Gilbert Sun News March 2018

Eight years and still no trial in Gilbert officer’s slaying

BY JIM WALSH

One by one, Gilbert police officers tied blue ribbons on a pole supporting a sign that memorializes their slain colleague, Lt. Eric Shuhandler – only a few yards from where he was shot to death eight years ago. They saluted in a demonstration of respect and honor as part of an annual ceremony near a shopping center at Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive, honoring an officer whose service sets a high standard for all Gilbert officers to emulate and sending a poignant message to his family that the man with a magnetic personality who loved his family and baseball will never be forgotten.

“He was larger than life in a lot of ways,’’ said Ken Fixel, a retired Gilbert police lieutenant and a friend of Shuhandler. “He made you feel important. He was a guy who everybody wanted to be around.’’

Police, friends and family members also are keenly aware that the convicted murderer who is accused of killing Shuhandler in cold blood during a traffic stop in January 2010 is still awaiting trial.

Since he and an accomplice were arrested after a dramatic shootout with police

Mayor Daniels’ Economic

Forecast full of optimism

BY ERIC NEWMAN

More than a hundred business professionals, local politicians and interested citizens attended Gilbert Mayor Jenn Daniels’ Economic Forecast at the Isagenix International building on February 15 to hear about the financial direction the city is heading in.

Cheryl Lewis, the vice president of corporate affairs at Isagenix International, a marketing company that sells dietary and personal care products, and J. Brian O’Neill, the CEO and executive director of Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, both took the stage

first to speak about the growing business reputation the city has harbored. Among many awards, the Economic Innovation Group named Gilbert the “Most Prosperous City in the U.S.” in 2017 and WalletHub named the city No. 5 as the “Best Place to Find a Job” in 2018. Both executives said they project the job market will flourish in the years to come, with nearly 1.1 million people able to get into the city within a 30-minute driving or public

Jayden Henifin spends time with potential adoptee Melody at the new Friends for Life shelter location.

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just hours after Shuhandler’s slaying, the case against the alleged assassin, Christopher Angel Redondo, 43, has been tangled in a legal battle over his competency to stand trial

That delay exacerbates the grief still felt today by the slain officer’s children and Gilbert police.

“It’s painful waiting this long,” said Gilbert Police Chief Mike Soelberg, who attended the annual memorial because “events like this celebrate Lt. Shuhandler’s sacrifices for the community.”

“It prolongs the agony of what happened,’’ he said. “Everyone wants closure. We will get it. We are patiently waiting.’’

In cold blood

Shuhandler’s slaying is one of the East Valley’s most notorious cases. For many, it is impossible to forget.

On the evening of Jan. 28, 2010, the 42-year-old divorced father of two had stopped a pickup truck driven by Daimen Irizarry because of a partially obscured license plate and asked Irizarry for his ID. Christopher Redondo was Irizarry’s passenger.

Shuhandler also had obtained Redondo’s identification. He went back to his patrol car and discovered Irizarry’s passenger had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

As he was walking back toward the truck, Shuhandler was fatally shot in the face. Irizarry and Redondo sped away, prompting a wild 50mile chase from the US 60 to Superior, where the truck ran out of gas.

Redondo took out several patrol cars by tossing debris into the roadway as police from Mesa and Gilbert and Department of Public Safety officers were in pursuit.

A gun battle ensued, ending when police shot the defendants’ legs out from under them, nearly severing Redondo’s ankle. Almost miraculously, there were no additional deaths and Redondo and Irizarry survived to have their day in court.

Irizarry was sentenced to 107 years in prison for his role in the case. But prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Redondo, which is an inherently slower legal process.

The case has been stuck in sand for years.

No matter what happens with Redondo’s murder charge in Shuhandler’s slaying, he already has been sentenced to life in prison without parole in the unrelated March 2009 slaying of Ernie Singh in Miami.

A fallen hero’s farewell

Thousands of police officers from across the country gathered in the Valley for Shuhandler’s funeral. His fellow officers recalled how he would use his vacation time to fly back to New Jersey to visit his parents, or to Oregon to visit his sister.

His two daughters, Meredith and Nicole, ages 12 and 10, respectively, when he died, were paramount in his life.

“It does not go away, ever,’’ Fixel said about the wound the department has suffered as a result of Shuhandler’s slaying.

“You try to drown out the bad feelings from the incident and think about the good times.’’

Shuhandler’s daughter Meredith has tattooed her father’s initials on her left hand, noting that he made her promise to never get a tattoo when she was 7.

“I really wanted something to honor him. Every time I look down at my hand, I remember him,’’ she said, recalling his “fun personality’’ and the inspiration he gave her. She remembers ski trips, outdoor activities and her father’s love for Chevrolet Corvettes.

When she was younger, she was bitter over his slaying. “I was angry and I thought it was unfair.’’

Now, Meredith focuses on living her life

in manner that would make him proud.

“I’m very grateful for the 12 years I had with him. It shaped my life in so many ways,’’ said Meredith, an Arizona State University student and an equestrian. “I think he would want me doing exactly what I am doing right now.’’

“When I make a decision, I think about whether it would be something that would make him proud of me.’’

She said she does not dwell on her father’s death or on Redondo’s endless case, knowing it’s beyond her control.

“I would not say it’s a burden, but it’s very frustrating,’’ she said. “It makes me mad when I think about it. Closure would be nice.’’

Shuhandler’s memory also is enshrined in the hearts of many of the officers he worked with.

“We remember him every year,’’ said Sgt. Darrell Krueger, a Gilbert police spokesman. “We have people who were extremely close to Eric who feel the pain every day.’’

Shuhandler’s sister, Joyce Mendelsohn of Portland, Oregon, commemorates the sad anniversary every year by writing about how much she misses her brother.

Christopher Angel Redondo has been found competent for trial three times.

Their mother, Dara Shuhandler, passed away before seeing justice for her son’s slaying. For several years before her death, she maintained close contact with Gilbert police from her New Jersey home, eager to see her son’s accused killer have his day in court.

For other officers, who did not know Shuhandler, it is important to remember how he died.

“We face the same dangers everyday,’’ he said.

Slowing the wheels of justice

Redondo has been found competent three times, with experts generally finding that he understands the charges he faces and the court proceedings.

But Redondo’s defense attorney argues that he has not been properly examined to determine if he is capable of assisting his attorney, the second prong of competency.

The issue could potentially decide whether Redondo faces trial or is sent to a state psychiatric hospital until doctors

(Special to GSN)

(Special to GSN)

Lt. Eric Shuhandler’s funeral was attended by thousands of police officers from around the country.

(Special to GSN)

Gilbert police officers honor Shuhandler annually near the site where he was slain.

transportation commute.

Mayor Daniels spoke next, saying Gilbert has seen major increases in both the economy and quality of life in the city over the last year.

“Gilbert is doing remarkably well,” she said. “We are so proud of this community.”

Though she said there was a decline in business permits in the city, the valuation of the permits has increased 47 percent since 2016, which is a good sign for more business in the future.

The last fiscal year also saw a 9 percent increase in sales tax generated for the city, up to $86 million in 2017, with a majority coming from retail businesses.

The Gilbert economy looks to be trending up, with 35 projects in place for the coming years. Among them is the continued development of the 272acre Gilbert Regional Park. The town also has plans to develop baseball fields and other recreational facilities at Rittenhouse District Park, as well as the new Heritage District Parking Garage and Phase III of the Expansion for the

SHUHANDLER

from page 5

decide he is competent.

In eight years, Redondo has been represented by eight different defense attorneys. He has been examined by at least 10 psychologists and psychiatrists who have reached different conclusions on whether he is competent.

Finally, his most recent defense attorneys, Dan Raynak and David Lockhart, commissioned Marisa Menchola, a Tucson psychologist affiliated with the University of Arizona, to examine Redondo and to review the evaluations of all the other mental health experts.

Raynak said he was seeking an independent opinion from Menchola on a matter that has hung up the case for years.

“I think the problem is that the doctors who did the evaluations did not properly evaluate Mr. Redondo’s ability to communicate with his attorney,’’ Raynak said.

But Redondo treated Menchola with the same level of indifference he had demonstrated to other psychologists and attorneys.

“Mr. Redondo refused to come to a private room to complete the evaluation,’’ Menchola wrote in a report. “I came to his cell door and spoke to him through the trap. He was sitting on the floor with a pink towel on his head. He did not acknowledge my presence and only made minimal, fleeting eye contact. He did not answer any of my questions.’’

Menchola noted Redondo’s long history of mental illness, including diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic

Greenfield Water Reclamation Plant.

Though she could not divulge many of the other projects, since many of the plans are not completely set or do not have an exact completion date, Daniels said $366 million of capital is invested in the town, which will lead to further employment and opportunity.

“It is very likely that we will be announcing many thousands of jobs in the next coming months,” she said. “We’re very excited about the work that is being done to continue to put Gilbert on the map as it relates to business.”

Major employers in the town include Gilbert Public Schools, GoDaddy Software Inc. and the Town of Gilbert, among others.

The event also featured a panel discussion among some of the area’s top financial advisors, including Chris Camacho, the President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. He is encouraged by the growth Gilbert has seen, and said that the city would be best served to strengthen its education programs, specifically in science and technology.

“If we built a workforce campaign

around the connected industries, automation or robotics, that are certification-tier technical skills, and we became the epicenter that supports aerospace and defense, microelectron -

ics, all the new emerging industries, that lynchpin would make us the most marketable domestic market in the United States ten years from now,” he said.

depression and polysubstance abuse. She noted that several psychologists determined he was capable of understanding the legal proceedings but it is difficult to determine if he can assist his attorneys.

Raynak and Lockhart requested a Daubert hearing, a more exhaustive review using recognized scientific methods, to determine if he can assist his attorneys.

“In this instance, Mr. Redondo’s mental illness cannot improve, and his situation will continue to deteriorate,” they wrote to the judge, saying they “can’t be expected to go to trial with an individual who is unable to assist his attorneys, even in the most basic way, at the time of trial.’’

But Deputy County Attorney Juli Warzynski argued that Redondo has been found competent for trial three times and is not entitled to yet another competency hearing.

“Defendant has not cooperated with anyone concerning his case for four years,’’ she wrote. “This refusal has been found to be volitional.’’

She said that Menchola provided no new evidence that hadn’t been considered at the previous hearings.

Pending the judge’s ruling, a trial date is now set for Sept. 5.

But if Redondo were to be ruled incompetent, “in that situation, he would be sent to the Arizona State Hospital,’’ Raynak said, where he would be held until doctors determine he is competent.

At that point – no one knows when that might be – he would be scheduled for trial.

Rights and frustration

Although the delays in the case against Redondo are frustrating, Krueger said it’s important for everyone’s constitutional rights to be protected.

He said the last thing police want to see is the outcome of trial reversed or an order to retry the case because of a legal error, putting extra strain on everyone.

“We certainly would like to see it reach its natural conclusion,’’ Krueger said. “We want the proper course to lead to an outcome.’’

Former Gilbert Mayor John Lewis said he knew Shuhandler well and will never

forget him. He said a hush fell over Gilbert Town Hall the day after the slaying.

His slaying had shaken the town, especially since he was only the second officer in Gilbert’s history to die on duty. The other had been an accident.

“We were very close. When I got the phone call, I was torn apart,’’ Lewis said. “He is one that the community continues to cherish and thank.’’

Lewis said he also is looking forward to seeing justice served.

“That’s frustrating and upsetting,’’ he said. “It’s sad it’s taken so long.’’

(Photo by Eric Newman)

A panel of Gilbert business professionals spoke at the Economic Forecast in February.

(Special to GSN)

Officers tie blue ribbons around a pole in remembrance of Shuhandler.

Ahwatukee native finds life calling at Gilbert Fire

BY KELLY ATHENA

Cole McCarthy grew up in Ahwatukee, dreaming like many children do about being a firefighter one day.

A year ago, McCarthy landed a job with the Gilbert Fire Department, beating out 1,200 other applicants vying for the job within the first three hours it was posted.

McCarthy attended Desert Vista High School before graduating in 2014. Half of his day was spent learning fire science at East Valley Institute of Technology.

He worked at a local restaurant making and delivering pizza. “That’s where I first learned customer service and teamwork,” he said.

“During my EMT course at Mesa Community College, my instructor set me up with ride-alongs with a Gilbert fire truck. I had some good mentors.”

He’s ended up on that same white fire truck after serving stints in Sierra Vista and Bullhead City.

His 24-hour shifts run on-off for five days before four straight days off.

His gray bunkroom flashes bright red and sounds alarms while a computer scrolls information each time a call comes in. His station averages six to eight calls per day.

He gets his choice of taking a big red curvy slide and hurrying downstairs, or sliding down a long silver pole to get to the engine truck.

His gear is neatly arranged with his uniform slid down around his boots, his oxygen tank and helmet nearby.

“Wearing a firefighting uniform is like wearing an oven mitt over your body,” said McCarthy, sweating under firefighting gear weighing 70 pounds as he demonstrated hose technique.

All firefighters are first trained as emergency medical technicians.

Ninety percent of the calls to the fire station are medically related, many involving people who feel chest pain.

The fire station features an ample upstairs area with an immaculate kitchen with a gas grill, three big stainless-steel refrigerators (one for each of three crews), and an island.

The kitchen opens to a family roomlike area with three rows of king-size armchairs in front of a large-screen TV. Downstairs contains a workout room where he is required to do 90 minutes of activity per day, his bunkroom, and office space.

“We try to eat healthily,” McCarthy said. “We go out and buy whatever meat is on sale and some vegetables and cook it up. The crew doesn’t trust my cooking too often.”

McCarthy was recently involved in containing a home fire. The fire started in the kitchen and quickly spread to the garage.

On each call, one firefighter handles the hydrant, while the other handles the nozzle.

They used a K-12 circular saw to get into the garage, and then put a ladder against the side of the house and opened up the attic, which was full of flames.

The engine truck holds 10’, 14’, and 24’ ladders, three 200’ attack hoses, and larger supply hoses that fit onto fire hydrants, as well as various axes, medical kits, air splints and drills.

On each call, the engineer drives, the captain sits in the front, and two firefighters sit in the back. One firefighter handles the hydrant, while the other handles the nozzle.

Anytime there is a car accident with possible injuries or a home medical problem, the fire department is dispatched. They also get occasional calls for how to shut off a home smoke alarm or help to get a kitty caught in a tree.

Each department consists of a chief,

an assistant chief, a deputy chief, battalion chiefs, captains, engineers, and firefighters/EMTs.

“Community volunteers are also an important part of our station,” said McCarthy.

His dad Brian McCarthy is an engineer at Honeywell and his mom, Jan, is a wellloved and admired hairdresser in Ahwatukee.

“My dad told me to find something that I love and am passionate about, and I was drawn to this career,” the younger McCarthy said. Sometimes dreams do come true.

(Special to GSN)

(Special to GSN)

Cole McCarthy is living his dream as a firefighter.

Gilbert ranks No.1 in renter share

in recent study

BY MCKAYLA HULL

Gilbert is No.1 in the nation in increased renter share from 2006-2016, according to Yardi’s RENTcafé recent reports. The apartment site analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and “compared the number of people living in renter- and owner-occupied housing units in 2006 and 2016,” and found that Gilbert has had a 53.4 percent renter share change in that decade.

In the report, author Balazs Szekely wrote that Gilbert’s population has “more than doubled in a decade,” and more people are leaning toward renting than owning. “The number of renters in Gilbert has doubled in 10 years,” Szekely also writes in the report. However, the reason Gilbert is ranked No. 1 is due to its population being less than that of the other cities included in the study, Szekely said.

