Queen Creek Tribune 08/27/2023

BY HUNTER FORE Tribune Staff Writer

arget, MOD Pizza, Ono Hawaiian BBQ and Nekter Juice Bar are among the tenants that will join Sprouts Farmers Market in the Vineyard Towne Center at Gantzel and Combs roads.

The shopping center, which will be 23 acres at completion, saw the opening of Sprouts on

Aug. 18. This store was the start of phase 1 of the Vineyard Towne Center’s building plan, which took 18 months to finish.

Sprouts at Vineyard Towne Center carries a wide selection of organic foods, seasonal produce, custom-cut meats, fresh baked goods, ready-to-eat meals and wellness products.

Phase 1 of the open-air center was 90% preleased and encompasses a retail assortment, including Chunk Cookies, Cinnaholic, Dentists of

Queen Creek, European Wax Center, MOD Pizza, Mountain America Credit Union, Mr. Pickles, Nekter Juice Bar, Ono Hawaiian BBQ, Over Easy and Zara Nail Bar. Additional tenant announcements will follow in the coming months. The second phase’s main store will be a new Target, occupying 145,000 square feet of retail space, opening in April 2025. The Target will

Film brings attention to teen suicide

BY LAURA LATZKO Tribune Staff Writer

ince she lost her son Tyler Hedstrom in July 2017, Sheila Hedstrom-Pelger has been committed to raising awareness on teen suicide prevention and education.

Her son grew up in San Tan Valley and attended Combs High School. He was a skilled drummer who played in his school’s marching band and briefly toured with the band Anarbor.

Recently, Hedstrom-Pelger donated money to the Rotary Club of Queen Creek to help bring a film screening of “My As-

page 4

The Rotary Club of Queen Creek will host a screening of the film “My Ascension,” which looks at the journey of suicide survivor Emma Benoit. (Greg DiCharry/Contributor)

take 15 months to build.

The Vineyard Towne Center is being built by the real estate company Vestar, which specializes in the management and development of retail real estate, including entertainment-retail complexes, power and lifestyle centers and community shopping destinations. They own and operate over 30 million square feet of space in the United States.

In Arizona, their projects include Desert Ridge Marketplace, Tempe Marketplace, Queen Creek Marketplace and The Shops at Lake Pleasant.

“This will be our third shopping center built in Queen Creek. No new shopping centers have been built in Queen Creek over the past 10 years besides our recent Costco development,” said Jeff Axtell, Vestar’s executive vice president of development.

The town of Queen Creek is one of the fastest-growing suburban areas in the Valley.

“Queen Creek has been very forward-thinking with its residential growth,

Sprouts opened in the Vineyard Towne Center Aug. 18. Its opening is the start of phase 1 of the center’s building plan, which took 18 months to finish. (Rose + Allyn Public Relations/Submitted)

but there has not been enough retail development to catch up with that,” Axtell said.

“These new developments we’re building are catching up with the growth of the past five years.”

This new shopping center will not only serve the residents of Queen Creek with

new shopping and dining experiences, but it will also aid in employment opportunities for the town’s new and current residents.

Vestar is developing more retail centers in the Phoenix Metro area.

“We’re working on a big project out in Buckeye called Verrado Marketplace,

opening in the summer 2024. Buckeye has 100,000 people but currently only has two shopping centers,” Axtell said.

“These people in newer, farther areas don’t have the nice restaurants and shopping nearby. They have to drive seven to 10 miles for these. We’re trying to bring these things closer to home so they can have those amenities.”

A new project in Southwest Phoenix called Laveen Town Center, breaks ground in early 2025.

Axtell said these new projects are important for the state’s revenue and economy. It’s necessary to build new retail space to keep up with the economic stimulation in the Valley.

“The sales tax that is generated by these projects, in these towns, goes toward city funds like police, fire and highways,” Axtell said.

Sprouts at Vineyard Towne Center

37666 N. Gantzel Road, Queen Creek vineyardtownecenter.com

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from page 1

cension,” a film that tells the story of suicide survivor Emma Benoit.

The film screening is Wednesday, Aug. 30, in the Queen Creek Community Chambers.

The Rotary Club is also working with national youth advocate and speaker Katey McPherson and Bark for Schools. This artificial intelligence app helps alert parents and schools when young people are showing signs of cyberbullying, depression, anxiety or suicide ideation.

The film chronicles Benoit’s journey of going through recovery and learning to walk again after her suicide attempt. Following the screening, she will lead a Q&A with the audience.

The documentary also shares the stories of two other young people who didn’t survive their suicide attempts.

The film combines personal stories and information from family members and friends, school officials and suicide prevention experts.

During the event, mental health professionals will be on-hand to share information on resources and talk oneon-one will parents and teens.

This screening is part of a larger effort by the Rotary Club to bring attention to teen suicide, which is one of the leading causes of death for young adults ages 15 to 24 in this country.

Recently, it has been an issue that has been impacting teens in Queen Creek and the East Valley.

“Since we formed our club a little over a year ago, it’s been our mission to bring awareness to the growing teen suicide problem in Queen Creek and the East Valley,” said Jason Jantzen, president of the Rotary Club of Queen Creek.

The club has over 30 members. Jantzen said for many of them, teen mental health and suicide prevention are very relevant issues.

“Our club is made up of young professionals, a lot of parents, teachers, police officers, counselors who see this kind of thing every day. A few years back, there was a major issue in Queen Creek where there were several suicide completions that happened, and it really shocked the community… it

really hit home once we put this club together. We said we need to get behind a cause. Volunteering for service projects is great, but we feel like this is a bigger issue that needs more awareness,” Jantzen said.

Last year, the club did a parent night called “Raising Resilient Teens,” in which they brought in speakers to talk on topics related to teen suicide.

In May, they held a 5K run/walk to raise awareness around the issue and bring in funds for their suicide prevention efforts.

The organization offers summer camp grants for teens struggling with mental health issues.

They will also be using funds toward purchasing a service animal for the police department, which will be taken into local schools.

“This dog will go around to several high schools and help mitigate the situation when teens are in crisis at the school,” Jantzen said.

With each event, the Rotary Club is trying to build on its work in the community. Partnering with others such as Hedstrom-Pelger helps them to be able to do community events such as the film screening.

Hedstrom-Pelger, who now lives in Chandler, donated additional funds received toward the Tyler Hedstrom Memorial Scholarship, which is given every year to a Combs High School student wanting to pursue a degree in education or music.

Her family donates $1,000, but sometimes others will also make donations.

When this happens, they can give to other causes, such as the high school’s band booster club and the film screening.

