his entourage while they drew plans for A.J. Chandler's San Marcos in the Desert resort, which would have been built near present-day 32nd Street and Chandler Boulevard.
Judge rules against ADA lawsuit, lawyer
BY JIM WALSH TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Afederal judge imposed sanctions against a controversial attorney and his co-counsel, citing their “bad faith behavior” in dealings with a defense attorney after they filed a “boilerplate” suit accusing property owners of violating the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
Frank Lloyd Wright, A.J. Chandler worked to remake East Valley Great Depression scuttled resort, other projects
BY MIKE BUTLER TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
The city of Chandler and the Ahwatukee Foothills would look and feel very different today if Dr. A.J. Chandler and famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright had a little better luck and timing. If they’d succeeded, wealthy winter visitors—guests of the lavish San Marcos in the Desert resort—would be sipping drinks tonight and looking down at twinkling lights
Attorneys Peter Strojnik and Fabian Zazueta and the foundation they represent, Advocates for Individuals with Disabilities, were ordered by U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow to reimburse Golden Rule Properties for specified legal fees stemming from the case.
Snow also ordered the case remanded to Maricopa County Superior Court, ruling that the foundation lacked standing to sue Golden Rule in federal court because it could not prove that any individual was harmed by the alleged ADA violation cited, or that plaintiffs Shannon Puckett or David Ritzenthaler were members of the foundation.
Snow wrote in his ruling that the foundation filed 162 similar ADA claims in federal court and about 1,000 in state court, with all of the suits containing “the same general language alleging the local business violated the ADA by having inadequate signage or parking spaces for the disabled.”
In the Golden Rule case, the foundation cited a lack of van-accessible parking spaces or signs that were not at least 60 inches high, as required by the ADA.
But Snow said the foundation failed to prove that “any disabled individual
(Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation)
Frank Lloyd Wright, with wife Olgivanna and kids, gets ready to leave Ocatilla Desert Camp for the summer. The camp housed him and
(Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation)
Approximately where the city of Chandler's downtown library now
San Marcos Water Gardens.
THE SUNDAY
EAST VALLEY
Tribune
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All sorts of forums are scheduled both days, Bass said. When people arrive, they’re given a program that lists the time and topics of the forums.
Copperstate Fly-In brings aircraft to Falcon Field Vintage planes, ultralights among those expected
BY SHELLEY RIDENOUR TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Aircraft aficionados can get their fix at the Copperstate Fly-In at Falcon Field Oct. 28 and 29.
e fly-in moves to Mesa after spending about the last decade in Casa Grande. It’s a homecoming of sorts, since the event originated about 40 years ago at what is now Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. It’s moved multiple times, first to Casa Grande, then to the Ak-Chin Regional Airport, back to Casa Grande and finally to Mesa this year.
Copperstate Fly-In President Steve Bass said organizers expect 10,000 people to attend the two-day event. e Copperstate is the fourth-largest fly-in in the United States, organizers say.
At a fly-in, he cautions people, aircraft fly in and park for people to walk around and look at. It’s not an air show with flying demonstrations.
Last year’s show drew 525 aircraft, and Bass expects a similar number this year. It’s not just restored, vintage planes that will be on hand. Some are home-built planes, others are ultralights. New planes and small jets come, and usually some helicopters show up.
e Falcon Warbirds planes are a big part of the show. ose World War II-era planes always draw a crowd. e fly-in headquarters are inside the Warbirds hangar at the airport, Bass said.
The fly-in also features vendors. Bass expects around 80 booths to be set up. Most will feature merchandise related to aircraft, but food vendors, hand-made art and jewelry, miniature drones and sunglasses are among the things to be displayed in other booths, he said.
IF YOU GO
What: Copperstate Fly-In
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29
Where: Falcon Field, Mesa
Cost: $15 per day or $25 for both days for people 19 and older. Free for kids. More info: copperstate.org
Bass said the event is free to anyone 18 and younger because his group wants to encourage young people to learn about aviation and careers in the industry.
Visitors will find the general parking area off East Mallory Circle, he said. Free trams will run all day long, both days,
ferrying people between the parking lot and the airport entrance. ey’ll be pulled by antique tractors, Bass said. Members of a local antique tractor club will display their tractors and related equipment at the show, too.
– Contact reporter Shelley Ridenour at 480-898-6533 or sridenour@timespublications.com.
– Comment on this story and like the East Valley Tribune on Facebook and follow EVTNow on Twitter.
COSANTI
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6433 E. Doubletree Rd. Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253
*Sale Prices Will Not Be Honored on Phone or Internet Orders.
WRIGHT
from page 1
radiating outward from 32nd Street and Chandler Boulevard.
They and tens of thousands of other snowbirds and East Valley residents would be visiting a Taliesin West, nestled in the San Tan Mountains instead of North Scottsdale.
But not even visionary giants like Chandler and Wright could turn back the tidal wave of the Great Depression. And, as history so often proves, slight twists and turns and ill-timed insults can send well-laid plans ricocheting off in unpredictable directions.
The two men became business partners in the late 1920s. After they met for the first time, and Chandler had outlined some of his grand schemes, Wright wrote a letter back, which is recounted in his autobiography:
“I see in you a man worth a man’s time to work one’s best with.”
Hungry to know more about Wright and Chandler's ultimately starstruck relationship, two officials from the Chandler Museum went to work: Jody Crago, administrator, and Nate Meyers, curator of collections. They dove into the extensive archives of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and tracked down descendants of those who knew the men.
Even though Dr. Chandler and Wright never connected on a building for the ages, Crago and Meyers came to realize that Wright’s experience in the lower Sonoran Desert was hardly wasted. In fact, it informed many of his most influential ideas.
“This was some of the most fun research we’ve ever done,” says Crago. “You really get a sense of both Chandler and Wright. It started out as the stereotypical designer-owner relationship, but I think they grew to truly enjoy each other’s company.”
What could have been
Broke, going through a divorce and in the company of Olgivanna, who became his third and last wife, the flamboyant Frank Lloyd Wright swept into the Valley for the first time in 1928 to work as a consultant on the Arizona Biltmore Hotel near 24th Street and Camelback Road.
The project’s lead architect, Albert Chase McArthur, a former student, was using a variation of Wright’s innovative textile block system to build the hotel, which probably irked the master. Wright only spent four months on the project.
be San Marcos in the Desert, rising from 1,400 acres of land he owned around the South Mountain foothills. After visiting the site, Wright eagerly accepted the commission.
According to Crago’s research, Wright said: “There could be nothing more inspiring to an architect on this earth than [this] spot of pure Arizona desert ... at last here was the time, the place, and in Dr. Chandler, the man.”
published in architectural journals back in the day, it’s easy to see the lines of Taliesin West forming in Wright’s mind, says Crago. Wright and his entourage stayed at Ocatilla until May, when they could no longer stand the heat, rattlesnakes, tarantulas and scorpions.
San Marcos in the Desert
They compiled their findings recently into a fascinating exhibit/presentation titled “Frank Lloyd Wright and a New Vision for Chandler.”
Hearing that Wright was in town, A.J. Chandler invited him over to the San Marcos hotel. By this time, Chandler had amassed 18,000 acres of land and had transformed most of it into a verdant oasis, crisscrossed by an orderly network of canals. The San Marcos was a winter playground for the rich and famous. Chandler wanted his crown jewel to
Chandler borrowed $900,000 against the San Marcos. He used some of the money to renovate the 15-year-old hotel, and set aside the rest for the new project. Wright got busy drawing so that Chandler could woo other investors.
Returning to Chandler in January 1929, Wright hit on the idea of building a camp on the site of the new hotel to house himself and his draftsmen. His tenthouses at Ocatilla Desert Camp featured low wood walls and asymmetrical canvas roofs angled to the catch the desert sun. In photographs of the camp, widely
Wright’s stunning final vision for San Marcos in the Desert probably exceeded even Chandler’s wildest dreams. Unlike the Biltmore, which used patterned concrete tiles as a decorative facade, Wright’s blocks were meant to be structural. They were textured to look like the ribs of a saguaro cactus. Built into the side of a mountain, the geometric structure—accented with copper and glass—featured three terraced floors of guest rooms on each wing. The terraces allowed the roof of each level to serve as a garden view for the level above. Excited by the way Ocatilla Desert
(Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation)
Chandler let Wright and his students stay at his La Hacienda, a renovated former polo stable, as they worked on a scale model of Broadacre City, the architect's vision of the ideal suburban development.
(Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation)
The San Marcos Water Gardens featured a miniature canal system inspired by the irrigation network A.J. Chandler brought to the Southeast Valley.
(Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation) Wright furnished his Ocatilla cabin with a piano and collectible Navajo rugs. In the cabin's architecture, the lines of the future Taliesin West were already forming in the designer's mind.
Camp turned out, and seeing how America was turning into a mobile society, Wright designed the San Marcos Water Gardens, a quirky, down-scale motor inn resort. It would have been built between Arizona Avenue and Delaware Street, an area now occupied by the Chandler Downtown Library and its grounds.
The concrete, wood and canvas cabins, plus a lodge with a dining room and kitchen, lined the banks of a small system of canals reminiscent of Chandler’s irrigation network. These water and automobile-friendly design features later became an integral part of Wright’s celebrated Broadacre City, his vision of the ideal suburban development.
Crago says Dr. Chandler quibbled with Wright in correspondence about the impracticality of canvas as a desert building material, but Wright never budged, saying only fabric could give the quality of light he desired.
Not caring for the Mission Revival style of the original San Marcos, Wright also drew very detailed exterior/interior plans for the hotel’s Prairie-Style makeover. Wright brought his students down to the southeast Valley in the winter of
1935 to work on an intricate, 12-by12-foot scale model of Broadacre, which represented a four-square-mile community. Dr. Chandler let them take over La Hacienda, a former polo stable he had converted to hotel rooms.
As the Great Depression wore on, it became clear to Wright and Chandler by 1936 that they’d never raise the money for San Marcos in the Desert. They planned a smaller hotel, Little San Marcos in the Desert, in the foothills of the San Tan Mountains.
Wright loved that desert landscape, too, and he let it be known that the area would be a fine place to build the winter home of Taliesin. Crago says J. Lee Loveless, then-mayor of Chandler, organized a group of business leaders to buy land for Wright’s western school of architecture.
Saying goodbye
The architect survived the Depression, and thrived afterward, but his Arizona benefactor wasn’t so lucky. San Marcos bookings dwindled. Dr. Chandler couldn’t repay that big loan. He lost control of the hotel.
Wright had planned to return to La Hacienda the following year, but the new San Marcos president, Bobby Foehl,
Mesa voters to decide on tax hike
BY SHELLEY RIDENOUR TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
The core of downtown Mesa could change, soon, if Mesa voters approve an increase in the sales tax rate in the Nov. 8 general election. If the tax hike is approved, it will pay for the construction of four multi-story buildings in the block around the Mesa City Plaza, which would house Arizona State University classrooms, students and instructors.
It’s not all about ASU, though. Much of the new money would be directed specifically to the city’s fire and police departments, Mayor John Giles said. And, the city won’t forget about its other partners in higher education. Money is earmarked for expansion projects to help Benedictine University and Wilkes University, both of which already operate in downtown Mesa.
The ballot question asks voters to approve a 0.4 of a percent increase in the city’s sales tax rate. The current tax rate of 1.75 percent would increase by four-
was in no mood to let Wright’s group freeload for four winter months.
Furious, Wright immediately began looking for a new home for Taliesin West.
Dr. Chandler wasn’t exactly destitute. He still had a stash of personal cash, and he was given nice lodgings at the San Marcos. Frank Lloyd Wright, displaying what some might call uncharacteristic sympathy and gratitude, contacted his friend.
Wright and Chandler drove around the East Valley one day, while the architect
identified suitable building sites and discussed plans for a proper personal residence. Afterward, an aide asked Wright why he’d done it, knowing that this plan—like everything else—would never happen.
As the associate (and two historians a generation later) listened, Wright said: “Yes, but we gave him a wonderful morning, didn’t we?”
– Reach Mike Butler at 480-898-5630 or at mbutler@timespublications.com.
– Comment on this
and
tenths of 1 percent, to 2.15 percent. That means on a $100 purchase, the buyer would pay $2.15 in city sales taxes. It has no effect on sales taxes charged by the state and county. Giles reminds voters that the city doesn’t tax groceries. City officials expect the tax to generate an additional $38.4 million a year. Of that, $23 million would be earmarked for public safety—fire and police. An additional $15 million would go to higher education.
If voters approve the hike, the increase would go into effect March 1, 2017.
Much of the buzz about the tax increase seems to be associated with ASU, Mesa City Manager Chris Brady said.
But, “public safety really became the drive behind this,” he said.
Budget meetings about the needs of the fire and police departments showed fire stations are pretty far away from new housing developments, he said.
“The tremendous housing growth in the southeast and northeast parts of the city puts pressure on response times for the fire and police departments,” Brady
said. “We know we need to build more fire stations.”
Revenue from the increased tax rate would pay for a new fire station in southeast Mesa, 27 additional fire department employees, 58 police officers and four civilian police employees, plus equipment for both departments.
“Mesa is growing fast. We have to catch up with public safety,” Giles said.
“Our staffing has gotten behind,” Brady said. “We need more officers and technology.”
Higher education
The approximate $102 million needed to build the 200,000-square-foot ASU campus would come from the sale of revenue bonds. Those bonds come with the pledge to pay the bond holders with the new sales tax revenue. That’s how the city paid for the stadium for the Chicago Cubs.
“This is kind of the Mesa way. It works,” Brady said.
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(Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation)
Built into the side of a mountain, the geometric San Marcos in the Desert, accented with copper and glass, featured three terraced floors of guest rooms on each wing.
(Will Powers/Tribune Staff Photographer)
If voters approve the new Mesa sales tax, some of the money will go to a new fire station in southeast Mesa, 27 additional fire department employees, 58 police officers and four civilian police employees, plus equipment for both departments.
Election to decide final shape of councils in Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert
BY PAUL MARYNIAK TRIBUNE MANAGING EDITOR
While much of the pre-election attention might be focused on the top of the ticket, voters in Chandler, Mesa and Gilbert will also be deciding the shape of their local government for the next two years.
All three municipalities have competitive council races after the nonpartisan elections in August failed to resolve all their campaigns for open seats.
Gilbert has the most competitive council election since neither at-large seat was filled in a race involving eight candidates in August.
