Issuu

It’s official: Peterson won

Area writer has 1st novel

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

This Week

NEWS................................ 4 Town draws no takers for park-related requests.

BUSINESS................. 19 New Gilbert business is wheely fun.

SPORTS...................... 23

High school playoff preview. COMMUNITY....................................... 14 BUSINESS............................................. 19 SPORTS....................................... 23 GETOUT.................................................26 PUZZLE....................................... 27 CLASSIFIED..........................................29

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Sunday, November 29, 2020

New day dawns for pot users tomorrow BY JIM WALSH GSN Staff Writer

rizona’s new Proposition 207 likely will become law tomorrow, Nov. 30, enabling as many as three million residents to buy a small amount marijuana legally for the first time without a state-issued medical card and can get high in their home. The new law, scheduled to take effect when state officials certify the results of the Nov. 3 election, promises millions of dollars for teacher training, substance abuse treatment, suicide prevention and even enforcement of impaired driving laws. It also promises a host of challenges.

Police are preparing for more impaired drivers. The courts could see a deluge of requests for expungements of prior marijuana possession convictions. Prop 207 provides for neither defense. Prop 207 won a much larger victory – 1,946,440-1,302,458, or 60-40 percent, according to unofficial results – than President-elect Joe Biden did in the state. Although it legalizes possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, its full impact probably won’t hit home until April – when medical marijuana dispensaries will be able to sell weed to millions of new customers who won’t have to qualify for a medical marijuana card. Of course, it’s not as if those without a

card couldn’t find marijuana in Arizona, a border state known for illegal drug trafficking. However, voter approval of the medical marijuana proposition in 2010 gave birth to a thriving industry. Through October, 287,715 residents with cards bought 2,786,197 ounces of marijuana from dispensaries this year alone, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Tom Dean, a defense attorney who specializes in marijuana cases, said he anticipates many people will not understand all the nuances in the new law.

see MARIJUANA page 10

Regal closing hits Gilbert strip mall hard

BY MADELEINE WILLIAMSON GSN Contributor

he show must go on but for business owners in Gilbert Town Square, there is uncertainty about their survival in the wake of Regal Gilbert Cinema’s closure. The movie house closed Oct. 8, and the flow of customers into the strip mall has been felt by its neighboring businesses. Regal Gilbert Cinemas is one of 536 multiplexes in the country that were closed temporarily by U.S. Cineworld Group Plc., the nation’s second-largest movie house chain, because of the pandemic. “In response to an increasingly challenging theatrical landscape and sustained key market closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Regal will be temporarily suspending

see REGAL page 6

Regal Gilbert Cinema has been dark for nearly two months, hurting businesses in the Gilbert Town Square that relied on the patrons its offerings would draw to the strip mall. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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NEWS

It’s official: Brigette Peterson is next mayor BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

t’s official: Brigette Peterson is Gilbert’s new mayor come January. Town Council in a special virtual meeting last Monday approved 6-0 to adopt the results of the November General Election. Councilwoman Aimee Yentes was absent. The official vote count saw Peterson with 70,426 votes to challenger Matt Nielsen’s 53,121. Peterson, a longtime presence at Town Hall, gained the edge early on Nov. 3 and increased her lead as the votes were counted. Before Peterson resigned midway in her second term on the Council to run for mayor, she was a 14-year veteran of the town’s Planning Commission. Nielsen was a political newcomer who ran on a conservative platform of limited government. A total of 146,003 or 85.45 percent of the town’s 170,856 registered voters, cast a ballot during the election. Turnout far surpassed the 2018 General Election, which saw 67.95 percent of registered voters casting a ballot box and the 80.31 percent turnout in the 2016 General Election. Of the total count for Gilbert, 133,415 voters cast early ballots while just 12,331 actually voted on Election Day, according to Maricopa County elections officials.

Brigette Peterson Additionally, 257 were provisional ballots. All the precincts in Gilbert showed 80 percent and above for voter turnout. The council’s canvass of the election results followed shortly after Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved it on Nov. 20. According to election officials, over 2 million or 80.51 percent of the county’s voters turn out to vote in the middle of a pandemic with a record-breaking 1.1 million voters who visited a Maricopa County Vote Center or Ballot Drop Box, according to a news release. While President Trump and many in

the GOP camp are disputing the results of the election, Maricopa County leaders had no problem with the count. “We’ve canvassed the General Election results and can assure Maricopa County voters proper steps were taken to ensure a full and accurate count of all votes,” said board Chairman Clint Hickman. “No matter how you voted, this election was administered with integrity, transparency and in accordance with state laws.” Supervisor Jack Sellers of District 1, which includes Gilbert, also voiced support of the final tally. “In a very challenging environment, Maricopa County was able to complete a secure and fair election. I am satisfied that we have accurate results,” said Sellers, in the release. “Even with a pandemic and other distractions, our election workers were able to maintain professionalism and count ballots faster than ever before with 100-percent accuracy and transparency.” Sellers toward the end pulled out a victory against newcomer Jevin Hodge, who prematurely announced victory a day after Nov. 4. Three days after Nov. 3, the county Elections Department had already counted 2 million ballots, and finalized its count in 10 days. In 2018, it took 14 days to count 1.4 million ballots. In 2016, it took 10 days to count 1.6 million ballots, according to the release.

Arizona’s hospitals nearing breaking point BY CALAH SCHLABACH Cronkite News

he recent surge in COVID-19 cases could push hospital staff and hospital bed capacity to the limit in coming weeks, particularly if people are not careful over Thanksgiving, an Arizona hospital official said last week. Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer for Banner Health, said its projections show the system will be using 125 percent of its licensed hospital beds by Dec. 4 as it grapples with the usual winter rise in patients and the sudden spike in COVID-19

cases. She compared this holiday weekend to Memorial Day weekend, when unrestricted gatherings were followed by a sharp spike in coronavirus cases. “If you reflect back in May, you know that Memorial Day weekend was a significant catalyst that caused continued exponential growth of our COVID pandemic here in the state of Arizona,” Bessel said. Bessel’s remarks came the day before the Nov. 25 release of new data by the Maricopa County Public Health Department showing that two of the three benchmarks measuring virus spread

were in the substantial level for the Town of Gilbert and both Gilbert Public Schools and Higley Unified. The third benchmark – hospital visits showing COVID-like symptoms – had been in the minimal spread category for months but is now in the moderate spread category and has been climbing for several weeks. Cases per 100,000 were 328 for GPS, 332 for Higley Unified and 319 for the town. But they were far surpassed by Queen Creek Unified, where there were

see HOSPITALS page 11

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Town gets no takers on requests for project proposals BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor

evelopers apparently ignored Gilbert’s recent call to partner with a private developer to build recreational amenities that would enhance its regional park. No proposals were submitted by deadline for development of a 5-acre and a 10-acre adjacent site next to Gilbert Regional Park at Higley and Queen Creek roads. “They are both on hold right now and we will assess their future status after the new year,” town spokeswoman Jennifer Harrison said. Harrison had no comment when asked why the town thought there were no takers for its requests. The town requested proposals to “offer ideas for other types of hotel resort uses” on the 5 acres. For the 10 acres, the town was looking for someone to develop a hotel, resort, conference center, complimentary retail or a combination of them. For the two proposals, the town offered in return a 30-year ground lease with up to two, 10-year options. Under the proposals the developers or lessees also would be responsible for maintenance and operational costs. At the end of the lease, the developed projects would transfer to town ownership at no cost. The two pieces of town-owned land are part of three parcels totaling 47 acres that Gilbert set aside for the development of recreational amenities through public-private partnerships. The Strand @ Gilbert signed a deal with the town in February 2019 to build a 25-acre state-of-the-art water park on the third parcel and was looking to part-

The ampitheater at Gilbert Regional Park, above, is one of many amenities that opened this uyear and the town has scheduled a Jan. 12 listening session to find out what residents want to see added in the next stage of the park’s development. Meanwhile, the town has received no takers for developing town-owned land adjacent to the park shown in red on the map at left (File images)

ner with Gilbert with the other two land pieces. In March, The Strand was the only one to submit a bid for the town’s request for qualifications for the 10 acres. It did

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not follow up with a request for proposal in October. It apparently also was looking to submit a proposal for the 5 acres as well. In a March 17 email to the town, John

McLaughlin, founder and CEO of Strand Resorts, said because of the uncertainty stemming from COVID-19, meetings with partners and hotel operators were being canceled or delayed. Those cancellations are going “to have a significant impact in our ability to adequately respond to the RFP for the hotel and the 5-acre site,” he wrote. The developer did not move forward on the two proposals and was facing delays in his $35-million water project, which included a cable wake park, surf lagoon, inflatable water park and a sand beach. McLaughlin originally proposed opening the water park this past summer and then pushed it to next summer and again to summer 2022. McLaughlin in September acknowledged the pandemic’s impact and told GSN there was no concern that the privately funded project won’t get off the ground. Earlier this year in emails to the town, McLaughlin told the town he has had an investor pull out of a $2.5 million commitment but that he was aggressively continuing to raise 100 percent of the funding for the water park. The town, however, is moving forward in the next phases of the regional park and is holding a virtual community outreach meeting at 6 p.m., Jan. 12 for public feedback on what amenities people want. The town also is holding the second outreach meeting with the community at 6 p.m., Dec. 10 for Desert Sky Park. The 115-acre park is on Power Road between Williams Field and Pecos roads. Both parks opened their first phases in late 2019. The regional park opened its phase 1B in October, featuring a lake, sand volleyball, walking path, event lawn and an amphitheater.

