The Scottsdale Progress - 11.22.2020 by Times Media Group

Mall owners' upbeat forecast / P. 2

Nightlife down, DUIs not / P. 14

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

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SUSD considering district auditor position BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

NEIGHBORS .............. 17 Saguaro High opens Innovation Center.

ARTS.................................21 Museums pin big hopes on next Sunday.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

fter gaining little traction over the past two years, the push to hire an internal auditor for Scottsdale Unified School District is gaining momentum. The prospect of hiring an internal auditor has been brought up sporadically over the past few years but the Govern-

COVID-19 rules impact Railroad Park admissions

ing Board had not broached the topic for nearly 10 months until Board President Allyson Beckham asked to discuss it at a future meeting in October. Board Member Jann-Michael Greenburg, who made hiring an auditor a central issue in his 2018 election campaign, told the Progress he anticipates the board will vote before the end of the year. Greenburg long pushed for a staff auditor to identify potential financial mis-

conduct following the tenure of former Superintendent Denise Birdwell, who was fired in 2018 following allegations she took payments from an architect who later was awarded district contracts. Other alleged impropriety related to contracts awarded to that architect, Brian Robichaux, resulted in a complaint filed by the state Attorney General that

see AUDITOR page 10

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY AND KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writers

FOOD..............................25 Local wine expert airs Thanksgiving pairings.

NEIGHBORS .......................................... 17 BUSINESS ..............................................20 ARTS ......................................................... 21 FOOD ........................................................25 CLASSIFIEDS ....................................... 26

ttendees at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park’s popular holiday lights event can expect smaller crowds and higher ticket prices this year due to health and safety precautions. The event has become one of Scottsdale’s most popular holiday attractions since it began in the 1980s, and draws in thousands of spectators from all over the Valley to ride the model train and view the

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the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park will still be open this holiday season, but the number of guests allowed at any one time will be substantially reduced. (Progress ﬁle photo)

thousands of lights blanketing the park. This year’s holiday lights will be on display 6-9:30 p.m. Nov. 27-Jan. 3. There will be no lights on Dec. 24, 25 or 31.

The park will allow a limited number of guests in one-hour increments at 6 p.m.,

see TRAIN page 6

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

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

Macerich invested around $140 million in recent years to expand Scottsdale Fashion Square and build out a new luxury wing featuring retailers like Louis Vuitton and Gucci. (Special to the Progress)

Mall owner optimistic about future BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

he COVID-19 pandemic and associated shutdowns have hurt shopping malls across the country, but executives with Macerich see some small signs of improvement heading into 2021. Macerich, the California-based real estate investment company that owns and operates Scottsdale Fashion Square, San Tan Village Mall in Gilbert and Chandler Fashion Center, held a conference call with investors on Nov. 5 and told them conditions improved between the second and third quarters this year. Macerich said the overall occupancy rate for the company’s malls was at 91 percent – down three percent from the same time one year ago. Traffic at Macerich’s malls was at about 80 percent compared to a year prior and sales were trending at 90 percent compared to one year ago, according to the call. Zacks Equity Research, an investment research firm, reported that Macerich’s revenues of $185.8 million for the third quarter were down 19.6 percent compared to a year ago. But the Macerich executives noted some signs of optimism, including that all of its malls had reopened as of Oct. 7 and it had around $630 million in cash and cash equivalents, up from $573 million in June. Macerich is also seeing improvement in rent collections, which had become a problem for malls earlier this year after

many states shuttered retail stores due to COVID-19. The company collected about 80 percent of its billed rents in the third quarter, up from 64 percent in the second quarter. “October is trending above 80 percent,” Macerich CEO Thomas O’Hern said. Additionally, O’Hern said Macerich came to deals with most tenants who missed rent payments to defer back rent payments to 2021 “in many cases in exchange for landlord-friendly amendments to leases.” That included deals with most of the company’s top-200 retailers. Of those 200 retailers, Macerich had reached agreements with 147 of them and was nearing agreements with another 23, according to information presented on the call. Even with those deals in place, Macerich or related entities have a number of lawsuits pending in Maricopa County Superior Court for unpaid rent. Macerich-owned entities have at least nine active lawsuits alleging breach of contract against tenants at Scottsdale Fashion Square and Chandler Fashion Center, including The Disney Store, Gap, Banana Republic, Express, Guess, The Children’s Place, J. Jill, Talbots, MAC Cosmetics and Windsor Fashions. Macerich leadership said the closure of local stores during the pandemic and retailer bankruptcies was largely to blame for the three-percent drop in occupancy. Scottsdale Fashion Square actually add-

ed several new tenants recently. According to a recent filing with the SEC, the Scottsdale mall opened six new stores in the third quarter, including Amazon 4-Star, Capital One Café, Golden Goose, Indochino, Levi’s and Warby Parker. The additions were likely welcome news for Macerich as the mall has suffered a string of bad luck this year. Earlier this year, Scottsdale Fashion Square and surrounding properties suffered millions of dollars in damage due to an overnight riot on May 31 that saw hundreds of looters descend on the area. Then, in August, Phoenix Business Journal reported that Scottsdale Fashion Square, suffering from a decline in rent collections due to the pandemic, was behind on its mortgage payments. According to the Business Journal report, Macerich was able to reach a deal with the loan servicer to defer $47 million in debt service payments in 2020. In August, Scott Kingmore, Macerich’s CFO, told investors the company would repay that balance in installments in late 2020 and early 2021. In the most recent call in November, Kingmore said Macerich is in the process of paying off loan deferrals for a total of 19 properties. This all came after Macerich invested $140 to $160 million to renovate the mall and build out a luxury wing that opened up in late 2018 featuring high-end retail-

see MACERICH page 6

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

Jeff Walther named interim top cop here F PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

ormer Assistant Chief Jeff Walther will take over the Scottsdale Police Department on a temporary basis after Police Chief Alan Rodbell retires Nov. 30. Rodbell, taking an opportunity in the private sector, became Scottsdale’s sixth police chief when he took the job in 2003 and went on to have the second-longest tenure of any chief in the city’s history after Walter Nemetz, who held the post for 19 years from 1963 to 1982. City Manager Jim Thompson selected Walther while the city conducts a nationwide search for the city’s new top cop. That search will begin in January and is expected to take six to eight months, according to the city. “Alan Rodbell has served this community with dedication and distinction, and with a new City Council taking their seats in January, we will begin the process to recruit someone who will continue that

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Former Assistant Chief Jeff Walther (left) will become Scottsdale’s interim police chief after current Chief Alan Rodbell (right) retires on Nov. 30. (Scottsdale Police Department)

legacy and lead our outstanding police department,” Thompson said. “We are fortunate to be able to bring back Jeff Walther, who knows our commu-

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nity and our department, to serve in this interim role.” Walther retired as an assistant chief under Rodbell in 2018 after 24 years with

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the Scottsdale Police Department. He also graduated from Scottsdale Leadership, a community leadership training program, in 2012. Prior to becoming an assistant chief, he held several posts, including stints in internal affairs and a tenure as the commander in charge of Scottsdale’s downtown district. During his time in internal affairs, Walther, then a sergeant, investigated a controversial high-speed chase in southern Scottsdale in 2005 that resulted in a wrong-way vehicle accident on Loop 101 and left one person dead. Walther’s report found the officers involved should never have continued the pursuit and their supervisors should have called off the chase, according to an East Valley Tribune report. Several officers involved, including three supervisors, received suspensions or demotions due to the incident. Walther’s return to the force is expected to be brief as the city confirmed he will not seek the permanent chief position.

Scottsdale man has been arrested on suspicion of killing 47-yearold Danita Hunter in the backyard of her Chandler home on the evening of Aug. 29. Nozre Ware, 22, is facing first-degree murder charges after he allegedly ambushed Hunter and her 22-year-old son outside the family’s home in the 4800 block of West Flint Nozre Street. According to Chandler Police, Ware snuck up on the family at about 10:30 p.m. and opened fire while Hunter and her son sat on their back porch. The son fled from the backyard as

gunfire started to ring out -- not realizing one of the bullets had struck him. He ran to a neighbor’s home for help and called the police. Once officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Hunter unresponsive and stricken with a gunshot wound. Her son survived his injuries. Authorities put out rewards for information on Hunter’s killer and eventually came across a promising lead after discovering a similar crimiWare nal case in a nearby city. Chandler investigators noticed the bullet shell casings retrieved from Hunter’s backyard were similar to ones found at the scene of a

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

Jeremiah and Patrick (front, left to right) with parents Shelby and Stan Mclemore enjoying the holiday lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in 2019. (Photo by Christopher Mortenson)

TRAIN ��

In past years, the holiday lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park drew thousands of people each night, but the park will limit admittance to 200 people per hour in 2020 due to Covid-19. (Photo by Christopher Mortenson)

7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. each night. Guests can purchase tickets ahead of time to reserve a time at therailroadpark.com/holidaylights. Nick Molinari, the City of Scottsdale’s operations supervisor for the park, said only around 200 guests will be admitted per hour. “However, we will continuously evaluate the event to determine whether that number should be adjusted,” he said. “We normally have thousands of people at the event nightly, so the 200 threshold is minimal for an outdoor park.” The 200-person limit will likely drastically reduce the total number of people who can enjoy the park’s holiday lights. In 2018, Molinari estimated 1,000

people visited the park on a slow night and 3,000 or 4,000 on busier nights during the five-week event. Those visitors accounted for 49,000 rides on the park’s train and $313,000 in sales, according to ticket sale numbers tracked by the park. This year, the park is also limiting its train and other rides to 50 percent capacity to allow for social distancing and will not have a Santa Claus on site. Molinari said park staff did not consult with anyone outside the city to create rules for the modified event but relied on current best practices and event management trends for COVID-19. “The Center for Disease Control places a lower risk on events that can be held outdoors with a smaller amount of people who can remain socially distanced,”

