Ryan Regehr likes to talk roses— especially to folks new to Arizona who think they can’t grow the beautiful flowers here.
“We run into a lot of people from the colder climates who think you can’t grow roses in Arizona,” said Regehr, a member of the Mesa-East Valley Rose Society. “We don’t freeze. The roses never have to be covered. We have to deal with the heat in the summer. They slow down in the summer, but we have three to four great bloom cycles and the roses don’t die or have to be cut back like they do in a colder climate.”
Regehr is serving as the chairman of the Mesa-East Valley Rose Society’s Rose Auction at 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Mesa Community College’s Navajo Room in the Kirk Student Center, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa. This year the auction will take credit and debit cards. For more information, visit www. roses4az-mevrs.org.
“We have roses from Mississippi already,” Regehr said. “We should be receiving roses from Tennessee at any time that are very unique. We have roses that you can’t buy anywhere in Arizona. “We take and get roses from
distributors all across the country and then we pick the best 100. The top 100 of the roses we receive will be on auction.”
A sort of Barrett-Jackson for rose lovers, the auction features 100 flowers, but the accompanying sale could have anywhere between 10 and 75 roses. The organization will not know how many will be on sale until the day of the event.
“We will also have local suppliers who come in with fertilizers,” Regehr added.
“So they’re not just getting the roses themselves. They’re getting different supplies and pruners—anything that has to do with roses.”
Adding a new spin to the auction is the availability of books for sale. It will feature a variety of miniatures, something, Regehr said, that cannot be purchased regularly in Arizona.
“It has a smaller bloom and a lot more of them,” he said. “It doesn’t mean [the bush] is smaller. They can be 5 to 7 feet tall. The miniatures have more color, too.”
Also among the roses being offered are a wide variety of minifloras, polyanthas, hybrid teas and shrub roses.
“Each one has its unique attributes,” he said. “A spray of floribundas is just a beautiful spray. The miniatures have nice form. The hybrid teas are more fragrant
and are bigger. All of them are cut and brought into the house.
“My passion for the auction is to introduce people to the miniature roses. I love the color. I love the size and the pure amount of blooms.”
All proceeds benefit the volunteer-run Garden at Mesa Community College as well as the Mesa-East Valley Rose Society. The garden, Regehr said, is impressive.
“It’s one of the premiere gardens in the United States,” he explained. “It’s a test garden, so roses that go into production are tested there.”
The garden is open to the public for free, which is unique for an attraction of that size, he said.
“If you have roses or thinking about growing roses and are afraid to grow them, on Saturdays anybody can go to the garden and learn to prune or take care of roses,” Regehr explained. “There are people there to answer questions, so you can go and prune roses, mess up the roses there and they’ll show you the right way to do it. Then you can go home and do it in your own garden.”
The rose auction will benefit the volunteer-run garden at Mesa Community College. Submitted photo
Christmas tree recycling available throughout town
Gilbert residents looking to recycle their Christmas trees can do so at various locations throughout the town. Simply remove all of the lights, decorations and the stand before dropping it off at any of the following locations through Sunday, Jan. 10.
Here are drop-off locations:
Hetchler Park (Gilbert Youth Soccer Complex)
4260 S. Greenfield Rd.
Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; seven days a week
Nichols Park
700 N. Higley Rd. (southwest corner of Higley and Guadalupe roads)
Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week
Gilbert’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility
2224 E. Queen Creek Rd.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; 7:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays
Residents may also use the following location through Jan. 2:
A to Z Equipment Rental and Sales 1313 E. Baseline Rd.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Live 15 gallon or larger potted Christmas trees can be donated for possible replanting at Town parks.
Drop them off at the Public Works North maintenance yard at 658 N. Freestone Pkwy., Gilbert 85234. Trees can be dropped off outside the maintenance gate. Call (480) 503-6262 for additional information.
For more information, contact Gilbert’s Environmental Services team at (480) 503-6459 or recycle@gilbertaz.gov.