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REGAL from page 1

operations at all of its Regal theaters in the U.S.,” the company announced. Since the pandemic began, life has been rough for movie houses in Arizona and around the world. Arizona was one of many states that joined countries around the world in ordering them closed for several months. And when they reopened, it was under regulations that enforced social distancing, cutting audience capacity by as much as half and forcing theaters to reduce showtimes to allow for sanitizing between showings. Worse, theaters haven’t had much to show. Spring and summer blockbusters were moved by distributors to fall, then their release was pushed again into next year – depriving local theaters like Regal Gilbert Cinema of yet another profitable time of the year, the Thanksgiving-New Year’s Day season. Regal Gilbert Cinema’s closure was a blow to local businesses that relied on customer traffic it brought to the strip mall. While it reopened, the theater continued to pull potential customers to the area, Chef W, co-owner of Not Your Typical Deli, said. “I think it’s a total blow for the neighborhood,” Chef W said. According to Alysen Lukacik, one of four owners of International Room Escape AZ, the area was already seeing less business due to COVID-19 when the theater suddenly shut down. “At the beginning, it was kind of like a shock for us,” Lukacik said. “I don’t know if it is because of COVID or if it is because the theater is closed but it is definitely not what it used to be.” The theater’s closure is one more worry for business owners in Town Square, he added. “You don’t know what’s going to happen, you have that feeling of, not sure of what’s going on with the world, and you are not sure of what’s going on with my business and how people are going to react to that,” Lukacik said. According to Lukacik, the Town Square was always busy before the pandemic hit. “The plaza was always busy and just

seeing that transformation of the plaza being empty for the whole day, it was kind of interesting,” Lukacik said. Other businesses in the strip mall agree. “We’ve definitely been hurt,” said John Decker, a co-owner of Desert Monks Brewing Co. According to Decker, movies showing on Fridays and Saturdays drew people to the area that wouldn’t otherwise drive by. “You would know when a big movie would come in,” Decker said, explaining that the increased traffic was noticeable and welcomed. Now, business has slowed even more without those movie house patrons, he said. “That’s kind of bad for us because a lot of walk-ins that we had came because of the movies because they saw our sign in the area,” Lukacik said. Lukacik reported that about 22 percent of his escape room guests came in

“We got a canning machine,” Decker said, explaining that Desert Monks Brewing’s machine can meet higher demands for to-go orders. “We have evolved in many ways. We are in the process of acquiring a food truck,” Chef W. said, adding that he is trying to make Not Your Typical Deli more accessible to customers. When things change for Regal or any other Above, Chef W of Not Your Typical Deli, seen here with multiplex is hard to several town officials when it opened in 2018, is con- say. In announcing its cerned about the Regal Gilbert’s closure - as is the owner closure of nearby International Room Escape AZ (Special to GSN) nationwide – which put 40,000 employees out of a job – Cineworld said, because of the theater. “You definitely see less traffic,” “We have done to date, we will do everything we can to save livelihoods and the Decker said. Now, according to Chef W, Christ company – this is an extremely delicate Church is the only establishment and tricky balance. We continue to work that brings in fresh crowds regu- with the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), to ensure we are larly since the theater closed. The church holds Services Sun- lobbying state and local governments to day mornings and remains open support our employees and the indusfrom 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday try which has so much cultural significance.” through Friday. The world’s largest movie chain, AMC, Pam DePalma, co-owner of Not Your and Harkins Theaters are offering theTypical Deli, said that before the theater closed, the business’ hours were sched- aters for private showings, but new movies are still far and in between. uled alongside that of the theaters. According to the Variety Magazine, With the theater gone, Not Your Typical Deli has had to change hours to ac- John Fithian, head of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said that commodate for lack of traffic. “It’s been bad. And even worse since unless Congress passes the Save Our the movie theater closed. We had to Stages Act – a bipartisan push to support decimated concert venues and thechange our hours,” DePalma said. Lack of customer traffic due to the aters – “probably around 70 percent of closure of Regal Gilbert and the ongo- our mid- and small-sized members will ing pandemic has left business owners either confront bankruptcy reorganiwith no choice but to adjust to customer zation or the likelihood of going out of business entirely by sometime in Januneeds. Businesses are offering new delivery ary.” The Wall Street Journal reported that services, seasonal coupons and trying some multiplex owners are wondering methods to become more accessible to whether to convert their buildings, alcustomers. The International Room Escape AZ is though most are “poor candidates for offering a 15 percent discount for the holiday season. see REGAL page 7

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

REGAL from page 6

adaptive reuse,” Bloomberg reported. Some are simply being torn down – as was, ironically, a Regal theater in South Carolina. A theater in Goodyear was turned into a group of medical offices while the Arizona Department of Transportation now has offices in a theater in Flagstaff, Bloomberg reported. Cineworld said in its announcement said that “once film studios are able to bring their pipeline of major movie

releases back to the big screen” things would change, although it alluded to the “extremely delicate and tricky balance” it faces in operating theaters in the pandemic. DePalma said the only hope of increasing traffic to Gilbert Town Square again would be if Regal Theater reopens soon – or someone else takes over. “The only hope would be if somebody bought the theater out,” DePalma said.

BY KEVIN REAGAN GSN Staff Writer

in prison, hoping the emotional toll of their parents’ death would sway officials to keep the defendant behind bars for as long as possible. “I have to parent myself because both of my parents were taken by someone so careless,” Mia Contreras said last year during Sepolio’s sentencing hearing. But the Contreras family was disappointed to discover that Sepolio on Nov. 6 was released from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after serving nearly three years of his 10-year sentence, which included the time he served in jail while awaiting trial. The pandemic prompted the state to release some inmates earlier in order to free up crowded cells and avoid an outbreak of the virus. In addition to the health crisis, the CDCR cited Sepolio’s “good behavior” as cause for releasing him earlier than scheduled. Sepolio’s release sparked the outrage of local prosecutors, who feel blindsided and dispute its justification. San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan described Sepolio’s release as a “miscarriage of justice” in a letter sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom. “This very early release is unconscionable,” hewrote. “(it) is re-victimizing the family and friends of the four people killed and seven injured who have been devastated by their loss and continue to deal with financial, emotional and physical trauma caused by the defendant.”

Man convicted of killing EV couple released early

aryAnn and Mia Contreras held up a picture of their dead parents as they stood before the lectern of a San Diego courtroom last year. The sisters were pleading for a judge to give the maximum prison sentence to Richard Sepolio, a 29-year-old Navyman found guilty of causing a car accident on Oct. 15, 2016 that killed four people and seriously injured seven others. A jury convicted Sepolio last February for recklessly plunging his pickup truck off a bridge and into a crowd of spectators attending a nearby motorcycle rally. Amid the horde of 3,000 attendees were Cruz Contreras, 52, and his wife AnnaMarie, 50, who had traveled from their home in Chandler to attend the San Diego event. Sepolio’s truck fell 60 feet and crushed a vendor’s booth positioned near the bridge. A scene of carnage and horror then played out as bystanders scrambled to lift the wrecked vehicle off of people who had been standing underneath the booth’s tent. Contreras and his wife were among the four victims killed -– which also included two Los Angeles residents -leaving behind three daughters and two grandchildren. The Contreras daughters had expected Sepolio to spend the next several years