The data includes Gilbert residents who rent apartments and houses.

Millennial couple Kaitlyn Upton, 21, and Tristan Diaz, 21, recently moved into the Vistara at SanTan Village apartments in Gilbert. Upton said “Utilities are way cheaper in an apartment,” and that their electrical bill is $60.

When the recession hit in the early 2000s, many people were forced out of their homes and into rental apartments or homes, Szekely said.

At the Borrego and Azul at Spectrum apartments, Matt Nichols, assistant property manager, said a lot of people who are renting “are in the process for looking for homes, because the market has been on such an uptick right now.”

Another reason the renter share is up is due to the attraction of all the amenities residents receive at apartments and

Lunch & Learn

that they “pay rent, that’s it,” according to real estate agent Ben Koerner of The Ben and Julie Koerner Team.

Upton said a lot is included in her and Diaz’s rent, such as a pool and fitness center.

According to Koerner, people are renting because they “can’t afford the down payment, don’t know exactly where they want to live, so it’s easier just to pick a place and test it out, and also price range.”

A big part of the reason Millennials are renting as well is because of their inability to qualify for an FHA loan and make the minimum down payment of 3.5 percent because of their school debt, Koerner said. “We’re running out of supply of homes in that price range so if they’re short on down payment money, they’re kind of stuck until they can save enough to get like that $10-$15,000 saved to move into the market,” Koerner said.

According to Szekely, much of the reason people are choosing Gilbert is due to huge corporations having headquarters in the town, such as GoDaddy and Isagenix International.

Koerner mentioned that the high appeal of the schools and low crime rate also attract residents.

There are currently 60 houses available for rent in the Gilbert area, Koerner said, with only 525 single family homes up for sale, which is very low for Gilbert.

Surprisingly, Szekely said that the renter share is decreasing nationwide, while the homeowner rate has started increasing again.

The most recent data from RENTcafé will come out in September.

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(Special to GSN)

The Borrego and Azul at Spectrum leasing centers are among the various apartment complexes located in Gilbert.

Heritage District Redevelopment Plan draft update presented at second public workshop

BY MCKAYLA HULL

About a hundred Gilbert residents attended the second public workshop regarding the Heritage District Redevelopment Plan on January 30. The plan proposes adding retail, offices, apartments or condominiums, and entertainment amenities to downtown Gilbert.

The workshop at the University Building in the Heritage District marked the first time a draft of the plan was shown to the public, according to Amanda Elliott, redevelopment administrator and Heritage District liaison.

Elliott said the design guidelines were updated to have more of a “Heritage-feel” for downtown, and address the biggest concern of how to move people through the district, with better plans for alleviating traffic.

Planners say one of the challenges when talking about the future of downtown is how to promote quality urban design with emphasis on the town’s historical character. The Heritage District is the community’s original town site.

The objective of the plan is to help the Gilbert Town Council prioritize goals for the next 10 years. The plan is expected to be reviewed by the council in the fall.

Don Arambula, project manager and lead planner/urban designer from Crandall Arambula, presented key development points, describing north and south anchors of the redevelopment plan and the district core, with each area having a distinct purpose.

The north anchor of the plan, which is between Juniper Avenue and the Western Canal, could have offices, a hotel, a conference area or multifamily housing, such as apartments or high-end condominiums, Arambula said.

It also would have a large area called the Commons, which would include a splash pad, a lawn area with a shade pavilion or trees, and restaurants and cafes with patios.

This area would also be the focus for nightlife, including dining and entertainment venues, Arambula explained.

The district core, or what Arambula called the “heart of the district,” located by the Western Canal, Vaughn Avenue and the Transit Center, would allow development such as office buildings. However, Arambula said the height of potential buildings may be increased as long as they don’t overshadow or block views of the Gilbert Water Tower.

This area would also have what planners called a “Living Room Plaza,” a place that would be ideal for commu-

Heritage District Master Plan: Fundamental Concept

Key Redevelopment Areas

The workshop on January 30 marked the first time Gilbert residents had seen a draft of the Heritage District Redevelopment Plan.

nity events, instead of the town having to use parking lots.

The Living Room Plaza would be an “Instagram-worthy” area, Arambula said, as it will be an area for farmers’ markets, concerts and other amenities.

Because residents voiced concerns about traffic congestion, the plan also includes a roadway, called the “Vaughn Ventilator,” that would allow west access into the district, relieving traffic from Gilbert Road. The roadway would not cross the railroad tracks, but instead go along the edge of it and Neely Traditional Academy to connect up to Guadalupe Road, Arambula said. The area would also include a retail street with lots of shade.

A neighborhood park would be located east of Gilbert Road. A familyoriented space would have play structures and green areas that create an intimate feel.

The south anchor of the redevel-

opment plan could include a grocery store or market, such as Trader Joe’s, on the corner of Gilbert and Elliot roads, Arambula said. It would also have a parking structure and retail space with offices above.

A pedestrian and bicycle path would run through the whole district. It would be a parallel route to Gilbert Road, extending from Elliot Road through the district up to the north, past the canal and maybe up Juniper Avenue .

Some attending the public workshop emphasized that the final plan must keep in mind the character of Gilbert and include elements that will preserve the small town feel of Gilbert.

Others voiced concerns. For example, Gilbert resident Christine Accurso said the plan isn’t focused enough on Gilbert families.

Elliott said, “The project is still in conceptual phase. No decisions have been made to date. We are still seeking

public input as we work on refining the fundamental concept.”

She also said the goal is to get the update draft completed by June 30, with the Gilbert Town Council reviewing it in September or October.

And she emphasized there is still time for the public to weigh in on the plans.

The next Public Workshop will be Tuesday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the University Building, 92 W. Vaughn Avenue. For more information and to review the presentation from the second public workshop, go to gilbert.gov/ HDUpdate.

To give the town feedback about the draft, go to https://gilbertdigital. typeform.com/to/JwgVqq.

(Special to GSN)

EV school heads, police chief oppose armed teachers

BY JIM WALSH AND PAUL MARYNIAK

President Trump’s proposal that a select number of trained teachers be armed with concealed guns is drawing largely negative reaction from East Valley school superintendents and a police chief who fears it would create more problems than it solves.

Gilbert Sun News ’ sister publication, The East Valley Tribune , polled superintendents and police chiefs in late February on whether they favored armed teachers in light of the Feb. 14 massacre at the South Florida high school that claimed the lives of 14 students and three staffers and wounded 12 others.

Trump proposed that arming a few highly trained teachers could reduce or even eliminate such carnage.

Superintendents in Chandler, Tempe and Gilbert flatly oppose the idea, while others had district spokespersons issue a statement.

Others gave more nuanced responses, while Higley School District spokesman Michelle Reese only would say Superintendent Mike Thomason was out of town.

While most police chiefs declined comment on the politically charged proposal, Gilbert Police Chief Mike Solberg said, “It’s not the best choice. They should focus on education.’’

He said even teachers who are expert marksmen lack the vital training officers receive on when it’s necessary and legal to fire their weapons.

“I don’t think teachers are the best option,’’ said Soelberg, a former Mesa assistant police chief who once supervised Mesa’s team of school resource officers – the first line of defense in keeping schools safe.

“They want to protect their kids at all times. You see them sacrificing themselves in these shootings to protect a child,’’ he added.

The National Rifle Association espoused arming teachers after the Florida massacre and previous campus shootings.

Police and school officials boast how the largely unnoticed SROs build rapport with students on campus, and take all threats seriously and investigate to determine if they are real or hoaxes.

Police reported a spike in such threats, especially on social media, in the wake of the South Florida tragedy. Gilbert alone has investigated eight threats, made one arrest and is confident of making another, Soelberg said.

But many schools have no SRO because the districts can’t afford them and municipalities often won’t pay for them. While the vast majority of East Valley high schools have SROs, many

junior highs and middle schools do not and elementary schools rarely do.

Typical is Phoenix itself, where 83 SROs cover 94 schools in 22 districts. Some SROs cover multiple schools.

Phoenix police Sgt. Vince Lewis, a Phoenix police spokesman, said that while Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams was out of town, “in recent discussions she favors exploration of using retired law enforcement as a possible means to augment school security.”

Arizona Education Association President Joe Thomas, whose organization represents many teachers throughout the state, said, “Arming teachers is a bad idea and distracts from the real needs our students and teachers have in the classroom.

“The actual threats in our schools are our students sitting in school buildings that are falling apart, and without enough school counselors and full-time, certified teachers,” Thomas added, noting:

“More than $1.5 billion has been cut from public education funding since 2008. If Arizona’s leaders want to impact school safety, they would reinvest in education funding.”

Heidi Vega, spokeswoman for the Arizona School Boards Association, said her organization “will only take a position on bills that are formerly introduced in session.”

“We are currently working on a board resolution that school boards can pass indicating more assistance is provided to schools to invest in resources (training, staff, etc.) needed for safe and secure school environments.”

In the East Valley, arming teachers drew strong negative responses from Chandler Unified Superintendent Camille Casteel, Tempe Union High School Superintendent Kenneth Baca and Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Shane McCord.

“Safety is a top priority,” Baca said. “However, I do not favor teachers carrying guns in school. Teachers are meant to teach and ensure our students learn. They cannot be expected to do the job intended for our brave law enforcement officers.”

Stating “I do not favor arming teachers on campus,” McCord said, “What I do favor is more capital money from the state so we can modify our schools to help make them more secure. I believe arming teachers has the potential to cause more harm than good.”

Casteel said, “I don’t support arming our teachers with guns. The time required to be adequately trained and maintain their skill level would be excessive in terms of time and money.

“To expect our teachers to take on this responsibility – in addition to everything else they are being required to do – would drive many out of the profession, in my opinion,” Casteel said.

Kyrene Superintendent Jan Vesely said, “The conversation around improving the response to violence on our school campuses has offered many possible actions, all well-intended with an interest in protecting our students and preventing tragedies such as what occurred in Florida.”

But she stressed, “At this time, there is no discussion of allowing guns to be brought into our classrooms. Any such measure would begin at the legislative level.”

And Vesely added, “However, I have yet to see any data that indicates arming classroom teachers offers a higher level of safety and my personal preference is to work with law enforcement rather than become law enforcement.”

Mesa Public Schools spokeswoman Heidi Hurst said, “The topic of arming school staff certainly is controversial, with compelling rationale on both sides. While the concept seems to provide additional security, without appropriate training it could also increase risk. Mesa Public Schools is not considering it at this time.”

“All of our junior high and high schools have a designated armed police officer on campus… They also have additional on-campus unarmed security staff,” Hurst added.

Some East Valley districts receive Federal Safety Program grants, administered by the state Department of Education.

Department data show that this year, the grants underwrite SROs in two Kyrene middle schools; seven junior highs and six senior high schools in Mesa; two junior highs and one senior high in Chandler and all seven Tempe Union schools.

Casteel said ACP Erie and Oakland do not have SROs at this time but that “we plan to address that in 2018-19.”

“We did not receive funding from the state grant for four SRO positions that we had previously been granted so there is a strain on an already tight budget,” she added.

All five Gilbert comprehensive high schools have full-time SROs, as does its junior high located within Mesa city limits. But McCord said his district

does not have SROs in any junior high within the town nor at its specialized junior high/high school.

Mesa police have 15 full-time SROs and bring in off-duty officers, working on overtime, to staff three more schools, said Det. Steve Berry, a police spokesman.

Gilbert has nine SROs, with seven of them assigned to high schools, Soelberg said, with others rotating to the junior high schools. He said Gilbert is in a difficult position because it has more than 80 schools, counting charters.

In addition, Gilbert does not have a state grant to pay for the officers’ salaries.

“I am working on a plan to cover these gaps,’’ Soelberg said. “All the chiefs are talking to their superintendents. Safety is number one for them and us.’’

Chandler Sgt. Dan Mejia, a former SRO, said it is belittling to hear politicians talk about SROs as guards – as if students are prisoners.

“It’s a much broader performance of duties by these SROs,’’ he said.

SROs monitor social media, teach classes on citizenship and the law, investigate threats and investigate crimes far beyond shootings, such as drug dealing and theft, he said.

“We are hoping to establish a rapport,’’ Mejia said. “If you see something, say something. It’s having these kids feel like they can report something and be contributing to school safety.’’ He said SROs often mentor students. He knows of an SRO who noticed a student was ditching classes and took the unusual step of providing a ride to school.

“There’s no greater satisfaction than, years later, they thank you for being there for them,’’ Mejia said.

(Photo special to GSN)

Gilbert schools superintendent Shane McCord says he does not favor arming teachers on Gilbert campuses.

Saturday, March 24th

29thANNIVERSARY

9:00am-4:00pm

BRIEFS

Mercy birthing center lauded

Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center’s birthing center recently received a prestigious recognition from a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The hospital, which last year delivered more than 2,500 babies, was recognized for its optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies by the Baby Friendly Initiative.

The designation, which was announced after a rigorous on-site survey of the hospital’s birthing center, is awarded to hospitals that focus on providing patients with a family-centered experience.

Based on a global effort to improve the role of maternity services, the Baby Friendly Initiative is aimed at improving the care of pregnant women and newborns.

stage name, Carman, will be sharing his new mission in life at Valor Christian Center on Easter Sunday, April 1. He is a multiple myeloma cancer survivor.

Carman has been referred to as the Italian Stallion and is also a platinum recording artist; he has won numerous GMA Dove awards and was nominated for three Grammys.

The church is at 3015 E. Warner Road, Gilbert. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. on April 1 with free, limited seating.

Details: valorcc.com.

Prostate cancer screening

Prostate On-Site Project, a medical mobile service, will provide affordable prostate cancer screenings at the ChandlerGilbert Community College Campus from 8-11 a.m. on Thursday, March 8.

The program honors health facilities that provide maternity services that promote and support breastfeeding.

Cancer survivors’ breakfast

Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers, in partnership with Dignity Health and Cigna Medical Group, is holding a cancer survivors’ celebration breakfast 8-11 a.m. on March 24 at Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers, 3686 S. Rome St., Gilbert.

The screenings are for men 40 years and older or younger if a history of prostate cancer runs in the family. It includes a PSA (prostate specific antigen), non-fasting blood test, DRE (digital rectal exam), testicular exam and physician consultation by a board-certified urologist.

Accepted insurance plans are Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Health Net and United Healthcare (specialist co-pay fees may apply). Medicare may not be used. The service is free to state benefit-eligible employees and spouses. If there is no insurance, screening will cost $81.

It will feature a free pancake breakfast, children’s crafts, community vendors, a haircut-a-thon, head-n-neck screening, healthy eating information, face painting, Tai Chi and meditation demonstrations.

New surgery head named

Michael A. Choti, MD, MBA, FACS has been named the division chief of surgery at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert. He will begin his new role on March 15.

An internationally recognized pancreatic-hepatobiliary surgeon and surgical oncologist, Choti comes to Arizona from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Choti earned his medical degree at Yale University followed by surgical residency and surgical oncology fellowship training at the University of Pennsylvania and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He earned an MBA from Johns Hopkins in 2004.

His contributions to medical education, clinical research, medical journal publications and surgical leadership are extensive and nationally known.

Dr. Choti is an expert in the management of patients with liver, pancreatic, and other gastrointestinal cancers.

Carman presents his mission

Christian music artist and evangelist Carmelo Domenic Licciardello, known by his

Prostate cancer frequently presents itself without any signs or symptoms. One in six men will develop the disease in their lifetime; if detected early, the course of treatment is less evasive and survival is nearly 100 percent possible.

