Pandemic stymies foodie influencers / P. 21
Schools' mental health challenges / P. 8
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
Critics question Ortega’s role in project fights BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor
NEWS ................................. 2 Mask mandate lifting stirs political pot.
NEIGHBORS ............. 16 Scottsdale woman's safer shopping carts
BUSINESS ................... 19 Scottsdale's first Dark Skies Resort.
NEIGHBORS ..........................................16 BUSINESS ...............................................19 ARTS ........................................................20 FOOD ........................................................ 21 CLASSIFIEDS ....................................... 23
Sunday, September 27, 2020
F
ollowing nearly a decade out of the limelight, mayoral candidate David Ortega re-emerged on the local political scene in 2019 to oppose two high profile downtown developments before the City Council.
The former councilman was a vocal critic of the proposed Sunday Goods medical marijuana dispensary and the controversial Southbridge Two development, making appearances before Council and writing a dozen letters to the editor during the second half of 2019. But some critics have questioned Ortega’s motives, noting he was paid to op-
pose the dispensary and allegations that he sought similar payments for his role opposing Southbridge Two. Ortega said he was never paid to oppose Southbridge Two and never sought payment for his opposition. “I was not paid a dime; I did not ask for
Back on campus July tax haul brings smiles to city officials
see ORTEGA page 6
BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor
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cottsdale’s economy outperformed projections during the summer months but city officials caution the trend may not continue now that supplemental federal unemployment benefits have expired. City Council approved a $1.54-billion budget in June calling for $30 million to $40 million in cuts. That included a $18.4-million cut in General Fund spending, from $296.1 to $277.7 million, because of concerns about the pan-
see BUDGET page 9
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Savanah Ruiz, a new kindergarten teacher. at Navajo Elementary School in Scottsdale, welcomes kindergarten children as they show up for their first in-class experience. Scottsdale Unified began a gradual reopening of campuses last week by letting K-2 students back into classrooms. That will be followed this week with the return of students in grades 3-5. (Tim Sealy/SealyMedia)
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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 4301 N 75th St., Suite 201, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Publisher Steve T. Strickbine Vice President Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising 480-898-6309 Classifieds/Inside Sales Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@scottsdale.org TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@scottsdale.org Advertising Office Manager Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@scottsdale.org Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@scottsdale.org NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 | pmaryniak@scottsdale.org Managing Editor Wayne Schutsky | 480-898-6533 | wschutsky@scottsdale.org Staff Writers Kristine Cannon | 480-898-9657 | kcannon@scottsdale.org Jim Walsh | 480-898-5639 | jwalsh@scottsdale.org Photographers Pablo Robles | Probles@scottsdale.org Design Veronica Thurman | vthurman@scottsdale.org Production Coordinator Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 | production@scottsdale.org Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@scottsdale.org Scottsdale Progress is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegratedmedia.com
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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
Lane’s mask decision draws fire, praise BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor
S
cottsdale Mayor Jim Lane rescinded the city’s mask mandate last week, going against the advice of public health authorities and medical professionals. People must still wear masks in most public places in Scottsdale under a similar mandate issued by the county Board of Supervisors that remains active. Scottsdale became one of the first cities in Arizona to implement a mask requirement shortly after Gov. Doug Ducey gave cities that authority in June. Lane lifted the mandate on Sept. 21 because the state has seen “a significant decline” in COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations. “When the original face covering order went into effect, our hospital system was in crisis,” Lane said in a statement. “The alarming growth in cases across the county was pushing hospital capacity to the limit, and Scottsdale’s mask requirement was part of efforts in communities across the state to get that situation under control. It worked.” Lane said it remained each individual’s “civic responsibility” to protect others by practicing good hygiene and continuing to wear masks around others. The mayor faced a swift backlash from public health experts and others in the medical community who questioned why he would end a policy that he admits was working. Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, told the Progress he found Lane’s decision “puzzling,” calling masks a low-cost, effective tool to fight the virus. “And so for an elected official to get rid of the single most effective tool that has virtually no cost, and then jeopardize… the ability of kids to go back to in-person school and possibly even jeopardizing another shutdown for some of the bars and nightclubs, and maybe even restaurants, to me just doesn’t make any scientific sense, political sense or economic sense,” Humble said. HonorHealth, Scottsdale’s largest employer, sent a letter to the city opposing the mandate’s removal, citing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control
Though the city’s mandate is no longer in effect, Scottsdale residents are still required to wear masks in most public places under a mask mandate issued by Maricopa County. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)
that masks are still the primary way to stop COVID-19 spread. “The virus is still very prevalent in our community, the rate of immunity is low, and it is predicted that we will see another surge later this year based on patterns observed in other parts of the world,” the letter state. “While everyone desires a “return to normal,” at this point there is still a substantial risk posed by COVID-19 and this is not the time to let our guard down.” Scottsdale City Council will not vote to adopt its own mask requirement. Councilwoman Linda Milhaven cited the HonorHealth letter at a City Council meeting on Sept. 22 and moved to discuss a mandatory mask ordinance at a future meeting. But, Milhaven’s motion failed on a 4-3 vote, with Lane, Councilwomen Suzanne Klapp and Kathy Littlefield and Councilman Guy Phillips – a longtime critic of the mandate – voting against the measure. Council narrowly approves a motion by Councilwoman Solange Whitehead to receive an informational update at a future meeting on COVID-19 data and what safety measures are already in place at the state and county level,
though no action would be taken during that discussion. The county mandate requires individuals to wear masks in most public places, though the Scottsdale order carried a stiffer financial penalty for noncompliance. The county mandate carries a fine of $50. But, according to Scottsdale Police records, the department only cited one individual for non-compliance between June 19 and July 23. Medical professionals said the removal of Scottsdale’s order could create confusion and send the wrong message. “Efforts to remove theses mandates sends the wrong message to our community and to those who provide care for our community members – our physicians and our nurses,” Honor Health said. Lane told the Progress that unlike in June, the state now has effective rules in place to prevent irresponsible operations at places like bars and nightclubs that were blamed for contributing to the spike over the summer. The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Com-
see MASK page 4
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
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MASK from page 2
merce also opposed the mandate’s removal. “Removal of a face covering mandate could have a negative repercussion on the health and wellbeing of our community and could potentially offset the progress made in combating the COVID-19 virus,” according to the statement. According to the most recent data from the county, Scottsdale saw a slight decrease in COVID-19 cases week over week. The county data showed that, on average, Scottsdale ZIP codes saw cases per 100,000 drop from 38.47 from Sept. 6-12 to 34.28 from Sept. 13-19. But, 85253, 85251, 85260, 85262, and 85266 saw cases per 100,000 residents rise week over week. The percent positivity rate in the city also rose from 3.5 to 3.86 percent over that span. Lane’s decision received a mixed reaction from the two candidates running to replace him in the Nov. 3 election. Former Councilwoman Lisa Borowsky echoed Lane’s comments about personal responsibility and called Scottsdale’s mandate unnecessary due to the coun-
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ty’s similar mandate that is still in place. “Generally speaking, I oppose duplicative, inconsistent or unnecessary government regulations,” Borowsky said. “In this case, the Scottsdale order was redundant given that Maricopa County has one in place which, necessarily, applies to Scottsdale residents.” Borowsky said the county is in a better position to issue public health mandates because they have a public health department unlike the city. “Notwithstanding the status of an order, Scottsdale residents are smart enough to understand the medical experts, wear masks when needed and socially distance in public,” Borowksy said. David Ortega said the mask mandate was working and that Lane’s action sends a mixed message to residents. “It is confusing for Scottsdale residents to rescind the mask mandate when the county mandate is still in place…We can see that in the reductions of cases, lowering the positivity rate and relieving the pressure on our hospitals,” Ortega said. “Masks are the best way to have some level of normalcy. Ortega, too, encouraged Scottsdale
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residents to continue wearing masks. Lane’s action received a mixed reaction from the candidates running for council. Phillips agreed with the mayor’s move. “In light of today’s volatile political environment, it took courage for the mayor to rescind the mandate but it was the right thing to do as the numbers clearly show there is no emergency and the economy is suffering greatly,” Phillips said. But others disagreed. “Lifting the mask mandate at this time is ill advised,” Betty Janik said. “We are just getting the children back to school and there are reports of outbreaks in Europe. Keeping the mandate for 4 more weeks would get us through the initial return of students to the classroom and give us time to evaluate the situation in Europe.” John Little said he would like to see the mandate remain in place and that Council should meet with health professionals from HonorHealth and Mayo Clinic. “I would like to see the city council direct city staff to meet with representatives from these health care providers and provide a policy recommendation
based on data and science,” Little said. “It is time to move beyond having the mask issue manifest as a cultural red herring and dog whistle and move it to where it belongs into the public health arena.” Tom Durham said, “I’m not sure I understand the Mayor’s logic. His view is that we can ease up because we are winning the fight against COVID, but I wouldn’t want to see a second spike the way we did in June and July. So I don’t think we should let up. The County mandate remains in effect, and I imagine most people will continue to comply, as they have been doing.” Tammy Caputi said she agrees with Lane’s statement that it remains every person’s civic duty to protect themselves and others. “The county mandate remains in place and I support the effort to keep our community safe,” Caputi said. “Balancing individual freedoms with the common good is always a challenge… My priority is getting my kids back to school and people back to work as quickly and safely as possible.” Becca Linnig did not respond to a request for comment.
BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
open. The expectation is they are going to remain open.’’ Ducey’s comments came as state Health Director Cara Christ said the coronavirus numbers are going to get worse. “There are counties that are likely to go back into substantial spread starting next week,’’ she said. It was having that threat of substantial spread that led to the original orders to shutter businesses in March and then Ducey’s directive to re-close many of them in June following a spike in cases. “We should expect a rise in cases,’’ the governor said, though he suggested part of the reason for that will be an increase in the number and types of testing available. But the governor said the decisions
Ducey rules out any more business closures
G
ov. Doug Ducey will not order businesses to re-close or impose new restrictions even if the infection threat of COVID-19 in any area returns to “substantial.’’ “Arizona’s open,’’ the governor said Thursday. “Arizona’s economy is open, Arizona’s educational institutions are open, Arizona’s tourism institutions are
“Arizona’s open. Arizona’s economy is open, Arizona’s educational institutions are open, Arizona’s tourism institutions are open. The expectation is they are going to remain open.’’
see DUCEY page 15
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
ORTEGA from front
anything,” Ortega said. But individuals close to the opposition contradicted that claim, alleging Ortega asked to be hired by a group of local property owners leading the opposition against Southbridge Two. “And then the marijuana thing; we did pay him and then we let him go,” said Janet Wilson, a downtown property owner involved in opposition to both the dispensary and Southbridge Two. “And then he came to another group I was involved in and wanted us to hire him and then we declined,” Wilson said, referring to a group of property owners opposed to Southbridge Two. Wilson said the conversation took place before the referendum campaign was organized. Ortega said that those conversations on Southbridge Two did not occur. “I never had direct communications with anybody,” Ortega said when asked if there were any discussions about him representing Southbridge opposition groups. In the case of Sunday Goods, Ortega argued the applicant was seeking to “spot zone” the site just east of Scottsdale Road and 5th Avenue to shoehorn the dispensary in an area where it did not fit, citing a nearby preschool and Christian Science reading room that would have been displaced. He was also one of Southbridge Two’s earliest opponents when he spoke against the proposed development at the Planning Commission meeting in August 2019. Both proposals were eventually voted down by the City Council or, in Southbridge Two’s case, cancelled in the face of citizen referendum that would have sent the issue to Scottsdale voters. Ortega, who is running for mayor against former Councilwoman Lisa Borowsky in the Nov. 3 General Election, launched his campaign in January partly on the back of those efforts. Ortega did not deny working as a paid consultant for the group opposing the Sunday Goods dispensary, telling the Progress he was hired as a consultant by property owners Daniel Spiro and Gary Bohall, who opposed the dispensary that went before Council last year.
Mayoral candidate David Ortega, right, helps deliver petition signatures for the against Southbridge Two in January. (Pablo Robles/Progress staff photographer)
Ortega said he did not approach Spiro or Bohall and was recruited by the property owners after a Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 29, 2019, when he spoke in opposition to the dispensary. “After the meeting, I was leaving and Mr. Spiro and Mr. Bohall said ‘Oh my gosh, we need your help. Can we contact you?’” Ortega said. Ortega said the men called him a week later and asked him to help their campaign. Sunday Goods eventually pulled the project from consideration last November after Spiro and Bohall gathered enough signatures to require a super majority vote from Council. Spiro, who owns a building near the proposed dispensary site, confirmed his group paid Ortega. “We retained Mr. Ortega services as a consultant,” Spiro said. “Mr. Ortega’s guidance was helpful during the period when we formulated our opposition plans against a marijuana dispensary establishment in our district.” “Subsequently, Mr. Ortega consulting services came to an end, he was fully compensated and we proceeded without his participation,” Spiro added. Critics have latched on to that payment to call Ortega’s motivations into
question. “David claims that he led the fight against the medical marijuana dispensary in downtown,” according to a post on standupforoldtownscottsdale.com, a website that includes information favorable to Borowsky. “The truth is that David tried to have the group that actually fought the dispensary pay him to lobby for them,” the website states. It is unclear who runs the Stand Up For Old Town Scottsdale website, which includes information favorable to Borowsky and shares a name with a Facebook page that has posted videos in support of Borowsky and Councilman Guy Phillips. Resident Susan Wood runs the Facebook page but said she does not run the website. A YouTube channel for Wood’s business, Scottsdale Studios, posted videos linking to the domain earlier in 2019 and 2020 when the website was used by to solicit signatures for the antiSouthbridge Two referendum. Wood did not respond when asked by the Progress if she knows who runs the website. Ortega denied the allegations made by Stand Up for Old Town Scottsdale. He said he was unaware of the dis-
pensary before attending the August 2019 Planning Commission meeting where Bohall and Spiro recruited him to work for their group. Ortega attended that meeting intending to speak against Southbridge Two, but ultimately spoke in opposition to the dispensary as well after seeing it on the agenda, he said. Though Southbridge Two drew significant opposition, there were few critics when it came before the Planning Commission in August 2019. Ortega was one of only two speakers at that meeting who spoke against it, warning the panel “there will be an uprising of loreferendum cal merchants, because they’re losing public parking spaces.” But the Stand Up for Old Town Scottsdale website and other critics alleged Ortega had little to do with that uprising as far as the Southbridge Two referendum was concerned and that he only showed up for a photo-op when organizers delivered their petitions to City Hall. Petitions on file with the City Clerk show that Ortega collected 52 of the 17,000 signatures for the referendum campaign. Ortega denied showing up for a photo-op and said he was only helping the referendum organizers coordinate with the clerk’s office as they scrambled to deliver the petitions before the Jan. 3 deadline. But in a letter to the editor submitted to the Progress, resident Jim Bloch, a volunteer with the referendum, wrote “When he was not given that position, he became silent, and was not a participant in helping to get the referendum on the ballot.” Resident activist Emily Austin, who worked as a notary on the referendum, made similar claims on the Save Scottsdale Facebook page she moderates. “David Ortega took responsibility for leading the revolt on Southbridge
see ORTEGA page 9
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
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CITY NEWS
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
As classrooms reopen, students’ mental health a big concern BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
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s children and teens begin returning to Mesa classrooms, teachers and administrators aren’t just focused on addressing “learning loss” among many students during months of online instruction. They also are focusing on the impact of campus closures and pandemicrelated stress on students’ mental and emotional well-being. While they are addressing academics as well as numerous new protocols aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19, schools also have developed plans to address the fallout from months of uncertainty, isolation and stress. Experts say that fallout has triggered wide range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, drug overdoses and suicide ideation and attempts. Suicide is already the leading cause of death among children 11-14 years old, Gov. Doug Ducey noted two weeks ago. Katey McPherson, an East Valley education consultant and suicide prevention advocate, estimates that there have been at least six suicides of students between the ages of 12 and 18 that have occurred since campuses were closed in mid-March. She said the East Valley could lose a child to suicide every six to eight weeks. But, she added, “The awareness has grown and people are talking about mental health. We have made great strides.” “I’m excited for my own children to get back to school, but it will probably take 90 to 120 days for them to settle in," said McPherson, a former assistant principal at a Gilbert junior high school. “We all want to think home is a safe place, but for many children, it’s not." Schools also are making progress on dealing with mental health issues among students. The state Department of Education has developed competencies that teachers and administrators are learning in order to recognize and help troubled youngsters. Some districts hired more counselors
Gov. Doug Ducey two weeks ago called attention to the problem of suicide among young Arizonans, noting the millions of dollars his administration has been putting into programs to help troubled children and teens. (Capitol Media Services)
and social workers after the Ducey administration set aside $20 million for additional grants to pay for them, although the demand far exceeded available dollars. Two new state laws also are taking effect at the same time campuses are reopening. Teachers, administrators and other school employees who regularly come in contact with students in grades 6-12 must receive mandatory training in recognizing and responding to the warning signs of suicide. That law is dubbed the Mitch Warnock Act, named in honor of a Tempe teen who was lost to suicide in 2016. Also taking effect is Jake’s Law, which expands the availability of behavioral health assistance for children in school and will eventually lead to the creation of a panel that will investigate the root causes of teen suicides. Denise Denslow of Gilbert – who started the JEM Foundation with her husband Ben and spearheaded a grassroots movement to get Lake’s Law passed after her teenage son’s death by suicide – said the $8 million Behavioral Health Services Fund will help students get emotional help at school more readily. She said the investigative panel has
been delayed and it will take a year to implement new regulations that require insurance companies to cover mental health needs the same they cover physical health treatment. Still, the pandemic has had a far-reach impact on children and teens. “They’re really struggling," Denslow said. “It’s the social isolation, the uncertainty and the fear." Teen Lifeline reported a 46 percent increase in calls and texts during June and July from stressed teens. Teens contemplating suicide or feel the need for help can call the hotline 24/7 for supportive services. Mesa-based Community Bridges, which provides services to address addiction and behavioral health issues, also experienced an increase in referrals for East Valley youngsters and teens. “I would say that across the board, behavioral health is pretty busy," said Natalia Chimbo Andrade, director of community education and outreach for Community Bridges. “We have seen an increase in referrals for suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression," she said. “What is going on with the pandemic is a contributing factor in depression and anxiety in teenagers."