Local athlete excels on the USA Junior Olympic Skeet Team
BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON
Zachary McBee, 19, comes from a family of shooting enthusiasts.
Originally from Gilbert, the college sophomore is an engineering major at Texas A&M University. What stands out the most though is his unique extracurricular commitment—McBee is an active competitor on the USA Junior Olympic Skeet Team. It’s a sport he’s been passionate about since his early teens. Skeet is a shooting sport where competitors shoot at clay targets thrown in the air from a trap. The targets are meant to simulate the flight of a bird and participants from all age groups and skill levels compete against each other across the globe.
“I always shot guns when I was younger; my dad is a certified NRA [National Rifle Association] instructor,” McBee explained. “I began practicing skeet for a merit badge in Boy Scouts when I was about 12 or 13. It was something I was good at and turned out that it’s something you can do up to the Olympic level.”
A 2014 Gilbert High School graduate, McBee has spent his teen years exceling at the sport. Some of his impressive
accolades include: in July 2014 he was named to the USA Junior Olympic Skeet Team; in June 2015 he won a spot on the Jr. World Cup Team competing in Germany (the team won the gold medal overall); in July 2015 he was named the National Junior Olympic Champion for Skeet, earning him a spot on the USA World Championship Team; and in September 2015 he was on the team that won a bronze medal competing against 34 other nations.
“It was an awesome feeling being named to the Junior Olympic Team,” McBee said. “Because of this sport I’ve had the opportunity to travel to both Germany and Italy this past summer.”
McBee plans on competing for a spot on the 2016 USA Olympic Shooting Team. He explained that he’s “10th or 11th in the mix” for the open Olympic spots—a long shot, but a shot he’s willing to take, he noted.
“It’s very hard to make a living as a professional in this sport so most people do it as a hobby, but I’m really excited to compete,” he said. “Continuing to compete—and maybe even make it to the Olympics—is a huge goal.”
To reach his goal, McBee practices his sport four to five times a week for two
to three hours a time. He often practices with other students at Texas A&M—in fact, he explained that he picked the school because a lot of friends he has made through the sport attend it.
“It [Texas A&M University] has a really good engineering program and a lot of friends who shoot competitively go here,” he said. “I picked engineering as a major because my dad and brothers and I always had a lot of hobbies and I’ve always loved building stuff.”
When it comes to skeet, his next major competition is in Arkansas in May.
“It’s very surreal to be good at something that then allows you to compete and travel the globe,” McBee said.
To help with the costs of competing (athletes are only compensated on the professional level), McBee has a website so supporters can visit. Learn more at usashooting.rallyme.com/rallies/2604/ teamzach or e-mail zachmcbee13@gmail. com.
Zachary McBee is hoping that his skeet shooting will earn him a place in the 2016 Olympics team. Submitted photo
Islands Chiropractic offers tips to combat winter colds
East Valley chiropractor Dr. Daniel Carlow said spinal health is key to combating winter colds and flu.
Correct spinal alignment may reduce nervous system interference that can weaken immune system function, said Carlow, who practices at Islands Chiropractic and Massage.
In conjunction with flu-prevention guidelines from the American Chiropractic Association, Carlow’s tips include building natural immunity from within via increased intake of garlic, Vitamin C, Echinacea, zinc lozenges and tea.
asthma trial show that chiropractic manipulation increases immunoglobulin
A levels and decreases the levels of glucocorticoid cortisol in the body, according to research reported by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).
“With winter right around the corner, now is the time to take steps to strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk for colds and the flu,” Carlow said. “Do not wait until you are feeling poorly to receive treatment. Strengthening your immune system now will reduce the likelihood for illness and, should you get sick, help limit the severity of the flu or cold.”
Preliminary findings from an ongoing
The ACA reports that many chiropractors have also noticed care may help lessen the duration and severity of a patient’s cold.
“While additional research is necessary, preliminary studies show that patients may benefit from chiropractic care thanks to immune system stress reduction,” Carlow said.