The four left to compete are incumbent Jared Taylor, retired Phoenix firefighter Joel Anderson, retired town parks manager Scott Anderson and former town economic development commission chairman Jim Torgeson.
The overall issue of growth emerged in responses from Torgeson, Taylor and Scott Anderson to questionnaires the East Valley Tribune sent all candidates in July. Joel Anderson did not respond.
For Taylor, growth and long-range financial planning are related, noting that Gilbert has long relied on fees that developers pay for new construction.
“These revenues will diminish as we approach build-out and new construction slows,” Taylor said. “Gilbert must have a strong financial plan in place to avoid future taxes on our residents.”
Part of the infrastructure targeted by Torgeson is the town’s sewer system, which he claimed “is rapidly falling into disrepair because of a poorly executed contract years ago” and warned that failure to address the problem “will prevent us from landing high-end employers we need to maintain our expectations.”
Torgeson also said long-term planning and development in connection with build-out was another major issue. He warned that without such planning, the town may end up with a surplus of commercial development in corridors that should be home to companies with high-paying jobs.
Because he is an incumbent, Taylor was asked to cite two accomplishments he personally spearheaded. He said he ran “to make Gilbert the best place to raise a family” and “the best place to grow a business.”
Taylor said his involvement in various recreation projects, including the south Gilbert park plan and the overall parks and recreation master plan were among those accomplishments, as well as his efforts to help town staff adapt more efficient processes for businesses to set up shop.
Torgeson said his top qualifications were “a track record of being able to ask difficult questions and get answers” as well as his understanding of business and development from his service on the Heritage District Redevelopment Commission.
Scott Anderson said, “I have a proven track record and understand the community’s needs since I wrote most of its original plans and have influence development during the town’s most active growth. Second, I understand the internal processes of the town.”
One Mesa district has race
In Mesa, where incumbents are being termed out, two of three open council seats were already decided in August. That left the city’s 2nd Council District open for a race former city economic development official Shelly Allen and small-business owner Jeremy Whitaker.
Allen, a 54-year-old retired city of Mesa employee who worked in numerous departments during her career, is duking it out with 33-year-old small businessman Jeremy R. Whittaker.
structure and that she also has practical experience in redevelopment and economic development.
Whittaker touts his background in a business he says has generated over $2 million in revenue. He says the fact that he is “not a lifelong government bureaucrat” is one of his most compelling qualifications for office.
“ We need to improve the supply side of revenue through our economic development efforts ” —Shelly Allen
Scott Anderson also called attention to the financial impact of build-out, stating Gilbert “must look at diversifying our economy with new ideas such as continued tourism development and a brand development for planning purposes.”
Whittaker is president of Velocity Technologies, a computer consulting firm he founded right out of high school. Allen, whose lineage dates back to Mesa’s original settlers, holds a master’s degree in public administration and has served on the city Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Committee since her retirement.
Allen says that her career with the city has given her an understanding and knowledge of the city’s operations and
He also is one of the more vocal council candidates on the issue of the city’s $1.6-billion debt. He is against a November ballot proposition for a tax increase that he claims will raise business taxes by 23 percent.
“We have to start focusing on entrepreneurship, getting government out of the way of small business, and vocational training programs to boost our economy.”
Allen considers both public safety and a “fiscally responsible government” as the most important issues facing Mesa.
“We need to improve the supply side of revenue through our economic development efforts,” she stated, also citing a need to reduce spending.
Two of Chandler’s three open seats were decided in August.
The fight for the final at-large seat involves finance executive Matt Eberle and small-business consultant Mark Stewart.
Although Stewart did not respond to a Tribune questionnaire mailed to all candidates in July, Eberle said highpaying jobs must be a priority.
He said the current council “has done well” to attract companies, but that “we still have work to do.”
Eberle also listed “the integrity of our neighborhoods” as a big issue for the city, adding that investing in public safety is important to maintaining it. He also touted his “20 years of proven financial leadership within Fortune 500 and publicly traded companies” as one of his major qualifications for office.
(Cheryl Haselhorst/Tribune Staff Photographer) Campaign signs along Gilbert Road tout candidates for Town Council.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Day of Play celebrates health and wellness
The city of Chandler is celebrating the importance of fi tness, health and wellness for kids of all ages in the Mayor’s Day of Play at Tumbleweed Park.
The Day of Play is a nationwide event to promote healthy lifestyles. There will be free activities for kids from a “foam fun run” and a “sparking ice” dance contest. For parents to learn more about healthy lifestyles, there will be booths on health, wellness and fi tness.
For more information about the Day of Play, visit the Mayor’s Day of Play event webpage at chandleraz.gov/ default.aspx?pageid=805.
– RACHEL EROH, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Workshop for Hispanics to trace family lineage
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Mesa Public Library is hosting a Latino Genealogy and Family Preservation Workshop on Oct. 25.
The event will provide an introduction to genealogy research and oral history. Participants will learn how to trace their roots and preserve family photos and artifacts.
Archival kits will be provided.
The event will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Main Library, 64 E. 1st St.
Registration is required, at mesalibrary.org or 480-644-3100.
– TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Prostate cancer screenings provided at library
The Prostate On-Site Project will provide prostate cancer screenings to men 40 or older at the Mesa Main Library, 64 E. 1st St.
The event will be Wednesday from 8 to 11 a.m. Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare insurance will be accepted, with special rates for city employees and other discounts available. Without insurance, the exam will cost $72.
Appointments are required at 480-964-3013 or 1-800-828-6139.
– TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Open house to discuss freeway interchange
An open house will give Gilbert residents the chance to discuss the Lindsay Road and 202 Santan Freeway Interchange on Wednesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Southwest Regional Library.
The city of Gilbert, the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration is teaming up to develop a design concept report to assess the proposed improvements. The interchange alternatives and initial evaluation criteria will be presented at the open house, which will give residents an opportunity to give their input to the project team.
The Southwest Regional Library is at 775 N. Greenfi eld Road. For more information on the project, visit ConnectingGilbert. com or call the project hotline at 480-808-4100.
– RACHEL EROH, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Bus service improvements include East Valley routes
Valley Metro will begin new improvements on Oct. 24 to benefi t riders by increasing service and travel fl exibility.
In Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert, new trips will be added including Route 40, Apache/Main St. and Route 112, and Country Club/Arizona Ave.
Valley Metro has also hired additional representatives and will increase hours starting Oct. 24. The new hours will be Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Another round of improvements will be made in 2017, including expanding bus service on local bus routes serving Phoenix to match the light rail hours seven days a week.
Goldwater Institute rips Gilbert’s Xavier deal as ‘betrayal’ of taxpayers
BY PAUL MARYNIAK TRIBUNE MANAGING EDITOR
Gilbert’s belly-up deal with Saint Xavier University has come under fire by the Goldwater Institute for leaving taxpayers holding a potential $36 million bag.
The report quotes one expert as calling it “a little wacko” and another as a “foolish and reckless” way to spend taxpayers’ money.
The report was released last week as the private nonprofit government watchdog group announced a lawsuit against the city of Peoria for its plan to give $2.6 million in incentive money directly to Huntington University and a private landowner.
Goldwater senior attorney Jim Manley said neither deal was a good bet.
“The problem with these economic development deals is they leave the taxpayers on the hook if the businesses go bust,” Manley said.
“In the university context, we’ve seen it happen, so it doesn’t really take a lot of speculation to know what it looks like when one of these deals goes wrong. It’s the taxpayers who suffer and it’s the students who suffer,” he added. “It’s just foolish and reckless to spend other people’s money this way.”
Richard Vedder, director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, a nonprofit research organization focusing on higher education, was blunter.
“The whole idea is a little wacko,” said Vedder, a professor emeritus of economics at Ohio University who oversees development of Forbes Magazine’s “America’s Best Colleges” report.
a building on city-owned land that would be custom designed to meet the needs of Saint Xavier, which would enter into a 15-year lease to rent the facility. Lease payments would be used to repay the bonds and other city costs associated with the project.
In return, Saint Xavier would open a campus and offer degrees in nursing, business, and education. The campus was to open no later than August 2015, enrolling at least 200 full-time students with 500 enrolled by the end of the fifth year.
The only security required of Saint Xavier was a penalty of $250,000 and all lease payments due at the time if it breached the lease.
Saint Xavier is a nonprofit Catholic university and enrolls about 4,500 at its Illinois campus.
The report said, “Signs of trouble were evident as soon as Saint Xavier opened in August 2015. The campus was built to accommodate 1,000 students. Yet when the doors opened, only about 25 students had signed up, and most of those were taking online classes.”
Meanwhile, the Illinois Legislature did not fully fund state higher education grants that helped bankroll more than a third of Saint Xavier’s students in that state.
tenant could always be found for the building.
“Since the university announced it would close, Gilbert officials have been trying to lure another tenant to assume the lease,” the Goldwater report states. “So far, they’ve not been successful, though town attorney Michael Hamblin told the Goldwater Institute there are discussions with several other potential tenants, including other private universities.”
lease obligations on Jan. 1 depends on a number of factors that are still developing.”
Hamblin is quoted as stating that “economic development was not the driving factor ... Rather it was an investment in the education of Gilbert students, who have few options other than Arizona State University and more distant private colleges in the Valley.”
“ The problem with these economic development deals is they leave the taxpayers on the hook if the businesses go bust. ”
—Jim Manley, Goldwater senior attorney
“It’s a big, rosy scenario,” Vedder said. “The fact that it is not going on routinely, regularly around the country, to me is indicative that this is not an idea that has resonated, even with people who are traditionally activist in using government subsidies.”
The Goldwater report details how Gilbert had projected the town would reap $281 million over 10 years while creating 170 new jobs.
Gilbert would issue bonds to construct
In May 2016, nine months after it opened, university officials announced they would close their Gilbert campus at the end of the fall semester, and had no plans to reopen it. The town was required to issue bonds that it will have to repay for the $36-million building housing the campus. “Aside from the $250,000 penalty Saint Xavier deposited into a holding account, the university bore virtually no up-front cost or risk,” the report said.
The report depicts the efforts of Town Council members Jared Taylor and Victor Petersen to block the deal, although they ended up on the losing end of a 5-2 vote that approved it.
“At the end of the day, the development agreements will leave us holding the bag if there’s not enough at risk,” Councilman Jared Taylor predicted, rejected town administration assurances that another
The report says Taylor, who is seeking reelection, noted that private lenders require considerable collateral from private schools seeking loans and that “with taxpayer money at risk, the town should have made similar demands.”
A part of the development agreement stating that Saint Xavier would not open a campus in Gilbert without the city incentives should have been a red flag, Petersen told the Goldwater Institute.
“If it’s really true that they wouldn’t come here without that incentive, it makes you wonder how viable it is of an enterprise,” he said.
The report reported that Saint Xavier has not breached the lease so far and has not notified the city that it will not fulfill its obligations. The first lease payment is due in January.
“So far, the city has not incurred any damages,” the report states. “If Saint Xavier misses the lease payment, and no new tenant is found, the city will have to come up with the bond payment on its own.”
Saint Xavier officials would not agree to an interview, the institute reported, quoting university spokeswoman Karla Thomas as stating, “The payment of
But the report details the problems that one Gilbert resident and Xavier student has incurred as the result of the university’s closing.
Ryan Schulte spent about $20,000 and a year of his education at Xavier, and now must retake the classes he completed when he begins the MBA program at the University of Arizona.
In response to the Goldwater report, Hamblin told The Tribune that while Gilbert "did perform the necessary due diligence" before making the deal, "the less tangible educational benefits were foremost." He also said, "Gilbert is confident that another institution of higher education will come to occupy the town-owned building."
Manley said “Gilbert officials betrayed their own residents when they agreed to finance the Saint Xavier property.”
“The city essentially baited the trap,” Manley said. “In some ways it’s even worse than going to just some private university that opens up in your city. The city has sort of blessed this with its imprimatur and said basically, ‘We think this is a good institution. We think it’s so good we’re going to put your money behind it.’"
Manley said the deal was like "being betrayed by your own city government.”
(Tribune Staff)
Bishop Thomas Olmsted blesses the building with holy water during the grand opening of Saint Xavier University in Gilbert on Aug. 4, 2015.
Residents discover cameras hidden in Chandler home
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
A Chandler man was arrested and accused of taking videos of family members in an effort to catch his wife cheating.
Jason Travis Mekelburg, who used to live at the home near Arizona Avenue and Germann Road, was taken into custody.
The family living there now discovered a camera in the guest bathroom in June. They also found a DVR in the attic. No other cameras or equipment were found.
The recordings found took place in 2011 and 2012.
Mekelburg admitted setting up the camera to try to catch his estranged wife cheating. He was booked into jail on 10 counts of unlawfully recording a person.
– TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Chandler resident arrested, accused of arson
A 31-year-old Chandler man was arrested last week in connection with four arson cases in his neighborhood, and police say he’s considered to be linked to more.
Thomas Leeper Jr. was booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of three counts of an occupied structure, one count of arson of a structure and seven counts of endangerment.
Once the interview was over, police say Leeper admitted starting four fi res.
Leeper was taken into police custody for questioning on a Sept. 2 fi re in the 3600 block of West Carla Vista Drive, according to Detective Seth Tyler, a Chandler Police spokesman.
Leeper has a history of arson, a police report stated. When Leeper was still a juvenile, he was sent to a treatment center after committing several arsons in New Jersey.
– RACHEL EROH, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Chandler educator among finalists for Arizona Teacher of the Year
The Arizona Educational Foundation announced the fi ve Ambassadors for Excellence and fi ve semifi nalists for the Arizona Teacher of the Year program, and two are from the East Valley.
Lori Lyford, music and choral teacher at Chandler High School, was named one of fi ve Ambassadors for Excellence and is under consideration for 2017 AEF Arizona Teacher of the Year. She is also in the running for the National Teacher of the Year title.
7 East Valley restaurants listed for food violations
Seven restaurants in the East Valley recently were written up for priority violations during inspection.
A priority violation “directly contributes to increasing the risk of foodborne illness or injury,” according to the Department of Environmental Services.
Among those with violations were:
• The Oasis Bakery & Cuisine , 1639 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe.
• New China Buffet, 1230 S. Gilbert Road, Suite G6, Mesa.
• Zipps Sports Grill, 211 E. Warner Road, Gilbert.
• Ralph’s Snack Bar , mobile food unit, Tempe.
