Gilbert Sun News - 03-01-2020

Butterflies at HDSOUTH this month

Gilbert Christian girls win soccer championship

PAGE 32

PAGE 26

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

This Week

Lawmakers open hearts to Gilbert couple’s cause

COMMUNITY.......... 14 Gilbert chef, 10, wows with healthy recipe.

BUSINESS................. 22 Gilbert couple opens cycle gym.

COMMUNITY...................... 14 BUSINESS............................22 OPINION...............................25 SPORTS.................................26 GETOUT................................32 CLASSIFIED.........................35

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Failed veterans project gives Gilbert a dirt devil

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

NEWS.......................... 14

FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com

T

he town has a dirty mess on its hands after a veteran’s memorial park under construction went belly-up at the southeast corner of Gilbert Road and Civic Center Drive.

Gilbert initially estimated it would cost $100,000 to return the fenced-in 7-acre site to its original state, but the figure is expected to be much higher after a surveyor found a tremendous amount of dirt at the location.

“We are in the process of figuring out how much it will cost to move that soil and make

the soil ready for a different use,” said town spokeswoman Jessica Bautista.

Gilbert took back the land it was leasing for $1 a year from Operation Welcome Home after the nonprofit last fall announced it couldn’t raise all the money to build the park.

Gilbert and Operation Welcome Home partnered on the project with the town spending $1.6 million for off-site improvements that included a parking lot and bus bay.

In the aftermath of the nonprofit’s collapse, town staff grossly underestimated how much soil was at the site and initially said there was 4,000 cubic yards.

Town Engineer David Fabiano said a survey, however, found 23,000 cubic yards of infill dirt.

That number shouldn’t have surprised the town given it approved the design documents, according to MT Builders, which was the general contractor hired by the nonprofit.

“MT Builders worked off a set of plans, which was approved and permitted by the Town of Gilbert, following the direction of (Operation Welcome Home) and their designers,” said Mark Tarver, co-founder and principal of the Scottsdale company.

see DIRT page 6

Parents slam Higley’s slow Never too young response to school bullies

G

ilbert mom Michelle Walker said she suspected something was wrong with her daughter and pressured her until she discovered the truth.

“She finally told me,” Walker said. “She was being harassed, teased and taunted. Mouse traps were set off and her lunch was taken.

“In hindsight, she didn’t want to go to school,” Walker added.

“She begged me not to send her to school every day.”

Her daughter was an 8th grader at Cooley Middle School at the time, one of two junior high campuses in Higley Unified School District.

Walker said resolution was slow in coming. So, for the sake of her daughter’s safety, she pulled her out of Cooley in January and enrolled her at another school, where she is thriving.

But Walker wanted answers from the district Governing Board because her daughter and the tormentor might eventually end up attending Williams Fields High School together.

“We can’t let kids be tormented like this,” Walker said at a Gov-

see BULLY page 4

You’re never too young to enjoy some time with LEGOs, as Soda and Miu Takahashi can testify to after spending some time at Southeast Regional Library. To see how much they and other kids enjoyed that time, turn to page 20.

(Chris Mortenson/GSN Staff Photographer)

2

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

NEWS

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune Gilbert Sun News is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Gilbert.

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Ben and Denise Denslow testifed before four legislative committees in recent weeks about their son Jake and how his suicide might have been averted had the mental health measures they have been working for three years to get in place had been enacted earlier. Lawmakers were moved by their testimony and that of other parents who lost children to suicide. (Special to GSN)

Gilbert couple’s hard work helping suicide bill’s advance

BY JIM WALSH GSN Staff Writer

A

Gilbert couple’s fight – started three years ago in the wake of their 15-year-old son’s suicide – is paying off as a sweeping mental health bill flew unscathed through a series of legislative hearings last month.

Four Senate and House committees each voted unanimously to recommend the full legislature approve Jake’s Law, which would require insurance companies to treat mental health in the same manner as physical illness, finally enforcing a 12-year-old federal law.

Another important provision would create a Suicide Mortality Review Team, aimed at identifying the root causes of each suicide as quickly as possible to prevent more deaths.

But Denise Denslow, the mother of Jacob Edward Machovsky, realizes there are still many challenges ahead before Jake’s Law reaches the desk of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who has vowed to sign it into law.

Among those steps are budget negotiations, where the bill’s $8 million price tag will be debated with many other competing priorities.

The $8 million fund’s purpose is multi-dimensional.

But one goal would expand the avail-

ability of counseling and other mental health services to students in schools, addressing problems before the grim prospect of a child viewing suicide as an option for ending their pain.

School districts would have the option of contracting with a mental health provider and billing the state or providing the services and seeking reimbursement from the state.

Mental health advocates view Jake’s Law as a critical next step in suicide prevention, beyond the Mitch Warnock Act, now requires training of school employees to recognize the early warning signs of suicide.

While it seems like a positive sign the House and Senate health and appropriations committees have endorsed Jake’s Law, without a single dissenting vote, “it’s not over. We still have to get them to vote yes,’’ Denslow said, when the bill comes before the full Legislature.

“I tell people all the time, your stories have power. It’s your stories that change hearts and minds,’’ she said. “I think it’s past time for this. We have lost our son. We can’t bring our son back, but we can make sure it doesn’t happen to someone else.’’

Three years ago, Denslow and her husband, Ben, sold their larger home near Chandler Fashion Mall, in need of

a fresh start after Jacob’s death in January 2016.

The couple moved to a smaller house in south Gilbert and plowed the money they made into launching the JEM Foundation in Jacob’s memory. They committed themselves to a non-profit charity, not a partisan political organization – even though politics were a necessary part of getting a bill passed.

“We had a lot of people tell us ‘you will never get a parity law passed in Arizona,’’’ Denslow said.

But the Denslows weren’t going to be discouraged easily.

After two hospitalizations in Sept 2015, both of them lasting five days, Jacob was discharged from an in-patient program after an insurance company ruled it was not a “medical necessity,’’ even though mental health professionals feared he was not stabilized.

An out-patient program proved inadequate when he took his own life three months later.

Despite a lack of background in politics, the Denslows embarked on a grassroots effort. They spent three years cultivating relationships and learning what it takes to get a bill passed.

They eventually found allies willing to help them. They started with Sen.

see SUICIDE page 8

4

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

BULLY from page 1

erning Board meeting. “What are you going to do?”

Walker was one of three parents who spoke at a recent school board meeting, claiming Cooley has a bullying issue.

Elton Dutro, who is an Arizona Department of Corrections sergeant, said his son was suspended Jan. 21 for punching another student.

Dutro said his son disclosed that during field day while sitting on a bench, he was being kicked numerous times in the back and even had his fingers stepped on.

His son got up and walked away and the other student followed and continued to kick him, Dutro said.

His son had enough and punched the student once, he added.

“There were many witnesses that saw what happened, however, teachers never interviewed anybody to see what exactly happened,” he said.

Dutro said administrators told him as far as they were concerned there was a zero-tolerance policy.

“The zero-tolerance is failing the kids.

My son, who was a victim of bullying, is now labeled by the administrators as the aggressor, without finding what the root of the problem was,” Dutro said.

“My son felt like the school had failed him and the bully gets to continue to roam around worried-free.”

After a five-day suspension, his son returned to Cooley and was threatened again with bodily harm by the same individual, who this time brought along his friends, according to Dutro.

Administrators decided that in order to avoid conflict his son would leave class early, he told the board.

“To me, this is ridiculous,” he said. “The school empowers the bullies to keep harassing without disciplinary actions and the victims stay victims. What are we raising? What is going on?”

He suggested the district take another look at the zero-tolerance policy and to hire certified investigators to check out complaints.

Cooley didn’t acknowledge if there is a problem.

“We definitely try to build a positive culture where students can thrive,” Principal Shawn Varner said in a released

Parents of some bullied students at Cooley Middle School said neither the school nor the district were doing enough to curb bullying. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

statement. “Cooley has a Helping Hands club and is a recognized No Place for Hate campus, where students focus on building up their peers and treating others kindly.”

District spokeswoman Michelle Reese said the district can’t comment on the specific student situations raised at the meeting.

“As with any report of concern brought to any administrator’s attention, the concern is investigated and action is taken as dictated by the events and findings surrounding the situation,” she said in an email.

She said all families are required to sign the District Code of Conduct, which sets the guidelines for consequences of actions by students.

For harassment and bullying, it ranges from a warning to detention to in-school suspension and out-of-school suspension, according to Reese.

If there is a reported violation of the conduct code, students and staff witnesses are interviewed by administration, along with taking written or documented evidence into account, she said “Appropriate consequences are given if there is a preponderance of evidence,” Reese said.

For the current academic year, there’ve been five reported harassment cases and one found incident of bullying so far at Cooley, according to Reese. The prior school year saw three harassment

cases and one found bullying incident at the campus of 950-plus students, she added.

Because of student privacy, Reese said she could not comment how those cases and incidents were resolved.

The issue, however, is being addressed, she said.

This year, both Cooley and Sossaman middle schools adopted the “Where Everybody Belongs” or WEB program for incoming 7th-grade students, Reese said. The 8th-grade students act as mentors and role models on the belief students can help students succeed.

WEB also acts as an anti-bullying program by providing the middle schools with a cadre of student leaders who look for bullying behavior and help stop it, Reese said.

“WEB gives older students permission to be aware of and report any negative behavior they see, creating a safer school for everybody,” she said.

Walker said her daughter was being bullied at Cooley since the 7th grade but didn’t tell anyone until recently because she was afraid it would escalate.

She said attempts by administrator to find a solution wasn’t fast enough. Walker and the assistant principal spent two hours one day trying to re-arrange her daughter’s class schedule so she would avoid the other student, a boy.

But because her daughter was in advanced honor classes, there was a limit-

ed number of sessions to accommodate her, Walker said.

And, Walker questioned the veracity of a school investigation, noting she notified the school board on a late Friday afternoon about her daughter’s situation, got a call from a security officer there would be an investigation and was contacted the following Tuesday that “no one saw anything.”

Walker also wanted to know what the district’s plan was for transitioning middle school students to Williams Field High School.

“There is a whole mess of kids that are troubled and being sent to Williams Field,” she said.

Walker said at her daughter’s new school, which she declined to name, there are seven other students who also left Cooley because of bullying.

Michelle Rigby, also spoke at the meeting, saying she won’t let her children attend Cooley.

“I have a 7th-grader who should be going there and a 5th grader who wants to go there,” she said. “It’s not a good fit.

The bullying issue and the reputation this school has right now don’t have my confidence to send my children there.”

Although she has no children at Cooley, she said she felt the need to speak out because she has several friends who have children there and several who have pulled their children out because of bullying.

Sarah Gates, the Cooley PTO president, said she hasn’t heard about any bullying issue at the school. Her daughter attended the school for two years and her son is currently there.

“I haven’t seen any incidents of that but that’s not to say it’s not going on,” Gates said. “Personally, our family hasn’t had any incidents of that.

As PTO president she is a point of contact for parents who have questions and concerns and the administration shares what goes on at Cooley.

“Every month at the PTO we get a full report of things that are positive on campus, which is 99 percent of the time,” Gates said. “I’m involved in those organizations because I want to know what

see BULLY page 7

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DIRT

NEWS from page 1

“The approved and permitted site plan, which we worked off of clearly showed an import fill amount of 22,856 cubic yards of dirt,” he said.

“To put that in perspective, that is about 2,000 truck loads of fill dirt.”

Councilman Jordan Ray said the town was looking at different options for disposing of the excess dirt.

For example, town officials were in talks with the developer of an apartment project under construction south of Town Hall that needed more infill, according to Ray. “Some sites need dirt in town,” he said. “We hope to use some of our dirt in those locations. A problem with Arizona dirt is some dirt you can build on, some you can’t based on different minerals and caliche or how firm.

“Because of that some dirt can’t be used in some places,” he added.

“I can’t tell if all the dirt is usable.”

He said he didn’t know what it

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

would cost the town if it had to dump the dirt in a landfill.

“At this point I don’t know of any figures yet what the cost would be,” Ray said. “The end goal is to get rid of some of the dirt at the lowest cost possible.

“The town is always looking to protect the residents of Gilbert and so they will continue to look for any options that exist,” he said.

Fabiano expected to have a plan and estimate for Council to consider in six to eight weeks.

“We are trying to find ways to get a proposal in front of the Council so they can move forward,” Fabiano said. “Right now, they’ve asked us to also use that space for a temporary facility for staff during the remodel for the municipal building.”