“Nerve irritation from spinal misalignments can compromise organ and body system function, increasing the risk for a host of health problems. When the body’s systems are under stress, they are also vulnerable to low-grade illnesses, like the common cold. Maintaining proper spinal alignment not only reduces the risk for pain, but also supports whole body health from within.”
Garlic is also helpful in fighting off illnesses.
“Garlic has been used as a health food for over 5,000 years due to its natural antibiotic properties,” Carlow said. “A clinical trial in Great Britain found that individuals who took garlic supplements between November and February had
significantly fewer colds than those who did not. Garlic is also an easy ingredient to add into every day meals, such as garlic in sautéed spinach, garlic in chicken noodle soup, or garlic in tomato sauce.
For more information on flu prevention, call (480) 545-4580 or visit www. islandschiro.com.
Julianne Lewis, Pastor 952 E. Baseline, #102, Mesa, AZ 85204 ~ Ph. 480-593-8798
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Yo Waffle hits the spot with yogurt creations
BY KATHY KERBY
Yo Waffle is a unique shop that combines frozen yogurt and gourmet waffles. Located on the southeast corner of Higley and Elliot roads, it is owned and operated by two brothers and their wives. Jeremy and Tisha Huish and Dale and Jodee Huish wanted to create a place for families to gather. They certainly hit the mark with this lovely, welcoming place.
Because aqua is my favorite color, I was especially pleased with the interior of this little shop that has huge windows, and beautiful booths with elegant white origami-like globe lights. Four small counter height tables with gleaming white and chrome chairs sit atop a slate tile floor. Two flat-screen televisions, an array of beautiful outdoor adventure pictures and a wall of yogurt dispensers and toppings bar complete the decor.
My husband, Lou, and I took our daughter, Katie, and granddaughter, Hailey, for a visit to Yo Waffle on a recent Saturday afternoon. We were greeted by Travis and given little cups to sample all the delicious flavors of frozen yogurt. He also pointed out the waffles and 44 toppings explaining that the Liege waffles
are made using a special house-made batter with caramelized sugar crystals. They also offer golden waffles that are gluten free. Tip: There is a little bell to ring if you want a piping hot waffle right off the waffle iron.
Two massive menus with pictures of nine “Signature Waffles” and 12 “Signature Frozen Yogurts” sit above the toppings and give suggestions for how to build the delicious treats. Travis told us that two of the most popular are the Cookie Monster Waffle with biscoff (German cookie butter which tastes like graham crackers,) cookie dough bites, caramel syrup and whipped cream sitting atop the Liege waffle and the Gold Digger with salted caramel yogurt, Butterfinger chunks, brownie bites and fudge topping. The yogurt and toppings are 42 cents an ounce and the waffle is $1. They also have a rewards program with a punch card offering $5 off after nine purchases. Hailey, age 6, chose the birthday cake frozen yogurt and topped it with boba, which is tiny, bright red gelatin balls that explode in your mouth. After eating several very satisfying bites she said with a huge smile, “I love this so much, it is the best yogurt ever.”
Katie chose the strawberry frozen yogurt and topped it with several kinds of chocolate and she enjoyed each delicious bite.
Lou made a creation of cookies and cream, strawberry and mint chocolate chip frozen yogurt with almonds, coconut, pineapple and mountains of whipped cream on top of a waffle and it was as tasty as it was colorful.
I chose the Tahitian vanilla frozen yogurt and piled strawberries and raspberries on the waffle, then topped it all with a dollop of whipped cream. I had never eaten a waffle with frozen yogurt and I realized that this combination is pure genius. The cold, creamy frozen yogurt with tangy fruit combined with the dense, crispy waffle was a “made in heaven” treat. It is obvious why ABC 15 named Yo Waffle as one of the top 10 ice cream/yogurt shops for 2015.
Frozen yogurt with fruit, it’s delicious and nutritious. GSN photos by Kathy Kerby
Yo waffle, yo way.
Hailey enjoys sampling one of the many delicious frozen yogurts.
