Issuu

Higley prepares bond vote

Gilbert in big tourney

PAGE 10

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

This Week

NEWS. .............................. 6 GOP lawmakers rap local legislator on jobless pay.

COMMUNITY......... 13 Gilbert businesswoman pens new romance novel.

Expert sees Valley office glut looming.

COMMUNITY........................................13 BUSINESS............................................. 18 SPORTS.................................................. 22 GETOUT................................................. 25 PUZZLE.................................................. 27 CLASSIFIED..........................................28

See Page 9

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Study: Cactus Yards a home run for local economy BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

actus Yards’ first year under the town’s control brought in $2.9 million in direct spending to Gilbert, thanks largely to youth sports, an Arizona State University study found. The study, developed jointly with the town tourism and recreation staff, provides data and insight into how tournament visitors are using Gilbert businesses, restaurants and hotels during promoter-run tournaments at the sports facility near Elliot and Power roads.

“Embrace the people coming to your town,” ASU’s Dr. Eric Legg told the Parks and Recreation Board at its June 8 meeting. “They spend money and they might move here.” Gilbert re-opened the facility, formerly dubbed Big League Dreams, on Feb. 9, 2019 with its new moniker. It had been closed for nearly two years for major repairs after Gilbert took back management of the townowned venue that features scaled-down replicas of eight major pro baseball fields. Some 93,000 players participated in the 50 events, mostly youth tournaments, hosted at Cactus Yards from February 2019 to

February 2020, according to the study. “It’s a good chunk of people coming into Gilbert that otherwise would not,” Legg said, adding almost 90,000 players were not from Gilbert. Altogether Cactus Yards logged 127,000 admissions, which included the players and coaches, according to Legg. The bulk of the players came from California, he said, adding he expected a larger increase from that state last year during the pandemic because of the shutdown over there.

The place to be Gilbert man’s home helipad plan doesn’t fly with neighbors

BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

BUSINESS................. 18

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obert Horne wants to build a helipad in his backyard so he can take off to reach two parcels he owns deep in a national forest to check on his cows. Horne’s proposal to seek a conditional use permit for a 40’x40’ landing pad from the Town, however, isn’t flying with some of his neighbors in the Gilbert neighborhood of Sawyer Estates – horse properties with a minimum 2 acres

of land. “When I bought 21 years ago it was for the peace and quiet,” said Margie English, who lives five houses from Horne. “There are no street lights. I want to keep it rural.” English and a dozen other nearby residents voiced concerns about noise, impact to property values and safety during a neighborhood hosted by Horne last Wednesday on his front lawn. He also streamed the meeting live on Zoom, which at

see CHOPPER page 4

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NEWS

GPS outlines initial plans to spend $22M GSN NEWS STAFF

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ilbert Public Schools is expecting $22 million for its third and latest allotment of federal aid to deal with impacts from the pandemic. District officials discussed the spending of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund at last Thursday’s Good Government Buzz Session hosted by Gilbert Chamber of Commerce. Previously, GPS received $2.3 million in ESSER I money and $9.7 million in ESSER II. Federal regulations for ESSER III require the district to use some of the money – in Gilbert’s case $4.4 million – to address learning loss, said Superintendent Shane McCord. The remaining $17.6 million is discretionary, left up to the district to decide how to spend that based on its needs, he added. GPS will have until Sept. 30, 2024 to spend the money. The national ESSER III priorities include safe in-person schooling, student engagement and wellness and increasing enrollment and academic growth. McCord said the district is now soliciting feedback from the community on how to spend the money and priorities will be presented to the governing board for approval.

Jared Ryan, executive director of Strategic Initiatives, said learning loss is certain as students missed classroom instruction. The district waffled between online, hybrid and in-class learning. Ryan said district staff was currently analyzing recently received AZMerit test scores to see how they compared with previous years. He added there were some students who didn’t attend school all year and some who chose to attend schools that were not certified or accredited. Ryan said the district is addressing the learning loss with summer classes in order to prepare students for class in August. Bonnie Betz, assistant superintendent of Business Services, added there were over 5,000 students participating in summer school this year. Betz said the district was also looking at on-demand tutoring online that provided help whenever students need it. Many secondary students like to sleep late and do their work at night when their teachers may not be available, Betz said. The online proposal gives more flexibility and would cost the district $800,000 to $900,000 to implement, she added. Another proposal under consideration is targeting Mesquite High School

initially with a coach model. Marcie Taylor, Secondary Education executive director, said the instructional coaching model has been in use at the elementary campuses for awhile and now the district is looking to expand it to the high schools. This is where a teacher acts as a coach for other teachers – including those who are newer to the profession, those who are struggling and those who just want to be better, according to Taylor. Denise Lopez, president and CEO of HD South, asked if there was any talk about having longer course blocks or offering a six-week catch-up course for students. Ryan said there’s been no conversation about extending the school year, offering weekend classes or the like and that summer school was the strategy to address the learning loss. Participants also were asked for their expectation for the district in the coming year. Alison Martin, sales director for Topgolf, said school was very negative this past academic year. “I’d like to see students engaged and loving learning again,” she said. McCord agreed it was a trying year. “This year sucked a lot of energy out of lot of people,” he said, adding staff was taking the summer to recharge.

Don Skousen and Kate Porter. Spokesman Tim Sifert said there is no deadline for Watson to make the appointment. GPS’ deadline for applications from candidates interested in the position was last Thursday, but a district spokeswoman said they were not available. A “district collaboration team” is expected to interview applicants June 1423 and recommend three nominees for Watson to consider, though he can reject the recommendations. “At the end of the day, he can select anyone he wants,” Superintendent Shane McCord told participants at a Gilbert Chamber of Commerce event last Thursday.

Sifert said he did not know which candidates who submitted their applications to Watson’s office also applied at GPS. Whoever is appointed will serve until Dec. 31, 2022, and then the seat goes up for election in November 2022 to fill the remaining two years of the term. The candidates so far are: Kate Porter: A substitute teacher for GPS, Challenger Basic Elementary and American Leadership Academy. She also is a Realtor with three children and indicated she was looking for ways to serve the community. Ron Bellus: A former news reporter,

9 hopefuls line up for GPS board seat BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

Phoenix cop, a Pinkerton agent and a former Maricopa County deputy treasurer are among the candidates looking to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board. So far, nine people have indicated an interest to replace Reed Carr when he resigns effective June 30, according to Maricopa County Superintendent Steve Watson’s office. The candidates were Amy Mills, Cathy Sue Brundage, Trina Jonas, Jennifer Miele, George Pizarro, Tim Taylor, Ron Bellus,

see BOARD page 8

NEWS

CHOPPER from page 1

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

one point showed 79 participants. Horne moved the meeting outdoors in anticipation of a crowd after a growing number of people voiced opposition to the helipad on social media. “I care about my neighbors,” Horne said. “Before submitting anything I want to make an educated decision whether to pursue a permit or not.” He said his 2.58-acre property, as well as others in Sawyer Estates, are all zoned SF-43, which allows helipads with a conditional use permit under town regulations. Horne purchased his home three years ago and he and his family moved in about 18 months ago after renovating the house. Horne also addressed the noise concern. He said Sawyer Estates and neighboring communities like Lakeview Trails at Morrison Ranch are already subject to noise as they are within the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport flight path. The sounds of at least three commercial airplanes punctuated the hour-long meeting. Horne said noise from a helicopter occurs during the warm-up stage before take-off and the cool-down step during the landing, both taking 10 minutes total. He also said the helicopter noise won’t violate the town’s noise ordinance, which prohibits noise heard inside a home with closed windows and doors reaching above 45 decibels for over 15 minutes from 10 p.m.-5 a.m. and 55 decibels from 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Horne, a contractor, said he took readings of helicopter noise at Chandler Municipal Airport from 100 feet away inside a building to mimic Gilbert’s noise ordinance and the reading was 35 decibels. When the helicopter hovered, the reading rose to 55 decibels, said Horne, who added he did not intend to hover his craft above the neighborhood. In answering questions from Zoom participants, Horne said the helipad would be for his private use and not commercial and that he did not intend

Horne. “I don’t have any plans on buying anything bigger than an R-66,” said Horne, who added he was looking at one flight a week if that. He explained his parcels in the national forest are10 to 15 miles off the grid and hard to access so a helicopter is needed in order for him to check on his livestock. “Flying out of my backyard would be more convenient for Robert Horne hosted a meeting for neighboprs at his home to discuss his hopes to build a helipad on his property. (Special to GSN) me,” he said. Several residents at the meeting still held reservations. Paul English, a retired Federal Aviation Administration controller who’s been around aircraft all his life, said when he flies his drone around it scares his cows and they run into walls and fences. “I’m concerned with outside Robert Horne said he hopes to get his license to fly a helicopter by year’s end and that the aircraft will not make disruptive noise. dwelling animals,” (Special to GSN) he said. Sherry Scott, for friends or family to fly in and land on who lives kitty-corner across the street it. from Horne, shared English’s concern. He also said he hoped to earn his he“My concern is for the safety mainlicopter’s license by the end of the year ly for the horses,” she said. “Horses are and he likely would own a Robinson animals of prey. When they are scared, R-66 helicopter, which seats five. A per- they take off.” sonal helicopter is smaller and statistiShe said the helicopter noise would cally helicopters are safe, according to spook horses into running into fences

and, most importantly, if someone is riding a horse or is near one at the time, getting hurt is almost a guarantee. “It’s not my goal,” Horne said. “Before I land, I can do a visual.” Paul English raised the point that Horne would face heighten risks in having a helipad in the neighborhood, which does flood irrigation and attracts lots of birds and ducks. “I’ve seen plenty of airplanes suck a bird up an engine and go down,” he said. “It’s different landing here compared with a ramp in the airport with no trees or animals.” Another man noted that Sawyer Estates is deed restricted as a horse community and Horne’s proposal would change the use. Jason Jarvis, who lives across the street, said he doesn’t like the proposal but he sided with property rights. Jarvis said he doesn’t like it when he’s washed his car and his neighbor’s horses kick up dust and get it dirty but he accepts it and doesn’t look to get rid of the horses. There’s a reason why he doesn’t live in an HOA-controlled community, he said, adding he enjoyed living in an area where he’s given the most freedom as possible. Jarvis said if he allowed for Horne’s helipad, it would allow him freedom with his property. Horne assured the group the town would carefully screen his proposal should he proceed with the application. And staff could put conditions on the permit such as times he could fly the helicopter, he said. “My goal in this is not to get any animal hurt, not get anyone hurt,” Horne said. “I’m a good neighbor. If it ever gets to the point that anyone gets injured, I’m not going to do it.” After the meeting, Horne said he will make a decision in two months if he will proceed with his application. Ashlee MacDonald, principal planner, said the conditional use permit would need to be approved by the Planning Commission and an appeal to the decision would go before Town Council.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