Gilbert is expected in December to begin an estimated $15.4 million renovation of its Municipal 1 build-

see DIRT page 7

The mounds of dirt in the backround on the site of the what was supposed to a veterans memorial park in Gilbert will cost taxpayers to remove. (Cecilia Chan/GSN Managing Editor)

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

DIRT

from page 6

ing, which houses the Council Chambers and the town’s administration such as the leadership team and the town clerk.

The year-long remodel will expand and upgrade the aging building and will buy the town time from having to construct a new facility.

If the acreage is used as a temporary site to house employees in portables during the remodel, some of that dirt will need to be removed sooner rather than later, Ray said.

For the future use of the site, the veteran’s project could be resurrected by the

BULLY from page 4

kind of climate my kids are involved in.”

She noted that junior high is a transitioning time for adolescents who are trying to figure out their place in the world and couple that with social media, it may prove challenging for students.

She said as a parent, she teaches her

2020

NEWS

town.

Council is looking at possible forming a Military and Veterans’ Committee at its March 24 meeting.

“We are working on the Military and Veteran’s Committee for the town, who will be working on reinventing the project,” said town spokeswoman Jessica Bautista.

Operation Welcome Home’s project included a resource center and a scaleddown version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The estimated cost was $3 million, which included cash and in-kind donations.

How much money the nonprofit actually took in is subject to debate.

In 2016, then-President Lisa Rigler attested the organization had $1.2 million in cash and $600,000 in in-kind donations when she applied and received a $100,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Veteran Services.

That same year, she filed a tax return with the IRS, claiming the organization had $184,646 in net assets or fund balances.

Rigler, who reportedly stepped down for health reasons from the organization before it shut down, has never respond-

FA L C O N F I E L D A I R P O RT

ed to the paper’s multiple requests for comment.

What spending GSN was able to find for the nonprofit through documents included a $284,487 check to MT Builders, $66,123 for a building permit and $17,820 for a performance bond.

The project broke ground in March 2016 and MT Builders stopped all work on the site in February 2018 after the nonprofit failed to provide more funding.

The project never advanced beyond the rough grading of the site, which was done pro bono.

GOT NEWS?

children that their actions affect others and that what kids bring with them to school, the school has to deal with it.

“I’m super involved in the PTO and always felt the administration at the school is always proactive and supportive of students,” Gates said.

Contact Cecilia Chan at 480-898-5613 or cchan@timespublications.com

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

SUICIDE from page 3

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Sean Bowie and Rep. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, then built some bi-partisan support by adding influential Republicans, including Chandler state Rep. Jeff Weninger and Chandler Sen. J.D. Mesnard.

Those allies include Sen. Kate Brophy-McGee, R-Phoenix, the chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, where Jake’s Law got a friendly reception and repeated at three other hearings.

Committee members also include co-chair Sen. Heather Carter, R-Phoenix, who has long supported suicide prevention and health-oriented legislation.

Legislators repeatedly praised the Denslows and others who lost loved ones to suicide for telling their deeply personal stories at the hearings, proving the human touch can be persuasive.

“I want you to know we know and we care,’’ Carter said, after some tearful testimony. “We will do everything we can to make sure these services are provided in a timely manner, so your sons and daughters did not die in vain.’’

Christie Lee Kinchen, a Scottsdale Realtor, told various committees how her father took his life when she was a child, how she had attempted suicide, amassing massive medical bills during her treatment.

“We need your help. Jake’s Law will save lives. You can be lifesavers,’’ Kinchen said.

Brophy-McGee responded, “the reason you are here is because God has a plan for you’’ to help others.

Randall Bass, a physicist, testified he attempted suicide in the eighth grade, leaving a gash in his head.

But after receiving treatment, Bass said he went on to a long and productive career. He said teen suicide deprives society of the contribution victims would have made if they had lived.

The Denslows told the committees how their son wanted to be a fighter pilot and loved hockey, but they recognized signs of mental illness throughout his life.

They tried virtually everything to help him and eventually, Jake was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

“We knew about these struggles at home, but he hid them from the outside world,’’ Denise Denslow testified.

Denslow said her son would likely be alive today if Jake’s Law had been in existence.

But she praised insurance companies for engaging in constructive meetings with suicide prevention advocates long before Jake’s Law was introduced, eliminating a potential source of opposition.

A representative of Blue Cross/Blue Shield was listed as a supporter of Jake’s Law on the Senate’s web site.

Many medical organizations also were listed as supporters, including the Arizona Medical Association, the Arizona Nurses Association, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the state’s three largest hospital chains, Banner, Dignity and Honor.

“People don’t see all the work that goes on behind the scenes,’’ Denslow said, praising Brophy-McGee for her work in putting together a coalition of supporters. “Ben and I have been working on this for three years.’’

She said she modeled Jake’s Law after Timothy’s Law, a similar measure in New York State. Timothy’s Law was dedicated to the memory of a 12-yearold boy who took his life.

“The system failed them. The status quo is not working. We need to make changes to save our citizens. They deserve better,’’ Denslow said.

Bowie, the early supporter of suicide prevention, said he could not be happier with the progress of Jake’s Law and it has a high probability for approval.

“This is one the most important bills we will vote on this session,’’ he said during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. “We have come so far on this issue and we have so far to go.’’

Bowie said the combination of tragic losses of life, personal testimony from the families of victims, bipartisan support and lack of opposition from the insurance industry are all factors in the bill’s momentum.

“I think it’s all coming together. It has bipartisan support,’’ Bowie said. “The more young lives we lose, the more people are touched by this issue.’’

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

NEWS

Police: Gilbert suspects fell through ceiling

GSN NEWS STAFF

A

Gilbert couple accused of stealing guns and valuables from a storage unit fell through the ceiling of a home after trying to evade police, according to a police report.

Chandler Police arrested Christian Propst, 27, and Margo Barre, 35, last month after a five-hour standoff where a SWAT unit was called out to the residence near 147th Place and Pecos Road.

The two face charges, including burglary, theft and control of stolen property and criminal damage.

Propst, who was on probation at the time, remained in custody with no bond.

Barre was released from. A preliminary hearing for the two was set for March 10.

Police said the two suspects broke into a CubeSmart Self Storage at 480 S. Arizona Avenue, on Feb. 7 and stole a safe containing 12 handguns and three assault rifles. The two also allegedly took antiques and Chinese art pieces valued at

Christian Propst $75,000, police added.

A security camera caught the suspects grinding the lock off the storage unit and forcing their way in. There was a third unidentified male suspect captured on the surveillance tape.

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Propst’s parents – identified the two suspects.

The manager reported Barre - two days before the burglary - rented the smallest storage unit at the business, which police believed had helped the suspects to

gain entry into the facility.

The victims told police they rented three units at the facility in December to store their belongings while relocating from North Carolina and were waiting to move into their new residence.

They also said Propst and Barre had helped them move items into the unit

9

broken into.

The couple said Propst is a heavy drug user who’s been in and out of rehab, according to police. Propst has drug cases dating as far back as 2010, records show.

Police reported Propst was on probation for a weapons violation and possessing narcotics for sale. The department’s Criminal Apprehension Unit last conducted a surveillance of the Gilbert home the suspects were observed at.

Propst and another man were seen loading the victims’ large gun safe into the back of a Toyota 4Runner belonging to Propst’s father, police said.

Police returned to the home with a search warrant. Barre and Propst refused to come out and barricaded themselves inside. After five hours, gas, a robot and a canine were deployed.

The couple was confirmed to be hiding in the attic and later fell through the living room ceiling and arrested. During a search, police said they found a large amount of drug paraphernalia.

10

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Walk to honor Gilbert teen killed by a drunk driver

A two-mile walk in memory of a Gilbert teen who was killed four years ago in Gilbert by an impaired driver will be held at 8 a.m. March 7 in Discovery Park, 2214 E. Pecos Road, Gilbert.

The Memorial Walk for Keli honors the memory of Keli Ariana-Renee Rutledge, 18, who was killed March 4, 2016.

“The purpose of the walk is to take back the tragedy of the day and reflect on how she lived,” said a spokeswoman for the Keli May Foundation of Gilbert, which honors her by carrying out her wish to help foster children.

Breakfast will be provided to walk participants and a $15 donation is requested.

Information: kelimayfoundation.org.

Hundreds of Gilbert kids to attend Water Festival

Over 1,600 Gilbert fifth and fourth graders will gather for the 10th Annual

David Kelly, MD Plastic Surgery

Gilbert Water Festival at the Gilbert Civic Center March 4 and 5 to learn about Arizona’s water.

The interactive community water festival is part of a curriculum unit focused on water stewardship and STEM education and sponsored by the Town of Gilbert.

The Water Festival unit includes teacher professional development, a water unit implemented by teachers and the community-supported festival.

Fourth graders learn about the groundwater system, the water cycle, watershed management, and water conservation technology by participating in interactive lessons.

Volunteers from the Town of Gilbert, UArizona Master Gardeners, Arizona Project WET’s Water Educators, and other community groups learn to facilitate lessons using exploration and inquiry.

The Arizona Water Festival program is Arizona Project WET’s longest-running program, having engaged over 132,845 students statewide since 2000.

Arizona Project WET is a program of the Water Resources Research Center and

Dr. Daniel Condie Dermatology

Arizona Cooperative Extension, both part of the University of Arizona.

New breakfast offering at Einstein Bros. Bagels

Einstein Bros. Bagels locations in Gilbert are serving up a first-of-its-kind bagel innovation, the Bagelrito.

The bagel and burrito mash-up is loaded with two cage-free eggs, thick-cut bacon, turkey sausage, three kinds of cheese, hash browns, salsa and green chilies in a flour tortilla, all hand-wrapped in Asiago bagel dough and baked fresh.

The breakfast item was available at five test locations in the Denver area for a limited time last October, where it sold out within hours. Gilbert locations include 1447 E. Williams Field Road, 899 N. Val Vista Drive and 1919 S. Gilbert Road.

GPS Kindergarten Readiness Fair helps parents prepare

Parents can learn and find resources

To schedule an appointment call

to help their child prepare and thrive in kindergarten, 8:30-11 a.m., Friday, March 6, Southeast Regional Library, 775 N. Greenfield Road.

Gilbert Public Schools is hosting the event, which includes experts, access resources, information sessions and prizes.

Free childcare is available during the information sessions. Participants are asked to arrive by 8:15 a.m.

Town kicks off spring concert series near Water Tower

Gilbert kicks off its Concert Series, 6:30 -8:30 p.m., Thursday, March 12 at the base of the town’s iconic Water Tower, 45 W. Page Avenue.

Local bands will perform a variety of genres of music. Food trucks including Tacosaurus and Kicks Frozen Yogurt will be on hand from 6-8:30 p.m.

The spring 2020 schedule is: March

see AROUND page 11

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

NEWS

Multi-million-dollar title scam arrests net 7 in EV

GSN NEWS STAFF

T

hree Gilbert men are among seven East Valley residents facing criminal charges for fraudulently issuing thousands of car titles and netting millions in revenue.

Scott Bandy, 29, of Chandler was indicted on Feb. 24 for his part in conducting an illegal enterprise meant to sidestep state regulations of the auto dealership industry.

The six other suspects arrested on Feb. 19 include Ivan Valenzuela, 32, and Oscar Valenzuela-Pena, 31, both of Chandler; Gilbert residents James Nickolas Johnson, 41, Mary Judy Fialko, 65, and James Edward Fialko, 59; Lon Isaiah Chaneyfield, 56, of Mesa.

According to court records, Bandy and his co-conspirators allegedly sold unauthorized dealer’s licenses to car sellers, allowing them to bid on vehicles at wholesale auctions from outside the state.

Arizona law requires car dealerships to obtain a license through the state Department of Transportation, which obligates applicants to pay taxes and undergo criminal background checks.

Authorities claim Bandy and his partners helped up to 1,500 people skirt around this licensing process in an illegal scam known as “curbstoning.”

This type of scheme most often involves unlicensed sellers flipping beatup cars and attempting to sell them to naïve consumers.

But curbstoning can branch out to involve a broader network of sellers trying to game the system.

The East Valley suspects are also accused of altering more than 31,000 car titles to make them look like the vehicles were sold through a licensed dealer.

Bandy and the others would allegedly charge $100 for each fraudulent title.

State authorities believe this scheme generated up to $7 million in revenue over the last couple of years – making it the biggest curbstoning operation to be taken down in Arizona.

State agencies opened an investigation into the group last March after an auto dealer association in California filed a

11

complaint.

A task force consisting of investigators from ADOT, the Department of Revenue, and Arizona Attorney General’s Office worked together to execute search warrants and gather evidence from a Mesa business and homes in Chandler and Gilbert.

“Together, our agencies are delivering a one-two punch to stop curbstoning and

illegal vehicle sales in Arizona,” ADOT Lt. James Warriner said in a statement.