Call 480-964-3013 or 1-800-828-6139 for an appointment.

The screening site is Parking Lot 1 of the campus at 2626 E. Pecos Road, Chandler.

Child car seat safety

Allstate Insurance Company is hosting a free car seat safety event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 at Allstate – Konrad K Insurance, 1020 E. Pecos Road, Suite 3, Chandler.

The event will help ensure children are riding safely on the road. Certified car seat technicians will be on site to inspect all brands of car seats and make sure they are installed correctly and meet current safety standards.

In addition to the inspections, drivers can learn more about new laws, how to be safe on the road and gain expert advice from car seat technicians and a local Allstate agent.

Additionally, it will feature a foam play area for kids, free food and treats for families as well as raffling of a Safety First car seat.

Details: 480-632-2660.

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Gilbert woman puts pups in dog agility tournament

BY ERIC NEWMAN

Now that the Winter Olympics have ended, it’s Fido’s turn to demonstrate athleticism.

Nearly 100 dogs and their owners from Western states will descend on Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Center in Queen Creek March 9-11 to begin a ninemonth quest for their pet to earn the title of the world’s most agile dog.

The U.S. Dog Agility Association’s Wild West Regional tournament is the first of 15 qualifying meets in 10 American and four foreign locales in which the dogs earn points to be good enough to compete in the world dog agility championship Oct. 31-Nov. 4 in Scottsdale.

Guided only by voice and hand signals from their human partners, the canines will race against the clock, flying over hurdles and through hanging tires, weaving around poles, scuttling through tunnels and bounding off the see-saw. Obstacles are set according to the dogs’ height and experience level, allowing dogs of all breeds and sizes to compete.

The dogs must not only respond to commands, but must run courses without guidance as well.

“It’s hard to describe how in-tune you get with them,” said Kim O’Connor of Gilbert, who has competed in dog agility competitions with multiple dogs since 2001. “They are your partner in the sport, out there reading your body language and executing your commands. You just have an amazing bond together.”

O’Connor is one of several East Valley dog owners who will be in the competition. She competes with Kruz, a 7-year-old rescued Border Collie that had no human interaction for the first year of its life, and had a hard time

initially living with people.

Some other area owners whose dogs are in next weekend’s competition are Pat Liddy and Jubie Rueschenburg and her daughter Kama, all of Queen Creek.

Jubie said she’s been “obsessed with this crazy, fun sport” since 2002, when she began training her two dogs, an Aussie and a Border Collie, and began her own education on animal behavior.

She has been competing since 2004 and her dogs won a dozen awards last

year alone.

Daughter Kama, who also won more than a dozen awards last year, has created CLUB-Doggie, an online program for training dogs. She also has evolved into a coach and certified agility judge.

Concentration is a big part of a canine’s success on the obstacle course, Liddy said.

“Obstacle focus is really big, and being independent and able to work on their own is important. If there are

jumps or other obstacles out away from you, it’s not always easy. It’s a big difference in training,” said Liddy, who has competed in agility competitions for nearly 15 years, and now competes with her dog Mic.

While the USDAA boasts more than 10,000 active competitors worldwide, regional competitions vary in size, typically involving 300 canines and 200

Gilbert legislator seeks to ban enforcement cameras

BY NICOLE GUTIERREZ CRONKITE NEWS

A Gilbert lawmaker wants to ban photo-enforcement cameras across the state, saying they generate money for the company that makes them and cities that use them, but do little to keep the streets safe.

“It’s actually been shown in many areas to cause more accidents than it prevents,” Rep. Travis Grantham said. “It’s turned into a massive revenue generating tool… which is why towns like Paradise Valley are so interested in keeping photo radar.”

The Republican legislator first proposed House Bill 2208 in 2016 because he said photo-enforcement cameras

not only make traffic less safe, but they pose constitutional problems and serve solely as a revenue generator.

“They’re not only affecting the citizens of their town, they’re affecting everyone that has to go through their town to go from Point A to Point B,” Grantham said.

At least one Valley police department, however, considers the cameras a means of increasing police presence on the streets.

“Photo enforcement can take the place of several officers,” said Lt. Michael P. Cole, a spokesman for Paradise Valley Police Department. “And it’s

a very cost-effective tool to reduce speeds and increase traffic safety while not having to add more officers. That can be more expensive to taxpayers and the residents.”

The cameras help slow drivers and prevent accidents, he said.

“With the population increase, the distraction increases in town,” Cole said. “We had 208 accidents compared to 400 (accidents) 30 years ago. After we put those speed signs up, our traffic citations went down 40 to 60 percent in those locations . For us, that’s a win. For us, it’s all about behavior modification. Slowing drivers down.”

Similar bills to ban cameras in Arizona cities have been unsuccessful.

But Grantham said these cameras don’t serve their purpose. “Any time you privatize law enforcement, you’re really sensitizing bad behavior,” he said. “What you basically have right now is having private industry profiting off of their ability of issuing more and more tickets.”

The bill has passed some House committees but has not made it to the Senate. “This legislation comes up every year,” Cole said, “so it’s not a new thing for us. What we really want to get across is, for us this is about traffic safety, it’s not about revenue.”

(Photos by Kimberly Carrillo)

Pat Liddy’s dog Mic will be competing at the agility championships in Queen Creek.

human exhibitors vying to elevate their position for the year-end Cynosport World Games.

The top dogs have undergone hours, days and years of training with their human partners, who usually begin teaching at a young age.

As important as winning and completing courses quickly is, O’Connor said, the connection that owners and their canine comrades develop on and off the course may be even more meaningful.

Though Kruz was potty-trained and could live in a house, O’Connor said her dog was still initially scared of people. She said agility training helped her and Kruz establish a bond.

“I started training him in agility because I’ve seen dogs gain confidence and become more selfassured because they’re around people, and they can tell they’re accomplishing things. They’re also around people who love dogs, so they start to associate positive things with agility,” she said.

Though training, both in classes and at home, can be rigorous and demanding and injuries sometimes

occur, instructors know what is best for the dogs’ bodies. Just in case the dog gets a kink or two, most competitions even have dog massage therapists and physical therapists on hand.

Barb Karr of Queen Creek, who competes with her dog GinnyDoll, said that despite the competition, the owners tend to look out for each other.

“You have some people who might be overly competitive, but the social structure of USDAA is such that you’re always on display with your dog,” she said. “If they’re out there and appear lame, or appear downtrodden at all, the people are going to make you extremely aware that something needs to change.”

Looking down the year to Scottsdale, O’Connor said the chance for Kruz to win a world championship in his home state is a strong motivator for even harder training, noting:

“It’s a big draw, because it’s so close. And so many people would love to go to the national championship – especially because it’s essentially in their backyard.”

Bent on getting you moving. Again.

Don’t wait around for joint pain to go away. Talk to our orthopedic experts to see how you can get your old moves back. Learn more at DignityHealth.org/ortho or find a specialist by calling 855.900.2292

(Photos by Kimberly Carrillo)

GinnyDoll practices for the agility competition this month.

Adopting a new home

Friends for Life Animal Rescue in Gilbert recently moved to new 1.5acre digs on the southwest corner of Stapley and Baseline roads. Friends for Life is a registered nonprofit that began in 1993 and focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating and finding new homes for local stray animals. Since 1996, the rescue has operat-

1. Jimmy Martinez from Serrano Painting puts a fresh coat of paint on the eaves of the new Friends for Life shelter as it opens its doors.

2. As they leave the old shelter, Paula Syvertson, adoption counselor, reassures a nervous dog named Ariel.

3. Sandy Wollangk, volunteer, and Queso get ready to make the move from the shelter’s old quarters to their new building.

ed out of three small vintage homes in the Downtown Gilbert area.

In addition to housing the animals, the new home affords the rescue with spaces for reception, clinic, animal adoption, education and grooming.

Details: Write to info@azfriends.org or visit azfriends.org.

4. An excited pup, Benoit, drags Katie Bartholemew, director of volunteers, along for the ride to the new shelter.

5. Volunteer Terra Sullivan carries Schroeder into his new space.

6. From the top of a cat tree, Heartly inspects his new quarters.

7. Ian Seivwright bonds with his potential new friend, Hamilton, on the first day of adoptions at the new building.

8. Tortilla surveys her new space from high atop a cat tree.

4

Photos by Cheryl Haselhorst

BY SITHARI EDIRISOORIYA

Regardless of your level of athleticism, if you have ever run, trained for an event or simply worked out, you have most likely experienced sore muscles or injury. Most people treat it by applying ice or heat to the muscle. Here are some tips to guide you for maximum healing benefit when applying ice or heat.

Ice

Ice is mostly recommended for an area that has inflammation. It is an immune response in which chemicals such as histamine, bradykinin and prostaglandins allow leakage of damaged cells from blood vessels to help in the repair of damaged tissue. Inflammation causes redness, swelling, pain and/or warmth. Ice is generally used as a beginning treatment for sprains, strains and other injuries. Ice works well for injuries because it narrows your blood vessels, limiting blood from accumulating at the site of injury and decreasing the amount of leakage of toxins into surrounding tissue. Rest, compression and elevation also decrease blood flow to the area, further reducing inflammation. Rest, compression and elevation are often combined with ice for the initial 48 hours. If the injury gets worse, or doesn’t show notable improvement after 48 hours, see a physician. Relying on self-care for too long can make your pain worse.

Ice treatments should generally be applied for 15-20 minutes. You can use

(Special to GSN)

Sithari Edirisooriya

either real ice or commercial ice packs. It should be applied 4-6 times during the initial 48 hours after a muscle injury. After 48 hours, you should switch to heat. It is important to cover the ice or ice pack with paper towels or cloth so that it does not directly touch the skin. Caution is advised. Do not use ice packs on the left shoulder if you have a heart condition. Do not place ice packs on the front or side of your neck. Placing the ice or ice pack directly on the skin, applying for longer periods of time, or applying it too often can damage the skin and possibly lead to frostbite.

Heat

Heat is mostly recommended for chronic aches and pains with limited or no inflammation. Chronic pain is an indication that the body has not fully healed and pain reoccurs frequently. Some common chronic conditions are old injuries, muscle pain and stiff joints. Heat can help improve circulation, tissue elasticity and reduce muscle spasms. Heat increases blood flow to the area, which promotes healing and decreases pain. As blood flow increases, so does the flow of oxygen and other nutrients to the area, while toxins are removed.

Be careful when using heat. It is not recommended for people with diabe-

tes or peripheral vascular disease. The goal is a warm temperature; too much heat can harm the skin and surrounding tissue. Caution is advised here too. Do not use heat treatments after activity or recent injury. Never use heat when swelling is involved because swelling is caused by tissue bleeding and heat draws more blood to the area. This includes recent arthritis flare ups. Avoid using heat for an extended amount of time, and never sleep with a treatment on. These mistakes can lead to blisters, irritations and sometimes burns.

Don’t use hot or cold packs:

• Over areas of skin in poor condition

• Over areas of skin with high s ensitivity to heat or cold

• Over areas of the body with poor circulation

• If you have diabetes

• In the presence of an infection

If you have heart disease or hypertension, check with your physician before trying heat. If you are pregnant, check with your physician before using saunas or hot tubs.

There are an endless number of heating products. Baths, whirlpools, and steamed towels are wet heat. Heating pads are dry heat. When applying dry heat, such as a heating pad, you must put a towel layer between the dry heat and your skin to prevent burns. Dry heat therapy should be applied for 15-20 minutes only. Electric blankets and pads used for extended amounts of time disrupt

normal cellular processes because of their electromagnetic field. Warm baths and other wet therapies can last from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

People with chronic back pain usually choose heat wraps. These offer all-day relief and can be worn under the clothes. Athletes use whirlpools to relieve muscle aches. Many people with arthritis in their hands and feet have found relief in heated swimming pools.

Takeaway: Choose ice for new injuries that cause pain, redness and/or swelling. Choose heat for chronic pain.

Gilbert resident Sithari Edirisooriya, D.C., runs AcuChiro at 333 N. Dobson Road, Suite 5 in Chandler. AcuChiro offers acupuncture, chiropractic care and physiotherapy.

She welcomes questions at 602-7539130 or via acuchiroaz.com.

Girl Scout leader relishes role

BY BREANNE KRAGER

Rebbekka Hirsch was never a Girl Scout, but the Gilbert woman has been volunteering for the Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council as a troop leader for more than 15 years.

“Those who know me and know how dedicated I am to Girl Scouts are always taken aback by this information,” Hirsch said. “I started with my oldest daughter back in 2001. It was an easy choice to

make at the time because she desperately wanted to be a Girl Scout but never wanted me to leave her when I would drop her off at meetings. So here I am, 17 years later, and I haven’t regretted a moment of it.”

In addition to the benefits the leadership experience offers, from developing confidence to developing skills that can be applied to the real world, a large

Things to consider about Girl Scout leadership:

What will I do as a volunteer?

As part of a network of nearly one million adults, volunteers share an important commitment to preparing girls to lead successful lives. A volunteer serves as a partner and role model for girls. In the process, they will discover skills and abilities, meet new people and learn through experience.

What are the benefits of volunteering?

Ninety-four percent of

volunteers have made new friends, 88 percent believe their life is better because they volunteer with Girl Scouts, and two-thirds believe their volunteer experience has helped them professionally. Also, 95 percent of Girl Scout volunteers are happy knowing they are making girls’ lives better.

Is there a way to volunteer “sometimes?”

Yes. Extra adults are always needed for trips and special

part of Girl Scouting is bolstered by the impact troop leaders make in these girls’ lives, acting as mentors who assist in their leadership journeys.

“I have said this over and over again: if you choose to become a Girl Scout Troop Leader, it’s a choice that you will never regret,” Hirsch said. “You’ll not only be able to be a positive influence on girls’ lives, but you’re also given the opportunity to give girls exposure to something that they’d never get at school – that’s priceless.”

events, as well as for Girl Scout Cookie activities.

Is there a screening process? Yes. To ensure the safety and well-being of our girl members, all volunteers are required to complete a background check prior to becoming involved.

How do I sign up?

Visit girlscoutsaz.org and click “Volunteer.”

The perks of Girl Scouts extend beyond the girls. It’s been proven that volunteering with the Girl Scouts is a great way to make lifelong friends, learn new skills and can even help you live longer. And with the addition of the new Bob & Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls & Women at Camp South Mountain, an $18 million, year-round, urban program center that is fully ADA accessible, Girl Scout Volunteers are needed now more than ever.

“GSACPC is an extremely supportive and helpful Council. There are so many resources made available to adult volunteers that will help you get started and sustain your growth throughout the years,” Hirsch said. “In addition to making friends for life with other troop leaders, volunteers and girls alike will make so many fantastic memories that they will take with them for years to come.”

(Special to GSN)

Rebbekka Hirsch

The “instant offer:” Is the juice worth the squeeze?

BY CARI GILILLAND

There are many ways for a home owner to sell their home these days. How do you decide what is the best route for you?

Do you take the traditional approach and hire a realtor? Do you go with the no hassle, no showings, “instant offer” investor option? Is it really that easy?

Simply put, only you can decide if ease or money is your main motivator.

The traditional sales approach might just be the best way to maximize your bottom line and receive the credit you deserve for the value of your home.

This approach will require some participation on your side, preparing your home, showing your home and maybe even some repairs.

You may decide to take an “instant offer” investor approach. This may seem to be an easy way out, but you must know, this ease of transaction comes at a financial cost. In most cases, this cost is far beyond the expense of a traditional sales approach.

