Light rail’s roll through the EV marks a decade
BY GARY NELSON Tribune Contributor
t was so cold that Grand Funk Railroad almost froze in its tracks.
The classic rock band’s guitar-pickers had trouble getting their fingers to work on that frigid day in late December 2008 when the East Valley helped inaugurate the region’s light-rail line.
But the sharp weather that day was nothing compared with the political headwinds that blew in the face of the system now celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Those winds, in fact, have never stopped, even as the system continues to expand and as billions of dollars in urban development projects sprout next to the tracks.
Of all the leaders who had a share in bringing the system to life, Scott Smith is perhaps bestpositioned to opine on what those 10 years have wrought. As mayor of Mesa, he sat gleefully at the controls when a light-rail train made the first
Mesa woman’s house a Christmas dream come true
BY SIERRA POORE Tribune Contributor
Linda Rhodes repeated one phrase as she walked through her newly renovated and decorated Mesa home for the first time last weekend.
“I’m so overwhelmed,” said the 61-year-old Army veteran and cancer survivor.
The home was a gift from Patty and Ron Gottshalk, a Gilbert couple and cofounders of a nonprofit called Word In Motion, who had originally bought the house with the intention of renovating it and “flipping” it.
Instead, they decided to help out Rhodes, whom they had met at
crossing from Tempe into Mesa on a test run in the summer of 2008. Months later, he froze his caboose with the rest of the crowd as Grand Funk chugged through its tunes at Mesa’s Sycamore station on Dec. 27, 2008.
And now, as CEO of Valley Metro, he’s actually in charge of the whole 26-mile system. Smith speaks of his job with a mixture of exasperation and pride. More about that after a brief excursion into history.
The rail system, a dream of Valley transportation planners for decades, came to life through a series of city council decisions and public votes beginning in the mid-1990s. A crucial moment arrived in 2004, when Maricopa County voters were asked to approve Proposition 400, a half-cent sales tax for a 20-year transportation program that included light rail. Rail opponents chose that moment to try to kill it.
(Kimberly Carrillo/Tribune Staff Photographer) Light rail by next year will be rolling clear to Gilbert Road, expanding its influence on economic development in the region.
(Sierra Poole/Tribune Contributor) Army veteran Linda Rhodes was agog Dec. 15 when she was surprised with a new house from a Gilbert couple who initially planned to flip it.
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Water plant opening signals major east Mesa growth
BY JASON STONE Tribune Staff Writer
Mesa residents in the southeast part of the city may not realize it, but they’ve likely been drinking water from a different tap the last few months.
More specifically, water from a different treatment plant.
The Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant, the largest capital project in Mesa history, has officially been dedicated a few months after it began serving the city’s residents who live roughly from the U.S. 60 south to Germann Road and Meridian to Power roads.
The $126-million facility at Signal Butte and Elliot roads has increased the city’s water capacity by 24 million gallons per day with an expansion capability to 48 million gallons per day when needed.
Mesa voters approved the facility in 2014 after the city’s Water Master Plan determined growth was ready to explode in the southeast portion of the city. Plus, the new treatment plant would help the city reach its goal of producing 90 percent of its water needs through renewable surface water.
“This allows the city to stockpile groundwater in case of a drought,” said Kathy MacDonald, a Mesa water spokesperson.
Before Signal Butte went online this spring, the Brown Road Water Treatment Plant, just east of Power Road and about ten miles to the northeast of Signal Butte, was the only place where Central Arizona Project water could flow into Mesa’s system.
Now, both plants are operational to serve the whole city, plus the new one
helps cut the city’s reliance on about a dozen groundwater wells to supplement the growing southeast area.
“These two plants work together, and both these plants take water off the Central Arizona Project system, which is Colorado River water,” said Mesa Water Resources Director Joe West.
Water is treated at both plants and sent out into homes.
MacDonald said there should only be slight changes for customers who have started receiving water from the Signal Butte plant.
“Since this area was previously supplied primarily from groundwater, customers may notice only slight changes in water characteristics such as hardness levels and ambient temperature,” MacDonald said.
Residents who are interested in finding out the exact source of their water can find it in Mesa’s 2016 Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report, which details each zone across the city.
West said the need to serve residents in the faraway areas sparked the need for the new plant.
“That’s a long way to get water down here to where the growth is,” West said. “We realized years ago that we needed to plan for growth in the Southeast area.”
In a statement, Mayor John Giles touted the new facility.
“Everything begins with water, and Mesa would not be able to continue to grow and prosper without the new Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant and other investments in infrastructure,” Giles said.
City officials said the new plant’s stateof-the-art Ozone generation technology system is producing water that is exceeding quality standards in the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The new plant is already winning industry awards in its first few months. Water and Wastes Digest recently named it as a Top Project of the Year for innovation in design and construction.
“We have a dedicated group of professionals working together each day to deliver quality, reliability and value in water services,” West said. “It is an honor to be recognized by our industry peers for this project.”
Mesa campus wins self-driving shuttle challenge
BY JASON STONE Tribune Staff Writer
East Valley Institute of Technology students could soon be getting a lift around campus, thanks to the world’s first co-created, self-driving, electric shuttle.
The main Mesa campus at Main Street and Dobson Road has been chosen as the winner of the Local Motors Olli Challenge, meaning it will receive a pair of eight-person, driverless Olli shuttles to try out for about three months.
The Mesa school and Sacramento State University in California were each picked for the first challenge trial. The global fleet challenge invited municipalities, campuses and designated districts to pro-
pose a short-term, local use for Olli.
A panel of judges evaluated the submissions and picked EVIT for the Phoenix-area deployment over several other entrants. The company hasn’t released who else applied for the opportunity. EVIT, the first joint technical education district in Arizona, will share its data from the shuttles with Olli engineers to help improve its performance and spark ideas for future models.
“Olli is already transforming the way we
(Special to the Tribune)
The Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant has increased city water capacity by 24 million gallons a day and can nearly double that when needed.
(Special to the Tribune)
The East Valley Institute of Technology will be joining the University of Buffalo to test out the Olli driver-less shuttles, shown here under construction at the manufacturer’s Chandler plant.
LIGHT RAIL
First, Republicans in the Legislature tried to split up the transportation package in an effort to isolate and throttle the rail system. Valley mayors, including Mesa’s Keno Hawker and Tempe’s Neil Giuliano, cried foul – and the Prop 400 package remained intact.
There also was a $1 million ad campaign attacking Proposition 400, largely because it included rail. But voters approved the proposal by a 57-43 percent margin. Even after that vote, rail opponents pressed their case. A Mesa group called No Bucks for Light Rail tried to force a 2006 election on the issue, but failed.
Even now, light rail is not a political slam-dunk across the Valley.
Scottsdale’s City Council voted in 2016 to kill plans for light rail on the city’s south end. And in Phoenix, rail opponents are seeking a public vote on a council-approved rail extension southward on Central Avenue to Baseline Road.
A Phoenix political committee, called “Building a Better Phoenix,” submitted last month 40,000 signatures to ask voters to end light rail expansion in the city and instead divert the money to other trans-
Light-rail timeline
1996, 2000 – Amid early planning for light rail, voters in Tempe and Phoenix approve local sales taxes to support the project.
2002 – Mesa City Council, on a 5-2 vote, approves one-mile leg of light rail along Main Street on the city’s west side.
2004 – Maricopa County voters approve Proposition 400 to fund a regional transportation plan including light rail.
January 2005 – Valley Metro receives $587 million federal funding agreement for initial 20-mile line.
February 2005 – Groundbreaking for the rail system.
Dec. 27, 2008 – The trains carry passengers for the first time; the eastern terminus is at Sycamore Street in Mesa.
August 2015 – Service to downtown Mesa begins.
October 2016 – Groundbreaking for a further two-mile extension to Gilbert Road.
August 2018 – Major construction begins for downtown Tempe streetcar system that eventually will integrate with light rail.
May 2019 – Service expected to begin on extension to Gilbert Road.
Free rides on Dec. 27
Rides on the Valley’s light-rail system will be free on Dec. 27 to commemorate the system’s 10th anniversary.
A lot of those rides will end at Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St. in downtown Phoenix. That’s where, from 5 to 10 p.m., Valley Metro will host a celebration it calls “Railversary.”
The party will feature live music and entertainment, food trucks, art and photography exhibits and kidfriendly activities.
Information: valleymetro.org.
ley real estate projects.
portation improvements, like buses and road repairs.
Leading the charge from Phoenix City Hall is Councilman Sal DiCiccio, who maintains that the city can’t afford light rail and that it would kill the business community in South Phoenix.
The initiative needs about 20,000 verified signatures to qualify for the ballot in either the May or August 2019 elections, according to a city spokesman. The timing will depend on how long it takes city staff and then City Council to verify them.
That’s where Smith’s exasperation comes in.
“The entire future of a very big and successful program … is at risk” because of political chaos, Smith said. “With this initiative that that group has filed (in Phoe-
nix), we are the only city ever to backtrack on light rail. Most everybody else, once they put it in, their expansion plans have been actually accelerated.”
But harking back to opening day 10 years ago, Smith said history has vindicated the rail system.
“There was a sense of, we’ve arrived,” Smith said. “We’ve made the kind of investment that is a game-changer, the kind of investment that be noticed not only here but nationwide. It will place Phoenix up there among the cities that are recognized as cities of the 21st century. And I think we’ve seen that play out.”
As it happened, the system began operating amid the deepening despair of the Great Recession – an economic calamity that killed several highly touted East Val-
Investment along the rail line lagged as a result. But now Valley Metro can point to $11 billion in new projects within walking distance of the line, ranging from housing for low-income seniors to burgeoning college campuses.
Smith said he often crosses swords with people who contend those developments would have happened in any event.
Pointing to downtown Mesa as an example, he noted that not one new housing construction permit was issued in the area between the mid-1980s and 2013, when a complex for seniors opened on First Avenue. Developers said at the time that the advent of light rail spurred their decision to build.
While admitting that not all of these projects can be directly attributed to light rail, Smith said it’s clear the system revived vast swaths of once-moribund urban land.
“People consciously made decisions to invest where they would not have invested,” said Smith, who himself is a former real estate developer. “It seems like an awfully unusual coincidence that in December 2008 all of a sudden multiple developers decided to start shifting their investment to a route that had for decades been ignored. I don’t think there’s any doubt that light rail was the catalyst.”
Thus, he said, light rail has brought people into older inner-city areas and mitigated some effects of the much-bewailed suburban sprawl that has characterized Valley development for decades.
As for the future, Smith said it seems likely the system will keep growing.
Valley Metro and Mesa are looking into a rail line southward on Dobson Road to Southern Avenue, and then east through the Fiesta District to as far as Country Club Drive.
“I could see something in the Fiesta Dis-
See LIGHT RAIL on page 6
(Kimberly Carrillo/Tribune Staff Photoggrapher)
Work continues on the light rail line’s expansion eastward in Mesa and it could be ready to ride from Gilbert Road sometime late spring.
