Mesa Tribune 03-12-2023

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Lawmaker's district break-up bill baffles MPS

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Arizona lawmakers are moving to require a public vote in the state’s largest school districts to determine whether they should be split up.

The measure, which passed the Arizona House on March 1, has left officials at Mesa Public Schools scratching their heads – and

wondering where the move came from and what the benefits would be for students and taxpayers.

“Many blue-ribbon panels and several bills in the past have suggested schools are inefficient and could benefit from consolidation,” Assistant Superintendent Scott Thompson told the Tribune.

“Now we are talking about breaking up school districts and creating more administrative costs. This seems to be in direct conflict with many of the past conversations on

this topic.”

“Mesa Public Schools is open and ready to have a conversation with anyone interested in how the district operates. We were not asked for input into this bill,” he said.

The bill, HB 2546, is being advanced by Rep. Rachel Jones, a first-term Republican lawmaker from Tucson who said many of her constituents are unhappy with the decisions being made by the Tucson Unified

Fiesta Village breathing new life into West Mesa

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

As growth farther east, the 2001 opening of Chandler Fashion Center and rising e-commerce pushed Fiesta Mall to closing in 2018, surrounding West Mesa shopping centers also suffered.

Fiesta Village, the north of the mall, experienced an especially rapid fall and became the district’s most visible sign of blight.

Today, Fiesta Village is showing new signs of life, both onsite and behind-the-scenes.

And while Fiesta Village was once a canary in the coal mine for distressed commercial property, it could be foreshadowing a larger transformation of the area.

The first of four new commercial buildings that will eventually line the northwest corner of Southern Avenue and Alma School Road recently passed the Design Review Board and now heads to

Former Mesa Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh and Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia, former and current council representatives from District 3, are happy with the Fiesta District’s evolution form a blighted area at the corner of Alma School Road and Southern Avenue. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

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Mesa schools’ security chief embraces tech for safety

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

After the deadly shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 students and two teachers last May, there were calls across the country to create secure, singlepoint access at all schools.

At the time, Mesa Public Schools already had 28 campuses remodeled to include front entries with a secure lobby and bullet-resistant windows requiring visitors to be buzzed in to access the building – the gold standard. The district has long-term plans to remodel all its schools to the secure lobby system, but that will take time, and in the wake of the tragedy, schools wanted something more in the meantime.

MPS School Safety and Security Director Allen Moore turned to technology in that moment, as he has before to address complex school safety challenges over the years. He decided to install video conference phone systems at the entrances to schools awaiting the more comprehensive remodel.

Moore said the devices have a camera, speakers and screen that are integrated with the school computer system – “kinda like a fancy Zoom,” he said.

“When the doorbell rings, (staff) can look and see who’s there and then have a conversation with them – vet them,” Moore said. “If they’re friendly, they can push a button right from their computer. It unlocks the door and allows them to come in. As soon as the door shuts, it locks again.”

By October break, the district had installed the video conference phones at about 40 schools. Moore said the district has another 20 or so video conference systems on order to cover the remaining schools without front lobbies.

Over the summer, workers will remodel eight more schools to have the secure front lobbies.

Moore noted that all MPS schools keep their front doors locked; it’s just less convenient for staff to vet visitors without the technology or the lobby.

“We’ve gotten great community response from those secure front entries so far,” Associate Superintendent Holly Williams said.

She said the district strives to make schools “safe and secure, but also welcoming,” and

she thinks the current front entry safety measures are striking the right balance.

Moore, who served for 25 years in the Mesa Police Department, has overseen many high-tech upgrades to the district’s security systems since joining MPS in 2008.

One new piece of tech the security chief implemented in August is a phone app that allows any staff member at a school to put their facility into lockdown with the press of a button if they see a threat.

In his office, Moore held up his phone with the app open.

If he or a staff member at a school presses a button on the screen to initiate a lockdown, “it’ll automatically activate the intercom, and it will say ‘we’re in lockdown,’ (give) lockdown protocols.”

“There’s blue strobes that start flashing in areas where it’s hard to hear the intercom. Any electronic locks automatically lock. A chat room is formed between myself, superintendency and the school administration and security and the resource officer,” he said.

Moore said the district encourages staff members to download the app, and tells them to err on the side of caution when using it.

“What I always tell people is, I’d rather go to 100 false alarms than one real incident,” he said. “I do not want an employee to sit there and wonder or stress out about whether or not they should go on lockdown.”

Moore has also led the district in expanding video surveillance at district buildings, and smart technology is making schools’ cameras more powerful.

There are now 2,400 video cameras installed throughout the district.

“Video surveillance and technology is the trend, and that’s the way to do it,” Moore said. “You can patrol a lot more effectively electronically than you can put in bodies on the ground and walk around. And whenever there’s an incident, my dispatcher … he pulls up all the cameras, and then he can direct the officers right in there.”

Mesa PD works closely with school security and the department has direct access to the school’s cameras.

“When I first started here in 2008, they were just starting to put cameras in the high schools, and they were putting like 10. That’s

not very much,” Moore said. “We have like 140 to 160 cameras at our high schools now.”

Technology helps the district effectively monitor all those thousands of cameras.

Just a few years ago, a security team member had to just scroll through all the camera feeds hoping to catch suspicious activity.

Now algorithms automatically analyze the footage and sort and highlight the feeds based on the amount or type of activity happening.

Mesa’s video analytics vendor also gives the district video search capability.

“We can actually put in, ‘search for a red shirt,’ and it’ll show us all the cameras that have somebody with a red shirt,” Moore said. “Or a car, there’s a ‘yellow car,’ …, and then we’ll find the yellow car, and then we can track it. It’s pretty cool.”

Moore has an old school police background and remembers clearly how things were done back when phone calls and pencil notes were primary tools, but he has embraced new technology over the past 15 years and believes the school system is safer and more cost effective for it.

Mesa Public Schools School Safety and Security Director Allen Moore can monitor 40 of the district’s 87 campuses at a video suite that connects with 2m400 cameras. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

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BY SCOTT SHUMAKER

“School” is fading out as a name for schools in Mesa.

In Mesa Public Schools’ list of school name updates presented to the Governing Board March 7, the word “school” is absent from all 11 proposed school name changes.

In place of “school,” alternate words for buildings where kids go to learn are used – “academy,” “center,” “campus.”

Five of the 11 campuses slated for name changes previously used “school,” but now would become something more high-falutin.

Under the new naming scheme, Kerr Elementary School would become “Kerr Center for Agriscience.”

Franklin Elementary School would become “Franklin Accelerated Academy.”

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

Help us give our Vietnam Vets the respect they deserve!

What is Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day?

More than 8 million U.S. Troops served in Vietnam. The last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam at the end of March, 1973. These veterans came home to a country divided on their feelings about the war and many who returned did not receive recognition for their service.

SATURDAY

MARCH 25, 2023

10 AM - 4 PM

Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery

7900 E. Main Street Mesa, AZ 85207

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. ~We are honored to have Major General Peter Alyward and his staff from Washington D.C. and several guest speakers, Presenting of Colors, Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, Prayer, Native American Blessing, Veteran Pinning, and Dove Release.

12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ~ Enjoy Entertainment and fun activites, Food Trucks, Wreaths Across America

Educational Trailer, Information Booths for Veterans, Military Vehicles and Equipment, Educational Information for Veterans and so much more!

Everyone is welcome to attend this event!

Please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.

the Zoning Board and City Council. A Chick-Fil-A drive thru with a large outdoor eating area will fill this first building.

City staff also held pre-application conferences for a new location of the Mexican coffee franchise Caffenio, a bank and an unnamed drive-thru business.

Future customers for those shops may come from The Landing at Fiesta Village, a 220-unit apartment complex that completed construction in December.

Cattycorner to Fiesta Village, south of the 12-story Financial Plaza building, a 550-unit apartment complex is planned, potentially bringing even more people to the area.

And Fiesta Mall itself appears on the brink of finally coming under single ownership by Verde Investments, owned by billionaire Carvana founder Ernie Garcia, which could significantly ease redevelopment of the indoor shopping center.

Former District 3 Council member Dennis Kavanaugh, who served from

1996 to 2004 and again from 2008-17, is glad to see the changes coming – even if they have transpired at a glacial place.

Kavanaugh said a committee was formed to work on the revitalization of the Fiesta District in 2003.

He witnessed the good times of the area in the ‘80s and ‘90s, when shops and restaurants were bustling, and also the bad times.

The decline of the Fiesta Village site was a particular gut punch for locals in his district. He said the site’s decay was one of the things that spurred him to run for council again in 2007.

“Fiesta Village was the tumor at the heart of the Fiesta District,” Kavanaugh said.

But today, “I think it’s turning the corner.”

Kavanaugh and other city officials wrangled for years with Fiesta Village owner W.M. Grace Co. to redevelop or at least clean up the the site as roof tiles fell, signs fell into disrepair and exterior fea-

see FIESTA VILLAGE page 7

A site plan contained in the city’s 2019 development agreement with W.M. Grace Co. shows the vision for the revitalized Fiesta Village. (City of Mesa)

tures withered on vacant restaurants and shops.

In 2009, Kavanaugh asked the city attorney to explore condemning the site.

“The Grace companies, they had never done redevelopment,” Kavanaugh said. “I think they were making so much money at all their other places, this was kind of fenced off and ignored for a long time, which was a challenge.”

Grace did not respond to a Tribune request to discuss the site’s redevelopment.

In 2020, the developer finally razed the deteriorating buildings and began work on The Landing at Fiesta Village apartments on the northern half of the old shopping center.

The developer, Scottsdale-based P.B. Bell, said in a release the upscale community is “reimagining Mesa living.”

Rents for the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments range from $1,625 to $2,400 per month, a spokesperson said.

Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia, who has been skeptical of the proliferation of drive-thrus in the city, said he was OK with a drive-thru eatery inaugurating commercial redevelopment at the onceblighted corner.

Residents at the apartments will be able to access the eatery on foot, and people like the food, he said.

