Mesa Tribune 01-29-2023

Sunday, January 29, 2023

INSIDE Council approves industrial park over school’s opposition

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

The Mesa City Council approved a rezone that will allow 50 acres of vacant land inside a specialty health care district to be turned into industrial buildings available for a wider variety of uses.

The specialty district just south of the U.S. 60 near Baseline and Recker roads was envisioned by city planners 20 years

BUSINESS ........... 22

Mom, daughter open special school for teens, young adults

SPORTS ............... 32

Toros head basketball coach Andy Johnson finds success.

ago as a hub for medicine, research and education.

The developer of the Baseline Business Park, as the recently approved project is known, plans to construct eight buildings totalling 700,000-square-foot of industrial space on spec, meaning there are no tenants lined up yet.

In a presentation by the developer’s representative, attorney Sean Lake, a slide included pharmaceutical and medical industries as likely tenants, but also “food

and grocery,” “apparel” and “general retail.”

Those uses, particularly the last three, are not desirable for the district’s longtime anchor tenant, A.T. Still University, which has opposed the Baseline Business Park project for months.

A.T. Still wants the land to remain earmarked for more complementary uses to the university, like more schools, clinics

COUNCIL page 17

Squatters, off-roaders threaten Twin Knolls’ beauty

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Residents of an unincorporated county island just east of Mesa are trying to raise the alarm with Maricopa County officials that Twin Knolls, a privately owned series of hills rising above the surrounding neighborhood, is becoming a village for squatters, a dumping ground and a magnet for off-roading.

In drone footage shot by residents this month, there were a dozen camps with mattresses, tents, chairs and piles of garbage among palo verde trees and creosote bushes along the base of the hills, which rise on the north side of Main Street just east of 80th Street.

The camps are also visible from streets and see TWIN KNOLLS page 6

Volunteers hit Mesa streets to count unsheltered people.

Twin Knolls neighbors Nancy Damone, Jenifer Finkbeiner and Cathy Dreifort are distressed by a camp of squatters that have turned the north side of the area into a camp ground and a mini-dump. (David Minton/ Tribune Staff Photographer)

Rare finds among Historical Museum’s book sale

This fragile book is from 1913 and contains short essays on philosophy and encouragement, according to Mesa Historical Museum Executive Director Susan Ricci. It is among more than 40,000 old books on sale at the museum next weekend. (Special to the Tribune).

85205

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Times Media Group: 1900 W. Broadway Road Tempe, AZ 85282

CONTACT INFORMATION

Main number: 480-898-6500

Advertising: 480-898-5624

Circulation service: 480-898-5641

Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine

Vice President: Michael Hiatt

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

Senior Account Sales: Ryan Brown 480-898-6482 | rbrown@TimesLocalMedia.com

Local Advertising Sales: Chris Ross | 480-898-5649 | cross@TimesLocalMedia.com

Classifieds/Inside Sales: 480-898-6500 | classifieds@TimesLocalMedia.com

TJ Higgins 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@TimesLocalMedia.com

Director of National Advertising: Zac Reynolds 480-898-5603 | zac@TimesLocalMedia.com

NEWS DEPARTMENT

Executive Editor: Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5631 pmaryniak@TimesLocalMedia.com

Staff Writers: Josh Ortega | 480-898-5610 jortega@TimesLocalMedia.com

Scott Shumaker | 480-898-5634 sshumaker@TimesLocalMedia.com

Sports Editor: Zach Alvira 480-898-5630 | zalvira@TimesLocalMedia.com

Get Out Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski 480-641-4518 christina@TimesLocalMedia.com

Photographer: David Minton | dminton@TimesLocalMedia.com

Designer:

Nathalie Proulx | nproulx@TimesLocalMedia.com

Design/Production Supervisor: Shannon Mead 480-898-5616 smead@TimesLocalMedia.com

Circulation

Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny | aaron@phoenix.org

Distribution Manager Brian Juhl | brian@TimesLocalMedia.com

Motorists should prepare for traffic diversions and runners can lace up their shoes next Saturday, Feb. 4, as the Mesa Marathon presented by Mountain Vista Medical Center hits local streets for the 11th year.

“We are very excited to be entering the second decade of this amazing race with a beautiful new finished venue and with an incredibly talented group of elite runners,” said Darrell Phippen, executive race director. “We

How Will They

are committed to continue providing our participants with a top-tier race experience.”

Participants receive free race day photos and a video, a detailed medal, quality technical shirts, unique swag, and a finish venue.

As the half marathon is an Olympic Trials Qualifying event, a number of elite runners will be participating, including Molly Seidel, who earned the bronze medal for the women’s marathon at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games and has twice placed in the top eight at a major marathon.

She also set the women’s half marathon course record at the Mesa Marathon last year.

World renowned athletes Aliphine Tuliamuk, 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials winner Jordan Hasay and Kim Conley will also be participating.

The 2023 Mesa Marathon will finish at Riverview Park.

This change will only minorly affect the end of the course and the majority of the course will remain the same, organizers said.

For information on the route and festivities: mesamarathon.com.

The Mesa Tribune is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout the East Valley.

sidewalks surrounding the knolls and residents have witnessed the glows of campfires and even heard gunshots coming from the hills.

Residents believe a pair of mannequins hanging from trees on the south side of Twin Knolls have been used for target practice.

“It’s a free-for-all. It’s a party,” said Nancy Damone, who lives in the neighborhood to the north.

Neighbors told the Tribune that the trespassing and illegal camping are making the neighborhood less safe.

They are worried a campfire could spark a wildfire that would spread to the neighborhood and fear reckless driving on and around the property could injure or kill riders and bystanders.

Neighbors are also sad to see the natural beauty of the knolls degraded by the camping and off-roading.

The hills in January were lush, with a hummingbird and roadrunner seen among

Trash and debris from squatters and illegal dumping scattered are strewn about the grounds on the north side of the Twin Knolls area in East Mesa. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

the garbage left at one of the larger sites. Damone describes the recent changes to the hills as a “heartbreak.”

Neighbors first noticed a significant uptick in trespassers about a year-and-a-half ago, when large sections of the wire fence surrounding the property were knocked down and off-roaders started driving on the property.

At that point, residents believe many of the trespassers were local thrill-seekers taking advantage of the landowners’ inattention to drive dirt bikes, ATVs and other off-highway vehicles on parts of the 25acre area.

At the base of the knolls on the north side, users have constructed jumps, and last year, a truck climbing to the top of the hills started rolling and wrecked.

The status quo changed last December, when the number of encampments on the property “exploded.”

Dreifort and others have been frustrated by what they describe as “absentee owners” who have so far failed to secure the area, as well as the response by county of-

ficials so far.

Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez, public information officer for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, said in a statement that Maricopa County has an active code enforcement case against Twin Knolls Two Land LLC, the owner of the largest parcel of property on the hills and an area of concentrated usage.

Enriquez said a notice was sent to the owner a month ago, but the code enforcement officer “has been unable to contact an actual person from that LLC that is responsible for the property.”

“Eventually, he may have to take it to a hearing officer if the property owner doesn’t clean (the property) up, which could result in hefty fines,” he said.

As far as the people currently using the property, Enriquez said current conditions on the Twin Knolls present challenges for law enforcement.

“Without fully fencing in the property to keep trespassers out and/or posting the proper signage, it will be very difficult for a deputy to charge for a trespassing case,” he said. “There needs to be a victim, and not having any contact information for the owners would make that very difficult.”

“In addition, it may be difficult for the deputy to know exactly whose property this trespasser is on, depending on where they are camping as there are no visible property borders,” he said.

The Tribune was unable to reach anyone from Twin Knolls Two Land LLC. A phone number on an old sign posted on the property went to a full voice mailbox.

A man who answered a call to a number the neighbors believe is one of the owners said the Tribune had reached a “corporate number” and declined to answer questions.

The increase in trash and camping on the property is not the first time residents have raised an outcry about hills that overlook their neighborhood.

In 2019, a rock products company signed an agreement with Twin Knolls Two Land LLC to grind down the east side of the knolls into gravel products. In its application, the company said operations to level the hill could take up to 12 years.

Residents formed a group to fight the planned mining operation, which faced fewer hurdles than other development projects due to state law. Neighbors contacted lawmakers and began the process of form-

ing an Aggregate Mining Zoning District and board, which would require the mining company to discuss.

The mining company decided to end its deal with Twin Knolls Two Land after these measures and difficulty obtaining an air quality permit.

Neighbors were terrified of the potential for high levels of quartz dust in their neighborhood.

The future of Twin Knolls is unclear. The hills aren’t easy to develop because of the topography.

Water is also an issue.

The parcels aren’t connected to a water utility, and in 2018, the City of Mesa issued a letter to a different land owner proposing homes on the hills that it could not provide water service to the property.

Damone has a suggestion for the property owners of Twin Knolls: just donate it to the city for a tax write off and “they can turn it into hiking trails or … make it a beautiful place for people,” she said.

Dreifort’s expectations may be more realistic; she thinks neighbors would be satisfied if the owners just built homes on the land.

Mesa counts homeless on frigid morning

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Last Tuesday, Jan. 24, over 100 volunteers gathered in the Salvation Army building on 6th Street at 5 a.m. before heading out into the 30-degree morning.

Their mission: count all the people who slept outdoors in Mesa the previous night, which happened to be the coldest night of the year so far.

Organizers also counted those who stayed in shelters in order to get data on the city’s total unhoused population.

Cities across the country saw similar scenes in the last week in January because an annual Point in Time count of unsheltered people is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for local governments to receive federal funds to combat homelessness.

The PIT count is sometimes one of the

few hard data sets available to communities to understand the complex problem of homelessness, an issue which inspires passionate debate and speculation among the public, and is used by some as a barometer to judge the health of a community.

But it’s also an opportunity for elected officials and residents to get a glimpse of what homelessness really looks like in Mesa.

Those who work with the homeless say that many embrace help and just need a hand up to get through barriers to housing, like administrative hurdles, substance abuse and rising rents.

Last year, the Mesa survey counted 451 people, a 33% increase from 2020, the last time a PIT survey was conducted due to the pandemic.

In Arizona, only Phoenix reported more homeless in 2022, with 3,096.

In order to conduct this year’s count, Mesa organizers split the city into 25 sec-

tors and assigned a team of volunteers to each area.

Over the course of six hours, the teams walked their sections and attempted to make contact with as many unsheltered people as possible.

If the unsheltered person was willing to engage, volunteers then walked through a survey on a phone app. The survey includes over 20 questions about age, gender, race, substance use and other info like veteran status.

Mesa does an actual count of the entire city area while other cities such as Phoenix, count a sample size and then extrapolate a count using algorithms, according to Aaron Raine, the Homeless Resource Coordinator with the Mesa Police Department.

As volunteers took their last sips of coffee and bites of doughnut before heading out into the dark, Mayor John Giles told volunteers that Mesa is “desperately wanting” to address rising

homelessness amid a national surge.

“When we travel to other parts of the country … it’s common to see tent encampments in public parks, even in the medians of roadways. That is the direction that our country and that our county and that our city is going,” he warned.

“Having good data in order to make good decisions and good policies is critical to addressing homelessness,” he said.