Her son started playing the drums at age 5. As children, he and his brother, Alex, formed a band called HeadStrum, which was a finalist in the 2013 Alice Cooper’s Proof is in the Pudding competition.

Right before his senior year of high school, he started playing with and toured the West Coast with Anarbor.

“Me and my husband went to a few of the dates. We followed along. We are still friends with those guys to this day. They were older than him, and

they were such great guys. It was really hard for them because they had just gotten to know him and love him,” Hedstrom-Pelger said.

She remembers him as a boy who always wanted to make others smile and laugh.

“He was like a class clown. I don’t think he was disruptive. He was just the funniest kid in the class. He was always so sweet to everyone. He didn’t exclude people,” Hedstrom-Pelger said.

When he started showing anger toward her, Hedstrom-Pelger didn’t realize that this was a sign of depression.

Similarly, he was angry when she was experiencing depression.

“That really hit me because I remember thinking Tyler just didn’t like me, and he was going through some things. He was nice to everyone else, and I learned after he died that irritability is a sign of depression. I didn’t realize he was depressed. I thought he was just being a bratty teenager,” Hedstrom-Pelger said.

She hopes that the film will help other parents to know what signs of depression to look out for in their teens.

She emphasizes to parents that it is important to have an open dialogue with teens and offer them a safe space where they can express themselves.

“I know it’s hard to say sometimes but don’t not say the word ‘suicide’ if you’re worried. What I learned is if you don’t say it, that’s more dangerous than asking someone,” she said.

Hedstrom-Pelger said the film shares helpful information and is inspiring, but can be difficult to watch in places because it gives an honest look into the issue.

“As far as the story, it’s very real. Just seeing the whole journey, it’s a great film. It’s hard for anyone to watch, whether they have been affected by suicide or not, but I learned a few things watching it. Definitely anyone that has kids or works with kids would gain something from watching it,” she said.

In 2019, Hedstrom-Pelger shared her story and lent her support behind school suicide prevention training bills brought through the Arizona legislature.

She has also taken part in the Out of the Darkness Walk, which raises money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and volunteered at grief support groups.

She is sometimes asked to talk oneon-one with teens who are struggling.

Initially, Hedstrom-Pelger decided to be open about her story and get involved after hearing about the three other teens who had died by suicide in Queen Creek and Gilbert within three months of her son’s death.

“When I realized how often it was happening, that’s when I realized I can’t just sit in a corner and not say anything. That’s what prompted me to do something,” she said.

Hedstrom-Pelger continues to be involved in efforts and help where she can.

“It was very tragic what happened in our family. I didn’t know anything about it until it happened to us,” she said. “Anything I can do to help prevent it, I’m happy to help and just share what I’ve learned.”

Film Screening of “My Ascension”

WHEN: Doors open at 5:30 p.m., film starts 6 p.m., Q&A following film at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30

WHERE: Queen Creek Community Chambers, 20727 E. Civic Parkway, Queen Creek

PRICE: Free admission

INFO: rotaryclubqc.com

Two QCUSD teachers finalists for chamber award

BY TRIBUNE STAFF

Two of the three finalists for this year’s Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year Award are Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD) teachers.

Lara Cox, a PE coach at Faith Mather Sossaman Elementary (FMSE), and Queen Creek Junior High School (QCJHS) math teacher Joshua Mattis were nominated for the award, through which the chamber recognizes local businesses and community members who demonstrate outstanding participation and leadership each year.

“I was extremely surprised and honored to be recognized for my work as a physical educator and to have the opportunity to represent the profession. I believe that physical education is often overlooked but it is an essential part of a well-rounded education,” Cox said in a statement. “Every day I think about how grateful I am to work in this supportive district with the amazing students, families, educators and administrators.

“When I first started teaching in QCUSD, I traveled between multiple schools. It was a fantastic experience to learn and grow from working with the other physical education teachers in the district. I also got to work with educators and administrators from around the dis-

trict.”

Cox and Mattis were nominated for their commitment to their students and community. According to a statement, both are cherished by students and colleagues alike, admired for their dedication and ability to inspire a sense of fellowship within the educational community.

FMSE Principal Sherry Towns said Cox — who has worked in the district for seven years — goes above and beyond to further herself, her students and her peers.

“Lara is a leader in every sense of the word. Not only do students and staff look to her for guidance, so do her fellow PE teachers across the district,” Towns said in a statement. “Lara consistently reaches out to her peers and colleagues and challenges them to pursue their own excellence by humbly sharing her personal growth experiences.”

Similarly, QCJHS Principal Beverly Nichols shared that “Josh has all of the qualities that you would like to see in a teacher.”

“He is not only an amazing math

teacher, he goes above and beyond as a coach and mentor,” she said in a statement.

Last school year, both Cox and Mattis received the Award of Excellence, an award given annually by QCUSD to recognize teachers and staff members who go above and beyond to serve students.

In addition to the Award of Excellence, Cox was named president of the Arizona Health and Physical Education Association, while Mattis was named QCUSD’s Educator of the Year.

The Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce Awards ceremony will be on Thursday, Sept. 28 at Encanterra Country Club in Queen Creek.

To learn more and view past winners, visit the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce website at queencreekchamber. com.

2 former cops now probe the weird and unknown

BY TOM SCANLON Tribune Staff Writer

In an early episode of “The X-Files,” an FBI investigator open to the unknown had a message for his skeptical partner: “Much as you try to bury it, the truth is out there.”

Thirty years later, a pair of former Gilbert cops could be named after the TV show’s main characters as “The Scully and Mulder of the East Valley” because they’re searching for the truth — and investigating the unknown.

The “known” switch flipped to “unknown” for former Gilbert Police Officer Dave Rich, a Mesa resident, in 2017, when his sergeant told him to investigate a weird case.

During an Aug. 17 presentation with fellow former Gilbert cop Marianne Robb, a Queen Creek resident, at the UFO Experience mini-museum in Scottsdale, Rich shared audio from the mysterious call.

“What is your emergency?” a dispatcher asks.

“I scare,” whispers a female voice.

“You’re scared?” the dispatcher says.

“No! I … scare,” the voice hisses.

The female stops talking, despite the dispatcher’s repeated questioning. The call was tracked to a Gilbert high school. Two officers promptly went to the school, finding a phone off the hook at the front desk – but no one there.

Looking around, they enter a nurse’s office just behind the front desk.

One of the officers later told Rich: “We didn’t see anything — then we felt something rush past us.”

The Gilbert cops followed the direction they felt the “unknown entity” was headed. Outside the office and around the school grounds, they found nothing.