Also, the city worked with the developer on the site plan to try to maintain the feel of an urban cityscape despite the auto-centric nature of the drive-thru.

“We were clear we wanted to see different designs,” Heredia said. “If you want a drive thru on Southern, there needs to be better activation along the site. This is a compromise.”

A 2019 development agreement between Grace and the city requires pedestrian-friendly features throughout the commercial development in the revitalized Fiesta Village.

For the prominent corner lot behind the large “Fiesta” sign, Heredia said talks are still ongoing between the city and developer. The city wants to see something that contributes to the vibrancy of the area and “activates” the corner, he said.

The current proposal submitted to the city for the corner is a Chase bank.

Heredia believes Fiesta Village’s rebirth will get an assist from other new developments nearby.

Late last year California-based developer Anton DevCo submitted plans to the city for a 550-unit, five-story apartment complex to the south of the Financial Plaza office building, currently Mesa’s tallest building.

Heredia praised the size and density of the Anton Mesa apartments, which are planned to replace the former Mesa Fiesta Center.

“More density, as far as people, will make a difference” for the Fiesta District, he said.

The developer said it will relocate the sole remaining tenant of the existing commercial center, nonprofit Feed My Starving Children, to another building on the site next to the apartment complex.

All of this could be prologue to “the biggest nugget,” the redevelopment of Fiesta Mall, Heredia said.

Fiesta Mall’s anchor stores and interior are divided into separate parcels that at one time were owned by many different entities, complicating discussions about how to redevelop the mall.

“I think the lawyers in the 1980s must have made a lot of money creating confusing agreements that no one could understand – or use to redevelop a site,” Kavanaugh said.

In recent years Verde Investments bought up all the anchor store parcels, and the mall now has just two owners. That could make it easier for the mall

to finally begin redevelopment. Several shuttered Arizona malls are currently being redeveloped into mixed-use destinations that include multifamily housing, retail and entertainment.

Heredia said Verde Investments has reached terms with Diversified Partners to buy the interior of the mall and is just

finalizing paperwork.

Diversified Partners did not respond to a request for information on the status of the deal.

If the sale is finalized, it will greatly aid talks between the city and the landowner on redevelopment plans for the mall, Heredia said.

Caffenio, a Mexican coffee chain, hopes to build a drive-thru at Fiesta Village. (City of Mesa)

MPS from page 1

Governing Board.

She said they would be happier with a smaller district, which she believes would give them a greater voice and a board elected more from their own area versus the nearly 229 square miles that now covers the district.

But Jones’ desire to force a vote to split the district also would have a spillover effect: In crafting the measure to apply to districts of more than 35,000 students it also would mandate the same kind of vote in Mesa, which is even larger, as well as Chandler Unified.

That’s just fine with Rep. Justin Heap, R-Mesa.

“It is a massive beast of a school district,’’ he said when the measure was being debated in the House Committee on Municipal Oversight and Elections.

Heap said Mesa Public Schools district’s racial and economic diversity makes it too large to ensure that parents get their voices heard.

“We all like local control,” she contin-

ued, “and I understand why people are reluctant to give up the small districts.”

But there are other things large districts can do to respond to issues brought up by Jones, MPS Governing Board President Marcie Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said that under state law, boards can implement a district system for electing board members, like the Mesa City Council has. This could ensure board members are seated from a wide area of the district.

“Geographically, we’re huge,” she said. “Some people have bantered about the idea of a districting in the Mesa Public Schools district, but that is something that’s a whisper. It’s just a ‘what if’ thing.”

She also said splitting up the district would “replicate administrative costs. Think about all the efficiencies we have. To me that does not make a lot of fiscal sense.”

As crafted, HB 2546 would also force an election in the Chandler Unified School District. And student growth in the Peosee

page 9

MPS

MPS Governing Board President Marcie Hutchinson is one of several district officials questioning a GOP legislative proposal to split large school districts. (YouTube)

ria, Gilbert and Deer Valley districts also could put them over that 35,000 figure and force that same mandated election.

Chandler Unified rapped the measure.

“We believe splitting up districts may cause a financial burden on the taxpayer,” said the district in a statement. “As good stewards of taxpayer funds, we do not agree with this.

“Our stakeholders and constituents have not asked for this. Additionally, as Arizona’s second largest school district, Chandler Unified remains one of the highest achieving districts in the state academically.

Despite that, all the House Republicans agreed with Jones, voting in favor of the mandated election. All Democrats were opposed.

Arizona law already allows an election to split a school district to be called if 10% of the residents of an area proposing to form a new district submit petitions. A similar margin is required from the area that would remain.

Jones, however, said that option isn’t enough.

“This came from concerned parents, concerned constituents, that that process is almost impossible to get the desired outcome,’’ she said during the House floor debate.

And that desired outcome, said Jones, is a smaller district for her constituents – and one where board members would answer to those constituents.

“What this does is it gives power back to the parents to say, ‘Yes, we would like to be able to potentially choose if we want to split up the district or not,’" Jones continued. “This does give the power to the parents to say, ‘You know, this isn’t working.’ ‘’

Jones said that breaking up the district will empower not just parents but also the teachers and principals at individual schools.

Jones also claimed that splitting up TUSD “would be a wash, if not a money savings.”

But Thompson disagrees with that assessment.

“Mesa Public Schools is running $175 per student lower in administrative costs as compared to districts statewide,” he

said, stating:

“Our peer group of larger school districts is running $167 per student lower in administrative costs as compared to districts statewide. How would creating a smaller district with more administration be efficient?”

Former MPS Board President Jenny Richardson also argued that there would be financial downsides to splitting up the district.

“There’s an economy to scale,” she said. “There’s some things we get because we have buying power. You would be duplicating a lot” if you divided the district.

A recently released analysis from the Arizona Auditor General reported that MPS spent 72% of its budget in classrooms compared to a state-wide average of 69%.

One thing missing from HB 2546 as it was approved by the House are details of exactly how the breakup process would work.

What is clear at this point is that a vote would be required in Tucson, Mesa and Chandler schools, with residents deciding whether two – or three – is better than one.

But there is nothing at this point to say that residents would get maps to show exactly where the new lines would be drawn, something that would be required in an election sought by residents.

What also is missing is how assets like school buses would be divided and how to deal with existing bond debt.

Jones told Capitol Media Services that much of that would be worked out in the Senate, where the measure now heads. But she declined to provide specifics.

This isn’t the first time that lawmakers have debated the question of what has been a perennial question at the Capitol of what is the ideal size of a school district.

As recently as 2019 lawmakers debated a measure moving in the opposite direction by forcing consolidation of the more than 200 school districts in the state as a method of saving money by avoiding duplication.

The measure failed amid opposition from people who wanted to keep things the way they were.

That question of how big is too big isn’t

just being considered in the context of school districts. There was an effort at the Capitol to split Maricopa County into four separate counties.

Protect Your Legacy

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There was a big difference, though: SB 1137 would have mandated a break-up. It failed in a Senate vote last week.

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Assistant MPS Superintendent Scott Thompson said splitting up lagre school districts like Mesa would double or triple administration costs. (YouTube)

Few short-term rentals have registered with Mesa

BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Tribune Staff Writer

Feb. 1 was the deadline for all short-term rentals in Mesa to obtain a license from the city or face fines under the terms of an ordinance adopted last year.

As of last week, the city has issued 237 short-term rental licenses with another 74 pending.

That translates to just 15% of shortterm rentals that have registered based on the low end of city staff’s estimate of 2,000 to 3,000 short-term rentals in the city.

In December, industry data service AirDNA reported 1,692 short-term rentals in Mesa, a 69% increase since 2019.

Mesa Licensing and Revenue Administrator Tim Meyer said the city has hired two additional staff to administer the short-term rental license and other programs like the general business license, with plans to hire two more by April.

Meyers said that so far staff’s focus has been on educating short-term rental owners.

“We’ve found that the STR (shortterm rental) people have been really cooperative with us,” he said. “Most of them that we contact have been really, I think, sincere, just (saying) ‘I didn’t know … I thought this is all I had to do.’”

“There’s been great compliance once we’ve asked them once to do

what they need to do,” Meyer said.

Those tasks include notifying neighbors within 200 feet of a shortterm rental’s property line that the home is being used as a short-term rental, or if in multifamily housing, all residents on the same floor.

Susan Edwards, president of Arizona Neighborhood Alliance, a group that advocates for greater regulation of short-term rentals, took a dimmer view of rental owners’ slow start in municipalities that have instituted licensing programs after a change in state law last year.

“There’s so many scofflaws you can’t keep track of them,” Edwards said.

Edwards said cities and counties in Arizona have a difficult time identifying the short-term rentals in their jurisdictions because of language in the 2016 state law, SB 1350, that originally prohibited communities from banning short-term rentals.

The law states that online lodging marketplaces like Airbnb and VRBO must collect and remit taxes to jurisdictions, but they “shall not be required to list or identify any individual online lodging operator on any return.”

Communities like Mesa receive taxes from short-term rentals on the marketplaces in a lump sum without information on which properties generated the revenue.

Smith is pushing for a change to the prohibition on collecting property addresses along with taxes at the state Legislature. She said a bill to change the language was introduced but hasn’t gotten a hearing.

Though the city does not receive data from rental platforms, Meyers said that the licensing office is proactively seeking out unlicensed shortterm rentals in Mesa.

Staff are “doing their research with

A table from a draft version of an Analysis of Housing Availability and Affordability in Arizona prepared for the Arizona State Legislature last year shows the growth of short-term rentals in Arizona over in the past three years.

VRBO and Airbnb, and then just checking things like Craigslist, Facebook, all that kind of stuff, and trying to find people that are renting and then just contacting them and educating them,” Meyer said.

They are also getting tips from the community.

“There’s been quite a few different neighbors that have said, ‘I know this person’s doing this, can we check on it?’ So we’ve been having some help in the neighborhoods as well,” Meyer continued.

The city can fine short-rental owners for each month they fail to register, starting with $250 the first month and escalating each month up to $900 per month after four months.