GOP leaders slam Gilbert lawmaker’s jobless pay stance BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ne of the State House members representing most of Gilbert opposes any increase in unemployment benefits, which are now the second lowest in the nation – putting him at odds with several influential fellow Republicans. Freshman Republican Rep. Jake Hoffman of Legislative District 12 supports the $1.9 billion in tax cuts but thinks there are things in the package that are too generous. He specifically wants to quash the proposed increase in unemployment benefits. Arizona law entitles those who lose their jobs through no fault of their own to collect up to 50 percent of what they were earning. But state law caps that weekly payment at $240, the second lowest in the nation; only Mississippi pays less. The package would take that figure to $320 a week. That, said Hoffman, is not

Rep. Jake Hoffman

Senate President Karen Fann

acceptable. “Taxing small business to pay potential employees more money to not work is just bad policy, plain and simple,’’ he said. “We don’t need more welfare,’’ Hoffman said. “We need more people out there pursuing jobs that are out there in the marketplace right now.’’ But a fellow House Republican repre-

sentative chastised Hoffman. Rep. Regina Cobb, R-Kingman, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said Hoffman can’t get what he wants. She said the benefits increase is part of the deal negotiated not just with Senate Republicans but also with Ducey. More significant, Senate President Karen Fann fired a warning salvo at House

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Republicans who are trying to kill her proposal to hike unemployment benefits. In essence, she said they need to recognize that it’s a going-home bill for her – and that it’s not good for their future political fortunes to tick off the Senate president. “I’m a ‘no’ on the budget without it,” Fann said of the jobless pay hike. “I’m one of these people that tries to work with everybody and help each other out. But that pendulum has swung a little too far in the other way where there’s definitely a lack of respect for leadership, much less the other (legislative) chamber.”\Hoffmn declined comment except to issue a statement stating he is working for a budget reflecting “the conservative principles every Republican legislaor promised to their voters.” Efforts by the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass a new state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 are stalled as some legislators sided with

see HOFFMAN page 7

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

HOFFMAN from page 6

Democrats amid concerns that the proposed tax cut is too generous for the rich and will cripple municipalities. Gov. Doug Ducey, who is championing a $1.9 billion tax cut and creating a flat tax rate, said even that could be negotiable. Ducey on Thursday also called for a special session of the Legislature to address wildfires and their aftermath. That session will run concurrently with the current regular session. Ducey said he is particular concerned about the coming high temperatures this week as well as the impact of heavy monsoon rains on scorched areas of the state. What’s working in favor of the Democrats on the stalled budget talks is that there is at least one GOP holdout in both the House and Senate unwilling to support the $12.8 billion spending plan and $1.9 billion in permanent tax cuts the governor is pushing. About the only thing the Senate intends to do is start the process of seeking an override of the 22 bills Ducey vetoed two weeks ago after he got miffed when law-

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makers decided to recess for two weeks when a budget deal first fell apart. “It’s challenge when you have 31 and 16,’’ Fann said Wednesday, referring, respectively, to the GOP membership in the 60-member House and 30-member Senate. “Everybody knows they’re number 31 or 16. It creates a very tough working situation.’’ Ducey, for his part, said he’s going to engage with Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, and Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale, whose votes he needs -- but does not have -- for the plan. “We have some very thoughtful legislators that care about certain things,’’ he said when asked about the two GOP holdouts. “And I want to understand what’s important to them and make sure they understand what’s important to me and make sure we have a successful budget.’’ But it isn’t as simple as getting Cook and Boyer on board. Fann said if they get some of what they want, that could result in the loss of other Republican votes. And that is what could give Democrats a seat at the negotiating table.

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Cook said he is not buying the arguments by Ducey and GOP leaders that permanently cutting $1.9 billion in income taxes would lead to future economic growth. He said it is wrong to make such a major change in tax policy without looking closer at the impact – and in a proposal that never got a public hearing. Like many Democrats, Cook has said he will support some form of tax cuts. But not this package. One part would create a single 2.5 percent income tax rate. That compares with the current four tiers with a top rate of 4.5 percent on amounts above $318,000. The other would impose an absolute cap of 4.5 percent on the total income taxes of any individual. As that includes the voter-approved 3.5 percent surcharge on incomes above $500,000 for couples, it would effectively mean a 1 percent tax on all other earnings. Rep. Ben Toma, R-Phoenix, said it makes sense to focus tax relief on those at the top of the income scale. “They’re the ones that tend to make

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the jobs and create the economic conditions that lead to economic improvement for the entire state,’’ he said. That drew a sharp retort from House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding, D-Laveen. “The reality is, without these working-class people there wouldn’t be jobs, there wouldn’t be an economy, there wouldn’t be people making sure that people in Arizona have the ability to stand up and to be able to do the things that they want to do here in Arizona,’’ he said. The failure of the House to get the requisite 31 votes leaves not just the tax cut but the entire $12.8 billion budget in limbo. In the Senate, Boyer continues to hold out for an agreement that the tax-cut package won’t harm cities. That’s because they get 15 percent of what the state collects in income taxes, part of a 1972 deal where local communities gave up the right to levy their own income and excise• taxes. City officialsand sayremote New in-person the current proposal leaves them short March 22 of where they are now.

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CACTUS from page 1

Not surprising, youth sports brings people and more out-of-state visitors to Gilbert compared with adult tournaments, according to Legg. The study found that the average group size is four people and youth tournament visitors on average spend $481.50, which includes food, gas, entertainment and lodging. They’re highly educated and have high incomes, which are not surprising because it’s expensive to play youth sports, Legg said. About two-thirds of the youth tournament survey responders reported having a four-year degree or higher and having an annual household income over $150,000. “These are folks with money coming to Gilbert to spend it,” he said. Adult tournament visitors on average spend $194.60. They tend to come in the summer and are more local, according to Legg. The study reported that for 31 percent of youth tournament visitors, it’s

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

with Cactus Yards; 89 percent satisfied or very satisfied with their experience in town; 94 percent would likely return to town in the next 12 months for sport tournaments; 43 percent would likely return for a family vaCactus Yards has been paying for itself at a far higher rate than expected., town officials say, with only about 20 cation and 43 percent percent of the operating costs being covered by taxpayer dollars. The town had expected revenue from users would likely return for would cover only half the costs. (Town of Gilbert) a night out. Parks and Recrean overnight trip. They stay on average report stated. ation Director Robert Carmona noted three days with 13 percent staying overThe report also included survey re- the cost recovery at the facility was at 80 night in Gilbert and 17 percent staying sponders’ likelihood in returning to Gil- percent – well above the town’s goal of a overnight outside Gilbert in cities such bert for future events and their satisfac- 50 percent recovery of its costs. In 2019, as Chandler, Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix. tion level with their experience in town. it was estimated the town would have to Legg noted that lodgings in Gilbert are Of the 37,071 emails sent, 2,207 valid subsidize the Cactus Yards at $1.1 milsold out during youth tournaments at responses were recorded. lion annually. Cactus Yards. The study reported 85 percent of the Councilwoman Aimee Yentes, who is For the remaining 69 percent, it’s a youth tournament responders were the liaison to the board, during budget day trip averaging 6.1 hours in Gilbert. satisfied or very satisfied with Cactus talks this year suggested the town sells While in town for youth tournaments, Yards; 91 percent satisfied or very satis- Cactus Yards to a private operator, freepopular places to visit included 11 per- fied with their experience in Gilbert and ing Gilbert from having to subsidize it. cent going to San Tan Village; 7 percent 89 percent stated they would likely re“The Cactus Yards facility is at the Heritage District; 6 percent, Top Golf turn to Gilbert in the next 12 months for 100-percent capacity for weekend tourand 6 percent elsewhere like movie the- sport tournaments. naments and continues to have a posiaters, restaurants and golf resort. Additionally, 40 percent stated they tive economic impact on Gilbert and the Overall Cactus Yard’s first year of eco- would likely return for family vacations region,” Carmona later said in an email. nomic impact included $110,000 in local to Gilbert and 32 percent said they “The study will assist the Town in our tax revenues, $194,000 in state tax rev- would likely return for a night-out. pursuit of future regional and national enues and the creation of 49 full-time For adult tournament responders, 85 tournaments as we highlight the beneequivalent jobs in the local economy, the percent were satisfied or very satisfied fits of Gilbert as a destination.”

BOARD from page 3

a former Arizona governor communications director, policy advisor to the state Speaker of the House and last served as Maricopa County’s deputy treasurer, 2017-21. He was a member of the Gilbert Anti-Gang/Anti-Drug Task Force, 1997-98 and vice chair of the Gilbert Human Relations Commission, 2001-04. Tim Taylor: A Pinkerton Enhanced agent and a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve section leader. His volunteer work includes Homes for the Homeless, Vets on Patrol Yuma Food Bank and Vincent DePaul’s. George Pizarro: A Phoenix police officer since 2001 and U.S. Air Force veteran, he is currently a school resource officer.

