City of�icials ponder trolley route for west Mesa
BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
Mesa of�icials are studying the possibility of implementing a trolley in the western part of the city.
But don’t expect to catch a ride on the new streetcar from Mesa Community College to downtown Mesa anytime soon.
The proposed trolley is still in a preliminary planning stage and such details as the route, length and cost are yet to be �inalized.
But the likely 7-8-mile route is starting to reach a level of consensus after three years of planning and paying for it would �irst depend on voter approval of an extension of Proposition 400, the special tax that helps pay for road and other transportation projects in Maricopa County.
Deputy Mesa City Manager Scott Butler said it is unclear if an extension of Proposition 400, which continued a half-cent sales tax �irst approved by voters in 1985 for another 20 years in 2004, will be placed on either the 2022 or 2024 ballot.
It appears inevitable that of�icials will seek authority to extend the tax, which has been responsible for far-reaching transportation improvements throughout the county, including the construction of new freeways, upgrades to arterial roads and public transit improvements such as Metro Light Rail.
After a long run of sweeping and diverse transportation improvements throughout the county, Proposition 400 expires in 2025.
Because a new source of revenue must be secured, the potential Mesa streetcar could be as long as 10 years into the future, when
Paz de Christo's
Mesa Mayor John Giles said that west Mesa likely will be very different than it is today.
The plan discussed by Council last week would connect a Mesa trolley loop to the Tempe Streetcar system now under construction.
The Mesa loop would eclipse Tempe’s route in miles and serve the Asian District, Mesa Community College, two Banner hospitals and the Fiesta District before connecting to downtown along Country Club Drive.
“The character of West Mesa is going to change,’’ Giles said. “It’s going to be a newer, more urban, more dense part of the city.’’ Hundreds of new apartment units already are on the drawing board in that part of the city, adding to hundreds more already under
new leader
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AND HOWARD FISCHER The Mesa Tribune
esa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Andi Fourlis joined several counterparts and the state’s top education of�icial last week to warn Arizonans that surging COVID-19 cases are putting them in an impossible situation.
Their pleas echoed those made last month by MPS Governing Board members, who warned that unless the entire community –not just parents and students – followed safety protocols to mitigate virus spread, classrooms could be closed again.
“Without serious changes from us, the adults making daily choices that determine
Paz de Christo's new executive director, Joe Tansill, is charged with overseeing the nonprofit's 32-year-old mission in Mesa: feeding the hungry and caring for the needy. For a look at how that mission is meeting the challenges of the pandemic, see page 10. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Sta Photographer)
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Mesa �inds success reaching Spanish-speaking residents
BY SYDNEY MACKIE Tribune Contributor
Since the election of its �irst Hispanic to the City Council in 2015, Mesa of�icials are �inding ways to better serve its diverse population.
The city’s Mesa en Español team is bringing a renewed vigor to that effort despite this year’s harsh circumstances caused by the pandemic, helping to bridge the communication gap between city workers and Spanish-speaking residents.
The team’s Facebook page, publicly launched in 2018, translates for those residents complex government documents, informs them of citywide events and connects them with elected of�icials – all in Spanish.
“Our most important role is connecting with our Spanish speaking community and helping to break down barriers of local government,” said Marrisa RamírezRamos, senior public information & communications specialist of Mesa en Español.
“Local government can be an obstacle for anyone to know how to maneuver correctly, who to contact, what departments to speak with when they have questions or concerns, but especially when a language barrier is added to the mix,” Ramirez-Ramos said.
Last year, the Mesa en Español Facebook page earned the Diversity Award for cities of 200,000 to 500,000 residents from the National League of Cities, an award created to acknowledge forward-looking initiatives within a multicultural community.
This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team’s services were in even higher demand.
“Our culture is very much based on family and connections and in large get-togethers, and that tends to be a way to disseminate information, and it was greatly affected by not being able to have those inperson interactions,” Ramírez-Ramos said.
The group has used their established platform to give residents accurate and timely information on the virus, precautions and resources available.
After becoming inundated with translation requests, the city’s diversity of�icer
helped the team create “a pretty solid translation services document for the city to follow,” Ramírez-Ramos said.
Some of the events and support systems they promoted during this time included meetings with council members that citizens could attend and ask questions virtually with the help of a translation, as well as the location of nearby emergency food distribution centers and boxes.
Mariano Reyes, Mesa en Español coadministrator and department of environmental engineering sustainability of�icial, said the group posts about important changes to everyday life such as “making sure resident are aware of what can be recycled, how to properly put out your containers, as well as information on hazardous materials disposal.”
Lucy Hambright, another administrator on the Facebook page, stressed that the team’s services are crucial.
“When people reach out to the city, it really helps to be that person that looks like them and speaks like them,” she said. “To me, it’s very important that I connect with them and they connect to me so we can learn from each other and we become better as we work together.”
According to the most recent U.S. Census, there are 518,012 Hispanic residents in Mesa, making up 27.7 percent of the city’s total population.
While the idea of the Facebook page was still being conceptualized, the demographics of the area were carefully studied in order to accurately assess the needs of the community.
Ramírez-Ramos said the Hispanic community is also highly digital and interactive on social media pages and these interactions often generate more interaction
within the community.
Similarly, in the Mesa Public Schools district, Hispanic citizens making up the largest minority demographic.
The city began its outreach to its Spanish-spreakign residents with a pilot project titled “Imagine Mesa.”
It preceded the Mesa en Español page and was a space where residents could submit suggestions and government of�icials could gather ideas.
“I think that’s where we noticed that our target audience was a Spanish audience,” Ramírez-Ramos said.
Looking towards the future, the Mesa en Español team aspires to branch out to other social media platforms, and reaching new and unexplored audiences.
“We know that if we go to Instagram, it tends to be the younger generation,” Ramírez-Ramos said.
“The young people who have been here most of their life and those who grew up here and are doing the translating for their parents or grandparents or aunts and uncles” would be the target audience, she explained.
The team also hopes to enter Spanishspeaking communities again when COVID-19 permits to continue advocating for more innovative diversity programs and �ind new ways of fostering connections with residents.
“That’s really a point I would like to stress, that we’ve tried very hard to bring it more in person and overcome that stigma of government being this high up hierarchy that you can’t interact with or there’s really not a person behind it,” Ramírez-Ramos said.
“We really wanted to be a real person to our community.”
A special Facebook page in Spanish helps the city reach Spanish-speaking residents in Mesa. (Special to the Tribune)
the virus’ path, we cannot expect these numbers to head in a safe direction,’’ said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman.
Hoffman was joined by Fourlis, two other school superintendents and state health Director Dr. Cara Christ to discuss their concern about the COVID-19 surge –which led to a two-week return to the hybrid learning model at Mesa High, where the student body was divided alphabetically into two groups that were in classrooms only two days a week.
MPS’s COVID-19 dashboard last week showed 77 students and 39 staffers are infected.
That includes not just the 16 cases at Mesa High but another 20 at Mountain View High, where the school remained in �ive-day in-class learning.
A district spokeswoman said Mesa High would continue in hybrid learning at least through November but that Mountain View is proceeding with �iveday in-class learning for the time being.
The press conference was driven partly by the upcoming long Thanksgiving holiday, which has provoked concern nationally about large “super-spreader” gatherings – even in homes – that will increase the spread of the virus.
To mitigate that spread in Mesa, Fourlis last week told parents in an email that all district students will be learning at home the Monday after that weekend to ”decrease the likelihood of school spread of COVID-19 due to social activities related to the Thanksgiving holiday.”
During the press conference, Fourlis said, “We need a community effort to continue so that our schools stay open and to make sure that we’re making wise decisions because we know that while many of us have COVID fatigue, COVID has not been fatigued.
“It is still alive and well and we have to do all that we can to keep it out of our schools. So, I ask for your continued community support.”
Three days after that press conference, new data released by the county health department underscored the educators’ concerns.
Of the three benchmarks that districts are urged to consider when deciding whether to close schools, cases per 100,000 people within MPS boundaries remained in the category indicating sub-
stantial spread at 130.
The data were from the �irst week of November and are compared with readings from the previous week.
Positive new test results for the week of Nov. 1 were at 6.9 percent in MPS boundaries, a slight decrease from the previous week’s 7.3 percent but still within the category for moderate spread.
But some Mesa ZIP codes showed higher virus levels.
Among them was 85210, where cases per 100,000 were at 172 and positive test results at 9.8 percent. In 85209, there were 159 cases and positive test results were at 6.2 percent.
In 85213, where Mountain View is located, county data showed 131 cases per 100,000 and a 6.8 percent test positivity. Mesa High School’s 85204 showed 122 cases and a positivity level of 7.5 percent.
State of�icials are suggesting that districts only consider closing campuses if all three benchmarks show a substantial virus spread.
While two have been trending upwards, the third – percentage of hospital visits with COVID-like symptoms has remained in the minimal spread category in Mesa and most neighboring districts.
Christ, while making multiple suggestions for dealing with the spread of the disease, said she’s not prepared to recommend new restrictions on individual and business activities.
“We continue to monitor the data on a daily basis,’’ she said, adding that her department will work with individual counties in the event of a major outbreak.
But Christ later in the week reported, “While the statewide metrics still meet the benchmarks for the moderate category of COVID-19 spread for business and school opening, we are seeing case rates, percent positivity, and COVID-like Illness increase in many counties across all regions of the state.”
She said positive test results hit 9 percent statewide and that while cases were increasing at all age levels, people in the 20-24-year age bracket now account for nearly half of all new cases.
At the press conference, Hoffman warned that people are mistaken if they there’s no difference between in-class and at-home learning.
“When our schools close to in-person instruction, it is devastating to our communities,’’ she said.
“Parents are thrown in �lux as they try to decide the best model for distance learn-
ing, whether at home or at an on-site learning center,’’ Hoffman continued. “Educators must adapt quickly, transitioning from inperson and hybrid to distance learning.”
And then there are the effects on children, separated from friends and, as Christ said, at greater risk for depression and suicide.
State health and education of�icials are setting up a pilot program for free weekly testing of teachers.
Vail Uni�ied Superintendent John Carruth said at the press conference that schools aren’t causing the virus surge, reiterating what Mesa school of�icials have been saying for weeks. “Both our experience and what I think our Pima County data are showing is that transmission is happening in the community and not within our schools,’’ he said.
Christ does have some answers to that, speci�ically with recommendations for what families should be doing this Thanksgiving to prevent these traditional family gatherings from turning into spreader events.
It starts, she said, with moving celebrations outside or a local park.
If that can’t happen, Christ said “create spaces’’ indoors so people can distance from one another, open doors and windows for better ventilation, and reduce the number of people gathered around the table.
“And consider celebrating virtually with your college-age students or your higherrisk and elderly relatives,’’ she said.