The seven suspects have all been charged on multiple counts of money laundering and fraud. They’re scheduled to be arraigned in Maricopa County Superior Court on March 3.

In 2018, the Arizona Curbstoning Enforcement Task Force was formed to crack down on the growing prevalence

of fraudsters trying to evade the state’s dealership regulations.

Since it was formed, the task force has helped to arrest a Sun City auto dealer accused of not paying taxes and a Rio Rico man accused of trying to sell 112 cars without a license.

Individuals in Arizona can only sell up to six cars within a 12-month period without a state license.

12, Wide Awake-U2 Tribute; March 26, Matt Farris Country; April 9, Outside the Line; April 23, Six String Anthem; May 7, People Who Could Fly; and May 21, Low Key Dueling Pianos

The district is recruiting for teachers, paraprofessionals, social workers, bus drivers and nutrition workers for this school year and the next school year starting July 2020.

Information: gilbertschools.net/employment.

Revenue Service announced it is stepping up efforts to visit high-income earners who in 2018 and prior years failed to timely file one or more of their tax returns.

Revenue officers across the country will increase face-to-face visits with taxpayers earning in excess of $100,000 during a tax year, according to the IRS. The visits are primarily aimed at informing these taxpayers of their tax filing, paying obligations and bringing them into compliance.

AROUND from page 10

GPS holding job fair to fill scores of empty positions

Gilbert Public Schools is holding a job fair, 4-6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 4, Highland High School, 4301 E. Guadalupe Road.

IRS stepping up enforcement for high-earners who don’t file

Listen up Gilbert taxpayers, Internal

NEWS

12

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

2 Gilbert residents are MCC academic all-stars GSN NEWS STAFF

T

wo Gilbert residents are among four high-achieving Mesa Community College students who were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements and distinguished leadership at the 2020 All-Arizona Academic Team Recognition Ceremony last week.

Abby Atonal Rodriguez and Preston Peterson are among a total 26 Maricopa Community College students named to the 2020 All-Arizona Academic Team.

All-Arizona students demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service extending their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.

Each student is working toward an associate’s degree, maintains a GPA of at least 3.5 and is involved in campus and community volunteerism.

MCC said the students are awarded scholarships or tuition waivers to Arizona’s three universities by Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society

of two-year colleges Atonal Rodriguez repand academic proresents the MCC Red Moungrams; the American tain Campus and Peterson Association of Comrepresents the MCC Southmunity Colleges; ern/Dobson Campus.

Arizona Community “The All-Arizona ceremoColleges; the Arizony celebrates the outstandna Board of Regents; ing academic achievements, and the Follett Highcommunity service and diser Education Group. tinguished leadership of stuJudges include lodents enrolled in Arizona’s cal business, civic, community colleges,” an MCC education and govspokeswoman said. ernment leaders.

Speakers included Larry The second and Penley, chair-elect of the ArPreston Peterson Abby Atonal Rodriguez izona Board of Regents and third round judging takes place in James Brimhall, Northland Washington, D.C. by representatives from Education and further student success Pioneer College, Northern Arizona Unifederal agencies and national education for marginalized communities. versity alumnus and previous All-Arizoassociations. Scores from the national Peterson plans to transfer to Arizona na Scholarship Award recipient. competition determine each state’s team State University to obtain a bachelor’s in He completed an internship with Arirankings. health care business and then pursue a zona Public Service at the Palo Verde NuAtonal Rodriguez plans to transfer to doctorate in physical therapy. clear Generating Station before accepting the University of Michigan to pursue a His goal is to open a health and well- a job with Sandia National Laboratories doctorate in sociology. Her career goal is ness clinic focused on spine care and re- in Albuquerque and obtaining his MBA to work for the Arizona Department of search. from the University of New Mexico.

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GilbertSunNews.com

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

For more community news visit gilbertsunnews.com

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Sonoma Ranch student triumphs over rare cancer

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA GSN Contributor

O

n Feb. 13, Braydon Felix, his mother Lori Young, his physicians, medical team and others celebrated the end of the 10-year-old Ahwatukee boy’s treatment for stage 4 neuroblastoma at Banner Children’s at Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa.

It had been a long and trying run since his diagnosis Oct. 1, 2018, so those chocolate cupcakes at the celebration were sweeter for more reasons than the mound of vanilla icing.

“It’s been a rough year,” Braydon said. “I feel relieved. I’m done.”

He was frightened when he was admitted to the hospital shortly after his routine doctor appointment in October.

“I had to go to the hospital right then

hospital stays as he underwent a staggering array of treatments including five rounds of chemotherapy, six rounds of immunotherapy and 12 rounds of radiation therapy.

Then there was a stem-cell transplant at Banner Children’s at DiaBrandon Felix endured painful treatments for a rare form of cancer and made it largely mond Children’s with the help of his mother Lori Young’s encouragement. She has a tatoo bearing some Medical Center of her encouraging wordsL “You have to fight the fight.” (Special to GSN)GSN) in Tucson. and there,” he recalls. “It was frightening.”

Neuroblastoma, mainly found in chilThere were to be many long months of dren under 5, develops from immature

nerve cells.

It mainly attacks the adrenal glands, but can also affect other areas of the abdomen, as well as the chest, neck and nerve fibers that run along the spine. There are about 800 new cases of neuroblastoma each year in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society.

As of January, Braydon is back at Sonoma Ranch Elementary School, the Gilbert school he attended when he was diagnosed.

His illness and mounting healthcare costs had required his mother Lori Young and 13-year-old brother Porter, to move to Ahwatukee and live with Young’s boyfriend, Danny Corpus, a 25-year Southwest Airlines employee.

It was 16 months of trying times for

within 20 minutes.

Each aspiring kid chef’s entry was judged on nutrition, taste and originality with five finalists chosen and invited to present their recipes at a Phoenix Suns game in February. The public also got to vote online for their favorite dish.

A spokeswoman for the health insurance company did not respond to questions asking how many contestants entered this year and how many votes each finalist received.

Coming up with the recipe for her winning dish wasn’t hard at all, Josslyn said.

“I just added all my favorite veg-

etables into a tortilla,” she said, adding her mom did suggest adding the chives and onion cream cheese.

Josslyn said she first tested the dish on her family and got the thumbs up.

“I like to cook it five times a week,” she said. “I always make them for my aunt and uncle.

“I think it’s important to eat healthy, it affects how you grow.”

Today, about 1 in 3 Americans, adults and children, have obesity, which is over 100 million people, according to the Trust for America’s Health.

The incidence of obesity in the country has increased by 70 percent over the last three decades for adults and by 85 percent over the same time period for children, the nonprofit reported.

And, if the trend continues by 2030

see CANCER page 18

Gilbert chef, 10, captures cooking prize

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

A

t 10 years old, Josslyn Michael is already a whiz in the kitchen, cooking up creative dishes.

But the Houston Elementary School fifth-grader was still in awe when she nabbed the grand prize in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Walk On! Kids Cooking Challenge.

“Yeah, I was really shocked,” the Gilbert girl said. “I didn’t know what to say.”

Josslyn beat out four other finalists with her veggie burrito, chock full of her favorite veggies like purple cabbage, bell peppers and carrots.

In the 15th annual contest, children, 9 to 12, came up with an original recipe for a hot or cold side dish that was healthy.

The dish had to include at least one fruit and or vegetable and could be cooked

Josslyn Michael of Gilbert shows off her prizewinning dish. (Special to GSN)

see CHEF page 17

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

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Clear Title Agency bringing new technology to real estate closings

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Clear Title Agency of Arizona has introduced a tech-savvy solution for depositing earnest funds during a real estate transaction.

The Arizona-based company has teamed up with the application provider Zoccam to bring customers enhanced options that utilize technology to improve the real estate closing process.

This new technology being offered by Clear Title, allows earnest money to be deposited via mobile app using a photo of the check. The earnest money deposit is a key step to officially opening escrow during a real estate transaction.

Clear Title Agency Executive Vice President Mike Winters says his company saw the need in the marketplace and took the initiative to find a solution.

“We open thousands of real estate transactions each year and we listen to feedback from those customers,” Winters says.

“This type of thing has been around in consumer banking but not been available when accepting deposits for earnest funds during a real estate transaction. It’s new and unique to our industry. As a locally owned and operated company we are proud to be leading on this and bringing new technology to the market.”

The mobile app is easy, he adds. Customers can download the free app from the App store for Apple users, or Google Play for Android devices. Once they download the app, they create an account and take a photo of their check to deposit earnest money needed to start the escrow process.

“Prior to this technology, title companies needed to be in possession of the physical check to receipt in earnest money.

With this new technology, the process is expedited saving everyone valuable time.

The mobile app is being quickly adopted and has already been used by customers in every single Clear Title branch location.

Locally owned and operated, Clear Title Agency of Arizona provides full-service residential and commercial title and escrow services with multiple locations across the Valley and in Flagstaff. The company has been recognized by Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies and Phoenix Business Journal’s Best Places to Work numerous times and ranks in the top 1% of all First American agents nationally.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Library has a busy lineup for March GSN NEWS STAFF

W

ith a new month comes a whole new series of activities and presentations at Southeast Regional Library.

The library is located at 775 N. Greenfield Road, Gilbert and is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

Here’s the lineup for February. Unless otherwise noted, registration is required at mcldaz.org/southeast or 602652-3000.

March 2, 5-6:30 p.m.

Social Security Planning Get the answers to your social security questions. Jack Burns, spokesman for the Social Security Administration, will discuss eligibility, effects of early retirement, maximizing benefits, and other topics.

March 4, 2-3 p.m.

Roadmap to memory care Learn about memory care communities for those experiencing Alzheimer’s, dementia and other forms of memory loss. Find out about staffing and different levels of care, as well as short-stay respite care alternatives. Includes time for questions. Presented by Koelsch Communities.

March 4, 6-8:15 p.m.

Movie time See the latest movie starring the lizard that put giant monsters on the map.

Ages 12-18 only. Snacks provided.

March 10, 4-5 p.m.

Citizen Science Contribute to scientific research by participating in citizen science. Connect with others in the community and learn about new opportunities, share your findings, and learn what the library has to offer to support citizen science ef-

forts. Age 10 and up accompanied by an adult.

March 11, 1-2 p.m.

Audio books Meet an award-winning audio book narrator. Recorded Books presents Johnny Heller, a narrator for over 800 titles for adults, teens, and children.

Learn about audio book creation and narration in this humorous performance, followed by a lively Q & A session.

6-7:30 p.m.

Teens crafters Teens ages 12-18 can enjoy a fun evening of crafting. All materials provided.

March 13, 2-3:30 p.m.

Tea party with the hummingbirds Visit the library to enjoy tea and snacks while learning about hummingbirds, some of the Riparian’s smallest residents from Park Naturalist Jennie

Rambo. Afterwards, there is a guided tour of the pollinator garden to greet the birds up-close. Please bring your own tea cup if you prefer not to use a disposable cup.

March 16, 10-11:30 p.m.

Creative Crafters -- Zentangle New crafters and all skill levels are always welcome. Project is self-directed, all supplies will be provided.

March 17, 6-7:30 p.m.

Out: A Teen Alliance LGBT teens and the LGBT community’s allies are invited to Southeast Regional Library for Out: A Teen Alliance.

This program will vary monthly and focus on various topics.

March 20, 10-11:30 a.m.

Computer Basics Learn the necessary skills to begin

see LIBRARY page 17

THE PPE IS TUESDAY, MARCH 17.

The Democratic Party is the only political party participating this year, which means only registered Democrats can vote in the PPE. Learn the rules and find out how to participate at AZCleanElections.gov/PPE, or call 877-631-8891 for more information.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

CHEF

from page 14

nearly 1 in 2 adults will be obese and nearly 1 in 4 adults are projected to have severe obesity, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Eating and cooking healthy foods comes naturally for Josslyn whose mom is her role model.

“I’ve made vegetables for the kids since they were little so they eat it now and like it,” said mom of three Jenna Michael.

“With the right seasoning they would like any of the vegetables.”

Michael said Josslyn took to cooking at

LIBRARY

from page 16

using computers with lessons on a computer mouse, keyboard and various introductory computer programs. This class is for those new to computers and requires no previous experience. Computers will be available during the session.

March 23, 6-7:15 p.m.

Craft Chocolate 101

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COMMUNITY

17

a young age.

“She has been doing it quite a while,” she recalled. “When she was 5 or 6 she was interested in it and was helping me cook.

“Now that she is big she can read a recipe on her own and does the whole thing.”