A child psychiatrist also said she has seen an unusual increase in suicide attempts. “We’ve definitely seen more suicide attempts than generally what I have seen during my career," said Dr. Adeola Adelayo, of Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale, a specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry. “It pushes them over," she said as teens struggle with social isolation and other interruptions in the normal school year. “The ones who are prone to abusing substances, we have seen more overdoses," Adelayo said. While Adelayo believes that going back to school may generally improve the mental state of many children and teens, she said the benefits must be weighed against the risks of contracting the virus. “I’m definitely hopeful," she said. “Kids are going back to normalcy. It sends the message that things are getting better." The return to classrooms “gives some kind of structure. Every human being needs structure, especially kids," Adelayo said. She said teens in particular need space to grow up and develop their identity. “That’s where they get their socialization from, being out of the home, being able to make friends," Adelayo said. “They need some space to figure out their own morals, their own values," or whether they continue on the same path imparted by their parents. “They are trying to figure out who they are." During the pandemic, Adelayo said she noticed that stressed-out parents trying to cope with a job loss, financial stresses or sickness and death within a family, unwittingly influence the children’s emotional and mental state. Often a child’s mental state would improve after therapy sessions involving the child and a parent, she said. Nikki Koontz, clinical director of Teen Lifeline, said teens have been struggling with social isolation caused by the pandemic but they also are concerned about becoming carriers for COVID and infecting their families if they return to
see SUICIDE page 12
CITY NEWS
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
BUDGET from front
demic’s impact on tourism, restaurants, retail and other important economic drivers. But City Treasurer Jeff Nichols told Council on Sept. 22 that the city’s economy performed better than expected over the summer. Through July 31, the city brought in $24 million in local tax revenue – a 22 percent increase over the $19.7 million projected in the budget. That haul in July was still down $2.3 million from the same time last year. The city saw total revenues through July 31 exceed projections by $8.3 million, or 19 percent. Overall, the city is beating budget projections by $10 million as a result of the unanticipated higher tax haul and spending that has been $1.3 million less than projected. The city spent $36.6 million through the end of July – $10.9 million less than it did the same time last year. The increase in revenue was driven by unforeseen upticks in activity across a number of business sectors. That included a 97 percent increase in revenues from hotels, which delivered around $400,000 in taxes versus the $200,000 projected in the budget. That increase surprised city officials,
ORTEGA from page 6
2! Really?? I notarized a few pages of signatures which he collected which is much appreciated, but he was not in the trenches with us fighting like hell to get 17,500 signatures!” Austin posted on July 19. Austin has since backed Ortega in the
though the industry as a whole is still experiencing significant pandemic-driven declines. Experience Scottsdale reported that in August, Scottsdale-area hotels recorded an occupancy rate of 29 percent – 50.5 percent below August 2019. The industry could get a boost from events planned at WestWorld in the coming months. At the Sept. 22 Council meeting, city
Nichols said. Additionally, most recipients have likely exhausted the $1,200 in stimulus payments sent to most Americans in April. Congress has failed to pass a new round of stimulus payments despite polls showing widespread bipartisan support for that type of support. According to July Reuters/Ipsos poll, 77 percent of Americans supported “giving all Americans stimulus checks to counter the coronavirus economic damage,” including 71 percent of Republicans. City Manager Jim Thompson said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the increased revenues shown in the city’s latest report but that he would to wait to celebrate until seeing the results for January through March, historically the city’s top-revenue months. Thompson said city staff is currently evaluating whether to bring back some of the $27.5 million in cuts that remain in the budget through the end of this fiscal year, including reopening Arabian and Appaloosa libraries, which are currently only open for drive-thru service. “We’re not asking to change any of that right now, and I’m not moving forward with any of those at this time, because, again, cautiously optimistic is probably the best position we can take,” Thompson said.
mayoral race. Ortega gave credit to the referendum volunteers and paid circulators who gathered the signatures to put the issue on the ballot. “I’m not criticizing anybody who worked for the referendum…it was a huge effort,” Ortega said. But he argued his early work delayed
City Council action for weeks to allow time for the referendum campaign to form. Council originally planned to hear Southbridge Two on Oct. 15 – two weeks before the PAC filed referendum petitions. The hearing was delayed twice before finally reaching Council in December.
“I delayed their action by six or seven or eight weeks allowing the referendum to form…I raised enough questions to stall it and stall it and stall it until finally the people could come out of the woodwork and just crush it,” Ortega said. “I carried the ball from the Planning Commission all the way into City Hall, and the burden was on me.”
Scottsdale City Treasurer told the City Council on Sept. 22 that city revenues in July beat projections despite the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. (City of Scottsdale)
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staff noted that Barrett-Jackson’s fall car auction on Oct. 22-24 is expected to draw more than 5,000 people and that the event has contracted room rates with multiple Scottsdale hotels. Other industries that saw significant increases include automotive sales, construction, entertainment, food stores and retail sales. Nichols said this increased activity is likely connected to federal CARES Act fund that provided $600 per week in additional payments to unemployed individuals on top of the maximum of $240 per week provided by the state of Arizona. Congress has thus far failed to pass a new round of enhanced unemployment payments since the original package expired on July 31, leaving unemployed people to rely solely on state benefits. Arizona’s maximum of $240 per week in unemployment payments is the second lowest in the country behind only Mississippi. Nichols said the lack of new federal package could impact the city’s ability to continue beating revenue projections in future months. “So, these people that are out of their unemployment payments or they’ve gone down to $240 per week may have a negative impact as we start seeing the activities in August and September,”
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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
2020
COIN SHORTAGE ZIP CODE DISTRIBUTION NOTICE
■ ARIZONA AREA RESIDENTS CASH IN: Pictured above and watched closely by guards are protected U.S. Coin Packages containing the valuable unsearched Vault Bags that everyone is trying to get. It’s hard to tell how much these unsearched bags loaded with valuable U.S. Gov’t issued coins could be worth someday. That’s because each Vault Bag is known to contain over 2 pounds of U.S. Gov’t issued coins some dating back to the early 1800’s.