• Osaka Japanese Steakhouse, 6730 E. Superstition Springs Blvd., Mesa.
• Chutneys Indian Cuisine, 1801 E. Baseline Road, Tempe.
• The Perch, 232 S. Wall St., Chandler.
– TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Sun Studios to create documentary
The Historical League has selected Sun Studios of Tempe for a project documenting the state’s most celebrated leaders. The new studio company will produce documentary oral histories of the 2017 class of Historymakers, an honor recognizing outstanding living Arizonans who have distinguished themselves with notable achievements in diverse areas such as the arts, athletics, education, communications, entertainment, healthcare, community service and philanthropy.
– RACHEL EROH, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Chandler mom awarded $1,000 scholarship
Also, Elaine Veatch, fi fth-grade teacher at Longfellow Elementary School in Mesa, was named a semifi nalist, but is not in contention for the Teacher of the Year award.
All 10 teachers will be honored during the awards luncheon Nov. 17 at the Arizona Biltmore.
– RALPH ZUBIATE, TRIBUNE EDITOR
A Chandler mom was one of this year’s recipients of the JobApplications.com national Working Parent Scholarship, which awards $1,000 to students who balance the tasks of parenthood, working, and excelling in school.
Sandy Chappell, 34, has a 6-year-old son and recently graduated from Mesa Community College with a degree in web design and web development. She plans to continue her education at Arizona State University.
Including the most recent round of scholarships, Job-Applications. com has awarded $1,000 scholarships to people in Arizona, California, Louisiana, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington and Utah.
– RACHEL EROH, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
TAX HIKE
Giles appreciates the massive presence ASU already has in Mesa, with its Polytechnic campus near Gateway airport. But he’d like an even bigger presence by “the most innovative university in the country.”
The mayor realizes the ASU project will alter downtown Mesa in what he refers to as “permanent change in a positive way.”
“Downtown Mesa is walkable, with cool shops,” the mayor said. “Every store has a different story. I don’t think this will change that.”
Rather, he’s convinced ASU will be a magnet to bring new business and people downtown, making vacant downtown properties more attractive.
The addition of tall buildings in the neighborhood doesn’t cause Mesa Arts Center Executive Director Cindy Ornstein to worry.
Preliminary drawings show the building next door to the arts center as being somewhat transparent, she said, with lots of glass, allowing passers-by to see in and students to see out.
“They are really being sensitive to the area,” Ornstein said. “It should fit in nicely.”
regular features at the arts center.
“We stand ready to make sure that we maximize the opportunities citizens have if they so decide,” Ornstein said. “We’ll take advantage of the opportunities it presents.”
The type of programs planned to be housed in Mesa are another plus, she said. ASU officials have said they plan to offer art, music, film, dance and a media engineering program at the new campus.
Shared responsibilities
The ASU buildings would be owned by the city and leased to the university for 99 years. ASU would be responsible for the buildings—maintenance, repairs, furnishings, Giles said. Construction would be finished by fall 2018.
Early discussions call for retail shops and restaurants on the ground floors of the buildings.
The arts center and ASU have a long tradition of collaboration, she said, and that could grow with a campus next door. ASU art and theater projects are
Benedictine has grown faster than college officials anticipated, Giles said, and already has more students than its Main Street buildings could accommodate. So, earlier this fall, some offices and classrooms were relocated to the Mesa Higher Education Center, where Wilkes is based. That means the Higher Education Center must be expanded, the mayor said. And, the city plans to build out the 26,000-square-foot second floor of Benedictine’s building. Terms of the leases between the city and the universities call for such expansions as needed.
LAWSUIT
from page 1
encountered the defendant’s defective signage” and was actually denied access.
Snow ruled that the foundation lacks standing to sue because it could not prove harm to a disabled person, or show that it was acting on behalf of Puckett or Ritzenthaler as members.
foundation’s attorneys told Golden Rule’s defense attorney that “they had no intention of dismissing the federal claims if the defendant removed the case” to federal court.
“Rather, the complaint attempts to allege that the plaintiff has a ‘close relationship’ with all ‘former, current and future disabled individuals due to its charitable acts,’” without providing any specific facts to back up this argument, Snow wrote.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has cited similar arguments in court filings on the state cases, saying that the foundation lacks standing to sue because it presented no evidence that a disabled person was harmed by an alleged ADA violation.
In addition, Snow accused Strojnik and Zanueta of using deceptive tactics in their dealings with Golden Rule’s attorney. The judge wrote that the
But after the case was removed to federal court, the foundation moved for dismissal. It was a second example of the same behavior that led to sanctions against the foundation’s attorneys in another suit against Sun West Dental Properties, Snow wrote.
“AID and its counsel’s decisions to dismiss its federal claims under these circumstances are not ‘straightforward tactical decisions.’ Rather, these decisions reflect expensive bait-andswitch maneuvers aimed at prolonging litigation and imposing costs on the opposing party,” Snow wrote.
– Reach Jim Walsh at 480-898-5639 or at jwalsh@ timespublications.com.
Make Extra Cash
Chandler student wins PBS contest, off to Vegas for presidential debate
BY MIKE BUTLER TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
“I’m still not sure what my favorite subject is,” Wang said, “but I do have a strong interest in government and international relations.”
Zhengdong Wang, a senior at Hamilton High School in Chandler, will be attending the final presidential debate next week in Las Vegas after being chosen as one of two winners in a national PBS Education essay contest.
“I was really surprised,” Wang said. “I found out right before taking a test. I lost focus.”
Wang’s parents moved to the U.S. when he was two, and his grandparents still live in China.
The third and final debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday will be moderated by Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace. It will follow the same format as the first debate.
Wang’s focused, well-researched letter called for the president and Congressional lawmakers to communicate more openly and engage in more constructive political discourse.
Wang said he was encouraged to enter the “50 for 50” contest, which received 1,511 entries, by his advanced placement government teacher, Jacob Harvey.
Wang, who will turn 18 a week before the election, said he’s excited to vote for the first time.
“I was pretty excited when we heard the news,” said Harvey. “It’s pretty cool. He’s at the top of his class as far as I’m concerned.”
“I’m pretty confident who I will vote for,” he said, adding that he would keep an open mind during the debate.East Valley students are welcome to follow Wang’s experience and ask questions during the debate on Twitter using the hashtag #PBSEdu.
– Reach Mike Butler at 480-898-5630 or at mbutler@timespublications.com.
Gala raises money for kids’ therapy facility
BY SHELLEY RIDENOUR TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Singing, playing the guitar or keyboard and dancing—or doing all at once—help one young cancer patient at Cardon Children’s Medical Center cope with her treatment regimen.
She’s far from the lone patient at the Mesa hospital to enjoy the benefits of music therapy as they undergo radiation, chemotherapy, recover from surgery or experience myriad other procedures.
A fundraiser for the therapy programs will be Nov. 5 at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale.
Eight-year-old Brittny Valenzuela was diagnosed with osteosarcoma—bone cancer—in June.
IF YOU GO
What: The Pulse of the City Soiree
When: 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5
Where: The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, Scottsdale
How much: $500 per person, eventbrite.com/e/the-pulse-of-thecity-soiree-registration-25586858984
Why: To raise money for Sophie’s Place at Cardon Children’s Medical Center, a project of the Forever Young Foundation
On tap: Musical performance by Grammy-winner Sarah McLachlan, auction, food, and meet-and-greet opportunities with professional athletes and philanthropists
More info: Pulse@bannerhealth.com
Music provides children with an outlet to express what they’re feeling while hospitalized, Houck said.
Hawkins said hospital employees recognize that every interaction with every child is different. So, they use different approaches until they find a way to build rapport with the kids.
Music is key to all of that, the two specialists said, because it’s personal.
And, Houck said, “sometimes you just feel like getting up and dancing.”
Brittny’s story
Brittny has “always loved music,” grandmother Hernandez said. “She loves listening on her iPad, she likes Pandora and she Snapchats herself” while singing and dancing.
After Child Life Specialist Tracey Hawkins, who helped Brittny and her family, learned that the young girl loves music, she called in the hospital’s music therapist to work with her.
Music Therapist Olivia Houck zips around the hospital with a cart of musical instruments so kids can play in their rooms. A piano and a stage are located in a room where kids can gather for group activities. It’s that room that the proceeds of an upcoming gala will pay to extensively expand, renovate and upgrade.
Dubbed “Sophie’s Place,” it’s an endeavor of the Forever Young Foundation, a project of the Steve Young family. The Forever Young Foundation is based in Mesa, founded by retired NFL quarterback Steve Young.
Since then the Chandler girl has spent pretty much every other week at Cardon, her paternal grandmother Susanna Hernandez said.
The facility at Cardon will be the third Sophie’s Place, all named in honor of Sophie Barton, a teenager who routinely sang and played music to patients at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. She died in 2010 while hiking at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints girls camp near Heber, Utah.
The first Sophie’s Place was built at Primary Children’s Hospital. The second was built at Sutter Children’s Center in Sacramento, California.
Therapy for kids
Therapists routinely work with children at Cardon because of the importance of “treating the child as a whole,” said Hawkins, the child life specialist. There are two child life specialists at Cardon and Houck is the lone music therapist at the hospital.
Hernandez has a touching cellphone video of her granddaughter walking around Cardon with Houck, a guitar and a microphone. Brittny stops at a patient room, asks what the boy’s name is, what his illness is and a few other questions.
Then, on the spot, she composes a song encouraging him to be strong as he readies for chemo treatments.
“It’s gonna be all right,” she sings as Houck strums the guitar. Brittny sways as she keeps singing, “You just have to be strong, just believe in yourself and I know you can do it.”
The little girl said she chose to sing to fellow patients as a way of saying thanks to everyone at Cardon.
“I’m just glad we have someone like Olivia,” grandmother Hernandez said. “She’s been great with Brittny and helped her a lot.”
– Contact reporter Shelley Ridenour at 480-8986533 or sridenour@timespublications.com.
– Comment on this story and like the East Valley Tribune on Facebook and follow EVTNow on Twitter.
(Shelley Ridenour/Tribune Staff)
Brittny Valenzuela is one of the patients at Cardon Children’s Medical Center who benefits from the hospital’s music therapy program. A fundraiser for children’s therapy programs is set for Nov. 5.
Collector sinks his teeth into pulp fiction, tries to preserve works
BY RALPH ZUBIATE TRIBUNE EDITOR
Keith Shaw has a love affair with pulp magazines.
The inexpensive fiction books, published until the 1950s, featured lurid tales of detectives and vigilantes, cowboys and science fiction.
It’s those stories that drew the Chandler man into the pulp world, and he’s trying desperately to save it.
“We thought somebody should try to preserve the literature,” Shaw said about his Pulp Preservation Project. “People mostly collect the books for artwork and covers. Mostly for covers. Nobody wants it for literature.”
Pulps have a rich history. They began in the late 1800s printed on cheap wood pulp paper. They were the successors of the “penny dreadful” serial magazines and dime novels of the 19th century.
The real heyday of the pulp was the late 1930s to the late ’40s. Detective stories by Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Erle Stanley Gardner were en vogue, as was science fiction by Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury.
“The pulps I was most impressed with were the Westerns,” Shaw said. “The stories themselves were very much character-driven and were good literature. More like ‘High Noon’ than ‘Lone Ranger.’”
World War II marked the beginning of the end for the pulps. Paper shortages caused a steady decline in quality and a rise in costs. The bloodier magazines also fell victim to anti-violence movements after the soldiers came home.
“The magazines had been a big part of the landscape,” Shaw said.” By ’51, they were mostly done.”
But the stories and heroes didn’t disappear entirely. They just became more illustrated.
“A lot of the comic books were evolved from pulps,” Shaw said. “Lone Ranger, Green Hornet. Some of the early comic books were just an extension of pulp heroes.
“There was a character called The Bat Man. Also, The Spider, who was the most violent vigilante of his time.
Quite popular.”
Shaw is trying to make sure the pulps don’t disappear entirely. He and his partner Mary started to scan, digitize and save old pulp books. They even tried a Kickstarter to get funding to expand the project.
“Probably 90 percent of the stuff we would have saved hadn’t been available since the original printing,” he said. “Really awful stuff to really amazing stories.
“I always wanted to put them online to give more people access to them.
Unfortunately, the audiences for print copies and collecting seems to be an older audience. The interest is shrinking when we should be trying engage a new generation.”
The Kickstarter failed, and now Shaw is weighing his options.
“Right now, we’re in a phase called discouragement,” he said with a sigh.
“We did a lot of promoting. I think the collectors like their magazines, and that’s it. The realization that nobody really cares about the literature … that’s the most discouraging.
“If I could figure out an angle or could
get to somebody to help, that would be great. I contacted Google Books, Amazon. They’re just not interested.
“It’s sort of on the back burner now. We’re considering starting a nonprofit and getting some grant money.”
He’s considering selling some of the pulps he originally bought to preserve. But not the ones they’ve already scanned.
“The ones we digitize we actually tear apart, so they’re not worth anything anymore,” Shaw said. “We have to cut the spine, so they can lay flat. Then, we scan them.”
He said the intact paperbacks sell well on eBay.
“Especially the detective ones. But I don’t think we’ll make back the money it took to do all the scanning,” he said. In the meantime, Shaw has been writing his own pulp-inspired novels. He sells them and novels of other writers
at his own website, iPulpFiction.com.
“We do about 15 to 20 titles,” he said.
“I’m also concentrating on my novels now. I’m on the second volume in a young adult series I’m writing.”
He’s also putting together a TV pilot based on a pulp magazine character called Domino Lady.
“The pilot reimagines a version of her in today’s world.”
– Contact Ralph Zubiate at 480-898-6825 or rzubiate@timespublications.com.
– Comment on this article and like the East Valley Tribune on Facebook and follow EVTNow on Twitter.
((Will Powers/Tribune Staff Photographer)
The heyday of the pulp magazine was the late 1930s to late ’40s. But by the ‘50s, pulps were gone, replaced by comic books.
((Will Powers/Tribune Staff Photographer)
Keith Shaw tried a Kickstarter for his Pulp Preservation Project, but it fell short. “It’s sort of on the back burner now. We’re considering starting a nonprofit and getting some grant money.”
Volunteers aim to pack thousands of shoeboxes as gifts for needy kids
While some people already are counting the days to Christmas, a group of East Valley families are counting the days to Operation Christmas Child.
