Gilbert Sun News - March 2016 by Times Media Group

March 2016

Relentlessly local coverage of Gilbert and our neighboring communities

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row

Mayor John Lewis poses with Dierks Bentley and Gilbert Councilman Eddie Cook at the groundbreaking. See page 12.

GPS parents concerned about junior high’s future

St. Xavier University to offer nursing program

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

A recent Gilbert Public Schools’ public forum on how to accommodate Gilbert Classical Academy drew a packed house and prompted 53 attendees to speak. At issue is the effect it will have on Mesquite and Gilbert junior highs, one of which may be closed or repurposed. The GPS board did not vote on the matter, and plans to hold another forum in the fourth week of March before deciding on it. The academy, which was ranked by U.S. News and World

St. Xavier University in Gilbert is poised to offer an accredited nursing education program in the fall. There’s no wait list and there are spots for 30 students. “This is a single, historic moment where there’s actually capacity, and if you apply today, you’d have a good chance to get in,” said Vice Provost Maria-Claudia Tomany. The university will add registered nursing (RN) and a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) to its offerings of undergraduate and graduate completion programs in business administration, education and teaching. This mannequin represents an acute patient; nursing students at St. Xavier University may simulate a It will also offer an online degree

see SCHOOLS page 8 Gilbert Classical Academy. Submitted photo

see NURSING page 12

2 Community 13 Neighbors 22 Business 28 Youth

variety of life-threatening situations to practice their vocation. GSN photo by Srianthi Perera

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2 March 2016

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4 March 2016

Community

Ash Street extension to relieve traffic in the Heritage District

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Leadership Class sets fundraiser for renovation project

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

As roads go, Ash Street in Gilbert’s Heritage District is no major thoroughfare. However, it plays a vital role. Recently, Ash Street was extended by .17 miles from the Western Canal Trail North to Juniper Avenue. The new roadway allows for additional access to the Heritage District’s many restaurants, the parking garage and St. Xavier University. “This may be a small project by the just sheer size, scale and cost, but it’s going to be an incredible project in the relief it’s going to bring to our traffic issues in the downtown,” said Town Manager Patrick Banger at a ribbon cutting for the extension. Drivers from the northern direction of Gilbert Road may come via the signalized intersection at Juniper and

The newly constructed Ash Street extension in the Heritage District is expected to alleviate traffic congestion. GSN photo by Srianthi Perera.

Guadalupe roads, go west and access the back of the Heritage District via the Ash Street extension, Banger said. This is “where the majority of parking is located, which removes that traffic from the front part of the district.” In a short speech, Mayor John Lewis harkened to the parade that was organized to mark the paving of nearby Elliot Road in 1956, when the Town had a mere 1,000 population. The parade became the Gilbert Days celebration of today. With the area much busier now, new roads are vital, the mayor said. “And then we think about the future of this road. This is the future. Roads build

connectivity; roads bring people together. And we don’t know everything that this road will do. But it will do much,” he said. The road extension took into consideration the existing Western Canal Trail, where pedestrian hawk crossings were installed. The Town also put in infrastructure for a future project where the parking garage intersects with Ash Street, which is bare land now. “By opening the street, it’s got the attention of a lot more people wanting to develop there,” said Ryan Blair, an engineer with the Town. “Now that the infrastructure’s in and the road’s in, they can put their building right up to the 10-foot sidewalk.”

Gilbert Leadership Class XXIV has partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley in Gilbert to renovate the teen center. This project gives local teens a safe, fun place to go after school with more opportunities for skill development and personal growth. To raise money for this project, Class XXIV is hosting a Bunco night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at The Elegant Barn in Gilbert. The suggested donation to play is $40. To support the Boys and Girls Club, RSVP to GLClass24@gmail.com. Donations may be made with cash, check or credit card. Limited seating available. Those who can’t make it, but would still like to donate should email GLClass24@gmail. com. For more information about Gilbert Leadership, visit www.gilbertleadership. com.

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6 March 2016

Plan for art on second Saturdays downtown

Community

arts and showing that we like the arts in Gilbert is becoming known for a cluster Gilbert,” she said. “But it’s a little hard. of trendy restaurants in its downtown People don’t want to be doing anything core. How about mixing it with some art? until they see it successful. And you can’t Gilbert photographer Elaine Kessler have success without people doing stuff.” had just the idea. Chamber President Kathy Tilque said Last November, Kessler and a small that patience and time would work to the group of volunteers organized District initiative’s advantage. Second Saturdays, a self-guided, site “It’s growing organically,” she said. specific art tour through the downtown. “Whenever you have a project like that, Visual and performing artists, musicians, that’s very grassroots, it usually has a poets and similar others slower, smaller start, exhibited or performed and then it grows. A their craft at several great example is the merchant venues. farmers market.” St. Xavier University Tilque said that hosted a poetry reading, the Gilbert Farmers Evident Life Church Market attracted displayed paintings, very few farmers and Gilbert Road Self customers at the Storage showcased a outset. Now, with all mural, Bergies Coffee the aisles occupied, Roast House hosted a the market is thriving, musician and a painter, she said. Flashback Antiques had “It’s really exciting, a DJ spinning music, Art and there are so Intersection presented many people coming a photography downtown for it. demonstration and I think it’s a great the Gilbert Historical example of how we Museum hosted start something very a performance by small and organic and folklorico dancers. build on it and pretty Photographer Elaine Kessler wants to Cultural aficionados soon it’s amazing,” she had to walk—or bike— bring more arts to the Heritage District added. the 1 mile to appreciate and she’s on her way with District Brian Bergeson, Second Saturdays. Submitted photo the various offerings. At who owns Bergies least 100 flocked to the Coffee Roast House, is sites, but only a few walked the whole similarly optimistic. way. “I think it will grow, lots of those Kessler hopes for better attendance things have a tendency to grow over when the next District Second Saturdays time as people become more and more takes place on March 12. She would also acquainted with it,” he said, referring to like people to experience it fully. the new event. “It did draw people in, but “The whole idea is just to get people to I would say it wasn’t big this time, but I see another dimension to the downtown think, as they continue to do it, it’ll grow.” area—it’s not all just restaurants,” she The initiative would also give the said. “It’s an occasion to bring families Town’s artists another opportunity to out, to do something different.” market themselves, Kessler said. Unlike at an art walk, with District “Artists have to be driven by being a Second Saturdays, the road—and part of the community,” she said. “You parking—is not shut down, artists are not have an opportunity to share what you set up along the sidewalk, nor are they have going on and the community can geared to sell their wares, Kessler said, interact with you.” although they may sell their work if the Many agree that Gilbert should have occasion arises. more arts. Although many readily agreed to “I do believe that the various art events participate, organizers found that some are great ways to share different cultures area merchants were leery. Kessler hopes within our community, and we’re not to dispel the uncertainties by attending nearly as heavy on the art side,” Tilque the monthly merchant meetings said. “We’ve been growing so fast, so I organized by the Gilbert Chamber of think it’s a great way to start introducing Commerce and talking to business that into everybody’s life.” owners. For more information, visit www. “It’s about the community and the facebook.com/DistrictSecondSaturdays. BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Gilbert resident Montgomery running for re-election Bill Montgomery officially announced Feb. 15 his reelection bid for Maricopa County Attorney. Montgomery recently filed his initial campaign Bill Montgomery. Submitted photo finance report for which he has already received more than $200,000 in donations from supporters. “I am humbled that so many Maricopa County residents support my candidacy to once again serve as their County Attorney,” said Montgomery, adding, “I pledge that, if I’m re-elected to serve the residents of Maricopa County again, I will continue my unwavering commitment to make Maricopa County a great place to live, work and raise a family.” Since Montgomery became Maricopa County Attorney, overall crime in

www.GilbertSunNews.com Maricopa County has gone down. In the past six years Montgomery has served as county attorney, he has amassed a record of accomplishments which includes: reorganizing the County Attorney’s office to increase efficiency and services to the people of Maricopa County; developed a community-based prosecution program within the office and provided support to non-profit organizations with charitable contributions. Due to the increased efficiency for the Maricopa County Attorney’s office, MCAO has been given the distinction of being a High Performing Agency. Montgomery says he continues to work on three key issues: • Public Safety: Ensuring the safety of all the citizens of Maricopa County • Being Fair: Always striving to be evenhanded, in all professional matters • Working with others: Never forgetting he is part of a larger team, with the same goals. As county attorney, Montgomery has focused on fighting crime and honoring the rights of crime victims by making sure violent and repeat criminals go to prison and stay there. He has also worked with local high schools to encourage young people to be drug- and alcohol-free and his office has proactively tackled the increasing problem of identity theft through education efforts, community shred-a-thons and tough prosecutions. “I would be honored to be given the chance to continue serving the citizens of Maricopa County for the next four years,” Montgomery added.

Contractor arrested on fraud charges BY TIERRA BEASLEY

Juan Esteban Ordonez, 48, was arrested Thursday, Jan. 21, by the Gilbert Police Department when a member of the public recognized his name from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors’ (ROC) Most Wanted Unlicensed Entity List merely one day after Ordonez’ was added to it. The ROC added Ordonez to the Most Wanted Unlicensed Entity List on Wednesday, Jan. 20, on the basis of an arrest warrant he received for fraudulent schemes and theft. The Gilbert Police Department apprehended Ordonez around 4 p.m. at his place of employment, according to Sgt. Jesse Sanger, a spokesman for GPD, following a call made by a homeowner who said Ordonez visited her home earlier that day as an insurance adjuster making an insurance claim. Prior to his arrest, the ROC had received numerous complaints about Ordonez’s poor work and abandonment while under the employment of licensed contractors at Expert Contracting LLC.

These complaints led to an investigation by the ROC where it was discovered in four instances, dating from June 2013 to February 2014, Ordonez had accepted payments totaling $18,668.40 from homeowners but never began work at the residences. Ordonez’s contracting license was revoked after the ROC findings were submitted to the Maricopa County’s Attorney’s Office for further review. An arrest warrant was then issued November 2015 on one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, a class 2 felony, and two counts of theft, class 3 and 4 felonies. According to AZROC.gov, Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 32, Chapter 10 requires a contractor be licensed through the Registrar of Contractors (ROC) to legally perform construction or home repair and remodeling jobs having total project cost above $1,000 or requiring a building permit. Unlicensed contractors can endanger the health, safety and welfare of the public.

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Leading Edge Academy wins fifth straight title The Leading Edge Academy-Gilbert Early College (LEA) varsity girls basketball team won the Canyon Athletic Association state basketball championship for the fifth consecutive year. This year’s team capped a 34-1 season with a 48-43 victory over Skyline Prep High School at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. This season’s record brings the Lady Spartans to an impressive 139-9 during their five-year championship run. The Lady Spartans boasted wins this season over every top CAA team. In addition, they defeated the No. 1 team in the California (CIF) Division IV San Diego Section State Tournament, Grossmont High School, and the CIF San Diego Division V three and four seeds, Clairmont High School and Maranatha Christian. This year’s team was led by several sophomores, including Prima Chellis who was named CAA Tournament MVP, as well as guard Halle Price and center Ariana Clavell. After being down by two at halftime, the Lady Spartans battled back to take the lead behind Chellis and Clavell. Chellis led the team with 24 points while Clavell, who will be traveling to Puerto Rico next month to try out for their U17 National Team, chipped in with 10. Head coach Erik Gray said he was

FOOTHILLS

“extremely proud” of the team’s effort, especially defensively. “In both the championship and semifinal games, we were down at half, something we hadn’t faced all season. To see the girls buckle down and get stops when we needed them most was a tribute to their character and determination.” Halle Price, sophomore Emily Broos, and senior Analisa Leon were the leaders on the defensive end as each got key steals and rebounds in the second half, Gray said. “I am so proud of all of the girls, they have worked extremely hard to get this title. It is definitely well-deserved.” Leon said being a leader on the court this year “prepared me to be a leader in life.” “Being able to work with different personalities and bring out the best in them was a good experience, Leon said. “Winning another state championship with my team was a great way to end my senior year.” Leading Edge captured a CAA state title for the final time as next year the Lady Spartans will move to the 2A Conference in the Arizona Interscholastic Association. Leading Edge Academy Gilbert Early College is located at 717 W. Ray Road, in Gilbert. For information, visit www. leadingedgeacademy.com.

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8 March 2016

Community

SCHOOLS from page 1

Report as the No. 10 school in the nation and No. 3 in Arizona in 2015, is in temporary digs on Greenfield Road. Among other shortcomings, it also does not have athletic fields, an auditorium or a music room. The GPS board has a goal to find a permanent location for the 500-student school, district spokeswoman Irene Mahoney-Paige said. It considered 16 options and whittled it down to three possible scenarios: • Moving Gilbert Classical Academy to Mesquite Junior High and moving the school’s 655 students to Gilbert Junior High to be combined • Moving Gilbert Classical Academy to Gilbert Junior High and moving the school’s 502 students to Mesquite Junior High to be combined • Making Mesquite Junior High a school within a school. Each of the two junior schools have a capacity to accommodate more than 1,000 students, Mahoney-Paige said. Although there were no “angry outbursts” during the more than two-hour long meeting, people came with a strong message and were well-

organized, Mahoney-Paige said. “Whether they were for or against, they represented themselves well,” she said. Among the parents going to be affected is Kim Galloway, a mother of six. Four of her children have gone through Gilbert Junior High, her fifth is a seventh grader there and her sixth is a sixth grader at Houston Elementary, which feeds to Gilbert Junior High. “We are really mad about it,” Galloway said. “This is our school. It is a part of our community, and closing it would change the landscape of our neighborhood. “And, these small neighborhood streets can’t support the traffic that would come through if a high school, with teen drivers, took over the campus,” she said.

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Gilbert Junior High is located in North Gilbert east of Gilbert Road in an aging community with fewer young families moving in, according to the district. In addition, young families that live within the Gilbert Junior High boundaries may choose to go to a different junior high school using Arizona’s open enrollment law. Mesquite Junior High, located south of Elliot Road and west of Gilbert Road, also consists of aged out populations, although it’s not as old as where Gilbert Junior High is located, MahoneyPaige said. Lisa Nicita, a mother of a fourth grader, a first grader and a kindergartener, lives two doors down from Gilbert Junior High. She doesn’t agree that the enrollment numbers are on the wane.