Raines said most homeless people are willing to engage with volunteers and take the survey. Teams also have basic hygiene kits available to hand out for anyone who wants them.

Giles was joined by Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia and council members Mark Freeman, Julie Spilsbury and Jenn Duff.

Duff, who represents Mesa’s downtown district, said she has participated in the PIT count every year she has been

Republicans quash bill to make sidewalk sleeping a crime

BY BOB CHRISTIE Capitol Media Services

ARepublican state senator from Mesa’s personal experience with mental illness and homelessness derailed a bid by another GOP lawmaker, a former cop, to make sleeping on a sidewalk a state crime.

Sen. David Farnsworth’s extended comments about his struggles led the chairman of a Senate committee to pull Fountain Hills Sen. John Kavanagh’s proposal from consideration during a hearing this past week. Farnsworth described how a breakdown led him to leave his family home and travel to Seattle, where he lived on the streets and spent time in a homeless shelter.

“And it was a very educational experience for me because I came to the conclusion that mental illness like physical illness can come on any of us and we can heal from it,” Farnsworth said, saying he had panic attacks and was unable to live at home.

“As an adult with children, I ran away from home, so to speak, went up to Seattle, spent weeks up there sitting next to a park,” he said. “During that time period, I was homeless even though I owned a home in Mesa.”

Farnsworth spoke during discussions on Kavanagh's plan to make it a top-level misdemeanor for someone to sleep, lie down or sit on a street, sidewalk or other public right of way. Kavanagh’s proposal mirrors a Phoenix ordinance that is currently on hold because a federal judge blocked enforcement.

Federal courts have held that bans on sleeping in public can't be enforced if there are not enough public shelter beds to house the homeless. Marilyn Rodriguez, a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, told the committee that

the ACLU sued over the Phoenix ordinance and if the proposal were to become law it likely would face a similar fate.

The number of homeless in the state's two largest metro areas, Phoenix and Tucson, have grown significantly in the past five years. In Pima County, last year ís annual homeless count found more than 2,200 people did not have housing, compared to just under 1,400 in 2018. In Maricopa County during that same time period, the number of homeless grew from about 6,300 to more than 9,000.

Rodriguez noted that Phoenix has just 1,800 shelter beds.

But Kavanagh said in an interview with Capitol Media Services that there are often shelter beds available and that the homeless could go to parks or other public areas rather than camping out on the street if there are not open beds. And he noted that the Legislature earmarked $5 million last year for cities to build temporary shelters and Phoenix is not using that money.

“I think it’s because they don’t want to trigger having to clear their streets and parks,” he said.

Losing the support of any Republican in either chamber spells doom for any legislation that lacks Democratic backing, since the GOP has only one-vote majorities in both the House and Senate. And even if bills make it out of the Legislature, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs may hit them with her veto stamp, which she has said she is ready to wield as often as needed.

The Legislature has a series of proposals to deal with homelessness, including an effort from Rep. David Livingston, R-Peoria, that would force homeless people to live in dedicated spots, bar sleeping elsewhere and require the state housing department

to dedicate money to creating camping locations.

Livingston was not available for comment Friday. His bill, which failed to advance in the past two years, is set for a hearing on Monday.

New Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ executive budget also takes on the crisis in homelessness by putting $150 million into the state housing trust fund, money that can be used for homeless shelters, rental and utility assistance and to leverage federal funds to build new affordable housing.

The trust fund has been mainly neglected since its funding was stripped during the Great Recession, although it got a $60 million infusion last year when lawmakers doled out hundreds of millions in surplus cash.

Cities are struggling with how to deal with the homeless.

Phoenix faces a lawsuit from business owners near a sanctioned homeless encampment known as “The Zone,” a half-mile from the state Capitol, seeking to declare the area a public nuisance.

In Tucson, advocates for the homeless filed suit last week seeking to

bar police from conducting clean-up sweeps of encampments ahead of the annual Gem and Mineral Show, a huge tourist draw. The city also faces pressure to address the issue from business and civic groups who say it is a threat to public safety and business.

The sidelining of the ban on sidewalk sleeping was the second Kavanagh bill that hit a roadblock this past week in the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, Public Safety and Border Security chaired by Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista.

His other measure would have made it a crime to solicit for money in a raised or marked median, something that the longtime lawmaker calls dangerous. Kavanagh has tried for years to pass legislation that would prohibit asking for cash at freeway off-ramps or intersections, only to see those efforts fail.

The latest prohibition on begging in a median was pulled from consideration after Gowan amended it to allow people to sell items from the center of the street, a change that Kavanagh did not support.

Kavanagh’s bill on homeless sleeping on sidewalks is unlikely to be revived, at least in its current form, unless Kavanagh is able to change Farnsworth’s mind. But that possibility remains remote at this point.

“The homeless problem is a big problem that we need to address,” Farnsworth said.

“I’m not sure this is the way to do it,” he continued. “In fact, I’m not comfortable in addressing it this way.”

State Sen. David Farnsworth, R-Mesa, rebutted Scottsdale Republican Sen. John Kavanagh’s bid to make sleeping on sidewalks a crime by candidly talking about a time in his life when he was homeless. (Capitol Media Services)

WARNING!

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY AND CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENTS NOT WORKING!!

Mesa, AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful side effects.

The only way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness, balance problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious

cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.

The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further action.

Thankfully, Mesa is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.

1. Finding the underlying cause

2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)

3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition

Aspen Medical in Mesa, AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00. Th is ground-breaking treatment is engineered to achieve the following, accompanied by advanced diagnostics and a basic skin biopsy to accurately analyze results:

1. Increases blood flow

2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves

3. Improves brain-based pain

The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling.

It’s completely painless!

THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS COVERED BY MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST INSURANCES!!

The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!

Aspen Medical begins by analyzing the extent of the nerve damage –a complimentary service for your friends and family. Each exam comprises a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and comprehensive analysis of neuropathy findings.

Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until February 28th 2023. Call (480) 274-3157 to make an appointment

Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this offer to the first 10 c allers Y OU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL (480) 274-3157 NOW!!

We are extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves

Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:

Depending on your coverage, your peripheral neuropathy treatment could cost almost nothing – or be absolutely free.

Aspen Medical 4540 E Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa, AZ, 85206 *(480) 274-3157*

on council.

While Mesa’s homeless population has grown in recent years along with other cities, Duff believes Mesa’s homelessness problem “would be so much worse than it is today” without the measures the city has taken.

Those measures include programs like Off the Streets, which provides temporary shelter and help navigating the assistance offered by various government agencies and nonprofits.

The city also disperses funds for rental assistance to help people avoid homelessness in the first place.

Duff said that hitting the streets and participating in the count “broadens my perspective on the causes of homelessness.”

While mental illness and drug abuse are widely recognized as barriers to getting shelter, Duff said talking to homeless people shows that each story is different.

Many people experience a “hiccup in life” and have trouble keeping up with rent, especially as housing costs have rapidly risen in recent years.

“Once they get into an eviction process … sometimes it’s just the system. There’s things that work against them from being able to get back from the eviction,” she said.

“I’ve even talked to people who are employed and are homeless,” Duff said.

PIT volunteer Ron Wilson, who assists unsheltered people through La Mesa Ministries, said that helping someone get through administrative red tape can make a big difference.

“Someone who can get on the phone and be put on hold” with a government office to help an unsheltered person get a copy of a social security card or other records are sometimes the critical piece for getting someone off the street, he said.

Vital records like these are often necessary to access assistance.

The annual PIT count is not an easy task.

To get an accurate count of the people who are sleeping outdoors and avoid double counting, volunteers start walking the streets before dawn, in order to

reach people before they start moving. People who have slept outdoors are groggy, like anyone just waking up, and may be less enthusiastic about engaging.

In online training before the PIT count, Raine advised volunteers to announce their approach well in advance so they aren’t startling campers or their pets.

On Broadway, near the Paz de Cristo Outreach Center, which provides food, clothing and other services, Raine approached a man curled up in a sleeping bag behind a bus stop and explained that the city of Mesa was conducting the survey.

He agreed to answer questions and as a volunteer went through the survey, a Chihuahua curled up inside the bag periodically barked at the intruders.

Against a chainlink fence nearby, two more people slept inside a tent-like structure improvised from thick comforters.

In order to get anything close to an ac-

curate count, volunteers must venture into some of the nether regions of the city.

From the bus stop, Raine walked east on Broadway before heading toward a small gap in a fence between an empty lot and train tracks.

After ducking through the hole, he walked along a wall near the train tracks, where the ground was littered with cotton swabs and other debris.

Raine says that drug users use the cotton to filter large particles out of the liquid made by “cooking” drugs when preparing a syringe of injectable drug.

Raine checked a spot nearby with a blanket tent against the wall, but there was no one inside this morning – they’d slept somewhere else or had already started moving.

On the sidewalk outside Paz de Cristo, Giles reflected on things he’s learned while conducting counts.

He said in his view one of the basic divisions in the homeless population is between those that are resistant to assis-

tance and those that are open to it.

“You walk up to folks and they’re lying in the park, and we say, ‘Hey, we got some services right over here,’ … and they say, ‘No, thank you.’ Literally they say ‘I’m an addict, and I’m not ready,’” he said.

“The system is broken, but it’s not as broken for people who are not service resistant. There are pathways” out of homelessness, he said.

“Change is hard for everyone,” even for those who have adapted to life without a permanent home, Raine said Raine said he is motivated by “watching people get their lives back.”

He’s seen people get off and stay off the streets, and counts people he has helped get into shelter among his friends.

A spokesperson for the city said this year’s count was completed without any issues reported. The city expects the data on Mesa’s homeless population to be released by the Maricopa Association of Governments in April.

Mayor John Giles, left, and Aaron Raine, homeless service coordinator for the Mesa Police Department, look for unsheltered people on Broadway during Mesa’s annual Point in Time homeless survey.

MPS board trip tiff gives way to unanimity

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Adispute broke out among two Mesa Public Schools Governing Board members Jan. 24 over a taxpayer-funded trip to a conference in Miami, Florida.

Member Rachel Walden disagreed with colleagues about whether the district should pay for board member Kiana Sears’ travel to an annual National School Board Association.

But the spat was brief, and when the board moved on to consider whether to join a class action lawsuit against several social media giants, including the parent companies of Snapchat and Instagram, unanimous agreement again prevailed.

Before that, though, there was serious discussion about Sears’ request for $2,500 in travel funds to attend the NSBA’s Annual Conference for

Public Education Leaders April 1 through 3.

In public comments, Ed Steele, a former school board candidate, told the board MPS should not “support, align with and send district funds” to the NSBA.

He cited a controversial letter it sent to the Biden administration in 2021 requesting federal assistance in protecting school board members and other school officials from violence and threats.

The letter came in the wake of rancorous school board meetings across the country during public discussion of COVID protocols like masking and remote learning.

One of the controversial aspects of the letter described “acts of malice, violence and threats against public school officials” as “domestic terrorism.”

Steele characterized the letter as

an attempt to “put down angry parents speaking out at school board meetings.”

