and Keith Martinez, each face one count of contributing to delinquency and de pendency, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
“Weones.are
“This
COMMUNITY ........................ 17 BUSINESS .............................. 19 OPINION ................................. 21 SPORTS 23 GET OUT 24 CLASSIFIEDS ........................ 27 SPORTS ............... 23 American Academy-QueenLeadershipCreek thrives. INSIDE COMMUNITY ..... 17 QC DAR to ConstitutioncelebrateWeek. NEWS .................. 15 Combs mom talks of fentanyl’s deadly danger. CUSD dress code flap / P. 8 Sunday, September 11, 2022FREE | QueenCreekTribune.comAn edition of the East Valley Tribune see CHARGES page 4 SUBSCRIPTIONFREE
The boy faces a Class 6 felony charge of violating a prohibition on minors from carrying or possessing a firearm and a Class 1 misdemeanor charge of possessing a deadly weapon on school grounds.“Based on information obtained through interviews with staff, the stu
The student’s parents, Briana Juarez
S
chnepf Farms, a Queen Creek venue known for farm-themes weddings, pumpkin festivals, giant hay mazes, fresh peaches and other family-friendly events might seem like an unusual place to think about actually burying your loved not known for the cemetery necessarily; we are known for our ag ritainment,” said owner Mark Schnepf. people thought ‘gosh why are you building a cemetery?’” has been in the works for many
QC agritainment farm adding a mausoleum
BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer
Mark Schnepf spoke last week at the groundbreaking for the new Mausoleum at San Tan Memorial Gar dens at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)
“Some
dent involved, and the student’s par ents, QCPD will be submitting the fol lowing charges to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office for consideration,” Queen Creek Police said in an an nouncement.Thestudent allegedly brought the gun to school in a backpack and at some point during the day showed a single
Q
BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer
Police seek charges against QC boy, parents
see MAUSOLEUM page 10
ueen Creek police have rec ommended charges against a 9-year-old boy and his parents after the fourth grader brought a gun and loaded ammunition clip onto the Legacy Traditional Elementary School campus Aug. 24.
www.centralaz.edu Central Arizona College Paths to Great Careers
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Unified School District con ducted recently on mental health and the nationwide increase in teen suicides did not lessen the criticism it continues to face.
The CUSD Governing Board again heard criticisms at its Aug. 24 meet ing during public comments over how district officials are handling mental health.
“How will they improve their lit eracy of mental health if it’s not something they have to study? So I am here begging for patience and for understanding, because this is a matter of lives.”
“Whensuicides.itcomes to suicide and youth mental health, CUSD follows best practices outlined in a toolkit by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration through the U.S. Department of Health & Hu man Services,” Ingersoll said.
It also warns educators that talking about suicide methods can create images that are upsetting and it may increase the risk of imitative behavior by vulnerable youth.
“I came to the last board meeting where the ideas of implementing some mental health strategies were presented and I was left shaking my head,” said Teresa Burt, a licensed psychologist in Chandler who said she is treating 27 CUSD students.
see MENTAL BREAK page 9
“The myth that talking about sui cide will cause suicide has been debunked by nearly every leading psychiatric organization, includ ing the National Institute of Men tal Health,” said Emma Robertson, an eighth-grader at SanTan Junior High. “How we discuss suicide mat
ters,Butthough.”district spokeswoman Steph anie Ingersoll said Vargas was not dismissing all conversation about teen
with people who didn’t sign up to address mental health issues.”
One of the things that upset Hig gins was that district officials want ed them to immediately follow up on an email they had sent and were unhappy it was taking longer than 24Shehours.said when the group first formed, it took the district more than a week to respond to their emails.Another thing that upset the stu dents was a report in this news paper that quoted Brenda Vargas, CUSD director of counseling and so cial services, as saying that putting a spotlight on teen suicides may in crease similar thoughts in other stu dents.ACUSD official said they felt that quote was taken out of context and needed further clarification.
“I found many inconsistencies in that report,” Burt said. “I think you all are trying to reinvent the wheel
Students also criticized the dis trict“Thispresentation.awareness about mental health is a facade and we need to do better,” said Kailani Higgins, a soph omore at Arizona College Prep High School. “The teachers who use repe tition as a method to help us retain information are not expected to use these same tactics when it comes to learning about mental health?
That guideline does include an essay exploring as a myth the con tention that talking about suicide triggers an increase in the number of people who consider it.
QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 3NEWS
BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer
Speakers rap CUSD mental health response
he study session Chandler
T
Publisher: Steve T. Strickbine
start
The police statement went on to say that detectives found no evi dence that the boy had any plans to use the weapon, collaborate with others or any specific motives to harm anyone with the firearm.
In a separate announcement, po lice noted that “juvenile divisions, more than court divisions with criminal jurisdiction, have a reha bilitative orientation. In addition to protecting the community, the Juve nile Court System has the mission of nurturing positive change in the child.”The County Attorney’s office will now decide how to proceed based on the evidence that the police sub mitted.“Once a law enforcement agency submits their recommendations, we review and determine what, if any, charges are appropriate,” said County Attorney spokesman Mike Pelton.TheLegacy Schools’ website says “possessing any gun/firearm, knife, explosive device or dangerous in strument, dangerous item or simu lated weapon” can put a student at risk of being kicked out of school.
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“QCPD commends the student who saw something suspicious at school the day before the incident and informed an adult,” QCPD Chief Randy Brice wrote.
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“Prior to returning from admin istrative leave, Principal Alvarado completed additional school safety and security training, and is cur rently working as part of a school safety team that will regularly re view security procedures and emer gency response.”
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“The safety of our community, schools, and children are top pri ority for the Queen Creek Police Department,” Brice wrote. “As we investigate these incidents, we base all charging decisions on facts and evidence.”Legacyschool officials released a statement recognizing “this incident as an opportunity for Legacy-Queen Creek to further improve its safety and communication protocol,” they
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bullet to a fellow student, who then alerted their parents.
As part of that plan, Legacy offi cials say that Alvarado and other school administrators will have the ongoing responsibility of providing teachers and staff members with further training on security pro tocols to ensure they individually understand each of the measures in place to keep the school safe.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our students, teachers and staff members,” the Legacy statement said.
said in a statement, adding:.
Photographer: Dave Minton | dminton@TimesLocalMedia.com
“We thank the Queen Creek Po lice Department for its swift inves tigation into this serious incident, and we commend the student who notified adults about the possibility of a weapon on campus.”
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According to the police statement, the student who brought the weap on onto campus told detectives during an interview that “he carried the firearm for self-protection from a potential abduction as he traveled to and from school by himself.”
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“We encourage all caregivers to teach their children to say some thing if they see something. QCPD also urges all caregivers with fire arms in their homes to secure them in a way that no child in the house will be able to obtain access to the firearm.”Legacy promptly placed school Principal Megan Alvarado on ad ministrative leave.
“Due to the nature of the behav ior or act, discipline up to expulsion may be considered, even for a first offense,” it reads.
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Brice warned, “Bringing a firearm onto a school campus, loaded or un loaded, is against the law.”
stop delivery of the paper,
4 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022NEWS
Those parents notified Legacy officials, who awaited the child’s arrival at school the next day and ushered him to a secure location away from other students. They searched his backpack, seized the weapon and called police who then launched an investigation.