Michael said she didn’t know about the cooking challenge until Josslyn brought home a flier from school and wanted to enter. Josslyn likes to watching TV cooking shows like Kids Baking Challenge.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona teams

up with elementary schools throughout the state for the annual contest in an effort to motivate kids to incorporate healthy habits into their daily routines Michael gave high marks for Josslyn’s veggie burrito.

“I love it,” she said. “When we made it the first time, it was ‘oh my gosh, I could eat it every day.’ It’s so good.”

Michael said most people don’t incorporate enough vegetables into their diet and what makes Josslyn’s recipe so good is they can change out the vegetables to

ones they like.

Jossyln’s prize is a bicycle. Although she has not picked one out yet, she knows she is gifting it to her 13-year-old sister.

That was one of her original intentions for entering the contest. The other reason for entering was she wanted to share her creation with everyone, she said.

Josslyn said she hasn’t created any new recipes in the kitchen yet.

“I’m thinking about it,” she said, “something healthy.”

A deep dive into the world of craft chocolate. Learn how cocoa beans are transformed into chocolate & discover the world of natural flavors that can be found in craft chocolate. Presented by Zak’s Chocolate. Tastings included.

get the most out of your library card.

We will cover how to find the books and media you need, online resources, holds & requests, how to sign-on to library computers.

changed the course of history.

March 25, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Library 101 Learn how to navigate the library and

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CANCER

from page 14

them and though the end of treatments has brought a measure of relief, the memories of all they endured remain.

Even so, Braydon, who loves animals and races, recalls his family and friends helping him to stay positive.

His experience prompts him to convey a positive message to other children who find themselves battling cancer.

“I say try and get somebody to encourage them to be positive, and never give up,” he stated. “Fight, and never give up.”

‘Fight to Finish’ is now a family motto, and one Lori Young had tattooed on her forearm after her youngest son’s last cancer treatment. It stems, she said, from a moment she will never forget.

“About two weeks into Braydon’s treatment he broke down and cried and said ‘I don’t wanna do this, I want to give up, I would rather die,’” she recalled.

“As a parent, that’s the last thing you’d think you’d hear from your child, let alone at 9 years old. He felt that horrible about what he was going through.”

“We had to tell him we’re not letting you give up,” Young continued. “This is a fight that you’re going to fight and we’re going to hold your hand through it and we’re going to do it together as a family. And we did. On those long days I would tell him over and over ‘you have to fight to finish!’”

Those words, “You have to fight to fin-

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

ish,” are now tattooed in beautiful script on Young’s left forearm.

“I got the words tattooed on myself because it’s an everyday reminder and every time I look at it, it reminds me how hard he fought, and that he’s absolutely the strongest person I’ve ever known and ever will know in my whole life. He’s my son and he’s only 10 and he’s so brave,” she said.

Bravery was required of all the family as exponentially-mounting expenses cost them their Gilbert home.

“When Braydon was diagnosed in October 2018, I had to pretty much abandon everything; I lost our home, I lost our furniture - even the kids’ beds. My job provided a storage space to keep our things which was 12 boxes,” the single mother recalled.

“I needed to move somewhere where I had support and help to take care of the boys,” she said. “Braydon’s dad lives out of state and we moved in with Danny, who took care of us, and has been by our side 100 percent.

“He stayed in the hospital with him, took him to many of his appointments, was with us at the celebration party, and really is Braydon’s best friend.”

To help her sons maintain some semblance of stability, they were allowed to remain at their Gilbert schools.

Young has been employed with MacDonald Orthodontics in Gilbert since the family moved to Arizona eight years ago.

Braydon’s fourth grade teacher at Sonoma Ranch Elementary, Kathie Linden, volunteered to be his homebound teacher.

“She went to the hospital to work with him but mostly she worked at our home where she came for hours a week,” said Young.

Because of his year of hospitalization, Braydon returned to fourth grade in January and is once again in Linden’s classroom.

She said she’s happy to have him.

“Braydon was a trooper throughout his treatment,” said Linden, who has taught at Sonoma Ranch 16 of her 25 years in teaching. “He always worked hard and had a good attitude about his work.

“His courage and positive attitude has always amazed me,” Linden added. “He’s become my hero throughout this last year.”

Moving forward without constant hospital stays is the new reality for Braydon and his family.

And yet, the memories remain carved into his mother’s psyche.

“His diagnosis was the scariest moment in my whole life,” she admitted. “And of course, everything that everybody is telling you is like hearing another language

and you have no idea what’s going on and on top of that you have the feeling you’re in a whole other world that you don’t even know.”

Positivity had been previously ingrained in the family and that helped them endure the unthinkable, said Young.

“As his mother, I’m a happy person and always smiling. Both of my children have been raised around happiness and we don’t put each other down, but are always encouraging each other to do better,” she said.

“Don’t get me wrong, they do get in trouble and I do raise my voice but we didn’t have room for negativity or thinking the worst. We focused on getting through our situation. Even when things were so bad, there were still positive things in it all and that is what we focused on.”

Braydon’s focus – besides waiting to see his hair grow back – is on a hope to go to Africa on safari.

And that is a possibility if his Make-AWish wish is granted. The family hopes to have word by the end of March.

In the meantime, there are drag races to attend, school attendance to actually appreciate and life without hospitals and various treatments.

“I’m happy to be home,” he said, “and not have to be in the hospital all the time.”

done exceptional work serving East Valley women and families.

Nicely will be recognized “for her critical work in founding and developing a non-profit organization in Gilbert that supports individuals and families who have been victims of child abuse, domestic violence, and other traumas.”

In addition to offering direct victim services, Nicely has spearheaded efforts to develop advocacy centers and renovate shelters, as well as provide training and education in awareness, prevention and treatment, Positive Paths said.

Smith is the medical director and primary on-site physician for Mission of Mercy and Paula Wirth founded the Desert Cancer Foundation of Arizona.

Wirth has spent more than two decades

as a leader at every level for many East Valley causes and organizations.

She will be recognized with the East Valley Legacy Award, given for long-term outstanding contribution to women and families.

Wirth is a founding member, president and events chairperson, for the Desert Cancer Foundation of Arizona, which has provided free mammograms to more than 1,500 women.

Proceeds from the gala on April 16 benefit Positive Paths, which serves East Valley women with education and mentoring programs.

Sponsorships, tables and tickets are available at positivepathsaz.org/annual-gala.

Positive Paths honoring Gilbert woman GSN NEWS STAFF

A

Gilbert woman is among three people who will be honored next month with East Valley Man and Woman of the year awards by Positive Paths.

The regional nonprofit, whose mission is “building life bridges for women,” will salute Jessica Nicely, founder/CEO of Winged Hope Family Advocacy Foundation as its East Valley Woman of the Year.

Dr. Brad Smith will be honored as man of the year at Positive Path’s annual East Valley Night of Heroes Gala on April 16 at Stonebridge Manor in Mesa.

The “Igniting a Future” gala will include silent and live auction items, as well as time to honor those individuals who have

Jessica Nicely

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

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LEGO time PHOTOS BY CHRIS MORTENSON/GSN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Southeast Regional Library offers kids a chance to let their imagination go wild 4-4:30 p.m. the third Thursday of the month with LEGO time. Enjoying last month’s session were, clockwise from top left: Kohl Vanrooy, Jun Hogson, William Goodall, Anastasia Rusev and Katarina Rusev, Nora Mcarther and Nora Tinnesand, Jeremiah Rusev, William Goodall and Alexander Kramer,, and Jack and David Hall.

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BUSINESS

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Gilbert cycling gym a new way to fitness

W

hen people leave the CycleBar on Santan Village Parkway, they’ll leave intoxicated with their endorphins released from a fullbody workout.

Julian and Karen Loveday in January opened the indoor cycling studio, where members can pedal and also work their upper body with weighed bars.

Gilbert is the franchise’s sixth and latest location in the Valley. Each franchise is independently owned.

So far, close to 200 people have bought memberships and the goal is to build up to 500 members over the course of the next few months, Julian said.

“Eighty percent of the members here do not ride outside,” he said. “They prefer indoors when you take into account the summers here.”

With triple-digit heat, cyclists tend to ride when it’s cooler – and that generally means it’s still dark outside and visibility is limited, he said.

And, he added Arizona ranked in the top 10 in the country for having the worst drivers.

“So many people are hit – cyclists and pedestrians by motor vehicle drivers,” he said.

Besides avoiding inattentive or aggressive motorists, inclement weather and flat tires, cyclists can work at their own fitness level guided by a certified CycleStar instructor while listening to heart-pumping music from the business’ proprietary playlist database.

“We want to know what their goals are,” Julian said. “If they are to ride 100 miles up a mountain the next year or the goal is to lose weight, we work on whatever their goals are.”

The 2,513-square-foot studio offers 49 state-of-the-art stationary bicycles for members and one for the instructor. After each class, members are sent stats such as distance and calories

fueled by Gen Z and millennials, who have a higher interest in fitness and gravitate towards a more community-based experience when it comes to fitness, according to Glofox, a gym and studio management software company.

Between 2012 and 2015, memberships to boutique fitness studios grew by 70 percent while membership at the big-box gyms grew by 5 percent, Glofox reported.

Karen, who is not a bicyclist, Julian and Karen Loveday recently opened their CycleBar at Santan Village, promiswas hooked while trying her first ing a good workout on a bike without worrying about getting hit by a car.

(Chris Mortenson/GSN Staff Photographer)) CycleBar class in California.

“The 45-minute workout went by so quickly,” she said. “And it was so gether, ‘we ride as one’ is our motto,” she burned from their workout. much fun it did not feel like a workout. It “They get all of it in an email and don’t said. was very new to me and it was fantastic.”

The studio offers a number of memhave to have anything exposed on a leadJulian, who also is an avid outdoor cyerboard in front of the class,” Karen said. bership packages from once a week to What sets CycleBar apart from the be- unlimited rides for a month. It also has clist, said it was their first time trying inhemoth chains like LA Fitness and Plan- a retail component, selling items like leg- door cycling and “we loved it.”

According to the company, CycleBar et Fitness is what the Lovedays call the gings, T-shirts and hoodies. has nearly 200 locations in the counThe studio can be rented out for parties “white-glove experience.” try.

Currently, people can only use their “When you walk into Mountainside and group events and it offers themed membership at the franchise location Fitness, it’s just a massive gym and in- rides such as the one it held for Valenthey purchased it from but Xponential is timidating and it’s intimidating to me tine’s Day. And because it values giving planning to introduce a system later this and I’ve been a fitness fanatic all my life,” back to the community, CycleBar partJulian said. “It’s not quite the same feel- ners with local charities to help them year that would enable members to use ing when people come to CycleBar. We raise funds. The Gilbert location is cur- other CycleBar locations, Julian said.

The couple currently lives in Phoenix help you get your shoes and lockers and rently working on forming a partnership but has plans to move to Gilbert as soon help you get on the bike especially if you with two nonprofits. as possible.

Julian and Karen fell into the franchise are first-time rider.”

They are licensed by Xponential to Julian said CycleBar is about “building by chance. open three locations and for their next “I was in the corporate world for 34 a community and getting to know people venture, they may open a Yoga Six studio. years,” Julian said. “And after I left them, better.”

“Gilbert is such a great market in terms He likened CycleBar’s atmosphere to I was approached by a franchise consulof growth and affluence and awareness that of the TV sitcom “Cheers,” about a tant.” in health and wellness,” Julian said.

He and Karen were invited to XponenBoston bar where “everybody knows your name.”

“We’re developing that spirit of community where you walk in and feel part of the team, the community and the family,” Julian said.

Karen agreed.

“It’s quite the experience to ride to-

tial Fitness headquartered in California, which owns CycleBar and seven other brands such as YogaSix, StretchLab and Pure Barre.

These boutique fitness studios, which are small gyms that focus on one or two specific fitness areas are a growing trend

IF YOU GO

What: CycleBar Gilbert Where: 2484 S. Santan Village Pkwy.

Suite 103 Info: 480-912-1253 or gilbert@cyclebar.com

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OPINION

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Opinion GilbertSunNews.com

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For more opinions visit gilbertsunnews.com /Gilber tSunNews

Improved communication needed for food recalls

BY ADAM GARBER GSN Guest Writer

A

s consumers, we rely on the food safety system when we buy groceries. And, we expect that if one of our purchases has been recalled our grocery store will warn us.

However, a new report by the Arizona PIRG Education Fund states that Americans are not hearing about food recalls, and that communication breakdown can have serious repercussions for public health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 48 million Americans continue to get sick from the food they eat every year. Although the food safety system focuses on getting recalled food out of stores, individual consumers may be unaware they have contaminated food in a pantry, refrigerator or freezer in their home.