As part of his investigation, Rich talked to the school nurse. After being dodgy at first, she finally came clean: “She told me her entire life, she’s been followed by a ghost.”

Cue “The X-Files” theme …

Robb and Rich say skepticism — and open mockery — keeps many law enforcement officers from reporting things that are not easily explained, including unknown flying objects, commonly called UFOs.

Rich and Robb call their presentation “Real Encounters: When Law Enforcement Meets the Unknown.”

“We want to get the word out that we are here to support law enforcement officers who have nowhere else to go when they see something they can’t explain,” said Robb, who retired after 34 years as a cop. “Often if they share with their colleagues they get ridiculed.

“We want them to know there is someplace for them to go and be taken seriously.”

‘Over the taboo’

Robb and Rich hope the U.S. military’s new openness to unknown events will spread into law enforcement.

After decades of half-hearted explanations, such as routinely writing off mysterious objects in the sky as weather balloons, the military and federal government are opening their books on the unexplained.

“For decades, flying saucers were a punch line,” a 2021 New Yorker investigative piece stated. “Then the U.S. government got over the taboo.”

The magazine story related how Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, told CBS News he saw reports of mysterious flying objects in restricted airspace. “We don’t know what it is,” he said, “and it isn’t ours.”

In recent months, the UFO scene has accelerated like a nuclear-powered spaceship.

Six weeks ago, a congressional subcommittee heard testimony from several military officers who alleged the government is concealing evidence of unidentified flying objects/UFOs — or, as they are now called, “unidentified anomalous phenomena,” aka UAPs.

An NPR story reported retired Maj. David

Grusch, “who went from being part of the Pentagon’s UAP Task Force to becoming a whistleblower,” told a national security subcommittee he knows the “exact locations” of UAPs being examined by the military.

The U.S. Air Force’s website states from 1947 to 1969, an Air Force program called “Project Blue Book” investigated 12,618 UFO cases.

Though 701 of those cases remain “unidentified,” the Air Force insists “there was no evidence indicating that sightings categorized as ‘unidentified’ were extraterrestrial vehicles.”

See something – say nothing?

Though the “Phoenix Lights” incidents were later debunked as military planes, the response illustrates what Robb and Rich are up against.

Shortly after the 1997 sightings of mysterious lights hovering in formation over Phoenix, then-Gov. Fife Symington held a press conference, joking that “they found who was responsible” and revealing an aide dressed in an alien costume.

A decade later, Symington told national news outlets that as a military pilot, he witnessed an object “bigger than anything that I’ve ever seen. It remains a great mystery.”

Symington told a UFO investigator making a documentary that he didn’t go public with his experience previously “because he didn’t want to panic the populace.”

In other words: See something — say nothing.

That illustrates what Robb and Rich face: How can they get police officers, adept at investigating citizens — but often are reluctant to share their own unexplained experiences — to feel comfortable going public?

At the UFO Experience in Scottsdale’s Arizona Boardwalk, the ex-cops shared stories

that seemed lifted from “The X-Files” scripts — but really happened, they swear.

Robb told the story of a fellow Gilbert officer who believes he encountered a “skinwalker” or “shapeshifter” creature while driving on a highway at night through a reservation in northern Arizona.

And though he said there were several details he would not make public, Rich told about his haunted high school investigation, which, he said, led to mocking by his fellow cops, who put tin foil hats in his squad car.

“Our whole point isn’t just to bring you guys an entertaining presentation,” Rich told the crowd of about 50. “Ultimately we’re trying to help these officers negotiate with what I went through.”

Before recently putting in his retirement papers, Rich spent 25 years with the Gilbert PD, moving up from patrol to a detective investigating gangs, homicide, sex crimes and drugs.

“We worked on some teams,” said Robb, who had been working for the Gilbert PD for a decade before Rich joined her.

Rich and Robb are partners again — as

Marianne Robb and Dave Rich are a pair of retired cops might be called “the Scully and Mulder of the Valley” after the famous pair in the TV show “The X Files.” They appeared in Scottsdale Aug. 17 to discuss why they investigate reports from law enforcement staff about UFO sightings and other “unexplained phenomenon.” (Special to the Progress)

COPS from page 6

field investigators with the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON).

The Valley’s version of Scully and Mulder started a group called UAP-PD. As their website explains:

“We are retired law enforcement sharing information and investigating Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP, aka UFOs) and other phenomena.”

Rich said she was introduced to the world of the unexplained when her husband started going to MUFON meetings and introduced her to UFO researchers.

A recent NBC News story noted “the Federal Aviation Administration has no mechanism for pilots to report UAPs, the term preferred to UFOs, instead directing them to civilian UFO groups that are often dismissed as the domain of cranks and conspiracy theorists.”

To address that, according to the story, a former Navy pilot started a website for pilots to report unexplained experiences.

Similarly, Robb and Rich hope law enforcement officers will reach out to them to

report bizarre incidents.

The Progress asked Scottsdale Sgt. Allison Sempsis about the procedure and training of the Scottsdale Police Department regarding unexplained incidents witnessed by officers.

“While we currently do not have training for such events as something ‘unexplained,’

our officers can document events that take place or something they see/observe on a field interview card, or initiating what’s called an ‘on view’ event, and clear the event through their computer with comments,” Sempsis said.

“The government and others researching

this phenomenon,” Rich said, “are all looking for the same thing – the truth.”

Then again, as Scully warns her partner in an “X-Files” episode:

“The truth is out there — but so are lies.”

For more information about UAP-PD, visit uap-pd.com.

QCUSD to celebrate Legendary Teacher Day

BY TRIBUNE STAFF

The Queen Creek Unified School District will celebrate Legendary Teacher Day on Thursday, Sept. 28, and is encouraging students and parents to recognize educators who made a difference in their lives.

Those who would like to share the impact a teacher had on them can tell their story in a tribute of 250 words or less, which can be found at legendaryteacher.com/tribute. As a thank you for each participant’s time, their tribute will be posted as a Legendary Teacher Feature on Legendary Teacher’s social media presence. The Teachers Change Brains Foundation

will randomly select submissions and reach out to the educator, sending them a gift card in the student’s name as a small token of appreciation for their positive impact.

Legendary Teachers are educators who:

• Strive to help students discover and understand concepts.

• Engage students in creative learning activities.

• Connect learning to the past, present and future.

• Adapt their methods and assessments to meet diverse learning styles.

• Create and maintain dynamic learning environments.

• Continue to improve their content knowledge base and teaching skills.

