Scottsdale Progress 02-26-2023

Students, parents weigh in on Menzel

BY TOM SCANLON Progress Managing Editor

At high school sports playoff games, fans from both schools cheer their lungs out for their side, booing and hissing at the opposing side – kind of like the Scottsdale Unified Governing Board meeting last week.

The Feb. 21 meeting again challenged the second word in the district’s name, continuing a divisive spirit that picked up steam during the pandemic.

First, it was open campuses vs. remote learning.

Then, it was encourage-masks vs. don’ttake-our-freedom.

On Feb. 21, the verbal battle was praisehim vs. fire-him.

Though the majority of the 50 who spoke in a public comment portion of the meeting at Coronado High School favored Dr. Scott Menzel, the smaller number of voices who decried the superintendent spoke out with unabashed fury.

Cheers rang out from each “side” when an agreeable point was made. Aside from eye rolls and smirks, there was little overt booing in a meeting that was civil, yet wildly energetic and tense, with speakers arguing the very system of education was at stake.

Some insisted the moral fiber of SUSD is

Water to flow to Rio Verde Foothills – maybe

BY TOM SCANLON Progress Managing Editor

Councilwoman Betty Janik was both blunt and lyrical.

“Water,” she proclaimed, “is life.”

If so, Rio Valley Foothills now has a pulse.

At the Feb. 21 Scottsdale City Council meeting, Janik, her five fellow council representatives and Mayor David Ortega voted unanimously on an agenda item titled “Temporary Water Supply Intergovernmen-

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tal Agreement.”

Though Janik said, “this is a wonderful, giant step forward,” and though Rio Valley Foothills residents generally praised the action, the council vote alone did not guarantee Scottsdale water will once again flow to the water-starved community.

For decades, around 500 residents of an unincorporated “county island” just outside Scottsdale’s northeast city boundary have enjoyed Scottsdale water, provided to them by haulers given access to a Scottsdale

standpipe.

On Jan. 1, their use of that pipe was shut down. Rio Verde residents say they have been scrambling since, eating off paper plates, begging neighbors for water and going without showers as they simultaneously pleaded with Scottsdale to resume service while looking for other alternatives.

Hope came two weeks ago with an opinion by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes,

see WATER page 12

A packed crowd filled the room as teachers show up to voice their support for – and criticism of – Scottsdale Unified School District superintendent Scott Menzel during a Governing Board meeting Feb. 21. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer) see BOARD page 6

Bill requiring Pledge of Allegiance in class advances

HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

State lawmakers voted Feb. 21 to require students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day, courting a likely lawsuit.

Existing law spells out that schools have to set aside time each day"for students who wish to recite the pledge.'' But HB 2523, given approval by the House on a 31-29 party-line voice vote, adds language that says each student "shall recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag during this time.''

The only exception would be for students who have a request from a parent to opt out. And students who are at least 18 could refuse.

Rep. Barbara Parker, R-Mesa, told colleagues she sees no problem with this.

"We stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day on this floor,'' she said. "What's good for us is good for the children.''

What it also is, according to Rep. Jennifer Pawlik, D-Chandler, is illegal.

There had been a 1940 U.S. Supreme Court ruling which said that Jehovah's Witnesses could be required to salute the flag and recite the pledge despite religious objections.

But Pawlik noted the court reversed its stance three years later after the West Virginia Board of Education adopted a resolution ordering that the salute to the flag become a regular part of activities in public schools, requiring students to participate and saying that refusal would be "regarded as an act of insubordination, and shall be dealt with accordingly.''

"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein,'' wrote Justice Robert Jackson. "If there are any circumstances

which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us.''

And Pawlik said that was buttressed by a 1969 Supreme Court ruling which upheld the First Amendment right of students to wear black armbands at school as a silent protest against the war in Vietnam.

"It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,'' wrote Justice Abe Fortas.

Parker, however, said there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution requiring separation of church and state. The only restriction, said Parker, is that the government cannot form or enforce a state religion.

She also pointed out when the Supreme Court ruled in 1943 the words "under God'' were not in the pledge. "And nobody's ever opposed that,'' Parker said.

Finally, she said, nothing changes for students who don't want to say

the pledge -- at least for those whose parents excuse them from that obligation.

"The current law is that parents have a right to direct the education of their child,'' Parker said. "And this is a parents' rights state.''

A final roll-call vote would send the measure to the Senate.

In a separate measure, a vote is pending in the Senate on a related bill to financially penalize schools that do not obey existing laws requiring that there be a U.S. flag in each classroom.

"This is to make sure that students growing up understand the country in which they live and embrace the citizenship and the founding principles that we hold so dear,'' said Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff.

Rogers acknowledged she had no figures on how many schools were not following the law. But she said she had heard from constituents that there are instances of noncompliance.

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SUSD still has millions in COVID relief money, audit finds

BY TOM SCANLON Progress Managing Editor

Scottsdale Unified School District has yet to spend $18.4 million of the $43.4 million it received in pandemic relief funding, according to a new report by the Arizona Auditor General.

That follows a pattern the Auditor General found in school districts across the state.

“Districts and charters reported spending just over $2.2 billion, or 48 percent, of their nearly $4.6 billion allocated relief monies through June 30, 2022.”

The report noted the state Department of Education “had yet to spend/distribute almost $322 million, or 79 percent, of its discretionary relief monies as of June 30, 2022.”

Fueled in part by COVID-relief funds, Scottsdale teacher salaries and overall spending continue to rise.

In the fall, SUSD teachers will make an average $64,081 per year, up 5% from the current average of $61,127.

Even as the district student population dropped by around 8% in the last seven years, the federal funds and voter-approved measures have allowed SUSD to make multiple salary increases that have raised SUSD teacher salaries are up around 25% since 2018.

In June 2021, the district noted it would receive “$39 million in federal funds, the majority of which comes to SUSD in the form of pandemic-related Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grants,” commonly referred to as COVID-relief funds.

The Auditor General’s report indicates, however, that there were other pandemic-relief grants the district received that brought that total relief money to almost $43.4 million.

Federal guidelines require ESSER III funds be used to focus on academics and learning loss due to the pandemic. Districts are not required to spend their third round of ESSER funding until Sept. 30, 2024.

Federal COVID-relief checks were also written to charter and private schools

Scottsdale Unified School District spent most of its COVID relief money so far on salaries. The district has received nearly $43.4 million and of that has $18.4 million & to spend by Sept. 30, 2024. (Arizona Auditor General).

around the country. In Scottsdale, Scottsdale Preparatory Academy had spent $626,000 of its $1.6 million allocation. Scottsdale Country Day School spent $250,000 of its $313,000.

The three BASIS schools in Scottsdale spent a combined $1.4 million of the $4.1 million allocated in COVID-relief funds, leaving $1.7 million to be spent. Archway Classical Academy still had nearly $700,000 of the $1.1 million it received.

The report shows SUSD was awarded $43.4 million in ESSER and other COVID-relief funds – slightly higher than the district anticipated two years ago. Through the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, the district has spent $25 million, leaving $18.4 million remaining.

Nearly 54% of SUSD’s COVID-relief funds spent through June 30 were used for salaries and benefits. Of the

$25 million the district spent, $13.5 million went to salaries. After July 1, SUSD had $18 million to spend by 2024.

“We have had many updates on the budget, priorities and expenditures of the ESSER funds through our public meetings,” said Julie Cieniawski, the SUSD board president.

Indeed, in the 2022 school year, nearly 73% of SUSD’s COVID-relief funds spent were used for salaries and benefits. Of the $7.8 million the district spent, $5.3 million went to salaries.

This aligns closely to how other districts are spending their relief funds.

According to the ADE report, “Of the almost $1.2 billion of relief monies districts and charters reported spending on maintaining operations through June 30, 2022, districts and charters reportsee COVID page 7

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crumbling under what they described as Menzel’s sinister rule. Others begged the board not to cave into nefarious forces trying to oust their portrait of a superior leader.

The background:

Last month, two-and-a-half-years into Menzel’s tenure as the SUSD leader, Fox News “uncovered” a 2019 interview Menzel did while he was a superintendent in Michigan.

That was closely followed by a widely-publicized Feb. 1 “open letter” from three state lawmakers to the SUSD board demanding Menzel’s “immediate removal.”

State Reps. Joseph Chaplik and Alexander Kolodin and Sen. John Kavanagh, all Republicans representing the district that covers Scottsdale, expressed outrage toward Menzel for “offensive and hateful comments he made in a 2019 interview.”

Twenty days after the letter, parents, students, teachers and others had their first chance to address the board, which has made no move to oust Menzel.

President Julie Cieniawski was the only board member to directly address the looming controversy.

“As a governing board we must be focused on students and driven by facts,” she stressed, adding, “choosing to function based on fear will lead us to crisis…

“It is clear to me the employees and general community supports Dr. Menzel.

“I support Dr. Menzel.”

Then, dozens of parents, teachers, students and outsiders had a chance to go with or against that – in one minute or less.

The time limit was strictly enforced beginning with the first speaker: Former Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane, who echoed the fire-him comments he made in a Progress Letter to the Editor.

“Dr. Menzel has said many of the things you’re looking to try to avoid, in his interview,” Lane told the board. “And it is disruptive, dismantling and reconstructive as he repeatedly refers to on the basis of a survey that’s based on discriminating and–”

Lane didn’t get to finish his sentence, as the microphone was cut off.

Next up was Nick Sethi, a Saguaro High

School junior, who said, “Dr. Menzel has listened to our input and has shown his genuine dedication to improving the SUSD experience for all students.

“The reflection on Dr. Menzel’s longpast remarks have opened opportunities for harmful rhetoric. ….It is most important to focus on our many current successes in this district and continue to–”

The high school student’s praise-him remarks were also unfinished as the microphone shut down until the next speaker began.

A run of pro-Menzel comments followed.

“Our students learn how to think – not what to think,” said Laura Weeshof, calling Menzel “our outstanding superintendent.”

Laynee Lagner, a Cocopah Middle School teacher and founder of that school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliances student club, praised Menzel’s emphasis on inclusion–and went so far as to hint at a mass walkout:

“If the board is seriously considering sacking the captain you may find his loyal crew jumping ship.”