The local component of the annual national project by the nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse aims to send 15,000 decorated plastic shoeboxes filled with toys and necessities to needy children around the world.
“We are motivated by not only the needs of the children internationally but also the impact on individuals packing boxes,” said regional coordinator Robin Earle, of Chandler, echoing the project’s them of “reaching children and families on both sides of the box.”
Samaritan’s Purse has distributed shoebox gifts to children in over 130 countries since 1993, and more than 11.2 million received one last year alone, Earle noted. She added that boxes packed by Arizonans last year were delivered to kids in the Philippines, Indonesia, Peru, Mongolia, Bangladesh and to Native Americans in the U.S.
The idea behind the project is simple: Pack a shoebox with school supplies, toiletries and small toys. Prohibited items include liquids, perishable food and war-related toys.
The containers can be pre-decorated photo-storage boxes or plastic boxes with tops and bottoms gift-wrapped separately so they can be checked before they are
BRIEFS
CHANDLER
Assistance League to open thrift store in Chandler
The Assistance League East Valley is opening a new thrift store in Chandler, at 2326 N. Alma School Road.
The grand opening of the newly renovated 8,256 square foot stand-alone building will benefit needy children in the East Valley.
As part of the celebration, the Chandler Fire Department and volunteers will Stuff the Bus in front of the new thrift store from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 21 with new sweatshirts, socks and tennis shoes.
shipped. Donors also are asked to donate $7 per box to defray shipping costs.
A big push for the operation will occur Nov. 14-21 at Grace Community Church in Tempe with labeling, packing and loading. An Ahwatukee Packing Party also will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 5 at Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St.
Earle said her family has been part of Operation Christmas Child for 23 years.
“Our family started packing boxes when the kids were preschoolers and now they’re getting married,” she said.
“How time flies!”
The Southeast Valley team collected 25,000 boxes and got so large that it spawned a South Mountain team, consisting of Tempe, Chandler, Ahwatukee and Casa Grande.
This year, both the East Valley team— representing Mesa, Globe, Queen Creek and Gilbert—and the South Mountain team are aiming to each pack 15,000 shoeboxes.
Earle participated two years ago in a shoebox distribution in the Philippines, where local pastors invited children from surrounding communities to receive gifts.
The country had been hit with a typhoon and a powerful earthquake.
“People were literally walking on rubble and were so grateful for our gifts of love,” Earle said.
Ahwatukee residents Lisa Gomez, Tina McDougall, Kerry Williams and Kris Maack are coordinating individual shoebox
Public meeting on Prop. 205 to be held at Chandler PD
The Chandler Coalition on Youth Substance Abuse will host a public meeting on Proposition 205 on Tuesday from 5-6 p.m. at the Chandler Police Department, 250 E. Chicago St.
The meeting will feature speaker Debbie Moak, director of the Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families. She will discuss opposition to Proposition 205, the legalization of recreational marijuana.
The event is free and open to the public.
TEMPE
Candidates invited to talk at forum
The Valley Interfaith Project is hosting candidates for a talk on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
operations throughout the community. Williams is a drop-off coordinator for Foothills First Baptist, 15450 S. 21st St., Ahwatukee, and Maack is coordinating the drop-off operation at Mountain View Lutheran.
at Dayspring United Methodist Church, 1365 E. Elliot Road, Tempe.
The Candidate Accountability Session will feature District 18 and 26 candidates for the legislature, including Sean Bowie, Mitzi Epstein, Jill Norgaard, Bob Robson, Frank Schmuck, Steve Adkins, Isela Blanc, Juan Mendez and Athena Salman.
Candidates for the Maricopa County Community College Governing Board will also be attending.
For more information, contact vipphx@gmail.com.
First Crush Charity Gala to benefit Tempe services
The First Crush Charity Gala to raise money for the Tempe Community Action Agency is Friday from 6-10 p.m. A silent auction, raffles and other
Earle also is seeking volunteers during collection week at Grace Community Church. Children older than kindergarten age can participate. For more information, contact pewitt5@cox.net or tina.prc@cox.net.
events take place at the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park, 1300 N. College Avenue.
Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at tempeaction.org/events/ first-crush or by calling 480-350-5884.
MESA
‘Caring for our community’
Is theme of Latino Town Hall
“Together … Caring for our Community” is the theme of the Latino Town Hall on Saturday at the Mesa Arts Center.
The event will take place 7:30 a.m. to noon.
Keynote speaker is Sonya Romero, a teacher at Lew Wallace Elementary School in New Mexico.
For more information, go to mahcarizona. org/lth/latino-town-hall-2016.
(Special to the Tribune)
Chandler residents Robin Earlier and husband Marcus served at the Orange County, California, processing center last year for Operation Christmas Child.
Family FuneralComfort From Trust
When you lose a loved one, it is one of those times in life when you can feel lost, or adrift–not sure of which way to turn and how to make it through. You need to know that there’s someone there that you can trust, someone who feels like family. A funeral director who cares can make a huge difference in your comfort level, and allow you to the safety of knowing that your best interests are being considered. This is the benefit of choosing Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery for your final arrangements and those of your loved ones.
Family Owned and Operated
Mountain View Funeral Home understands the concept of family: since 1951, the Coury family have been operating the family funeral home under the guiding philosophy of being of service to members of the community in their time of need. Now managed by the Second and third generation of Coury’s, Mountain View Funeral Home is a Mesa, AZ tradition with professionally trained and licensed staff members all with the stated goal of ensuring your loved one receives the dignified memorial service that they deserve.
Community Education
A family funeral home takes services
a step further by offering education before a loss as well as caring and compassion during a period of mourning. Funeral directors and their team will help you understand the meaning of different parts of the memorial service, the differences between cremation and interment, and provide you with a wealth of additional options including beautiful touches such as a release of white doves after the service.
Your Personal Concierge
When a loved one passes from the mortal coil, you can feel overwhelmed with details, so another benefit that family funeral homes can offer is access to a concierge to help with everything from florists, hotels, restaurants and even car services. Our professional staff is available to assist with any special needs six days per week.
Finding the right fit for a funeral home is important; you want to know that not only is your loved one being treated with dignity, but that you and your family will feel comfortable and supported in your decisions during this time. Selecting Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery is one way to ensure that you are using a family funeral home who will go above and beyond your expectations.
Join us for our 4th Annual Fall Pumkin Festival Friday Oct. 21st, 2016 3pm-6pm Children are welcome to wear costumes.
We believe our work is a “mission of service” and it’s a privilege to help a family during the most difficult time in their life. Mention this ad to get $200 Discount
Gilbert church’s car show combines hot rods with religion
TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Jesusdoesn’t just take the wheel at Don Webb’s car shows.
He has the chassis, drive train and every part in between.
Webb leads the Covenant Hot Rod Association, a 17-year-old non-profit organization that uses its displays of antique and customized automobiles and trucks to spread the Gospel through gentle conversation and Christianthemed giveaways.
“Any way that we can reach people for Jesus Christ, we do it,” said Webb, 73, of Mesa, whose motto for the association is “Fully Restored, Serving the Lord.”
Each show he organizes is connected with a church, which is asked to select a charity that receives the money Webb raises through the car owners’ show registration fees.
Covenant cars and trucks will be rolling into Gilbert next weekend with their show, “Desert Harvest,” 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Valor Christian Center, 3015 E. Warner Road.
Valor Christian has selected Soldier’s Best Friend for the donations. The Phoenix-based group pairs dogs rescued from shelters with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Webb expects at least 60 to 80 owners for the show, his first at Valor Christian and one he hopes to grow over coming years.
Finding owners who want to display their car is relatively easy, said Webb, a former pastor who is now dean of a Bible school.
First, there’s the fact that “any car owner likes to show off his car,” Webb said. But he sweetens the attraction by offering attractive trophies and other prizes, spending as much as $1,000 on awards for best of show, best muscle car and other categories.
“What makes a quality show are quality plaques and trophies,” he said. “We award a very nice first-place trophy to the best of show.”
Although he’s been running car shows since 1999, Webb has had a lifelong affair with classic vehicles.
“When I was 18 years old, I bought a 1955 Pontiac,” Webb said. “A friend of mine and I rebuilt the motor and put a three-quarter cam in it, a couple four-
barrel carburetors … it was quite a car.”
He can list some of his prized possessions over the years: “I had the ’55 Pontiac. I had a ’47 Ford Coupe, a ’50 Mercury, a ’57 Chevy, a ’57 Pontiac … .”
Webb appreciates the fact that spectators come to his shows to ogle muscle cars, restored classics and other impeccably restored vehicles and that their owners come to show them off and win a trophy.
But he feels driven to remind visitors and car owners alike of less earthly pursuits.
“We are very, very soft with what we do,” Webb said. “We’re not pushy. We instruct, we don’t preach. We minister to people one on one. We walk around, ask them about their cars, and if we can strike up a conversation long enough, we’ll ask, ‘Is there is anything we can pray with you about?’”
Webb said the reaction is nearly always positive.
“We get a few grumpy ones who walk away, but generally people are receptive,” he said.
He and his other members also hand out goodie bags to vehicle owners that contain car-related items as well as items that help Webb deliver his message.
“The Bible tells us, in essence, to be either the light of the world or the salt of the earth,” Webb said. “What we do is bring the Gospel to these guys.”
(Special to the Tribune)
Covenant Hot Rod Association has been running car shows for 17 years. It’s hosting Desert Harvest this Saturday.
Educators get creative in finding solutions to growing teacher shortage
BY PETER CHENG CRONKITE NEWS
Suzanne Zentner stood in front of the students and their parents gathered in the library of Gilbert High School on a recent evening and got right to the point.
“Instead of dancing around issues, I’m going to find the elephant in the room, and I’m going to hit it,” Zentner told them. “The biggest myth out there, and I’m going to challenge that myth, is that there is no way you can make a living as a teacher.”
The crowd had gathered because the students had expressed interest in teaching. They are taking part in Aim2Teach, a program aimed at identifying students who may want to teach and helping guide them into professional teaching programs.
But Zentner, chief talent officer for Gilbert Public Schools, and her colleagues face an uphill battle. And they’ve realized that not only must they persuade students to pursue the profession, but they must win over their parents as well.
of the profession,” said Jenna Kahl, director of enrollment at the Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, which created the Aim2Teach program. “It’s not a real career. You’re a glorified babysitter. And people hear in the media about turnover rates and teachers are getting cut. It all slams together and turns into one big warning sign.”
Aim2Teach partners with school districts to hold events like the one in Gilbert. It also provides students with scholarships and assists them with college enrollment and financial aid applications. At Gilbert High School, Zentner tried to mitigate the pay concerns by pumping up benefits like strong health insurance and retirement programs. Kahl said both parents and teachers often advise young people against the profession, and part of her job is to turn teachers and parents into advocates.
The Learning Policy Institute, a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that researches education policy and practice, ranked Arizona at the bottom of its teacher attractiveness rating scale. The state ranks worst overall in teacher compensation, level of teacher qualification and turnover.
“There’s over 2,000 vacant teaching position right now. That’s the highest I’ve seen it in recent years,” said Erin Hart, CEO of Expect More Arizona, a nonprofit education advocacy group. “We’ve got a teacher crisis on our hands for sure. There’s no question about that. It’s an issue of both people getting into the profession and staying.”
The biggest obstacles to teacher recruitment are pay and “the perception
“Five years ago, if we would have done this, it would have been all about the students. This is all about the parents,” Kahl said. “Students don’t care about retirement benefits. We have to convince the parents.”
Ashlee Davis, a Mesquite High School sophomore who attended the event with her mother, said she was not concerned with teacher compensation.
“I’ve been saying I want to be a teacher since the third grade,” she said. “I like teaching people things and giving them an opportunity to do the things they want to do.”
Kahl said “grow your own teacher” programs like Aim2Teach can be effective because “the data shows us that students go back to where they went. Eighty percent of new teachers return to within 40 miles of the schools they went to.”
Dental check-ups occur every six months.
Adults 55 years of age and older should have their hearing checked on an annual basis. Vision screenings are performed annually.
It’s time to make sure annual hearing screenings are just as much a norm as dental check-ups and vision screenings
About 20 percent of adults in the United States — an estimated 48 million — report some degree of hearing loss. How many more haven’t reported any loss or don’t know what they can’t hear?
We’re here to provide diagnostics and hearing health treatment for all patients especially those age 55 and older.
What about HEARING?
2058 S. Dobson Rd., Ste. 9, Mesa, AZ 85202 480-456-0176 | www.fynesaudiology.com
(Peter Cheng/Cronkite News)
Jenna Kahl, director of enrollment and outreach at the Arizona State University Mary Lou Foulton Teachers College, speaks at the Aim2Teach induction ceremony at Gilbert High School.
Forget policy, forget healthcare, forget terrorism … let’s talk locker rooms
BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ TRIBUNE COLUMNIST
Finally, this 2016 election horror show veers onto a subject about which I am a certified expert. Not NATO or Obamacare, not carryback tax losses or foreign policy. That’s all way above my pay grade.
But men’s locker rooms? At age 51, after thousands of tepid gym showers using threadbare towels and rampant germophobia brought on by watching grown men do things like use a pumice stone on their foot calluses in the community hot tub—true story!—I’ve earned a doctorate in men’s locker rooms. Donald Trump, not so much. By now, you’ve surely heard Trump dismiss the recording of his piggish repartee with Billy Bush as nothing more than “locker-room talk.” You’ve seen the videotape a few dozen times, seen Trump’s chauvinism dissected on CNN and Fox,
and heard it referenced in last Sunday’s Trump vs. Clinton slimefest. But here’s what you haven’t read about yet:
What really does happen in men’s locker rooms? Allow me to offer some insight. Here are the six guys who populate these alleged bastions of masculinity:
Saggy Old Guy: Shuffling around slowly in flip-flops, this withered specimen often talks too loudly about subjects ranging from the spiking cost of Lipitor—thanks Obama!—to his on-again, off-again sciatica. Born shortly after Methuselah, Saggy Old Guy spends most of his locker room time recounting recent obituaries of his departed buddies. The only thing this fellow grabs? His bifocals before leaving the house.
The Slugger: Proud of his, uh, natural attributes and gym-sculpted muscles, this bro never wears a towel around his waist, but draped casually over a bulging deltoid. Topics of conversation range from “the Cardinals kickin’ ass, dude,” to “dude, that was so not a #$ing foul,” after an especially spirited game of
3-on-3 basketball. Can also be identified by his barbed-wire tattoos, tanning-salon “Trump orange” skin tone and oil-slick usage of styling gel.