This day of tribute to educators was established in 2014 by Nicholas I. Clement, Ed. D., who currently serves as the Ernest McFarland Citizen’s Chair in Education at Northern Arizona University.

A long-time school administrator, he spent his career identifying, developing and celebrating teachers in a variety of assignments. Over time, he established a successful recruiting and development effort with the Legendary Teacher in mind.

For more information about the tribute, visit legendaryteacher.com.

Commercial brokerage sells $11M QC parcel

BY TRIBUNE STAFF

Commercial Properties, Inc./ CORFAC International (CPI), Arizona’s largest locallyowned commercial real estate brokerage, reported the land sale of ±22.5 acres in Pinal County.

The ±979,664-square-foot parcel is located across from CMC Steel Mill of Arizona and is situated on the east side of Meridian Road, just south of Pecos Road in the town of Queen Creek. The future truck terminal site offers easy freeway access to the SR24, which connects to the 202 SanTan Freeway.

Jeff Hays and Sam Rutledge of CPI represented the Buyer, Lakeshore Ventures, LLC. The parcel sold for $11 million, $11.23 per square foot.

“It is exciting to see this area changing rapidly with the creation of new jobs to support the demand fueled by the multitude of new businesses coming to Arizona,” Hays said in a statement. “Lakeside Ventures, LLC has plans to develop a lessthan-truckload truck terminal for last-mile deliveries.”

Established in 1981, CPI is a fullservice brokerage and property management firm for all product types of commercial real estate. Headquartered in Tempe, the company has more than 65 brokers and operates throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Currently, CPI’s listings include over 25.1 million square feet for sale/lease with more than 224 projects and associations under management, totaling over 14.9 million square feet.

CPI is the Phoenix affiliate of CORFAC International, composed of privately held brokerage and property management service providers in 70 national and international markets.

For additional information about the $11 million parcel, contact Jeff Hays at jhays@cpiaz.com or 480-8892552, or Sam Rutledge at srutledge@ cpiaz.com or 480-621-3290.

From left, Jeff Hays and Sam Rutledge of CPI. (Commercial Properties, Inc./Submitted)

Fontes runs roughshod over state election law

BY J.D. HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

One of the ironies of American Federalism is that an office may have the same name as a position in Washington, D.C., but serve a different function at the state level.

For example, the secretary of state in 38 of our 50 states, including Arizona, has the official responsibility for the conduct of elections, while the federal version concentrates on foreign policy and diplomacy with other nations.

And while the office name may be the same, it is clear that Arizona’s Adri-

an Fontes is no diplomat.

Just prior to his installation as Arizona’s 22nd secretary of state, Fontes made it clear that he loathes Republicans who support Donald Trump, offering that assessment in an interview with the “Guardian US,” the American cousin to the longtime left-wing British publication of the same name.

“These people are not Grand Old Party Republicans; they are MAGA Fascists. There is no reason to call them by anything other than what they are. If they are a little sensitive about that, then maybe they ought to reconsider their position vis-a-vis American democracy and stop acting like fascists.” Fontes would do well to take a good,

long look in the mirror.

Like so many other so-called “progressives,” Arizona’s secretary of state was engaging in “projection,” the reflexive rhetorical tool of the left by which political opponents are accused of the exact actions in which their attackers are actively engaged.

Instead of acknowledging the electoral strife and legitimate questions that remain as genuine concerns for many Arizona voters, Fontes is instead moving to fast-track his own brand of election “reform.”

In so doing, he’s obviously more interested in conquest than consensus.

That’s why he’s literally trying to “rewrite the book” on Arizona elec-

tions — a revision that is better suited for the fiction shelf at a second-hand bookstore than as the primary reference source for election officials in Arizona’s 15 counties.

Officially, it’s called the “Elections Procedures Manual,” often referenced by the acronym “EPM.”

Whatever pride of authorship Secretary Fontes placed in his revised draft of the 2023 EPM must have been eclipsed by the foreknowledge that his “creative writing” would raise suspicions and complaints.

Certainly, Fontes sought to short-circuit critics; he reduced the custom-

see HAYWORTH page 14

Politicians today have made lying an art form

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

Every few weeks, the Federal Trade Commission announces action against a company that lies to dupe consumers or investors.

Fraudulent real estate marketers, crypto scammers, fake addiction cures, even a mattress company that falsely claimed its queens and kings were “proudly made with 100% USAmade premium quality materials.”

If businesses lie, they can face serious consequences. The same goes for media outlets like this one.

Over the last three decades, I’ve written thousands of newspaper columns. In all that time, I’ve never been sued for libel, slander or defamation of character. Why not? Mostly because of what my mom and dad taught me when I was about three — a lesson later drilled home by professors in journalism school: Don’t lie.

Telling the truth isn’t particularly tough. So why is it that our politicians can’t manage to do it? And how come political candidates and elected leaders don’t face consequences when they lie?

These aren’t partisan questions for me. Rather, it’s something I wonder about when I commit an occasional act of madness — like reading the Aug. 21st Motion To Dismiss filed by lawyers for failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake in an effort to kill the defamation lawsuit brought against Lake by Republican County Recorder Stephen Richer.

Richer sued Lake in June, arguing that she lied by falsely accusing him of “intentionally sabotaging the election.”

Richer’s suit specifically cites two lies: That he “intentionally printed 19-inch images on 20-inch ballots to sabotage the 2022 Arizona general election” and that he “inserted

300,000 ‘illegal,’ ‘invalid,’ ‘phony’ and/or ‘bogus’ early-vote ballots into the Maricopa County vote count.”

No court has found such fraud occurred. No credible evidence exists to prove these lies.

That shouldn’t matter, according to Lake’s legal team, which includes lawyers from the ASU law school First Amendment Clinic.

Their reasoning? Even if Lake couldn’t prove fraud, “she is still en titled to have an opinion and state her beliefs about what happened in the 2022 election.”

Also, she’s allowed to lie: “‘False’ speech is not at issue here, only the type of speech that ‘may well include vehement, caustic and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on gov ernment and public officials’ that the U.S. Supreme Court has specifi cally said must be protected.”

That’s right. The Supremes have ruled in multiple cases that politi cians have the right to lie.

In the 2012 case U.S. vs. Alvarez, Justice Anthony Kennedy’s majority opinion cited George Orwell’s fright ening novel 1984. Kennedy wrote that prohibiting politicians from tell ing lies “would endorse government authority to compile a list of subjects about which false statements are punishable. That governmental pow er has no clear limiting principle.”

