Gilbert Sun News 050122 by Times Media Group

AG slaps town council

EV getting go-kart giant

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

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COMMUNITY......... 18 Gilbert family finds help for autistic child.

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Vice mayor derails commuter rail station study BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ilbert Town Council put the brakes on staff’s request to spend $288,760 to further study two proposed transit stations to accommodate future passenger rail service – which has no timeline for implementation. Staff said “time is of essence” in awarding a contract to the Dallas engineer firm AECOM to look at the feasibility of site locations in the downtown Heritage District and do preliminary site design of phases for a transit center in the Cooley Station community. The centers would not only serve as a hub for commuter rail and intercity rail but oth-

er modes of transportation such as bus, bicycle and rideshare. Council is expected to revisit the item Aug. 23. “I have a lot of problems with this item,” said Vice Mayor Aimee Yentes, who pulled the item off consent agenda for discussion. “My specific concern is specific to these being planned for commuter rail,” she said. “I feel like as a body we really haven’t had an opportunity to discuss this idea (and do) a deeper dive into, is this even a good idea has not been held by this body and I feel this is absolutely premature.” Yentes acknowledged that commuter rail has been in planning documents for a while both with the town and the Maricopa Asso-

Public only gets summary 21 of $1.7B town spend plan

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ciation of Governments, which plans and finances regional transportation systems. She also brought attention to the scope of work that included forming a stakeholders group for input on the stations. The group seemed more oriented toward designing or planning the framework for the stations rather than reaching out to residents to see if they even want them in Gilbert, Yentes said. “The commuter stations have been published in several documents that have been presented to the public in Gilbert over the past several years,” Councilwoman Yung Koprowski said.

Lunch brakes?

see RAIL page 14

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

SPORTS.......................22 Highland High baseball coach earns respect.

COMMUNITY....................................... 18 BUSINESS..............................................21 SPORTS.................................................. 22 PUZZLE.................................................. 25 CLASSIFIEDS.......................................26

ver half of Gilbert’s proposed $1.7 billion spending plan for the 2023 fiscal year that begins July 1 funds capital expenses such as street improvements, parks and traffic-control upgrades. But the public won’t get a chance to see all the details of the spending plan until May 17, when Town Council is expected to adopt a preliminary budget with final adoption on June 14. Council was provided a detailed copy of the proposed budget while the public only had access to Budget Director Kelly Pfost’s 18-page presentation from the study session. A town spokeswoman said staff was working to finalize the budget and that the full document will be available on

see BUDGET page 11

Nancy Mazzeo stacks boxed sub sandwiches on the line as cafeteria staff prepare for lunch at Desert Ridge Junior High School, a Gilbert Public Schools facility in Mesa. But the days of universal free meals in both GPS and Higley Unified districts could be ending soon unless Congress takes action. For the story, see p. 4. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer)

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

AG says mayor, council violate open meetings law

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

ilbert Town Council violated the state’s Open Meeting Law, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. The state’s chief law enforcement officer issued the finding after investigating a complaint that Mayor Bridgette Peterson sent an email last May to the entire Council, asking for input on a 15-foot-tall replica of the Town’s new logo mounted on the east wall of the Public Safety Training Facility. Peterson did not respond to a Gilbert Sun News request for comment. “The email specifically asked council members for their opinions on whether spending Town funds on the logo was appropriate,” said Assistant Attorney General Katherine Jessen in her April 14 letter to Gilbert officials. Under the Open Meeting Law, it’s considered a public meeting if an elected of-

ficial sent an email to a quorum on the public body. For the seven-member Gilbert Council, a quorum is four and that the communication involves “a discussion, deliberation or the taking of legal action by the public body concerning a matter likely to come before the public body for action.” However, an email sent to a quorum of a public body that merely proposes a matter to be placed on a future agenda is not a violation of the law. Jessen said Peterson’s email “essentially invited the Council to engage in a non-public discussion of a matter that could foreseeable come before the Council for future legal action.” Peterson had been a vocal critic of the new logo, which was approved before she took office in January 2021. Jessen also singled out Councilman Scott Anderson, who responded to Peterson’s email, which went out to all council members. “Here, the emails from Mayor Pe-

terson and Councilmember Anderson constituted more than simply asking to have the PSTF logo on a future Council agenda,” she said. “Further, the response email from Councilmember Anderson expressed more than simply asking the matter to be discussed at a future meeting. “Accordingly, these emails violated the Open Meeting Law.” Anderson said he inadvertently responded to the entire Council when responding to Peterson. “Instead of selecting the ‘reply’ button to respond to the mayor, I selected the ‘reply all’ button that shared my thought with the entire Council,” Anderson said. “It was my mistake and I take responsibility for it.” Anderson said his email comment to Peterson was basically, “I thought we had concluded debate about use of the logo.” In coming up with the remedy for the violation, Jessen said her office consid-

ered the readily available records documenting whether Council had had any recent open-meeting violations, the Council’s response and the fact that the Council participated in an Open Meeting Law training at its November 2021 retreat. “Having weighed these factors, and in order to resolve the matter, the Office has determined that the Council must share the contents of this violation letter with the public at the next practicable public meeting,” Jessen said, noting that any statement read to the public regarding the matter must first be pre-approved by her office. “The Office has noted this occurrence as a violation, which will be considered in determining the responses to any further Open Meeting Law violations by the Council and its current members,” she added. Town Clerk Chaveli Herrera said the item will be on the May 17 or May 24 Council agenda.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

Free lunches for all could end for schools soon BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor And KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer

ree chow for all students in Gilbert’s public school districts could come to an end by June 30, two years after U.S. Department of Agriculture allowed for the no-cost meals for all students due to the pandemic. The National School Lunch Program will instead revert back to providing free or reduced-priced breakfasts and lunches to students based on family income and require families to provide documentation of need. The food program operates in nearly 100,000 public and nonprofit private schools and residential child-care institutions, according to the USDA. The action looms because Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) opposes continuing the free meal program, and moved to exclude it in the omnibus spending bill that funds the government through the end of this fiscal year on Sept. 30. He reportedly told fellow Republicans the program was never intended to be permanent and many in the GOP objected to the $11 billion annual price tag as the federal deficit continues to grow. They also want schools to get back to normal in the waning days of the pandemic. “Our breakfast participation has more than doubled from the numbers pre-pandemic, which shows students are making an effort to make it to school earlier and come down to the cafeteria for breakfast, who weren’t previously,” said Gilbert Public Schools spokeswoman Dawn Antestenis. GPS is the state’s fifth largest school district with over 34,000 students at 39 schools across Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa. In the pre-pandemic 2018-19 fiscal year, the district served up 466,327 breakfasts, which increased by 72% to 802,944 in fiscal year 2020-21. The number of lunches doled out in 2018-19 was 2.5 million, which grew to 2.7 million in 2020-21, an 8.8% increase.

Doris Ruggieri whips together nachos to-order for students during lunch at Desert Ridge Junior High. (David Minton/GSN Staff Photographer) At Chandler Unified School District, where about 10,000 Gilbert kids attend a campus, 5,210,080 meals were served for 2018-19. Just over 2 million of those meals were free and about 145,000 were price-reduced. Also, over 3 million students paid full price that year. CUSD gave out about 4.9 million meals in 2019-20 and over 5.5 million in 202021. This current school year, officials anticipated the number of free meals at CUSD with over 45,000 students will exceed 6.8 million. USDA officials say 30 million U.S. students have benefited from the universal

free meal program during the pandemic. That’s 10 million more than the number of students served before the pandemic. Prepping so many meals meant GPS needed more hands in the kitchen. “We did need to hire more staff members, however this has been challenging due to a lack of applicants,” Antestenis said. “We hold regular job fairs and other recruitment initiatives to address this. We have also streamlined our processes in order to continue to serve and support our students and families.” GPS like other districts also are deal-

see LUNCHES page 10

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

Casteel High growth surprises CUSD with new expenses BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer

hen Casteel High School opened in 2015, officials thought it would be a small school but much like the town it’s in – Queen Creek – it has grown faster than Chandler Unified School District officials were prepared for. The district Governing Board on April 27 approved construction of eight tennis courts and a concession building for the high school. As part of the dea,l the existing four tennis courts at the school will be converted to basketball courts. The cost is about $4.4 million. Members of the board pointed out during the meeting that they keep having to go back to Casteel because they underestimated how many students would be enrolled at the school. The Queen Creek school has more than 3,200 students in grades 7-12, and more than 2,100 in the high school.

Chandler Unified unveiled this rendering of a proposed new eight-court tennis complex. (CUSD) Queen Creek’s population in 2015 was just over 30,000. Today, it’s estimated to top 68,000. “We did what we had to do at the beginning to get it up, operational,” said Frank Fletcher, the district’s assistant superintendent for support services. “The campus exploded and we never saw it coming.”