Human Sasquatch: Speaking of hair, this gent doesn’t use the gym-supplied blow dryer merely to part his coif in the middle. He blow-dries his entire body down to his toes, including a contortionist move to get that hard-toreach back hair between his shoulder blades. Often lifts the waistband of his tighty whities to make sure he’s dry absolutely everywhere.
Lingering In The Steam Room Guy: Characterized by prunish skin and an uncanny ability to withstand 115-degree temperatures and 100 percent humidity. What’s he doing in there? Don’t ask, don’t tell.
I Told You So Guy: The biggest talker in the locker room, but not about sexualassault tactics, a la Trump. No, this character knows it all, especially right after it happens. He knew Apple stock would hit 117 yesterday. He knew ASU
would beat U of A. He knew invading Iraq was dumb. He knew you shouldn’t have bought a Honda, shouldn’t have married your college sweetheart, shouldn’t have bought a house at the top of the market in ’06, shouldn’t have gone to Chipotle for lunch. The only thing he doesn’t know? How much you want to punch him in the trachea every time he opens his mouth.
Me: My guess is, my locker-room behavior covers 98 percent of the male population. I’m in a hurry to get somewhere else. I also don’t especially like hanging out naked with a roomful of strangers. I shower fast, hope I remember the combination to my lock, and try not to forget my wallet when I get dressed. The number of times I’ve advocated mauling a woman? Zero. The number of times I’ve thought Donald Trump was an idiot in the past week? Infinite.
– David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995. Reach him at david@ leibowitzsolo.com.
Local candidates would have a radically different approach to schools
BY MIKE MCCLELLAN TRIBUNE GUEST WRITER
So this is being called a “change election.” Americans are sick of the status quo, we’re told. We want action, not stalemates and talking points.
Many claim these desires help explain the rise of Donald Trump. Maybe so. It’s clear we’re frustrated with government. But here in Arizona? Not so much. In the primaries, with one or two exceptions, few challengers defeated incumbents.
Which means? Not much will change in our state legislature.
Which means? More tax cuts for the wealthy, more help for private prisons, more money to private schools, less transparency, less money for public schools, and as usual, the arrogance of power.
But Chandler, Sun Lakes and Gilbert voters can make a small but significant change. If they show up to vote.
Two District 17 candidates are legislative veterans, J.D. Mesnard and Steve Yarbrough.
Both have a history that voters should be at least a little concerned with.
Yarbrough has bounced back and forth between the state Senate and House, enriching himself wherever he is.
He has made a nice career in owning a Student Tuition Organization, one that distributes funds to students to attend private schools.
In fact, as the Republic’s Laurie Roberts noted, Yarbrough’s group has “siphoned off $116 million from the state treasury since 1998.” And he’s been able to keep 10 percent of that. Or $11.6 million. And he pays a different company that he owns hundreds of thousands of dollars to handle contributions and applications. Oh, and he owns the building that
houses his company, for which he pays rent to himself.
And he sponsored a bill in 2012 that, according to Roberts, would potentially double his source of income.
Not a bad gig. Siphoning money to private schools and getting a nice piece of that pie. Even as Arizonans overwhelmingly believe public schools continue to need more funding.
Voters can send Yarbrough packing, though, and replace him with a candidate who understands the needs of Arizonans, particularly students and schools. His name is Steve Weichert. He’s running against Yarbrough for the District 17 state senate seat.
Weichert is an Army veteran who works as a hospital administrator. He argues for increased funding of education, a reversal of the cuts to programs aimed to help poor children, and better transparency in our government—three positions most Arizonans support. All
three of which Yarbrough has opposed, in one form or another.
In the House race, incumbents J.D. Mesnard and Jeff Weninger face challenger Jennifer Pawlik. Weninger is a reliable vote for the Republican majority that consistently rewards the wealthiest and reduces funding for schools and the poor. Beyond that, he’s pretty much anonymous.
Mesnard, on the other hand, has a higher profile, and has accomplished much more in his time in the legislature, so much so that he has designs on being speaker in the next session.
Mesnard has a consistent record of toeing the status-quo line. He votes for Republican budgets done away from the public, sprung abruptly on legislators, and voted on quickly without much public debate.
In his quest for speaker, Mesnard has
circulated a hefty proposal to increase transparency. One problem with that, however. He only circulated it to House Republicans.
He is also a prime sponsor of the Dark Money bill, SB 1516. The bill, which is now law, allows for individuals or groups to pour in unrestricted amounts of money anonymously.
And Mesnard further revealed his same old politician bona fides with another of his bills, HB 2537. This one shows just how typically political this veteran politician is.
The bill—completely unnecessary —puts two additional justices on the Arizona Supreme Court. Why? So Gov. Ducey could appoint two conservative justices and make the Supreme Court the conservative rubber stamp Ducey would like. The existing justices told Mesnard that there was no good reason for the additions, but Mesnard—the reliable politician—ignored that and pushed his bill into law. A law that, by the way, costs Arizona taxpayers more because of the
increase costs the Court will incur.
Again, though, District 17 voters have an alternative to the same old tired political behavior. Jennifer Pawlik is a career educator in Chandler, as a teacher and a teacher coach. She has a clear understanding of the ins and outs of schools, and understands the frustrations that parents, students and teachers feel because of the funding problems caused by Mesnard’s and Weninger’s budget votes, votes that have cut funding for classrooms, funding for teachers, funding for supplies, funding for even basic maintenance.
So Chandler, Sun Lakes and Gilbert voters can shake up the status quo, the politicians at the state capitol who spend their time ignoring their constituents. They can toss out Mesnard or Weninger and Yarbrough, and replace them with two non-politicians, Steve Weichert and Jennifer Pawlik.
I guess the question for those voters is this: Do you want two more years of the same old behavior from your same old legislators, or do you want a fresh perspective with Pawlik and Weichert? Do you really want change?
That word ‘deplorable’
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The word “deplorable” has appeared in the presidential campaign now more than once. This word has basically come from what has become a pretty deplorable campaign.
When a candidate that is nominated by his party caters to hate, fear, race, religion and violence, some deplorable things usually follow. It is not so much the followers in this camp that are deplorable it is the campaign itself that has become deplorable.
Donald Trump has created a hate-filled audience that will not listen to facts or reason. By doing this, I think what is the most deplorable thing is this candidate has pretty much divided and destroyed the Republican Party.
Yes, it is quite “deplorable” that all of this has been created by the candidate that preaches hate.
It is up to us voters to make sure we do not become a “deplorable” nation. Hate is not what our nation is made of.
– Peter Thomas – Gilbert
Just plain crooked
How could any flag waving, red blooded American tax payer ever have any respect for our government or our elected officials when
it’s now proven that the Justice Department, the Attorney General and the FBI director are as crooked as a dog’s hind leg and lied to the American people to save their necks?
Hats off to gutsy politicians
Gilbert
– Wayne Whitlock –
I’m a registered Democrat who has voted for both parties for president, governor and mayor of my city and have never been shy about it. So it’s refreshing when a politician like retired Sen. John Warren of Virginia says Trump is a dummy and he endorses Hillary Clinton.
It’s just too bad that more politicians won’t come out for the better, more-qualified candidate. Instead, they choose to continue to support their own party, because they are gutless to buck their party.
Hats off to Sen. Jeff Flake for refusing to go along with his party’s nominee. It’s time also to dump John McCain in this election.
Have some guts Arizona. Time to wake up.
– Lee Littlejohn – Mesa
To submit letters: Go to eastvalleytribune.com/opinions
click “Submit letter” or email
– Mike McClellan is a Gilbert resident and former English teacher at Dobson High School in Mesa.
Business Mesa entrepreneur keeps expanding, has Suns in mind Business
BY MIKE BUTLER TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Harrison Rogers has a large picture in his office of him shaking hands at center court with Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe.
Rogers is a huge fan of the team and leases a suite at the arena. He intends to buy the team by the time he’s 35, which gives him seven years.
There isn’t a trace of arrogance in that goal, only confidence, and anyone who knows this Mesa native, former MMA competitor and multimillionaire wouldn’t bet against him.
Not bad for a guy who dropped out of high school at 17 to start his first business.
“I love learning and obtaining knowledge, but formal education didn’t do that for me,” Rogers said. “I love startups, and I love growing businesses.”
Rogers fortuitously sold his successful carpet-cleaning business in 2007—his biggest client was a homebuilder—and he parlayed his profit into a much bigger stack of chips by trading currencies on the foreign exchange market.
In 2009, Rogers invested his earnings to start up Lexington Life Academy, which provides in-home and classroom learning services for autistic and other special-needs students. Lexington has six K-12 schools in the state. Rogers, whose sister Jackie is autistic, plans to open 10 more before 2018 and 100 nationwide before 2020.
He’s considering applying Lexington’s data-driven, results-oriented model to a new kind of charter school.
“I want to revolutionize formal education,” he said.
Because Lexington’s expansion plans require finding suitable commercial space, Rogers formed LCI Realty to acquire neighborhood shopping centers. The company is also busy procuring homes that will allow autistic adults to live independently.
Earlier this year, Rogers launched Hybryd Systems, a home and office security and automation service. For offices, Hybryd provides state-of-theart CCTV and access control, as well
as network and Wi-Fi solutions. The company’s residential security packages can be augmented with touchscreen control over music, lighting, ceiling fans and energy management.
Like LCI Realty, Hybryd Systems would be profitable if its only client was Lexington Life Academy, Rogers said. He describes it as creating a “self-economy,” but he’s not exactly surprised either that the two companies are attracting new clients and scaling rapidly. Because Lexington and his other businesses require “ridiculous” amounts of liability insurance, Rogers aims to launch an insurance company for the same reason.
Next year, Rogers will be opening an entertainment venue called Cinema Lanes in Taylor, Arizona. His wife Mikenna is from the neighboring
town of Snowflake. Mom, Dad and the four Rogers children—6,4,2 and 6 months—really enjoy the FatCats theater experience in Gilbert.
He’ll also open a waffle-themed restaurant, called FullAfflle, in the Santa Fe Square shopping center at Gilbert Road and Southern Avenue in Mesa.
These new businesses have two added benefits. They’ll provide employment opportunities for autistic and specialneeds individuals. And they give Rogers the unusual ability to fill vacancies in and drive traffic to his own shopping centers.
Rogers steals a glance at the picture of him and Bledsoe again, and the conversation drifts back toward the Suns.
“I don’t care if I take a bath on it,” Rogers said. “It’s been my goal forever.”
Not surprisingly, Rogers’ idol is Mark Cuban, the flamboyant Shark, entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks. When asked if he would bring the Suns to the East Valley, Rogers smiled.
“I wouldn’t want them to be too far from me,” he said. “Fiesta Mall would be perfect.”
The team isn’t for sale, of course, but Rogers figures that owner Robert Sarver, being a shrewd banker and real estate investor, might sell if the price is right. Sarver bought the Suns in 2004 for $401 million.
– Reach Mike Butler at 480-898-6581 or at mbutler@timespublications.com. – Comment on this article and like the East Valley Tribune on Facebook and follow EVTNow on Twitter.
(Will Powers/Tribune Staff Photographer)
Harrison Rogers’ Lexington Life Academy provides in-home and classroom learning services for autistic and other special-needs students.
Outdoor retailer REI leaving Tempe for larger Chandler store
REI will move its Tempe store to a larger location in the Chandler Pavilions shopping center next spring, the company has announced.
The outdoor retailer’s new store will be about 5 miles south from its present location. It will be 25,000 square feet, about 3,000 square feet larger than the Tempe location.
Arizona has 110,000 members of the REI co-op, which pays a dividend on all REI purchases, according to the company. The company has more than 6 million coop members, with 146 stores in 35 states.
Health insurance startup
moving NYC jobs to Tempe
Oscar, a New York City-based health insurance startup, is moving jobs to Tempe.
The company recently leased 95,000 square feet for a call center in Tempe. It laid off 31 employees in New York and will hire the positions to Arizona.
The company launched along with the Affordable Care Act as a disruptor in the health insurance industry. It recently has been forced to withdraw from a handful of health insurance exchanges due to heavy losses.
Fulton Homes encouraging U.S. flags for Veterans’ Day
Fulton Homes is encouraging the public to display flags for Veterans’ Day by selling flag kits, which also benefits the Wounded Warriors Project.
Visitors to the Tempe-based homebuilders’ communities can purchase a fullsize U.S. flag kit for $10. Fulton will then march any $10 donation, up to $25,000, to the Wounded Warriors Project.
The flag offer will continue until Veterans’ Day.
For more on other Fulton Homes programs, visit fultonhomes.com.
Sundt Construction honored by national group for safety
Sundt Construction of Tempe has been given the 2016 W. Burr Bennett Award for Safety Excellence by the American Society of Concrete Contractors.
Earlier this year, Sundt also won the Associated General Contractors of America Grand Award, the organization’s highest honor for Safety Excellence. It is given annually to the country’s safest
construction company. Sundt is the only general contractor to have won the award twice.
Site details history of permits for remodeling in Chandler
Chandler residents can access information on every single remodeling and construction project that has taken place over the past 10 years through BuildZoom’s Permit Mapping project.
The map is available at buildzoom.com/ map/chandler-az.
People can search their own address and see what’s happening to homes in their neighborhood. Searchers can filter by project type and cost, and can find out information on contractors.
Additional features allow users to filter by project type (e.g. electrical, solar) and cost. Through the map, people can also learn about the contractors who have worked in their neighborhoods.
Chandler Chamber announces October keynote speaker
Koran Hardimon of Intel is the keynote speaker at the Chandler Chamber of Commerce Women in Business luncheon Tuesday at SoHo63, 63 E. Boston St.
The luncheon starts at noon.
Hardimon is a program manager within the Global Diversity and Inclusion organization at Intel Corporation. Attendees are encouraged to register early at chandlerchamber.com or by phone at 480-963-4571.
New Chandler hotel financed with help from
FirstBank
FirstBank is financing a new hotel in Chandler, the TownePlace Suites by Marriot.
The new 57,000-square-foot hotel will be at 3655 W. Chandler Blvd. and is expected to open in August 2017. It will feature four stories and 109 rooms.