(Kimberly Carrillo/Tribune Staff Photographer) Even as light rail’s future is in doubt in Phoenix, Valley Metro officials are exploring its possible expansion in the East Valley.
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HOUSE
from page 1
Evident Life Church in Gilbert.
“We have it customized so beautifully for her,” Patty said. “It’s fully furnished. We totally gutted it and redid everything.”
With ramps on both sides of the house and a walk-in bathtub to help Rhode get around as she deals with an injured left foot, the house includes many touches aimed at making her life easier – a fullbody shower, lift chair, exercise bike and memory-foam mattress.
Everything inside the home was replaced or redone – from the curtains and blinds to the real wood floors, Ron Gottshalk said.
Patty noted it was even decorated with Rhodes in mind. Her favorite color –blue – was incorporated into many of its accents. A sign was posed on the house that reads “Linda Rd.” Even her refrigerator was stocked with her favorite foods.
“It’s been awesome how we’ve just found different things that we know Linda loves,” Patty said. “We’ve kind of gone over the top.”
Rhodes, who said she is self-employed and makes money buying and selling items on eBay, now even has her own room to conduct her online business.
“We made an eBay room and set up a staging area for photographs and everything she needs,” Patty explained.
Jim Cionci, one of the volunteers who helped with the six-month renovation, said he worked through the summer without air conditioning since a new HVAC unit wasn’t installed until fall.
The Gottshalks bought the house in May, but it wasn’t until August that Patty and Ron decided to give it away.
“A couple of us just felt that way,” she said of her team. “We decided that that’s
LIGHT RAIL
from page 4
trict within the next 10, 15 years,” Smith said.
From Southern and Country Club, the line could head southward into Chandler, but Smith said that probably won’t happen for decades, if ever.
Another plan under serious consideration would extend Tempe’s downtown streetcar line to Dobson Road along Rio Salado Parkway, and then southward on Dobson to connect with light rail at Main Street.
Smith said such a route would serve 40,000 to 50,000 people who might eventually be working in an innovation district being planned by Arizona State University on property currently occupied by Karsten
about the gift for Linda is the impact it has had on the community.
“It’s been such a great way to bind people together,” she said. “What’s really awesome is some of the neighbors who’ve seen us work on this for six months have come over and helped in different ways, too.”
for herself for ages but “never thought it could ever happen.”
Rhodes, who said she served as a cook for the army in Giessen, Germany, for three years, has survived three different types of cancer – including uterine and skin cancer, and cancer in lymph nodes beside her left kidney.
While Patty said Rhodes does not have much herself, she is one of the most giving people she knows. Rhodes takes note of what people like, so she can give it to them later on, she said.
“It’s not just giving someone a gift,” Patty said. “She personalizes everything and then she makes everyone laugh. Who doesn’t need someone in their life like that?”
how we operate our business. We put people before profit.”
Word In Motion, which was founded in 2015, is a philanthropic company that “is all about helping people achieve their talents and discover ways they can be successful in who they are,” she said.
While Patty said this is Word In Motion’s first project that has gone to someone, it will certainly not be its last.
“We’ll have other projects like this as we go along because that’s what we do,” she said.
Changing their purpose for the house also changed people’s attitudes toward working on it, Patty said.
“It was really cool because we had a team of volunteers helping and once we realized we weren’t going to flip it for profit, everyone got more motivated and started doing things with this woman in mind,” she said.
Patty said one of the greatest things
Golf Course.
Farther east, Smith said no studies are underway to carry light rail beyond Gilbert Road. That will be the eastern terminus of the rail extension that will begin hauling passengers next spring.
In sum, Smith said, rail will be an essential transit component as the metro area adds another million people in the coming 15 years.
“We’re going to have to handle the challenge of moving large numbers of people longer distances, and there’s no more efficient or effective way to move a lot of people those distances than rail and express bus,” Smith said. He added, “Public transportation is going to be around for a long time. I just hope that our political leadership continues to invest in it.”
In addition to the thousands of dollars Patty and Ron contributed to the home, the Gottshalks said most everything else was made possible through donations.
“We have about 40 people who have volunteered, and we have a number of people, too, who have given money to pay for the expenses for this,” Patty said.
In addition to receiving donations from people to pay for expenses associated with the project, Ron said they have also received money from people for Rhodes specifically.
“People have also been giving her checks and cash,” he said. “We have an account for her so not only is she going to get the house, we want to give her some cash on top of that to help her for the first month or two.”
Patty said she is not sure exactly how much money Linda will receive.
Rhodes said she has only ever lived in an apartment and has wanted a home
Patty said Rhodes spends a lot of her time volunteering for a variety of charities, including Jesus Cares Ministries, The Salvation Army, Feed My Starving Children, Operation Christmas Child, Angel Tree, Evident Life Thrift Store and Mesa Aglow Lighthouse.
“It’s a joy just helping people do things,” Rhodes said.
Patty added: “She volunteers more than anyone I know. She works harder than most people with full-time jobs. This woman just gives to people all the time and never expects anything in return.”
Patty also said she hopes the project will teach others “to be aware of the people around them.”
“There are people everywhere who are almost invisible, and when you really go out of your way to help someone, it’s really incredible,” she said. “If more people were doing this, it would be so inspiring.”
Added Ron: “We just want people to know not to give up on their dreams,” Ron said. “Some may have long ago gave up on them because they thought they were too big, but you never know what’s going to happen.”
So what’s it done for us lately?
Valley Metro commissioned a study to quantify the impact of light rail during its first 10 years of service: Among the findings:
◆ Light rail is responsible for a 487 percent increase in transit ridership compared with usage of a previous bus line along the route. In hard numbers: 2.8 million bus riders in 2007; 16.5 million rail passengers in 2017, far exceeding original projections.
◆ The rail line is responsible for 70 new pedestrian signals and 43 new crosswalks. Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities along the line have dropped by 50 percent.
◆ Public and private real estate investment along the line totals $11 billion since it opened.
◆ That money accounts for 344 projects encompassing 50 million square feet of construction.
◆ The projects include $2.6 billion in new educational facilities.
◆ Builders have erected 25,000 new housing units and 4,000 hotel rooms along the line. Many of the housing units are designed for low-income residents.
◆ Light rail delivered passengers to almost 300 community events in 2017.
◆ Rail ridership has saved an estimated 61 million gallons of gasoline.
(Sierra Poole/Tribune Contributor)
Ron and Patty Gottshalk, left, look on as Linda Rhodes tries to recover from her initial shock at learning they were giving her a home. On Rhodes’ right is Nicole Mashingaidze, CEO of the Gottshalks’ nonprofit, Word in Motion.
BY JASON STONE Tribune Staff Writer
Mesa businessman accused of not paying $405K in taxes Retirement Living Worth the Wait.
AMesa-based construction professional and bar owner is facing major trouble with the Internal Revenue Service over more than $400,000 in back taxes.
Kevin Scott Wynn is accused of failing to pay personal income taxes for more than two decades so he could spend the money on his “personal lifestyle,” according to a federal grand jury indictment.
Wynn has worked in the construction business since at least 1996 through companies he has controlled. His most recent venture was Wynn Companies.
He’s also worked for SCC Southwest Construction and Black River Construction and Development and has also operated Monsterland, a downtown Mesa bar at 18 W. Main St. Court records show Wynn has lived in Alpine and Mesa since 1996.
The indictment contends after Wynn stopped filing tax returns in 1996 the IRS began the process of assessing past due taxes based on third parties’ reports of money paid to or through Wynn.
The indictment argues Wynn eventually began to conceal assets from the IRS through the use of a personal assistant’s account, but he refused to produce the account when the IRS probed.
Based on third-party reporting to the IRS, the feds assessed hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional taxes on Wynn for 1999, 2000 and 2002 in Maricopa and Navajo counties. It includes taxes, penalties and fees of more than $172,000 for 2000 alone.
Additional taxes have also been tacked on to 2010, 2011 and 2013, totaling more than $415,000.
The indictment accuses Wynn of:
• lying on a mortgage refinance application in 2008 when he answered he hadn’t defaulted on any federal debt.
• claiming he paid estimated taxes in 2005 and 2006, when he hadn’t.
• asserting he earned $65,000 per month in salary and business profits on a credit application for a BMW 650i Coupe, but failing to file taxes for that year.
According to the indictment, the IRS has been trying to settle with Wynn for
years. In 2011, he wrote a letter to the IRS, appearing to signal he inexplicably thought paying taxes was voluntary.
“(The IRS) told me I was ‘required’ to file tax returns,” Wynn wrote. “I would appreciate a letter saying just that. I am more than willing to comply if it is ‘required’ or ‘mandatory.’”
Wynn is charged with hiding nearly a half-million dollars in an account belonging to somebody who’s only named in the indictment by the initials A.F.
The IRS said on Aug. 2, 2011, A.F. opened an account under her name and signature at Bank of America in California. She included Wynn as a beneficiary of the account.
Wynn started sending his money for A.F. to deposit that month. Wynn allegedly directed A.F. to deposit three checks from the business accounts of Black River Construction, Wynn Companies and Monsterland that totaled $45,349.51.
A.F. continued to transfer Wynn’s funds in her Bank of America account after she moved to Mesa in April 2012.
According to the indictment, the IRS tracked down Wynn that September to discuss the unfiled tax years from 2006 to 2010. Wynn responded to the IRS with a letter advocating for his “constitutional right to labor.”
He also asked it to remove his tax lien and threatened a revenue officer by writing that the IRS has policies to “punish employees who violate procedures and citizen civil and constitutional rights.”
The indictment said A.F. stopped using the account to hide Wynn’s money on Sept. 20, 2012, a few days after his communication with the IRS.
A few weeks after that, the IRS told Wynn in a detailed letter that his positions about taxes were “frivolous.”
Included with the letter was a brochure on why residents must pay taxes.
In November 2014, Wynn answered an IRS summons for all business income documents between 2007 and 2012, but he didn’t include the Bank of America account money. That account totaled deposits of $235,349.51 in 2011 and $161,425.42 in 2012.
This isn’t Wynn’s first time finding himself in tax trouble. He was assessed a tax lien from Maricopa County in 1986 after not paying federal taxes on money he earned running Wynn’s Pool Services. He settled the lien two years later.
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Ex-EV Partnership head and wife adjust to Cambodia living
BY SRIANTHI PERERA Tribune Contributor
About six months have passed since former Gilbert Mayor John Lewis and his wife, LaCinda, moved to Cambodia to serve a three-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.
The tropical Southeast Asian country was unfamiliar to them, and they had a few months to learn the rudiments of the Cambodian language, Khmer. Now, the couple refers to their host country as “paradise.”
“We are wonderfully happy and engaged,” LaCinda said.
As mission president and companion, their lives revolve around church members; missionaries, including elders and sisters from several countries; and sightseeing trips.
“Time passes very quickly, and we are not really homesick,” she added. ‘We do miss family and friends, but our work is purposeful.”
But their thoughts do stray toward the home and happy life they left behind, albeit temporarily.