Paul Maryniak is the executive editor of the Tribune and Howard Fischer is with Capitol Media Services.
The state Health Services Department last week released this chart showing the age groups most a ected in Arizona by the surge in COVID-19 cases. (Arizona Department of Health Services)
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construction downtown.
Giles said “2030 is probably very optimistic’’ as a potential timeline for a Mesa’s streetcar system to get underway.
Council members Jen Duff, Francisco Heredia and Dave Luna support the plan while Vice Mayor Mark Freeman is skeptical about demand for the service and hesitant to increase the burden on Mesa taxpayers for operating and maintaining the system if ridership proved inadequate to offset costs.
Duff noted the high cost of housing and said a Mesa streetcar system could give residents the option of saving money by not owning a car.
If there is reliable transportation for employment and shopping, “a car is a choice, not a burden,’’ Duff said. “We are one of the worst air quality places in the nation. That’s pretty sad.’’
Heredia, who serves on the Valley Metro board, said, “The more opportunities we have to bring people to this part of town, the better for Mesa. We can lift them up.’’
But Freeman said the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in American society, such as more employees working from home or going to the of�ice on a staggered schedule.
Although the Union of�ice complex at Dobson and Rio Salado has leased the �irst of several buildings planned on the site, there are questions about whether additional buildings will be added or delayed, he said.
“Nobody has a crystal ball to say what will happen in the future. We know there is less demand for Class A of�ice space,’’ Freeman said. “Do we spend millions and millions to put in a streetcar route when transportation might change and be outdated’’ by such innovations as driverless cars?
He noted Mesa also pays heavily to support the Metro Light Rail and the streetcar system would increase that burden.
“At the end of the day, we have to protect the taxpayer,’’ Freeman said.
Jodi Sorrell, Mesa’s transit services director, said the city pays $13 million a year to operate and maintain light rail but that cost is offset by about $3 million in revenue from fares and advertising.
She said the long process of obtaining funding for a potential system would likely provide Mesa with more
insight on the demand for the service and other issues.
Sorrell said the level of planning so far has determined that a route is feasible and additional analysis is necessary to address other issues.
When the Tempe line was still being planned, for example, of�icials had to address concerns by residents in historical neighborhoods about overhead trolley lines. The city opted to bury the lines in any affected area.
The Mesa route does not ap-
15 years down the road,’’ Sorrell said.
“The purpose of it is connecting Mesa,’’ she added. “You look at something that is a one seat trip. It’s like a direct �light as opposed to using a transfer.’’
Valley Metro transit of�icials decided that a trolley, which has smaller cars and more stops, would be more suitable for the area than a light rail extension based upon numerous factors, including the high cost, said Deron Lozano, a project manager with the agency.
medical appointments, there’s no question that the pandemic has depressed ridership, she said.
“Ridership is down. It’s not just down in the Valley, it’s down nationwide,’’ Sorrell said.
The Mesa Streetcar proposal would more than double the length of Tempe’s novel streetcar project, a 3.1mile route that loops around downtown Tempe, from Tempe Town Lake, east on Rio Salado Parkway to Tempe Marketplace, and south down Mill Avenue, past Arizona State University and east on Apache Boulevard.
Construction on Tempe Streetcar has virtually been completed and the much-anticipated transit line, patterned after similar projects in Dallas and Nice, France, is expected to open about a year from now after the system is tested, said Amanda Nelson, a Tempe spokeswoman.
The cars will resemble those used on the Metro Light Rail but will be smaller and not linked together. Light rail cars are often combined to handle large crowds picking up fans after Arizona Diamondbacks baseball games at Chase Field in Phoenix.
“The bulk of the construction is done,’’ Nelson said. “It’s getting exciting now. It’s looking real.’’
While Mesa of�icials said it is too early to develop a cost estimate for the Mesa trolley, the Tempe Streetcar is expected to cost $192 million.
“Our light rail ridership has been holding steady or increasing prior to the pandemic,’’ Sorrell
While some people have no choice
sit to get to work, school or
To extend the route, Tempe Streetcar would head down Rio Salado, past Sloan Park in Mesa. It would turn south at Mesa Riverview and head down Dobson Road, before heading east on Southern and eventually north on Country Club Drive to downtown Mesa.
If the plan were to come to fruition, it would create a Mesa loop to circulate riders around west and central Mesa. They could also make connections onto Metro Light rail for travel to other cities.
Lozano said a consensus emerged in the study that the Asian District, Banner Desert Medical Center and Banner Children’s at Desert Hospital, Mesa Community College, the Fiesta District and downtown Mesa, should all be served by a potential Mesa Streetcar.
The Mesa city council did not vote on the proposal but signaled a desire to continue the planning without making a decision for now to build it.
This map shows the preferred route for the Tempe Streetcar's extension into west Mesa. (City of Mesa)
The Tempe trolley cars are not linked and are smaller than the Metro Light Rail cars. Tempe hopes to have their cars riding along its 3.5-mile route in about a year. (City of Tempe)
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Mesa, AZ — The most common method your doctor will recommend to treat your chronic pain and/or neuropathy is with prescription drugs that may temporarily reduce your symptoms. These drugs have names such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin, and are primarily antidepressant or anti-seizure drugs. These drugs may cause you to feel uncomfortable and have a variety of harmful side effects.
Chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to the nerves often causing weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, and the most debilitating balance problems. This damage is commonly caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet which causes the nerves to begin to degenerate due to lack of nutrient flow.
As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms.
The main problem is that your doctor has told you to just live with the problem or try the drugs which you don’t like taking because they make you feel uncomfortable. There is now a facility right here in Mesa that offers you hope without taking those endless drugs with serious side effects.
(See the special neuropathy severity examination at the end of this article)
In order to effectively treat your neuropathy three factors must be determined.
1) What is the underlying cause?
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NOTE: Once you have sustained 95% nerve loss, there is likely nothing that we can do for you.
3) How much treatment will your condition require?
The treatment that is provided at Aspen Medical has three main goals.
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The treatment to increase blood flow, stimulate small nerve fibers and get you back to health is our new $50,000.00 SANEXAS UNIT!
In addition, we use a state-of-the-art diagnostics like the TM Flow diagnostic unit to accurately determine the increase in blood flow and a small skin biopsy to accurately determine the increase in small nerve fibers!
The Sanexas electric cell signaling system delivers energy to the affected area of your body at varying wavelengths, including both low-frequency and middle-frequency signals. It also uses amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) signaling. During a treatment session, the Sanexas system automatically changes to simultaneously deliver AM and FM electric cell signal energy.
THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT SANEXAS IS COVERED BY MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCE! Depending on your coverage, your treatment could be little to no cost to you!
The amount of treatment needed to allow the nerves to fully recover varies from person to person and can only be
determined after a detailed neurological and vascular evaluation. As long as you have not sustained at least 95% nerve damage there is hope!
Aspen Medical will do a chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination to determine the extent of the nerve damage as a public service to you and/or your family and friends. This neuropathy/ pain severity examination will consist of a detailed sensory evaluation, extensive peripheral vascular testing, and a detailed analysis of the findings of your neuropathy.
Aspen Medical will be offering this chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination from now until November 30, 2020. Call 480274-3157 to make an appointment to determine if your chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated.
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Gilbert’s pandemic loss: No parade, no rodeo
BY SRIANTHI PERERA Tribune Contributor
For the �irst time in more than four decades, Gilbert Days Rodeo, the traditional celebration of Gilbert’s Western heritage, won’t be held in its original form.
The pandemic has robbed the town of the entertaining three-day spectacle of handsome cowboys bucking bulls and nattily dressed young women executing drills on stately horses.
Maricopa County did not issue organizers Gilbert Promotional Corporation the necessary permits on time, and there was a question as to whether the permits would be issued at all.
Hence, this week, the group called it off.
The event, which last year drew about 1,200 people a day and had spectators sitting elbow-to-elbow on crowded bleachers, planned to halve those numbers to distance socially, mandate masks and provide hand-washing stations around the venue.
A record number of cowboys had registered to participate because most of the other rodeos in the state had been cancelled.
Paige Nelson, GPC vice president, said that the group had “not spent too much money so far.”
“Luckily, we were able to avoid having to sign up all of the cowboys and having to refund them,” she said.
This is the �irst time in 42 years that the town will not harken back to its equestrian roots and provide new residents a glimpse of their adopted community’s Old West past.
“I’m not very happy about it, kind of sad. I’ve been a part of it for almost 30 some years myself. It means a lot to me,” said Ed Musgraves, a board member of GPC. “Hopefully, next year we can have it.”
After cancelling the rodeo, which had been scheduled next weekend at Welcome Home Ranch, GPC was to have held the Bull Run yesterday, Nov. 14. No tickets were sold and few spectators were allowed.
Bull riders mount a bucking bull and attempt to avoid being thrown off by the animal.
Toward the end of the event, the best �ive riders will compete against each other.
“We have 30 cowboys and 30 bulls; the bull who has the best rider is the overall winner,” said Musgraves.
The rodeo-related Gilbert Days Parade,
a popular event with much community participation, will be virtual because of the pandemic.
The community is invited to create a �loat from a shoebox and submit it to the town of Gilbert. Entries may be submitted until 5 p.m. on Nov. 22. The top 20 submissions, �ive from each category, will be chosen and the community will select category winners with a public vote.
The Pony Express also was to take place earlier this weekend as scheduled.
The ride, which begins at the Gilbert Post Of�ice, normally is watched by school children but they weren’t allowed to attend this year because of virus concerns.
Participants emulate the historic Pony Express, a mail service using horse riders in the 1860s, and ride to Queen Creek and Casa Grande on the �irst day.
They camp in Casa Grande and head to Coolidge and then to Florence for a short parade through its downtown and end with a ceremony at the Florence Town Hall.
The riders return to Welcome Home Ranch for a barbecue on Saturday evening.
Another special presentation planned this year was a tribute to Julee Brady, a longtime volunteer with GPC and the founder of The Cowgirls Historical Foundation who passed away from cancer in September.
Brady was the producer of the Pony Express, chaired by Chantal Annis. Brady
also used to coordinate the young women of the Rodeo Royalty Court.
Her daughters felt that the tribute should take place during the rodeo and have postponed it to next year.
The other colorful part of Gilbert Days is its Rodeo Royalty Court.
This year’s members are Jessica Wolfe, Rodeo Queen; Amber Michne, Rodeo Teen Queen; and Makenzie Craven, Rodeo Princess.
Wolfe, who has been riding for 23 years, will bring her Palomino mare, Lulu, the most beautiful horse from the six she owns, to the rodeo.
The Mesa resident works as a medical scribe at an emergency department in Mesa and has a goal of pursuing a career as a medical provider.