The letter generated backlash against the NSBA and in February 2022, the Arizona School Board Association withdrew from the organization, stating it could not fulfill its mission if it is “continuously called to account for the actions of NSBA.”

Walden echoed Steele’s view of the NSBA’s 2021 letter.

“I feel we do have an obligation to build a sense of trust with our parents,” Walden said, “and we have an entity that is working with the government to put down our First Amendment rights.”

“Parents then I would think that we want to disassociate ourselves with that entity as much as possible,” she said.

Last year, the board approved a policy of providing board members

up to $2,500 for professional development, including travel and registration costs for attending conferences.

Superintendent Dr. Andi Fourlis told the board that the policy does not include stipulations on what the professional learning is about; board members just need to present to their colleagues about what they learned and how it impacted their leadership.

Sears said attending the conference would benefit Mesa schools.

“As the largest school board in this (state), it’s important that we are informed, educated and actually attend professional development. To not do so is a disservice to this district,” she said.

The NSBA’s national conference offers over 100 sessions for attend-

Group to parachute with a purpose

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

BASE jumping nonprofit returns to Camelback Mountain for traumatic brain injury solutions fundraiser, and benefit concert to bring attention to veteran suicide.

Members of the veteran-run nonprofit 22 Jumps will take to the skies on February 4 to fundraise research and treatment options for veterans who suffer from traumatic brain injury and other mental health issues contributing to the current epidemic of veteran suicide.

“We combine BASE jumping, fundraising, event planning, and visual storytelling to support the development of durable solutions for traumatic brain injuries,” 22 Jumps founder Tristan Wimmer said. BASE jumping is the recreational sport of jumping from fixed objects and using a parachute to descend safely to the ground, and the acronym “BASE” stands for the four

categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: buildings, antenna, spans such as bridges, and earth – most of the time meaning cliffs.

This year, two local businesses are partnering with 22 Jumps to expand fundraising efforts.

On Thursday, Feb. 2, Dixxon Flannel Co. will host a benefit concert featuring local band Los Gringos on at its Tempe showroom presented by Cider Corps.

The next day, Cider Corps will hold a sit-down dinner in its Mesa Taproom with three speakers from Cohen Veteran Bioscience and other leaders in traumatic brain injury research to discuss advancements in TBI.

“Currently, there is no way for a medical provider to tell someone that they have a TBI that is attributed to a previous mechanism of injury,” Wimmer said. “22 Jumps, in partnership with CVB and our other research partners, hope to change that.”

Suicide is the second leading cause of

death among post-9/11 veterans.

Wimmer and Chris Carnahan will each complete 22 BASE jumps off Camelback Mountain on Saturday, Feb. 4. Each jump is

symbolic of the 22 active duty service members and veterans in the U.S. who succumb to suicide each day.

“I think that physically and mentally that many jumps, with the combined hiking aspect, will push me out of any comfort zone that I am typically used to with parachuting,” Carnahan said.

The jumps will be held as part of the fourth annual 22 Jumps event at Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, beginning at 6 a.m. Those who wish to support are asked to meet at the Echo Canyon Trailhead.

Wimmer, a Marine Corps Infantryman and Scout Sniper veteran, founded the nonprofit in 2020 in memory of his brother Kiernan Wimmer, a recon and Marine Forces Special Operations Command Marine who served a tour of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Kiernan suffered a massive TBI in Al Anbar, Iraq, in 2006 and his quality of life de-

Jumps nonprofit was founded in 2020 in memory of Kiernan Wimmer, a recon and Marine Forces Special Operations Command Marine who served a tour of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. (22 Jumps)

ees to choose from. Topic categories include innovation in “district management,” “personal development” and “diversity and inclusion.”

Board President Marcie Hutchinson backed the travel request.

“The NSBA probably misstepped, but anytime we make a decision, we have to weigh costs versus benefits,” she said. “I believe that the benefits

that we as board members can receive and therefore transmit to our district far exceed the cost of association with a group that supports public education.”

“I would hate to think that with one misstep, we cut off communications and learning opportunities that can provide better opportunities and real life meaningful experiences for our kids,” she continued.

The board voted to approve the

travel expenditure three “yes” votes to Walden’s “no” vote, with one member absent.

Later in the meeting, the board tackled a question that proved less controversial: should the board authorize MPS’s legal staff to work with outside counsel to draft a complaint against Meta, Snap, TikTok parent company Bytedance, and several others.

The answer was a resounding yes.

The board heard a presentation from Joseph Tann, an Arizona attorney who specializes in civil litigation against large, typically Fortune 500, companies.

Tann is lead counsel for Tucson and Pima County in their suits related to the opioid epidemic.

He also currently represents MPS and other Arizona districts in a suit against vaping manufacturer Juul.

“More and more research confirms that these algorithms, corporate decisions and business strategies of companies such as Tik Tok, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube have contributed to unprecedented rates of anxiety, depression, body image issues, thoughts of self-harm, and even suicidal ideation in school aged children throughout the coun -

try, including right here in Arizona,” Tann told the board.

Tann said the suit aims to force social media companies to make their products less harmful to kids’ mental health, and “provide our schools with funding necessary to educate our kids about the impacts of nonstop, constant social media use on their developing brains.”

He said Seattle Public Schools filed the first case several weeks ago, and MPS’ complaint would likely be the first in Arizona.

“We came to you once again first, because you are a leader,” Tann said. “And just like you were in the Juul litigation, we think Mesa Public Schools is the right entity to step up and do what’s right here.”

“Thank you so much for doing this because we know this is a huge concern,” Sears said.

At odds a short time earlier, Walden said she wanted to echo Sears’ support for the suit.

“We have seen a lot of mental health issues in the kids and we’re short of resources,” she said. “So this is important for the district.”

The board approved the district’s legal staff to move forward with the complaint 4-0.

and hospitals.

The university also fears warehouses will lead to heavy truck traffic in an area where they want to maintain a campus-like feel.

Besides A.T. Still, which currently has 900 employees at its Mesa campus, several other health care facilities have moved into the district, as well as the Ross Farnsworth Y.M.C.A.

Much has transpired in the 254-acre Arizona Health & Technology Park since 2004, but there are still sizable parcels of vacant land in the district.

Now, the owner of a 50-acre vacant parcel wants to offload the land with a more marketable land use.

A.T. Still pleaded with the city to hold out for projects closer to the original plan.

“Two decades ago the city and ATSU joined hands on a long-term vision, and that was to develop an academic healthcare community – think ASU with a health care focus,” A.T. Still Vice President of University Partnerships Gary Cloud told the council.

“The question that you guys are having to answer today,” Cloud continued, “is this a hand hold thing, is Mesa letting go? … Will we have a chance to grow the village or not?”

City staff tried to make the project less obnoxious for the university by negotiating a development agreement with Baseline Business Park that states no more than 49% of any building can be used for warehousing.

The DA also prohibits many uses that would be allowed under Light Industrial zoning, such as a towing and impound lot.

Planning Director Mary KospaskieBrown told the board that staff believes the agreement will encourage manufacturing and research uses in the complex.

The project was earlier called “Baseline Logistics Park,” and the change to Baseline Business Park is probably meant to highlight the attempted shift away from warehousing and shipping uses.

The developer also increased the setbacks of the buildings on the site and raised the height of screening walls.

Traffic engineers for the city of Mesa told council that the roadways and medians would be designed to discourage trucks from driving east from the businesses park toward A.T. Still.

A.T. Still lobbied for a more extreme measure to limit truck traffic by keeping Sunview and Inverness Roads from connecting, but the city nixed this idea, citing poor design.

During council members’ discussion of the project, many expressed their high regard for the university and what has been accomplished so far.

Council member Scott Somers abstained from the discussion and vote because he has a conflict of interest: his wife works for A.T. Still University.

“I’m not letting go. I’m still holding your hand,” said Council member Julie Spilsbury, who represents the district where A.T. Still is located. “I know that the city values you.”

Spilsbury, and other council members, said that they felt the developer and city staff had adequately addressed the university’s concerns about spoiling the campus feel of the area.

She also pointed out that the school still has land available on its campus to expand.

“I just think that, when all is said and done, it makes sense to put this

development here,” Spilsbury said.

Mayor John Giles also heaped praise on the university, but said he felt like all of the university’s concerns had been addressed, except for keeping Sunview a dead end, which he thinks would be a bad idea.

“Having a public street not connect to another public street is not good planning,” he said.

The council voted unanimously to

PARACHUTE from page 15

teriorated over the next nine years until he took his own life in 2015.

22 Jumps utilizes BASE jumping as a fundraising platform to support the development of short-term and long-term TBI solutions and started the Camelback event as a tribute to Kiernan Wimmer, but Tristan quickly expanded its scope after learning about the countless families affected by veteran suicide.

This will be the group’s seventh event nationwide and each event has a fundraising goal of $22,000.

To date the organization has raised more than $180,000.

Proceeds support the Kiernan Wimmer TBI Innovation Initiative at Cohen Veteran Bioscience , a nonprofit biomedical research organization dedicated to fast-tracking pre-

approve the project 6-0, with Somers abstaining.

A.T. Still had no comment following the decision, but before the vote, an attorney for the university did not mince words about the significance of a green light for Baseline Business Park.

“An approval is quitting, it is quitting, on the General Plan’s designation of this area as a specialty district for medical uses,” he said.

cision diagnostics and tailored therapeutics for millions of people who suffer the devastating effects of trauma-related and other brain disorders and brain trauma, a major risk factor for suicide.

If You Go...

Los Gringos Benefit Concert

When: Thursday, Feb. 2, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Dixxon Flannel Showroom, 7200 S. Priest Drive, Tempe.

Cost: $22

Fundraising Dinner

When: Friday, Feb. 3, 6-10 p.m.

Where: Cider Corps Mesa, 31 S. Robson, Mesa

Cost: $200

Tickets: for the concert and dinner:: bit.ly/3ZK9qmf.

Information/donations: 22Jumps.org.

A sign heralds Mesa's Health and Technology Park, which now will be the home to eight light industrial buildings that existing businesses consider inappropriate for the area. (Tribune file photo)

Gift shop owner has passion for trinkets, Mesa

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

For 15 years, Michelle Skaarup has wanted to start her own gift shop and share her love of trinkets.

Her dream became a reality in November when she opened the Just Because Gift Shop at 54 W. Main St. in downtown Mesa.

She offers knickknacks and bric-abrac for everyone, from locals looking for a fun gift to tourists looking to take a piece of Arizona home.

The small shop sits tucked away off Main Street in an alley behind Dickson’s Jewelers but Skaarup said the parking lot behind the shop makes draws plenty of customers.

“We really catch their eye as

see GIFT SHOP page 20

Church completes expansion of Mesa campus

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

Growth continues for Generation Church in Mesa, called one of the nation’s 100 fastest-growing congregations.

On Jan. 15, Generation Church, at 1010 S. Ellsworth Road not only celebrated the grand opening of its $2 million remodel that doubled its capacity to 1,100 people, but also celebrated its ninth anniversary since Pastor Ryan Visconti and his father, Randy Visconti, founded it in 2014.

For six of the last seven years, Generation has made the list of America’s 100 fastest-growing congregations, according to Christian publi-

cation “Outreach Magazine.”