Decision puts valuable U.S. Gov’t issued coins back in circulation – zip codes determine who gets them Unsearched Vault Bags loaded with valuable U.S. Gov’t issued coins some dating back to the 1800’s and worth up to 50 times their face value are actually being handed over to residents who find their zip code on the Distribution List below and beat the 48 hour order deadline
Who gets the U.S. Gov’t issued coins: Only U.S. residents who find the first three digits of their zip code listed on the Distribution List below are getting the valuable U.S. Gov’t issued coins. If you find your zip code listed below call: 1-800-865-9521 NCS1160 “The vaults at Federated Mint a re going empt y,” sa id Ma r y Ellen Withrow, the emeritus 40th Treasurer of the United States of America. That’s because a decision by Federated Mint to put valuable U.S. Gov’t issued coins, some worth up to 50 times their face value, back in circulation means unsearched Vault Bags loaded with U. S. Gov’t issued coins dating back to the 1800’s are now being handed over to U.S. residents who find the first three digits of their zip code listed in today’s publication. “These are not ordinary coins you find in your pocket change. These
are valuable silver, scarce, highly collectible and non- circulating U.S. coins dating back to the 1800’s which is why U.S. residents will be claiming as many as they can get their hands on. That’s because after the bags were loaded with over 2 pounds of U.S. Gov’t issued coins the dates were never searched and the bags were securely sealed. That means there’s no telling what you’ll find until you search all the coins,” said Withrow. “But don’t thank the Government. As Executive Advisor to Federated Mint, I get paid to inform and educate the general public regarding U.S. coins. Ever since the decision
by Federated Mint to put valuable U.S. Gov’t issued coins back in circulation – everyone’s asking me, how much are the unsearched Vault Bags worth? The answer is, there’s no way to tell. Coin values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees, but we do know this. Each unsearched bag weighs over 2 pounds and is known to contain at least one silver Walking Liberty coin and just that one coin alone could be worth $15 - $325 in collector value. So there’s no telling what you’ll find until you search through all the coins. But you better believe at just $249 these unsearched Vault Bags are a steal, “said Withrow.
The only thing U.S. residents who find their zip code printed in today’s publication need to do is call the National Toll Free Hotline before the 48 hour deadline ends. This is very important. The Vault Bag fee has been set for $349 for residents who miss the 48 hour deadline, but for those U.S. residents who beat the 48 hour deadline the Vault Bag fee is just $249 as long as they call the National Toll Free Hotline before the deadline ends. “Remember this, we ca nnot stop collectors from buying up all the unsearched bags of coins they (Continued on next page)
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
11 SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
(Continued from previous page)
can get in this special advertising announcement. And you better believe with each bag being loaded with over 2 pounds of valuable U.S. Gov’t issued coins they’re going to go quick,” said Withrow. The phone lines will be ringing off the hook beginning at precisely 8:30am this morning. That’s because each unsearched Vault Bag is loaded in part with highly sought after collector coins dating clear back to the 1800’s including the stunning Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollar, valuable President Eisenhower Silver Dollars, rarely seen Silver Franklin Half Dollars, high demand President Kennedy Silver Half Dollars, beautiful Silver Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar, American Bicentennial Quarters, rare Liberty V Nickels, the scarce Indian Head one cent U.S. coin and the last ever minted Buffalo Nickels. “With all these valuable coins up for grabs we’re doing all we can to answer all the calls,” said Withrow. Thousands of U.S. residents stand to miss the deadline to claim the valuable U.S. Gov’t issued coins. That means U.S. residents who find the first three digits of their zip code listed in today’s publication can claim the unsearched bags of money for themselves and keep all the U.S. Gov’t issued coins found inside. Just be sure to call before the deadline ends 48 hours from today’s publication date. ■
AZ RESIDENTS: IF YOU FIND THE FIRST THREE DIGITS OF YOUR ZIP CODE BELOW. CALL: 1-800-865-9521 NCS1160
850 852
853 855
856 857
859 860
863 864
865
4
Boston Zone
Minneapolis Zone
New York Zone
5 1 San Francisco Zone
8
Chicago Zone
2 Kansas City Zone
11 10
Cleveland Zone
12
6
9
St. Louis Zone
Richmond Zone
Philadelphia Zone
7 Atlanta Zone
3
Alaska & Hawaii are part of the San Francisco Zone
Dallas Zone
The National Toll Free Hotlines open at precisely 8:30am this morning for Arizona residents only. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. If you miss the deadline you will be turned away from this offer and forced to wait for future announcements in this publication or others, if any. The only thing residents need to do is find the first three digits of their zip code on the Distribution List above and beat the 48 hour deadline. The Vault Bag fee has been set for $349 for residents who miss the 48 hour deadline, but for those U.S. residents who beat the 48 hour deadline the Vault Bag fee is just $249 as long as they call the National Toll Free Hotline before the deadline ends.
Sealed Unsearched Vault Bags contain over 2 pounds of U.S. Gov’t issued coins
■ UNSEARCHED: Pictured above are the unsearched Vault Bags loaded with over 2 pounds of U.S. Gov’t issued coins some dating back to the 1800’s being handed over to Arizona residents by Federated Mint.
Silver Walking Liberty 1916-1947
Silver Eisenhower Dollar 1971-1978
Silver Ben Franklin Half 1948-1963
Silver Standing Liberty 1916-1930
Rare Liberty V Nickel 1883-1913
FEDERATED MINT, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS SHIPPING AND RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. FEDERATED MINT, PO BOX 1200, MASSILLON, OH 44647 ©2020 FEDERATED MINT
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CITY NEWS
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
SUSD candidates discuss teacher shortages rizona has struggled with a years-long teacher shortage that has left thousands of positions vacant at districts throughout the state. In January, the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association released the results of a survey that found 24 percent of teacher vacancies were unfilled and 52 percent of positions were held by individuals not meeting standard teaching requirements. It was the fifth straight year that the survey showed a teacher shortage in Arizona. The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated that problem as some teachers have chosen to leave their jobs instead of return to the classroom due to health issues or other concerns. A survey by the district in mid-June found that just 42 percent of teachers wanted to come back to campuses at that time. Arizona schools have also had problems attracting other support staff that make school possible on a day-to-day basis, including bus drivers. Over the summer, former SUSD Superintendent John Kriekard said rising transportation costs in the district were a result of the bus driver shortage that has forced the district to use expensive outside contractors. Kriekard said prior to the pandemic the district had trouble filling minimum-wage jobs like bus drivers, food service workers and crosswalk guards,
because it is difficult to fill low-wage jobs in a good economy, though he noted that could change later this year due to the economic disruption caused by the pandemic. In light of these issues, the Progress asked the six prospective candidates for the SUSD Governing Board how they would address staffing shortages at the district. The six candidates are vying for three open seats on the board as incumbents Allyson Beckham, Barbara Perleberg and Sandy Kravitz are not seeking reelection. People have until Oct. 5 to register to vote Nov. 3 and early ballots will go out later next week. “We don’t have a teacher shortage; we have a retention issue,” former SUSD teacher Julie Cieniawski said, citing data showing one in three teachers in the state leaves the profession within five years. “Teachers and support professionals are asked to do more and more with less,” Cieniawski said. “I support policy that ensures authentic, collaborative decision making and promotes respect of all school professionals.” Cieniawski also said she supported mentoring programs and career advancement opportunities for all employees. Candidate Zach Lindsay also cited teacher retention as a key issue and said he would push for increased communication and collaboration between teachers and the district. “Teachers and staff are so incredibly important to our kids, and they need to
feel valued, and their voices are heard. In turn, this would also attract other qualified teachers and staff to SUSD,” Lindsay said. Candidate Libby Hart-Wells pointed to two interrelated solutions, including addressing “low teacher pay” statewide. “Prop 208, which I support, helps do this,” Hart-Wells said. “Locally, school leaders play a crucial role in teachers’ professional development. I strongly support workplace policies that create, enable and encourage learning experiences.” She added, “One example in current policy, modeled after a successful private sector strategy, rewards teachers for earning the National Board Certification with an earned bonus.” But not all candidates believe increasing teacher pay is the right solution. “With all the benefits offered by the Scottsdale Education Association (SEA) for teachers to join their union, the benefits offered in a contract by SUSD, not to mention the 20 percent pay increase over three years as approved by Governor Ducey in 2018, what more needs to be offered in attracting and hiring new teachers?” candidate Kathleen Angelos said. Angelos said current teachers should come to the classroom “and work and fulfill their agreements to teach, not indoctrinate.” She also alleged that COVID-19 statistics are “falsely reported” and using the pandemic to justify “sick outs” is not good for students. But candidate Rose Smith said “an
important sign of good leadership is ensuring that employees feel respected and valued.” “Our teachers are some of the most educated and credentialed in the state,” Smith said. “Let’s value their input and make sure they are part of any decision-making processes that involve the classroom.” For other positions, like bus drivers, Smith said the district needs to ensure it is offering competitive compensation. “We are trying to ‘attract and retain’ quality workers to ensure we deliver a quality product to our students,” Smith said. Candidate Lucy DiGrazia said she supported more parental involvement in education. “Parental involvement helps lift burdens off teachers and provides for the best educational experience as teachers are able to work directly with parents to guarantee successful learning,” DiGrazia said. “As a parent of an SUSD graduate, my experience was finding out after the fact what my child had been exposed to in her classroom,” DiGrazia said. “This is unacceptable and should never happen.” DiGrazia, who has advocated for home schooling on social media, said any changes to curriculum should be fully disclosed to parents and teachers. ‘Transparency (especially within the budget) always provides a healthy work environment which will attract good teachers and school employees,” she said in an email to the Progress.