Fletcher said the school had about 1,000 students in its first year, and they expected only about 750-to-800. Board President Barb Mozdzen said it was her recollection they hoped the enrollment would be capped at between 1,600-to2,000. “For the record, every high school that I’ve known this district to build,

we’ve over-exceeded,” said board member Joel Wirth. Because the district underestimated the number of students who would enroll, the school was built in pieces, Fletcher said. The district also has had to buy land for the school four separate

see CASTEEL page 8

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

Big go-kart venue likely in Southeast Valley BY KEN SAIN GSN Staff Writer

ndretti Indoor Karting & Games is racing toward opening a mega-entertainment venue along the San Tan Loop 202 Freeway opening next year. The Chandler Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of Andretti’s new facility at the southwest corner of the freeway and Cooper Road on April 20. The preliminary development plan next goes to Chandler City Council for approval, probably this month. The entertainment complex includes a three-level go-kart racing track, a “dark ride,” laser tag and a large gaming center. Chad Montgomery, the director of real estate and development for Andretti, said some games would likely include virtual reality headsets with omni-directional treadmills. The plan also calls for private rooms for parties and food and beverage areas when visitors need a break from the fun. Named after racing legend Mario Andretti, the company operates six venues in Florida, Georgia and Texas. This would be the first location in Arizona and, like the others, is billed as a family entertainment center. In addition to the three levels, the gokart track includes hairpin turns for the electric-motor karts. “[They can go] 35 miles per hour,” Montgomery said. “We’ll do like 150 arcade games, bowling lanes, laser tag, a number of virtual reality experiences.” On its website, the company states, “Experience the adrenaline rush of our electric go kart races with instant accel-

tag experience to $30 to $35 for bowling for an hour with up to six people on one lane to a $90 VIP package that combines one race, six other attractions and a $10 game card. Patrons who posted reviews on travel sites gave various Andretti Indoor Karting Venues generally high marks. While some posts warned of sticker shock, the pricing apparently is no major obstacle: the Orlando, Florida, venue reportedly draws close to a half million guests a year. Florida developer Eddie Hamann opened the original Andretti Indoor Karting & Games in Roswell in 1999, The proposed Andretti Indoor Karting & Games venue at Cooper Road and the Loop 202 naming it after his friend Mario Andretis slated to open in summer 2023. (City of Chandler) ti, one of only two drivers to have won races in Formula One, IndyCar, the World eration as you put the pedal to the metal wind,” the website states. Sportscar Championship and NASCAR. around hairpin turns, up and down eleGo-kart racing ranges in price from Montgomery said they expect Council vation changes and long straightaways $23 for a single adult spin along the to vote on the development plan in May on our indoor climate-controlled tracks.” track on weekdays to a $55 three-race and break ground in the third quarter of “Andretti’s racing simulators are the package. Other attractions range in price this year. He said if that happens, they exmost advanced on the market and deliv- from $11 for a 10-minute weekday laser pect to open in the summer of 2023. NothingBundtCakes.com er big-time on thrills and heart-pounding excitement,” the company brags. “It’s so realistic that you actually feel the motion and vibrations of the car, experience the tension in the seatbelt, and hear the sounds of the race track.” With panoramic screens, the simulators “are the same kind that professional race car drivers use,” the company said, and its “full motion actuators” “give the feel of driving at high speeds.” Another attraction, called the 7D Xperience, offers “a 3D interactive movie experience with amazing special effects. Up to eight riders at a time compete for the highest score using laser blasters and battling on-screen enemies. You actually feel the earth-rumbling movement and

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

Town Council OKs homes on smaller lots

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

developer got the green light to build 13 single-family homes on smaller lots near the northwest corner of Lindsay Road and Galveston Street, across from South Valley Junior High School. Gilbert Town Council voted 6-0 on April 26 to approve rezoning the 12.19 acres of former farm land to allow for 35,000-square-foot lots from the previously zoned 43,000 square feet. Councilman Scott September left the meeting and did not vote. The smaller lots would allow one additional home than if the land stayed SF-45. The site is surrounded by land zoned SF-43. “This is an infill project, I think these are the types of projects that we are going to be seeing a lot in the future when it comes to developing pieces like this,” Mayor Brigette Peterson said. “This isn’t an unreasonable request from SF43 to SF-35 and to make the project fit in the space that it’s allotted I think that is the big discussion here. “If they tried to pencil out SF-43 with the driveway, with the setbacks you wouldn’t be able to pencil out something that would be a sellable product in that location. And so I don’t think this is an unreasonable request.” Peterson added that two of the lots will be SF-43 and the remainder, SF-35.

CASTEEL from page 6

times to accommodate that growth. One of those purchases was to add a parking lot and main entrance to the school. Tom Dunn, the director of construction for the district, said eight tennis courts are required for schools to compete in AIA and that all other CUSD high schools have that many. State tennis matches comprise five single matches and three doubles matches. Fletcher said trying to complete all eight matches on four courts is a challenge, especially in the fall when the sun sets earlier. The freshmen ten-

The green-shaded area is the site of the rezoned acreage that allows a developer to build homes of lots smaller than what was originally allowed. (Town of Gilbert) And, she said, the Town’s requirement that the single access road to the proposed Gilbert-13 project from Lindsay Road be a publicly dedicated right-ofway, limited the number of lots at SF-43 on the site. According to Planner Kristen Devine, staff worked extensively with the applicant in three application meetings over the last year to configure the lots so that they would work in the space. She said it was important to point out

that the developer originally wanted to put 14 homes on the site but couldn’t due to factors, including the parcel shape, the minimal lot requirements and other requirements from planning and fire officials. “Fourteen lots just don’t work on this lot,” Devine said. “And one was dropped to create 13 conforming SF-35 lots.” She added that a virtual neighborhood meeting was held June 14 attended by a few residents, who didn’t voice

nis teams play in the fall, and the varsity plays in the spring. The 2,718-square-foot concession building would be shared by the tennis courts and the district’s beach volleyball facility. In addition to providing food and drinks, it would also provide permanent bathrooms for the area. Currently, there are portable bathrooms for that area. Those would be moved to between the school’s varsity baseball and softball fields, Dunn said. That’s the early plan, Fletcher cautioned the board. He said it depends on

finding a suitable location, saying they need to find a domestic water source and there has to be a way for the vendor to get to them for service. “We still have some evaluation on the site to do before we pick a location,” Fletcher said. “Finding the domestic water to flush is our challenge right now and how far we have to trench.” Dunn said once the new tennis courts are built, the existing ones would be converted to basketball courts and turned over to the school’s physical education department.

a lot of concerns but expressed the desire for single-story homes only and if possible to have lots along the western portion of the project be kept at 43,000 square feet in order to provide a buffer with the existing homes there. The two zonings both allow for two-story homes. Three residents opposed the project at the Planning Commission meeting April 6. The commission voted 6-1 to recommend Council approve the rezone. Two of the opponents at the April 6 meeting again spoke out against it at Council. Perry Kastanis said he purchased his home near the site about 18 months ago. “We have been looking all over for property of an acre size because we like the lifestyle,” Kastanis said. “I’m here today in opposition of the rezoning from SF-43 down to SF-35 – SF-43 affords a lifestyle that is conducive to the area that is already existing.” Ryan Boehme’s house sits adjacent to the access road leading into Gilbert 13 “I’m right at the beginning of the new subdivision that they are trying to put in there,” Boehme said. “They have a 50foot setback that is right in front of my home. When they get into the property the road goes down and I’m concerned because I’m going to get all the traffic at

see GILBERT13 page 10

Superintendent Frank Narducci reminded the board that the beach volleyball courts at Casteel are used by all schools in the district. Fletcher said the school has been asking for all eight tennis courts since they filled all of its grades. He said it is time to fix that problem. “We have a little bit more light in the spring, but in the fall getting those matches completed is unreasonable,” Fletcher said.