Meyer said the city has not begun issuing fines to noncompliant shortterm rental owners, but that could change.

“We’re keeping management upto-date pretty much on a weekly basis, and at some point in time, the upper management will decide when we’re going to get started imposing the penalties,” he said.

“Obviously, there are some people that would like to see a start to imposing those things (fines), but right now, we’re just not in the mode to do that,” Meyer added. “We really want to just get them educated.”

The state law granting cities the ability to license short-term rentals gives Mesa more leverage to enforce rules designed to limit nuisances or dangerous activity from short-term rentals in residential areas.

But under the law, Mesa can only deny a short-term rental license for narrow reasons: Failure to provide application information, having a suspended license for the property, providing false information, or if the owner or designee is a convicted sex

offender or convicted of certain felonies in the last five years.

If a licensee racks up three violations within a 12-month period, the city can suspend the license for 12 months.

The city can issue a suspension immediately for certain serious offenses committed by the owner, including: a felony offense at or in the vicinity of the rental, serious physical injury or wrongful death at or related to the rental and knowingly renting the unit in violation of the prohibited uses.

Meyer said his office hasn’t issued licensed short-term rentals any fines for violating city code yet, and complaints about noise and other nuisances have been minimal.

“Most of it’s just been the parking (on the street) and that kind of stuff,” Meyer said. “But if they’re licensed, that’s something that they’re going to be able to do so long as they’re not blocking people’s driveways or doing ridiculous things that they shouldn’t be doing.”

Meyer believes the new license program will be a win-win for residents and short-term rental owners.

“I think the ordinance is really great for the neighbors, and I think it helps promote good short-term rental people, too,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes in another year or two and how everybody feels about it after that.”

Scottsdale has encountered a similarly slow response among more than 6,000 short-term rental owners for its registering program but has issued warnings and fines of hundreds of dollars to those who haven’t complied.

In addition, it is building a special four-office police squad that will be devoted exclusively to answering complaints about rowdy behavior and other violations at the homes themselves.

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 March 31st, 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*

E. Mesa getting inpatient behavioral hospital

Acadia Healthcare Company last week broke ground for a new inpatient behavorial health facility in East Mesa.

Built by Adolfson & Peterson Construction and slated to open in early 2024, the 100-bed acute care Agave Ridge Behavioral Hospital will be located on a 12-acre site at Ellsworth Road and Peterson Avenue.

“The new hospital addresses the growing need in Arizona for more accessible, high-quality behavioral healthcare services,” the company said in a release, offering care for adult and pediatric patients for conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

CEO Jeff Hansen said, “At AP, we build trust, communities and places where people can heal, and Agave Ridge Behavioral Hospital will deliver upon that promise once it’s completed.”

According to data compiled from the

SCHOOL from page 4

Assistant Superintendent Monica Mesa told the board the 11 name changes were proposed because of changes in school location, programs or to better reflect the learning model at the school.

Kerr Elementary, for example, has developed a robust agriscience curriculum with livestock and outdoor learning barn, and leadership at the school wanted the school name to reflect this focus, Mesa said.

Sirrine Elementary, which is changing to a 100% Montessori school next year, is proposed to become Sirrine Montessori Academy.

Board member Kiana Sears wondered if the word “school” was becoming passé.

“The three places I see ‘center,’ I’m wondering why it just doesn’t say ‘school,’” Sears said.

She said she grew up with the “school is cool” motto and wondered why the district doesn’t lean into that and actually reclaim “school” rather than pivot to

Treatment Advocacy Center, U.S. Census Bureau and American Hospital Directory, Maricopa County needs 893 behavioral health beds. The county should have 2,331 beds for behavioral health care but presently only has 1,492 beds available.

The National Institutes of Health has reported that one in every five people have a mental health need. In Arizona, this represents over one million residents ages 12 and up.

Additionally, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention identified suicide is the second leading cause of death among Arizonans ages 10–34.

“The death of mental health resources is a national problem that we also face in Arizona,” said Dr. Jeffrey Woods, operations group president of Acadia Healthcare.

Acadia is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services across the country with a network of 250 behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 11,000 beds in 39 states and Puerto Rico.

the trendier education buzzwords.

Board member Joe O’Reilly wondered if in some cases the use of “center” might be confusing.

So, ‘Kerr Center for Agriscience’ – I’m not sure I know that’s a school,” he said.

Mesa explained that the stakeholders consulted in the name changes felt that in many cases, the alternate words would actually be more accurate and descriptive than “school.”

If a campus houses multiple programs, for example, calling it a “school” might be more confusing than the alternate word.

Kerr Elementary School, for example, plans to expand to a kindergarten through 8th grade school in the future, so it will no longer be just an elementary school.

Similarly, Mesa said Sirrine Elementary may add a toddler program, so calling it an “academy” ecompasses that in addition to the elementary.

Mesa said the new names are about marketing, too – packaging the schools in a name that is attractive to families

With more than 23,000 employees serving approximately 75,000 patients daily, Acadia is the largest stand-alone behavioral healthcare company in the U.S.

Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) is a national family-owned company that is consistently ranked among the

and communicates something about what the school offers.

“I don’t think you’ll find many elementary schools where you can go out and feed a pig in the middle of the day, or read and earn grain to be able to feed the chickens,” Mesa said, referring to Kerr Elementary.

“So it’s that idea that something different is happening there, and we want to market the difference that’s happening there because it’s good for kids.”

When it came to developing a new name for the Franklin schools, the district took the step of commissioning a marketing study to test reactions to certain names and words.

“We put a lot of names out there,” Mesa said. “What does it mean to you to just hear ‘back to basics’? What does it mean to you to hear a ‘traditional school’?”

The district settled on Franklin Accelerated Academy for the overall school, and each of its four campuses across the district will be individually identified,

top construction managers and general contractors in Arizona.

Locally, the 75-year-old company specializes in building within the commercial, education, healthcare, hospitality, industrial, mission critical, multifamily, municipal, recreation and senior living market segments.

such as Frank Accelerated AcademyBrimhall Campus.

Mesa said that a previous name change of Eisenhower Elementary to Eisenhower Innovation Center did not generate confusion.

O’Reilly wondered if the tweaks to school names would have any ramifications for reporting data to the state, and Assistant Superintendent Scott Thompson said the state records schools using an official CTDS number, not the name.

“The state in all their records doesn’t really care what we name things,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the district is not recommending a change of CTDS number for any of the schools undergoing changes.

The board voted 4-1 to continue the item to the next governing board meeting on March 28.

Board President Marcie Hutchinson, who motioned before the vote to approve the names immediately, voted against the continuance.

Acadia Healthcare’s inpatient treatment facility will be named Agave Ridge Behavioral Hospital. (Special to the Tribune)

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Bell Bank Park hosts EV circus family’s show

BY SUMMER AGUIRRE Tribune Staff Writer

Circus Americana believes that the Big Top is its living room –and each person who steps into its tent becomes a part of its family.

Presented by the Chandler-based Taylor Family, the all-human extravaganza creates the nostalgia of a vintage circus while presenting a contemporary twist. From death-defying acrobatic feats to innovative acts, to comedic flair, Circus Americana invites guests of all ages to encounter an enchanting blend of illusion and spectacle.

Circus Americana has slated for performances every Thursday to Sunday from Thursday, March 16, to Sunday, April 2, at Bell Bank Park in Mesa.

“I think people love having experiences, and we think this is just an absolutely wonderful experience – coming

to the circus is an experience,” said the Taylor family patriarch, Martin, who is a fire artist, juggler and stilt walker.

“People can come to enjoy the thrill, the excitement, the love, the tenderness of the show itself with their family, and they’ll bring home memories for a lifetime.”

Launched as The Taylor Family Circus in the early 2000s, Circus Americana consists of Martin and his wife, Barbara, and their seven children. The kids range from school-age to adults and all perform in the show.

The Taylors are joined by over a dozen other individuals who accompany them as performers on stage and manage concessions and merchandise.

Martin said their production is geared toward families, adding that it will appeal to those who like a “fun,

loving, wholesome, apple-pie type of show.”

Kicking off with a mesmerizing stage illusion and magic show segment, the numbers range from vampires contorting in impossible positions, to an exciting aerial fire-eating performance.

Elia Taylor, the family’s eldest daughter and a choreographer, acrobat and contortionist, performs a skillful pointe ballet routine on the tightrope. She is one of the few individuals in the world who has mastered this art.

“We also usually have one of my cousins, he is a strongman, one of the most amazing in the world. We’re so

Circus Americana, founded by the Chandler-based Taylor Family looks to recapture the magic and nostalgia of a family circus with three weeks of performances at Bell Bank Park in Mesa. (Special to the Tribune)

CIRCUS from page 14

honored that he’ll be doing this show with us,” Elia said. “He does bending metal and is a fabulous whip artist – he puts out candles with a single whip, it is pretty amazing. I hold my breath when he does his act.”

Guests can hop into the circus ring for a meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with the strongman, pirates, mermaid, music box dolls and the rest of the cast.

“Circus is such an amazing art form, there’s so many different facets of it. And when you’re given the opportunity to practice circus, you want to be able to do a little bit of everything,” Elia said. “

What sets Circus Americana apart from other productions is its intimacy and the opportunity for its performers to connect with audience members.

“When you’re in our circus tent, because every seat is only like 5 to 10 feet away, everyone is so close that you

could reach out and touch them, so you can see them,” Elia said.

They love interacting with their audiences and value each individual person.

With the circus’ personable setting, the cast has witnessed little girls in awe at the acrobats and wanting to go up high in the air just like them; little boys thrilled to shake the strongman’s hand and be lifted by him; and excited grandmothers who want to go on stage and hang out with the clowns.

“As a performer, you get to see that wonder and enjoyment on every one of those faces,” Elia said. “It’s very rewarding, it’s why we love what we do. It’s pretty beautiful.”

“We believe that as circus performers and as children of God, that we are supposed to take care of people,” Elia said. “The moment you’re in our circus, you’re family, and we’re here to take care of you because we love you already.”

