Gilbert Sun News - 1.16.2022

Short-term rental fight

No relief on home prices

PAGE 12

REAL ESTATE

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

This Week

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Sunday, January 16, 2022

Big Heritage District project gets green light

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

A

fter two years on the drawing board, the Heritage North project that includes a five-story boutique hotel and a 288-unit apartment building downtown finally got the Town’s thumbs-up.

The mixed-used project is planned on 11.97 acres at the north entry to the Heritage District at the southwest corner of Gilbert Road and Juniper Avenue, where an outdated Burger King will be demolished to make way for the development.

“The iterations that it has gone through over time, the different designs that we’ve seen, I think it’s really something special,” Councilman Scott September said at the Jan. 11 council meeting. “I think this is going to be not just the north anchor for the Heritage District for years to come: it’s going to be an economic anchor, it’s going to be a jobs anchor.”

The massive Heritage North project at the north end of the Heritage District will include a hotel, parking garage and apartment building that exceed height limits. (Town of Gilbert) The Town entered into a development agreement with the developer in May 2019.

“The thing that makes us most proud is in addition to working with the town staff is the sense of space,” said the developer’s at-

torney Charles Huellmantel. “I want you to look at what that means in real life. What it means is context. What it means is a sense

Fabriano said.

Nine of the properties are in Gilbert’s jurisdiction and the remaining 37 are on Maricopa County islands, according to staff. An attempt to reach some of the affected property owners for comment was not successful.

Council also on consent agenda approved an agreement with the county that should the property owners refuse to settle with the Town for the purchase of the rights-of-way, the county would condemn the property on Gilbert’s behalf. Also under the agreement: once the road project is completed, Gilbert would annex the county properties.

The bulk of the affected properties are on Ocotillo Road with a few located on 154th, 156th and 157th streets, Val Vista Drive, Pickett Court and Greenfield Road.

The Town budgeted $2.95 million for the land purchases.

About 1.5 miles of the roadway is to be upgraded to two lanes in each direction with a striped center left-turn lane, bike lanes, sidewalks, street lights and sewer lines. The project also includes relocating some power lines.

The Town plans to begin construction of

see HERITAGE page 6

Town seizing parts of 46 Ocotillo Road parcels

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

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O

wners of 46 parcels will lose portions of their property to the widening of Ocotillo Road from Greenfield Road to 148th Street.

Town Council last Tuesday without comment voted 7-0 to move forward with the land acquisition.

The next steps include notifying the landowners and doing the appraisals, said Town Attorney Chris Payne.

“Most of the parcels’ rights-of-way are in Maricopa County,” Town Engineer David

see OCOTILLO page 6

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NEWS

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3

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

T

wo money-draining leases executed in 2012 are again prompting Higley Unified School District to go out for a bond this year.

Voters rejected a $95-million bond in the November election at a time the district needs more classroom space for a growing student enrollment.

HUSD each year receives $6 million from the state to pay for capital projects such as new construction, upgrading existing buildings, security, transportation and furniture. But 70%, or $4.4 million, of that capital funding goes to two annual lease payments for the buildings housing Cooley and Sossaman middle schools.

“To date, HUSD has paid an approximate $44 million in lease payments from its state-allocated capital budget,” CFO Tyler Moore told the Governing Board last Wednesday. “HUSD has 31 more years of payments remaining, totaling approximately $168 million. So for the last 10 fiscal years HUSD has operated with only 26 percent of its capital budget.”

That shortage in capital funding has forced the district to take money from its maintenance and operation budget, which is used for day-to-day expenses such as employee salaries, utility and routine maintenance.

“No other district has 77 percent of their capital funding taken off the top and so we have to make up our capital needs out of M&O and that takes from our students, that takes from our staff.”

Board member Kristina Reese said.

“Higley is in a very unique situation with these middle-school leases.”

Then-Superintendent Denise Birdwell was indicted last year for allegedly rigging bids and taking payoffs from contractors involving the leases. The grand jury also indicted three others. She is scheduled for trial this spring.

Miller said HUSD also has had to prioritize its capital dollars for the highest need and relegated preventative maintenance to the back burner.

Noting that the average age of district

This chart schows the escalating cost of leasing the buildings that host Higley’s two middle schools. (HUSD) buildings is 14.9 years and the cost of maintenance increases as a building ages, Miller said, “It is clear that if preventative maintenance is not done in the near future we will start to see building failures.”

Although officials had planned to use some of the money from the failed bond to retire one of the leases, Miller said staff was still researching if it would be included for funding in the new bond.

“What is clear is that the middle-school leases will continue to play a large role in the district’s annual budget until they are paid off, which is currently set for fiscal year 2053,” Miller said.

HUSD also needs more classrooms for a district that is anticipated to see student growth for the next five to 10 years.

Miller noted that the district was using remaining money from its 2013 bond to expand Highly High by 20,000 square feet to accommodate the growing enrollment.

Although HUSD lost about 1% of its students in fiscal year 2020, it has since recaptured that loss and added students, according to Miller.

“The next five fiscal years we are estimating the district to continue to grow at a modest 1.6% per year for a total of 8% over the next five years,” Miller said.

“As the district continues to grow additional funding will be needed to support these students.”

Superintendent Dawn Foley said lack

of classroom space will be a problem.

“It takes time to build buildings, it takes time to have construction, it takes time to be ready,” Foley said. “So beginning to build when you’re out of space is too late. That has an impact on the quality of education across the board.

“The reality is that we will feel an impact to our schools if we don’t address classroom space for growth that is anticipated to come. So everything when we talk about bond is future-focused. It’s not just for today. It takes time to get us there but if we don’t start talking about what our needs are today we won’t be ready for tomorrow.”

The district last week began a twoweek anonymous survey of voters on the 2021 bond. The results will be shared at the Feb. 9 meeting, when a second review of the 2022 bond proposal will be discussed along with more detail about the growth occurring at the district’s northern boundary, which stops at Warner Road.

Reese noted that with more families moving into the district’s boundary, it means “the less taxes we all have to pay individually because there’s more people paying the same pot.”

“So with that growth that’s why we’ve been able to see our tax rate go down,” she said. “And with being able to bond has little impact on the tax rate because people still come in and it’s continuing to reduce at least for right now.”

4

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Community steps up to help as CUSD teacher subs

BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer

O

n the first day of the new term, Chandler Unified School District’s top administrators headed back to school, ready to step in and teach a class if needed because of a shortage of substitute teachers.

Among them was Superintendent Frank Narducci.

Actually, I’m available to sub,” Narducci said. “We stopped in at our highrisk schools to see if there was any help needed.”

The district used social media to appeal to parents, putting out a call for parents to apply for sub positions and increasing the daily pay from $115 to $145.

It worked.

“I want to thank our community, because they have turned in over 10 applications to ESI [Educational Services Inc.], who works with the hiring of our substitute teachers,” Narducci said

during Wednesday’s CUSD Governing Board meeting.

“When we were at 43, Dr. [Wendy] Nance was told by ESI, that that was the most applications they ever got for one school district. When we hit 100, they said, ‘What are you guys doing out there?’”

Nance, the assistant superintendent in charge of human resources, said the shortage was severe, but that CUSD still had it better than other districts in the area.

“Since we came back from winter break we’re probably averaging about 10 percent,” Nance said. That means about 500 to 550 teachers out. The high came on Monday with about 600 out.

Nance says they typically are able to fill about 92 percent of that with substitute teachers. However, with the current spread of COVID-19 that number dropped to the low 80s.

“But we were still higher than our neighbors,” Nance said. “We just divide and conquer: if there’s any school that

was hit particularly hard, our departments are willing to go in and assist them.”

Katie Nash, who is president of the Chandler Education Association, said part of the problem is some substitute teachers don’t feel safe stepping into a classroom during a pandemic.

“We have a number of substitutes who don’t want to come in because the case counts are too high,” she said. “What are we going to do when we have so many staff out?”

Nash said adding to the stress teachers are already under are new guidelines adopted based on county health and CDC recommendations that allow students back into the classroom quicker after exposure to the coronavirus or testing positive. She said in addition to everything else, they are now supposed to act as enforcer and keep track of which students must wear a mask.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Narducci stressed that the recent uptick in cases did not start in the schools.

“It’s important to understand, it’s community spread that’s impacting schools.

It’s not school spread that’s impacting our community,” he said.

After the meeting Narducci said as bad as the substitute teacher shortage is in the district, it’s much worse elsewhere.

“We have a very high fill rate, about 90 percent average,” Narducci said. “Our fill rate is pretty high compared to other districts. There’s some districts that might have a 47 percent fill rate, so it’s very hard for them to do that. So, we’re blessed.

The people who recently filled out an application to substitute teach will have to submit their fingerprints and go through a background check before they can start working.

“I’m just overwhelmed with the number of people who showed support to come in to sub,” he said. “That’s just amazing to get a hundred more applications in, and these are applications and not just inquiries to sub in our school district. It’s just fantastic.”

dollars aren’t going as far.”

The 12-month rise in consumer prices was the highest in almost 40 years, according to BLS, which said it was only exceeded by the 7.1% increase posted in June 1982.

Inflation slowed in December from previous months, according to the BLS report. It said consumer prices rose 0.9% in October and 0.8% in November, but just 0.5% in December.

The report is an average of consumer price increases in urban areas across the nation, which the BLS says represents about 93% of all U.S. consumers. Nationwide, it said the increase in consumer prices over the year was driven by soaring costs for gasoline and other fuels, and higher prices for used cars, vehicle rentals and durable goods.

But the increases also hit everything from some types of food to housing and clothing costs. Health care costs were relatively stable in 2021 and the cost of

health insurance actually fell 1.2% over the year, according to the report.

The Phoenix-area increase trailed only Atlanta, which saw a 9.8% rise in 2021. Experts said the increases in Arizona were heavily impacted by a sharp rise in housing and fuel prices.

“We do a little better than the nation on a few other items,” said Dennis Hoffman, the director of the Seidman Research Institute and professor of economics at Arizona State University. “But we do substantially worse on shelter, or housing, and gasoline and the reason for that is pretty well known – we’ve got a tremendous housing shortage in the greater Phoenix metro area.”

Some of the changes are relative: Hoffman notes that Arizona has had lower-than-average gasoline prices until a few years ago and that inflation in December 2020 was unusually low because of the pandemic.

“People hadn’t come out of their rabbit

holes yet,” Hoffman said of 2020. “Now, people are out and about and they’re trying to drive, and they’re trying to buy homes and it’s driving prices up.”

That rising demand for goods comes as consumers face shortages due to national supply chain disruptions, which are also helping drive up prices.

“Until that gets resolved, inflation is going to be a problem,” said Elliott Pollack, CEO of Elliott D Pollack & Co. in Scottsdale. “It’s too much money chasing too few goods.”