“I cannot support the closure of any junior high, be it Mesquite or Gilbert Junior,” she said. “Enrollment is projected to grow across the district at the junior high level, which would soon create crowding at other campuses. “A district should not contract in a time of growth. It’s a dangerous precedent to reduce instructional square footage, period, let along during a time of growth,” she said. Galloway suggests that the district gives up its administration buildings on Gilbert Road to the academy and move to the academy’s current accommodation behind Greenfield Elementary School. “That would be the best thing to do,” she said. The district would like parents, teachers and administrators to have another opportunity to speak on the matter. “The board was pleased with last night’s forum. From a district standpoint, anytime you make a change like this, it’s a big decision,” Mahoney-Paige said. “They realize this is a tough decision and one that lies on their shoulders to make.”

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March 2016

10 March 2016

Community

GPS work session covers athletics, bonds BY NOAH FRIEDMAN

The Gilbert School District is the only one in the state of Arizona that requires a minimum “C” grade point average for student athletes to participate in sports in both junior and high school. This, along with many other topics, was discussed at a recent work-study meeting at the Gilbert Public Schools office. The Board of Governors, headed by Superintendent Christina M. Kishimoto, ran the three-and-a-half-hour special meeting. The agenda was broken up into four separate presentations: Athletics Program Review, Community Education Review, Global Academy Program Review and Bond Issuance Options. The athletics committee presented first and spoke about how student-athletes should have an equal chance to compete within the district. Through the findings of the committee, the agenda recommended that the board “Create[s] a process that allows for the disaggregation of information on student-athletes from Infinite Campus to ensure that all students have equal access to athletic programs.” Infinite Campus is a data-based source for tracking the likes of attendance among students to the grades they receive in each class. The data for eligibility is kept on site, but Infinite Campus cannot keep track of

whether or not an athlete is eligible based on his or her cumulative grade point average. GPS’ Director of Athletics Stephen McDowell said he wants athletics to become a more positive influence in the lives of the pupils who participate in athletics. In the question- and-answer portion of the presentation, Board Member Jill Humpherys asked what some of the changes had been since the athletics department had last met with the Arizona Interscholastic Association. Humpherys said that each athlete must pay $100 to compete in GPS athletics. The Community Education and Global Academy committees presentations followed and were led by Alex Nardone, the chief of staff and committee chairman. The Community Education Review’s purpose was “[t]o make local schools the educational, social and recreational centers of neighborhood communities and to involve both children and adults in the process of lifelong learning.” The Global Academy initiative strived “[t]o review the purpose, history, program design, location, student demographics, reporting structure, funding sources, curriculum model and policy implications pertaining to the Global Academy.” Finally, the Bond Issuance Options took its turn to convey what the school district

should do in terms of spending bonds that have been saved. “Our district passed a bond election in November and ultimately, we will be issuing $98 million worth of bonds to fund three particular needs of the district,” said GPS CFO Tom Wohlleber. “The bonds will be issued over a period of about 10 years in three different phases.” In his presentation, Wohlleber said the bond money would go toward repairing school buses, addressing maintenance in the school’s facilities, and purchasing technology for the students and staff. Humpherys said after the work-study that she appreciated the growth of the athletics department within the school district, but hoped that Arizona would recognize the opportunities that athletics present to the students. “I think the biggest thing I took out of tonight was just how big our athletics programs are and what a benefit they are to students and how we can help them to have those experiences,” Humpherys said. “But the district only pays a little over 17 percent of the cost associated with those athletics programs...I would like to see [that] the state is more generous in future years [so] that we can cut that participation fee so more students can do athletics.”

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Ex-homeowner arrested on arson charges Patrick Daniel Barnes was arrested in late January on charges of arson, according to the Gilbert Police Department. The Gilbert Fire and Police departments Patrick Daniel Barnes. Submitted photo responded to a call of a house fire at 1090 S. 131st St. at 4 a.m. Jan. 25. The home was vacant and for sale. Gilbert fire investigators determined the fire to be suspicious in nature and began an arson investigation. Barnes, 48, was arrested and booked into jail. No other information was available.

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Community

www.GilbertSunNews.com

March 2016

Dignity Health Comprehensive Cancer Clinics open Dignity Health, in partnership with Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers, has launched two Comprehensive Cancer Clinics near the campuses of its Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert medical centers to assist patients with coordinated treatment decisions and navigation of care options. The clinics offer a multidisciplinary team of physicians to meet with the patient in a single visit to help develop a comprehensive treatment plan quickly and conveniently. The clinics will also

provide newly diagnosed patients with a personal nurse navigator to help them with decision-making, appointments and other personalized services. The Dignity Health Comprehensive Cancer Clinics also will offer access to therapists, social workers, financial consultants, genetic counselors, nutrition experts, lymphedema therapists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. Clinic leaders say the overriding goals of the new clinics are to provide individualized treatment plans, assist with navigation of

an often complicated set of treatment options, and reduce stress for patients and their families. “When a person is diagnosed with cancer, they need as much attention and support as possible and that is what these clinics will provide,” said Tim Bricker, president and CEO of Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert medical centers. “Patients can count on the staff to help guide them through their entire journey; coordinating appointments, communicating with doctors and helping to arrange other services that

might be needed.” The Comprehensive Cancer Clinics are located across from the hospital campuses at 685 S. Dobson Rd., in Chandler and 3686 S. Rome St. in Gilbert. They are being launched in partnership with Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers, which has a strong reputation in the East Valley with more than 40 board-certified medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. The clinics will be staffed by Ironwood’s radiation and medical oncologists, as well as by a number of community surgeons who specialize in various cancer types. The first clinics to open will focus on breast, lung, and esophageal cancers, with others to follow in the future.

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12 March 2016

Community

Whiskey Row breaks ground in Heritage District BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Country star Dierks Bentley returned home to the Valley on Feb. 2 to break ground on his third Whiskey Row restaurant, this time in Gilbert’s Heritage District.

Dierks Bentley takes a moment to chat with Gilbert’s PR team. GSN photo by Tim Sealy

NURSING from page 1

completion program for registered nurses. The private, Catholic university that opened in Downtown Gilbert last year is anchored by the Chicago-based St. Xavier University, a 170-year-old institution founded by the Sisters of Mercy. The Irish religious community’s presence in the Valley was first felt in 1895, when the Catholic missionaries set up St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. “Nursing has been one of the pillars of the college; it began in 1934, and was one of the first in Illinois,” said Associate Provost Rick Venneri. “Their focus is women and children, so it made sense that their professional programs were nursing and teaching education.” Originally a women’s college, St. Xavier became coeducational in the 1960s and went on to found studies in business, liberal arts and the sciences, among others. Its student body counts about 4,500. “The thing that is distinguishing about it is, for a small university, we have the highest accreditation you can get in the critical fields,” Venneri said. St. Xavier has been recognized by the National League for Nursing as a National Center for Excellence (one of eight in the country). The university campus is Gilbert’s first institute of higher learning. The town had identified education in health care and human services as the two areas that would best serve the region, which led them to St. Xavier. With a municipal bond, Gilbert designed and constructed the building on land it owns. The university makes lease payments

Bentley was joined by Mayor John Lewis; David Sellers, LGE Design Build president; Swen Anderson, LGE Design Build vice president of business development; and Ryan Hibbert, Riot Hospitality Group CEO. Bentley, who was in town for the Waste Management Phoenix Open Birds Nest concert series, said he is excited about the winter opening of the 8,000-square-foot restaurant. “This concept came to me [from Riot Hospitality Group] and I was like, ‘Gosh this is great,’” Bentley said. “I really do love country music and there are so many folks out there who do love country music but don’t have a place to go.” One of those “folks” is his mother, whom, he said, frequents the Scottsdale location. He joked that his mom has good intentions of paying for her meals, but management at the restaurant insist on comping her bill. LGE Design Build is constructing the 8,724-square-feet restaurant at to the town for the cost of the building as well as the land. Rather than renovating an existing building to fit the university’s programs, Gilbert presented an uncommon opportunity. “We worked with the town to build it around the way we offer our academic programs around our mission,” Tomany said. “It’s once in a lifetime that you get to build the campus of your dreams rather than retrofit a building that you have to move into.” The four-story, 87,000-square-foot building sits on the northwest corner of Vaughn Avenue and Ash Street in the downtown’s Heritage District. It features brick, glass and metal panels, a soaring entrance and a rooftop terrace. The nursing program is located on a sprawling, 25,000-square-foot space on the third floor. It depicts a hospital environment with corridors, a nursing station, six examination rooms and patient rooms with beds that can be wheeled. Instead of human patients, each room contains a life-sized mannequin that can be simulated to have a beating pulse and blood drawn from its veins. At the touch of a button, the mannequins can wheeze, throw up, go into labor and deliver a baby and simulate many other human functions. “You can simulate the mom to have the baby in five minutes or many hours,” said Lisa Aguilar, senior enrollment specialist, adding that it provides a chance to experience the uncertainties of a birthing environment. “It’s not only fine and dandy and perfect, there are different scenarios that can happen, too.” Cameras record each lesson so that

323 N. Gilbert Rd., that will feature a 4,732-square-foot patio, a large dance floor for country line dancing, outdoor area for games such as cornhole and ping pong and large interior space to host birthday and bachelorette parties. The entry and large exterior windows will face Gilbert Road, fostering connectivity to the lively downtown atmosphere. “We are creating a restaurant authentic to Gilbert that will add more energy in the already bustling downtown area and provide entertainment and food experiences targeted for East Valley residents,” Sellers said in a prepared statement. Hibbert added that the restaurant is designed with families in mind. “The restaurant will include large family tables and areas for families and friends to spend time together,” he said. Artie Vigil, the restaurant’s architect, boasted that Whiskey Row will be built with reclaimed wood, steel and high ceilings to reflect the architecture in

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Mayor John Lewis talks about the vibrant resurgence of Downtown Gilbert. GSN photo by Tim Sealy

Gilbert. Besides games and concerts, Whiskey Row will offer American gastropub-type food. “It’ll be a great place to live,” Bentley said. “I look forward to hanging out here and being a part of Whiskey Row” he said.

Six examination rooms on either side of a large room gives an opportunity for hands-on experience during a nursing education class at St. Xavier University in Gilbert. GSN photo by Srianthi Perera

the scenario could be reviewed for improvement and learning. The rooms also contain the various medical instruments and fixtures that would be available in a hospital. “We try to prepare them for that real life experience as much as possible,” Tomany said. “Obviously, it’s not going to be the same as the first day on the actual job as an actual person, but we’re bringing it as close as possible.” Students may also avail of many spaces for solitary or buddy style studying and state-of-the-art classrooms with configurable rooms, writable walls, and other elements of thoughtful design that accommodate various styles of teaching. Thomani said the core idea is to decentralize the classroom and get away from the traditional lesson delivery style of “park and bark,” where the professor “parks” in front of the class at a whiteboard and “barks” the lesson and leaves. “You can move the instructor’s station,

you can write on any of the four walls, there isn’t a front and back of the class, the professor can be anywhere, everybody has space, the opposing walls can be used for writing arguments pro and against,” she said. “This offers a lot of active learning possibilities.” The university has contracted with Maricopa Integrated Health System and Dignity Health to place its students for the clinical experience. Thomani said that establishing St. Xavier University’s one and only branch campus has been a singular collaboration with the town. The institution’s research indicated that the East Valley has an aging nurse population with the average nurse’s age at 48 years and that opportunities exist for nursing and its many related medical occupations. “There are jobs, and there are needs that go unmet,” Thomani said. “It’s an opportunity to make history here.”

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Quilts run the show at Gilbert Historical Museum

Neighbors

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has her hand on the town’s quilting For the 11th year in a row, the Gilbert pulse, said that interest in the craft Historical Museum will showcase the doesn’t wane. community’s quilts during its “Art of “Right now, quilting is a very popular Quilting Show” from March 1 to May 30. thing,” she said. Each year, when the museum sends Ruth and Reid are among a dedia call out to the community to submit cated core group of about 15 volunteer their quilts for display in the non-juried quilters who work at the museum durshow, it receives a good response. ing the week. About 100 quilts are brought in, featurThey complete unfinished quilts that ing many designs, sizes and colors, from are brought to them, preparing backvarious eras, either hand-stitched or ing and batting and attaching it to the machine-made. patterned tops to make a complete “People coverlet. seem to ap“People preciate that bring the we have the quilts when quilt show. they’ve just Almost evmade them erybody says or a long time they enjoy later,” Ruth coming. That’s said. “They’re kind of nice cleaning out to hear,” said their house, Iva Ruth, a grandma has quilter from died or mom the museum’s has died, and own quilting they find a program. quilt top that To compleshe never ment the finished.” display, the The quilters museum also finish about organizes a 10-12 quilts special exhiba year, and it. This time, there’s always it’s a colleca backlog. tion of travelAbout 45 ing miniature quilts are quilts from waiting in line. the American For their Quilt Study considerable Group, patlabor, the terned after quilt owner the Colonial pays $7 per Revival period Gilbert Historical Museum displays a variety of quilts square-foot, during its annual show, running March 1 to May 31. of the early which goes to 20th century. Submitted photo the nonprofit The Linmuseum kitty. coln, Nebraska-based national group “I think we quilt there because we sets the standards for quilt studies get to see the most interesting quilts. and provides opportunities to increase And we have become good friends,” knowledge about quilts and textiles, said Reid. “It’s a wonderful addiction.” their history and their place in society. The group is planning to hold its annual The Gilbert Historical Museum is loseminar in September in Tempe. cated at 10 S. Gilbert Rd. It’s open from The public may also watch monthly 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. quilt demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 1 Admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors 60 p.m. March 26, April 16 and May 21, buy and older and $3 children ages 5 to 12. quilts or participate in a silent auction Admission applies for entrance to the and raffle. show. Darlene Reid, another quilter who