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LUNCHES from page 4

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

ing with the challenge of securing items for school menus because of the interruption in the food-supply chain “There are many factors that have affected the food supply chain for school meals, not just increased demand,” Antestenis said. “Many food items have been and continue to be hard to get. “A number of manufacturers stopped producing food due to school districts across the country being closed and others have experienced staffing issues affecting production abilities. Some state COVID protocols have also influenced supply.” Before the pandemic hit the state in March 2020, 26% of students in the district qualified for free and reduced-price meals, according to Antestenis. At nearby Higley Unified School District, 21.98% of its student body of about 12,000 qualified for the program – 15.86% for free meals and 6.12% for reduced-price meals, according to spokeswoman Teresa Joseph. But with the implementation of free meals for all, GPS didn’t track who actually qualified and who did not. “This is due to ‘touchless’ COVID protocols in place where we used a tallying system that did not identify the participant’s name or eligibility,” Antestenis explained. The district is urging parents to begin

applying for the Free and Reduce Meals Program for the 2022-23 school year beginning July 1. To qualify for free meals, a student’s household income must be at or below 130% of the federal-poverty level and for a reduced-price meal, a household income must be between 130 and 185% of the federal-poverty level. For instance, during the 2021-22 school year a child from a family of four with an annual income of $34,450 or less is eligible for free meals and a child from a family of four with a household income of no more than $49,025 is eligible for reduced price meals, according to the USDA. Overall for the 2022-23 school year, the USDA projected a 5.91% increase or 153 million more breakfasts to be served. And, the total number of school lunches and snacks for the same school year is projected to be 5.59 billion, an increase of 353 million or 6.74% over the current estimate for fiscal year 2022 of 5.24 billion. The Arizona Food Bank Network said over 311,000 children in the state lack consistent access to enough food. The universal free meals program, however, could be continued depending on Congress. Two senators have co-sponsored a bill to keep it going for at least one more year.

Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) call the measure, “Support Kids Not Red Tape Act.” Meanwhile, California took the steps to implement a statewide universal meals program for school children beginning in 2022-23, becoming the first state to do so. Public school districts and charter schools will have to provide two meals – breakfast and lunch – free of charge each school day to students who ask for

our home.” He said the developer could easily fit in eight acre lots on the site. “To me they want to go down (in lot size) so they can put more in to make more money,” he said. “I think it should stay SF-43 just like it is. They can actually build and put in acre lots in there. I’m on an acre and a quarter. I just don’t want to see it go down.” Jessica Sarkissian with Upfront Planning, the applicant, said the 50-foot

easement goes away but Boehme now has access to the roadway instead of an easement over someone else’s property. The project was originally proposed for acre lots,” she said. “However,when we went in, it was unable to do that because the Town required a dedicated right-of-way. So we had to take that requirement for that and came out with lots slightly less than 43,560.” She said except for the side yards, which are reduced to 20 feet from 30

feet, the front and rear setbacks meet the standards under SF-43. “They are all large lots,” Sarkissian said. “It’s an infill piece and it transitions very nicely here. This is an appropriate area for this.” The custom-lot community will be fenced have an HOA. “I think the point that kind of made my decision was that it’s an infill project and that the applicant’s worked very hard with the staff to transitions

GILBERT13 from page 8

a meal, regardless of income eligibility. Jenny Bracamonte, CUSD food and nutrition director, however, has her fingers crossed that the federal program will be extended. “We have not released any guidance to our families yet because it could very well change and it’s a bit too early,” Bracamonte said. “Of course, we will keep the district apprised of any changes as soon as we are aware.”

Gilbert Public Schools

Since the start of the pandemic, the district and others across the country have provided free meals to all students, however, that program will go away in June unless Congress acts. BREAKFASTS 2018-19: 486,327 2019-20: 462,113 2020-21: 802,944 LUNCHES 2018-19: 2,485,777 2019-20: 1,890,397 2020-21: 2,705,453 A LA CARTE 2018-19: 519,417 2019-20: 429,826 2020-21:58,095

District note: The 2018-19 data is pre-pandemic. The 201920 data is when the pandemic began and school was shut down from the middle of March through the end of May although food was provided all school year through June 30 with pick up locations for breakfast and lunch. Fewer A La Carte options were offered during the pandemic in order to meet COVID protocols.

this in such a way to keep the setbacks and different things to be good neighbors,” Councilwoman Kathy Tilque said. “And we are going to see a lot more of these and I would like to see more this way than the other recommendations we have been getting in the past. “I know we always want it to be exactly as it is when we moved into our home but in this case I think we done the best we can with the transition property.”

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

BUDGET from page 1

the May 17 agenda. The proposed budget is 69% higher than the current fiscal year budget of $988 million. While $1.05 billion is being set aside for capital improvement projects, the remaining $620 million would go to areas such as the General Fund, Enterprise Fund and debt service. “There was about $68 million of total requests across all the funds in the town,” Pfost said at the April 26 Council study session. “We are recommending tonight as part of the proposed budget about $52 million of that. “It’s about three-fourths of what has been requested….so you can see there’s still a lot on the cutting room floor of the needs in the town but we do our best to manage that balance of funds and providing services.” The bulk of the $37 million of the proposed $52 million in both one-time and ongoing spending is in the General Fund, where the largest expense is typically for employee wages and benefits. The Gen-

eral Fund budget would increase by $21 million over the current one. The preliminary budget recommended creating 79 new full-time positions at a cost of $10.4 million – fewer than the 107 requested by various departments, according to Pfost. A “majority of them are in the police and fire areas,” she said. “Across most of the organization (there’s) just a few positions here and there, mostly keeping up with the additional services and growth.” For police, 22 full-time positions and two full-time victim advocates are proposed and for fire, 19 full-time positions. The other positions include five for parks/facilities, five for the water department and four for wastewater. The Town currently has roughly 1,613 employees serving a population of 273,796, which works out to 5.89 employees per 1,000 residents and is lower than the same ratio in other Valley municipalities, according to Pfost. Using last year’s FTE data because the

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other cities also are working on their budgets, Gilbert is lower than Chandler at 6.00; Mesa, 8.30 and Scottsdale, 10.49, she said. With the proposed new positions, Gilbert would be at 6.00, she said. A big change can be seen in the Capital Improvement program, which last year had about $425 million of planned projects and next year would increase by $625 million, according to Pfost. The proposed CIP budget includes funding for multi-year and new projects such as $572 million for water-system improvements, $247 million for street improvements; $95 million for waster-system improvements; $14.3 million for traffic-control improvements and $21 million for parks and recreation. The water-improvement budget includes $162 million in existing projects that take multiple years to complete and $410 million in new projects, most of it associated with the rebuilding of the North Water Treatment Plant, which produces 30% of Gilbert’s water supply.

“We won’t spend all of that money in next year’s budget,” Pfost said. “As always we budget the full amount so we know that we can complete the projects but it will take us several years to work through those projects to completion.” Additionally, the debt service in the proposed budget increased by $14.5 million to $69 million due to the new transportation bond and Water Resources Municipal Property Corporation bonds. Voters approved a $515-million transportation bond in November and Council recently approved the first issuance of $200 million, which is being repaid by secondary property taxes. To cover the debt service payments for the upcoming year, the Town is proposing a secondary property tax levy of $29.6 million. The tax rate remains at $.9897 per $100 of assessed property value. Public hearings on the levy are scheduled for May 17 and June 14. A few council members voiced con-

see BUDGET page 12

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

BUDGET from page 11

cerns with some of the proposed spending and with a couple of projects included in the CIP budget. Vice Mayor Aimee Yentes questioned the purchase of three more ambulances. The Fire Department went into the ambulance business full time last summer with six new ambulances, a move that was opposed by Yentes. “It’s really achieving two things – replacing (two) existing ambulances or reserve ambulances that we’ve had for several years and then adding an additional one…so that we have a 50% backup rate for the ambulances,” Chief Jim Jobusch explained. Jobusch said the department is seeing some issues with downtime and maintenance and the department needs enough ambulances available to render aid. Yentes also questioned the “very small amount budgeted for the crime lab,” with much more substantial investments in the outgoing years in the CIP budget. She previously expressed reservations with a town lab and advocated that Gilbert enter into an agreement with other Valley municipalities and contract with a private forensic lab. Police Chief Mike Soelberg has pitched the idea of a town crime lab to handle cases as Gilbert’s population continues to grow. He’s also suggested that the Town can stay put with Mesa, which has a full-size service lab that has the capacity to expand. Yentes said because there was a substantial amount of funds budgeted in 2027 for the project, she felt it “sends the wrong message.” She said it looks like a “foregone conclusion or we’ve already got predeter-

Gilbert Town Council discussed the proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and is adopting a preliminary spending plan May 17. (YouTube) mined conclusions about this before we’ve had a policy discussion about the direction we’re going.” Pfost said projects are placed in the CIP for planning purposes into the future and staff uses its best guess for the cost estimate. “If we don’t want to consider a crime lab at all then we would want to take it out,” she said. “If we want to consider it in the future, then it helps us be able to prepare for possibilities in that area.’ Town Manager Patrick Banger said the five-year projection in the CIP budget is just that.

“The only thing that’s formally approved is whatever is upcoming in the next fiscal year,” Banger said. “We could end up staying in the agreement with Mesa for long term, we could end up having multiple cities come to us and all want to put capital dollars into a project. “It’s really just for forecasting purposes so that we have an idea of what we should anticipate in the coming five years and then there’ll be any number of factors and decisions by the elected board as to what actually gets done.” Councilwoman Yung Koprowski said she supported Councilman Scott Ander-

son’s proposal for a formal discussion to set the direction for the project. But Mayor Brigette Peterson said the problem is that Council’s next meeting is for the adoption of the preliminary budget “so we’re not going to have a lot of time between now and then.” Koprowski asked if other municipalities also put in the full cost of new CIP projects within their first year. “It is somewhat unique to Gilbert where we do make sure that we have that full amount to finish, that we don’t have to wonder or scrape up money as the bills come in,” Pfost said.