While they’ve spent more time on the road in recent years, the Taylors love to

perform in their home state in Arizona.

“We’re just thrilled to be able to do what we love to do and to share that, and we’re excited that Bell Bank Park is giving us that opportunity,” Martin said.

“It’s an absolutely stunning and beautiful facility, and it’s going to be an absolutely wonderful experience for anybody who comes out – they will enjoy the show and the park.”

If You Go...

Circus Americana

When: Various times Thursday through Sunday from March 16 to April 2.

Where: Bell Bank Park, 6321 S. Ellsworth Road, Mesa

Cost: $25 general admission (bleachers), $45 VIP (seats)

Info: circusamericana.com

Freight train safety on forefront in East Valley

BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer

The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that caused a dangerous hazardous material spill has raised concerns across the country about rail infrastructure and the response to these environmental emergencies.

While no similar emergency has occurred in the Valley, a task force of first responders with regular training and continuing education is ready to confront one as state agencies monitoring the rail system, officials say.

State jurisdiction over public rail and highway crossings falls to the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Office of Railroad Safety. It investigates accidents/incidents and complaints, including train derailments, train/auto collisions, any railroad incident involving a release of hazardous material, and train-to-train collisions.

A commission spokesman said the safety

division “is always monitoring rail within the state” through annual inspections of more than 3,000 miles of track and unannounced “worker protection” drop-ins.

Before he served on Mesa City Council for District 6, Scott Somers spent 27 years with the Phoenix Fire Department and remembers some of the incidents involving trains and HAZMAT situations in the Valley – including the train derailment and subsequent fire on the bridge over Tempe Town Lake in July 2020.

He called the Tempe wreck “the largest risk” to the community, primarily because it was a flammable chemical leak and was close to the city’s downtown.

“From a Valley perspective, we are extremely well prepared to handle any type of hazardous materials leak, whether it’s by rail or industry or on the road – and I’ve had far more over-the-road incidents,” Somers said.

Union Pacific Railroad runs the Sunset Route, a 760-mile corridor between Los Angeles and El Paso, Texas, with 691 miles be-

tween Yuma and San Simon.

Although Tucson is Union Pacific’s principal terminal in Arizona, it also maintains rail lines and facilities in the Phoenix area, as businesses and industries grow or relocate to the area.

Running across the Valley from Queen Creek to Buckeye and crisscrossing the East Valley, Union Pacific Railroad carries goods to and from the Valley – everything from metallic minerals, sulfur, lumber and building materials, and grains such as wheat and flour.

From 2017 to 2021, the company saw a 13% increase in rail cars originated in Arizona, briefly dipping in 2019 but quickly rebounding by 2021, according to a press release, and during that same time period, the company spent $301 million on Arizona tracks, structures and facilities.

Robynn Tysver, spokeswoman for Union Pacific Railroad, said the company has a heap of technology to monitor its rail cars and tracks including GPS, specialized sensors and, in some areas, Positive Train Control.

That advanced system is designed to automatically stop a train before certain incidents occur, such as train-to-train collisions and derailments caused by excessive speed or move-

Witnesses described the 2020 derailment over Tempe Town Lake as a “scene from hell.” (Tribune file photo)

TRAIN from page 16

ment through misaligned track switches.

“This commitment to providing a safe and efficient network allows Union Pacific to be a valuable resource in attracting new business and industry,” Tysver said.

Launched in 2014, the AskRail app is a collaborative effort among the emergency response community and all North American Class I railroads that provides more than 25,000 first responders from across the country with immediate access to accurate, timely data about what types of hazardous materials a railcar carries so they can make an informed decision about how to respond to a rail emergency.

The app uses a simple railcar ID search to see whether a railcar on a train is carrying hazardous materials.

From there a user can view the contents of the entire train and emergency contact information for all Class I railroads, Amtrak, and available short lines.

For security reasons, only qualified emergency responders with rail emergency training sponsored by one of the Class I freight

railroads or at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center in Colorado, can download and use the restricted features in the AskRail app.

In addition, railroads can offer the app to known emergency responders along their routes.

Tysver said they’re required by federal law to transport chemicals and other hazardous commodities that Americans use daily, including fertilizer, ethanol, crude oil and chlorine.

“Union Pacific shares the same goals as our customers and the communities we serve – to deliver every tank car safely,” Tysver said. “It is important to remember that 99.9 % of all hazardous material shipments by rail reach their destination safely.”

“Our HAZMAT teams perform about 5,000 tank car inspections annually, auditing everything from tank car fittings and car markings to safety appliances,” Tysvers said. “They also work alongside our contractors, our customers, and government regulators to inspect, report and remedy findings.”

Like other railroad companies, Union Pacific holds annual drills to ensure the effica-

cy of their emergency response plans remain effective and are followed by all employees, along with working with community emergency response teams to implement and share best practices and jointly educate our team members.

From Feb. 27 to March 3, Special Ops Captain Mike Thomas attended one of those annual trainings at the Gilbert Public Safety Training Center. It included both classroom education and hands-on training on some of training equipment provided by Union Pacific.

On March 6, another training block started at Papago Park with the National Guard hazmat unit, that includes education and training on natural gas leaks, radiation emergencies and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents.

“One of the biggest things for me, and my position as a program manager for HAZMAT is having those collaborative relationships and stuff with Union Pacific,” Thomas said.

If an incident occurs and Thomas arrives first on scene, he said he can quickly call a Union Pacific program manager to update the Mesa Fire and Medical and provide in-

formation it needs to address the emergency.

“But he’ll already probably know of the problem because that engineer is going to go ahead and throw a mayday …and indicate that he’s got a problem,” Thomas said.

Whether it’s the regional preparedness training with multiple agencies across the Valley, or a large-scale incident review of past incidents, such as the Tempe Town Lake derailment, Thomas said the department continuously leverages those collaborative relationships to have the best outcome for when responding to incidents.

“Because it’s not just going to be the Mesa Fire Department showing up for a railcar incident, you know, or white powder call or a natural gas leak,” Thomas said. “It’s a combined effort, regionally.”

For more information...

Society welcomes first Historymakers class since 2019

BY ALEX GALLAGHER

Staff Writer

Since 1992, the Arizona Historical Society has partnered with the Arizona Historical League in Tempe to induct a class of living history makers each year.

But after inducting its 2019 class of Historymakers, the pandemic brought the annual event to a halt – until Feb. 23, when nine new individuals and one family were formally introduced as the 2023 class of Historymakers at an official ceremony held at the Arizona Heritage Center. Six of the 10 inductees attended the ceremony.

This year’s class includes:

Frank Barrios, a civil engineer who worked on flood control, the Central Arizona Project and policy for the Arizona Department of Water Resources. He served three years on the Central Arizona Project Board after his retirement.

He also became instrumental in social issues involving Mexican Americans and the homeless through St. Vincent de Paul which garnered him the Hon-Kachina Award for Volunteer Service and the title of an Arizona Culture Keeper.

Dr. Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University and the 16th in school history who has spearheaded ASU’s rapid and groundbreaking transformative evolution into one of the world’s best public metropolitan research universities.

Angel Delgadillo, who began his career with a barber shop in Seligman along Route 66. After his business was bypassed by the opening of US 40, he doggedly built support from local businesses, counties and the state to make Route 66 a historic road. In 1987 he founded the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona; and in 1988, 159 miles of the “Mother Road was dedicated as historic.

Delgadillo also finally retired from his

barbershop in 2022 at age 95.

Dolan Ellis, who has penned more than 300 songs and ballads about Arizona, its history and its people, earning him the honor of “Arizona’s Official State Balladeer” for over 55 years.

He was also a member of the Grammyaward-winning 60s folk group “The New Christy Minstrels” and established the Arizona Folklore Preserve in Southern Arizona’s Ramsey Canyon, where Arizona songs and stories have been presented and preserved for over 25 years.

Ira Fulton and the Fulton Family have become a name synonymous with the state and the two schools at Arizona State University are named after them.

Ira Fulton was born in Tempe in 1931 and grew Fulton Homes into one of the nation’s largest private home builders.

He and his wife, Mary Lou, who met as students at ASU, were partners in their philanthropy as her dream was to be a teacher, but she quit school to raise a family. Urged by Ira, she returned to ASU to complete her teaching degree in 1975. Mary Lou passed in 2015.

The family founded The Fulton Family Foundation in 1988 to support higher education and has made a difference for thousands of college students.

Since then, The Fulton’s have donated more than $160 million to ASU for the

teacher’s program and the engineering college, among other areas.

Terry Goddard, former state attorney general, Phoenix mayor and son of former governor Sam Goddard, who has spent his life in public service, working to increase citizen participation in government, enhancing consumer protection and making government more transparent.

Most recently, he spearheaded the Arizona voter approval of Prop. 211, the Stop Dark Money initiative in the fall of 2022. The initiative will require public disclosure of major donations used in campaign media spending.

Though an accomplished politician and lawmaker, Goddard humbly told the Progress “I’m in awe of some of the great people that have served Arizona in the past and it’s been fun to be a small part of many different aspects of our state.”

Denise Resnik. When her 2-year-old son Matt was diagnosed with autism in 1993, she and her husband were advised to “love, accept and plan to institutionalize” their child. Resnik committed to finding another way.

The two did much more than that. The native Phoenician applied her business background, communications skills and energies toward co-founding the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, which is now a nationally renowned non-

profit serving children and adults.

Its flagship property, First Place–Phoenix, opened in 2018 and = provides residents with support for honing essential life skills that lead to more independent living.

Dr. Jeffrey M. Trent, Ph.D., FACMGG is the visionary founder of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

TGen helped revolutionize the field of precision medicine, a medical approach that takes into account an individual’s genomic makeup when diagnosing and treating diseases.

The Phoenix native’s illustrious career includes serving as the founding director of the Division of Intramural Research (DIR) at the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. entity that led the international effort to map the human genome, and faculty leadership positions at the University of Michigan and the University of Arizona.

Trent has also authored more than 400 manuscripts in the scientific literature, numerous book chapters, invited reviews and invited lectures.