The court’s usual duties, such as visiting schools and rodeos across the state to educate people about their lifestyle, have been curtailed because of the pandemic.
“All of the responsibilities and opportunities associated with a rodeo queen title are an honor, but my favorite component would have to be the community outreach,” Wolfe said.
Despite the restrictions, Wolfe has continued to represent the Gilbert Days Rodeo Royalty platform of “Kicking up Kindness.”
“In a world full of so much turmoil, I strive to seek out kind deeds and try to pass them on to others. We lovingly refer to these kind deeds as ‘Jul-deeds’ in honor of the late Julee Brady,” she said.
“She was a driving force behind the Gilbert Days Rodeo for many years, and was truly a light in the darkness to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.”
The Pony Express riders also missed the prospect of Brady’s presence.
“It’s been very challenging and very sad not having her,” said Nelson,. “She was such an integral part of the production of it.
“She was a very good speaker; she was able to stop at all these places and really share with people what Pony Express was about and explain the history of it.”
The group planned to divide the tasks among each other, with chairperson, the GPC president and even the royalty queens speaking “just to try and �ill Julee’s shoes a little bit,” Nelson said. “They are really big shoes to �ill.”
“Losing Julee is devastating to all of us,” volunteer Pattie Williams said. “She was an inspiration to everyone she met. She was always so kind, generous, loving and always had a smile on her face. If you ever had the pleasure of meeting her, you would never forget her.”
While organizers continue to mourn Brady, they also �ind heartbreak in not being able to gather for their signature event.
“It’s heartbreaking, but you have to do the right thing as far as protecting ourselves, as far as the permits go, and be respectful of the situation right now,” Nelson said. “It was very heartbreaking and very dif�icult to do.”
They hope to organize a large event next year.
“Next year, we’re going to be bigger and better than ever. We’ve got some extra time now to really focus on making next year amazing. I look forward to having everybody coming back and supporting us next year,” Nelson said.
Details: gilbertdays.org
Scenes like this bull riding event were viewed by few people Saturday as the Gilbert Days Rodeo was canceled. Although the bull riding event was held, no tickets were sold. (Nicole Bonillia/Special to the Tribune)
Rodeo Queen Jessica Wolfe of Mesa, seen here with her palomino mare Lulu, is saddened by the event's cancellation. (Courtesy Jessica Wolfe)
Reward upped to $40K for leads in Mesa toddler’s slaying
Mesa Police have increased the reward to $40,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved in a drive-by shooting Oct. 16 that claimed the life of a year-old boy and injured three other children ages 6-16 and three adults.
Around 9:27 p.m. Oct. 16, a silver KIA Soul drove past an outdoor taco shop at Guadalupe and Dobson roads.
One-year old Sebastian Duran did not survive his injuries.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, 480-948-6377 or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish speakers. They can also leave an anonymous tip on the silent witness website, silentwitness.org.
People can remain completely anonymous and earn a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.
Additional reward money may be available through other entities that utilize di erent criteria and requirements, those funds will be managed by the persons o ering the reward and are not a liated with Silent Witness.
United Food Bank to distribute free turkeys Friday
United Food Bank will distribute holiday food
AROUND MESA
items, including frozen turkeys, during its regularly scheduled Friday food distribution 7 a.m.-noon Friday, Nov. 20, at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St. in Mesa.
The food bank is prepared to distribute as many as 1,700 frozen turkeys to households in need of food assistance.
United Food has been providing hunger relief to people in need in the East Valley and eastern Arizona for more than 35 years.
As a Feeding America member food bank, it collects, acquires, stores and distributes food and related commodities to more than 220 agencies serving over 228,000 people in five counties.
In 2019, United Food Bank distributed almost 24 million pounds of food providing nearly 19.5 million meals to our neighbors in need.
In response to the economic impact of COVID-19, the food bank projects it will distribute nearly 29 million pounds of food (24 million meals) this year.
To help: UnitedFoodBank.org.
El Tour de
Mesa to return to city in April
Perimeter Bicycling Association of America announced that the 30th El Tour de Mesa will return on April 17.
The Holualoa Companies El Tour de Mesa rides the rugged backdrop of the Salt River Recreation
Area and Tonto National Forest, circumnavigating Red Mountain.
Thousands of cyclists from all over the world have participated in El Tour de Mesa each year.
The start/finish line and post ride festivities are slated for Red Mountain Park. El Tour de Mesa will be a 100 Kilometer race/ride for riders of all ages and abilities. Registration fees begin at $40 for youth and $80 for adults. Registration is now open.
“We are excited to bring back El Tour de Mesa in 2021” said TJ Juskiewicz, executive director of Perimeter Bicycling Association. “This fun and challenging event has been a staple on the bike calendar for three decades.”
El Tour de Mesa is produced and hosted by Perimeter Bicycling Association & El Tour de Tucson Registration: eltourdemesa.org.
Los Sombreros opens third restaurant in Mesa
Los Sombreros has opened a third location in Mesa at 1976 W. Southern Ave, at the northeast corner of Dobson Road and Southern Avenue.
The 3,879 square-foot restaurant, which formerly housed La Casa De Juana, has undergone an extensive interior renovation and now o ers takeout and dine-in service, including patio seating.
“The Mesa location of Los Sombreros has been completely renovated and reimagined by Meredith Smyth Design Studio, who handled the interior de-
sign of the Los Sombreros Uptown Phoenix location that opened in late 2019,” a spokeswoman said. “The eclectic design is showcased throughout the two levels of the restaurant.”
With wood ceiling detail, Saltillo tile floors and rustic detail, the large space o ers many dining areas, from open and airy spaces to more intimate dining and even lounge-like areas.
The menu showcases the authentic central Mexican cuisine and signature dishes.
Family style takeout meals that serve four are also available, as well as a variety of taco and enchilada options, salads, bowls, and desserts like homemade ice cream, churros, and Mexican chocolate cream pie. Vegan enchiladas and bowls are also featured on the menu.
Los Sombreros Mesa o ers in-house delivery within a 7-mile radius and curbside pickup options. Information: lossombreros.com
Paz de Christo plays major role in feeding Mesa’s poor
BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
Paz de Cristo has served as a beacon of hope for the needy in Mesa for 32 years, serving millions of hot meals and countless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paz continues to provide good nutrition for the hungry even if it is in a different form, with grab and go meals replacing dining in the non-pro�it charity’s dining room.
“Feeding is a core element of our service, but we are going beyond that,’’ said Joe Tansill, Paz’s new executive director. “I’m very interested in building partnerships and collaborative arrangements.’’
He said one of Paz’s primary guiding principles is summed up by the slogan, “More Than a Meal.’’
That’s exactly how the organization is evolving as it responds to the pandemic.
With the dining room no longer being used for dining because of the pandemic, Tansill has been turning it into a Community Resource Center, serving as a critical portal into Mesa’s Off the Streets Program for the homeless.
Two navigators from Community Bridges, a Mesa behavioral health agency, meet with the homeless and steer them in the best direction to provide emergency housing – whether that involves rooms rented by the city through the Mesa Cares program or a shelter.
Two additional navigators from COPA Health focus more on the mental health and substance abuse issues that often are the root of homelessness.
“We’re well known and well established in the area. When people are experiencing a housing crisis, they come here,’’ Tansill said.
Paz also is one of several major bene�iciaries of Feeding Mesa, perhaps the most basic and important aspect of Mesa Cares throughout the pandemic.
Paz receives 800 hot cooked meals a week from Feeding Mesa, with St. Vincent de Paul, which traditionally provides breakfast, receiving 1,000 a week.
“It’s a real Godsend. This COVID has really disrupted all of our volunteers,’’ Tansill said.
Paz has only eight full-time staff members and has traditionally relied on crews of 17 volunteers, mostly from a variety of church
denominations, to cook and serve meals. But now, with many people fearful of contracting COVID-19, volunteer crews have shrunk to only seven. The lack of dining makes it possible for a smaller crew to serve the hungry.
Because Feeding Mesa is providing cooked meals four days a week through the end of this year, the Paz volunteers cook only on Saturday-Monday.
Paz provides 50,000 meals per month, counting the meals to go and food boxes that can feed a family of four for three days, Tansill said.
But Paz and St. Vincent de Paul are only two of several non-pro�it agencies in Feeding Mesa’s efforts to �ight hunger during
the pandemic through Mesa Cares, the city’s multi-faceted response to the pandemic fueled by $93 million in federal aid.
The Mesa Convention Center was turned into the hub for the feeding program. Personal Touch Catering has been cooking up an average of 4,000 meals a week and exceeded that during the last week of October, when they churned out 5,200.
Since March, Feeding Mesa has provided 3.1 million meals at a cost of about $6 million, incorporating food drives and the United Food Bank and the Midwest Food Bank, into the campaign.
Additional non-pro�its receiving the meals include A New Leaf, which operates shelters for homeless men and domestic
violence victims, Save the Family and the Salvation Army.
The importance of Paz in providing social services in Mesa was underscored by Assistant City Manager Natalie Lewis and other city of�icials when they recently briefed the City Council on plans to continue the Off the Streets program through 2021.
“If we don’t know their full story, then send them to Paz de Cristo,’’ Lewis said. “I think the message is Paz de Cristo. It’s the perfect �irst step. It’s a great way for us to �igure out how we can help them.’’
Council has voted to spend $750,000 in federal aid to make at least 50 hotel rooms available throughout next year as emergency housing to the homeless.
The hope is that sanitary conditions will help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
A federal court ruling requires cities to the have option of offering the homeless a bed before arresting them for urban camping.
“Without the hotel rooms, we would not be able to enforce the laws on urban camping,’’ City Manager Chris Brady said. “It’s a requirement for all cities now. To enforce the law, we have to have a place for them.’’
Tansill has spent his entire professional career helping the needy, working 14 years for Maricopa County in health care management and 14 years with the state Department of Economic Security as a project manager.
“My entire career was in public service. This is just an extension of that,’’ he said. “We all have to take care of each other. It’s a responsibility for all of us to do what we can for those who are less fortunate.’’
He said Paz’s immediate needs are for “gently used’’ full and twin sized blankets and for jackets to help the homeless stay warm during the winter.
A seemingly endless amount of peanut butter is needed for all of those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
In the longer term, Paz needs more volunteers and more donors, with the real crunch possibly materializing if Mesa runs low on funds to continue operating the Feeding Mesa program and Congress fails to approve another pandemic relief bill.
“As a nonpro�it, we are always short on money. We are not going to have to close our doors next week or next month,’’ Tansill said.