The value of your home and the “offer” will be determined by a computer system that has no way of

knowing about your prime lot or the gorgeous kitchen you just remodeled or the beautiful mountain views.

As you weigh the options, I would like to offer you some advice.

First, find an experienced realtor that can help you determine what a marketable price will be for your home. Look for a full-time realtor who has a proven track record.

Assess the condition of your home and determine your price accordingly. This is a very important step that you shouldn’t overlook. An experienced realtor may even be able to help you facilitate collecting offers from the instant offer companies.

Next, take a close look at ALL the numbers for both scenarios. While the “offer” may be appealing, be sure to understand the net number after all the fees and potential adjustments that may be made during the sales transaction.

Bottom line is, the real estate market is hot and you do have options! The easy way out almost always comes at a cost. Only you can determine if the juice is worth the squeeze.

Here is your Gilbert real estate update. Simple data that even the least analytic person can appreciate. No spreadsheet needed, no sophisticated computer algorithm – just numbers.

This information comes directly from Arizona Regional Multiple Listing System. Information based on sales between 12/1/17- 2/22/18, single-family homes only.

Gilbert 85233

Number of homes sold: 136

Average sales price: $321,459

Average days on market: 56

Number of active listings: 66

Number of pending/under contract: 69

Gilbert 85234

Number of homes sold: 137

Average sales price: $329,889

Average days on market: 46

Number of active listings: 72

Number of pending/under contract: 105

Gilbert 85295

Number of homes sold: 157

Average sales price: $324,647

Average days on market: 48

Number of active listings: 80

Number of pending/under contract: 111

Gilbert 85296

Number of homes sold: 164

Average sales price: $324,218

Average days on market: 58

Number of active listings: 85

Number of pending/under contract: 143

Gilbert 85297

Number of homes sold: 132

Average sales price: $326,486

Average days on market: 55

Number of active listings: 64

Number of pending/under contract: 79

Gilbert 85298

Number of homes sold: 168

Average sales price: $360,600

Average days on market: 60

Number of active listings: 136

Number of pending/under contract: 124

For real estate questions or suggestions on future real estate tips, contact Cari Gililland at Cari@CariSellsHomes.com, 480-390-9247 or Facebook.com/ CariSellsHomes.

SYLVESTER, Realtor ®

riginally from Canada, Jessica Sylvester has been living in the Southeast Valley for over 20 years. She is a wife, mother, and active member of the Southeast Valley real estate community.

Real estate is a passion of Jessica’s, but helping ot hers is truly her motivation. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University, Jessica went on to achieve her Master of Business Administration. Her education expertly compliments her career path. Jessica actively supports community

Jessica does not simply seek to achieve customer satisfaction, she works tirelessly to build trusting, long term relationships with her clients and their families. Jessica empowers and educates her clients, to ensure they are collaborating to create the best possible home buying/selling experience. After all, buying and selling a home may be one of the most significant decisions anyone can make in their life!

including the Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Club, and local animal rescue, ‘Boxer Luv Rescue.’

Gilbert still reaps spring baseball’s economic benefits

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY

Even without a Cactus League stadium, Chandler and Gilbert still reap some of the revenue driven by Major League Baseball’s preseason.

The Cactus League has a significant economic impact on the East Valley – home to a total of three spring training stadiums in Mesa and Tempe.

Chandler and Gilbert see significant tax revenue spikes every March, an indicator that both municipalities benefit from their neighbors’ three spring training facilities.

Gilbert brings in an average of just over $69,000 in bed taxes in March, according to numbers provided by the town. That average ranks second behind April’s average of $72,644.

“March has consistently been our best month for occupancy and overall demand, while having the highest average-daily-rate of any month,” Gilbert Tourism Administrator Glenn Schlottman said.

Similarly, March is the second most prosperous month each year for Chandler in bed tax collections behind April. Revenues averaged $421,604 in March between 2015 and 2017.

Both Gilbert and Tempe have conducted advertising campaigns designed to attract spring training visitors to stay, eat and spend money in their cities.

Chandler, on the other hand, does not invest in advertising campaigns.

“We provide some (spring training) information on the VisitChandler.com website and mention it in our visitors’ guide – but that is the extent at this time,” Chandler Tourism Development Coordinator Kimberly Janes said.

Tempe’s ad buys focused on Californians and people living in cold-weather cities like Denver, Seattle and Chicago.

One campaign with Weather.com flashed a message encouraging viewers to visit Tempe whenever the temperature in their home city dropped below 55 degrees, said Michael Martin, Tempe Tourism Office executive vice president.

Martin added that the goal of the campaign is to persuade people to use Tempe as their Cactus League “base of operations” even if they plan on attending games in other cities.

Mesa has long reigned as the king of the Cactus League due in large part to the Chicago Cubs, who have called the city their spring home for over 50 years.

The Cubs led all teams in attendance in 2017, drawing a total of 251,899 fans. The San Francisco Giants, who play at Scottsdale Stadium, ranked second with a mere 182,518 fans.

“Every year, it seems impossible that the next year is going to break attendance records, because every game is a sell out,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said. “Being the Spring Training home of the Chicago Cubs

has always been a safe bet.”

Mesa also benefits to a lesser extent from the Oakland Athletics, which plays at Hohokam Stadium and drew in 102,212 fans in 2017 – a number that ranked 10 out of 15 teams in the Valley.

A study commissioned by the Cactus League and conducted by Tucson-based FMR Associates from 2015 found that outof-state Spring Training attendees contributed over $297 million to Arizona in direct expenditures with a total economic impact of $544,284,839.

A second study from FMR Associates estimated that the 12-month non-tourist economic impact of the Valley’s spring training facilities in 2014 was nearly $266 million.

Mesa sees a significant spike in both transient lodging tax and transaction privilege tax collections for March every year.

Transaction privilege tax is the tax paid by businesses to operate in the city. It is often passed on to consumers as a sales tax.

From 2013 to 2016, Mesa averaged transaction privilege tax revenue of just over $13 million every March. That monthly number is only surpassed by December’s average of over $14.4 million, which is likely buoyed by holiday sales.

Mesa sees an even more significant spike in revenues from the bed tax levied on hotels during Cactus League play.

The city averaged over $610,000 in bed tax revenues each March between 2013

and 2017, but never averaged more than $474,000 in any other month during that span.

In 2017, Mesa’s bed tax revenue in March of $729,307 was more than the total bed tax collected in June, July and August combined.

Mesa’s investment in the Cubs has also had spill-over benefits for its neighboring cities.

Much like Mesa, Tempe – the spring home of the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium – has earned a significant amount of its bed tax revenue in March for many years.

From 2013 to 2017, March was the second-highest grossing month for bed tax revenue in Tempe, bringing in an average of $724,000 during that time.

Tempe saw an immediate and significant increase in transient lodging tax revenue during Sloan Park’s first year of operation, an indication that the city is benefiting from its close proximity to the facility.

The city collected $901,000 in transient lodging tax in Sloan Park’s first year of operation in April 2014, a 35.3 percent increase over the year prior. That’s a staggering increase considering the city’s bed tax revenues fell by 1.1 percent annually in April 2012.

The Angels – ranked seventh in the Cactus League with attendance of 114,780 in 2017 – are expected to be an even more popular draw this year since the team

signed Japanese phenom Shohei Otani in the offseason.

With Ohtani on board, Tempe could see its hotel occupancy rate rise from 88 percent last year to 89 or 90 percent this year, Tempe Tourism Office’s Martin said. Tempe is poised to take advantage of the additional guests as it added a Fairfield Inn, a Hilton Garden Inn and a Home2 Suites over the past year. The addition of those 450 new rooms brings the city’s total to 50 hotels with a total of 6,374 rooms.

Spring Training doesn’t have as significant an effect on sales tax in Tempe as it does in Mesa. Between 2013 and 2017, March sales tax revenues averaged $6,546,384, which ranked 10th when compared to other months.

The city did see an uptick in sales tax revenue following the opening of Sloan Park, though.

Tempe’s transaction privilege tax revenue, which fell by 6.4 percent between March 2012 and March 2013, grew by two percent to $5,834,000 in March 2014. That number then jumped by over 21 percent in March 2015.

Gilbert’s advertising campaigns included online ad campaigns targeting baseball fans planning to attend games at Wrigley Field in Chicago or Oakland Coliseum. Following the baseball season, Gilbert, too, engaged in weather-focused ad campaigns in Oakland

(Special to GSN)

Gilbert will continue to invest in advertising after Spring Training begins by targeting fans that flew in from Oakland or Chicago and people attending games at Sloan Park in Mesa, among other East Valley venues.

and Chicago.

Gilbert will continue to invest in advertising after Spring Training begins by targeting fans that flew in from Oakland or Chicago and people attending games at Sloan Park, Hohokam Stadium and Tempe Diablo in order to encourage them to explore Gilbert, Schlottman said.

“We started by promoting Gilbert as a home base for Spring Training to Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics fans,” he said. “We also have plans to attract Spring Training visitors, whether staying in Gilbert or not, to our restaurants and attractions while they are in town.”

All things considered, no city has invested more in attracting Cubs fans to the East Valley than Mesa, though. The city committed more than $100 million in 2010 to construct Sloan Park and keep the Cubs from bolting for Naples, Florida.

Facing the loss of the tax revenue and the baseball franchise that is inextricably linked to the identity of the city, Mesa officials backed a plan to publicly finance the construction of a new spring training facility for the Cubs in 2010.

“The relationship between the City of Mesa and Cubs is a historic one,” Giles said. “It goes back to inception of the Cactus League, and we have a lot of history together. There are a lot of Chicago residents that have discovered Mesa as a result of coming to Spring Training.”

In 2010, Mesa voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 420, which authorized the city to spend over $1.5 million constructing the facility and necessary parking lots and infrastructure improvements. Voters also approved a measure increasing the city’s bed tax from 3.5 percent to 5 percent.

The agreement between the Cubs and the city called for Mesa to spend $99 million to construct the facility and on-site work such as parking lots and infrastructure improvements.

Ultimately, the city spent $116.5 million on the Sloan Park project, according to a report prepared by the Mesa City Auditor in 2015.

Tax revenues collected by Mesa during Spring Training have risen steadily – if not spectacularly –since Sloan Park’s debut in 2014.

Bed tax revenues have grown in March every year since 2014, and the total bed tax revenue of $729,307 in March 2017 is roughly 38 percent higher than bed tax revenues in March 2013 – an increase that outpaces inflation.

Sales tax revenues have also risen relatively steadily in March in Mesa since 2014, though revenues did dip by just under 2 percent between 2015 and 2016 before jumping over 7 percent in 2017. Mesa sales tax revenues of $14,620,629 in March 2017 were 20 percent higher than revenues in March 2013.

However, the rate of sales and bed tax collection growth during Cactus League play is not significantly different than the growth in tax collections during non-Spring Training months.

Still, it is highly likely the city would have seen a significant dip in tax revenue had the Cubs left for Florida and took away what is one of the city’s most dependable revenue-generating relationships.

“It is a safe bet that (the Cubs) will sell out every game on the (Cactus League) schedule every year,” Giles said. “That is something you can take to the bank every year, literally. (Sloan Park) has certainly lived up to everyone’s wildest expectations.”

Gilbert Rep. wants to make wrong-way driving a felony

BY CHRIS MCCRORY CRONKITE NEWS

Lawmakers are working on several bills designed to stop wrong-way driving as public officials remain frustrated at the emotional and financial cost of crashes.

The bills include adding road spikes and toughening the penalty for wrongway driving to an automatic felony.

In January, seven motorists were arrested for wrong-way driving compared with 10 arrested in January 2017, but wrong-way collisions this January were deadly: Four people died in two wrong-way crashes on Interstate 40 near Flagstaff.

Drunken motorists are the main cause of wrong-way driving, said Alberto Gutier, director of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.

“When it comes to wrong-way driving, how do you prevent it?” Gutier asked. He said it’s difficult to talk sense into someone who has been drinking all night and, instead of calling a taxi or a friend, starts driving on the wrong side of a freeway.

“The actions are so horrific, (and) collisions are so violent,” said Frank Milstead, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. “It’s not just like a normal DUI event where you’ve been stopped by a trooper for driving on the freeway or the roadway impaired.”

Government agencies are spending millions to combat the issue.

The Arizona Department of Trans-

portation has set up thermal cameras at off-ramps throughout the state to warn DPS troopers about potential wrong-way motorists. The agency also installed illuminated road signs to warn motorists if a wrong-way driver is ahead.

“It’s a very, very costly thing,” Gutier said. “ADOT invested $3.5 million on thermal cameras, and hundreds and hundreds of thousands in the signage.”

The cost of fighting wrong-way driving goes beyond dollars.

“After having spent all of my adult life trying to combat this phenomenon, it is a huge frustration because of the toll it takes on families, the communities (and) the people I lead,” Milstead said. “I don’t know when the last time was you saw somebody killed, but it’s hard to look at. And looking at it over and over again takes a toll on my staff.”

Gutier said he still thinks about the Easter Day crash last year that killed two sisters, Karli and Kelsey Richardson. Karli Richardson and the wrongway driver, Keaton Allison, were Grand Canyon University students. Officials said Allison had a 0.25 blood-alcohol level; the level of presumed intoxication is 0.08 percent.

Gutier, who went to the scene of the crash, was shaken.

“Seeing what happened and seeing the victims, the circumstances,” Gutier said, recalling those moments. “And then, afterwards, learning that the guy

was super, extreme DUI. It really woke me up.”

In his annual State of the State address in January, Gov. Doug Ducey challenged legislators to come up with stricter wrong-way driving laws and lasting solutions to protect Arizona drivers.

In his 2018-19 state budget proposal, Ducey recommended adding six DPS troopers and creating a “night watch” patrol to focus on wrong-way drivers.

“You’d think it was obvious by now, but to anyone out there who hasn’t gotten the memo: Booze, drugs and driving don’t mix,” Ducey said. “Your actions are beyond foolish – they are lethal. And we will not tolerate it.”

One of the bills making its way through the Legislature would make wrong-way driving an automatic felony, regardless of whether the driver causes a crash.

Under current law, wrong-way drivers who cause a crash or are stopped by a trooper face the same DUI penalties as any other impaired driver, with penalties ranging from prison time to a $500 fine. Some wrong-way drivers have been cited for a misdemeanor, Gutier said.

House Bill 2243, sponsored by State Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, would make wrong-way driving a felony. The measure also would

(Photo courtesy Arizona Department of Public Safety)

A driver going the wrong way collided with another car on Interstate 17 near Greenway Road last year, resulting in three deaths.

require a $500 fine and traffic classes.

A committee passed the bill in early February but a full House vote has not been scheduled.

Installing road spikes on several heavily trafficked highway off-ramps to “shred the vehicle tires of any wrong-way driver” also is being considered.

That proposal, from State Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, would require ADOT to deploy the spikes. But Gutier said such an extreme solution could cause more problems than it solves.

“First responders come in the wrong way sometimes to respond to a crash,” he said. “So if you have (spikes), there has to be a mechanism so that they stay down.”

The spikes would have to point straight up to stop wrong-way drivers, but that could cause problems for lawabiding motorists, Gutier said.

“Big spikes, not little spikes,” he said.

Milstead said the proposed legislation isn’t enough; awareness and responsibility is key to changing the culture. People need to make the issue a priority to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from wrong-way driving.

“If we continue to ask for compliance from society and ask for more people to get behind the idea of compliance, then more people will adapt to that,” he said.