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March 2016

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Neighbors

March 2016

Local author pens book of hope BY TIM J. RANDALL

Gilbert resident Reginald Russell experienced his share of challenges, defeats and tough times in his youth

growing up in the inner city of South Phoenix. In his recently released book “Altered Conscience,” the 34-yearold first-time author presents a compelling look at the trials and tribulations of a young person struggling to come to grips with his intentions to live a spiritual life, while at the same time acting in a contrarian manner. “There is no main character in the book, but the central composite of the work is essentially about me,” said Russell. “God’s word was etched in my heart, but I did not always live that way.” “Altered Conscience” presents a powerful message—rebirth from the depths of despair and depression to the ultimate reward in the service of Christ—through a collection of poems utilizing an amalgam of language, imagery and contexts. “The work shows fragmented relationships, peer pressure and behavioral inconsistencies,” said Russell. “Ultimately though life has a bigger calling with Christ as savior.” Russell, who works for the Arizona Department of Economic Security assisting individuals who are developmentally disabled, assembled his collective writings over a period of years and thought about the

You’re invited to the

possibility of a book. “I wanted to see if I could get a work published based on experiences that influenced me,” he said. “I thought that those stories could have an impact on others and provide some relief and a guiding light.” Raised along with two older brothers, Russell fought through the tough neighborhoods of South Phoenix and ultimately attended the University of Arizona. “We were a two-parent home, but a oneparent income,” he said. “I was never expected to go to school, but got to Arizona on an academic scholarship. I was also a walk-on for the football team.” After leaving the University of Arizona, Russell earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Western New Mexico University. He also suffered two ankle injuries while playing football in college. “That demotivated me from furthering my career,” he said. But, Russell never forgot the impact sports had on his life. “I also run a nonprofit, Empowerment Through Sports, which builds and maintains a support mechanism for the young men and women that possess the ambition and drive to be successful in life through sports,” he said. It seems also that his years at

www.GilbertSunNews.com Western New Mexico provided a helpful lift with the book. “I had a professor proofread the draft, who said that the stories needed to be directly about me,” Russell said. But, that was the plan for Russell all along, as he intends a second book to incorporate his two brothers into a narrative that tells stories they experienced from three different perspectives. Russell’s life, just as his book demonstrates is filled with success, love and hope. He and his wife, Brandi, have five children: Analicia, Ajai, Arie, Aumree and Alijah. To order a copy of the book visit: www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com.

March 17

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Neighbors

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Husband and wife Bill Wall and Nancy Wares opened Stonebridge Family Care over one year ago. GSN photos by Tim Sealy

Stonebridge Family Care owners yearn to make clients comfortable BY JASMINE KEMPER

At the end the day, Stonebridge Family Care wants its residents to feel at home. Just over a year ago, Stonebridge opened its doors in Gilbert, thanks to husband and wife Bill Wall and Nancy Wares. Wares is a CNA with a background in hospice care and Wall earned a master’s in health care administration. “My master’s thesis was really around health care and specifically elderly care and it just was a perfect storm of exposure and knowledge to say we could make a place that’s really awesome for people,” Wall said. Together, the two shared a passion for helping others and that’s when the idea for the assisted living facility was born. Coincidentally, that same building caught Wares’ attention back when it was still a hospice facility. She cared for some of its residents and loved how cozy the home felt. When the hospice moved out of the building, the pair was immediately interested in transforming it into a 24hour assisted living facility. “When this place came available we just figured it was a perfect opportunity. It was kind of the right timing and we just jumped on it,” Wall said. The quaint, yellow house brings country living to the desert, complete with 1.5 acres of beautiful greenery, a gazebo, fruit trees and gardens. It emulates a farm atmosphere with horses and chickens in the backyard. Stonebridge is unique because it offers a flat monthly fee with plenty of

amenities at no additional cost, something other places don’t have. They are licensed for 10 residents with eight rooms, with shared and single rooms available. Unlike larger corporate facilities, Stonebridge has the freedom to give each resident a room to fit their personalities, complete with wardrobes, an electric adjustable bed, dresser, nightstand, lamps, 32-inch cable televisions, Wi-Fi capabilities and space for personal items. Another important aspect they strive for at Stonebridge is giving residents as much personal freedom as possible. “We do want our residents to feel like they have free will to make decisions,” Wall said. Residents receive a home-cooked menu with three meals a day plus snacks, but there are no scheduled eating times. “Everyone is able to keep their own unique schedule as they’ve kind of grown accustomed to. Not everyone wakes up at 6:30 in the morning. We’re OK with that,” Wall said. One of the many advantages of having a cozier facility is having the ability to keep it as comfortable as possible. “This is home and that’s what we’re doing different. We have breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, however they’re allowed to eat in their rooms if they want, they can eat in the living room if they want. There is not a set dining room like a lot of places do,” Wares said. Many facilities have to run on these strict schedules to keep organized see STONEBRIDGE page 17

March 2016

Dignity Health Family 5K Join us for our 2nd Annual Dignity Health’s Family 5K on Sunday, May 1st at Freestone Park, Gilbert, AZ. The event has a distance for everyone, including a 5K Run/Walk, Family 1 Mile, and 100 Yard Kids’ Dash, so bring friends! Your family will be supporting families in the Birthing Centers at both Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and Chandler Regional Medical Center. Whether families are having their first or third baby, we want them to experience this exciting and special time in very comfortable and high-quality surroundings!

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March 2016

Gilbert Outdoors Expo

Neighbors

www.GilbertSunNews.com

This expo provided visitors with a chance to brush up on outdoor activities or learn new skills including fishing, camping, hunting and hiking. Attendees also learned about topics ranging from reptiles to rowing. GSN photos by Murphy Bannerman

The Gilbert Outdoor Expo was held at the Riparian Preserve.

Carlos Hernandes and Teresa Tuka pet Hopi, a Burmese Python.

Tristyn James-Fersch, has her face painted by Erin Landucci-Ruyz at the Arizona Cactus Pine Girl Scout Booth.

Jovie Gray practices her swing at the Chip Golf.

River Patel practices using nun-chucks as part of a Martial Arts demonstration.

Dillion Grenko holds out his fish caught from a toy fishpond.

Liza Storch works to uncover hidden prizes as part of an archaeological dig from The Therapy Farms, LLC. Brooke Stoops practices rowing on a rowing machine from Tempe Town Lake Rowing.

Mike McAllister, of Radical Reptile Fun, pulls Hopi, a Burmese Python out from her case as part of a reptile information session.

Cash Patel throws a punch during a Martial Arts demonstration.

The Arizona Cactus Pines Girl Scouts lead a craft lesson for guests and girl scout members.

Neighbors

www.GilbertSunNews.com STONEBRIDGE from page 15

because of how big they are, which limits the amount of personalized care. Wares said she’s worked in places that weren’t able to give residents enough attention, and she’s made that one of the focuses at Stonebridge. “They get them up and showered and then they sit in chairs all day. We don’t do that here. We do activities, we take walks around the house, we sit on the patio and we’re always doing stuff,” Wares said. Stonebridge provides hair care services on-site, as well as manicure and pedicures. They’ve also done music and pet therapy, games and family-oriented activities during holidays. “If they’re not in the mood, then they’re not in the mood, they don’t have to,” Wares said. One of the best pieces of technology

made available is the house iPad that they use to Skype or Facetime with their friends and family from out of state. They’re also working on improving their care everyday with things such as virtual visits with the doctors. “We’re talking with some of the physicians about opportunities to do realtime monitoring of the residents. There are a lot of opportunities to expand how we do elderly care,” Wall said. “Big hospital companies out there, Banner mainly, do a really good job of reaching out and having a community outreach for their hospice and I think [by] emulating some of these companies that do it really well we can create a standard on how elderly care should be done.” One distinctive thing about Stonebridge is that they licensed for every level of care—supervised, personal and direct. From the moment residents arrive

March 2016

residents to stay mentally alert. So many places you go you just see them laying in bed and it’s just depressing and sad,” Wares said. In the short time they’ve been in business, Stonebridge has touched the hearts of so many families. They’ve made a name for themselves just based on the fact that the families know their loved ones are receiving the best care possible and are happy and comfortable. “That’s what we strive for, just making everybody happy,” Wares said. Stonebridge Family Care is located at 13639 E. Ray Rd., Gilbert. For more information, call (480) 726-2302 or visit www.stonebridgefamilycare.com.

until end of life, they are welcome to stay without a change in price. “We are licensed for all three levels of care. Many facilities are not. We don’t charge more for the level of care. Every other facility charges for that and we don’t,” Wall said. Their hand-picked caregivers are specialized in dementia and Alzheimer’s training, so they know that continuously talking to the residents about their lives, current events and other topics on a daily basis keeps them sharp. Many volunteers will come in and do the same as well. “We get to know them. I ask them questions about themselves [and] their lives. It gets them thinking. We want our

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Neighbors

March 2016

Local author explores France in new book BY TIM J. RANDALL

Gilbert resident Lorice Sherman has always had an affinity for traveling. She has visited more than 40 states and 30 countries, and sailed to Lorice Sherman was so exotic destinainspired by her trip to France tions on 25 that she wrote about it in the book “Beyond the Blue cruises. However, Gate.” Submitted photo a 2013 expedition, chronicled in her new memoir, may have been her fondest—two

weeks with her husband, daughter and mother to Northern France and an 18th century farmhouse replete with magical memories. “The trip was so unbelievable, we learned so much and it was a lifechanging experience,” Sherman said. “Beyond the Blue Gate” takes a reader from start to finish on the journey into the rural Picardy region of France, and the experience of French culture, its citizenry and its history. “Our three-generational family was able to completely immerse ourselves in the French way of life, not to mention the historical education we received,” Sherman said. Despite the breadth of their travel, Sherman said that the family hadn’t previously rented a home abroad. The

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travel site HomeAway provided a rustic abode made of 200-year-old stone, but with modern amenities. “The only convenience the home did not have was a clothes dryer,” she said while chuckling. “We had to air dry our clothes.’ Located near a tiny hamlet with a population of nine, the charming living quarters had a blue gate entrance, which ultimately became the title of the book. “This gate became our portal to learning and exploration,” Sherman said. “Each day as we traveled beyond the gate, we knew we were embarking on another special journey.” Sherman’s new book is actually her second effort. The first, 2010’s “Murder on the Med” is a whodunit set on a Mediterranean cruise ship, much like the one she and her husband enjoyed during an excursion. While each day had its special memories, several stand out for Sherman. The first was the visitation of the American Cemetery at Normandy, which is a chapter in the book, Our Longest Day. The family was up at 6 a.m. and returned home at midnight. “I can’t express the immensity of experiencing that place,” she said. “It was simply awesome.” According to Sherman, Normandy was harder to find than expected, and on the return trip the group got lost. “It was 18 hours in all, but so worth it,” she said. Other notable adventures included encountering World War I history at Verdun, and visiting the champagne region of France. “We were able to experience both World Wars,” Sherman said. It was the blue-gated home that really made an impact on her. “We could have stayed in a nice hotel, but you don’t get imbedded into the culture and get to know people,” she said. “Our last night we had dinner with the home’s caretaker at her residence. We brought flowers and a bottle of champagne, because I learned that a French custom is to bring gifts when you visit their home.” While Sherman loves to travel, she ironically does not like one form of transportation. “I don’t like flying, but I get over it,” she said. Sherman who is the mother of two daughters, loves to take care of her family and write. She is penning a third book, with a working title of “Murder on the North Shore,” a sequel to her 2010 effort. “Some of the same characters will return,” she said. “Beyond the Blue Gate” is available through Amazon and on the author’s website www.loricesherman.com.

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Islands Chiropractic warns patients of ‘text neck’ injury A Gilbert chiropractic clinic is warning patients against the dangers of ‘text neck’—a condition caused by continually looking down at your smartphone. If you’re like millions of Americans, you probably own a smartphone, tablet or similar device. And, if you’re like the vast majority of them, you spend a considerable amount of time staring at the screen daily. But, as Dr. Daniel Carlow of Islands Chiropractic and Massage wants patients to know, this could be greatly impacting your health. “Your grandmother probably warned you to sit up straight for your overall posture,” Carlow explained. “But what she didn’t know about was how prominent cellphones would become in our lives. This continuous bending of the neck to pay attention to social media or texting causes most people to position their head unnaturally. What we’re seeing is added stress on the spine, which can cause serious health effects over time.” According to industry experts, “text neck” can lead to pain, spinal degeneration, and even the need for future surgery. The reason for this has to do with the weight of your skull. On average, the human head weighs about twelve pounds. The further you bend your neck to look down, the more stress that is placed on the joints in your cervical spine. At around a 15-degree angle, this equates to around 27 pounds. But at a 60-degree angle—where most people bend when looking at their phone for large amounts of time—that figure

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www.GilbertSunNews.com jumps to a whopping 60 pounds. To put things in perspective, that’s like carrying around a small child on your neck for multiple hours per day. With experts suggesting an average lifetime figure of over 5,000 hours spent hunched over our cellphones, this phenomenon is hitting epic proportions. In fact, young people are the most at risk for developing a problem associated with neck position and smartphone use as time passes. So, what can a patient who is addicted to their phone (or at least one who uses it frequently) do to prevent this sort of issue and relieve pain? “Look

up occasionally,” advised the chiropractor. “Use your eyes to look at the device and not your neck whenever possible. Good posture leads to good neck habits when using your smartphone. It really does matter.” Chiropractic care can also help with text neck. After low back pain, neck pain is also a common reason why people see a chiropractor. Adjustments will help reduce muscular tension and restore normal joint function. For more information about this condition or to schedule an appointment, contact Islands Chiropractic and Massage at (480) 545-4580.

March 2016

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Authentic Pomo serves the right amount of flavorful fun

BY KATHY KERBY

Gilbert is a Mecca of stellar restaurants, with many shining jewels to lure us and our discerning palates. Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana is one of them. Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana opened its doors on June 30, 2015, in the Heritage District and it has been packed with pizza and pasta lovers ever since. Pomo prides itself on using the “same techniques practiced for hundreds of years in Napoli, Italy.” It is certified as authentic by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (A.V.P.N.) which verifies the cooks, ovens, flour and other ingredients and preparation methods. Walking into this upscale eatery, the first thing we noticed was the massive, round, copper-tiled pizza oven. It’s a work of art! Made from pressed bricks and volcanic sand from Southern Italy, this oven uses oak and pecan wood to reach 950 degrees. Adding to the ambiance is a mural of an Italian street scene covering an entire wall. Stefano Fabbri, the owner, took the picture on his last visit home to Italy. A granite bar and ample bar stools line the south wall and the list of wine, beer and cocktails would please even

The mango salad was a blend of baby lettuce, gorgonzola and arugula topped with tangy mango slices.