Road, Gilbert, facility houses a 16-inch diameter telescope where visitors can enjoy the wonders of the night sky. The first special event. is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May, which also is Astronomy Day. The observatory will be open for viewing of the sun through safely filtered telescopes. “The sun has been more active recently, with a number of sunspots and solar

flares visible,” said Claude Haynes, the observatory director. “The observatory is equipped with filters that block 99.9% of the light,” Haynes explained. “Through the filtered telescope viewers can see sun spots. These are magnetic storms that are slightly cooler places on the surface and look dark in comparison. The observatory also has a special telescope that is de-

signed just to look at the Sun in a narrow band of red light called Hydrogen Alpha. Since the sun is mostly hydrogen, this telescope enables the viewer to see the actual surface of the Sun and solar flares erupting along the edges of the Sun. The second event is on May 15, with a lunar eclipse. The Moon rises at 7:10

Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory fully reopens GSN NEWS STAFF

ow that it has recruited more volunteers, the Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory is fully reopening to the public from sunset to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and is hosting two special events this month. The observatory, in the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, 2757 E Guadalupe

see OBSERVATORY page 13

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

OBSERVATORY from page 12

p.m., and the eclipse will already be underway. Maximum darkness occurs at 9:11 p.m. Several telescopes will be set up on the lawn beside the observatory for public viewing. “The observatory itself will be open and viewing objects other than the moon,” Haynes said. “ There are usually about two lunar eclipses each year because the orbit of the moon is angled to that of the earth and they don’t align every month,” Haynes said. “The outer part of that shadow is the penumbra and is faint. The darker umbra follows and obscures the face of the moon. The only light

bending around the edge of the earth is in the red part of the spectrum. This turns the moon into a coppery color that is quite beautiful.” He said the walls of the observatory “prevent us from viewing objects lower than 15 degrees above the horizon” and so “we will have volunteers from the East Valley Astronomy Club bring their personal telescopes for people to view the eclipse while the moon is low in the sky. Even without a telescope, a lunar eclipse if always a fun event and something people can safely view from home.”

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RAIL from page 1

“One of the stations, which would be in the Heritage District was included in that (downtown) redevelopment plan and there was public participation for that,” Koprowski said. “And the station at Cooley Station – both were mentioned as part of the outreach for the transportation bond so I do feel the public has had a lot of exposure to these projects.” Koprowski said there is some space reserved downtown for this purpose and the study would show if a station there would even be feasible, given that the Heritage District is growing so quickly. If it’s not feasible, the Town could then release that land for other uses that would serve Gilbert in a better way, she said. Koprowski added that while serving on the Citizens Transportation Task Force Committee and being part of the $515-million transportation bond that was passed in November, she didn’t hear any negative comments about these transit stations. “If I were to ask 100 of my neighbors do they know that commuter rail is going to be coming to Gilbert, I think approximately zero of those people would be aware,” Yentes said, adding she appreciated that there are platforms for public engagement. “I think when we are talking about an investment of this size –and not just an investment but what it represents for opportunity costs – I think we really need to have eyes wide-open about the level of awareness,” Yentes added. “It’s one thing to have it in planning docs but people don’t know, they’re not involved in this stuff.” Koprowski then responded that Amtrak last year announced it was looking at projects that might bring intercity passenger rail service through Gilbert. In the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill signed by the president last year, $66 billion went to Amtrak. Amtrak in July unveiled its 15-year expansion plan to connect up to 160 communities by building new or improved rail corridors in over 25 states. The plan included providing train trips between Phoenix and Tucson with nine stations, including in Queen Creek, Tempe and Phoenix, proposed for the route, but not in Gilbert.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

like to see is a commitment by the region that this is really going to happen and I haven’t seen that.” Mieras said early documents did not show a station in Gilbert but staff has since met with and given ample information to an Amtrak official who agreed that “Gilbert is ripe for a staThis map shows one proposed layout of the commuter rail line that has been studied by mag and East Valley officials. tion location.” (Special to GSN) He mentioned that ValExactly when that service might com- Gilbert Council did sign a letter of sup- ley mayors also have signed a letter of support for Amtrak and commuter rail port for that study,” Mieras said. mence is not yet known. “There was a federal record of deci- and that he thinks a commitment that “The specific timeline, station location and other details will be discussed sion that came down that identified that Anderson was talking about was coming. Regional commuter rail would run during the service development plan, rail line through Gilbert as the most faon Union Pacific- and on BNSF-owned vorable one. It had the highest ridership, which will be driven by local stakeholdfreight rail tracks and is generally less it showed that the station locations were ers,” said Amtrak spokeswoman Olivia than 20 miles in travel lengths and fovery favorable and this was a study that Irvin. cuses on peak period service. Amtrak’s Irvin added that the decision on final had gone on for several years. “This has definitely been something intercity passenger services makes less station locations will be made at the lothat has been at the forefront of our frequent stops than commuter rail. cal level and discussed by stakeholders. “We didn’t want to get too far Amtrak used to serve Phoenix until thoughts and transportation planning out ahead of ourselves with the study a 1995 terrorist attack on a stretch of for a while.” He added that the development agree- but what we wanted to do is try to at Union Pacific track west of the city that ment with the Cooleys for a transit cen- least show support for this and get derailed one of its trains, killing one person and injuring many others. The ter at the Cooley Station community was ahead of it,” Mieras said, adding: “So, that if and when Amtrak or comcost to repair that line at the time was executed about 20 years ago. Mieras said the study would help staff muter rail does come forward we at deemed too expensive, prompting Amdetermine a location for a station in least studied this and we got a good potrak to shuttle its service in Phoenix. Koprowski said the proposed study downtown and if it’s feasible. At Cooley sition and we are kind of ahead of the was the first step toward providing more Station, there is land already set aside eight ball where we are skating toward information to the Council to make a de- for the station and the study would help where the puck is going and not where it’s been.” cision whether or not to move forward determine the size and design of it. Mayor Brigette Peterson said the AmHe stressed that the study is not for on the two stations. trak representative was shocked that Development Services Director Kyle the construction of the stations. “I don’t have a problem with the sta- Gilbert was not on the initial list of staMieras said Gilbert, Arizona Department of Transportation and MAG have been tion per se,” Councilman Scott Anderson tion stops, considering there is a whole working on passenger rail in the Valley said. But “I think we are a little bit pre- neighborhood created with a commuter rail station in mind. mature. We are out over our skis. and through the town since 1993. And, she said, when she attended a “We heard that Amtrak doesn’t even “Back in 2013 there was a study being MAG meeting a week before the April consider Gilbert as being a location for commissioned by ADOT that looked at commuter rail from Tucson up through the stations and the region has been dosee RAIL page 16 Phoenix and at that time (the sitting) ing studies over time. But what I would

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

RAIL from page 14

26 council meeting, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego commented, “’Gilbert is way ahead of us. “‘They already have two stations planned and the rest of us are already signing onto this letter for commuter rail and none of us are ready. We need to catch up to Gilbert,’” Peterson said. She said a transit center for Cooley Station has been in the works for over two decades as a potential item coming forward. “We are at the point we have to decide if it is going to work in those locations,” Peterson said. “We need to be at a point where we are ready to say that. And if Amtrak comes knocking with those federal dollars is Gilbert on board to do that?” Yentes said she saw the proposed study as an attempt to build community support for the stations. She said she didn’t see it as a feasibility study but rather that the town has its mind made up to build the transit centers. “I think quite frankly we are taking

Councilwoman Yung Koprowski defended the study, which town staff described as urgent. (YouTube) crazy pills if we think people are going to be excited about commuter rail and the complete boondoggle that this would be not just for this community but for this

Vice Mayor Aimee Yentes slammed the proposed study of two proposed regional commuter rail line sites during a council meeting April 26. (YouTube)

state,” Yentes said. “I think we are going to have a lot of backlash from the community when we start heading down this road.”

Yentes said she can’t point to any state where Amtrak is not being heavily and deeply subsidized by taxpayers despite

see RAIL page 17

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

RAIL from page 16

a 75% drop in its ridership. She referred to a 2018 MAG report that showed states with commuter rail have a dedicated sales tax on top of a “massive” state subsidy and federal funding to support it. “If we are going to put the foot on the pedal because we got build-back bankruptcy dollars that are going to be flooding the jurisdictions, I think this has a lot more to do with who has to gain financially,” Yentes said. “There is a huge rail lobby in D.C. for this kind of stuff and it has nothing to do with reducing congestion and improving transportation as a model. I am a vehement ‘no’ on this.” She said it was not a matter of timing to do the study and that there is no good timing for “19th-Century technology” that is a broken model. “I think there is a lot of buyers’ remorse in other states that have gone down this track,” she said. Councilman Scott September said Yentes made valid points but the study is a way to gather additional information.