Molinari said. “This was the foundational principle for the modified structure of the event.” Once their hour is up, guests will be asked to leave. Molinari said there will be a specific area blocked off for staff to check in guests with tickets for a specific time slot and separate entrance and exit points. “Since the only people in the park during a specific hour will be those who have bought tickets, we will notify them at certain points how much time they have left in the hour,” he said. “We will then notify visitors when they need to exit the area.” Ticket prices will also go up this year as a result of the new reservation model. The park will charge a flat $15 per

person admission. Last year, the park charged $5 per train ride and $3 per carousel ride with no admittance fee during the holiday lights event. The park also sold a limited number of fast passes for $15 that allowed riders to jump the line for one train ride. Molinari said the price increase comes with an improved experience for customers due to the smaller-than-normal crowds. “While that may seem like a significant jump from last year, visitors can ride the train and carousel more than once during their hour at the park,” he said. “With the limited amount of people in the park, the lines should be very short, equivalent to what our fast pass customers normally experience.”

ers like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Bulgari. Not all experts thought the expansion was a smart play, even pre-pandemic, as online shopping continues to eat into traditional retail sales. “Absolutely bad idea,” said Hitendra Chaturvedi, professor of supply chain management at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business. Chaturvedi said the pandemic is only accelerating the shift away from brickand-mortar retail experiences to online shopping and has also hurt sales of luxury

clothing items like those sold in the new wing at Fashion Square. “When you are buying a Gucci or highend… you typically end up going out with people and going to places where you can show off some of the stuff,” Chaturvedi said. “With us staying at home, if you look at the data, you will see that high-end shoes and clothes and accessories sales have come down.” But there were signs the new luxury wing was paying off for Macerich and Scottsdale Fashion Square prior to the pandemic – which could give the com-

pany some hope of a speedier recovery in Scottsdale if promising vaccines or other mitigation measures allow shoppers to return to a semblance of normalcy in 2021. In Dec. 2019, Macerich reported that year-over-year sales at the mall reached $1,472 per square foot compared to $1,032 prior to the luxury wing expansion. That outpaced already-strong performances by malls throughout the Macerich portfolio in 2019, according to The Motley Fool. In Nov. 2019, the Fool reported Macerich’s malls posted yearly sales per square

foot of $800, up from $707 the year before. Still, even if 2021 includes a return to normal shopping habits, Macerich may sell off non-core assets in order to better its financial position. The company did something similar coming out of the Great Recession when it sold 25 properties and generated around $500 million in liquidity, O’Hern said. “We expect post-pandemic, post-vaccine things will return to a more normal level, and we will have the opportunity to dispose of non-core assets and use that capital for reducing leverage levels,” O’Hern said.

MACERICH �� page 2

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

Restaurants no longer can offer take-out alcohol BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

orget about getting that margarita to go with your take-out order of fajitas, at least for the time being. In a new directive, the head of the state Department of Liquor Licenses and Control has directed his agents to once begin enforcing a law that prohibits the sale of beer, wine or liquor to go from restaurants. John Cocca also said that police officers also are free to cite restaurants that violate the law. All that followed a ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Pamela Gates that Gov. Doug Ducey acted illegally last March in allowing the restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages to customers picking up orders despite a state law to the contrary.

Gates’ ruling came on an ongoing lawsuit filed against Ducey by more than 100 bars, including several in Scottsdale over the governor’s closure of bars that are not licensed to serve meals. Since that time, outright closures have been replaced by restrictions that the owners said are still hurting their businesses. Patrick Ptak, press aide to the governor, said his boss is still reviewing Gates’ ruling, but that no decision has been made whether to appeal. In the interim, restaurants that continue to provide alcohol with their togo orders risk not only fines but loss of their state licenses that permit them to sell drinks to their dine-in customers. The governor said his original order was designed to provide some financial relief to restaurants which had initially been shuttered for in-house dining. That

left only take-out orders. Even now, with restaurants allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity, Dan Bogert, chief operating officer of the Arizona Restaurant Association said his members still rely heavily on customers getting their means to go. “Without the ability to include alcohol with to-go orders, a key lifeline has been stripped from these businesses,’’ he said. If Gates’ order stands, there is recourse for the restaurants: ask the legislature to lift the ban on selling alcoholic beverages to go. Bogert said his organization is considering exactly that when lawmakers convene in January. That, however, will get a fight from bar owners whose liquor licenses are more expensive. One reason for that is they do not need to maintain sales of at least 40 percent

of food items. But that license also gets them the to-go privileges that restaurants do not have. In her 18-page decision, Gates brushed aside most of the claims by bar owners throughout the state that it was wrong of the governor to single out their establishments for closure while other alcohol-serving establishments like restaurants were allowed to remain open. Both Ducey and the Arizona Restaurant Association had argued that the special privilege was necessary to help keep the businesses financially afloat. They, like the bars, had initially been shuttered entirely. And even now they have to operate with limited capacity. Gates said that is all legally irrelevant. “The court takes no position on whether the law should be changed to allow to-

see BARS page 12

Despite virus surge, Ducey discounts mask mandate BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey refused last week to impose new restrictions or mandates on individuals even as his own health chief warned of an increasing number of Arizonans becoming infected with COVID-19. The governor dismissed the idea of a statewide mask mandate, calling it unnecessary given various local ordinances. Nor will he clamp down on existing occupancy limits at bars, restaurants, gyms or movie theaters or seek to curb their hours of operation. The one key announcement he made was to provide $25 million to hospitals. But that is designed to allow them to hire more staff to care for those who become ill and give bonuses to existing employees. New data released Nov. 19 by the county health department show that for the week of Nov. 8, cases per 100,000 people were in the substantial spread category for both the city of Scottsdale, at 168, and Scottsdale Unified School District, at 182.

Gov. Doug Ducey and state health director Dr. Cara Christ last week discussed the surge in COVID-19 cases in Arizona. (Capitol Media Services)

The other two benchmarks used for measuring virus spread also are now in the moderate spread category, rising from the minimal level over the last few weeks both citywide and SUSDwide. They are at close to 8 percent for positive new test results and at 5 per-

cent for hospital visits with COVID-like symptoms. The data released Thursday mornings by the county are 12 days old. State health director Dr. Cara Christ said more than 10 percent of the tests conducted last week in 13 of the state’s

15 counties have come back positive for the virus, with only Pima and La Paz below that figure. The rate of infection is above 100 per 100,000 residents throughout the state. Christ said the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive-care units also is on the rise. “These metrics are heading in the wrong direction,’’ she said. Christ put in a plug for masks based on new research by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We know now that masks provide more protection than previously thought,’’ she said. But Ducey said he has no intention of imposing a statewide mandate for people to wear masks when they are outside, even following pleas from state schools chief Kathy Hoffman and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “I want people to wear a mask,’’ the governor said, “Masks work.’’ He said, though, a statewide mandate is unnecessary because local mandates already cover about 90 percent of the

see DUCEY page 13

2! 9 . 1 $ State shuts down Scottsdale pizzeria CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

he Arizona Department of Health Services shut down a Scottsdale pizzeria last week for violating state health and safety rules designed to curb the spread of COVID-19. ADHS issued the closure notice to Il Capo Pizzeria, located near Shea Blvd. and Scottsdale Road, on Nov. 17. The department alleged the restaurant violated a number of requirements included in executive orders by Gov. Doug Ducey when he allowed restaurants to reopen earlier this year. According to an ADHS report, a department investigator witnessed violations of 12 safety requirements on Nov. 13, including a failure to enforce mask-wearing by staff or customers. Maricopa County’s mask mandate remains in effect in Scottsdale even through the city rescinded its own mandate in September. Additionally, the state requires res-

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taurant patrons to enforce mask usage by employees and customers even if there is no local or county mask mandate in place, according to the report. Other violations included a failure by the restaurant to supply adequate soap, hand sanitizer or other hygienic items for employees and near entrances to the restaurant, restrooms and employee workspaces. The ADHS investigation also found that the restaurant did not enforce physical distancing between customers and some were not seated at least six feet apart from other tables. State rules require restaurants to “implement and enforce physical distancing precautions that maintain more than 6 feet between guests who do not live in the same household,” according to the report. The report also showed Il Capo failed to clearly mark six feet of spacing at entrances, waiting areas and

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

AUDITOR ��

the district settled in 2018. Birdwell’s CFO Laura Smith was also indicted on fraud and conflict of interest charges for signing off on contracts to a company owned by her sister and is awaiting trial. But those scandals are not the only issues an auditor could help the district avoid, supporters say. Greenburg said an auditor would also help increase efficiencies, limit waste and improve oversight over district finances. Beckham, who appeared skeptical of hiring an auditor in the past, directed Greenburg to develop a proposal in October after a district parent and future Governing Board member uncovered issues with benefits paid to top district brass. Zach Lindsay, who won one of three seats in this year’s election, filed public records requests with the district in order to compare administrative salaries with other districts. Lindsay discovered some members of the administrative cabinet, which includes assistant superintendents, were receiving benefits beyond what was included in their contracts. For instance, contracts for assistant superintendents showed that the district covers families for vision and dental insurance only but the district in practice was covering other fringe benefits as well. In an email to Lindsay, SUSD General Counsel Michelle Marshall wrote that the district hired outside counsel to identify why those benefits were applied to cabinet-level employees. On Oct. 20, the board voted to retroactively approve those additional fringe benefits for cabinet-level and executive director employees from 2017 through Dec. 31, 2020. Greenburg said Lindsay’s discovery played a role in renewing interest in an internal auditor position. “That certainly was a spur because I think we had made as a board a number of changes to the contracts for our employees last year and it was unfortunate and upsetting that we continued to have problems with a number of benefits we were paying out that we should not have been paying now,” Greenburg said.