The fabulous crème brulee was a perfect finale.

the most astute customer. The outdoor patios on two sides add extra space to this urban, industrial eatery tastefully decorated in red and black with touches of gray. Our waiter, Ernest, greeted us with menus and asked if we had been to Pomo before. He explained all about the special cooking methods including the special sourdough which takes 24 hours to rise. The pizza is then baked for just 60 to 90 seconds in the woodfired oven. A knowledge of Italian would be useful when perusing this menu so we needed some help from the very competent Ernest. Many

people would appreciate the fact that the menu selections are marked gluten free, vegetarian and vegan. As we waited for our food, the manager, Thierry Nas De Tourris, came by our table and delighted us with tales of his worldwide cooking and traveling adventures. We also watched Jovani with his massive pizza peel as he carefully placed the pies in the oven. I don’t think I’ve seen another restaurant with a bar around the pizza oven, but it is a great show as the food goes in and out of the massive copper oven. For our Insalate (organic salad) we chose the mango ($9.95) and we weren’t

disappointed. The fresh sliced mango sat atop the baby lettuce, crumbled gorgonzola and arugula all coated with tangy raspberry vinaigrette. Next, our Principe pizza ($16.95) arrived piping hot from the oven. Just picture prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula, shaved parmigiana and fresh basil drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. The crust is crispy on the outside and moist in the center and the freshness of each individual ingredient adds to the delicious taste. There are 24 different pizzas to choose from ranging in price from $10.95 to $17.95. We also enjoyed the Strozzapreti Salsiccia ($15.95) and this blend of fresh pasta with Italian sausage, tomato sauce, cream, rosemary and parmigiana was creamy yet spicy. The pasta in every dish is hand rolled and this particular tubular pasta was made historically for the village priest because it is rolled between the hands as if they are praying. We ended our meal sharing a fabulous crème brulee ($7.95), which was a perfect finale. Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana 366 N. Gilbert Rd. Gilbert 85234 (480) 878-2222 www.pomopizzeria.com

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The massive pizza oven is clad in copper tiles. GSN photos by Kathy Kerby

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March 2016

Gilbert resident makes history at King of the Hammers race Bailey Campbell of Gilbert became the first female driver to complete the King of the Hammers race with a Top 5 finish in Johnson Valley, California. Campbell, a driver for Team Nitto, representing a manufacturer of off-road and street performance tires, raced in early February in the challenging King of Hammers race, in which drivers can be racing through the desert at 100 mph, then the next minute picking their way through technical rock crawls with names like

“Boulderdash,” “Wrecking Ball” and “Chocolate Thunder.” Campbell finished in the elite 4400 class, which was another first for a female driver in this year’s race, its 10th running. Campbell, daughter of Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee and two-time King of the Hammers winner Shannon Campbell, finished the race in fifth place, just minutes behind her father, with whom she had been running neck and neck throughout the

eight-hour race. Bailey Campbell has been around off-road racing and rock crawling all of her life. From the time she was able to work a steering wheel, her father had her in the driver’s seat. By the time she was 17 years old, Bailey had started her racing career in the W.E. Rock Crawling Series where she finished in third place her first time out. In 2014, she progressed into the Dirt Riot Series. She got her first podium with her father as co-driver

and eventually finished fifth in season points. It was that year that she also got her first taste of the big leagues in Ultra4 racing. “We couldn’t be more proud of Bailey,” said Chris Corbett, Nitto Tire U.S.A.’s events and motorsports manager. “Over the past three years, she has really come into her own as a driver—working her way up into the Ultra4 series and now to her Top 5 finish at King of the Hammers.”

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Bailey Campbell of Gilbert completed the King of Hammers race last month, making her the first female driver to do so, with a Top 5 finish. Submitted photo

Campbell maneuvered her way through rock crawls during the race. Submitted photo

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March 2016

Success is bubbling for The Soda Shop owners BY TIERRA BEASLEY

Most people can’t spell entrepreneur, much less become one. What separates entrepreneurs from average Joes? It’s simple—drive. Entrepreneurs think like a world changer and say anything is possible. With dedication to keep moving forward, dreams become tangible. Chase Wardrop and Dylan Roeder had the idea, the drive and the motivation to prove it. They decided to start a business. Armed with the knowledge they acquired from their studies at Brigham Young University in Utah, Wardrop and Roeder left college and opened The Soda Shop in their hometown of Gilbert. They embarked on their journey, doe-eyed and eager but more importantly, determined. Step one: come up with a unique idea. “We were going back and forth with a bunch of random ideas. We started with a snow cone shack, dabbled with creating an app. Just a bunch of random stuff,” Roeder said. Then the idea of a soda shack came up. In Utah, soda shops were common but noticing a lagging market in Arizona, Roeder, 24, and Wardrop, 25, decided to bridge the gap. The first task was to seek a location, which they would pay for with money from their savings, loans and other financial vendors. Many owners turned down their request to rent a building based on their age. “Once it came time to do something it was like we weren’t credible because we didn’t have anything that showed we had experience,” said Roeder. Next, the duo found Town policies cumbersome, according to Wardrop. “Just permits and understanding the magnitude of what we were taking on,” including cost and commitment, shared Wardrop, “We had never done this. School does not train you. It kind of helps you to know what questions to ask. But it does not prepare you to start a business.” Roeder said they were “naïve and ignorant” when they started. “Thinking, it’s just soda [we thought] we get a soda machine and that’s all we have to do.’ But there were so many different components we weren’t prepared for.” It was becoming clear; starting a business was not what they imagined. “Everything was an obstacle,” Wardrop said. Even with all the setbacks, they didn’t give up. After finally securing a location in the former location of a dry cleaners near Baseline and Greenfield roads, the guys got to work.

Business

Getting to work Imagine they’re Rocky. “Eye of the Tiger” is blaring through the speakers. Prepare the montage. Month after month, they prepared for the September opening. Wardrop and Roeder did most of the labor themselves, creating the walls, making the tables. The first two months after opening, Wardrop and Roeder barely slept. The shop opened at 7 a.m. daily and closed at 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday, it closed at 11 p.m. “We were here for over 100 hours a week,” said Wardrop. They even enlisted the help of their parents. While the dads ran out to get ice, the moms worked the counter—some days for 10-hour shifts. “It’s the best type of labor because it’s free,” joked Dylan. Minus the “Hugs and Kisses” tax. Their labor was not in vain. The Soda Shop has been steadily increasing its customer support with an average of 100 customers a day and over 8,000 followers on Instagram. The ice machines are full, the customers are satisfied, and everything is running smoothly. Fear of failure For the record: Wardrop and Roeder are not the exception. Sure they had family support and money in the bank, but they also possessed a new mindset and the right initiative. And accepting they may fail once or 20 times. “I was afraid to do this,” Roeder shared. “You always question the idea of failure. It’s something that’s constant when you’re starting a business. You think, ‘Will it work out? Am I going to lose my money? Am I going to lose these other people’s money?’ And that’s scary.” But after seeing the success of the Soda Shop, Roeder said he’s no longer as risk adverse. “I understand we need some risk in order to get some reward so it’s changed my mentality on what I’m capable of and what I can do.” Wardrop and Roeder plan to expand The Soda Shop but not anytime soon. “We want to make this one the best experience for people. We’re constantly refining things,” Roeder said. “We want everyone that comes here to feel the love that we put into it for them...Once we get that down, we want open more of them.” The Soda Shop 4311 E. Baseline Rd. Suite 101A Gilbert 85234 (480) 794-1094 www.thesodashop.com

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Entrepreneurs Chase Wardrop and Dylan Roeder. GSN photos by Tim Sealy

Turning dreams into reality There are plenty of entrepreneurs who don’t know how to take their dream and turn it into reality. For The Soda Shop’s Chase Wardrop and Dylan Roeder, the answer was clear: Don’t give up. Here’s what you can do to stay focused and achieve your dream: Start anywhere “Once you start you will be amazed at what you can figure out. Everything seems overwhelming but if you keep going, little by little, you will be able to piece together what. Go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? You might fail and that’s just a great learning experience. Sometime we’re afraid to take that first step. Just start and tackle something you know how to do and keep going and developing plans. You can accomplish whatever you set your mind.”—Wardrop Talk about your goals “We talked about goals and dreams all the time. At school, we did a five-year plan. It’s not that it always happens that way but we just wanted to make something of ourselves.”—Wardrop Save money “You know, a penny saved is a penny earned,” Wardrop said. “You can always set [money] aside. I think the perception is hard to live with less but once you make the commitment to put some aside you’ll always see that

what’s left you can still make work once you’re committed to doing that. As long as you’re confident that whatever percent you’re setting aside is going toward something bigger.”—Roeder Overcome doubts “There are a lot of distractions. Instead of getting influenced by what the world expects, I broke it down to what I want. I knew I wanted to try my own thing and start my own business. When I broke that down, it made the other things less significant. And if this is really what I want to do, I have to prove it to myself.”— Roeder Understand what you want “The motivation will come when you understand what you want to accomplish. I feel like a lot of times we’re not sure what we’re doing with our own time. Once someone comes to peace with what they’re doing with themselves, the motivation will come.”—Roeder Find a good partner “It helps being with someone who will motivate you when you’re down. If you have those two things—knowing what you want to accomplish and you have someone who is on the same page with you—the sky’s the limit. You can do whatever you want.”—Roeder Again, don’t quit “We had to keep going. We knew we wanted to do it. So regardless of who was accepting it...we knew we just had to keep fighting.”—Wardrop

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Business

March 2016

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The time-honored traditions live on at Someburros with the Vasquez family.

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Someburros celebrates 30 years of Sonoran success cuisine served quickly, was a recipe for Someburros, a Valley institution since success. 1986, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this Someburros—and the Vasquez family— year. But, its heritage dates back another continued to expand over the next three 14 years to Poncho’s, a small restaurant in decades. Now, George and Mary’s three South Phoenix which the Vasquez family children—Tim, Amy and Jennilyn—have launched in 1972. joined the family business and run the The Vasquez’s modest take-out business daily operation of all the began with Isabel Someburros restaurants. Vasquez cooking in the The seventh location small family kitchen debuted last fall inside where she prepared one Tempe’s Sun Devil pot each of red chili, Stadium, and there are green chili, rice and plans to expand—yet beans, served with warm again—to include three homemade tortillas. new Valley locations The popularity of this this year. They are simple take-out spread seeking submissions surpassed expectations, from property owners and the family knew and commercial brokers they needed to expand. who may have potential In 1975, the Vasquez locations. family converted their The Gilbert locations home into a full-fledged are at 1335 E. Baseline restaurant and bar, Rd., (480) 755-8226, and with family members 2597 S. Market St., (480) participating in its 497-8226. Amy Vasquez says their restaurant operation. Over the Amy Vasquez sums up is all about family. GSN photo by years, Poncho’s has the restaurants’ success. developed into a Valley Judi King “It’s all about family,” favorite, tradition and she said. “We have always been family and icon, with President Bill Clinton stopping community oriented. We strive to be a by the restaurant. It continues to reign as big part of the community by offering a one of the most popular Mexican food family-friendly setting and giving back to restaurants in the valley. our neighborhoods”. In 1986, Isabel’s son, George, and his The 30-year anniversary celebration is wife, Mary, opened the first Someburros just one way of thanking the community in Tempe. The idea was to create an for their support. “It will take place eatery that combined the original family sometime in October. The details have recipes from Poncho’s with a fast-casual not been firmed up yet, but there will be atmosphere that on-the-go families a huge celebration festival at the Tempe could enjoy without having the wait of a Sun Devil Stadium—on the field—featuring traditional sit-down Mexican restaurant. live bands, food, drinks, bounce houses for At Someburros, diners order at the the kids and donkey rides, among other counter and a server delivers the food to things,” she said. the table. It is a fast process, without the fast-food feel. Authentic Sonoran-style see SOMBURROS page 27

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Business

March 2016

Casey Ashdown, left, and Nathan Perrins, co-owners of Zerorez of Phoenix, hold the Gilbert Community Excellence Spirit of Business Award from the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and Business Ethics Award from the Better Business Bureau of Greater Phoenix. Submitted photo

Zerorez of Phoenix cleaning up the Valley BY SHELBY RAY

One of the fastest-growing and most successful cleaning businesses in Arizona got its start in—of all places—a local couple’s garage. “I know. A garage is not what comes

to mind when you think clean,” said Casey Ashdown, who started what is today Zerorez of Phoenix in his garage in 2004 with his wife, Jamie. “It was a very different kind of place to launch an office, but we wanted to be a very

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different kind of cleaning company.” Ashdown got into the idea of launching Zerorez in the Valley from his brother, who worked for a Zerorez sister franchise in another state. “Unlike traditional carpet cleaning companies that use a method of hot water extraction using soaps, detergents and harsh chemicals that get left behind in the carpet fibers, we saw firsthand how Zerorez used this ‘Empowered Water,’ a water-based, nontoxic cleaning agent that leaves no soil-attracting residue behind,” said Ashdown. “The Empowered Water is able to remove embedded dirt, reduce the dry time and makes spots much less likely to reappear—kind of like the next generation of cleaning, and a far safer generation.” Ashdown couldn’t believe no one had launched the concept in Arizona— and jumped at the chance, even if it did mean converting his garage into their first “Arizona headquarters.” He brought in his brother-in-law Nathan Perrins as a partner and to assist with marketing. “Thankfully—the Valley—especially right here in the Southeast Valley during our first few years—loved how we avoided using toxic and harsh chemicals and were able to eliminate that rotty odor left behind from some cleaning services much as we did. It wasn’t long before we were

able to expand and open our first real headquarters office, located in Gilbert,” said Ashdown. Zerorez growth under Ashdown and Perrins has been swift, but responsible. “We didn’t want to just add bodies to our business—and we didn’t just want to provide service to communities then be done with them until next time,” said Perrins. “So, we made a conscious effort to find ways to give back, not to mention ways for our rapidly expanding team to work together both inside and outside of the office.” One of the most effective programs they put into place is the Rezoteer Volunteer Program. “The Rezoteer Volunteer Program provides our Zerorez staff and their family members a way to get involved with volunteer projects in their local communities and to share in the benefits of giving back alongside their co-workers,” said Perrins. “As often as once a month, our team is able to work together on a project that impacts their own neighborhoods, and our entire community-at-large.” A great example of the program in action—their work with Save the Family. “Save the Family is an amazing nonprofit organization in Mesa that helps families to transition from homelessness into homes and jobs,” said Ashdown. “They mainly handle

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www.GilbertSunNews.com families of domestic abuse situations and try to make the children in their care feel as at home as possible.” Eager to help make the children feel as at home as possible, The Rezoteers got together and crafted homemade birthday cards for children staying with Save the Family, planning months and months ahead to ensure all the kids got something special. The group has also worked together to pack meal boxes for Feed My Starving Children and annually works to clean homes on a pro bono basis at the Sunshine Acres Children’s Home in the Southeast Valley as well. As eager to give back funds as they are to give back their time, Ashdown and Perrins also developed Zero 2 Hero Program, which helps to raise critical funds for organizations serving children throughout the Valley. “A great example of this program

in action is happening right now as we are collecting a portion of proceeds from all of our March cleanings and will be donating them to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital,” said Ashdown. “This is something we’ve done for years, and as fathers ourselves, it really hits home to us.” All of this work has helped Zerorez of Phoenix grow from a garage-based business to a 2015 Better Business Bureau Ethics Award Winner that now has more than 31 vans, 70 employees and two major bases—the corporate headquarters in Gilbert and a newer second facility in Deer Valley. They also took home “franchise of the year” honors at a nationwide level a few years ago for their efforts. “And we’re just getting started,” said Ashdown.