Pollack said that, in addition to surging gas prices and the increased demand for housing, the growing demand for recreational services in Arizona has fueled inflation, as the state’s tourism industry is in full swing. The October-to-May tourist season means more dining out, at a time when restaurants and hospitality workers are in limited supply because of

Valley inflation rate exceeds national average

BY EMILTY SACIA Cronkite News

C

onsumer prices rose by an average of 7% in U.S. cities last year, the steepest rise in decades, and they grew even faster in the Phoenix metro area, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The bureau reported last week that the consumer price index for the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area rose 9.7%, driven by surging prices for gas and transportation and increasing demand for housing. Some experts think a labor shortage propelled by COVID-19 will lead to a continuing rise in inflation.

“Americans and Arizonans are seeing rising prices across the board, whether it’s in the grocery aisle or at the gas station,” said Garrick Taylor, a spokesman for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “They are spending more of their money for essentials, and their

see INFLATION page 7

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

HERITAGE from page 1

of scale and a sense of place.

“What it means is even if you’re not on the inside of those buildings, we think that this project is going to feel great for generations to come and we’re really proud that we get to be part of that and part of the fabric,” he continued, adding: “It’s not just us. It’s all the work that your town staff did and frankly the things you envisioned that brought us here in the first place to make those things happen and to carry on that character of downtown Gilbert.”

Some revisions included relocating the hotel and the apartment building to their current locations.

Besides the 100-room hotel and the apartment with an attached parking garage containing 503 spaces, the project has a 763-spot standalone parking garage and six retail and office buildings.

Heritage North also has a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare through the site called the Paseo, which goes from Elliot Road to Juniper Avenue, and the Commons open space with a splash pad in the center of the development.

Developer LGE Design Build also will be responsible for making some improvements such as installing public art at the Western Powerline Trail adjacent

This map shows the total 11.97 acres at Warner Road and Juniper Avenue that will be taken up by the Heritage North project. (Town of Gilbert) to the property Under the approved rezone, four of the nine buildings will exceed the 55foot height limit imposed for the Heritage District: the apartments will rise 78 feet, 10 inches tall; the hotel, 71 feet, 8 inches, an office building, 79 feet; and the standalone garage, 57 feet, 6 inches.

The site is not near the town’s iconic Water Tower and won’t affect the view corridor, according to staff.

The heights for the remaining build-

The site for the Heritage North project currently is home to an outdated Burger King. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

ings range from 20 feet to 30 feet tall.

For context, the downtown University building is 62 feet, 8 inches tall, the Collab building is 64 feet and the Hearne Way Garage is 78 feet, according to principal planner Ashlee MacDonald.

The project is to be built in one phase, though the timeline is uncertain at the moment.

The pandemic threw the development off schedule, Huellmantel said at the Planning Commission meeting a

OCOTILLO from page 1

the roadway improvements in fiscal year 2023.

Development of Ocotillo Road for a quarter mile mile east of Greenfield Road to Higley Road also is in the works.

Funding for this project is included in the $515-million bond voters approved in November.

The project calls for a bridge over the 272-acre Gilbert Regional Park to connect Ocotillo Road. Ocotillo currently ends at Banning Street, west of Higley Road.

The 545-foot-long bridge will have four travel lanes along with bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways on both sides, according to the Town.

Connecting Ocotillo Road will mean faster response times for police and fire in the southern portion of town, accord-

week prior to the Council’s vote.

“The development schedule I thought it was something like two years from start to finish once this is potentially approved” Huellmantel said at the Jan. 5 meeting. “It was one big number than changed the schedule and that’s 19 – COVID 19.

“There was a period of time where we didn’t even know if office would be a

see HERITAGE page 12

This aerial photo shows the properties that would be impacted by eminent domain for the Ocotillo Road widening project. (Town of Gilbert) ing to officials.

A fire station is situated on Ocotillo Road less than a quarter mile from where it ends.

The Ocotillo Road project is not the only one where the town is using eminent domain proceedings.

Currently, 24 homeowners between

Gilbert and Lindsay roads may lose parts of their backyards so that the Town can get permanent access to an aging sewer line along the Western Canal. The town has hired an engineering firm to explore other options.

Eminent domain gives a government the power to take private property and

convert it into public use as long as just compensation is paid to the property owners.

Owners who challenge the government’s offer can negotiate for a higher price, but if the two parties cannot reach an agreement, the matter goes to the courts for a decision.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

7

Gilbert districts aren’t panicking as COVID soars or the first time since the pandemic hit in March 2020, Higley Unified School District last week saw a 45.53% positivity rate for cases, but it’s no cause for panic.

That’s the advice HUSD Superintendent Dawn Foley received and conveyed to the Governing Board last week.

Foley and 1,000 of her counterparts from around the country recently discussed COVID-19 virtually with top U.S. officials, including Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Carona, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and Christian Rhodes, chief of staff for the U.S. Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“They warned that we are going to see a surge in the number of cases within our communities during the next few weeks and the next few weeks ahead may be difficult and this is due to the variant of omicron,” Foley said last Wednesday. “They said, ‘do not panic.’

“What is known about this variant is that it is usually milder and doesn’t last as long and that individuals are usually feeling better within a few days. Again, they stress this is not every case but this is being documented for a majority of the cases that they are seeing.”

HUSD’s positivity rate the previous

week was 16.18%, according to the latest county health department data.

Foley said the superintendents were assured that more testing was coming, which federal officials called a good way to help minimize the virus’ spread.

“Obviously one of the things they cautioned is that this cannot become the next toilet-paper issue,” Foley said. “Do not hoard testing, more supplies are coming.

Use it as you need it.”

Foley added that the district has enough testing kits to use but not enough to hoard.

She said the officials shared what’s been learned over the past two years about the virus.

“Our collective knowledge allows us to be more precise and allows us to reduce the number of days and work that is missed because of what we know,” she said.

Foley said federal officials also stressed the importance of keeping kids in school.

“They acknowledged that this can be challenging with increased illness the impact this has on everyone particularly staffing,” Foley said, thanking employees who have stepped up to help fill absences.

“We have a good team and we are appreciating everybody’s flexibility,” she added. “Currently we are aware that there are increased cases within our community as a whole and we are closely mon-

the coronavirus pandemic.

Taylor noted that the state’s minimum wage rose on Jan. 1 from $12.15 to $12.80 an hour, the sixth consecutive year the state has raised the hourly minimum.

“It’s a double whammy for employers looking to bring on entry-level employees when they’re dealing already with high labor costs, and now they’re dealing with the effects of the government wage mandate,” Taylor said.

Pollack said that pandemic-related payments have reduced incentives for people to work at a time when others are retiring early or delaying a return to work. That labor shortage, combined

with rising labor costs, will continue to cause a steady rise in inflation for some time to come, he said.

“Most people think it’s going to be transitory. I believe this is transitory.

But I believe it depends how you define transitory,” Pollack said. “Transitory in this case is not six months, transient transitory is going to take a while.”

But Hoffman said he expects inflation to return to more normal levels in the near future, as wholesale gasoline prices “come down a bit” and the hot Arizona housing market starts to cool.

“I think we’re going to have inflation in the next quarter or so, and then prices will moderate,” he said.

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

F

INFLATION from page 4

itoring this situation while we work with the health department on each and every case that’s reported within our schools.”

As of last Thursday, the district reported 89 active cases among its students and employees. San Tan Elementary reported the most cases at 12.

Foley said under the district’s mitigation plan if there is an increased and sustained number of cases at a campus, administration will work with each site administrator to determine if or which strategy will be used.

“Of course, we work directly with the health department and will do as directed,” Foley said. “The most important thing we need to remind everybody is to please stay home when you are not feeling well.”

She said the federal officials also shared that because omicron is milder, people think they probably have a cold or that it’s not that serious because they don’t feel ill and leave their home instead of staying put for their tests results.

“One of the things they said is, ‘if you

SAT 9-5

can stress to your community, stay home if you are not feeling well,’” Foley said.

“We are going to need everyone to be vigilant, to stay home to the greatest extent possible so we can keep this off campuses.”

Board Vice President Michelle Anderson, who teachers in Queen Creek Unified, commented that she sees on average four to six students out in her classes.

“We had 24 teachers out on Monday,” Anderson added. “We’ve been covering during our preps all this week and we keep telling each other ‘it’s probably only going to get worse.’”

County data shows Queen Creek Unified has a 42 percent positivity rate and has 2,789 cases per 100,000 people – higher than Higley’s 2,172.

While school districts nationwide are struggling with teacher shortages, HUSD board in December upped the pay for short-term subs, which so far is working.

see VIRUS page 16

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CUSD disputes advocate’s school safety concerns

BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

C

handler Unified School District is rebutting what a spokesman called “some false or incomplete information” in a letter it received about its school safety protocols.

Katey McPherson, a mother of four CUSD students and a well-known advocate for improved mental health services for teenagers, wrote district officials and the Chandler Unified Governing Board about her concerns in the aftermath of the fatal school shooting in Michigan in November and a subsequent school-shooter scare at a Michigan school district attended by her sister’s kids.

McPherson expressed a number of concerns, including the “need to increase parent awareness around sharing, re-sharing and inciting more chaos during a potential lockdown.”

In response, district spokesman Terry Locke said, “Our Community Relations team produced a video for the safety/ security division School Emergency Protocols for Parents and Guardians.

This parent response video was sent to parents and posted on the CUSD safety website.

“It details the dangers of parents sharing misinformation and provides direction for parents during a critical incident, Locke said. The video is at cusd80.com/Domain/81.

Locke also said the district “has initiated and implemented a Speak Up for Safety anonymous reporting program that has been in place for two years” and utilized at all grade levels and that cards were handed out to students that advertised that program.

In addition, he said, “a service called Gaggle monitors students’ writing to look for key words such as suicide, alcohol, drugs, bullying, profanity, etc.

School and district administrators are notified of anything concerning. Students and parents are contacted by ad-

ministrators and/or counselors.”

Locke said administrators last year “reviewed training video links divided into three age-appropriate videos to assist schools with options other than lockdowns to include barricading and when to flee” and that the video is on the CUSD safety website.

“All of our sites exercise evacuation drills in conjunction with law enforcement agencies,” he added. “Elementary schools are required to participate every two years.”

Locke also dispute McPherson’s criticism of how regularly the district assesses every school’s infrastructure.

Stating Chandler Unified is “one of few districts that have elementary campus security (ECS) officers assigned to their sites,” he said they “assist administrators with emergency plans and conduct daily walkthrough of sites.

“Our sites’ infrastructure is reviewed not just periodically, but daily,” he said. “In addition, we had a comprehensive threat vulnerability assessment completed at all schools. These were hours-long assessments completed by law enforcement personnel. This project was very thorough, taking months to complete.”