Scottsdale Uniﬁed School District Board Member Jann-Michael Greenburg has long pushed for the district to hire an internal auditor. (Progress ﬁle photo)

Beckham declined comment except to confirm that “Jann-Michael and I are working on a proposal.” The board included hiring an auditor on former Superintendent John Kriekard’s official list of priorities in late 2019 and early 2020. But the district appeared to make little progress as Kriekard said he did not want to bring the item up for a vote unless it had significant support from board members. Board Vice President Patty Beckman has already voiced support for hiring an auditor in the past. Earlier this year, Kriekard said Beckham “appears to be the swing vote as to whether we present this to the board.” Previous hesitation to address the internal auditor question had to do with the district’s spotty history with auditors in the past, Greenburg said. Former internal auditors hired by the district “provided little value,” he said, and were seen as redundant or ineffective. Beckham voiced that type of skepticism at a board meeting in September 2019. “So, we are not once again hiring a consultant or even if it’s an internal auditor coming in and six months down the road, we really don’t have anything to measure it by,” Beckham said.

The SUSD Governing Board’s policies require the district to hire an auditor but the position has been empty since at least 2018. Records show the district has had three auditors on staff since 2008. But when district staff went digging through records at Greenburg’s request, they identified only two audits performed on cash accounts at Tavan Elementary and Desert Canyon Middle School that dealt with relatively small amounts of money. Greenburg said the problem is that the position had functioned primarily as a support role to other departments rather than as independent check on district systems. He cited a lack of documentation showing what, if anything, those auditors accomplished. “What that kind of indicated was that whoever the internal auditor was, whether they were qualified to be an internal auditor professionally, they were not doing their job or they were not reporting it correctly,” Greenburg said. To address those concerns, Greenburg researched internal auditor positions in both the public and private sector and worked to better define what an internal auditor would do, using language pulled directly from the Institute of Internal Auditors. Those changes propose an internal auditor who would report directly to the Governing Board and suggest the creation of an audit committee of community members with applicable experience. “So that is actually part of the industry standard for this position,” Greenburg said. Dr. Scott Menzel, the district’s superintendent, said he is still researching the benefits of hiring an internal auditor but the effectiveness of the role will ride on how the position is defined. “I would say that the structure of the position would be very important,” Menzel said. “My understanding is that we’ve had people in the position in the past and so I’m interested in learning more about when that didn’t work in that environment, because we still have those issues.” Menzel said he is in the process of reaching out to the City of Scottsdale, which has its own auditor required

by City Charter, and other East Valley school districts that have auditors on staff. Beyond the job description itself, the cost of hiring another administrator also gave detractors pause in the past. At a meeting in January, Greenburg cited data from the Los Angeles Unified School District’s inspector general, who has a budget of around $8 million per year and a staff of 55 people. “Part of the reality is as the districts become smaller, people begin to double up on duties – you don’t have enough money to have a person to do everything (LAUSD) has,” Kriekard said in January. But the auditor as defined by Greenburg’s proposal would be single person, not a massive department like LAUSD, which has nearly 600,000 students compared to Scottsdale’s 20,000. Menzel said if the board decides to hire an internal auditor, the district will likely be able to afford it. “I suspect that there would be a way to find the resources to pay for the position if, in fact, it’s designed to produce the kinds of savings over time that would yield more efficient operations,” he said. Under a proposed job posting crafted by Greenburg, the district would pay the auditor between $90,000$125,000 per year plus benefits. Greenburg said that annual cost would more than pay for itself, citing outside on audits on the district’s phone system and Medicaid payments. According to Greenburg, those audits, commissioned by retired CFO Jeff Gadd, saved the district between $450,000 and $600,000 according to internal estimates. Menzel said he is still looking at whether it would be better to hire an internal auditor or continue to use the specialized outside firms the district has engaged in the past. “I am committed 100 percent to being transparent and forthcoming with the community about how we utilize taxpayer resources and support of public education in Scottsdale, and I think we need to be held to a very high standard,” Menzel said. “If the creation of this position helps advance that, I think it’s worth looking into and having the conversation.”

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

SLAYING �� page 4

separate shooting incident. A possible suspect in the latter case was identified as Ware, who happened to be a former associate of Hunter’s son and had visited the family’s home in the past. The connection led Chandler Police to zero in on Ware and arrest him on Nov. 2. Det. Zachary Waters declined to elaborate on the relationship between Ware and the surviving victim nor did he offer any type of motive Ware may have had. Ware is believed to have been assisted by an accomplice who drove the getaway car after the suspect allegedly killed Hunter. Video surveillance shows the suspect getting picked up in a silver Chevrolet Camaro down the street from Hunter’s residence shortly after the shooting. Waters said Ware is currently the only suspect in the case who’s been criminally charged. At the time of his arrest, Ware allegedly declined to answer questions about Hunter’s death. Chandler’s detec-

tives later uncovered clothing in Ware’s Scottsdale residence that matched apparel worn by the suspect captured in video surveillance footage. Hunter’s violent death came as a shock to friends and family members who knew her as a peaceful, caring individual. Clottee Hammons, grandmother to Hunter’s son, described the victim as a loving person who was active in the Chandler community. “She was a devoted parent to three young men, a loving daughter and sister, a kind and generous friend and valued community member,” Hammons wrote in a statement. At the time of the August shooting, Ware was wanted in court for criminal charges filed against him earlier this year. The defendant had been accused of trespassing, criminal damage, and disobeying an officer on April 14. A couple days after Hunter’s death, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge issued a warrant for Ware’s arrest after he failed to show up for a court appearance.

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unk in the Trunk Market is back and ready for business with its new Holiday Pop-Up at Scottsdale Quarter through Dec. 27. Since 2011, Coley Arnold and Lindsey Holt have been running a vintage and antiques market every year, their first one in a friend’s backyard in September of that year. Over the years the women moved their market to WestWorld of Scottsdale, attracting more than 200,000 shoppers. “(The Holiday Pop-Up) is actually something that we talked about doing for a really long time,” Arnold said. “When COVID-19 hit, a lot of our vendors were impacted and were not able to make an income these last six months because all of our shows have been canceled. “We really wanted to come up with a solution for them and give them the op-

portunity to make some money this year. Also, I know a lot of our shoppers were really sad about the market.” When it came time to decide where they wanted to host this new Holiday Pop-Up, Scottsdale was the answer. “We know that Scottsdale has always been a big gathering place for us,” Holt said. “That’s where our markets have been for nine years. That’s been our home, so we wanted to keep doing something there for sure.” The ladies of Junk in the Trunk have had to cancel two markets this year because of COVID-19 and one in San Diego last year prior to the pandemic. “I think for us basically we had to reevaluate our entire business because every market we had planned for the last year has basically been canceled,” Holt said. “We really had to reevaluate everything in trying to come up with a way to help our vendors to provide.”

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BARS �� page 8

go alcohol,’’ the judge wrote. “It merely holds that action is outside the power delegated to the governor.’’ Attorney Ilan Wurman said that his clients are being hurt financially as off-premises sales were going to the restaurants that can be their direct competitors. Gates pointed out that under other circumstances, anyone who suffers monetary damages from the actions of another can seek to recoup. But that’s not the case here. “The court ... finds the governor’s immunity will likely preclude plaintiffs from collecting damages,’’ Gates wrote. And that, the judge said, tips the balance in favor of her enjoining Ducey from continuing his order allowing the off-premises sale of alcohol from restaurants. Bogert called the ruling “unfortunate,’’ pointing out that there is an increased reliance by restaurants on togo orders – with those picking up meals also wanting alcoholic beverages. “Without the ability to include alcohol with to-go orders, a key lifeline has been stripped from these businesses,’’

TRUNK �� page 11

Holt considers their vendors “family.” “They have become our family and we wanted to be able to find a way to help them and also provide for their families because not only was it a loss of income for us, but it was a loss of income for all of them.” During COVID-19, the ladies have completed other ventures, including opening a small boutique shop and restaurant in Phoenix called The Vintage Arcadia and offering an online space for their vendors. “We launched an online marketplace in April, and we have I think over 90 vendors on there,” Holt said. “Even though we weren’t able to all gather in person together with our vendors and with our shoppers, it’s still been a fun way for us to kind of all be together and a fun way for our shoppers to still be able to shop from all of our amazing vendors.” While the majority of the vendors are from Arizona and California, the online marketplace features makers from around the country.