John misses mowing the yard, playing basketball twice-weekly with friends, and interacting with businesses and individuals in Gilbert and the East Valley, where he had been president/CEO of the East Valley Partnership until he received the call from his church.
LaCinda misses visiting the Gilbert Mormon Temple, craves her backyard fruit trees and readily available favorite food items, such as Ghirardelli chocolate chips and maple syrup.
It didn’t matter that Thanksgiving was without turkey or that the coming Christmas will be sans a decorated pine tree. There’s plenty to be thankful about in their new roles, they say. And there are substitutes they can work with.
During Thanksgiving week, they participated in three separate chicken feasts:
one in Kampong Cham/Kampong Thom to the east of Phnom Penh where they oversee 10 missionaries; another in Battambang/Siem Reap to the northwest with 18 missionaries; and the third in Phnom Penh on Thanksgiving Day at one of their church buildings.
The meals included potatoes and rice, stuffing and yams, fruit, rolls and a pumpkin dessert.
“With the help of six senior couples –retired volunteers who leave their families to serve missions around the world – we successfully filled the stomachs of 95 missionaries,” LaCinda said.
Now, they are preparing for their first Christmas in Cambodia.
In a word, it’s “basic.” The mission home has an artificial tree with a few decorations.
There are none of the extended trips to the mall with a long gift list, an equally lengthy itemization of grocery ingredients to be taken to a supermarket and the accompanying last-minute shopping anxieties.
Friends in Gilbert and some of the missionaries’ moms sent them some sweet treats and gifts.
The majority of the country’s citizens are Buddhist, so Christmas celebrations are a commercially imported idea except for those who identify as Christian, LaCinda said.
“Some of the larger stores are beginning to stock items for Christmas stockings,”
she said.
“Since the essence of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ, it matters little where we are or what we have as long as our focus is on the Savior and Redeemer of the world,” she added.
Perhaps the biggest gift will be the visit of their son, Ed, who is working in Geneva, Switzerland, and will fly to Cambodia for Christmas. Ed will be joined by their son, CJ, and his wife, Taryn, for postChristmas festivities.
This is the first time that family members are visiting, although the Lewises have already hosted friends and claim to have “rolled out the red carpet” for them.
“We are certain that all of our children and maybe some grands and hopefully our siblings, nieces and nephews, and LaCinda’s father will eventually make a trip to Cambodia in the next 2 1/2 years,” John said.
Visitors aside, there’s much to be done.
They work with 98 missionaries and 28 church congregations with 15,000 members scattered throughout Cambodia, who are based in 15 church buildings.
A Mormon temple for Phnom Penh, Cambodia was announced recently. The Lewises will have returned to Gilbert by the time it’s constructed, but they can help with the foundation, they said.
“Our world in this Cambodia adventure seems to be perfectly balanced between running the marathon at the speed of a
50-yard dash,” LaCinda said. “We spend a great deal of time working with the missionaries and the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We also spend an equal amount of time waiting; waiting at stop lights; waiting for a Khmer word to come to our elderly brains; and waiting for the internet to resurrect.”
The language, rooted in ancient Asian languages Sanskrit and Pali, and with 80 characters, has been one of the challenges, despite the 40 hours of study with a returned missionary via Skype before leaving home. The missionaries are given nine weeks of intense language study before arriving, and usually master the language in about nine months.
“Not that they come to know every word, but it is remarkable that they communicate so well and understand most of what is said in less than a year,” LaCinda said, adding “the local residents are very impressed.”
When John and LaCinda try to speak in Khmer, it usually results in corrections with a smile.
“Every time we speak, we mix things up,” LaCinda said. “We were told by a Khmer member that they love it when we speak because they like our accents and our mistakes.”
John wishes he was fluent so that
(Photos courtesy of LaCinda Lewis)
Thanksgiving was no small affair for the Lewises, who hosted 95 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionaries.
Pack your patience, check your car and take it slow for holiday travel in Arizona
BY KARISMA SANDOVAL Cronkite News
Dreaming of a white Christmas? It might be a drive of only a few hours for East Valley travelers to enjoy magnificent, snow-covered vistas in Arizona’s high country, but the journey can be treacherous.
Arizona law-enforcement officials ask travelers to slow down and pack their patience as they drive during the busy holiday season. Downloading an Arizona Department of Transportation app for winter-weather driving conditions can be useful, too.
While people from colder climates pay big money to come to the East Valley for warm holidays, many East Valley residents want to go the other way, with holiday escapes to Prescott, Flagstaff, Payson or the White Mountains to play in the snow.
Nearly 900,000 drivers were on the road over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday, and a AAA Arizona spokeswoman expects that number to increase from Christmas to New Year’s Day.
Kameron Lee, a trooper for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, said the agency’s main goal is to enforce safety.
“We know that everyone wants to get to their destination,” Lee said. “We want you to get to your destination, but we want you to get there safely.”
For congested areas, Lee said DPS has a plan to keep traffic moving.
“We’ll actually up our manpower in certain areas to make sure we can respond quickly to incidents,” he said.
ADOT already has closed State Route 473 leading to Hawley Lake and State Route 67 to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for the winter. US 89A remains open during the winter.
State Routes 261 and 273 in the White
Mountains normally close on Dec. 31, but weather can prompt an earlier closure.
The free ADOT Alerts app sends critical information, including alternate routes, should snow or ice close a major highway. Users are sent notifications, giving them the opportunity to choose an alternate route or delay their travel plans to avoid sitting in lengthy backups.
Road conditions can change quickly when winter weather hits, and the ADOT Alerts app provides up-to-the-moment information directly from ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center.
The app also sends notifications about crashes that close highways that cause delays.
ADOT Alert users are encouraged to enable Location Services and Push Notifications so that when ADOT sends an
High-country winter-driving safety tips
• Slow down.
• Drive defensively.
• Be patient and allow additional time for your trip.
• Never pass a snowplow.
• Leave sufficient space between your vehicle and those ahead of you.
• Give yourself plenty of room and time to stop or to avoid hazards.
• Make sure your vehicle has plenty of fuel.
• Let someone know your route.
• Bring a small bag of sand (or cat litter) for wheel traction.
alert it will pop up on your device’s screen immediately.
The app can be downloaded free of charge in Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Search for “ADOT Alerts.” More information about the app can be found at ADOTAlerts.com.
Before heading out, drivers may also call 511 or visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Center at az511.gov for the latest highway conditions. The website features camera images along state highways that give drivers a glimpse of weather conditions.
After packing your parka and a blanket, don’t forget the emergency kit. ADOT encourages drivers to include a fully charged cell phone, flashlight, extra clothing, blankets, water and snacks in case of major road delays in the frigid high country.
Desert dwellers often have little or no experience driving in winter-weather conditions. Motorists heading into snow country are reminded to drive with caution. Don’t let GPS and navigation apps replace common sense. When a highway is closed, a suggested alternate route involving an unpaved, unplowed road can lead to danger. Avoid them.
Doug Nintzel, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Transportation, said that the agency works closely with DPS to catch travelers who are impaired, speeding or not wearing their seat belts.
ADOT also uses overhead signs to alert drivers to freeway accidents and wrongway drivers.
“We’re utilizing our signs along the highways, making sure there are messages out there, giving drivers updates on
highway conditions as well as safety messages,” Nintzel said. “Of course, DPS has the role of being there as the enforcement agency.”
AAA Arizona also is gearing up to help people on the roads. Spokeswomen Michelle Donati said it will receive the most calls this holiday season for “lockouts, calls for battery help, as well as tire trouble.”
She cautions drivers to do all their pretrip checks, including maintenance, battery life and repairs, before leaving.
“Especially during the holiday season, we want to make sure that those who are broken down and have that unfortunate circumstance happen to them can get to their destination safely,” Donati said. “We definitely want to make sure that our tow truck drivers who are out there putting their lives on the line to help our motorists in Arizona get home to their families at the end of the day.”
According to ADOT, over the three holiday weekends last year – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s – 41 people died in vehicle crashes on Arizona roads. DPS said that there were no deaths on Arizona highways over this Thanksgiving weekend, but that does not include all roads.
ADOT’s Twitter account (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook page (facebook. com/AZDOT) provide real-time information and interaction.
Additional information on winter driving is available at azdot.gov/KnowSnow. The Arizona Department of Transportation contributed to this report
(Arizona Department of Transportation)
The high country is well equipped and experienced at keeping roads open in severe winter driving conditions, but drivers must give them some help: Never pass a snowplow.
he could better communicate with everybody. He continues to spend time working on the language, while LaCinda has less time for it, as she is working on her dissertation at Northern Arizona University’s doctoral program in educational leadership for higher education.
Besides the language mix-ups, cultural blunders occur.
Recently, they attended a Khmer wedding celebration.
“The Khmer are exceedingly proficient at gathering a host of people for weddings, funerals and parties,” LaCinda said. “This pop-up party tent, in the middle of a dirt road in the middle of farmland, featured
OLLI
from page 3
think about transportation and it is showing us … that autonomous vehicles can be safe, sustainable and practical,” said Local Motors CEO and co-founder Jay Rogers. “We look forward to the insights that will come from each deployment as the ever-changing industry of autonomous vehicles continues to evolve.”
Chandler-based Local Motors specializes in 3D-printed mobility solutions and
a bride and groom who changed outfits thrice, tables and chairs and a plethora of Khmer edibles.”
The wedding party and the guests were bedecked and bejeweled in beads and bows, she said. In true Khmer tradition, the guests who are invited came with cash (the equivalent of $25 per guest) in a goldembossed envelope to help pay for the edifice and the edibles.
“I have made many errors on this mission and being under-dressed for an overdressed occasion is a faux pas with extraordinary consequences,” she said. “Next time, I will be appropriately adorned.”
As for the Cambodians, the Lewises find them “happy, helpful, resilient and resourceful.”
“We are so impressed with their ingenu-
once helped develop the world’s first all3D-printed car.
It calls the shuttle it developed “designed to change the future of mobility.”
Potential uses for the shuttle include transportation option for cities, companies, hospitals, campuses, stadiums, entertainment districts and any other location where people need to move from one place to another.
What EVIT chooses to do with the fleet still isn’t known. Because the challenge was “closed,” Local Motors isn’t revealing
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ity and their hard work. The way they move people, produce and products around the country is amazing,” LaCinda said.
They have done some sightseeing, which included visiting the burial sites known as the Killing Fields. About 2 million died during the 1970s when the radical community party, Khmer Rouge, was in power.
“It was April in 1975, I was preparing to go to the Jr. Prom with John Lewis, he was my first official date after I turned 16,” LaCinda recalled. “I was concerned about what to wear, while millions of Cambodians were concerned about where to flee.”
They also undertook a seven-hour tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park, the world’s largest religious monument, in the area where Cambodian kings ruled from the 9th through the 15th centuries. The
the plans publicly.
Wherever they end up, Local Motors engineers will soon begin mapping the locations where the shuttles will run.
Think of it like using a Roomba robotic vacuum mapping your living room when you turn it on for the first time.
After a couple weeks of mapping, officials are hoping to deploy the fleets of shuttles for the public to use in Mesa and Sacramento by the end of next month.