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“I don’t know if we’re being asked to do more than we can really do as
Marilou Estes Charlotte Golla
see CUSD page 12
BY KEN SAIN Tribune Managing Editor
Kurt Rohrs Patti Serrano
CUSD board candidates discuss mental health
high priority put on catching up aca demically. But we have now been wit nessing the failure of recognizing the need our students have had in catch ing up Gollaemotionally.”saidthedistrict needs to ex pand what it’s already doing to in clude more parts of the city, such as its school-based family resource CARE Center.“Wehave a lot of current programs that are fantastic and working,” Golla said. “So especially those in partner ship with the CARE Center, I would want to look to create more regional programming for the southern part of our district as well. So ideally, we could look to work with other non profit agencies, like ICANN communi ty bridges, Not My Kid or Teen Lifeline to partner and offer a satellite center similar to the CARE Center.”
a district,” Rohrs said. “Typically these issues have been cared for by the county, which does an awful lot.
T
he five candidates seeking a seat on the next Chandler Uni fied School District Governing Board answered five questions during the first forum on Sept. 6. Candidates in the Nov. 8 election for two seats include Lara Bruner, Marilous Estes, Charlotte Golla, Kurt Rohrs and Patti Serrano.Onequestion dealt with one of the hottest topics facing the district: the mental health of students and staff.
Rohrs, said the mental health crisis cannot be solved by the district alone.
Lara Bruner
“I believe CUSD is on a path to im proved support for mental health for the many needs of CUSD students, but it is a long and winding road and CUSD has yet to complete the journey,” Estes said.
“We should rely on the city but also the community, particularly the faithbased community, as well. I think we need to utilize those resources in stead of trying to reinvent the wheel to these Serranokids.”said the district needs to recognize the stress COVID put on kids.“Our kids and families are suffer ing,” she said. “Prioritizing and push ing academics alone is clearly not the answer. One of my main issues as your candidate for CUSD is supporting the implementation of whole child learn ing, this includes social, emotional, and mental health in addition to aca demics.“Given the current pandemic and turbulence of the last few years, our students returned to school with a
“Over the past five years CUSD has committed to improving mental health support to train profession als, as evidenced by the commitment of $5 million set aside for student health services. These funds employ 92 counselors and 21 social workers.”
Bruner, who is seeking her second term on the governing board, called the topic important to her.
The Chandler Education Associa tion, which represents teachers, and Valley Interfaith Project hosted the event. Candidates got the questions in advance and did not interact.
the crisis.
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Estes says she’s seen progress in what the district has done to tackle
“I’ve been trying to push for the dis trict to have an evidence-based, com munity-based program that’s compre hensive that includes community sup ports and ties to nonprofits and to our
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Hannah said she decided to bring this issue up when talking to some friends who planned to speak about mental health.
Santan
“I believe that the dress code includes exclusion and enforces unjust standards and emphasis on a specific gender,” said Hannah, a student in the gifted program. “Statistics from many reliable sources show the same average, 83%, of dress code violations are [given to] girls.”
This activism is not a surprise to Han nah’s“She’sfather.alittle bit of a different kid,” Jo seph deGraft-Johnson said. “She’s very strong willed. And so when she has her mind made up, she goes for it.”
Student dress code
Chains, hanging belts, and spiked bracelets/necklaces/earrings are not allowed on campus.
Hannah brought the issue to the Chandler Unified School District Gov erning Board Aug. 24 and said she has been happy with how officials have re sponded.Shemet with Ken James, executive director for junior high schools, and said he told her he would meet with all the junior high principals to discuss theHannahissue. said her main problem with
“I heard a lot of times that they don’t like talking about it,” Hannah said. “So, I think that because they don’t like talking about it and they’re uncomfortable about it, they don’t want to change it. Because that creates talk.”
BY KEN SAIN Tribune Managing Editor
Here are main dress code violations listed on the Santan Junior High website: Clothing or hairstyles that are detrimental to one’s health and safety or the health and safety of others are not permitted.
She’s not confident her speaking up will change anything, even after a posi tive meeting with Ken James.
the dress code, which prohibits tank tops or half shirts that show too much of the mid-section, is the way it is present ed. She said they were told that dressing in such a way could provoke sexual ha rassment.“Wehad a discipline presentation at my school, where ... a question was asked about the dress code by students,” Hannah said. “The response did not sit right with me. We were told that as mid dle schoolers, we had uncontrollable hormones. So, the dress code was made to prevent things from happening.”
Hannah, 13, said the big issue for her is not necessarily the dress code, but a culture that blames girls for sexual ha rassment.“NowIfeel like I want more awareness about sexual assault, and rape, because I think that is not talked about enough and that people go through stuff, but they’re either too scared to speak out, or they don’t really know what’s going on,” Hannah said.
“The whole tank tops thing, because it’s Arizona, and it’s hot,” Hannah said. “So I always thought that was not a good thing to put on the dress code. But then when … my vice principal said during the meeting that the dress code is because we’re teenagers, and we have increased hormones. So he said that it is just to protect us. And I was like, that’s really the wrong and weird thing to say.”
She said the district should instead provide awareness training on sexual harassment instead of blaming girls for how they Stephaniedress.Ingersoll, district executive director for marketing and communica tions, said Santan is following policy.
Junior High student Hannah deGraft-Johnson says the school’s dress code is sexist.
“All CUSD schools follow a govern ing board-approved dress code policy, which applies to all students,” she said.
CUSD student challenges district’s ‘sexist’ dress code
Clothing shall be modest, clean and appropriate for school wear.
8 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022NEWS
No hats, visors, bandanas, hairnets, and other hair coverings on campus. Sunglasses and earpods must be removed before coming into the classroom andForbuildings.student safety, no house slippers should be worn to school.
Santan Junior High student Hannah de Graft-Johnson has taken on her school dress code, calling it sexist. (David Minton/Staff Photog rapher)
Students shall not wear: tank tops, halter tops, garments with spaghetti straps, strapless garments. Garments that are see-through, cut low, or expose one’s midriff are not acceptable. No sleeveless garments which expose undergar ments. Clothing must cover the entire buttocks and extend to a reasonable length to ensure modesty.
Send your news to pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.com
“Spontaneous memorials (such as collections of objects and notes) should not be encouraged and should be respectfully removed within a very short time. A memori al can be an upsetting reminder of a suicide and/or romanticize the de ceased in a way that increases risk for suicide imitation or contagion.
Those requests include:
• A student-led town hall before Sept. 15 that the district promotes so students can talk about the is sue with their peers.
“Then CUSD disappeared,” she continued. “You don’t want to part ner with the community like you say you want to because you were presented with the opportunity. You turned your back and walked away in silence. You did nothing that was promised. You didn’t return phone calls. You didn’t return emails.”
The guideline also urges care when dealing with memorials to people who have killed themselves.
Ingersoll was asked to respond to the criticism but has not returned the email seeking comment.
CUSD officials seemed in terested and said they would be in volved, Burt said. In fact, a preview of the event is featured in a district in-house publication.
“They said that they would send out emails and encourage teachers and students to attend and even give extra credit for attending,” Burt told
Three students from the Arizona Students for Mental Health group addressed the board, reminding it that they have been asking for three things since June.
“We are going through a mental health crisis here... Students need these resources to survive, not only to survive, but also to perform well,”
Burt, the licensed psychologist, said she and another psychologist organized an event to address teen mental health last year called “Break through” which was held at Compass Christian Church in February. She said they approached the dis trict seeking support, specifically with getting the information about the event out to as many students as possible.Atfirst,
• All teachers and staff get mental health first aid training.
“Large memorial assemblies should not be convened as the emo tions generated at such a gathering can be difficult to control.”
Basha High sophomore Sofia Borc zon said. “How many more kids have to die before you give us what we need?” anything interesting going on in Queen Creek?
• A student action board formed at all high schools and middle schools so they can let campus as well as district officials know what challenges students are facing.
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MENTAL BREAK from page 3 Know
the Governing Board.
So in 2013, Schnepf finally acted on what he thought was a glaring need for the people of Queen Creek.
“We have just under 1,500 burials already within the cemetery,” said Me morial Gardens director Dillon Bena vides. “We’ve been doing burials since 2013.
dividuals as well as Gateway Bank.