Bogert said. “This will no doubt lead to less profitability and possibly more permanent closure of our favorite gathering spots.’’ Gates said that other restrictions on bars can stand even if they don’t apply to restaurants and other similar businesses. She said testimony convinces her there are certain things that happen in bars that make them “likely high-risk environments for the spread of the virus.’’ “Bars are often loud, which causes individuals to draw closer to hear one another and to speak louder, thus increasing the risk of transmission,’’ Gates continued. “Furthermore, mask wearing is incompatible with drinking, and drinking alcohol impairs decision-making.’’ Then there are the dance floors. The issue, the judge said, is that people not only mix but that limited ventilation and turbulent airflow patterns result in an environment where respiratory droplets are more easily spread. Wurman said the ruling is not the last word. He said that he still has a chance to make his case at a full-blown trial that there is no legitimate reason for discrimination. As for the Holiday Pop-Up, the organizers spoke to the Scottsdale Quarter in April to plan it. The store, which has free admission, will be open Tuesday to Sunday, allowing the 40 vendors to restock on Monday. “The inventory will be constantly changing,” Arnold said. “The vendors will be constantly restocking until it will be kind of like a new store every time that you come in, which will be really fun. “These vendors will have a storefront in a really high-end mall where most of them wouldn’t be able to afford it normally. “ One of the staple features of the markets—the photo backdrop—will be make an appearance at the pop-up along with an equally decorative storefront. “We are trying to bring the market to this pop-up shop and just make it a mini version,” Arnold said. “All of the favorite things like the photo backdrop, music and shopping will be there. We’re bringing a little bit of everything that people know and love about the market.”

CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

DUCEY �� page 8

population. And Ducey said that the efforts by his administration to convince people to mask up “has got the maximum amount of compliance.’’ Then there’s the issue of enforcement of a statewide mandate given the kickback from some communities and counties that have either rescinded their mask requirements or never implement them at all amid public opposition. “What I want to avoid is some of the division and politics that have happened around this issue,’’ the governor said, saying he prefers “participation and cooperation.’’ The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation says just two thirds of Arizonans are masking up in situations where they are exposed to other. The institute predicts that doing nothing will result in about 118 deaths a day by the end of January. By contrast, the researchers say that could be cut in half with a statewide mask mandate. Ducey said he wants Christ and her department to work with officials at the state’s three main airports – Sky Harbor, Mesa Gateway and Tucson International – on what he called “inbound messaging’’ for passengers arriving from elsewhere “around the importance of wearing masks and information on where travelers can get tested.’’ He also wants the airports to set up on-premises testing sites available to travelers when they land. But here, too, there are no testing mandates for visitors or protocols for happens if a test comes back positive. Instead, the governor said he anticipates that people will do the right thing on their own. “I have a lot of faith in Americans that if they realize that if they were positive or exposed to the virus in a significant way that they would quarantine,’’ he said. Ducey agreed with Christ’s assessment about things not getting better in Arizona any time soon. “That’s not on the horizon,’’ he said, saying the state and the nation remain in a public health emergency. “And getting back to normal isn’t in the cards right now.’’ Yet Ducey made another push for get-

The Governor's Ofﬁce last week released this chart showing the ebb and ﬂow of COVID-19 cases in Arizona since the pandemic began in March. (State of Arizona)

ting kids back into the classroom. “I think children should be in school,’’ the governor said. “I want parents to have options and one of those options should be in-person learning.’’

Ducey said he believes that is in the best interests of children, even as schools have wrestled with how to provide instruction and keep the youngsters and staffers – and, by extension,

their families – safe. “No one can argue: Kids have already missed out on far too much learning due to this pandemic,’’ he said. The governor said that having schools open for learning does not mean compromising safety. “They’re already required to have mask policies,’’ he said. And Ducey said that Christ will be issuing an emergency directive designed to ensure those policies are followed not just in the classroom but also on school grounds and buses. Christ also addressed the news on the national level about progress in developing a vaccine, saying she is anticipating having some available by the beginning of next year. But that, she said, will require navigating some logistical hurdles. One is that this is going to be a twodose series. That means whatever version someone gets the first time has to be the exact same version for a second shot anywhere from 21 to 28 days later. And that, she said, will require the ability for her agency to call people back to remind them of the need for that second dose.

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

Nightlife may have ebbed, drunk driving hasn’t BY JIM WALSH Progress Staff Writer

olice tactics are changing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but the East Valley DUI Task Force will return during the holiday season with the same goal of promoting public safety by busting as many impaired drivers as possible. Throughout Arizona, driving under the influence arrests are down 10-15 percent this year, but East Valley agencies report the opposite trend, with Gilbert police arrests increasing 31 percent from a year ago and Chandler police also reporting an increase. Mesa and Scottsdale police report little change from a year ago, with drivers still drinking or using drugs before getting behind the wheel – apparently more from imbibing at home or private gatherings. “Overall, our numbers are down slightly from last year. However, our crashes involving impaired drivers have

Scottsdale and East Valley police departments won't be letting COVID-19 interfere with their traditional holiday crackdown on drunk drivers and are planning additional enforcement measures through the rest of the year. (Progress ﬁle photo)

remained at a similar level,’’ said Sgt. Ben Hoster, a Scottsdale police spokesman. “This is still significant because of how nightlife has been impacted.

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“Across the Valley, we are seeing a noticeable amount of people driving impaired that are not coming from the establishments impacted by the pan-

demic.’’ Mesa police Officer George Chwe, a state instructor in DUI investigations, said the problem can be traced to substance abuse and addiction. “A lot of old habits are coming back,’’ Chwe said, with people who have suffered from substance abuse in the past likely backsliding under the pressure of losing their jobs and sustaining other setbacks during the pandemic. “I think impaired driving and substance abuse will be a huge factor,’’ he said, as the nation mobilizes to defeat the pandemic and return to a sense of normalcy. “We’re just changing our tactics, but it’s business as usual,’’ Chwe said. “We’re doing it in a COVID-prevention manner.’’ Chwe said the entire point is to prevent needless fatalities and deter high-risk behavior that can have a deadly consequence for innocent people on the road. “People do make mistakes. We would

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

DUI �� page 14

rather catch them before they make a tremendous mistake, killing someone,’’ he said. Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, said police are changing tactics to avoid either contracting COVID-19 from each other or from suspects during traffic stops or at mobile testing and booking stations. “We have to very careful. No briefings with 50 people in a room,’’ Gutier said. He said the safety protocols will help protect officers and suspects alike by promoting social distancing, with one suspect being booked at a time in a command van, while the others wait outside. Other holiday enforcement campaigns this year, during the July 3 holiday and Labor Day, have followed similar practices. Gutier anticipates that arrests statewide from the holiday enforcement campaigns will probably drop 10-15 percent from this time last year. He canceled his yearly Thanksgiving rally against DUI at the State Capitol, where police from around the state would gather in a show of force to pub-

licize their campaign, which is largely funded by federal highway safety grants. Instead, police agencies will either work on their own, or form smaller, regional partnerships to carry out the campaign between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, he said. Barring an extreme flare-up of COVID-19, the East Valley task force has been divided into north and south divisions. Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler will form the south division, while Tempe, Scottsdale, the state Department of Public Safety, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Arizona State University police and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa tribal police form the northern contingent. Hoster said the two divisions also cut down on travel time, allowing officers to focus more on DUI enforcement. “Each of the respective cities have grown up enough that they need their traffic units working in their own city at night,’’ he wrote. “Eliminating the drive time, for example, between Scottsdale and Gilbert allows more time for officers to focus on enforcement.’’ Brenda Carrasco, spokeswoman for the Gilbert police, said the plan is to use a somewhat scaled-down approach featuring six nights of enforcement during

the holiday period. The task force would rotate their enforcement efforts among the three cities, hitting Gilbert one night and Chandler or Mesa the next, she said. “We have seen a 31 percent increase in DUI arrests. We have had our traffic units go out three nights a week,’’ Carrasco said, adding that all Gilbert patrol officers are vigilant about spotting possibly impaired drivers. “When you can take people off the road who are endangering others, you want to do that,’’ she said, adding, “we don’t have a specific answer as to why’’ arrests have increased. Gilbert’s DUI arrests have increased to 1,092 between January and October 2020, from 832 during the same period in 2019, Carrasco said. Detective Zachary Waters, a Chandler police spokesman, said traffic officers have noted an uptick as well and his department is planning saturation patrols throughout the holidays. “We just want to keep impaired drivers off the roadways,’’ Waters said. “We think people still continue to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. We believe the task force is still important.’’