Along with his role as president and research director of TGen, he maintains an active research lab that focuses primarily

Trtibune

Elizabeth J. White

Dolan Ellis

Terry Goddard

HISTORYMAKERS from page 18

on cancer, including seminal work in skin, prostate and ovarian cancer.

Dr. Daniel Von Hoff is the founding Physician-in-Chief of TGen and has devoted much of his life to laboratory and clinical development of new anti-cancer agents.

The Scottsdale resident and his colleagues were also involved at the beginning of the development of many new therapies now used routinely for the treatment of patients with leukemias, breast, prostate, lung, colon, gallbladder, ovarian, skin and multiple other types of cancer.

Additionally, Von Hoff led the clinical trials for FDA approval of three of the four new therapies that improve survival rates for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

“In the last 40 years, it’s gotten a lot better and survival has improved for every cancer there is, even pancreas cancer,” he said. “Although this is a great honor, we’ve got a lot of work to do, but at least this means that we are making progress.”

Elizabeth J. White, who turned 100 just days before joining her fellow Historymakers, is the owner of one of Phoenix’s “oldest and longest” owned and operated African-American establishments, The Golden Rule Cafe – affectionately called “Mrs. White’s.”

She has weathered many storms…. including, discrimination against AfricanAmericans and women, the business has stood the test of time.

A divorced mother of five, she and the four youngest children moved to Phoenix in 1963 to help her brother Floyd Jimmerson in his restaurant and the church. She eventually took over the restaurant and, the society noted, followed “golden rule of feeding the body and the spirit.”

White said she was “overflowing with joy” when she heard herself referred to as a Historymaker and called the honor a “blessing from the Lord” – a fitting saying for the business owner who is also an ordained pastor.

Though these Historymakers were all humbled by the honor, the impact they have made continues to be felt every day and was underscored by Arizona Historical League President Christine Hackett.

“This shows that there are history makers from every corner of our state and in every category from cultural events, music arts, right medicine,” Hackett said. “There are a lot of good people that are doing a lot of wonderful things and I think this goes to highlight that.”

The next steps for these Historymakers will be scheduling an in-person interview and dropping off some props that help tell their story for an exhibition that will go on display at the Arizona Heritage Center this fall.

Info...

Arizona Historical League/ Arizona Heritage Center is located at 1300 North College Avenue, Tempe. 480-387-5369. historicalleague.org

480-898-6465 • obits@TimesLocalMedia.com

Deadline: Wednesday by 5pm for Sunday

Doreen A. Burnett

March 26, 1923 - March 2, 2023

Doreen A. Burnett, 99, of Mesa, AZ, passed away on March 2, 2023. She was born in Transfer, PA on March 26, 1923. She graduated from a one-room schoolhouse and went on to serve as Seaman 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy during World War II. She and her family moved to Scottsdale, AZ from Greenville, PA in 1973. She was Post Commander of American Legion Post 44 and President of the Women’s Auxiliary. She was also a member and President of Post 3513 VFW Auxiliary. She is survived by daughter Sheryl Nevarez of Arizona, sons Richard of Louisiana and Brian of Connecticut, and five grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Charles, son Stephen, parents Charles and Mildred Amon, sisters Erla Stoyer and Shirley Ortman, and granddaughter Deanna Doreen Soulier. Doreen will always be remembered for her artful needlepoint and quick wit. Services will be held Sunday, March 12, 2023 at Messinger Indian School Mortuary, 7601 E. Indian School Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251. Visitation will be at 12:30, with services at 1:00 PM.

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Meldrum Mortuary & Crematory has served generations of Mesa families with exceptional care and value. Ask about our preplan arrangements that protect your loved ones from rising costs. Call (480) 834-9255 or visit MeldrumMortuary.com

52 North Macdonald Mesa, AZ 85201

Also honored were Dr. Jeffrey Trent, visionary founder of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, left, and Daniel Von Hoff, TGen’s founding Physician-in-Chief. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

Builder’s EV center addresses big need

BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer

There’s been a severe labor shortage that has caused delays to building projects around the nation and St. Louis-based McCarthy Building Companies is doing something about it with its first Innovation and Craft Workforce Center in West Chandler.

The $10 million investment is meant to help train future workers, bringing more electricians, carpenters, plumbers and others into the workforce.

“We noticed the same deficiency in craft workers and the gap between what the overall need is in the local market, and the supply of workers,” said Eric Fields, the vice president of operations for the company. “

“So we wanted to create a space that we could attract that talent that might not be interested in the construction industry, have a space to be able to train them, to give them the skills they need to pursue a career in construction.”

The new training center is partnering

with East Valley Institute of Technology to expose young people to possible careers in the construction field.

Fields said ideally these new workers will be hired by McCarthy, but that if they decide to go to a different company, so be it.

“It’s not a selfish thing, we want to just generate momentum for the industry,” Fields said. “We have a lot of peer companies that we work with, and we want them to be just as successful as we are.

“But there’s a shortage of 4,000 workers – not all of those need to go to McCarthy.”

Fields says many of their new trainees respond to job listings. They will take someone who has no experience and pay them $19 an hour to start.

The first step is to teach them the safety habits they need for their jobs. That happens in the new training center with the Safe Start classes.

Then, they can expect to work with experienced workers in whatever field they are learning for a few years.

“That’s kind of individual based, but

we follow a typical four-year apprenticeship program,” Fields said.

“If you’re coming to us as a green individual with no experience, usually it’s about four years to get through to get all the knowledge you can before we’d send you out on their own. But, some people develop faster than others.”

He said they are flexible, so if someone starts out as a plumber, but soon learns they don’t like that, they can switch to something else.

“We can help foster that transition into the different trades that they might be more passionate about,” Fields said.

“I’m big on wanting to put people in roles that they’re passionate about, because we usually get better results. And so helping folks find that right career path is definitely something we’re trying to do.”

EVIT students were at the center the first week of March. Fields said they had the class work with the integrated

design and delivery team, led by architects, working on a virtual 3D model.

“Then our self perform teams take that model, and break it up into their individual things, you can generate fabrication sheets, those fabrication sheets are then manufactured in our prefab facilities,” Fields said.

“So those students were learning that and then taking one of the fabrication sheets and generating a hands-on activity related to a built-in wall roughed in for a plumbing fixture.”

McCarthy is spending a lot of money to attract and train new workers.

“I think you’ll start to see some of these pop up around the country in other McCarthy regions, and probably see other industry partners generating facilities like this to help with that overall demand,” Fields said.

“It’s not just McCarthy that has the need. Definitely want to attract the best talent, then train them and retain them.”

Ethan Covington measures a pipe fitting in a training jig at McCarthy Building Companies’ new Innovation and Craft Workforce Center. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

The Solar Operations and Management Center is part of McCarthy Building Companies’ new Innovation and Craft Workforce Center. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)

No good reason not to convert to a Roth IRA

BY DR. HAROLD WONG Tribune Guest Writer

The more your traditional IRA or 401k grows, the more the eventual tax, either through Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) that start at age 72 or whenever you withdraw money to enjoy. It’s all taxed as ordinary income. The only way to avoid this ticking tax time bomb is the Roth IRA Conversion.

There are two major benefits to a Roth IRA Conversion and the first is that no matter how much you earn, there is no tax for the rest of your life; your spouse’s life; and the first 10 years your heirs (typically kids) inherit the Roth IRA.

The second major benefit is that there is no RMDs with a Roth IRA. Unlike with a traditional IRA or 401k, the government cannot tell you to distribute an increasing RMD each year that is fully taxable.

Over the last 12 years, thousands have at-

tended my free seminars. Only 2% have $30,000 or more in a Roth IRA. There are two major reasons. The first is that they won’t give up the ability to reduce each year’s taxable income by contribution to a traditional IRA or 401k. However, this is a tax trap that will result in much more tax paid than saved over their lives. The second reason is that once you have reached retirement age, you can’t stomach the high tax that results from converting $200,000-$1 million+ to a Roth IRA, which increases taxable income by that much.

What if there was a way to eliminate 100% of the federal tax that resulted from a Roth IRA conversion?

The most powerful way to reduce tax on high taxable income (whether generated by high wages or profits; selling stock or real estate; or doing big Roth IRA Conversions) is buying and leasing out solar business equipment.

On a $65,000 solar deal, the 26% federal solar tax credit and Section 179 (which allows one to deduct 87% of the $65,000 cost of the equipment in the year it’s “placed in service”) is enough to offset all the federal tax on the first $170,000 of federal taxable income for a couple filing married, joint return.

A common misconception is that a Roth IRA Conversion does not make sense if one is older.

Case Study: Dave is a widower age 85. He was scammed over $3 million by a Wall Street investment firm. He still has $1 million financial assets, including $335,000 in a traditional IRA. His #1 priority is to leave assets to his three kids. His youngest child is a son that can average at least a 20% annual return in real estate investing.

Dave should immediately convert the entire $335,000 to a Roth IRA. In 17 years, assuming Dave lives until 92 and then the kids enjoy 10 years of tax-free growth after inheriting the Roth IRA, it will become a total of $7.5 million tax-free. Split equally between

the three kids, each will have $2.5 million taxfree. The Roth IRA Conversion allows Dave to leave more than he thought possible to the kids, even after being scammed $3 million+ by Wall Street.

You’re never too old to do a Roth IRA Conversion. You need earned income to make an annual contribution to an IRA, but no earnings are required to do a Roth IRA conversion.

Free live seminar and lunch: 10 a.m. March at Hyatt Place, 3535 W. Chandler Blvd. Chandler, followed by a free lunch at 12:15 pm catered by La Madeleine French Café. The topic is “Roth IRA Conversions: Tax-Free at Any Age!”

To RSVP for the seminar or schedule a free consultation, contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail. com. His website is drharoldwong.com.

Dr. Harold Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

Women finally get a seat in car safety tests

BY NORMAL FARIS HUBELE Tribune Guest Writer

Abreakthrough in car safety was recently put to the test. A European-sponsored team, led by Swedish investigator Dr. Astrid Linder, announced the creation of a female crash test dummy.