school. “Going back to school is politicized. Many kids feel their opinion doesn’t matter," Koontz said. “They are struggling with there being no control over anything." She said the pandemic has created an opportunity for parents to have the sort of deep conversations that can lead to stronger emotional connections. At the same time, however, the pan-
demic’s effect have also given rise to more family conflicts. The usual warnings about the dangers of social media have been pushed aside a bit during COVID, Koontz said. “The lack of connection with their peers can make them feel very lonely," she said. Even though teens have spent more time with their families, “there still can be a sense of loneliness. They don’t feel people understand." “I can’t imagine how things would
be without technology. That’s how we are all staying connected," Koontz said. “One of the biggest protective factors is a sense of connection." A return to school may help many teens emotionally, Koontz said, because “a lot of their social and emotional growth comes from their associations with friends and peers." Koontz said Teen Lifeline has been helping school districts prepare for the return of their students, running training sessions on digital platforms
throughout the summer for employees to spot the warning signs of teen suicide, with as many as 25-30 employees attending. Adelayo said it only stands to reason that more emotional problems among children will be spotted when they return to school. “Anytime you have more oversight, you will be able to see better. You have more people keeping an eye on you," she said. “Your parents may be working two or three jobs."
BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor
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SUICIDE from page 8
CITY NEWS
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
Scottsdale, sheriff sign training pact BY MCKENNA LEAVENS Progress Contributor
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he City of Scottsdale signed an agreement with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to increase the training capacity for new police and detention officers. Historically, Scottsdale Police, which has no training facility, sends recruits to training centers run by Phoenix and Mesa police but a lack of capacity forced the city to consider a third option. Scottsdale City Council voted unanimously to approve the agreement that will see the city pay $750 per recruit and $250 per detention officer at the county’s academy. According to the city report, Scottsdale will send five to 10 recruits and two to three detention officers to the MCSO academy annually. The training costs are covered under the police department’s budget for the current fiscal year, which totals $110,418,268 – the largest single appropriation in the city’s
The Scottsdale City Council approved an agreement with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department to increase officer training capacity for the Scottsdale Police Department. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)
General Fund, accounting for about 23 percent of total expenditures. Police and city officials said the training
funds are necessary but the move is being criticized by some Valley activists, who said the money should be spent on social ser-
vices instead of law enforcement. The police budget is projected to increase $5 million each year over the next five years, according to the projections included in the current city budget. Sgt. Brian Reynolds, a spokesman for the department, hailed the additional funding. “Scottsdale residents and visitors can rest assured that when they need police assistance, they are getting trained professionals who know how to appropriately address their needs,” Reynolds said. But Nissa Vibes, a Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro leader, said her community’s needs are being ignored by Scottsdale leaders and that they need to re-direct their priorities. Vibes said the training funds are not going to help minority communities in Scottsdale. “We’re not looking to get more trainings; we’re looking to get less money put into those systems that are harming our community,” Vibes said.
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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
[Paid Advertisement]
Always Running to the Bathroom? There’s Now a Pill for That Researchers achieve major breakthrough by strengthening bladder muscles with plant based extracts. The result is a daily pill for bladder control that’s helping adults cut back (or prevent) daily diaper use.
A
s researchers, when running new clinical trials, we never know what to expect.
Most of the time they are complete failures, forcing us back to the drawing board. But in very rare cases, results far exceed our expectations and these product work better than we could have ever imagined. This is the case with the most recent breakthrough in Urology called Urivarx, a new bladder control pill which has performed extraordinary in every test. From dramatic reductions in urgency and frequency…dribbling and leaking…nighttime bathroom trips…and even diaper use…the improvements men and women are seeing with this nonprescription pill have been phenomenal. Why so effective? We asked its developers that same question.
STRENGTHENS THE BLADDER MUSCLES & PREVENTS THEM FROM RELEASING Until now, many within the medical community − including myself − believed it was impossible to strengthen the muscles that control the bladder without drugs, surgery, or exercises. Remarkably, it has now been proven this can be achieved with a tiny a pill. Albeit, a natural one. The secret? A revolutionary discovery that helps the bladder create a tighter seal...while also preventing your bladder from releasing involuntarily. Research shows that as we age, the muscles surrounding the bladder can deteriorate. This is triggered by hormonal changes in the body which results in muscle atrophy, the medical term for muscle shrinking. When these muscles get too small and weak, they cannot seal the bladder shut. That’s why you may leak, dribble, and experience uncontrollable accidents. Worse, because the bladder fails to empty completely, you feel like you need to go all the time! And as old urine just sits there, it can seep into your blood stream, causing painful infections which need multiple rounds of antibiotics to get rid of.
“URIVARX TARGETS A FAILING BLADDER IN A WHOLE NEW WAY” In its most recent clinical trial, scientists discovered a trio of science based compounds that actually strengthen the tiny muscles surrounding the bladder. So effectively that they were shown to decrease adult diaper use by a staggering 400%.
of comfort of confidence that you once had before. And it starts happening in minutes.
IMPRESSIVE CLINICAL RESULTS The exciting clinical results published on the government clinical website clinicaltrials.gov show that UriVarx™ can strengthen your bladder fast, significantly reducing the urine urgency and leaks. In a new double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, 142 men and women with bladder control issues were separated into two groups. The first group was given a placebo while the other received UriVarx™. The results were incredible. The participants who received UriVarx™ saw major improvements in leaking, pressure, and the urgency to go − all without the usual side effects seen in prescription drugs! They also reported fewer trips to the bathroom both day and night.
Overall, the UriVarx™ group experienced: • 56% Reduction in Urge Incontinence • 66% Reduction in Stress Incontinence • 61% Reduction in Urgency • 33% Reduction in Frequency • 46% Reduction in Nighttime Bathroom Trips Additionally, at the end of clinical trial and after seeing the results, 84% of the participants taking UriVarx™ said it significantly improved their quality of life. “The clinical findings are incredible, but people still wonder if it will really work” explains lead developer for Urivarx. “It’s normal to be skeptical, but we’ve seen thousands of UriVarx™ users get results exactly like the participants in the study. It’s an amazing product.”
EXCITING RESULTS FROM URIVARX USERS Many UriVarx™ users say their bladders have never been stronger. For the first time in years, they are confident and in complete control. Adult pads and diapers are no longer a big worry. “It’s exciting to hear all of the positive feedback” explains a spokesperson for the company.
Even more surprising, these three compounds also had a rejuvenating effect on the bladder, allowing it to work like it was years younger.
“Its also helps to gain perspective. These people will share how embarrassed they’ve become over the situation. How uncomfortable it makes social outings and the interruptions it causes in daily life.