Scottsdale businesswoman sues to scuttle Prop 208 PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

Scottsdale businesswoman is taking on the newly voter-approved proposition that adds an income tax surcharge to wealthy wage earners to fund public education. Ann Siner, CEO and founder of My Sister’s Closet, headquartered in Scottsdale, and retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Buttrick were to announce plans to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 208. Although their joint press conference was to be held after the Progress’ print deadline Friday, an announcement about it called Proposition 208 “the largest tax increase in state history that disproportionally impacts job creators such as Siner.” Buttrick, a Harvard Law graduate, also was a federal magistrate. They are being represented by Rose Law Group in Scottsdale, which said the

“It doesn’t make sense to impose a massive tax hike on job creators at a time when businesses have been crushed and the state needs jobs. The best way to generate more revenue for schools is to create more taxpayers not fewer. suit will be filed Dec. 1. “It doesn’t make sense to impose a massive tax hike on job creators at a time when businesses have been crushed and the state needs jobs,” Siner said in an emailed statement. “The best way to generate more revenue for schools is to create more tax-

payers not fewer. “Remember, teacher salaries were increased two years ago without a tax increase in our state. We are all for more resources for education but not at the expense of our economy.” Buttrick called Prop 208 “the wrong way to increase education funding and it violates the rights of Arizona taxpayers. It is unconstitutional and bad for the economy. Taxing and spending state funds are the responsibility of an elected legislature that can be held accountable by voters.” With more than 3.2 million ballots cast in the election on the proposition, unofficial final results showed 51.75 voted in favor of it while 48.25voted against it. Proposition 208 would alter the state’s top income tax rate. Right now individuals earning at least $250,000 pay 4.5 percent for any earn-

see PROP page 16

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PROP �� page 15

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ings above that figure. The same cutoff exists for couples making more than $500,000 a year. The initiative proposes a 3.5 percent surcharge on top of that, bringing the effective tax rate on those top earnings to 8 percent. Opposition, led by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, argued that would be among the highest tax rates in the nation. But foes pointed out that the levy affects only those earnings above the threshold. So a couple with taxable income of $550,000 a year would pay that extra 3.5 percent only on $50,000, or an additional $1,750 a year. Foes also said that about half the levy would be paid by the owners of certain small businesses. These are firms organized under sections of the Internal Revenue Code which pay no corporate income taxes but instead have the net earnings passed through to the individual owners. The counter argument was that the higher tax did not apply to a firm’s

gross earnings but only what was left in profits for the owner after paying all expenses for payroll, rent, supplies and even any money set aside in retirement plans. Joe Thomas, president of the Arizona Education Association, said the results show that Arizonans are willing to act to provide more dollars for schools when state lawmakers balk. Thomas said the additional dollars -- an estimated $940 million a year -will not only raise teacher pay but also provide dollars to hire more instructors, reducing the average number of students in classrooms. Arizona has among the highest student-to-teacher ratio in the nation. But it will take some time for the dollars to start flowing. The higher tax rates are effective with income earned in 2021. And even with some people making estimated tax payments during the year, the big infusion won’t come until the spring of 2022. According to the most recent financial disclosure reports, proponents and opponents spent a combined $30 million as of two weeks before the election.

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020 NEIGHBORS

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Boy, 12, takes a hard walk for a tough disease BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

right and early on Nov. 7, the Lindeback family embarked on a nearly four-mile hike at Pinnacle Peak. But this wasn’t any Sunday hike for mom Angela, dad Peter and 12-year-old son Nicholas. This was Nicholas’ fifth year participating in Children’s Tumor Foundation’s annual Shine a Light NF Walk, which raises money for neurofibromatosis research, education, advocacy, and patient care. Nicholas has neurofibromatosis type 2, or NF2, a rare genetic condition that causes noncancerous tumors to grow along the nerves. There is currently no cure. “He has lost a lot of function in his left leg due to a tumor in his spine,” Angela said.

Peter, Nicholas (12), and Angela Lindeback took part in the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s annual Shine A Light NF Walk on Nov. 7. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

“So, anything that involves walking is pretty challenging for him.” And that’s all the more reason to celebrate Nicholas’ walk this month: He and his parents not only completed the hike but also raised $2,241 of their $2,500 fundraising goal and ranked No. 3 among the nine fundraising teams in Phoenix. “It was hard,” Nicholas said of the walk. Rebecca Taylor, the foundation’s senior development manager of the Shine a Light Walk Rebecca Taylor, said the organization was “quite pleased” with this year’s turnout. “Pivoting to a virtual event has made the Shine a Light NF Walk even more accessible to families in and around Phoenix – and the entire country,” Taylor said. “This has also been a great success for grandparents and

see LINDEBACK page 18

Saguaro students hail Innovation Center opening BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

ne year after the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board unanimously gave Director of Building Services Dennis Roehler the go-ahead to begin designing the Innovation Center, the new, hands-on space has finally opened. Available to students of Saguaro High School and the Scottsdale Math and Science Academy, the Innovation Center is a 5,000 square-foot facility located next to the Media Center on the Saguaro campus and will accommodate a variety of programs, classes, interests and clubs. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Nov. 12 and was attended by Governing Board members, district leadership, and Saguaro staff and students – like 11th grader Natalie Foster, who gave

a speech at the ceremony. Natalie, 17, thanked “all those who helped create the Innovation Center, as they are the reason Saguaro students and our community members can now bring their ideas to life and achieve all new goals.” Natalie is the event coordinator for Saguaro’s annual Sisters in STEM event, which inspires young girls between the ages of 5 and 15 to pursue interests in STEM via dozens of hands-on, interactive demonstrations and activities. “With this state-of-the-art facility, we can better teach students about certain aspects of STEM because we have the tools and resources on our campus to do so,” Natalie said. While this year’s Sisters in STEM event was held virtually, Natalie said they hope to utilize the Innovation Center for future events. “Hopefully, in the future, we can have students that attend the event come

The Innovation Center is now open. Located next to the Media Center on the Saguaro High School campus, the 5,000 square foot space blends design, engineering, math, technology and creativity. (SUSD)

through the Innovation Center, giving them an up-close look at tools, machines and more. An in-person walk-through will also expose these young students to all the opportunities they will have in the

future that are related to STEM,” she said. Sisters in STEM will also use the Innovation Center for organizational pur-

see INNOVATION page 18

NEIGHBORS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

INNOVATION �� page 17

poses, “as volunteer training and event planning will most likely take place here,” she said. While Phoenix-based BWS Architects created the design plans, and McCarthy Building Companies, Phoenix, handled the construction, the Center was designed with “major input” from SMSA students, like Natalie. “Myself and a few other SMSA students attended multiple meetings concerning the design of the facility to ensure the space fit all of our needs,” Natalie said. Among those few other SMSA students was Ben Nearing, 17, a senior at Saguaro and president of four school organizations, including Sabercat Robotics, SMSA, STEM Club, and the Swing Dance Club. Ben also gave a speech at the ribboncutting ceremony thanking the “generous donors,” including the Farley Family Charitable Foundation, who helped bring the facility to fruition. “I also spoke from the perspective of a graduating senior,” Ben said. “As I am happy to have the opportunity to be one of

LINDEBACK �� page 17

extended family members to now participate without having to travel.” Nicholas’ grandparents in Jacksonville, Florida, were among those extended family members participating from afar. They even organized a team for Nicholas, who used to participate in the walk in Seattle before moving to Phoenix three years ago. “CTF really is leading the research neurofibromatosis. Currently there’s not a cure, but even since we started doing the walks, there are so many more different treatments and drugs that are in clinical trials that weren’t even available when Nicholas first got diagnosed,” Angela said. “CTF definitely funds and drives a lot of that research.” Nicholas was diagnosed with NF2 in 2015 and since then he has had tumors in his brain throughout his central nervous system and on other parts of his body. “He’s limited in his left leg. He has to wear a brace to walk. So, really any activity, like with hiking, running, it’s really tough for him to keep up, and it’s pretty exhausting,” Angela said. Nicholas, who has had five surgeries, also lost a lot of hearing in his right ear, has limited hearing in his left ear, and recently got

Saguaro High School senior and president of SMSA Ben Nearing, 17, was the lucky student to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony on Nov. 12. (SUSD)

the first to use the Innovation Center to teach and create new learners who solve our new problems.” The $1.4 million Innovation Center, which was financed with 2016 voterapproved bond funds, is described as a hearing aids. He has surgery scheduled on Dec. 2 to get a port and will have to have biweekly infusions — “probably indefinitely,” Angela said — to help with the tumors. “All in all, he just misses a lot of school,” Angela said. “Staying on top of school when you’re out doing radiation and having brain surgery can be pretty bad.” But that hasn’t stopped Nicholas from pursuing the activities he loves most, like hiking and mountain biking and playing the drums, among many others. “He’s always loved music, and that was probably one of the first things that was concerning to me – that he wouldn’t be able to do music anymore. But it hasn’t slowed him down. He’s pretty good at holding the drum beat and keeping the song going,” Angela said. Peter, Nicholas, and his sister, Chloe, are all in a family band together called the Lindeback Cover Band. Nicholas’ favorite song to play is “Heroes” by the Wallflowers. They’ve been practicing very weekend amid the pandemic – save for the two weeks when the entire family contracted COVID-19 following Peter and Nicholas’ trip in June to Boston Children’s Hospital, where most of his medical treatment is done.