What’s the answer to liars? Ac cording to Kennedy, who retired in 2018, it’s more speech. Whenever we encounter liars, we must fight back with the truth.

“The remedy for speech that is false is speech that is true,” Kenne dy wrote in Alvarez. “This is the or dinary course in a free society. The response to the unreasoned is the rational; to the uninformed, the en lightened; to the straight-out lie, the simple truth.”

That may have sounded great a de cade ago, when Kennedy wrote it.

But today’s politicians — fueled by social media, partisan TV networks

and an easily swayed public — have taken lying from the occasional fib in campaign ads to a form of high art. There simply isn’t enough time in the day to counter all the lies these lying liars spew.

It’s tempting to argue that “there

oughta be a law.”

Of course, such laws would have to be made by the very same liars who are the problem in the first place. So don’t hold your breath.

And that, my friends, is God’s honest truth.

BY JUDY BLUHM Tribune Columnist

Have you ever seen someone have a meltdown at the self-checkout in a grocery store? It is not a pretty sight. I witnessed a lady lose it when she realized that the 25 items that she had scanned and bagged, showed up as a $1,875 charge. I thought murder was being committed when I heard the blood curdling scream that rang out so loudly in the store that suddenly four employees came running. Oh yeah, sometimes it is just good to stand back and watch the train wreck.

The bottom line was that the lady had about $100 worth of groceries. The bill was corrected. After much yelling, cry-

ing and gnashing of teeth. This is why the entire system of self-checkout is a massive insult and failure to the customers. Mistakes happen! But when we are forced to take everything out of the cart (with ridiculously limited space to place your items), scan, weigh, bag and then put everything back in the blessed cart, who does this benefit? Not the consumer!

Perhaps the lesson learned is that we need to carefully look at our receipts after shopping, which I admit I sometimes do not do. Besides the ripoff of shrinkflation, now we have to do our own work. Even if you can find a checker, you will probably be bagging your groceries yourself. And if you use self-checkout, the hassle is immense, unless you have a few items.

But I digress, the lady who had a melt-

down claimed that the grocery store was like a mob boss who was trying to steal from the very customers who keep them in business. She demanded to speak to a manager (one timidly arrived) and then she refused to scan “one more stinking thing” when the entire order was cancelled. The helpful manager told the lady that her debit card would be credited within 48 hours. Then another meltdown ensued when the lady screamed, “You are killing me.” OK, I am an observer of people. I have a degree in psychology. Everything I have learned about human behavior might be from watching folks in airports and grocery stores. I have witnessed couples arguing over organic versus “regular” vegetables and people confronting each other in aisles because they don’t move fast enough. But the

self-checkout trend is bringing the devil out in some folks. Last week a guy in Phoenix took a hammer to a machine! I did feel a bit sad for the good folks of Oregon, who are now (for the first time) forced to pump their own gas. Yep, the party is over. But I do have a dream. That one day I will pull into a gas station and a friendly attendant will fill my gas tank and even check my oil. And then I will drive to the grocery store where a cashier will scan all my groceries and then happily bag everything. And then I am asked the golden question, “Would you like help out to your car?”

Guess I better wake up from my delusion. Oh service, how we miss thee. Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local Realtor. Contact Bluhm at judy@judybluhm.com or at aroundthebluhmintown.com.

RECOGNIZING WOMEN LEADERS

7:30-9:30 A.M. SEPTEMBER 20

MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

From city hall and the statehouse (and Senate) to corporate offices and boardrooms, women are making a remarkable difference in our community.

On September 20, join us as we recognize women leaders at the PHX East Valley Partnership’s annual Statespersons’ Event.

Keynote Speaker

Anna Maria Chávez, president and CEO of the Arizona Community Foundation and one of the world’s top experts on women’s leadership

Panel Discussion: Propelling More Women into Leadership Roles

Moderator: Stacy Derstine, APS

Panelists:

• Toni Broberg, state president, Arizona and New Mexico, AT&T

• Jenn Daniels, CEO, Horizon Strategies

• Rosa Inchausti, city manager, City of Tempe

• Dr. Tammy Robinson, president, Mesa Community College

• Sarah Watts, president/CEO, Gilbert Chamber of Commerce

RSVP

Ticket packages of 10 are $1,000 and individual tickets are $100. For more information, visit www.phxeastvalley.com or contact Jessica Hubbard at 480-532-0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com.

Presenting Sponsor Supporting Sponsors

from page 10

ary public comment period from one month to two weeks.

But in those scant 14 days, Republican legislative leaders uncovered a plethora of policy problems.

Senate President Warren Peterson and House Speaker Ben Toma say that the Fontes rewrite “misinterprets Arizona election laws, unlawfully expands the powers of the Secretary of State, and subjects elections to a greater potential for voter fraud.”

The proposed revision should really be renamed “The Fontes Fraud.”

What this lawyer-turned-politician seeks is to sidestep the law and enshrine himself as judge, jury and executioner of the political process in Arizona.

Central to his power grab is Fontes’ effort to delay a key election reform measure, passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey in 2021. It requires county recorders to remove names appearing on the

“active early voter list” if those voters have not been active.

Specifically, if they have not cast a ballot during two consecutive election cycles, nor responded to notification from the recorder that they wish to continue to receive early ballots.

Fontes’ wants to continue the fraudprone process of flooding the counties with “early ballots,” sent to former residences of voters who may have relocated, creating the opportunity for election fraudsters to intercept those ballots and then fill them out for their own unethical and partisan intentions.

Regular readers of this column may recall a previous admonition concerning voting-by-mail: what was originally intended as a tool of convenience eventually becomes an instrument of connivance.

Also worth citing again is the 2012 investigative report from NBC News and “News 21,” a program headquartered at ASU’s Cronkite School of Journalism.

The headline says it all: “The real

vote-fraud opportunity has arrived: casting your ballot by mail.”

Of course, that was then… and this is now. With Democrats currently entrenched in Arizona’s executive branch and Republicans controlling the Legislature, Arizona’s courts may be called upon to return our election process to the rule of law.

In the interim, look for Fontes to run roughshod over that process.

Speaking to Sedona Democrats in July, Fontes offered a curious characterization of his office, calling it “sort of like the commissioner’s office of the NFL.”

Wrong, Mr. Secretary. This isn’t a game.

•

HAYWORTH

Camden Jury leaving legacy on Casteel football program

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

From a young age Camden Jury knew he would be slightly different than both of his older brothers.

Gavin, who graduated from Casteel in 2021, was a 6-foot-4 tight end for the Colts who missed time due to injuries. Landon, who graduated last May, was a 6-foot-2 quarterback who led the Colts to the 6A semifinals a year ago.