After at least a dozen pro-Menzel com-

ments, a string of fire-him parents took the microphone.

Ben Larrabee angrily stated, “Dr. Menzel, if you had said Black people should be uncomfortable for what they have done, that would be labeled racist…Yet for some reason when you say white people should feel uncomfortable for their actions based on the color of their skins. That’s not racism?”

Mike Bendgert accused Menzel of “actively implementing a plan to spread a gender and sexual identify misinformation plan…You can identify however you want, but I don’t have to participate in your delusion – and don’t teach it to our children.”

Ted Torres said he and his wife “would like to request the immediate removal of Dr. Menzel from his superintendent duties.” He called Menzel “divisive and racist.”

After an hour of commentary on him at the board meeting, it was Menzel’s turn to speak.

“I want to thank everyone…who took time to express your opinion,” he said, “whether for or against or somewhere in between.”

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Scottsdale Unified School District superintendent Scott Menzel listens as district teachers voice their support for him. (David Minton/Staff Photographer

Scottsdale Library Board crunches the numbers

BY TOM SCANLON Progress Managing Editor

Like it or not, America’s pastime has become dominated by numbers crunching.

Diving catches and smart base running are ignored as baseball melted into stats-dominated “Billy Ball,” a reference to Billy Beane, who embraced Bill James’ “Moneyball” theories.

A more general philosophy of analytics more recently leached into football and other sports just as advanced databases are making businesses ever-more numbers-dominated.

It’s even creeping ever more deeply into local government, in as unlikely places as the Scottsdale Public Library system.

After a chart- and graph-filled Library Board meeting last week, one might be tempted to call it…‘brary ball. Or, perhaps, studymetrics….

At the Feb. 15 board meeting, Anna Anderson, a management analyst, looked at “Second Quarter Library Usage Statistics” for rthe current fiscal year.

The “gate count” of people at libraries is up, sharply, over the last two years, she said.

While the gate count was just over 285,000 in 2020-21, this year’s gate is already over 250,000, projected to far surpass last year’s total of 453,067.

People are coming back to the Scottsdale Public Library–though numbers still lag, compared to pre-pandemic days. (City of Scottsdale)

Even so, numbers lag well behind prepandemic years 2018 and 2019, when the gate counts averaged over 900,000.

The number of library card holders here has dropped from over 170,000 in 2019 to under 75,000 – primarily due to a relatively new policy of closing cards for those who have not used the library in over two years. Several board members expressed distress over this, but were relieved to hear cards can be renewed online.)

Meanwhile, remote usage – involving Library Help Line calls, database usage, ecirculation and “Ask-A-Librarian” – seems to have plateaued, with a combined remote usage of about 1 million per year.

Board Chair Janet Smigielski wondered if people are more interested in actually being in libraries or being there digitally.

Kira Peters, the library director who was leading her last meeting before departing for a new job in Montana, answered: “Li-

braries are still trying to figure that out.”

“Patrons are still trying to figure it out,” added Alicia Brillon, a library senior manager.

The board also approved its Jan. 18 meeting minutes, which included a summary of patron comment cards that included “several positive comments regarding customer service, window decorations, and programs” as welll as “several negative comments regarding ‘woke’ book displays, and noise complaints.”

Also formally approved was the Library Board 2022 Annual Report.

Among the “key issues” the report cites: “Supporting the unhoused population continues to be an area the library anticipates managing in 2023. Specifically, Mustang Library experiences challenges relating to encampments and biohazards.”

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ed spending almost $840.6 million, or 72%, in the classroom, which includes just over $741.4 million (62%) spent on classroom-related salaries.”

Broken down by spending categories, the Auditor General’s report said $14.7 million – 58.7% – of SUSD’s pandemic relief spending so far went to “maintaining operations” with all of it spent on salaries.

The district spent nearly $9.2 million on “classroom salaries and benefits” and $2.9 million on “non-classroom salaries and benefits. An additional $4.3 million went to salaries and benefits in the classroom for “new programs/curriculum.”

The Auditor General defines classroom spending as “instruction costs of activities that deal directly with the

interaction between teachers and students, student support costs for activities that assess and improve the students’ well-being, and instruction support costs of activities that assist instructional staff with the content and process of providing learning experiences for students.”

New programs and curriculum include the cost of “academic progress assessments, instructional delivery modifications, summer enrichment, after-school programs, etc.,” according to the report.

The district also spent $1.3 million on food service, of which salaries and benefits comprised slightly more than $1 million of that total.

Another $2.6 million went for technology while $330,579 was spent on medical and mental health programs for staff and students, such as counseling. Per-

sonal protective equipment, including masks, testing and vaccinations, consumed another $525,646, according to the report.

According to SUSD’s most recent budget, revised in December, the district employs 1,514 full-time teachers, for a 1-to-13 teacher-to-student ratio. Ten years ago, the district had nearly 2,000 teachers for 24,000 students.

The teachers will make an average of $64,081 starting this fall, up 5% from the current average of $61,127. According to the district’s website, this continues a trend.

For the 2021-22 school year, the district approved a “4% pay increase for teachers…the fifth consecutive school year that SUSD teachers' salaries have gone up.”

Former SUSD Superintendent Dr. John Kriekard passes

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

At the Feb. 21 Scottsdale Unified School District board meeting, Dr. Scott Menzel emotionally announced the passing of his predecessor, Dr. John Kriekard, who died the previous day at age 77.

Menzel praised Dr. Kriekard’s “deep commitment over a career of service… Dr. Kriekard served as a mentor, colleague and friend.”

Dr. Kriekard began his career at SUSD in 1979, serving as assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent. He was the superintendent of Paradise Valley Unified School District before retiring.

But, when Denise Birdwell was terminated in 2018, Dr. Kriekard “came out of retirement, serving as interim superintendent “because he cared deeply about the students, the staff and community,” Menzel said.

In September 2019, Kriekard told the Progress that he had two goals dur-

ing his time leading the district: restore community trust in SUSD and help find a capable leader to take over.

“He steadied the waters,” Menzel said this week. “His legacy will live on through the countless lives he impacted through a distinguished career.”

Kriekard earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Kalamazoo College and then served in the United States Army for two years during the Vietnam War.

Following the war, he returned to school and obtained a master's degree in history from Western Michigan University. He went on to receive his doctorate in Educational Administration from Arizona State University in 1985.

He primarily worked for the Scottsdale Unified School District as principal of Chaparral High School and Mountainside Middle School.

He eventually moved on to the Paradise Valley Unified School District, where he served as assistant superinten-

dent and then superintendent.

He came out of retirement for a third time to take the helm at SUSD on an interim basis in 2018 but his interim label

was quickly removed and his contract extended through the 2019-20 school year.

When he was replaced by Menzel in 2020, Dr. Kriekard reflected on his time at the helm of SUSD, telling the Progress he was proud the district was able to provide competitive incentives to attract employees and retain them, including increasing salaries across the board and putting a freeze on employee contributions for health benefits with the district covering any increases in cost.

“Scottsdale has always been a destination for teachers and administrators, and I think that has returned,” Kriekard said.

He also said, “I am told by many people that I did make a difference, and I appreciate that. I have said my goal is that five years from now people look at it and say ‘Oh yeah, that Kriekard guy got us on the right path.”

Memorial details were not available at press time.

Fee increases sought for city rec activities

costs.”

Clark noted that these fees have not increased in more than five years.

same, box shrinks)?

Welcome to “swimflation.”

Parks and Recreation Board members last week heard a presentation by Kristen Clark, Community Services supervisor on “proposed fees and charges adjustments.”

Like just about everything else, the price of swimming and other forms of recreation is likely to go up.

A slide titled “Increase for Aquatic Entry Fees” outlines a proposed increase of drop-in rates by $1 for lap swim, fitness center and public swim “due to exponential increases in operational

At community center tennis courts, the current fee of $5 per match for tournaments would be replaced by an $8 per player fee for non-team tournaments.

According to Clark, the fee increase “will help offset the increased cost for tennis court maintenance, court lighting and equipment replacement.”

And the sand volleyball tournament rate of $12 per hour would rise to $16 per hour.

The proposed fee increases will be presented to Scottsdale City Council March 7.

If approved by council, the increases will go into effect July 1.

Dr. John Kriekard

Special baseball exhibit at Civic Center

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

Maricopa County is the “Center of the Baseball Universe” for six weeks each year with 15 teams — half of Major League Baseball — training here for the Cactus League.

And no community has a richer, more diverse spring training history than Scottsdale, which has hosted five teams — the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.

A new exhibit at Scottsdale’s Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., takes visitors on a thought-pro-

voking journey through more than six decades of baseball at two Scottsdale Stadiums.

The library is just north of the stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road.

Rare artifacts, memorabilia and vignettes will take fans back to the launch of Scottsdale spring training in 1956 when a rookie and future Hall of Famer named Brooks Robinson was trying to earn a job with the Orioles.

Scottsdale’s five teams featured two of the greatest hitters in baseball history — Ted Williams and Barry Bonds — the best base-stealer, Rickey Henderson, and other memorable Hall of Fame play-

ers.

The exhibit features memorabilia, period uniforms, photos and stories from each of those eras. It was produced by the nonprofit group Arizona Baseball Legacy and Experience and sponsored by the city of Scottsdale.

As a bonus, visitors can help select an All-Star lineup of players from the five teams during their spring training years in Scottsdale.

We’ll compile the results and announce an all-time Scottsdale All-Star Team during the last week of spring training.

For more information, visit ABLEAZ. org

Follow the link below to your All-Star Ballot, make your selections and submit. (Special to the Progress)

‘Foreclosure rage’ leads to shooting near Troon

NEWS

STAFF

Police say a man apparently enraged after having his home foreclosed seriously injured an “unintended victim.”

Scottsdale Police arrested Patrick Gruchala, 55, Feb. 19 after a shooting the day before near Troon Country Club in northeast Scottsdale.