Jennifer Miele: Senior admissions advisor for East Coast Polytechnic University (remote). Volunteer experience includes ballot counter for Arizona Audit and Operation Underground Railroad, which creates awareness about human trafficking in the community. She said her primary issues include curriculum, parent involvement and preserving freedom of medical choice in the school system. Trina Jonas: Owns a real estate business and is an independent contractor for nonprofit consulting and grant writing. Community service includes Junior League of Phoenix and a volunteer with her children’s public schools. She said she is passionate about public school

and has worked hard to recruit many families out of charter schools and into GPS. Cathy Sue Brundage: A mother and retired community college teacher with nine grandchildren attending GPS schools. She’s also been a volunteer for CASA and for Child Crisis Center. Amy Mills: A Realtor whose son will be attending Greenfield Junior High, she said she is deeply passionate about providing children with a healthy environment to learn and excel. Skousen did not submit any paperwork, but left a phone message, according to the county superintendent’s office.

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

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Mr. Nice Guy opens Mesa teen center BY TOM SCANLON GSN Staff Writer

h, the irony. Back in 1972, Alice Cooper scored a smash hit with “School’s Out,” smothering an old anthem with a devilish warning: “School’s out for summer School’s out forever School’s been blown to pieces.” Forty-nine years later, school’s out for summer – and a teen center is open. And Vincent Damon “Alice Cooper” Furnier has become a solid, even respected educator. Last week, he opened The Rock Mesa at 122 N Country Club Drive – the second Alice Cooper Solid Rock Teen Center following the successful original center in Phoenix. And yes, he sees the irony. “Yes,” he said with a laugh, when an interviewer called his anthem “the ultimate anarchy song.”

The Rock Mesa at 122 N Country Club Drive — the second Alice Cooper Solid Rock Teen Center, following the successful original center in Phoenix — opened this week. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer) Shortly after heading to Los Angeles to try to make it, Cooper and company started wearing extravagant makeup and filling shows with gushing fake blood to accompany “shock rock” hits like “Welcome to My Nightmare,” “I Love the Dead” (“I love the dead before

they’re cold/They’re bluing flesh for me to hold”) and “No More Mr. Nice Guy.” He smiles slyly in recalling his time as “every parent’s worst nightmare;” but now, with his positive-focused teen centers, the grandfatherly rocker is almost officially Mr. Nice Guy.

Slender and athletic at 73, Alice Cooper (his legal name for 40 years) visited his new Mesa teen center Wednesday of opening week. He was thrilled to see the finished product, a bright, colorful center with a professional-level recording studio, spacious dance space and multiple classrooms. When he was attending Cortez High in Glendale, the East Valley was the other side of the world to Cooper. “Mesa might as well have been Los Angeles,” he said with a cackling laugh. The then-Vince Furnier had his first lightbulb moment at 14, when he was painting a house and heard his first Beatles song on the radio. He called his friend Dennis Dunnaway, and the two taught themselves how to play, recruiting Glen Buxton to round out a band they called the Spiders. A few years later, the band became Al-

see COOPER page 12

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

Higley Unified calls for $95M bond vote BY CASEY FLANAGAN GSN Contributor

he Higley Unified School District Governing Board has called for a special election to approve a $95 million capital bond issue. Board President Kristina Reese said the Nov. 2 election will be all-mail with no polling places – which is a typical procedure followed by the county during off-election years. The board’s announcement means homeowners within the district’s boundaries likely will have two bond issues to vote on since the Town Council also has called for a bond vote. The last day to register to vote in the bond election will be Oct. 4. At the third and final review of the proposed bond issue May 19, HUSD Acting Chief Financial Officer Jeff Gadd explained the bond would fund a host of items within the district from fiscal year 2022-23 and through 2026-27. Gadd said the largest allocation of bond funding, $32 million, would go towards a possible outright purchase of one of two currently leased middle schools, Cooley or Sossaman. Gadd said at an April 7 board meeting each middle school would have cost between $20 million and $25 million to build and own outright when the decision to lease was made in 2013. If the district carried out one of the current lease schedules to its completion in 2052, and included principal and

interest, “those schools are costing you three times what you would have paid on an outright purchase,” Gadd said. Gadd said in May the school purchase “will save a considerable amount of taxpayer funds,” at $21.7 million in savings. Another $27 million in Higley’s proposed bond issue would be allocated toward “any major construction projects that the board may find that are necessary in the next five years,” including construction of additional classrooms where needed, Gadd said. Higley is projected to see an enrollment increase of more than 2,300 students in the next few years as a result of 5,300 new households, possibly requiring expansions of some campuses. Major maintenance of existing facilities would take up about $11 million of bond funding, which Gadd said is “very adequately funded to make sure that our buildings stay up in the shape that they should be.” Another $2.5 million would go towards a potential land purchase for a new school, Gadd said, citing “the need for a potential site in the northern part of the district,” due to the projected population growth. The proposed bond funding also includes a continued emphasis on updating technology, building safety, security, and transportation, Gadd explained. HUSD Director of Finance Tyler Moore said the proposed bond would bring a “small 14 cent increase” to the district’s secondary tax rate in fiscal year 2022-

23, raising the rate to $1.58 per $100 of assessed valuation. Moore explained the current secondary tax rate is $1.58, but there will be a 14-cent decrease in fiscal year 2021-22 because no bond will be issued yet. “So essentially we are going down and back to where we were. We’re pretty much staying flat in terms of tax implications to our residents,” Moore said. Gadd said the bond would only raise the projected 2022-23 tax rate, and the rate for the remaining fiscal years would stay flat or decline. Moore said the bond proposal takes up “approximately 80 percent of our total bonding capacity” of $129.9 million. Moore explained the bonding capacity would decrease for a few years following approval of the bond. He said as bonding capacity catches up around 2025/26, “that’s where we’ve kind of earmarked another potential bond sale.” Acting Superintendent Dr. Dawn Foley said the district will host community forums and events to “talk about the proposal of the bond and what the money will be used for.” Gadd said the scheduled public hearings will be held “primarily in the month of September so that just before that mail-in ballot goes out, the community has a very good understanding of what that ballot question is all about.” Foley said the district will update community members with information on meeting dates and processes moving forward.

Foley said people interested in supporting the bond issue can contact her office or Moore’s office, “and we will happily put them in contact with individuals and provide the factual information.” Board member Jill Wilson said community members can watch discussions of the bond issue in past board meeting videos to learn more about the proposal. The district intends to release flyers at each school within the district with factual information on the bond, Gadd said. Moore suggested the district create a “designated landing page” on the district website, so “if you want to know anything about the proposed bond, you can go to the website too.” Also at Wednesday’s board meeting, the board unanimously approved the disbursement of almost $830,000 in results-based funding based on AZ merit scores. The funding will be disbursed to certified and classified employees who worked at the district during the 201819 school year and were still employed during the 2020-21 school year. Certified employees like teachers and faculty will receive a stipend between about $804 and $1,608, depending on the school in which they worked, the agenda said. Classified employees will receive between about $210 and $280, also depending on the school in which they worked.

In addition, Arizonans can expect higher than normal temperatures this summer, meteorologists say, although not as bad as 2020. “An excessive heat watch is issued whenever temperatures are at levels that are, first of all, relatively unusual, maybe near records, but more importantly levels that can impact the health of folks, especially for the folks that are going to be outside,” said Marvin Percha, a meteorologist.

“So right now if we’re looking at temperatures that forecast to be well above 110, that certainly brings much greater impact in terms of heat risk to the population,” Percha said. In the past decade, Maricopa County’s public health department alone has reported more than 3,000 heat-related deaths, with 2020 reaching a record high of 323 deaths. One death has been confirmed this year, health officials said. If you must be outside during peak

sun, Dr. Kevin Foster, director of the Arizona Burn Center, warns against getting burned by hot pavement. “If you look at hot pavement or asphalt at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, in direct sunlight, the temperature is usually somewhere around 170 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit,” Foster said. “So it doesn’t take any time at all to get a third-degree burn.”

Gilbert, state brace for scorching week BY DAVID PAYNE Cronkite News

riple-digit temperatures are returning with a vengeance, prompting the National Weather Service to issue this year’s first excessive heat watch, in effect all this week for most of central and southern Arizona. Temperatures are expected to top 110 each day, reaching 116 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

see HEAT page 11

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

HEAT from page 10

Foster said other routine habits and activities like getting into your car, kids playing on a playground or simply opening a door to a store or business can cause burns. Last year, the Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health recorded a record high 104 heat-related burn injuries in June, July and August, a 49 percent increase from previous years and the highest number recorded since the Burn Center began gathering the data in 2000.

Burns covered from 5-25 percent of the individual’s body. Eighty-five patients were admitted last year with burns due to contact with hot pavement. Of these, 30 percent needed ICU care and 20 percent required medical ventilation. Only 16 percent of the patients were homeless and 38 percent were age 60 or older. The average age of burn victims last year was 52. Patients typically required an average two surgeries and 2 weeks of hospitalization.