Despite the pandemic’s impact on many the places of worship, Generation’s Communications Director Carlos Sandoval said they’ve felt “fortunate and blessed” to see growth where others didn’t.

That comes partly from Generation Church’s culture. “I feel like our church is very welcoming, the moment you walk into the church you see a lot of smiling faces.” Sandoval said. “So, there’s like that culture where people feel welcomed, and they feel at home.”

The Mesa campus currently offers Sunday services at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m.

see CHURCH page 21

Michelle Skaarup, owner of Just Because Gift Shop in Mesa, realized long-time dream when she opened. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

Generation Church in Mesa offers kids a brightly decorated room for play. (Courtesy Generation Church)

Artists group, Mesa nonprofit develops kids’ talent

BY SRIANTHI PERERA Tribune Contributor

The community center at House of Refuge in Mesa was a hive of activity recently as children from 4 to 13 socialized after the school day.

Some drew cartoon characters on the large white board. Meanwhile, volunteers from Gilbert Visual Art League bustled about preparing for an art class.

The lead teacher was Heather Livingston, who, together with Donna Finter and Deepika Haldankar, taught paintpour art to about 20 children.

Seated around a long table, each child was given a small canvas. They donned aprons in preparation but their animated chattering did not abate.

The followed Livingston pouring three acrylic paint colors into a small plastic cup. She passed the cup around so that the children saw the purple, pink and blue paints layered inside.

She placed a canvas atop the cup and turned it over. While the paint was still contained by the cup, she dabbed white paint on the canvas and spread it around.

Then, she lifted the cup and let the paint pour into all corners, creating a design. Lastly, she created a bubbly effect by spraying a bit of silicone on the canvas.

Soon, the children began to create their own abstract paintings.

“Just notice how the kids are suddenly quiet now,” Livingston said. “Their self-esteem improves when they see what they can create.”

“It’s meditative and relaxing,” Finter added.

Taylor Haught, 8, said she was attending art day for the fourth or fifth time, explaning, “I meet new friends.”

Soon, the scene was a messy and colorful mix of dripping canvases, soaked paper towels and paint splatters on the plastic tablecloth.

“I find it’s kind of a therapy if you can express yourself on canvas through abstract. By the colors you choose, it helps to be creative,” Livingston said. “If you have problems and you want to get in a different world in your mind, it’s very therapeutic.”

Aria, a 10-year-old who participates in the class frequently, said the class “is like a daycare for kids. But we don’t get to sleep. We only play here.”

The House of Refuge offers rental housing to families who are experiencing homelessness. Families receive help from professional staff to heal from trauma, secure suitable employ-

ment and obtain permanent housing.

Gilbert Visual Art League, also a nonprofit, aims to help people develop or improve their art capabilities. It has been volunteering to teach art classes to children and adults at various venues, including HD SOUTH in Gilbert.

The league has donated 236 pieces of member art for House of Refuge’s offices and 88 community homes. A year ago, league volunteers began weekly teaching sessions at the House of Refuge community center, with a lead teacher and two assistants.

Lessons included complementary colors, overlapping to show proportion, crayon resist, creating patterns, fabric art, printing, wearable art, paint pours, collage, stenciling and mixed media. The children use markers, crayons, acrylic, tempera, and watercolor paints, some of which were donated by the volunteers.

“We are so grateful that GVAL has committed their time, talent and treasure to love on the children at House of Refuge through their weekly art activities in our community center,” said Kayla Kolar, president of the nonprofit. “This has given the kids a new tool to use for self-expression and to just do something fun that they don’t often get to do.

“The benefits of these art classes to the well-being of our children are immeasurable,” she added.

Jocelyn Pena, co-director of the community center, said attendance soars on Wednesdays. “They really do enjoy the volunteers who come and help,” she said.

Pena has noted changes in the children.

“They are becoming better at socializing with the other kids, doing more homework and reading,” she said. “So, it’s always nice seeing that.”

Participating in an art program means having fun, growing in art abilities, expressing thoughts and feelings visually, and increasing self-esteem through positive experiences.

“Many of the children at House of Refuge have experienced more difficulties than other children, so art therapy can be especially helpful,” Finter said. “Art is a wonderful form of therapy for working through life’s challenges.”

At first, Finter said she thought leading children’s art at House of Refuge was a way to return what others did for her as a child.

“I thought I was doing a service for the kids. However, I gain so much from my interactions with these deserving, sweet kids,” she said. “Many of the volunteers say that their time with the children is the highlight of their week. I agree.”

Details: houseofrefuge.org and gval. org.

Riegann Bryant is happy to create an abstract art using shades of blue and white paint during an art class led by Gilbert Visual Art League volunteers at House of Refuge in Mesa. (Courtesy of Deepika Haldankar)

Owen Sipe (at left) watches while Ethan Sipe chooses acrylic paint for his abstract paint pour at House of Refuge in Mesa. (Courtesy of Deepika Haldankar)

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND

SUDOKU

from Page 37

GIFT SHOP from page 18

they’re walking by and they pop in and see us and they’re excited to see something new,” Skaarup said. Much of Skaarup’s inspiration for this shop came from her own love for gift shops, especially one she visited in North Carolina.

“I can’t go by a gift shop and not go in,” Skaarup said. “It’s just a passion of mine. I just love trinkets and little cute things.”

But coming up with a name proved the hardest part and after running a list of names by her teenage daughter, Skaarup picked the simplest one with the most meaning.

“In the end, we’re a gift shop and we have something for everybody for every occasion – or just because,” Skaarup said. “I always think the best gifts are just because.”

Many of the items Skaarup sourced from trade shows as well as from her vendors and from her neighboring business, Dickson’s Jewelers.

Skaarup seems to have a natural

business sense that may have developed from working in Dickson’s while she attended Westwood High School.

She purchased the jewelry store from her aunt and uncle and has owned it for the past 15 years.

In the 15 years of owning Dickson’s, Skaarup said many customers enjoyed her window décor so much and they asked if they could purchase them. After years of saying no, Skaarup has an answer for them.

“So now when they say ‘can I buy that?’ I say ‘absolutely, right back in the gift shop,” Skaarup explained.

Despite the economic woes some businesses have felt, Skaarup said people in Mesa have shown up to “support local” and gave her her best year in her time owning Dickson’s.

Skaarup said the new shop also brings a welcome sight to the downtown area that has become known for many secondhand stores.

“So, it is refreshing to bring something new to downtown so I’m really

excited about that,” Skaarup said.

The holiday shopping season left Skaarup “quite surprised” – considering all the foot traffic she received especially for on Nov. 26, Small Business Saturday, when the gift shop generated over $1,000 in sales.

“It was a really good and I never in my mind thought we would do numbers like that in one day,” Skaarup said.

Though Skaarup just wanted to set a good example for her daughter, a freshman at Red Mountain High School, it appears operating a small business has become a family tradition.

Skaarup credits her daughter with “a big part” of helping to get the store ready including ripping up carpet and painting walls, along with helping in the business on Saturdays.

“I was trying to look forward to something and show her you can do anything,” Skaarup said. “If you have an idea, you can make it happen.”

Information: 480-590-0215.

CHURCH from page 18

and 4:30 p.m. – the most of all three of its campuses. It also has campuses in Ahwatukee and Fountain Hills.

Prior to this expansion, Sandoval said the Mesa church averaged just under the auditorium capacity of 550 for each service, or about 1,500 per week.

Since a soft launch of the 32,000-square-foot building in December, Sandoval said they’ve seen around 750 people per service and are “seeing steady growth week over week.”

Sandoval said the growth has amazed the church leaders and that many people said they had been waiting for the expansion’s completion before they attended.

“We definitely saw a big growth just in the last couple weeks,” Sandoval said.

This growth is attributed to Pastor Visconti, whose parents, Randy and Dawn, had been the pastors of then-Celebration Church, founded in 1999.

Visconti served as an Army Cavalry captain in Iraq in 2010 and thought about a law career after his service until he felt a calling to follow in his father’s footsteps.

After his honorable discharge from the Army, Visconti went to New Liberty University, where he earned a master’s degree in theology and joined the Generation Church staff as an executive pastor in 2011.

After several years, Ryan and his dad discussed possible names for this new church and Randy suggested the name “Generation Church.”

“They didn’t realize how much the church would live up to that name, making a generational impact and demonstrating the power of a godly legacy,” according to their website. “Today, Generation Church’s ministry shows the power of the gospel to change lives from one generation to

Ob uaries

480-898-6465

• obits@TimesLocalMedia.com

Deadline: Wednesday by 5pm for Sunday

Linda Harling

EVERLASTING

“Memories

LETTERING

480-969-0788 75 W. Baseline Rd. Ste. A-8 Gilbert, AZ 85233 www.everlastingmonumentco.com info@everlastingmonument.phxcoxmail.com

the next.”

In June 2017, Generation Church launched the South Mountain campus in Ahwatukee following a merger with New Life Church at 11832 South Warner Elliot Loop in Ahwatukee, which had been established by Ryan’s in-laws, Paul and Beth Lavino, in 1991.

After a merger with Fountain Hills Christian Center in 2017, Generation launched its most recent campus.

With more direct and bold preaching compared to other “motivational-type” churches, Sandoval said the church appeals to people’s desire to grow in their own faith and the new building helps them build that up.

“So, I think that’s where there’s a need at,” Sandoval said. “So, when they come in, they come out not just feeling good, but they feel that they’re growing in their faith and in their walk with God.”

Information: generation.church.

Rev. Ryan Visconti is the pastor of Generation Church in Mesa, which his father Rev. Ryan Visconti founded in 2014. (Facebook)

Valley housing analyst sees sellers bouncing back in Mesa

The leading analyst of the Valley’s housing market says 2023 is starting to look like the year when the sellers market will return after a gloomy second half of 2022.

But the Cromford Report says it might take a while psychologically for both buyers and sellers to find much to be happy about.

“The trend is now moving in favor of sellers, having been favorable to buyers a month ago,” it said earlier this month. “So, although there is gloom and despondency almost everywhere, amid the murk there are clear signs of improvement.

“Because sentiment is so poor, there is psychological pressure to lower prices. However, there is no such downward pressure coming from the market. If all trading was done by unemotional computers, prices should

see MARKET page 27

Mom, daughter open a special special-needs school

BY MELODY BIRKETT Tribune Contributor

AMesa mom and daughter are using their teaching experience to offer a school that serves teens and young adults with special needs.

Teri Baldwin and daughter Cierra Gray last November opened The Passage: Learning for Life near University Drive and Lindsay Road for teens 14 and older as well as young adults..

Baldwin has over 30 years as a speech therapist working in public schools, private schools and home health.

“I’ve only worked with kids with

special needs,” she said. “I’ve done the whole thing as far as speech therapy including being a teacher for a classroom with autistic students.”

She’s now the speech language pathologist and clinical director and cofounder of the private school.

Gray, the CFO, was a high school math teacher for seven years at Dobson High School.

“ This has been my mom’s dream for the last couple of years,” said Gray. “We just got to a point where we needed to start it. I quit my job teaching and we put everything we have into this.”