The kitchen at Paz de Christo in Mesa is stocked with food, but the dining room is empty as sta ers switch to a di erent way of delivering meals to the hungry. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Sta Photographer)
Sta at Paz de Christo keep one of their mottos above a kitchen sink so that volunteers remember that the downtrodden who come to them for food also could use a friendly face greeting them. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Sta Photographer)
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Mesa teen sings her way to helping abused kids
BY BROOKE DIXON Tribune Contributor
Thirteen-year-old Rosevelt Rawls has a passion to sing and a drive to help children suffering from abuse.
Earlier this fall, the Mesa teen combined her passions at her own fundraising event, titled “The Music and the Message,” to raise money for Childhelp, a nonpro�it that �ights child abuse.
Rosevelt’s budding singing career started about four years ago when she was given the opportunity to sing with comedy legend Dick Van Dike – who worked with her father Jef Rawls, a corporate trainer ad entertainer who founded The JestersZ, an improv clean-comedy group.
“It just kind of happened,” said Rosevelt, a seventh grader currently in distance learning.
Rosevelt’s love and passion for singing and helping children led her to create an inspirational fundraising project.
people who could not attend her concert watched on livestream.
Her father ran much of the marketing for the event.
“We set up a page online so people could watch from the comfort of their homes and families could have watch parties at home,” said Jef, who also has acted and produced a variety of TV and radio shows.
The father-daughter duo has been putting on the Childhelp fundraising event for two years but this year COVID-19 made everything a little different.
Rosevelt was not discouraged by the pandemic, and noted that they followed all safety guidelines because they were determined to put on the show.
and she wanted to be a part of that.
All bene�its and proceeds raised from The Music and the Message went directly to Childhelp and Operation Underground Railroad, another nonpro�it that works to end sex traf�icking of minors.
Sponsors who covered the concert’s cost included Spring Creek Enterprise, Western Transport Logistics, Bashas’ and The Hebets Company, among others.
Throughout the pandemic, Rosevelt said, Childhelp has done its best to continue helping children as much as possible. It started a text helpline so children can text or call for help or any questions they may have.
Her blockbuster fundraiser Sept. 26 drew more than 200 socially distanced vehicles to Schnepf Farms while other
In a single night, she raised $100,000 and now has her sights set on raising $1 million to help abused children.
“Everything going on has raised numbers of child abuse because kids can’t escape their homes as they don’t have school or after-school activities,” Rosevelt said.
As a Childhelp ambassador, Rosevelt cares most about helping children in need. She noted that in the past 61 years, Childhelp has helped over 10.5 million children
Rosevelt said she was determined to pull off the concert because so many nonpro�its like Childhelp and Operation Underground Railroad depend on events for the bulk of their fundraising.
The event consisted of musical performances from Rosevelt Rawls, William Jo-
Alice Cooper project soldiering on for Mesa kids
BY HENRY GREENSTEIN Tribune Contributor
After months of delays, the new Mesa Teen Center from Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock is slated to open early next year.
The nonpro�it is shooting for a late-January opening, said Randy Spencer, who runs community partnerships for Solid Rock. Prior to the pandemic, the center had been originally slated to open this fall. The center will feature a wide array of programs, including lessons in art, music and dance housed in a building just off Country Club Drive and Main Street.
The Mesa Solid Rock space is 12,000 square feet compared to the existing Phoenix center’s 28,000 square feet but it will include numerous studios, rehearsal rooms and a performance stage, as well as
a basketball court and “teen room” housing games like air hockey and ping pong. Expanding to Mesa will be a substan-
tial step forward for Solid Rock, which for eight years has operated in just one location in North Phoenix.
The nonpro�it was founded in 1995 by the legendary Valley rocker and his wife Sheryl Cooper, a choreographer, and helps young people ages 12-20 explore careers in the arts through free lessons and classes.
“From the very beginning, our vision has been to have multiple teen centers, particularly in the Valley,” Spencer said. “We have received phone calls, pretty much from every city in the state of Arizona, since opening our �irst teen center.”
Marlo Loria, who heads career and technical education and innovative partnerships for Mesa Public Schools, said snagging the center involved a process that began at Alice Cooper’s annual golf tournament fundraiser.
There, the Solid Rock leadership team connected with top Mesa of�icials, includ-
Mesa resident Rosevelt Rawls has a big voice and a heart to match, holding concerts to raise money to help fight child abuse. (Special to the Tribune)
Alice Cooper and his wife Sheryl Goddard, above, visited Westwood High last year and student Riley Baillie, right, took photos of the assembly where they spoke. (Special to the Tribune)
Mesa Girl Scout’s project helps the wheelchair-dependent
At age 15, Ariella Hirsch follows Girl Scout Law, which urges members to make the world a better place.
The Mesa teen did just that to help wheelchair-dependent people and for her invention, earned the Gold Award, a coveted honor for Girl Scouts and the highest they can achieve.
Ariella’s Helping Hand device gives wheelchair-dependent people gain a measure of independence by providing a hands-free way to hang a bag of small items or a large item while they are motion.
The Simi Valley, California, transplant also created an instruction manual that can be downloaded for free online so that anyone can build Helping Hand with $12 worth of parts from a hardware store.
In doing all this, she earned her Gold Award, given to Girl Scouts who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national, and global challenges.
A sophomore at Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center - Mesa Campus who also is working on an associates degree in engineering at Mesa Community College, Ariella was inspired three years ago while she was selling Girl Scout cookies in front of a grocery store.
She saw a in a wheelchair exiting the store hurriedly and heading to his car.
“What caught my attention was the gallon of milk, weighing 8 pounds, he was carrying,” Ariella explained. “It was in a plastic bag, suspended in his mouth because he had no other way to carry it.
“I could only imagine how painful, dif�icult, and potentially damaging it was to his mouth,” she said. “I knew in that moment I could design something to help him carry groceries and other items and still have both hands free. I soon realized it was a perfect Girl Scout Gold Award project.”
“Helping Hand is so simple to make and versatile. I am excited to see how others adapt it to �it their speci�ic wants and needs,” she added.
While any wheelchair-dependent person can use it, she speci�ically had in mind
helping disabled veterans.
That drew praise from David Liddle, a 23-year veteran, former Veterans Administration employee and a service of�icer and chaplain with the Disabled American Veterans East Valley Chapter 8, Mesa.
“In 2009, after suffering an injury to both my knees, I spent nearly a year and a half in a wheelchair,” Liddle said. “Thinking back on the time, I see now that this device would have provided much needed assistance that would have helped me be nearly self-suf�icient.
“One of the most important goals of the Disabled American Veterans is to help Veterans return to and maintain self-suf�iciency, vital to the recovery of injured service members.
“Ariella and her parents Ken and Josie should be very proud of their young lady’s tenacity and drive, imagination and spirit – and her desire to better the lives of American disabled veterans.”
While the pandemic made aspects of the project challenging, it also had an upside.
Most of Ariella’s research and development were complete before many businesses and other operations closed, though she had to cancel plans for spring and summer visits to service clubs and VFW posts to present her project in person.
“The upside was the amount of time she could dedicate to the project while continuing distance-based schooling from home,” her mother Josie Hirsch said.
Ariella’s achievement in earning the Gold Award is no isolated accomplishment,
She continues to be an honor roll student, was captain of Simi Valley Adventist School’s Robotics team in 2018-19, regional robotics competition pit manager 2019-20 and won her Girl Scout Silver Award in 2018 and Bronze Award in 2015.
She also was a member of the senior planning team for nonpro�it festivals with responsibilities that included all aspects of children’s game areas from planning to operation.
A lifelong Girl Scout having started in Daisies, she said she has made many memories and friendships through her association with the organization.
“We love to get out and do stuff together, and some of my favorite memories are from camping, touring municipalities, volunteering at community events, and even traveling to Washington D.C. together,” Ariella said. Along the way, she said she acquired knowledge and skills that will prove useful throughout her life.
Working on the Helping Hand project continued to strengthen those skills, she said.
She already has earned U.S. Patent Pending status for the device.
“I am very excited for being able to accomplish my Gold Award so early,” Ariella said. “I feel my previous endeavors in helping organize large non-pro�it and regional student events prepared me for the scope of my Gold Award.
“It’s empowering to look at what all my hard work has accomplished. It means a lot to me to have created something that helps a population that has sacri�iced so much for our country, and this is a small start to say ‘Thank You.’”
As for other Girl Scouts who have yet to go for the Gold Award, Ariella has this advice: “Do it! It is really big. Be patient and take it one step at a time.”
Her instructions and a video about the project are at helpinghand4vets.com and facebook.com/HelpingHand4Vets
Mesa Girl Scout Ariella Hirsch earned her Gold Award by inventing Helping Hand, which, as she demonstrated in the photo on the right, helps wheelchair-dependent people keep their hands free when shopping. (Special to the Tribune)
First Things First connects families to programs
BY DONNA SHOTT Tribune Guest Writer
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, technology has become nearly essential to stay in contact with friends and family. For many who work with young children, technology has also offered an alternative way to provide those families resources and support.
First Things First, Arizona’s early childhood agency, funds early learning and family support programs across the state.
Many of those programs have adjusted the way they work with families to continue to provide services during this challenging time.
For example, parenting classes have gone online, and providers are connecting more with families by phone or text. Libraries are hosting live story time through online video chat, while parents watch alongside their child and are able to ask their child questions and reac-
COOPER ���� ���� 13
ing Mayor John Giles.
The courtship progressed and soon enough Mesa Public Schools was offering Solid Rock its choice of several vacant district buildings. Solid Rock ultimately signed a 19-year lease on what Loria called a “kind of clunky” building.
“I had another spot I thought that they would choose that was much nicer and kind of historic,” Loria said.
But Loria said the nonpro�it’s leaders justi�ied their choice.
“They were like, ‘No, that’s too nice for us. We want to take something and make it nice.’... You know, Alice Cooper’s all about rock and roll,” Loria said, “so I think the space is going to really match his persona.”
This past January, to cultivate interest, Solid Rock staged a surprise “special assembly” at nearby Westwood High School.
Katie Gardner, the school’s assistant principal for activities, coordinated the event, featuring a battle of the bands and a �lash mob while keeping the news of Cooper’s visit closely guarded.
“I had quite a few teachers that were
tions to the story.
The Chandler CARE Center transitioned to online and virtual programs in March, providing parent education, preschool science, story time, and more via social media channels.
In order to supplement online options, Family Resource Center staff also provided contactless material and book pick up events for families, where parents could get a craft and activity kit with materials they could use to participate in the activities that had been posted online by staff.
At AZCEND, the Giggles, Squiggles and Squirms early literacy program has been meeting virtually via Zoom.
Outreach events along with diaper and family resource distributions are safely being provided to families in a drive-thru format.
In some parts of Arizona, developmental screenings, which are critical for identifying developmental delays in babies, toddlers and preschoolers are being conducted through online
mad at me, because they taught math or Spanish or something else, and they’re like, ‘We didn’t even know he was on campus,’” Gardner recalled.