“I know commuter systems are used,” he said. “I understand light rail in Phoenix met its long-term projections within a few years but I guess my questions go deeper than usership – what is the goal of a rail transit system, should user fees pay for the system and the improvements that we would entertain here in the town or is that never the goal. I would like to see what that looks like.” Anderson said he wasn’t opposed to the stations and that they would be needed at some point but he was concerned if the commuter rail will get built. He said there have been studies on commuter rail but he’s seen lots of studies that were done but end up sitting on the shelf and don’t get implemented. “There are discussions that are still going on,” Anderson said. “That decision is going to be made somewhere out of Gilbert whether that is going to happen. My point is do we spend a half million dollars on that gamble, on rolling that dice that it’s going to happen. I’m not

comfortable doing that.” Councilman Kathy Tilque made a motion to continue the item for a future study session for more discussion so Council would have a better understanding of the status of commuter rail, if the town’s timing for the study is correct and “where we are in any commitment level.” As far as regional commuter rail goes, residents shouldn’t hold their breath. Audra Koester Thomas, MAG transportation program manager, said there is no identified funding for commuter rail, which would take $2.5 billion to implement and connect two dozen communities. “There are no current plans to implement commuter rail and no funding,” she said. “We have over $90 billion of transportation needs throughout the region and only $36 billion of funding. But “we are continuing to investigate for potential future implementation,” she added.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

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Gilbert family finds help in long diagnosis wait BY VALLIERE JONES GSN Contributor

arents of children with developmental delays know the road to diagnosis is long and filled with many obstacles – but the road is especially challenging for those who have autism. In Arizona, where the Centers for Disease Control estimates one in 44 children has autism, families often wait more than a year to have their children evaluated. Gilbert mother Olivia Koenen waited two years for her son, Remi, to obtain the diagnosis he needed and sur-

mounted countless hurdles along the way. Initially, she noticed problems with his hearing. Remi didn’t respond to his name or to loud noises and toys. Yet, because he sometimes passed hearing Now that he has an autism diagnosis, Remi Wein (right, with his tests his pediabrothers Sawyer and Jasper) has access to applied behavior analysis trician admintherapy. (Special to GSN) istered during

regular visits, Koenen was told it was common for moms to be paranoid and everything was fine. By the time Remi was 2 yet not speaking, Koenen decided to take him to an audiologist herself after the pediatrician refused to provide a referral. “His doctor told me he would talk when he was ready, but when I accidentally dropped some cutting boards right next to him in the kitchen and he didn’t react, I knew something was wrong,” she said. “The audiologist said he needed tubes to remove fluid that had built up and the procedure fully

see AUTISM page 19

Nonprofit provides major home repairs for needy locals BY JOSH ORTEGA GSN Staff Writer

n East Valley nonprofit will provide free home repairs for Gilbert residents for the first time in its history. Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun started in 1991 with grassroot beginnings and since then has helped more than 50,000 homeowners throughout the Valley. For the first time, the nonprofit will offer a program to Gilbert residents only to provide “free, critical” home repairs for income-qualified homeowners experiencing economic challenges. “Anything that’s going to make your home safer,” Executive Director Kelly Watson said. Watson has served in that role for the past six years and said this special program comes courtesy of a grant from the Town of Gilbert and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant.

Rebuilding Together, a Mesa-based nonprofit, is providing free home repairs to needy Gilbert homeowners. (Special to GSN)

According to the Town of Gilbert documents, officials have allocated $175,000 of the $1.1 million the town received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed by then-President Trump on March 27, 2020. Watson said the nonprofit will serve homeowners in the community on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds run out. Some of the repairs they will look for include roofing, toilet, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. Some of the other projects the nonprofit includes Ramp Up! Arizona installs free wheelchair and walker ramps for low-income senior, veteran, and disabled homeowners. Through our Safe@Home program, volunteers provide free home assessments and home safety modifications for income-qualified seniors, veterans and individuals with disabilities.

see REPAIRS page 19

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

AUSTISM from page 18

corrected his hearing.” Yet Remi still wasn’t speaking when he turned 3. Koenen also observed key behavioral differences between Remi and his twin brother. “Strange things sent him over the edge. I took the boys to a trampoline park that had a shiny concrete floor, and Remi panicked at the idea of walking on it. Instead, he jumped from rug to rug.” Koenen enrolled Remi in an early intervention preschool, where he had access to speech and occupational therapies, but he still didn’t speak. She switched pediatricians, but learned there was a year-long wait list for autism evaluations. Hoping to have Remi evaluated sooner, Koenen found a psychologist who could see him after two months. After meeting with him, the psychologist was unable to make a conclusive diagnosis. “Remi met some of the markers, but not all, and the psychologist wasn’t sure if his hearing troubles had contributed,” she said. Koenen had a similar experience when she visited a developmental nurse practitioner: because Remi didn’t meet every marker on the state’s checklist, the nurse practitioner also declined to diagnose. “I was so unsure of myself and wish I had been more assertive. I’m not a doctor but I knew what I saw. A professional sees him for an hour, tops, but when you’re with them all the time you see more,” she said. “Just because they don’t see what you see doesn’t mean you should give up.” Koenen and her ex-husband persevered, eventually finding Axis for Autism, a Phoenix company that specializes in autism diagnoses for children

REPAIRS from page 18

Some of the modifications include grab bars, wooden or metal wheelchair ramps, and low-rise, long run exterior stairs These repairs will only go to households whose total household income

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his emotions. They talked and played with Remi to develop a well-rounded picture of what he is actually like.” Two weeks later, a psychologist met with Koenen and her ex-husband over Zoom to provide a comprehensive report. Remi did have autism – and with the diagnosis, she was able to get him into applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. “Axis for Autism understands that people can still have autism without displaying all the Olivia Koenen overcame many obstacles to obtain an autism diagnosis s t e re o t y p i c a l for her five-year-old son, Remi (right). signs. They didn’t put and adults. Not only were they able to Remi into a box,” Koenen said. “Many see Remi within two weeks, but they – including some in the medical profesalso assessed him in a different way. sion – believe kids have to fit into a per“They were incredibly thorough, fect autism mold, when in reality, kids spending time getting to know and are all over the place. It’s a huge relief interacting with Remi to figure out how to know Remi can get services that will he behaves,” Koenen said. “They took a help instead of having to spend the rest holistic approach, examining not only of his life in a gray area.” his motor and social skills, but also Remi’s story isn’t uncommon in Arihow he communicates and regulates zona, where thousands of children lan-

guish on wait lists. With a shortage of qualified psychologists to administer evaluations, the wait only grows longer. Using groundbreaking technology to streamline evaluations for its network of 20 psychologists who specialize in autism diagnosis, Axis for Autism has cut the wait down to less than 60 days. “Our highly trained clinical team employs multiple scientifically validated diagnostic tools to deliver gold-standard evaluations for as many as 200 people a month at our offices in Phoenix, Glendale and Tucson,” said Christine Ehrich, CEO at Axis for Autism. Moreover, with a bilingual staff and contracts with most Medicaid plans, the company is addressing economic and ethnic disparities in treatment. “Axis for Autism is committed to helping everyone receive life-changing autism diagnoses. By hiring employees who speak Spanish, we remove a language barrier that prevents or delays people from getting what they need,” Ehrich said. Because the company works with a variety of psychologists, it addresses a wide variety of patients. “Our deep bench of psychologists includes those who specialize in small children as well as adolescents, teens and adults. We pair each person with the psychologist best suited to their individual needs for evaluations and do a warm hand off for therapy to connect families with the right provider,” said Ehrich. Koenen is grateful trusting her intuition resulted in 5-year-old Remi getting the help he needs. “It never hurts to see someone else versus always wondering if there’s something more you can do. Parents need to follow their gut instinct.” Information: axisforautism.com.

falls below 80% of the HUD median household income limits. For example, a household of one with an income under $44,250 will qualify for free home repairs. The same applies for a household of four that makes less

residents can apply online at rtvos.org or call 480-774-0237. Applicants can mail in their form to 1826 West Broadway Road #16, Mesa, AZ 85202, or scan and email them to ClientServices@rtvos.org

than $63,200. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 5.1% of residents in Gilbert fall below the poverty line in 2020, or approximately 13,664 people. To find out if you’re qualified, Gilbert

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Barbara Elizabeth Garcia

Barbara Garcia, wife, mother and Nana passed away on April 15, 2022. She is survived by her loving husband Moses, her daughter Christy Garcia, her granddaughter Avery. Also, her siblings Christine Deleon and Anthony Deleon. Her son Carlos passed away in 1994. Barbara was born in Morenci Arizona on August 22, 1957 to Belia Rios and Augustine Carrasco. She grew up in Morenci and graduated from Morenci Highschool. Later in life obtaining her Associates degree. She worked for the State of AZ for 25 years. Barbara married Moses in 1973 in Safford, Az and were they Married for 47 years. Barbara went to he with the Lord surrounded by her husband, daughter, granddaughter and grandson. Barbara will be laid to rest next to her son. A funeral service will be held from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM on 2022-04-22 at Falconer Funeral Home, 251 West Juniper Street, Mesa, AZ, USA.