At a news conference, Scottsdale Police Officer Aaron Bolin said the owners of a foreclosure business operated from their home were apparently the target of Gruchala, who allegedly shot a man who parked in their driveway near Alma School and Happy Valley roads.

“The victim suffered multiple gunshot

Patrick Gruchala

wounds and remains in critical condition in the ICU at a local hospital,” Bolin said, noting police would not release the names of the victim or the home/busi-

ness owners.

Bolin said the business owners heard gunshots, then opened their door to see the victim, who had a non-business appointment with them, bleeding profusely. After calling 911, the business owners provided police with a list of recent foreclosures.

Gruchala was on the list and was alleged to have made “vague threats,” Bolin said.

Video surveillance led police to trail Gruchala at his parents’ Scottsdale home. Hours after the shooting, “Detectives conducting surveillance on Gruchala observed him hide a weapon of the same caliber used in the shooting in a desert wash at a separate residence

he was staying at,” Bolin said.

Gruchala was arrested and is being held on $500,000 bond for attempted murder.

PROGRESS

Bill would give teachers a $10K raise

BY BOB CHRISTIE Capitol Media Services

Afreshman Republican lawmaker who helped shepherd former Gov. Doug Ducey's effort to raise teacher pay to end a 2018 statewide teacher strike is working to boost educator salaries by another $10,000 a year. And the measure cleared its first hurdle on Monday with a 10-5 vote of the House Appropriations Committee with most Democrats opposed for a variety of reasons.

HB 2800 is designed to address that Arizona teachers remain among the lowest-paid in the nation despite the 20% raise they won after the strike, said Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, a former Madison School District teacher.

He said he wants to make Arizona a mecca for teachers by boosting pay well above the national average.

"This would potentially move us into the Top 10 when we get the new rate

base,'' Gress told Capitol Media Services on Monday.

"The goal here is, in other states there's going to be a billboard saying, 'Come to Arizona, the starting teacher pay is X' versus other states coming to Arizona and poaching our teachers,'' hje continued. "We really need to take bold action on getting the money to the teachers.''

Gress' proposal is one of two considered by the House Appropriations Committee that are designed to boost teacher retention and get more people to come to Arizona to teach in public schools.

The other is a Democrat's bill subsidizing family health insurance for teachers and staff who work in public school districts and charter schools. It got approved by the panel, with hesitancy from some Republicans.

Gress' teacher pay raise bill, however, faces a tough go in the Legislature because of its price tag.

The overall cost of his plan to give teachers a nearly 20% raise by 2025 is

nearly $700 million a year, a big chunk of this year’s anticipated $1.8 billion budget surplus.

But that surplus is expected to go to nearly zero by the time the plan would be fully implemented – meaning its chances are iffy at best.

Potentially more problematic is that $700 million would have to be provided by lawmakers each and every year into the future or the extra pay would disappear.

Gress, however, remained optimistic. He noted that state revenues this year continue to grow beyond projections.

It wasn't Republicans worried about finances who opposed the measure.

One concern was that while the state would fund teacher salaries, districts would be stuck with the associated costs like retirements and benefits. Then there's the fact that other school workers, like librarians, social workers and support staff, were left out.

Rep. Judy Schweibert, D-Phoenix, said none of this addresses the expenditure cap on education dollars, something lawmakers can – but need not – raise every year.

The additional dollars, she said, would give schools "in a very precarious position where they're just at the mercy even more so that they are now of the Legislature every year.

The Feb. 20 vote came over the objections of most of the Democrats on the panel.

Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, pointed out Gress crafted the measure so the dollars would flow only if lawmakers approve a parallel measure to increase information that would be available to the public on a "school transparency portal.''

But with that measure sidelined so far, Salman called the vote on Gress' bill "half-baked legislation'' and "an exercise

see TEACHERS page 11

in political theater.''

Gress called the vote "bizarro world.''

"Republicans are voting in favor of getting more money into the classrooms and raising teacher pay and holding schools accountable, and Democrats aren't,'' he said.

School districts across the state have struggled in recent years to fill classroom teaching posts, with yearly surveys by the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association showing more than 2,500 vacancies just a month into the current school year.

That means nearly 7,600 teaching jobs either vacant or filled with uncertified teachers. The state Education Department says there are about 60,000 teachers in public K-12 district and charter schools.

One of the biggest factors in hiring and retaining teachers is low teacher pay in the state, which ranked 44th nationally, according to the most recent survey by the National Education Association, the national teachers union.

That is up from nearly dead last in 2018, when tens of thousands of K-12 teachers went on strike and forced the GOP-controlled Legislature and Ducey to enact a 20% pay raise.

Gress' measure, HB 2800, is crafted to address not just starting pay but across the board.

On one hand, he acknowledged, 40% of the education workforce is in years one through five of the profession.

"And that's where you see most of the churn to begin with,'' Gress said. But he said boosting pay only for new teachers and not for those who are more experienced "could create significant workforce issues for schools.''

The measure also specifies that lowperforming teachers do not qualify. And teachers must spend half their time in the classroom to qualify.

But he said it is one thing that could help.

"What I really believe this bill represents is advancing an issue that all Republicans, I believe, agree with, and I think Democrats, do, as well, that teachers need to be paid more,'' Gress said.

Gress, who represents a Phoenix dis-

trict and was Ducey's budget director from 2017 until he left office this year, said he is hopeful he can get it passed.

The health insurance proposal that won approval, HB 2737, would subsidize up to 90% of the cost for teachers and support staff to add their dependents to their health insurance coverage.

Teachers now pay less than $100 a month for their own health insurance coverage, but adding family coverage can bring the cost to $1,000 a month, bill sponsor Rep. Amish Shaw.

That drives younger teachers from the profession as they start families and are hit with the cost of insuring them, said Shaw, a Democrat who represents a Phoenix-area district.

"A lot of what happens is that the teachers are leaving, and other professionals are leaving, because of the cost of health insurance,'' Shaw said.

"The intent is to retain a good employee who otherwise wouldn't have been able to get their kid or dependents covered.''

The proposal met with some resistance from Republicans on the committee. That included Gress, who said he believes teachers should instead be added to the state insurance pool to save money.

"I'm all for helping defray the cost of fringe benefits,'' Gress said.

"I am not convinced this bill is the right solution to it, because we're just going to be subsidizing all of these contracts that (school districts) have with various insurance companies,'' he explained. "And I don't think that they're getting the best price given the economy of scale.''

Shaw’s proposal appropriates $10 million for the insurance subsidy, which would provide up to $6,000 a year and apply only to teachers and staff who earn less than $75,000 per year. With average teacher salaries at only $52,157 last year, virtually all teachers would qualify.

who said “a county board of supervisors has the authority to temporarily supply water to county residents to preserve public health and sanitation.”

Scottsdale City Council quickly took action, but only in setting parameters.

The council vote authorizes Scottsdale City Manager Jim Thompson to negotiate with Maricopa County “for the treatment and provision of potable water at a city standpipe for delivery to residents in the Rio Verde Foothills Area.”

"There is no meeting scheduled yet" between the city and county, according to city spokeswoman Kelly Corsette.

Corsette noted the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors was to discuss the matter at an executive session Feb. 23. "Once Maricopa County is ready to move the agreement forward, city staff will work to obtain additional water resources, which will then be treated and made available for county residents in the Rio Verde Foothills area," Corsette said. "Scottsdale will work with Maricopa County on this solution as quickly as possible."

Key points of the “temporary” (stressed several times) proposed plan that Maricopa County must accept:

• The city contracts only with the county; county may contract with certified commercial water haulers to deliver to Rio Verde customers; no “self-haul.”

• County must attempt a building permit moratorium to the extent allowed by state law.

• Contingent on the city obtaining up to 600 acre-feet of raw water (200 a/f per year) from third-party source.

• County to pay city $1,000 per month plus

$21.25 per 1,000 gallons of potable water.

• Two-year initial term with an optional third year.

Councilwoman Solange Whitehead called council’s actions “a big step forward to getting Rio Valley Foothills a permanent solution.”

She added she “felt blindsided by the county’s decision not to move forward" with proposed domestic water improvement district, adding, "but that’s OK: We’re problem solvers.”

The agenda packed included a quick Rio Verde Foothills history lesson.

“Historically, the City's Water Resources division (Scottsdale Water) has made potable water for purchase by water haulers on a limited basis including some water haulers that delivered water outside of the city's jurisdiction,” the material noted.

In 2021, according to the document, two key things happened: Scottsdale updated its Drought Management Plan, then declared Stage 1 of the plan.

“Subsequently, in October 2021, the city notified water hauling customers that water would not be made available for purchase at the Pima Road Filling Station after Dec. 31, 2022 unless the customer could substantiate that the water was for use within the city.”

This directly led to the standpipe shut off.

During the public comments period that preceded Council’s vote, 10 Rio Verde Foothills residents spoke. Most expressed appreciation, though several had questions about details of the proposal.

One “self hauler” said her expenses will go from $90 to $1,500. “This is unacceptable,” she said. “It’s obscene.”

Wendy Walker was succinctly grateful: “We really, really appreciate that you’re willing to work with us.”

Cody Reim also thanked the council, but questioned a “300% increase” in the proposed price of the water, compared to the previous water price.

And Christy Jackman, with Reim a coleader of residents looking for water, said she was “a little confused” about the proposed plan requiring 600 acre feet of water – far more than the unincorporated area’s projected use.

But, she stressed, “I do appreciate you folks coming to the table.”

Mayor David Ortega confers with Councilwoman Solange Whitehead during City Council’s Feb. 21 meeting to discuss Rio Verde Foothills. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

WATER from PAGE 12

Lee Harris said she lived in Scottsdale for 25 years before moving to Rio Verde Foothills.

“We have been living 52 days on rainwater and bottled water,” she said. Even so, Harris stressed she hardly faulted the city: “We are wards of the county, as you said, Mr. Mayor–and wisely so,” Harris said, directing her

comments to a smiling Ortega.

“We want the county to step up to the plate and take care of us because we are county taxpayers.”

After expressing doubt that a deal between Scottsdale and the county will be reached, Harris threw herself at the mercy of the city:

“We are children…now we are here begging at your doorstep to help us.”