The original plan was to open a learning center in Queen Creek where

students could interact with animals and do gardening.

“Once COVID hit, we wanted to open a farm but nobody was leaving their homes,” Baldwin said. “So, I went to Saudi Arabia and helped open up one of the first special ed classrooms in the kingdom. It was really good. Prior to that, kids in the kingdom weren’t allowed to go to school.”

The Passage teaches life and work skills to those with cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities such as Down syndrome and autism.

“I feel strongly they need to be able to sign their name on the check, be able to order at a restaurant or buy a soda out of the vending machine,”

said Baldwin.

“As all of my kids have gotten older, many can’t order at a restaurant or they can’t go to a movie with a friend. I was so aware of stuff they were missing out on,” she explained.

“Even though you need support, once you’re 15 and 16, you don’t always want to go out to eat with your mom. You want friends and a little independence no matter what. That became a very big need that I saw and focused on.”

Even though students might be living with their parents, Baldwin said they can still live more independent -

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

This 10,200-square-foot house on North Legacy in Mesa recently sold for $3.8 million. With seven bedrooms and 8 ½ bathrooms on 1.7 acres, the sprawling, gated house is loaded with amenities, including a six-car garage, gourmet kitchen, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. two pools with a lazy river and numerous water features and a media room. (Special to the Tribune)

Mesa-based seafood eatery expanding into England

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

Angry Crab Shack, which was started in Mesa in 2013 by former NFL player and Arizona State University alum Ron Lou, is venturing across the pond, where company President Andy Diamond said London’s diverse, international dining scene makes it the perfect recipe for expansion.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to delight London residents with our endless combinations of Cajun and Asian flavored seafood boils and are looking forward to growing throughout the country,” Diamond said.

Angry Crab Shack currently operates 16 of 19 locations in Arizona and others in Nevada, Texas, and Alabama.

Though the chain has two more locations set to open in Georgia and Washington, the London location represents a new frontier for the com-

pany.

The location will sit near in the heart of the London dining scene of Soho and Chinatown, just a short walk from Buckingham Palace.

Lucy Liang of Mason and M Ltd., which will operate the 2,000-squarefoot London restaurant, said the brand will stand out in in London’s dining scene because of its food, community initiatives and familyfriendly dining experience.

Sonia Sheng said the endeavor started when the ownership group perused Instagram searching for “seafood boil,” which led them to the Angry Crab Shack Instagram page and eventually their website.

Diamond said Angry Crab Shack has advertised franchising since 2017 and that expanding its brand to a tourist-heavy destination has helped it expand even more.

In April 2022, the team of UK invessee ANGRY CRAB page 28

Sonia Sheng, left, will manage Angry Crab Shack’s London location, with an assist from Wilson Liou, Edwin Tsang and Neal Shao (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

ly.

“They can empty the dishwasher and cook dinner.”

She said students also are taught how to order groceries online. “When I go to the movies, I buy my tickets and food online. I could get a ride there and be fine. I could get an Uber on my phone and come home. We’re teaching all of that. We’ll order groceries through Amazon or Fry’s and then have it delivered and then we put it away.”

The school has a laundry room, too, where students learn to sort clothes.

“We want them to be able to take care of their own house,” Baldwin said. “We want to work on job skills, where they might like to work, what can they do. And then we’ll customize job training for them.”

“Every student has strengths. You just need to be creative to find a job they’ll like and that they’re good at.”

She said nearby businesses are open to help.

“We want to have real job skills that are structured and supported and then work on their resume. Most kids with any kind of special needs … have trouble with a job application which is so hard to fill out.

“We want to do an adaptive job application they can bring with them that they have filled out with the real experience on it they can take to an employer.”

Gray sad the school also introduces students to “overall wellness – mind, body and soul.”

“That’s where we do things like yoga,” she said. “It’s where we have our welcome meetings. It’s where we talk about positive things we can do with our bodies and make sure we’re staying healthy.

“After that, we have our home economics. We talk about cleaning and taking care of the home. We talk about budgeting and money.”

The curriculum also offers culinary arts so that students can get their

Teri Baldwin and her daughter Cierra Gray operate The Passage: Learning for Life, a school for special needs people 14 and up. (Special to the Tribune) see

be stabilizing right now.”

It also advised, “At this stage in the market cycle, where we are just emerging from despair, all positive signs will be greeted with generous amounts of cynicism. We recommend eliminating all emotions and just focusing on the numbers.”

In looking at market shifts in favor of sellers in the Valley, the Cromford Report said, “Fastest movers over the last month are Chandler, Avondale and Mesa” but warned, “Sun Lakes looks very weak with unusually low demand.”

Still, it’s hard to put on a happy face in light of some of the numbers the Cromford Report served up.

Compared to Jan. 1, 2022, it said, the opening bell for this year found that while listings were up 182%, those under contract were down 41.9% and monthly sales plummeted 44.6% –from 9,265 to 5,132. “We have very low volumes of closings because both buyers and sellers are discouraged,” Crom-

ford Report explained.

“The numbers confirm that demand is very weak compared to normal for the time of year, and even weaker compared to the strong demand 12 months ago,” it continued. “However weak demand does not necessarily make a market crash. Excess supply is what really drives prices down hard. This is what we saw in 2006 through 2008. But in 2023 supply is low and getting lower. It is much higher than this time last year, when it was abnormally low, but it is still a long way below normal.”

It also saw little reason to worry about a 3.5% decline in the median price of homes – down to about $410,000 from $425,000 – because “sales prices are a trailing indicator and these moves reflect the balance in the market in November, when we experienced a clear advantage for buyers.”

“Leading indicators are looking more positive,” it said. “This probably stems from interest rates being less horrible than they were six weeks ago. Demand is starting to stabilize and

even showing a few signs of a slow recovery. With new supply very weak, we are not witnessing a market crash. This is merely a correction, with prices now just a tad lower than a year ago.”

The big unknown is the Federal Reserve, it said.

“We are still dependent on the whims of the Federal Reserve. If they continue to push the Federal Funds Rate higher in an attempt to curb inflation, then mortgage rates could move higher too, putting a quick damper on any recovery in demand. However, if the 30-year fixed mortgage rate stays between 6% and 6.75%, then we should have confidence that the housing market can operate normally at this level.”

It said such market confidence will come from several months of interest rate stability and conceded, “This is by no means certain to happen, but it is possible.”

“Once the fear is removed,” it added, “we should see more signs of a recovery in demand and volumes will rise back towards a more normal level.”

The Cromford Report also said, “The

gap between the re-sale and newly built numbers continues to grow. The new-home market is far more healthy than the re-sale market both in volume and in pricing.”

It also said that among the Valley’s 17 major home sub-markets, “Paradise Valley is improving for sellers at an astonishing pace, with supply dropping and demand rising. Not far behind are Avondale, Chandler and Mesa, all up more than 30% over the past month.” Phoenix was not far behind, rising 24% in favor of sellers.

That data helped explain the Cromford Report’s cautious optimism when it said, “Confidence could be making a comeback sooner than expected.”

SCHOOL from page 26

food handlers license.

“After that, we move into our vocational voyage where we work on prevocational tasks and vocational tasks depending on where our kids are at. And then our last class of the day is our lifetime leisure skills, which is where we play games together, do hobbies and art.”

The full-time program is billed quarterly and individual courses are billed monthly. Individual courses run $600 per month (five days a week for one hour for a month. Some classes are two hours long and cost $1,200.

“If a child has special needs and gets pulled out of a public school they qualify for ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account) funds and we are an ESA-approved vendor,” Gray said.

The school has space for up to 20 students and prefers that students enroll in the monthly program.

“Ideally, we want the kids to enroll in school because the curriculum progresses as we go,” Teri explained. “It’s a little harder if somebody joins a lot later. Then they’ve missed some of the foundational instruction.”

Students also make sugar scrubs, soaps and lotions, paint pots, grow vegetables, and sell items in the store. The money goes into the program to buy more materials. The store is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Baldwin also is writing a book for teachers of kids with autism, explaining the symptoms and how to include them in a classroom.

Information: thepassagelearningforlife.com and ThePassageLearningForLife@gmail.com.

ANGRY CRAB from page 24

tors had to experience the restaurant for themselves. The team visited several Angry Crab Shack locations in the Valley and decided the Arizona brand would make a jolly good addition to the British dining scene.

Sheng was one of those “secret guests” and said she liked the experience of fresh, quality food along with an “energetic and very welcoming” staff.

“We see lots of people and how they feel relaxed and enjoy their food, feel fun when they have the food in the restaurant,” Sheng said. “I really liked that experience.”

Sheng will serve as the general manager for the London location and looks to use it as a springboard to open more restaurants in the UK.

Mason and M Ltd. plans to open two additional restaurants in London and Cambridge and will have the option to become a master franchisee for the United Kingdom.

With branching out overseas, some

changes to the restaurants will take place, including capacity and appliances.

While most Angry Crab locations in the US have a 200-seat capacity, the London location will shrink to less than 100.

Most American locations utilize natural gas to cook their food, but the London location will have an allelectric kitchen, that Diamond said it took some work to recreate the hot, fresh food the restaurant has become known for.

“So, it was finding the right type of equipment that could produce the menu that we have here in the US,” Diamond said.

But when they do master the flavor, Sheng said the unique Asian/Cajun flavor and hot, fried foods that will serve as a delicious cultural shock for Londoners.

“They use a very nice way to present a sandwich and show the people it can be hot,” Sheng said. “It’s a lot of different things I think UK people can expect.”

Super Bowl ‘bargains’ put skinning in the game

BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist

With Super Bowl LVII fast approaching, one can only marvel at the prices being commanded from the tourists coming to the Valley for the Big Game. I am currently staring at the booking page for a Motel Six located near 51st Avenue and McDowell Road in Maryvale.

The price for a 200-square-foot “premium room,” which features two double beds, a fridge, a microwave, and a violent crime rate over twice the national average?

A mere $864 a night.

Keep in mind, this is a hotel with 906 reviews that average two stars. This is not exactly Fodor’s material: “Holes in the walls and floor, green sludge on the

floor. Deposit was more than the room. Check out took 45 minutes. Security was solid though.”

I’m a glass-half-full fellow. Between the solid security and the free wifi, I can’t recommend these luxe accommodations enough. My only regret is that the Dallas Cowboys got knocked out of the playoffs. I would’ve paid big money to see some cowpoke in a 10-gallon Stetson and a Roger Staubach jersey trying to choose between Filiberto’s up the street or the IHOP on the other side of I-10.

Then there’s trying to book a round of golf. If you read this space regularly, you know I’m addicted to that cursed game.

Right now, even modest public golf courses plan to gouge golfers for upwards of $300 a round during Super Bowl week. Consider OrangeTree in Scottsdale, which in summer is almost worth every

bit of their $50 bucks in greens fees. This week, rounds in prime time are going for about $150 for 18 holes.

Super Bowl week? If you want to play the Friday morning before the game, be prepared to part with $315 per person.

Factor in that it’ll be a five-hour round full of drunken bros sporting cigars the size of a 7-iron and I’ll pass. But look on the bright side: These would-be Bryson DeChambeaus typically shoot about 120 not counting mulligans. At $2.62 a stroke, that makes OrangeTree a better buy than a gallon of unleaded.