And as land became more and more valuable in Queen Creek, the younger Schnepf and his wife Carrie realized that no one would ever build a cem etery when land could be sold, subdi vided and sold off to the highest bid der, usually home builders.
MAUSOLEUM from page 1
And there’s room for many more, with broad swaths of well-manicured, bright green grass, bookended with park benches, all under a canopy of mature trees.
The mausoleum is scheduled to be complete in about seven months.
He created that long dreamed of cemetery, San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms, on 7 acres of land at the southeast corner of the 5,000acre farm.
to cost to build that building.”
Being among the largest landown ers in the state, Schnepf had the luxu ry of doing something for the commu nity and his descendants – and not for the quick buck
“And then we will sell the nich es and plots over 10 years, 15 years, however long it takes to fill it up and over that period of time we’ll get our loan paid off at the bank and there will be a profit at the end of the 10 or 15 years. We don’t know.”
“You don’t want to keep people go ing 50 miles out of the town or the community on order to have a place toTherest.”Mausoleum at San Tan Memori al Gardens is at 22425 E. Cloud Road, Queen Creek. Information: 480-9872488
“You want to have a sacred place and hallowed final resting place for your family members in their time of need so it’s imperative that we pro vide a space,” said Dr. Vernet Joseph, pastor at Mountain View Church.
“Or, especially with cremation on the rise, a lot of families prefer in stead of burying the urn in a burial vault, they prefer to place it in a mau soleum.”Themausoleum has room for at least 80 crypts for caskets, 1,200 columbarium niches for the place ment of cremated remains, fami ly-size urn niches to accommodate up to eight urns in one niche, heated and air-conditioned funeral gathering place and tight security.
They have donated $2 million to break ground on phase two of the cemetery, the Mausoleum at San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms, billed as the first free-standing struc ture of its kind built in the Southeast Valley.“Some families may be uncomfort able with in-ground burials. Other families just like the aesthetics,” Be navides said.
Joseph, who has performed several funerals there, added:
With that phase of the cemetery complete, and a shifting trend away from in-ground burial, Schnepf has created a partnership with private in
“So,safe.that’s what Carrie and I have created here at this corner of Schnepf Farms.”Schnepf’s story is personal. Because his father wasn’t able to see his vision come to fruition and get a cemetery constructed in Queen Creek, his par ents are buried in Mesa. As a result, Schnepf doesn’t visit their grave sites as often as he would like.
“The thing is that every commu nity needs a really good, beautiful place to place their loved ones that have passed,” Schnepf said. “A place that’s close. A place that’s affordable. A place that is beautiful, and peaceful and
Crypts within the mausoleum start
“Back in the day when you lost a loved one, you’d have to go to Mesa and have the visitation there the cer emony up there, it’s just so wonderful to be able to stay here in the commu nity.”Because of the way that Schnepf structured the partnership, this has the added advantage of keeping the land in the family, and out of the hands ofHedevelopers.said$2million “is what it’s going
“Being able to stay here instead of having to go to Mesa is great,” said Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce President Chris Clark.
Several grass level headstones surround a tree near the site of the new Mausoleum at San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
at $9,325 and niches begin at $2,360.
years,” Schnepf said, explaining that his father envisioned a cemetery for Queen Creek as far back as the 1970s but “never got it done.”
This goes back to his father’s dream to have a place for people from here … to stay here, even after death.
10 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022NEWS
But this isn’t about the finances for Mark Schnepf, at least up front.
It could take at least a generation, Schnepf said, to repay the investors who made both phases of the ceme tery possible to begin with.
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way to effectively treat chronic pain and/or peripheral neuropathy is by targeting the source, which is the result of nerve damage owing to inadequate blood flow to the nerves in the hands and feet. This often causes weakness, numbness,balance
12 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022NEWS
2. Stimulates and strengthens small fiber nerves
All five candidates admitted the high cost of housing in Chandler was contributing to the difficulty in re cruiting teachers and staff.
The first question of the night was what to do about the teacher and staff shortage.Gollasuggested changing the pay structure to recognize that teachers are often doing more than they were in previous years while Estes says CUSD needs to find out why teachers and staff are leaving and then address thoseBrunerissues.said the district has to look at compensation first, but added teachers need the proper level of sup port in the classroom to do their jobs.
1. Finding the underlying cause
It’s completely painless!
The drugs your doctor might prescribe will temporarily conceal the problems, putting a “Band-Aid” over a situation that will only continue to deteriorate without further
Effective neuropathy treatment relies on the following three factors:
3. The amount of treatment required for the patient’s unique condition
1. Increases blood flow
Serrano said they must have an open dialogue with current teachers to ensure there is a strong work en vironment and all employees feel val ued and respected.
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faith-based organizations that also have counseling supports,” she said.
cannot survive, and thus, slowly die. This leads to those painful and frustrating consequences we were talking about earlier, like weakness, numbness, tingling, balance issues, and perhaps even a burning sensation.
extremely busy, so we are unavailable, please leave a voice message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
sometimes harmful side
Aspen Medical 4540 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 119 AZ, 85206
problems. A lack of nutrients causes the nerves degenerate – an insidious
Rohrs said he wants to understand why employees are leaving the dis trict so he would know how to solve the problem. He said he doesn’t think it’s always about money, but it may have something to do with conditions in the classroom.
As displayed in figure 1 above, the nerves are surrounded by diseased, withered blood vessels. A lack of sufficient nutrients means the nerves
Mesa is the birthplace of a brandnew facility that sheds new light on this pressing problem of peripheral neuropathy and chronic pain. The company is trailblazing the medical industry by replacing outdated drugs and symptomatic reprieves with an advanced machine that targets the root of the problem at hand.
Four of the five candidates said they would advocate for an end to the ag gregate expenditure limit that caps spending by the state’s school dis tricts unless the Legislature overrides
Rohrs says it was a taxpayer protection initiative and he would handle it differently. Instead of push ing for a repeal, he would push to change the funding formulas, which he called very complicated.
Aspen Medical in Mesa AZ uses a state-of-the-art electric cell signaling systems worth $100,000.00.
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The treatment works by delivering energy to the affected area(s) at varying wavelengths, from low- to middle-frequency signals, while also using Amplitude Modulated (AM) and Frequency Modulated (FM) signaling.
Mesa AZ – When it comes to chronic pain and/ or neuropathy, the most common doctor-prescribed treatment is drugs like Gabapentin, Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin. The problem with antidepressants or anti-seizure medications like these is that they offer purely symptomatic relief, as opposed to targeting and treating the root of the problem. Worse, these drugs often trigger an onset of uncomfortable, painful, and
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2. Determining the extent of the nerve damage (above 95% nerve loss is rarely treatable)
The number of treatments required varies from patient to patient, and can only be determined following an in-depth neurological and vascular examination. As long as you have less than 95% nerve damage, there is hope!
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“We need to expand our student clubs. They just started in the last cou ple of years and we need to make sure junior high kids have opportunities with that as well.”
And they all promised that if they are elected, they would commit to meeting within a month of election day with CEA leadership to discuss the issues in the district.
Aspen Medical will be offering this free chronic pain and neuropathy severity evaluation will be available until October 31st, 2022 Call (480) 274 3157 to make an appointment
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Mesa,
Register today. Tables of 8: $1,000/Individual Tickets: $125 480.532.0641 or jhubbard@phxeastvalley.com Zoom option may be available.
A
The Midterms are approaching and Arizona is a state to watch. At this event, you’ll get unfiltered and nonpartisan insights on the state of politics in Arizona from Ron Brownstein, senior editor of The Atlantic, contributing editor for National Journal and a senior political analyst for CNN. Part journalist, part historian, and all shrewd political observer, Brownstein will de liver sharp analysis on politics, policy, the electorate, media and the range of issues informed by his strong sense of American political and national history.