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ice Cooper and the lead singer became a rock star. He did his best to live up to the image, partying with the likes of John Lennon, Harry Nilsson and Keith Moon. Cooper called his unofficial drinking club the Hollywood Vampires (he later formed a supergroup of the same name, with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and movie star/ musician Johnny Depp). In the early 1980s, Cooper noticed something about his partying pals: They were dead. He sobered up, kept cranking out albums and touring. Except for a year he used to focus on sobriety, the pandemic was the only time in his 50-year music career he wasn’t on the road for at least half of the year. Eight years ago, the father of three decided to start nurturing the youth of Phoenix. “That all had to do with my religious experience. I was a prodigal son. I grew up in a Christian home. My dad was a pastor. I was a Christian. The band came along and I went as far away as I could get from that. I became the poster boy for everything that parents did not want to see. “And then I came back,” he said, patting a long, varnished table at the new teen center, where kids will soon be joining forces to tap into their creative spirits. “This is kind of the result of that. How do we know the kid out there selling drugs isn’t a great guitar player? He doesn’t know that - he’s never had a guitar in his hands. “So what if we pull him in off the street and say, ‘Look, you can get just as addicted to a guitar as you can to meth. And you can be in a band, not a gang.’ “And it works.” He said he loves to drop in and watch the young performers having their own lightbulb moments. “You can’t get the kids off the stage ... And the other kids cheer them on. It’s great to see,” he said. You can’t beat the “cover charge”: The Rock is free and open to anyone 12-20 years old. Hours are 2-7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

Registration is required at alicecoopersolidrock.com/the-rock-mesa. Classes include guitar, drum and even ukulele instruction. Teachers will also share tips on making hip-hop beats and how the music industry works. And the teen center isn’t just about making music, as classes are offered in dance (a nod to Cooper’s wife of 43 years, dancer-choreographer Sheryl Goddard), art, fashion and mask making. The Mesa Solid Rock space is 12,000 square feet compared to the existing Phoenix center’s 28,000 square feet but it will include numerous studios, rehearsal rooms and a performance stage, as well as a basketball court and game room. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member stressed he wants to give teenagers the confidence to tap into their creative spirit: “Search for that thing that makes you unique … Everyone has it. It’s just finding it and mining it. That’s the whole idea behind Solid Rock: come in, find your talent and then work on it. Nurture it. That’s what we’re here to do: to encourage that.” In January 2020, Cooper unveiled his plans for a second teen center at Westwood High. He said eight years of the original Solid Rock produced solid results, in surprising ways. “We’ve noticed there were kids coming in and parents would say to us, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing, but my kid’s getting better grades. My kids are talking to me now. My kids are wanting to do things at home with us because when they get into that school, they open up’,” he said. “It’s easy when you’re a teenager to get introverted because you’re, ‘Everybody’s against me,’” he added. “I was a teenager. I was like that.” “Kids can come in here and find what they’re good at,” Cooper said. “They might want to be a tattoo artist. Or maybe they’ll pick up a bass and think, ‘Wait a minute, I can play this!’ “And then they’re here every day.” For more information, including how to donate and/or volunteer, call 602522-9200 or email info@alicecoopersolidrock.com.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

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Gilbert woman’s ‘secret’ life as author BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

y day, she’s Michelle Hoffman, a Gilbert mother of three who owns and runs the My CBD Store in Ahwatukee with her significant other. By night, she morphs into Dorothy F. Shaw, romance author who this week is publishing her seventh novel – “Trusting the Badge.” It’s about a sizzling love affair between a female veterinarian and a K9 officer in Arizona and the last of a trilogy that includes two other torrid relationships, each involving a K9 cop. Hoffman admits the practical motivation for starting the “Badge” trilogy. “The books are not typical K9 romantic-suspense books,” she explained. “They’re really contemporary romance. A couple of years ago, my editor had asked me to plot and write something

or “selling” right now? She advised, law enforcement, firemen, pets – things like that. So, my brilliant idea was a K9 officer and a veterinarian.” “The three books follow three K9 officers, who are also best friends, as they find their true love and struggle to make it work.” Michelle Hoffman of Gilbert, under the pen name Dorothy Shaw, All the three relahas witten the last in a trilogy of ”‘K9 cop romance” novels. (Special tionships play out against Arizona setto GSN) tings. more mainstream than my typical The first two – “Avoiding the Badge” books – I tend to be a bit edgy in my and “Redeeming the Badge“ – have writing. garnered good reviews from other “In response, I asked her what was “in” romance novelists.

For example, New York Times bestselling author Megan Hart raved, “Strong women and the men who love them and a deliciously emotional rollercoaster ride – these are the hallmarks of a Dorothy F. Shaw romance.” According to the publisher, “Trusting the Badge” brings together a “woman with trust issues” and an “exasperatingly hot, funny, smart-ass K9 officer.” “The three books are tied together because all of the characters know each other, but they can also be read as standalone,” Hoffman said. She said that while the two protagonists have been in the previous “Badge” books, “everyone, including me, has been waiting to see what their story was to be.” The “Badge” books are only part of Hoffman’s repertoire. In all she has

in Georgia, where she’ll receive a gift certificate to purchase science supplies and a complimentary one-year membership to NABT. Nall said it was especially rewarding to be recognized at the end of a difficult year, which forced teachers to figure out how to continue teaching during a global pandemic. “It’s been a rough year,” Nall said. “So, to get good news like this at the end, kind of lets you know you’re doing it all right.” As a teacher who enjoys having her students learn through hands-on activities, Nall has struggled this past year deciphering how to safely continue teaching while maintaining social distancing.

The first quarter of this school year was the most challenging, Nall recalled, since teachers were forced to teach virtually. The ordeal ended up being a valuable learning experience for Nall, who has already begun to evaluate how she can adapt her teaching style to conform to a digital-friendly format. “If I had to do virtual again,” she noted, “I would do it completely different than how I did first quarter.” Nall is often asking questions, analyzing her actions and making logical adjustments – a habit she strives to pass on to her students each year. Her inquiry-based approach to

see SHAW page 15

Basha High science teacher Arizona’s best BY KEVIN REAGAN GSN Staff Writer

Basha High School teacher has recently been recognized as one of Arizona’s best biology educa-

tors. Katherine Nall, who’s been teaching biology and environmental science in Chandler for 15 years, was recently selected by the National Association of Biology Teachers as the state’s top science teacher in 2021. Nall, who was nominated by a colleague, will represent Arizona among the organization’s class of national recipients. She will be recognized later this year at the association’s national conference

Katherine Nall

see BASHA page 16

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

SHAW from page 13

written 14 novels and novellas. She’s also into a “The Donnellys Series” and hopes to add her fourth novel in that line soon. Along with her novels, she also writes a blog and poetry. Hoffman got started writing 12 years ago after the HBO series “True Blood” introduced her to the books the show is based on. She started reading the books, by Charlaine Harris, “and it became a wonderful escape.” “I was lost the fun and fantasy of it all,” Hoffman said. “I’m a fan of a happy ending, a hopeless romantic, but more so, I’m a fan of the angst that can be real life. “If fiction, no matter which genre, is written properly, a reader can relate it to their life. Lessons can be learned from it. And it can show a person a world they didn’t think possible.” She met authors in person and online and “with their encouragement, I started writing poetry in 2009. The poems led me to short stories, which

led to novellas and then novels.” All that time she also was in the midst of a 25-year corporate career in the banking industry as director of technology and quality assurance – until she decided about a year ago to become a small-business owner and open the CBD store that she opened in October. Her writing regimen might be considered grueling enough by some to require CBD. “The only way to do this is with a routine and then discipline,” she said. “For nearly 10 years, I wrote five to six nights a week, sometimes seven if on deadline…I also have kids. I would sit down to write at about 10 p.m. each night and write until around 1:30-2 a.m. “Fortunately, I worked from home, so I was able to sleep until at least 8 a.m. each day and then start work. Needless to say, after 10 years of that, I was tired. But the only reason I was able to maintain that at all and was able to put out 14 published works, was because I was determined and disciplined.

“You sit in the chair and write, no matter how you feel. If you want it bad enough, you do it. And let’s just say, I wanted it bad enough, so I did it.” Now that she has the store, she hopes to be able to write during the day between customers someday. “So far, I haven’t been able to, but as things get more settled at the store, I’ll be able to give that some time…and again, it’ll come down to discipline.” While she writes both fiction and nonfiction, Hoffman – whose favorite author is J.R. Ward – admits to having a love-hate relationship with writing. “All in all, writing in general, whether it be fiction or non-fiction, is the hardest thing I have ever done,” she said. “There are times when I think I have no more stories in me, and then times when I think, I will always write. I can’t not do it. Writing opened up something inside of me that can’t ever be shut off again. And I’m okay with that.” “Trusting the Badge,” published by Kensington Publishing Corp., will be released June 15 at bit.ly/TTB-Amzn

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and bit.ly/TTB-BN. For a backlist of her work: bit.ly/ DFShawBooks; her blog is at magicmagnifyingmind.blogspot.com .

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BASHA from page 13

teaching attempts to get students curious about the natural world and thinking about how to solve real problems. “My hope is that I can teach them skills that they can carry on into whatever they do,” Nall said. A transplant from Michigan, Nall originally had ambitions to attend medical school and become a pediatrician. But once she realized that chemistry was not her best subject, Nall discovered she could focus exclusively on biology by becoming a teacher. After she immersed herself in education, Nall said everything seemed to click and her career pathway suddenly looked clearer. Her favorite aspect of teaching is getting to see students make discoveries as they conduct experiments. There’s not much engagement happening outside

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the laboratory, Nall said, so her classroom time tends to prioritize hands-on work. “I personally get bored when I have to lecture and give notes,” Nall added. “I prefer to teach by doing.” Nall’s students have the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics that range from agriculture to water pollution. A popular topic has always been Nall’s unit on antibiotics and the classroom lab that allows students to experiment with bacteria. Nall teaches the class how E. coli grows and lets them expose strains of the bacteria to different antibiotics to see how the bacteria become resistant against the medicine. Nall said her students always enjoy observing how the bacteria react to the antibiotics and learning how the process relates to the development of modern pharmaceuticals. “It’s one of their favorite labs that they do throughout the year because it’s so real,” she said. “I’m not afraid to let them work with bacteria.”

When Nall isn’t in the classroom, she’s taking on extra duties by coaching sports, spearheading Basha’s environmental club and overseeing the school’s science fair. NABT has been singling out remarkable science teachers across the country since 1961 by selecting candidates who embody innovative, collaborative qualities in the classroom. Nall’s dedication to molding analytical, inquisitive minds stood out to NABT as an attribute that helped her nomination rise above the association’s other applicants. Daryn Stover, the association’s Arizona representative, noted how Nall was the right candidate for demonstrating the values of an impactful science educator. “Nall’s engagement with students through inquiry-based learning is impressive, as is her commitment to staying at the forefront of advances in science pedagogy,” said Stover. “We are pleased to recognize her years of service to biology education and student success with this award.”

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Valley could be heading for post-pandemic office glut BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

s the pandemic appears to be giving way to a semblance of normality, the world of commercial office space is anything but normal. Just ask Jay S. Kramer, an experienced real estate and finance attorney. As Fennemore’s commercial transactions section director, Kramer has counseled numerous commercial and industrial developers, national and local homebuilders, planned community developers as well as financial institutions. These days, as companies recall workers from their home offices or look at what post-pandemic work sites might look like, Kramer sees many employers asking themselves, “What now?” Owners of big office complexes also are wondering the same thing. “What now?” is only the beginning of a cascade of questions reflecting the uncertainty of post-pandemic office life.