Rio Verde Foothills is an unimported community outside Scottsdale city boundaries that has depended on the city’s water for years, delivered via a standpipe owned by the city that’s not far from the area. (City of Scottsdale)

‘Wildcat’ rentals face fines for not registering

BY TOM SCANLON Progress Managing Editor

The hundred or so hotels that operate in Scottsdale have always had to have business licenses.

Short-term rentals are a different story. Only since the beginning of the year has the city required the 5,000-plus homes and rooms rented on Airbnb, VRBO, Craigslist and other sites to apply for a license.

Roughly four in 10 have not done so–and so the City of Scottsdale has opened nearly 3,000 cases for operating without a license, according to Brent Stockwell, the city’s assistant city manager.

“Of the cases opened for no license, notices of violation have been issued, and 10-day notices have been issued,” Stockwell said. “But no civil citations (have been issued) yet, that’s the final step.”

The license fee is $250, with a potential $1,000 penalty for operating without a license – plus $1,000 penalties for every 30-days a property fails to get a

license after receiving a 30-day written notice.

Though many delayed getting licenses by the Jan. 10 deadline, Stockwell

told the Tourism Development Commission this week that 61% of the short-term rentals have applied for licenses.

Since these rentals typically advertise openly, it’s pretty easy to track those attempting to “wildcat” their businesses.

Even those who receive licenses must obey the city’s noise and nuisance ordinances, Stockwell stressed.

“Three (complaint) calls or one ‘egregious’ call can lead to a license being suspended,” he told the tourism committee.

He said Airbnb et al. nuisance calls “have been trending downward slightly.”

Rather than having a general police of-

see AIRBNB page 15

Scottsdale Police charted calls to nuisance parties at short-term rentals. (City of Scottsdale)

AIRBNB from PAGE 14

ficer respond to these calls, ultimately a short-term rental task force will be on those cases. Stockwell said a sergeant has been hired to run the team, which will include four assigned officers.

According to the city’s definition, “Vacation rental or short-term rental means any individually or collectively owned single-family or one-to-four-family house or dwelling unit or any unit or group of units in a condominium, cooperative or timeshare.”

Unless outlawed by a homeowners’ association, any home in Scottsdale may be rented on a short-term basis.

Stockwell said Scottsdale police re-

FRIDAY, MARCH 24 4 TO 6 P.M.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24 4 TO 6 P.M.

SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center | Scottsdale and McDowell

SATURDAY, MARCH 25 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M.

SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center | Scottsdale and McDowell

Scottsdale Family ArtsFest at SkySong is a free, two-day festival of creativity that includes performances and exhibitions by Scottsdale Unified School District students, family friendly arts activities by Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation, Alli Ortega Empty Bowls fundraiser, interactive demonstrations from City of Scottsdale departments, and culinary delights from local food trucks throughout the SkySong campus.

For more information on the event, visit www.skysong.com/artsfest

sponded to 20 nuisance/noise complaints about short-term rentals Super Bowl/WM Open week, with three citations issued.

He told the tourism committee funds from Proposition 207–which legalized marijuana and taxes sales–are being used to hire the task-force officers, with tourism funds to be used for equipment.

The assistant city manager’s message, to the Airbnb crowd:

“If you want to come to Scottsdale and have a party that’s great, we have plenty of hotels and nightclubs–just don’t do that in a neighborhood.

“We want them to come here but we want them to support our tourism industry.”

FRIDAY, MARCH 24 4 TO 6 P.M.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24 4 TO 6 P.M.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M.

SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center | Scottsdale and McDowell

Scottsdale Family ArtsFest at SkySong is a free, two-day festival of creativity that includes performances and exhibitions by Scottsdale Uni ed School District students, family friendly arts activities by Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation, Alli Ortega Empty Bowls fundraiser, interactive demonstrations from City of Scottsdale departments, and culinary delights from local food trucks throughout the SkySong campus.

A Partnership Between EMPTY BOWLS

SkySong, The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center | Scottsdale and McDowell

Scottsdale Family ArtsFest at SkySong is a free, two-day festival of creativity that includes performances and exhibitions by Scottsdale Unified School District students, family friendly arts activities by Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation, Alli Ortega Empty Bowls fundraiser, interactive demonstrations from City of Scottsdale departments, and culinary delights from local food trucks throughout the SkySong campus.

Scottsdale Family ArtsFest at SkySong is a free, two-day festival of creativity that includes performances and exhibitions by Scottsdale Unified School District students, family friendly arts activities by Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation, Alli Ortega Empty Bowls fundraiser, interactive demonstrations from City of Scottsdale departments, and culinary delights from local food trucks throughout the SkySong campus.

For more information on the event, visit www.skysong.com/artsfest

For more information on the event, visit www.skysong.com/artsfest

For more information on the event, visit www.skysong.com/artsfest

A Partnership Between

A Partnership Between EMPTY BOWLS

Over 5,000 short-term rentals operate in Scottsdale and are spread throughout the city. (City of Scottsdale)

Prescott Valley, AZ

Findlay Toyota Center

March 3, 2023

Phoenix, AZ

Footprint Arena

March, 4, 2023

Glendale, AZ

Dessert Diamond Arena

March 5, 2023

www.HarlemGlobetrotters.com

Legislature wants to curb highway sign messaging

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

The way Rep. Neal Carter sees it, those electronic signs along freeways and major Arizona roads should be spreading safety messages to motorists, not telling them how to run their lives.

And especially not to get vaccinated.

So now state lawmakers are taking steps to ensure that doesn't happen again.

On a 7-4 vote Friday the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a measure which limits the messages to those "directly related to transportation or highway public safety.'' Anything else, the San Tan Valley Republican said, should be off limits.

"They are a little bit distracting,'' he said.

"They do put on things sometimes that are not related to transportation,'' he said. "That would be inappropriate.''

But Carter conceded there's something else behind his measure.

"What we're worried about is the government is the government effectively using as a kind of advertisement for other things,'' he told colleagues. And Carter said such decisions should not be made by bureaucrats in the Arizona Department of Transportation who decide what is "worthy'' of being posted.

"We think there's a little bit of a slippery slope,'' he said.

But Carter already has seen the state sliding down that slope.

Two years ago, signs above state roads spelled out the message, "Want to return to normal? Get vaccinated.''

That got the immediate attention of then-Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Apache Junction.

"Seen in Communist China today,'' she wrote in a Twitter post with a photo of the sign. "Oops, I mean Arizona.''

The message disappeared days later.

ADOT maintains to this day it did nothing wrong, saying that the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is the standard for all devices and signs on roads open to public travel, specifically allowed the vaccine message because the president had declared a national emergency.

And that, the agency said, permitted state and local transportation agencies to display optional "homeland security messages'' such as this one.

Carter, however, said it's not related to transportation. And his legislation, if it becomes state law, would preclude that from ever happening again in Arizona.

But it's broader than that.

Also gone would be signs advising motorists of "no burn'' days during periods of high pollution. So, too, would messages ADOT posts for state and national parks as well as the U.S. Forest Service related to wildfires.

And there would no longer be signs, usually displayed on the day a police officer or firefighter who had died in the line of duty was buried, with a message like "rest in peace'' with the officer's name.

"I'm sure he's an upstanding guy,'' Carter said of seeing one of those signs. "And I love firemen,'' he continued. "But this is the beginning of a sign, now, that's going to start to say everything from 'someone died' to 'thanks to soand-so' to `voting.' ''

That last one already has happened. Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, said ADOT has allowed signs in the past reminding people about Election Day. Carter said that should not have happened.

"It's not transportation related,'' he said.

The legislation does contain exceptions. HB 2586 would still allow the "silver alert'' messages about missing seniors and the "blue alerts'' where police are seeking the public's help in finding someone who has assaulted or killed a law enforcement officer.

And Carter said nothing in his legislation would kill the ability of ADOT to display their safety messages in a humorous way.

So there will keep being communications like "Drive hammered, get nailed,'' "Focused driving is the way of the Jedi,'' or "Drive like the person your dog thinks you are.''

see SIGN page 17

Scottsdale Airport super busy on bowl weekend

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

If you thought there was a lot of activity in the skies over Scottsdale Super Bowl Week, it wasn’t necessarily spy balloons.

Scottsdale Airport had nearly 500 takeoffs and landing in less than 24 hours during Super Bowl weekend.

That was more than double the number of “jet operations” the previous week at Scottsdale Airport.

And it all went well, according to Scottsdale Aviation Director Gary P. Mascaro.

“We are thrilled to have facilitated a seamless Super Bowl experience for all our corporate jet operations,” Mascaro said. “It was an exciting experience for

SIGN from PAGE 16

That pleased Rep. David Cook, R-Globe. "I kind of like the funny stuff,'' he said.

aviation and corporate jet aficionados to see all these private jets utilizing Scottsdale Airport.

“All operations came together seamlessly and efficiently -- and without any delays.”

According to Macaro, Scottsdale Airport’s ramps were lined with 911 planes – including 780 corporate jets – parked overnight Super Bowl weekend.

The airport recently scored nearly $5 million in grant funding for “capacity upgrades and improvements that allowed us to handle the volume of aircraft in such an efficient manner,” he added.

Scottsdale Airpark traffic echoed its big brother, Phoenix Sky Harbor, which saw 200,000 passengers fly out Feb. 13

"You're tied up in traffic and you're not going anywhere.''

The measure now needs approval of the full House.

Firearms training sought in grades 6-12

BY SARAH MIN HELLER Cronkite News

The state House is continuing to advance a bill requiring public middle and high schools in Arizona to offer training on the proper handling of firearms.

Rep. Selina Bliss, R-Prescott, who sponsored HB 2332, said she wants children to learn proper firearms handling from experts to stop accidental deaths, and denied that the bill was about training children to use firearms.

But opponents, including two high school students who testified against the bill this month, worry the training would take away already limited school resources and push gun culture in public schools.

“The purpose of this bill is for children to learn about firearm safety from qualified individuals with the focus on safety rather than on popular culture in various forms of media,” said Bliss,

a nurse, concealed weapons instructor and mother.