PRESENTED BY:
QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 13 PHX EAST VALLEY PARTNERSHIP APS STATESPERSONS’ LUNCHEON Keynote Speaker Ron Brownstein: All About the Midterms: A Look at Arizona’s Political Landscape 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 Doubletree by Hilton Phoenix-Mesa • (1011 W. Holmes, Mesa)
Following the keynote address, you’ll hear from candidates in key races share their plans for building on Arizona’s economic momentum while addressing our communities’ most pressing issues.
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Bolton also directed that no elec tion official “shall take any action
to implement or enforce HB 2243’s amendments related to voter “da tabase reviews/investigations, dis tribution of letters, cancellation of voters’ registrations, referral for criminal investigations before Jan. 1, 2023.”
federal judge in Phoenix last week scuttled a law pushed by Queen Creek Republican Rep. Jake Hoffman that directed the removal of invalid voters from all Arizona counties’ voter rolls, ruling in favor of opponents who contend ed it targeted people of color.
Ruling in favor of the Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian And Pacific Islander For Equity Coalition, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton on Sept. 8 directed election officials across the state to take no action “to implement or enforce HB 2243 in a manner that would re move any voter’s eligibility to vote in the 2022 general election or dis qualify any otherwise-valid ballot on the basis of HB 2243.”
This NexGen home has its own primary home with a suite attached to it, offering its own separate entrance and exit, kitchen, family room and bedroom and bath.
vestigation of those we have rea son to believe are not U.S. citizens’ scheme.”Theresult they said, will result in “arbitrary” investigations using da tabases not designed to determine votingWhat’seligibility.worse, said Amit Makker, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, is that anyone who does not pro vide what he called “onerous ev idence of citizenship” within 35 days is referred to the county attor ney and attorney general for crimi nalMakkerinvestigation.”alsocharged that 35-day window was chosen for deliberate political reasons.
the constitutionality of the mea sure.The legislation is part of a multipronged effort by the business-ori ented Free Enterprise Club to alter state voter registration laws.
NEXTGENSUITE MAINHOUSE
Judge scuttles QC lawmaker’s voter rolls measure
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
4489 W Maggie Drive, Queen Creek NEXTGEN home in San Tan Heights
A
Most of those efforts were based on various claims, all unproved, that the election process itself was flawed, with everything from fake ballots being injection into the sys tem to tabulation equipment being reprogrammed by outside sources.
14 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022NEWS 480.221 www.fosteringre.com.3034Each office is independently owned and operated BESTOF 2022 BESTOF 2021
He pointed out HB 2243 is set to take effect on Sept. 24. The result, Makker said, will be “an illegal vot er purge just days before the No vember election.”
JUSTLISTED
He had sought a full hearing on
Hoffman’s legislation was one of several dozen measures introduced in the just-completed legislative session closely linked to the “Stop the Steal’’ movement that insists that Donald Trump actually outpo lled Joe Biden in Arizona.
Attorneys for the Equity Coali tion said the provision in HB 2243 creates an “anyone-can-accuse ‘in
“The first step in election integ rity is ensuring clean and current voter rolls,” said Greg Blackie, who lobbies for the organization, about the moves. And that, he said, re quires not just ensuring that peo ple are legally qualified to vote but also “regular maintenance to en sure that people who are no longer qualified, whether due to death, felony conviction, residency status or for other reasons are regularly removed.”Republican lawmakers actually approved a different version earlier this year, only to have HB 2617 ve
Welcome to the NEXTGEN home in San Tan Heights. The NEXTGEN suite has its own front door and its own door to the backyard. The kitchenette includes a full size fridge, a dishwasher, and a microwave and lots of cabinetry. Relax in the spacious family room. The bedroom is private with a door to the bedroom and includes a walk in closet. The main house includes 3 bedrooms, all with walk in closets, & 2 bathrooms. You’ll enjoy cooking in this kitchen which includes maple cabinets and granite counters. Low maintenance front & backyards with desert landscaping. Come see this home that offers so many possibilities with the NEXTGEN suite. Use it as an office, for inlaws, or simply additional living space. Situated in San Tan Heights which has its own community pool & close to hiking at San Tan Mountain Regional Park.
With more than 40 years’ experience as a school administrator with the J.O. Combs Unified School District, Dukes said she had conversations with her son about drugs.
The biennial 2022 Arizona Youth Sur vey released last week found 47% of 8th graders had never heard of fentanyl, compared with 33% of 10 graders and 25% of 12th graders.
fentanyl overdoses rise, a new study found nearly half of Arizo na teenagers never heard of the drug.
“He is always going to be gone, and I will always love him,” Dukes said. “But we as parents need to make sure that this does not happen to anyone else by talking to our kids.”
He said this is the first year the survey asked specific questions about fentanyl and already it’s a troubling stat about the “number one threat” in the state.
From 2017 to 2021, over 1,100 peo ple under the age of 24 died of an opioid overdose, according to the Arizona De partment of Health Services.
Outside of law enforcement, Lefevre said education remains the number one thing people can do to help young peo ple and parents understand the drug’s
Though he battled depression in the year leading up to this death, Dukes said this one “misguided” decision impacted her son’s entire life.
The biennial survey from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission gathered input from 50,000 students from every county in Arizona.
More than 70% of the fentanyl seized coming into the U.S. enters through Ar izona, LeFevre said. “We are the main highway for fentanyl pills,” LeFevre said.
Dukes said the problem permeates
Survey finds teens unaware of fentanyl danger
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pre scribed for pain that’s 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
“There’s this very large gap between information and understanding about this dangerous drug in our youth,” said Andrew LeFevre, executive director of the Arizona Criminal Justice Commis sion, which conducts the biennial sur vey.
At 16, Ethan was “a very active young man” involved in advanced classes and sports, his mother said.
QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 15NEWS
The results of the survey were pre sented in conjunction with the fifth an nual Arizona Drug Summit hosted by Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Executive Director Dawn Mertz and Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk.
The youth survey is mandated by state law and helps school administrators and planners at the city, county and state-lev el determine how to best help students with issues that directly pertain to them.
dangers and how parents can start the conversation on avoiding it.
As
BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer
Arizona Criminal Justice Commission Executive Director Andrew Lefevre said the survey shows a disturbing alck of knowledge about fentanyl’s dangers among Arizona teens. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)
The survey helps examine significant community issues, modify or redesign existing projects or policies, as well as secure funding, and design and imple ment new projects or policies.
But Dukes said when she read that drug on the autopsy report, it shocked her.“I didn’t even know how to spell it,” Dukes said.
Dukes said the “one pill can kill” rou tine doesn’t work for her, and that’s why she said it’s her mission to inform the public about the dangers of fentanyl.
“One pill killed my son,” Dukes said. “And that’s what I want people to know.”
Like most parents, Dukes said she be lieved her child wouldn’t die, much less before her.
Dukes’ son Ethan died in 2019 from an overdose with one pill laced with Fen tanyl, a fact she only found out after his autopsy.
see TEEN SURVEY page 16
More than 300 schools participated in the survey and LeFevre said each one will receive an individualized report.
HIDTA’s mission facilitates, supports and enhances collaborative efforts for drug control efforts among law enforce ment and community-based organiza tions in the state.
Largely, the survey revealed a decline
Shari Dukes helped speak on this mat ter from a parent’s perspective.
in overall substance use over the last six years.Of12th graders reported in the study, the most commonly abused substance in a 30-day period is alcohol at 23%, mar ijuana at 18%, e-cigarettes at 15%, and marijuana concentrates at 14%.
More than 60% of students reported at least one adverse childhood experi ence.The most frequent reported include if their parents ever separated or divorced (40%), living with adults who insulted or put them down (32%), or living with an alcoholic (30%).