Big companies that bring hundreds of employees to a new complex they build, such as State Farm’s massive development along Tempe Town Lake, likely have fewer worries about filling office space than many other employers, Kramer said. (Special to GSN) “I think we’re all kind of focused on the same type of issues,” Kramer said: “How do you return to the office? Are

we ever going to have 100 percent work from home? 100 percent at the office? Or some type of a hybrid approach. How

do we retain and recruit employees in either a hybrid or work-from-home environment? How do we develop a sense of community, camaraderie or whatever kind of firm togetherness? “Those are the kind of large issues that everybody is grappling with,” he said. The pandemic brought a new sensibility to office workers that can’t be undone with a simple directive, Kramer suggested. Thanks to the virtual office environment, qualified employees often have more options since they can seek jobs at companies hundreds of miles away without ever thinking of moving. Kramer sees no one-size-fits-all answer to the myriad of issues that the pandemic has raised for employers who inhabit large swaths of office space in many parts of the Valley – and the country. For some employers, he said, the questions include: “How do you make offices

see COMMERCIAL page 20

Highland High grad now a TV traffic reporter GSN NEWS STAFF

Highland High School graduate can now be seen reporting on traffic for ABC 15 Mornings. Megan Thompson was promoted to traffic anchor and lead reporter for the station’s “Operation Safe Roads” franchise, Channel 15 reported. “I’m so honored to be working in the community where I grew up and where my family still lives,” Thompson said, “ABC15’s commitment to community is inspiring and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to give back and help make it a better place.” Thompson’s mission is to help

Highland High grad Megan Thompson now keeps an eye on traffic at ABC 15 Mornings. (Special to GSN)

viewers get to work on time with the most accurate and up-to-date traffic information. She will also use her expertise on Valley roadways to bring back the station’s signature franchise, shining a light on problems facing drivers today. Thompson held that position before the start of the pandemic and before most in the community stopped driving for a year. In addition to its storytelling focus, “Operation Safe Roads” hosts public events to help educate the local community, and do advocacy work – to change state laws and force changes that will hopefully save lives in Arizona.

ABC15 led reporting on issues with distracted driving and continues to do so. Thompson, an Arizona native, attended Arizona State University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice. “Megan is a creative storyteller,” said Stacey Roberts, ABC 15 interim news director. “She weaves ABC15’s mission to help the community into every assignment she has been given. I’m glad she is part of our team.”

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places where people want to come?” and “How do we make the office more enticing?” Others are grappling with how they can provide a comfortable environment for workers who want to alternate work time between home and office. “One thing that we’ve been talking about for a long time is hoteling, where you have offices that you reserve,” Kramer explained. “But I think a lot of people feel their office is almost like a second home. They want to make it more personal. They’ve got papers all over the place and pictures of their family and what-have-you. “So the idea that every day you’ve got to pack up your stuff and either take it home with you or put it into a locker … that’s kind of disruptive.” Kramer said the fact that many employers discovered employees often are more productive working at home complicates the issue. Some workers might actually yearn to shed the sweat pants and head into an office at least a few days a week. “It’s really the younger people who crave having that office experience, where they can be mentored and trained and have those interactions,” he explained, “while lot of the older people who already have their connections and relationships may never come back to the office.” To some degree, employers may find themselves caught between a rock and a harder place. On the one hand, some employers may find it beneficial for team spirit to have all their workers in one place. Yet, team spirit may have to defer to other considerations, Kramer said. “You spend a lot of money training them and getting them familiar with your systems and so you’ve got to retain them. It seems to be just extremely difficult to do and not just because it is an employee market,” Kramer said. “It’s a challenge and it’s going to be a challenge for quite some time,” he said. Kramer also said many employers that carried empty office space on their books realized some benefits of a home-based workforce at least for a while since they could cut as much as

Intel’s massive $20 billion expansion of its Ocotillo campus likely will keep many existing office complexes in the area busy, Kramer said. (GSN file photo)

Attorney Jay Kramer of the Fennemore law firm said employers are asking a lot of questions as they ponder future office rental needs. (Courtesy of Fennemore) 20 percent of other expenses, obtained increased productivity form workers and wound up with higher profits as a result. “I think short term is going to be a positive to the bottom line,” he said, noting that office expenses for supplies, food and even taking clients to lunch declined dramatically during the pandemic. But to lure them back, Kramer said,

employers and landlords may have some unexpected costs – like major remodeling. “I think everybody’s looking for flexibility. One of the issues with flexibility is what a company is do about office space,” he said. “Do you assume that you’re going to have 50 percent occupancy from where you are today? “And then there’s one school of thought that even though they’re going to let people in the office, the type of space that they have might have to be different. “Instead of people being in cubicles or in small offices, they’re going to want a lot more open spaces, more immersive – what I call Zoom rooms.” Landlords also may face some tough bargaining positions from their office tenants over “the typical legal issues in terms of lease negotiations,” Kramer said, noting employers likely will seek to cut lease expenses for parking and maintenance if they have fewer employees on site. “We spend a ton of money on parking but when there’s no reason to have a parking space for every employee, maybe you ask to take 50 percent or 40 percent of your spaces and save a lot of money,” he said. Overall, Kramer said, “companies are not going to want to give back some of those savings they saw in the pandemic.” What all this means for the Valley’s

pre-pandemic office building boom depends somewhat on geography and the tenant, Kramer said, though he predicted, “There’s going to be a glut over some period of time.” While more companies move to the Valley and those that are already here continue to grow, that will hopefully reduce the inventory of available office space, he said. But absent the large employers like State Farm and Nationwide that are moving hundreds and even thousands of employees into a large complex, Kramer said, “I think you’re going to see a lot of problem office development.” “I think maybe real estate brokers and commercial real estate people want to tell you that everything is going to be rosy and what have you, but it just seems that short term, everything I’m seeing is – all the discussion is about – how much space do we really need?” he said. “I don’t think there are going to be a lot of new projects that are going to start in the planning stage – ones that aren’t really saying they’re kind of ready to go. … We’re absolutely going to see a slowdown in office development.” He said Gilbert and Chandler may see modest office development as Intel ramps up its $20 billion Ocotillo campus expansion. “If you’re just looking at kind of speculative office construction for office workers – I don’t think you’re going to see much of that,” Kramer said. “But now, Scottsdale’s a good market, Tempe is a good market.” “I think the Camelback Corridor is still an area where people want to be, but even there, I think the rents are going to start dropping – the vacancy rates are going to go up there.” The bottom line, Kramer said: “When their leases are up, companies are going to downsize space and so that means we’ll have a lot of space available.” And downtown Phoenix, especially as a 4-year major overhaul of the Broadway Curve is looming in the near future? “I don’t know if people still want to be downtown,” Kramer replied. Information: fennemorelaw.com/ people/attorneys/k-n/kramer-jay-s”

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Red Mtn alum fulfilling dream of working in sports

icole Taylor has accomplished many sports-related feats since her pre-teen years. She became the first-ever junior high student to make the varsity girls’ basketball roster at Red Mountain High School. She’s helped manage the Arizona State women’s basketball program and coordinated a variety of events for the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and the NBA. She knew early on she wanted to dive into a career involving sports and more specifically, basketball. But even having after accomplished all she has so far in life, it still is a bit of a surprise when she reflects on her experiences. “From the age of 5, I was very passionate about basketball,” Taylor said. “I didn’t know how I would end up working with it, but I knew it was something I always wanted to get involved in and make a career out of it.” Taylor, 34, graduated from Red Mountain in 2005 as a four-year varsity basketball player. She began playing AAU competitive basketball when she be-

gan attending Shepherd Junior High in Mesa. Through various camps and club teams, then-Red Mountain girls’ basketball coach Martin Appel requested she join the varsity team earlier than most. She knew she would be attending Red Mountain and eventually playing basketball for the Mountain Lions. But it came as a surprise to her and her parents when she was asked to do so as she entered the ninth grade. At the time, Red Mountain served sophomores, juniors and seniors. Freshman still took classes at Shepherd. “It definitely took some balance on mine and my parents’ part,” Taylor said. “My dad, who worked at Boeing in Mesa at the time, would have to end his day early to pick me up from Shepherd and drive me over to Red Mountain for practice.” Taylor played four years for the Mountain Lions and went through the recruiting process her senior year to continue her career at the next level. However, her academics also led her to receive

a full academic scholarship to Arizona State. She made the difficult decision to end her basketball career to focus on earning a degree in communications at ASU. Just like she did at Shepherd and Red Mountain, Taylor left her mark. Charli Turner Thorne, the head women’s basketball coach for the Sun Devils, knew Taylor from her AAU club team. She offered her a spot as a manager with the team. Taylor also helped create the Sports Business Association through the W.P. Carey School of Business, which she still serves on the advisory board. Her college years were also met with opportunities with the two local professional basketball franchises. She interned for the Phoenix Mercury and the Suns before she was one of six selected out of more than 2,000 applicants to be part of the NBA’s associate program. She worked in various departments at the NBA league office in New York as part of the program and helped facilitate major events such as presea-

son games overseas, the draft and AllStar games. “I think it was really tough for my parents when I stepped away from playing, especially because of how much time and money they put into it,” Taylor said. “But, it’s cliché, but everything happens for a reason. Because of the avenue I took I was able to pursue this career in sports that may not have come about otherwise.” While working for the NBA, Taylor rekindled an old friendship with EJ Taylor, a former Red Mountain basketball player who was a broadcaster at the time. The two eventually married and now have two kids. EJ now works as an accountant. Taylor ended her career with the NBA in 2011. She quickly realized her desire to settle down and have a family wouldn’t bode well with a job that required her to be on the road most of the time. She went back to work with the

two, so I’m thrilled for them to have the opportunity to do this again.” Before it halted operations last summer, Section 7 had planned to transform State Farm Stadium into a major basketball venue, equipped with 12 courts on the concrete underneath the retractable football field. King said the tournament will cater to 160 teams from 12 states this time around, some coming from as far as Washington to compete. Fans will be allowed to sit in stadium

seats to take in as many as 12 games per hour. Some of Arizona’s top programs will also take part in Section 7. Mountain Pointe, which lost in the 6A championship last winter will play along with its Ahwatukee rival, Desert Vista. Hamilton, which made the semifinals last season will also take part along with other Chandler schools, including Basha, Casteel, Chandler and Valley Christian. Gilbert, the 2019 5A champion and

see TAYLOR page 23

Section 7 basketball tournament returns after year away BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

ection 7, a major summer high school basketball tournament featuring several in- and out-of-state programs will make its return after more than a year after the pandemic forced last year’s cancellation. The event is scheduled to tip off June 18 and run through June 20 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. “I think I’m just excited for these kids,” said Matt King, the executive director of the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association. “I think this tournament is something kids look forward to. They’ve gone through so much over the last year or

see SECTION 7 page 23

Section 7, a major summer high school basketball tournament featuring several in- and outof-state programs will make its return after more than a year after the pandemic forced last year’s cancellation. (Courtesy Section 7)