The device is biofidelic, which means it looks, moves and twists in ways that resemble the female body. After more than a half-century of car safety testing, the automotive world finally has a realistic female surrogate to strap into the driver’s seat.

The U.S. government should move quickly to include this new dummy in the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). It will be imperative for saving lives and achieving gender equity in the automotive crash-testing process.

Why women’s auto safety comes second

The NCAP currently uses laboratory crash tests to assign vehicles the standardized 1 to 5 stars in the federal safety rating system with more stars labeling the vehicle as safer than those with less stars.

The program aims to encourage car makers to build safer cars and to inform the public about which cars to buy.

Dummies are critical in crash tests because they serve as human stand-ins. If the electronics attached to the dummy signal a severe injury in a crash, such as a neck extension or a chest compression, then the vehicle receives fewer stars.

A major complaint about the NCAP is that the “average” male dummy (5 feet 9 inches tall and 172 pounds) dominates this rating system, according to bipartisan legislation recently filed. It sits in the driver seat in the two most important crashes, the frontal and the side-impact tests. Meanwhile, a smaller dummy intended to represent a petite woman (4 feet 11 inches tall and 110 pounds) sits in the passenger seat.

This petite female surrogate is the driver in only one NCAP crash, the side pole test. However, this is the least important of all the crashes. If this smaller dummy is hurt in the test, it doesn’t count for much in the overall safety rating of cars.

It’s also important to know that this smaller dummy is a scaled-down version of the male dummy. In fact, some critics

consider it a better stand-in for a 12-yearold boy than a small woman. It does not have the anatomical differences found in the new Swedish dummy.

New ‘female’ dummy promises safer future

Now that the new female crash dummy has been created, researchers can use the 5 feet 3 inches tall and 137-pound device to study injury patterns sustained by the “average” female and prompt car makers to create even safer vehicles.

Right now, a number of factors put women at greater risk in crashes. Being smaller, women need to sit closer to the steering wheel. In addition, they tend to weigh less than men and have different shaped torsos, hips and pelvises. These lead to differences in how women fit vehicle seats and seatbelts.

While women’s heads are nearly as large and heavy as men’s, their necks have less muscle strength and are more susceptible to more whiplash injuries in lower-impact crashes, and higher fatality rates in high-impact crashes like rollovers and t-bones.

Some research shows that young men

who fit the profile of the average male test dummy have the fewest injuries in crashes so young male drivers are better protected in a crash than other occupants, women or older men. Such findings support the notion that “you get what you test to.”

Lawmakers and consumer advocacy groups recently recognized the inequality in car testing and design. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act mandated that NHTSA evaluate and report on using new dummies, including females, elderly, young adults, children and adults with different weights, in their testing for the NCAP star rating system.

What a great way to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. For our country’s leadership to graciously accept this important contribution from our European friends and use the new female dummy to save thousands of lives.

Ahwatukee resident Norma Faris Hubele is professor emerita of Arizona State University and creator of TheAutoProfessor.com, a website that helps families make safer car choices. Her book, Backseat Driver, The Role of Data in Great Car Safety Debates was published in August by Routledge.

Biden, supporter mock mom who lost 2 sons

BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist

Your 21st Century American lifestyle may have led you to overlook “oversight.”

Perhaps you vaguely recall its mention during an American Government class sometime in your educational past.

Thankfully, our founders did not overlook it, as they stated clearly in Article I, Section I of our Constitution that “All legislative powers herein

granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States.”

Virginia’s George Mason made a compelling case for oversight at the Constitutional Convention, where he stated that federal lawmakers “are not only legislators but they possess inquisitorial powers. They must meet frequently to inspect the conduct of the public offices.”

Sadly, the conduct of some federal legislators leads casual observers to mistake congressional oversight hearings as a venue for partisan play-

ground palaver.

Still other congressional hearings serve as a cure for insomnia. So deep is the dive into the technocratic that it defies description as either Republican or Democratic.

Dwight Eisenhower decried such stultifying detail as “sophisticated nonsense”; John McCain joked of “MEGO…” the acronym for “My Eyes Glaze Over!”

And yet, there are congressional hearings that compel Americans to sit up and listen.

The last day of February brought a first-rate example of such an inquiry, as Rebecca Kiessling testified before the House Homeland Security Committee.

Though trained as an attorney, she was testifying as a mother, having lost her two sons to fentanyl in July 2020.

Her emotional testimony served as a powerful indictment of the federal government’s largely ineffective response to the illicit importation of the

HAYWORTH from page 22

powerful, poisonous drug.

“If we had Chinese troops lining up along our southern border – with weapons aimed at our people; with weapons of mass destruction aimed at our cities – you damn well know you would do something about it!”

“My children were taken away from me!”

Kiessling concluded her statement with an appeal that she must have known would go unheeded: “This should not be politicized! It is not about race; fentanyl doesn’t care about race!”

But in Washington, D.C.—where politics is the principal professionand where the next political race is always the most important—elected officials didn’t hesitate to politicize a tearful mother’s testimony.

The following day, during a “political field trip” to nearby Baltimore for an event commonly known as a “congressional retreat,” our politician-

in-chief tried to advance the notion that he was victimized by Rebecca Kiessling’s testimony.

Joe Biden stood before his fellow Democrats, wearing the half-grin of the cognitively challenged that he always displays when he’s about to let us in on a “little secret” which only he understands.

Ol’ Joe mistakenly thought that he could invoke the name of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, and use that as a “rhetorical shield” for his own response to the heartfelt testimony of a grieving mother.

“She—she’s very specific recently, saying that a Mom—a poor mother who lost two kids to fentanyl—that I, that I killed her sons! Well, the interesting thing is—that fentanyl they took—came during the last administration.”

And then, Biden laughed.

Even worse was the social media response of a Biden backer from Portland, Oregon.

Matthew Slavin, Ph.D. must have

picked up his advanced degree in cruelty and profanity. You see below what the not-so-good doctor posted to Kiessling LinkedIn.

“You ignorant Trollop. How dare you try to score some cheap points for the traitorously criminal syndicate called the Republicans by holding up your dead sons in vain. It was Trump’s fentanyl. … You should go shoot your self.”

Don’t expect criticism of either Biden or his profane supporter in Portland from the Washington Press Corps; those “journalists” will keep their powder dry until they can lecture conservatives over some intemperate remark from the Right.

Unfortunately, the oversight function also afforded the Fourth Estate by the first amendment has transmogrified into an oft-deliberate distortion of conservative beliefs.

The “public sins” of the Left are often overlooked by a partisan press…but increasing numbers of Americans are not forgetting—or forgiving them.

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES AND SUDOKU from Page 27

Dobson girls fall in 6A championship

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

The Dobson girls’ basketball team knew they had a tall task ahead of them Saturday, March 4 at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.

The Mustangs’ run in the playoffs had led them to the championship game where they faced off against Valley Vista, a team that has won the title the past four years and six in the last seven. Dobson battled, even with its status as an underdog heading into the matchup.

But an Oliva Arvallo layup with just 12 seconds left gave Valley Vista a twopoint cushion, which is all it needed to beat Dobson 48-46.

“This is a very resilient group,” Dobson coach Henry Bribiescas said. “I’m just sad it’s over. They gave us so many great memories. I know we fell short, but they played like champions. We have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Dobson played Valley Vista about as tough as it could throughout the duration of the contest.

The Mustangs and Monsoon went back-and-forth throughout the first half,

with neither team able to pull away. Dobson’s defense was key throughout the first half, cutting off driving lanes for Valley Vista’s guards and limiting the length of the Monsoon wings inside to force turnovers and not give them free looks at the basket.

Dobson’ 23-20 lead at the half was due in large part to their ability to force those turnovers, as Valley Vista had 10 in the first half alone compared to the Mustangs’ 3.

But Valley Vista flipped a switch in the second half. The Monsoon started to feed 6-foot senior Hannah Young inside, and she was dominant. Possession after possession she found herself near the rim drawing contact. Her ability to draw attention from Dobson defenders helped Valley Vista go on a 13-4 run in the third quarter. But Dobson yet again fought back.

“I think we were the underdogs coming into the state tournament, the state championship and we played as hard as we could,” Garcia said. “We just keep going. Even if there’s a run, we just told ourselves we weren’t going to lose like that.

“I wanted to leave it all on the floor and play for my team.”

Dobson closed the game before heading into the fourth quarter. Junior Ahdiayh Chee connected on a deep 3-pointer before the buzzer to trim Valley Vista’s lead to just three points.

The momentum from the buzzer beater helped Dobson built to a fourpoint lead with just minutes remaining. Free throws throughout most of the fourth quarter were key for the Mustangs. But

perhaps the one mistake made by them in the fourth quarter came from the foul line.

Senior Aaliyah Garcia went to the line after being fouled and hit the first, tying it. But the second rattled off the rim. That allowed Arvallo to turn on the jets and sprint down the court for the gamewinning layup.

It wasn’t the ending Dobson had hoped for, but the Mustangs exceeded expectations all year long and especially in the postseason.

Despite their status as the thirdranked team in the 6A Conference tournament, they felt they were underdogs throughout.

Dobson’s postseason run began in the Open Division where it beat Notre Dame Prep before losing to Xavier, an Open semifinalist this season. The Mustangs then dropped back down into the 6A Conference as the No. 3 seed. They went on to beat Sunnyslope, Mountain Ridge and Gilbert in the semifinals to advance to the title game.

It was a whirlwind of an experience for the team. They were playing in a big venue and felt it was redemption for nearly making the title game two years ago. When they arrived Saturday morning, Bribiescas took a video of the entire

arena. His players walked out to the floor early to soak it all in.

“I wanted to soak it in and say, ‘Hey, we can play here. Let’s make it a yearly event if we can,’” Bribiescas said. “I feel like we have the youth behind us that we can come back. I wanted to enjoy the moment, too.”