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Ex-judge, store CEO aim to stop new education tax BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Scottsdale business owner and a retired judge are challenging the legality of the just-approved tax hike on the wealthy to provide more dollars for K-12 education. Attorney Logan Elia claims there is no constitutional authority for voters to levy a tax and then direct how the cash must be spent. That, he told Capitol Media Services, is strictly the purview of the legislature and the elected representatives. One of the plaintiffs in the case in John Buttrick, a former Maricopa County Superior Court judge and 1994 Libertarian candidate for governor. The other is Ann Siner, CEO of My Sister’s Closet, a chain of upscale consignment shops. She complained in a prepared statement that the tax will harm Arizona businesses. Elia acknowledged that voters have enacted numerous prior levies at the ballot box – including a 0.6-cent sales tax hike in which voters directed that the dollars be put into classroom

spending. Even the just-approved Proposition 207 legalizing the recreational use of marijuana imposes a new tax on sales. Elia said that is irrelevant as these levies never were challenged. And that, he said, makes the issue ripe for a ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court as there are no precedents. But Roopali Desai, who represents the Invest in Ed Committee that crafted the measure and put it on the ballot, said the litigation is based on a “halfcocked theory.’’ She said the people who crafted the Arizona Constitution and created the power of people to proposed their own laws imposed no such limit on what they can enact. Desai pointed out, the state constitution specifically makes voters co-equal with the Legislature, meaning they have exactly the same powers. Central to the fight is the initiative which imposes a 3.5 percent income tax surcharge on earnings of more than $250,000 a year for individuals and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. Proponents say the levy would

raise $940 million a year for education. Efforts by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce to keep the measure off the ballot faltered when the Arizona Supreme Court said there was nothing wrong with the wording of the description given to voters. But the justices did not rule on the legal merits of the measure, saying any challenge would have to wait until after it was enacted. This lawsuit, Elia said, raises those issues. “We believe that voter-initiated statutory taxes are unconstitutional,’’ he said. But the litigation faces some legal hurdles. That includes a 2004 voter-approved amendment to the Arizona Constitution which specifically prohibits initiatives that require new state spending unless the measure also includes a way to raise the additional dollars. That provision, known as the “revenue source rule,’’ was designed to keep voters from redirecting existing tax dollars from one program to another unless they also found the new dollars to

finance the new spending. Desai said the lawsuit is based on the premise that voters can’t raise taxes. But that, she said, would require courts to rule that voters never could enact any new spending programs despite the constitutional right of initiative because there never would be the revenues to fund it. Desai said what the challengers are arguing would sharply and illegally impair the constitutional right of voters to create their own laws. Elia disagrees, stating, “There are other revenue sources other than taxation,’’ he said. He contends that if voters want a new program, they could impose new fees or even direct that the money be borrowed. They just can’t impose taxes. Elia cannot file his lawsuit until Dec. 1. That’s because the state first has to certify the results of the Nov. 3 election and the fact that Proposition 208 got 51.7 percent of the vote. Opponents and proponents of the initiative spent more than $30 million on the campaign.

the point when those vaccines are widely available. Christ said there is a “concerning’’ increase in COVID-19 infections. And Ducey has conceded Arizona has a “stressed’’ hospital system. Still, the governor said he has no plans Gov. Doug Ducey and state health director Dr. Cara Christ spoke about for any new the virus surge two weeks ago at a press conference and then again last r e s t r i c t i o n s week in a conference call with business leaders. (File photo) beyond those

who remain in place, such as occupancy limits at bars, restaurants, movie theaters and fitness centers. Ducey press aide Patrick Ptak brushed aside questions about the decision by the Pima County Health Department which on Monday implemented a voluntary nightly curfew designed to keep people home as much as possible between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. through the end of the year. Ptak said county health officials already have options, like business occupancy limits, mask mandates and prohibitions on large public gatherings. Ducey and Christ held the conference calls as concerns mount over virus spread from Thanksgiving gatherings and Black Friday shopping.

Ducey: Vaccine could bring ‘normal’ by summer BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

ov. Doug Ducey believes Arizona could be “back to normal’’ by this summer once Arizonans get vaccinated for COVID-19. In a conference call last week, the governor laid out a schedule for business leaders that he said should make the vaccine available for “prioritized groups’’ in the middle of December. And the general public? That, Ducey figures, would be “in the spring, in March or April.” State Health Director Cara Christ said her department already is looking to qualify providers who could actually administer the vaccine. But the governor said the key is getting Arizona from where it is now to

see DUCEY page 9

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

DUCEY from page 8

Christ said businesses can increase the use of “touchless’’ payment systems and insist that customers wear masks. “We know that these can be difficult to implement and everybody wants to get back to normal,’’ said Christ. “But at this time this is how we can control the spread, help reduce the risk of increased cases after the holiday and help avoid additional mitigation measures.’’ The governor emphasized the message. “Right now, businesses are open,’’ he

said. “They’re open because businesses have been responsible and worked with health officials to implement smart mitigation measures.’’ And Ducey said he wants businesses open. “But I need them open safely,’’ he told the owners and managers. “And to do that, we need your help today.’’ Christ said all 15 Arizona counties have infection rates greater than 100 for every 100,000 residents. And in all but two, more than 10 percent of the tests

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For the moment, Ducey and Christ are limiting their effort to encouraging more voluntary compliance. That, said the health director, starts with masks – and not just while shopping. “This includes every setting where you will be around people who do not live with you,’’ she said, even in private homes. And for businesses, Christ recommended limiting the number of people indoors, even to the point of having customers wait outside.

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are coming back positive. The only thing that is keeping her agency from listing those counties at “substantial’’ risk of spread is that hospital visits for COVID-like illnesses have remained below 10 percent. But that measurement, Christ cautioned, is on the upswing. “This indicates increased visits to the emergency room and admission to the hospital for COVID-19,’’ she said. “The number of in-patient and ICU beds in use has not been this high since June or July.’’

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NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

MARIJUANA from page 1

He said people may mistakenly believe they can buy recreational marijuana now. They can’t because no dispensary is authorized to sell it and likely won’t be until April and Dean thinks some people “are going to say, ‘screw that, I’m going to buy it from someone willing to sell it to me.’’ Assuming the election results are certified tomorrow, the law will allow anyone over 21 to possess an ounce of marijuana legally and smoke it in their home. Since those without a card won’t find any place to buy it legally, Dean advises people to be patient and wait until April, when dispensaries are expected to have the green light to sell recreational weed. “I expect at least short term, there will be an increase until April or May’’ in black market sales, Dean said. “When there is demand, there is supply. This will cause a large increase in the black-market supply.’’ Meanwhile, police are readying for more stoned drivers. Mesa police Officer George Chwe has spent the past year working with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, helping to establish a statewide standard for driving-under-influence investigations, which includes the influence of marijuana. Mesa alone has 25 officers trained as Drug Recognition Experts and the state has added 50 more, bringing Arizona’s statewide total to 346. “I think we have a good head-start for this’’ law, Chwe said, noting more Mesa patrol officers are scheduled to receive additional training in how spot marijuana-induced impairment. Chwe agreed with Dean that at least some people won’t want to wait and simply want to get high, fueling an increase in impaired driving. “It’s going to go up. People will think it’s okay to smoke marijuana and drive,’’ Chwe said. “People smoke marijuana for the feeling it gives them. “I tell them that feeling, because they feel different, they are going to drive different. If you drive different, you are impaired.’’ Under the new law, simply driving with an illegal drug in your system will

Prop 207 legalizing the sale and possession of recreational marijuana had opponents in the election, but it sailed to approval by voters 60-40 percent. (Special to GSN)

Medical dispensaries won’t be able to sell their many marijuana offerings to Arizonans without a medical card until April. (Special to GSN) no longer apply to marijuana. One major enforcement issue is the difference between arresting a driver high on alcohol and one high on weed. While drivers can be arrested for having a .08 blood alcohol level, there is no established number of nanograms of marijuana metabolite at which drivers are presumed impaired on weed. Officers must instead rely on their own observations of impaired driving and on an evaluation by a certified drug recognition expert. For marijuana consumers, the new law does come at a financial cost. Prop 207 includes a 16 percent excise

tax on recreational sales – a surtax on top of normal state sales taxes. Paul Paredes, a Tempe-based marijuana consultant, urged anyone with a medical marijuana card to continue using it because they won’t have to pay the excise tax. He also noted that a medical marijuana card allows the purchase of 2½ ounces of marijuana in a 14-day period while someone without the card will be able to buy an ounce a day starting in April. “The medical marijuana program is not going away,’’ Paredes said. “It would be advantageous for all patients’’ to have a medical marijuana card.