The bill, which sets up an optional firearms safety training elective in school districts and charter schools for grades six to 12, has already passed through two committees and House caucuses. The next step would be a vote by the full House.

Bliss explained in an email that the bill would mandate that schools offer a 30- to 60-minute one-time session, but parents could opt out their children. Parents and firearm owners could be used to teach the class, Bliss said.

The Arizona Education Association opposes the bill as just another unfunded mandate.

“We have too many unfunded mandates that are having a negative impact on our public schools,” said Isela Blanc, legislative liaison for the AEA, said at a House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee meeting on Feb. 6.

That committee passed the bill by an 8-7 vote, and the House Rules Committee advanced the bill on Feb. 13 by a 5-3 vote.

Two high school students also voiced their opposition to the bill at the first committee hearing, saying there’s not enough funding for classes they consider beneficial.

“This gun training would take away resources from our school’s top priority and only responsibility — to educate students in areas that will prepare us to become productive, valuable members of society,” said Bridgette Hanson, a Gilbert High School freshman, adding her seventh-grade newspaper class was stopped because of lack of funding.

Moms Demand Action, a nonprofit group advocating for stronger gun laws, also opposes the bill. The group has its own firearms safety program called Be SMART– an acronym for secure, model, ask, recognize and tell.

The program is aimed at parents and firearms owners to take the responsibility, not children, said Kelley Ireland, co-leader of Be SMART in Tucson. Ireland added firearms safety training sessions in schools “could traumatize children.”

This is not the first time such a bill has been considered. In 2022, Bliss’ District 1 colleague, Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley, introduced HB 2448, which was nearly the same as HB 2332, with many sections of Nguyen’s bill taken verbatim by Bliss.

The exact curriculum is another concern of opponents. HB 2332 says sessions should be based on firearms accident prevention programs that must have “a task force made up of educators, school administrators, curriculum specialists, urban housing safety officials, clinical psychologists, law enforcement officials and firearms safety experts from the National Rifle Association,” along with other requirements.

The NRA’s Eddie Eagle program has a task force that matches this requirement using nearly the same words as the bill. That program, established in 1988, also fulfills another requirement in the bill, that the firearms accident prevention programs have existed for more than 30 years.

COVID from PAGE 7

The SUSD website also notes, “Total percentage increase in average teacher salary since FY 2018” is 24%.

Total SUSD “maintenance and operation” expenditures for the 2023-24 school year are budgeted at $183.5 million, up nearly 4% from the 2022-23 school year total spending of $176.8 million.

In November, 53% of voters approved an SUSD request for a District Additional Assistance override for $14.5 million or 10% of the revenue control limit (whichever is lower) per year for seven years.

The Scottsdale voters approved a bill of about $113 annually on a $500,000 home – the median value of a house within the district.

Old Town gallery owner fondly recalls artist and his wife

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Nicole Royse still treasures the time she spent with renowned artist and musician Fred Tieken and his wife Gail, who both passed last spring.

Entrusted with the sale of the family’s massive art collection, Royce decided that it would be best to create a retrospective of Fred’s contemporary works from the past decade and display them in her Old Town Arts District gallery.

“Once their home was sold, I selected about 40 pieces to bring to my gallery and I really wanted to show people his

range and how he began his career up until the very last painting – which I have on display. It’s called ‘the future is now,’” Royse said.

Royse’s relationship with the Tiekens began over a decade ago when Fred retired from his long-time career in graphic design and marketing to pursue his interest in art full-time.

“Over a decade ago, when I was curating at monOrchid, I was able to give him one of his first big shows,” Royse recalled. “That's when I really formed a nice friendship and a good working relationship with him.”

remained close to the Tiekens,

see GALLERY page 20

New leader a familiar face at Desert Stages

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Following the decision made by its board of directors to restructure the theatre's operations, Desert Stages welcomed long-time supporter and former business manager Stephanie Yampolsky back as its new executive director.

Although Yampolsky is new to the position, she is no stranger to Desert Stages Theatre boasting a resume spanning over 21 years.

Her involvement with Desert Stages Theatre began in 2001, when her daughter Jordan attended a summer camp at the theatre. Her two younger sons eventually followed and before Yampolsky knew it, she was parked at the theatre year-round.

“My son Jeremy, who was 4 at the time auditioned with Jordan for Peter Pan, they both got in and took one show off right after that and then, I'd say probably for the next six years, they

did not stop doing a show,” Yampolsky recalled.

“It just became a place that my kids love and, although it sounds cliche, it was their second home throughout their life.”

Her constant presence at the theatre caused Yampolsky to get close to Desert Stages founders Laurie and Gerry Cullity.

Eventually, they offered Yampolsky the business manager’s position, which she held until 2020.

“I had always donated my time volunteering and because of that, my kids became really close with Laurie. Then, around 2014, our business manager quit, so (Laurie) asked me, ‘will you please take his position?’ And so, I did,” Yampolsky recalled. “I continued doing it until (Laurie) decided to retire in February 2020 and move to Florida.”

Eventually, Yampolsky was furloughed amid the financial crisis that the pandemic and closures wreaked on

theaters and other live venues around the world.

Yampolsky continued to stay involved with the kids and her youngest son Jeremy — who will be co-directing the theatre’s upcoming “Shrek The Musical Jr” play.

But in January, the board decided to restructure the theatre's operations and invited Yampolsky to step into the role held by former executive director Ellen Versen – who was offered another posi-

Royse

Scottsdale gallery owner Nicole Royse developed an exhibition that paid homage to the late Fred and Gail Tieken. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

Stephanie Yampolsky is the new executive director of Desert Stages Theatre in Scottsdale. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

Local rapper Trip Rexx turns anguish into music

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Progress Staff Writer

Rapper Trip Rexx has witnessed his fair share of mental health struggles.

A close family member suffers from manic depression, and he’s struggled with anxiety and depression. He channels that through his music.

“I talk about it a lot in my music, hoping to help other people who deal with that,” he said. “I want to normalize that in society. It’s a big topic that a lot of people deal with, but it’s swept under the rug a lot.”

Rexx will showcase his music when he opens for Shawnna, the daughter of Buddy Guy, at Aura in Tempe on Friday, March 3.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I just played Valley Bar in January and it was one of my favorite shows. I played for 200 people there, with a couple other bands.”

He said fans can expect crowd interaction and, at his urging, mosh pits and a range of emotions. Rexx will include his song, “Me & My Bimmer,” which is approaching 1.3 million streams. His monthly Spotify listeners exceeds 60,000.

“I like to play with different sounds,” he added. “There’s straight-up raping on a fast, hard beat; crooning a bit; and punk rock influences. I bring a whole experience.”

Rexx, who was born Justin Corsillo in Toronto, will perform as part of the prestigious South by Southwest festival in Austin, and has a March 26 gig in LA, where he now resides.

Rexx who grew up in Scottsdale and attended Phoenix Country Day, also lived in the Bay area and Connecticut.

He struggled with feelings of loneliness, isolation, anxiety and depression from a young age and found solace in creative pursuits like drawing, theater and playing instruments.

GALLERY from PAGE 19

helping Fred by curating exhibitions, managing his social media and marketing his work.

“I helped him really present his work

in the right way and to get in front of the right audience because his work is very specific,” Royse said.

Inspired by artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and other 1980s and 90s street artists, Fred's work often offered bra-

Alternative rock and hip-hop music

zen takes on his perception of the world around him.

“It's very in your face, it's very bold, it's very energy felt and it's very specific, so it had to go to the right audiences,” Royse said. “He needed to have the right mar-

became his main escape as an adolescent, and in high school he discovered a passion for songwriting where he felt he could express himself.

“I’m a huge hip-hop fan,” he said. “That’s the main genre growing up. I listen to a lot of alt-rock, and pop-punk, too. I like classic rock, funk and soul, but hip-hop is my biggest inspiration. The artists I look up to the most are Future, Young Thug, Kanye West and Lil Wayne.

“But I also love Nirvana and Fall Out Boy. I blend my music with rock and other genres. I’m really inspired by film and television, nature and philosophy. There are existential topics in my music, big thinking about life type stuff. That makes an appearance in a lot of my music.”

He took rap seriously while studying philosophy at ASU, and left the college to pursue a music career. It’s been gaining momentum the past two or three years, since moving to Downtown LA.

In the summer of 2022, he dropped the album “Blue Planet,” which centers around mental health. He’s preparing to release a new album.

While he refuses to keep himself in a box sonically or emotionally, his music is passionate and honest.

“The sound mixes rap cadences and flows with pop-punk melodies and introspective thoughts, often accompanied by bouncy trap production that has a psychedelic twist.”

If You Go:

Shawnna w/Trip Rexx

When: 9 p.m. Friday, March 3

Where: Aura, 411 S. Mill Ave., Tempe

Cost: $20 in advance Info: eventbrite.com; Instagram @auratempe

ket base for his work.”

These works were also consciously a departure from the work he had built a career on as a graphic designer.

see GALLERY page 22

Trip Rexx lived in Scottsdale before attending ASU to study philosophy. (Trip Rexx/Submitted)

If you believe that the perfect place is not just about where it is, but about how it makes you feel, then Maravilla might be the perfect place

“When he had his graphic design business, he did what the clients wanted. So when he started painting, he got to break free which is why some of the more graphic pieces are from earlier in his career,” Royse said. “That helped him break free to really share his personality, his experiences and his creative process.”

Once Fred became established and he garnered a following, Royse was there right beside him to usher his artwork into new spaces and help him create a home gallery at his Paradise Valley estate.

Fred and Gail split their time between residences in Venice Beach, California, and Paradise Valley soaking up the remarkable art both scenes had to offer.

Their art collection included over 140 works, some by famed artists like Warhol and Picasso.

When the couple passed last spring, the works were hung one last time during a celebration of life ceremony at their home before being handed over to Royse for sale to benefit charities in Arizona and Illinois.

The bulk of the works from the wellknown artists in the couple’s collection was auctioned off in October by the Larsen Auction while the works crafted by Fred were set aside by Royse to curate for one last show to honor her long-time friends.