“And my kind of curt response was ‘Well, if it would have been about you, then you would have been invited, but it wasn’t. It’s about our kids who are in the arts.’”
Riley Baillie, 15, is one of those kids. The Westwood sophomore shot photos of the assembly as part of a career and technical education program.
After taking a guitar class in eighth grade, Riley, who is also an aspiring rapper, was searching for a “rock essence” that’s missing from Westwood’s curriculum.
“When you think of Alice Cooper, what do you think of? You think of a rock star. When you think of high school, you think ‘school,’” Riley said. “So I kind of was hopefully trying to get that place to escape, that place to rock out, that place to �inally meet people.”
Gardner said the hype from the assembly has persisted even in the fraught months since.
She said students keep asking about the center’s new opening date and a dance
video chat.
The Birth to Five Helpline, a statewide helpline that is partially funded by FTF, earlier this year, started offering parents and caregivers the opportunity to meet face-to-face over online video chat to answer questions.
The helpline is a free service for all Arizona parents or caregivers to call, text or email with questions about their young child’s development. The helpline can also offer families connections to local resources and supports.
The Birth to Five Helpline is available at 1-877-705-5437 from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can also leave a voicemail, submit your question online, or text the Helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
FTF also funds home visitation, which provides a trained parent educator who makes in-home visits and offers personalized support families with children birth to age 5. Those visits are now conducted online.
Families have adjusted to this new
program is thrilled with the prospect of a new performance space.
That’s signi�icant, Gardner said, for a community possessing few “natural entry points” for teenagers interested in art.
Loria agreed and noted that Mesa’s schools serve some of the lowest- and highest-income families in Arizona.
“What a great opportunity for the two to blend and learn,” Loria said. “That’s what my hope is, that we’re getting these very diverse groups of kids together with this kind of common love for the arts and for music and for whatever it is that’s being provided there.”
Riley said he looks forward to the opportunity to explore the arts.
“At high school, they have [this] criteria they’re teaching,” he said. “And I feel at a center, you can ask and they’ll help you.”
Jake Baldwin, the newly appointed director of the Mesa Teen Center, said he’s ready to help.
“It’s really cool seeing people who need a friend or they need an outlet, they need a safe spot to go,” he said, “and to be that just for a few teens is a really amazing thing.”
model being parent, as well as teacher, but the Group Connections, which are a staple of the home visitation program and bring together multiple families, is where the team got creative, said Alyssa Fredericks, a parent educator.
“Our Group Connection for May was for families to make Jell-O Jigglers and share some photos about the process,” she said. “It turned out to be a very successful activity as parents shared their stories with pictures.”
Through all of the changes and as families have to adapt in so many ways during the pandemic, providers say it is important to maintain a sense of normalcy for families.
“We choose items that can be in many people’s homes,” Fredericks said. “It helps our parents as they spend more time being their child’s teacher.”
For information about the FTF-funded early childhood programs and services that are available in your community, visit FirstThingsFirst.org and select Find Programs.
SINGER ���� ���� 13
seph, and Colton Avery.
Speakers included Operation Underground Railroad CEO Tim Ballard, Childhelp co-founders Sara O’Meara, and Yvonne Fedderson. It was emceed by Coach Dar and Jef Rawls.
Rosevelt’s �irst concert on Childhelp’s behalf was held at the Mesa Arts Center, which has been closed since the pandemic broke in March.
The keynote speaker at that event was Elizabeth Smart, who spoke about her 2002 kidnapping from her Utah home when she was just 14.
Las Sendas man’s �irm ‘corks’ buildings
DAVID M. BROWN Tribune Contributor
TJ Millington says cork isn’t just for wine bottles and lighter �ishing lines.
Through his new Mesa business, Armor Plate Coatings Systems, the Las Sendas resident and his crew of 17 installers are applying Vipeq Thermal CorkShield to homes and other structures throughout the Valley.
More than 60 homes have been treated in Arizona during the last four and a half years with his product, helping owners save money on energy bills while improving the appearance and value of their homes and commercial buildings, he said.
Millington exploiting the natural bene�its of cork, which offers thermal insulation, a
water barrier and sound dampening.
As a foam, it can be applied to all surfaces – including wood, masonry and steel as well as roofs, where an elastomeric coating is included.
And the product can be painted with 16 integral colors available as well as matches to the customer’s sample.
In July, Millington and his business partner, Bart Higley of Carefree, acquired the sales, marketing, installation and distribution rights for most of Arizona through Vipeq, a 30-year-old Canadian company.
Higley owns Home Select, which has installed �looring, cabinets and countertops for 43 years.
The business partners are negotiating the acquisition of the remaining Arizona rights, and they are looking to hold exclusive rights in California, Nevada and
New Mexico.
“I was part of sales and marketing for Vipeq a few years ago and I immediately
Mesa hopes to rebound from COVID-19’s tourism hit
BY ALEXIS GARIBAY Tribune Contributor
The Arizona Of�ice of Tourism says COVID-19 cost the state $10 billion in visitor spending and the �inancial pain is still being felt in Mesa.
The pandemic took away more than a third of the $25.6 billion that tourism brought to the state in 2019, affecting most every sector of Arizona’s tourism industry took a hit, of�icials say.
“Impacts were felt by hotels, event venues, attractions and dining establishments as well as small business retailers to name a few,” said Michelle Streeter, senior vice president, communications and partner relations with Visit Mesa.
Not only were tourists impacted by stay-at-home orders and shutdowns, but people employed within the hospitality industry also suffered.
In Arizona, approximately 40,754 jobs
linked directly to hotels were lost from the 58,220 that existed pre-pandemic, according the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
This translates to roughly 70 percent of hospitality jobs that were lost.
“The tourism industry in Arizona as a whole, and across the US, was devastated by the abrupt halt in travel,” Streeter said.
While impact on annual visits this year is yet to be determined for speci�ic cities, Mesa attracted roughly 4.5
million day and overnight visitors combined in 2019.
As for hotel cancellations, a COVID-19 Loss Report by Visit Mesa showed that 9,061 room nights were cancelled, costing the city 4,463 overall visitors.
Moreover, she noted, “Our COVID loss report only re�lects group business cancellations between March 15 to June 30.”
With businesses slowly reemerging, city tourism of�icials hope visits will start to increase during the winter season.
“Our hospitality community is ready to welcome back visitors with our Mesa Clean Stay Promise,” Streeter said.
The Mesa Clean Stay Promise outlines speci�ic guidelines for establishments in order to keep the community safe during the pandemic.
“We have a number of programs in place to help drive traf�ic,” said city spokesman
CORK ���� 18
saw the amazing bene�its back then,” said
TJ Millington of Las Sendas said his Mesa firm, Armor Plate Coating Systems, can help reduce energy costs with his special CorkShield coating on homes and other buildings. (Special to the Tribune)
Millington, a Minnesota native who moved to Arizona 20 years ago.
He raced cars and motorcycles and then Chevy trucks in NASCAR competitions from 2004-07 – a time when he also became involved with the business side of racing.
“That really taught me about how relationships are key to making any transaction a win-win for everyone involved,” said Millington, adding that meticulous customer service is central to Armor Plate Coatings Systems.
He visits each jobsite daily, for example.
His wife, Rebecca, an East Valley native, is a Realtor for Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty.
Their three daughters, ages 19 to 23, are all in college and graduates of Red Mountain High School.
Locally focused, his company supports a number of local charities, including Teen Life, Childhelp and Wings of Humanity.
Calling his product “the most advanced green energy product on the market,” Millington said that before he became a regional owner, he was impressed with the work of a Vipeq crew that corked a 6,000-squarefoot home in East Mesa in 2015.
Before the application, the client’s utility bills were $790 to $810 per month in summer.
“Since the cork was applied, the homeowner has shared with us that his utility bills have never been over $400 per month,” said Millington.
Installation cost is very competitive compared with stucco and quality paint.
Kevin Christopher.
Programs such as Escape to Mesa have been established in order to provide locals and statewide residents vacation packages that offer a $150 incentive for those who schedule a two-or-more-night stay at Mesa hotels through Dec. 15, according to Mesa Now.
“We are actively targeting Arizona residents with our Escape to Mesa promotion and have been targeting short-haul
For an existing home, he said application begins at $3.80 per square foot up to $4 per square foot, depending on whether it’s a single- or two-story home.
For new construction, that range is $5.80–$6.35 per square foot.
“We follow the same processes with synthetic stucco on a new build: We apply paper, then wire, brown coat and cork. No caulking is required.”
Mike Holmes, general contractor and television host, had the Vipeq cork sprayed on his sheet-metal Canadian garage, which he says has helped in the extremely cold northern winters.
“When it comes to building materials, I
cities with promotion of Mesa’s outdoor recreation offerings,” Streeter said.
The incentives include a $50 gift card to a local participating restaurant and a $100 gift card good at a Mesa “experience, attraction or service.”
Not all the experiences are in Mesa, particularly where the “Weekend Warrior” package is concerned. Many involve river-based adventures at places like Saguaro Lake and the Verde River.
The “Family Fun” package stays closer to home with a number of the billings,
think this is the product of the century,” he said.
Valley customers have also responded favorably.
“Their product works. I �irst visited a contemporary home in Desert Mountain in north Scottsdale who had been fed up with all the stucco cracks on his wall: no matter how many times he �ixed and painted, they reappeared,” recalled Frank Aazami, a principal of the Private Client Group at Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Real Estate in Scottsdale.
To �ix the issue, the homeowner had the cork applied to his walls. After two years, the work looked as if it had been applied
such as the Escape Rooms Mesa at 86 W. University Drive, which calls itself the world’s largest set of escape rooms. The “Relaxation retreat features more than a dozen yoga studios, hair and nail salons and spas in the city.
“A lot of locals don’t ever see the advertising Visit Mesa does,” said Jaye O’Donnell, city assistant economic development director, adding much of its work is geared to out-of-state residents.
“It meets the needs of the current traveler’s state of mind, the people who
yesterday, said Aazami.
As a result, Aazami had the cork applied on an older Valley luxury home that he and his wife recently acquired.
“The walls look fresh and the insulation from the outside is already saving us on utility bills,” he said. “I bet we don’t have to paint for another 12–15 years and the cracks are gone.
“The Vipeq crew were in and out in �ive days,” he added. “I love this stuff.”
The thermal insulation helps houses feel cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, reducing energy costs, Millington said.
In addition, cork is resistant to mold and water and is a �ire retardant. It will melt under direct �lame but has zero �lame spread.
Another advantage is acoustic insulation. In the same way a sound studio incorporates cork to reduce sound reverberation, Vipeq’s treatment does the same for a building.