The proposition creates a potential market of more than 3 million recreational marijuana customers, he said. “The dispensaries are stocking up and ramping up production,’’ Paredes said. “The product is going to expand in availability. It won’t be about quantity – it will be about quality.’’ But Dean said many users will opt to risk arrest and continue buying from their street dealer to avoid paying any tax. “The black market will be able to offer a product for substantially less,’’ Dean said. “There’s going to be a lot of people who decide to sell without a license.’’ He said some users resent the fact that the marijuana industry will become a monopoly under the new law, likening it to behavior of the tobacco industry. Prop 207 allows all current medical dispensaries to apply to the Arizona Department of Health Services for a recreational license, starting in January. AZDHS also can award 26 new “social equity licenses’’ in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. Although AZDHS has until April to set the rules for such licenses, many people in the marijuana industry believe those licenses will go to minority communities, based upon arrest statistics and other metrics. Beyond the creation of instant “marijuana millionaires’’ through the awarding of these new licenses, thousands of past felony convictions for possession of small quantities of marijuana could be expunged from defendants’ records under Prop 207. The first step in this potentially life-changing process is already underway. Maricopa County prosecutors already are dropping charges on pending cases related to possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Mesa prosecutors also are dropping related charges of possession of drug paraphernalia if they are related to

see MARIJUANA page 11

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

MARIJUANA from page 10

marijuana possession cases filed in Superior Court. “Instead of continuing to spend resources on these cases, this office will begin implementing the will of the voters immediately. We are instructing deputy county attorneys to file a motion to dismiss any charge covered by Proposition 207,’’ said Jennifer Liewer, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. “If those charges make up the entirety of the charges of the case, the entire case will be dismissed. If there are oth-

HOSPITALS from page 3

444 cases per 100,000. Positive new test results also had soared in Gilbert, hitting 10.7 percent for the town, 10.9 percent for Higley Unified and 11.3 percent for GPS. Unlike May, when Arizona was one of the few states facing a COVID-19 surge, the current outbreak is widespread. That means hospitals in the state will be hard-pressed to find relief workers from other states, Bessel said, even if they can work around the shortage of beds. “We have been accumulating pharmaceutical supplies, beds and ventilators since the surge in the summer and we believe that we are prepared,” she said. “What we will have a shortage of will be staff.” A spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Health Services said the agency is not able to comment on projections from Banner or any other external organization. But Holly Poynter said that while “hospital ICU bed availability has decreased over the past few weeks, there is still adequate capacity in Arizona’s hospitals.” The department’s COVID-19 dashboard showed that early last week, 89 percent of ICU beds in the state were occupied, leaving 192 beds available. That is more than were available at the height of cases in the summer, Poynter noted. Bessel’s comments come just days after Arizona health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued pleas to the public to tone down holiday celebrations, staying home, lim-

er felony charges the case will remain pending, but we will file motions to dismiss the charges covered by Proposition 207,’’ she said. Dean said he anticipates a second wave of defendants with convictions for possession of 2 ½ ounces or less will petition in July for expungements. He is working with the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association to set up a nonprofit that will file the petitions for free. “If it’s pending, you get it dismissed. If it’s over, you get it expunged. But what about the people in the middle?’’

he said. Gray areas affecting defendants serving time in prison or who are on probation will probably end up being litigated in court, said Dean. He said the potential pool of defendants who can improve their job prospects by getting felony records expunged is enormous, State Department of Public Safety records list about 15,000 to 18,000 marijuana possession arrests a year since 2006 and numerous other defendants merely being cited for a violation.

Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer for Banner Health, said that Banner hospitals are on pace to be at 125 percent of bed capacity by Dec. 4 because of surging COVID-19 cases, and that the situation could get worse if people do not practice healthy habits over the Thanksgiving holiday. (Courtesy Banner Health) iting the size of gatherings, wearing masks and meeting outside where possible, among other steps. “The best mitigation that you can do as an individual out there, is to keep your circle tight, once you break that circle risk goes up,” Bessel said. Bessel said Banner just hired 1,000 out-of-state staff to work the winter surge that Arizona hospitals normally face, and it is looking to hire more. But “the entire country is surging at the same time. This is significantly different than what Arizona experienced in the summer.” In a normal winter, she said, 14,000 positions might be posted for out-of-

state medical workers; this week alone, 20,000 positions were posted. While Banner often runs at a high capacity in winter, Bessel said the COVID-19 patients being admitted this winter “are very sick. They take a lot of staff to take care of them and this adds extra load” on staff. “It’s all of these factors that add up to a significant, significant stress that our healthcare system is experiencing as we care for COVID patients going into the surge,” Bessel said. If Banner gets to 125 percent of bed capacity, Bessel said it would “cause quite a bit of stress on our health care system,” but she does not think it would require

Will Humble, the former director of AZDHS, said there’s no doubt marijuana hinders the development of the adolescent brain and that parents will need to communicate with their children about the new law. But Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, said he ended up endorsing the law for it’s potential in helping people get better jobs and live healthier lives. “To me, the existing marijuana law caused more public health damage than the drug,’’ he said. drastic steps like “a triage situation.” “We have a lot of plans in place to be able to meet that demand, but it is going to be stressful on our healthcare system and we won’t be the only one.” Poynter said Arizona DHS has put a number of measures into place to help hospitals manage bed capacity, including a “surge line” that allows hospitals that don’t have the capacity to care for a patient to search online and find an available bed. A spokeswoman for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association said hospitals will be able to share the load across the state. “The good news is hospitals have come together during this pandemic response,” said Holly Ward, the association spokesperson. “Chances are, we will see spikes in the communities. “But we are very optimistic that we won’t be in the situation where it’s statewide – there, there are no beds available.” Bessel stressed that the 125 percent projection is just that – a projection – and that what Arizonans do over the weekend can keep hospital beds open for people who need care. “Strong mitigation now will help us not get to that 125 percent. I ask everybody out there to take personal accountability, especially as it relates to this holiday week,” she said. “I know it’s a very significant holiday that we have with Thanksgiving,” Bessel said. “I asked everybody to think about what Thanksgiving 2021 can look like, and please do your part.”

NEWS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Multi-use project planned near Mercy Gilbert GSN NEWS STAFF

iversified Partners plans to break ground next year for an 11-acre development that will include a hotel, offices and retail at the southeast corner of Val Vista Drive and Mercy Road. The mixed-use project Mercy Val Vista Center – with a total of five buildings – is directly south of Dignity’s Mercy Gilbert Hospital and lies in the heart of the Mercy Gilbert medical district. “It will be in two phases but that could change,” said Jennifer Hill, senior vice president of brokerage and leasing for Diversified Partners, which recently purchased the land. “We should be opening end of year 2021.” Hill said the project has attracted a large amount of interest from quick-service and fast-casual restaurants, financial users, nail salons, dental and medical providers. “We also have a large, multi-story medical office building planned to the east of the retail and have interest from hospitali-

Diversified Partners plans to break ground for hotels, offices and retail on the corner of Val Vista Drive and Mercy Road. This rendering shows one concept for part of the development. (Special to GSN) ty as well,” she added. Diversified Partners has teamed up with Andy Jackson to co-develop the property. The two-story retail/restaurant/office space planned on the western portion of the site on the frontage of Val Vista Drive will include drive-thru restaurants that actually go through the buildings. It is a similar concept to Diversified Partner’s project on Scottsdale Road and Chauncey Lane, where the restaurant Cold

Beers and Cheeseburgers is located. The eastern half of the property is planned for a five-story medical building, a six-level parking garage and a five-story extended-stay hotel. Offsite work will begin in the first quarter of 2021. “This is a legacy property that will grow in importance for years to come,” said Walt Brown, founder and CEO of Diversified Partners. “The Town of Gilbert has been wonder-

ful to work with in expediting permitting for this site,” he added. “We are very appreciative and expect the rest of the process to go smoothly.” Diversified Partners also has purchased the property directly to the south and plans to develop a fuel station along with two freestanding quick-service restaurants to meet the demand for such services. When the project made its way through the town approval process, staff said the proposed restaurant and commercial will be highly used by people who work in the area and provide services currently not offered on the east side of Val Vista Drive. The site is located within the Val Vista Medical Growth Area, where Mercy Gilbert Medical Center has spurred growth in medical offices, medical research and rehabilitation and care facilities. The town anticipated the area will continue to grow with medical offices, general offices and business-park land uses supported by mixed-use, commercial and hospitality uses.