Local Motors has already announced the Greater Washington, D.C.-area as the
most famous is the Angkor Wat, or temple, which is the main draw for 50 percent of the country’s tourists.
The Lewises are also struck by the torrential rain, which lasts from June to October, and changes the flow of the Tonle Sap River and fills the basin’s rice fields.
The monsoons are muggy: “sweet and sweaty is the work,” goes the saying in Phnom Penh.
They are happy they came from Arizona’s climate, which seems to have prepared them well.
“I love the billowing clouds and the blue skies. Parts of every day, the sun shines through beautiful and picturesque clouds,” LaCinda said. “The hottest time of the year is still to come, so we may have a different opinion come March.”
location for its second challenge.
The newest challenge, which is open to entries from the Greater Washington, D.C-area, runs through Feb. 6.
“Local Motors’ Olli challenge is sure to ignite more innovation around the future of autonomous transportation,” said Shailen Bhatt, president and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America.
“I am passionate about technology’s ability to save lives on our roadways, so I’m thrilled about this project.”
Community
For Mesa family, autism has posed a challenge
BY MOLLY ARRIAGA Tribune Guest Writer
Our daughter, Alexandra, enjoys spending time on the computer and her iPad. She loves musicals, watching videos on YouTube and holds a special place in her heart for the Gilmore Girls.
She loves her cheer class at USA Fitness in Gilbert and enjoys attending church on Sundays. And while that might sound pretty typical for a 17-year-old, high school sophomore, our lives are anything but typical.
Alex was diagnosed with autism in 2012. The initial diagnosis consisted of big words like pervasive development disorder, developmental dyspraxia, sensory integration disorder and speech apraxia. The years leading up to her diagnosis presented more questions than answers and frankly, it was wonderful to finally be able to put a name to it. Finding resources to support the diagnosis proved challenging, but we were determined to do what we had to do.
Our biggest challenges involved getting Alex out of bed and ready for school and encouraging her to try everyday morning tasks we knew she was capable of handling. Every day was a struggle. A behavioral therapy called ABA Therapy was recommended, so we put ourselves on the wait list. Three years later, we were still waiting. And then we discovered the Southwest Autism Center of Excellence (SACE), a collaborative effort of Southwest Behavioral & Health Services and Southwest Human Development, in 2017.
A psychologist who worked at SACE heard about Alex and reached out to offer counsel and support.
It changed our lives forever. Joan, a psychologist with SACE, taught us to focus on Alex’s strengths. A visual learner, Alex excelled at working with and completing tasks on a picture schedule. A consistent and slow “hand-over-hand” approach coupled with a lot of praise soon had us on our way.
Motivation by praise and assuring Alex could tackle and accomplish hard things helped our daughter’s confidence bloom. Alex now enjoys doing things independently and gets annoyed when I try to
thank for it. She has learned to trust and work with other kids and has really come out of her shell.
help her. We still have to make sure things are done correctly, but what a difference from a year ago.
Since communication with the school can be difficult, as public schools often lack the resources needed to work with and champion someone like Alex, the fact that SACE directly interacts with her school is a real blessing. The SACE psychologist also provides access to resources for times outside of school and on the weekends.
Alex’s inability to communicate her needs and wants can be a challenge. Sometimes she comes home from school with watery eyes, holding an ice bag or dressed
in a completely different set of clothes.
She can’t communicate what she feels or when something hurts. It’s hard and like any parent would feel, my heart struggles. Because of the helpful techniques and support provided by SACE, we looked into verbal therapy and are now working with Alex, motivating her to use her words.
The treatment plan really seems to be working, and I look forward to the day when she can verbally share her feelings.
Today, Alex basks in the applause her team receives when they perform on center court. Her confidence is at an all-time high and we have a team of people to
Alex enjoys going to her Life Skills class. It’s a social group of kids her age that teach the independent living skills they may need at home and in the community. She also enjoys going to church on Sundays. I’m so thankful for the people that have taken the time to know and accept Alex. Having a child with different abilities is a special gift. She is aware of her surroundings and is a great judge of character. She has taught us simple things like unconditional love, faith, hope, patience and how not to take life for granted. She lives simply, doesn’t ask for anything and is happy most of the time.
Our goal for Alex’s future is simple. We want her to be accepted and self-sufficient to the best of her abilities. We want her to graduate from high school and secure a job so she can contribute. Most of all, we want her to be safe, happy and loved. There are still some things we can’t do that most families do on a regular basis. We can’t just get up and go or do things spontaneously. Every event takes careful planning and letting Alex know ahead of
(Special to the Tribune)
Alexandra Arriaga, second from right, poses with her parents and sister during a happy moment at home. Alex, who has been diagnosed as autistic, and her family found help with her condition throughthe Southwest Autism Center of Excellence.
(Special to the Tribune)
Alexandra Arriaga enjoys many of the things that other 17-year-olds enjoy despite the challenges of autism.
time what is planned for the day. We haven’t been on vacation on a plane since Alex was born, which is why we are participating in Wings for Autism this month. It’s a wonderful program that offers young people with autism spectrum disorders and other intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD), and their families, a unique “airport rehearsal” designed to ease the uncertainties and discomfort they may feel when traveling by airplane. If you have a child with autism, it’s important to know that you are not alone. There are resources and services available to help you. SACE has been an amazing resource for our family.
- Molly Arriaga and her family live in Mesa.
Where to turn for support…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 71 children in Arizona are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a biologically-based neurodevelopmental disorder. It is defined as delayed social communication skills, social interactions, and restricted, repetitive behaviors (RRB).
October marks the first-year anniversary of the Southwest Autism Center of Excellence (SACE), a collaborative effort of Southwest Behavioral & Health Services and Southwest Human Development as part of Mercy Care’s Mercy 360 Community Initiative.
SACE’s philosophy of serving Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) members
throughout their life span promotes high quality community-based services that are tailored to each member and family – delivering services in the most appropriate setting, in a timely fashion and in accordance with best practices, while respecting the members and family’s cultural heritage.
The centers coordinate care and services across multiple systems to ensure families receive effective and efficient care. These services include:
• Diagnostic screening for ASD and developmental screening
• Comprehensive team assessments
• Evidenced-based, intervention services to address medical, developmental, and mental health/behavior-
al needs associated with or impacted by ASD
There are four ASD Centers of Excellence across the Valley to assist families faced with Autism spectrum disorders.
• Southwest Human Development (Birth to 5): 2850 N. 24th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008
• Southwest Behavioral & Health Services (6 Through Adulthood): 11221 N. 28th Drive, Building E, Phoenix, AZ 85029
• Southwest Behavioral & Health Services (6 Through Adulthood): 1255 W. Baseline Road, #138, Mesa, AZ 85202
• Touchstone Health Services: 3602 E. Greenway Road, Suite 102, Phoenix, AZ 85032
Chandler teen’s cystic fibrosis fight pays off big
BY JASON STONE Tribune Staff Writer
Vinnie Acedo-Holmquist doesn’t need long to describe one good aspect about living with cystic fibrosis.
“The Six Flags Fast Pass is a big bonus,” the Chandler teenager said with a laugh. “Actually, it’s a lot of amusement parks. They’re accommodating for it.”
It’s certainly one break Acedo-Holmquist, 19, has earned after dealing his whole life with the inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.
Another break is coming in the form of a big financial reward.
Acedo-Holmquist recently earned $25,000 as a recipient of the AbbVie CF Scholarship and was named the 2018 Thriving Undergraduate, based upon his impressive academic and extracurricular achievements as well as public votes.
A 2017 graduate of Chandler High School, Acedo-Holmquist is currently attending Chandler Gilbert Community College and pursuing a degree in Business Administration.
The AbbVie CF Scholarship has been helping families deal with the financial burdens of cystic fibrosis for a quarter century. In its first 25 years, the scholarship program awarded more than $3.2 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students.
Acedo-Holmquist won an online contest after completing a wide-ranging application that included a video, details of his achievements and an essay he devoted to the need for a social media app designed for the adult cystic fibrosis community.
sufferers who distinguish themselves academically and outside the classroom.
“As far as I know, I don’t see anything close to that,” Acedo-Holmquist said.
“There are certain Facebook groups and CF websites that may facilitate something like that. But as far as a true app dedicated to that, I haven’t seen anything to that.”
The scholarship award was great news to his parents, who have been forking over nearly $10,000 a year on sophisticated medications he must take every day of his life.
“Without insurance, I don’t know how people do it,” said Patty Acedo-Holmquist, Vinnie’s mother. “The regimen is pretty grueling.”
Cystic fibrosis patients must deal with a thick, sticky mucus that’s produced in certain organs throughout their bodies, most commonly the lungs and digestive system.
The mucus buildup in the lungs causes difficulty breathing and could lead to life-
threatening lung infections. In the digestive system, the thick mucus may prevent proper food digestion, potentially leading to malabsorption and malnutrition.
Statistics show more than 30,000
people in the U.S. are afflicted with cystic fibrosis. More than half of them are adults.
Vinnie’s daily morning regimen is daunting. He must take up to six pills every meal. One of the medicines he inhales costs $5,000 a month before insurance. Another daily pill runs $1,400 every month. Another he must take every day costs $900 a month.
Puls, a vest he uses to help break the mucus down from his lungs, costs up to $20,000 alone.
“It’s an insanely expensive disease,” Patty said.
That’s what makes the college scholarship so nice for the family. He’s taking 15 credit hours this semester as he prepares to transfer to ASU’s polytechnic campus in Mesa next year.
Because of his love for animals – or more specifically, reptiles – Acedo-Holmquist
originally chose veterinary medicine for his major. But he soon decided that “chemistry wasn’t for me.”
So, he switched to business administration, but he’s still undecided about what kind of business he wants to open. All he knows is it’ll likely be animal-related in some way, much like his current employer, the Arizona Reptile Center.
“It’s a job I really enjoy,” Acedo-Holmquist said. “I would love to open a business similar to that.”
He owns several reptiles, including leopard geckos and an argentine boa, and has a salt water tank full of clown fish and coral. He even has scorpions in his collection. Acedo-Holmquist still lives at home, but he’s been slowly transitioning into taking full care of his health. His parents were away for four months over the summer, giving Acedo-Holmquist his first taste of solo responsibility.
“He got it done,” Patty said. “He was adulting on his own. He handled all his appointments. He reordered all his meds.”
She said that’s not always the case with cystic fibrosis patients.
“I’ve been part of the CF family advisory group, and we have some kids that aren’t doing so well,” she said. “Some of them have rebelled against treatments and don’t take care of themselves. I feel blessed that Vinnie takes care of himself.”
Besides the medication, Vinnie always has to make sure to keep clean, constantly washing his hands and making sure surfaces he comes into contact with are sterile.
“We’ve definitely gone through the supply of Clorox in the house,” Vinnie said. Too bad insurance or a scholarship can’t pay for that, too.