Milligan added that because of the �lexible properties of cork, it expands and contracts depending on the weather and will absorb impact.
A 15-year warranty against cracking, chipping and peeling is standard with every application by certi�ied installers.
The environmental bene�its are also notable as well, he said.
Countries are planting new cork trees, increasing the number worldwide.
“And, in those areas, as the bark is trimmed,” he said. “The cork tree releases large amounts of oxygen, replenishing the air all of us breathe.”
Information: vipeqamerica.com./,
want to escape but don’t want to get on a plane,” O’Donnell added. “They don’t want to drive too far.”
Another program called Mesa Al Fresco, speci�ically aimed at restaurants and bars, encourages establishments to open patio dining.
Businesses have been able to partner with the Mesa CARES Small Business Technical Assistance Program in order to offer, “a reimbursement of up to $1,000 to offset the cost of the patio expansion,” according to Mesa Now.
Armor Plate Coating Systems owner TJ Millington, right, and business partner Bart Higley flank Bart's son Justin. (Courtesy of Bart Higley)
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How Americans can move on from President Trump
BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist
The seething hatred that marks our politics continues to bubble like muck. Never more partisan, never angrier at one another, we continue to prosecute Election 2020 even as the states run out of ballots to count. Angry tweets, lawsuits, and fraud allegations devoid of evidence �ill every news cycle.
Sadder still is the realization that we are in Act One of this dirge-like drama: Come Jan. 20, we will begin to hear news of one Congressional investigation after another. Surely the Department of Justice will get into the act, too.
Already, you hear gleeful Democrats thrilling to the dream of former Presi-
dent Donald Trump on trial – for tax fraud, obstruction of justice, campaign �inance shenanigans or anything and everything else they can take to court.
The perspective here is that this will accomplish exactly nothing worthwhile on behalf of America.
It will not stop a pandemic killing us by the thousands, not right our wobbling economy, not restore our standing in the world, not end the �ight of our times –Team Blue versus Team Red.
So how about we simply skip it? How about Joe Biden, in his �irst of�icial act as the 46th President of the United States, grant Donald Trump a full pardon for any and all crimes Trump may have committed while in of�ice?
My logic here harkens back to an earlier, equally strife-ridden time: The summer of 1974, when Richard Nixon, dis-
graced by Watergate, resigned and exited Washington in a chopper.
A month later, newly installed President Gerald Ford, Nixon’s Republican running mate, pardoned Nixon. Ford was attacked from all directions for this decision.
Almost a half century later, many historians credit Ford as courageous for having done so. And his logic? It �its our present moment like a glove.
Should Nixon come to trial, Ford explained, “ugly passions would again be aroused. And our people would again be polarized in their opinions. And the credibility of our free institutions of government would again be challenged at home and abroad.”
Sound familiar?
Ford went on: “My conscience tells me clearly and certainly that I cannot prolong the bad dreams that continue to
reopen a chapter that is closed. My conscience tells me that only I, as President, have the constitutional power to �irmly shut and seal this book. My conscience tells me it is my duty, not merely to proclaim domestic tranquility but to use every means that I have to insure it.”
So, Gerald Ford pardoned his longtime friend, and ended up a one-term president for his trouble. Joe Biden might pay a similar price for ignoring party lines to the dismay of his fellow Democrats. Or perhaps committing an act of mercy for Trump, a man who has shown little compassion for anyone save himself, would be viewed as graceful, bold, presidential.
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Either way, Biden would bene�it politically by not having spectacles like “Trump under investigation” and “Trump on trial” suck the oxygen out of his administration for years on end. And America?
We, too, would bene�it from an end to this sordid chapter in our history. As Ford put it on the day he took of�ice as President, “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.”
Asked on the campaign trail if he would consider pardoning Trump, Biden said he would not commit to letting the Department of Justice fully investigate Trump, he told a town hall crowd in May.
“It’s hands off completely,” Biden went on. “The attorney general is not the president’s lawyer. It’s the people’s lawyer.”
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Malaki Ta’ase enjoying breakout junior season
BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
Malaki Ta’ase admittedly enjoyed �lying virtually under the radar as a sophomore at Mountain View last season.
To him, it was motivation.
Now nearing the end of his junior season, Ta’ase has become one of the most dominant defensive ends in the state. He leads all of Arizona with 12 sacks on the year in six games. Had the 2020 season not been shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ta’ase would be in contention to reach the all-time sack record set by Higley alum Jason Harris in 2019, when he �inished the season with 23.
“I just aim to be the best me I can be,” Ta’ase said. “I want to achieve great things in my career, and I’ll put in whatever amount of work is needed to do that.”
But what helped Ta’ase evolve into one of the state’s best pass rushers in short order? Ta’ase said it’s not so much as a matter of “what” but “who.”
Ta’ase �irst began playing football at a young age. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Mata’ava Ta’ase, who dominated for Mountain View at wide receiver before serving his two-year church mission and continuing his football career as a 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end with the Gila River Hawks of the Hohokam Junior College Athletic Conference – the new level of juco football in the state.
Ta’ase said it took time for him to be known as his own person rather than “Mata’ava’s little brother.” But he acknowledges that’s what happens when a player �irst steps foot at the varsity level for the �irst time as a freshman with an older brother having made an impact on the program.
“I remember watching him when I was in elementary school,” Ta’ase said. “Just knowing he was really good at football, I wanted to be like him. He kind of paved the way for me to work to get my own name. I’m now Malaki rather than his little brother.
“But it’s been fun. Especially now that he
gets to see me play.”
Ta’ase was never unmotivated being in his brother’s shadow. If anything, he used it as a fuel to his internal �ire.
As a freshman, he entered the program at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. He said that height and weight measurement was generous. Since then, however, he’s gained more than 20 pounds of muscle and now stands nearly 6-feet, 3 inches tall.
With his growth came a much-improved level of strength. Ta’ase now has the ability to overpower opposing offensive linemen, many of which out-weigh him by as much as 20 to 30 pounds. But that hasn’t stopped him from dominating on a weekly basis. Much of Mountain View’s success this season can be attributed to the defensive front-seven, coach Mike Fell said Ta’ase is the leader of.
“I think it started in the offseason,” Fell said. “He started to exhort himself during workouts. He was always the �irst to �inish in sprints and the �irst one to take reps. Guys just kind of followed him.
“When your best player is leading like that, everybody falls in line.”
Ta’ase’s leadership shined throughout the summer when Mountain View and other programs were attempting to con-
duct workouts during Arizona’s �irst major surge of coronavirus cases. The outbreak eventually led to several programs, including Mountain View, taking a few weeks off while cases plateaued.
Ta’ase continued to work during the team’s down time. He kept referring to his sophomore season as a motivational factor. In 2019-20, he thought of himself as just an above-average player after recording eight total sacks in 12 games.
To him, that wasn’t good enough. He wanted to take the next step to become elite.
“I worked with my dad on my technique, footwork, basically anything I could do to improve my game,” Ta’ase said. “I didn’t want to have another season of one sack games. I aimed to have these breakout games where I get three or four sacks every time.”
Ta’ase was well on his way to averaging that mark every game before running into a couple of tough matchups. He wasn’t able to record any sacks against a tough Red Mountain front in the third week of the season. But he made up for it a week later with a four-sack game against Desert Vista. While he aims to out-perform himself on a weekly basis, he remains content with the overall outcome of the games. Leading up to Week 7 against Basha, Mountain View was 6-0, its best start in years. The Toros are well on their way to clinching a spot in either the Open Division playoffs or as one of the top seeds in the 6A Conference playoffs.
By nature, Ta’ase aims to have the opportunity to prove himself in the Open Division against the state’s top teams. Whether or not he and Mountain View are able to do that remains to be seen.
But one thing is certain, with the help of a Ta’ase-led defense, Mountain View is quickly putting itself back on the map.
“We hear some people saying, ‘oh, maybe Mountain View is back,’” Ta’ase said. “All I have to say to that is yes, it is. We all have one goal and that’s to win a championship.”
Have an interesting sports story?
Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@ timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.
Mountain View junior defensive end Malaki Ta’ase has quickly become one of the best pass rushers in Arizona, as he leads the state in sacks this season. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Sta )
Mountain View coach Mike Fell said the team feeds o Ta’ase’s energy in practice and games. He said the junior is the best football player on the team.(Pablo Robles/Tribune Sta )
Mesa artist to be ‘Hidden in the Hills’
BY KRISTINE CANNON Tribune Staff Writer
One of the largest free arts events in the Valley returns for its 24th year this year: the Hidden in the Hills (HITH) Artist Studio Tour, coordinated by nonpro�it organization Sonoran Arts League.
Boasting 140 artists and 35 private studios throughout the northern Scottsdale, Carefree, and Cave Creek areas, HITH will continue to offer downloadable and digital maps to make self-touring easy.
But what will look different at this year’s two-weekend event are Sonoran Arts League’s implementation of health and safety measures at participating studios.
“Everyone involved in HITH is committed to following strict CDC guidelines. Meetings to review proper procedures to ensure everyone’s safety have been ongoing all summer and fall,” said Carole Perry, HITH marketing chair and event co-founder. HITH takes place Nov. 20-22 and Nov. 27-29.
The free, self-guided tour invites attendees into the studios of local artists, where they can not only view their work, but can also speak with the artists and purchase one-of-a-kind artworks.
Many of the participating artists and studios are also planning a “safer, expanded space with more art and creative activity outside.”
“We hope everyone who decides to visit some of the amazing artists and studios will honor our efforts to keep them and ourselves safe,” said Perry, a glass artist and host of Laughing Glass Studio No. 23 in Cave Creek.
Artists from across the Valley participate in HITH.
Among them is Bruce Larrabee, a guest artist at Mark Lewanski’s Glass Studio No. 12.
Larrabee, a soon-to-be full-time Mesa resident, is a full-time potter and owner of Larrabee Ceramics in Park City, Utah.
While Larrabee typically creates unique
cups, bowls, and more, he created large, “interior design-oriented” vases – “some of them as large as 3 to 4 feet tall” – speci�ically for the HITH event.
“Hidden in the Hills is such a fun event that if I wasn’t a participating artist, I would be visiting the artists’ studios myself. It is a great diversion from all else going on in the world and you just might �ind that perfect piece of art for yourself,” Larrabee said.
Also showing at Lewanski’s studio is Scottsdale resident and bronze artist Jason Napier, whose whimsical jackrabbit “Weedeater” graces the cover of Hidden in the Hill’s artist directory this year.
“Weedeater” was among more than 100 pieces of �ine art entries submitted for consideration of the HITH cover art during an online juried selection process.