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COMMUNITY

Community

GilbertSunNews.com |

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

For more community news visit gilbertsunnews.com

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Local journalist publishes first novel BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor

s a journalist for several decades, Srianthi Perera has chronicled everything from breaking news stories to people profiles to chronicles on local events – many of them in Gilbert, where she has been reporting on people and the arts scene there especially for more than a decade.. Now, the Chandler writer has expanded her repertoire to include fiction with her first newly published novel, “A Maiden’s Prayer: A Family Story Based in 1970s Sri Lanka.” Set in the 1970s in the Southeast Asian tropical island of her native Sri Lanka, Perera centers her story on an extended family trying to marry a male relative. Berty Rajakaruna, a Jane Austen-type

Srianthi Perera

of bachelor, is trying to figure out whether marriage is worth trying to reclaim his family estate from the clutches of a scheming sister. The estate is crumbling but special because it was founded by his great-great-grandfather, who was a Mudaliyar – comparable to a country squire – under British rule. The story is told through the eyes and voice of a 12-year-old girl who is rebelling against the traditions she has to follow. It is set in the 1970s, a turbulent period in Sri Lanka’s history with a socialist ruling party whose policies resulted in food shortages and a soaring cost of living. The novel also opens readers to the little known Sri Lankan culture and society, woven together by the thread of

Berty Rajakaruna’s life. It also examines Sri Lankan beliefs in the power of Vedic Astrology and the role an individual’s character plays in precipitating his karma. Astrology was the basis of many arranged marriages of the day. And it also is framed by Buddhist thought, the religion for the vast majority of Sri Lankans, who follow ahimsa and its principles of nonviolence. “Above all, ‘A Maiden’s Prayer’ speaks to the universality of the human experience. This tiny island in the Indian Ocean is a world apart, but how connected are we in our needs, desires, fears and emotions?” Perera said. Crossing over to the world of fiction might seem unusual for someone who

Santa Claus Coming

Tickets are $10 for the first child and $5 for each additional child in your family or household. Accompanying adults and children under 2 do not need to purchase a ticket. All tickets must be purchased in advance, tickets will not be available at the door. To purchase tickets go to hdsouth.org/event/santaclaus-is-coming-to-town.

see PERERA page 15

Santa coming to HD SOUTH next weekend GSN NEWS STAFF

D SOUTH, home of the Gilbert Historical Museum and an arts, culture and history center, has a full lineup of programs for this month. The programs are led by artists, historians, storytellers, health and wellness specialists, botanists and scientists – experts in their field who share their knowledge and skills with our community. Originally opened as Gilbert Elementary School in 1913, HD SOUTH is the oldest building still standing in Gilbert and is the only one on the National Register of Historic Places. Gilbert Museum is a repository of artifacts chronicling the town’s rich history, featuring newly remodeled exhibits and interactive displays. The programs and events at HD

SOUTH focus on six community pillars and are designed for all generations. These pillars include history, health & wellness, science, literature, art, and music. To register, visit hdsouth.org/calendar. Unless noted otherwise, programs are free but registration is required. All participants will be required to wear facial coverings and adhere to physical distancing guidelines.

Art show’s in last days

The Gilbert Visual Art League’s seventh annual show is in its final days. A display of members’ works will run through Dec. 3 in Gallery 4 and some works can be purchased. Gallery 4 admission is free with paid museum admission. For current museum hours please visit our website at hdsouth.org.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, Santa Claus will be making his fourth annual visit to HD SOUTH. While in line, participants can see festive and joyous decorations, enjoy live entertainment and listen to merry music. Children will not be allowed to sit on Santa’s lap, but they will be able to see him in his whimsical chair surrounded by delightful holiday-themed decor. They will be able to stand near the decorations and have their picture taken with Santa in the background. All children are encouraged to bring their letter to Santa. With paid event admission, every child will receive a special goodie bag stuffed with toys and prizes. This is a timed and ticketed event with limited capacity and takes place from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Facial coverings are required.

Coping With Grief 6:30-8 p.m. Dec. 1.

Coping with grief can be difficult, especially during the holidays. Thomas Arbaugh, a bi-vocationally trained counselor and chaplain who specializes in grief and loss, will teach, provide practical tools and encourage healing.

see SOUTH page 17

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

PERERA from page 14

has worked in her native Sri Lanka, the Sultanate of Oman, Canada and the United States. If her name sounds familiar, the former Arizona Republic reporter also was a staffer for Times Publications, which publishes the SanTan Sun News. Her byline still appears in the SanTan Sun News and its sister papers in the East Valley as a freelance journalist. But crossing over from the world of nonfiction was not necessarily all that a major transition, Perera said. “When I followed my husband from Canada to the U.S., I didn’t have a work visa to continue in journalism,” Perera recalled. “I left the job of an assistant editor in an up-market visitor publication called ‘Where Vancouver’ and moved to Rochester, N.Y. in the dead of winter in 1998 with a sliver of an idea taking shape in my mind.” Indeed, her last boss in Canada told her “There’s a book in you” when Perera told her she was heading to the States. “I set out to find ‘my book’ by volunteering at Writers & Books in Rochester,

where I met a community of like-minded individuals who sympathetically steered me toward taking fiction classes,” Perera explained. “I was asked to write about something I know and bring it to class,” she continued. “It wasn’t difficult to find an experience that would be foreign to most Americans. I created Tamara de Silva and followed her coming of age. “My voice took over: I had a few characters and the beginnings of a story. I had no idea what would happen to them as I went along but I had my book.” She found writing fiction “comes naturally to me.” “Nearly all of my previous work at magazines and newspapers pertained to factual news or feature writing, but I find it easy to switch back and forth between the two,” she added.

Besides, she noted, “I find my newspaper training, where I had to strive to be one hundred percent accurate, a boon for writing fiction. Hence, the 1970s life depicted in the novel – social, cultural, political and otherwise – is not imagined, but a true, nostalgic re-creation.” “A Maiden’s Tale” has also been a long time coming. “Although I got off to a great start and had the steady encouragement of the instructor, there were many subsequent moves within the U.S. for us during that time,” Perera said. “Hence, chapter four, five and six were written in Oregon, seven and eight in Kansas, nine in Virginia and so on. When we settled in Arizona in 2003, I was more than two-thirds done.” She pushed the novel to the background when she “immersed myself in

the exciting daily grind of a major newspaper.” But after she retired from fulltime journalism two years ago, she put part of the novelist side of her brain to work. She joined the now defunct south Chandler group called The Serious Scribes, led by Mitzi Kleidon, and “I was inspired to write the last few chapters and conceptualize the difficult ending with the members’ help.” Ironically, the pandemic helped her finished what she started many years ago. “Over the years, I improved the story from time to time, but I didn’t pursue publishing it,” Perera said. “Then, the pandemic hit and robbed us all of social interaction. It is a great time to publish a novel.” But the journalist side isn’t completely absent from her work, either. “The main storyline is fictional,” Perera said, “But yes, there are autobiographical elements in the novel. Tamara de

see PERERA page 17

COMMUNITY

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Mesa teen sings her way to helping abused kids BY BROOKE DIXON GSN Contributor

hirteen-year-old Rosevelt Rawls has a passion to sing and a drive to help children suffering from abuse. Earlier this fall, the Mesa teen combined her passions at her own fundraising event, titled “The Music and the Message,” to raise money for Childhelp, a nonprofit that fights child abuse. Rosevelt’s budding singing career started about four years ago when she was given the opportunity to sing with comedy legend Dick Van Dyke – who worked with her father Jef Rawls, a corporate trainer ad entertainer who founded The JesterZ, an improv clean-comedy group. “It just kind of happened,” said Rosevelt, a seventh grader currently in distance learning. Rosevelt’s love and passion for singing and helping children led her to create an

Mesa resident Rosevelt Rawls has a big voice and a heart to match, holding concerts to raise money to help fight child abuse. (Special to GSN) inspirational fundraising project. In a single night, she raised $100,000 and now has her sights set on raising $1 million to help abused children. Her blockbuster fundraiser Sept. 26 drew more than 200 socially distanced

vehicles to Schnepf Farms while other people who could not attend her concert watched on livestream. Her father ran much of the marketing for the event. “We set up a page online so people could watch from the comfort of their homes and families could have watch parties at home,” said Jef, who also has acted and produced a variety of TV and radio shows. The father-daughter duo has been putting on the Childhelp fundraising event for two years but this year COVID-19 made everything a little different. Rosevelt was not discouraged by the pandemic, and noted that they followed all safety guidelines because they were determined to put on the show. “Everything going on has raised numbers of child abuse because kids can’t escape their homes as they don’t have school or after-school activities,” Rosevelt said. As a Childhelp ambassador, Rosevelt

cares most about helping children in need. She noted that in the past 61 years, Childhelp has helped over 10.5 million children and she wanted to be a part of that. All benefits and proceeds raised from The Music and the Message went directly to Childhelp and Operation Underground Railroad, another nonprofit that works to end sex trafficking of minors. Sponsors who covered the concert’s cost included Spring Creek Enterprise, Western Transport Logistics, Bashas’ and The Hebets Company, among others. Throughout the pandemic, Rosevelt said, Childhelp has done its best to continue helping children as much as possible. It started a text helpline so children can text or call for help or any questions they may have. Rosevelt said she was determined to pull off the concert because so many nonprofits like Childhelp and Opera-

WE ARE OPEN TO MEMBERS!

see SINGER page 17

(480) 371-8305 learn more at members.thriveaz.com *THRIVE IS FOLLOWING CDC AND STATE GUIDELINES FOR YOUR PROTECTION

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

SOUTH from page 14

Integrative Medicine for Mental Health 6:30-8 pm. Dec. 8

and wellness.