(Special to the Tribune)
Vinnie Acedo-Holmquist of Chandler recently earned a $25,000 scholarship awarded cystic fibrosis
Chandler nonprofit offers hope, food to thousands
BY COLLEEN SPARKS Tribune Staff Writer
Anonprofit organization that launched in a church kitchen nearly 20 years ago offers hope and nourishment to tens of thousands of people who struggle to get enough food to eat around Christmas and every month of the year.
Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, which began in 2001 out of Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Chandler, will also be able to offer more fresh produce to food-insecure people thanks to a $12,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare to the Association of Arizona Food Banks.
The food bank became a separate entity in 2005 and now occupies a space on N. Arizona Avenue, just south of Knox Road.
Jan Terhune, executive director of Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, said the nonprofit’s mission is to “provide food and basic necessities to our neighbors in need and unite the community in the fight against hunger.”
“What we’ve deduced over time is that our clients actually look a lot like you and I,” Terhune said. “They have jobs, maybe one, two, three (jobs). They have vehicles. They’re just in that space where they can’t make ends meet and need a little help.”
Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank helped more than 80,000 people last year, Terhune said. Its many programs include the food bank that is open weekdays, a holiday food distribution around Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter and Meals to Grow programs that provide food to students in East Valley schools.
Anyone in need can show up at Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank weekdays to get an emergency food box by showing a photo ID and registering with the nonprofit.
The boxes have enough nonperishable food for six to eight days of hunger relief, including pasta, rice, beans, fruit or vegetables and soup. The emergency food boxes are available from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Matthew’s Crossing also picks up perishable food such as milk, eggs, meat and yogurt from 18 grocery stores every week.
Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank also provides food through drives held by 50 to 60 other organizations, including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, fitness centers, Intel and VFW posts.
“Our primary source of revenue is from individuals who either give to us at tax credit season, which is now,” Terhune
said. “Every spring we have A Night To Fight Hunger gala.”
Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank also distributes meals for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
It gives out about 600 meals with turkey, pie and the traditional trimmings for Thanksgiving. Around Christmas, people receive ham, vegetables, stuffing, a cake mix and other items, Terhune said. Hams are part of the meals at Easter.
Some of the food is provided by Marlin Services, a contractor.
Every month, people 65 and older can pick up boxes with pasta, vegetables, fruit and other foods through a senior food box program that Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank offers in partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank.
And children, teens and community college students can get help through Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank’s Meals To Grow program. The nonprofit distributes 1,000 backpacks filled with canned meat, fruit, vegetables, pasta and other foods to students in Chandler, Gilbert, Higley, Mesa and Tempe schools every week.
Each backpack has enough food to feed the students two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and many snacks so they can get through their weekend without being hungry.
Food closets at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, as well as in junior high and high school campuses around the East Valley, offer food to students for weekday evening needs.
The Summer Snack Pack program offers students snacks with protein including vegetables and fruit to get through the summer as one of the other Meals To
that come to Matthew’s Crossing through United Food Bank via a program sponsored by Feeding America in vans to East Valley schools.
Matthew’s Crossing will likely rotate distribution, designating one day a week or month to Chandler-Gilbert Community College and the schools in the K-12 school districts, Terhune said.
“Just from a nutrition perspective, if you can eat healthier you’re gonna be happier,” she said. “And frankly children and adults who don’t have to struggle with hunger relief do better in school and life. We’re blessed. Those opportunities (for grants) are far and few between.”
Joe Gaudio, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona, said Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank is a deserving organization.
Grow efforts. Matthew’s Crossing provided 200 snack packs in the summer of 2016 and 7,000 snack packs in the summer of last year, Terhune said.
As part of a new program in Meals to Grow, called Schools-2-Schools, the nonprofit teams up with Gilbert High School and Thew Elementary School in Tempe to provide backpacks filled with food.
Besides offering sustenance for their bodies, Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank also feeds children’s minds.
With its Read to Grow program, anyone in need ages birth to 14 can get free books at the nonprofit organization’s retail space. More than 25,000 books have been given out since the program began in fall 2016.
Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church buys new books while a book drive Chandler Kiwanis Club organized and donations from Savers thrift store also supply the program.
Matthew’s Food Crossing will be able to buy a three-door refrigeration unit to hold perishable foods with the UnitedHealthcare grant to the Association of Arizona Food Banks.
UnitedHealthcare awarded $2 million in grants to local organizations in Arizona that focused on social determinants to good health, including hunger.
Paz de Cristo in Mesa is the other East Valley organization that received a similar grant and Terhune said, “What their investment is going to be used for is another three-door refrigeration unit.”
“It will help support rent in additional retail spaces so that we can put in a fridge,” she added.
The goal is to take fruits and vegetables
The insurer chose Arizona and four other states for the recent grants.
Gaudio said he is “very impressed,” especially since Matthew’s Crossing is going to add fresh produce.
“They’ve been doing it for over 17 years,” Gaudio said. “They have an emphasis on emergency food boxes. We don’t talk enough about the Matthew’s Crossings and the Paz de Cristos and all the other smaller-scale food banks that take place that are out there that you’ll find in schools, find in churches.
“The work that they do is incredible, and it has allowed for what amounts to a distribution system. There’s a network for smaller food banks that are supported. It’s really amazing to see how that system comes together to meet a great need, and we’re honored and privileged to be a part of it.”
He said UnitedHealthcare’s mission is “to help people live healthier lives.”
“We are a health insurance company, but we provide health insurance across multiple lines of business or products,” Gaudio said. “We’re more than a healthcare company. We’re more than a payer. We provide our members with access to a fantastic network of hospitalists and specialists and other physicians. We’ve done a very unique housing initiative.”
He said UnitedHealthcare invited organizations to talk about their mission and how they would spend the grant money, and the Association of Arizona Food Banks was impressive.
“They are a disciplined organization,” with a strong reputation, Gaudio said. “There’s just not a lot of fresh produce provided to food banks because it’s expensive to ship. That just really struck a chord.”
(Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer)
Debanjan Ghosh, a volunteer who goes by the name Jon, gathers food to put in baskets and carts.
Chandler ropes in 2,500 jobs with Allstate center
BY JASON STONE Tribune Staff Writer
Chandler’s job market is still in good hands.
Allstate Insurance Company’s plan to lease more space in the city – and possibly build its own corporate center – is creating at least 2,500 jobs in the region.
The Chandler City Council signed off on the deal this month after two years of negotiations with the global insurance giant.
“We think it’s a pretty prudent deal,” said James Smith, Chandler’s economic development innovation manager. “It’s not many times a Fortune 500 company comes to the door. This is a Fortune 100 company.”
Massive incentives to lure Allstate will put Chandler on the books for a little more than $5 million, but because the incentives are performancebased, Chandler isn’t on the hook for any money upfront and assumes little risk in the deal.
Plus, financial studies show it could bring in more than $5.29 million in benefits each year over an eight-year period. That revenue could grow past $6.6 million if Allstate decides to build a permanent campus in Chandler.
“It’s been the goal of this council to diversify Chandler’s economy,” Mayor Jay Tibshraeny said. “Chandler is the innovation and technology hub of the Southwest, and we already have the strong presence in technology. We need to diversify our economy, so we’re not at risk to any downturns in any particular sector of the economy.”
City officials began negotiating with the Illinois-based company in 2017. It already employs 500 people at 217,000 square feet of office space at Park Place in the Price Road Corridor and at the One Chandler Corporate Center.
The development agreement calls for the city to pay Allstate around $5.4 million in fees for job creation and development if the company agrees to construct its own corporate campus. The city is also kicking in nearly $1.5 million for hiring, training and relocating employ-
ees to the city. Chandler will make the payments to Allstate over nine years as long as the company actually creates the jobs. The city is requiring Allstate to reapply for incentive reimbursements every year.
Smith said this is Chandler’s way of accounting for the required jobs in the contract.
Plus, if Allstate decides to skip town
and build a corporate center or lease space elsewhere, Chandler will get all its money back.
According to the agreement, Allstate must create the jobs within five years. The city will fork over $600 for each job with a base salary of at least $65,000 and $400 for each job that pays below $65,000.
Smith told the City Council that all created jobs would be in addition to the positions the company already has filled in Chandler. The city estimates the payroll taxes generated from the 2,500 positions would result in $102 million annually.
The agreement calls for Allstate to reimburse the city for all payments it received if the company decides to skip town to lease space or build a corporate campus. Allstate picked
Chandler over two other Valley cities and Boise, Idaho. But Councilman Sam Huang questioned whether incentives were really needed to lure in the company and used a recently approved Banner hospital project as an example.
“It was a contributing factor in them choosing Chandler,” Smith said. “Banner is local, and they needed a hospital here locally. Allstate could have gone anywhere they wanted to go in the country. We think it’s a prudent offer that we made.”
Councilman Jeremy McClymonds called the deal “awesome,” while Mayorelect Kevin Hartke said he was impressed with the company’s commitment to Chandler.
“It shows they’re putting skin in the game and saying we want to be here,” Hartke said. “We believe they’re fully committed to Chandler. One of the important things about that corporate campus is that could really be a commitment for 25 or 30 years.”
Allstate is the fourth-largest property and casualty company in the U.S., behind only State Farm, Berkshire Hathaway and Liberty Mutual. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners reports Allstate has about 5-percent market share of premium income.
Allstate earned $2.4 billion on revenue of $30.3 billion over the first nine months of 2018.
Brad Smith, the senior vice president of business development with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, said Chandler was a natural fit for the facility.
“(Allstate) found the Metro Phoenix area, the East Valley in particular, and the City of Chandler as a great location for them,” Smidt said. “It offers them many opportunities to hire the best and the brightest people they need to hire to succeed as a corporation.”
Huang was the only councilmember to vote against the project. He complained that he didn’t have enough time to investigate the deal, despite Tibshraeny reminding him that the council had been briefed on the project twice over the last 18 months.
“Keep your notes,” Tibshraeny told Huang.
(Special to the Tribune)
James Smith, Chandler’s economic development innovation manager, said Allstate must create the jobs within five years.
(Special to the Tribune)
Chandler officials broke down the impact of the Allstate project during the City Council’s consideration of the deal.
Opinion
2019 promises what? Columnist looks ahead – kind of
BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist
Come year’s end, some columnists run out of things to write. This gives rise to lots of “year in review” pieces, whereby inkstained wretches again pick over all that occurred during the past 365 days.
That’s a cheap trick, and too easy by half. In this space, we prefer a higher degree of difficulty. Thus, we will not be looking backward today, but forward, offering you a review of the year ahead. Here’s 2019 in a nutshell:
Jan. 14. The Arizona Legislature opens amid controversy when Prescott Republican David Stringer drops a bill declaring “very white” Arizona’s official state color. Admonished by Democrats, who offer a bill declaring the rainbow our state’s “official meteorological event,” Stringer attempts to soften his image by bringing his newly adopted black labs – Amos and Andy – to work.
The gesture backfires when Stringer
fails to produce emotional support animal certificates for his pets.
Feb. 3. Scottsdale Community College coed Tiffani L’Amour enters the Guinness Book of World Records after negotiating the 17th fairway at the Waste Management Phoenix Open wearing 11-inch spike heels.