“We had many wonderful entries, but Weedeater won our hearts for this year’s cover art,” said HITH co-chair, mixed media sculptor and studio host Joanie Wolter. “Jason is masterful with his form, and he brings each piece to life with rich and colorful patina �inishes.”
While this year’s HITH has a slew of �irst-time participants, overall participation is down compared to past years.
Last year’s HITH featured 199 artists and 47 studio locations.
“The decrease in the number of studios and artists is due 100 percent to COVID-19,” Perry said. “Those artists who felt their studio did not allow suf�icient social distancing wisely opted out this year.”
As for attendance, HITH saw a 10 to 15 percent increase every year; and not only did established studios welcome more than
1,000 visitors, but the �ive new studios last year had at least 500 to 600 visitors.
This year?
“Attendance is uncertain,” Perry said, “but we feel con�ident that the many serious art lovers who’ve been starved for the opportunity to view new art again will be coming up to the Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour in signi�icant numbers.”
“Even with the COVID-safe guidelines in place, we intend to engage with our visitors as we always do; welcoming, demonstrating, answering questions and showing off the new, brilliant artwork we’ve been creating for the past year,” Perry added.
For more information and to download the Hidden in the Hills map, visit hiddeninthehills.org or call 480575-6624.
LEFT: Mesa ceramic artist Bruce Larrabee is returning to the Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour for his second year. (Bruce Larrabee)
ABOVE: Bruce Larrabee will exhibit his porcelain and stoneware creations during the 24th Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour. (Bruce Larrabee)
King Crossword
CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA
CEMETERY NORTH EXPANSION PHASE IIB AND URN/SCATTER GARDEN 1212 N. CENTER STREET
PROJECT NO CP0583CEP2B
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received until Thursday, December 10, 2020, at 1 p m All sealed bids will be received electronically at EngineeringBids@mesaaz gov Bids must be submitted as an unencrypted PDF attachment with a maximum s ze limit of 20MB Any bid received after the time specified will be returned without any consideration
This contract shall be for furnishing all labor, mater als, transportation and services for the construction and/or installation of the following work:
Construction of turf covered plot areas, access roads, retaining walls, ornamenta site walls, an SRP irrigation pipe re ocation, tree, shrubs and associated landscape irrigation improvements as shown on construction documents and specifications
To be completed at City's sole discretion is Bid Alternate 1 – Urn/Scatter Garden Construction will include a scatter garden, in-ground urn vaults, rose garden reflection areas, trellis structures, trees, shrubs, art ficial turf, benches, an art structure, s dewalk and associated landscape irrigation improvements
The Engineer s Estimate range for the Base Bid (only) is $1,800,000 to $2,300,000
Contact with City Employees All firms nterested in this project (inc uding 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 potentia 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 representat ve dentified above
Contractors desiring to submit proposals may purchase sets of the Bid Documents from ARC Document Solutions, LLC, at https://order e-arc com/arcEOC/PWELL Main asp?mem=29 Click on “Go” for the Public Planroom to access plans
NOTE: In order to be placed on the Plan Holders List and to rec eive notifications and updates regarding this bid (such as addenda) during the bidding period, an order must be placed The cost of each Bid Set will be no more than $44, which is non-refundable Partial bid packages are not sold You can view documents on-line (at no cost), order Bid Sets, and access the Plan Holders List on the website at the address listed above Please verify print lead time prior to arriving for pick-up For a list of locations nearest you, go to www e-arc com
One set of the Contract Documents is also available for viewing at the City of Mesa’s Engineering Department at 20 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ P ease call 480-644-2251 prior to arriving to ensure that the documents are available for viewing
In order for the City to consider alternate products in the bidding process, please follow Arizona Revised Statutes §34 104c
If a pre-bid review of the site has been scheduled, details can be referenced in Project Specific Provision Section #3, titled “Pre-Bid Review of Site ”
Work shal be comp eted within 270 consecutive calendar days, beginning with the day fo lowing the start ng date specified in the Notice to Proceed
Bids must be submitted on the Proposal Form provided and be accompanied by the Bid Bond for not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid, payable to the City of Mesa, Arizona, or a certified or cash er s check PERSONAL OR INDIVIDUAL SURETY BONDS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE
The successful bidder wil be required to execute the standard form of contract for construction within ten (10) days after formal award of contract In addition, the success ful bidder must be registered in the City of Mesa Vendor Self-Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-serv ce)
The successful b dder, simultaneously with the execut on of the Contract, will be required to furnish a Payment Bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, a Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, and the most recent ACORD® Certificate of Liability Insurance form with additional insured endorsements
The right is hereby reserved to accept or reject any or all bids or parts thereto, to waive any informalities in any proposal and reject the bids of any persons who have been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City of Mesa
ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, Nov 15, 22, 2020 / 34399
BETH HUNING City Engineer
CITY OF MESA, ARIZONA ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Mesa is seeking a qualified firm or team to act as the Job Order Contractor for the following:
JOB ORDER CONTRACT FIRE SAFETY SERVICES
PROJECT NO JOC-FS20
The City of Mesa is seeking a qualified Contractor to provide Job Order Fire Safety Services All qualified firms that are interested in providing these services are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) in accordance with the requirements detailed in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
The following is a summary of the project
projects, large maintenance projects, repairs, re-construction, and alteration services to City facilities
A Pre-Submittal Conference will be held on November 23, 2020, at 8 am through Microsoft Teams Parties interested in attending should request an invitation from Stephanie Gishey at stephanie gishey@mesaaz gov At this meeting, the project team, including City staff will discuss the scope of work, general contract requirements and respond to questions from the attendees Attendance at the Pre-Submittal Conference is not mandatory All interested firms may submit a Statement of Qualifications whether they attend the conference or not All interested firms are encouraged to attend the Pre-Submittal Conference since City staff will not be available for meetings or to respond to individual inquiries regarding the project scope outside of this conference In addition, there will not be meeting minutes or any other information published from the Pre-Submittal Conference
Contact with City Employees All firms interested in this project (including the firm’s employees, representatives, agents, lobbyists, attorneys, and subconsultants) will refrain, under penalty of disqualification, from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any person who may play a part in the selection process This policy is intended to create a level playing field for all potential firms, assure that contract decisions are made in public and to protect the integrity of the selection process All contact on this selection process should be addressed to the authorized representative identified below
RFQ Lists The RFQ is available on the City’s website at https://www mesaaz gov/business/engineering/construction-manager-at-risk-and-job-order-contracting-opportunities
The Statement of Qualifications shall include a one-page cover letter, plus a maximum of 10 pages to address the SOQ evaluation criteria (excluding PPVF’s and resumes but including an organization chart with key personnel and their affiliation). Resumes for each team member shall be limited to a maximum length of two pages and should be attached as an appendix to the SOQ Minimum font size shall be 10pt Please provide one (1) electronic copy of the Statement of Qualifications in an unencrypted PDF format to Engineering-RFQ@mesaaz gov by December 3, 2020, by 2 pm. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Statements of Qualifications The City is an equal opportunity employer
Firms who wish to do business with the City of Mesa must be registered and activated in the City of Mesa Vendor Self Service (VSS) System (http://mesaaz gov/business/purchasing/vendor-self-service)
Questions Questions pertaining to the Consultant selection process or contract issues should
BETH HUNING City Engineer
ATTEST: DeeAnn Mickelsen City Clerk
Published: East Valley Tribune, Nov 15, 22, 29, 2020 / 34423
Public Notices
CITY OF MESA PUBLIC NOTICE
FY 2021/2022 Public Hearing #1
Date of Publication: November 15, 2020
FY 2021/2022 Annual Action Plan
Proposed Use of Funds for anticipated awards from the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Developm e n t B l o c k G
a n t P r o g r a m ( C D B G ) , E m e rgency Solutions Grant Program (ESG), HOME Investments Partnership Program (HOME)
In accordance with the federal regulations at 24 CFR, Part 91, the City of Mesa (City) is re-
n An n u a l Action Plan for its Housing and Community De-
The Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 outlines how the City intends to spend approximately $4,065,626 in federal CDBG, $327,701 in ESG funds, and $1,510,503 in federal HOME entitlement funds
T h e F Y 2 0 2 1 - 2 0 2 2 A n n u a l A c t i o n P l a n p r oposes uses of CDBG, ESG, and HOME funds for funding activities that are consistent with the City’s Five-Year Consolidated Plan As a c o n d i t i o n o f t h e r e c e i p t o f f e d e r a l f u n d s , t h e City is required to hold a minimum of two public hearings to inform the general public of additions or changes, including the cancellation o f p r o p o s e d a c ti v i ti e s o r a m e n d m e n ts to th e C i ty C i ti z e n Pa r ti c i p a ti o n Pl a n
Public Hearing #1
Will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 6:00 p m via a telephonic conferencing platform, and the live meeting will be accessible t e l e p h o n i c a l l y T h e l i v e m e e t i n g m a y b e listened to by calling 669-900-6833 (or to find y o u r l o c a l n u m b e r : https://zoom us/u/ad6fHzLxVl) using Meeting ID 938 2198 2779 and Passcode 807385 and following the prompts
Written comments may be sent to: Michel le Albanese, City of Mesa, P O Box 1466, Mesa, AZ 85211-1466 You may also contact her at (480) 644-4546, or via e-mail at Michelle Albanese@mesaaz gov for further information
The City of Mesa is committed to making its public meetings accessible For accommodat i o n s , t r a n s l a t i o n , o r a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e c o n t a c t
y Services at least 48 hours in advance of the m e e t i n g a t ( 4 8 0 ) 6 4 4 - 4 5 4 6 ; o r e - m a i l : C o mmunityRevitalization@mesaaz gov; or AZRel a y 7 - 1 - 1 f o r t h o s e w h o a r e d e a f o r h a r d o f h e a r i n g