The exhibition, titled “Fred Tieken Retrospective,” opened on Feb. 1 showing off 40 pieces of Fred's work ranging in mediums from crisp, graphic design work to abstract portrayals of everyday life to sculptures of beloved characters of his including Uno, a fictional bird whom Fred based

DESERT from PAGE 19

tion within Desert Stages but declined, according to sources.

Versen piloted Desert Stages Theatre through shutdown orders and helping it recover from them and Yampolsky hopes to keep that momentum rolling forward while recapturing the magic created by the since-deceased founders.

“Laurie passed away in June of 2022 – Gerry in 2004 – and I want to honor

books around.

However, some of the notable works in the gallery are a work titled “Walking The Dog” - which Royse says reminds her most of Fred and Gail each time she glances at it – as well as several geometric pieces and one of Fred's signature pieces titled “Pass The Mayo” which details Fred and Gail’s stay at the Mayo Clinic after Gail donated her kidney to Fred.

The opening night drew a crowd in the hundreds and saw 15 works fly off the walls. The exhibition is set to close to-

their legacy and the fact that (Laurie’s) no longer here is a huge thing,” Yampolsky said.

Other possibilities with the job also were intriguing to Yampolsky.

“It was definitely a challenge that I wanted to take on running a nonprofit community theater,” she said. “I also missed the creativity part of being with the kids, actors, the production teams and just the whole environment which is why I said yes to taking on this challenge.”

morrow, Feb. 27, although Royse teased that some works may remain available for purchase at her gallery.  However, the exhibition's major purpose was to pay homage to Royse’s longtime friends and leave them intrigued to learn more about who the Tiekens were.

“I hope it leaves an impression and I hope that it leads them to dig a little deeper and look at his work, what he and his wife have been able to accomplish in the time that they were here and the impact that they had on Arizona,” Royse

Despite the challenges that come with running a nonprofit community theatre, Yampolsky hopes to create a family-like environment for her performers with programs like a 10-week spring and fall camp and a mommy-and-me musical theatre program.

She also wants to further engage the community through events like the theatre’s upcoming “It Feels Like Home Gala,” which will be hosted for the first time since 2019 on April 28.

“By having a welcoming environ -

said. “They were incredibly important for the art community.”

If You Go:

Tieken Retrospective

When: Now through Monday, February 27

Where: Royse Contemporary, 7077 E. Main Street, Suite 6, Scottsdale Cost: Free.

Info: roysecontemporary.com

ment, being inclusive to everyone who walks in our door, planning more community events and getting the parents more involved like they were in the past …. we can recreate that family atmosphere that we had when Laurie and Gerry were with us,” Yampolsky said.

Desert Stages Theatre

7014 East Camelback Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-483-1664. desertstages.org

People have only until tomorrow to see the Tielkin exhibit at Royse Contemporary in Old Town. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)

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Scottsdale group gambles on Sin City with $50M complex

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Sta Writer

Bottled Blonde, founded in the Old Town Entertainment District in 2014, hopes to be capping o its rst decade of business in style with the opening of a standalone building along the famed Las Vegas Strip.

e four-story, 25,000-square-foot building with features a rooftop lounge for gatherings and events will be located on the southeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road, directly across from the Bellagio Hotel & Casino.

Because of its prime real estate, the building has fetched a hefty price tag of

$50 million.

Despite the high cost, Les Corieri, coowner of Evening Entertainment Group – which owns Bottled Blonde – is eager to break ground on his new building later this year and open by the fall of 2024.

“We never thought it would be a concept that we could take across multiple states, but it took o in such a fashion that it made sense to test this market among others,” Corieri said.

Although Las Vegas is an ideal location for any nightlife venue, Corieri said he and his team had been staking out the city for nearly four years awaiting the perfect spot.

see SIN CITY page 26

Family-owned Ranch Realty marks 49 years

BY ALISON STANTON Progress Contributor

In 1974, Harry R. Berg opened Ranch Realty in McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale and 49 years later, the familyowned business is strong as ever.

And it is still located in the original address at the Paseo Village Shopping Center.

A trio of Berg brothers currently co-own Ranch Realty: Harry Robert Berg Jr., who goes by Robert, is the designated broker; Leo Berg handles marketing and outside projects, and Mike Berg is o ce manager.

Ranch Realty handles sales, leasing, property management and investor services, Robert noted, adding that the vast majority of their work is with residential properties.

On the leasing end, Robert and his brothers welcome hundreds of winter visitors every year to their large inventory of seasonal rentals.

“Most real estate o ces are not fullservice like Ranch Realty,” Robert said.

“We are also proud to work with multiple generations of families. Our current client mix includes many who are children, or

other family members of past clients.

“You have to be in business a long time and provide consistently good service to have so many clients who are related to previous clients.”

In addition to probably being the only real estate o ce in Scottsdale located at the same address for almost half a century, Robert said the quality of their property management services, to both landlords and tenants, is de nitely, as he put it, “brag worthy.”

“More than four decades managing and leasing rental properties resulted in systems and methods that keep property management fees low, and tenants happy,” Leo said.

Mike said Ranch Realty has been through every kind of real estate market imaginable over the last 49 years, including recessions, buyer’s markets, seller’s markets and now a pandemic market as well.

No matter the type of market, Robert said the experienced agents from Ranch Realty are eager to help buyers nd the home of their dreams, sellers achieve their goals and investors buy properties that will bring the

highest rent and lowest vacancy for the price.

Lately, Robert said he and his brothers have noticed some interesting trends in real estate.

“Potential sellers that can a ord to wait are putting o selling and are waiting for a better market. We are seeing cash buyers getting some pretty good deals now while mortgage interest rates are high.

“Also, creative buyers and sellers are negotiating deals where high rates are ‘bought-down’ to rates that result in more a ordable payments for the buyers,” he said.

Looking back, Robert is proud to say Ranch Realty practices the same philosophies his dad brought to the company in 1974.

“Experience and area knowledge are crucial to buyers, sellers and investors, no matter the decade,” Robert said.

“While technology has greatly im-

proved the speed of delivery and accuracy of information we provide, our experience, ethics, e ort and area knowledge have carried us through our rst near half century. We trust those same qualities can carry us through the next fty years.”

Ranch Realty is located at 7353 E. Via Paseo Del Sur, Suite 470 in Scottsdale. For more information call 480-991-4000 or visit ranchrealty.com

Scottsdale-founded Bottled Blonde is expanding to Las Vegas in 2024 with a 25,000 square foot $50 million dollar building (Special to the Progress)

Ranch Realty is marking 49 years of serving Scottsdale in “brag-worthy” style. (Special to the Progress)

3/9 Stravinsky Firebird & Mahler 4

3/10 & 11 US Naval Academy Glee Club with the Festival Orchestra

3/7 Williams, Mendelssohn & Tchaikovsky

3/19 Zukerman Trio

3/21 Kelli O’Hara

3/5 Michael Feinstein & Jean-Yves Thibaudet

3/31 Tito Puente Jr.

4/3 Chris Botti

3/27 Rosanne Cash

SOLD

“ is is the one that makes sense because it's not just the Las Vegas Strip on the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Boulevard, but it's the highest pedestrian tra c corner in the United States,” he said.

However, it will be a long journey to get Bottled Blonde opened by its targeted November 2024 date.

e project is still in the process of securing building permits from the City of Las Vegas and Corieri admits that the process tends to take a long time.

“Permits in cities have traditionally been very slow,” he said.

Because of this, Corieri hopes to begin breaking ground by September.

Also standing in the way of the targeted completion date is the rising cost of materials and the nationwide shortage of construction labor.

According to a report by Associated Builders and Contractors, “ e construction industry will need to attract an estimated 546,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2023 to meet the demand for labor.”

Adding to the ante, the project foot-

print sits among the Grand Bazaar Shops, located next to Horseshoe Las Vegas, and will include the demolition of several Strip-facing buildings to accommodate the new construction.

However, the location was just too good for Corieri and his excitement to get the lo-

cation operation outweighed any anxiety provided by the potential hurdles.

“In ation in ated the prices but there's nothing you can do. We could either wait and lose the spot or build now and continue to do business,” he said.

“ e daytime business there is unmatched since there are 150,000 people that walk by this location every day and the nighttime is the same way.”

Although Corieri admits his product will not immediately be competing with the big players like XS Nightclub inside of Wynn and OMNIA inside of Caesars Palace, he believes that Bottled Blonde will o er an approachable and economical option for nightlife along the strip.

“We're not there to compete with the big boys, that's not why we're going,” said Corieri. “We wanted it to be more approachable and more economical versus the big nightclubs so we can appeal to the masses.”

In order to appeal to the masses, Corieri teased that he will have employees from Bottled Blondes current locations in Scottsdale, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth and Nashville – which is slated for a summer opening – journeying to Las Vegas to train sta on the company’s op-

erations and procedures.

“We do that for all markets where we take people from di erent markets to go to new markets,” Corieri said. “ ere'll be people within Miami or Dallas or our Scottsdale market who will go to Las Vegas.”

Once opened, the space will also house three other restaurant, bar, or club concepts inside of its con nes.

Among those concepts is Zuluma, an all-new concept that will be tucked into the third oor of the building.

Corieri is still in negotiations with two other concepts to round out the building.

Although this is exciting for Corieri, he humbly admitted that he never thought that his concept started nearly a decade ago in the former home of Axis Radius –which was the longest-running dance club in Scottsdale–— would ever expand outside of Old Town’s entertainment district.

“I never would have thought this would be in all these di erent markets but it’s really cool to do so and it took a lot of hard work,” Corieri said.

Info: bottledblondepizzeria.com

Les Corieri, co-owner of Evening Entertainment Group, which owns Bottled Blonde, is eager to break ground on his new location of Bottled Blonde later this year. (Special to the Progress)

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Italian Association celebrates heritage with festival

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Progress Staff Writer

Six men dreamed of bringing a piece of Italy to the desert, so the country would be represented in the best light.

Thus, the Scottsdale-based nonprofit Italian Association of Arizona was born.