Windhorse Counseling and Anu Marrott-Ware of Holistic Mental Health for a discussion about integrative medicine and preventing and treating common mental health problems. They each have recently completed certification as mental health integrative medicine providers and will share information about effective and affordable evidence-based holistic approaches to help you achieve optimal health

The sixth Centennial Saturday is geared towards one of the 5 C’s of Arizona. During this workshop, participants will learn how to plant and successfully grow a variety of citrus trees with arborist A.J. Alaniz teaching planting techniques and how to give newly planted trees a good start. He will also discuss ways to keep existing and established citrus thriving and bearing delicious fruit

tion Underground Railroad depend on events for the bulk of their fundraising. The event consisted of musical performances from Rosevelt Rawls, William Joseph, and Colton Avery. Speakers included Operation Underground Railroad CEO Tim Ballard, Childhelp co-founders Sara O’Meara, and Yvonne Fedderson. It was emceed by

Coach Dar and Jef Rawls. Rosevelt’s first concert on Childhelp’s behalf was held at the Mesa Arts Center, which has been closed since the pandemic broke in March. The keynote speaker at that event was Elizabeth Smart, who spoke about her 2002 kidnapping from her Utah home when she was just 14.

Centennial Saturday – Citrus Join guest speakers Julie Jacobs of 10:30 a.m.-noon Dec. 12

SINGER from page 16

PERERA from page 15

Silva came-of-age in 1970s Sri Lanka in the midst of a loving, extended family that organized regular spend-the-days, during which time they collectively hashed out problems and helped each other. This is my personal experience. “Tamara also attended a well-reputed private school in Colombo, just like I did. Many Sri Lankans believe in astrology to guide their lives and my family was no exception.” And she’s hoping readers agree she has realized her philosophy toward novels: “A well-written novel can transport

COMMUNITY

a reader to a different time and place. When the story is written with humor and pathos—true reflections of life – the experience can be even better.” I did not have a Berty Uncle in the circle, but there are many Berty Uncles in society at any given time in any country. “A Maiden’s Prayer” is priced at $16 for the paperback and $5 for the e-book and available at amazon.com: tinyurl. com/A-Maidens-Prayer Information: amazon.com/author/ srianthiperera or srianthiperera.com

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Business

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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Gilbert man opens electric bike store GSN NEWS STAFF

ust in time for gift-giving – and visiting relatives who might need outdoor fun – comes Michael Curtin, who opened a Pedego Electric Bike store in Gilbert recently. The Gilbert resident owns a staffing business in New York’s commercial real estate industry, but decided to open the store at 459 N. Gilbert Road after the pandemic caused a downturn in his business. Besides, his brother owns a Pedego store in Cape May, New Jersey, and he liked the product. “Pedego seemed like the perfect new business for me to go into and once I found the location for my store in Gilbert, it was an absolute no-brainer,” he said. “I knew this was going to be a

BrakeOut Arizona partners include, from left, Dan Knudsen, Dain Knudson, Burke Nichols and Curt Easton. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

Michael Curtin has opened a Pedego Electric Bike store in Gilbert, where he sells, rents and services the popular bikes and sells accessories. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

great opportunity.” The store, the third and the first in the East Valley, sells and rents Pedego bikes as well as services them and sells accessories. With a top speed of 20 mph, Pedego bikes come in a wide variety of 20 models and sizes, with pricing starting at around $1,500. The bikes’ ranges of travel before the lithium battery needs to be charged varies from 15-30 miles for the smallest size to 34-68 miles for the largest. “Generally speaking, any Pedego battery should last longer than you want to ride,” Pedego states on its website. “Your fanny will probably quit long before your battery does.” Founded in 2008 and now with

see BIKES page 20

Gilbert’s first rooftop restaurant coming GSN NEWS STAFF

ilbert’s first rooftop restaurant with a craft cocktail bar is finally opening for business in December, offering diners a view of downtown and the San Tan Mountains as they eat and drink. ile.gal Modern Cocktail Kitchen originally was to debut April 3 but COVID-19 and the restrictions on restaurants that followed postponed those plans. During the grand-opening celebrations on Dec. 29-Jan. 2, customers will be treated to music, giveaways and special tastings during regular business hours. The new eatery’s menu takes inspiration from all aspects of Arizona and offers food lovers locally

The owners of the coming ile.gal Modern CVocktail Kitchen in downtown Gilbert promise stunning views fom the town’s first rooftop bar. (Special to GSN) inspired artisanal dishes such as pepita hummus and nopales fries or cactus fries, cornish game hen and acorn soup. The menu is kept small to ensure each dish can be made from scratch. The full craft cocktail bar focuses on an exotic assortment of agave spirits and serves up one-of-a-kind signature drinks like the Smoking Gun, a mezcal-based cocktail that incorporates activated charcoal, citrus fruit, amaro and a citrus smokefilled bubble to ignite the senses. The 1,750-square-foot bar is

see OPENING page 20

BUSINESS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

BIKES from page 19

around 120 locations across the country, the company has won kudos for its customer service and the bikes themselves have some famous fans, including Martha Stewart and Star Trek icon William Shatner. Though he had a soft opening in October, Curtin had his grand opening last week that included a surprise visit from some of the corporation’s top executives. Pedego Gilbert also is celebrating the grand opening by offering raffle tickets for $20 through Dec. 15 – or until 500 tickets are sold – for a chance to win a Pedego Comfort Cruiser. That’s the granddaddy of Pedego’s product line, valued at around $2,000. The company describes it as weighing “less than a house cat” with a range of about 45 miles “for 10 cents of electricity” before it needs recharging. Proceeds from the raffle will be split among three food banks. Curtin said he went into the business after meeting Pedego founder/CEO Don DiConstanzo about the electric

bike industry. “Our goal is to locate our stores in areas that are bike-friendly and easily

accessible to cyclists,” DiCostanzo said. “When Michael came to us with this location we knew it was going to be a

split evenly between the indoor and outdoor seating with the bar located in the middle. Every seat features views of the surrounding areas. The patio also has electronic rooftop shades to help control temperatures and create a comfortable environment year-round. The women behind ile.gal’s experiential concept – which tells the story of Arizona by taking patrons on a journey through the Sonoran Desert – are Lynne King Smith and Erika Rode, who want to push the boundaries on how ingredients and flavors can be used in food and cocktails.

King Smith founded Ticket Force and is principal of Building 313 – the restaurant’s location. She also ran unsuccessfully for Gilbert mayor in the August primary. Rode is the owner of Bitters Bar & Food in Scottsdale. “Building 313 in the heart of downtown Gilbert boasts stunning sunset views of the area and is the perfect location for this elevated cocktail and dining experience,” said King Smith in the release. “ile.gal is going to be an incredible addition to Gilbert’s Heritage District.”

Rode said she was thrilled to bring a completely new food and beverage program to the East Valley. “Every detail of this concept has been thought through to immerse guests in a unique desert experience that pays tribute to Arizona,” Rode said. “I love designing food and beverage programs that incorporate fresh ingredients, local suppliers and small-batch products. ile.gal allowed me to really get creative in doing this.” The business’s name by the way is Spanish and is pronounced il-ee-gál. It translates to English is “illegal,” which

OPENING from page 19

Celebrating the grand opening of the new Pedego Electric Bikes store in Gilbert last week were, from left, owner Michael Curtin, Cassidy Castleman, Cynthia Newcomb and Pedego founder/ CEO Don DiCostanco. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)

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success-- his hard work and dedication from the beginning was something we were honored to invest in.” A onetime marathon runner, Curtin said he’s admired Pedego bikes since he first rode one in New Jersey. A few years ago, he had to quit running due to an injury and he said a regular bike never interested him. “An electric bike gives me the perfect combination of thrill and adrenaline,” he said. “I get the same rush I did when I was running.” Besides, he added, “There is something to be said about customers coming back from their first ride on a Pedego… they really do come back with a smile.” He said his goal is to make sure anyone who stops by his store gets the same rush. The store is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and Monday by appointment only. Information: mike@pedegogilbert. com or call 602-793-1175.

embodies the women’s belief in pushing boundaries. ile.gal Modern Cocktail Kitchen’s operating hours beginning Dec. 29 are 4-11 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Hours are 4 p.m.-1 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays. The establishment will initially be closed on Mondays. Full COVID-19 precautions are in place with outdoor dining options, limited capacity, rigorous disinfecting measures and masks required except when eating or drinking For more information, go to ilegalaz. com.