According to a study by researchers at Arizona State University, SB57 should create about 100,000 visitors to Glendale and points beyond and about $600 million in economic impact.

A sizable portion of this haul will be created by locals renting out their

homes. Browsing the available shortterm rentals on VRBO shows about 300 properties left unrented.

The most opulent of the bunch: A “tropical modern paradise” atop Camelback Mountain renting for about $16,000 a night – or 114 grand for the week. It’s a six-bedroom private gated villa close to Paradise Valley with a chipping green and a bocce court. It also includes “daily maid service” and “500 thread count luxury white linens.”

No word on whether security is solid.

As a get-rich-quick scheme, I briefly considered going on vacation and renting out my place. Or as I planned to describe it on Airbnb: “Motel 5! LIke A Motel 6 Minus The Crime!”

If a room full of green sludge gets

49ers strike gold with East Valley rookie

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

Hall of Fame catcher and noted clubhouse philosopher Yogi Berra offered a mathematically dubious calculation to describe the “mind games” within our national pastime. You might call it “Yogi’s Law.”

“Baseball is 90%mental. The other half is physical.”

Brock Purdy plays a different professional sport in a different era, but he probably would not deny the larger truth preceding Berra’s computation – especially in the wake of the Queen Creek native’s remarkable rookie season in the NFL.

Brock’s improbable rise from thirdteam reserve to San Francisco’s starting quarterback—with his successful string of seven straight victories—is the stuff

of storybooks.

As this column is being written, Purdy and his Forty Niner teammates are preparing to visit Philadelphia to play the Eagles for the NFC Championship.

Dizzying heights, for sure…especially for his first year in pro football. But instead of a storybook, Purdy relies on the Good Book, and the Bible has imbued him with wisdom beyond his 23 years.

“Everything happens for a reason; it’s all a lesson from the Lord,” Brock has said.

A few hard knocks have supplemented Scripture and kept him humble.

Mononucleosis sidelined Purdy for the first three games of his junior season at Perry High and affected his standing among major college recruiters, who initially displayed minor interest. Then the big schools saw Brock’s big numbers

in passing yardage for the Pumas and pounced with cat-like quickness – especially Alabama, which upped its offer from “preferred walk-on” to full scholarship.

Tuscaloosa ain’t Tinseltown, but the Crimson Tide’s head coach then appeared to take a page from the unnamed Hollywood casting director who reportedly said of Fred Astaire, “Can’t act, can’t sing, can dance a little.”

During Brock’s campus visit to Alabama, Nick Saban didn’t mince words, telling Purdy, “You’re below average in height. Your arm strength is whatever. Your accuracy is average.”

Whether it was candor meant to inspire Purdy or confusion with another recruit, Saban’s unvarnished assessment certainly proved motivational. It motivated Brock Purdy to pass on the perennial national power, take a close

look at Texas A & M and finally choose Iowa State.

Purdy’s four years as a Cyclone were a whirlwind. Foreshadowing his NFL experience, he began his freshman season as a third-stringer, but soon became the starter, opening eight games and ending up with the sixth-best pass rating in the NCAA. His second season brought second-team All Big 12 Honors, and he was first team All-Conference his final two years.

April of last year brought another transition and an action some might consider an insult – or, as Yogi Berra might have called it, “Deja vu all over again.”

Purdy’s name was called at the NFL Draft but was the last name called and that final pick came with a nickname

HAYWORTH from page 29

that is less than complimentary.

When San Francisco selected him with the 262nd—and concluding— pick of the draft, Purdy earned the title “Mr. Irrelevant.”

What might seem insulting at first glance was actually initiated as an honor. The late Paul Selata, who starred as a receiver first at Southern Cal and later with the Forty Niners, thought the last player picked should receive an “accolade” similar to the top selection.

So Selata began “Irrelevant Week” in 1976, bringing the bottom selection to Newport Beach, California, for a trip to

LEIBOWITZ from page 29

860 bucks a night, I thought I could get $1000 a night, easy. Heck, I might even get 1,200 a night if the out-of-towner wanted to borrow my “personal private security force,” which includes Violet, a pitbull mix, and Lucy and Ethel, who together comprise “25 pounds of canine

Disneyland, a golf tournament, a regatta, and a celebrity roast, where “Mr. Irrelevant” is awarded the “Lowsman Trophy”—the opposite of the Heisman— get it?

There is a higher purpose to the “exercise in irrelevancy”—raising funds for charities such as SPIN—Serving People In Need—so Brock and his family gladly made the trip.

Now Purdy and the Niners face this fundamental truth: they are one win away from the Super Bowl.

Berra would caution that “it’s not over ’til it’s over.”

But regardless of the outcome, for Brock Purdy, this is just the beginning.

terror.”

Seems like more trouble than it’s worth, though. I’m going to stay home, stay off the golf course, and watch the big game on TV. That means I’ll miss the Super Bowl Experience, and I’m perfectly okay with that.

I’ve been robbed before.

I don’t need to volunteer for a repeat.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Disputes columnist’s characterizations of Biden, son

Tribune columnist J.D. Hayworth is at it again in his latest column, “Classified doc scandal may show Biden the door.”

What, exactly, is Hayworth at again? Using lies to sprinkle through his column, this time two whoppers, one relatively benign and one malignant.

The benign one concerns what Hayworth says is “some commentators” comparing Biden and his son Hunter to the Haitian dictators Papa Doc and Baby Doc Duvalier.

A quick Google search of that comparison comes up empty. Which means those some commentators are either fictitious, just Hayworth himself, some obscure right-wing nut job who “comments” on Twitter, or on the obscure networks Hayworth and others of his ilk enjoy.

The malignant lie concerns Hunter, as Hayworth writes, “paying almost $50,000 monthly rent month to his pop while living at the same Delaware residence from

March 2017 to February 2018 and Chinese Communists were paying Hunter big bucks to Hunter while donating the same big bucks to the Penn Biden Center.”

The charge Hayworth is insinuating, of course, is money laundering, an actual crime. It is a spurious one, a lie that has percolated throughout the right wing mediasphere and with some politicians.

The facts are clear. The $50,000 was in reality rent Hunter Biden paid quarterly for office space in Washington D.C., not as Hayworth lies, rent paid to his dad to live in his dad’s house. Even the originator of that lie corrected herself once the facts were known. Hayworth, though, is happy to pass that lie along to unsuspecting readers.

Hayworth generally is hyperbolic, always sure to mangle reality and this time pass along a lie that with a tiny bit of research would have prevented him from using it. That might be asking too much of Hayworth, however.

-Mike McClellan

Encuentre su nuevo yo.

Si está listo para recuperar su vida, estar sano y empezar a vivir una vida activa, nuestro altamente capacitado equipo quirúrgico de pérdida de peso está aquí para ayudarlo. Con dos ubicaciones convenientes, en Gilbert y Glendale, nuestro equipo de expertos lo apoyará en cada paso del camino.

Para saber cómo la cirugía de pérdida de peso puede transformarlo y transformar su vida, visite DignityAZWeightLoss.org o llame al 480.757.0292.

Vea más sobre la historia de Megan en DignityAZWeightLoss.org

Motivational Andy Johnson finding success at Mtn View

BY AARON HEALY Tribune Contributing Writer

Family has always been a big part of the Mountain View High School culture.

Whether it be generations of athletes or students, Mountain View has always been a place for families to grow. This concept is what brought Toros’ head basketball coach Andy Johnson to live and work in Mesa.

Growing up in a small town of Batavia, Illinois, Johnson was involved in every sport he could participate in, including basketball, football, baseball, cross country and even hockey.

Johnson found particular interest in basketball at an early age.

“In our small town, when I was five or six years old, me and my dad started going to the high school basketball games every Friday night,” Johnson said. “That’s when I kind of started falling in

love with basketball.”

While Johnson was developing a love for basketball at an early age, he continued to attend high school basketball games with his father.

What also motivated his desire to pursue basketball was watching Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls championship runs.

“When you grow up in Illinois during the Michael Jordan heyday and the heydays of the Chicago Bulls, you obviously fall in love with the game there and I grew up with friends playing it outside every day,” Johnson said.

After finding his love for basketball, Johnson relocated to the state of Washington, where he played basketball at Gonzaga Preparatory School.

After graduating from Gonzaga Prep, he headed to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. There he worked for the team as a student manager and a graduate assistant.

After graduating from UNLV, Johnson began his coaching career at Findlay Prep where he had a great amount of success.

“I was able to move onto Findlay Prep and get a great start there,” Johnson said. “We ended up winning two National Championships there and went to multiple Final Fours and had 56 kids go on and play Division One basketball, 24 of which went to the NBA.”

After leaving Findlay Prep, Johnson had various coaching stints at the collegiate and high school levels. From Utah to Texas to Nevada, he made various moves before the opportunity at Mountain View presented itself.

Mountain View head boys’ basketball coach Andy Johnson was thankful for the opportunity to become the next leader of the Toros. His philosophy and overall ability to build relationships with players has helped the team carry on the success from previous coach Gary Ernst and set themselves up for a playoff berth.

(Dave Minton/ Tribune Staff)

It was an opportunity to be closer to family and take over a program that saw several years of success under former coach and Arizona high school basketball legend Gary Ernst.

“It was too good to pass up, the opportunity to be close to me and my wife’s family and coach a great school, it was

just too good,” Johnson said.

After all the years of coaching in numerous cities, Johnson’s belief is that you have to love the game and love being part of a team that makes the experience special.

“The opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself and the opportunity to be a part of a team, to see kids grow and get better every day, there’s nothing like that,” Johnson said.

During his tenure as Mountain View’s coach, the Toros have improved their record to 12-3 overall and are currently ranked No. 10 in the 6A rankings.

This also includes an impressive 8-0 in region play with wins over the likes of rival Mesa, one of the top teams in 6A at the time of their meeting earlier this month that drew a standing room only crowd.

The team’s development has taken a lot of coaching and focus for each and every player.

“I really enjoy the closeness of our team,” Johnson said. “I think we have a true team here, we have great kids, great student athletes at our school that we are able to coach every day and form those lifelong bonds and to see these guys compete every day in practice is special.

“Seeing all the hard work they are putting in and how it’s been paying off has been a blast to see all of the success we’ve had so far.”

The entire team is starting to play together and bond really well on and off the court.

Mountain View senior shooting guard, Brigg Wolfe, believes his team is a great group of guys to be around.

“It’s been awesome, we’ve done a lot more team bonding stuff, we went out of town like three times, and the guys are coming together and it’s fun to be around,” Wolfe said.

Not only has Johnson helped his boys grow scholastically and athletically, he

has also taught them to play for one another with a common goal.

His motivational coaching is something that senior forward, Jackson Bowers – a BYU football commit and one of the top tight ends in the state – believes has propelled this team to be even better than last year.

“Throughout practice he reminds us of how we lost to a certain team and how it feels to lose, he really motivates us through times that were tough,” Bowers said.

Johnson’s positive approach with his team has helped lead this team to another successful year.

His advice has taught this team to stay together and play as one.