“The founders wanted to find a way to bring Italians and those of Italian heritage together in one place to share pieces of their culture that fade away with every generation,” said Francesco Guzzo, executive director and Gilbert resident.

“The founders wanted to find a way to share that culture with those who appreciate what Italians and Italy has to offer. As much as we all love and enjoy true Italian cooking, Italy represents so much more than the food.”

The art, music, culture and traditions

will be honored during the eighth annual Italian Festival at Heritage Square in Phoenix on Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5. The following weekend, Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, Sun City will host the first Italian Festival at the Sundial Recreation Center.

“We started with a small event along the Southbridge in Old Town Scottsdale in 2014 with a few vendors and lot of enthusiasm,” Guzzo said.

“Eight festivals later, we are hitting attendance capacity and keeping Italian traditions alive.”

The Italian Festival has a variety of live entertainment during the weekend including opera singers, The Sicilian Band, accordion player Cory Pesaturo, and traditional flag wavers from the Piemonte region.

“The flag wavers are finally able to come back after being gone since 2019,”

Guzzo said.

“Fifteen or 16 flag wavers are flying in to perform throughout the festival. That’s a big deal for us. Everybody

loves the flag wavers. Since COVID, they’ve been locked down and Italy

Free concerts to light up Civic Center outdoor stages

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

With the Civic Center mostly open after a year-long renovation, one of its hottest amenities has become its outdoor awning that doubles as an intimate stage.

Starting Sunday, March 5, the stage will transform into a shade-filled congregation space for some of the state's sweetest-sounding emerging acts to show off their musical prowess.

“We're thrilled to start inviting our community back on campus, especially for these outdoor concerts that are so relaxing and fun and just a great place for our community to gather,” said Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts programming manager Diandra

Adamczyk.

Because of this, the team at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts has recruited emerging artists from around the state to serenade the Sunday afternoon crowds with expansive setlists ranging from an hour and a half to two hours in length.

Kicking things off on Sunday, March 5, will be the folk and pop duo of Remi Goode and Gabe Lehree,  who have been making music since they were 13 years old, followed by the downtown Phoenix-based fusion rock outfit Hot House Orchids.

The next weekend, the microphones will be filled by local blues-pop artist Tessa Karrys and the vibrant sounds of renowned performers Carlos Azarte and

STAGES page 30

Gabriel Bey & Friends will be among many artists filling the airwaves at the Civic Center in the coming weeks with soft melodies and jazzy tunes when live music returns to the Civic Center mall. (Special to the Progress) see

The famous flag wavers, Sbandieratori from Asti, will appear at the Italian Festivals in Phoenix and Sun City. (Courtesy of the Italian Association of Arizona) see ITALIAN page 32

Live and Livid: Comedian Margaret Cho uses concerts for LGBTQ+ advocacy

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Emmy- and Grammy-nominated entertainer Margaret Cho has never been one to shy away from sticking up for members of the LGBTQ+ population. Her latest tour is no deviation.

However, Cho said she decided to be less blunt about the issues plaguing that community with her latest show, “Live and Livid,” which comes to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, March 2.

“It's really indicative of this time where we have this rise in white Christian nationalism and that's really hideous and scary along with the attack on drag queens,” Cho said. “Drag is really the place where I think, in the queer community, we experience a lot of joy and a lot of celebration, so that's a very scary thing. That, along with all the racism that’s happening and the fighting for our rights to exist, there's a lot to say.”

Because of this, her latest show focuses on the challenges and how the population will make it through these trying times.

“It's all based on where we are in the queer community, where we are as women and as people of color who are

STAGES

the Kind Souls will follow.

A week later, 19-year-old Phoenixbased solo artist and winner of the 2019 Proof is in the Pudding Music Competition hosted by Phoenix and Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Foundation, who will be followed by longtime trumpeter and Cleveland native  Gabriel Bey, aka Spooky Kool. Bey will be accompanied by a collection of fine musicians.

Rounding out the gigs are bluegrass/ folk outfit Cisco and The Racecars and vocalist/violinist Kim Weston who will break out some jazzy tunes during her lengthy setlist.

“We try to provide a range of genres because this series brings so many different people to the park and our center from kids to young adults or older adults and their puppies, so we try to give ev-

Emmy- and Grammy-nominated entertainer Margaret Cho is bringing her “Live and Livid” comedy tour to the Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, March 2 and plans to marry comedy with advocacy for the LGBT+ community with her performance. (photo courtesy of Sergio Garcia)

just trying to figure out how we will survive this onslaught on our rights, on our real freedoms and on our personhood? And how do we cope with it?” she said.  Her answer to how to cope with these problems is laughter.

“Humor is a way to cope with trauma and difficult experiences with hope and it's always going to be a great way of coping,” Cho said. “I'm really about finding a

eryone a little bit of everything,” Adamczyk said.

With a commitment to playing a variety of music, these Sunday affairs were once a staple of the Civic Center before the pandemic and the ensuing renovation attracting anywhere in the neighborhood of two to three thousand visitors on show days. Scottsdale Arts expects a similar-sized crowd when these shows kick off next weekend.

“Our park is so unique since it's almost a little hidden pocket of beauty and the atmosphere gives performers the ability to try some new things and test the boundaries with an engaged audience,” Adamczyk said.

“Pre-COVID, we used to get somewhere between 2,000 to 3,000 people per day, so it was also a great way for local artists to have a really big reach since it’s a free show.”

way to find some light through the darkness of it. It's tough, but it's really important.”

Cho said she also believes that this is a pillar upon which the institution of comedy was founded.

“Comedy is an outsider art form and it's more of a proletariat art form,” she said. “(Comedy is) more just about where you're coming from, whether it's from a place punching up or punching down, you always want to lift up communities that are marginalized, and you want to punch down at the establishment — which I think is much more valuable.”

Cho emphasizes that her show is not exclusive to members of the LGBTQ+ population.

“We can all laugh, and we can all get into this,” Cho said. “Fighting for the rights of the queer community does not mean that you have to be queer to do so.

“The A in LGBTQIA stands for allies and allies are essential to our survival.”

Cho said she strives to maintain a balance between being comedy and serious issues.

“It's always about trying to find that balance, because I’m still an entertainer, and it's still about laughing, which is essential to life,” she said.

Although these shows are going to serve as an early barometer for future attendance, Adamczyk said she has high expectations and could use these shows to spotlight some musicians of other genres and provide some philanthropic events.

“I hope to expand on this series to add more concerts, add more activations like a puppy rescue event or stuff for families to do,” said Adamczyk. “Hopefully next year, we'll see even more expansion on the Sun and Sound series by maybe some jam band sessions, storytelling or poetry tours around our Civic Center Park.”

In the meantime, these shows are set to attract countless fans of local music as well as art vendors, local jam producers, a walk-up bar and draw plenty of business for the surrounding restaurants and establishments.

The intimate Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts allows her to have these conversations and forge a bond with her audience, she said.

“It's so important to have that community and It's so important to have that connection,” Cho said. “I really love it and I think it's really necessary for me… especially now as an older person where comedy is really exciting and still challenging, I'm really thrilled to be able to still do it.”

Through her show, Cho wants to spark activism and build a sense of community, while inspiring fans.

“I just hope they find hope and a sense of renewal that they can take on whatever is happening, and we can survive as a queer community,” Cho said.

If You Go:

Margaret Cho: Live and Livid! When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2

Where: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second Street, Scottsdale

Cost: Tickets start at $39 Info: scottsdaleperformingarts. org

If You Go:

Sun & Sounds schedule

All concerts are at Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. Concerts are free.

Info: scottsdaleperformingarts. org

March 5

Remi Goode & Gabe Lehrer | Hot House Orchids

March 12

Tessa Karrys | Carlos Azarte and the Kind Souls

March 19

Japhar Pullen | Gabriel Bey & Friends

March 26

Cisco and The Racecars | Kim Weston

Neuropathy or Poor Circulation? Diagnosing the Difference

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that involves damage to the nerves in your feet. Symptoms include muscle cramping, difficulty walking, burning, tingling, numbness, and pain. In many cases, it’s caused by diabetes, but poor circulation can also cause these symptoms or make them worse. Poor circulation or PAD (peripheral artery disease) is caused by the buildup of fatty material inside the arteries, limiting the amount of blood that

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Grab a kilt and head to the Scottish Games

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

For 57 years, thousands of Arizonan Scotsmen and women have gathered in the metro area to celebrate their culture and heritage.

They’ll be doing it again next week when the Phoenix Scottish Games are presented by Caledonian Society of Arizona at Gilbert Regional Park, 3005 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert.

The games, which were moved to Gilbert Regional Park from Phoenix’s Steele Indian School Park, begin at 5 p.m. Friday, March 3, and run through Sunday, March 5.

You don’t have to be Scottish to join the fun – and if you’re not sure of your roots, there are genealogists on site who can help trace them.

The weekend opens Friday evening with a colorful and stirring presentation called the Phoenix International Tattoo, a dazzling display of music and marches that echo the pageantry of the Scotland’s famed pipe band competitions.

This year, 28 members of the Isle of Skye Pipe Band from the city of Portree

ITALIAN from PAGE 28

was never back to normal the way it was here.”

The event will provide authentic cuisine such as fresh biscottis, gelato, espresso, pasta and pizza. A few local vendors include L’Impasto, Little Italy of Scottsdale, Pasta Rea, My Daddy’s Italian Bakery and Pomo Pizzeria.

Non-food vendors will sell jewelry, handmade Italian leather purses and other items. Plus, children can enjoy face painting and balloon makers in the Kids Fun Zone.

The Italian Festival in Phoenix is sponsored by Peroni, DTPHX, Galbani, Queen Creek Olive Mill, Anderson Windows, PepsiCo and Desert Rose Transportation. The VIP Experience is thanks to Campari & Aperol.

Guzzo called La Cucina Galbani Cooking Stage a highlight.

“No one would have thought there would be such a solid Italian community in the desert and yet, here we are,” he said.

are flying into perform – some leaving their homes to travel abroad for the first time in their lives.