Effective communication about recalls is

critical to combat foodborne illness. Although they might not be the cause of a recall, grocery stores are access points in the food safety system in which consumers frequently interact.

Grocery stores often have unique information about us and our purchasing habits making it easy to improve transparency about recall notification efforts. And they should.

Based on publicly available information, the Arizona PIRG Education Fund recently assessed whether the nation’s 26 largest supermarket chains tell customers about recall policies, in-store notification and notification.

Eighty percent of the nation’s 26 largest supermarket chains – including Albertson’s, Safeway and Whole Foods – received a failing grade for recall information. Only Harris Teeter, Kroger, Smith’s and Target passed.

To avoid consumers needing to hunt to find out if food they purchased was recalled: FDA and USDA should: • Require stores to make recall notifica-

tion policies available on their website and upon request.

• Require stores to post signs about recalls at the cash register and on the store shelf where the product would normally appear for at least two weeks for perishable food and for at least one month for frozen foods.

• Require stores to create direct customer notification programs that alert consumers of recalled products within 48 hours of a recall.

Grocery stores should: • Post food recall notification policies on their website and provide a copy upon request.

• Post signs for recalls at the cash register and on the store shelf where the product would normally appear for at least two weeks for perishable food and for at least one month for frozen foods.

Use the information collected through

6 TH

loyalty programs to directly alert customers of recalled products within 48 hours of a recall.

Consumers should: • Sign up for recall alerts on the FDA website at fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts and USDA website fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/home.

• Follow FDA and USDA social media accounts for updated information about recalls.

• Ask the customer service desk for information about how you can be notified about recalls for food you purchase and where recall notices are posted in the store.

- Adam Garber is the consumer watchdog for the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, an organization that conducts research and education on issues in the public interest. The organization’s report, Food Recall Failure, can be found at arizonapirgedfund.org.

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Gilbert Christian wins 3A girls soccer title

BY BRITTANY BOWYER GSN Contributor

T

he state championship game is a moment many high school athletes dream of, but only few have the opportunity to compete in.

In an exciting matchup, the Gilbert Christian Knights defeated the Sahuarita Mustangs, 1-0, to win the 3A girls soccer state championship on Friday, Feb. 21 at Williams Field High School in Gilbert.

Sahuarita came out strong in the first half, outshooting Gilbert Christian 9-2.

Knights’ goalkeeper Emma Borgman held her own in the net, holding the Mustangs scoreless throughout the half despite being tested early on.

“She’s been a huge part of our team the whole season, but for her to step up like that and be able to watch that ball every

Gilbert Christian’s girls soccer program captured its first state championship Friday, Feb. 21 after beating Sahuarita.

(Pablo Robles/GSN Staff)

time and get hands-on it was amazing,” Gilbert Christian senior Landyn Lovelady said of Borgman. “You could not ask for a better keeper in a big moment like that.

This win would not have happened without her.”

Both teams felt the pressure mounting after a scoreless first half. It’s when Lovelady, who is one of the top goal scorers for the Knights, took over. She scored what ended up being the only goal of the game in the with just under three minutes into the second half.

“It was amazing,” Lovelady said. “Just because I was the one who scored doesn’t mean it wasn’t a team effort. As much as it was my goal, it was the whole team.”

Lovelady found herself in a unique sit-

see

SOCCER page 28

San Tan Charter wins CAA D3 championship

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

S

an Tan Charter’s basketball team knew there were challenges with facing Heritage Academy-Maricopa in the Canyon Athletic Association Division 3 boys basketball championship.

Heritage came into the contest Tuesday night at Talking Stick Resort Arena as the second-ranked team in the division and was the third-highest scoring team in the nation. The Heroes were led by a pair of sophomore guards both averaging more than 20 points per game.

San Tan coach Derek Freeman prepared each one of his guards to shut down Heritage’s sharp-shooters, and they did just that.

Led by senior guard Kahan Shoulders’ 22 points, the Roadrunners quickly built

A complete team performance helped lead San Tan Charter’s boys basketball team to a dominating win in the Division 3 Canyon Athletic Association state championship Tuesday night. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff)

up a large lead and went on to defeat Heritage 97-56 to capture the program’s third

basketball state title.

“I just feel so good for the kids, man,”

Freeman said. “The boys that felt the pain from losing last year, we felt like we got a piece of the puzzle back. It’s amazing.”

San Tan showed its ability to get out and run in transition from the opening tip, as the Roadrunners quickly built to a double-digit lead just four minutes into the opening quarter.

The Roadrunners’ speed on both ends of the floor caught the Heroes off guard, as they struggled with ball control and were unable to find uncontested shots. Turnovers swung all momentum in favor of the Roadrunners, who capitalized.

Senior guard Elias Vargas quickly got into a rhythm, slashing through defenders for easy baskets at the glass. He was often involved in fast-break opportunities, most of which resulted in points for the 6-foot-2 senior.

see

BASKETBALL page 28

SPORTS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

27

Casteel wins 5A girls soccer state championship

BY BRITTANY BOWYER GSN Contributor

S

porting white ribbons in their hair to remember their late principal Sandy Lundberg, the top-ranked Casteel Colts girls soccer team took the field at the state championships for the second time in three years.

In a dominant game, the Colts blanked No. 10 Ironwood Ridge 3-0 to capture the 5A girls soccer state championship.

Casteel came out of the gate strong both offensively and defensively, keeping the ball mostly in Ironwood Ridge territory.

However, Ironwood Ridge played solid defense and showed it deserved a shot.

The first and only goal of the first half was scored off a corner kick. With about 24 minutes left in the first half, Casteel senior Lily Lentz kicked the ball in to play, nearly scoring on its own. But her teammate and fellow senior Samantha Anger headed it into the back of the net.

“Lily kicked the most amazing ball ever,”

The Casteel girls soccer program captured their second state championship in three years Tuesday night after beating Ironwood Ridge 3-0. (Brittany Bowyer/GSN Contributor)

Anger said. “It probably would have already went in and it barely even went off my head. I just want to give her all the glory because it was all her, but I just happened to be there at the end.”

“It was such a relief we were able to execute it and get it, especially in the state

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championship,” Lentz added.

Casteel coach Jason Hammonds said corner kicks became the team’s strong point and acknowledged how dangerous they can be for other teams.

“If we can’t get the shot off, we are actively looking to get the corner,” Ham-

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At the beginning of the second half, Ironwood Ridge started to pick things up and kept the ball out of their territory. However, it was short-lived as Casteel scored thanks to a perfect kick up the center of the field by junior Morgan Lewis.

However, Casteel freshman Nathalie Lewis wasn’t going to let her older sister be the only one to get in on the action.

With just over 13 minutes left, she scored a goal, extending Casteel’s lead to 3-0. The crowd went wild and chanted, “she’s a freshman!”

“It’s amazing,” Morgan Lewis said. “The both of us scored and the both of us playing on the same team and being able to connect off each other provides for a really good experience for a high school.”

“I knew if she scored then I’d score to keep us hyped, so it just felt good,” Nathalie Lewis added.

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SPORTS

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Vargas scored 17 of his 19 total points in the first half, which helped San Tan jump out to a commanding 28-point lead after two quarters.

“This was mine, Kahan and the seniors’ last game together,” Vargas said. “We wanted to win a championship for us and for our school. It’s what was most important.”

Shoulders made his presence known on defense in the first half, recording four of his six total steals and five rebounds. The senior found a shooting rhythm in the second half, which was capped off with a three-pointer near the end of the fourth quarter.

One of four captains on the team, Shoulders came into the championship game hoping to help his team seek redemption after last season’s title-game loss. He was an integral part of San Tan’s 27-3 overall record this season and was awarded the game’s Most Valuable Player Award for his 22 points, seven assists, six steals and six

rebounds.

“I had to come out here and perform well for my team,” Shoulders said. “We came up short last year and it was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had. I wanted to make sure I did whatever I could to help my team win the championship.

“This feels great, and it’s well deserved.”

Shoulders and Vargas were two of eight total players to record points for San Tan in the championship game. Five of those players scored 10 or more points.

Junior guard Demetrus Johnson scored four points early on in the game, but his impact was felt in other ways.

The 5-foot-10 Johnson leads the team in assists and is No. 4 overall in the state.

Along with his four rebounds, he recorded a team-high 8 assists in the Roadrunners’ win. Johnson shrugged off his low point total, explaining to him, points don’t matter.

“My goal is to get everyone the ball before I even think about scoring myself,”

Johnson said. “Just seeing everyone scoring like they were, it made my job easier to distribute the ball.”

Despite 26 points from sophomore guard Logan Porter, 12 points from sophomore guard Josh Deakyne and 11 points from sophomore forward Malik Charles, Heritage was unable to find its way back into the game.

It was a complete team performance for San Tan in its state-championship win.

Something Freeman says isn’t uncommon for his program. The players all share a special bond they molded - thanks to the countless hours spent with one another both in and outside of the gym at the school’s Gilbert campus.

Freeman said he will enjoy the win then look for the next challenge, which involves helping get all of his seniors to the next level.

“For me it’s about what schools I can get these seniors to,” Freeman said. “There’s a lot of four years that would benefit from

having some of these guys on their team.

The game has done so much for me as far as networking, family, all of the benefactors of that I’m trying to use to help them.”

Despite the loss of several senior starters, including Shoulders and Vargas, Freeman believes this year’s team set a strong foundation for the program’s future. One he believes will benefit them going forward as they make the move to the Arizona Interscholastic Association next season to compete in the 2A Conference.

The move means more teams, a potential for tougher competition and a lot of travel. But it’s a challenge the Roadrunners believe they’re ready for, especially with three CAA championships under their belt.

“We are looking at the AIA like a pack of hungry wolves,” Freeman said. “We are ready to go. We are ready for new challenges, tournaments, hopefully 5A and 6A teams let us play them to test ourselves.

We are ready for all of that.”

ity to push each other to get to this point.

He also touched on how they’re going to be such an integral part of next year’s team.

After the game with tears in their eyes, Lentz and Anger reflected on what it was like to not only win two state titles during their time at Casteel but to go out with a win and do it with some of their team-

mates they’ve played with their whole life.

“It’s an amazing feeling, some of us girls have played together since we were six,” Anger said. “So to win a state championship with them is nice.”

“It definitely was hard. We worked for it. It was not easy for us, but it’s amazing,” Lentz added. “A lot of us have played soccer together since we were really little so

to get not only one, but two, it means the world.”

The cherry on top, of course, was winning it for Lundberg. Lundberg passed away in the summer of 2018 after a long battle with cancer. She was a huge supporter of the girls soccer program and made it a point to make it out to every game.

“Not having Sandy on the sidelines was incredibly difficult,” Hammond said. “We miss her greatly.”

“She was such a big part of our program when we started and we wear the white for the white buffalo because she always wanted us to be unique and one of a kind,” Anger added. “It’s just an amazing feeling we get to carry on her legacy.”

uation this winter, as she competed parttime with the soccer and girls basketball teams at Gilbert Christian. Juggling both sports impacted her ability to practice at times, but she still made found ways to impact games throughout the regular and postseason.

“I didn’t get to be at a lot of the practices so when I was there, it was vital we worked on creating the chemistry and create the pass we were going to be taking on corners to know exactly where we were going to be dropping the ball,” Lovelady said.

Gilbert Christian coach Jay Feely, a former kicker for the Arizona Cardinals, said the focus of the team this season was to

always finish. Whether in drills at practice or in a regular-season game, this mindset helped will the Knights to their most important win of the season.

But like Lovelady, Feely credited Borman for her role in holding Sahuarita scoreless.

“We have a great goalie, she played like a stud in the semifinals and the finals,” Feely said. “To get to shutouts and to not let two teams get the ball in the net is just awesome.”

Sahuarita, the 8-seed, battled through adversity in the form of injuries to key players this season. The Mustangs were without one of their leading scorers from last season in junior Kambria Cash, who suffered a torn ACL, as well as one of the

top defenders for most of the season. Sahuarita coach Jim Rawlings said when they got some of their leaders back from last year’s playoff-bound team, things started to click.

“We were actually undefeated for 16 or 17 games from this point on starting back from the Palo Verde tournament,” Rawlings said. “I think our kids played 100 percent, we just weren’t connecting, and they played very good defense.”

While a tough loss for Sahuarita, the future remains bright. The Mustangs only have two seniors on the roster this season, Alexia Irigoyen and Apple Otero-Morales.

Freshmen Sam Wright and Rylee Arrington, as well as sophomore Lina Braca-

monte, will return after leading the team in goals this season. Cash will also return as a senior.

“We’ll go back like we did this last year,” Rawlings said. “We got in the weight room for the first time over the summer and worked on our conditioning and worked on getting stronger, and let’s get back to work.