The study also asked students about risk and preventive factors.
Only 31% of students reported they
page 15
First, it would scrap state laws that say mail-in ballots are pre sumed valid if the signature on the envelope matches what county offi cials already have on file.
The AYS looked at other issues be yond substance use including adverse childhood experiences, risk and protec tive factors, handgun use and violence exposure, dangerous driving, and gang involvement.
our entire society and threatens youth from all classes and all areas.
“The implementation of this pro vision is vague and lacks any guid ance for how a county recorder would confirm such a determina tion,” Ducey wrote.
had a high risk “of engaging in problem behaviors.”Approximately 61% of students reported they had a high protec tion among their community, family, school, and peer and individual envi ronment.Someof those include opportunities for involvement in school (69%), and in
He said the original bill gave those sent notices of insufficient proof on file 90 days to respond. Now that is just 35
The Free Enterprise Club also was behind a lawsuit that quashed an initiative that could have eased some voter requirements.
16 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022
“Our lawfully registered voters deserve to know that their right to vote will not be disturbed without sufficient due process,” he contin ued. “This provision leaves our elec tion system vulnerable to bad ac tors who could seek to falsely allege a voter is not a qualified elector.”
That resulted in HB 2243, which was billed as a cleaned-up version.
a social security number, a driver’s license number or the number from another state-issued ID.
toed by Gov. Doug Ducey.
Dukes would find Ethan still in his bed that Saturday morning and said she lives with the grim reality every day: There is no more mornings.
In order to start the conversation, Dukes said parents should be open and speak with their kids as if it’s the last conversation they have with them.
Instead, they would have to in clude a date of birth and a voter identification number. And the lat ter could be the last four digits of
Makker said the new law still re quires actual proof of citizenship and not just a signature, still results in voter cancellation versus being placed in inactive status, and still requires referral to prosecutors if there is no adequate response.
San Tan Valley mom Shari Dukes talked about her 16-year-old son’s death from a Fentanyl over dose. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)
pating its immediate enforcement want to cancel the registration,” Makker wrote.
TEEN SURVEY from
“I just plead with parents to please talk to your child, no matter how diffi cult,” Dukes said. “It is much easier than standing right here talking to you about my child that who has died.”
“Kids listen to parents,” LeFevre said. So, we need to have those conversa tions.”For more information about the fen tanyl crisis, visit the Substance Abuse Coalition Leaders of Arizona Toolkit at saclaz.org/toolkit.
volvement with family (57%), and belief in the Moral Order (56%).
“There’s not a few kids, it’s not ‘those kids,’” Dukes said. “It’s all our kids that we need to make sure that we are ad dressing, we are supporting, we are lov ing, we are nurturing, we are showing up for.”
Dukes still remembers exchanging “I love yous and the last “I’ll see in the morning, mom” Ethan said on that fate ful Friday night in February 2019.
“Theredays.is,of course, only one rea son for that: the legislators who passed HB 2243 and are antici
The Free Enterprise Club is the major backer of a Nov. 8 ballot mea sure which, if approved, will impose new requirements on all voters.
But Proposition 309 also would require those who go to the polls to present a photo ID. Gone would be an alternate option of bringing in two different documents without a photo that contain the person’s name and address, like a utility bill, vehicle registration certificate or property tax statement.
NEWS AZLegacyFuneralHome.com Call today to make an Callyourproofcremation,haveknowingLivingHow480-207-2286appointment.WillTheyKnow?lifetothefullestiseasieryourlovedonesdon’ttoworryaboutyourburial,orfuneral.Ourinflation-preplanarrangementsensurewishesarerespected.orvisitusonlinetoday. MEASURE from page 14
According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, research has es tablished a link between early childhood experiences of abuse or neglect and neg ative outcomes later in life.
While everyone knows what In dependence Day is about, Garrison
C
The Daughters of the American Revolution initiated the observance in 1955, petitioning Congress to ded icate Sept. 17-23 of each year to the commemoration of the Constitution. On Aug. 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law.
The purpose of the week is to pro mote study and education about the Constitution, Garrison said.
Desert Wells DAR marking Constitution Week
Members range in age from late teens to the 80s and include pro fessional women, students, stayat-home moms, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, single parents, and both current and retired mili tary members and wives.
The natural place to look would be the elementary school, yet so many schools are devoted to im proving academic achievement and there are few true leadership pro
The award certificate indicates that Auxier has “produced outstand ing results in school and student out comes, by implementing the process
A foundation of the Lighthouse School Designation is school staff and parents partner to learn about the “7 Habits” (see franklincovey. com).The success of the school’s lead ership program is led by the Light
see CUSD page 18 see DAR page 18
W
They’ll start by ringing bells on Constitution Day Sept. 17 and are also joining with DAR members across the country, who are “obtain ing proclamations from public offi cials, creating displays in schools, libraries, courthouses, and other public areas, distributing copies of the Constitution, Preamble to the Constitution, and other patriotic lit erature, and other efforts to educate their community about the Constitu tion,” said Midge Garrison, chapter historian.“There are two documents of the utmost importance to American history: the Declaration of Indepen dence, which forged our national identity, and the United States Con stitution, which set forth the frame work for the federal government that functions to this day,” she explained.
grams at the elementary level.
There is a leadership model which recognized schools where the staff engages in ongoing development of leaders, and leadership principles are effectively taught to ALL stu dents.Aschool that meets these criteria is designated a Lighthouse School, the highest level of recognition for a
Desert Wells DAR Chapter members are marking Constitution Week in various ways. (Desert Wells DAR)
CUSD school in QC recognized for leadership
school leadership program.
with fidelity and excellence.”
TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF
onstitution Week begins this Saturday and the Desert Wells Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution are marking the occasion in various ways.
said, “fewer people know about Con stitution Week, an annual commem oration of the living document that upholds and protects the freedoms central to our American way of life.”
QueenCreekTribune.com | @QCTribune @QCTribune Community For more Community News visit QueenCreekTribune.com QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 17COMMUNITY
Based in Queen Creek and founded in 2005, the Desert Wells DAR Chap ter includes women as well from Apache Junction, Florence, Gold Can yon and San Tan Valley.
Only eight schools across Arizona have received the Lighthouse School certificate, and only one is in the Chandler Unified School District: Auxier Elementary in Queen Creek.
“Some of us have multiple gener ations in the DAR, while some of us
here are the leaders of to morrow being developed?
BY MURRAY SIEGEL Tribune Guest Writer
in Queen Creek, which is now owned and maintained by the San Tan His torical Society.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a wom en’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to
CUSD from page 17
18 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022COMMUNITY
The nonprofit, nonpolitical wom en’s service organization has more than 185,000 members in approx imately 3,000 chapters worldwide. Members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the coun try and Informationworld. about the desertwellsazdar.weebly.com.chapter:
Auxier Elementary students honored fallen warriors with this memorial last year. (Facebook)
about these patriots.