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EV restaurant revels in eastern European cuisine BY MELODY BIRKETT GSN Contributor

ataliya Koshalko moved to Arizona from Ukraine with her family in 2001. “We all came over together,” she said, explaining how she spoke no English. “I was looking for a job where I’d be able to use my skills and at the same time to learn English,” she recalled. “None of the businesses were Russian or Ukrainian-speaking at the time. When I opened my business, I said my doors would always be open for people who don’t speak English yet.” Then she added, “The accent will stay forever.” She started as a financial advisor before opening All Pierogi in 2010 at 1245 W. Baseline Road near Alma School Road in Mesa. Koshalko worked both jobs for five years. No family members work at the restaurant. “I love to cook,” Koshalko said. “I started cooking when I was 11 years old. When I had guests at home, they were always asking me, ‘Why don’t you open a restaurant? You’re so talented at what you do.’ One day, I decided to do it. I opened it as a side business. One day, it became the main business,” adding she had no background in the food industry. All of the recipes used at the restaurant belong to Koshalko’s grandmother, who passed away 25 years ago. In the beginning, Koshalko said, “I used a commercial kitchen for a couple of years. I wanted to see if this concept was good for Arizona or not. I’m the first one to open an authentic Ukrainian food establishment in Arizona. “Two years later, I decided to open a small market. We sell Eastern European items there. It’s meats and items from Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany, from many different countries.”

All Pierogi serves a variety of eastern European dishes. (Melody Birkett/GSNContributor)

Ukraine native Nataliya Koshalko has developed a popular following at her Mesa pierogi restaurant. (Melody Birkett/GSNContributor)

All imported. But customers complained about there only being a few tables. When space became available next door, Koshalko expanded. The restaurant now has two kitchens. All the dishes on the menu are homemade and handmade every day including the pasta. “We don’t use any pre-made food,” Koshalko said. “This is why our food is so unique because people like the taste…People will say the food is delicious like their grandma made or the food is delightful like their mom or neighbor made.” Besides pierogi the restaurant also serves pelmeni. “It’s like stuffed dumplings with meat,” said Koshalko. “It looks like a ravioli but it’s homemade. Not machine-made. “We make potato pancakes, schnitzels. We have fresh, homemade sausage. We have soups on the menu - red borscht, green

borscht, smoked sausage dill pickle soup. It sounds weird - pickles in a soup - but when people try it, they think it’s delicious.” As far as what makes Ukrainian food different from other types of food such as Middle Eastern or European, Koshalko said it’s not about preparation since pierogi is made the same way. It’s about something specific to a culture. For example, red borscht. “Polish people make red borscht but it’s clear and just basically bouillon. We add vegetables, for example. Our pierogi is very similar to Polish. Pelmeni is similar to Russian. It’s always meats of culture.” The most popular pierogi at the restaurant is potato and cheddar but Koshalko explained this variety is not made in Ukraine. “In Ukraine, all the cheese stuff - we call it farmer’s cheese but it’s dry cottage cheese. A lot of people don’t know what farmer’s cheese is here but they try farmers cheese and chive and they like it. “Right now, it’s very popular. When they try it once, they come to try it again and again.” She said potato pierogis are popular in Ukraine. In addition to pierogi, she said potato pancakes are popular. “When you try ours you’ll tell right away it’s different,” said Koshalko. “We make them from scratch and the spices. It’s not what you buy pre-made, frozen.” She said the base ingredients in Ukrainian food are salt and pepper. Nothing spicy. Even during the pandemic, customers could not get enough of their favorite dishes at All Pierogi. Koshalko is appreciative of the restaurant’s loyal customers who kept her going with website orders. Information: allpierogi, 480-2623349; Closed Monday & Tuesday.

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Kehoe key to Highland baseball success BY AUSTIN SCOTT GSN Contributor Writer

or someone who doesn’t like the sun or dust and gets frustrated when a Jolly Rancher wrapper is on the ground, Highland baseball head coach Erik Kehoe is unquestionably a seamless fit for the program. What stands out about Kehoe are the intangibles and the little things beyond the diamond. On a day-to-day basis, he constantly gives his players invaluable life lessons and situations that translate to the winning culture that Highland is looking to live up to. Senior third baseman Drake Khamis, one of the main beneficiaries of these experiences, acknowledged the importance of what Kehoe does and how the players’ high level of respect. “He’s very good at commanding respect from people and he just knows how to go about people and situations,” Khamis said. “He’s just very respectable and you respect him instantly right off the gate, you know?” Something Kehoe prides himself on is honesty – it’s the number one thing he wants to be known for. Even though being honest can lead to hard feelings at first, in the long run, Kehoe knows it will lead to long-lasting relationships up and down the roster. “You’re not going to make everybody happy coaching, right? Whether it’s a parent or player, assistant coach, you try to be honest because if you’re honest, they may be mad at you for a couple days but most of them should appreciate the honesty,” Kehoe said. “But if you’re not honest, they may be happy for a couple of days but then if you continue showing that you’re dishonest, that’s not building any relationship.” If one were to stand by the Highland dugout during a game, the first thing they would notice is how vocal the

a team that is on the younger side. “That’s me just trying to be in the moment like ‘hey fellas, it’s a 1-2 count here and this is what we’re calling’ so when you’re in that situation you understand why we’re doing this,” Kehoe said. “I try to use those as like coaching moHighland baseball coach Eric Kehoe constantly gives his players inments and some valuable life lessons and situations that translate to the winning culkids eat that up, ture that the team is looking to live up to for years to come. some don’t.” (Courtesy Donna Mundy Photography) Assistant coach JJ Costantino, who has now been with Kehoe for three years at Highland, previously coached in California for 10 years before coming to Arizona and touched on how the relationship felt 10 years strong with Kehoe from the start. “He’s an unbelievable coach. He sets his expectaKehoe just wrapped up his 25th season coaching high school baseball. tions and stanThe Hawks missed the playoffs this season but have a young core that dards extremely should help them have success in years to come. That’s what Kehoe high to where it’s looks forward to. (Courtesy Donna Mundy Photography) always motivating the players,” dugout is, especially Kehoe. Whether Costantino said. “He’s very old school in it’s talking to a group of players about a new age kind of way, if that makes any situational baseball, calling pitches or sense. Kind of the best of both worlds.” making defensive adjustments, there In high school, Kehoe went through a is always a conversation to be had for couple of rough patches and it was his

coaches who acted as his mentors and gave him good advice. It’s those memories that helped Kehoe find his calling. “That’s what really kind of focused me or drove me into the teaching and coaching ranks. I wanted to be that mentor for a student-athlete, or even a student if that situation arose,” Kehoe said. “Everyone has a purpose and the challenge is to find that purpose. I feel like my purpose is coaching baseball, working with kids and building relationships.” The culture of growth, togetherness and accountability that Kehoe has created in his short tenure with Highland will continue to progress throughout the years, with the constant goal being to make a positive impact on any player or assistant coach’s life. “Obviously it’s not just about baseball and he preaches that,” Costantino said. “We want to obviously instill the players into playing the game the right way but also carrying themselves the right way and I think he gets that point across very well.” Costantino also emphasized how the connections and relationships Kehoe has built over the years has gotten many players to the collegiate and professional level, and he will continue to use those resources for his players until he decides to hang it up. Kehoe just wrapped up his 25th season coaching. He has friends who have retired after losing the passion and drive for it and told him he will feel the same way. Luckily, Highland won’t need to find a replacement anytime soon. “I still love going out to our field. We have one of the best fields in the state and every day when I get out to the field there’s just like a rejuvenation… we’re getting to do our thing,” Kehoe said. “We’re in our space, our sanctuary, and I still love that.”