Then there’s the youngest Jury, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound senior tackle who already committed to Utah State to continue his football career. He towers over his family while looking up to his older brothers at the same time.

“It was probably in sixth grade… I realized I was going to be huge,” Jury said. “I had a ton of growing pains because I grew so fast. But I have an opportunity to go play football at the next level because God gifted me with some size.”

Jury started as a junior for the Colts last season, protecting Landon at quar-

terback. He took pride in being the first, and most times the only level of defense for his brother to find open receivers during games.

There were times he would slip up and let an opposing edge rusher or linebacker through. Whenever they got a clean hit on Landon, he would be the first one there to pick him up.

There was never any animosity between the two when pass rushers found their way to Landon. He was the leader of the team and acted like it, motivating his younger brother to “get ‘em next play.”

“It was really fun,” Jury said. “I feel like I played better because I knew he was back there, and I knew I couldn’t let up a hit. He was nice about everything. He made sure my emotions were good.”

Of course, Jury didn’t take too kindly to defenses teeing off on Landon when given the chance.

“I didn’t have to get on him at all, he got a personal foul the next play,” Casteel Head Coach Bobby Newcombe said. “He was so mad that a guy hit his brother. He’s very protective over his brother.”

Newcombe is familiar with brothers being on his team. His own sons Isaiah and JJ had the chance to play together for a year. It’s a unique opportunity that allows memories to be made.

But the Jurys, Newcombe said, have a more unique circumstance with one protecting the other.

“Twenty to 30 years from now they’re going to look back at the film and say, ‘Hey, we played together. I protected you. My older little brother,’” Newcombe said. “They’re great kids, great family. We’re fortunate to have them as part of our program.”

Newcombe has seen vast improvement in Jury from last season. He’s quicker off the ball, more balanced with his feet and his footwork during run blocks and pass protection has improved.

He’s become the anchor for a Casteel offensive line that hopes to mirror their success last season when they made a deep run in the 6A Conference playoffs. This year, though, they’re doing it with a new quarterback in Paul Palmer. But Jury said the chemistry between him and the offensive line, which returned starters from last season, has already been impressive. That has helped create a mindset that this year’s Casteel team can go far.

Perhaps even further than last year.

“We want to be dominant and set the tone right away,” Jury said. “We were a young team last year, so we have a lot of talent returning. We want to go far in the playoffs again. We want a championship.”

Jury cherished the time he spent blocking for Landon last season. But now he aims to make a name for himself as the only one from the family in the Casteel football program.

He’s confident in not only his ability, but that of his teammates as well to make yet another deep run. And for

good reason.

Casteel returns JJ Newcombe, one of the most versatile athletes in the state on both defense and offense. Palmer, despite taking over for the first time, has already proved to be the replacement Casteel needs after Landon graduated. He will benefit from having Elijah Beamon at wideout, who shined in the Colts’ scrimmage before the season officially kicked off this past Friday.

But aside from his desire to have team success, Jury hopes for personal success as well.

He wants to leave a lasting legacy on the Casteel program — one that centers around hard work and dedication to improving his craft like he did this past off-season.

Should he do that, he will move on to Utah State proud of what he accomplished at the high school level.

“I want to play like it’s my last. Play my hardest every play,” Jury said. “I want people to remember me like, ‘Oh, that’s Cam Jury. He’s that guy.’ I want to leave a strong legacy.”

Casteel Head Coach Bobby Newcombe praised Jury for his improvement this off-season. He also shared how unique it is for him to have the opportunity to block for his older brother. (Dave Minton/ Staff)

At 6-foot-7, 315 pounds, Casteel senior tackle Camden Jury towers over the rest of his family. He knew early on that might be the case, and he found himself as a junior blocking for his older brother, Landon, a quarterback last season. Now, he plans to leave his own legacy. (Dave Minton/Staff)

Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Corteo’ visits Footprint Center

BY LAURA LATZKO Tribune Staff Writer

Each Cirque du Soleil show tells creative stories in various artforms.

The traveling show “Corteo” stems from the imagination of a clown, who is envisioning his funeral procession taking place within a carnival environment.

The show will visit the Footprint Center from Wednesday, Sept. 13, to Sunday, Sept. 17. The production premiered in April 2005 in Montreal and has visited over 20 countries since its inception.

The show highlights Mauro the Dreamer Clown’s fortitude, fragility, wisdom, humanity and kindness and juxtaposes different concepts, such as joy and tragedy and perfection and imperfection.

In the show, his friends and family honor Mauro and pay their respects, and he remembers key moments in his life.

Along with Mauro, the show has other clown characters, including the White Clown, the Clowness, the Little

Clown, the Giant Clown and the August Clown. The Little Angel watches over and guides Mauro.

Acrobats help to take audiences into another world between heaven and earth, filled with comedy and artistry.

This arena show from Cirque is different from others in that the rotating stage is in the center of the arena and divides the venue in half.

The set design, which was inspired by Baroque to modern influences, features a 41-foot turntable.

Stage Manager Inga Bekbudova said performing on this type of stage is different for the artists.

“It’s quite a challenge for artists to do that because they’re not used to performing to two sides,” said Bekbudova, who has been with “Corteo” for five years.

“When they do come on the show, it’s something for them to work on… you have to play equally to both sides. You can’t just favor one over the other.”

“Figuring out which side is which took me months once I got here. I’m not too proud of that… it’s so much to get used to, coming from other shows before, where there’s just the audience

side. Having two audience sides messes with you a bit,” added Jonathan Buese, one of the artists featured in the Tournik act. It marries horizontal bar techniques with circus arts.

Buese has also performed in other Cirque shows, including “Mystère,” “Alegria” and “Totem,” since he started in 2010.

The show incorporates two Baroque-style, “roll drop” curtains, which are 58 feet wide and 40 feet high, and four sideways-opening Italian-style curtains. They were hand-painted in France and the design was inspired by an 1885 piece by French artist Adolphe Willette.

The stage also features a labyrinth, which is a reproduction of a floor design at the Chartres Cathedral in France.

In “Corteo,” there are more than 260 costumes made from dyed or silkscreened fabrics.

Buese said on each show, it can take some time to adjust to performing in the costumes.

“The costume that the guys in my number have is heavier. It’s a little more formal. We have a tie, a vest and breeches. It looks like a jockey out-

fit… the opposite of what I have now is when I was on ‘Totem,’ I just had a spandex bodysuit. It was very light. It was basically weightless. Now, my costume is probably five pounds,” Buese said.