March 2016

AT&T upgrades network in East Valley AT&T has upgraded 21 cell towers on its 4G LTE network in the East Valley to give customers faster, more reliable wireless service. The upgraded cell towers include nine in Tempe, six in Mesa, five in Gilbert and one in Chandler. The change will help customers get the most out of their mobile devices. With 4G LTE service, they should see better service when they’re watching videos, posting to social media or texting family and friends. “We want our customers to have a great experience. They’ll be able to download, upload, stream and play

games faster than ever before on our 4G LTE network,” said Jerry Fuentes, president of AT&T Arizona and New Mexico. “We’re always working to provide better coverage. And we’re investing in our wireless network to accomplish that. “We constantly invest in our network to give customers the highquality services they need to stay connected. This helps East Valley residents get the best possible experience over the AT&T network, whether at home, at work or on the go. We have the nation’s most reliable LTE network.” AT&T invested nearly $350 million in its wireless and wired networks in the Phoenix area between 2012 through 2014. Since 2009, AT&T has invested more in the United States than any other public company. In 2014, the Progressive Policy Institute ranked AT&T No. 1 on its list of the United States’ “Investment Heroes.”

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Ashdown and Perrins, co-owners of Zerorez of Phoenix, stand near one of their 31 service vans. Submitted photo

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March 2016

SPARK Space turns business ideas into reality

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Do you have a business idea buzzing around in your head? The Town of Gilbert can help give it wings. The Town, in collaboration with ASU’s Entrepreneurship Outreach Network, has opened a space in the Southeast Regional Library for would-be entrepreneurs. SPARK Space is a collaborative working area packed with resources to help start a business. What’s more, starting Thursday, March 17, it’s offering a series of free entrepreneurship classes called ASU Startup School. The coursework was developed by ASU and administered to participants via trained Town employees, economic development administrators Hillary Hirsch and Joseph Rossell. Gilbert studied small business licensing among regional municipalities that had a comparative process, Hirsch said. Small businesses are defined as those employing 50 or less. “It’s evident that Gilbert boasts one of the highest concentrations of small businesses in the state,” Hirsch said. “There are also entrepreneurs who are in their homes, starting their businesses and working second jobs. “It’s to give a home for people to come and expedite their ventures,” she said.

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Depending on the response to its classes, they may be held in a larger conference room within the library, located at 775 N. Greenfield Rd. Susan Halverson, who manages the grantfunded program for ASU, said that it tries to ensure that people have access to entrepreneurship education and resources in their communities. “Public libraries are such welcoming and accessible places for virtually everyone. By working with public libraries, we are able to make these resources far more available than we can through the university itself,” she said. The nationwide program that launched in 2013 in Scottsdale, is available in Tempe, Mesa, Apache Junction and now Gilbert, in the Southeast Valley. Here’s how it works: After the library and the economic development department in a municipality make a connection, it applies to join the network at ASU. After it secures membership, it sends facilitators to train at the university, who, in turn, lead the startup school. “We find that a lot of people really benefit from having an in-person component,” Halverson said. The SPARK Space is also in partnership

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SPARK Space at the Southeast Regional Library in Gilbert fosters the ideas of would-be entrepreneurs. Submitted photo

with the Town’s SPARK App League, a program for children to learn how to develop apps, sponsored by ASU Polytechnic and Google. For entrepreneurs, SPARK Space offers free business programs such as workshops, webinars and streaming videos; access to the library database and workforce development resources; access to Town resources and business assistance; Wi-Fi; and meeting room space. ASU Startup School consists of three stages. Stage 1 consists of five lessons that will be taught over a 10-week time period, held every other week, starting 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17. Although participants don’t formulate a

financial plan during the workshops, they are taught strategies to seek funding and are introduced to different methods, such as crowd funding, bank loans and venture capital, Halverson said. How does the program measure its success? “We feel the program is successful as long as the resources are available and, in general, the people who are coming to use those resources represent the demographics of the community,” she said. For more information, visit entrepreneurship.asu.edu/resources/ outreachnetwork. To register, write to Hilary. Hirsch@gilbertaz.gov

Business

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Classic burro and house margarita is sure to please. Submitted photo tortilla ($6.45). The menu also features 12 combination platters ranging from $7.65 to $8.75, salads, soup, appetizers, a la carte items, desserts, kids’ plates and breakfast. Drinks range from soft drinks to the superb house margarita ($4.50). With its large portions, low prices, fast service and authentic Sonoran, freshly made food, it is easy to see why Someburros has been a mainstay in the community all these years.

Chamber hosts series of events throughout March Throughout the year, the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of luncheons and meetings for its members and the community. Events are held throughout the town. The chamber office is at 119 N. Gilbert Rd., Suite 101. For more information about events or to register, call (480) 892-0056 or visit www. gilbertaz.com. Chamber Chat Midday Presented by Silver Fox Plumbing, AC, Heating 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 2 Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que, 2206 E. Williams Field Rd., Suite 101, Gilbert Meet up with other Chamber members for lunch. This informal gathering is a fun way to share conversation with other professionals and learn more about businesses in the community. There is no agenda, no scriptjust good food, great company, and friendly conversation. Admission is $10 per person, pay at the door, includes lunch buffet, beverage and tax. Additional gratuity is requested. The 411 Presented by Printwerx 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 9 Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, 119 N. Gilbert Rd., Suite 101, Gilbert The 411 is a comprehensive membership orientation to learn how to maximize the benefits of your Chamber investment. Gain an insider’s view of our programs and services, ask questions of the staff, and develop an action plan for Chamber engagement and success.

The event is free for current and prospective members of the Gilbert Chamber. Breakfast provided by Costco. Chamber Chat After Hours Presented by AAA Arizona 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 MJaye’s Pub & Eatery, 323 S. Gilbert Rd., Suite 111, Gilbert Meet up with other Chamber members. This informal gathering is a fun way to share conversation with other professionals and learn more about businesses in the community. There is no agenda, no script-just good food, great company, and friendly conversation. Admission is $10 per person, which includes appetizer buffet, non-alcoholic beverage and tax. Additional gratuity is requested. Good Government Roundtable: District 17 Presented by SRP 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday, March 25 Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, 119 N. Gilbert Rd., Suite 101, Gilbert An event of SRP’s Good Government series, this roundtable meeting will bring members of the business community together with Arizona’s Legislative District 17 for an update on bills and budget talks at the Capitol. Join the Chamber for this meet-and-greet event, ask questions and provide feedback that will contribute to a vibrant business community. Admission is $20 for members, $35 for nonmembers. Catering provided by Paradise Bakery.

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All Valley Someburros restaurants will celebrate as well with promotions and goodies. Another part of their community commitment is “Festive Fundraisers.” Participating schools and local organizations will earn 20 percent of the pre-tax sales that their supporters bring in. They also welcome children to Someburros for a fieldtrip experience which includes Spanish lessons and the tricks to burro rolling. It’s really about the food, though. Known for the red and green chili, Isabel’s signature rice and beans, and large selection of burros (19 ranging from $3.50 to $7.45), Someburros has some other dishes that are definitely worth trying, as well. One of the most popular dishes is pollo fundido—marinated chunks of chicken breast wrapped in a flour tortilla then deep fried and topped with jalapeño cream cheese, grated cheddar and green onions, served with rice ($8.50). Another is tostada Verde, a delicious layering of green chili, grated cheddar cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes and sour cream on a crispy flour

March 2016

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Youth

March 2016

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‘Idol’ vet confident in his ability Top spellers win prizes from to be recording artist Assistance League BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Mesquite High School senior Thomas Muglia wants to be seen as an artist—not the 17-year-old musician who was born with hearing loss. “I am hearing impaired and I’ve had to learn to sing and play while I’m hearing impaired,” said Thomas, who recently wrapped up a stint on FOX-TV’s “American Idol.” “It’s normal to me because I do not have anything to compare it to. At the same time, I did go there [to ‘Idol’] to sing—not to be the hearing-impaired kid.” Whether it was his story on which “American Idol” focused or his talent, Thomas made it to the Top 75 after auditioning in Denver. It’s not a bad showing when thousands upon thousands of musicians try out. “I was pretty confident that I would be able to go at least through most of ‘Hollywood Week,’” Thomas said. “But you never really knew what was going to happen. I perform very often. Maybe at least one night out of the week I’m singing at a bar or coffee shop. I do have the endurance for the surprises that they threw at us.” Among those surprises were the “Idol” producers dictating which song the contestants are going to sing—with little notice. “They’ll keep you up all night, stuff like that,” he said. “That’s something I’m definitely used to.” One of the hardest parts of being on the show was keeping his outcome quiet. Thomas said his classmates initially hounded him for his results, but soon backed down. With influences like John Mayer and Ed Sheeran, Thomas called being on the last season of “American Idol” a learning experience. “The most important thing I’ve learned was definitely to perform in that setting,”

Thomas Muglia. Submitted photo

he said. “I’ve never been in that setting before, with the cameras and all that. “I’m used to playing on stage and singing and playing on stage. I learned how to move and interact with the audience and such. It was difficult at first. There were cameras everywhere but we got used to it.” Thomas, whose favorite judge on the show is Harry Connick Jr., enjoyed playing “Don’t” by Ed Sheeran. However, he hopes music listeners see him as more than a cover artist. “I want to be an artist and write my own music and perform it,” he said. “Now that I’m back here, I can work on perfecting my music and writing my own music and making it exactly the way I want it.”

After 22 rounds, only three students remained on the stage for the Gilbert School District Spelling Bee on Jan. 19 at Mesquite Junior High School Auditorium. After a few more tense rounds, Neo Pyon, a fifth grader at Playa Del Rey Elementary School, emerged as the top speller. During the final rounds, Lauren Christensen, fifth grader at Quartz Hill Elementary, misspelled “embarcadero.” This left Eugenia Trakal, seventh grader at Gilbert Classical Academy, to misspell “russet.” Neo spelled “russet” correctly, followed by the word “turbot.” Thirty-four Gilbert elementary and junior high schools were represented at the contest. All eight finalists received trophies and bookstore gift cards from Assistance League of East Valley, which sponsored the event along with the Arizona Education Foundation. The other winners were Fiona Sauve, eighth grader at Greenfield Junior High, fourth place; Emmitt Eastmond, fifth

grader at Superstition Springs Elementary, fifth place; Arianna Labertew, sixth grader at Houston Elementary, sixth place; Amber Kassisieh, eighth grader at South Valley Junior High, seventh place; and Caitlin Kelleher, sixth grader at Val Vista Lakes Elementary, eighth place. The eight winners were slated to compete in the Regional Bee Feb. 19 at Mesquite Junior High School Auditorium. The results were not available at deadline. The two trophies for this upcoming event will be provided by the Assistance League of East Valley. Assistance League of East Valley is an all-volunteer group which provided school clothing and uniforms to more than 7,000 children in East Valley school districts last year. The group raises funds through their thrift shop at 1950 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, and through community donations, grants and fundraising events.

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Thomas Muglia will perform from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at SoZo Coffee, 1982 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler. Call (480) 726-7696 for admission charge. For more information, visit www.sozocoffee.org. He also performs at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at St. Xavier University, 92 W. Vaughn, Gilbert. Visit thomasmuglia.com for more information.

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Higher Education Special Section

March 2016

COLLEGE MONEY GUIDE Dear Reader, The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is dedicated to expanding access and increasing success in postsecondary education for Arizonans. The ACPE not only serves as a forum for all sectors of higher education to come together to address opportunities and challenges, but also works to increase student financial assistance and identifies and implements strategies to help students and families plan, enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The value of college has been confirmed by a new set of income statistics, reported by the Economic Policy Institute. This study reports that a four-year degree has never been more valuable. The premium in 2013 was 98 percent more an hour in wages on average over wages for a worker without a degree. Moreover, postsecondary education remains a key building block to a successful future and produces citizens who contribute to our community. The consistent reporting of such positive outcomes keeps the public convinced that a college education is a goal worth pursuing, both for our children and ourselves. The following article written by Deena Lager is designed to help families take positive steps toward college enrollment and also offers an overview of ways to pay for college. This is important information to consider to avoid the situation portrayed by Jason Houle, a University of Wisconsin demographer, in his November 2012 study. His research revealed a growing burden of student debt is being experienced by middle-class families. He reported that middle-income families rack up, on average, more student loan debt than both high-income and low-income families. To counter this trend, the commission offers an opportunity to regain some of this lost financial ground through the Arizona College Savings (529) Program where savings benefit from both state and federal tax advantages. Information on this program is available at www.az529.gov. We hope you enjoy this article and gain insight about maximizing the value of higher education and a greater understanding about options for financing a higher education. To learn more about the ACPE visit us on the Web at www.highered.az.gov.