He also said administrators in 2019 took an eight-hour training course taught by Chandler police and firefighters.

“Lauded as a unique and forward-thinking program that allows for open communication and collaboration,” the training covered “social media awareness, stop-the-bleed and CPR overview, what to expect with fire and law enforcement response. It proved to be a very comprehensive course and valuable to our administrators.”

He also said the district has conducted a campaign that addresses “the consequences of social media,” which also is on the district’s website. “The video interviews law enforcement who drive

see SAFETY page 10

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

SAFETY from page 9

home the point of the possible actions of statements that be considered threatening in nature to others,” he said.

Locke said safety plans for the entire district and individual schools “are reviewed and updated every year” and shared with public safety agencies in Queen Creek, Gilbert and Chandler – all homes to district schools.

“Sites have School Safety Prevention and Assessment Team in place for an approach with multidisciplinary teams meeting to include counselors, security, administrators, nurses to discuss safety issues,” he said.

In response to McPherson’s questions about whether the district has tried to assess the pandemic’s impact on student well-being and other safety and mental health issues by surveying and talking with students, Locke said: “We garner student feedback and are very cognizant to include their ideas and solutions. The counseling and social services department focuses on reaching out to groups of students at our high schools. Some of their feedback became

Katey McPherson a part of our student wellness initiative response.

“All of CUSD student wellness pieces focus on prevention and on evidence-based curriculum,” he said, adding parents and staff are brought into education and training related to safety.

“The safety of our community is of utmost importance,” he said. “CUSD recognizes that staff, students, law enforcement and the community as a whole has

important roles to play in this effort.”

McPherson fired back at Locke’s letter, which contained many specifics that were not part of CUSD Superintendent Frank Narducci’s initial response to her letter last month.

“My email asked for an ongoing social media awareness campaign not a video … from three years ago that no one knows about,” she said “How are they addressing the impact that social media has on safety? They did not even respond to the TikTok challenge threat to their teachers.”

McPherson also noted that Locke made no mention of her question on whether children have been trained “in how to run, hide, fight” like her nieces in Michigan.

“So they did a one-time assessment of threat,” McPherson said. “I asked if the admin conducted this every year as suggested by Steve Dieu of Chandler PD and other national experts. So the answer is no. I have never seen an elementary security guard doing walk throughs, by the way and I was a PTO mom. I have seen

them patrolling at night.”

She also noted that while Locke said training had been conducted for administrators for eight hours in 2019, “I asked if there was yearly training conducted. He said eight hours in 2019. So the answer is no.”

McPherson also said there was no mention of student-driven committees and that “no committee exists for pandemic related student input” or any avenue for input from elementary and middle school students.

“I would like to know which evidence-based curriculum they are using,” she added. “He can’t even name the programs because they don’t have any.”

“He did not address my main concern: are you continuously assessing kids for risk and if so, how? Do you have behavioral health teams at each campus? if so, who trained them and what model are you using?” McPherson said.

Asked if any governing board members had responded to her email, which had gone to them as well last month, McPherson said only one replied.

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Chandler senator takes stand in short-term rental fight 1026.

The move will get a fight – and not only from the companies that benefit from being clearinghouses for people to rent out everything from individual rooms to entire homes.

Mesnard plans to introduce a less-comprehensive measure which gives cities and counties some control over issues like noise and other violations. He said that should help address the perennial complaints of “party houses’’ popping up in residential areas.

But Blackman said those efforts fall short of what is needed to ensure that homes in neighborhoods are not turned into de facto hotels.

The measure was sold to lawmakers

as allowing individuals to rent out a spare room to make a bit of extra cash.

In fact, that’s how Airbnb got its names, the idea being an air mattress set up for a guest.

“For thousands of hardworking citizens, opening up their homes to outof-state guests provides the financial breathing room they need to provide for the family or enjoy extra expenses that they otherwise couldn’t afford,’’ Ducey said in signing the bill.

But the reality turned out to be something quite different.

In some communities, homes and apartments in entire areas have been bought up by investors to be converted into these short-term rentals, drying up

the availability of affordable housing for local residents and converting whole areas into vacation rental zones -- possibilities that Ducey dismissed in 2016 as “hypotheticals.’’

By 2019, however, the governor conceded there were “some unintended consequences’’ in the law.

That resulted in some amendments allowing cities to issue some public safety regulations, like requiring owners to provide a contact for who could respond to complaints and prohibiting rentals from being used for special events like weddings.

Blackman said these are local issues

rizonans bet nearly $780 million in the first two months that the state allowed gambling on sporting events and that translated to just slightly more than $1 million in state revenues.

That’s because of a provision in the law has the state effectively financing free games to entice people to gamble.

And if the pattern doesn’t change, the state will wind up with far less than the $100 million a year in new revenues that proponents were claiming.

Moreover, revenue sharing from the tribal casinos, which until this past fall had a monopoly on gaming, was less than $21.5 million for the last three months of 2021. The Department of Gaming reports that is 32 percent less than from the same period a year earlier.

Max Hartgraves, spokesman for the agency, acknowledged the numbers – and the fact that the 2020 legislation built in five years’ worth of what amount to credits the gaming industry can use to offset what they owe the state. But he said the low net revenue numbers are likely to be only temporary.

“It’s basically to jump-start the market

in the state,’’ he said of the deductions the gaming companies can take. Gubernatorial press aide C.J. Karamargin agreed.

“These numbers are going to go up,’’ he told Capitol Media Services. And he boasted of Arizona already having the fifth highest “handle’’ of wagers in the entire country.

But that has so far not translated into actual dollars into state coffers – the prime reason behind the legislation.

Newly legalized fantasy sports – wagering on made-up teams of real players – also has not taken off, with the state collecting only about $24,000 in gaming

taxes in its first two months.

The new reports are the first since Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation in August allowing the sports franchises that are being given licenses to take bets on professional and college games to give away free samples.

As adopted, the franchises or the outside firms they hire to run their gaming operations can provide free bets or promotional credits.

But the key is the law says these operators can reduce what they report in the amount used to compute what they

thing and people weren’t staying in hotels. (But) we persisted and we moved forward and waited a little bit of time to kind of let things settle.

“What do we think the construction schedule will be at this point in time?

It’s so hard to say.”

The Planning Commission discussed at length the project’s parking. The developer has requested a 14% reduction in commercial parking or 217 spaces.

The request will be handled administratively by staff.

If the developer is required to provide the full 1,522 spaces for residential and commercial under the land development code, it will mean a loss of 54,250 square feet of retail/office space, according to MacDonald at the Planning meeting.

“During peak conditions we are proposing that the applicant make the hotel transition to a valet parking model so they’re able to accommodate some additional parking spaces,” MacDonald said, adding that Walker Consultants

has recommended the project provides 1,312 parking stalls.

“So, they need about seven extra spaces to meet that 85th percentile,” he said. “So during peak season, if the hotel transitions to valet, I think we’re where we need to be.”

There are about 50 overflow hotel parking spaces in the residential garage and staff plans to create a temporary location with about 200 parking stalls as the project site currently serves as a spot for overflow parking downtown.

There are two town-owned parking garages downtown, which are not 100% filled during peak hours.

“Even with the removal of this site we still have a surplus of 443 parking stalls,” Redevelopment Program Manager Amanda Elliott told the commissioners. “We are also undergoing a comprehensive parking master plan with Walker that will look at how we best disperse parking throughout the entire Heritage District.”

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

S

ome Republican lawmakers want to revisit and repeal the 2016 measure that stripped local governments of their ability to regulate shortterm and vacation rentals but Chandler Sen. J.D. Mesnard wants a less radical measure.

Rep. Walt Blackman of Snowflake said the legislation pushed by Airbnb and its other companies and supported by Gov. Doug Ducey has had a serious negative effect on neighborhoods. He has introduced HB 2069 to put the law back the way it was before. Sen. Wendy Rogers of Flagstaff has identical legislation in SB

see RENTAL page 16

State’s gambling revenue share falls short of expectations

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

A

HERITAGE from page 6

see GAMBLIING page 14

WMPO PhxBack 10x10.qxp_. 11/17/21 10:40 AM Page 1

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

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NEWS

GAMBLE from page 12

owe the state by up to 20% for each of the first two years they are in business to compensate them for those free bets.

That drops to 15% in the third year of gaming and 10% in years four and five.

After that, write-offs are not allowed.

In September, the state reported $291.2 million in gross wagers, virtually all of that placed on phones and other mobile apps.

The companies paid out $258.9 million in winnings, leaving them with $31.6 million in net wagers.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

But the companies also took $31.2 million in “promotional credits,’’ leaving them with about $392,000 subject to the state tax of 8% on in-person bets and 10% on mobile – or just $31,393 owed to the state.

It got somewhat better in October, with $486.1 million in wagers.

But here, too, after deducting the promotional credits, that left $10.4 million in net revenues – and slightly more than $1 million for the state Karamargin, however, preferred to focus on the gross handle rather than what wound up in state coffers. He said the Arizona numbers are incredible, given that Nevada, in that same month, had $1.2 billion in gaming handle.

Rep. Jeff Weninger, R-Chandler, who was the sponsor of the House version of the legislation, said the numbers showing the level of gaming are a positive sign.

“It shows there’s clearly demand,’’ he said. “People of Arizona are responding and are embracing this.’’

So if there is all that interest, does the

state need to incentivize enticements for people to gamble?

Yes, said Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, the sponsor of the Senate version.

“I’m likening it to a store offering a holiday sale or something like that,’’ he said. “You need to entice people into the door to get them interested in doing something that they may have never done before.’’

Weninger had his own explanation.

“What it’s really geared for is enticing the existing illegal bettors to come over to these platforms, to bring them into the legal fold,’’ he said.

Weninger said the companies that operate the sports wagering will voluntarily begin to scale back their giveaways and enticements once Arizonans are in the habit of betting on sports.

“You saw a big drop from September to October,’’ said Weninger, with the amount of credits taken dropping from $31.2 million to $26 million. It’s no different, he said, with how he operates his own restaurants, providing incentives to get new customers that aren’t necessary

after they become regulars.

Anyway, Weninger said, it would be wrong to look at the benefits of legalized sports gaming based solely on the tax on net profits of the wagering companies, even after the promotion deductions.

“I believe there’s a lot of indirect revenue that comes through this, through economic development, through lots of tourism,’’ Weninger said. And that, he said, doesn’t count all the money that TV stations in Arizona are making from the blizzard of commercials promoting gambling and the free wagers.

The numbers do not include the initial $14 million in licensing fees for the operations plus the $3 million a year the state expects to get in renewals.

Weninger said he was not surprised that tribal gaming numbers are down.

He said it reflects the fact that slot machines, keno and blackjack tables require physical presence.