Healthy by Hilary helps busy moms find their Inner Goddess

Hilary Rank is helping empower busy moms in their 30s and 40s through her break through Finding Your Inner Goddess for Moms health and wellness support group.

Hilary takes a holistic approach to health and wellness that balances fitness, nutrition and mental and emotional mindset training.

“I believe that proper exercise and diet are essential to leading a healthy and vibrant life. However, I’ve found that there is also a core emotional and mental aspect that most health and fitness experts simply don’t address.”

“That’s a shame to me because it wasn’t until I mastered my own emotional and mental training that I was able to truly be healthy, happy and feel fulfilled. To me, that’s what finding your Inner Goddess is all about.”

Despite having a master’s degree in organizational management and previously holding a corporate job at the University of Phoenix, Hilary believes her true passion is helping busy moms find their own Inner Goddess.

She started out helping clients in person in the Gilbert, Arizona area. Now she focuses more of her time with an amazing group of students who she communicates with online.

“I take an integrative approach to health and wellness. I don’t just teach tactics like what exercises to do and what foods to eat. Those things are absolutely important, but without the

overall system and mental training to stay committed…we often fall short of our goals.”

Of course, as a busy mom of 2 lively and energetic boys, Hilary deals with the same day to day stresses and schedule constraints that every mother faces. That’s ultimately what moved her to focus on her online training program.

“Moms are probably the busiest people on the planet. My local clients were often struggling to find time to fit their workouts and trainings into their jam-packed schedule.”

“With my online format, busy moms can follow a simple and clear fitness, diet, and mindset regime that is custom tailored for their needs and their bodies no matter what their schedule looks like.”

A key component of Hilary’s online coaching is the accountability and goal setting aspect that is built right in. Her students have direct access to her and even take part in a free private support community on Facebook that anyone can join.

“Any mom can join my Free Facebook group by going to http:// bit.ly/2EGSeaE and answering a couple of easy questions. It’s a fun and supportive community. We all post tips and help each

other out in a positive and engaging way.”

Her Finding Your Inner Goddess for Moms online program is not a one-size fits all type of program.

“We all have own unique bodies, struggles and circumstances. I work with my clients to make sure we’re creating a customtailored program that will get them to their desired goals and outcomes. More importantly, they will be able to maintain their healthy and vibrant lifestyle long term. All they have to do is find their Inner Goddess and let her shine.”

If you’re a busy mom looking to Find Your Inner Goddess and increase your confidence, energy and overall health then you can schedule a FREE 30-minute discovery call with Hilary. Just go to calendly.com/hmrank and schedule a call.

“My free discovery calls tend to fill up pretty quickly, so I encourage anyone who is interested to book now rather than later.”

You can also follow Healthy by Hilary on Facebook and Instagram @healthybyhilary

Gilbert just grows and grows for foodies

BY DAVID M. BROWN

Gilbert is cooking.

For years, you could find some good food downtown – now the thriving Heritage District – at places such as Joe’s Real BBQ, which marks 20 years this year, and The Farmhouse Restaurant, approaching its 30th anniversary next year.

But a few years into the 21st century, things started to blossom.

Oregano’s Pizza and the upscale Liberty Market opened, followed soon by the arrival of Postino’s East in an oft-moribund building that housed a series of short-lived restaurants before it was radically remodeled.

With an eye toward turning the onetime center of the so-called Hay Capitol of the World into a vibrant urban core, town officials looked for opportunities to lure other restaurateurs downtown and a whole line of eateries with different fare began springing up.

Ten years later, the new menus keep moving in and sweetening the area for food lovers.

The Heritage District alone is home to more than a dozen restaurants with diverse cuisines.

They include Pomo Pizzeria, Nico’s Heirloom Restaurant, Clever Koi, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row and Barrio Queen, to name a few.

Now, the restaurant tsunami is no longer just in downtown Gilbert.

ny, American Poutine Company, Steak and Stone and the Flying Basset Brewing Co., have opened or are going to.

This is also the year of craft beer in Gilbert, following the success of the town’s first brewery, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company, which opened in 2012.

Two new locations are in the Heritage District: OHSO Brewery & Distillery, with 40-plus beers on tap and food, and Brass Tap, serving more than 300 global varieties and a family-friendly menu. Just south, Desert Monks in Town Center on Gilbert Road is expected to open before summer.

A new culinary center outside of downtown is Agritopia at Higley and Ray roads. Formerly the Johnston Family Farm, the 160-acre development began in the early 2000s and comprises residential, commer-

“Over the past five years, Gilbert has seen an influx of independently owned and operated restaurant concepts open within the community,” said Dan Henderson, director of the Gilbert Office of Economic Development.

“These unique dining experiences, along with the influx of entertainment establishments, have contributed to Gilbert being named ‘Phoenix’s Coolest Suburb’ (Thrillist) and Phoenix New Times naming the Heritage District a ‘top food neighborhood in Metro Phoenix.’”

“These unique restaurant and entertainment amenities assist Gilbert’s economic development efforts as we attract, grow and retain business, investors and talented workers,” he added.

Restaurants in new buildings and repurposed older structures reaffirm that Gilbert residents don’t have to find quality food and good times by driving to Scottsdale, Tempe or Chandler – or even downtown Gilbert.

Established East Valley restaurateurs Gilbert’s Joe Johnston and Mesa’s Frank Estadt have opened venues in Gilbert. And newcomers, such as Arizona BBQ Compa-

cial, restaurants and an 11.3-acre urban farm in a unique small footprint.

“It is a walkable community in a fantastic town. The people of Gilbert and Agritopia are huge supporters of the restaurants and businesses,” said William Johnston, business manager for Gilbert-based Johnston Properties/Agritopia, which is developing the majority of the commercial uses in the community.

A Gilbert resident and graduate of the ASU W.P. Carey School of Business, he’s the son of Joe Johnston, who founded The Coffee Plantation in the late 1980s and has since opened Joe’s Real BBQ, Joe’s Farm Grill and Liberty Market.

To date, the restaurants in Agritopia include Johnston’s Farm Grill, The Coffee Shop, Fire and Brimstone, The Uprooted Kitchen, 12 West Brewing, Garage East and Backyard Taco.

The upcoming component, a joint venture project with IPA, the developer of Generations at Agritopia, is Epicenter at Agritopia, a vertical mixed-use project that focuses on local businesses. The 20-acre

Epicenter community will include 287 multi-family units above the commercial.

Six new restaurants at Epicenter are expected by next year including Obon Sushi; Bird Modern Kitchen and Bar, both Tucsonbased; Gadzooks, a Phoenix-based enchilada company; and the Rice Shop, focusing on Chinese/Asian cuisine from the Gilbert residents who own The Coffee Shop.

“The Epicenter family is going to be a very solid community of restaurateurs and retailers that focuses on amazing guest experiences,” Johnston said.

Another longtime East Valley company, Waldo’s BBQ, opened its fourth location in Gilbert, 1524 E. Williams Field Road. The location seats 200, with a patio, a private banquet room for up to 40 and a large indoor/outdoor bar with 33 beers on draft.

The Gilbert Waldo’s offers a similar

menu to the one at the original location, an East Mesa landmark which opened in 1993 at Greenfield and Main streets.

“We’re in an old funky building there which we’re really proud of,” said Frank Estadt, who, with wife Pat, owns the four Valley Waldo’s BBQ locations.

The new Gilbert Waldo’s serves the entire company menu, including appetizers, salads, desserts, ribs, pork, chicken, beef, ham, turkey, hot link sausage, even hard-to-find beef back ribs. Also featured are seven side dishes that are all-you-caneat, all the time.

“We are known for serving our four varieties of BBQ sauce on the side in warm iron skillets,” said Estadt, a Miami, Florida, native with three Mesa-born children, all company employees. “We think you should decide how much sauce you want, not us!”

(Special to GSN)

Restaurants in new buildings and repurposed older structures reaffirm that Gilbert residents don’t have to find quality food by driving to Scottsdale, Tempe or Chandler.

(Special to GSN)

The Heritage District alone is home to more than a dozen restaurants with diverse cuisines.

(Special to GSN)

New menus keep moving in and sweetening the Gilbert area for food lovers.

Restaurants repurposing old Gilbert buildings

BY DAVID M. BROWN

New restaurants are finding older locations to achieve success in Gilbert.

Among the town’s recent restaurant openings are Arizona BBQ Company, American Poutine Co., Steak and Stone of Gilbert and Flying Basset Brewing Co.

All are outside the robust Heritage District and are repurposing spaces.

The Flying Basset Brewing Co. recently opened in the former Famous Sam’s restaurant at Ray and Cooper roads.

“We were trying to locate close to either downtown Chandler or Gilbert, which was close to our house,” said Rob Gagnon, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Sara Cotton. “We had a location in downtown Chandler, but that fell through, and downtown Gilbert was too expensive.”

The mom-and-pop brewpub, their first, offers house and core beers.

“We want to make sure our core beers are the best with the best ingredients, and taste of quality,” said Gagnon, who started home-brewing in 2011 and the following year won three medals at the Great Arizona Homebrew competition.

At first, a small menu will be offered, then expanded.

“We are going with a bar-flare for our food but with a more gourmet influence,”

said Gagnon, a captain for a small Boeing 737 carrier based in Tucson. His wife is an ICU manager in a local hospital.

He added that guests can sit indoors or enjoy the dog-friendly patio along the canal. The couple are passionate about their basset hounds.

“We just want to make a place that we want to come to,” he said, “a place where the beer aficionados, families and most everyone can come in, have a beer, enjoy some great food, play a few games of cornhole and have a good time with friends.”

On the northwest corner of Ray and Val Vista roads, Arizona BBQ Company was opened last fall by Mark and Colette Nichols, who also own a catering company.

They took over space that had been empty for about two years after an Italian restaurant folded, Colette said.

“We are quick service; you order, pick up your food at the window and pick your own sauces,” said Mark, a 27-year food industry veteran who was Le Cordon Bleu-trained at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute.

The menu includes BBQ, brisket, pork, ribs, chicken and brisket and pork tacos.

All meats are dry-rubbed and smoked. Platters are served with two tortillas, and available sides include chili lime corn on the cob, green chili mac & cheese and chicharrons.

“Mark has always wanted to own and run his own restaurant, but we just never imagined it would be BBQ. It became a very popular item in our catering business, so when the Lord provided the opportunity, we jumped,” said Colette, who manages the company’s business side and works at Chandler-Gilbert Community College as a division administrative assistant.

The couple met while working in a restaurant in 2003-2004 and married in 2010. Their three children have grown up in the business, and their youngest works at the restaurant.

The couple collects nonperishable food items at the restaurant for local food banks. “We love people through our food, so it breaks our hearts that there are so many families that are food insecure and we would like to help with that in our community,” she said.

Another relatively new eatery in Gilbert is the American Poutine Co. at Val Vista Drive and Warner Road.

The first restaurant for the husband

and wife owners, Brendan and Mareka McGuinness, it occupies space that formerly housed an investment firm.

The couple began operating their first food truck in January 2015, then added a second in June 2016 before opening the storefront, where they employ seven and have been hiring.

Poutine is a popular Canadian dish consisting of French fries and cheese curds topped with gravy.

“Over the years, poutine has evolved to many different types and flavors,” said Brendan, a native of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, who worked for many years in the oil and gas industry before transitioning to food.

Mareka, an Alaska native and six-year Gilbert resident, has worked in the semiconductor industry for 10-plus years.

“We offer a variety of poutines along with many other loaded French fry dishes. Our fries, like our apple pie fries, are hand-cut from fresh russet potatoes and fried twice for crunch,” Brendan explained. “Our cheddar cheese curds are supplied locally to ensure that ‘squeaky’ fresh cheese we all love.”

Creamistry to open soon

BY GSN STAFF

Creamistry, an ice cream shop that combines natural ingredients and a scientific process to create ultra-creamy custom desserts, is set to open its fifth Arizona location in the Heritage District in March.

“Gilbert is a strong Arizona community that has shown great growth and strong family ties, and that matches our own mission of embracing strong communities and families,” said co-owner and former Arizona Cardinal Andre Wadsworth.

The ice cream concept was founded in California in 2013.

Two years ago, Wadsworth and coowner/real estate expert Ryan Zeleznak opened their first Arizona Creamistry at the Scottsdale Waterfront, becoming the first in the state to bring the process of flash-freezing ice cream treats using liquid nitrogen.

They then opened additional locations in Scottsdale and Phoenix.

After ordering, the treat is created from scratch before the patron’s very eyes in just minutes. First they select a size and specialty (shakes, floats and waffle bowls), then a base (premium, organic, non-dairy, vegan and gluten-free options such as sorbet and coconut milk) and a flavor choice (the 60 options include birthday cake, sea salt caramel, Madagascar vanilla bean and blood orange sorbet), as well as indulgent toppings (candy,

cookies, sweet cereals, cake, fruit or nuts).

The concoction is then mixed with liquid nitrogen, which freezes milk crystals at -321 degrees Fahrenheit, and makes an impressive “smoky” show before producing the silky smooth and creamy result.

Customers can also select from other decadent dessert options — the “Creamistry Creations” menu features layered parfaits, shakes, floats and affogatos, as well as chocolate, waffle and brownie bowls.

The Gilbert Creamistry location, at 335 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 101, will be at the corner of Gilbert Road and Vaughn Ave. and share a building with the planned O.H.S.O. Brewery.

consultation today. Schedule a free

(Special to GSN)

Flash-freezing ice cream treats from Creamistry will be available in Downtown Gilbert in March.

Southwest SPAS & POOLS

Gilbert entrepreneur launches business grant

BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

After receiving a grant in 2010 for her previous startup, The Mom-e Club, Tisha Marie Pelletier vowed to do the same for startups and awarded her first grant to a local Arizona woman in 2017.

This year, the Gilbert woman has created the Startup Business Grant to help another individual in the U.S. move forward with his/her dream and alleviate the headache of financing and the resources to get there.

“I know exactly what it’s like to be a startup and to have lack of money and resources hold you back from achieving that dream,” said Pelletier. “When I was awarded my grant in 2010, it literally felt like I won the lottery. It is the best feeling to have someone, a total stranger, believe in you and your idea enough to see it through. That’s why I do this. To give someone else’s dream a fighting chance.”

The Startup Business Grant is open to all U.S.based businesses. To date, more than 30 businesses have applied since the grant launched a few weeks ago from across the U.S, from Delaware and New Jersey to Alaska.

Whether a business is in the ideation stage or already in revenue, one recipient will receive a cash grant worth $10,000 in value to include a $1,000 check thanks to matching grant sponsor Tracy Diziere & Associates; a $6,000 Startup Entrepreneur Package from local Arizona marketing firm QE Studios to include branding, collateral materials and website; a seat to Tisha Marie Enterprises’ new online program the Startup Entrepreneur Academy; a Startup Training Package courtesy of the Microsoft Store in Chandler; plus countless other resources from law firm Accelerate IP, accounting firm

Mahkengine, social media firm All-In-One Social Media, printing from Print Brand You, logo design from global site Logojoy, five hours of virtual assistant services from GBY Solutions and others supporting Pelletier’s pay-it-forward initiative.

Lee Stewart, owner of Phoenix-based Veg Up Get Dirty, Pelletier’s 2017 grant recipient, shared how the grant helped her move ahead.

“The grant through Tisha Marie Enterprises assisted my company Veg Up Get Dirty by allowing the purchase of needed tools and marketing materials. I am grateful for the support received from the various businesses that were affiliated with the grant. The accounting assistance from Mahkengine enhanced the financial goals of my company. The Microsoft Store provided wonderful service and education,” Stewart said.