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

Gilbert to benefit from $80K grant for school trainers

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

thletic trainers are often the forgotten piece to a sports program, especially at the high school level. They can treat a wide variety of injuries, from bumps and bruises to immediate urgent care until paramedics can arrive on scene. They can be a coach’s best friend or worst enemy depending on who you ask. But one thing is clear: They’re there no matter when called upon. School districts will often provide enough money to ensure its head athletic trainer and staff have the necessary equipment to be useful daily. But as in most aspects of education, the funds aren’t unlimited. That’s where Dignity Health has come in. In partnership with the Arizona Sports and Tourism Author- From left: Chris Marquez of Arizona College Prep, Julia ity, Dignity secured an $80,000 Marino of Campo Verde and Jennifer Yates of Casteel grant for new equipment for its are all in the process of receiving new equipment partner schools across Queen from Dignity as part of an $80,000 grant from the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority. In total, 23 midCreek, Chandler and Gilbert. In dle schools and high schools in Gilbert, Chandler and total, 28 schools received new Queen Creek will benefit from the grant. equipment for its training staff, including 14 high schools. last leg,” Marino said. “Just to have those “The athletic trainers are extreme- funds available, we don’t have to fundly grateful, said Suzie Squires, Athletic raise or find the funds, we can give more Training Manager of the Dignity Health attention to our athletes knowing Dignity Sports Medicine Program. “They know is in the background preparing these rehaving the funds and these items allow sources for us. We can get around easier, them to do their jobs that much better we can build our program and use some which is their ultimate goal. Some of our of that money elsewhere. schools, it’s adding to their long-running “Same thing with the AED. Those get wish list.” old quickly. Many schools apply for grants Most of the equipment donated and get denied so having Dignity under through the grant went to portable au- our belt is amazing.” tomated external defibrillators. Some Campo Verde, like other schools, will schools, like Campo Verde High School in also receive five years of subscriptions Gilbert, will receive a new equipment cart for an electronic medical record software used to transport equipment, staff and used by trainers daily. The software alwhen necessary, injured athletes. lows trainers to better monitor and track The new cart is a welcomed sight for each individual athlete. Campo Verde head athletic trainer Julia Some schools are also receiving iPads Marino. While still in her first year, she’s and WiFi jetpacks with the grant, which felt the brunt of having an outdated cart can be used for training and a variety of with battery issues. But she now looks other things related to the head athletic forward to a new one on the way. trainer’s day-to-day operations keeping “Our current golf cart is running on its athletes healthy.

Since 2014 Dignity has partnered with local schools to deliver top-notch athletic training programs. Along with grants, it has also set up events where athletes can receive a full screening to be cleared for play well in advance of the season. The most recent event was held Saturday, April 23 at Chandler Gilbert Community College. (Photos Dave Minton/GSN Staff)

Chris Marquez came to Arizona College Prep two years ago from Arizona State where he served as the wrestling athletic trainer. At the time of his arrival, ACP was still at its old campus near Alma School and Ray roads in Chandler. The school, at the time, had a practice field and small gym, but not much else. But last fall the school opened its larger standalone campus near Gilbert and Ocotillo roads, which included multiple practice fields, softball, baseball, a football stadium and large gym and weight room. Quickly, Marquez had much more ground to cover during the school year when most sports are in full swing. “Having access to those supplies and have the golf carts to cover the such a huge ground has been so helpful, especially as we find new access points and a way to run athletics out there,” Marquez said. “It’s a lot of ground to cover.” Along with ACP, Basha, Chandler, Hamilton, Perry and seven middle schools and junior highs received part of the grant. In Gilbert, Mesquite, Desert Ridge, Gilbert, Highland and Gilbert Classical Academy

were the beneficiaries alongside Campo Verde and five junior highs. Queen Creek, Eastmark, Queen Creek Middle School and Newell Barney Middle School in Queen Creek were gifted equipment. Casteel, one of the newer and fastest-growing schools on the border of Queen Creek and Chandler, received most of its equipment from a previous grant gifted to Dignity in year’s past. This time around, the athletic training staff received the software and an extra AED. School athletic trainer Jennifer Yates said the school’s partnership with Dignity has been key for their growth, especially as the school’s athletic programs continue to see a constant uptick in participation from its students. “Our campus is super spread out, we have a junior high and high school in one,” said Yates, who has been at Casteel for four years. “Having access to golf carts or new AEDs, new ice submerging tubs or whatever it may be has been fantastic because of how many athletes we are working with in such a large, expansive space. “Having the support of Dignity is amazing.” Since 2014, Dignity has partnered with schools in the three communities to deliver top-notch care in a timely fashion for athletes. Along with in-season injury prevention and care, Dignity also routinely hosts events that allow athletes to receive a full screening before the start of their respective season. The most recent one was held at Chandler Gilbert Community College on Saturday, April 23. Trainers and physicians from Dignity were on site with multiple stations for a wide variety of tests often conducted during a sports physical. Hundreds of high school athletes from Dignity’s partner schools attended the event to be cleared for summer workouts and the season. Yates said the ability for them to get cleared early gives them the opportunity to enjoy their summer and trainers the peace of mind heading into a new season. “It’s nice for the athletes to come in today, get it done and be over with it,” Yates said. “The coaches back us on this as well because they need it done to play and can’t practice. We get support from all sides to have something this big.”

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t’s delectable. It’s ever-so satisfying and a fantastic meal for weeknight, date night or anytime. The inspiration for this French country chicken came from watching “Julie and Julia” this week, a movie I’ve seen many times before. But this time, watching the iconic television chef and the food blogger who cooked one of Julia Child’s meals every day for one year, made me go hunting through my recipe collection for some of my favorite French classics.This French Chicken with Vermouth Sauce would make both the professional chef and the home cook rock stars in the kitchen. I taught this dish at one of my recent cooking classes at Sweet Basil Gourmetware and Cooking School in Scottsdale, and it was a joy to see the students sop up the succulent sauce with a piece of fresh crusty French bread. Ingredients: 2 TBSP butter 4 lb. boneless chicken thighs Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 medium carrot, finely chopped ½ rib celery, finely chopped 2 oz prosciutto or country ham, finely chopped ¾ cup Vermouth ¾ cup homemade or low-salt canned chicken stock 3 TBSP heavy cream, at room temperature Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 2 cups rice for serving with chicken

Directions: 1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook it in the skillet on the skin side to brown it and to render the fat from the skin, about 15 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook on the bone side for about 5 minutes. Remove and reserve the chicken. 2. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and prosciutto or ham and sauté until the onion is browned and the vegetables are softened, 8 to 10 minutes. 3. Add the vermouth and chicken stock to the pan and stir to combine with vegetables. Put the chicken back into the pan. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover the skillet with a lid, and simmer the chicken in the sauce until cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. 4. Make the rice. In a pot, add rice and fill with water just to one inch above the rice. Cook over medium heat with lid on. Do not remove lid or stir the rice during the cooking process. When rice is done, fluff it gently. 5. Remove the chicken from the pan, turn the heat to high and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the volume of liquid by half, about 5 minutes (or 6 to 7 minutes if you want a thicker sauce). 6. Add the cream, stir to combine, and return the chicken to the pan. Simmer until the chicken is coated and hot. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley. Serve over pasta or a bed of rice.

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Head Start Programs to Host Job Fair With Goal of Hiring Hundreds To Start New Jobs and Careers in Early Childhood Education

Head Start and Early Head Start programs — which serve children from six weeks to 5 years old free of charge through federal funding — are hosting a job fair on Saturday, May 7 to recruit new professionals to the field. Hundreds of positions are available at the job fair for both entry-level and experienced professionals. Head Start’s early learning efforts help children with or without special needs find their footing in academic environments. In addition to introducing fundamental skills relating

to language, math and literacy, among other areas, early learning efforts seek to help kids develop their life skills through instruction and interactive play. Head Start programs seek to ensure that all participants have access to the medical, dental and health services they need to succeed, function and thrive. All program participants enjoy access to health and development screenings, nutritious meals and snacks, and oral and metal health support, among related services. Founded In 1981, Southwest Human Development is a leader in early childhood development and education, serving more than 140,000 children and their families every year. Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated

to early childhood development, Southwest Human Development works with young children and their families during their child’s earliest years to have the greatest impact on their future success and development. The organization’s 40 programs and services focus on child development, mental health, Easterseals disabilities services, early literacy, Head Start, family support and child welfare. For more information visit www.swhd.org. Head Start Job Fair, Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Desert Willow Conference Center, 4340 E. Cotton Boulevard, Suite 100, Phoenix, Arizona 85040 FOR MORE INFO: Visit www.azheadstart.org

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JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

CALL TO ADVERTISE 480-898-6465

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TO APPLY: 623-932-1674 OR WWW.AIRNOWAC.COM

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG

Peter Piper Pizza’s commitment to outstanding service starts with our employees. • Competitive benefits and rewards • Day, Evenings, Night positions • Flexible Management hours - go to school and work full-time • Opportunities for growth - we promote from within • Early paycheck access

McDowell and Miller Road • (480) 947-9901 Apply at: 7607 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

Located between Hayden Road and Scottsdale Road on the southwest corner of Miller Road.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

• In-Ofﬁce Position • Health, Dental, Vision • Paid Vacations, Holidays • 401K and more • Full-Time

Times Media Group is a digital and print media company operating in the Phoenix, Tucson, and Los Angeles markets. We have experienced signiﬁcant growth in recent years due to our commitment to excellence when it comes to providing news to the communities we serve.