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They can’t believe the change Urivarx has made. The fear is gone. They are back to feeling in control”
Muscles provide a tighter seal with plant based extracts
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CITY NEWS
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
DUCEY from page 4
he made before won’t be repeated. “We are not going to be, due to a gradual rise in cases, be making any dramatic changes,’’ he said. The problems appear to be localized. Statewide, the rate of infection remains below 100 per 100,000 residents, enough to put it in the moderate range. And the percentage of tests for the virus coming back positive actually is below 5 percent, showing what the state calls “minimal’’ spread. But in Pima County, for example, the rate of infection is not just increasing but, for the week ending Sept. 13, the most recent data available, it actually slipped past that 100 per 100,000 level. That, according to health department measurements, makes the risk of spread substantial. Most other counties, by contrast, appear to have a slowing rate of infection, at least on a county-wide basis. But there still are potentials of local hotspots. One potential cause could relate to the return of university students. The situation in Tucson got so bad that the University of Arizona and Pima County instituted a voluntary “shelterin-place’’ recommendation. Police and code inspectors have issued citations and code-of-conduct violations and warned of potential legal action to curb the spread of the virus. “We want to avoid closing down,’’ Christ said. “We’re starting to work with those county health departments to identify if there are targeted areas where we can work specifically with those business
POLICE from page 13
BLM and other activists have said they want to see funds shifted away from police department toward social services and education. Vibes said that more police training is part of a reform strategy that needs to be challenged and changed. “We have been constantly paying into these systems trying to do training for reforms that are not going to work when we have an ultimately dysfunctional system that is built on racism and white supremacy,” Vibes said.
owners,’’ she said. Rather than shuttering businesses she would instead propose narrower “mitigation strategies’’ like a further reduction in the number of customers at any one time. Daniel Scarpinato, the governor’s chief of staff, said one reason his boss can say he won’t close businesses again is because the situation is far different, even if the raw numbers may not show it. “We have broad access to testing with fast turnaround,’’ Scarpinato said. “We have increased contact tracing,’’ he continued. “We’ve got enforcement of rules and regulations.’’ All that, Scarpinato said, means it allows people to be found and told to isolate themselves if they’ve been exposed. “Businesses are operating much differently today than they were when some of these industries were closed,’’ Scarpinato said. For example, he said, restaurant patrons have to wear their masks when they’re not at their table. Masks also are required at salons and barber shops. Then there are capacity restrictions, with restaurants and bars that operate like restaurants at 50 percent and gyms at just 25 percent of normal attendance. And even in cities and counties where masks are not required, Scarpinato said most retailers are requiring them of customers. The other big issue, he said, is that the state is better equipped to handle an outbreak. “Our hospitals were at capacity,’’ Scarpinato said, with some close to having to implement “surge’’ plans to find more space. One potential reason for Ducey’s reti-
cence to once again shut down businesses is purely financial. Earlier this year business owners could apply for the federal Paycheck Protection Program which provided loans to companies to keep workers on the payroll. That program is now gone. What’s also gone is the extra unemployment benefits available from the federal government, initially at $600 a week and, more recently, reduced to $300. Those, too, have disappeared, leaving jobless Arizona workers with a maximum state benefit of $240 a week. One issue that remains is how broad would be any closure orders if the governor believes the spike in new cases merits it. The current system measures and react to outbreaks on a county-by-county basis: If the overall infection numbers hit a certain level, any changes in business operations would be imposed on a countywide basis. But the problem could be more localized, such as around a university campus. That raises the question of whether the spike in one area, putting the overall county numbers into the substantial range, should affect all businesses in that county or should result only in closures in the immediate area affected. Scarpinato was noncommittal. “We’re going to follow the data closely and see,’’ he said. Schools aren’t affected by all of this, at least not at the state level, even amid indications of rising infection rates. That’s because the state has issued only “recommendations’’ for when in-person classes can start, with local districts free to follow or disregard them.
“There is a lot of things that we can’t train people on,” Vibes said. “We can’t train them not to be racist.” Reynolds said Scottsdale Police engage in dialogue with NAACP and community engagement groups. Chief of Police Alan Rodbell marched with protestors during a June 7 event that drew 1,000 peaceful marchers to Scottsdale and spoke with organizer Armonee Jackson, youth and college president for Arizona NAACP. Reynolds said he could not respond to Vibes’ comments directly but that citizens have a number of ways to reach out to
Scottsdale Police to discuss their concerns. New police and detention officer recruits get approximately 22 weeks of training that consists of physical conditioning, criminal law, traffic law, arrest procedures, search and seizure, defensive tactics, firearms training and emergency driving. Arizona Law requires that all police officers have to be certified by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards training. This mandated training is a total of 585 hours and requires trainees to pass a comprehensive exam to become certified, according to Reynolds.
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Divorce lawyers here see Scottsdale woman’s shopping rise in filings, inquiries cart liners could become a hit BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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he pandemic isn’t just testing health and patience but relationships, too. As Scottsdale and other Valley residents work from home and spend more time with family and significant others, divorce attorneys have noted an increase in divorces and an even bigger spike in inquiries about them. According to a national study and local attorneys, divorce rates have increased and likely will continue to. “Yes, we have seen a dramatic uptick in divorce filings since the pandemic started,” said Craig Cherney, attorney at Canterbury Law Group in northern Scottsdale. Cherney said their filing volumes are up approximately 40 percent compared to the past three years. Divorce and family law firm Stewart Law Group, which has an office in Scottsdale, reports a similar trend. “Year to date, we have had about a 10 percent increase in divorce-related clients,” said founder Scott David Stewart, adding that 12 to 15 percent of those who filed are in Scottsdale. As for divorce inquiries, Stewart Law Group’s website traffic has nearly doubled this year, “and our divorce-related content page views are up nearly 250 percent,” Stewart said. “While our total calls are on par with last year, it appears we are seeing the calm before storm, given how big our increase with our leading indicators,” he continued. “The one interesting fact about our call data is that people that are making formal inquiries are much more likely to move forward than in the past.” According to a July survey published
Scott David Stewart, attorney and founder of Stewart Law Group, has seen an increase in divorce filings amid the pandemic. (Stewart Law Group)
by Legal Templates, the quarantine “destroyed marriages in less than three weeks,” with couples in southern states especially likely to seek a divorce. “With growing tensions between couples, we’ve seen a 34 percent increase in sales of our divorce agreement compared to the same period in 2019,” the study states. “Interest in separation during quarantine peaked on April 13 – a 57 percent increase compared to Feb 13, 2020.” The data revealed that 58 percent pursuing a divorce during the pandemic were married within the last five years. The rate of divorcing couples with children also increased over 2019 both nationally and locally. “We are seeing more filing with parties with minor children compared to couples without minor children,” Cherney said, noting that Canterbury Law Group saw
see DIVORCE page 17
than public toilets,” Barness-Rubin said. According to a 2012 University of Arizona study published in “Food Protection Trends,” cart surfaces had far more bacteria than what they measured in more than 100 public restrooms. “The amounts of bacteria found on than
re-pandemic, Scottsdale resident Andi Barness-Rubin turned heads at grocery stores for wiping down the handles, baby seat – virtually her entire shopping cart – with the storeprovided cleaning wipes. Mid-pandemic, Barness-Rubin continues to turn shoppers’ heads but for a different, more eye-catching reason: the bold, bright-blue plastic cart liner she invented called Cart Safe. “When I’m walking through the store, people will stop me and go, ‘Oh my gosh, why didn’t I think of that?’ Or, ‘Genius! Where did you get that?’” Barness-Rubin said. “It’s not hard to miss as I’m coming down the aisle.” Cart Safe liners are recyclable and cover the entire cart, including the handle. Its patented design makes it easy to use. “I feel like this is really going to take off,” Barness-Rubin said. “I know that this isn’t Scottsdale resident And Barness-Rubin is the cregoing to go away, especially ator and founder of Cart Safe, the first-ever recybecause I have a patent on it. clable shopping cart liner. (Tim Sealy) No one will ever be able to do what I’m doing and I think that part feels than surfaces found in public restrooms,” said Dr. Charles Gerba, Professor of Virolthe best.” Starting in April, Barness-Rubin de- ogy at the University of Arizona’s Departsigned, patented and brought Cart Safe to ment of Environmental Science. In a sample of 85 random shopping market within 90 days. The Cart Safe liners are intended to add carts, researchers found that 50 percent an extra layer of protection and give shop- carried E. Coli and 72 percent contained coliform bacteria. pers a peace of mind. “There’s studies that say that the shopsee CART page 17 ping carts are more dirty and disgusting