Stewart received a $500 monetary grant to help her purchase necessary items and marketing, in addition to more than $5,000 in in-kind services from small businesses nationwide including a 3-month, 1:1 business mentoring from Tisha Marie Enterprises.

This year, as Tisha Marie Enterprises has grown (she officially launched in August 2016), Pelletier has doubled that amount for one recipient to $1,000 and added multiple collaborative partners.

To apply for the Startup Business Grant, visit tishamarieenterprises.com/programs/ startupbusinessgrant. Applications are due by March 15 and the recipient will be announced during National Small Business Week in conjunction with Microsoft Chandler at a live event in

(Special to GSN)

Tisha Marie Pelletier

“We offer a unique product that is not well known in the U.S. or available at many restaurants,” Mareka said. “Our mission is to bring authentic poutine to Arizona,” she added, noting that the couple is developing a franchise program they hope to begin later this year.

A mile or so away, Steak and Stone of Gilbert, 1026 S. Gilbert Road, opened last October in the building that had been home to two previous restaurants.

Employing 50, the restaurant serves steak, chicken and fish on hot stones and has BBQ as well.

Company principals are founder and CEO David Reay, a Queen Creek resident who co-founded the highly successful Classy Closets, and Gilbert resident David Storrs, a Utah transplant who owned a consulting firm for 15-plus years.

“David came up with the idea after working with his Boy Scouts, teaching them how to cook meats and dinners on rocks,” Storrs said. “That seemed like a great idea for a steakhouse, so the idea was born. After the wonderful success of our first restaurant in eastern Utah, the decision was made to bring the concept to Mesa and then to Gilbert.”

“We serve the customer meat on a 500-plus-degree stone, and the client cooks their own meat on the stone at the table,” he said.

Christian Brothers Automotive opens in Gilbert

BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

A new Christian Brothers Automotive has opened in Gilbert at 1618 N. Higley Road. The store is the third CBA franchise in greater Phoenix and the first CBA for owner Randy Maestre.

Christian Brothers Automotive is an automotive service and repair franchise system with more than 170

After serving in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Maestre wrapped up his military career as a sergeant in 1995. He then spent two years working for a private defense contractor and then 15 years as an assistant physical therapist.

He said the experience left him

“I’m extremely blessed to have this opportunity with Christian Brothers. From day one, the way they operate their business resonated with me, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me and my family with the company and in this great community.”

locations in 26 states.

“I’m extremely blessed to have this opportunity with Christian Brothers. From day one, the way they operate their business resonated with me, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me and my family with the company and in this great community,” said Maestre.

longing to do something more — both in terms of living out his faith through his work and demonstrating more care and quality in terms of customer service.

In 2015, Maestre decided he wanted to run his own company and began researching franchise options, ultimately choosing Christian Brothers because

the company’s values and approach to business aligned with his own.

Gilbert’s large faith-based and veteran population was a draw for him personally and professionally –plus, having worked as a tank-turret repairman overseas, Maestre said he felt excited to put his handyman and leadership skills back to work in his new auto repair store.

Mark Carr, president and CEO of CBA, said: “Randy is truly passionate about the mission of Christian Brothers, and he believes in making a difference in his community.”

To stand apart from other car repair service providers, CBA stands by its Nice Difference warranty, a twoyear/24,000-mile warranty (whichever benefits the customer most) valid at locations nationwide. The franchise also provides a free shuttle service to customers who drop their cars off for repairs and need transportation back home or to work.

The White Rabbit speakeasy to open in the fall

BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

The White Rabbit, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar, is to open in the basement of the Heritage Court in downtown Gilbert this fall.

With handcrafted cocktails and light sharable plates in a high-end yet nostalgic atmosphere, it’s touted to offer guests a one-of-a-kind destination experience.

During the Prohibition era of the 1920s and 30s, a speakeasy was an illicit operation that sold alcoholic beverages.

“We are thrilled to bring a speakeasy to Phoenix’s East Valley,” said Nick Medina, who co-owns it with business partner Corey Potts.

“Gilbert is the perfect place for this concept, because while it has many great dining destinations, we are bringing the first authentic high-end bar concept to the area,” he added. “When guests enter,

they will feel like they are stepping into a true speakeasy experience.”

At The White Rabbit, the vibe has been developed to capture the elegance and ambiance of an authentic speakeasy to truly immerse guests in the scene, down to the secret door and password required for entry (guests may register on the website to receive it).

The owners are looking for a dedicated general manager and operator to lead The White Rabbit staff. They will be hiring additional staff members in the summer. Potential candidates are encouraged to email their resumes to drink@twr.bar

The Heritage Court is at 207 N. Gilbert Road. Details at twr.bar or facebook.com/ thewhiterabbitbar.

San Tan Ford owner earns honors ahead of degree

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA

Tim Hovik has been an Arizona State University Sun Devil fan since he was a youngster growing up in Washington State and came to campus to visit his two older brothers.

Now the owner/general manager of San Tan Ford in Gilbert, the Ahwatukee man was in eighth grade when he caught Sun Devil fever, and determined at that first visit that he, too, would follow his brothers’ footsteps and enroll in ASU.

Even after leaving ASU, Hovik remained an avid fan, and as he’s advanced in his career, he worked to ensure his alma mater was a recipient of his support.

As a chair for the Arizona Ford Dealer’s Association, he advocated for the university, ensuring the group was on board for providing partnerships with Sun Devil Athletics that, according to ASU, were “worth north of seven figures” in dollars.

In acknowledgment of his support, Hovik was presented with the Alumni Appreciation Award at ASU’s 2017 Homecoming several months ago.

planned to take a gap year while earning money as a car salesman working with Tex Earnhardt.

“I knew people who’d made money at it and I thought I’d do it for a little while, and pop back to school and finish. The very first month, I led in sales. I came out of the gate hot,” said Hovik.

they asked me to come over and I finally agreed.”

In the ensuing years, Hovik and the firm’s parent company, The Richardson Group, continue to grow. The parent firm owns five Ford franchises in California, New Mexico and Texas.

San Tan Ford, the group’s only dealership in Arizona, is now among the top 40 largest Ford dealerships in the world.

(Special to GSN)

Tim Hovik, owner of San Tan Ford, is flanked by ASU President Michael M. Crow and Christine Kajikawa Wilkinson, president and CEO of the ASU Alumni Association.

Making the honor even more amazing, Hovik said, is that he hasn’t yet graduated from Arizona State.

“I changed majors (from business to political science), and actually have more credits than I need to graduate,” he said. “I’ve lectured at their business school, and I think of myself as an alum. The homecoming kinda spurred me to knock off those remaining credits, and get my degree.”

As an upperclassman, Hovik had

He stayed with Earnhardt for 13 years, rising to general manager.

In 2007, he was offered a partnership at a Las Vegas Ford franchise.

“I went to Vegas right when the recession hit, and it was a hard time for a lot of businesses,” said Hovik who stayed the course three years. “I’d kept my home in Ahwatukee, and San Tan Ford had just opened, and after a couple months,

“I’d like to move into the top 20,” said Hovik, who follows former Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s example of referring to the franchises as “stores” rather than “dealerships” because Mulally thought the latter word carried a negative connotation.

His San Tan Ford store at 1429 E. Motorplex Loop in Gilbert has grown from 70 employees eight years ago when he arrived to more than 230.

One of them is his oldest brother, Steve, who is sales manager. Sales at San Tan Ford have skyrocketed from approximately $49 million in 2009 to more than $200 million in 2017.

Even with demands of owning a major business entity and his ASU Alumni Association and Sun Devil Athletics involvement, Hovik is an active member of several area chambers of commerce.

In the Gilbert Chamber, he’s a board member; for the Chandler Chamber, he was the presenting sponsor of this year’s Charity Golf Tournament; he’s also on the board of his hometown’s Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce.

Hovik says he’s strongly driven to give back to the communities in which he works and lives, as well as ASU, which he said was “great to me, and taught him so many lessons.”

“I don’t give back to the community or ASU either of my time or resources to get a lot of ‘atta boy’s,’” he said. “But when they recognize you like the Alumni Association did with this award, they make you feel like you’ve achieved something.”

And those achievements are why ASU Alumni Association president and CEO Christine K. Wilkinson said Hovik was honored.

“With the Alumni Appreciation Award, the ASU Alumni Association has the opportunity to recognize an individual who positively impacts Arizona State University, and Tim Hovik generously supports the Sun Devil community,” said Wilkinson, who is also senior vice president and secretary of the university.

In addition to owning and operating San Tan Ford, Hovik has also chaired the Arizona Ford Dealers Association, and currently sits on Ford’s National Dealer Council as the Southwestern United Sates representative to Ford Motor company. What keeps this 51-year-old involved in a multitude of activities? What drives him to continually accomplish more?

“I think by nature, I’m pretty competitive, and competitive with myself. You strive to succeed, but you always want to balance that drive. At San Tan we take care of each other. If there’s a little league game an employee’s kid is playing in, we try and arrange schedules so they can go,” he said. “We want to be supportive, and help the next generation.”

(Special to GSN)

A rendering of The White Rabbit cocktail bar that models a historic speakeasy.

Swing dancing teens win open championships

BY MELODY BIRKETT

Gilbert resident Jaden Pfeiffer and his dance partner for over three years, Hailey Cook, from Loma Linda, Calif., recently won the West Coast Swing Open Championships.

Their well-practiced, three-minute routine won it for them.

“People from all over the world come,” said Cook, 13, a 9th grader at the online Epic Charter School. “It’s our big championship and basically it’s the big competition for your routine. We were in the young America division that goes up to 13 and that was our last year in that division. We won with our routine in that.”

“It’s the hardest partner dance in the world,” explained Pfeiffer, 13, an 8th grader in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at Mesquite Jr. High School. “It’s just knowing what each other is going to do next and making sure it’s not going to be awkward or bad and having the mental mindset of knowing you’re going to do a dip and having my partner know that I’ll pick her right back up.”

Swing dance was popular in the 1920s-1940s but there’s still interest in it today. Dance moves, though, have evolved with the music. The term “swing dance” usually includes other dances developed

during the 1940s and later such as West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, jive, disco, country line dancing, hip-hop and even rock and roll.

Swing dance clubs and contests are still held around the world, such as the Open Championships held in Burbank, Calif. where this young pair held fort.

“There’s a lot of lead and follow involved,” Cook said. “You have to have a lot of connection with your partner to be able to follow your partner and make it look good and have the right technique to make it easier for yourself to dance the dance.”

Pfeiffer credits his dad for getting him interested in swing dance.

“My dad had been doing it a couple of years,” he said. “Previously, he dragged me around a lot. At the time I wanted an Xbox One like a 10-year-old does. And he said ‘Jayden, if you go for a whole year of classes, I’ll buy you one.’ And six months in, I told him I love dancing and I’m going to keep on doing it. But he still needs to buy me the Xbox One, but I told him ‘I’m hooked on dancing so I’m going to keep doing it.’”

Cook credits her mom for piquing her interest in swing dance. Her mom had just taken some West Coat Swing classes and

Special to GSN Jaden Pfeiffer of Gilbert and Hailey Cook from Loma Linda, California are raising funds for a U.S. swing dance tour.

encouraged her daughter to come, thinking she’d like it.

“As soon as I went, I just loved it,” Cook said. “So, I kept going. Then we met somebody who happened to be helping coach Jaden. He was looking for a partner. I went and we had our first lesson and after that, I was like, ‘I definitely want to

do this.’ It was so fun.”

Several years later, the dancing pair is making quite a name for themselves. Now, they’re working towards competing in events across the U.S. They originally had plans to go to the French Open in May but

AZSC Grass Roots Recreation Program

Gilbert Sister Cities selects its 2018 ambassadors

BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

As part of its mission to foster international and intercultural knowledge and understanding, Gilbert Sister Cities has selected four Highland High School juniors to serve as its 2018 Youth Ambassadors.

After hosting students from Leshan, China and Antrim-Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland this summer, Mackenzie Taylor and Emma Webster will spend two weeks in Leshan, while Trey Lines and Nicole Schuermann will spend three weeks in Antrim-Newtownabbey.

Youth ambassador candidates participate in a rigorous, six-week selection process that includes group and individual interviews, social events, fundraisers and writing an essay.

“Each applicant is incredibly accomplished; observing them in a variety of situations allows our selection committee to get to know them very well to determine who would best represent Gilbert while abroad as well as showcase life in America,” said Suzanne Lunt, Gilbert Sister Cities’ president. “Mackenzie, Emma, Trey and Nicole will be outstanding in their roles, and we look forward to working with them throughout the year.”

Taylor currently plays on Highland’s varsity basketball team and plays club ball in the offseason. Additionally, she is involved with the Extra Mile Community Service Club, Math Club, Physics Club and National Honor Society. She volunteers at Highland’s front office as well as through her church and privately tutors

elementary students. Webster is first clarinet for Wind Ensemble, Highland’s top band, and also participates in Physics Club. She dances with Fuse Dance Company and is actively involved in her church congregation,

where she serves as youth council representative. Moreover, she tutors a junior high student twice a week in math. Lines, who competes on Highland’s wrestling and track teams, also studies aviation at East Valley Institute of Technology. He is an award-winning member of Highland’s Future Farmers of America and works part-time at Home Depot.

Schuermann has served as Highland’s yearbook editor-in-chief for two years and also participates in National Honor Society and varsity swim team. She volunteers for a number of community organizations, including Andre’s House, Feed My Starving Children, Sonoma Ranch Elementary and her church.

Before beginning the student exchange, Gilbert Sister Cities Youth Ambassadors participate in the Gilbert Global Village Festival in April. After they return, they are involved in the Gilbert Days Parade, visit schools to share information about the program and serve as mentors for the next group of candidates.

In February, 2017 Youth Ambassadors Nathan Greenlee, Bryson Jones, Adison

Special to GSN

(From left) Mackenzie Taylor, Emma Webster, Nicole Schuermann and Trey Lines are this year’s youth ambassadors for Gilbert Sister Cities.

due to expenses, the dance team is raising money to do a U.S. tour instead. They’re still deciding on venues.

Finding time for lessons and practice is a bit challenging since the pair live in different states.

“We don’t get to practice as often as we used to, but Jaden will come up to California for lessons once a month and I’ll go down to Arizona once a month to practice,” Cook said.

On average, Pfeiffer and Cook practice 10 hours a week.

One thing about swing dance that’s a little different from other dances is the costumes. For the Open Championships, Pfeiffer said his dance teacher and Cook wanted to find material that resembled a river.

“We got this blue and shining material that looks like a river when the sun’s down on it,” said Pfeiffer. “At first, I was like, ‘Wow, I’m going to be wearing that’ because I’ve worn some questionable things. And it ends up being great. When we were at the Open where we won, it looked great on the floor. Everyone loved it.”

As Pfeiffer explained, the first 20 seconds of a routine are the most important, so it’s good to make a good impression with the judges. Costumes are a big part of that.

“You’ve got to go out there, you’ve got to act strong, confident, kind, be yourself

but be strong and try to get everyone’s eyes on you in that moment,” said Pfeiffer, who admits to being nervous at times.

“It’s always nervous when we’re hanging in the back area,” he said. “I’ve got butterflies in my stomach, I feel like I’m going to throw up. I’ve got all of these different emotions.

“I’m just hoping at the end, everything works. When we’re in the routine, it starts to fade away and the only thing that’s there is to focus and make sure I do the

move right and have a good time with it. I think after that point, it’s at the mark where I can breathe and kick it into high gear now and just go.”