“When you lose like this, you want to get back out there and get to work.”

Lovelady credited Sahuarita for its relentless play throughout the entire match.

“Sahuarita played an amazing game,” Lovelady said. “They fought hard and I couldn’t have asked for a better championship game against them.”

CASTEEL from page 27

SOCCER from page 26

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Open Mon Noon to 5:30 pm; Tue–Sun 10 am to 5:30 pm. Brokers welcome. Homes available nationwide. Prices subject to change without notice. Photos are images only and should not be relied upon to confirm applicable features. *Offer, if any, is valid for new buyers who purchase a home in a participating community and deposit between 3/1/20 and 3/31/20, sign an agreement of sale, and close on the home. Offers, incentives, and seller contributions, if any, vary by community and are subject to certain terms, conditions, and restrictions. Not all communities, not all home sites, and not all options and upgrades are included in this Sales Event so see the Sales team in your desired community for specific details. Toll Brothers reserves the right to change or withdraw any offer at any time. Not valid with any other offer. This is not an offering where prohibited by law. Listing Broker Toll Brothers Real Estate, Inc.

29

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

FIND YOUR PURPOSE Private. Christian. Affordable.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND EARLY GRADUATION OPPORTUNITIES

66% of graduates did so in less than four years*

AFFORDABLE TO ATTEND

tuition has remained unchanged for the last 11 years

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AVERAGE INCOMING GPA OF 3.55 Fall 2019 incoming students

#19 BEST COLLEGE CAMPUS IN AMERICA IN 2020 Rated by Niche.com

APPLY FOR FREE TODAY! 855-428-7884 | apply.gcu.edu

*2016 and 2017 **Average tuition after scholarships is approximately $8,700. Scholarships may be awarded based on 6th semester transcripts. At the time in which final, official transcripts are received, GCU reserves the right to rescind or modify the scholarship if it is determined that eligibility was not achieved. GCU reserves the right to decline scholarship awards for any reason. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. GCU reserves the right to change scholarship awards at any time without notice. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. Prices based on 2018-19 rate and are subject to change. † GCU students graduate with less debt on average ($18,750 according to College Scorecard) than the average at public and private nonprofit universities ($28,650 according to 2017 data from the Institute for College Access and Success).

For more information about the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission. org/). Pre-licensure nursing students who begin or resume attendance in Fall 2020 and beyond will be ineligible to utilize most GCU institutional aid/scholarships for tuition and fees once accepted into the clinical portion of the program. Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/ academic-policies.php. The information printed in this material is accurate as of JANUARY 2020. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/titleIX. ©2020 Grand Canyon University 19GTR0965

SPORTS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

31

Gilbert players showcase skills at Under Armour Camp

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

N

early 200 of the best football players from across Arizona and six other states flocked to Williams Field High School in Gilbert Sunday morning to showcase their skills as part of invite-only camp.

The Under Armour All-America Camp Series made its first and only stop in the Valley on Feb. 23, inviting athletes from Arizona, Utah, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Nevada to partake in a day of position-specific drills being filmed to send off to college coaches across the country. It was also an evaluation period for those involved with the Under Armour All-America Game.

The East Valley was represented by 79 athletes in total, all from different schools across Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale and Ahwatukee.

Mesquite quarterback Ty Thompson has become familiar with camps of this

Ty Thompson

Kai Millner

caliber. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound four-star quarterback is among the top recruits in the nation for the 2021 class.

His 4,074 yards and 45 touchdowns led the 4A Wildcats to their first football championship in school history. He’s received many prestigious offers.

After a strong showing at the Under Armour All-America Camp, Thompson moved up the ESPN Jr. rankings to No. 161.

“It’s really cool, it’s a blessing,” Thompson said. “I’m still trying to put in work

because I want to be invited to the game, it’s the ultimate goal.”

Thompson shined in quarterback drills, showing both pocket poise and accuracy.

He didn’t receive the camp MVP award for quarterbacks, which came as a surprise to many, but he remained pleased with his overall

performance.

“I feel like I performed fairly well,” Thompson said. “The one-on-ones was good, 7-on-7 was good. It was just exciting to be out here.”

Higley quarterback Kai Millner was among the several others representing the Gilbert area at the Under Armour Camp.

After throwing for 2,387 yards and 31 touchdowns last season as a junior, Millner’s recruitment picked up. He has an offer heading into his junior campaign from

the likes of Michigan State and Arizona State, but was recently offered by Cal, Boise State and Syracuse, among others.

“I accepted the invitation right away when I got it, I’m blessed to be here,” Millner said. “I was excited to compete with everyone else and kind of judge the talent here. It’s also an opportunity to see where I’m at.”

Mesquite linebacker and wide receiver Andrew Morris was also invited to the Under Armour Camp, as well as Highland quarterback Gage Dayley and his teammate, defensive back Ammon Allen. Higley wideout Quinton Crosby received an invite along with Perry offensive lineman Trevor Swan.

Williams Field, the host school for the event, also saw several of its own players receive invitations, including running back Kaden Cloud, defensive linemen Jarren Holmes and Aaron Wolfcale-Holsten, defensive back Donovan Guyton, wide receivers Myles Taylor and Davin Switzer and linebacker Logan Hall.

32

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GilbertSunNews.com

|

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

@Gilber tSunNews

/Gilber tSunNews

Soup, family, butterflies at HD SOUTH GETOUT STAFF

H

D SOUTH will offer a series of informative programs for people of all ages this month. Programs are led by artists, historians, storytellers, botanists and scientists, experts in their field who share their knowledge and skills with our community.

Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum and located in the heart of the heritage district, the building opened as Gilbert Elementary School in 1913. It is the oldest building in Gilbert and is the only one on the National Register of Historical Places.

Gilbert Museum is a repository of artifacts chronicling the town’s rich history, featuring newly remodeled exhibits and interactive displays.

Many of the educational programs are free, while some come with a small charge to cover materials. Information: hdsouth. org/calendar. Unless otherwise noted, registration is required for the one-time events at hdsouth.org and programs are free.

Story time

9:30-10 a.m. Tuesdays. AZCEND and HD SOUTH present this free program. Attendees can then tour the museum for free.

EVENTS Preserving Arizona’s Heritage

March 3, 6:30–8 p.m.

Formed in 1992, the Arizona Heritage Alliance’s mission is to protect, preserve

Painting Butterflies

Family History Research

March 4, 6:30-8 p.m.

Jeanne Koniuszy of the Mesa Family History Center will guide attendees how to get started researching their family history.

She will also provide tips and techniques to use if your research has reached a dead end. This is a great class for beginners as well as those who just need a refresher in the basics of genealogical research. Registration is required.

WEEKLY PROGRAMS Yoga

7-8 p.m. Thursdays. Join Marilynn Igleski, certified yoga instructor, helps participants relax while conditioning muscles. Open to all levels of yoga experience. Please bring your own yoga mat. Open to ages 14 and up. Free for members, $5 for non-members.

and up.

Members, $5, non-members $8, drop-in, $10

and enhance Arizona’s historic, cultural and natural heritage. The group is dedicated to providing support for local, regional and state parks, the state’s historic and cultural treasures, and Arizona’s natural environment. Executive Director Lani Lott will explain how Arizonans can help protect our state’s historical and natural legacy. Free.

Chicken soup March 11, 6-7:30 p.m.

Chicken soup is a tried and true remedy for what ails you, but did you know being out in nature can be just as therapeutic?

Thomas Hulen, HD SOUTH program coordinator will present an intriguing discussion regarding timely scientific evidence outlining the benefits to human health and wellness and the great outdoors

Centennial Saturday: Build Your Own Water Tower

Sonoran Desert Butterflies March 10, 6:30-8 p.m.

In celebration of World Butterfly Day, Ron Rutowski, professor emeritus at Arizona State University and president of the Central Arizona Butterfly Association, will lead an instructional discussion about butterflies living in and frequent the Sonoran Desert.

The mission of the Central Arizona Butterfly Association is to promote the enjoyment of recreational butterflying by providing educational, research, and recreational opportunities to schools and the public throughout central Arizona. Registration is required.

March 21, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Under the experienced guidance of instructor Jean Smith, participants will paint a variety of gorgeous butterflies and turn them in to a mobile. Jean, who is an artist, art educator, and retired art teacher will lead this interactive painting class. All supplies are provided. Ages 10 & up. Registration is required.

Cost: FREE

A River Runs Through It

March 24, 6:30-8 p.m.

Heather Macre, Central Arizona Project board member, will discuss Arizona’s water future and highlight the Colorado River and its impact on Arizona. Central Arizona Project is Arizona’s single largest resource for renewable water supplies.

Arizona’s Quilting History

March 14, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

During the third installment in the Centennial Saturday programs, participants from ages 6 to 106 will make a scale model of Gilbert’s iconic water tower to mark the town’s 100th birthday.

All supplies are provided.

Sunrise Yoga

March 28, 10 a.m.–noon.

Carole De Cosmo, quilting historian, will take the audience on a nostalgic journey through Arizona’s past via historic quilts.

She is the executive director of the Arizona Farm and Ranch Experience and founding member of the committee that established the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall Of Fame.

March 21, 6–7 a.m.

Greet the vernal equinox and the day with an invigorating Yoga practice under the front ramada of the museum. Certified Yoga instructor Marilynn Igleski will guide participants through a variety of sun salutations and meditation practices.

Marilynn has been teaching yoga for over 10 years. Bring your own mat. Ages 14

March 28, 1:30–3 p.m.

Artist Cora Newell will highlight the benefits of recycling by instructing workshop goers how easy it is to create beautiful pieces of art from recycled trash. Using discarded items, participants will create unique works of art, highlighting the benefits of recycling and reusing. All supplies are provided.

Treasures from Trash

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

With JAN D’ATRI GetOut Contributor

There’s a secret to making steak salad tasty

I

f you love main dish salads, this is one to try. The tasty fixins’ – chopped crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs and candied pecans – add to this hearty plateful of goodness, but I think it’s the dressing that really makes the meal.

The sweet and tangy mixture in this dressing is a family favorite and one that we’ve used on spinach salads for years.

I’ve changed things up a bit for this bountiful meal. I’ve added spring mix to the spinach greens, and I’ve

PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

accompanied the greens with a beautifully pan-grilled Flat Iron Steak, cooked medium rare and sliced into strips.

If you prefer grilled chicken on the side, it will be just as delicious.

Secret: There is one important tip in tossing this salad. Add the dressing at the very last minute, right before you’re ready to serve it up.

Also, instead of pouring the dressing directly over the greens, spoon the dressing along Ingredients Salad: 1 to 1½ bags fresh spinach and/or Spring Mix (about 12 oz.) washed and dried ½ pound crispy bacon, rough chopped (4-6 pieces) 2 large eggs, hard-boiled and chopped 1 cup candied pecans 1 teaspoon salt (or more as needed) 1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper Steak of your choice, cooked and cut into strips Dressing: ½ cup extra virgin olive oil (important to use a good extra virgin olive oil) 2 heaping tablespoon brown sugar ½ large lemon, juiced

the inside of the bowl and let the dressing ooze down the sides. Then, give it a gentle toss. This is to keep the greens from getting soggy. If you decide that you don’t want to make this salad a main dish, it makes a savory side salad for just about any entrée.

Make up a double or even triple batch of this liquid gold dressing, refrigerate, and then you’ll have it on hand for the next couple or few weeks.

1 heaping tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 large clove fresh garlic, minced Directions: Prepare salad dressing. In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, brown sugar, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire Sauce and garlic until well blended and thickened. Set aside. In a large bowl, add spinach and/or spring mix, crisp chopped bacon, chopped eggs, candied pecans, salt and pepper. Reserve some eggs, bacon and pecans for garnish.

Drizzle dressing around the side of the bowl (so leaves don’t get soggy) then gently mix. Serve on chilled salad plates and top with bacon, eggs and pecans for garnish.

Lay slices of steak over the salad and serve immediately.

Watch my how-to video: jandatri.com/jans-recipe/one-minute-kitchen

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GET OUT GET OUT 9,5,12,2020 43 GET OUT 43 GET OUT AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS FEBRUARY 2020 43 MESA TRIBUNE | ||FEBRUARY 2020 43 AHWATUKEETHE FOOTHILLS NEWS FEBRUARY

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THE MESA TRIBUNE | FEBRUARY 9, 2020

Montell Jordan a man of faith, not partying

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOutEditor

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

ontell Jordan promises the hits during the “I Love the ’90s Tour” stop with Tone Loc, Young MC and C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams.

But it’s not all about fun and games any longer.

“With the tour, I only have a little time to share a lot of information,” Jordan said.