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CART ���� page 16
“When you think about chicken juices or a baby’s diaper that was sitting in the cart before you, or the birds that are pooping on it while it’s sitting in the parking lot ... I was always the person that took the wipes and wipe down the handle,” Andi-Barness said. “The coronavirus kind of made us think about everything – everything in your cart and not just where you put your hands and where you put your kids,” she continued. “It definitely made me think about my routine and how I was keeping me and my family safe.” At the start of the pandemic, many shoppers wiped and disinfected their groceries before putting them away. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has since deemed there is a “very low risk” of catching the virus from surfaces, including grocery packaging, they do recommend that shoppers disinfect the cart – a step most stores have taken on themselves – and use disinfecting wipes if available. “People that have immune disorders, they have to be really, really careful about germs and bacteria,” Barness-Rubin said. “There’s people that have a child that can’t afford to be sick, so they know they have to
do everything they can.” So far, Barness-Rubin has sold more than 400 Cart Safe liners across the country. “We’re getting a lot of people that know that this is just an extra layer of protection,” she said of her customers. “But I feel like I have to educate people as to what it is and that it even exists. We’re doing a lot of advertising just trying to get to get the word out.” The liners are made from durable LDPE, or low-density polyethylene, a No. 4 plastic recognized by the FDA as a safe barrier from microbes. Shoppers can dispose the Cart Safe liner in the recycle collection bins found at many grocery store entrances or reuse them. “I reuse mine. When I’m done with it, I just Lysol it all over, and then you can use it again,” Barness-Rubin said. “Each bag gets at least three uses out of it.” Shoppers can also hand-wash the liner in warm soapy water and line dry. In addition to pursuing a Good Housekeeping seal of approval for Cart Safe, Barness-Rubin is currently working on another reusable cart liner product. “We’re working on a material liner that you can just throw in the washing machine,” she said. “I think that’s going to be huge.” Information: cartsafe.com
Belles have no ball for first time in 55 years For the first time in its 55-year history, the Desert Foundation Auxiliary is canceling its debutante ball, depriving 26 young women from Scottsdale and a few neighboring communities of their formal coming-out moment. Citing concerns over COVID-19 spread, the auxiliary executive board made the painful decision to scratch this December’s ball and just wait until next year. “DFA held off making this difficult decision as long as we could hoping circumstances would improve and we would be able to have a beautiful ball, rich in tradition with the high standards to which we are known to celebrate our 26 debutantes and their families,” ball Co-Chair Jill Hegardt said. “Given the risks with holding the ball this year, protecting the health of our debutantes, their families and friends and our DFA members was critical,” she added. The auxiliary looks at the ball as a chance to recognize outstanding young women in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley
and Carefree while raising money for charitable, scientific, literary and educational causes. The ball is traditionally held in December and plans had been laid for the event to take place just days before Christmas at the Phoenician. Hegardt and co-chair Jill Ennis broke the bad news to the debutantes and their families via a video. They explained their concerns not only for the health of the families and the honorees but also for auxiliary members and vendors. But they offered the 2020 debutantes a sliver of good news, saying they'd be combined with the 2021 group at next year's ball. "Over the next year the creative, dedicated and talented DFA members will develop approaches to accommodate both the existing 2020 Debutantes and the future 2021 Debutantes to create a memorable ball. The auxiliary even has a theme already: “Twice the Fun in 2021."
DIVORCE ���� page 16
a 25 percent increase in divorce inquiry rates over prior years. Stewart predicted that divorce filings will “increase substantially” over the next six to 12 months. “Our website traffic has skyrocketed and that is typically a leading indicator about future divorce filings,” he said. Stewart added that they’ve given away about 12 to 15 percent more of their free books on divorce. One of Stewart’s most popular books, “The Arizona Divorce Handbook” tackles questions to ask before getting a divorce, parenting plans, child support and spousal maintenance, choosing an attorney, life after divorce and other topics. “In divorce, it is unusual for one incident to create a consultation with our office. Rather, our data suggest that people usually research well in advance of actually calling to meet with an attorney,” Stewart said. Cherney added: “Many couples, prior to the pandemic, simply had not been spending seven days a week together cooped up in a home or residence. “Couples traditionally would leave the home for work and create connections
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and empowerment through their work, their friends, their faith. Now, with couples cooped up literally 24 hours a day in some states, it does not surprise me that challenges in communication and cohabitation would arise.” The study adds that unemployment may have contributed to the pandemicfueled increase, too. Cherney noted that in addition to divorce filings, real estate litigation is starting to pick up “based on the tenants or landlords who can no longer pay their rent or their mortgages based on defaulting tenants or defaulting landlords who can no longer service their debt commitments.” “Real estate is a marathon, not a sprint, so I anticipate we’ll see far more commercial real estate foreclosures in Q2, Q3 2021 and beyond,” Cherney said. Stewart also saw an increase in order of protection and domestic violence-related calls. “Additionally, we have been fielding a lot of calls regarding parental discord among parents that cannot decide whether to allow their kids to return to campus or use an at-home/online option,” Stewart added. Information: arizonalawgroup.com, canterburylawgroup.com
The 2020 debutantes, in no particular order, are: Christine Arendt, Grace Coffeen, Ellen Dannerbeck, Katherine Douglas, Madelaine Feldman, Megan Gage, Sofia Garber, Katherine Getz, Lindsley Gifford, Christina Glascock, Erin Hannen, Caroline Hink, Zayla Jacobsen, Caroline Liebes, Megan Marty, Samantha Maxwell, Gabrielle Odinet, Sophie Ohanian, Madison Osmussen, Kirsten Peterson, Grace Posorske, Kenzie Riddell, Cassandra Seminoff, Caroline Tetlow, Madeline Walker and Katie Weigel.
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Scottsdale gets 1st Dark Zone Resort BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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cottsdale is getting its own Dark Sky Zone resort this fall. Slated to open Oct. 15, the 177room ADERO Scottsdale not only boasts bragging rights as the region’s only resort in a certi�ied Dark Sky Community but also offers one of the best views in the state, including Four Peaks and the McDowell Mountain Range. A Marriott International Autograph Collection Hotel, ADERO Scottsdale has been years in the making and features a modern guest experience. The six-story resort includes 16 oversized suites. All rooms will be out�itted with the latest technology, custom furniture, a design palette that re�lects the colors of state’s famed sunrise, trailhead-inspired dreamcatchers, and expansive balconies. Nearly all rooms will also boast panoramic views of the mountain vistas. Owner-developer Bill Hinz said location played an important role in developing the ADERO brand and its identity and offerings. For starters, the resort, which is spread out over 17 acres, is named after the nearby Adero Canyon. “With endless desert terrain allowing for the possibility of year-round adventure, we wanted to create a place where �lora and fauna, the local community, and culture intersect with the guest experience through hands-on programming and superior service,” Hinz said. For its guests, the conservation-focused resort will offer an array of outdoor programs and activities, including sunrise yoga, telescope tours led by of�icial Dark Sky Zone guides, picturesque hikes, mountain biking, and more. “Our goal is for guests to be forever im-
Inspired by the Sonoran Desert, Adero is the region’s first Dark Sky Zone resort. Spread out over 17 acres, Adero elevated views of Four Peaks and McDowell Mountain Range. (Adero Scottsdale)
pacted by wonderful memories, and more importantly an all-encompassing knowledge on how to be better stewards of our environment,” Hinz said. While ADERO will maintain its own exclusive, indigenous �lora-studded sustainability trail, the resort’s Rattlesnake Pavilion, a one-of-a-kind art installation, will be open to the public and will serve as a rest stop, air, and water point for hikers and bikers alike. Additionally, ADERO features two heated pools, a sundeck, an event lawn, Four Peaks Terrace, Night Markets featuring local vendors, a boutique spa, a state-ofthe-art 5,000-square-foot wellness studio equipped with Peloton bikes, and 16,800 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. Of course, a resort isn’t complete without a signature restaurant. CIELO, which means “sky,” is a farm-totable-to-sky restaurant that offers an elevated dining experience and ample outdoor seating.