Cancer doctor sports vibrant socks to support his patients
BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON
Dr. Ronald Servi, a lung cancer specialist at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, uses a unique method to lift the spirits of his patients as they battle cancer: colorful socks.
Servi, who was in private practice for 20 years before joining the team at the Gilbert-based cancer center, started wearing eye-catching socks in a variety of colors and patterns about a year ago. Since then, he’s used the fashion accessories to boost morale and camaraderie among his patients.
“My wife wanted me to be more stylish, so what’s more stylish than a really great pair of socks?” Servi said. “Some patients began to make comments, so I started to give patients a pair of their own socks if they mentioned mine. The patients began wearing their socks to their return appointments and it became something special.”
Servi said that cancer patients are often facing the biggest health crises of their lives and, while seemingly a small gesture, something like colorful socks can be a way to assure them that they’re not alone.
“We [Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center] have a motto that ‘we are all in,’ and these socks are part of being ‘all in,’” Servi said.
Oftentimes, he added, patients come in scared and the socks—and the story behind them—give them something else to focus on.
“I try to have fun with the patients,” he explained. “Cancer is a word that scares people. It’s serious business, but that doesn’t mean you can’t joke around.”
About a year into his unofficial sock
program, Servi keeps a variety of socks of all patterns, colors and sizes in his office at all times. He noted that he usually purchases the socks online from websites like Amazon. He’s even looked into trademarking the socks to help raise money for cancer awareness and research.
“I’d like to make this bigger, maybe even manufacture certain types of socks,” he said.
In the meantime, Servi said his wife is very supportive of the unexpected turn his fashion choices have taken—as are his colleagues.
“I think what Dr. Servi has done with his cancer socks has had a positive impact on patients,” said Teresa Nicholls, a registered nurse at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center.
“We have patients coming in to their clinic appointments proudly flashing their socks with smiles on their faces, anxious to see what colorful pair of socks Dr. Servi is wearing that day. In a place where many are dealing with devastating and lifealtering diagnoses, cancer socks have been a bright spot for our patients. This has been a way for Dr. Servi to share his infectious optimism with our patients and to help make their visits to the cancer center that much more enjoyable.”
Servi added that, after decades in private practice, he joined the cancer center to continue to provide patients with the best care possible. To him, sporting colorful socks to brighten his patients’ days is just a small addition to his overall practice.
And, when asked about his favorite pair of socks, Servi said it was hard to choose— but a pair of hamburger-themed socks were right up there at the top.
Dr. Ronald Servi, a lung cancer specialist at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, uses colorful socks to cheer up his cancer patients. Submitted photo
Cynthia Dales loses nearly 100 pounds
BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON
Like many people, Gilbert resident Cynthia Dales admits that she’s “always been heavy.”
The extra weight she carried around was a factor in several health conditions, she said, including degenerative disc disease, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes and more.
In fact, when she was pregnant with her daughter, who is now a teenager, she developed gestational diabetes. In late 2014, Dales decided though to do something about the extra pounds—a decision that has resulted in nearly triple-digit weight loss.
Inspired by her husband, who had full gastric bypass surgery, Dales, a business manager for a local church, investigated her options at the Bridges Center for Surgical Weight Management at St. Luke’s Medical Center. In September 2014, she underwent a vertical sleeve gastrectomy.
According to ObesityHelp.com, the procedure “generates weight loss by restricting the amount of food (and therefore calories) that can be eaten by removing 85 percent
or more of the stomach without bypassing the intestines or causing any gastrointestinal malabsorption.” The operation is labeled as “purely restrictive” and is often an alternative to the Lap-Band procedure.
“The gastric sleeve surgery is a major surgery and a big deal,” Dales said. “But I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Dales said that she opted for the surgery because she wanted a way to lose the weight and keep it off for good. The process leading up to the procedure involved navigating insurance requirements and other paperwork; preparing through classes (the Bridges Center offers related courses); and going on a liquid program before surgery took place.