Also in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Governing Board members, District leadership, and Saguaro staff and students, like 11th grader Natalie Foster, who gave a speech at the ceremony. Foster is the event coordinator for Saguaro’s annual Sisters in STEM event. (SUSD)

“first-of-its-kind” collaborative workspace that boasts rolling tables, magnetic idea boards, 3-D printers, computers, mobile workbenches, machine shop equipment, and classroom furniture. “He was due to have scans on his brain and spine as a follow-up from when he had the malignant brain tumor removed,” Angela explained. About two days after landing back in Phoenix, Peter tested positive for COVID-19, followed by Angela and Chloe a couple days later. “It’s so contagious,” Angela said. “My husband’s fairly certain that they caught it on the airplane because they were super careful.” Now, Nicholas’ appointments are virtual, but the family continues to face challenges amid the pandemic. “Everybody’s doing the best that they can with the virtual visits and ordering tests here and having sent over, but it definitely complicates things on our end,” Angela said. “There’s pieces at different hospitals, so trying to make sure that all of the tests and scans get where they need to be can be frustrating,” she continued. The Lindeback family also plans to continue to fundraise for CTF through the end of the year and hope others will chip in for two reasons. “Awareness is probably the big thing for us,” Angela said. “When Nicholas had his first tumor that we found, we had never heard of neurofibromatosis. And there’s a large population of people in the world

“The Innovation center will serve as it is named and will provide a greater number of students access to technical machines and the training to use them,” Ben said. In addition to the facility housing Saguaro’s engineering classes, Career and Technical Education students will also use the space to design and build sets for school theatrical productions. “This new opportunity for our students and teachers to engage collaboratively across the high school curriculum in handson science, technology engineering, mathematics and creative arts problem-solving has been in the works for four years,” said Saguaro Principal Ann Achtziger. “The innovation mindset and possibilities for open-ended exploration that this new facility can accommodate is going to be amazing for the Saguaro community,” Achtziger continued. Ben hopes the center will not only become a place of new learning, but that it will also hopefully be “a place of old knowledge as our graduates and community members come together to help teach future students.”

with neurofibromatosis.” According to the foundation, NF affects one in every 3,000 people. “The other piece is just finding treatments,” Angela said, “to find a cure and to find effective drugs that can make his life more tolerable and manageable.” “NF affects over 125,000 people in the country, most of whom are also waiting for more treatment options,” Taylor added, “so the need to continue raising awareness and money to fund research is just as critical as ever.” Last year’s NF Walk had more than 250 attendees in Phoenix and more than 6,500 attendees nationwide. This year’s virtual NF Walk in Phoenix marked the eighth year the walk has been held in the Valley and it will continue through the rest of the year. Three more walks are scheduled before they close out the season. So far, the Shine a Light NF Walk in Phoenix has raised $14K of its $25K goal; and according to Taylor, CTF expects to exceed 3,000 participants by the end of the year. “We are very close to surpassing $1 million raised, and we need Phoenix and Scottsdale’s help to reach that goal,” Taylor said. Information: shinealightwalk.org/ phoenix

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

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Scottsdale salon gradually recovering from closure BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

emedy Salon & Spa co-owner Michelle Keoghan won’t soon forget the day she locked the doors to her salon on April 4, as ordered by Gov. Doug Ducey to help slow the spread of COVID-19. It was the start of a nearly �ive-week closure, with salons getting the green light to reopen on May 7. But Keoghan didn’t know that when she locked the doors of Remedy Salon at 8220 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, in April. “I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, everything that we have been working for, is that the end of it?’” she recalled. “I was so upset walking to my car. I was really having a pity party.” However, the uncertainty didn’t stop Keoghan and co-owner Suzanne Theune from continuing to cater to their longtime clients amid the pandemic. Stepping into the salon may have been off-limits, but Keoghan and Theune invited clients curbside to pick up at-home coloring kits. Twice a week, clients would pull up in their cars as the owners brought out their custom color kits and processed payment at the purchasers’ vehicles. And if the clients were new, the owners were able to match their hair colors by sight. “We can match it visually. It’s not a problem for us,” Keoghan said. “And if you’re a client at the salon, we already have your formula.” For $65, each kit comes with color, developer, gloves and instructions. It was a kit that saved clients money, too: The service at the salon typically starts at $95. The kit was – and still is – popular: Keoghan and Theune have sold about 50 and counting. “I think people were excited to get in

Michelle Keoghan and Suzanne Theune are the owners of Remedy Salon & Spa, tucked away at The Village at Hayden. (Remedy Salon & Spa)

the car and have an errand to do that day during that time,” Keoghan said. “And now, [customers say], ‘I’m not comfortable in coming into the salon. So, this is a great option for me.’ And we’re happy to do it.” The health and safety of their clients have remained top of mind for the Remedy Salon & Spa owners since they reopened in May. As they continued to offer the at-home coloring kits, the owners also installed one-of-a-kind dividers between each station – an investment of about $1,500. “It was de�initely an investment,” Keoghan said, “but the other option for us was to have our stations spread out, which would mean have electricians come in and move our lighting as well. “So, even though we did have a little bit of space to where we could have done that, that just felt like that was a lot more of an investment.” The owners were initially worried the dividers would look unattractive, but customers not only liked the way they looked, Keoghan said, but also appreciated that they kept them safe. “I think we’re going to have them up for a long time because it’s just not normal

anymore to be close to people,” Keoghan said. “I think it’s just another way the cli- Safety was top of mind for Remedy Salon & Spa owners Michelle ents are feeling re- Keoghan and Suzanne Theune. Once they reopened on May 7, ally safe and looked they installed dividers between each station. (Remedy Salon & Spa) after by us.” According to Keoghan, it was important rent, they typically do that a year in adfor the Remedy Salon team to create not vance. So, we have to assume that they only a sanitized, clean space for clients, but canceled those plans a long time ago,” Keoghan said. also a comforting, relaxing getaway. As for returning clients, they’ve been “It’s a dif�icult time for everyone right now, and this salon and the spa is really booking brow- and eyelash-related sersupposed to be a sanctuary. It’s supposed vices. “We de�initely have more bookings for to be a break from your busy day,” Kemicroblading and lash extensions,” Keoghan said. Since reopening, business continues to oghan said. Keoghan credits Remedy Salon’s longevincrease for Remedy Salon. Currently, Keoghan estimates they’ve ity and mid-pandemic success, so far, to had about 70 percent of clients return and her team and the environment they’ve created at the salon. have welcomed new patrons as well. “It’s a family,” Keoghan said. “There’s Among the clients who have yet to return are winter visitors – which make up people that have worked here for over 10 a good number of customers for Remedy years together.” “We’ve de�initely been taking care of Salon, especially in the fall and winter. “We’re in McCormick Ranch, and we each other really well,” she continued. have a huge amount of people in the area “Whenever you go through something, it that come. Either they have their second brings you a little closer.” Information: remedysalonspa.com houses here or they rent and when they

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020 21

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Museum stores at SMoCA, the Center, and SMoW, will participate in the annual shopping campaign. (Scottsdale Arts)

The pandemic may be putting a damper on the holiday season, but Scottsdazzle aims to take some of the gloom away. (Special to the Progress)

Museums pin big hopes on store event next Sunday

Scottsdazzle takes on new meaning this holiday season

BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

fter months of being shuttered, many museums have recently reopened their doors – just in time for the annual one-day shopping event, Museum Store Sunday. Taking place Nov. 29, Museum Store Sunday encourage shoppers to support their local museums – many of which are in need of the public’s support. “It is very important for patrons of the arts to support a museum or other cultural

institutions during this pandemic,” said Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Assistant Retail Manager Raechel Miller. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts are two of six East Valley museums participating in the event founded by the Colorado-based Museum Store Association. “Most cultural institutions rely heavily on the day-to-day revenue of admission sales, donations, sales from their museum store

see MUSEUM page 22

BY SARAH NGUYEN Progress Contributor

oving into its fifth year, Scottsdazzle is back for another month-long through Dec. 21. The holiday extravaganza is featuring beloved annual events as well as new additions and Scottsdale Director of Tourism and Events Karen Churchard said it was meticulously planned to evoke holiday cheer. “Each event is designed to get guests into the spirit of the season in a pur-

poseful way,” Churchard said. Jackie Contaldo, the city’s downtown specialist of the tourism and events department, said events were reimagined with social distancing in mind. There will be quite a few surprises for those who are accustomed to the bustling crowds of prior years. “A majority of the events are limited to 50 guests or less and allow for social distancing between attendees,” Contaldo said.

see DAZZLE page 23

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MUSEUM �� page 21

and patrons becoming year to lifelong members,” Miller said. Also participating in Scottsdale is Western Spirit Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. SMoW Director and CEO Mike Fox calls Museum Store Sunday “critical” to the museum’s sustainability, as it was closed for seven months. The museum “has continued to incur greater than $150,000 in operating expenses monthly with no earned income to help support the institution,” Fox said, calling that revenue “essential to meet the operational expenses of our city-owned, awardwinning institution.” This year, the shopping event boasts more than 1,400 museum stores across all 50 states and D.C., 22 countries and five continents versus last year’s 1,200 participants. “Whether online or in person, Museum Store Sunday is a wonderful opportunity for consumers around the world to shop local, support artisans and small suppliers, give back to the community, and find unique gifts for loved ones,” said Blue Anderson, president of the MSA Board of Directors. Shopping discounts range from 10 to 50 percent off products to free memberships, goodie bags and more. SMoCA and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ stores will offer 20 percent off the total in-store purchase, regardless of whether shoppers are Scottsdale Arts members. SMoCA is also offering free admission to patrons who reserve ahead of time. “Last year’s turnout for Museum Store Sunday went well,” Miller said. “We had about 200 people in total turn out to celebrate and support the museum stores, with us making about double as we normally would on a normal Sunday.” SMoW also had a decent turnout last year. “Our patrons on Museum Store Sunday are shoppers with a purpose, predominantly and thankfully wishing to help support the museum with their purchases. The sales on the day amounted to approximately five times greater sales than on other Sundays of the year,” Fox said. This year, SMoW offers a 20 percent discount on all merchandise and up to 50 percent on select productions, including some publications, like “Maynard Dixon’s American West” by Mark Sublette and “Canvas of Clay: Seven Centuries of Hopi Ceramic Art” by Edwin Wade and Allan Cooke.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