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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Sports & Recreation GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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SPORTS

Check us out and like Gilbert Sun News on Facebook and follow @GilbertSunNews on Twitter

Football roundup: Some Gilbert teams reached playoffs BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

he 2020 football season is nearing its conclusion – a feat many might deem as incredible given the uncertain circumstances as the pandemic rages on. Most Gilbert programs were able to finish their entire schedules without COVID-related issues. Still, some were forced to play fewer games. Even then, though, several Gilbert teams have advanced to the playoffs after a shortened regular season. Teams were able to schedule a “bowl game” after the regular season concluded. Here’s how each Gilbert football team fared in the COVID-shortened 2020 regular season. Mesquite Led by the dynamic duo of Eric Lira and Ty Thompson, Mesquite advanced to the 4A Conference playoffs as the Mesquite, the defending 4A top-ranked team and will now look to defend its title. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff)

champion, found itself once again atop the conference rankings this season. The Wildcats, led by five-star quarterback Ty Thompson and senior wideout Eric Lira, have outpaced several opponents on offense this season. Mesquite was scheduled to play Washington in the 4A play-in game on Friday, Nov. 20, but COVID-19 forced the cancellation and a Washington forfeit. Despite vying for a potential spot in the Open Division playoffs, Mesquite was left out by the selection committee and will defend its 4A title as the No. 3 seed. Highland Playing one of the toughest schedules, Highland fared well against some of

see FOOTBALL page 24

AIA OKs Jan. 5 start for winter sports BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

he Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board has set Jan. 5 for the start of winter sports. The winter sports season was originally scheduled to begin on Nov. 9 but was delayed as COVID-19 cases surged and the AIA hopes the delay might see a downward trend in the virus, as what happened when fall sports was delayed. “It is safer to be at school with your kids than at home,” AIA Executive Director David Hines said. “Delaying

the start of the season will give our coaches and administrators time to implement safety protocols and put sports modifications in place.” For competition to begin, specific guidelines must be met. Student who participate in a nonschool team must be excluded from practice for 14 days. All winter sports modifications must be followed, and scrimmages, invitational tournaments, regional tournaments and out-of-state competition are banned. The metrics introduced in the fall by the AIA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee will be used to determine when and if fans are allowed to attend

events. However, they will not be used to determine when competition may begin. “The metrics can be all over the place but if kids are doing all the mitigation they’re required to do when at school, practice and games, the health department and our sports medicine said they are safer there than at home,” Hines said. “They aren’t following the protocols when they’re home. “The cases are not being caused by being at school or playing sports.” The AIA board also approved specific regulations for wrestling, the winter sport with the most contact of the three.

Campo Verde soccer coach Drew Guarneri said he was pleased with the AIA’s decision and hopes everyone involved, from the coaches to the players and fans, will follow protocols. “This is a difficult time for all of us and we want these kids to play, which is the goal of AIA,” Guarneri said. “But we have to make sure we keep everyone safe as we move forward and I know that AIA is making recommendations that will hopefully allow these kids to enjoy a full season of competition. “I know we will have specific rules in

see AIA page 24

SPORTS

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

FOOTBALL from page 23

the top teams in the state. The Hawks’ only three losses on the season came against Open Division teams Chandler, Hamilton and Queen Creek, which led many to believe they would squeak into the Open playoffs despite a 5-3 record after beating Higley in the regular-season finale. However, the Hawks were left out and were to face Casteel as the No. 4 seed in the 6A playoffs on Friday, after the GSN’s print deadline.. Desert Ridge Desert Ridge was forced to cancel two games due to COVID-19 cases within the program. It was later revealed a group of coaches and players all tested positive for the virus. That, along with injuries, hampered the Jaguars’ season as they finished 1-5 overall and missed the playoffs for the first time in head coach Jeremy Hathcock’s tenue. Williams Field Williams Field was left out of the playoffs for the first time since 2007, the program’s inaugural season. A young team in the state’s toughest conference paved the way to unusual regular-season losses for the Black Hawks. Williams Field capped off the 2020 season with a win at Barry Goldwater to finish 5-3 overall. Higley Not much was expected from a Higley

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Highland advanced to the 6A playoffs despite many believing the Hawks deserved a shot at the Open Division. (Courtesy Donna Mundy Photography) team that lost several starters on both sides of the ball. But thanks to quarterback Kai Millner and a slew of skill players, Higley remained competitive against some of the top teams in the state. Even then, however, the Knights finished the shortened season 3-5. Campo Verde COVID-19 forced Campo Verde to cancel two of its final three games. The Coyotes finished the regular season with a win over Maricopa, which brought their record to 4-2 overall. Despite the two games lost, Campo

Verde still qualified for the 5A playoffs at No. 5 and played Cactus Shadows Friday. Gilbert Gilbert struggled in the middle of its season, losing four straight games that immediately put them out of playoff contention. Despite two wins in weeks six and seven, the Tigers fell in the regular-season finale to Saguaro, ending their season with a record of 3-5 overall. ALA-Gilbert American Leadership Academy-Gil-

place to keep those kids away that are not well so that everyone can continue playing.” Guarneri said he accepted the January “if this is what it takes to make sure kids can play and hopefully experience their high school season. This is something that is very important for the seniors.” Greg Haagsma, the athletic director and head basketball coach at Valley Christian in Chandler, said club sports were among his main concerns and he is happy that students must stop playing with a club team 14 days prior to the start of official practices at school in order to be eligible right away. “I like the concepts they’re coming

up with,” Haagsma said. “My main concern was that they gave us something to compete against club sports. They’ve answered my questions with that so I really like the plan.” As was the case with fall sports, once schools are approved to begin practicing and competition in the winter, the AIA will not stop the season – only state health officials or the governor can make that call. Hines and the AIA have said on numerous occasions they want to avoid the same scenario that unfolded last spring, when baseball, softball, boys’ volleyball, beach volleyball, track & field and tennis saw their seasons cut as the pandemic’s impact

AIA from page 23

bert entered the 3A Conference playin game as the No. 4 ranked team. The Eagles knocked off visiting Safford to advance to the round of eight and were reseeded at No. 3. They were to host No. 6 Round Valley on Friday with a trip to the semifinals on the line. Gilbert Christian Gilbert Christian, led by do-it-all player Jace Feely, advanced to the 3A Conference play-in tournament as the No. 14 seed and fell to No. 3 Pusch Ridge. The loss ended the Knights’ season with a 4-3 record overall after cancelling a game due to COVID-19. San Tan Charter First-year head coach Kerry Taylor led the Roadrunners to the playoffs in their first season as an AIA team. From day one, he aimed to change the culture of a program that had success in the Canyon Athletic Association in years past. San Tan Charter, the No. 15 seed, fell on the road at second-ranked Scottsdale Christian in the play-in tournament. Arete Prep Arete Prep was forced to cancel its first game ever at the 2A level after COVID-19 issues in the program. The Chargers, led by standout quarterback Matthew McClelland finished 2-4 overall on the year.

increased. The delay in winter sports now pushes back the start date of spring sports by a week from Feb. 8 to Feb. 15. Spring championships schedules have not been changed. “If we didn’t do some of these protocols, we aren’t playing sports,” Hines said. “If we don’t make adjustments and follow the health data and listen to experts, we don’t get to do these things. “I know sometimes that’s hard for people to understand but we are going through a lot of important people that have a lot of say. We aren’t going to do anything that would cause the government entity to shut us down.”

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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Lakeshore Music announces 2021 season lineup “We’ve survived two global economic meltdowns and a pandemic. After 12 years, I have no intention of stopping any time soon.” All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at Tempe Center for the Arts.

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he season will open four months late due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Tempe-based Lakeshore Music, Inc., is moving forward cautiously with announcement today of an abbreviated six-concert 2020-21 season lineup. Opening night is Jan. 23 for the series, which runs through May. “Difficult times call for bold leadership,” a spokesman said, noting Lakeshore is introducing a live-streaming option for season-subscription buyers. “They won’t even have to leave their recliners if they choose to watch from home rather than venturing to the Tempe Center for the Arts to see the concerts in person.” Audiences will be limited to 25 percent of normal Tempe Center for the Arts house capacity so that seats can be socially distanced for patrons’ safety. Lakeshore, which boasts of being “presenter of the finest jazz musicians in the world at TCA,” is selling only a six-show season package this year at $400. They are on sale at lakeshoremusic.org. There will be no single-show ticket sales this season. Purchase of the season subscription includes a Lakeshore Music face mask and a complimentary cocktail for those who come to the TCA. Lakeshore’s season typically consists of nine shows, September through May. The innovative return to live performances places Lakeside at the forefront in the presenting industry in the Valley, its founder believes. “We are in the vanguard of presenters who will jump-start live music again,”

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Dennis Rowland said Woody Wilson, the Tempe resident who founded Lakeshore Music and is its president and executive producer. “Zoom and streaming concerts are interim alternatives,” he said. “I love bringing people together for the music at TCA, and I need to get back to it. “We are not alone. Venues and presenters throughout the world, large and small, are faced with the same realities. When it comes to live performances, everything is an experiment for at least the next year.