Sincerely,

Dr. April L. Osborn, Executive Director Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education

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Higher Education Special Section

March 2016

Higher Education Special Section

March 2016

COLLEGE MONEY GUIDE Senior countdown

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR COLLEGE? n 2010, researchers at Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce forecasted that by 2018, 63 percent of all jobs will require at least some college and that there will be a shortfall of 300,000 college graduates each year through 2018. In order for America to reach the national goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020, every American needs to complete at least one year

of education beyond high school. In today’s economy, having just a high school diploma will not secure your future. Whether you plan to complete a certificate, an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree, the following information includes a checklist that will help you get ready for college and information to help you find ways to fund your education beyond high school. WINTER SENIOR YEAR • Contact the admissions and financial aid offices of the vocational, community colleges or universities you plan to attend to ensure you are aware of all deadlines and requirements. • Apply for scholarships. Your goal is minimizing the amount of loan funds you may need to borrow. • Go to www.fsaid.ed.gov to apply for an FSA ID—one for you and one for your parent. You will each need your own email address and FSA ID to e-sign the Free Application for Federal student aid (FAFSA). • As soon as possible after Jan. 1, complete and submit your FAFSA

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along with any other financial aid applications required by your school of choice. You can complete the FAFSA online by going to www. fafsa.ed.gov. • If you still need assistance, attend one of Arizona’s statewide College Goal FAF$A events for free help. Visit www.collegegoal.az.gov/ college-goal-fafsa to find a location near you. • Use FAFSA4caster at www. fafsa4caster.ed.gov to estimate how much federal student aid you might receive. This information will help you and your parents plan ahead. Compare the results in the FAFSA4caster to the actual costs at the colleges to which you have applied. SPRING SENIOR YEAR • Continue to stay focused in school. Second semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility. • Stay involved in school- or community-based activities that interest you or let you explore career interests. Consider working

or volunteering. Remember it’s quality, (not quantity) that counts. • Complete any last scholarship applications. • Review your college acceptance letters and the financial aid awards you have received. For each school you are considering, what will be your family’s remaining expenses after financial aid is credited? Compare this remaining “expense” as an evaluation factor between colleges. • When you decide which vocational, community college or university you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1. HOW TO PAY FOR COLLEGE When planning how to pay for college, families should view the following resources as pieces of a pie that fit together to make a whole plan. 1. Federal student aid 2. Scholarships 3. Savings

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Higher Education Special Section

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FEDERAL STUDENT AID The first step to paying for college each year is to apply for federal student aid. Most colleges, universities, and scholarship foundations require students to complete the Free Application for Federal student aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for any state, institutional or private grants or scholarships. This free application will also determine if you qualify for any federal financial aid programs. You should never pay to complete a Federal Aid application! The U.S. Department of Education awards about $150 billion each year in grants, work-study funds and loans with favorable repayment terms to more than 15 million students. Federal student aid can be used to pay for education related expenses, such as tuition and fees; room and board; books and supplies; a computer; and transportation. TYPES OF FEDERAL STUDENT AID There are three main types of federal student aid: Grants: A grant is free money that does not have to be repaid. Eligibility for federal grants is based on

WHERE YOU START THE JOURNEY CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

financial need and a minimum grade point average (GPA). Work Study: This is a work program through which students with financial need can earn federal aid money to help pay for school. The program encourages community service work or work related to the student’s course of study. Jobs can be located on or off-campus, however students are not allowed to work more than 20 hours per week during school. While workstudy income is reported as taxable income when completing the FAFSA each year, it is also reported as financial aid income and is excluded from the financial needs calculation for the following year. Student Loans: A student loan is money borrowed from the federal government to help pay for education that must be repaid with interest. Students may borrow money for vocational, community college, university or career school. Student loans offered by the federal government usually offer borrowers lower interest rates and have more flexible repayment options than loans from private banks. The current interest rate for undergraduate federal student loans is 4.29 percent.

March 2016

Other benefits of federal student loans are: • no collateral is required and they do not require a credit check, • loan amount eligibility each year is based on grade level • all borrowers get a sixth-month grace period before beginning repayment, • repayment follows a standard 10year plan, but you could sign up for an income-driven repayment plan, • interest paid on federal student loans can be tax deductible, • certain types of teaching or public service may qualify for loan forgiveness, • loans may be discharged if you become totally and permanently disabled. The best resource for more information about federal student aid programs is www.studentaid. ed.gov. You can visit the website to see what questions are trending and learn about any new changes to the application process each year. Apply for federal student aid any time after Jan. 1 during your high school senior year. You should apply no later than Feb. 14 to ensure you meet most college and university

priority filing deadlines of March 1. If you are unsure of the priority financial aid and scholarship filing deadlines at the schools you are interested in attending, contact the admissions or financial aid office right away to find out. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete the FAFSA online. It takes about 26 minutes on average to complete the application online. If you have any questions while filling out the application, call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). If you would like free in-person assistance to complete the FAFSA, the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education is coordinating Arizona’s statewide College Goal FAFSA events. Visit www.collegegoal.az.gov/college-goalfafsa to find a location near you.

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Higher Education Special Section

March 2016

COLLEGE MONEY GUIDE SCHOLARSHIPS Everyone wants free money to help them attend college. There are many types of scholarships (they don’t all require that you have outstanding grades!), and they are provided by many different organizations. Each scholarship provider has its own application process and rules to determine who will receive its scholarship. Your job is to find as many scholarships for which you think you might qualify, and apply by the deadlines. Grants and scholarships are often called “gift aid” because the money is free, a form of state or private financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Grants are often needbased, while scholarships can be merit, talent or skill-based. Some scholarships have both a need and a merit component. Be sure to read the qualification requirements for all scholarships and grants you intend to apply for. Grants and scholarships can come

from federal government agencies, state government agencies, directly from your college or career school or a private or nonprofit organization. No scholarship is too small since every dollar counts! You might be able to get a scholarship for being a good student or a great basketball player, for being Polish, for being a member of a certain church, or because your parent works for a particular company. There are many scholarship options out there. Find out more through research, apply for any grants or scholarships you might be eligible for and be sure to meet the application deadlines. Note: There is no “secret” scholarship money out there. You don’t need to pay a consultant or join a society just because they say they can help you find scholarships. You should never pay to receive free money for school. Avoid scholarship scams. Free sources of information include: • The U.S. Department of Education’s free online scholarship search at www.studentaid.ed.gov/scholarship • FinAid! The Smart Guide to Financial Aid at www.finaid.org/ scholarships

Highly qualified and certified teachers Credit recovery and accelerated learning College and career counseling Free & reduced lunch Student Leadership Traditional calendar with block scheduling After school clubs Student mentoring Individualized instruction and tutoring Free bus transportation Members of Student Council at the Feed My Star ving Children event earlier this year.

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• Peterson’s Scholarship Guide at www.petersons.com/scholarships • FastWeb Scholarship Search at www.fastweb.com • Scholarship Search by Sallie Mae www.salliemae.com/plan-for-college/ scholarships • Arizona Community Foundation at www.azfoundation.org • The Endowment Scholarship offices at the colleges or universities you are interested in attending • Your public library’s reference section • Foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses or civic groups • Organizations and professional associations related to your field of interest • Ethnicity-based organizations • Your employer or your parent’s employer(s) SAVINGS Many people forget about savings as an important component of their plan to pay for college. Some families feel like it may be too late to start saving, but that’s not true. According to a longitudinal study released in 2012 by Washington University in St. Louis, “children with any college savings are six times more likely to attend a fouryear college than children with no dedicated college savings account.” While the dollar amounts saved in the study were not significant, involving the child in the act of saving clearly expressed the family’s intent for the child to go to college.

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In addition, the study found that a child with college savings of $500 or more was five times more likely to graduate from college than a child with no savings account. It is never too late to continue saving for your child’s college education. Involve the student and other members of your family in saving toward their college goal. If you have not opened a tax-deferred college savings account, you can find information about the tax advantages at www. az529.gov. Any contributions made to a 529 College Savings account by an Arizona resident can be claimed as an Arizona income tax deduction, up to $2,000 each year for individual tax filers or $4,000 for married couples filing jointly. While college costs continue to rise, it’s important to remember that it is cheaper to save than to borrow. The chart above represents average college attendance costs for schools in Arizona during the 2014-15 academic year. *Source: College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges INVESTMENT OPTIONS The State of Arizona offers one of the most diversified 529 College Savings plans in the country. Arizona’s 529 Savings Plan benefits include: • Contributions and earnings grow free from federal and Arizona State income taxes when used to pay qualified higher education expenses. • College savings offered through three financial institutions that include choices of FDIC-insured CDs, mutual fund options, and agebased portfolios. •Assets are not considered when determining Arizona financial aid awards.

Higher Education Special Section

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COLLEGE MONEY GUIDE

March 2016

spouse, back to the parent to complete a PhD, or to a grandchild.

• Savings can be used at all U.S. Department of Education accredited universities, colleges, private colleges and vocational schools in the United States, as well as eligible foreign institutions. • Allows for anyone to make contributions (grandparents, family members, friends). • Ability to begin saving with as little as $15 a month. • Ability to change account beneficiaries within the same family. • If there are still funds left in the account after your oldest child completes their college degree, the account beneficiary can be changed from the oldest child to another member of the family. According to the chart below, the beneficiary could be changed to another sibling, to the beneficiary’s

MEMBER OF THE FAMILY The Arizona Family College Savings Program offers a wide variety of choices through three financial institutions. Choices include CD’s, adviser-sold mutual fund options, direct-sold mutual fund options, passively and actively managed accounts, indexed, age-based portfolios and self-designed custom strategy options. Choices are offered so that your investment goals can be targeted for the timeline that best fits your needs.* MORE TAX SAVING TIPS Go to www.irs.gov and read IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education to see how you or student might benefit from federal income tax credits for education expenses. The Hope Scholarship, Lifetime Learning Tax Credit, and the Tuition and Fees Deduction are some of the tax benefits available for educational expenses. Up to $2,500 a year in student loan interest can be deducted on an income tax return without itemizing.

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Youth

March 2016

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Four Campo Verde seniors sign letters of intent BY EDWIN RODRIGUEZ

Four Campo Verde Coyote football standouts signed their national letters of intent on National Signing Day Feb. 3. Campo Verde seniors Dezmond Odoms, Eli Jones, Joe Golden and Kaden Risley have officially committed to attend the colleges that sought their talents to play football at the collegiate level. Dezmond Odoms, who played cornerback and receiver for the Coyotes, will study at North State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

“They had a great atmosphere and the whole town supported the college,” Odoms said. “I felt at home.” Jones, who also played cornerback and wide receiver for the Coyotes, will take his talents to Western New Mexico University where he hopes to further his education off the field and help the Mustangs improve their record from a season ago. “The business program that they have and the team chemistry,” Jones said. “The (WNMU) coaches just want me to succeed.”

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Golden, who played free safety and wide receiver for the Coyotes, has officially committed and will play for the Adams State University Grizzly Bears in Alamosa, Colorado. “Players and coaches were all very welcoming,” Golden said. “They offered me the Colorado experience and one of my mentors on the football team before he went up [to Alamosa, Colorado]. It should be a good experience to get up there to play football.” Risley, who played defensive end for the Coyotes, will attend Hamline University to play for the Pipers in St. Paul, Minnesota. “I went on a visit there and I loved the atmosphere, the coaches and the players were just great,” Risley said. “It’s a great program, they offered a great opportunity in football and academics.” The players all cited familiarity and fit as huge factors when choosing a college to further their education in the recruitment process. Student-athletes and coaches know that to play and stay on the field is determined by academic eligibility. “When recruiters come in, the first thing they ask us is about academics and we are blessed in Campo to have

smart, very studious and academically motivated students,” said Campo Verde football coach Max Ragsdale. “They could not have played for us on Friday nights had they not been at the academic level that we want them to have.” Ragsdale was notably pleased to see his players desire to further their education while continuing their football careers. “It’s rewarding, considering we didn’t have a great season,” Ragsdale said. “This kind of puts the 4-6 season in perspective that we are not doing it for wins and losses. We are doing it for kids and helping them along in their life choices.” Assistant coach Nick Cornell said he and Ragsdale mentor their players on and off the field. “In our position we have to coach them at a high level, teach them fundamentals and techniques,” Cornell said. “We want them to compete— compete in the classroom, compete in speed, in agility and on the football field. So the mindset has to be ‘I want to be the very best I can be and I want to compete in everything I do.’”

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Know a student who’s doing something remarkable? Send items for student chronicles to christina@timespublications. com. Claudia Adriana Vazquez has earned a place on the fall 2015 dean’s honor roll at Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. Vazquez is a junior majoring in nursing. The dean’s honor roll includes undergraduate students only. To be eligible, students must have completed 12 or more credit hours and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60 for the semester. Full-time on-campus and FHSU Virtual College students are eligible. Fort Hays State is one of six universities in the Kansas Board of Regents system. Susan Ferguson was among 932 students from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, who received degrees during fall commencement exercises Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, in Millett Hall. Ferguson earned a Master of Arts degree. Timothy Fajembola, the son of Oladipo and Jennifer Fajembola, has been named

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to Randolph-Macon Academy’s dean’s list for the second quarter of the 2015-16 school year. To be named to the dean’s list, a student must earn a grade point average (GPA) between 3.3 and 3.99 and be enrolled in ninth, 10th, 11th or 12th grade at Randolph-Macon. Timothy is a junior at Randolph-Macon Academy. Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), founded in 1892, is a college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school for students in grades 6 through 12. Students in grades 9 through 12 participate in R-MA’s 91st Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), and have the opportunity to learn to fly through a unique flight program. The Academy also offers several summer programs. R-MA is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is located in Front Royal, Virginia.

and professional programs. Founded in 1933, the university is on a mission to create one of the great small universities, offering all of the programs, activities, and opportunities of a large research university in the intimate, caring, and mentoring environment of a small liberal arts college, at a cost that is increasingly competitive with public universities. In addition to 41 undergraduate majors, Wilkes offers the doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education and doctor of pharmacy degrees and more than a dozen master’s degree programs. Learn more at www.wilkes.edu

Wilkes University Provost Dr. Anne Skleder announced the dean’s list for the Fall 2015 semester. To be named to the dean’s list, students must obtain a minimum 3.4 grade point average and carry at least 12 credits. Among those named were Joshua Bodnovits and Edgar Maldonado. Wilkes University is an independent institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence through mentoring in the liberal arts, sciences,

Nicole Rubin received her white coat. The new physician assistant program at Oklahoma City University opened with a white coat ceremony, during which 36 students took an oath of service and received their uniform lab coats. The ceremony was led by program director Daniel McNeill with a keynote presentation from Dr. George Selby, a professor and program director at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

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Nearly 400 South Dakota School of Mines & Technology students were named to the dean’s list for the 2014 fall semester. In order to merit a spot on the dean’s list, students must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for the semester. Full-time students must have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours that term, while part-time students must have earned between three and 11 credit hours that term. Among those named to the list is Jackson Ade, metallurgical engineering.