“Play your absolute hardest every possession and stay together, play for each other and do what we want to do every day: defend, rebound and run,” Johnson said. “If we do all that stuff and compete and win every possession, everything’s going to take care of itself.”

Senior guard Brigg Wolfe has noticed the bond the team has created this season. They are closer off the court this season and it’s paid off in their performance in games. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)

We Came as Romans shares grief on record, tour

BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff Writer

We Came as Romans bassist

Andy Glass will never forget

7:40 a.m. Aug. 25, 2018, a time he now has tattooed on his forearm.

It was when he learned that his friend and lead singer Kyle Pavone died of an accidental overdose.

In the years since learning of the news, Glass and his bandmates –Dave Stephens, Lou Cotton, Joshua Moore and David Puckett – have been through a lengthy grieving process.

“At first it was really hard because we spent so much time going through the grieving process, going to therapy and doing all this other stuff to try to put ourselves back together and figure out what life is,” Glass said.

We Came as Romans released two singles titled “Carry The Weight” and “From The First Note” in honor of their fallen vocalist and to reassure fans

that they were going to move forward.

The Troy, Michigan, band thought the best way to do so was to share its grieving process. Writing their first full-length record since 2017’s “Cold Like War” was a large undertaking.

“It was just really hard to put into words how we felt about losing our friend and our brother, but we really wanted to do something to commemorate Kyle and honor him,” Glass said. “We also wanted to write a record about how we felt and create something that might be able to help people get to a better place because it helped us get to a better place.”

The record’s early drafts featured as many as 40 songs, many of which dwelled on the darker parts of grieving, he said. That was until Glass met with Stephens and Moore a week before the band entered the studio.

“(I told them) Kyle was never a sad/

see ROMANS page 36

Parkway Drive ready to share new sound

BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff Writer

Some musicians utilized the pandemic-driven hiatus from live music to set up new records.

But Parkway Drive vocalist Winston McCall said the break gave him too much time to tinker with the Australian band’s sound.

Parkway Drive broke through the metalcore scene in the late 2000s with an early catalog of heavy riffs, blast beats, and McCall’s unrelenting guttural growl.

The band’s 2022 collection, “Darker Still,” is a departure.

McCall hoped to create a slightly lighter-sounding album that straddled the

genre lines of power metal and early1990s thrash metal.

“We really wanted to nail down as a sound, which is what you hear and we’re really stoked,” McCall said. “The music had to serve a purpose and it really had to drive the overall feel of Parkway’s evolution forward, however, executing that goal is where the issues came in.”

“Darker Still” was created in three parts: pure joy, absolute agony and tension.

“There was just a lot of work that went into it. Over the period of creating this album, we were going through different stages of lockdown, different family matters at home, and all kinds of stuff,”

McCall said. “And we had a lot of time to create it, which can drive you crazy.”

Some songs saw as many as 60 revisions, he said.

“The first single ‘Glitch’ was literally the first song we wrote and it was the last song finished,” McCall said. “It went through about 60 different versions simply because we had too much time.”

However, McCall said that the more intricate arrangements underwent few changes.

“It was weird because there are songs like ‘The Greatest Fear,’ which has more of an extravagant composition: it stayed very similar for the majority of its creation,” he said. “Then some of the simplest songs took a bunch of goes around

the merry-go-round to nail down.”

The tune that proved to be the tallest order became the titular ballad “Darker Still.” Guitarist Jeff Ling approached the band early on with the riff, but the full song was a struggle.

“There were certain songs that eluded us for a very long time, like the title track, ‘Darker Still,’” McCall recalls.

“We’d never written a ballad before having to do that. It took us months to figure out how to create that thing and it went through so many different characterizations and so many different theories.”

The name stayed the same, however,

Caption

Help for Chronic Foot Pain

Chronic foot or ankle pain interferes with active lifestyles, limiting mobility and independence. It makes even the most basic activities, like going to the market or walking the dog difficult. “I hate to hear that foot pain is keeping someone from their everyday activities,” says Dr. Kerry Zang of CiC Foot & Ankle. “It doesn’t matter if you are suffering from arthritis, an old injury, plantar fasciitis, really any type of foot pain, there are new therapies to help repair and restore tissue, ligaments and joints.”

Until recently, anti-inflammatory medication and steroid injections, like cortisone offered the best chance for relief. But, these options just reduced the symptoms. They did nothing to treat the problem actually causing the pain. “While cortisone stops the swelling and pain, it can also interfere with the healing process and further degeneration can occur,” explains Zang.

“Now, instead of just making the symptoms go away, we can deal with the underlying problem that is causing the pain. With regenerative medicine, we can help the body initiate its own healing response,” says Zang.

This form of treatment stimulates the body’s own natural healing process to repair chronically damaged tissue. “If a degenerative process has started, sometimes the body needs a little boost to encourage the regenerative process.” says Zang. “Regenerative medicine does that.”

“Don’t wait to get help. Delaying care can put you at risk for further damage,” says Zang. “However, if you have put off treatment, it’s not too late. Medicine is constantly changing, and you should never lose hope.”

Pain, Burning, Numbness, Cramping

Your feet are crying out for help! It’s time to listen.

YES / NO

Does foot pain keep you from your favorite activities?

Do you have pain in the ball of your foot, heel or ankle?

Do you have uncomfortable aching, fatigue, cramping in your feet or calves when walking?

Is your neuropathy treatment not working?

Do your feet hurt when at rest?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions it’s time to call for HELP!

Dr. Kerry Zang, DPM can be reached at CiC Foot & Ankle, 602-954-0777.

Dr. Kerry Zang • Dr. Shah Askari • Dr. Dan Schulman • Dr. Kim Leach • Dr. Barry Kaplan Dr. Jeff Weiss • Dr. Andrew Lowy • Dr. Mark Gorman • Dr. Paige Danner

down person, he was always full of energy and excited about music and we need to tap into that,” Glass said. “If we’re going to be writing about him, he would be rolling over in his grave if we recorded these sad songs. So, we had to shift our mindset going into the studio for ‘Darkbloom.’”

Entering the studio with a sunnier disposition, We Came as Romans wrote upbeat riff-heavy metalcore tunes like “Plagues” and “Daggers.” However, the somber “One More Day,” “Promise You” and “Holding the Embers” were emotionally challenging.

Glass’ creativity was not only limited to the music as he also came up with the name of the record.

Glass, a graphic designer by trade, had been reading “Shadow Work Jour-

nal: Bring Your Shadows to Light” and had an epiphany.

“I was reading in this book and there was this quote that said, ‘Don’t let your dark bloom and encompass everything you are. Let it breathe and grow,’” Glass recalls.

When he pitched the name “Darkbloom” to the bandmates, who decided unanimously to name the record that.

“We really wanted to not only commemorate Kyle but we needed to do it for ourselves,” Glass said. “Then the goal became to help people that have gone through stuff like that and let them know it’s OK to not be OK and it’s OK to talk about these things.”

This was best exemplified by the record’s sixth song, “One More Day.”

“‘One More Day’ is about basically saying, ‘I wish I had one more day to talk to you and to talk to me about

what you’re feeling and what you’re going through.’ So, I hope when people hear the song, maybe then they will reach out to a friend they haven’t reached out to in a while and it could help to save someone maybe or maybe help them open up a bit.”

This is a dialogue that Glass hopes to open up when the song and seven others from the 10-track record are performed live on We Came as Romans’ upcoming jaunt, which includes a Friday, Feb.3, stop at The Nile Theater in Mesa.

“I’m really excited to see how ‘One More Day’ is received because it’s a very emotionally driven song, it’s a little bit slower and a bit more vulnerable,” Glass said.

Glass said they will break out the heavy tracks during the 17-song setlist.

No matter which song fans gravitate

toward, Glass hopes they leave feeling inspired.

“I just want people to walk away just feeling like they got something they needed to get out and leave feeling like they’ve left their stress or their problems at the door and then they just got everything out that they needed to get out,” Glass said.

If You Go...

We Came as Romans w/Erra and Brand of Sacrifice

When: 6 p.m. Feb. 3

Where: The Nile Theater, 105 W. Main St., Mesa

Cost: $25

Info: iamdarkbloom.com, theniletheater.com

as it describes McCall’s life.

“It’s really strange because that idea came along to me very early on – before we even had an album,” McCall said.

“It came about because of basically the journey that I’ve been going on throughout my life of confronting the reality of darkness.

“It’s basically about my journey to reaching an age where all of a sudden the people I love have started passing away and I was confronted with the reality of what life is, the idea of dealing with loss, and the idea that it doesn’t ever get lighter.”

Despite the nihilistic disposition behind the lyrics, McCall said recording the album was cathartic. He’s anxious to share it during the band’s first North American tour since 2018.

“It’s always cathartic and I think there’s a part of me that has to create because it brings me catharsis and the fact that the songs are written as a touchstone for these darker things because I have no other way of articulating them,” McCall said. “Being able to confront and

If You Go...

articulate the way that these problems make me feel through song and through lyrics is a very powerful thing.

“I think one of the most powerful things about music is that it gives voice and it gives language to emotions which you can’t bring yourself to express any other way.”

Parkway Drive w/Memphis May Fire and Currents

When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1

Where: The Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe

Cost: $39.50

Info: parkwaydriverock.com, marqueetheatreaz.com

Parkway Drive’s latest record “Darker Still” was created in three parts: pure joy, absolute agony and tension. (Special to GetOut)

With JAN D’ATRI GetOut Contributor

Beef or chicken doesn’t matter: fajitas are easy

It’s one of those favorite dishes on the menu at Mexican, Tex Mex and Southwestern-style restaurants.

Fajitas refer to grilled meat or chicken usually served as a taco or alongside grilled peppers, onions and flour or corn tortillas. Fajitas are so simple to make at home. A delicious fajita starts with a great marinade. For this recipe, I’ve chosen a simple combination of ingredients, but if you prefer more heat, you can always add some red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne.

For the chicken, I prefer skinless boneless chicken thighs, but chicken breasts work well too. For the meat, you’ll want something with a little bit of fat like a skirt or flank steak. With colorful peppers always available, a combination of green, red, yellow and orange bell peppers make a beautiful presentation along with a large, sweet yellow onion.

To give the fajitas a real authentic flavor, you can toss your flour tortilla into a hot dry skillet or griddle

Ingredients:

For the fajitas:

• 2 pounds skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts, or 2 pounds steak

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 green pepper

• 1 red pepper

• 1 orange pepper

• 1 yellow pepper, optional

• 1 poblano chile

• 1 sweet yellow onion

• Salt and pepper to taste

For the marinade

• 1/4 cup lime juice

• 1/4 cup orange juice

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 heaping teaspoon cumin powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon pepper

for just a few seconds to give it the char marks and delicious flavor.

Of course, you’ll want to top off your fajitas with all of your favorite fixings’ like avocado, pico de gallo, cilantro, shredded cheese and sour cream. Plan ahead so the protein can marinate for several hours, then fire up the skillet or grill and get cookin’ south of the border style!

Toppings:

• 1 large avocado, halved and sliced

• Salsa or pico de gallo

• Shredded cheese

• Sour cream

• Cilantro

Directions:

Place Marinade ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine.