Dobson isn’t letting the loss define its season. The team was led by Garcia and Chee, with the latter returning for another year after averaging over 14 points per game. Garcia is one of just two seniors on the team along with Nataly Cruz-Esparragoza, which leaves a large pool of talent that now has championship experience at Bribiescas disposal next year.

The loss hurt, no doubt. But Chee is already looking forward to starting the offseason program to get back to Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum next year.

“I’m going to come back next year better and stronger,” Chee said. “We showed everyone that we aren’t just some East Valley team. We belong with the west side, too. We’re as strong as them.

“We are representing the Valley on the east side. I’m grateful for where we’re standing right now. I’m ready to win in that Open Division. If not, 6A is going to be ours next year.”

Dobson coach Henry Bribiescas was proud of the way his team battled against Valley Vista in the 6A championship on Saturday, March 4, as the game came down to the wire. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)

Dobson junior guard Ahdiayh Chee was electric for the Mustangs in their loss to Valley Vista. Most importantly, she helped put Dobson basketball on the map and vows to help the team return ot the title game next season. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)

Bird supplier for Ostrich Fest has weathered hard times

BY KEN SAIN Arizonan Managing Editor

The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival March 16-19 will be the second straight one to feature Black Neck Ostriches.

How they got to Chandler is an interesting story filled with hot air and heartache.

“Old man Chandler (Dr. A.J. Chandler, the founder of the city) has always fascinated me,” said Rooster Cogburn, the man supplying 12 ostriches for this year’s festival.

Dr. Chandler became an ostrich farmer, raising the birds to supply feathers for women’s hats. He was like many Americans throughout history to think they could get rich with ostriches, Cogburn said.

Another one of those Americans is Rooster Cogburn, who now runs an ostrich ranch and petting zoo off oInterstate-10 just north of Tucson.

However, the ostrich business has not been easy for Cogburn.

First, he tried to raise wild ostriches and soon learned that would not work. Then, he purchased some Black Neck Ostriches in South Africa. That breed is ideal for ostrich farming, he said, but that nation has limited who can have them.

Cogburn claims he’s the only rancher in the U.S. with that breed.

He would sell the feathers and skin. A good pair of ostrich-skin boots sells for about $1,200, he said.

Just when his ostrich business was taking off, closing in on a deal to supply hatching eggs to Brazil, disaster struck.

Two hot air balloons crashed on his ranch on Feb. 3, 2002, spooking his birds and triggering a deadly stampede.

“I had 1,600 birds hit the fence at 35 miles an hour,” Cogburn said. “Lost hundreds of birds. The ones that didn’t die were crippled – or skinned up like you can’t believe.”

Cogburn spent years trying to get the balloonists to pay for his losses. He was

unsuccessful.

“I lost confidence in our system,” he said, admitting he was angry and frustrated. “American Way of life and everything. When you talk about somebody who is sad and ruined, that was me.”

A number of people showed up wanting to tell the story, but Cogburn said he was so angry and fed up he chased them all away.

But one young man, a University of Arizona student, kept coming back. Jonathan VanBallenberg made a documentary about the incident titled, “The Ostrich Testimonies” that was released in 2008. It won a number of awards.

Eventually, Cogburn was able to pick up the pieces and rebuild his ranch. He turned it into a tourist attraction for folks driving between Phoenix and Tucson.

“From there we have slowly built this thing up one deal at a time to now we’re recognized as one of the top 10 roadside attractions in America,” Cogburn said.

When it came to supplying ostriches for Chandler, Cogburn said he didn’t have the time. Then someone showed up, trying to lease his ostriches for Chandler. Cogburn said he didn’t know or trust this stranger, so he didn’t want to hand his birds over for them to look after.

He talked directly to the city, telling them to hire a former ranch worker of his that he trusted, and that as long as they paid him, they wouldn’t have to pay him for the use of his ostriches.

His former employee does all the work, including transporting the birds and caring for them. They started this arrangement last year.

This year, Cogburn is planning to make some money off the Ostrich Festival. He said they will be selling ostrich eggs at the Ostrich Festival. The shell is a popular item in their gift store. And, he said, one ostrich egg is equal to about 24 hen eggs.

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce is putting on the 33rd annual Ostrich Festival at Tumbleweed Park.

Unlike last year, when the Chandler Chamber of Commerce scheduled the festival over two weekends as a way of recovering from its cancelation during the pandemic in both 2021 and 2020, the festival will stretch across a four-day weekend.

Promising multiple attractions for families and people of all ages, the festival also is an important economic driver for Chandler. Chamber President/CEO Terri Kimble said.

Kimble said the festival usually draws between 80,000 and 100,000 peop General admission tickets start at $30 for adults, $20 for children, children four and under will be admitted to the festival free of charge. Limited VIP tickets are available starting at $150 and pricing for family packs will be available for purchase at a later date.

Many of the folks who visit the Ostrich Festival come from outside of Chandler.

“This year, we did an inside-the-fence kind of economic impact for the local community,” Kimble said. “And we estimated that the economic impact was about $9.4 million for the local economy, from hotel nights to restaurants to just everything

that it takes to put on the festival – which is pretty significant.”

Cogburn said there is hope for a brighter future, and his ostriches just might be the reason why. He said he’s been contacted by a Japanese scientist who believes he can build human health antibodies from ostrich eggs. They’ve done some preliminary studies the results have been fascinating, Cogburn said.

So he’s working on a deal to supply ostrich eggs to the scientist. It’s another potential international deal, so Cogburn would prefer hot air balloons stay far away from his ranch.

If You Go...

Ostrich Festival

When: times vary, March 16-19

Where: Tumbleweed Park 2250 S McQueen Road, Chandler.

Cost: General admission tickets start at $30 for adults, $20 for children, children 4 and under are free and rides cost extra. Tickets and other information at ostrichfestival.com.

Info: roostercognurn.com

A dozen Black Necked Ostriches will be the honored guests at the Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival March 16-19. (Special to the Tribune)

ACROSS 29 Packed away 31 Summer cooler 34 Drunkard 35 Droops 37 Ford or Hudson 38 Ella’s style 39 Surrealist Joan

1 40 Bickering 41 Fall (over) 42 Ryan of “Boston Public” 43 Tragic king 44 Probability 46 Light touch 47 “Frontline” airer

Sudoku

This week we’ll be celebrating Ireland’s patron saint by the wearing of the green, the drinking of the green beer – and in this case, the eating of the green!

I wonder if St. Patrick would love this incredible spinach dip which is, in itself, a celebration of flavors! This recipe, with its ring of bread rolls around the edges and a yummy dip in the middle is made easy by buying frozen dinner rolls rather than making the bread from scratch.

With JAN D’ATRI GetOut Contributor

Your guests will feel lucky with this Irish treat

Once baked, the bread easily pulls part to be dipped and dunked into a delectable blend of spinach, cheeses and spices.

Ingredients:

Bread Dough:

Rhodes Bake N Serve Frozen Dinner Rolls (12 pack)

For the dip:

• 6 cups loosely packed fresh baby spinach

• 1/2 sweet yellow onion, chopped fine

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2-3 tablespoons melted butter

• 4 oz. cream cheese (1/2 brick) softened

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha or hot sauce

• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus 2 tablespoons

• 1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded plus 2 tablespoons

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Coat an 8-inch cast-iron or oven safe skillet generously with butter. Find a bowl that is about 5 inches across the top.

Spray the outside with cooking spray and place it, top side down, in the center of the skillet. (You can also make a 5 inch in diameter ring with aluminum foil. Spray with cooking spray.)

PUZZLES ANSWERS on page 23

No Irish luck needed here. Just a straight -forward recipe that will most certainly get your St. Patty’s Day Irish on.

Place frozen dough balls around the edge of the skillet creating a ring of bread rolls.

Brush dough balls with melted butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 20-30 minutes.

Make dip:

In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Sauté onion until golden brown. Add fresh spinach and cook for about 4 minutes or until wilted. Remove spinach to a medium large bowl and let cool, about 15 minutes.

When cooled, add cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic, hot sauce, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella, salt and pepper.

Mix until well combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Carefully remove bowl from center of skillet. (Bowl can be removed easier by sliding a knife or thin spatula under the bowl.) Spoon the dip mixture into the space where the bowl was, spooning right up to the edge of the dough.

Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle remainder of parmesan and mozzarella over the top of the spinach mixture and the bread rolls. Return to oven and cook for 10 more minutes or until dip mixture bubbles and rolls are golden brown.

Ahwatukee Chandler Gilbert

CLASSIFIEDS.PHOENIX.ORG

PUBLIC NOTICES

SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA MARICOPA COUNTY

In the Matter of Estate of: LOUIS R. MASTERSON, adult. Case Number PB2022-002036

NOTICE OF CREDITORS OF INFORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND/OR INFORMAL PROBATE OF A WILL

NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT:

1. PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE: RENEE L. KIMBALL has been appointed Personal Representative of this Estate

DATE: 12 JAN 2023

Address: 1506 CANYON CREEK DR NEWMAN, CA 95360

2. DEADLINE TO MAKE CLAIMS. All persons having claims against the Estate are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this Notice or the claims will be forever barred.

3. NOTICE OF CLAIMS: Claims must be presented by delivering or mailing a written statement of the claim to the Personal Representative at (address) ADDRESS 1506 CANYON CREEK DR NEWMAN, CA 95360

4. NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT. A copy of the Notice of Appointment is attached to the copies of this document mailed to all known creditors.

DATED: MARCH 3, 2023

/s/ NAME RENEE L. KIMBALL

Published in East Valley Tribune Mar 12, 19, 26, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice to Creditors

Estate of JOANNE VASQUEZ, deceased 11/22/2022

Maricopa County, Arizona Case No. PB-2023000281

All persons who have claims against the above named Estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative on or before 5/25/2023.