L’Amour, who also has a .44 blood alcohol level, goes viral on Twitter after celebrating with a cartwheel while holding a half-full Pabst Blue Ribbon.
April 9. The Phoenix Suns finish the season with a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. After the game, owner Robert Sarver announces plans to move the team to Seattle. An hour later, the City of Seattle announces its plan to move the entire city to the state of Nebraska. As Mayor Jenny Durkan puts it: “First we lose the Super Sonics, now we get this guy? Frankly, we’d rather abandon Microsoft to grow corn.”
May 17. Local TV station Fox 10 makes news when it replaces longtime anchorman John Hook with a robot version of Hook. Replicant Hook reads the teleprompter flawlessly and sports dou-
ble-breasted suits from 1992, exactly like his human counterpart.
Outraged viewers flood the station with complaints, claiming the android lacks Hook’s orange tan and “seems more lifelike than co-anchor Kari Lake.”
July 3. Maricopa County Recorder
Adrian Fontes announces that he’s finally finished counting ballots from the November 2018 election. Buoyed by his success, Fontes holds a press conference to unveil his “Count By Twos” initiative for 2020.
Says Fontes: “By counting ballots two at time, we can use the same number of abacuses and get the same results in half the time.”
Sept. 8. The Arizona Cardinals mark the franchise’s 100th season with a new advertising campaign: “A Century of Failure!” Bankrupt team sponsor Mattress Firm unveils a new slogan for the occasion – “Laying Down for Everyone” – while Hospice of the Valley offers free grief counseling for Cardinals season ticketholders.
Nov. 3. A year from Election 2020,
President Trump announces his candidacy for a second term at the newly renamed Trump Grander Canyon. Having purchased naming rights for one of the world’s natural wonders, the President announces plans to lengthen the 277-mile Canyon by connecting it to Las Vegas.
“Many, many people are saying this new Canyon is the best canyon in the world,” Trump tweets. “Who else improve on what Mother Nature did?” Trump denies “fake news” that he plans to make the canyon into the world’s largest TopGolf facility.
Dec. 23, 2019 – Local columnist and avid golfer David Leibowitz records his first-ever hole in one at Castles N’ Coasters. The achievement is later invalidated when it’s revealed that Leibowitz cheated by using a $500 Scotty Cameron putter during his round.
Ashamed, Leibowitz announces plans to join the Seattle Nebraska Suns out on the Great Plains.
May you and yours have a great holiday. And may none of this stuff actually come true.
Beating the holiday blues can be a challenge
BY MARY JO WHITFIELD Guest Columnist
Holiday parties, family gatherings, shopping and sharing time-honored recipes are what most people associate with the holiday season. However, for some, it’s far from being the most wonderful time of the year. Coined the “holiday blues,” this condition should not be taken lightly.
Many people experience varying levels of anxiety or depression during the holidays, especially those with pre-existing mental health conditions. Whether it’s the extra stresses and unrealistic expectations that accompany the season or feelings of loneliness and sadness, the holiday blues can be hard to shake.
But managing it and even staying ahead of it is possible if you practice these common tips:
Avoid excessive spending. Plan ahead and set a budget for your holiday gift giving. Stick to your budget and be responsible. Consider only spending cash or giving a homemade present this year.
Take people at face value. With the holidays comes an influx of family members and friends that you may only see once a year. Don’t have unrealistic expectations of people that have a negative effect on you. Surround yourself with people who make you happy.
Let it go. Don’t try to get everything done in one day. Set realistic goals. Make a list and try to check off two to three items every day. Furthermore, it’s perfectly okay to task others with sharing some of the holiday responsibilities.
Get adequate sleep. A good night’s sleep is incredibly important to your physical and mental health. In fact, it’s just as important as eating healthy and exercising.
Don’t overindulge. There are countless opportunities to overindulge in rich food and alcoholic beverages during the holiday season. Overindulging can lead to feelings of guilt or shame, deflating your self-esteem. The goal should be to limit consumption rather than eliminating it entirely – everything in moderation.
Keep active. When you plan your holiday schedule, allow yourself opportunities to be active. And while the average person may only gain about a pound during the holidays, this pound is one that most people never lose – and it adds up! In addition, exercise is great for mental health.
Take up a hobby. Combat loneliness and isolation this winter by picking up a winter hobby, joining a group or volunteering with a local nonprofit. Plus, there’s no better way to make new friends!
Ask for help. If you know that you typically have a tough time during the holidays, ask friends and family members
to check in on you from time to time. Talking about your struggles tends to put them in perspective.
Make a mental health crisis plan. If you are someone who experiences the holiday blues, plan ahead. This can include specifying someone to call when things become too much to handle or scheduling an appointment with a therapist. You know yourself and what’s best for you.
For those who already have a mental health condition, be sure to continue your therapy sessions. Don’t skip one just because things are busy. And if you’re taking prescription medications, beware of the side effects of mixing your medications with alcohol.
The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. Be in the moment and take time to laugh and enjoy the festivities.
Mary Jo Whitfield is vice president of Integrated Health at Jewish Family & Children’s Service.
Sports & Recreation
AZ College Prep athletes embrace giving for the holidays
BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
The season of giving is upon us, and Arizona College Prep athletes are joining the fight to reduce child hunger in the Valley and around the world.
Evie Jimenez, a senior on the Chandler school’s cross-country team, has celebrated her last three birthdays packing meals at Feed My Starving Children in Mesa. She invites friends and family to join her.
“I just thought, ‘What if I can give someone else another birthday?’” Jimenez said. “It just gives me goose bumps to think about that and it means a lot to me to think about someone else rather than myself on a day like that.”
Jimenez’s community service at Feed My Starving Children and other charities extends well beyond her birthday in October, however, as she and family friends routinely dedicate two hours of time every few months.
The senior takes pride in putting herself
before others, a trait that is recognized by her coach and peers.
“She is going to be hard to replace but on the other hand her giving is infectious
and it spreads to other kids,” said Alan Dosmann, coach of ACP’s cross-country team. “We give a Knight Award every year and I think we should name it the Evie Award.”
After just 2 minutes speaking with Jimenez, it’s obvious that she will go out of her way to help others.
Whether it’s cheering on her teammates at the finish line of a race or finding new ways to help those in need she has made it her goal to be there for those who need help the most.
After graduating, Jimenez hopes to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, though she wouldn’t complain if she attends BYU in Hawaii. She plans to make a career of helping others.
“I would like to major in psychology so I can help other people solve their problems,” Jimenez said. “Eating-disorder psychology is my preference. I’ve always wanted to be a problem solver.”
Jimenez’s love for community service began at a young age, when her family regularly participated in church-organized events benefiting those in need. It’s then that the love for Feed My Starving ChilSee GIVING
Military service strong in Mesa High wrestling program
BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
Mesa High wrestling coach David DiDomenico sits three feet from the mat, watching as oneby-one his wrestlers compete in their designated weight class.
He doesn’t yell at them. Instead, win or lose, each of them comes by afterward for at least a minute, talking to him about what they could have done better.
It’s this approach that makes DiDomenico, in his 12th year coaching the program, beloved in the community.
“He’s the best coach that I have ever had,” senior wrestler Jake Tilley said. “He pushes me past my limit and he is always there. He’s been a real big help in getting me through my three years of wrestling.” Tilley, a senior, is in his final season under DiDomenico. He doesn’t plan to continue wrestling in college. Instead, he plans to join the U.S. Army, following in the footsteps of his father, Duncan, who served in the Army, and grandfather, Jay,
who was in the Navy.
“I’m going to be a combat engineer,” Tilley said. “I hope to do that for the full 20 years and then retire and become a civil
engineer or something along those lines.”
Joining the military is a path many former Mesa wrestlers have chosen after graduation.
Many often return to thank their coach for preparing them for boot camp.
“I have some kids that tell me that boot camp is easier than a day at practice,” DiDomenico said. “A number of them have said that. We prepare them for the physical and mental toughness they endure in the military.”
The tradition of military service within the Mesa High wrestling program began nearly 50 years ago, long before DiDomenico was involved. He estimates that about 30 former Jackrabbits wrestlers of his have enlisted. While he never served himself, he is the son of a Vietnam veteran and stepson of a colonel in the Army during the Cold War.
Not all follow through. One once expressed interest in military service and instead became a firefighter. Yet another was inclined to enlist, but got married. His spouse cast the deciding vote.
“She put the veto on that,” DiDomenico said, laughing.
(Kimberly Carrillo/Tribune staff)
Arizona College Prep swimmer Melanie Hass (foreground), whose mother is from the Philippines, chose to aid Feed My Starving Children by packing food boxes. Hass and her family have taken food from Feed My Starving Children to the Philippines.
(Zach Alvira/Tribune Staff)
Jake Tilley and Mesa wrestling coach David DiDomenico meet after one of Tilly’s matches to critique it. Tilley will enter the U.S. Army after graduation.
dren and other charities around the Valley grew.
While celebrating her birthday at the organization she refuses to make it about her.
“This last birthday there was a lady from church who is spunky and fun and kept making comments about my birthday but I was like, ‘No, no, no, that’s not what it’s about,’” Jimenez said. “Everyone gets to meet someone new. It’s fun.”
At school, she is an ambassador of community service. Jimenez writes kindness challenges for ACP each month as part of the school’s Social Behaviors Committee through the National Honor Society. Each challenge emphasizes a specific word associated with helping others.
November’s challenge was “gratitude.” Each day a different letter was given to students and using it they were asked to focus on an aspect of gratitude.
This month, Jimenez and others are asking the teachers at ACP to check on their students. Whether it be grades or whatever may be going on in their personal lives.
“Those are the big things that I have worked on recently,” Jimenez said. “It’s sincere and fun. I do it because I enjoy it.”
Along with Jimenez, other athletes from Arizona College Prep have made it their mission to help those in need through
WRESTLER
from page 19
DiDomenico will often receive souvenirs from those who come back. Among his most cherished possessions is a piece of barbed-wire fence that came from the demilitarized zone that separates North and South Korea. It was given to him 10 years ago by Gabriel Lopez, a 2006 Mesa High graduate, who is in the Air Force and now stationed in Spain.
After all these years, DiDomenico still keeps that piece of fence in his classroom, pulling it out for his AP history students whenever he can to use it as part of a lesson.
“It brings the history alive to them and it’s someone from Mesa High that did that,” DiDomenico said. “It brings that legacy that empowers the school to life.”
Tilley said he will come back to visit Mesa wrestling, too, and even put the wrestlers through a few workouts. He acknowledges that they will probably be ready for him.
The senior made his decision to enlist in the Army official in August when he was sworn in at Chase Field in front of more than 37,000 people before the Ari-
Feed My Starving Children. The Knights’ swim team visited the organization in Mesa on Dec. 9, making it a
zona Diamondbacks took on the Seattle Mariners.
“It was amazing,” Tilley said. “It was really cool being out there on the field swearing in for my country and knowing one day that I will be where my dad stood and my grandpa stood.