“It’s a mighty little six-show series,” Wilson said. “As we all know, it has been seven months of live-music lockdown. Somebody has to be first.” He also noted that besides its musical offerings, Lakeside Music also provides “social occasions where friends meet to catch up and share the experience of live jazz done well. It’s time to come back.” Lakeshore’s blockbuster opening performance on Jan. 23, 2021 is The Tierney Sutton Band, in a concert entitled “Screenplay,” the group’s latest Grammy-nominated album that is hailed as “an aural Oscar.” The group has garnered

nine Grammy nominations in the past 15 years. On Feb. 20, Lakeshore welcomes Bob Sheppard & the LA Aces. The LA Aces are Larry Koonse on guitar, Josh Nelson on piano, Alex Boneham on bass and Mark Ferber on drums. Sheppard is a versatile super talent who has played with A-list giants Herbie Hancock, Tony Bennett, the 5th Dimension, Chuck Mangione, Stevie Wonder and Natalie Cole. It also is bringing back Harold López-Nussa in “Te Lo Dije” (“I Told You So”)” on Feb 27. The Cuban pianist was rebooked after his April, 2020, concert was canceled due to the pandemic. López-Nussa’s work reflects the range and richness of Cuban music and its embrace of jazz improvisation. His younger brother, Ruy Adrián López-Nussa, is on percussion, Julio Cesar Gonzalez on bass and Mayquel Gonzalez on trumpet. On March 27, American Jazz Hall of Fame pianist and NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron and his trio come to Tempe Center for the Arts. Barron, 77, has been nominated for nine Grammys and is considered among the most influential mainstream jazz lyrical pianists of his time. The April 24 performer is Dennis Rowland, who presents Basie Bash with The Young Sounds Orchestra. Rowland was the voice of the Count Basie Orchestra from 1977 to 1984 and shared the stage with Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Tony Bennett. The season wraps on May 22 with the Bob Ravenscroft Trio in “A Homage to Bill Evans.” Pianist-keyboardist Ravenscroft cut his teeth in the clubs of Chicago. Max Beckman joins him on bass and Rob Moore on drums for interpretations of songs from The Great American Songbook, works associated with iconic jazz pianist Bill Evans.

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FINANCING AVAILABLE When you While Your’ Away Services purchase a NEW E-Z-GO! * Pet, Home & Property Checks

Voted one of the “Best of Ahwatukee” 10 Years Running!

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states andPricing Districton Columbia. Financing offers void where prohibited. Finance terms Special ItsJustPlumbSmart.com Extended Service are also available for pre-owned E-Z-GO products. Please see your local E-Z-GO Authorized Dealer for details. Licensed/Bonded/Insured

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Call Eleanor Today!

PUZZLES ANSWERS on onpage page 21 26 PUZZLE ANSWERS

480.287.4897

class@times

www.WhileYouAreAwayServices.com publications.com 480.895.2000 • www.A1GolfCarts.com

GET OUT

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

COVID-19 rules impact Railroad Park admissions BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY And KRISTINE CANNON GetOut Staff Writers

ttendees at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park’s popular holiday lights event can expect smaller crowds and higher ticket prices this year due to health and safety precautions. The event has become one of Scottsdale’s most popular holiday attractions since it began in the 1980s, and draws in thousands of spectators from all over the Valley to ride the model train and view the thousands of lights blanketing the park. This year’s holiday lights will be on display 6-9:30 p.m. Nov. 27-Jan. 3. There will be no lights on Dec. 24, 25 or 31. The park will allow a limited number of guests in one-hour increments at 6 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. each night. Guests can purchase tickets ahead of time to reserve a time at therailroadpark.com/holidaylights. Nick Molinari, the City of Scottsdale’s operations supervisor for the park, said only around 200 guests will be admitted per hour. “However, we will continuously evaluate the event to determine whether that number should be adjusted,” he said. “We normally have thousands of people at the event nightly, so the 200 threshold

The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park will still be open this holiday season, but the number of guests allowed at any one time will be substantially reduced. (GetOut file photo) is minimal for an outdoor park.” The 200-person limit will likely drastically reduce the total number of people who can enjoy the park’s holiday lights. In 2018, Molinari estimated 1,000 people visited the park on a slow night and 3,000 or 4,000 on busier nights during the five-week event. Those visitors accounted for 49,000 rides on the park’s train and $313,000 in sales, according to ticket sale numbers tracked by the park. This year, the park is also limiting its train and other rides to 50 percent capacity to allow for social distancing and

Jeremiah and Patrick (front, left to right) with parents Shelby and Stan Mclemore enjoying the holiday lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in 2019. (File photo)

will not have a Santa Claus on site. Molinari said park staff did not consult with anyone outside the city to create rules for the modified event but relied on current best practices and event management trends for COVID-19. “The Center for Disease Control places a lower risk on events that can be held outdoors with a smaller amount of people who can remain socially distanced,” Molinari said. “This was the foundational principle for the modified structure of the event.” Once their hour is up, guests will be asked to leave.

Molinari said there will be a specific area blocked off for staff to check in guests with tickets for a specific time slot and separate entrance and exit points. “Since the only people in the park during a specific hour will be those who have bought tickets, we will notify them at certain points how much time they have left in the hour,” he said. “We will then notify visitors when they need to exit the area.” Ticket prices will also go up this year as a result of the new reservation model. The park will charge a flat $15 per person admission. Last year, the park charged $5 per train ride and $3 per carousel ride with no admittance fee during the holiday lights event. The park also sold a limited number of fast passes for $15 that allowed riders to jump the line for one train ride. Molinari said the price increase comes with an improved experience for customers due to the smaller-than-normal crowds. “While that may seem like a significant jump from last year, visitors can ride the train and carousel more than once during their hour at the park,” he said. “With the limited amount of people in the park, the lines should be very short, equivalent to what our fast pass customers normally experience.”

People come from around the Valley to the MMcCormicj-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, but this year there will not be as many because of pandemic-related crowd restrictions. (File photo)

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Employment General Clairvoyant has openings for the following positions in Chandler, AZ area. Software Engineers reqs US Masters degree/foreign equiv or Bach degree + 5 yrs experience w/ skills in J2EE, Java, XML, SQL, and Unix to analyze/dsgn/dev/implement/test systems & applics. Sr. Programmer Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) in Commerce/BusAdm/ST EM field to analyze/resolve/test/report on IT related projects using skills in EMC/MS/SQL/ Excel/Java/C. Email your resume to jobs@clairvoyantsoft.c om with ref # 2021-19 for Software Eng; 2021-20 for Sr. Prog Analyst & ref EVT ad

Obituaries Elizabeth “Betty” DiBona

Elizabeth “Betty” DiBona, 89, of Mesa, AZ passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. She was born Sept. 1, 1931 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Daughter to the late Louis and Florence Ackerman, she was preceded in death by her husband Anthony DiBona; sister, Vera Hawes of Atlantic City, NJ; sister, Jean Roe of Mesa, AZ; sister, Edith Beyer of Hyde Park, NY. Elizabeth served as a volunteer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society and an active parishioner at Queen of Peace Catholic Church. She is survived by her five children; Louis DiBona and his wife Brenda of Tempe, AZ; Edward DiBona of Mesa, AZ; Theresa DiBona of Mesa, AZ; Peggy Stone and husband Kelly of Bullhead City, AZ; Maryanne DiBona of Mesa, AZ. Other surviving relatives include her 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mass will be held on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 141 N. McDonald, Mesa, AZ. A private family burial will follow at the National Memorial Cemetery, Cave Creek, AZ.

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

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Gilbert Sun News

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

Deadlines

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Obituaries - Death NOtices iN MeMOriaM We are here to make this difficult time easier for you. Our 24 hour online service is easy to use and will walk you through the steps of placing a paid obituary in the East Valley Tribune or a free death notice online. Visit: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

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Meetings/Events? Get Free notices in the Classifieds! Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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GILBERT SUN NEWS | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Join us for a holiday Sip & See! With every tour, we will be giving away a bottle of our LivGenerations’ wine for you to enjoy!

LivGenerations Ahwatukee

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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