Personal Representative: Heather Lalley

6540 S. Agate Way

Chandler, AZ 85249

Published in East Valley Tribune Feb 26, Mar 5, 12, 2023

Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) Real Estate Recovery Fund www.azre.gov

Judgment Debtor Notice (RF-109) 100 N. 15th Ave., Suite 201 PHOENIX, Al 85007

TO: (Print names of all Judgment Debtors)

1) JENNIFER MOUNTJOY-ZWISLER

2) PRIME TIME PROPERTIES MANAGEMENT and REAL ESTATE INC. ADB as Prime Time Properties Inc.

Based on a judgment against you in favor of 1) RAILCASTLE LLC 2) RAM RIVER LLC being made to the Arizona Department of Real Estate for payment from the Real Estate Recovery Fund. If payment is made from the Recovery Fund, all licenses and license rights that you have under Arizona real estate law will be automatically terminated on the date of payment and may only be reinstated pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-213l(A)(3), on a showing that:

1. The Recovery Fund has been reimbursed for the amount paid plus interest at the current legal rate;

2. The underlying judgment has been fully satisfied; and

3. You have filed an original application for a license. If you wish to contest payment from the Recovery Fund, you must file a detailed written response to Applications. The Real Estate Commissioner must receive your response at the address below within 35 calendar days after the date this notice is mailed, delivered or first published. You must also send a copy of the response to the Claimant at the address below. If you fail to respond as required, you waive your right to present your objections to payment, and you will not be entitled to notice of any action taken or proposed to be taken by the Commissioner with respect to the claim. A.R.S. § 32-2188.0l(C)

Applicant’s Name(s): Brad Blair President Railcastle LLC and Ram River LLC

Attorney’s Name/Firm (if applicable):

Applicant’s Address: 11931 138 Ave City, State, Zip: Edmonton Alberta Canada T5X 4K1 Telephone and Fax: tel 780 456 8170 Email: blair1960@vahoo.com

NOTE: The response must include sufficient information and references to documents to fully explain the basis for opposing the allegations contained in the application. Mail or submit via Message Center your response, supporting documents and a copy of this Notice to: RF-109 Rev. 03/18

Recovery Fund Administrator Arizona Department of Real Estate 100 N. 15th Ave., Suite 201 Phoenix, AZ 85007

Published in East Valley Tribune Mar 5, 12, 2023

NOTICE OF SALE OF MOBILE HOME NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following item of personal property will be sold at public sale to the highest bidder, to satisfy a landlord’s lien:

Mobile Home Make: GRAN Body Style: 14 X 60 MD Model Year: 1973 VIN: 2FPA3981E

Date and time of Sale: 03/15/2023 at 10:00 AM

Location of Sale: Space No. 199

HOLIDAY VILLAGE

701 S DOBSON ROAD

MESA, AZ 85202

Name of landlord: HOLIDAY MHC, LP DBA HOLIDAY VILLAGE

Amount of Claimed Lien: $2,593.53 as of December 12, 28,2022

The Landlord reserves the right to bid at said sale and if its bid is the highest, to purchase said mobile home. The Landlord claims a lien against this property in the amount shown above as of the date shown above, for rents and other charges which have accrued through that date under a rental agreement covering the space occupied by the mobile home. The rental agreement giving rise to this lien was entered into by the Landlord and the following parties, owners of the mobile home, as tenants:

Date of Rental Agreement: APRIL 1, 2013

Name(s) of Tenant(s): Rose Mary Quattlebaum

Owner of Record: Rose Mary Quattlebaum

Said mobile home is located at the address shown above as the location of sale. The above described property shall be offered for sale pursuant to A.R.S. 33-1023. The proceeds from the sale will be applied to the cost of sale and to the lien, and any money that remains will be disposed of as provided in A.R.S. 33-1023.

By: Cecilia A. Prendergast

Published in East Valley Tribune Mar 12, 19, 2023

NOTICE OF SALE OF MOBILE HOME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following item of personal property will be sold at public sale to the highest bidder, to satisfy a landlord’s lien: Mobile Home

Make: WHITTIER

Body Style: 14 X 82 MH

Model Year: 1983

VIN: KBAZSN314853

Date and Time of Sale: 04/18/2023 10:00 AM

Location of Sale: Space No. 148 HOLIDAY VILLAGE

701 S DOBSON ROAD MESA, AZ 85202

Name of landlord: HOLIDAY MHC, LP DBA HOLIDAY VILLAGE

Amount of Claimed Lien: $2,797.32 as of MARCH 2, 2023

The Landlord reserves the right to bid at said sale and if its bid is the highest, to purchase said mobile home. The Landlord claims a lien against this property in the amount shown above as of the date shown above, for rents and other charges which have accrued through that date under a rental agreement covering the space occupied by the mobile home. The rental agreement giving rise to this lien was entered into by the Landlord and the following parties, owners of the mobile home, as tenants:

Date of Rental Agreement: 06/14/2010

Name(s) of Tenant(s): Elsie Louise Winfrey & Brenda Ervin

Owner of Record: Elsie Louise Winfrey & Brenda Ervin

Said mobile home is located at the address shown above as the location of sale. The above described property shall be offered for sale pursuant to A.R.S. 33-1023. The proceeds from the sale will be applied to the cost of sale and to the lien, and any money that remains will be disposed of as provided in A.R.S. 33-1023.

HOLIDAY MHC, LP DBA HOLIDAY VILLAGE

By: Cecilia A. Prendergast Title Administrator

Dated: March 15, 2023

March 22, 2023

Published in East Valley Tribune Mar 12, 19, 2023

NOTICE OF SALE OF MOBILE HOME

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following item of personal property will be sold at public sale to the highest bidder, to satisfy a landlord’s lien: Mobile Home Make: CARME Body Style: 14 X 56

MH Model Year: 1974 VIN: 153

Date and time of Sale: 03/15/2023 at 10:00 AM

Location of Sale: Space No. 468

HOLIDAY VILLAGE

701 S DOBSON ROAD

MESA, AZ 85202

Name of landlord: HOLIDAY MHC, LP DBA HOL-

IDAY VILLAGE

Amount of Claimed Lien: $2,690.20 as of December 12, 2022

The Landlord reserves the right to bid at said sale and if its bid is the highest, to purchase said mobile home. The Landlord claims a lien against this property in the amount shown above as of the date shown above, for rents and other charges which have accrued through that date under a rental agreement covering the space occupied by the mobile home.

The rental agreement giving rise to this lien was entered into by the Landlord and the following parties, owners of the mobile home, as tenants: Date of Rental Agreement: August 3, 2012

Name(s) of Tenant(s): Robert Casey Owner of Record: Heather A Lange Said mobile home is located at the address shown above as the location of sale. The above described property shall be offered for sale pursuant to A.R.S. 33-1023. The proceeds from the sale will be applied to the cost of sale and to the lien, and any money that remains will be disposed of as provided in A.R.S. 33-1023. HOLIDAY MHC, LP DBA HOLIDAY VILLAGE By:

Cecilia A. Prendergast

Title Administrator

Dated: February 8, 2023 & February 15, 2023

Published in East Valley Tribune Mar 12, 19, 2023

Advertisement of Sale

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to the Arizona Self-Service Storage Act, Arizona Statutes 33-1704, Section H, Enforcement of Lien. The Undersigned will sell at public sale by competitive bidding on or after March 24, 2023 at 9:00am using an online auction at www.storagetreasures. com, said property has been stored and located at US60 Self Storage, 1661 S Alma School Rd, Ste 105, Mesa, AZ 85210. Property to be sold as follows: Misc. household goods, personal items, furniture, clothing, toys and/or business fixtures and items belonging to the following:

Bradley Reynolds 124

Logan Shankel 817

Keith Morris 347

Stacy Koury 417

Nicole Stewart 209

Sky Eriacho 331

Keith Morris 346

Sale subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party. Items sold “as is”, CASH ONLY, and Buyer must pay a security deposit and broom sweep/clean the unit. Go to www.storagetreasures.com to bid on unit(s).

Published in East Valley Tribune Mar 5, 12, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

The Mesa City Council will hold a public hearing concerning the following ordinances at the March 20, 2023, City Council meeting beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the Mesa City Council Chambers, 57 East First Street.

1. ZON22-01270 “Copa Health” (District 4) Within the 600 block of West Jerome Avenue (north side). Located west of Country Club Road and north of Baseline Road (2± acres). Rezone from Light Industrial with a Bonus Intensity Zone overlay (LI-BIZ) to General Commercial with a Bonus Intensity Zone overlay and Council Use Permit (GC-BIZ-CUP) and Site Plan Review. This request will allow for a social service facility. John Moore, Copa Health, applicant; Accel Properties LLC, owner. Dated at Mesa, Arizona, this 12th day of March 2023.

Holly Moseley, City Clerk

Published in the Mesa Tribune, Mar 12, 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 Construction Manager at Risk for the following:

SIGNAL BUTTE PARK PHASE 2 11132 E. Elliot Road PROJECT No. CP0707

The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to provide Pre-Construction Services assistance and complete Construction Services as the CMAR for the Signal Butte Park Phase 2 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 following is a summary of the project. The required tasks will be reviewed with the selected CMAR and defined to meet the needs of the project as part of the contract scoping.

The proposed Signal Butte Park Phase 2 project is located at 11132 E Elliot Rd in Mesa, Arizona, and is north of the existing Signal Butte Park. At approximately 43 acres, the project scope includes:

• Construction of approximately 1.5 miles of paved trails; a pedestrian bridge connecting Phase 2 to the existing Phase 1 of Signal Butte Park; one restroom building; five ramadas; a lighted 50-stall parking lot; a lighted 10-stall parking lot; a lighted park access road; two bicycle pump tracks; and walking paths.

• City may include other miscellaneous improvements and permitting at the Site, as needed

The estimated construction cost is $3,500,000 and is anticipated to be completed in Winter 2024.

A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on March 28 at 7:30 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 Pre-Submittal Conference can request an invitation from 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. The RFQ is available on the City’s website at http://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 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 April 6, 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 Construction Manager at Risk selection process or contract issues should be directed to Donna Horn of the Engineering Department at donna.horn@mesaaz.gov.

BETH HUNING City Engineer

COLLECTOR

ATTEST: Holly

Moseley

City Clerk Published

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