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Clifford Anderson graduated from Fort Lewis College on Dec. 19. Anderson received a bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting. More than 200 students participated in the winter commencement ceremony. Fort Lewis College is the Southwest’s crossroads of education and adventure. Its blend of small classes, dynamic academic programs, and a liberal arts perspective leads to transformative learning experiences that foster entrepreneurship, leadership, creative problem solving and life-long learning.

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Spirituality

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Hillsong United Hillsong United from Sydney, Australia, visited Glendale on Feb. 22 as part of the “Empires” tour. Gila River Arena hosted Hillsong United as well as the Irish folk band Rend Collective and several thousand fans who lined up for several hours beforehand on the warm Arizona evening. Notable performers included longtime leader Joel Houston, Jad Gillies, Matt Crocker, J.D. Douglass and Taya Smith. Glendale was just one of many stops on the first “Empires” tour, which also included Tampa, Dallas, Lubbock, Austin, Memphis and more with a second tour in the United States and Canada kicking off late in April. GSN photos by Andrew McIntire

Hillsong United band leader Joel Houston leads from the piano accompanied by the band.

Frontman Chris Llewellyn of Rend Collective leads the Irish folk group during the opening set.

Taya Smith’s soaring vocals have become a key part of the group’s sound.

Joel Houston leads from a small keyboard for a few of the slower, contemplative numbers.

J.D. Douglass, Jad Gillies and Joel Houston of Hillsong United encourage the audience to sing along.

A guest piper plays the bagpipes for Rend Collective at the Gila River Arena.

Patrick Thompson of Rend Collective brings his backup vocals and electric guitar to the mix.

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Worship guide There is a place of worship for a variety of religions in Gilbert. Here is a partial list of some of the congregations in the town. Want to be added to this list? Email christina@gilbertsunnews.com.

Central Christian Church—Gilbert 965 E. Germann Rd., Gilbert 85297 www.centralaz.com Services: 5:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sundays While the Bible itself is the church’s official document of faith, the website lists a variety of statements that fundamentally define the church. Please visit the website for more information. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints 3301 S. Greenfield Rd., Gilbert 85297 (480) 822-5000 www.lds.org/church/temples/gilbertarizona?lang=eng For more information about the church, visit the website above. First United Methodist Church of Gilbert 331 S. Cooper Rd., Gilbert 85233 (480) 892-9166 www.gilbertumc.org Services: 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. (traditional services) and 11 a.m. (contemporary service) Sundays There are two traditional services—8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.—with the Chancel choir and traditional worship. The 11 a.m. service has a contemporary feel, with music from the Praise Band. The 9:30 a.m. service generally has the largest attendance. Gilbert Presbyterian Church 235 E. Guadalupe Rd., Gilbert 85234 (480) 892-6753 www.azgpc.org Services: 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays Gilbert Presbyterian Church is called to be a Christ-centered covenant family nurtured by the Holy Spirit to worship God and to share God’s love.

Living Water United Methodist  Fellowship Highland Park Elementary School 230 N Cole. Dr., Gilbert 85234 www.livingwaterum.org Services: 10 a.m. Sundays Living Water exists to bring people in to meet Christ, build people up to follow Christ and send people out to share Christ. Mission Community Church 4450 E. Elliot Rd., Gilbert 85234 (480) 545-4024 www.mission68.org Services: 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. Sundays The Bible is God’s word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth and without error in the original manuscripts. Redemption Gilbert 1820 W. Elliot Rd, Gilbert 85233 (480) 632-2220 www.gilbert.redemptionaz.com/ about/a-brief-overview/ Services: 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays Gospel means good news, but it is truly the most profound and glorious truth ever revealed. It is not advice, nor is it a system or philosophy to add to the congregants’ lives. It is an exclusive truth claim, a holistic worldview, the true story of the whole world, which by its very nature must redefine and recolor everything else. Resurrection Episcopal Church Meets at Gilbert Community Center, 130 N. Oak St., Gilbert 85233 (480) 719-5343 www.resurrectiongilbert.org Services: 10 a.m. Sundays Resurrection officials say the congregation is a church you can believe in because you belong. This means it welcomes and embraces all people because God already has. Come for worship, fellowship and Bible study on Sundays and join the group on a spiritual journey to better understand God’s plan for our lives. San Tan Bible Church 1424 S. Promenade Lane, Gilbert 85296 Phone number not available. www.santanbible.org Services: 8:30 a.m. (Bible hour); 9:30 a.m. (Café 2:42) and 10 a.m. worship service Sundays The church believes the glory of God is the chief end of all we do.

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952 E. Baseline, #102, Mesa, AZ 85204 ~ Ph. 480-593-8798 Please visit www.interfaith-community.org/ for more information/events

Easter March 27 Sun Valley Community Church 456 E. Ray Rd., Gilbert 85296 (480) 632-8920, www.sunvalleycc.com Services: 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. Sundays The atmosphere is casual and friendly at Sun Valley Community Church. It places high value on authentic Christian living and placing Christ at the center of all our teachings. The church also offers worship music that is current and uplifting, along with focused weekend sermons that break down the Bible in a

way that makes it easy to connect the word of God with today’s busy life. Two Rivers Church 326 E. Guadalupe Rd., Gilbert 85234 (480) 892-2435, www.2riverschurch.org Services: 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) Sundays Two Rivers Church exists to help lead congregants into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by encouraging and equipping them to love God intimately and serve others. It has a casual environment with a serious faith.

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Arts

March 2016

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GVAL’s annual juried show on at the museum BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Gilbert Visual Art League is bringing local art to the forefront once again. Its 13th annual juried fine art show runs through March 26 at the Gilbert Historical Museum’s gallery space. About 70 pieces of art in mediums such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, photography, sculpture and glass are on display. Exhibiting artists compete to win the Best of Show and People’s Choice awards, the latter of which is announced at the closing reception. The art league was founded in 2003 to promote visual art in the community and give artists a venue to show their work and be recognized for their talents. Membership is nearing 60 and is drawn from not just Gilbert, but Mesa, Queen Creek and San Tan Valley. “It’s doing really well; we continue to grow in size,” said Jean Smith, copresident. Smith said that about eight years

ago, the group was “lucky to have five or six people” attend the meetings. Nowadays, they draw dozens. She attributes the success of the group partly to its enhanced meetings, which, while being social get-togethers, are also informational. Each meeting features a constructive critique and a professional artist who demonstrates a particular art and imparts information on its concept. Members participate in two annual shows and also have their work displayed in different venues in Gilbert. In the fall, they raise funds by selling small, unframed paintings on canvas. The nonprofit group gives back to the community with a fine art award of at least $250 to a student. “Our main mission is to try to develop an interest in art in our community,” Smith said. “Schools have done away with art programs to a large degree. We’re trying to have art shows to expose the town to art.”

Tom Thomas, “Three Stories Up,” an oil painting by Tom Thomas, won the ‘Best of Show’ at Gilbert Visual Art League’s juried fine art show last year. Submitted photo

Sharon Hess’s “Boot & Spur” is a watercolor painting in this year’s show. Submitted photo

During the show, members are planning to paint a translucent fiberglass bench from a defunct public art project in the Town. The bench will be painted with depictions of local landmarks, such as the water tower, and installed in the Heritage District.

John Priddy’s “Mercury, Messenger for Ford” is an acrylic painting in this year’s show. Submitted photo

The Gilbert Historical Museum is located at 10 S. Gilbert Rd. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors 60 and older and $3 children ages 5 to 12. Admission applies for entrance to the art show.

ON STAGE “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding,” Tuesday, March 8, CCA. As two colorful and madcap ItalianAmerican families come together as one, everyone in attendance joins in the fun as guests of the bride and groom. Loreena McKennitt, Wednesday, March 9, MAC. A well-known composer and singer whose Celtic music has received critical acclaim worldwide, and gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales awards in 15 countries across four continents. Juilliard String Quartet, Thursday, March 10, MAC. Widely known as the quintessential American string quartet, founded in 1946 and the first ensemble in the United States to play all six Bartok quartets. Crystal Trio, Saturday, March 12, HCPA. Professional musicians Igor Sklyarov, Vladimir Popras and Vladimir Perminov play special instruments made from glass—glass harp, verrophone and glass panflute bass. Spice of Life Senior Variety Show, Wednesday, March 16, CCA. More than 30 acts, ranging from dancers and singers to musicians and comedians, perform in this 24th annual show.

Paul Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey, Thursday, March 17, MAC. The legendary folk singers of Peter, Paul and Mary are known for such classics as “If I Had a Hammer,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “Puff, The Magic Dragon,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Rita Rudner, Friday, March 18, CCA. One of the country’s top comediennes and a New York times best-selling author, Rita Rudner is a notable TV personality, screenwriter, playwright, Broadway dancer and actress. Chandler Symphony Classical Series, Sunday, March 20, CCA. The Chandler Symphony Orchestra provides quality symphonic and orchestral music performed by a wide range of volunteer musicians. Igudesman and Joo: And Now Mozart, Tuesday, March 22, MAC. Two classical musicians with 40 million YouTube hits, numerous TV appearances and performances for crowds of 18,000. Il Volo, Thursday, March 24, MAC. Composed of members Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble, Il Volo recently won the “Big Artist” Award at the prestigious Sanremo Music Festival in Italy. Vince Gill, Friday, March 25, MAC. A modern country musician, famous for his 1990 hit “When I Call Your Name,” which won the Country Music Association’s Single and Song of the Year award as well as a Grammy.

Flamenco Kings Starring Los Vivancos, Friday, March 25, CCA. With their roots in dance, music and martial arts, Elias, Judah, Josua, Cristo, Israel, Aaron and Josue came together in 2007 to create Los Vivancos. Frankie Ballard, Saturday, March 26, HACC. The Michigan country star is known for his hit songs “Helluva Life,” “Sunshine & Whiskey” and “Young & Crazy.” Chris Botti with the Phoenix Symphony, Saturday, March 26, MAC. A Grammy awardwinning trumpet player makes his Phoenix Symphony debut for an evening of jazz classics. The von Trapps, Friday, April 1, CCA. Their performances make room for melodicas and ukuleles, lyrics that can unspool in 10 languages with twinges of Appalachia and Portlandia, some shout-outs to the Mamas and Papas, all filtered through the DNA of the most beloved musical, “The Sound of Music.” 2CELLOS, Saturday, April 9, MAC. Their version of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” went viral in 2011, and the Croatian cellists continue to win fans with dynamic music videos and covers.

VENUES CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: (480) 782-2680, www. chandlercenter.org HACC—Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino 15406 N. Maricopa Rd., Maricopa Tickets: (480) 802-5000, www. harrahsakchin.com HCPA—Higley Center for the Performing Arts 4132 E. Pecos Rd., Gilbert Tickets: (480) 279-7194, www. higleycenter.org MAC—Mesa Arts Center One E. Main St., Mesa Tickets: (480) 644-6500, www. mesaartscenter.com

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Local dancer, choreographer adds a personal touch to shows BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON

For the first part of her career, Gilbertbased dancer and choreographer Bridgette Borzillo always felt a little behind. After all, unlike most professional dancers, she didn’t “get serious” about the art, she said, until college, when she majored in dance choreography at both San Diego State and Arizona State universities, where she graduated from in 2007. “I dabbled in dance here and there my whole life but was more of a ‘girly jock’ who did a variety of sports, including soccer, softball, hockey and basketball,” Borzillo said. “I was even a cheerleader my senior year [of high school]. “Being a college dance major without years’ worth of experience was stressful because there was a lot of technical background I didn’t have.” After college graduation, Borzillo taught ballroom dance lessons then took her career in another direction—massage therapy. She still owns her own private massage therapy practice. Nevertheless, she continued to dance with 32 Flavors Dance Company, Scorpius Dance Theatre, and Dulce Dance Company.