“I get pretty nervous but I’ve gotten a lot better at it,” said Cook. “And I can calm myself down pretty good now. The only time when I get really nervous is when we’re about to compete at the Open.”

Pfeiffer gives Cook a lot of credit for his success. “I wouldn’t be the person I am if it wasn’t for her and the training I received. Hailey’s a great dance partner. She helps me with things and I help her with things. I just appreciate what I have with my dance family.”

Both hope to continue dancing in college. “It’s so great mentally, spiritually, physically and great for your body,” said Pfeiffer. “Like most things, it takes a lot of work, a lot of training, and a lot of selfendurance and self-want.”

If you’d like to help Jaden Pfeiffer and Hailey Cook raise money for their U.S. tour, a GoFundMe account has been set up at gofundme.com/haileyand-jadendance.

CITIES from page 38

McIntosh and Lauren Smith shared their experiences at a Gilbert Town Council meeting.

“Many candidates comment on how beneficial the program is in preparing them for job interviews as well as college and scholarship applications,” Lunt said. “The experiences our Youth Ambassadors have throughout the year – not to mention the contacts they make in the community – gives them an even greater advantage as they enter the real world.”

Gilbert Sister Cities will begin accepting applications for 2019 in the fall; any junior living in Gilbert or attending a Gilbert or Higley school is welcome to apply. Youth Ambassadors are available to speak at schools and youth programs to provide details and answer questions.

Established in 1998 as a community-supported nonprofit organization, Gilbert Sister Cities brings the world together through cultural, educational, trade and sports programs that promote international and intercultural knowledge and understanding. Details: gilbertsistercities.com.

Do you have a story idea you’d like to share? We want to hear from you! Email ndandrea@timespublications.com with the letters “GSN” in the subject field. Story ideas must pertain to Gilbert.

Mesquite High School football player inspires Run to Fight Children’s Cancer

BY KATY SPRINGER

“Will I survive, and will I play football again?”

These were the questions Mesquite High School football player Ashton Gundlach asked after hearing the startling diagnosis: “You have cancer.”

It was November of 2015 when 15-yearold Gundlach learned he had Anaplastic Large T-Cell Lymphoma, a form of nonHodgkin lymphoma cancer.

The answer to both of these questions was yes; he would beat cancer and be back on the football field soon – at least for a time.

Earlier that year, Gundlach had developed strange sores on his foot and thigh. His parents, Sheri and Cary, arranged for care with a trusted naturopathic medical doctor, and he seemed to be healing well.

However, during football practice one afternoon, another player stepped on Gundlach’s foot, reopening one of the sores. He ended up undergoing debridement surgery to remove scar tissue that had developed around the site.

“The tissue was sent immediately to

pathology,” Sheri said. “We can’t even begin to describe our shock upon hearing those sores were actually cancer.”

Stoic, resolved and buoyed by the prayers of his family and the Gilbert community, Gundlach hung up his cleats and began grueling cancer treatments, which included returning to the hospital every three weeks for five days of intensive, in-patient chemotherapy.

In August 2016, he started and completed his junior year of high school, and even suited up again for football.

“He had spent so much time in the hospital that he wasn’t in great shape, but nothing could get in his way. His mental toughness beat out any physical weakness,” Sheri said.

But the victory over cancer was brief. In the summer of 2017, the cancer returned with a vengeance. Now facing Stage 4 cancer, Gundlach needed a bone marrow transplant urgently. Thankfully, his 9-yearold brother, Keaton, was a perfect match.

“Everything that happened from there was nothing short of miraculous,” Sheri said.

Since Keaton was only half the size of his older brother, doctors knew they would need to collect stem cells from the blood instead of the bone marrow. Keaton got a taste of the poking and prodding his brother endured when he received five days of shots to build up his stem cell supply. Doctors expected to perform three separate collections from Keaton to gather four or five million cells. Instead, they collected 8.8 million in a single procedure.

Meanwhile, Gundlach received two blasts of chemo to prepare his body for transplant. His oncologist had anticipated four separate courses of chemo, but Gundlach had other plans.

“I had this eerie feeling that I wouldn’t need more chemo – that my scans would be clear,” Gundlach recalled.

“Ashton was right,” added Sheri. “Even the oncologist was dumbfounded. The PET scan had lit up like a Christmas tree before the chemo, but now, everything was clear.”

In November, Gundlach received the new cells from his brother. The transplant was smooth, but he soon began to show signs of liver disease, a result of the aggressive chemo treatments. Then, his kidneys and lungs began to fail, which meant a couple of touch-and-go moments

David Feist, PA-C Dermatology

Kara Gooding, PA-C Dermatology

Gary McCracken, MD Dermatology

Anthony Petelin, MD Mohs Surgery

James Young, DO Mohs Surgery

David Kelly, MD Plastic Surgery

Brian deGuzman, MD Vein Specialist

(Photos courtesy Noble Media)

Ashton Gundlach 90 days after receiving a bone marrow transplant.

and a stay in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

“There’s no medical reason that Ashton is still alive,” Sheri said. “From the cancer to the close calls in the ICU, we know that the prayers of our community have created miracles.”

Gundlach has been home from the hospital for two months, and his parents say he is growing stronger every day. Though beaten down by his cancer fight, he is not beaten. He hopes to graduate from high school next spring, and he still plans to pursue football.

“He keeps saying, ‘Maybe I can be a kicker,’” said Sheri. “Cancer is a nightmare, but it has awakened in Ashton a strength and determination we didn’t know was there.”

“Everyone is faced with challenges in life, and these challenges help refine us,” she added. “Yes, childhood cancer is a terrible battle, but it has brought forth tremendous love and support from our community. They are carrying us through.”

For now, the Gundlach family is intent on making a difference for children fighting cancer. They will show their support by participating in the Run to Fight Children’s Cancer, Arizona’s largest race in Arizona dedicated solely to pediatric cancer. Presented by Children’s Cancer Network and hosted by Grand

Canyon University, the race will take place on Saturday, March 10, on GCU’s west Phoenix campus. All funds stay in the community and benefit Arizona families like the Gundlachs through Children’s Cancer Network and Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Visit runtofightcancer. com for more information.

Celebrate Women’s History Month

ThermiVA is a

treatment that uses controlled radio frequency entry to gently heat tissue to rejuvenate collagen, treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) dryness, external appearance, laxity after childbirth all with NO surgery or downtime.

Gundlach during his sophomore year in 2015, before his cancer diagnosis.

Gundlach prior to attending his junior prom.

Ashton Gundlach holds a bag of stem cells from his donor brother.

‘Jump with Jill’

The rock and roll nutrition show, Jump with Jill, is rocking 25 schools in Arizona, among them some in Gilbert and Queen Creek.

Arizona Dairy Farmers and the Dairy Council of Arizona are making available the nationally acclaimed tour at no cost to participating schools.

The Crank Up the Calcium! Jump with Jill Live Tour encourages students to tune in to their bone health by getting three servings of dairy every day. That means rolling with the stars of the bone building crew: milk, cheese, and yogurt.

With tour stops through March 23, the school-wide performance will serve as an event for National Nutrition Month and a kickoff for the Fuel Up to Play 60 program.

The following local schools will feature the tour:

9 -10 a.m. March 1: Gateway Pointe Elementary, Gilbert.

2 - 3 p.m. March 1: Towne Meadows Elementary, Gilbert.

2:15 - 3:15 p.m. March 2: Settler’s Point Elementary, Gilbert.

9 -10 a.m. March 7: Islands Elementary, Gilbert.

8:45- 9:45 a.m. and 10 - 11 a.m. March 8: Cortina Elementary, Queen Creek.

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. March 22: Carol Rae Ranch Elementary, Gilbert.

NEWS AROUND SCHOOLS

2 - 3 p.m. March 23: Sonoma Ranch Elementary, Gilbert.

Teacher job fair

Leading Edge Academy will host a Teacher Job Fair at its Gilbert campus for positions throughout the network. The charter school has six campuses across the East Valley in Gilbert, East Mesa, San Tan, Queen Creek, Maricopa and online that serve grades K-12.

The Leading Edge Network Job Fair will be held at the Gilbert campus (717 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert) from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday, March 22.

Job seekers will have interviews with administrators and should bring a copy of their resume and IVP fingerprint clearance card.

Open positions include elementary, secondary and special education teachers, para-professionals and interventionists.

Candidates are asked to call 480-633-0414 or email resumes@ leadingedgeacademy.com to schedule an interview appointment.

Gold for Desert Ridge High CyberPatriot teams

Two teams from Gilbert Public Schools’ Desert Ridge High School

Give feet the care they deserve!

With the weather warming up, there is no shortage of activities to keep you on your feet. To make sure you aren’t holding everyone back, now’s a good time to address any foot or ankle pain. Many patients visit after waiting weeks or months with concerns, not knowing if it’s important enough for a visit to the podiatrist. We enjoy working with all ages and are just as passionate about working with high end athletes as we are with those who are more sedentary to find a solution to their pain and keep them moving. Among the conditions we commonly address:

• Ankle injuries

• Arthritic foot and ankle care

• Athlete’s foot

• Bunions, calluses and corns

• Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

• Hammertoes

• Heel pain

• Orthotics

• Plantar fasciitis

• Toenail - fungus and ingrown

Gregory Rowe, DPM is fellowship trained in foot and ankle reconstructive surgery and specializes in ankle arthroscopy, reconstructive flatfoot surgery, fractures of the foot and ankle and diabetic wounds.

The practice takes every opportunity to educate patients so that they clearly understand why they are having pain and how together they will treat it. You’ll see your x-ray, ultrasound or MRI images and discuss all approaches to treatment. Our Gilbert office is designed around you, respecting your time and scheduling you within days. Learn more at aacicares.com or call us at 480-759-6737.

recently concluded an exceptional round of competition in the 10th season of CyberPatriot, the Air Force Association’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition.

Established in 2009, CyberPatriot is designed to excite, educate and motivate students toward careers in cyber security and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines critical to our nation’s future.

The competition challenges teams of students across the United States and Canada to find and resolve cybersecurity vulnerabilities in simulated environments.

Top teams from the preliminary online rounds earn an all-expenses-paid trip to Baltimore, Md., for the in-person National Finals Competition, where students compete for national recognition and scholarships.

Led by coach Major David Malinowski, the two teams excelled in the CyberPatriot X State Round held in January, demonstrating teamwork, critical thinking skills and technical knowledge key to a successful career in cybersecurity.

The top team’s performance earned the state’s second in the Platinum Tier, the most competitive tier. The second team competing in the Gold Tier was awarded first place and a spot in the Gold Tier Semifinal Round.

Following the Regional/Category Round

and Middle School Division Semifinals Round, top teams in the Open and All Service Divisions’ Platinum Tier and the top three Middle School Division teams nationally will advance to the finals in Baltimore in April.

Details: uscyberpatriot.org

Subway celebrates student achievement

Subway Restaurants of Arizona is participating in a Student Achievement Awards program this semester designed to reward K-12 students for their academic and personal accomplishments over the course of the school year.

The restaurant will present qualifying elementary students with a “Free Fresh Fit for Kids Meal” coupon, which includes a mini sub, milk and an apple, and middle and high school students with a “6-inch Sub” coupon.

In order to be recognized, students must meet the following criteria: Make the “Straight A” honor roll; Show initiative and improvement in their academic studies; Practice good citizenship; Have good attendance; and Read a certain number of books in a set time frame (varies with each school). Among the 275 schools taking part

Dr. Gregory Rowe

statewide are Gilbert schools including Riggs Elementary School, Houston Elementary School, Oak Tree Elementary School and Pioneer Elementary School. Certificates with the appropriate coupon attached will be delivered to qualifying students at the schools. Coupons are valid through July 31.

Students participate in ‘Souper Bowl Challenge’

Students and staff from both schools delivered a truck full of the canned goods to the House of Refuge in February.

Soroptimist awarding scholarships

Soroptimist International of the East Valley is accepting applications from graduating high school seniors for three of four $1,000 scholarships. They may be used toward tuition, books or other collegerelated supplies.

In a “Souper Bowl Challenge,” American Leadership Academy Gilbert North High School Eagles and Queen Creek High School Patriots together collected more than 4,200 cans of food for Mesa’s House of Refuge, which provides transitional housing and employment services to those in need. The ALA Patriots vs. Eagles Souper Bowl Challenge was inspired by both schools as a fun way to give back to their community leading up to the big NFL showdown this year. Students at both campuses had one week to bring in as many soup or canned food items as possible, and each day, students tracked the progress and saw the number of cans pile up, even double in count toward the end.

Applicants must be attending college this fall. A completed application with a

personal statement and two references must be received by March 15. Scholarships will be presented at the annual awards ceremony in the late spring.

Last year, SIEV awarded $5,500 to local women furthering their education. For questions related to the awards, contact the SIEV scholarship chair Rhonda Rome at 602-316-7971.

SIEV, formerly Soroptimist International of Apache Junction, participates in local events and programs that help support the community, with a primary focus on providing access to education for women and girls.

Details: SIEastValley.com.

Classroom grant for Mesquite High teacher

Melody Fraser, a business teacher at Mesquite High, will be the recipient of the first 21st Century Classroom Redesign Grant

in Gilbert Public Schools, worth $85,000.

The grant will be used to pay for the design and installation of a cutting-edge customized learning space including design, furniture, millwork, paint, flooring, LED lighting and new innovative classroom technology.

The Gilbert Education Foundation offered the grant with support from sponsors.

This grant is perfectly timed for Fraser, who is launching a Dual Credit program in the 2018-2019 school year, called MC3. It is designed to teach students the technical skills they need to graduate career-ready, including professional certifications in Word, Excel and other Microsoft programs.

The chosen grant awardee was based on the top rubric score of a blind read of all grant applications. Scoring was based on educators’ demonstrated commitment to an active learning environment in their classroom.

Spiritual Connections

The Bridge Church

645 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 180, Gilbert 480-294-7888

bridgechurchaz.org

Service: 10 a.m. Sundays

We exist to help people know God and become everything God created them to be. We do this by helping people begin a relationship with God, grow in that relationship to find freedom from the struggles they experience, discover the purpose for which God made them and live out their purpose to make a difference in the church and in the world.

Central Christian Church-Gilbert 965 E. Germann Road, Gilbert centralaz.com

Services: 4 and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon Sundays

While the Bible itself is the church’s official document of faith, the website lists a variety of statements that fundamentally define the church. Please visit the website for more information.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

3301 S . Greenfield Road, Gilbert 480-822-5000 lds.org

First United Methodist Church of Gilbert

331 S . Cooper Road, Gilbert 480-892-9166

gilbertumc.org

Services: 8 and 9:30 a.m. (traditional services) and 11 a.m. (contemporary service) Sundays

The two traditional services feature the Chancel choir and traditional worship.

The 11 a.m. service has a contemporary feel, with music from the Praise Band.

The 9:30 a.m. service generally has the largest attendance.

Gilbert Presbyterian Church

235 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert 480-892-6753

azgpc.org

Services: 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays

Gilbert Presbyterian Church is called to be a Christ-centered covenant family nurtured by the Holy Spirit to worship God and to share God’s love.

The Lawrence Memorial AME Zion Church 1141 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert 480-772-3603

Services: 10:15 a.m. Sunday; Bible study is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

The Lawrence Memorial Church is a contemporary church. We are a multicultural church that is simply looking to reach the unreachable with love.