The first 15 shoppers will receive a gift bag full of goodies and either a free or upgraded museum membership. Phoenix Art Museum and Heard Museum are also participating. Not participating this year, however, is the Frank Lloyd Wright Store at Taliesin West in Scottsdale due to a change in operations as a result of the pandemic and “logistical issues.” At SMoCA and the Center, the money earned helps both museums expand educational programs and museum events. “The impact of COVID-19 on our museum rattled us but did not break us,” Miller said. But just because a museum reopens its doors, doesn’t mean the bounce back is instantaneous. “Now that the museum has been reopened for six weeks, with the restrictions recommended by CDC and public health, and with the depletion of tourism in the region, visitation is down nearly 80 percent compared to the time leading up to the pandemic,” Fox said. Information: museumstoresunday. org

If You Go The Shop @ Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art Where: 7374 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale Call: 480-874-4666 Website: smoca.org The Store @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Where: 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale Call: 480-874-4644 Website: scottsdaleperformingarts. org Scottsdale’s Museum of the West Where: 3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale Call: 480-686-9539 Website: scottsdalemuseumwest.org Chandler Museum Where: 300 S. Chandler Village Dr., Chandler Call:480-782-2717 Website: chandleraz.gov/museum Mesa Historical Museum Where: 2345 N Horne, Mesa Call: 480-835-2286 Website: mesahistoricalmuseum.com Tempe History Museum Call: 480-350-4311 Website: tempe.gov

After a nine-month hiatus, Desert Stages Theatre returns to the stage with the play version of “A Christmas Story,” kicking off Nov. 27. (Desert Stages Theatre)

Desert Stages Theatre plans live ‘Christmas Story’ BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

“

It was a good Christmas, because we had love; we had each other. And in the final accounting, that’s what it’s all about after all.” This is one of adult Ralph’s final lines in the play version of “A Christmas Story,” and it’s a message the Desert Stages Theatre cast hopes is the major takeaway for audiences Nov. 27-Dec. 20 as it returns to live theater with its traditional holiday production of “A Christmas Story, The Play.” “We have had such a good time putting this show together and getting to know each other,” said Director KatiBelle Collins, calling the cast a “fun and talented group. “The kids are so funny, the adults dedicated.” “A Christmas Story” boasts 11 local actors, including first-time Desert Stages performer Bobby Havens, who plays Adult Ralph. “Adult Ralph has a great story to tell, and I want to help him tell it. I am exactly like adult Ralph in that I have his expressive imagination inside of me, too,” Havens said. “I am just a kid in a big body with a huge imagination. So, adult Ralph is me.” Also new Cherokee Elementary School fifth grader, Charlie Budd, who plays Ralphie Parker. “Ralphie fits my personality and has a great imagination,” Charlie, 10, said, add-

ing that his favorite scene to when Ralphie finally fights back against bully Scut Farkus. “Because I get to chase him and pretend to hit him while saying all these crazy made-up words,” Charlie said. For both Havens and Collins, the most rewarding part of putting on this play is working with the cast, which is currently in the fourth week of rehearsals. “As in any role, I love the people I work with – getting to know them, interacting with them in real life and on stage, learning their story, encouraging them, being with them for hours at a time,” Havens said. “Theater is my family, and I love spending quality time with my family.” The most challenging part of putting on this play, however, is the ever-changing set. “Anytime you take a play from a movie, it’s difficult,” said Collins, who has been a director at Desert Stages for about 10 years. “This play has so many locations, and it slips in and out of fantasy sections. The set alone is a challenge, but this experience has stretched my directing skills.” “As Desert Stages Theatre slowly and safely re-opens, we consider ourselves extremely fortunate that our first show back will benefit from KatiBelle’s wealth of knowledge, talent, and experience,” the company states in a release. The family-friendly play promises a “two-hour escape from life in 2020.”

see PLAY page 23

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

DAZZLE �� page 21

Masks will be required when guests roam around the event space. They will not be required, however, when guests remain in their designated spot or space during an event. For those who are still wary of attending public events, the city has shifted annual events to virtual formats like the sing-along and the holiday tree lighting. Both will be free on Nov. 28. The Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market will have no admission. It’s held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays during Scottsdazzle. In addition to fresh local produce, guests can get holiday gift shopping done with various artisanal and craft products available. Holiday music will provide the soundtrack. A few events are ticketed “due to limited spacing for each event,” Contaldo said. “Net proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Vista del Camino.” Small Business Saturday will be held Nov. 28, when guests can enjoy various incentives that local restaurants and retailers are expected offer. Sip and savor the finest wines from participating wineries during the Santa Wine Around, a wine-tasting event on Dec. 12. Attendees are encouraged to dress in holiday-themed attire or as their favorite holiday character. Due to the pandemic, there will be a limit on the number of guests.

Dazzling events

Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays to Dec. 19 The intersection of Brown Avenue and First Street becomes home to the weekly festive farmers market featuring Scottsdazzle activities such as Letters to Santa and live holiday music while shopping includes artisan products, handmade gifts and crafts and fresh produce.

PLAY �� page 22

But that doesn’t mean audiences won’t see new health and safety protocols. Seating capacity is limited to 50 percent. Each party will remain socially distant from the next group or person in line, as ushers show audience members to their seats. Staff will take temperatures at the stage

Letters to Santa Nov. 28, Dec. 5, and online Parents and children can fill out and submit their letters to Santa via scottsdazzle.com anytime or they can print their letter at home and “mail it” (no stamp required) at the Letters to Santa station at the Old Town Farmers Market on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5. Children will receive a letter back from Santa through the old-fashioned mail.

Scottsdazzle Stroll 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 27 The inaugural “Scottsdazzle Stroll” kicks off this year’s Scottsdazzle. Holiday revelers can usher in the season with a socially distanced stroll along the canal banks in Old Town to enjoy holiday vignettes, seasonal lighting, the Scottsdazzle tree, live entertainment and holiday characters.

Small Business Saturday Nov. 28 Residents and visitors are encouraged to Shop Scottsdale to help support independent businesses and boost the economy while also enjoying specials and sales. Holiday Movie Night Dec. 4-6 Enjoy a favorite holiday hit – “The Santa Clause” on Friday, “Elf” on Saturday and “Home Alone” on Sunday. Held on the East Lawn at Scottsdale Civic Center, this new event allows groups of up to four their own designated space to enjoy the flicks on a giant inflatable screen. By reservation for a nominal fee; groups of more than four must reserve additional spaces. Gate opens at 5 p.m.; movies begin at 6 p.m. Space is limited; online registration required.

Seasonal Charcuterie Teach & Taste 6-8 p.m. Dec. 9 Schmooze hosts this limited at-

door, sending home actors with a temperature of more than 100.4 degrees. Face masks must be worn and hand sanitizing stations will be available in the lobby and at main entry points; all touch surfaces will be sanitized prior to and during each performance. Desert Stages also offers digital shows, and after the show, audiences will be led

tendance, socially distanced demonstration that showcases how to put together an artfully presented and charcuterie board for intimate holiday gatherings. Attendees receive their own pre-packaged charcuterie kit to make at their table once seated as Chef Tony Hamati demonstrates preparation and presentation tips. Patrons can purchase additional pre-packaged charcuterie kits to take home or for gifts. Space is limited; online registration required. Gold Palette ArtWalk 6:30-9 p.m. Dec. 10 Scottsdale’s holiday-themed ArtWalk takes place throughout the Scottsdale Arts District. Carolers and Santa visits are included.

The Dazzle of Historic Old Town 9-10 p.m. Dec. 12, 1-2 p.m. Dec. 13 This new event will take participants back in time to explore the holiday traditions of Historic Old Town through the rediscovery of some of the area’s most beloved hidden gems. Following hourlong storytelling sessions, guests are encouraged to explore the map that will lead them to Old Town cherished treasures. Space is limited; online registration required.

Santa Wine Around 6-9 p.m. Dec. 12 This wine-tasting event returns with new safety guidelines and limited participants. Spirited attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite holiday character and sip their way through Old Town’s participating wineries and tasting rooms at their own pace. Merry Make & Take 11 a.m.-noon Dec. 12, and 10 a.m.noon Dec. 13 The Mercantile of Scottsdale hosts two events including prepackaged supplies

out of the theater in an organized fashion to avoid crowding. “In this time of a pandemic, I truly understand people’s concerns and fears,” Collins said. “We have and are following all guidelines to keep the cast and audiences safe.” Collins added that she hopes audiences will simply enjoy watching a live performance again and will “find a couple of

needed to create the craft along with a guided tutorial. During Saturday’s hourlong craft session, guests will design and paint a wood ornament and Sunday’s two-hour course leads attendees through making their own festive succulent terrarium. Space is limited; online registration required. Festive Food Demonstration 2-3 p.m. Dec. 12 The Saguaro Scottsdale Hotel La Señora’s chef will lead guests through a demonstration on how to prepare elegant holiday food items. Space is limited; online registration required. Yuletide Yoga 8-9 a.m. Dec. 19 and Dec. 20 Socially distanced Zen sessions on Marshall Way Bridge are hosted by CorePower Yoga on Saturday and CA Yoga Barre on Sunday. Spaces are limited; online reservations required. Sparkle & Spin Scavenger Hunt 10 a.m.-noon Dec. 19 and Dec. 20 Participants must find objects as they spin their way through Old Town. Participants must register online. Holly Jolly Painting Party 1-4 p.m. Dec. 19 and Dec. 20 This socially distanced painting party is on the Marshall Way Bridge. Hosted in partnership with The Brush Bar, participants will receive their own personal supply kit to create a fun holidaythemed painting to take home. Online pre-registration is required.