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“My time with all of the dance companies, especially Scorpius, ignited the choreography bug again,” she said. “Finally, one of my close friends asked me ‘When are you going to do your own thing?’” Borzillo’s dream has always been to own her own dance company and studio, and eventually perform and travel. With this in mind, she formed CaZo Dance Company, which will be performing her own show titled “Remember When...An Old-Fashioned Love Story.” Honoring her late grandparents, “Remember When…” tells the tale of their one-of-a-kind love story. “My grandma died unexpectedly in October 2013 and we knew that my grandpa, who had died decades before, was there to greet her at her passing,” she said. “Dance helped me heal after her death and I knew I wanted to do a show about my grandparents.” The production is fully produced and choreographed by Borzillo with handpicked dancers from across the Valley. “CaZo is the first dance company that I’ve ever worked with where everyone actually encourages and learns from each

March 2016

Dancers Julia Goraj and Haydehn Tuipulotu perform “Said I Do” in CaZo Dance’s “Remember When..An Old-Fashioned Love Story.” GSN photo by Michael Simon | www. FourSimon.com.

other. There is no drama or negativity amongst the dancers. We all work hard all while having a good time,” said Julia Goraj, who plays Paula Schmidt, the lead female role in the show. “Bridgette created not only a company but a family. She gave us all a chance to do what we love with people we love in an environment that has no judgment. And to me, it can’t get better

than that.” “It [the show] is a story you don’t see anymore,” Borzillo explained. “It’s something you would normally only see in old movies but here it really happened.” Borzillo said the creative process for “Remember When…” has been a healing journey. Each piece of music, she said, see DANCER page 50

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March 2016

Arts

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Mayor John Lewis and Shane Miller, artist from Digital Permaculture, at the opening of the In Flux Cycle 6 art installation on the grounds of the Gilbert Historical Museum. Submitted photo

In Flux art driven to connect communities across the Valley BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Those driving past the Gilbert Historical Museum at 10 S. Gilbert Rd. may have wondered about the two framed structures built on its grounds. The “Three-Pee” and the “Cosmo Arch” art installations, built on space frame structures by a group called Digital Permaculture, comprise Gilbert’s participation in the collaborative art project, In Flux Cycle 6. They are meant to spur conversation and be a destination point. The In Flux initiative brings together six Valley municipalities—Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix—plus Valley Metro that contract with area artists to create temporary art installations to provide a positive impact on local communities and artists. “We wanted to do an outdoor piece that could attract people from the road,” said Kevin Vaughan-Brubaker of Scottsdale Public Art, adding that Digital Permaculture, led by artists Brad Korsedal and Shane Miller, was chosen for its environmentally friendly projects using recycled metal and LED lighting. In Flux was begun by Scottsdale Public Art in 2010, to call attention to the vacant storefronts that were a result of the recession, and to inspire property owners to rent them for art displays. “Since then, it’s expanded to other cities and organizations and seen other venues for temporary art and what can be activated through temporary art, whether it’s a vacant lot or a space in a library,” Vaughan-Brubaker said. “It’s really grown beyond just the storefront project.” In its sixth year, the focus is to build bridges across the Valley with communities using temporary art. “It’s a great way for new artists to

enter the field,” he said. “Since it’s temporary, they can get exposed to doing a project and thinking about what it means to be an artist in the public realm.” In Three Pee, three prongs representing the past, present and future converge “to remind us to hold on to our childlike sense of wonder, to be present in each and every moment, and to be active in providing the best possible future for ourselves and future generations,” states the collective’s message printed on a placard near the artwork. “Our long-term vision is to infuse this innovative construction technology with effective permaculture methods to create fully sustainable communities all over the world,” it further states. Jean Smith, co-president of Gilbert Visual Art League, said that the role of public art is “to get people to think, wonder, and come up with their own interpretation. “Abstract art is really new for Gilbert, and I wonder what people are thinking about it,” she added. Last year, for Influx Cycle 5, Tempe artist Bobby Zokaites created the colorful “Boone’s Flugelhorn” using seatbelt material, steel and a drainage culvert on the grounds of Bergies Coffee Roast House in downtown Gilbert. Coffee shop owner Brian Bergeson said the installation received a lot of attention. Last year, In Flux also organized a bus tour to take guests to all the project sites in the Valley. Organizers plan to hold either another bus tour or a different event in May this year. Gilbert’s installation will be available until at least November. “Connecting communities through art adds interest and authenticity,” VaughanBrubaker said.

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March 2016

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March 2016

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DANCER from page 47

seemed to have fit just right, and each dance number is created specifically for her dancers. For this show, Borzillo is strictly behind the scenes directing and choreographing, she added. “It’s been a trek but it’s been worth it,” she said. While creating a show from scratch is one feat, making an emerging dance company a viable venture is an accomplishment within itself. Borzillo is a resident of [nueBOX], a nonprofit residency program for emerging performance and installation artists, which is based at Phoenix Center for the Arts. This is where CaZo Dance has set this show, she said. In addition to the Phoenix Center for the Arts, CaZo’s dancers practice at Ballet Fusion Fitness and Dancers Domain. “Some of the hardest things about being a start up dance company are space to practice, scheduling and financing. We’re open to grants, donations, and volunteers in a variety of capacities.” “I’m involved [in the dance company and show] because I believe in Bridgette’s vision and passion,” said Haydehn Tuipulotu, who plays William Schmidt, the male lead. “This is a beautiful story that I love being able to portray and express.” “Remember When…” takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at the

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Dancers Julia Goraj and Samantha Brown perform “Nearly Mourning” in “Remember When...An Old Fashioned Love Story.” GSN photo by Michael Simon | www.FourSimon.c

[nueBOX] space at Phoenix Center for the Arts; tickets are $15 for that performance. The following weekend, shows take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 1, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2, in the Third Street Theater at Phoenix Center for the Arts. Tickets are $20 for those shows or $15 each for groups of 10. To purchase tickets, or learn more about the show, visit www. cazodance.com.

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Opinion

Celebrate the importance of reading BY DENNY BARNEY

When was the last time you read to a child? My children have outgrown the age when my wife and I read aloud to them but, as a parent, I appreciate the importance of early reading. According to experts, reading aloud to your child early in life is a great way to help him or her with language development. In celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday (March 2), I will meet with some hungry DENNY BARNEY. young minds at the Submitted photo Southeast Regional Library, one of 17 libraries operated by Maricopa County, to share my favorite Dr. Seuss book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

Studies have shown that reading aloud to young children stimulates the imagination, expands their understanding and develops the mind. The National Institute of Child Health and Development estimates that 10 million children struggle with the important skill of reading. Of those 10 million, 1 in 10 eventually drops out of high school. That is more than 1 million students. However, on a more hopeful note, the U.S. Department of Education found that children whose family members read to them at least three times a week were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading. The statistics speak for themselves! The Maricopa County Library District provides early learning programs to children and their families and offers services that benefit customers of all ages. The Maricopa County libraries do so much more than lending books. They are centers

of community engagement, hosting more than 6,000 programs last year, including Library Con (a mini comic-con held at the Southeast Regional Library every October). Starting in 2014 the programming staff at the Queen Creek Branch Library teamed up to offer one story time each month presented by a special member or members of its community. In place of regular age-divided morning story times those weeks, they did “mash-up,” where attendees of all ages enjoyed being read to by a wide variety of locals. Community readers included firefighters, dental assistants, veterans, an author, and even a pest control expert. Let’s keep our commitment to youth and take the time to expose them to new and exciting reading experiences. We may not be able to travel to the jungles of the Congo or visit the museums of the Smithsonian to keep up with our thirst for knowledge, but we can take our children to visit our local libraries and open endless worlds to explore. Last year, we had more

www.GilbertSunNews.com than 3 million visitors to our Maricopa County libraries. That is more than the number of people who visited Mount Rushmore! In the past year, our libraries circulated 7.4 million items. Stacked on top of one another, that would reach a height of 116 miles. If electronic books (e-books) are your thing, the Maricopa County libraries are right there with you. There were more than 729,000 e-book checkouts in 2014, an 81 percent increase from 2012. In the spirit of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, I encourage you to read to your children daily or take an opportunity to read to a child in need. For information about upcoming events and programs, or volunteering at one of our many libraries, visit www.mcldaz.org. Reading is an essential life skill to acquire. Expose your children to reading; you’ll be glad you did. Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

How to make the most of storytime for children BY CHRIS BARTLETT

Franchise Owner, Primrose School of South Gilbert The value of reading with young children is well documented. Beyond developing early language and literacy skills, reading increases children’s ability to understand the emotions of others—a critical life skill that leads to empathy and compassion. Parents can help support the development of these skills by being intentional with storytime. In addition to making reading together a regular routine in your household, consider these age-specific tips and book recommendations to make the most of story time during the first five years of your child’s life. Before Birth: During pregnancy, reading establishes voice recognition and promotes cognitive development in babies. The rhythm and melody of voices serve as the prenatal foundation for language. Choose rhythmic stories with cadence, warm tones or repetition— repetition leads to recognition! Primrose suggests: “How Do I Love You?” by Marion Dane Bauer or “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. Birth to Age 1: Reading books should be a favorite bedtime activity at this age. With daily “tuck-in” stories and snuggling together at bedtime, infants

begin to associate reading with comfort, warmth and security. Sturdy board books with bright illustrations are easiest to handle and invite participation. Books with familiar subjects, such as babies and animals, resonate since babies respond to faces and eyes before other stimuli. Primrose suggests: “Peek-a Who?” by Nina Laden or “Counting Kisses” by Karen Katz. Ages 1 to 3: Reading a wide variety of stories helps toddlers build vocabulary and understand story sequencing. A sequence of events that is both interesting and understandable helps children identify with a book. Ask lots of questions, act silly and try out different character voices to make reading dramatic and engaging. Vivid illustrations, along with rhyming and repetitive text, will encourage lively dialogue. Primrose suggests: “Book!” by Kristine O’Connell George or “From Head to Toe” by Eric Carle. Ages 4 to 5: Preschoolers should be encouraged to discover the magic of books for themselves. Books can help young children understand their own feelings when characters face similar life events, so pick topics they may be curious about. Also introduce new genres and topics, and more complex story structures for them to explore. Primrose suggests: “The Red Book” by Barbara Lehman or “A Splendid Friend, Indeed” by

Suzanne Bloom. Parents also can help extend children’s learning during storytime by following the READ acronym, which was developed by the teacher training arm of the Atlanta Speech School—the nation’s most comprehensive center for language and literacy: • Repeat books three to five times. Discuss the story, characters and new vocabulary in each book. • Engage in and enjoy reading, using

different voices for the characters to bring each story to life. • Ask “why” questions, letting your child share his ideas about the story. • Do more with the book. Reinforce the story through related activities. To learn about Primrose School of South Gilbert, visit www.primrosesouthgilbert.com or call (480) 633-5635. For more helpful parenting tips and information, visit our blog at www.PrimroseSchools. com/blog.

Sound Off: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! SOUND OFF was transcribed from our Sound Off line during the past month. Sound Off is a monthly editorial feature of Gilbert Sun News. We encourage you to participate. As long as it's not profane or libelous we will print it in our next issue. Calls are limited to one minute. Please leave your name only if you'd like it printed. Come on, get it off your chest!

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Is that all you people do is complain about President Obama and credit card callers? Can’t we talk about something else? “If it feels good, do it” is the culture of America today. Hey parents and grandparents—young and elderly! Get off the phone, computer and television for hours on end! You’re probably chatting with someone you would be better off without anyway! What about spending quality time together as a family? Things are replaceable;

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people are not. Have a hard time prioritizing? Why not try putting God first? In Him your life will be found and nothing else! Seek Him with your whole heart! He loves you! Let Him lead you and guide you into all truth! No kidding, Donald. The middle class is disappearing because there are billionaires like you who won’t share enough. They leave town to pay their taxes to another country or not at all to America.

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March 2016

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Opinion

March 2016

SOUND OFF from page 52

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Well, gee, all of the commercials are so thoughtful of adults and their football games. They only run their streamers across the bottom of the TV so as not to disturb the games. Why can’t the dummies do that for the children when they show the parades and stop interrupting them all the time? Hey thank you for printing grandma’s complaints about the annoying phone calls. It was finally heard by the right person who can do something about it. Thank you so much for making more people aware of these annoying so-called robo calls. I’m going to keep on complaining as long as they keep on calling. Surprise, surprise. Russian President Vladimir Putin approves of Donald Trump being president of the United States. What does that tell anyone with a brain? The country’s going to the dogs and the dogs are ready to eat everyone else up. Help! The State Department under John Kerry and previously under Hillary Clinton is the most corrupt, inept agency ever. They appeared at a government hearing and they were asked questions they should have been prepared to answer. They have no control over who they are letting in this country. It is an absolute disgrace, the inept people we have running our government. Obama keeps insisting that Gitmo be closed because it is a recruiting tool for ISIS. This is a lie. It was a recruiting tool for al-Qaeda, but ISIS does not use it as such. I am so sick and tired of this president and his administration lying to the American people. During the State of the Union address, Obama lied, lied, lied to the American people. No, Mr. President, the economy is not good. Yes, Mr. President, ISIS is a threat to Americans. They are here. Their security advisers tell you they’re here. You think they’re not here? Tell that to the families of the victims of Fort Hood, Chattanooga, San Bernardino and Philadelphia (where the policeman was shot by a man in Muslim garb who claimed allegiance to ISIS). How dumb do you think the American people are, Mr. Obama? You are living in a different universe. You are not facing reality and you are putting us all in danger. If only those generous people toward animal life were as conscious of and as generous to

www.GilbertSunNews.com the families of homeless vets, it would be a better world. It would be a better world if you woke up and looked at your neighbors. It’s been reported that 24 percent of the nation are followers of Trump’s ideas and his trashy garbage comments. That leaves 76 percent to educate them. What are you doing about it? Everyone with automatic withdrawals for bills to be paid should start paying attention when they automatically go up and forget to tell you that; that goes for prescription medicine that doubles in cost and automatically comes off your credit card. Oh lucky you. You know you can protest it and have it redone with your doctor’s request. Pay attention. I am fed up with the establishment Republicans who passed a $1.1 trillion budget giving Obama everything he wanted including funding the refugee resettlement in our country. Is it any wonder that Americans want nothing to do with the establishment Republicans? It’s time for Washington, D.C., to be cleaned up. I’ve never seen it so corrupt—so much fraud, so much waste. This is not how America is supposed to operate. Just a word of advice for people who are anti-same-sex marriage: If you’re so against it, don’t marry of the same sex. What business is it of yours who marries who? Why can’t the National Rifle Association boneheads get it through their boneheads that you can have all the guns you want? You just need a license to buy the ammunition. It’s a simple answer and every bonehead ought to be able to understand it. You need to have a license to buy the ammunition for it then children can stop killing children, and mentally challenged people can’t get a license for it, either. Keep your stupid guns but you need a license for the ammunition. The Curmudgeon is disgusting. He gives the Curmuddy Award to Obama and ignores Trump. Marco Rubio is most likely the Republican nominee and his plan to fight ISIS is no different than Obama’s. This country may have a high fear level, but we don’t want to put our loved ones back to boots on the ground. There were too many severely wounded and not cared for by Veterans Affairs.

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