“It’s just feels good in my heart that I am doing this.”
Tilly isn’t the first Mesa wrestler to do so.
On April 9, 2016, Anthony Flores also was sworn in to the Army at Chase Field before a Diamondbacks game. Flores, 19, graduated from boot camp in 2017 at the top of his class at Fort Benning, Ga., and is serving in the 1st Battalion 27th infantry regiment combat team, 25th ID – known as the “Wolfhounds” – at Schofield Army Base in Oahu, Hawaii.
He graduated from jungle operations training on Dec. 14, a course in which fewer than 40 percent of participants pass. After just two years, Flores is eligible for Special Operations and Special Forces.
Flores has yet to come back and visit but regularly texts DiDomenico, sharing updates. It’s these bonds that motivate DiDomenico to continue what he believes he was meant to do when he entered the profession.
in order to get to know them. Feed My Starving Children was among the top responses among them for a team-bonding activity.
“I read through every one and picked the top responses and that was one of them,” Nelson said. “It seems to be a place where the kids really like to go to give and serve the community.”
Among the athletes who chose Feed My Starving Children was Kelsie Pisors, a senior in her first year at ACP. Another was Melanie Hass, whose mother is from the Philippines.
According to Nelson, Hass and her family have taken food from Feed My Starving Children to the Philippines in the past. The team was excited to learn they would be attending a session at the organization.
“I told them via email and I got thumbsup, smiley-face emojis and some said, ‘I’ll be there, coach!’” Nelson said. “We haven’t seen each other in about four weeks and they want to make a team-bonding experience.”
Nelson said the swim team likely will make a tradition of donating time to Feed My Starving Children.
team-bonding event. The idea came from a questionnaire that first-year coach Kristine Nelson asked her swimmers to fill out
“I am a kid builder so I want kids to see the world beyond themselves,” Nelson said. “I think beyond athletics and a team atmosphere. I want to be able to give back to the community together.”
He wants to have a positive influence on his students and athletes.
“When they come back and bring something, you know they’ve been thinking of you and you had a positive influence on them,” DiDomenico said. “When they
think of you enough where they go out of the way to get something, even though they may not see me right away, that keeps you going to the next group.
“It reinvigorates my fire to continue to help kids.”
(Ernesto Jimenez/Special to the Tribune)
Evie Jimenez (center, rear), a senior on the Chandler Arizona College Prep cross-country team, has celebrated her last three birthdays packing meals at Feed My Starving Children in Mesa and does sessions during the holidays. She invites friends and family to join her.
(Special to the Tribune)
Mesa High wrestler Jake Tilley (middle), with Army Staff Sgt. Michaelangelo Medina (right) and Mesa High ROTS Instructor Lt. Col. Brian Walker, was sworn in to the U.S. Army at Chase Field in August.
The Black Moods are back in town after Joe Perry tour
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GET OUT Editor
The Black Moods have been traveling the U.S., putting in their time playing their Top 40 hit “Bella Donna” at radio stations, and performing gigs.
And it’s paying off for the Tempe band, which is playing New Year’s Eve at the Marquee Theatre. “Bella Donna” is in its second week in the Top 40.
“It’s crazy, right?” said singer Josh Kennedy. “I was surprised to see it there the first week.”
IF YOU GO
What: The Black Moods. Where: Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe.
When: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31. Tickets: $20-$40.
Information: With Analog Outlaws, Interfate, Diedre, Stereo Rex, Alien Atmosphere and Natalie Merrill. 480829-0607, luckymanonline.com.
On Oct. 31, The Black Moods released the follow-up single “Bad News,” which is about stalking in the days of social media.
“It’s a modern-day stalking song about things like Facebook,” said Kennedy, who’s joined in the band by drummer Chico Diaz and bassist Jordan Hoffman. “People go to places and they check in. You can find anybody and completely stalk them because of their online presence.”
The song was written because The Black Moods’ producer, Grammy-winner Johnny K, was less than thrilled about another song the band penned.
“We played some songs we had been playing live and the fans really liked,” he said. “He said he didn’t like it but we were so attached to the songs, as were the fans. We didn’t want to mess with that.
“We asked him to go back to his hotel room and let us come up with something else that night. We looked at each other and said, ‘Oh (crap).’ We messed around with it. The guys were jamming on a groove and
whatnot. Johnny K came in and put his Johnny K on it and we had ‘Bad News.’”
Diaz agrees.
“We couldn’t be prouder of the single. ‘Johnny K’ Karkazis did a beautiful job producing this track.”
The Black Moods received more good news this fall when they were asked to tour with Joe Perry, Brad Whitford and Gary Cherone.
“Somebody pinch me because this does not feel like real life,” Diaz said.
Kennedy hopes The Black Moods have just as much success with “Bad News” as the band had for “Bella Donna.” The most gratifying part of having a hit song is celebrating with his family.
“We’ve had a bunch of people approach us and say, ‘We have this for you. We have that for you,’” he said. “Then it never comes to fruition. The Top 40 is something you can’t argue with. It’s actually for real because it’s in print. It’s amazing. We’re very lucky.”
San Holo bridges indie past with EDM on debut album
BY CONNOR DZIAWURA GET OUT Staff Writer
In the days when electronic artists are producing singles, San Holo joined the fray recently by releasing his debut full-length project, album1.
The Dutch DJ’s catalog includes singles and EPs, but this time he felt a 12-song collection was necessary.
“I felt like I wanted to tell a longer story with this thing,” said the musician born Sander van Dijck.
He’ll be telling his story at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, and Monday, Dec. 31, at Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, in Chandler at Decadence Arizona. Set to close 2018 with a bang, the two-day extravaganza includes Skrillex, Above & Beyond, Marshmello and Rezz among 28 artists.
IF YOU GO
What: Decadence Arizona. Where: Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler. When: 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 30, and Monday, Dec. 31. Tickets: $109-$769.
Information: info@relentlessbeats.com, decadencearizona.com. Check website for complete lineup and schedule.
Calling the album an emotional trip, van Dijck intends for the project to usher him into a new era of sound and production.
“I used to write on guitar already, but then I would translate it into a synthesizer or, like, an electronic sound,” he said. “A couple of years ago, I got bored with playing guitar a little bit and I started producing electronic music, which is when the San Holo thing
started, which was very electronic, very beat driven. Over time I started listening to guitar again, and that’s why you hear a lot of guitars on this album.”
He views it as a bridge between the indie and EDM worlds.
“I felt like everyone’s trying to sound like John Mayer or like Stevie Ray Vaughan,” he said. “Everyone was going for the same thing. They were all trying to be really good, technical solo players. And I just didn’t feel like I could do anything that was different in that scene.”
Crafting an instantly recognizable original sound is important to the Zoetermeer native.
Calling album1 only the start of his new vision, van Dijck, who co-founded the record label bitbird in 2014, wants to push boundaries. No matter how much his style evolves, it must remain uniquely him, he said.
“I didn’t feel like I was in my own lane any-
more,” he said.
“So I started finding ways to make it new, innovate again ... something new that I had not heard before.”
The project came together in about half a year while staying in a Los Angeles Airbnb. Avoiding traditional promotion and release schedules, he wanted the record to represent where he’s at in life.
“I will be playing a lot of guitar. I’ll be doing a lot of singing and combining that with EDM kind of DJing and beat manipulation,” he said. “I just want it to be something that is a bridge between those two worlds.”
Incorporation of guitar isn’t just confined to the studio, and he isn’t just a DJ.
“I don’t want to sound cheesy, but I’ve been pretty overwhelmed with the response, especially the messages people send me after listening to the album. People seem to have really strong emotional reactions to listening to the album through,” he said.
“It just means a lot that people listen to it and tell me that it means a lot to them. I’ve heard many stories about all kinds of situations people are in and that my music supports them in whatever way and that’s just one of the most beautiful things to me.”
(Special to GET OUT)
Fresh off a tour with Joe Perry, Tempe-based The Black Moods return home to play a New Year’s Eve show at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe.
(Special to GET OUT)
The musician born Sander van Dijck, who created San Holo, comes to the two-day Decadence Arizona New Year’s Eve extravaganza at Rawhide Events Center in Chandler Dec. 30-31 with yet another fresh, new sound.
What’s Cooking
What’s Cooking
What’s Cooking
What’s Cooking
With JAN D’ATRI
With JAN D’ATRI
GetOut Contributor
GetOut Contributor
Get Out Contributor
ACROSS 1 Woodsy home 6 Buddy 9 Lawyers’ org.
Russian pancakes 13 “-- -la-la!” 14 CSA soldier
Turkey and kale soup makes for
Skip’s Rice a Roni Salad family’s ‘The One’ recipe – and maybe it will be for your family, as well
whole pot of comfort With JAN D’ATRI
a
15 Big name in
ooking for the perfect holiday appetizer?
LThis delicious Spinach and Cheese Christmas Tree will be the talk of your table.
M&M’S Christmas Cookie Bars
ther white beans (like northern whites or cannellini beans) or pearl (Israeli) couscous.
and comes
Ingredients
with marinated artichoke hearts and a hint of curry.
Snickerdoodles
Black-and-white movie, e.g.
26 90210, for one
28 Always, in verse
30 Mongrel
31 Sways from side to side
35 “Gone With the Wind” star
39 Look lasciviously
40 Three-man vessel?
42 Intend
43 Grazing area
44 Filleted
Christmas Tree Appetizer
Ingredients:
2 sticks of butter room temperature
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Also, I’ve just discovered a new variety of kale. It’s called Baby Kale and it’s sold in bags of soft, tender leaves minus the tough stems--perfect for this bread, you can grill it up with a little olive
L1 cup firmly packed golden brown sugar
It has always been the favorite summertime salad in the Noe family, and here Shana shares some great memories:
1 (10 oz. package) baby spinach (about 5 cups)
ove pork chops and looking for a new way to serve them? I have just the dish. It’s a plateful of fall comfort. Fresh sliced apples soaked in a beautiful rich maple sauce spooned over pan-
3 large eggs
½ large sweet yellow onion, diced
2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
2 cloves garlic, minced
Turkey and kale soup
and serve on the side or make savory croutons for your soup.
1 cup butter, room temperature
away and set aside.
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
Ingredients:
3/4 teaspoon of baking soda
1 heaping tablespoon Knorr Vegetable Soup mix or Ranch Dressing mix
2 tablespoons extra virgin oil
Maple-glaze pork chops
3/4 teaspoon of salt
Identify
Ingredients:
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, room temperature
1 large sweet yellow onion, finely diced
1 ½ cups of Christmas M&M›s plus more for topping
1 cup shredded Parmesan
1 large stalk celery, finely diced
1 cup of mini chocolate chips plus more for topping
1 cup shredded cheddar
1 cup leek, diced fine
4 center cut pork chops, at least 1-inch thick (boneless or bone-in)
“This is my Mom Edie’s rice salad recipe and it is my ‘if-you-could-only-eat-one-thing-forever-whatwould-it-be’ pick,” she said. “We generally had this in the summer with ribs, hamburgers or barbecue chicken. Pops would barbecue and Mom would make up all the other things. This was our favorite salad for her to make.