Sun Salutations Yoga 11 a.m.-noon Dec. 21 The Foundry hosts a socially distanced serene yoga session that aligns with the Winter Solstice as the sun shines through the pylons on the Soleri Bridge Plaza. Registration required. Info: scottsdazzle.com hours free of the stress and craziness of the season.” “I hope that people will come out to enjoy a talented cast doing a fun and funny show that will make them laugh – and put them in the holiday mood.” Tickets are $25 and available by calling 480-483-1664 or visiting desertstages.org.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

FOOD & DRINK SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020 25

Food & Drink

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Wine master’s perfect pairings for the holiday meal BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

kipping the restaurant this Thanksgiving or Christmas and taking on the role of sommelier yourself? Instead of blindly pairing your dishes, learn from a literal master: Emily Wines, the Master Sommelier for Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants. Wines is one of only 219 Master Sommeliers in the world, one of just 21 women in that rank in the U.S., and one of 15 professionals awarded the prestigious Remi Krug Cup for passing all three sections of the Master Sommelier Diploma Examination on her first attempt. Since 2017, Wines has been the Master Sommelier for Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, a Chicago-based hospitality concept that is just weeks away from opening in Scottsdale, its first location in the west. “This is the first restaurant that we’ve opened [amid the pandemic]. We should have had four restaurants opening this year, so we’re really happy to be opening this restaurant,” Wines said. “We’re relieved to finally bring [Cooper’s Hawk]

“This is the first restaurant that we’ve opened [amid the pandemic]. We should have had four restaurants opening this year, so we’re really happy to be opening this restaurant. We’re relieved to finally bring [Cooper’s Hawk] to the people who have been really hungry for it.”

Emily Wines is the Master Sommelier for Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, a Chicago-based hospitality concept that’s just weeks away from opening its first location not only in Scottsdale, but also on the west coast. (Cooper’s Hawk)

to the people who have been really hungry for it.” “Scottsdale and the surrounding Phoenix area have gained a national reputation for fine-dining experiences, making it a natural fit for the Cooper’s Hawk brand,” said founder Tim McEnery. Located on Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, the Scottsdale Cooper’s Hawk may not open until Dec. 7 but Wines has a few wine-pairing tips for those wanting to take on the role of sommelier this holiday season. For starters, with turkey, Wines recommends a pinot noir, especially if the turkey is paired with cranberries. “A pinot noir has a lot of similar flavors. It can be a little bit tart, but it’s got a beautiful fruitiness to it. It’s also light enough to not overwhelm the turkey,” Wines explained. For those who opt for honey-glazed ham, Wines recommends a fruity white

wine. “In the south of France,” Wines added. “Something that’s got a little bit of that wild herbal tone that is a nice contrast to the sweetness of the ham.” Wines said that while no one wine pairs well with all sides, her go-to is a lighter, softer pinot noir. “It isn’t too heavy. It isn’t too light,” Wines said, adding that another Thanksgiving classic is Beaujolais. “It’s made from a grape called Gamay that, like pinot noir, is not very heavy, and it has a lot of those same tart cranberry flavors that are really delicious with Thanksgiving dinner,” Wines said. Wines had pairing recommendations for a few classic Thanksgiving dishes. For green bean casserole, pair with a rich sauvignon blanc. “The nice thing about greens is that they do give you a little bit of a bitterness,” Wines said. “So, something from

the United States, perhaps a little bit of oak age, but it still has those really bright, citrusy green flavors to match.” For a savory, meaty stuffing, go for the Côtes du Rhône or a grenache. “You don’t want to go too heavy, like a big, bold Cabernet, because that might overwhelm the dish,” Wines advised. Sweet potato casserole “is like dessert. It’s so very, very sweet. And one of my favorite things with that combination is something more like tawny port, something with a real nuttiness to it and a sweetness that really works well, especially if you’re incorporating marshmallows into your sweet potatoes,” Wines said. And that segues into desserts. “With nuttier flavors, something that’s a little bit more brown-colored is really great,” Wines said, also suggesting a late harvest wine, like a late harvest Riesling. “Anything with the words ‘late harvest’ on it is going to give you these flavors that are ... just really juicy and really rich and succulent. They taste like the harvest time, which is what we’re celebrating at Thanksgiving,” Wines said. Wines’ No. 1 tip for pairing desserts with wine? “Whenever you have foods that are sweet, if your food is sweeter than your wine, it’ll make your wine taste sour,” she said. Whether you build your own cheeseboard or purchase one, Wines’ noted that many people tend to serve their cheese plates at the end of the meal, in which case Wines recommends hard or aged cheeses and pairing them with bigger, bolder red wines. “If you are serving your cheese plate at the beginning of the meal, you’re probably better off having more fresh cheeses and having white wine,” Wines said.

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FOOD & DRINK

COOPER'S �� page 25

And with grilled, keep in mind Wines’ tip of choosing wines that are similar in body and intensity to your food. “If you’re having something like a steak that’s really smoky and it’s got blue cheese or barbecue or really intense flavors,” Wines explained, “you want wine that can be pretty heavy and really intense in flavors versus if you’re having something like pasta Alfredo, which is big and heavy, but not really intensives flavors, you would have a big, soft, creamy Chardonnay that’s not going to blow away your palette in the same way that something like Shiraz from Australia would.” Cooper’s Hawk features a winery, wine club, and more than 40 restaurants with tasting rooms and artisan retail markets. Wines’ responsibilities include expanding and strengthening the Cooper’s Hawk Wine Club community and advancing team members’ – and patrons’ – knowledge of wine. “We really embrace wine culture and the wine tasting experience,” Wines said. “With our restaurants, it’s not just a place to sit and drink, but actually come

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | NOVEMBER 22, 2020

in and have a really great educational tasting experience.” While Cooper’s Hawk has had a decrease in guests tasting wines in-house, they have seen a boost in retail sales. Stating that the pandemic “has certainly not lessened people’s desire to imbibe or to come together in some way or another,” Wines said, “What we found is that people were buying a lot more retail because they’re still drinking wine. They still want to have that experience. It’s just in smaller groups.” “People aren’t going to be going out for big holiday parties. There are no corporate holiday parties happening. I think that people are finding other ways to socialize,” Wines said. “Especially given what a crazy year this has been, people are really happy to be coming into the end of the year; and I think there’s going to be a lot of celebration and connecting with friends in a very different way.” Since opening in late 2005, Cooper’s Hawk has received over 500 wine awards from various local, national, and international wine competitions. Cooper’s Hawk also has plans to open in Chandler sometime next year.

Public Notices

Sell Your Stuff! NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hold a public hearing on December 09, 2020, at 5:00 P.M in Scottsdale, Arizona. Until further notice, Planning Commission meetings will be held electronically. While physical facilities are not open to the public, Planning Commission meetings are televised on Cox Cable Channel 11 and streamed online at ScottsdaleAZ.gov (search “live stream”) to allow the public to listen/view the meeting in progress. Instructions on how to provide Public Comments will be provided on the posted agenda. 4-UP-2020 (Celebrity Equine Center) Request by owner for a Conditional Use Permit for a Ranch on a +/- 5-acre site with Single-Family Residential (R1-43) zoning located at 9588 N. 120th Street. Staff contact person is Jeff Barnes, 480-312-2376. Applicant contact person is Michele Hammond, 480-385-2727. 13-UP-2020 (Verizon PHO Loop Drop) Request by owner for approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a new Type 4 Alternative Concealment Wireless Communication Facility (WCF), concealed within a 59foot-tall artificial palm tree, with associated ground mounted equipment, located at 8901 E. Mountain View Rd. with Highway Commercial Planned Community District (C-3 PCD) zoning. Staff contact person is Ben Moriarity, 480-312-2836. Applicant contact person is Declan Murphy, 602-326-0111. 11-AB-2019 (Shaw Butte Abandonment) Request by owner for approval of an abandonment of portions of the General Land Office Patent Easements (GLOs) along the north, east, and south boundary of a property with Single-family Residential (R1-43) zoning located at 10535 E. Cactus Road. Staff Contact Katie Posler, 480-312-2703. Applicant contact person is Mischael Ligget, 602-695-1845. For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov search “Scottsdale Planning Case Files” or in your URL search bar you can type in https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/ A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING Online at: http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/Boards/planning-commission CHAIRMAN Attest Bronte Ibsen Planning Specialist

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NOTICE TO READERS: Most service advertisers have an ROC# or "Not a licensed contractor" in their ad, this is in accordance to the AZ state law. Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC): The advertising requirements of the statute does not prevent anyone from placing an ad in the yellow pages, on business cards, or on flyers. What it does require under A.R.S. §32-1121A14(c) www.azleg.gov/ars/ 32/01165.htm is that the advertising party, if not properly licensed as a contractor, disclose that fact on any form of advertising to the public by including the words "not a licensed contractor" in the advertisement. Again, this requirement is intended to make sure that the consumer is made aware of the unlicensed status of the individual or company. Contractors who advertise and do not disclose their unlicensed status are not eligible for the handyman's exception.

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PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY MAY REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BY CONTACTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7767). REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OR AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW TIME TO ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION. FOR TTY USERS, THE ARIZONA RELAY SERVICE (1-800-367-8939) MAY CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7767).

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