Why Work Here?

A Good Candidate Possesses

Times Media Group offers a positive work environment, employee training, a talented team, and lots of professional growth opportunities.

• An energetic and upbeat attitude • A minimum of two years of ofﬁce experience • The ability to work well on a team • An ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment • Exceptional organizational skills • A desire for hands-on professional growth experience

We are seeking a highly organized, friendly, and outgoing individual who excels at making customers happy and keeping the ofﬁce environment functioning. A good candidate will have strong computer and communication skills and an ability to build rapport and communicate with customers, usually by phone.

If you are a hardworking and resourceful individual, please respond with your resume and a cover letter outlining why you believe your skill set and experience make you a good ﬁt for this position. We are currently scheduling interviews for an immediate opening.

Apply today, upload your resume: TimesLocalMedia.com

EOE

CALL TO ADVERTISE 480-898-6465

Job Description

FIND YOUR JOB

Team Member Full and Part Time

JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG LOCAL JOBS. LOCAL PEOPLE.

EVERYBODY GRAB A FUTURE

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG / JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG

CALL TO ADVERTISE 480-898-6465

FIND YOUR JOB

JOBS.PHOENIX.ORG LOCAL JOBS. LOCAL PEOPLE.

Employment General Niagara Bottling, LLC seeks Sr. Manager of Systems Engineering in Chandler, AZ (& other US locations as needed) to lead design, architecture & execution of solutions for critical business tech apps. Requires domestic travel up to 50% of the time to other plant locations. Apply at www.jobpostingtoday.com Ref #66024

WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATE

MLCo is a 93 year old family owned and operated business that provides a full array of services to the world’s leading airlines including the procurement, warehousing and distribution of the food and equipment used for inﬂight services. As a private business our focus is on our employees and customers making MLCo one of the best places to work in our industry.

Starting pay is $16/hr plus eligible escalators Healthcare beneﬁts and 401K investment options offered Full-time and Summer Positions Available $1000 New Hire Bonus (After 90 day review) $1000 Referral Bonus (After 90 day review) MULTIPLE SHIFTS AVAILABLE: (WILL FILL SHIFTS AS NEEDED)

1st Shift: 4:00am-12:30pm Mon-Fri 2nd Shift: Mon – Fri, 1:00 – 9:30 pm OR Tues – Fri 1:00 – 9:30 pm, Sat 7:00 am – 3:30 pm

EOE

Please contact jobs@mlco.com for more information

HUMAC, Inc has openings for the following positions in Phoenix, AZ and/or client sites throughout the US. Must be willing to travel/relocate. IT Engineer reqs US Masters/equiv or bachelors + 5 yrs exp to design/dev/test systems/apps using Java/J2EE/HTML/CSS/Unix/Windows. IT Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) to test/maintain/monitor systems/programs using SQL/Oracle/Java/Hadoop/Unix. Send resume to jobs@humacinc.com with ref # 2022-19 for IT Eng; 2022-21 for IT Analyst & ref this ad

PayPal, Inc. has the following positions available in Scottsdale AZ.: MTS 2, Systems Administrator (Req#:18-6059): Act as the Tech. Duty Ofc. (TDO) who is resp. for Site Incident Mgmt. Req’s: MS (or equiv.) +1yr. exp. Or BS (or equiv.) +5yrs. exp. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. To apply, please send your resume with references, specifying Req.# by email to: paypaljobs@paypal.com; or by mail: ATTN: HR, Cube 10.3.561, PayPal, Inc. HQ, 2211 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95131. EOE, including disability/vets.

Food Preparation Worker: Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed etc. No Exp. Rqr’d. Send res u m e t o R e s t a u r a nt Zushi Company: 6727 E. McDowell Rd., #110, Mesa, AZ 85215

Food Preparation Worker: Assist cooks and kitchen staff with various tasks as needed etc. No Exp. Rqr’d. Send resume to Zugoi Sushi Corporation: 6813 E. MAIN ST, MESA, AZ 85027

HIRING?

If someone Needs a Job, They Look Every Day! For a Quote email: class@times publications.com

480-898-6465

MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER • Experienced & Licensed • Will Have Exclusive Area • Top Commissions

Great Company Back Up to Help Loans Go Through

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INSIDE SALES TEAM PLAYER IN TEMPE

Cleaning Specialists Needed Valleywide!

Salary + Comission, Beneﬁts, Vacation and Sick Time Times Media Group is the largest publisher of community news in Arizona. With a complete digital advertising suite and over 300,000 copies a week – our reach is a must-have for local businesses, and we offer advertising solutions to ﬁt any business in any community! We are hiring inside advertising sales representatives to help with inbound and outbound sales. TMG has grown 500% in the past six years, and we expect this growth trajectory to continue. Come join us! Do you get excited when you sell? We get it - it’s exciting to sell! Do you have an interest in selling solutions and not just ads? If you are a fast learner, tech savvy and familiar with Google and other digital advertising solutions, you should contact us. If you want to learn how, we have you covered too! Will train. This is a full time job with the hours of 8:30-5pm Mon-Fri. in Tempe near the Broadway Curve. Need we say more? Contact us TODAY!

Please send your resume and cover letter to:

Elaine Cota, ecota@timespublications.com

EOE

• Full/Part time • Willing to work around your schedule • OT in some areas • Permanent positions • Pay $13.50 - $17.00

• Must pass background check • Must be authorized to work in the U.S. • Must bring two forms of Identiﬁcation for E-verify purposes

Applications are being accepted Monday-Friday 9am-3:30pm Apply at: 8930 N. 78th Ave., Peoria, AZ 85345

Call: 623-937-0000

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

Ahwatukee Chandler Gilbert Glendale Mesa North Valley Peoria Phoenix SanTan Scottsdale Queen Creek West Valley

CLASSIFIEDS.PHOENIX.ORG To Advertise Call: 480-898-6465 or email Class@TimesPublications.com

Merch andise Wanted to Buy Diabetic Test Strips by the box, unused. Any type or brand. Will pay top dollar. Call Pat 480-323-8846

DO YOU OFFER Lessons & Tutoring? Children need your help! Place your ad today Contact us: class@times publications.com or Call 480-898-6465

Service Directory

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Obituaries Obituaries have moved to the Community section of the paper!

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

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• Old Tires

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HOME FOR RENT? Place it here! 81% of our readers, read the Classifieds!

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480.721.4146 www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

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• Old Paint & Chems.

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Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

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rogerkretz@yahoo.com 25+ Years of Customer Services

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

Plumbing

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Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

Public Notices NOTICE OF SALE OF MOBILE HOME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following item of personal property will be sold at public sale to the highest bidder, to satisfy a landlord's lien: Mobile Home Make: DON A BELL Body Style: 12 X 50 Model Year: 1960 VIN: 5083560 / AZ341420 Date and Time of Sale: 06/02/22 AT 9:30 A.M. Location of Sale: Space No. 464 HOLIDAY VILLAGE 701 S DOBSON ROAD MESA, AZ 85202 Name of landlord: HOLIDAY MHC, LP DBA HOLIDAY VILLAGE Amount of Claimed Lien: $4,285.21 as of February 1, 2022 The Landlord reserves the right to bid at said sale and if its bid is the highest, to purchase said mobile home. The Landlord claims a lien against this property in the amount shown above as of the date shown above, for rents and other charges which have accrued through that date under a rental agreement covering the space occupied by the mobile home. The rental agreement giving rise to this lien was entered into by the Landlord and the following parties, owners of the mobile home, as tenants: Date of Rental Agreement: 08/05/2020 Name(s) of Tenant(s): Michael Andrew Thomas Owner of Record: Michael Andrew Thomas Said mobile home is located at the address shown above as the location of sale. The above described property shall be offered for sale pursuant to A.R.S. 33- 1023. The proceeds from the sale will be applied to the cost of sale and to the lien, and any money that remains will be disposed of as provided in A.R.S. 33-1023. COVID-19 Guidelines to be followed with limited number of attendees as stated in state guidelines. HOLIDAY MHC, LP DBA HOLIDAY VILLAGE By: Cecilia A. Prendergast Title Administrator Dated: April 15, 2022 April 20, 2022 & April 27, 2022 Published: West Valley View/Business, Apr 24, May 1, 2022 / 46061

You never know what you’ll find inside

Valley Wide Service

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

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class@timespublications.com

GILBERT SUN NEWS | MAY 1, 2022

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

BEST OF THE BEST

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ROC #223709 ROC #289252 | ItsJustPlumbSmart.com