“You have to be masked up the entire time you’re in there,’’ Weninger said. “So I’m sure COVID is affecting that somewhat right now, and has been.’’

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

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VIRUS from page 7

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“We are seeing that the benefit of our increasing to higher rates on Mondays and Fridays has helped us,” said Mum Martens, Human Resources director.

“And has been helpful for a number of individuals and they’ve been excited and have com back and said they appreciated the increase, just even at that $20.”

Gilbert Public Schools also saw an increase of its positivity rate last week to 40.45%. Last Thursday the district reported 215 active student and employee cases with the highest – 16– at Campo Verde High. The district’s positivity rate the previous week was 17.74%.

Unlike neighboring Chandler Unified School District, which serves some 10,000 Gilbert kids, GPS hasn’t had to resort to sending the superintendent back in the classroom to teach – yet.

But GPS is seeing a slight uptick of teacher absences than previously experienced, according to district spokeswoman Dawn Antestenis. The district has a total of 1,910 certified staff.

“For example, this Monday, Jan. 10, we

had 192 teachers on medical absences, including scheduled medical leaves of absence,” Antestenis said in an email.

“We continue to work with our team of substitutes to fill vacancies as needed.”

She said the district last year implemented a number of systems to support this, including Flex Subs, who are salaried employees allocated to specific schools daily.

And, she noted, the district has a substantial pool of substitutes many of whom have been with the district for a number of years, including retired GPS teachers.

“We continue to receive applications from potential substitutes and hired 10 last week,” Antestenis said.

But if the district’s sub pool dries up, there are back-up plans, including using qualified district staff such as administrators and even the superintendent if needed, according to Antestenis.

People interested in becoming a substitute teacher for GPS can get more information at gilbertschools.net/jobs.

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RENTAL from page 12

and none of lthe state’s business.

Mesnard, however, said, it will create “a mish-mash of regulations’’ among cities. And, he said, leaving these decisions to mayors and council members will “trample on property rights,’’ meaning the ability of individuals to use their to make money by renting them out.

Blackman said the property rights that are at issue here are those of the people living in the neighborhood, which is why these questions are best handled by local officials.

Mesnard said he sees the big complaint being those “party houses.’’ And he said there are ways to address that.

During hearings last year there was testimony about investors creating de facto hotels in residential neighborhoods, dividing up homes into multiple rooms being rented out by the night.

There’s also a question of drying up affordable housing. There have been estimates that up to 40% of residential properties in tourist destinations like Sedona are now vacation rentals.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

re1

Amenity-rich markets like Gilbert set housing pace

BY MINDY JONES GSN Columnist

If you haven’t seen the memes about what New Year’s Eve looked like going into 2020 versus 2022, do yourself a favor and look them up. It’s a somewhat comedic reminder about how much we’ve been through as a community over the last couple years.

With COVID cases on the rise again, we are cautiously optimistic that with some experience under our belt, we are geared up and ready to take on 2022 with a new attitude. If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we can’t predict the

future, life is short, and where there is opportunity to help our community, we should all dig in.

The housing marketing has also provided its fair share of memes over the last two years.

With record-breaking appreciation rates, historically low interest rates and a break-neck pace - the world of real estate appears to have been just as unpredictable as the headlines we’ve seen scrolling across our TV screens for the last 24 months.

In that time, Gilbert’s average home price has risen from $388,993 to $573,202, appreciation has risen from an average of 6.4% annually to 28.8% annually, and we’ve gone from having 460 active listings to just 250 active listings.

With just 27 days of inventory two years ago dropping to 14 days of inventory today, we would need at least 10 times the amount of houses for sale to be in balance.

So what does that mean for the coming year?

We are currently sitting with about 1,000 fewer listings Valley-wide than we had last year and we all know what that did to our appreciation rates come the spring time.

We’ve already started to see listings with multiple offers the first weekend on

the market and the return of lease backs and other concessions for sellers, making it easier for them to navigate the low inventory market on the purchase side.

And with rental rates currently outpacing the resale market, we can expect renting to become a less and less desirable of an option. And that will continue to drive demand on the buy side.

Interestingly enough, we saw about 1,000 more listings sell in the last 30 days than we did in the same time frame two

see MINDY page RE2

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SeePage Page5 4 See

re2

REAL ESTATE

Realtors group sees stiff competition ahead GSN NEWS STAFF

The National Association of Realtors has its outlook for 2022 and while homebuyers might find some encouraging news, they also should be braced for a fight.

Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, the association’s official website, predicts, homebuyers will “likely have a better chance to find a home in 2022 compared to this year, but the not-sogood news is that” she expects “competition to remain fierce.

“Demand for housing is expected to remain strong because of the more than 45 million millennials in the prime first-time home buying ages of 26 to 35, and across the country, home sales could increase as much as 6.6%” over 2021, Realtor.com said.

Hale expects the median home sales price to continue to rise by nearly 3%.

“The boom in home sales means some may choose to stay on the sidelines and continue renting, but the rental market

will continue heating up too – rental prices are expected to rise as much as 7.1% in the year ahead,” it said.

Even with stiffer competition and higher prices, the association said, “consumer sentiment is strong and buyers are rearing and ready to enter the market.”

“With most real estate markets expected to be competitive in 2022, it’s important to remember that you’re in the driver’s seat of your real estate journey,” said George Ratiu, manager of economic research for Realtor.com.

“The bottom line for buyers is to make sure you’re comfortable with your timeline and budget – and especially for younger buyers making this significant financial decision for the first time. For sellers, take into account your local market conditions as well as the likely increase in the number of homes for sale, and price yours competitively.”

The association added that “more than ever, knowing how much you can afford to spend on a home and being pre-approved for a mortgage are important first

steps for anyone considering a home purchase in 2022.”

Realtor.com offers a free affordability calculator to estimate how much you can afford to spend on a home and monthly payment. The tool also connects users with a lender who can help with a pre-approval.

The site’s First-time Homebuyer Resource Center includes checklists, helpful videos and a search tool for finding a real estate professional in your community to help you negotiate your home purchase.

Additionally, sellers can use Realtor. com resources like the My Home dashboard to track their home’s equity, explore multiple home valuations, and view local market trends.

Its Seller’s Marketplace has information on selling options, including listing on the open market with an agent, instant cash offers, and sale-leaseback and buy now–sell later programs.

Seller’s Marketplace also lets people see the different options available in their market side-by-side.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

MINDY from page re1

years ago.

We’ve also got a healthy amount of demand for the houses that we have available.

Interest rates continue to be a variable for 2022 and many analysts are predicting a modest 1% increase by year’s end.

That means that while interest rates are still very low compared to historical averages, homes will become more expensive by the end of the year, if not sooner.

This sense of urgency, in part, is driving the increased demand headed into 2022.

What will follow will likely be our typical surge in contracts as our peak selling season kicks off.

New construction will continue to be a viable option, especially for our renters looking to transition out of a variable monthly payment into a secure mortgage while they have some time left on their lease to accommodate the average 10-14 month build time that most builders are averaging.

see MINDY page RE3

REAL ESTATE

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

MINDY from page re2

Supply chain issues and labor shortages have impeded the ability of builders of new homes to keep up with demand over the last two years.

Those impediments continue.

But we are starting to see some lots availability, some flexibility in interest lists and lotteries.

Each community is going to be different and having a specialist to help guide buyers through the intricacies of purchasing new construction can make that dream a reality.

One thing is certain: national housing experts continue to highlight suburban cities that are amenity-rich – like Gilbert – as one of the fastest growing segments of our market.

Each new grand opening – including the upcoming Epicenter at Agritopia, Verde at Cooley Station and even Novel at Val Vista – offers live-work-and-play lifestyle options.

And with each, we continue to lead the charge when it comes to innovation.

That will certainly translate into appreciation and desirability for housing and

growth in Gilbert.

Mindy Jones, a Gilbert Realtor and owner of the Amy Jones Group at Keller Williams Integrity First, can be reached at 480-250-3857. Mindy@AmyJonesGroup. com or AmyJonesGroup.com.

GOTNEWS? Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@ timespublications.com

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re3

re4

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4002 E Blue Sage Ct, Gilbert, AZ 85297

(480) 250-3857 www.AmyJonesGroup.com

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EV female mountain bikers group rolling on

BY MELODY BIRKETT GSN Contributor

A

few years ago, Tiana Riccardi and Robin Lamb saw a need for a mountain biker group for girls and women only.

The Mesa women already belonged to Hawesaholics, a group with more than 3,000 male and female mountain bikers of all ages and experience levels that Shawn Stenmark started in the name of Hawes Mountain, a popular haunt.

So it was only logical to Riccardi and Lamb to start a spin-off group, Hawesaholics Babes Ride On so that girls and women would feel more comfortable in what has been a male-dominated activity.

“I started riding 2 1/2 years ago and that’s when I met Tiana who was looking for other women to ride with more frequently,” said Lamb. “We went on a ride with four girls,” added Lamb. “Afterwards, Tiana said, ‘We should start a Facebook messenger group’ on the Hawesaholics Facebook page, people would post rides such as, ‘I’m going to ride at this trail, at this pace, on this day. Let us know if

Among the leaders of Hawesaholics Babes Ride On are, from left, co-founder Robin Lamb, beginners’ class instructor Gina Dwyer and co-founder Tiana Ricciardi, all of Mesa. (Special

to GSN)

anyone wants to come.’”

“We had 50-100 members right away,” Lamb said, adding that HBRO now has almost 500 members. “It’s not meant to take away from Hawesaholics. They do a

ton of stuff every year such as group rides, rides for beginners, kids and families.”

Like the larger group, HBRO started posting events with the first one being a ladies’ night.

“It was so much fun,” explained Lamb.

“And it was crazy. Crazy in the sense that beginners showed up along with other girls who were total rock stars. People who can throw 50-foot jumps off of things that are fast and aggressive – really talented riders who’ve been doing it for a lot longer. All of them were having a good time and super excited to be there.”

“That’s what ended up being so fun about our group is that we’ve seen people come out of the woodwork and be excited to make new girlfriends they can ride with. They still ride with the guys and enjoy doing that but it’s also fun to have girl time and girl camaraderie that comes through the group.”

Because most of the “Babes” live in the East Valley, Hawes Mountain and the Hawes Trail System were immediate biking grounds “Most of us in the East Valley ride a fair amount of Hawes, a fair amount of Usery, depending on what kind of trails we like,” said Lamb.

see BIKERS page 24

Red Cross exec from Gilbert deploys to Kentucky GSN NEWS STAFF

P

atrick Hodgkins, the chief operating officer for Red Cross’ Arizona-New Mexico branch, been assigned to the tornado-damaged area of Kentucky as chief of staff and COVID-19 Compliance Officer.

“There’s pretty much no typical day,” said Hodgkins. “I’m located at the Disaster Relief headquarters. I work with the command staff on incident priorities, planning and execution. My team, the people who report to me, are the COVID safety officers.