“The recovery period for the surgery was a few weeks, and there’s a learning curve of getting used to liquids and the vitamin regimen,” she said. “By October [2014] I was back in the gym.”
Once she was back in the gym Dales said that a “switch flipped” in her mind. “I thought, ‘Wow, I can start doing things,’” she said.
She began kickboxing and
participating in marathons. She began to see food as a fuel, she explained, and now focuses on smaller meals and good proteins. As of December, a little more than a year after surgery, Dales had lost nearly 100 pounds and is strictly now in maintenance mode (maintaining the weight loss but not losing any more).
“By December 2014, so a few months after surgery, I no longer needed my blood pressure medications,” she explained. “My doctor was recently excited to tell me that I no longer had any health risks and didn’t need to lose any more weight.”
Today, Dales remains active by running marathons that give back to charity as a way to pay her good health forward. Because of her active lifestyle, she said, she consumes more calories than a typical bariatric patient but is still successfully keeping the weight off. She noted that she’s lost 65 inches total, from head to toe.
“Cynthia’s bariatric surgery helped her to not only achieve her weight loss
see CYNTHIA page 23
Cynthia Dales now sees food as a fuel. Submitted photo
Gilbert Farmers Market
The Gilbert Farmers Market is located in downtown Gilbert, just west of the iconic Water Tower and is open every Saturday. The market features local, chemical-free, organic produce from many local farmers, farm fresh eggs, meat, cheese, bread, sweets, coffee and tea, sauces, seasonings and many other locally made artisan products. Its mission is to promote local sustainability, healthy eating and green living practices among residents. The Gilbert Farmers Market opened in October 2010 with less than 30 vendors. Today it features more than 60 vendors during the summertime and close to 100 vendors in the fall.
There were many different types of food trucks available.
The Gilbert Town Fiddlers entertained the shoppers.
There were many vendors to choose from.
Natalia Medina watches as her balloon animal is being made.
Taryn Vandervoort tells her potential customers about her muffins
Only the freshest fruit was available at the farmers market.
Emily Hiebert tried a sample.
Daniel, Jude and Lily Barclay play giant Jenga.
Rocky was one of many dogs at the market.
GSN photos by Kimberly Carrillo
goals but also to set some new goals for the person she wanted to be,” said Dr. Daniel T. Fang, a bariatric surgeon for the Bridges Center for Surgical Weight Management at St. Luke’s Medical Center.
“We provided her with a comprehensive program to help her achieve healthy, long-term weight loss. She now has lower blood pressure and is leading a truly healthy lifestyle. We couldn’t be more proud to watch her progress, first-hand, and see her confidence flourish.”
“Weight loss surgery is not an ‘easy way out,’” Dales added. “I like to share
my story to let others know that there is hope, and sometimes, surgery can be an extra tool to achieve their weight loss and health goals.”
Dales said that the surgery, and her hard work at living a healthy lifestyle afterward, has changed her life dramatically for the better.
“The surgery gave me a mental shift; I could do this, I could lose the weight, this was the real thing,” she said. “There is hope out there, you can reach your goals. Now, I’m trying to pay it forward, because regaining my health has been a true gift.”
To learn more, visit www.bridgesaz. com.
Lauren N. Byrne, MD
Board Certified Urologist Now with Ironwood Urology
www.byrneurology.com
GENERAL UROLOGIC CONDITIONS TREATED:
✔ Cancer (prostate, renal, bladder, penile and testicular)
✔ Stone disease
✔ Urinary tract reconstruction (kidney)
✔ Benign prostate hyperplasia
✔ Vasectomy
✔ Neurogenic bladder disorders
Chandler (Adjacent to Chandler Regional Medical Center) 685 S. Dobson Road, 3rd Floor Chandler, AZ 85224
WOMEN’S UROLOGIC CONDITIONS TREATED:
✔ Urinary incontinence
✔ Pelvic organ prolapse
✔ Vaginal mesh complications
✔ Recurrent urinary tract infections
Ahwatukee 15920 S. 48th St., Suite #100 Phoenix, AZ 85048
