though the exhibit aims to recreate the nostalgia of turning the pages on a beloved children’s book, it also aims to inspire artists to create handmade art. “At some point this art is going to be rare because of digital art,” Wong said. “There’s going to be a whole generation of readers that have no idea what

original art is because they only know digital art.” Wong has already begun noticing the shift from handmade art to digital art and sometimes finds herself doublechecking the source. “Now when I look at a book and I think if it’s possible if I can obtain some of the art, I have to look carefully to see if the art is a combination of digital art or if the art has been enhanced digitally,” Wong said. This worries Wong, who feels “handcrafted art will last a whole lot longer than digital art” and that hand-crafted art is easier to preserve. While the exhibit does preserve some beautiful, handcrafted art, it also aims to inspire the next generation of creative minds. “I hope that kids get inspired,” Raisanen said. “If the kids can get inspired to write a story, draw cartoons about their story and share it, that’s the steppingstone into a creative life.” Books featuring the art have been ordered to be stored on shelves in the library’s youth section and outside of the exhibit, visitors can pick up a fun workbook for them to create their own art in and learn how to tell a story. The exhibit will be on display until Sept. 20 and host a special event Aug. 20 at 10 a.m., when some of the artists and collectors will be on hand to talk about the art on display.

Info:

When: Art on display from July 5-Sept. 20 Where: Scottsdale Civic Center Library 3839 N. Drinkwater Boulevard Cost: Free Info: scottsdalepublicart.org/ exhibitions

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FOOD & DRINK 25

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Pairing cravings with culinary creations BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ Progress Contributor

orth Scottsdale boasts so many delicious dining destinations, it makes deciding where to eat even harder. Here is a curated list of epicurean experiences.

The perfect steak The family-owned and -operated Modern Oysterbar Chophouse has a secret weapon to its success on the grill: executive Michael Bouwens. The master of red meat is a veteran of Vincent’s on Camelback, 5th & Wine, Morton’s, Flemings, Roaring Fork and Zinc Bistro. He brings all of those years of delicious experience to the Modern Oysterbar Chophouse kitchen, including a relationship with the internationally lauded Linz Meats of Chicago, known for some of the best cuts in the world. Do not miss the 30-day wet aged cuts he is sourcing from them, including a center cut filet and a perfectly marbled prime bone-in ribeye. Info: modernoysterbarchophouse.com Light yet flavorful Equal parts nourishing and nosh-worthy, Civana’s two restaurants, which are open to the public, are perfectly crafted by executive chef Scott Winegard. Winegard, who spent years at buzzy plant-seed restaurant group Matthew Kenney Cuisine, took over the kitchen at the wellness resort in 2020. His menus at Seed and signature dinner restaurant Terras are seasonally focused with the freshest of ingredients. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared and modern in technique, taking into account one’s overall health and wellness. Info: civanacarefree.com Elevated fusion Do not miss The Mick. This modern French brasserie is all about small plates

Bourbon Steak executive chef Sara Garrant offers delectable dishes at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. (Fairmont Scottsdale Princess)

Scottsdale native Matt Carter takes great pride in transporting his hometown to France through his food. (Mike Mertz)

Arizona restaurant portfolio by becoming an owner of The Americano. A Scottsdale resident, Conant previously made local headlines in the Valley with the opening of Mora Italian, a progressive Italian restaurant, in 2017. Info: theamericanorestaurant.com

The steaks that Sara Garrant serves will bring joy to any meat lover.

and takes its inspiration from any region once under French rule. In addition to more standard items, guests are in for a treat with flavor infusions from Africa, Southeast Asia and even New Orleans. Given that executive chef and co-owner Brent Menke is an Arizona native, expect a little

Southwestern spice kicking up the heat in some dishes as well. Info: themickaz.com

‘Famously’ good food Last year, James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef Scott Conant expanded his

If you have a taste for elevated American… Robust flavors and exceptionally beautiful plating are a hallmark of executive chef Sara Garrant at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak at the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess. She learned to develop rich flavors while growing up in a tiny fishing community in Alaska. She literally grabbed the day’s fresh catch from the pier as a small child and threw it on a skillet, in the oven or atop a grill. Info: michaelmina.com

see EATERIES page 26

FOOD & DRINK

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The Americano is a progressive Italian restaurant owned by nationally renowned chef Scott Conant.

EATERIES �� page 25

Wine pairings Just a few months ago, the Scottsdale Promenade welcomed Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant. Though it’s hard to tell from the outside, it features a full-scale wine tasting room and wine shop in addition to full-service restaurant, ample bar, and outdoor patio space inside. The inspired set-up allows for guests to start the evening in the tasting room, where there are flights of red, white, sparkling and rose wines before being whisked to a transitional area where barrel samples of wine are offered. Once seated for a multicourse dinner, wine pairing suggestions are offered with every single dish. Info: chwinery.com

A taste for pizza Specializing in artisanal pies baked in a wood-fired oven, Lamp is one of North Scottsdale’s best-kept secrets. All of Lamp’s 19 red pizzas feature a base of fresh mozzarella, pecorino and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese as well as tomato sauce and basil. Among the more unique specialty pies: the Terroso, which has roasted Crimini mushrooms, roasted artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers, and the Kavorka, which has Sicilian sausage Calabrian peppers. Info: lamppizza.com

French food Look no further than Kierland Commons and the iconic Zinc Bistro. Scottsdale native and French-trained chef Matt Carter opened Zinc Bistro at Kierland Commons in 2001. Consistently among the top French restaurants in Arizona, the contemporary and romantic Scottsdale staple features a 25-foot seafood bar with fresh oysters, clams, mussels and lobster daily as well as indulgent classics including seared foie gras, Provencal bouillabaisse, chateaubriand and soufflé. An intimate dining adventure At only 40 seats, North Scottsdale’s Hush Public House is among the most intimate dining experiences in the Valley. It’s also one of the most out-of-the-box experiences one will likely ever have at dinner — in the best way possible. The dinner menu features just 20 options, which change regularly and range from halibut crudo to chicken liver mousse to smoked beef ribs with cucumber coleslaw. Info: hushpublichouse.com Dinner and a show Kasai Japanese Steakhouse must be on the list. The built-in dinner-tainment wows guests as the charismatic chefs put on a show complete with fun and flames at one of the 14 teppan tables. It’s not just a meal — it’s an event! Info: kasaiscottsdale.com

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*Average tuition after scholarships is approximately $8,600. Scholarships may be awarded based on 6th semester transcripts. At the time in which final, official transcripts are received, GCU reserves the right to rescind or modify the scholarship if it is determined that eligibility was not achieved. GCU reserves the right to decline scholarship awards for any reason. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. GCU reserves the right to change scholarship awards at any time without notice. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. Prices based on 2019-20 rate and are subject to change. **GCU students graduate with less debt on average ($18,750 according to College Scorecard) than the average at public and private nonprofit universities ($28,650 according to 2017 data from the Institute for College Access and Success). Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission.org/). Pre-licensure nursing students who begin or resume attendance in Fall 2020 and beyond will be ineligible to utilize most GCU institutional aid/scholarships for tuition and fees once accepted into the clinical portion of the program. Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/ academic-policies.php. The information printed in this material is accurate as of FEBRUARY 2021. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. ©2021 Grand Canyon University 21GTR0041

Scottsdale Progress - 7.18.2021

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