FirstBank financed $9.65 million, helping fund construction of the hotel. The bank worked with HCW Development and Statesman Group, a joint partnership developing the project.
Sports
Short game
Familiar faces, different venue headline golf season
BY JASON P. SKODA TRIBUNE PREP SPORTS DIRECTOR
The big-school state boys golf tournament has been filled with drama in recent years at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen.
The individual and team race came down the final group on the 18th hole last year, which eventually led to a playoff after an unlikely a three-putt. The year before that, the individual winner ended up being ruled ineligible and had his championship round removed from the record books.
Many of those individuals are contenders again this year as the season reaches the back stretch leading up to the state tournament.
While many of the faces, and swings, might be similar, any drama in 2016 will come at a different venue as the event is moved to the refurbished Grand Canyon Golf Course, formerly Maryvale Golf Course.
It was purchased by Grand Canyon University for its golf programs and has become the home of the Division I boys state tournament, which will be held Nov. 7-8.
“They’ve done a great job with the course,” Desert Vista boys coach Matt Russo said. “It will be a new place for everyone. It’s a tough course, but good shots are rewarded. I think it will make for a great tournament.”
The Thunder program is probably happy for a venue change after having some difficulty at Aguila.
Desert Vista finished as runners-up four years in a row from 2009-2012, with the most difficult coming in 2012 when the team started celebrating, thinking it won, before losing by one stroke to Mountain View.
None of the current players were in high school then, but this Thunder team
looks to be the first one since then to be a true state contender.
Desert Vista entered Thursday’s action No. 4 via the IWanaMaker rankings used by the AIA behind Hamilton, Sandra Day O’Connor and Chaparral.
Campo Verde, Brophy, Desert Ridge, Perry, Red Mountain and Pinnacle round out the top 10.
Something those teams do not have is the division’s top player as the Thunder’s Brian Seo, who averaged 34.8 per nine holes through Sept. 23, sits at the top of the IWanaMaker rankings.
after finishing in the top 15 of the state tournament his three years with the Lions, including a tie for fourth place last year.
“He’s long off the tee, and dead center, but most players hit far these days,” Russo said. “What he does well is managing his round. He doesn’t let a bad shot ruin his round. He will chip out to a distance and finish the hole.”
Seo will have plenty of competition from the East Valley as the top four individuals all come from area schools.
Perry’s Caden Christopherson, Red Mountain’s Gabriel Velarde and Cameron Barzekoff and Desert Ridge’s Damon Vilkauskas are also having good seasons along with last year’s individual champion Trueman Park, who is ranked 48th, also back this year.
The Division II boys event will be held at the same location as years past: Randolph Golf Course in Tucson.
Williams Field, Seton Catholic and Mesquite look to be in line to make the field with Higley on the outside of the seven at-large bids awarded after the eight region winners.
Seton sophomore Alejandro de Zavala, Williams Field junior Logan Eatherton and Seton senior Matt Schwab are among the top 15 individuals.
On the girls side, the Division II leader is Mesquite behind the play of senior Tara Greig when the state tournaments tees off Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Urich in Tucson.
The Division I girls tournament, which remained at Aguila and will be played Nov. 2-3, will have a heavy East Valley feel as Hamilton’s trio of freshman Jenny Bae, senior Hannah Li and senior Rachel Fujitani are all in the top 10 while Corona del Sol senior Emma Lower is fifth.
As many as 10 local teams are in line to qualify as Hamilton, Red Mountain, Corona del Sol and Desert Vista rank among the top 10.
It is all set up for the drama that usually comes down the fairway No. 18.
“The last four or five years have been really good,” said Mountain Pointe boys coach Tony Ramseyer, who is the Division I boys tournament director.
Seo transferred from Mountain Ridge. His level of play comes as no surprise
Hamilton’s Mason Andersen, Highland’s Brock Goyen and Campo Verde’s Branden Meyer are all accomplished and proven winners.
“A lot can happen on the course and it usually does. It’s going to be interesting.”
– Contact Jason Skoda at 480-898-7915 or jskoda@evtrib.com. Follow him on Twitter @ JasonPSkoda.
(Special for the Tribune)
The Desert Vista girls golf team is hoping to play its best golf down the stretch.
ALA becomes state contender in short order
BY ZACH ALVIRA TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Success isn’t always something that is expected from new football programs. It takes time to gather the right coaching staff, a core group of dedicated athletes and to establish themselves among other programs.
However, in the case of American Leadership Academy in Queen Creek, it didn’t take long to find that success on the gridiron.
“There’s a lot of success around us here, and I think this is an area where I think they expect success and if not, expect great effort,” said Rich Edwards, head coach of the Patriots. “The area we get our kids from, the coaching staff and the parent support has really benefitted us.”
In just their third season playing in AIA divisions, the Patriots have found themselves to be legitimate contenders for a 3A Conference state title. With an overall record of 27-5 since joining the AIA in 2014, including a 7-1 record so far this season, the Patriots are on their way to
a third-straight appearance in the playoffs.
That’s a feat that wouldn’t be accomplished without the dedication from players.
“All of our hard work and commitment is what our program stands for,” senior running back Jermiah Boyd said. “We live by what we preach and everyone gives us good results on Friday nights.”
Along with the dedication from players who were able to grow with the team, there was dedication from the coaching staff to allow the Patriots, who were on a bye week on Friday, to make the jump from the Canyon Athletic Association to the AIA.
A task that has players such as senior tight end Donovan Hanna praising the work done by his coaches.
“They pushed us really hard and told us the transition wouldn’t be easy,” Hanna said. “We had to put in a lot of hard work and a lot of early mornings to get here.”
Early morning workouts are never easy, but seeing the results transition to on-field success has become worth it for the Patriots, who are 3-0 in the 3A
Central Region.
It’s especially a challenge to reach personal goals as well.
“I want to get serious in the weight room,” junior cornerback Bujon Boyd said. “I want to be able to come out and keep improving on my personal stats each game.”
From improving stats to exceeding personal expectations, each member of the team has his own outlook for the rest of the season. But, one outlook the team can agree on is one that comes at the very end.
“It’s our main goal before the seniors leave,” senior lineman Jeremy Kruser said. “We want to get a ring on our finger.”
Factoring in the talent level and work ethic the players have displayed this season and the previous two, the Patriots are confident they can become the first charter school to hoist the trophy at the end of the season. They are No. 4 in the Tribune’s 3A rankings now.
However, amid all the excitement, there is an understanding to stay focused and take it one game at a time.
“We’re not overlooking these next
two games,” junior defensive lineman Cameron Rogers said. “We are going to take it serious and keep getting better so when playoffs come we can be 100 percent and become state champs.”
Amid all of the success, coach Edwards prefers to think beyond winning football games.
“I don’t do it for football; it is not an ego thing,” Edwards said. “I do it because there is a great deal of satisfaction to see the difference you can make in someone’s life.
“Very few things in my life have been more gratifying.”
(Tribune file photo)
American Leadership quarterback Dallin Edwards and the Patriots are quickly becoming one of the top programs in the lower classifications.
Hindus protect cows, spread the message of kindness
BY SRIANTHI PERERA TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Stress-free lives are not the prerogative for most Americans, but a group of cows in San Tan Valley is receiving just that.
Seven-year-old Jersey cow Laila Rani, 4-year-old Holstein Yashoda Amma, 15-month-old steer Shyamu and 5-month-old heifer Ganga, originally destined for the slaughterhouse, have received a second chance to breathe fresh air, frolic in open pastures and do what they were born to do at the five-acre Palmer Organic Farms in San Tan Valley. Their presence is a result of the efforts of Goshala, a nonprofit spiritual and educational organization with a mission to protect cows and spread the message of kindness.
Goshala (which means “shelter for cows”) follows the principals of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), also known loosely as the Hare Krishna Movement, founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Founded 10 years ago, Goshala in Arizona was inspired by a disciple, Sri Ganapati Swami. It is affiliated with ISCOWP (International Society of Cow Protection), a universal cow protection program that originated in a Pennsylvania farm in 1990.
“They are happy cows,” said Naren Koka, a Tempe resident and president of Goshala, referring to Laila Rani, who was thrusting her face toward him during a recent visit, perhaps hoping for a treat.
Koka believes that the message of protecting these gentle animals is an important one for this day.
“People are getting cruel,” he said. “And when they’re cruel to animals, it naturally transcends to other people, too. Once everybody starts thinking of being kind to animals, it automatically spills into being kind to people.”
Although obtaining milk is not the main aim of the program, the “ahimsa” milk—which is from cows that don’t live with the threat of slaughter—is precious to the Hindu community.
The religion that was followed in India is called Santhanam Dharma, according to the devotees.
“The religion is ‘Hindu’ for those people who don’t know anything other than Hindu,” Misra said. “We call ourselves servants of God, Vaishnava or Hare Krishna.”
Krishna declared cows sacred in the 700-verse Hindu scripture, BhagavadGita, and also promoted vegetarianism and spoke of the connection between wars and eating meat.
Founding member Prayag Narayan Misra, a resident of Chandler, comes twice weekly to the family farm on the outskirts of the East Valley to collect the raw milk. He’s often ferried by a volunteer who would receive some of the much-coveted milk that’s usually boiled and consumed by children or used in worship.
“Adults can drink it, too, but it’s more nutritious for kids; it’s 33 percent better than processed milk,” Misra said. “It’s good for the developing brain.”
During these visits, Misra makes sure to bring bananas and feed them to the eager animals as a special treat.
“We do not feed chemicals, we don’t use artificial feed for the cows, it’s just hay and grass,” he said.
Misra emphasizes that the organization is not there just to serve followers of Krishna.
“It’s for everybody, not just for
Hindus,” he said.
Hindus believe in a supreme God (known by 100,000 names, including Krishna, Govinda, Rama, Narayan and Vishnu) and other supporting deities invested with different attributes.
“Everybody may choose different attributes of God to focus on and to worship, but it’s all central to one supreme God—Krishna,” Misra said.
Incidentally, the word “Hinduism” was coined by Westerners, East Europeans and Persians of yore to refer to the religion of the majority on the south side of the Indus Valley in India.
In addition to the cow protection program, Goshala organizes events to enlist more supporters and collect donations; they include the vegetarian festival at Scottsdale Civic Center and Pongal festival celebrated at Palmer Organic Farms, both held in January; and the Festival of Colors, or Holi, held in March in Tempe. About three times a year, volunteers also provide vegetarian meals to a shelter in Phoenix and teach vegetarian cooking.
The care of the cows, however, takes precedence around the year. Goshala has a contract with the owner of the Palmer farm to care for them alongside their own animals. The program, which includes four other cows that live in a farm in Prescott, costs about $1,200 a month. Donations come in a variety of ways. The cows are considered fortunate to a new home; therefore, they are sometimes transported to residences; the dung and urine are anti-bacterial and sought for certain rituals; ghee is made from its milk, which is also in demand for rituals and for consumption. None of these by-products are sold, but donations are accepted.
The organization has pledged to take care of the animals until the end of their natural lives, about 16 years.
“People will hear about us and come donate because we’re doing the right thing,” Koka said.
For details, go to azgoshala.org. –
(Srianthi Perera/Tribune Staff)
Prayag Narayan Misra and Naren Koka (from left) feed a cow at the Palmer Organic Farms in San Tan Valley. The site is a sanctuary for Goshala, a nonprofit spiritual and educational organization with a mission to protect cows.
(Srianthi Perera/Tribune Staff)
Goshala volunteers Prayag Narayan Misra (left) and Naren Koka visit the farm twice a week to obtain the milk, which is considered 33 percent more nutritious than processed milk in the grocery store.
Welcoming the ‘stranger’ a key to Sukkot, warmer community
BY RABBI DEAN SHAPRIO TRIBUNE GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
Phoenix is a teeming metropolis, and also a divided city. I’ve found it really difficult to meet my neighbors. Maybe that’s because our houses don’t have front lawns.
Sure, we wave to each other as we get into our cars and head off to work, but we don’t know each other. In other cities where I’ve lived (including New York City!), I knew my neighbors. We helped each other out. Despite the heat, Phoenix is comparatively cold.
As summer turns to autumn, Jews celebrate the harvest festival of Sukkot, known in English as “Tabernacles.” We build and dwell in temporary huts, open to the weather and to guests. “Welcoming the stranger” is a primary requirement of Sukkot—without guests to share the food, conversation and weather, the holiday just isn’t complete.
The Chofetz Chaim, born 1839, teaches that “when guests come to one’s home, one should receive them
with a cheerful face and immediately set food before them, for perhaps this poor person is hungry but would be too embarrassed to ask for food. One should provide for them cheerfully, and not with a sour face. Even if the host is worried about something, he should hide this from the guests.” We emulate Abraham and Sarah, the first of our people, who offered exceptional hospitality.
Haim and I always throw a party and invite people into our sukkah. Temple Emanuel hosts several events that are open to the community. In this way, we seek to live the biblical injunction to love the stranger.
The Hebrew Bible, of course, uses the word stranger, “ger,” differently from the way we do today. It doesn’t mean an unknown person. Rather, for the Torah, a “ger” is the foreigner who lives among the community—closer to an “alien” in our times.
The huts of Sukkot remind the Jewish people of our escape from slavery in Egypt. Our ancestors lived in homes such as these as they fled oppression and bloodshed. The huts remind us of our vulnerability—how we were despised by
society, made to do menial work without protection, suffered violence at the hand of the state. Although most of us live in comfortable homes now, we remember that it was not always so.
In keeping with the Levitical injunction that “the strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I Adonai am your God” (19:34), we remember our obligations to protect the ger in our own society.
In conjunction with RefugeeFocus.org, Temple Emanuel is honored to be assisting a Syrian family settle into our neighborhood. Through small acts of kindness and donations of things they need, we hope to show them a better welcome than many of our own grandparents received at the turn of the last century. We know what it’s like to arrive on these shores with nothing but memories and dreams. We hope to make our city a little less divided, a little bit warmer.
As always, we invite you to join us.
– Rabbi Dean Shapiro is the spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel of Tempe. Contact him at rshapiro@emanueloftempe.org and visit his “Rabbi Dean Shapiro” page on Facebook.
FRIDAY OCT. 21
RUMMAGE SALE
Risen Savior Lutheran Church is conducting a rummage sale featuring furniture, household goods and clothing. DETAILS>> 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 21-22, 23914 S. Alma School Road, Chandler. Info: Jane Zehnder at 480-802-5334.