Living Water United Methodist Fellowship

Highland Park Elementary School

230 N. Cole Dr., Gilbert livingwaterum.org

Services: 10 a.m. Sundays

Living Water exists to bring people in to meet Christ, build people up to follow Christ and send people out to share Christ.

Mission Community Church

4450 E. Elliot Road, Gilbert 480-545-4024

mission68.org

Services: 4 and 6 p.m. Saturdays and 9, 10:30 and 11:59 a.m. Sundays

Please join us on Easter Sunday, April 1st.

Two services: 9 am and 10:30 am

Complimentary lunch for everyone and an Easter Basket for each child age 13 or under.

The Bible is God’s word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth and without error in the original manuscripts.

Redemption Gilbert 1820 W. Elliot Road, Gilbert 480-632-2220 gilbert.redemptionaz.com/about/ a-brief-overview/

Services: 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays Gospel means good news, but it is truly the most profound and glorious truth ever revealed. It is not advice, nor is it a system or philosophy to add to the congregants’ lives. It is an exclusive truth claim, a holistic worldview, the true story of the whole world, which by its very nature must redefine and recolor everything else.

Resurrection Episcopal Church

Meets at Gilbert Community Center, 130 N. Oak St., Gilbert 480-719-5343

resurrectiongilbert.org

Services: 10 a.m. Sundays

Sundays at 10:00 am New Location

645 N Gilbert Rd, Suite 180 Gilbert, AZ 85234

(Southeast corner of Gilbert & Guadalupe, south of EVDI)

Pastor Kent Bertrand 480.294.7888 www.bridgechurchaz.org

E. Guadalupe Rd.

Resurrection officials say the congregation is a church you can believe in because you belong. This means it welcomes and embraces all people because God already has. Come for worship, fellowship and Bible study on Sundays and join the group on a spiritual journey to better understand God’s plan for our lives.

San Tan Bible Church

N. Gilbert Rd. Starting January 8th, 2017, please join us as we work through the Community Bible Experience together, as a church family!

1424 S. Promenade Lane, Gilbert Phone number N/A. santanbible.org

Services: 8:30 a.m. (Bible hour); 9:30 a.m. (Café 2:42) and 10 a.m. worship service Sundays

The church believes the glory of God is the chief end of all we do.

Two Rivers Church

326 E. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert 480-892-2435, 2riverschurch.org

Services: 6 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) Sundays

Two Rivers Church exists to help lead congregants into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by encouraging and equipping them to love God intimately and serve others. It has a casual environment with a serious faith.

Sun Valley Community Church

456 E. Ray Road, Gilbert 480-632-8920

sunvalleycc.com

Services: 4 and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and 9, 10:30 and 11:59 a.m. Sundays The atmosphere is casual and friendly at Sun Valley Community Church. It places high value on authentic Christian living and placing Christ at the center of all our teachings. The church also offers worship music that is current and uplifting, along with focused weekend sermons that break down the Bible in a way that makes it easy to connect the word of God with today’s busy life.

Vineyard Community Church

601 S. Cooper Road, Gilbert 480-892-5828

vineyardaz.com

Services: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sundays Vineyard Community is a casual, friendly and inviting church. Its desire is to be a safe place where people’s lives are being transformed by Christ in community for the world. The diverse community of Christ-followers seeks the radical in-breaking of the kingdom of God here and now. Followers worship God with the intention of touching Heaven and changing Earth.

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Tour Our Vibrant Growing Campus

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Gilbert rappers to host local showcase

BY ALLISON NERI

Hoping to bolster the Valley rap scene, The Lavish Crew is hosting “Gilbert’s Finest” at the Nile Theater’s Underground in Mesa on Friday, March 23.

The Lavish Crew, which has opened for the likes of Juicy J, Riff Raff and Ugly God, expect a packed show at the Underground.

“We’re showing some of the best local talent in the area before they blow up,” said Kyle Cullen of The Lavish Crew. “It’s gonna be one lit night.”

The Lavish Crew is a group of friends working toward the same goal – success in the rap business. Members include Cullen, 3rdOcean, Jegus, LiL DRiP and ASAP Stalder.

“We’re just a big group of friends working to make the dream come true.” Cullen said.

Carter Ellis (3rdOcean) said the showcase will allow them to connect with fledgling artists, potentially leading to future opportunities. Among the artists slated to perform are Redek, Maverick, Jax and Tux, KMO and Nova. Cullen said “Gilbert’s Finest” came about organically.

“A bunch of rappers got in contact with us,” Cullen said. “We made our decision based on whose music was poppin’ and which artists could bring out a

crowd.”

The Lavish Crew was founded in 2014 by Cullen and Ellis after they were introduced by a mutual friend. The guys bonded over their passion for music and the project bloomed from there.

Logan Stalder, whom they called a Lavish Crew “business associate,” and Ellis say underground rappers aren’t their sole influences. Traces of Willie Nelson, Cheap Trick, Styx and REO Speedwagon can be found in their music.

“Our music is super-energetic,” Ellis said. “It’s something to be happy to, something to smile to. It’s laidback music that’s ready to get your head nodding.”

Gilbert’s Finest 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 23 • $10 The Underground at The Nile 105 W. Main Street, Mesa niletheater.com

CGCC announces spring performing arts

BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

Chandler-Gilbert Community College has announced its 2018 Performing Arts Season.

The theater lineup kicked off with the Tony-winning musical “Monty Python’s Spamalot” earlier this month.

Following “Spamalot” is the theatrical comedic performance of “Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)” by Ann-Marie MacDonald that runs March 22-24. Constance Ledbelly, a young professor of English literature from Queen’s University, goes on a subconscious journey of self-discovery.

The comedy is a feminist revision of Shakespeare’s “Othello” and “Romeo and Juliet,” and takes the audience from a dusty office in Canada’s Queen’s University into the fraught and furious worlds of two of Shakespeare’s bestknown tragedies and turns them upside down.

Clark Gesner’s beloved musical comedy “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” based on Charles Schulz’s famous comic strip, Peanuts, runs April 26-28.

Jegus will perform with The Lavish Crew at the showcase.

Photos special to GSN 3rdOcean is a member of The Lavish Crew.

Art Intersection wants work for ‘All Art Arizona’

BY GSN STAFF

Visual artists in Arizona are invited to respond to Art Intersection’s call for work to “All Art Arizona” by April 11. The show, June 5 to July 28, will present work created by both well-known and emerging artists.

Gallery staff will jury the submissions. To submit to this call for work, an artist must be at least 18 years old and reside in Arizona for at least four months a year. The online submission costs $40 for up to four works.

This exhibition, an eight-year tradition at Gilbert-based Art Intersection, highlights the breadth and diversity of art created by Arizona artists. The range of acceptable artwork encompasses sculpture, glass, photography, painting, ceramics, wood, printmaking, mixed media and artist books. Chosen works will be exhibited in the Art Intersection galleries from June 5 to July 28, and in an online gallery that will remain archived on its website.

During the exhibition, visitors may vote for the Viewer’s Choice Award to be announced shortly after the exhibition closes.

The opening reception will draw artists, art collectors and art lovers from all over the state to one of the gallery’s most well-attended annual exhibitions. Viewing is free to the public during business hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, from June 5 to July 28.

Important dates

April 11: Submissions due online by midnight.

April 25: Email notification of artists selected for exhibition.

May 23: Deliver selected work ready to install.

June 9: Opening reception.

June 5-July 28: Exhibition dates.

August 2-4: Work available for pickup

Art Intersection is at 207 N. Gilbert Road # 201, Gilbert.

Details: 480-361-1118 or artintersection. com/event/call-for-work-all-artarizona-2018/

CGCC from page 48

It features the Peanuts gang including Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroder and Snoopy in a variety of vignettes and songs.

“We invite the public to come out and support the talent on stage, the students and faculty behind the scenes and to learn more about our performing arts program,” said Randy Wright, division chair for Communications and Fine Arts at CGCC.

The lineup also features a variety of vocal and instrumental music concerts.

They include Jazz Night, featuring the CGCC Jazz Combo, Big Band and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, on April 16. Or, join the Jazz Combo for Midday Jazz at 11:30 a.m. on April 4. A Strum and Drum Concert will be presented April 23.

For a night of laughter, attend a Comedy Improv show with “Off the Cuff.” For the past 18 years, this show has offered free live comedy shows featuring student and community member comedians. The game-style improv comedy takes place April 6.

If comedy isn’t your thing, there’s also dance. See a variety of styles choreographed by the creative dance faculty at the Faculty Choreographed Dance Showcase on April 13 and 14. Or see the choreographic talents of students

at the Student Dance Showcase on May 4 and 5.

The CGCC Combined Choirs will perform Beethoven’s 9th Symphony on March 25 alongside the Chandler Symphony Orchestra at the Chandler Center for the Arts.

Other musical performances include the Vocal Major Recitals on March 26 as well as the Spring Choral Concerts on March 27 and May 7.

May continues as a jam-packed month with the Broadway Solo Performance Showcase on May 9, the Student Directed Scenes May 2-3 and the Student Actors Showcase on May 4.

All shows are open to the public and most are free.

For ticketed events, tickets may be purchased online or at the CGCC Box Office on the Pecos Campus at 2626 E. Pecos Road, Chandler. Student prices are offered to those with valid identification. Doors open a half-hour prior to the performance. For details, call the box office at 480-732-7343 or visit cgc.edu/ arts.

‘Light Sensitive’ celebrates images from the darkroom

BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

Art Intersection of Gilbert presents “Light Sensitive,” an exhibition of photography created using traditional darkroom and alternative photographic processes, March 6 to April 21. The opening reception will be 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.

Scott B. Davis, artist and founder of the San Diego-based Medium Festival of Photography, serves as the juror in this annual show.

With the current trend of imagery presented on computer screens and the overwhelming volume of digitally generated prints, “Light Sensitive” serves to reaffirm and promote the art of hand-

crafted prints uniquely belonging to the tradition of light sensitive creative processes.

Work in this year’s exhibition comes from national and international artists, and includes processes of cyanotype, gelatin silver, lumen, gum bichromate, tintype, chromogenic, Mordançage, carbon and ziatype. The gallery will also select three exhibiting artists to present additional work.

‘Life Could Be a Dream’ at Hale

BY GSN CONTRIBUTOR

Hale Centre Theatre will revive the good old days of rock ’n’ roll with the Roger Bean jukebox musical Life Could Be a Dream, through April 17.

The production features 1960s megahits “Fools Fall in Love,” “Tears on My Pillow,” “Runaround Sue,” “Stay Just a Little Bit Longer,” “Unchained Melody” and “The Glory of Love.”

The musical action is set in the fictitious Springfield, where a fledgling quintet, Denny and the Dreamers, are preparing to enter the Big Whopper Radio contest to achieve their dreams of hitting the big time.

Looking ahead:

Broadway smash hit musical No, No, Nanette plays through the end of March. The Importance of Being Earnest, the hilarious satire on Victorian manners by Oscar Wilde, runs April 5 through May 12. Big Fish, an entertaining story set to music, is next from mid-May through end of June. Sister Act, the uproarious musical comedy about a disco queen who takes refuge in a convent to hide from her mobster boyfriend, concludes Hale’s 15th season; it plays July 6 through August 18. “Life Could Be a Dream” runs through April 17 on Mondays and Tuesdays with select shows on Wednesdays. Hale Centre Theatre is at 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. Tickets are priced at $20 youth and $32 adults. Call 480-497-1181 or visit haletheatrearizona.com

Art Intersection is at 207 N. Gilbert Road, Suite 4, Gilbert.

Details on the show: artintersection.com/event/lightsensitive-2018-celebrating-images-from-the-darkroom/ Details on the gallery: 480-361-1118 or theartgallery4.

(Special to GSN)

Kale Burr as Eugene Johnson, Vinny Chavez as Denny Varney, Angela Kriese as Lois Franklin, Danny Karapetian as Wally Patton and Micah Jondel DeShazer as Skip Henderson in Life Could Be a Dream

Thomas Webster

Amanda Tinker

Cyd Peroni

Kimberly Chiaris

In opioid crisis, counties have a role to play

BY DENNY BARNEY

The opioid crisis has been the subject of much discussion and concern over the past few years, culminating in January with the passage of the Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act, a comprehensive law aimed at curbing abuse and saving lives. Governor Ducey understands this is an all-hands-on-deck situation, and his leadership has been critical both in defining the scope of the problem and in ensuring it is treated as a priority.

I’m encouraged that leaders in state and local government, as well as those in the private and nonprofit worlds, are attempting to come up with practical and positive solutions to this complex public health crisis. We don’t know yet what impact the new law will have on opioid misuse statewide, but I can tell you what we’ve been doing at the county level.

Before a public health crisis is debated, legislated and controlled, it first has to be identified. And in Maricopa County, the Office of the Medical Examiner is often spotting trends before anyone else. Maricopa County’s Chief Medical Examiner says as far back as 2015, he’d heard from colleagues in other states of an opioid crisis primarily affecting the East Coast. There was

no evidence of it here in Maricopa County until 2016. That’s when the number of drug-related deaths identified by our medical examiners began to soar.

Statistics from Maricopa County Public Health show opioid deaths increased from 519 in 2015 to 647 in 2016. We don’t have the final numbers from 2017 yet, but there were 310 confirmed opioid-related deaths halfway through the year, meaning it’s likely that preventable opioid deaths have leveled off but not substantially decreased.

there’s a risk of redundancy or even conflicting missions. Public Health is working to ensure those involved in this issue – medical providers, community par tners and individuals – are connected to one another and have access to the big picture so we are being as efficient as we can as a community.

extra three to four minutes for [the] fire [department] to get on scene, that’s crucial. We could save somebody’s life on that.”

All of our work at the county comes back to that idea: What can we do to save lives? And that doesn’t just mean preventing deaths, but also helping people recover from the destructive cycle of addiction. We’re tackling this problem, in most cases, with no additional funding.

Public Health is spotting other trends. Many of the opioid overdose deaths in our county are occurring along the I-17 corridor, although there has been a concerning increase in east Mesa as well. You may have heard about the dangers of fentanyl on the news, and our statistics confirm significant growth in the number of opioid deaths related to that powerful painkiller.

In a health crisis of this scale, there are so many people who want to help that

Maricopa County is also involved in a pilot program to educate student athletes, coaches and parents about proper use of opioids related to sports injuries. Saving lives starts with prevention, and I’m glad our teams are leading the way to protect families from needless heartache.

The Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act gives greater latitude to county agencies to distribute naloxone, a life-saving treatment for overdoses. County employees inside and outside of our jails have been trained to administer it. As one Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy recently told us, “If we have Narcan on our belts and at our disposal to bring that person back to life right away and not have to wait those

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show more than 11 million Americans abused prescription opioids in 2016, nearly one million used heroin, and 2.1 million had an opioid use disorder from either prescription drugs or heroin. This is not a challenge limited to one segment of society. It affects health, public safety, even our economy.

We’re not going to see significant progress overnight, but I’m confident that with continued engagement from policy makers, health care and law enforcement professionals, and community leaders we can begin to make a difference.

Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

At Savanna House, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias will receive the care, respect, dignity and quality of life loved ones want for them. Savanna House offers Heartfelt CONNECTIONS—A Memory Care Program®, to promote physical and emotional well-being, support daily functioning and maintain a sense of satisfaction, dignity and quality of life.

Best of all, Heartfelt CONNECTIONS at Savanna House gives back the control you lost when your loved one was diagnosed with memory loss. You can get back to being who your loved one wants you to be: a daughter, a son, a grandchild or a spouse again.

(Special to GSN)

Denny Barney

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