“You’ll get the nostalgic Montell Jordan party records like ‘This is How We Do It’ and the ballads.

“You’ll also hear songs off my new album called ‘Masterpeace.’ It’s a new album that’s the soundtrack to the marriage ministry my wife and I have been doing over the past few years.”

“Masterpeace” features gospel rapper Lecrae, Tedashii, Jordan’s wife Kristin, and his child, Skyler. The ministry promotes and encourages couples to keep dating in their marriage and spiritually strengthen their faith in God to have more faith in each other.

Jordan said the album is filled with R&B songs from the heart of a man who loves God, his wife and his family. The project is designed to reach beyond the four walls of the church and to inspire love and closer relationship in marriages by intentionally sharing thoughts from a more spiritual perspective.

“My wife and I wrote a book a couple years ago, ‘This is How We Do It! Making Your Marriage a Masterpeace,’” he said.

“It’s designed to help couples desire to be married, go into marriage with an eternal strategy, as opposed to an exit strategy.”

The Jordans have been married for 26 years and have encountered well-documented ups and downs.

“A lot of people are ready to pull the ripcord on the relationship,” Jordan said.

“God blessed us to stay together. We feel like we share so much we can make it last forever.

“A lot of that is my wife and I speaking together, touring together and doing mar-

riage conferences and date nights. We’re equipped to have better lives together.

People who are single can have a greater love for themselves and those who aspire to be married in the future, if that’s something they want. Living a married life is a beautiful thing.”

Jordan went into full-time ministry in 2011, and that changed his career and his world. He said it was necessary to continue living, as he really “wasn’t alive.”

Music defined Jordan and outside of that, he didn’t know who he was, he explains.

“I’m writing from a different standpoint,” he said. “A lot of my prior songs were songs I was using to glorify and bring fame and notoriety to myself. Now it’s geared toward notoriety to the name of Jesus. I’m a Christian. I’m refocusing.

“I was writing about a bunch of women—multiple women. Now I write about one woman. It’s changed for me. The perspective I write from is a guy who loves God, his wife, his family, his children and his legacy.”

The change allowed him to see himself without a mic.

“I am a son, a husband, a father, friend and a giver,” Jordan adds. “There are songs I don’t sing. I don’t drink anymore. I’m buzzed all the time because of God. The songs are customizable. I’ll say, ‘This is how we do it, Phoenix.’

“I do love these nostalgia tours though— not for the sake of touring, but for the sake of letting me sing the praises of God and how he did something really cool with me.

God changed me and made it so amazing now. I’m alive.”

IF YOU GO

What: Montell Jordan w/Tone Loc, Young MC and C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams Where: Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, When: 8 p.m. March 7 Tickets: $40-$80 Info: 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com

35

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Gilbert Sun News

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

Deadlines

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

The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | GilbertSunNews.com Garage Sales/ Bazaars

Employment General

Childcare Providers

Director, FCBGA BU at Amkor Technology, Inc. (Tempe, AZ): Eval. materials and dev. machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products. Req. BS in Mat. Sci., Mech.

Eng., Microelec. or sim. & 5 years exp. Add’l duties, reqmts, travel req avail upon request.

Send resume and apply at amkor.com/careers/, ref Job#YL01.

LAS SENDAS HOME CHILD CARE Las Sendas Mom, Newborn & Up, 16 Yr Exp, CPR Certified, Homemade meals and healthy snacks, Loving, safe envir., No pool, Flexible schedule, Early childhood, development activities offered.

Many References Call Lina 480-3248466

'89 Mustang 5-Speed Good Condition, Runs Great Power locks/windows, Power stearing 4 Cylinder engine, radiator replaced, $1995/obo 480-600-0244

Lessons/ Tutoring

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PROFESSIONAL TUTORING Individualized, at-home instruction for grades K12. Multiple subjects including Math, Reading and Writing. Preparation for college entrance tests. Assistance for home-schooling, behavioral, organizational and special education concerns.

Call Philip N. Swanson, Ph. D. 480-677-9459

HUGE RUMMAGE SALE Mountain View Presbyterian Church 8050 E Mtn View Rd, Scotts. NW corner of Mtn View/Hayden.

Fri 3/13 7a-4p.

Sat 3/14 8a-2p.

Landscapers Needed Commercial Landscape Experience preferred AZ Drivers License preferred 480-474-4917 Wonderful Wanda's Breakfast/Lunch Restaurant is hiring for a full time line cook position.

Looking for a dependable, hardworking individual to join our team!

Positive work atmosphere, great hours and competitive starting wage.

Call 480.763.8100 to schedule an interview or stop by 6401 W Chandler Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85226 to pick up an application.

Place Your Meeting/Event Ad email ad copy to ecota@times publications.com

Auto - All Makes

Gilbert: Seville Golf & Country Club Huge Community Wide Garage Sale btwn Riggs/ N & S. of Chandler Heights. W. of Power & E. & W. of Higley.

Sat March 28th & Sunday March 29th.

8am-?

Real Estate Auctions/Services

Manufactured Homes BRAND NEW NEVER LIVED IN 2 BED / 2 BATH HOMES $58,900 Financing Available Also Available Affordable Homes Between $5K - $15K 55+ Mobile Home Park in Great Chandler Loc. Call Kim 480-233-2035

FULL PRICE for your house NO Commissions, NO Closing Costs, NO Hassles, NO Fixing We Buy Houses As-Is You can walk away today!

Guaranteed Offer + $25 Visa Gift Card on the 1st Showing!

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Brand New 2019 Clayton

Wanted to Buy

MOVING SALE Mar 6-8 9am - 6pm Namebrand Furniture.

Celestron Telescope, Electronics, Tools, Kitchenware, Clothes, Collectables & More 4277 E Mineshaft Rd. (Coppermine & Mineshaft) SanTan Valley

Cash 4 Diabetic Strips!

Best Prices in Town.

Sealed and Unexpired.

480-652-1317 WANT TO PURCHASE Minerals and other oil & gas interests Send Details to: PO Box 13557 Denver, CO 80201 Diabetic Test Strips by the box, unused. Any type or brand.

Will pay top dollar.

Call Pat 480-323-8846

MH 16X56, 2B/2B, 3 Ton Cent A/C, Concrete Drive W/Awning, Landscaped, Steps, W/D Hkups, 18 CF Fridge, Gas Range, Dishwasher Ready, Walk in Shower in a 55+ Resort Community in Apache Junction. Starting at $52,900 Does not include furniture. Call Bill at 480-228-7786

Apartments APACHE TRAIL & IRONWOOD Roomie 1bd 1 bath secluded, fenced yard, off street parking Bad Credit ok No Deposit. $750 a month.

Water/Trash Inc. (602) 339-1555

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CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Why Rent The Lot When

YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home

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FROM THE UPPER 100’S

ASK US HOW YOUR $105,000 CASH INVESTMENT AND OUR SENIOR LOAN PROGRAM ENABLES QUALIFIED 62+ SENIORS MAKING THE LINKS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE HAVE NO MORTGAGE PAYMENT & NO LOT RENT AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN HOME.

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Apartments 2 Bedr 2 Bath Apt Recker / McDowell Mesa, Laundry, patio, no pets $1050/mo Nick 480-707-1538

Commerical/ Industrial/Retail Outdoor commercial/personal Storage Yards for lease.

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Business Opportunities Misc Business Opportunities Extremely Rare Investment Opportunity

Medical marijuana cultivation and manufacturing facility in North Dakota. This is a non-publicly traded company that grows and manufactures medical marijuana products for dispensaries. It is one of only two grow/manufacturing facilities allowed to operate in the state. Current owner is offering a portion of the business/real estate and will retain 50% ownership to maintain continuity.

Income/Expense information and projections are available to solid investors only.

Contact Wade M. Bachmeier, Landmark Real Estate Services, 2800 N. Washington St., Bismarck ND, 58503. Office: 701-222-1234.

Cell: 701-400-4251 or wade@landmarknd.us

36

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Cleaning Services

Accounting Maximizing Your Profit Is Our Business!

Full-Service Accounting & Tax Services for Businesses, Individuals, Trusts, and Estates • Put 35 years of experience to work for you!

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Call Vicky 480-227-1890

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online!

Call 480-898-6465

RED MOUNTAIN MAIDS

Home/Ofc/Comm'l Low Prices. Serving the East Valley for over 15 years!

Prompt, courteous service.

As Low As $17/hr using your supplies or $19/hr using ours.

Call 480-354-7928 480-206-9998

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

480-405-7588

ItsJustPlumbSmart.com Appliance Repairs

Appliance Repair Now

PROFESSIONAL, FULL-SERVICE RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE CLEANING

480-364-8054 | HOUSECLEANINGSERVICESAZ.COM TO SCHEDULE A CLEANING

DEEP CLEANING EXPERTS TOP-TO-BOTTOM, WALL-TO-WALL SAFE CLEANING PRODUCTS

PROVIDING SERVICE IN THE PHOENIX EAST VALLEY & SURROUNDING AREAS WE’RE PERFECT FOR: AFTER REMODELING & CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, MOVE IN/MOVE OUT

30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IS YOUR WARRANTY

3 HOURS 1 LADY $100 2 HOURS 2 LADIES $120 DEEP CLEANING AFTER 5 HOURS

Block Fence * Gates

GARAGE DOOR SERVICE

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

602-789-6929 Roc #057163 Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

CO NC R E T E & MA S ON RY CONCRETE BLOCKWALL RETAINING WALL BLOCK FENCE PLANTER BBQ

FOUNDATION DRIVEWAY SIDEWALK PATIO

PAVER • CONCRETE REMOVAL • HARDSCAPE BONDED & INSURED • ROC#321648 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! FREE ESTIMATES • 16 YEARS EXPERIENCE RESIDENTIAL CALL JOHN: 480.797.2985 COMMERCIAL

DISCOUNT ON THE NEXT HOURS

East Valley/ Ahwatukee

Broken Springs Replaced Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610

Not a licensed contractor

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 wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Call 480-306-5113

Electrical Services HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

Contractors - Ahw Resident Since 1987 -

RESIDENTIAL & SMALL BUSINESS CLEANING SPECIALISTS SINCE 2007 Weekly, biweekly, tri-weekly, or monthly; same talented crew each visit Flexible, customized services to meet individual needs of each client GREEN eco-friendly products used to clean and sanitize Move-in/move-out and seasonal deep cleans Small, family-owned company with GUARANTEED high quality services Always dependable, excellent references, bonded, and insured

FreeFree estimates estimatesat at 480-802-1992 480-802-1992 or or dennis@simplygrandcleaningaz.com reed@simplygrandcleaningaz.com

• Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel

HOME IMPROVEMENTS REMODEL& REPAIR

ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932

Over 30 Years Quality Experience

Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured

SIR JOHNS CONTRACTING Painting of All Types Interior & Exterior Cabinets Stains & Paints HIG

H

QUA Lice LITY ns ROC ed & B 251 ond 661 ed

Est Free ima tes

Garage/Doors

602-315-5470

4960 S. Gilbert Rd. Suite #1 Unit #260 John McMillan-Owner Chandler, AZ 85249 sirjohn53@gmail.com

Drywall

JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Reliable, Dependable, Honest!

• Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured

Glass/Mirror

$50

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It!

We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used Appliances Working or Not

Garage/Doors

DESERT ROCK

0% FINANCING - 72 Months!!

‘A+’ RATED AC REPAIR FREE ESTIMATE SAME DAY SERVICE

Concrete & Masonry

QUICK RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL! 15 Years Experience • Free Estimates

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

Classifieds 480-898-6465

SH

ALL YOU NEED IS A PU

480.266.4589 josedominguez0224@gmail.com Not a licensed contractor.

480.898.6465 CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

37

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Home Improvement

Handyman

Home Improvement

Hauling

MESA HOME MAINTENANCE & REPAIR Plumbing, electric, irrigation, garage doors, water heaters, tile and drywall repairs, carpentry, handyman lists and other services. Not a licensed contractor.

All work guaranteed.

Sean Sornberger 480-699-7990

HANDYMAN 37 years experience.

Drywall, framing, plumbing, painting, electrical, roofing and more. Stan, 602-434-6057

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online!

Call 480-898-6465

Handyman

L Your Handyman Needs!

Handyman Needs! oring • Electrical • Electrical ywall • Carpentry Marks the Spot for ALL • Carpentry Tile • More!

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs!

Your Handyman Needs!

More!

Painting • Flooring • Electrical

Home Improvement

the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs! • Drywall • Carpentry Plumbing Painting • Flooring • Electrical • Plumbing inting • Flooring • ElectricalDecks • Tile • More!

Drywall • Carpentry • Decks • Tile & More! mbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More!