SATURDAY OCT. 22
CHRISTIAN GROUP HAS CAR SHOW
The Covenant Hot Rod Association Southeast Valley will hold its inaugural Desert Harvest Car Show to help veterans at Valor Christian Center in Gilbert. Early registration fee is $25.
DETAILS>> >$25 registration fee for vehicle owners; 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 3015 E. Warner Road. Information: Don Webb at 480-205-7925 or chra2001@msn.com.
Worship: 8:30 am
Worship: 10:00 am
Chandler woman mixes paint and wine for fun events
BY PAUL MARYNIAK TRIBUNE MANAGING EDITOR
If you don’t think wine and paint mix, you haven’t met Reagan Guzman.
The Chandler woman makes a living off combining the ingredients for special parties at restaurants in Ahwatukee and Gilbert.
Her business, Paint Party and Wine, is all about giving people a unique option for fun-filled gatherings and even corporate team-building exercises.
If you don’t fancy holding a paint party with wine at My Wine Cellar in Ahwatukee or Cuisine and Wine in Gilbert, no worries: Guzman will bring the party to just about anywhere else.
“I travel to companies, churches, apartment complexes, golf course restaurants and homes to bring the party
to them,” she said. “The cost is the same as having it at a partner location (the restaurants), but it includes the travel and setup.”
And you don’t have to be Rembrandt or even own an easel.
“I provide all materials, including canvases, paint, brushes, aprons to wear,”
Guzman said. “I will take the guests through a step-by-step instructional demonstration. My paintings are achievable for all levels.”
An art teacher at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Guzman got the idea for her venture from working with adults.
“I wanted to create a new kind of creative fun and entertainment in Arizona,” she explained. “Art and teaching are my passions, so when I experienced what could be taught to adults who have not painted since elementary school, I was
addicted. It’s exciting to see their faces when they get lost in their work and hold up their masterpiece at the end of class.”
Although she’s had students ranging in age from 6 to 90 years old, the wine comes only for would-be Picassos who’ve hit the age of 21.
Guzman tailors her parties for just about any occasion, from girls’ nights out and family celebrations to bachelorette parties and church events.
Her rates range from $30 per person (10-person minimum) for a two-hour session with a 11-by-14-inch canvas to $40 per person (eight-person minimum) for three hours with a 12-by-16-inch canvas.
If you want the party at one of the restaurants on a Friday or Saturday night, the rate is an additional $5 per person.
My Wine Cellar will throw in finger-food packages starting at $10 per person.
“I specifically researched the best wine bar/restaurants with amazing ambience and customer service,” Guzman said. “Conditions need to be right to truly enjoy the paint party: quiet spaces, good lighting, excellent food, drink and service.” The parties are no paint-by-numbers events.
“I start with a blank canvas, not an outline of images, because everyone has the ability to create something beautiful with the right guidance,” Guzman said. “The results are amazing and guests leave feeling proud and accomplished with a painting they would hang on their walls.”
“I will demonstrate a variety of painting techniques and assist individuals as needed,” she added.
For more information, call 480-5989463, go to paintpartyandwine.com or contact paintpartyandwine@gmail.com.
“Oh The Places You’ll Go”
11 Short-order tools
12 Spinning office file
13 “My treat”
18 Bob, e.g.
19 ___ Paulo, Brazil
24 Sweet treat
25 Fruit seller
27 Wanderers
29 Toolbox staple
31 Fan ___ (literary genre)
32 Long-eared beast
34 NYSE or AMEX
35 One putting a tag on
36 “Ease on Down the Road” show
37 Husband’s common law right
39 Redeems
41 Don’t cut
43 Piglet of kiddie lit
44 Kind of motel, slangily
45 Seeds
47 Big screen letters
49 Plant ___ of doubt
50 Latches onto
52 Dies ___
53 The East
55 Yalta monogram
ARIZONADEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATION
ADVERTISEMENTFORBIDS
BIDOPENING:(FRIDAY,NOVEMBER18,2016),AT11:00A.M. (M.S.T.)
TRACSNO0000MOMMOSE55001C PROJNOER-MMO-0(213)T TERMINICOUNTYROUTE25,PIERCEFERRYROAD LOCATIONMP15ANDMP16FORDCROSSINGS
Theamountprogrammedforthiscontractis$476,800.Thelocationand descriptionoftheproposedworkareasfollows:
TheproposedConstructFordCrossingsprojectislocatedinMohave CountyonCountyRoad25(PierceFerryRoad).ThetwofordsarelocatedatMP15andMP16.Theproposedworkconsistsofremovingthe existingpavementandreplacingitwithAsphaltConcrete(Miscellaneous Structural),constructingfordwalls,detours,pavementmarking,andotherrelatedwork.
Projectplans,specialprovisions,andproposalpamphlets,aselectronic files,areavailablefreeofchargefromtheContractsandSpecifications website,ortheymaybepurchasedinpaperformatat1651W.Jackson, Room121F,Phoenix,AZ85007-3217,(602)712-7221.Thecostis$12.
Publish:EastValleyTribune,October9,16,2016/2623
ARIZONADEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATION
ADVERTISEMENTFORBIDS
BIDOPENING:FRIDAY,NOVEMBER18,2016,AT11:00A.M.(M.S.T.)
TRACSNO 010CH362H891001C
PROJNO NH-010-F(224)T TERMINI BENSON-STEINSPASSHIGHWAY(I-10) LOCATION WESTBOWIETI–EASTBOWIETI
Theamountprogrammedforthiscontractis$11,000,000.Thelocation anddescriptionoftheproposedworkareasfollows:
TheproposedprojectislocatedinCochiseCountyonInterstate10from MP362.22to367.69;throughtheTownofBowie.Theworkinclude s millingtheexistingasphalticconcreteandreplacingitwithasphalticconcreteandasphalt-rubberasphalticconcretefrictioncourse.Additional workincludesreplacingguardrailandguardrailendterminals,reconstructingguardrail,rehabilitatingbridgedecks,striping,signing,andothermiscellaneouswork.
Projectplans,specialprovisions,andproposalpamphlets,aselectronic files,areavailablefreeofchargefromtheContractsandSpecif ications website,ortheymaybepurchasedinpaperformatat1651W.Jackson, Room121F,Phoenix,AZ85007-3217,(602)712-7221.Thecostis $48.00.
Publish:EastValleyTribune,October9,16,2016/2604
56 Key abbr. ARIZONADEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATION
Sudoku
ADVERTISEMENTFORBIDS
BIDOPENING:FRIDAY,OCTOBER28,2016,AT11:00A.M.(M.S.T.)
TRACSNO093YV193H869101C
PROJNONH-093-B(212)T
TERMINIKINGMAN–WICKENBURGHIGHWAY(US93) LOCATIONJCTSR89TORINCONROAD
Theamountprogrammedforthiscontractis$2,900,000.Thelocationanddescriptionoftheproposedworkareasfollows:
TheproposedprojectislocatedintheMaricopaandYavapaiCountiesonUS93betweenmileposts193.89and198.21,approximatelytwomilesnortheastoftheTownofWickenburg.Thework consistsofmillingtheexistingasphalticconcreteandreplacingitwithasphalticconcreteandasphalt-rubberasphalticconcretefrictioncourse.Additionalworkincludesreplacingguardrailand guardrailendterminals,reconstructingguardrail,striping,andothermiscellaneouswork.
Projectplans,specialprovisions,andproposalpamphlets,aselectronicfiles,areavailablefreeof chargefromtheContractsandSpecificationswebsite,ortheymaybepurchasedinpaperformatat 1651W.Jackson,Room121F,Phoenix,AZ85007-3217,(602)712-7221.Thecostis$38.00.
Publish:EastValleyTribune;October9,16,2016/2624
NOTICEOFPUBLICSALE
TransportFunding,LLC,OverlandPark,Kansaswillofferthefollowingpropertyatpublic saleatArrowTruckSales,Inc.2201W.BuckeyeRoad,Phoenix,AZ85009on10/25/16 commencingat10:00a.m.
2010Peterbilt387 1XP7D49X3AD104629
Thepropertymaybeinspectedbyappointmentpriortothesale.Inquiries:602-256-7643.Cashsalesonly.
Publish:DailyNews-SunOctober15,2016/ 145801;EastValleyTribuneOctober16,2016 /2714
NOTICEOFPUBLICSALE
TransportFunding,LLC,OverlandPark,Kansaswillofferthefollowingpropertyatpublic saleatArrowTruckSales,Inc.2201W.BuckeyeRoad,Phoenix,AZ85009on10/21/16 commencingat10:00a.m.
2006Peterbilt379-127 1XP5DB9X26D635677
Thepropertymaybeinspectedbyappointmentpriortothesale.Inquiries:602-256-7643. Cashsalesonly.
Publish:DailyNews-SunOctober15,2016/ 145796.EastValleyTribune,October16,2016 /2715.
CITYOFMESA MESA,ARIZONA NOTICEOFPUBLICMEETING
StadiumConnectorShared-UsePathway ProjectNo.CP0108
TheCityofMesaplanstoconstructashared usepathwayfromCenterStreetandthe TempeCrossCutCanaltothesoutheast cornerofDobsonandtheS.R.202nearthe BassProShop.Thepathwaywillincludebicycleandpedestrianenhancements,apedestriancontrolledtrafficsignalatCountryClub Driveandthecanal,andstreetimprovements onBrown/DateStreet,10thStreet,a ndAlma SchoolRoad.
YouareinvitedtoattendaPublicMeeting whereCitystaffwillbeavailabletoanswer yourquestions. Noformalpresentationwill begiven.
Date:Thursday,October27,2016
Time:6:00p.m.to7:00p.m.
Location:EmersonElementary Multi-PurposeRoom 415N.Westwood Mesa,AZ85201
Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcernsregardingthisproject,pleasecontactRenePowell, JaimeOtter,orMicheleArrolladowiththeCity ofMesaEngineeringPublicRelationsat (480)644-3800.
Publish:EastValleyTribune,October16,23, 2016/2706
CITYOFMESA MESA,ARIZONA
ELLIOTROADWATERLINE
SOSSAMANROADTOSIGNALBUTTEROAD
PROJECTNO.CP0054
ADVERTISEMENTFORBIDS
NOTICEISHEREBYGIVENthatsealedbidswillbereceiveduntilThursday,November17,2016, at1:00p.m.Allsealedbidswillbereceivedat MesaCityPlazaBuilding,EngineeringDepartmentat20EastMainStreet,5thFloor, Mesa,Arizona;exceptforbidsdelivered30minutespriortoopeningwhichwillbereceivedattheinformationdesk,1stfloor,MainLobbyoftheMesaCity PlazaBuilding.Anybidreceivedafterthetimespecifiedwillbereturnedwithoutanyconsidera tion.
Thiscontractshallbeforfurnishingalllabor,materials,transportationandservicesfortheconstructionand/orinstallationofthefollowingwork:
Installationofapproximately5,300linearfeetof30-inchand14,800linearfeetof42-inchwater transmissionmainwithassociatedfittingsandsupportingappurtenances.
TheEngineer’sEstimaterangeis$13,000,000–14,000,000.
Foralltechnical,contract,bid-related,orotherquestions,pleasecontactMaggieMartinezatMaggie.Martinez@mesaaz.gov.
ContractorsdesiringtosubmitproposalsmaypurchasesetsoftheBidDocumentsfrom Thomas Reprographics,Inc.dbaThomasPrintworks, http://public.constructionvaults.com.Clickon“RegisterToday”andfollowthepromptstocreateyouraccount.Pleasebesuretoclickfinishatthe end. NOTE:Inordertoreceivenotificationsandupdatesregardingthisbid(suchasaddenda)duringthebiddingperiod,REGISTRATIONONTHEWEBSITEISREQUIRED. Fora listoflocatio nsnearestyou,gotowww.thomasprintworks.com,andclickonPhoenix.Thecostof eachBidSetwillbenomorethan$129.00,whichisnon-refundableregardlessofwhetherornot theContractorDocumentsarereturned. Partialbidpackagesarenotsold.Youcanviewdocumentson-line(atnocost),orderBidSets,andaccessthe PlanHoldersList ontheThomasReprographicswebsiteatthe“PublicConstructionVaults”addresslistedabove.Pleaseverifyprint leadtimepriortoarrivingforpick-up.
OnesetoftheContractDocumentsisalsoavailableforviewingattheCityofMesa’sEngineering Departmentat20EastMainStreet,Mesa,AZ.Pleasecall480-644-2251priortoarrivingtoensurethatthedocumentsareavailableforviewing.
InorderfortheCitytoconsideralternateproductsinthebiddingprocess,pleasefollowArizona RevisedStatutes§34.104c.
Ifapre-bidreviewofthesitehasbeenscheduled,detailscanbereferencedinProjectSpecific ProvisionSection#3,titled“Pre-BidReviewofSite.”
Workshallbecompletedwithin365consecutivecalendardays,beginningwiththedayfollowing thestartingdatespecifiedintheNoticetoProceed.
BidsmustbesubmittedontheProposalFormprovidedandbeaccompaniedbytheBidBondfor notlessthantenpercent(10%)ofthetotalbid,payabletotheCityofMesa,Arizona,oracertified orcashier'scheck.PERSONALORINDIVIDUALSURETYBONDSARENOTACCEPTABLE.
Thesuccessfulbidderwillberequiredtoexecutethestandardformofcontractforconstruction withinten(10)daysafterformalawardofcontract.Inaddition,thesuccessfulbiddermustberegisteredintheCityofMesaVendorSelf-Service(VSS)System(http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service).
Thesuccessfulbidder,simultaneouslywiththeexecutionoftheContract,willberequiredtofurnishaPaymentBondintheamountequaltoonehundredpercent(100%)oftheContractPrice,a PerformanceBondinanamountequaltoonehundredpercent(100%)oftheContractPrice,and themostrecentACORD®CertificateofLiabilityInsuranceformwithadditionalinsuredendorsements.
Therightisherebyreservedtoacceptorrejectanyorallbidsorpartsthereto,towaiveanyinformalitiesinanyproposalandrejectthebidsofanypersonswhohavebeendelinquentorunfaithfulto anycontractwiththeCityofMesa.