Si necesita asistencia o traducción en español, favor de llamar al menos 48 horas antes de la reunión al 480-644-2767
Michelle Albanese, Housing & Community Development Director
Published: East Valley Tribune, Nov 15, 2020 / 34398
Public Notices
CITY OF MESA
PUBLIC NOTICE
FY 2021/2022 FUNDING AVAILABILITY – AMOUNT REVISIONS
Date of Publication: November 15, 2020
This City of Mesa is issuing this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Revision for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 The following anticipated amounts will be available:
CDBG: $4,065,626
HOME: $1,510,503
Note: The HOME Housing Production application program is open year-round, and provides funding for For-Profit, Non-Profit, a n d C o m m u n i t y H o u s i n g D e v e l o p m e n t
O r g a n i z a t i o n s
Funding for the above-mentioned federal programs Community Development Block G r a n t P r o g r a m ( C D B G ) , a n d H O M E I nvestments Partnership Program (HOME)
a r e p r o v i d e d b y th e U S D e p a r tm e n t o f Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and used for housing and community development activities that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons and assist in the prevention or elimination of slum or blighting influences F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t : h
The City of Mesa endeavors to make all p u b l i c m e e t i n g s a c c e s s i b l e t o p e r s o n s with disabilities. If you are a person with a d i s a b i l i t y a n d r e q u i r e a r e a s o n a b l e a cc o m m o d a t i o n i n o r d e r t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n programs and services offered by the City of Mesa Housing and Community Development Department, please contact Andrea Alicoate at 480-644-5034 Hearing impaired individuals should call zona TDD Relay) To the extent accommodations will be made w t i m e c o n s t r a i n t o f t h e r e q u e s t , may be required to provide inform support your reasonable request
S i n e c e s i t a a s i s t e n c i a o t r a d u c español, favor de llamar al meno as antes de la reunión al 480-644
M i c h e l l e A l b a n e s e , H o u s i n g m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t D i r e c t o
P u b l i s h e d : E a s t V a l l e y Tribune, Nov 15, 2020 / 34421
Public Notices
CITY OF MESA MESA, ARIZONA
NOTICE OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING
Broadway Road Phase 1 Mesa Drive to Stapley Drive Project No CP0666
This City of Mesa will be starting construction on the Broadway Road Phase 1 project The work will consist of a full street reconstruction along Broadw a y R o a d f r o m L e s u e u r t o S p u r T h e s c o p e i nc l u d e s r e p l a c i n g p a v e
t , c u r b / g u t t e r , s i d e w a l k , a n d b i k e l a n e s I n B r o a d w a y
Broadway Road will be relocated The City’s existi
r h e a d l i n e s o n B r o a d w a y R o a d (west of Horne) will be converted to underground, as well as the existing SRP overhead lines (east of Horne) Improvements at the intersection of Broadw a y R o a d / S t a p l e y D r i v e w i l l c o n s i s t o f a l l ne w r i g h t t u r n l a n e s
You are invited to attend a Virtual Public Meeting w h e r e C i t y s t a f f w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e t o a n s w e r y o u r q u e s t i o n s
Date: Wednesday November 18, 2020
Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Location: Virtual Public Meeting: online at mesaaz.gov/engineering
I f y o u h a v e a n y q u e s t i o n s o r c o n c e r n s r e g a r d i n g this project, please contact Curt Albright, Michele A r r o l l a d o , L u c y L o p e z , o r J u a n i t a G o n z a l e s w i t h the City of Mesa Engineering Public Relations Department at (480) 644-3800
Si usted tiene preguntas de este proyecto, favor de l l a m a r a L u c y L o p e z , c o n l a C i u d a d d e M e s a a l ( 4 8 0 ) 6 4 4 - 3 8 0 0
Published: East Valley Tribune, Nov 8, 15, 2020 / 34321
NOTICE OF VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING
North Center Sports Fields Project No. CP0915
Please join us for a live online Virtual Public Meeting for a project update of the North Center Sports Fields Project There will be a presentation showi n
previous site and neighborhood meetings. This will then be followed by a Q&A session, where you
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Location: Virtual Public Meeting: online at mesaaz gov/engineering I
this project, please contact Curt Albright, Michele A
the City of Mesa Engineering Public Relations Department at (480) 644-3800
Si usted tiene preguntas de este proyecto, favor de l
Published: East Valley Tribune, Nov 8, 15, 2020 / 34312
Obituaries
Tiel Ann Miller (Sharp)
Beloved Wife, Mother, Grand-
with her family at her bedside in her home in Gilbert, Arizona
Obituaries
NolanKeithAnderson
NolanKeith Andersonpassed awayNovember04, 2020attheageof 86,withhisloving wifebyhisside. Nolanwasborn toGuyClydiaand LucieRose (Huntley)Anderson onMarch6,1934in Delta,Colorado.Hewastheoldestoftheir twochildren.
w o r k e d a t B o y ’ s M a r k e t w h e r e s h e m e e t s h e r
lifelong partner, best friend, and husband Kenneth Miller They went on to own and operate Food Mart Extra in Spokane Washington.
Tiel is survived by her husband Kenneth, her
b r o t h e r L a r r y ( K a t h y ) , h e r s i s t e r B e t t y , H e r
nieces BJ (Keith),Linda ( Jim),Joey, Angie and her four children, Doug (Diana), Dean(Sherri),
D o t t i e , a n d D i a n e (J o h n ) k n o w n a s t h e 4 D ’ s
The 4 D’s, built a strong and loving family that T i e l e n j o y e d a n d t a u g h t s o m a n y w o n d e r f u l
l e s s o n s o f l i f e , d i g n i t y , f a i t h , a n d t h e t r u e
m e a n i n g o f u n c o n d i t i o n a l l o v e T i e l ’ s 2 2
G r a n d c h i l d r e n : L e x i e ( E r i k ) , J u s t i n ( L i b b y )
K y l e , R y a n ( J e s s i c a ) , L i n d s a y ( M a r k ) , K e l l i ,
K a c i e , J a m e s ( D a c i a ) , M a t t ( K e l l y ) , L e s l e i g h
( A l e x ) , S e a n ( M a d i s o n ) , K r i s t y ( B e n )
B o ( S t e p h a n i e ) , K a y l a ( D a v e ) , L u k e , M a d i s y n Lindsay, Brett(Rachael) JW, Ashley (Connor), Matt (Courtney), and Jeni and 28 Great Grandc h i l d r e n : E l i a n a , J u s t i c e , H a l l e , C o s t a , C r e w , Xander, Tatym, Dax, Addyson, Emma, Aiden, F i n n , R e e s e , P a i t y n , N a s h , C o o p e r , M a r s h a l l ,
J a m e s y n , J a k e , A d d i s y n , A r a l y n , A s t o n , Avery, Brooks, Bekitt, Berkleigh, Maven, and Mekhi.
T i e l h a d a d e e p l o v e f o r t h e H o l i d a y s a n d f a m i l y g a t h e r i n g s T h e l i g h t i n g o f c a n d l es o n Christmas Eve, the family gatherings at Easter were important traditions and celebrations She is proceeded in death by her parents, her d a u g h t e r L i n d a , g r a n d s o n J a k e a n d h e r s i s t e ri n - l a w L i n d a a n d h e r n e p h e w A r t i e A v i e w i n g w i l l b e h e l
Mesa, Arizona A Mass at St Anne in Gilbert, Arizona will be held on November 12, 2020 at 10 am and officiated by Father Joal Bernales
O u r t i m e o n t h i s i m p e r f e c t e a r t h i n o u r i mp e r f e c t b o d i e s
Rather, just a short moment in time as we prep ar e to meet o u r lo
in G o
P
f ect Heaven. We will all miss Tiel but know in our h e a r t s t h a t
d with loved one’s passed, and waiting for us all to rejoin her once again
NolangrewupinDeltacountyonGarnet Mesa.Aftergraduatinghighschool,hehad anopportunitytoattendMesaCommunity CollegeinGrandJunction,studying business.Heproudlywenttoschooland workedfulltime.Hewasdraftedintothe ArmyandspentmostofhisArmycareeron theEastCoastduringtheKoreanconflict. AfterbeingdischargedfromtheArmy, Nolancontinuedhiseducationgettinga degreeinbusinessadministration.Withhis newdegreeinhandhewasemployedwith severaldifferentoilfieldcompanies workingallovertheworld.
Inthelate80'swithsightsofretirement hemovedandsettleddowninHouston, Texas.Shortlyafterhewasrecruitedasa consultantintheoilfield,ajobhevery muchenjoyed.
In1990averyboldLucilleCassidy spottedNolanacrossacrowdedrestaurant andwalkeduptohimandaskedifshe couldjoinhimathistablesincethe restaurantwasverybusy,andthewaitwas overanhour.Whentheyfinallygotatable andafteralongconversationNolanasked Lucilleforherphonenumber.Nolanhadto cometoColoradothefollowingdaytovisit hisparents.HehadpromisedLucillehe wouldcallandjustlikehisword,hecalled hereveryeveningwhilehewasvisiting home.Thisromancecontinueduntilthey weremarriedonDecember27,1993.
In2016NolanandLucillemovedto Delta,Coloradopermanentlymakingthe oldhomesteadtherehome.
Nolanissurvivedbytheloveofhislife Lucille;sisterLoisWeber;stepchildren Richalyn,Dorri,andWhitneyalongwith children,andtwoniecesandonenephew. Heisprecededindeathbyhisparents.
Nolan'swishesweretohavehisremains placedwithhisparentsinMesaView Cemetery.
Arrangementsareunderthecareand directionofTaylorFuneralServiceand Crematory.
Viewtheinternetobituaryandsignthe onlineguestregistryat taylorfuneralservice.com
SigntheGuestbookat: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com
THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY An important court pro
ceeding that affects your rights has been scheduled If you do not understand this Notice or the other court papers, contact an attorney for lega advice 1 NOTICE: An applicat on for Change of Name has been filed with the Court by the person(s) named above A hearing has been scheduled where the Court will consider whether to grant or deny the requested change If you wish to be heard on this issue, you must appear at the hearing, at the date and time indicated below 2 COURT HEARING A court hearing has been sched-
Susan Wh te, 222 E Javalina Ave, Courtroom, Mesa AZ 85210 DATED: 10/19/2020 /S/ Jennifer Lamste r Applicant's Signature, Published: East Valley Tribune, Oct 25, Nov 1, 8, 15, 2020 / 33907
o
llamada telefónica no lo protegen Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte Es posi b l e q u e h a y a u n f o r m u l
n c o n t r a
s f o r m u l
r i o s d e l a c o r t e y m á s i n f o r m a c i ó n e n e l C e n t r o d e A y u d a d e l a s C o r t e s de C a l i f o r n i a ( w w w c o u r t i n f o c a g o v / s e l f h e l p / e s p a n o l / ) , e n l a biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le qued e más cerca Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pid a al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención d e p a g o d e c u o t a s S i n o p r e s e n t a s u r e s p u e s t a a t i e m p o , puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá q u itar s u s u eld o , d in er o y b ien es s in más ad v er ten cia H a y o t r o s r e q u i s i t o s l e g a l e s E s r e c o m e n d a b l e q u e l l a m e a u n abogado inmediatamente Si no conoce a un abogado, puede l l a m a r a u n s e r v i c i o d e r e m i s i ó n a a b o g a d o s S i n o p u e de pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un program a de servicios legales sin fines de lucro Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www lawhelpcalifornia org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www courtinfo ca gov/selfh e l p / e s p a n o l / ) o p o n i é n d o s e e n c o n t a c t o c o n l a c o r t e o e l colegio de abogados locales AVISO: Por ley, la corte tien e derecho reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 O mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesion de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil Tiene que pagar e l gravament de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el
90012 The name, ad-