“Depending on where we are in a rota-

Patrick Hodgkins

tion of the Disaster Relief, I will have either two or three safety officers that I coordinate with that itinerate around the entire area of operation doing inspections and reporting back on them.”

He said their key roles are to inspect, educate, resource and report on what they’re seeing and to support the workforce “and they’re also the eyes and ears.”

“They report to me,” he said. “I compile their data, look for trends, look for action items, safety protocols, and work with the job director to ensure a safe workforce.”

He also leads the Red Cross workforce care task force.

“Priority item #1 is always COVID, any

COVID cases, any possible COVID cases, how we are dispositioning those cases and supporting the workforce through testing. Care and isolation are required,” Hodgkins said.

“We look out for the volunteers and workers who are here, make it fun, comfortable and provide for them when they’re working long hours in a very sacrificial way,” he continued. “We have staff services, disaster health services, disaster spiritual care, disaster mental health. All of these are part of that workforce care task force.”

see RED CROSS page 24

24

COMMUNITY

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

BIKERS from page 23

But over time, they have widened the scope of their jaunts.

“South Mountain or SoMo and Gold Canyon are other frequent places we ride,” Lamb said. “There are a lot of people who like Browns Ranch and McDowell Mountain in Scottsdale. A lot of us like to ride in Sedona, Prescott and the Mongolian Rim in the Payson area…Last spring, we did a big campout overnight trip to Sedona.

There are lots of people who’ve gone to parks around the country.”

Good physical shape is not a requirement for mountain biking.

“I know a ton of people who’ve felt overweight or like they wanted to do something fitness-oriented that was more exciting than sitting on a treadmill at a gym and that was also outdoors,” said Lamb. “Mountain biking fit that niche for them and they just progress.”

While being comfortable riding a bike helps, she added, “There are a lot of trails you can start off with that are mild and you can progress from there.”

“What’s unique about the sport is you can do what suits your personality and your interests. For instance, some people like long miles and cross-country riding which is going to be a little more flat and flowy riding. You’re not necessarily doing a ton of massive elevation gain. That’s also typically going to be more smooth flowing trails so there are fewer rocks and obstacles.”

Lamb said some riders don’t like the long rides or those with steep inclines, noting that Browns Ranch Trail in Scottsdale as well as Usery Regional Mountain Park or some of the areas at McDowell Mountain are fairly mild trails.

As for time commitment, short loops take up to one hour while some mountain bikers go on camping trips so they can ride hundreds of miles over several days.

The beginners’ class offers “a super slow pace, between 3-5 miles,” explained Lamb. “We give them an opportunity to get on the trail with other people. And that’s also nice because if something goes wrong with your bike or if you run into a cactus, you have people there to help support you and to work through it.”

Gina Dwyer, a mountain biker for more than five years, leads the beginners’ class

and said it has grown over the past year.

Basically, I take them out once a week on Fridays, September through April, when the weather permits in the mornings,” she said. “We do about an hour ride.”

Dwyer also teaches trail etiquette, bike positioning, when to brake, and when to climb.

“It’s good to ride with another person for safety reasons,” Dwyer explained.

“You can go out on your own. I’ve done that before. But it’s so much better when you have somebody - especially when you’re new — in case something happens

There are other groups that go out and assess the needs of the people impacted by a disaster, but Hodgkins is also in the field.

“I go out and check sites,” Hodgkins explained. “I take a pulse from the field of the workforce through going out there myself, being available to the workforce to bring issues and concerns to me and through the safety officers.”

He said his duties are different when he’s deployed, mainly when it comes to how fast things change.

“Change is constant on a momentby-moment basis on a deployment. The operational pace is greater. And the days are certainly longer, which is a blessing.

When you’re deployed, you don’t want to work an eight-hour day. That’s a lot of downtime. Longer days are better.”

Assigned to headquarters, Hodgkins said it’s a separate area from the shelters where feeding takes place. No clients or client work is done at headquarters.

Hodgkins said there’s only so much planning that can be done for a disaster

of this magnitude.

“A hurricane, you know it’s coming,” said Hodgkins. “What you don’t know is how bad it’s going to be when it hits, what path it’s going to take, what type of damage it’s going to do, if there’s going to be flooding, if there’s going to be power outages or high winds knocking down buildings. You just don’t know.

“With something like this – a tornado – you don’t even have the warning where you’re tracking it. There’s only so much you can do. So, you show up, with as

RED CROSS from page 23

The Hawesaholics Babes Ride On members take on all kinds of trails on their various jaunts.

(Special to GSN)

like a tire pops or you fall over or you get lost. You’ve got somebody with you. Being a new rider, it’s always good to get in a group.”

Hawesaholics Babes Ride On also gives back to the community through various service projects.

“There’s a lot of local businesses we try to support,” Lamb said. “We do short, fun track races that are just kind of kickin-the-pants fun. It’s a way for people to interact and have fun and get out and do something healthy at the same time.”

“We do little events like toy drives for Christmas,” added Dwyer. “We do trick or trunk. If somebody is sick or hurt in the group, we do meal trains. It’s so much more than just riding. We have girls’ night out. … It’s just a really fun group.”

There are also professional events “There are also events professionals do,” said Dwyer. “For example, women can go to a bike shop and learn how to change a tire or learn about their brakes or just their bike in general. We’re just not girls riding, breaking down. We’re fixing our own bikes.”

In addition, the group does trail work for the Hawes Alliance. “We work on the mountain bike trails, build them, take care of them including trash pick-up,” Dwyer said.

Beginners should be aware of one thing: top-of-the-line mountain bikes can be very expensive at $10,000-$12,000.

Lamb said a decent starter costs between $3,000-$4,000.

To connect with the group, go to HAWESAHOLICS Babes Ride On through Facebook or Instagram. much preparedness as we do. We know a tornado’s going to hit, we just don’t know where or when, how many people, how bad the damage, what assets or resources we’re going to need. Those questions need to get answered very quickly to get things moving because the need exists immediately. You must be at almost full capacity immediately.”

To learn more about the Red Cross including volunteer opportunities, go to redcross.org.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

25

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26

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Agritopia ice cream shop champions freshness

BY MONIQUE SELEEN GSN Contributor

W

hat started as a friendship between Gilbert residents James Johnston and Matt Celaya has since blossomed into a sweet business idea now known as Cream of the Crop.

The unique ice cream parlor, located inside of Gilbert’s Barnone in Agritopia at 3000 E. Ray Road, Building 6, opened in February 2021 but the idea starting churning years ago when Johnston bought Celaya an ice cream maker for his birthday.

“He started making ice cream and was really good at it,” said Johnston.

The two had worked together for some time at other local Gilbert restaurants but when space became available

inside Barnone, they said they jumped at the opportunity to start their own ice cream business.

“There’s kind of a missing market for homemade ice cream in Gilbert,” said Johnston. “We thought we can do that and we can do it well and we have a good location for it.”

After some brainstorming, the name ‘Cream of the Crop’ was decided upon as a way to represent their use of fresh ingredients from the Agritopia Farm in the ice cream flavors.

All of the ice cream is made on site in small batches and Celaya said it took reading several books about ice cream to develop the perfect ratios of ingredients to use.

“Once we found our base recipe it was

see CREAM page 27

Cream of the Crop ice cream shop is located inside Barnone in Agritopia. (Special to GSN)

State’s first candyland-bar opens in Chandler

BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer

Z

abdi Hess said it wasn’t hard coming up with the inspiration for a new kind of tap room. She and her husband Kyle have a threeyear-old child.

“We wanted something different,” Zabdi said. “There’s lots of tap rooms in the area, but we wanted to stand out, and offer different pairings with candy and beer.”

So that’s how she came up with the idea to open The Sugar Bar at Warner and McQueen roads in Chandler. It’s Arizona’s first bar and candy store.

It’s a family-friendly place where a couple can bring their children. While they are sampling craft beers, the kids can eat candy or select one of the

Zabdi and Kyle Hess have opened The Sugar Bar at Warner and McQueen roads in Chandler. It’s Arizona’s first bar and candy store. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

board games to play.

“Outside of downtown Chandler and downtown Gilbert, between them there’s not much in terms of craft beer availability,” Kyle said. “We did our demographic research too, and around here there’s a ton of that 30-to-45 year range, … one or two kids, so that family demographic that we’re looking for.”

The Sugar Bar opened in early December and Kyle said they’ve been very happy with the turnout.

“It’s been awesome man,” Kyle said.

“We’ve been busy pretty much every day. Mondays and Tuesdays are a little slower, per the usual, but every weekend is busy.”

Before opening their combination bar and candy shop, Kyle worked

see SUGAR page 27

BUSINESS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

CREAM from page 26

27

kind of like a building block. Our ice cream has a higher butter fat and that gives it more of a rich feel to it,” said Celaya.

One of the things Johnston and Celaya pride themselves on is creating flavors that you won’t find in other ice cream shops.

“We didn’t want to make anything that was super traditional,” said Celaya.

“It’s such a fun product because you can do so many things with it. We have our

standard flavors but we try to make it a little more interesting and spark some curiosity in our rotating flavors.”

Some past flavors have included cheese and caramel, maple buttermilk pancake, shake and fries, strawberries and cornbread, and cucumber lime sorbet.

New flavors are rotated about every three weeks with standard flavors that are always available, including Cream of the Crop and Mythical Coffee.

“We love doing the funky flavors,” said Johnston. “Whenever something is season on the farm, we like to do that as well.”

Mint chocolate chip utilizes fresh lavender mint from the Agritopia Farm Johnston and Celaya hand-selected and that is grown exclusively for their use.

Other farm ingredients have included using dates, peaches, apples, orange blossoms, and even smoked hay in their ice cream.

As business continues, Johnston says they have some new ideas coming that they hope people can look forward to.

“We’re talking about adding some pastries and homemade sodas to the mix and of course we’ll be adding plenty of new flavors,” he said. “We’d like to do wholesale as well. We hope to expand in a good way and not overextend ourselves.”

Information: creamofthecrop-az.com.

in digital marketing and Zabdi was a teacher. They admit changing fields during a pandemic and with a young child was a challenge.

“It was definitely a risk, for sure,” Kyle said. “But we felt confident enough in a lot of the research we had done, and the overall market for it.”

They began forming the company at the start of 2021, when hopes were high that the vaccine would soon allow people to socialize again. By summer

they had selected the location and began getting their shop ready to open.

And just a few weeks after the Dec. 2 opening, COVID cases are hitting record highs as the Omicron variant spread.

“Everything was looking like it would be OK,” Kyle said. “Obviously, that’s taken a weird turn.”

Patrons can bring their own food to The Sugar Bar. That’s because the food options inside are limited, mostly to the candy, some popcorn and maybe

nachos on the weekends.