BETHHUNING CityEngineer
ATTEST:
DeeAnnMickelsen
CityClerk
CITYOFMESA MESA,ARIZONA
REHABILITATIONOFASINGLEFAMILYHOME
PROJECTNO. NSP3/085
ADVERTISEMENTFORBIDSPUBLICATIONOctober16,2016
NOTICEISHEREBYGIVENthatsealedbidswillbereceiveduntilThursday,November21,2016, at2:00p.m.Allsealedbidswillbereceivedandmustbedateandtimestampedpriortothatdate andtime,at MesaCityPlazaBuilding,HousingandCommunityDevelopmentDivision,20 EastMainStreet,2NDFloor,Suite250,Mesa,Arizona;anybidreceivedafterthetimespecified willbereturnedwithoutanyconsideration.
Thiscontractshallbeforfurnishingalllabor,materials,t ransportationandservicesforthedemolition,constructionand/orinstallationofthefollowingwork:
Completerehabilitationofasinglefamilyhomeincludingbutnotlimitedto;correctstructuraldeficiencies;roofstructureandroofing,newplumbingsystem;newdrain/waste/ventsystem;sewer lines;firesuppressionsystem;newelectricalserviceandsystem;dualpanewindows;insulatedexteriordoors;HVACunit;insulatedductwork;attic/wallinsulation;newinteriorwallsandceilings; newinteriordoors;fencing;propergradingofentireproperty;andallotherworkrequiredperthe approvedplansand/orwrittenspecifications.
ContractorsdesiringtosubmitproposalsmustattendallmandatoryCityofMesaHousingand CommunityDevelopmenttrainingclasses,haveaCityofMesaTaxLicense,possessatleasta GeneralResidentialContractorLicense(B-),beingoodstandingwiththeArizonaRegistrarof Contractors,notbeontheHUDExcludedPartyList(EPL),registeredwithSystemforAwardManagement(S.A.M.),andhaveaminimumamountof$1millionperoccurrence/$2millionaggregate CommercialGeneralLiabilityinsurance.Allbiddingcontractorsaresubjectto,andshallcomply withFederal,State,CountyandCityofMesaprocurementlaws,policiesandregulationsincluding butnotlimitedto;Section3oftheHousingandUrbanDevelopmentActof1968;Womanand Min orityOwnedBusinessrecruitments;Section504oftheRehabilitationActof1973;EqualEmploymentOpportunities(EEOC)regulationsnotdiscriminatingagainstanyemployeeorapplicant foremploymentbecauseofrace,color,religion,sex,ageornationalorigin;AmericanswithDisabilityAct(ADA)of1990;DrugFreeWorkplaceregulations;DavisBaconandLaborStandardsregulations;Federalandlocalbondrequirements;LeadBasedPaintHazardControlregulations;MaricopaCountyAirQualityDepartmentenvironmentalregulationsregardingDustControl,Asbestos andNESHAP;EnergyPolicyAct(EPA)of2005;TheFederalImmigrationandNationalityAct (FINA)andImmigrationReformandControlAct(IRCA)of1986,andArizonaRevisedStatutes (ARS)23-214relatedtotheverificationofemploymenteligibilityofemployeesoranyoneworking ontheproject.WomanandMinorityownedbusinesses,andCertifiedSection3Businesses arestronglyencouragedtoparticipate.
Formoreinformationortorequestan“InvitationtoBid”,callRaymondThimeschat480-644-4521 Orbye-mail:ray.thimesch@mesaaz.gov
Amandatorywalk-thruofthesitehasbeenscheduled.Pleaserefertothe“InvitationtoBid” foradditionalinformation.Nocontractorsorsub-contractorsarepermittedonthepremises atanytimepriortothewalk-thru. Workshallbecompletedwithinninety(90)consecutivecalendardays,beginningwiththedayfollowingthestartingdatespecifiedintheNoticetoProceed.Ifat anytimethecontractorisdelayedinperformingtheworkunderthisagreementbycircumstances beyondhis/hercontrol,thecontractmaybeextendedbythesameamountoftimeaswascaused bythedelay.Thecontractorshallrequestanyextensioninwriting.
BidsmustbeaccompaniedbyaBidBondfornotlessthantenpercent(10%)ofthetotalbid,payabletotheCityofMesa,Arizona,oracertifiedorcashier'scheck.PERSONAL ORINDIVIDUAL SURETYBONDSARENOTACCEPTABLE.
Thesuccessfulbidderwillberequiredtoexecutethecontractwithinfive(5)daysafterformal awardofthecontract,andsimultaneouslywiththeexecutionoftheContract,willberequiredtofurnishaPaymentBondintheamountequaltoonehundredpercent(100%)oftheContractPrice, andaPerformanceBondinanamountequaltoonehundredpercent(100%)oftheContractPrice, onallqualifyingprojects.
Therightishereb yreservedtoacceptorrejectanyorallbidsorpartsthereto,towaiveanyinformalitiesinanyproposalandrejectthebidsofanypersonswhohavebeendelinquentorunfaithfulto anycontractwiththeCityofMesa.
RaymondThimesch HousingRevitalizationAdministrator
Life Events
Obituaries
BLY, Irene LaVera (Shaw)
Irene LaVera (Shaw) Bly of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Spring Valley, MN, died Sunday, October 2, 2016 after a brief hospitalizaton for heart failure She was 98 Irene was born in Spring Valley, MN on Jan 13, 1918 to parents Harrison Samuel Shaw and Alida Tippery Shaw She married Teft Bly on December 21, 1936 Irene is survived by David and Cathy Bly of Sierra Vista, Az; Judith (Bly) and Gael Hughes of Sacramento, CA; by her daughter in law Rachel Bly of Red Wing, MN, eight grandchildren and several great grandchildren Irene was preceeded in death by her husband Teft Hallie Bly, her son Gordon Irl Bly and her grandson Mike Bly Services were held at the Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley, Minnesota on October 15, 2016
CHURCH, Dorothy “Dottie” Elaine (McMahon)
born in Geneva, NY on September 18, 1937 She was
(Knesel) Dorothy graduated from Williamsville Central High School and then went on to study at Buffalo State Teacher’s College Her family then moved to Arizona She graduated from Arizona State University in 1973 with a degree in Education Dorothy was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority and held a series of volunteer and paid positions, including teacher, substitute teacher, retail sales, hospital volunteer, church deacon, choir member, and Sunday school teacher She met and married James A Church Dorothy is survived by one daughter, Pamela (Church) Mensch and son-in-law Kirk Mensch and two grandchild r e n , K y l e a n d L
ceded in death by both parents A memorial celebration will be held in Canandaigua, NY In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your preferred charity in her name
Please Sign the Guestbook at eastvalleytribune com
Girard, Barry Kenneth
Nov 18, 1934 – Oct 7 2016
Barry Kenneth Girard passed away at the age of 81 Barry was born in H a
g , P A H
ployed by General Motors as a test driver and later became an engineer-
Evangelistic Enterprises In 2006, Barry and his wife relocated to McMinnville, OR His hobbies were guitar and song writing He especially loved serving the Lord
Barry is survived by his loving wife Margaret A memorial service will be held at Grand View Baptist Church in Beavercreek, OR on October 22 at 2:00pm To leave condolences, visit www macyandson com
JOHNSON, Norman Everett,
Passed away September 1, 2016 in Mesa, Arizona after fighting a long
Thursday, October 27, 2016 at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, Gilbert, Arizona This will be followed by a burial at the Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, Mesa, Arizona
Norman Everett Johnson was born in Salamanca, New York In addition to his parents predeceasing him, a son, Michael, predeceased him in 2005 He does have two daug hters who reside in Arizona: Suzan Braun and Nanci (Cyril) Cahill Norman also is survived by his brother Gordon (Ginger) Johnson, a granddaughter, Karena (Geoffrey) Benway and two great-grandchildren, Bryleigh and Murphy http://memorialwebsites legacy com/normanejohnson/homepage aspx
Employment General
Golf Course
Maintenance
Firerock Country Club
$11/hr Fountain Hills
Email: cwerline@ troongolf com
Zounds Hearing Inc in Tempe, AZ seeks Senior Instructional Designer to work FT Email resume/inquiries to: Raj.Kapur@ zoundshearing.com
IntraEdge, Inc has ten openings for Software Engineer positions in Chandler, AZ area
Employment General
Receptionist
- Greet customers/visitors with a smile
- Answer multi-line incoming phone calls in a courteous manner
- Route calls take/distribute messages
- Create Various Internal Reports
- Filing Requirements:
- Exceptional Prof l Comm Skills
- 60+ wpm required Typing speed test part of interview
- Microsoft Office exp
- Strong Team Player,Excellence in business English (spelling, grammar, formatting, punctuation)
-Exceptionally reliable and able to work from 7:30a- 4:30p M-F
IntraEdge, Inc has ten openings for Software Engineer positions in Chandler, AZ area
Position reqs US Masters degree in Science/Tech/Eng; or US bachelor w/ 5 yrs experience to: Analyze software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints involving management reporting systems Consult with hardware engineers and other engineering staff to evaluate interface between hardware and software, and operational and performance requirements of overall system Formulate and design software system using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcome and consequences of design Design, develop and direct software system testing procedures programming, and documentation Consult with customer concerning maintenance of software system, and the ability to modify the system, with skills in C, SQL, Oracle, J2EE, JSP SAP, JAVA and UNIX to analyze/design/develop/implement/test systems & applications
Employment General
Position reqs US Masters degree in Science/Tech/Eng; or US bachelor w/ 5 yrs experience to: Analyze software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints involving management reporting systems. Consult with hardware engineers and other engineering staff to evaluate interface between hardware and software, and operational and performance requirements of overall system Formulate and design software system, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcome and consequences of design Design, develop and direct software system testing procedures, programming, and documentation Consult with customer concerning maintenance of software system and the ability to modify the system, with skills in C, SQL, Oracle, J2EE, JSP, SAP, JAVA, and UNIX to analyze/design/develop/implement/test systems & applications Mon thru Fri 8 am to 5
Benefits may include Health Dental, Vision, Life, LT Disability, 401K and FSA
Please email Cheryl@ DaveBang com Must include your resume and pay requirements for consideration No calls/office visits
Mon thru Fri 8 am to 5 pm $76,336/yr
Submit resume to: Recruitment & Employment Office, INTRAEDGE, INC Attn Job Ref# INT65179 PO Box 56625 Atlanta, GA 30343
Manufacturing Engineer
Medtronic, Inc , Tempe, AZ Req Bachelor’s in Mech Eng & 3
mfg ind (one million
per year); working in a Class 10,000 clean room environ ; as a process owner of Plasma Clean, Transfer
laser marking; using equip to incl Automated Mold (Manufacturer: T owa, model YFG), Laser M a r k i n g ( M a n u f a c t u r e r : R o f i n a n d T r u m p f , model), Plasma Clean (Manufacturer: March, m o d e l ) , S p r a y C o a t i n g ( M a n u f a c t u r e : Asymtek), Cure Oven (Manufacturer: Blue M), S o n o s c a n A c o u s t i c m i c r o s c o p y , singulation/sizing (Disco); with CAPA owner; i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g m e t h o d s : D F S S , DFLS and DMAIC); designing tests for Measurement System Analysis; setting up the control charts and making control plan, using Minitab and JMP; FMEA risk assessment in process design; and Microelectronic Mfg Equipm
Public Notices
H O P E Help Overcoming Painful Experiences 7 p m Tuesdays
Free weekly small-group sessions helping people overcome emotional pain caused by divorce, grief, addictions and more; free childcare for children ages 10 and younger Desert Springs Church, Room 106, 19620 S McQueen Rd , Chandler Info: hope4all@comcast net, helpovercomingpainful experiences org
ad to receive $10 off your vendor booth Call 480-545-7740 or email
Emily watson@ fsresidential com for registration forms & for more info
JumpStart 11:45 A-4:30P Saturdays
JumpStart is a sidewalk Sunday school community outreach program serving “some of the poorest neighborhoods” in Chandler, offering snacks, games and teachings about Jesus to area children
Participants meet at Faith Family Church 11530 E Queen Creek Rd , Chandler Info: Joanne Sweeney 480-539-8933
Watch for Garage Sales in Classifieds!
You will find them easy with their yellow background
Only $25 includes up to 1 week online
To place an ad please call: 480-898-6465 class@times publications com
Garage/Doors
Meetings/Events
Christian Business Networking, Chandler BiMonthly Chapter
7:30 a m second and fourth Tuesdays of the month
Offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and business referrals
Chandler Christian Church, Room B202 1825 S Alma School Rd , Chandler Info: Maia, 480-4250624, christianbusinessnetworking com
Grief Care
6:30 p m Wednesdays
A place to come share your feelings or just listen to others as we try to navigate through our grief You don’t have to do it alone
Epiphany Lutheran Church, south campus old church building 800 W Ray Rd , Room 325, Chandler, a quarter mile south of Alma School Road on the north side of Ray Info: griefcareaz@gmail com
SENIOR SONGBIRDS LOOKING FOR MALE AND FEMALE SINGERS
If you are age 50+ and love singing and entertaining, we would be happy to have you check us out at one of our rehearsals We are all volunteers and perform weekly at assisted living and care centers
We sing secular songs primarily from the 30 s, 40 s, and 50's, as well as patriotic and gospel songs, from September through May We rehearse Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a m at Pyle Adult Recreation Center, 655 East Southern Avenue, Tempe, AZ For more information, call 480-775-0730
Landscape Maintenance
Juan Hernandez SPRINKLER
Drip/Install/Repair Not a l censed contrator 23 years exp Call Now (480) 720-3840
Meetings/Events
Re|Engage marriage program
6:30 p.m. Wednesdays Whether you’d rate your marriage a two or a 10, this class will help you reconnect
Chandler Christian Church 1825 S Alma School Rd , Chandler Info and registration: chandlercc org/reengage
East Valley Jewish Couples Club Offers once-a-month
social activities such as dining, movies, plays, etc for Jewish couples in the 45- to 65-year-old age range Info: Melissa, 480-785-0744, beadlover@cox net
Juan Hernandez Tree Trimming & Clean UPs
23 Years exp (480) 720-3840
10-11:30 a m second and fourth Friday of each month All women are invited to a Bible study and discussion of how the lessons can relate to our current lives Every lady brings something different to the group and learns from each other to get to know new friends Sun Lakes United Church Of Christ, Sun Lakes Country Club Chapel Center, 9230 Sun Lakes Blvd , Sun Lakes Info: Jan Olson 480-802-7457 or Joy King, 480-588-1882