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

SECTION 7 from page 22

semifinal team last season will take part in the three-day tournament with Campo Verde, Highland, Higley, Mesquite, Perry and San Tan Charter. Mesa will also be well-represented with the likes of Dobson, Mesa and Red Mountain. Scottsdale schools include Chaparral, Desert Mountain, Notre Dame, Rancho Solano Prep, Saguaro and Scottsdale Christian. “The summer exists for high school teams to get better and to get a feel for each other,” King said. “It’s also an opportunity for them to learn how to compete and how to be coached. Section 7 is an opportunity to elevate that and let college coaches watch it. The way we put this together, we try to make it as competitive and team-oriented as possible.” The tournament provides an opportunity for teams to gauge where they are before official practices begin next school year. Programs typically compete in various tournaments all throughout the summer months with returning and, at times, new players. Especially in settings like Section 7,

it also provides an opportunity for local programs to measure themselves against elite programs from other parts of the country. Mater Dei, Bishop O’Dowd and Crossroads from California, as well as Washington power Eastside Catholic, will all take part in the tournament. With a large number of talented players under one roof, King expects several college coaches to attend. “We are very fortunate Division I coaches are able to attend,” King said. “This event is a really big deal to high school programs and it’s also fun for the community to come out and watch.” For more information about Section 7: az.nhsbca.org/section-seven. Tickets will be available on the days of the tournament. Day passes are $15 and threeday packages $30. “It’s Father’s Day weekend,” King said. “Would you rather sit outside in 115-degree heat or watch a ton of basketball in the same venue the Final Four will be in? To me, it’s a no-brainer and I don’t think there is a more affordable, family-oriented event going on that weekend.”

TAYLOR from page 22

Phoenix Suns as a manager of activation, handling corporate sponsorships and coordinating player appearances around the Valley. But in 2015, she was presented an opportunity to help build a new sports public relations company based in Mesa. She now is the head of all media-related inquiries for Position Sports, which works with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which hosts the Hoophall West high school basketball tournament every year where several local teams participate, Nike, Jordan Brand, Red Bull, USA Basketball and several other high-profile sports entities. Taylor recently helped coordinate the most recent Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the 2021 class, which included Kobe Bryant. “It would have been amazing to work alongside Kobe Bryant,” Taylor said. “But we were thankful to have the opportunity to honor him and host his wife, Vanessa, his family and a lot of other deserving candidates.”

Taylor aims to help Position Sports continue to grow in her hometown. But as she reflects on all she has been able to accomplish in her career, it still can be unbelievable at times. She remains thankful for all of the opportunities that have come her way and hopes to continue making more great memories and create more opportunities for herself in the near future. “I always knew if I channeled that same passion and drive that I had for basketball into what I am doing now, I would continue to have success,” Taylor said. “I think everything I’ve done is a combination of hard work and relationships I’ve built. Looking back on it, I have certainly done a lot.”

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Horror flick features Gilbert actress

Illustration by Christy Byerly

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE GetOut Staff

new Phoenix production company hopes its debut horror anthology sheds light on all that the Arizona film community has to offer. After securing a distribution deal with Virgil Films & Entertainment, Falling Flame Pictures released “Scare Us,” on virtual cinema last month with an upcoming VOD and DVD release June 29. “We wanted to make a feature film that was very community driven and community based to showcase the talents that Arizona can bring to the table,” said Ryan Henry Johnston, “Scare Us” producer, co-writer, and co-director. The synopsis: “A chilling horror an-

Michelle Palermo of Gilbert is among the stars in “Scare Us.” (Special to GetOut) thology comprising five short stories, penned by an unlikely group of aspiring writers, in Sugarton – a small town plagued by the apparent return of an infamous serial killer, dubbed ‘Cutthroat.’

“They’ve come to share their scary stories (with each other and the bookstore owner, Peter, who leads the group), but soon discover they’ve become the stars of a sick killer’s own twisted tale.”

“Scare Us” was produced by Jason Wiechert, of Glendale, Robyn Sturgis, of Scottsdale, and Ryan Henry Johnston, former Phoenix resident. Johnston additionally directed and wrote segments of “Scare Us,” with directors Charlotte Lilt, of Glendale, Carl Jensen IV, of Flagstaff, Tom J. McCoy, of Mesa, and Ryan Kjolberg and Jordan Pillar, of Phoenix. Lilt also stars in the fright flick alongside Tom Sandoval, of Los Angeles, Ethan Drew, of Scottsdale, Michael Alvarez, of Glendale, and Michelle Palermo, of Gilbert. “Scare Us is a testament to what the Phoenix film industry family can do,” Palermo said.

see SCARY page 26

Violinist’s influences span many genres GET OUT STAFF

hris Murphy thinks he’d be happy playing his violin anytime, anywhere. “In another era,” he says, “I would have played square dances, and loved it. I would have been a court musician in Versailles in the 17th Century, or a violinist in a circus orchestra.” Fortunately, he’ll be right in Gilbert, playing 4-7 p.m., June 21 at Catching Flights Bar, 1475 W. Elliot Road, treating the audience to everything from bluegrass to rock. “For Chris Murphy, inspiration spans eras and aesthetics, but the fundamentals are the same,” said Kim Henderson, who is helping to organize a tour for Murphy, who also is part of the Devil’s Box String Band – a headliner at the Prescott Bluegrass Festival June 26. Growing up in New York City, Murphy was surrounded by his neighbors’ tra-

Violinist extraordinaire Chris Murphy will be performing June 21 at Catching Flights Bar in Gilbert. (Special to GetOut)

ditional music. “I heard and was influenced by everything – from Italian-mandolin music, to bluegrass and folk, to Latin music,” he says. He also claims some of rockdom’s biggest icons as influences, including Lou Reed and Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan and Richard Thompson. “My real hero,” he says, “was David Lindley. Hearing him play fiddle and lap steel with Jackson Browne — that kind of esoteric, enigmatic soloing over songs is originally what I loved.” Murphy also learned about Turkish and Indian music at Simon’s Rock of Bard College and then studied composition at Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music. He has mostly taught himself how to play percussion, guitar and mandolin, even some Eastern instruments. But he found his proper match at 22, when he picked up the violin.

“It’s the one instrument you’ll find anywhere you go,” he says. “And it has a wonderful, charming kind of minstrel quality. I love all the myths surrounding it.” Murphy has amassed a deep catalog of solo and collaborative albums and made cameo appearances on records by Har Mar Superstar and The Dandy Warhols, among others. His recordings include the likes of Steve Hodges and Larry Taylor from Tom Waits’ band, Nels Cline (Wilco), Mike Watt (fIREHOSE), D.J. Bonebrake and John Doe (X, The Knitters), Herb Pedersen (The Desert Rose Band), Tim O’Brien, Joachim Cooder (Buena Vista Social Club), Joey Peters (Grant Lee Buffalo), Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Santana), Trevor Hutchinson (Waterboys, Lunasa) and Pat D’Arcy, L. Shankar (Peter Gabriel), Victoria Williams.

see VIOLIN page 26

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SCARY from page 25

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

With the exception of Jeff Hare, Falling Flame Pictures chief marketing officer, all other company lead executives are from the Phoenix area. Wiechert and Lilt are co-founders with Wiechert serving as CEO and Lilt as chief creative officer. Ed Riccio, of Chandler, is executive vice president. Shaun Clark, of Mesa, is chief financial officer. “We want to not only bolster Arizona film narratives, but also bring Hollywood to Arizona through our connections in Los Angeles,” Wiechert said. Wiechert and Lilt met on the set of one of Johnston’s short films in 2015 and eventually married in 2019. They say they created Falling Flame Pictures together to have more creative control over the stories they told. They want their films to bring more depth to the motion picture world while building upon the film community in Arizona. “Magic happens when you really believe in things,” Wiechert said. “The cast and crew really believed in this and it shows in the end product.” The concept of making a horror anthology was born around 2016 and evolved over time, Johnston said. Johnston and Wiechert say they had talked at length about wanting to do an anthology so that they could give opportunities to different small Arizona filmmakers to work together to make one movie that would increase storytelling in Arizona. Originally, the film revolved around stories being told around a campfire, Johnston said. However, the producers wanted to make stories that were more adult-driven. Each director brought three pitches

to the table for different horror style films, the best ideas were chosen, then the short films were written around July and August of 2019, Johnston said. “We thought that we could take six up-andcoming directors who may not have had an opportunity to be a part of a larger full feature film and allow each of them to focus on a specific segment of the overall anthology story,” Wiechert said, adding: “Each director wrote and directed their own segments within the overall story and the main story cohesively ties everything together nicely.” Principal photography began in early October 2019, Wiechert said. Luckily, filming wrapped in mid-December before the pandemic hit so that January through June of 2020 was dedicated to post production. The decision to go with horror specifically was inspired by the universal The concept for “Scare Us” was born in 2016 and evolved over time. It’s frightlove of horror movies, its ening enough to earn an R rating for violence. (Special to GetOut) marketability and success with independent films, Johnston said. Blair Witch Project” as low-budget in- was the one. Johnston noted the success of “It Fol- dependent horror films with little starlows,” “Paranormal Activity,” and “The power.