Finding beers that pair with candies is part of the fun.

“There are a lot of new beers that pair really well with candies,” Kyle said.

“Obviously our dark beers pair really well with chocolate, we have a lot of sour beers that pair well with our gummies and sour candies.”

Above all, however, was Kyle and Zabdi wanted a place for families.

“We wanted it to be a place where

people could take their kids too,” Kyle said. “We have a three-year-old, and he goes with us everywhere. It’s nice to find a place that’s kid friendly.”

Information: thesugarbar.co

SUGAR from page 26

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Gilbert teen aces spot on major flag football team

BY DREW SCHOTT

GSN Contributing Writer

P

laying wide receiver is a special experience for Brenna Ramirez.

“It’s enthralling in an indescribable way when you can go up and go grab it and reach for it or all the different moves you can make like reaching over the shoulder, lunging for it as far as you can,” Ramirez said. “When the outcome goes your way, it’s quite rewarding.”

Ramirez’s passion for football was evident from a young age. As a baby, she slept with a ball in her crib. At 4, she asked her dad and cousin to play the sport in the backyard. At 6, she joined her first team.

Today, the Gilbert High School senior has parlayed her talent into an impressive accolade: one of 12 starters on the 2022 U. S. Girls 17U Flag Football National Team.

This summer, Ramirez and her teammates will face squads from across the globe, the latest step in a football journey that has included multiple teams and a severe injury, but a constant of hard work and love for the game.

“You know how you find a person that is a strong character (with) integrity?”

Louis Ramirez, Brenna’s father, said.

“Brenna has always lived her life in that fashion. And I think she’s being rewarded for that.”

Louis and Doris, Brenna’s mother, have four girls who have played a variety of sports from soccer to basketball to softball. Yet according to Doris, “football was never on our radar” in terms of sports that her daughter would take up.

However, Brenna quickly started showcasing interest in it.

Those moments in the backyard blossomed into Ramirez asking her parents to play organized football. The only option was joining an all-boys flag football team in a recreational league, which is

there, but just remembering why I was there and (that) I can still make it.”

The July 2021 workout was a triumphant return to athletics for Ramirez, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during club softball the previous August.

Just over two months later, Ramirez learned she earned a spot on the U17 Gilbert High School senior Brenna Ramirez was presented team. But it Ramirez began playing football at a young age and with an opportunity to play for the 2022 United States Girls wasn’t her only joined her first team at 6 years old.

In honor of her 17U Flag Football National Team, where she will be one of favorite player, Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald, she l a r g e - s c a l e 12 starters going against teams from across the globe. (Photos wears No. 11 in all of her games.

Dave Minton/GSN Staff) achievement on the football field. what Ramirez did. and Paralympic Committee.

She became determined to play flag “I knew from when I was younger that Ramirez and her family knew of the this is what I wanted to do,” Ramirez organization because it sponsored youth football in college after learning prosaid. “I could play all the other sports in tournaments she took part in. With Bren- grams in the National Association of the world, but football was it.” na participating in an upcoming event in Intercollegiate Athletics, an alliance of From National Youth Sports to Coast San Diego, Doris asked if USA Football small colleges and universities in North to Coast to the Gilbert Youth Football would have a scout there analyzing play- America, offered the sport. Once it was officially authorized by the NAIA in the League, Ramirez showcased her skill set ers for the U15 and U17 tryouts. and interest in pursuing football longEven though the organization did not summer of 2020, Doris said “we got a term by charting a path at wide receiver. have someone in California, Brenna was bazillion calls.”

Ramirez ended up receiving six offers Yet once Ramirez turned 14, she aged able to send over video clips of her play out of the youth leagues. So Doris went and other information, resulting in an and after visiting three of the schools, to work searching for opportunities that invitation to the event at the Grand Park chose Keiser University in West Palm Beach, Florida. Among the factors that would allow her daughter to continue Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana. her football career.

“Most of the girls were from two or stood out to her about Keiser included She found one through USA Football, three main teams and I and only two oth- an experienced coaching staff and their which represents America in the Inter- er girls from my team were trying out,” priorities of players succeeding on the national Federation of American Foot- Ramirez said. “I was trying out for (U)17, field and in the classroom. ball — a group of 71 nations — and is my two teammates were trying out for a member of the United States Olympic (U)15. I remember being a lone wolf out see FLAG FOOTBALL page 29

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

FLAG FOOTBALL from page 28

“I always go back to the old adage: the harder you work, the luckier you get,” Louis said. “She has been blessed so many times. You will not believe the things that have come her way. I attribute it to… her whole aura of being positive and hard work.”

This spring, Ramirez and her teammates will take part in practices and tournaments in North Carolina, Florida and Kansas before competing against teams from across the world. She will also take part in high school flag football in Arizona, but not at Gilbert High School.

Unlike her college state of Florida — where girls flag football teams from 320 schools will take the field — the Arizona Interscholastic Association has yet to give the sport official varsity status.

Yet some schools, such as Campo Verde High School in Gilbert, are operating club teams. As a result, Ramirez will join Brian Coger — the coach of the Coyotes’ girls flag football club team — and his first-year program since the high

school’s athletic director is allowing students from other schools that don’t have flag football programs to play at Campo Verde.

According to Coger, the AIA is closely following the situation regarding the status of girls flag football at Arizona high schools.

As Ramirez prepares for competition at the high school, international and collegiate levels, those around her have witnessed that she has the skills and techniques to succeed. Most importantly, Ramirez — who wears No. 11 in part because her father’s favorite player is former Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald — is ready to show everybody her talent on the football field.

“This is what I’ve waited for my entire life,” Ramirez said.

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Learn how to talk to your kids about marijuana.

This publication was made possible by SAMSHA Grant number 6B08TI083044-01. The views expressed in these materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies or contractual requirements of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) or the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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Barrett-Jackson the perfect job for April Rose

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

A

pril Rose likens Barrett-Jackson collector car auction to a theme park.

Celebrating its 50th year, the event makes people smile. In lieu of rides, there is a virtual playground of vehicles to view and purchase, and it bustles with anticipation.

As the event’s co-host on A+E Networks’ FYI and The HISTORY Channel, Rose witnesses the plethora of beautiful — and sometimes exotic — automobiles passing through the auction block.

“You could spend your entire life driving through a city and you’ll never see the variety you see coming through Barrett-Jackson auctions,” said Rose, who hosts a classic rock show on terrestrial radio in Chicago.

She’ll eye and discuss more sleek automobiles when Barrett-Jackson The

World’s Greatest Car Collection Auction celebrates its 50th anniversary at WestWorld from January 22 to January 30.

Celebrating its 50th year, Barrett-Jackson will feature rare hypercars and customs, as well as a diverse docket that includes a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing that is one of only 855 built in 1955 and one of only 1,400 built from 1954 to 1957.

Selling with No Reserve, this highly desirable Gullwing is powered by the origiApril Rose is part of the broadcast team at the Barrett-Jackson nal matching-numbers auction. (Special to GetOut) M198 inline-6 engine

paired with a 4-speed manual transmission.

Rose slid into Barrett-Jackson’s broadcast team after she and Bob Varsha, a broadcast journalist who covers motorsports, filmed a promotion. During the assignment, Varsha invited Rose to discuss cars at Barrett-Jackson.

She fell in love — and earned respect.

“When I got there, he said, ‘Wow. You’re really into cars. You know a lot about them, and you love them,’” she recalls.

He wrapped up the conversation with, “We’re looking to add someone to our broadcast team.”

“It seemed like a dream come true,” she adds. “It was the perfect fit.”

She joins a team of automotive experts, including announcers Steve Magnante, Mike Joy and Rick DeBruhl.

“I wanted to be a part of that. It’s a great opportunity to get back out. I’m happy to hit the road and share his legacy across America.”

The concert-style show follows Michael’s career through his hits, including those from Wham! and his solo career.

“When I was presented this wonderful opportunity, I was prepared,” he said.

“Over the years as a singer, I had been singing some of George’s tracks like ‘Careless Whisper’ and his own spin on Queen’s ‘Somebody to Love,’ which was hugely popular.

“What I have found challenging was the overall lyrical content—the emotions and where George was in his life.

It’s been so fascinating. Through the beginning of his career, the middle and

up to his unfortunate death, to see the growth of a gay man coming out of the closet and standing in his truth was amazing.”

Singing “Jesus to a Child” and learning of the backstory brought Winberry to tears. The song is a tribute to Michael’s Brazilian lover Anselmo Feleppa, whom the singer met while performing in Rio de Janeiro in 1991. Two years later, Feleppa died from AIDS-related brain hemorrhage. During his grieving, Feleppa penned “Jesus to a Child” in about an hour.

“It’s sad understanding Anselmo’s tragic death from HIV/AIDS and George taking his pain and sorrow and channel-

see

BARRETT page 31

Upcoming show pays tribute to George Michael

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

G

rowing up in the MTV era, Craig Winberry was inspired by George Michael’s looks, moves, attitude and music.

“He was not afraid to take risks and had an air of confidence and left a legacy,” Winberry said.

The Piggott, Arkansas, native is now starring as the late singer in “The Life and Music of George Michael,” which comes to the Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater on Sunday, January 23.

“Now that people are venturing out to concerts and shows, I wanted to be a part of that,” Winberry said, giving an additional reason for joining the show.

Mitesh Patel

see

WINBERRY page 31

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

BARRETT from page 30

In her blood Rose began her professional career in health and medicine. She earned her EMT certification through Des Plaines, Illinois-based Oakton Community College and a cardiovascular technologist license from PCCTI Healthcare in Chicago.

She was also certified as a medical crisis counselor for Rape Victim Advocates.

Then she fell into modeling. She was voted Maxim’s “Hometown Hotties” winner in 2008 and was subsequently featured as the cover girl on Maxim Canada.

She hosted the Chicago Bears’ pregame show and parlayed that experience into other gigs.

She appeared on TV shows like “Guy Code” and “Girl Code.” She parlayed her love of hockey and football into “Chicago Faceoff with April Rose” and “Chicago Huddle,” respectively.

Rose has acted in a smattering of films like “Grown Ups 2.”

“It all started falling into my lap. I

WINBERRY from page 30

ing it into art,” he said. “When you understand what the song was about and what he was going through, it’s tragic.

It’s a very intimate story that George was sharing with us.”

Winberry’s love affair with performing began at an early age when he took part in his hometown school’s production of “South Pacific.”

From that point on, he knew there would always be a Broadway stage in his future. He expanded on that as actor, singer and songwriter, and in television, film and live theater after moving to NYC eight years ago.

“When I made that choice, I was becoming an entertainer later in life,” he said about the move in his 30s. “I did it differently. I got married and raised kids then when we moved to New York, I decided to jump headfirst into the arts and storytelling. I’m so happy that I did.