The show features different types of acts, including puppet-inspired Artist Marionette, Bouncing Beds group jumping, Acrobatic Ladder, chandelier aerial, Cyr Wheel group ring, duo aerial straps, hula-hoop, combination acrobatics and juggling, crystal glasses and Tibetan bowls, suspended pole solo, Korean Cradle and Tramponet Paradis, group teeterboard and group horizontal bar Tournik performances.

The chandelier act is unique to “Corteo.” It spotlights four women, who act as Mauro’s former loves. They perform aerial acrobatics on three large chandeliers.

In this act, chandeliers decorated with jewels and garlands of reflective spheres float in mid-air above the stage.

“It’s an aerial apparatus that they swing on. They do tricks. They fly on it. They do a whole bunch of stuff that’s

In Cirque du Soleil’s show “Corteo,” acrobats perform group and solo routines on Cyr Wheels. (MajaPrgomet/Contributor)

One of the acts featured in Cirque du Soleil’s show “Corteo” features a suspended pole. (MajaPrgomet/Contributor)

Cirque du Soleil’s “Corteo” show features a duet performance on aerial straps. (MajaPrgomet/ Contributor)

from page 17

very beautiful,” Bekbudova said.

The show’s international cast is made of people of more than 18 nationalities. Performers hail from countries such as Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Romania, Russia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

In the Tournik act, Buese performs with 11 other artists. All of the performers in this act, including Buese, have gymnastics backgrounds. Buese did gymnastics all the way through college before joining Cirque.

The Tournik act uses a steel frame and high bars, which are mounted on turntables.

Buese said the performers must be coordinated.

“When you’re doing a swing, just to keep a consistent speed is important. But then, I would say just as important is to know the reference points and when to catch somebody,” he said.

When he started, Buese said it took time to adapt to the Cirque style of performance.

Along with high-bar acts, he has done performances on Chinese poles.

that they stay in top shape. They go through one to two trainings a week. When bringing the show back after COVID-19, they did three months of training.

Bekbudova said over the years, the show has changed several times.

“It naturally evolves as it grows,” Bekbudova said.

“The show used to tour in a big-top format, but we did reformat it into this arena version that we are touring with now. That was back in 2017. So, it has evolved a little bit since then, but we still have maintained the same storyline, the same characters, the same everything since the big top.”

WHEN: Various times Wednesday, Sept. 13, to Sunday, Sept. 17 WHERE: Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix PRICE: Tickets start at $49 INFO: cirquedusoleil.com/corteo In Cirque du Soleil’s show “Corteo,” performers fly and bounce in a Paradis act featuring a trampoline-like net and two Korean double frame stations. (MajaPrgomet/Contributor)

“I had to get used to doing things really high up, which I didn’t think I was going to want to do,” he said. “I didn’t want to do it, but you get used to it. But it’s intense. You do a lot less things that you do in gymnastics. Because in gymnastics, there’s six events. Now, I just do the bar.”

In “Corteo,” Buese plays a real-life person. In other shows, he has portrayed creatures such as a frog and a monkey.

Performers continually work on and expand on their skill sets and levels. The artists do their acts five to seven times a week and take on other roles in shows. Bekbudova said it is important

Cirque du Soleil “Corteo”

Pita Jungle hosting a wild celebration

BY SAMANTHA REA Tribune Staff Writer

National Pita Day is a cause for celebration at Pita Jungle’s Arizona stores. The restaurant, founded by three college roommates, will honor National Pita Day on Sept. 1, with a promotion.

On Sept. 1 only, participating Pita Jungle locations will offer $5 gyro sandwiches all day, for dine-in only and limited to two per guest. Pita Jungle co-founder Bassel Osmani said the local business has been celebrating National Pita Day on social media for years, but this is the first time it’s having a promotion for it.

“We’re very proud of our gyro sandwich and very proud of the heritage of the gyro sandwich,” Osmani said. “We love to contribute by tossing out nice promotions to introduce people to our product, and to let people that love the product enjoy it at a discounted price.”

A Greek staple, Pita Jungle’s gyro is made with broiled beef and lamb, seasonal mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions and pickles covered in housemade tzatziki in Greek pita.

But what sets Pita Jungle’s gyros apart from others? Osmani feels the secret lies in the sauce and the pickles.

“Two of the significant features in it come from the homemade tzatziki and the Eastern Mediterranean pickles… it gives us a little taste differentiation from others,” Osmani said.

The booming business may also be due in part to its largely varietal menu. Guests can find a plethora of options on the Pita Jungle menu such as the Mediterranean roasted chicken shawarma, made with marinated and grilled chicken breast, garlic sauce, tahini, seasonal mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions and pickles with pita.

There is also the option to have any pita made as a bowl with turmeric brown rice, cabbage-kale super greens, garlic, lemon

juice and sumac.

According to Osmani, the traditional gyro is Pita Jungle’s signature dish and the most popular. However, rice bowls seem to be a more appealing alternative to those trying to stay away from gluten, as Pita Jungle’s gyros are not gluten-free.

Also a slightly surprising-yet-welcome addition for any fish consumers, Pita Jungle offers wood-fired Norwegian salmon and mahi-mahi, which can be ordered in salads, as an entree or even as a side.

Pita Jungle makes pizza, too. There are five pizza options to choose, including spinach and pesto lavash pizza, created with spinach, roasted mushrooms, wood-fired tomatoes, pesto, herbs, mozzarella, feta and a thin lavash crust.

For guests who don’t eat meat, Pita Jungle has vegan and vegetarian options, such as Mediterranean tofu shawarma, which is vegan and vegetarian. There are plenty of gluten-free options to be found on the menu as well, like the wood-fired caramelized cauliflower with tahini made with garlic-cilantro tahini sauce and toasted pine nuts; this dish is gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian.

A vegan and vegetarian favorite of Os-

Expires 8/31/23.

The traditional gyro is Pita Jungle’s signature dish and will be offered for $5 all day, dine-in on Sept. 1. (Submitted)

BY MARY GOLDMEER Tribune Staff Writer

Naomi Rodgers and Zurin Villanueva will share the lead role in “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical” and they couldn’t think of better partners.

“Having (Villanueva) as my counterpart is amazing,” Rodgers said. “The show is a heavy hitter and I’m glad they’ve given us an opportunity to have breaks. Every time I don’t perform, the next day I’m super excited to go on. I love this music. I love what I do.”

The first national tour of “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical” is coming to ASU Gammage from Tuesday, Oct. 10, to Sunday, Oct. 15. Tickets are on sale now. The musical has been on tour since September 2022 and will have hit 35 locations, including Centennial Hall in Tucson, before coming to Gammage.