In the last year alone, Murphy has written and recorded six new albums in a vast array of styles. He has also been featured on television programs such as “‘Til Death” and “The Ellen Degeneres Show.” “His diverse and chameleon-like talents make him a sought-after composer and collaborator for film and television,” Henderson said, adding that he has per-

formed in over 40 states as well as in England, Ireland and the Netherlands. “As he searches for new ways to communicate through music, fusing styles and techniques from across the globe — a unique fabric of world music, he calls it — Murphy finds his element on the stage, where spontaneity and improvisation reign,” Henderson said. To which Murphy added: “To me, the

VIOLIN from page 25

music is liquid, and I’m looking to have some kind of experience,” he says. “I’ll twist and turn and hammer and mold and shape cut and paste the music to do that. We have never done a song the same way twice.” Henderson said she noticed that the Catching Flights Bar will be marking National Selfie Night on June 21, so she called the manager to see if Murphy

He said they were successful because they focused on good storytelling, which is exactly what “Scare Us” aims to do. “Myself and Falling Flame wanted to make something that didn’t feel low-budget and looked at it as a challenge,” Johnston said. “We wanted an opportunity to showcase what Arizona could do and we knew that we had the team and the talent to make that happen.’’ “Scare Us” was filmed entirely in Arizona. The producers say they used actual locations rather than building sets because they wanted to keep Arizona’s authenticity and utilize the state’s versatile beauty. “There’s a massive amount of beauty in Arizona and I don’t think a lot of filmmakers take full advantage of all the amazing things Arizona has to offer,” Johnston said. “Scare Us” primarily takes place in a bookstore, so finding the perfect location for it was crucial. The moment Johnston and Wiechert stepped into Books on 7th Ave, they knew that it

see SCARY page 27

could play “and they said yes.” “Chris plays a lot of unique smaller gigs as well as quite a few festivals with his bands and has a new release on Friendly Folk Records,” she said. Those singles are “Till The World Lifts Its Head Again” and “Half Way Around the World.” The Gilbert spot is along a small concert tour Murphy is doing that includes Sedona and Tucson.

GET OUT GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021 27 44 AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JUNE 9, 2021

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SCARY from page 26

King Crossword ACROSS 1 6 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 22 24 27 29 32 35 36 37 38 40 42 44 46 50 52 54 55 56 57

Lingo Slopes regular Tenant Sheathe Schedules Pumpkin relatives Appointment Spring meltdown Cooking fuel Libertine Poseidon’s home Satisfied sigh La Scala solo Fine spray Fruity rum cocktail Author Wiesel Eve’s third son That girl “Awesome, dude!” Pop Trojans’ sch. Org. Forget-me- -- (flowers) Paris art museum Athlete’s woe Tempt Point maker Op-ed pieces Dwelling

39 41 42 43 45

“Pride and Prejudice” suitor Pear variety Peter Fonda’s beekeeper role Male deliveries? Beholds

47 48 49 51 53

Sudoku

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 21 23 24 25 26 28 30 31 33 34

Partially mine Genealogy chart Neighbor of Leb. By way of Sgt., e.g.

Actress Ward Aspiring atty.’s exam Fall bloom Formerly called Hand signals Video game giant Recognizes Hosp. section Haggles Fed. food inspector GI dining hall Leary’s drug Patty Hearst, for one Feed-bag morsel Outback bird Mimic 100 percent Barber’s offerings Flabbergast Learning ctr. Common title start Museum-funding org. Prof’s degree

PUZZLES ANSWERS on onpage page17 35 PUZZLE ANSWERS

This mom-and-pop used bookstore has been in business for over 30 years and has over 200,000 titles in stock, according to its website. Located in Phoenix’s Sunnyslope area at 9201 N. Seventh Ave, the bookstore has been family operated since 1990. Another noteworthy location is Parks in the Pines General Store. Built in 1906, Parks in the Pines General Store is over 100 years old and predates Route 66, according to its website. It is located on Old Route 66 and N. Spring Valley Rd in Parks, Arizona. Because it is nestled among the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the U.S., the store creates a very secluded, eerie feeling at night, Johnston said. This made it an ideal location to use as a gas station for the “Dead Ringer” segment of the film. Each lead character in “Scare Us” wrote a scary story to share with their writers’ group, which each became separate segments of the film. The five segments of “Scare Us” are as follows: “Night Haul,” “Untethered,” “Dead Ringer,” “The Resting,” and “After Hours.” Hare thought of the idea to have the main characters reading their stories also play their fictional characters. This was the first time any of the actors had to play two different characters within the same film. Drew experienced a lot of fun and goofiness on set and says that everyone in Falling Flame Pictures was so passionate because they were all brought from a smaller market to make something bigger that they all believed in. “There was a huge sense of community and we all became a family by the time filming was done,” Drew said. “I remember having so many laughs with everyone.” In “The Resting” segment, Lilt was actually able to act with Wiechert because he played a supporting character. Lilt says that working with her husband was her favorite part. The cast all observed high levels of professionalism and say they were fortunate to have worked with everyone in Falling Flame Pictures. They also loved the way they bounced off one another on

set and say that their bond translates on camera. “We all just kind of mesh organically,” Lilt said. “Nothing had to be forced and you can feel it. When you watch it, you’ll see.” The final segment of “Scare Us” is “After Hours,” which is told by Sandoval’s character, Peter. Peter is the owner of the bookstore and leader of the writers’ group who assigned the scary stories. Wiechert hopes that fans of Sandoval from “Vanderpump Rules” will watch “Scare Us” to see Sandoval do something very different from his previous work. Everyone from “Scare Us” still keeps in touch with one another as a family, Lilt said. When it was safe, Hare said they rented out the Harkins Theatres at Tempe Marketplace to have a cast and crew screening so that everyone could watch the film together. Riccio wants to do a sequel to “Scare Us,” but says they have to see how audiences respond to this film first. “I’m hoping that this helps the government in Arizona realize the potential and benefits there are to having films here in the Valley and in the state and what it can bring to the economy,” Palermo said. To watch the trailer or buy tickets for “Scare Us” or for more information about Falling Flame Pictures and their future films, go to fallingflamepictures. com.

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Employment General

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN - FT HIRING NOW Exp'd general Maintenace, multi-task, responsible, flexible. Bckgrnd check Req'd Viewpoint RV & Golf Resort 8700 E. University DR - E. Mesa Apply within, fax 480-373-5757 or email viewpoint@equitylifestyle.com

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 # 2021-19 for IT Eng; 2021-21 for IT Analyst & ref this ad

Community Care Health Network, Inc. d/b/a Matrix Medical Network seeks Sr. Developers, for Scottsdale, AZ to design & develop complex sw apps. Master’s in Comp Sci/Comp Eng/relevant Eng field+2yrs exp OR Bachelor’s in Comp Sci/SComp Eng/relevant Eng field+5yrs exp req’d. Req’d skills: Java; J2EE; PL/SQL; Windows; Spring; Spring Boot; Jboss; SOAP UI; XML; Jenkins; UNIX; SPLUNK; Weblogic; App Dynamics; Apache; Tomcat; Websphere; JSP; SVN. Background check & drug test req’d. Send resume to J. Meland REF:RM 9201 E. Mountain View Road, Suite 220, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Renesas Electronics America, in Tempe, AZ is in need of: Anlg Engr (job#VJ0409) Perf des, sim, & lyt of indus-leadng hi-perf timng prdcts. Refer to job#. Apply: us-hr-staffing@dm.renesas.com

Employment General

IPL/Leaktite West a leading North American manufacturer of injection-molded plastic products. Come and Join our Production Team as a Machine Assembler. 12 Hr. Shifts, $14.94/Hr. No Experience Necessary! Must have the ability to assemble product parts, follow directions and work as a team! If you are reliable, have good attendance and the ability to work in a fast paced manufacturing environment then Apply Today in person at 105 S. 41st Avenue Suite # 200, Phoenix AZ 85009 or you may also apply by calling 480-524-0975.

OUR JOB BOARD HAS THE TALENT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR. FIND THE BEST TALENT. EASILY POST JOBS. COMPETITIVE PRICING AND EXPOSURE More info: 480-898-6465 or email jobposting@evtrib.com

Most jobs also appear on Indeed.com

Obituaries H E A D STO N E S

J BS.EASTVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS MAAX Spas is hiring

EVERLASTING MONUMENT Co.

“Memories cut in Stone” • MONUMENTS • GRANITE & BRONZE • CEMETERY LETTERING • CUSTOM DESIGNS

480-969-0788 75 W. Baseline Rd. Ste. A-8 Gilbert, AZ 85233

www.everlastingmonumentco.com info@everlastingmonument.phxcoxmail.com

Make your choice Everlasting

APPOINTMENT SETTERS WANTED, RETIREES WELCOME!

★ PROMOTERS WANTED! ★ AVG PAY $23.56 - $35.12 an hour Home improvement company looking for Promoters to work in the following locations: • ARROWHEAD MALL (GLENDALE, AZ) • MESA FARMERS MARKET (MESA, AZ) • SUPERSTITION MALL (MESA, AZ) • CHANDLER MALL (CHANDLER, AZ) Must be able to approach people.

★ PAID TRAINING ★ HOURLY PAY PLUS COMMISSION ★ FLEX SCHEDULE ★ PART TIME & FULL TIME ★ HEALTH AND DENTAL BENEFITS

To Set Up Interview, Call 480-298-3688 TODAY!

Training Classes Starting Soon From National Trainer, Steve Bloechel. Call Today!

Full Time v

Generous Pay v

Benefits v

Paid Vacation v

Paid Sick Time v

401K Apply online at maaxspas.com or call 480-895-4575

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

Pets/Services/ Livestock

Air Conditioning/Heating

Adorable Playful Kittens For Sale.