ADERO recently appointed Bryan Dillon as its director of chef and beverage to lead culinary operations, including overseeing menu development, in-room dining and catering for special events and meetings. All three CIELO menus, Terra, Sol, and Luna, embrace the three S’s: simple, sustainable and seasonal. Guests can expect upscale breakfast dishes, like smoked salmon with shaved red onion, caper berries, tomato, and Arizona lemon; lunch dishes, like the CIELO chopped salad, infused with local greens, kale, quinoa, garbanzo beans, Crow’s Dairy goat cheese, cucumbers, yams, red onions, and mint-infused cactus pear vinaigrette. A dinner menu that includes chipotle and coffee crusted �ilet mignon, ratatouille braised cauli�lower steak and more. As far as drinks are concerned, CIELO’s cocktails are crafted with regional tequila and mezcal, ranging from the smokey Dark Sky cocktail infused with jalapeño tequila, lime, peach liqueur, prickly pear syrup, and cucumber; to the resort’s sig-
ADERO Scottsdale appointed Bryan Dillon as director of chef and beverage at the 177-room luxury resort, slated to open Oct. 15. (Adero Scottsdale)
nature cocktail, The Trail Blazer. The Trail Blazer combines Monkey Shoulder blended scotch, Cocchi Rosa americano aperitivo, Averna Amaro Siciliano, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. “The Trail Blazer is a celebration of ADERO’s efforts to support community trail restoration and sustainability in partnership with local non-pro�it, the Trail Blazers,” the press release states. A portion of the revenue from every cocktail sold will be donated to support trail restoration. ADERO joins Autograph Collection’s diverse and dynamic portfolio of more than 180 independent hotels. The complete development is led by Allen + Philp Partners Architecture and Interior Design, MONOGRAM Hospitality Interiors at BBGM, branding agency Epiphany, and hotel and resort management group Aqua-Aston Hospitality. Information: aderoscottsdale.com
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Scottsdale artist featured in Prescott fest BY DAVID M. BROWN Progress Contributor
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cottsdale’s Casey Cheuvront will be among 14 Arizona artists participating in the �irst Plein Air Art Festival in October in Prescott this week. Sponsored by Highlands Center for Natural History and the City of Prescott, the event features live outdoor painting Oct. 1–3 followed by a reception and a sale event Oct. 4 and an online sale Oct. 6–17. “Prescott has some gorgeous spots, and I am so looking forward to painting there again,” said Cheuvront, who paints and creates ceramic art in her studio in far northeast Scottsdale, where she lives with her
husband, John Bergquist. “I know we’ll have a few days to paint, so I plan to hit more than one of the painting locations,” she added. “I am really looking forward to painting some ‘real’ trees!” “In plein air” artists hope to capture the spirit of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, color and movement into their art, explained Janet Humphrey, one of the event coordinators. The public can observe and speak with the artists as they work dawn to dusk at seven sites, chosen to celebrate Prescott’s diverse landscape. From 1-7 p.m. Oct. 4, the paintings completed in the previous three days will be displayed during the reception and sale
in The Finn, Touchmark at the Ranch, 3150 Touchmark Blvd. The ticketed event will incorporate the CDC guidelines with staggered arrival times. The online sale of the remaining paintings will take place at 32auctions.com/pleinair2020. “Our goal is to make the Highlands Center Annual Prescott Plein Air Festival a sustainable event for the artists, the public and the community, inspiring reverence for nature through art,” said Humphrey. Cheuvront learned about the event from Bill Cramer, a friend, mentor and fellow artist who lives in Prescott. She primarily works in oils, sometimes mixed water media, focusing on landscapes
and skies of the Southwest, with some wildlife paintings. In the studio, her style is for the most part realism; outside she tends toward impressionism. “I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making something,” she said, noting that she also made functional pottery until about three years ago when damaged joints made this challenging. Tickets for the event are available at prescottpleinairfest.eventbrite.com. To see the artists’ bios and samples of their work and the various painting sites, please see highlandscenter.org/prescottplein-air/. Also, call 928-776-9550 for more information.
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Foodie influencers mastering pandemic challenges BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer
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he COVID-19 pandemic has left local foodie influencers floundering. Where do they go now? And what do they post on their food blogs and social media pages? “It really stopped cold,” said Foodie Fo Sho founder Shoshana Leon, who has covered Scottsdale restaurants openings, events and news on her blog and Facebook and Instagram pages since 2018. “The challenge now is that there are no more food events,” said Scottsdale resident and founder of AZ Food Guy, Kay Tea. “Prior to COVID, there were festivals, parties, influencer meetups like every week, so it was very easy to have a lot of content,” Tea continued. “But now, I can’t prepare as much content in advance because content is in short supply.” But neither food influencer has stopped posting content to their social media pages – and, in Tea’s case, exponentially growing a following. Tea, who launched AZ Food Guy on Instagram in April 2019, exploded on TikTok, where he’s amassed more than 40,000 followers in five months. Tea also continues to increase his Instagram following, which has grown to more than 14,000 followers in just over a year. Calling foodie influencers “conduits into the community,” Tea explain said, “they remind people of what is out there and they create excitement as well.” “During the pandemic, people just want to stay home and shut the world out,” he added. “The influencers are there to get the message through. I think in the future, restaurants and influencers will work together more cohesively.”
Kay Tea is a Scottsdale resident and the foodie influencer behind AZ Food Guy, a food-focused social media brand that has since exploded on TikTok, amassing more than 40,000 followers since April. (Paused4Life)
Tea noted that restaurants that have fared better in the pandemic are those that have an established social media presence. Leon echoes Tea’s sentiments, adding that influencers are helping to educate their followers, especially those not comfortable dining out, on how restaurants have taken action and what the dining experience is actually like. “There’s an audience looking for this type of information,” Leon said. “[We’re] letting them know that, yes, events are coming back and ... reassuring people that, yes, I went to this place and it was
Hash Kitchen co-founder and executive chef Joey Maggiore said local foodie influencers have organically helped Hash Kitchen grow. (The Maggiore Group)
a good experience.” For restaurants, like the Instagramfriendly brunch haven Hash Kitchen, which has two Scottsdale locations, influencers are a key player to growing their business. “The food influencers and foodies have organically helped Hash Kitchen grow from one location to five locations throughout Scottsdale and Phoenix with another location underway coming to Peoria,” said Hash Kitchen cofounder and executive chef Joey Maggiore. “Each time they share their Hash Kitchen experiences, they are tapping
into new customers.” Social media played an important role in Hash Kitchen’s identity and ensuing success. Maggiore said he created the menus with Instagram in mind: Not only did each dish and each cocktail taste great, they had to look good enough for each guest to take that obligatory brunch photo. “Our Bloody Marys are the most Instagrammable and dominate social media feeds,” he said. “We have over 70 toppings to choose from, and it’s very
see INFLUENCERS page 22
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INFLUENCERS ���� page 21
exciting for each guest to put together their own Bloody Mary for their photoworthy brunch spreads.” Maggiore said the Hash team has collaborated with both local and national foodie influencers. The local influencers, he said, have helped drive local traffic or introduced restaurant to residents who live outside Scottsdale. While “social media giants, like Foodbeast, have covered Hash Kitchen’s food and beverage program and expanded our reach around the world,” Maggiore said. “We have new guests that visit from different parts of the country who have seen those national social media features.” “A lot of restaurants are starting to realize the value of influencers in the community,” Tea added. “It is simply not enough to just maintain a good social media account but to really excel at social media presence.” Tea posts to Instagram three times a day and has ramped up content now that he also has TikTok to manage. “On TikTok, it is a little more difficult to produce a video every day, so I try to post five to seven times per week,” he said. Instead of dining in, Tea ordered takeout and even began taking photos in his at-home photo studio. Eventually, he and Leon made their way back to dining rooms. “I have my P100 respirator mask and splash goggles, so I feel safe going back out. Of course, I usually go when it is less busy, so I don’t have to interact with a crowd,” Tea said. Now, Tea and Leon’s respective calendars are filling back up with food events. Earlier this month, Leon attended an
intimate Arizona Restaurant Week preview with about 20 other food bloggers – “and all in a very socially distanced way,” she said. “It wasn’t the way as it used to be,” Leon continued. “We wear a mask, we sit distanced, and they try to be very careful about it. But I do feel like things are coming back.” Leon also observed, “As Arizona numbers have gone down, I’ve seen more people out and about in restaurants, which makes me very happy.” “I think as you get back to life, restaurants become a part of that,” Leon added. Hash Kitchen has also seen an increase in diners, who continue to take advantage of the Bloody Mary bar, which has undergone one noticeable transformation. “We altered our Bloody Mary bar with clear, protective dividers to keep customers safe, and they have a dedicated Bloody Mary attendant wearing protective gear who customizes their cocktails for them,” Maggiore said. On Oct. 2, Hash Kitchen debuted Hash at Night exclusively at their Arcadia and Gainey Village locations from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays only. In addition to offering brunch at night, Hash at Night will also feature a live DJ from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Even with the ramp-up in events, Tea predicts takeout has – and will continue to be – king. “Eventually, people will go back. As of now, I think delivery and takeout has been the norm,” he said. “From what I hear at various restaurants, even though dine in has increased, the amount of takeout and delivery has been consistent. Hopefully, in the end, that means they increased their customer base.” Information: azfoodguy.com, foodiefosho.com, hashkitchen.com
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