www.queencreektribune.com Subscribe Here Receive your digital flip-thru edition every week in your e-mail box! 匀琀漀渀攀䌀爀攀攀欀䘀甀爀渀椀琀甀爀攀⸀挀漀洀 Amid yet another snafu by the Pinal County Elections Department, at least one of the three Queen Creek Town Council seats could be headed for November run-off following the results of Tuesday’s primary. With some ballots countywide still being counted as of the Tribune’s print deadline Friday, results from the Maricopa County Recorder’s Officer showed incumbent Dawn Oliphant with 27% of the vote; Bryan McClure, 25%; Travis Padilla, 25% and Matt McWilliams, 23%. The Pinal County results had Oliphant with 27%; McWilliams, 25%; McClure, 24% and Padilla, 23%. According to the latest available data, Pinal reported that total 2,559 ballots had been cast in its portion of Queen Creek while the Maricopa portion saw 10,482 ballots. The threshold for an outright win involves dividing the total number of votes by the number of available seats, then dividing by 2. As of Friday, the whole numbers put Padilla ahead of McWilliams, 6,100-5874. But the math may be further compliBY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer East Valley municipalities in the last fiscal year took advantage of unantici pated general fund revenue increases to make big additional payments on their debt to pensions earned by thousands of retired police officers and firefighters. But Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler and Scottsdale still have a long way to go before they erase their huge unfunded liabilities. Those five municipalities still owe a to tal $1.4 billion for pensions covering 955 retired firefighters, 1,471 retired cops and PENSION page 10 QC an exception amid big pension debt Pinal snafus muddy outcome of QC council races BY MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor COMMUNITY 16 BUSINESSOPINIONSPORTS 22 GET OUT 23 CLASSIFIEDS 26 SPORTS...............22 QC dad, son cherish last season together. INSIDE BUSINESS...........18 QC women run unique Lego NEWS....................4 Council discusses QC road median headache. EV stage-boundband P. 23 Sunday, August 7, 2022 FREE QueenCreekTribune.com An edition of the East Valley Tribune ELECTIONS page SUBSCRIPTIONFREE The plane is on the way jet engine may seem bit of an unusual sight at high school, but a plane may soon be on the way at the new LeadershipAmericanAcade-mycampusineastMesa.Thesprawling223,000-square-footcharterschooltak-ingnewapproachtovocationaleducation,asyou’llreadonpage8. (Enrique Contributor)Garcia/Tribune Easy-To-Read Digital Edition Know anything interesting going on in Queen Creek? Send your news to pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.com
Students develop responsibility for their own learning, assessing needs, setting goals, and executing action plans to meet those needs.
an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. It was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American in dependence.Throughthe DAR Genealogical Research System (dar.org/GRS), the public can access a free database of information amassed by the DAR
“It was a small spur stop that holds a significant role in Queen Creek’s history and folklore,” the chapter website states.
are just starting as the first genera tion,” the group says on its website. “We may be different in many ways, but we all believe in the basic tenets of supporting God, Home, and Coun try.”The chapter took its name from the old Desert Wells Stage Stop lo cated on the former Andrade Ranch
house Committee which consists of Principal Jamie Williams, and teach er leads Stephanie Moore and Han nahSchoolHousmyer.staffmeetings are used to motivate all staff to “engage in ongo ing learning and develop as leaders, while championing leadership for theStudentsschool.” participate in leader ship roles within their classrooms, and there are student action teams where they practice public speak ing, fulfill roles as school tour lead ers, are greeters of guests and lead school assemblies.
DAR from page 17
They track growth toward stated goals in a leadership notebook, and share the notebooks with adults in conferences which are led by stu dents.The success of the program is tied to the ability of teachers to form trust ing relationships with students, lead ing to an environment of “highly en gaged learning,” Williams said. “Our staff provides opportunities for stu dents to learn and demonstrate their leadership skills. Earning this certifi cation is the ultimate reward.”
WHEN: Hot Dog Days at Joe’s Farm Grill
WHERE: 3000 E. Ray Road, Gilbert
Hot Dog Days return to Joe’s Farm Grill
The Big Fat Greek Dog, a smoked Greek-seasoned pork sausage topped with tzatziki sauce and Greek fries piled with garlic sauce, feta, tomatoes, kala mata olives and fresh herbs.
People look forward to the Hot Dog Days of Summer every year, Peelen said.
“It’s a difficult thing to put together op erationally to do all of these at the same time,” Peelen explained. “And just doing them for a month, there’s so many new ingredients; things we normally don’t have in house: making the gravy and pickling all the vegetables and bringing in the corned beef to slice.”
BY GERI KOEPPEL Tribune Contributor
Dynamite Dog, with Schreiner’s spicy pork hot link, scorpion pepper and habanero cream cheese topped with hand-breaded fried chilito peppers and sweet-hot pepper jelly.
The Reuben Dog has hand-sliced corned beef brisket, melted Swiss and fresh sauerkraut piled on a grilled split hot dog with house-made Russian dress ing on a caraway-seed bun.
The Dog Days of Summer always fea tures a spicy dog, and this year it’s the
This year’s menu includes seven dogs not on the regular menu, including three all-new creations: the Banh Mi Dog, Loco Moco Dog and Reuben Dog. All dogs are $13 or $19 for two, which includes a side, and you can mix and match.
Two dogs also on the regular menu are:The Caroline Blue Dog, a grilled dog topped with Joe’s famous barbecued pulled pork, tangy crumbled blue cheese
Peelen said he devised the Loco Moco Dog after two trips to Hawaii in the past year. It riffs on the classic Hawaiian com fort food using an open-face buttered grilled bun, sticky rice, burger patty, split grilled hot dog and homemade brown gravy, topped with a fried sun ny-side up egg.
“You can’t really tell where the hot dog stops and the corned beef starts,” Peelen stated. “It all works together quite nicely.”
Joe Johnston, co-owner of Joe’s Farm Grill, shows off the Carolina Blue Dog and Sonoran Dog, two of the Hot Dog Days of Summer specials that are on the regular menu as well. (Courtesy of Joe’s Farm Grill)
Other specials include:
and hand-cut sweet coleslaw and driz zled with Joe’s Real BBQ sauce and homemade ranch dressing.
COST: 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m. through Sept. 30
The Banh Mi Dog was inspired by Peelen’s love of street food. It’s made with sliced Schreiner’s Bockwurst me dallions (mild veal-pork sausage), fresh house-pickled carrot, daikon, cucumber, serrano pepper and cilantro layered on a toasted French roll with mayo and herb liver paté spread.
“We make a scratch brown gravy with beef bones and marrow and make our own stock,” Peelen explained. “We go all out to make it authentic and make it really delicious. No corners cut on ingredients.”
The specials, made with local Schrein er’s sausages and all-beef dogs, have run almost every September for roughly a decade, Peelen said.
“The [recipe] I settled on, I love it,” Peelen said. “There’s no beans or any thing in it. A few secret ingredients.”
Peelen has done exhaustive research to honor the food traditions that in spired the dogs. For the Cheddar Coney Dog, for example, he went to several De troit coney dog restaurants to sample the goods and develop his own chili.
an annual tradition, the Hot Dog Days of Summer have re turned through the end of Sep tember at Joe’s Farm Grill in Gilbert, featuring nine wiener-based gourmet sandwiches showcasing flavors inspired from around the globe, from Hawaii to Vietnam and Mexico to Michigan.
All the special dogs are piled so high that they’re meant to be eaten with a knife and fork, Peelen noted – “although it’s fun to see guys pick them up and try to eat them with their hands,” he added.
Now
The Cheddar Coney Dog, a grilled hot dog smothered with homemade Michigan Coney chili sauce, diced white onions and yellow mustard and piled with a mound of fine-shredded Tillamook cheddar.
Tim Peelen, co-owner of Joe’s Farm Grill, came up with the idea based on his upbringing in the Midwest.
“That’s the one I’m really, really curious about this year to see how people receive that,” Peelen said. “It’s a lot of fun; it’s de licious; it’s a little lighter than the others.”
The Sonoran Dog, a jalapeño-stuffed bacon-wrapped fried hot dog with homemade pinto beans, cotija cheese and pico de gallo topped with a yellow mustard and sour cream-mayo drizzle.
It uses a chicken liver paté recipe from a restaurant where he worked in college.
INFO: joesfarmgrill.com
There, the “dog days of summer” generally end on Labor Day, “but not in Gilbert, Arizona,” he said. Here, the dog days of summer and warm weather con tinue and “hot dogs are warm-weather fare,” he noted.