They will join an international cast of over 100 performers who include MarineSandpiper, Southern California’s only rock and roll bagpiper, and Craic in the Stone, who update traditional Scottish music with the sounds of the Pogues, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and other contemporary groups.

That performance will be followed by the ore traditional military tattoo, featuring performers from the United States, Canada and Scotland.

Aklso participating in both Friday even shows are the Alma College Kiltie Dancers, Arizona Academy of Highland Dance, Jason Cartmell’s Rockstrocity and the Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band.

One of the most notable guests at the tattoo will be Alex Aghajanian, president of the Tournament of Roses Parade. His visit kicks off the Pipes on Parade project that will perform in the 2024 parade featuring many pipers and drummers from Arizona.

“This will be the largest pipe band in

“It’s a little dispersed, but our voice can be heard and now we can finally be seen. Historically speaking, the first known Italian to come through Arizona was Father Kino back in the late 1600s and built missions that still stand today.”

In 1691, Father Eusebio Kino made the first of about 40 expeditions into Arizona.

Now there’s a new generation of Italians making their mark in Arizona, he said. They range from Jerry Colangelo, businessman and sports executive, to chef Joey Maggiore who owns several local and national Italian and concept restaurants and is keeping his father’s (Tomaso Maggiore) legacy alive.

A repeat visitor to the festival is Margherita Fray of Scottsdale. The 96-yearold is the last living known partisan and an artist.

“There’s something unique and special about that lady,” Guzzo said. “I love that lady to death. We’re happy to support her and give her an opportunity to showcase her artwork. It’s just beauti-

the history of the parade and already represents 12 countries,” said spokesman Darryl Toupkin.

Another guest is the Earl of Caithness, Malcolm Ian Sinclair, who is visiting from Scotland to preside over the Clan Sinclair family gathering at the games.

Performances run Friday from 7-8:45 p.m. but gates will open at 5 p.m. so guests can enjoy other entertainment and food.

Once the games themselves kick into high gear Saturday, there will be plenty of eye-popping action for attendees

Men and women will be testing their strength in games like the Caber Toss, Sheaf Toss, Scottish Hammer Throw and Stone Put as well as wrestling.

Don’t like athletic competitions? No worries.

Also on the card all weekend is music, dancing and storytelling as 35 clans gather in small camps throughout the park to celebrate family reunions.

Entertainment includes the International Bagpipe Competition with at least six pipe bands, the Highland Dancing Competition and music by groups that include the Noble McCoy Band, Stoneybank, the Alma College

ful.”

Entrenched in the arts, she also penned a book called “Marisa’s Courage.” She was raised in an anti-fascist family in Italy, where they were witness to bombings and executions by homegrown and foreign aggressors.

She became a member of the Resistenza as a partisan, belonging to a group called the Garibaldi Brigade around her home city of Turin and participated in dangerous missions to support the fighters in the underground for several years.

Fray is still emotionally distraught over memories of this time. In 1947 she came to America as a war bride, marrying a man she had briefly met a year earlier. She endured the marriage to a “deeply flawed” man and moved to Scottsdale in 2000.

“There are still wars today and lives are still being lost,” she said through her daughter, Angela Fray. “The war in Ukraine has really affected me and brought back many memories. Countries don’t fight wars. The leaders of

Kiltie Highland Dancers and Jason Cartmell’s Rockstrocity.

Food will include meat pies and what Toupkin promises to be “the best fish n’ chips in the Valley.” Thirsty attendees can check out the Locheil and Guinness beer gardens and whiskey and wine tasting booths. There will even be a cigar lounge on the premises.

Christopher Yate, an acrobat and stilt walker, will be entertaining and a British vintage car show will be offered.

Kilts and other Scottish apparel will be offered by some of the scores of vendors on the premises and there also will be plenty of kid-friendly activities such as a “fishing pond,” archery lessons, costumes, arts and crafts and others.

The event also is pet-friendly and people are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the entertainment.

Proceeds from the games support scholarships for Highland athletes and entertainers and other activities of the Caledonian Society of Arizona, the largest Celtic organization in the state. For information and tickets: phoenixscottishgames.com.

countries fight wars.”

Fray said she enjoys meeting people at the festival and sharing her story in person.

“I am amazed that there is still so much interest in World War II,” she added. At the festival, she enjoys “the food and meeting vendors and seeing people enjoy themselves. The Italian Association does a great job.

“Italy has ancient history and art. I am really proud of being Italian. I am from a beautiful city and the former capital of Italy.”

If You Go:

Margaret Cho: Live and Livid!

When: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 4, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 5

Where: Heritage Square, 115 N. Sixth Street, Phoenix

Cost: $10 in advance, and $20 day of. VIP experiences available Info: italianassociation.org

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NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hold a public hearing on March 8, 2023, at 5:00 P.M in the City Hall Kiva, 3939 N. Drinkwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona, for the purpose of hearing all persons who wish to comment on the following:

Written comments submitted electronically at least one hour prior to the meeting are being accepted. A written Public Comment may be submitted electronically to PlanningCommission@ScottsdaleAZ.gov. Public comments will also be accepted at the meeting.

3-AB-2022 (Kaufax Residence Abandonment) Request by owner to abandon portions of N. 69th Street, E. Mark Lane, and N. 70th Street, adjacent to parcels 216-68-099A, 216-68-097A, 216-68-099B, and 216-68-097B, with Single-family Residential, Environmentally Sensitive Lands, Foothills Overlay (R1-70/ESL/FO) zoning designation, located at 28357 and 28221 N. 69th Street, and 28228 and 28212 N. 70th Street. Staff contact person is Jesus Murillo, 480-312-7849. Applicant contact person is Pearl Kaufax, 480-947-5504.

5-AB-2022 (Martinson GLOPE Abandonment) Request by owner to abandon the 33-foot wide GLO roadway easement along the northern property line and to abandon 250 square feet of a ¼ cul-de-sac abutting N. 69th Street of parcel 216-50-028A, with Single-family Residential, Environmentally Sensitive Lands, Foothills Overlay (R1-70 ESL FO) zoning located at 31421 N. 69th Street. Staff contact person is Chris Zimmer, 480-312-2347. Applicant contact person is Wayne Rosendahl, (480) 599-1263.

7-UP-2022 (Puttshack) Request by owner for a Conditional Use Permit for a Bar use (Puttshack at Scottsdale Quarter) in a +/- 26,244 square foot building with +/3,097 of outdoor patio space, located at 15059 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 100 with Planned Regional Center (PRC) zoning. Staff contact person is Bryan Cluff, 480-312-2258. Applicant contact person is Brian Greathouse, 602-234-9930.

For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov search “Scottsdale Planning CaseFiles” or in your URL search bar you can type in https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/

A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING: Online at: http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/Boards/planning-commission

CHAIRMAN

Attest

CAITLYN GULSVIG

PLANNING SPECIALIST

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

Case Number: CV2022-053761 Hearing Date: Friday, March 31, 2023 Hearing Time: 1:50:00 PM All required documents must be emailed to the division email listed below one week prior to your hearing. Failure to provide the required documenation may result in your hearing being vacated. Any Parental Consent Forms, Waiver of Notice, Acceptance of Service and/or Affidavit of Service by Certified Mail must be filed with the Clerk of Court one week prior to your hearing. Service by Publication can only be granted by the Commissioner assigned to your case. Hearing Type: NAME CHANGE FOR A MINOR CHILD Please select the link below to attend your hearing from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Both video and audio must be enabled and working at the time of your hearing for your case to be heard. Your hearing will be held by video via Microsoft Teams before: Commissioner Gary Popham Judicial Assistant: Lisa Cooper Division Email: nec02@ jbazmc.maricopa.gov Judicial Assistant Phone: 602372-3131 MICROSOFT TEAMS HEARING

Published in the Scottsdale Progress, Feb 26, Mar 5, 12, 19, 2023

TPI Composites, Inc. seeks a Customer Quality Manager in Scottsdale, AZ or remote to dsgn, dvlop, test & eval integred sys’s. Travel reqd. Req deg & exp For full details & how to apply visit: bit.ly/

TPI034

41st Parameter, Inc. in Scottsdale, AZ is seeking to fill the position of Software Development Engineer Senior to create software deployment automation plans for high-throughput and low response time applications. Role incl. a comprehensive benefits pkg including hlth, life and disability insurance, PTO incl 12 paid holidays & parental & family care leave, employee stock purchase plan and 401(k) plan w/ company match. Send resumes and salary inquiries to Amy Harmon, HR, via email at AmyHarmon@experian.com. Must reference job code: 20596.346

Manager Data Analytics sought by Republic Services in Scottsdale, AZ. Lead in building data analytics platform, tools, processes, & solutions. Assist in the dvlpmt of a Corporate Data Strategy. This strategy will incl how best to leverage ETL, CDC, data warehousing, data marts, operational data stores, enterprise analytics. Partner w/ functional teams to deploy Analytical insights & solutions. Maintain productive working relationships w/ project sponsors & key systems users. Ensure that solution delivery meets service level agreements. Actively participates in enterpriselevel data governance activities. Dvlp strong relationships w/ key data vendors. Stay current on s/ ware dvlpmt techniques & recommends improvements to current processes to support application dvlpmt efforts. Prep & execute project plans, as reqd, to ensure timely & cost-effective resource mgmt. Oversee & participate in all phases of the S/ware Dvlpmt Life Cycle (SDLC). Recommend audit & review systems & practices to ensure compliance w/ procedures, regulations, & standards. Responsible for the employment, promotion, associate performance evaluation, training, motivation, counseling, & discipline of employees. Manage competing priorities, workloads, & activities to achieve multiple project objectives. Perform other job-related duties as assigned or apparent. Reqs: Bach's deg (or foreign equiv) in IT, Engg, or related field +8 yrs of exp in enterprise-level IT projects, data initiatives, operations & support; 3 yrs of exp in managing project teams through all phases of the project lifecycle or similar mgmt roles. Apply online at www.republicservices.jobs or submit resume to Republic Services, S. Bogan, 18500 N Allied Way, Phoenix, AZ 85054. Ref: EG-CI7V-23