“It’s a really good show on the road. We really make it into something a lot more cinematic,” Rodgers said. “We create the magic and that’s not challenging at all because that’s what we were meant to do here”

“Tina — The Tina Turner Musical” tells the story of a young Anna Mae Bullock, who’s on her way to fame in the 1960s. Her hits like “Proud Mary,” “River Deep-Mountain High” and “What’s Love Got to Do with It” are paired with scenes.

“The main things about going to a musical is that you want to be inspired and you want to see art, the story really teaches you how to overcome anything and everything that you go through,” Rodgers said. “It has taught me to be a stronger woman, so many things about this musical has healed me so I know it can heal the world.”

Although the music is upbeat and the show emphasizes that with determi-

nation, anything is possible, Turner’s journey is not easy. She faces racism, discrimination, abusive relationships and financial hardships that can seem impossible to overcome.

“We’re used to playing characters who are not real but this is a real woman. This is a real story. This is a real life that we were performing and that we’re putting on,” Rodgers said.

She landed the role of Tina while performing in Florida with the cast of the touring “Frozen” musical. She flew to New York for two callbacks and got a call from her agent as she was getting ready to go on stage.

“It was really a whirlwind, but you never know what you can do until you do it,” Rodgers said.

Turner’s journey led her from a small town in Tennessee to the top of the mu-

Naomi Rodgers as Tina Turner in the North American touring production of “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical.” (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

TINA from page 20

sic charts from 1966 to 2009. She died in May at age 83. Bullock’s love for music was shared with her audience for five decades, and with the musical telling her story and her songs remaining ingrained in pop culture, Turner’s influences live on.

“We all know that Black woman with the blonde, crazy hair, we all know that sound. That’s what I knew growing up and I know her even more now,” Rodgers said. “There was an iconic moment of Tina being Tina. It’s good to be a part of a beautiful moment.”

“Tina — The Tina Turner Musical”

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 10, to Sunday, Oct. 15

WHERE: ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe

PRICE: Tickets start at $30 INFO: asugammage.com, ticketmaster.com, inaonbroadway.com

PITA JUNGLE

from page 19

mani’s is the hummus with ginger-turmeric veggies, but he says there are many ways to get what you’re looking for. “80% of things that are on our menu can be twisted or tweaked and offered without animal protein,” Osmani said.

The restaurant aims to help guests maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle by providing them with a diverse menu that is influenced by tastes around the globe and harnesses the benefits of a Mediterranean diet, using high-quality lean meats, nuts, grains and vegetables.

So, while the variety of options and inclusivity is important and obviously prominent here, a restaurant needs more than a good menu to stay in business for almost three decades. Osmani credits the strong relationship between him and his co-founders for Pita Jungle’s continued success.

“From the get-go, the roommates were best friends, and we still are 30 years after, through thick and thin and high and low water,” Osmani said. “The most import-

ant thing for it to succeed, more than the concept itself, is actually the people and their kindness to each other and their understanding and mutual respect.”

Pita Jungle’s first location opened in Tempe in 1994, and in 1997 the Chandler store opened. Today, Pita Jungle has 23 locations across Arizona and can be found in Queen Creek, Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Scottsdale, Tucson and Flagstaff.

A loyal business partnership and a loyal customer base certainly make for a lot of love and appreciation on Pita Jungle’s part. Osmani made this clear, extending a message of gratitude to the community.

“I went to ASU. I came here when I was in my late teens and I’ve been here for over 30 years. I lived my life here and this town supported our growth,” Osmani said. “Our customers and our patrons are our friends and family and I will not shy away at any opportunity to express my immense and infinite gratitude. We’re humbled to have been able to service our city and our patrons and we appreciate everything.”

Naomi Rodgers performing “What’s Love Got To Do With It” as Tina Turner in the North American touring production of “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical.” (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

to clean water runs deep

We’re committed to providing clean water while building and maintaining infrastructure that will provide plentiful resources for Arizona long into the future.

Learn more at epcor.com

Do you know what cooking question I get asked a lot? “What can I do with chicken?”

Believe me, it’s a question I ask myself as well. But chicken, as you know, is incredibly versatile. From homemade chicken soup, to a stir fry, sauté or baked fried, breaded and grilled, chicken is our go to. Still, we’re always looking for one more way to prepare it.

Get Out Contributor What to do with chicken? Try this easy recipe

I’ve got a fantastic chicken dish that’s flavorful, simple and uses readily available ingredients. Let’s start with the main ingredient, the chicken breast. Choose fresh, and if they are large, you may want to carefully slice them in half lengthwise.

To safely tenderize, I place the chicken breasts in a double gallon size zippered plastic bag, completely sealed. If you don’t have a mallet, a small heavy skillet or pot will work. Pound the chicken breast to about a 1/4” thickness.

more epcor.com

Now for the cheese. One of the most flavorful cheese spreads you can buy is Boursin. The varieties you’ll find most often are the garlic and fine herbs or shallot and chive. But if you’re lucky enough to stumble across the pepper variety, it works really well in this dish. Two cheeses are distributed on the chicken, which gets rolled up and wrapped in ultra-thin slices of prosciutto. That’s pretty much it. Roll it up, bake it up and serve it up for dinner tonight. 

PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED CHICKEN BREASTS

Ingredients:

• 4 fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts

• 1 package Boursin cheese, room temperature

• 1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1 package (6-8 slices) thin sliced prosciutto

• Salt and pepper

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken breasts in double gallon sized zippered bags. With a mallet on the smooth side, pound the chicken 1/4” thick.

Place the pounded chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Spread an even amount of Boursin cheese over all four chicken breasts. Evenly distribute mozzarella cheese on top of the Boursin. Carefully roll up chicken, seam side down.

Wrap each chicken roll with a slice of prosciutto, tucking the ends under the chicken roll. Melt butter and olive oil together in baking dish or glass pie plate.

Place chicken rolls in baking dish. Bake for about 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. With a pastry brush, baste the chicken rolls several times during the cooking process with the butter/olive oil mixture.

(This will give the chicken rolls added flavor and a beautiful glossy finish.)

Serve with pasta, rice, vegetables or a salad. Serves 4.

The Story of Boursin Cheese

It started in 1957 with François Boursin, a French cheese maker who was quietly trying to perfect his cheese before he introduced it to the world.

But in 1961 a newspaper mistakenly reported that François had infused the cheese with garlic, and his product became an overnight sensation.