If you go:
QueenCreekTribune.com | @QCTribune @QCTribune Business For more Business News visit QueenCreekTribune.com QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 19BUSINESS
“This is what I do: I dream about food,” Peelen said. “And I dream about comfort food. And I am always trying different combinations and iterations.”
The BBQ Bacon Blue O-Ring Dog, a bacon-wrapped hot dog dipped in bar becue sauce and threaded through three onions rings nestled on blue cheese.
However, the staff enjoys the chal lenge.“They know it’s great fun for custom ers,” Peelen said, adding, “It’s really the only time we pull out all the stops and really go for it. It’s a lot of fun for ev eryone.”
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Knowing how to access informa tion digitally, complete tasks and then submit the assignments digi tally will be an essential skill for the future of these kids. Why not start now?Ifthere are kids who need finan cial help in this transition, we will have to address that, but at this point in history backpacks are unneces sary and only distance us from our goal of a weapons free, shooting free campus. A student may need a folder occasionally, but that should be all.
Lest you think the criticism con tained in this column is overwrought, understand this distinction: while
In a recent conversation I was having with elected state official, I brought up metal detectors, and his response was “Many schools and school districts receive significant feedback from parents against plac ing the kind of security protocols you’re referring to in their childrens’ schools. The sentiment is that it feels too much like a jail or courthouse and they don’t want that experience for their kids.”
I’m not sure if that sentiment has changed, but it should. We all pass through metal detectors for many places we visit, professional sport ing events and public buildings just
ument in blood-red floodlights.
BY ABRAHAM BOLING Tribune Guest Writer
The time is now to act and prevent a tragedy that over 180 schools over the last 10 years have. The following is a short list of things we can do now to prevent one of the worst, prevent able tragedies from striking home.
BY JD HAYWORTH Tribune Columnist
O
Certainly the content led to confu sion among the White House image makers. The “word merchants” sup plied a lofty title, claiming the subject matter was “The Continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation,” but the “optics crew” chose to bathe the national mon
Unfortunately, we have a lot of data in the United States about the trauma kids endure post-school-shootings.
“extremism” has been the Left’s favor ite label for every GOP candidate and cause since Barry Goldwater, Biden broke new ground by failing to sepa rate citizens from his personal political opponents.HadJoesimply said “Donald Trump has misled MAGA Republicans into fol lowing an extremism blah-blah-blah,” Biden would be spared the rightful scorn he’s now receiving.
“The City of Brotherly Love” became
Undergirding all that was wrong with this “presidential address” was Biden’s fundamental misunderstanding of the type of nation he leads – literally.
And let’s not forget the parents who dropped their precious children off at school, not knowing that it was the last time they would ever see
QC schools could do a lot more to ensure security
QueenCreekTribune.com | @QCTribune @QCTribune Opinion For more Opinions visit QueenCreekTribune.com QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 21OPINION
see BOLING page 22
Biden speech reveals him as a ‘divider’
What is unacceptable is the demoni zation of all who disagree. Absurdities abound in the aftermath.
the backdrop for a “Declaration of Po litical Hate.” Joe Biden, who claimed in his inaugural address that he would be a “uniter,” instead revealed his desire to be a “divider.”
In less than 25 minutes, Biden per verted our entire political process, adding new venom to his vitriol. Joe ensured his remarks would be “histor ic” by claiming that millions of every day Americans who disagree with him politically should now be regarded as a threat to the nation.
Metal detectors
And behind the presidential podium was Joe Biden—not there as the leader of a nation—but instead as the purvey or of political pornography.
While he called it a “republic” once, Joe used the word “democracy” 26 times in a speech that ran just under 25Bidenminutes.isscarcely alone in his misuse and overuse of “democracy.” The fact
Survivors of school shootings expe rience an increase in mental health issues, phobias and anxiety, suffer from survivors’ guilt, and more.
n Sept. 6, students in Uvalde, Texas, returned to school for the first time since 19 chil dren and two educators were killed on what ended up being their last day of school on May 24.
T
As darkness fell in Philadelphia, Joe Biden stood in front of Independence Hall—the site of our nation’s found ing—to deliver a screed that may lead to its ultimate undoing.
he first day of couldSeptemberverywell have signaled the last day of meaningful political freedom in the United States.
We all know that “politics ain’t bean bag,” and that the demonization of opposing candidates—while lamenta ble—has been so commonplace for so long, that it falls within the bounds of accepted political rhetoric.
see HAYWORTH page 22
Three minutes into his speech, Joe barked out his central theme: “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans rep resent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic.”
No more backpacks
And the man who serves as our cur rent Commander-in-Chief believes he’s justified to name those who oppose him politically as “domestic enemies.”
them.None of us here in Queen Creek want this to happen in our commu nity.On Aug. 25h, the reality that this could happen here in Queen Creek struck all too close to home when a fourth grader brought a gun onto Legacy Traditional School’s Queen Creek Campus. Six days later and 5.2 miles down the road, a student brought a 9mm gun to the Circle Cross Ranch STEM Academy campus in San Tan Valley.
In the year 2022, the “digital age,” why do kids still need backpacks in schools? Most items can be digitally sent to students (and many assign ments already are).
Many schools have doors that auto matically close and lock already, but the practical adherence to it seems to me to be spotty. My kids range in age from 7-19 and have attended locally, a mix of charter and public schools.
When I visit any given campus, I see gates open and sometimes doors open. My visits are sporadic at best, so if I’m seeing it on my infrequent
BOLING
Progressives of both parties deliber ately started using the word “democra cy” in the early 20th century, implying that majority rule was the guiding light in Benjamingoverning.Franklin—present at the creation of our government and an active participant in its founding—
Franklin was many things – printer, inventor, diplomat, statesman – and his
E-mail: pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.com
History also records that Franklin was our first Postmaster General but the fear is that his clear message to Joe Biden ended up in the “Dead Letter Of fice.”
How to get a letter published
There will certainly be an expense associated with implementation of these ideas, but no matter the cost, it will be a bargain compared to deal ing with the aftermath of a school shooting in Queen Creek.
OPINION
These fences should replace all current fences around playgrounds in Queen Creek schools.
Abraham Boling is a Queen Creek resident.
Can we keep our republic?
Non-scalable fences
A security check should be done regularly – at least monthly – by a third party organization to make sure that these standards are ad hered to, with results made public.
from page 21
In fact, Franklin, when asked about the type of government our founders devised, offered this response: “A re public…if you can keep it.”
to name a couple.
It is normal for us. It would become normal for the kids, too. Having a friendly staff member / security guard there to greet the kids with a smile as they pass through would be a much less “negative experience” than the trauma kids would endure should they be lucky enough to survive a school shooting.
that so many of us regard the term as synonymous with “republic” reflects the triumph of an earlier effort to change our political lexicon…and in so doing, alter our politics.
As Dr. Franklin put it, “Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for Nowherelunch.”inthe Constitution or The Bill of Rights will you find “democracy.”
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response sounds like a letter of proph ecy from a Founding Father to his mod ern day progeny.
22 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022
visits, it’s safe to bet it’s happening constantly. This is an opportunity for those who would seek harm and it’s something that would be an easy op portunity to eliminate.
Say it ain’t so, Joe!
viewed democracy with distrust.
Instead our founders refer to our “re public,” a government based upon the rule of law.
Queen Creek Tribune welcomes letters that express readers’ opinion on current topics. Letters must include the writer’s full name, address (including city) and telephone number. Queen Creek Tribune will print the writer’s name and city of residence only. Letters without the requisite identifying information will not be published. Letters are published in the order received, and they are subject to editing. The Foothills Focus will not publish consumer complaints, form letters, clippings from other publications or poetry. Letters’ authors, not Queen Creek Tribune, are responsible for the “facts” presented in letters.