“No Job Too

“No JobSmall Too Man!” Small Man!”

e 1999

“No Job Too Small Man!”

WE DO IT ALL!

“No Job Too

Work Since 1999 Quality le,Small 2010, 2011 Affordab Man!” 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2012, 2013, “No Job 2010, 2011 2014 2014 2012,92013, Too Small Man!” 199 e Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor ality Work SincAhwatukee 2014

Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 .7038 nsed Contractor 38 BSMALLMAN@Q.COM ractor

602.670.7038 es/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

ACTION CONTRACTING INC.

2010, 2011 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2012, 2013, 2014 2014

Call Bruce at 602.670.7038

Bath & Kitchen Remodels • Drywall & Stucco Repairs Plumbing • Electrical • Can Lights Windows • Doors • Cabinets • Painting Block Fences • Wrought Iron Gates Remodeling • Additions • Patios • Tenant Improvements

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor A+

REASONABLE HANDYMAN

I -S

NC

E1

97

LIC/BONDED/INSURED Res/Comm’l ROC#218802

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

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

- Free Estimates -

Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists

480-276-6600 *Not a Licensed Contractor

LLC

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

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 Office 480-820-8515 Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

BROADCAST YOUR BARGAINS. REACH THOUSANDS OF BUYERS. CLASS@ TIMESPUBLICATIONS .COM

480.898.6465

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

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

480-354-5802

Landscape Maintenance

8-

aaaActionContractingInc.com

• Painting • Plumbing • Carpentry • Drywall • Roofing • Block

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

East Valley 480-833-7353

Landscape Maintenance

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.

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician

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

480.345.1800

Call Lance White

480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

ROC 304267 • Licenced & Bonded

Plumbing

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

Irrigation

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

www.husbands2go.com

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

See MORE Ads Online!

www.GilbertSunNews.com

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

NTY

5-YEAR WARRA

480.654.5600

azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 21671

Call 480-868-6722 ROC 316690

38

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Landscape Maintenance

Painting

RAMIRO MEDINA LANDSCAPING

East Valley PAINTERS

➧ LANDSCAPING ➧ TREE TRIMMING & REMOVAL ➧ IRRIGATION ➧ YARD CLEAN-UP ➧ GRAVEL COMMERCIAL ➧ RESIDENTIAL ➧

Voted #1 Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

LICENSED • INSURED OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE Call or Text Today for a FREE ESTIMATE

Carlos Medina - 602-677-3200

10% OFF

Painting

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality

Jose Dominguez Painting & Drywall SEE OUR AD IN DRYWALL! Quick Response to your Call!

15 Years Exp 480-266-4589

Free Estimates!

Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com

Not a licensed contractor

Family Owned & Operated

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

ROC#309706

49

95

DRAIN CLEANING

$

189

GARBAGE DISPOSAL

($85 Value)

ITS

NEW A/C UN

Water Heaters $

799

FREE SERVICE CALLS

$

3,995!

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

www.affinityplumbingaz.com

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor

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

Anything Plumbing Same Day Service Water Heaters

24/7

Inside & Out Leaks

Bonded

Toilets

Insured

Faucets

Estimates Availabler

480-720-3840

AE&Sons Not a licensed contractor.

Disposals

Pool Plaster Company

$35 off

Any Service

Call Juan at

ACCREDITED BUSINESS ®

All Complete Pool Renovations Pebble • White Plaster • New Pool Builds Tile • Deck • Pump & Filters

Not a licensed contractor

FREE Estimates • BEST Prices

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

Classifieds 480-898-6465

602-505-8066 Cell Se Habla Espanõl

Lic’d, Bonded • ROC #235771 • ROC #235770

• Employees Background Checked • Up-Front Pricing • Tankless Water Heaters • Tank Water Heaters • Fixture Replacements

• Plumbing & Drain Repairs • Water Treatment • Best Warranties • Fully Stocked Vans • Fix It Or It’s Free Guarantee

Drain Specialists…

• FREE Camera Inspection With Every Drain Cleared • Hydrojetting

Experience, Service and Price

Find out why our customers become customers for life! Over 700 five-star Google reviews!

FREE ESTIMATES

ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

$45 off Any service call With service performed

Financing Available

• Pipe Relining • Clean Out Installation • Sewer Repair/Replacement • Pipe Bursting

*$69 drain good Monday thru Friday during normal business hours and not combined with any other offers.

480-281-7564

(advertised offers cannot be combined)

We are A+ Rated by the BBB and stand behind our work with a Lifetime Warranty. Call us for the BEST SERVICE and PRICES in the East Valley!

Thank you Mesa for Voting us #1

affinityplumber@gmail.com

What we do…

starting at

480-405-7099

Juan Hernandez

Please call Elaine at 480-898-7926 to inquire or email your notice to: legals@evtrib.com and request a quote.

Plumbing

Plumbing Heating & Air

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

Deadline for Sunday's Edition is the Wednesday prior at 5pm.

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

PlumbSmart

Affinity Plumbing LLC 480-487-5541

LEGAL NOTICES

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

$

Pool Service / Repair

Plumbing

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

480-338-4011

Plumbing

Meetings/Events?

Get Free notices in the Classifieds!

Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

39

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Roofing

Roofing

Tree Services

TREE ART Tree Trimming, Removals, Haul off and Yard clean-ups.

Available weekends.

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

Not a licensed contractor.

480-706-1453

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Your leaks stop here!

You never know what you’ll find inside

New Roofs, Repairs, Coatings, Flat Roof, Hot Mopping & Patching & Total Rubber Roof Systems

FREE ESTIMATES & MONSOON SPECIALS

SAME DAY SERVICE 30 Years Experience References Available Licensed Bonded Insured ROC 286561

Senior & Military Discounts

480-280-0390

480.898.6465

class@timespublications.com

13 yrs exp.

480-329-2239 arpjeff103@gmail.com

Window Cleaning

Public Notices

DIRTY WINDOWS? Call Fish Window Cleaning 480-962-4688 And you will have the cleanest windows and screens on the block.

FILED 2nd JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT Bernalillo County 1/28/2020 4:10 PM James A. Noel CLERK OF THE COURT Leanne LeCompte STATE OF NEW MEXICO COUNTY OF BERNALILLO Case No. D-202CV-2019-06993 SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT HARRY L. TIPTON, JR., DIANE TIPTON, LARRY BARRERAS, DIANE GUTIERREZ, Plaintiffs, v.

PHILLIP C. WARD, GEORGE A. OCHS and MARGARET I. OCHS, deceased, ALBERT A. OCHS, deceased, DELBERT P. OCHS, deceased, ALVIN G. OCHS, deceased, CAROLYN R. KETTELL, daughter of George and Margaret Ochs, MARILYN WEBB, daughter of George and Margaret Ochs, MELVIN L. OCHS, son of George and Margaret Ochs, DELMER J. OCHS, son of George and Margaret Ochs, and other unknown heirs or persons claiming by and through and under GEORGE OCHS AND MARGARET OCHS, the Unknown Claimants of Interest in the Premises Adverse to Plaintiffs, Defendants. NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF QUIET TITLE SUIT STATE OF NEW MEXICO COUNTY OF BERNALILLO TO: the following named Defendants listed below who have not otherwise disclaimed interest, against whom service is hereby sought to be obtained: The unknown heirs of the following named deceased persons: Estate of Albert A. Ochs Estate of Delbert P. Ochs Estate of Alvin G. Ochs The following named defendants by name, if living; if deceased, their unknown heirs: Carolyn R. Kettell Marilyn Webb Melvin L. Ochs FILED 2nd JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT Bernalillo County 1/28/2020 4:10 PM James A. Noel CLERK OF THE COURT Leanne LeCompte Delmer J. Ochs Other unknown heirs or persons claiming by and through and under George Ochs and Margaret Ochs who may claim a lien, interest or title adverse to the Plaintiffs Pursuant to New Mexico Rules Annotated Rule 1-004(K), you are hereby notified that the above-referenced Plaintiffs have commenced suit against you in the above-captioned case, the general object of which is to quiet the title to a parcel of real property located in Bernalillo County, New Mexico and which are more particularly described as follows: The East Half of the Southwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of that certain parcel of land lying within the exterior boundaries of the Alameda Grant in Township 11 North, Range 2 East, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, described as follows: BEGINNING at a point which is common to the South line of Alameda Grant and to the corners of Sections 16 and 17 in Township 11 North, Range 2 East, New Mexico Principal Meridian; running THENCE N0º02′E, a distance of 8545.10 feet to a point; THENCE S89º55′30″W, a distance of 5275.80 feet to the Southeast corner and the True Point of Beginning; THENCE S89º55′30″W, a distance of 5425.28 feet to the Southwest corner; THENCE N0º02′E, a distance of 5280.0 feet to the Northwest corner; THENCE N89º55′30″E, a distance of 5425.28 feet to the Southwest corner; THENCE S0º02′W, a distance of 5280.0 feet to the True Point of Beginning, containing 5.0 acres, more or less, RESERVING, HOWEVER, an appurtenant easement over the North, East, South and West 20.0 feet of said property unto GRANTOR and all persons claiming under it, and unto the general public for road purposes, and reserving said easement unto GRANTOR and all persons claiming under it, for the placement, maintenance and operation of public utilities; Subject to taxes for the current and subsequent years, assessments, easements, restrictions, reservations, Water and Sewer Agreements recorded in Miscellaneous Volume 35 at pages 527 and 559, Building Restrictions, Zoning Regulations and patent reservations of record in the Office of the Clerk of Bernalillo County, New Mexico. You are further notified that unless you enter your appearance in said action on or before March 20, 2020, judgment and decree will be rendered against you by default and the relief requested by Plaintiffs will be granted and decreed. The name and address of Plaintiffs’ attorney is Ian Bezpalko, The Bezpalko Law Firm, P.O. Box 7635, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87109, telephone number 505-341-9353.

1/29/2020 James A. Noel Clerk of the District Court /s/James A. Noel Deputy Clerk. Published: East Valley Tribune, Feb. 16, 23, Mar 1m 2020 / 28560

Below is the list of services we offer: Windows – Interior & Exterior Screens – Sunscreens and Regular Tracks, Ceiling Fans, Light Fixtures Power Washing Your driveway, sidewalks and patios.

InstaGram @FISH_WCEAST VALLEYAZ

Tax Services It’s your money.

Let us help you keep it!

Full-Service Accounting & Tax Services for Businesses, Individuals, Trusts, and Estates • Put 35 years of experience to work for you!

• Appointments at your home, office, or our office • Evening and weekend appointments available • Tax prep, advising, planning/strategy • Tax services for Federal, all US States, and other countries • We are available 12 months a year

480-646-3419 • SOLVEDtax.com Licensed, Bonded, and Insured

Window Cleaning

Professional service since 1995

Roofing The Most Detailed Roofer in the State

Window Cleaning $100 - One Story $140 - Two Story

Includes in & out up to 30 Panes

®

Attention to detail and tidy in your home.

Tim KLINE Roofing, LLC Roofs Done Right...The FIRST Time!

15-Year Workmanship Warranty on All Complete Roof Systems

www.timklineroofing.com

480-357-2463

FREE Estim at and written e proposal

R.O.C. #156979 K-42 • Licensed, Bonded and Insured

SHARE WITH THE WORLD!

Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today! Call us for details.

class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465

(480) 584-1643

Bonded & Insured

LLC

TK

Sun Screens Cleaned $3 each

COUNTS

APPEARANCE

Public Notices The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency has made announcement for the availability of 2020 Intercity Bus Security Grant Funding, Assistance Listings Title 97.057. Industrial Bus Lines, Inc. dba All Aboard America! Is currently soliciting bids from qualified vendors for the following project: vehicle/driver security enhancements including automatic vehicle location, real time video surveillance and remote disabling technologies for over the road buses. The cut off to participate in the bid process expires on Monday, March 16th, 2020 at 5:00 PM. For more information, please contact Eugene Thomas at 480962-6202 or e-mail ethomas@allaboardamerica.com.

Publish: East Valley Tribune, Mar 1, 2020/ 28980

Door OPEN. Door CLOSE.

40

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 1, 2020

Guaranteed.

CALL TODAY!

480.635.8114 Free Phone Quotes! We Can Fix Anything!

FREE Service Call (with repair)

65 Value!

$

21-Point Safety Inspection

With coupon only. May not be combined with other offers. Exp: April 15, 2020

ArizonaGarageDoors.com ROC# 173822

75 OFF

$

A Pair of Springs

Broken Spring REPAIR!

With coupon only. May not be combined with other offers. Exp: April 15, 2020

Garage Door Opener

329

$

.95

+LABOR