“It was scary at first, but I’ve had an amazing support system around me. I looked at people like George and he was literally the only one of his generation

thought I would be in crisis counseling forever.

“The jobs just kept paving the right path to walk down. I’m also asked to report on hockey and football. However, I’ve always been passionate about — obsessed with — cars. I feel lucky with Barrett-Jackson.”

Rose still occasionally models on special occasions and requests.

“I usually don’t do it if a wardrobe company or designer needs me to wear an outfit,” she said. “I’ll do it if they want me to come to an event for photos. I’m not just a number.

“When I was 19, it didn’t matter if I was a clothes hanger for whatever image they wanted. It shifted a little bit. I feel like I’m more important to the product because they want to use a personality.”

Like entertainment and news, cars are in her blood. She learned early on of the freedom that comes with driving.

“Growing up, parents always tell their who was out and open. He was closeted at the beginning of his career. I see his life and legacy as a guiding light to standing your truth.”

Before the pandemic in 2019, Winberry was performing with Abby Payne present “Christmas Spirits: Neat Edition” at Feinstein’s 54/Below on 54th Street in New York City. He held “random TV jobs,” but was mostly focusing on live entertainment.

“New York City is the holy grail of comedy cellars and cabarets,” he said.

“Broadway and off-Broadway, that’s where my life has been.”

IF YOU GO

What: The Life and Music of George Michael WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 23 WHERE: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa COST: $38 INFO: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

kids what to do, where to go,” Rose said.

“The first time you’re in a car by yourself, you choose your own path. That realization made a big imprint on me. I really appreciate what cars can do for you.”

That first car was a hand-me-down from her brother — a 2005 Camaro. She was gifted it when he wanted to purchase a new car. She admits, with a laugh, that was a dangerous car to give a teenager.

“The rearview mirror is so small and it’s hard to see out of it because the pillars are so wide,” Rose explains. “You don’t have a good visualization of the road.”

She has collected plenty of highlights during her time at Barrett-Jackson. Rose vividly remembers sitting in the original 1966 Batmobile, which was built by George Barris. Tempe logistics company owner Rick Champagne grabbed the vehicle for $4.2 million.

“While we were in it, George spoke about all the gadgets he had in the Bat-

GET OUT

31

mobile,” she said. “It was neat to see that sell though. Two gentlemen in the front of the auction, who were sitting really close to each other. They were outbidding each one when they stopped and one of the guys suggested flipping a coin and whoever gets it, gets the car.

“They could have kept bidding for eternity. That’s how the owner of the car won — it was a flip of the coin. That was a first for Barrett-Jackson.”

IF YOU GO

What: Barrett-Jackson the World’s Greatest Car Collector Auctions When: Various times Jan. 22-30 WHERE: WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale COST: Tickets start at $23, with discounts for seniors, military and students INFO: 480.421.6694, barrett-jackson.com

Quark Expeditions has been exploring the Arctic for 30 years.

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32

GET OUT

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

King Crossword

Answers on page 34

ACROSS

MARCH

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

FEB

26

COL1:10

FEB

27

MIL1:10 28 CHC1:10

FEB

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2

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SEA1:10

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SD1:10 5 SEA1:10

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CIN1:10 OAK1:10

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ARI1:10 12 OAK1:10

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LAA1:10

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ARI1:10 18 LAD1:10

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CWS1:10 LAD1:10 CWS6:10

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LAA CLE6:101:10

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KC1:10

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SF1:10

27

COL1:10

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MIL1:10

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CIN 12:10

3

SAT

KC6:10

31 OPENING DAY

D-backs Home Game Rockies Home Game

As of November 23, 2021. Schedule and times subject to change. All times Arizona time.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

1 5 8 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 23 24 25 28 29 30 32 34 35 36 37 40 41 42 47 48 49 50 51

Even Apply cream “The Good Earth” heroine “Please go ahead” Fork prong The National Pastime Circus structure Cacophony Scalawags Basilica areas Diving duck Soccer legend Brewing gizmo Greek letter Not -- out of place Scull need Kook Ordered Skin breakout Notorious Port city of Poland Former Mideast org.

Pealed Pitcher’s tactic “American --” Consume too little Lion’s pride?

Meadow Sciences’ partner

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 27 29 31

Bar bill “-- tree falls ...”

UFO crew One of the Ramones Cannon of film MSN rival Reduced-rate postal delivery Canada’s capital Actor Schreiber Green Gables girl Tennis barriers Baseball stats Cornhusker’s st. iPhone download Mexican money Lost traction Black Panthers leader Bobby Appreciative Rich soil Stow cargo Grade-school basics Flushed

33 34 36 37 38 39

Hang loose?

Diva Streisand Kismet Bleak Baby’s father Unsigned (Abbr.)

40 43 44 45 46

Fed. food inspector Chemical suffix -- Lingus Back muscle, briefly USN officers

33

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022 PAID ADVERTISEMENT

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN WARNING! Our clinic is taking every precaution and we follow strict CDC guidelines to ensure that our patients, clinic and staff are SAFE! Mesa, AZ — The most common method your doctor will recommend to treat your chronic pain and/or neuropathy is with prescription drugs that may temporarily reduce your symptoms. These drugs have names such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin, and are primarily antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs. These drugs may cause you to feel uncomfortable and have a variety of harmful side effects.

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determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation. As long as you have not sustained at least 95% nerve damage there is hope!

Fig. 2

NOTE: Once you have sustained 95% nerve loss, there is likely nothing that we can do for you.

3) How much treatment will your condition require?

Aspen Medical will do a chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination to determine the extent of the nerve damage as a public service to you and/or your family and friends. This neuropathy/ pain severity examination will consist of a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and a detailed analysis of the findings of your neuropathy.

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As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms.

Chandler Gilbert Arc has been serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the East Valley since 1975, providing community living, community based employment and day services and training. We help people with varying support needs to achieve their fullest potential while improving their quality of life.

The main problem is that your doctor has told you to just live with the problem or try the drugs which you don’t like taking because they make you feel uncomfortable. There is now a facility right here in Mesa that offers you hope without taking those endless drugs with serious side effects.

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In order to effectively treat your neuropathy three factors must be determined.

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The Sanexas electric cell signaling system delivers energy to the affected area of your body at varying wavelengths, including both low-frequency and middle-frequency signals. It also uses amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) signaling.

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Aspen Medical will be offering this chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination from now until January 31, 2022. Call 480274-3157 to make an appointment to determine if your chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated.

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34

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Obituaries Mabel “Pat” (Johnson) Wright

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ANSWERS TO PUZZLE AND SUDUKO ON PAGE 31

Obituaries Shauna Lee Lilly

It is with great sadness we say goodbye to Shauna Lee Lilly, 43, of Addison, Illinois, formerly of Mesa, Arizona, who passed away unexpectedly on December 24, 2021 in Mesa, AZ. Shauna was born March 1, 1978 the daughter of Rod Lilly and Janet Browning. She received her education from Mesa Public Schools and graduated from Westwood High School in 1996 with honors. Shauna attended Arizona State University and then attended California State Hayward where she received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She returned to Arizona and started her teaching career with Mesa Public Schools in Special Education. She taught in Mesa until moving to Illinois last April where she was currently a teacher at Edmund F. Lindop School. Shauna had a passion for working with people who have special needs. She was involved with Arizona Sports for the Disabled (AzDS), coaching cheerleaders and track and field. Shauna spent several summers working for Mesa Parks and Recreation at Camp Fiesta as a Recreation Assistant and also spent countless hours volunteering. She also spent a summer working at Camp Courageous as a camp counselor in Monticello, Iowa, which is a year-round recreation and respite care facility for individuals with disabilities of all ages.

Shauna is survived by her fiancé, Jenn Drury; her parents, Janet Browning (Mark Waldron), Rod Lilly (Sue); sisters, Courtney Hinrichs (Chris), Stefanie Lilly; nephews, Gavin and Greyson Hinrichs, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Arizona Sports for the Disabled, 59 E. Broadway Rd., Mesa, AZ 85210.

Services will be held for Shauna at a later time for family members.

Shauna's warm smile and bubbly personality will be missed by a myriad of people. We love and miss you.

Mabel “Pat” (Johnson) Wright, 76, formerly of Bloomington, MN and Mesa, AZ, passed away on December 31, 2021 in Hibbing, MN. She loved to feel the sun on her face and was happiest when surrounded by family.

She is preceded in death by her husband James Wright, Sr., her mother Josephine Maxwell, and her brothers James Johnson and Dean Maxwell.

She is survived by her children Holly (Todd) Traffas and James “Jay” Wright, Jr., her grandchildren Adam and Luke (Tiana) Traffas, James and Evan Wright, great-granddaughter Luna Traffas, and sisters Glynda (Tom) Ballinger and Susan Maxwell.

A celebration of her life will be held in the spring in Minneapolis, MN. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit us at: www.doughertyofhibbing.com.

Myron Allen Lieberman

Myron 80, of Tempe, a lifelong advocate of chess, music, technology, and laughter, passed away quietly on 12/24/21.

Born September 3, 1941 in Los Angeles, Myron attended ASU, where he met his eventual bride-to-be, Rachel. According to Myron, he saw her from across the room at a school dance “eating ice cubes with a fork”. It was love at first sight.

He started the Motorola Chess Club (which became Tempe Chess Club) and served as an officer of the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) and secretary of the U.S. Chess Trust.

Myron loved music and (along with Rachel) was a fixture on the local acoustic music scene, supporting artists, attending concerts and writing articles about music in Arizona. Whether he was enjoying a live concert, directing a chess tournament, plucking his upright bass, reading a Mad Magazine or drinking a chocolate coke with no ice, Myron kept things interesting. He made a lasting impact and will be deeply missed.

Myron is survived by his wife Rachel; children Larry and Linda (and their families); and grandchildren Brandon and Adam Lieberman.

A small private service was held. Donations can be made to: U.S. Chess Trust (http://www.uschesstrust.org/) or Musical Instrument Museum (https://mim.org/).

35

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Obituaries

Gilbert Sun News

1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway #219 • Tempe, AZ 85282 480.898.6465 class@timespublications.com

David Lee LaMorte

David Lee LaMorte passed away Dec 27, 2021. Dave was born in Blue Island, Ill, on May 29, 1938. Graduated from Blue Island High, received his BA at FSU, and Masters at ASU. Dave joined the service and served his Country honorably. Stationed in Big Springs, TX he met the love of his life and married Gene Hock on January 22, 1957.

While in Vietnam he aided with search and rescue missions, helping those in need. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Air Force never left him, as friends and family will attest. Capt. D. LaMorte after 22 yrs., retired in AZ in 1976.

He spent the next 20 yrs. in real-estate.