Repairs Installations Tune-ups

Motorhomes/ RVs 1 BR Park Model. 55+ Community In Mesa Spirit Space M34. Laundry Mat. Swimming Pools. Activities. Large Driveway. Unfurnished. Year Round Rental. $1100 / Month. Call 805-312-1991

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

Classifieds 480-898-6465

1 Fe. Tabby, 2 Males Grey/White. 8 Wks. $15 Each. Call Melody 480-239-2362 or John 480-239-2361

Air Conditioning/Heating Family Owned & Operated

Three Phase Mechanical

480-671-0833

WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO SERVE YOUR CLASSIFIED NEEDS

www.3phasemech.com

480.898.6465

Sales, Service & Installation

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

Real Estate

For Rent Apartments 2 Bedroom 1 Bath Apt by Gilbert & Main in Mesa Laundry, covered parking & patio $1050 Nick 480-707-1538

Auctions & Estate Sales Farm Equipment Liquidation. Saturday 6/19/21 1pm. Queen Creek AZ. Cockshutt 30 & 40 Farm Tractors, McCormic-Deering & Hart-Carter Threshing Machines, John Deere Grain Binder + Horse harness and Saddles. Online auction only. harrisauction.biz 928-778-3240 or Ralph 928-713-2385

Real Estate for Sale Manufactured Homes

THE LINKS ESTATES Why Rent The Lot When

YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home

NO TRIP CHARGE • NOT COMMISSION BASED ACCREDITED BUSINESS

ROC# 247803 Bonded • Insured

Financing Available

———— Your Comfort is Our Mission! ————

50% OFF

FREE

A/C TUNE-UP INSPECTION

SERVICE CALL

Applies to one unit. Cannot be combined with any other discount or coupon.

Cannot be combined with any other discount or coupon.

NO REPAIR REQUIRED!

($19.95 Value)

Block Fence * Gates

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

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

480-818-4772 • www.acrangers.com • ROC # 328460

Appliance Repairs

Drywall

Appliance Repair Now

JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Baseboards, Crown Molding Reliable, Dependable, Honest!

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It!

QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!

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

Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship New 3-Ton 14 SEER AC Systems Only $4,995 INSTALLED! New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS!

Concrete & Masonry

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

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured

Over 1,000 Five-Star Google Reviews ★★★★★

See MORE Ads Online!

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

480.266.4589 josedominguez0224@gmail.com Not a licensed contractor.

Electrical Services HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

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

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

480-405-7588

www.GilbertSunNews.com

Air Conditioning/Heating

• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932 Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured

Fire/Water Damage/Restoration

ACTION CONTRACTING INC. SPECIALIZING IN

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.

WATER - FIRE DAMAGE AND RESTORATION

We get your home or ofﬁce to back pre-loss condition. We also specialize in home remodels and commercial projects. Car-port to Garage conversion, drywall & stucco repairs, painting, electrical, plumbing and tenant Improvements

Fast 24 hour response! ★ WE DO IT ALL! Call Today

40667 N Wedge Dr • San Tan Valley, AZ 85140

480-430-7737 - cell 480-833-7353 - office

www.linksestates.net

aaaActionContractingInc.com

Gawthorp & Associates Realty

602-402-2213

LIC/BONDED/INSURED ROC#218802 • A+ Rating with the BBB

S

E NC



GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

GARAGE DOOR SERVICE East Valley/ Ahwatukee

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

Not a licensed contractor

Glass/Mirror

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

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

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

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

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online! Call 480-898-6465

Handyman LLC

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

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

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

520.508.1420

All Estimates arethe Free Call: Marks Spot• for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Painting • Flooring • Electrical www.husbands2go.com

Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Licensed, Bonded & Insured Decks • Tile••ROC#317949 More!

Ask me about FREE Needs! water testing! Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman ks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Man!” lumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More! Quality Work Since 1999 Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens ✔ Bathrooms 2010, 2011 2012, “No 2013, Job Too And More! 2010, 2011 Small Man!” 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2012, 2013, 2014 dent/ References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor 1999 Since Ahwatukee / References Work ty Affordable, Quali 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, rences/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor 2014 Bruce at 602.670.7038

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

uce at 602.670.7038 t 602.670.7038

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

Hauling

Juan Hernandez

SPRINKLER

TREE

Drip/Install/Repair & Tune ups!

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

Painting

Landscape/Maintenance

• Old Paint & Chems. • Yard Waste • Concrete Slab

TRIMMING

Not a licensed contractor

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

25 years exp. Call Now (480) 720-3840

Irrigation

• Old Tires

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

• Remodeling Debris

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

Home Improvement Kitchen workspace a little dull and dark? Entertainment center needs some accent lighting? Specializing in low voltage LED lighting under and above cabinets, furniture, shelves -- anywhere you need additional light or want to feature.

EAST VALLEY ACCENT LIGHTING

We also do landscape lighting to accent your walkways, trees, patio, or pool area, and we do repairs to your existing lighting.

CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE TODAY!

Home Remodeling • BASE BOARDS • DRYWALL • ELECTRICAL • PAINTING • PLUMBING • BATHROOMS • WOOD FLOORING • FRAMING WALLS • FREE ESTIMATES • GRANITE FABRICATION & INSTALLATION • CARPET INSTALLATION • LANDSCAPING

No Job Too Small! Senior Discounts!

David Hernandez (602) 802 3600

daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español

General Contracting, Inc.

NTY

5-YEAR WARRA

480.654.5600

Voted #1

azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

Landscape/Maintenance

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured

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

CALL US TODAY!

Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists 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.

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

Sell Your Stuff! Call Classifieds Today! 480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

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

10% OFF

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality Free Estimates! Home of the 10-Year Warranty!

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Family Owned & Operated

480.721.4146

Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

Now Accepting all major credit cards

www.irsaz.com

Plumbing

ROC# 256752 Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

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

ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

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

480-665-8223 • www.eastvalleyaccentlighting.com

NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

Home Improvement

Garage/Doors

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

L L C

Prepare for Monsoon 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

PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! FREE Service Calls + FREE Estimates Water Heaters Installed - $999 Unclog Drains - $49

10% OFF

All Water Purification Systems Voted #1 Plumber 3 Years In A Row OVER 1,000 5-STAR REVIEWS

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

Plumbing

Roofing

HYDROJETTING

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

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

480-477-8842

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

ROC 3297740

Serving All Types Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service of Roofing: FREE ESTIMATES

• Tiles & Shingles sunlandroofingllc@gmail.com • Installation • Repair • Re-Roofing

602-471-2346

Pool Service / Repair

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF ADA MAGISTRATE DIVISION Case No. CV01-21-05715 SUMMONS AMANDA LYNN EVERLY, Petitioner, vs JOSHUA CAINE BURY, Respondent. TO: JOSHUA CAINE BURY, RESPONDENT You have been sued by Amanda Lynn Everly, the Petitioner in the District Court in and for Ada County, Idaho, Case No. CV01-21-05715. The nature of the claim against you is a petition for divorce with minor children including a division of community and separate property, child custody, and child support. Any time after 21 days following the last publication of this summons, the court may enter a judgment against you without further notice, unless prior to that time you have filed a written response in proper form, including the Case No., and paid any required filing fee to the Clerk of the Court at 200 W. Front St., Boise, ID 83702, telephone (208) 287-7080, and served a copy of your response on the Petitioner’s attorney at 1902 W. Judith Ln., Ste. 100, Boise, ID 83705, telephone (208) 344-8474. A copy of the Summons and Petition can be obtained by contacting either the Clerk of the Court or the attorney for Petitioner. If you wish legal assistance, you should immediately retain an attorney to advise you in this matter. DATED ____________ ADA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT By: _______________ Deputy Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, June 13, 20, 27, July 4, 2021 / 39152

MISSED THE DEADLINE?

Over 30 yrs. Experience

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

Public Notices

480-706-1453

Call us to place your ad online!

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

480-898-6465

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.GilbertSunNews.com

SEEING DOUBLE-FIND 10 DIFFERENCES

Roofing

aOver 30 Years of Experience

aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663 CB

ANSWERS: 1 and 2 Unicorn tail is smaller and has lost his horn; 3 and 4 Mouse costume missing tummy fur and ears are different colors. 5 and 6 Ballerina has lost her crown and is barefoot. 7. Frog eyes are crossed 8, 9 and 10 King has 4 spots on fur trim, no stripe down center, and he’s missing his glasses.

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

GILBERT SUN NEWS | JUNE 13, 2021

The housing market is at an all-time high! Are you ready to sell or rent your home, avoid the summer maintenance hassle and enjoy a worry-free lifestyle with all that Liv has to offer? GET SOCIAL & GAIN SATISFACTION We provide our seniors with active living events and social activities. Revel in the joy and experience life. • Happy hours on the Panoramic Sky Deck • Wine tastings in the Infusions Wine Cellar • Tea parties in the Silk Tassel Tea Room • Social events for family and friends • Billiards in the Behind the 8 Ball game room • Theme dinners • Holiday parties • Movies in the Legends Theater • Musical entertainment • Outings to local events

SENIOR HEALTH & INSPIRATION

• Swim laps in our salt water pool • La Forma fitness classes in the Liv Fit gym • Classes in the Mosaic Art Studio • Non-Denominational Worship Services • Massage, Hair and Nail services available in the onsite Orchid Day Spa • LivGen University Lifelong Learning in Elite Studies • Guest lecturers

LivGenerations Ahwatukee

*amenities may vary by location

COMMUNITY FEATURES • 24/7 amenities • Front desk concierge • Full size kitchens with upgraded appliances and granite • Scheduled transportation • Pet friendly • Walking paths • Washer and dryers for select apartments • Spacious apartments • Balconies and Patios with personal storage • Garages available for rent for select apartments • Jacuzzi • Bark Park • and more! LivGenerations Agritopia

15815 S. 50th Street | Phoenix, AZ 85048

2811 E. Agritopia Loop S. | Gilbert, AZ 85296

480-485-3000

480-485-2000

livgenerationsahwatukee.com

livgenerationsagritopia.com

I N D E P E N D E N T L I V I N G | A S S I S T E D L I V I N G | M E M O R Y C A R E | S I G N AT U R E S E R V I C E S