Add chicken or beef to a zippered bag. Toss well to coat. Marinade for several hours. When ready to cook, cut peppers and onion in strips. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add vegetables to skillet and cook until softened and charred.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Cook chicken or beef in the same skillet until browned. Slice chicken or beef into strips. Heat tortillas in dry skillet. Assemble fajitas with chicken or beef, peppers and onions. Finish with toppings.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

• General Laborer

• Shipping & Inventory Crane Operator

• Maintenance Mechanics/ Electricians

• Production Operator And more!

Now Hiring in Mesa!

CMC Steel Arizona has proudly been making the steel that builds America since 2009.

We are hiring immediately for all skilled operator positions to be part of building our new, state of the art micro mill from the ground up!

At CMC, we offer great benefits and provide all necessary training and certifications.

PUBLIC NOTICE - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

PROJECT NAME / REFERENCE NO.: 18003-

17 Don Carlos Infrastructure Services

DATE OF ISSUANCE: January 26, 2023

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Habitat for Humanity

Central Arizona (HFHCAZ) is requesting proposals in the form of lump-sum, sealed bids, from qualified contractors. Project site is comprised of 6 Single-Family lots in Tempe Arizona. Major elements of work include civil infrastructure and ROW work, water service and fire hydrant installation, sewer service, and block wall installation.

PROJECT LOCATION: Tempe, Arizona 85281

BID DOCUMENTATION: Bid documentation will be available via email. Send requests for information to lkalland@habitatcaz.org no later than February 7th, 2023.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL: Sealed bids must be delivered to Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona’s Corporate Office located at 2830 W Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85051, no later than 2:00 p.m. on February 9, 2023. The public bid opening will begin at 2:01 p.m. Habitat reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to withhold the award for any reason Habitat determines.

Published in East Valley Tribune Jan 29, Feb 5, 2023

Case Number JS21167

NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA IN MARICOPA COUNTY

Juvenile Department

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAMES(S)

Dominica Nicole Cordova

John Doe

In the Matter of Minor(s):

Adrian Eulalio Cornal-Bernitez

This is an important notice from the court. Read it carefully.

A petition about termination of parent-child relationship has been filed with the court, and a hearing has been scheduled related to your child(ren). Your rights may be affected by the proceedings. You have a right to to appear as a party in the proceeding. If you fail to participate in the court proceedings, the court may deem that you have waived your legal rights and admitted to the allegations made in the petition. Hearings may go forward in your absence and may result in the termination of your parental rights. Judicial Officer: Christopher Whitten

Hearing Date/Time: March 10, 2023 at 9:30 am

Hearing Type: Severance

Publication/E videntiary Hearing

Location: Old Courthouse, 125 W. Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85003

Court Connect Hearing:

Video: http://tinyur l.com/judgewitten

Dial-in Information: + 917-781-4590

Dial-in Access Code: 591 182 803#

Private Dial-in Information: for privacy purposes, you can block your phone number by dialing *67

Published in East Valley Tribune Jan 29, Feb 5, 12, 19, 2023

JAMES MADISON PREPARATORY SCHOOL, INC

5815 S MCCLINTOCK DR. TEMPE, AZ 85283

480-345-2306

480-345-0059 (FAX)

www.madisonpr ep.org

Announces open enrollment for grades 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12 for the 2023-2024 school year. The open enrollment period is January 30-February 17, 2023.

Published in East Valley Tribune Jan 22, 29, 2023

CITY OF MESA PUBLIC NOTICE

The Mesa City Council will hold a public hearing concerning the following ordinances at the February 13, 2023, City Council meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the Mesa City Council Chambers, 57 East First Street.

1. Amending Title 3, Chapter 2, Section 1, of the Mesa City Code, governing the organization of the City's Fire Department, to reflect the name "Mesa Fire and Medical Department," and to add language describing the expanded scope of services. (Citywide)

2. ZON21-00129 “Sweetwater” (District 1) Within the 2200 to 2400 blocks of East McDowell Road (south side). Located east of Gilbert Road on the south side of McDowell Road (9± acres). Rezone from Single Residence 43 (RS-43) and Single Residence 43 with Historic Landmark Overlay (RS-43-HL) to Multiple Residence 4 with a Planned Area Development Overlay (RM-4-PAD) and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for a multiple residence development with associated commercial use. Ryan Nelson, Sweetwater Companies applicant; RON BAILLY TRUST/GUNNING MARK S, owner.

Dated at Mesa, Arizona, this 29th day of January 2023.

Holly Moseley, City Clerk

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Jan 29, 2023

CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking up to 3 qualified Consultants for the following: FIRE STATION 205 REBUILD AND FIRE STATIONS 223 AND 224 VARIOUS LOCATIONS

PROJECT NO. C10120

The City of Mesa is seeking up to 3 qualified Consultants to provide design services for the Fire Station 205 Rebuild and Fire Stations 223 and 224 Project. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

The fire station projects consist of providing programming documents, layout alternatives, schematic drawings, construction documents, and potential construction services for two new fire stations and one rebuilt fire station at the southwest corner of the intersection of Greenfield Road and Diamond Avenue.

For consistency, the City expects that the two new proposed fire stations to be designed and constructed similar to that of the recently constructed Fire Station 221, located at Eastmark just east of Ellsworth Road on Point Twenty-Two Boulevard.

A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on February 1, 2023 at 8 am through Microsoft Teams. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference. Anyone interested in attending the Conference can request an invitation from Donna Horn (donna.horn@ mesaaz.gov).

Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, to assure that contract decisions are made in public, and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below

RFQ Lists. This RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/architectural-engineering-design-opportunities. The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by February 16, 2023, by 2 pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications The City is an equal opportunity employer.

Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered and activated in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http:// mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service).

Questions pertaining to the Consultant selection process or contract issues should be directed to Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov.

Beth Huning City Engineer

ATTEST: Holly Moseley City Clerk

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Jan 22, 29, 2023

CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Job Order Contractor for the following: GENERAL LANDSCAPING CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

JOB ORDER CONTRACT

PROJECT NO. JOC-L23

The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Contractor to provide Job Order General Landscaping Construction Services. All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The following is a summary of the project.

This Job Order Contract is for a broad range of landscaping maintenance, repair, minor and major construction work on real property and facilities in the City.

A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on February 7, 2023 at 8:00 am through Microsoft Teams. Parties interested in attending should request an invitation from Donna Horn at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov. At this meeting, City staff will discuss the scope of work and general contract issues and respond to questions from the attendees. Attendance at the pre-submittal conference is not mandatory and all interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether or not they attend the conference. All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference. In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference.

Contact with City Employees. All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process. This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, assure that contract decisions are made in public and to protect the integrity of the selection process. All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below

RFQ Lists. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at https://www.mesaaz.gov/business/engineering/construction-manager-at-risk-and-job-order-contracting-opportunities

The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ. Minimum font size shall be 10pt. Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz.gov by no later than 2 pm on February 23, 2023. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications. The City is an equal opportunity employer.

Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz.gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service).

Questions. Questions pertaining to the Job Order selection process or contract issues should be directed to Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov.

Beth Huning City Engineer

Chef Korean Food, FT, 2 yr exp Email: kimskitchen1209@gmail com

Kims Kitchen Concept Hodori 1116 S. Dobson Rd Mesa, AZ 85202

DiGioia Gray & Associates, LLC, has work-at-home Substation P&C Engineer II position in Phoenix, AZ (w/ability to telecommute w/approp telecommuting sys.; remote worksite must be w/in commuting distance of Phoenix, AZ for weekly trips to corp office), to design & analyze substations w/focus on protection & control in relation to power delivery prjcts Must be willing to travel up to 10% of the time & be able to perform field work incl substation site visits Apply at www digioiagray com

Chef Japanese Food, FT Email: yogisgrillhappyvalley@gmail com

YCC Capital Yogis Grill 2450 W Happy Valley Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85085

Kitchen Helper, FT Email: sileanyin@yahoo com

Bosa Donuts Wholesales 3701 N Central Ave Phoenix, AZ 85012

Chef Japanese & Korean Food, FT, 2 yr exp Email: himiako@gmail com

Woori Inc Yen Sush 17037 N 43rd Ave Glendale, AZ 85308

Renesas Design North America Inc. has opening for Sr. Analog Design Engineer in Chandler, AZ. Design, verification & simulation of CMOS analog blocks for power management circuits including voltage references, bias circuits, comparators & amplifiers meeting performance, area & power specifications. Email resume to nina.pham.uj@renesas.com Attn: Nina Pham with reference #174.

New Product Development Manager needed for Tempe, AZ Italian specialty food importer and distributor Req: 4 yrs exp in job off or as Business Development Manager, Brand Manager, or rel Rel exp must incl familiarity wi/ Italian specialty food market & trends & private labeling operations Resumes: P Brembilla, Sogno Toscano Tuscan Dream, Inc 1445 W 12th Pl , Ste 101, Tempe, AZ 85281

ATTEST:

Holly Moseley City Clerk

Ramen Restaurant Manager, FT BS degree in Tourism Dev & Mgmt or related. Email: az.mugen@yahoo.com

Mugen Hachi Ramen 655 W Warner Tempe, AZ 85284

Deloitte Consulting LLP seeks a Consulting, Senior Solution Specialist in Gilbert, Arizona and various unanticipated Deloitte office locations and client sites nationally to drive software design and development services to help companies address Supply Chain business processes and other business needs, ranging from requirements to architecture, design to development, and testing to deployment, as discrete services or comprehensive solutions 15% travel required nationally Telecommuting permitted To apply visit apply deloitte com Enter XBAL23FC0123GIL8177 in “Search jobs” field EOE, including disability/veterans

Arizona’s Resort-St yl e Home Builder

MASTER PLANNED CELEBRATED COMMUNITIES BY BLANDFORD HOMES

Award-winning Arizona builder for over 40 years.

Blandford Homes specializes in building master planned environments with a variety of amenities, parks, and charm. You’ll find the perfect community to fit your lifestyle.

A STRATFORD – NOW SELLING

A Dramatic Gated Community in Gilbert Greenfield and Germann Rds in Gilbert

From the low $700’s • 480-895-2800

B PALMA BRISA – In Ahwatukee Foothills CLOSEOUT

A Dramatic Gated Community

From the $800’s • 480-641-1800

C BELMONT AT SOMERSET – Prime Gilbert Location SOLD OUT

Luxury estate homes and timeless architecture

480-750-3000

D MONTELUNA – Brand New Gated Community in the Foothills of Northeast Mesa NOW SELLING

McKellips Rd just east of the Red Mountain 202 Fwy

From the $700’s • 480-750-3000

E RESERVE AT RED ROCK – NOW SELLING

New Upscale Resort Community In the Foothills of Northeast Mesa with Stunning View of Red Mountain

Vintage Collection • From the low $700’s • 480-641-1800

Craftsman Collection • From the high $800’s • 480-988-2400

Artisan Collection • From the $900’s • 480-641-1800

F TALINN AT DESERT RIDGE – NOW SELLING

Spectacular gated community in Desert Ridge • 480-733-9000

BlandfordHomes.com