He enjoyed the outdoors and wildlife so much he volunteered to be state chairman for both Tempe Ducks Unlimited and Anglers United chapters. He loved fishing, hunting and had a passion for golf.

Preceded in death by father, David LaMorte (2007), mother, Josephine LaMorte (2006). He leaves behind his loving wife of 65 yrs. Wynonia (Gene) LaMorte, two daughters, Nancy (Dave) Dobbins, Donna LaMorte, two sons, Tony LaMorte, Robert LaMorte (Dawn), two grandchildren, Jacob and Annaka, Sister, JoAnne (Tony) Carrieri, brother, Robert LaMorte, Sister in law, Sandy LaMorte, many niece s and nephews, along with many friends.

Dave will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Family and friends will gather for a Celebration of Life in the spring.

Need help writing an obituary?

We have articles that will help guide you through the process.

Deadline for obituaries is Wednesday at 5pm for Sunday. All obituaries will be approved by our staff prior to being activated. Be aware there may be early deadlines around holidays.

Call 480-898-6465 Mon-Fri 8:30-5 if you have questions.

Visit: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

Deadlines

Classifieds: Thursday 11am for Sunday Life Events: Thursday 10am for Sunday

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

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GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you.

QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates

WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR Call 480-306-5113 wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Call us to place your ad online!

480-898-6465

38

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Home Improvement

Home Improvement HOME REMODELING REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING Move a wall; turn a door into a window.

From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all. Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more.

All trades done by hands-on General Contractor.

Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable.

40 years’ experience.

Call Ron Wolfgang Please text or leave message Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934

General Contracting, Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens ✔ Bathrooms 2010, 2011 2012, “No 2013, Job Too And More!

2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2012, 2013, 2014 dent/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor 1999 Since Ahwatukee Resident / References Affordable, Quality Work 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, ences/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor 2014 Bruce at 602.670.7038

Since 1999 rdable, Quality Work BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 9 Quality Work Since 199

uce at 602.670.7038 t 602.670.7038

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

Painting

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

www.husbands2go.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949 Ask me about FREE water testing!

Hauling

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

azirrigation.com

• Old Paint & Chems.

• Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris • Old Tires

PAINTING Interior & Exterior Residential/Commercial Free Estimates Drywall Repairs Senior Discounts References Available

Plumbing

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

ALL Pro L L C

Prepare for Winter Season!

LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com

• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

Call Classifieds 480-898-6465

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81% of our readers, read the Classifieds!

— Call Jason —

NTY 5-YEAR WARRA

S E R V I C E

Drain Cleaning Experts, water heaters, disposals, water & sewer lines repaired/replaced & remodels.

Rapid Response.

If water runs through it we do it!

602-663-8432

www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

www.EastValleyTribune.com

T R E E

HOME FOR RENT? Place it here!

Plumbing

Painting

480.721.4146

• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

CALL US TODAY!

Irrigation

Landscape/Maintenance

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

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LLC

• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

All Remodeling, Additions, Kitchen, Bath, Patio Covers, Garage, Sheds, Windows, Doors, Drywall & Roofing Repairs, Painting, All Plumbing, Electrical, Concrete, Block, Stucco, Stack Stone, All Flooring, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Welding, Gates, Fences, All Repairs.

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

Irrigation Repair Services Inc.

Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs!

Painting • Flooring • Electrical Handyman Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More!

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! ks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” lumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More!

1999 e Sinc k Wor Quality Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

Landscape/Maintenance

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

HYDROJETTING

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

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ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

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SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

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www.eastvalleypainters.com Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099

39

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Pool Service / Repair

Public Notices

Juan Hernandez Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

Roofing

PHILLIPS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROPOSED STUDY RESULTS FOR THE MESA ZONE D PHASE 1 FLOODPLAIN DELINEATION STUDY WITHIN THE CITY OF MESA, MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ

COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL

The Flood Control District (FCD) of Maricopa County has conducted a floodplain delineation study (FDS) for the previously unstudied Zone D area within the City of Mesa. The FCD conducts floodplain delineation studies to identify and refine areas that are subject to flooding by a 100-year flood.

These floods have a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. The FCD also proposes to establish areas subject to a 500-year flood. These floods have a 0.2% chance of occurring in any given year.

ROOFING LLC

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

Family Owned and Operated 43 Years Experience in Arizona

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

Roofing

623-873-1626 Licensed 2006 ROC 223367 Bonded Insured

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

PhillipsRoofing.org PhillipsRoofing@cox.net

MonsoonRoofingInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident Over 30 yrs. Experience

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Free Estimates Monday through Saturday

10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof

Public Notices

Roofing

aOver 30 Years of Experience

aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!

Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663 FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hireroofing.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

Public Notices OUT WITH THE OLD, CHIP RETURN RETURN YOUR TABLE GAMES CASINO CHIPS AT HARRAH’S AK-CHIN BEFORE THEY EXPIRE! If you have Table Games Casino chips received before July 7, 2021, please redeem them at the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino cashier cage no later than March 31, 2022 for a full refund.

Disclaimer: Any discontinued Table Games chips not returned by March 31, 2022 will be void and hold no cash value. Redemption must take place at the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino cashier cage in person. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is not responsible for any unreturned Table Games chips.

INVITATION FOR PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN BUILD SERVICES: West Valley Housing Support Center, 12785 W. GRAND AVENUE, Surprise, ARIZONA 85374. A New Leaf, Inc. will receive proposals for the design build renovation of a 5,640 square foot apartment building. This project is federally funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds through the State of Arizona Department of Housing and the City of Surprise.

Federal labor standards, Davis-Bacon prevailing wages, and Equal Employment Opportunity regulations of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 for Employment and Contracting Opportunities will apply to the project. Small, minority and/ or women owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Sealed Proposals will be received until 1:00PM Arizona Time, on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at A New Leaf, 868 E University Drive, Mesa, Arizona 85203. Proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud at 1:15 PM on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at A New Leaf conference room, 868 E. University Drive, Mesa Arizona 85203. Proposal documents, including previous building plans for the proposed work and the Request for Proposals may be obtained electronically. Contact Keon Montgomery, of Real Estate at: Director kmontgomery@turnanewleaf.org, Tel 480-7333063, ext. 4311. All proposals must be a fixed firm price. A New Leaf, Inc., reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held at 10:00AM Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at the project site, 12785 W. GRAND AVENUE, Surprise, ARIZONA 85374, at which time the Client will be available to answer questions. Proposers are required to attend. Unless provided in writing, verbal authorizations or acknowledgments by anyone present will not be binding.

The Zone D area is approximately 10.2 square miles and roughly bounded by Meridian Road to the east, Baseline Road to the north, Ellsworth Road to the west, and Ray Road to the south. Phase 1 studied the portion north of Elliot Road, approximately 4.1 square miles.

As a result of this revision, this study proposes to establish Zone AE and Zone AO 100-year floodplains and Base Flood Elevations (BFE’s), and Shaded-X Zone 500-year floodplains along several watercourses and within several Regional Detention Basins.

Specifically, these floodplains and BFE’s are proposed along Crismon Channel and Crismon Channel Breakouts #1 and #2 extending from the US 60 to Elliot Road; Eastridge Channel extending from Baseline Road to near Guadalupe Road; Sunland Springs Channel extending from Baseline Road to Signal Butte Road; Guadalupe Channel extending from Santa Rita Road to Crismon Road; Siphon Draw extending from Meridian Road to Elliot Road; and the Elliot Road Regional Detention Basins EA, WA, and WB located along the north side of Elliot Road between Signal Butte Road and Ellsworth Road. Remaining areas within the study that are not one of these watercourses or Basins, are proposed to become Unshaded-X Zones, which are not Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs).

Study Documentation is pending finalization. Once it is finalized, impacted property owners will be notified. In the interim, they can review information about the study and proposed floodplains on the FCD website: https://apps.fcd.maricopa.gov/ fcdprojects/Details/71 The results will be used by the City of Mesa and the District to regulate development within the floodplains. Technical documentation for the study will be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for updating FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps which are used to determine federal flood insurance requirements and rates.

Any relevant technical information or comments can be sent to Richard Harris at 2801 W. Durango Street, P h o e n i x , A Z 8 5 0 0 9 o r Richard.Harris@maricopa.gov.

Published: East Valley Tribune, Jan. 16, 2022 / 43991

Your Ad can go ONLINE ANY Day! Call to place your ad online!!

Classifieds 480-898-6465

40

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022 Santan Fwy 202 E. Germann Rd.

Dr.

2100 S Gilbert Rd Suite #7 SW Corner of Gilbert & Germann

UP TO

25

18

cu. ft.‡‡

cu. ft.‡‡

S. Gilbert Rd.

SHOWROOM

PRICES VALID THURSDAY, JANUARY 6TH THRU WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26TH 2022

S. Stearman

HOME APPLIANCE

E. Germann Rd.

25-cu ft.‡‡ with icemaker, humidity controlled crisper and gallon-sized door bins ITEM#04650043 Limited to warehouse quantities

GLASS SHELVES

SAVE $500

124988

$

REG. 1749.99

OR

5605/WK

*

LEASE PER WEEK

30% OFF

SELECT APPLIANCES1 4.5 cu. ft.

28% OFF

24-in. dishwasher with pressurized spray nozzles and sanitize rinse option

30% OFF

ITEM#02214502

18-cu. ft.‡‡ capacity SAVE $270 refrigerator with $ 99 adjustable shelves, gallon-sized door REG. 899.99 bins and clear crisper 68 * drawers OR /WK

Limited to warehouse quantities $

SAVE 160

629

ITEM#04660512

26

LEASE PER WEEK

39988

$

REG. 559.99

28% OFF

NO CREDIT REQUIRED LEASE IT. LOVE IT. OWN IT.SM

$

OR

1578/WK

*

LEASE PER WEEK

60

Optional pedestals sold separately.

4.5 cu ft. capacity closet depth washer with 6Motion™ wash technology, ColdWash™ option and stainless steel hub

7.4 cu. ft. capacity SAVE $300 closet depth electric ON THE PAIR dryer with sensor dry, $ 99 timed dry and wrinkle EACH care options REG. 899.99 EACH

749

ITEM#02685062/DLE3400W ITEM#02645062/WM3400CW Gas dryer priced higher.

Limited to warehouse quantities

◆ TODAY

STARTS A NEW LEASE

Limited to warehouse quantities

OR

3237/WK

Make first payment of $60 today when you choose biweekly payment schedule or pay $120 today when you choose monthly payment schedule. See below for details.

Sears Home Appliance Showrooms may be independently operated by authorized franchisees of Sears Home Appliance Showrooms, LLC or by authorized dealers of Sears Authorized Hometown Stores, LLC. The SEARS mark is a service mark of Sears Brands, LLC.

*

LEASE PER WEEK