1/2 cup of white chocolate chips
“Each time we have it now, it reminds me of when
4-5 pieced bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and finely diced
1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
1 pint cherry tomatoes cut in half
1 teaspoon pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2 sheets of puff pastry or 2 sheets of refrigerated pizza dough
2 teaspoons chili powder
4 heaping cups kale, stems removed, cut into small pieces
Skip’s Rice Salad
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt, garlic salt or seasoning salt of your choice
Line a 9x13 baking dish with foil or parchment paper; leave some overhang to make removal easier. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon onion powder
4 cups turkey pieces, shredded or chopped
6 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 box Chicken Rice A Roni
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 can (15 ounces) white beans or 1 cup Pearl
½ cup chicken broth
2 green onions, thinly sliced
With an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and brown sugar together until fluffy.
1 pint cherry tomatoes or 1 can diced tomatoes, drained
Directions:
½ cup pure maple syrup
½ green bell pepper, seeded and chopped fine
Add in eggs and vanilla extract. Mix well.
2 teaspoons coarse ground mustard
8 pimiento-stuffed green olives, sliced thin
2 (6 ounce) jars Marinated Artichoke Hearts
Directions:
Lower speed and add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined.
¼ teaspoon curry powder (Do not omit!)
In a large skillet, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until soft and translucent.
1 tablespoon of cornstarch or flour dissolved in 2 tablespoons of warm water
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 crisp apples, peeled and sliced thin
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon butter
Add M&M’s and mini chocolate chips and give a final stir, reserving some M&M’s, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for topping cookie bars.
3 tablespoons olive oil
Directions:
Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish.
Parsley for garnish
It’s finally cool enough to declare it soup weather, and this pot of comfort food will hit the spot.
1 egg, plus 1 yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla
grilled pork chops. It’s not just a “be back” dish. It’s an “I’m never leaving” dish. These chops are the perfect idea for a delicious weeknight meal or tasty Sunday supper.
1 teaspoon baking soda
(Israeli) Couscous
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
“When Mom and Dad moved to Alaska and Pops worked on the pipeline, they started a tradition. All the new guys were invited over and Mom would put together a dinner party for them. Her motto was ‘No one should ever have to eat alone,” and she carried this on throughout her life. I treasure this recipe for the memories I have of Mom, and I started sharing it a few years back because I guess I felt like I was sharing Mom a bit.”
Sarcastic remark
Stag’s lack
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped fine
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Thank you, Shana, for sharing the recipe!
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste
2 3/4 cup flour
For Croutons:
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
With malice
Butcher’s wares
Keglers’ venue
4 cups bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
Spoon all but ½ cup of the spinach mixture over the puff pastry triangle, leaving ¼ inch border. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over spinach on the triangle. Make another triangle with the second puff pastry, reserving the right and left side that has been cut away. Place the second triangle over the spinach tree and stretch to cover the spinach. Gently press down around the edges to seal. Using a sharp knife, make the Christmas tree branches by cutting approximately 1 inch horizontal slices down the right and left side of the tree leaving the middle of the tree (the trunk) intact. Carefully lift each branch and twist it once or twice.
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
For a great side that’s super simple, savory and perfect for a family meal or a big crowd, this one’s a Noe brainer!
Line a baking sheet with a parchment paper and set aside.
Make a tree base out of reserved dough and tuck it into the bottom of the tree.
powder and onion powder. Press seasoning evenly over both sides of the pork chops. Set aside. In a saucepan, add the apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, maple syrup, mustard and dissolved cornstarch, whisking to combine. Bring to a boil and add apples, stirring to combine. Continue cooking on a low boiling until mixture thickens, stirring often, about 5 minutes. (For thicker glaze, mix one more tablespoon of cornstarch or flour with warm water. Add to apple mixture while on a low boil.)
1 cup cheese (like Pecorino, Romano, Asiago or Parmesan) coarsely grated.
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Using some of the reserved puff pastry dough, cut 5-6 stars with a small star cookie cutter or by hand.
When apples have softened and glaze has thickened, add butter, stir well and then turn off heat. Cover pan to keep warm.
In a medium soup pot, heat olive oil on medium high heat. Sauté onion, celery, leek and carrot until tender. Stir in tomatoes, kale, turkey and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to a simmer.
Attach to tree in various spot, using a tiny bit of water to “glue” stars to the tree. Brush melted butter over the entire tree and stars and sprinkle with seasoning salt of your choice.
With an electric mixer, beat together butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add in the egg, the yolk, vanilla, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon and mix for 1 minute, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Turn mixer to low and add in flour, mixing until just combined.
Cook for about 15 minutes. Stir in beans (with juice) or pearl couscous. Simmer for about 5 minutes (or until couscous is cooked.) Meanwhile, make croutons. In a bowl, toss bread cubes with olive oil, butter, salt and pepper. Spread cubes on a baking sheet and place under broiler (about 375 degrees) tossing once or twice until golden brown. Remove from broiler, but keep broiler on.
Press additional M&M’S, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips into top of cookie dough.
Add baby spinach, stirring to combine. When spinach has wilted, about 3-4 minutes, add seasoning mix (Vegetable Soup or Ranch Dressing mix.) Mix and set aside to cool. When cooled, place spinach in a bowl and mix in cream cheese and parmesan cheese, stirring well to combine.
When the soup is done, season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Garnish with basil.
Directions:
Bake 35 to 40 minutes on oven rack in lower third of oven to prevent over browning.
Option #1: Divide soup between four oven safe soup bowls.
In a large skillet, on medium high, heat the olive oil until oil glistens. Place the pork chops in the pan without crowding (this allows pork chops to sear all the way around.) Cook until browned, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until pork chops are done or reach internal temperature of 160. Do not overcook.
In a separate small bowl make your Cinnamon Sugar by mixing together cinnamon and sugar, stirring until evenly combined.
Cook rice as directed on package but reduce the amount of butter in half (use only 1 tablespoon). Remove from heat, pour into a medium-size mixing bowl and cool to room temperature. When cooled, add chopped onions, pepper and olives. Drain artichoke hearts, reserving the marinade to a bowl.
Place first puff pastry sheet on a cutting board.
Let cool completely and cut.
Pat pork chops dry with paper towels. In a bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic
Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. With the remainder of the reserved puff pastry, cut into 2 inch squares and place in mini muffin or tart tins. Spoon a small amount of spinach mixture into the squares. Sprinkle a small amount of bacon on spinach and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Combine the marinade with curry and mayonnaise and blend well.
Using a ruler or by hand, cut pastry sheet in a long triangle, the shape of a Christmas tree. Remove the right and left side of the triangle that has been cut
Top each bowl of soup with croutons. Sprinkle a 1/4 cup grated cheese over croutons for each bowl. Place bowls in a baking sheet and return to broiler. Broil just until cheese is melted, about 1 minute. Serve piping hot.
Transfer pork chops to a serving platter and spoon apple maple glaze over top. Garnish with parsley.
Option #2: Simply serve soup with grilled bread on the side.
Using a medium (2- tablespoon) cookie scoop portion out the dough and roll into a ball. Roll each cookie dough ball into the cinnamon sugar mixture until coated. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Bake at 325 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until done. Store in airtight container.
Top with a half a cherry tomato or a few pieces of diced tomato. Place tree on a serving platter and arrange puff pastry squares around the bottom of the tree as “presents.”
Add dressing to rice mixture. Add artichokes and gently mix. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled; several hours or overnight. Makes 6-8 servings.
45 Prima donna 48 -- long way (last)
Diarist Anais
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Public Notices
CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA
RED MOUNTAIN MULTI-GENERATIONAL CENTER CHILLER AND EMS IMPROVEMENTS
7550 E. ADOBE, MESA, ARIZONA PROJECT NO. CP0767 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, January 24, 2019, at 1:00 p m All sealed bids will be received at Mesa City Plaza Building, Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, 5th Floor, Mesa, Arizona; except for bids delivered 30 minutes prior to opening which will be received at the information desk, 1st floor, Main Lobby of the Mesa City Plaza Building Any bid received after the time specified will be returned without any consideration
This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, materials, transportation and services for the construction and/or installation of the following work:
Upgrade and replace HVAC equipment throughout the Red Mountain Multigenerational Center located at 7550 E Adobe St, including but not limit to new chillers, air handlers, pumps, plumbing, and an SES In addition, upgrade building systems to allow the facility to be used as an emergency management shelter
The Engineer’s Estimate range is $1,000,000 to $1,100,000
Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from Thomas Reprographics, Inc dba Thomas Printworks, http://public constructionvaults com Click on “Register Today” and follow the prompts to create your account Please be sure to click finish at the end NOTE: In order to receive notifications and updates regarding this bid (such as addenda) during the bidding period, REGISTRATION ON THE WEBSITE IS REQUIRED. For a list of locations nearest you, go to www thomasprintworks com, and click on Phoenix The cost of each Bid Set will be no more than $98, which is non-refundable regardless of whether or not the Contractor Documents are returned Partial bid packages are not sold You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the Thomas Reprographics website at the “Public Construction Vaults” address listed above. Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pick-up.
One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ Please call 480-644-2251 prior to arriving to ensure that the documents are available for viewing
In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34 104c
If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site.”
Work shall be completed within 225 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day following the starting date specified in the Notice to Proceed
Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cashier's check PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE
The successful bidder will be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract. In addition, the successful bidder must be registered
The successful bidder, simultaneously with the execution of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of
Employment General
CONSTRUCTION ANALYST
Local business seeking candidate with previous Architecture, Construction Project Management, or Field Superintendant experience Required skills include ability to read construction drawings, identifying proposed buildings, superstructure components, interior finishes, equipment, plumbing and mechanical systems, and electrical systems; and independently develop a written scope of work and unit cost estimate based on RS Means and other cost databases
Strong written and verbal communications, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, and at least intermediate-level Excel experience required Ideal candidate will have high self-motivation; with possibility of working at home Advanced training will be provided for the right candidate
To apply please send resume to ggonzales@lqa-inspect com
Do you have a Passion for Healing?
Perhaps you are a Medicine Man / Woman, Reiki Therapist, Intuitive Reader, Chakra Balancing, Aroma Therapist etc
Would you be interested in making some extra money?
If so contact me at 989-820-2606 or email your info to hospiceangeliccare@yahoo com
Compensation: Competitive Base Pay Plus Commissions
Benefits: 401(k), Dental, Life, Medical, Vision
Responsibilities:
Present and sell company products and services to new and existing customers
Prospect and contact potential clients
Reach agreed-upon sales targets by the deadline
Create sales material to present to customers
Qualifications:
Previous experience in print and digital sales
Familiarity with CRM platforms
Ability to build rapport with clients
Strong negotiation skills
Deadline and detail-oriented
Compensation:
• Competitive Base Pay
+ Commission
• Health, Dental & Vision Benefits
• 401(k)
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Paid Vacations and Holidays
Please send resume to suzanne@timespublications com