Doors with security checks
That’s when he got in touch with an old friend, Brad Hekekia.
know what to expect from his team this season. But he entered their first match of the season against Mesquite the same way he did for years at Snowflake: wear ing a blue dress shirt with a matching tie, dress pants and low-top converse.
On July 21, it became official. Ram age, who works as an academic advisor at ALA, was now back to being a head coach with just over a month before the start of the season. But he was quick to ask Hekekia to stay on as an assistant alongside Jodi Proctor, essentially swap ping roles.
Ramage adored learning under Ger
Ramage admitted he still doesn’t quite
In his mind, he would be doing his team and himself a disservice dressing up for only what he considered to be “big games.”
volleyball at this point runs in Alan Ramage’s blood.
He did it for 17 seasons at Snow flake High School in Eastern Arizona, where he led the Lobos to the semifinals in his last six seasons. He spent the last four years as a referee before making the move to the Valley.
YOUTH
Ramage’s friendship with Hekekia dates back to when his father, Gerald Hekekia, was a mentor to him. Gerald is a Hall of Fame volleyball coach from his time at Eastern Arizona College.
“It’s been challenging, just sort of get ting thrown in it,” Ramage said. “But I’m excited for it. I don’t know what to ex pect yet, but we’ll see.”
The American Leadership Academy – Queen Creek volleyball program was in need of a head coach after former coach Brad Hekekia, “left,” was unable to run the program due to work. Alan Ramage, “center,” who has been a longtime friend of Hekakia, was recently hired as an academic advisor and assistant coach. So, he stepped in and took over the program just over a month before the start of the season. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)
years.Ithad
Senior setter Kami Hekekia, Brad’s daughter, said the transition from her father to Ramage has been easy. He has a different coaching style but it’s one the other girls on the team have enjoyed. Overall, she said her father, Ramage and assistant Jodi Proctor make for a good staff.
BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
Hekekia struggled at the thought of having to sit in the stands instead of next to his daughter on the bench. That had become second nature to him for four
Every game is big in his mind. That’s why he still admits to having butterflies before every match.
ALA QC volleyball thriving under new and familiar coaches
ald, and thought he would have the same mentorship under Hekekia at ALA. But that changed shortly after he was brought on as an assistant coach.
Hekekia thought he would get one more year out of coaching. He wanted to see his daughter’s high school career through. But he went from self-em ployed to working for an employer, “the man,” he said. It no longer gave him the freedom to run the program. So, he rec ommended Ramage.
ALA went on to beat Mesquite last Monday night in three sets to start the season. Ramage’s first win as a Patriot. But no matter how the rest of the season plays out, he’s thankful for the opportu nity that was given to him.
“I have total confidence in Alan. It’s kinda relieving for me, just being an as sistant and helping out. I’m thankful to be here on this bench.
also become second nature for Kami, who said while her dad was un doubtedly harder on her than any other girl on the team, the conversations they had on the car rides home and while together in their home were something she adored. That’s why Hekekia accept ed the role as an assistant this season. It brought familiarity back to a program that had one of its best seasons in histo ry last year with an 18-6 record.
QueenCreekTribune.com | @QCTribune @QCTribune Sports For more Sports News visit QueenCreekTribune.com
“If you don’t get butterflies, you don’t care,” Ramage said. “I’ve got a good group of girls. We don’t know exactly where it’s at yet, it’s a little different than the small-town feel where you see these girls all throughout the summer. Here, they play in different clubs. But we’ll see soon.”
“They can’t get rid of me,” Hekekia said with a laugh. “I thought I was going to totally walk away from it, and I was prepared for that. I’m really fortunate because of Alan that I was able to make it work. I’m thankful to be here, it’s Ka mi’s last year.
“I was going to come on and help Brad out for a year because he thought he would give it up after maybe a year or so,” Ramage said. “But some things changed, and I got hired. They knew I wanted to get involved.”
Coaching
Hekekia was coming off his third season as the head volleyball coach at American Leadership Academy — Queen Creek. His daughter, Kami, who he has coached since the eighth grade, is now a senior for the Patriots and one of the team’s leaders alongside Izzy Wagner.
QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 23SPORTS
It also gives Hekekia the chance to re main close to Kami through her senior volleyball season. Not only does that mean a lot to him, it means a lot to her, too.
“Some people sound like they don’t like having their dad as a head coach, but I loved it,” Kami said. “It was weird ad justing to it not being my dad anymore. We would go home talk about volleyball, we lived volleyball.
(Dave Minton/Tribune Staff)
“I knew Alan before this, and the girls really like him. All of our coaches clicked and work really well together.”
Info: 2848 E. Bell Road, Phoenix, caseyjonesgrill.com
Football fans have plenty of options among area bars
Tom Brady retired, then unretired this offseason and is back for anoth er Super Bowl run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This season could be the last one for the five-time Su per Bowl champion and three-time MVP.Many stars were traded this offsea son and will certainly impact their newAndteams.for the first time in recent memory, there isn’t a clear-cut Super Bowl favorite. A third of the league, give or take, has at least an outsider’s shot to win Super Bowl LVII that will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.Allofthat to be said, numerous spots around the Valley are ready to host fans of America’s Game to watch the season play out. Depend ing on who you root for, pay these bars a visit on Sundays to root for your favorite team with like-minded fans.
Lucky Lou’s in Queen Creek gives locals a short drive to a hoppin’ place for football fans. (Facebook)
BY JORDAN ROGERS GetOut Staff Writer
Info: 4312 N. Brown Ave., Scotts dale, socialtapscottsdaleaz.com
PubCHIEFSRock
DetroitLIONS Coney Grill
For more Get Out News visit QueenCreekTribune.com 24 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022GET OUT
SocialGIANTSTap Scottsdale
Clancy’s Pub Pizza & Grill
An official watch site for the Pack ers, Clancy’s advertises a big screen from every angle inside the pub. The menu is geared to a more Midwest ern vibe with cheese curds and a dish featuring walleye on game days. The pub also runs giveaways at halftime.
Info: 3860 W. Happy Valley Road, Glendale, bambinossportsgrill.com
Live
Detroit Coney Grill pairs comfort food with a great environment with ample televisions and a full bar fea turing some of Michigan’s beers. The bar runs a daily special that features two coney dogs, a side or der of French fries and a fountain drink for $13.85. On game days, De troit Coney Grill has beer specials on its rotating Michigan-based beers.Info: 6953 N. Hayden Road, Scotts dale, detroitconeygrill.com
Social Tap Scottsdale is the of ficial home of the local Giants fan club, “Big Blue of Arizona.” When Big Blue of Arizona is in to watch Giants games, Social Tap offers Jell-O shots
whenever the team scores a touch down. In addition, raffles take place throughout the game.
Info: 4432 N. Miller Road, Scotts
Get Out
QueenCreekTribune.com | @QCTribune @QCTribune
CaseyPACKERSJones Grill
Pub Rock Live, which typically welcomes live music, transforms into a massive fanbase for the Chiefs and their fans. Dubbed “Arrowhead West,” Pub Rock brings in food trucks on game day. It also offers discount ed beer prices and a $6 “Kingdom Shot” whenever the Chiefs score a touchdown.Info:8005 E. Roosevelt St., Scotts dale, pubrocklive.com
Casey Jones Grill opened back in 1993 and has been loyal to the Green Bay Packers from the start. On game days, Casey Jones offers a “Green Bay Burrito,” priced at $13.99.
see FOOTBALL page 26
Bambino’sCARDINALSSports Grill
T
Bambino’s offers a game day vibe for Cardinals fans with thirteen 60” flatscreen televisions. In addition to the interior seating, Bambino’s fea tures a patio seating area with a rollup garage door. Putting an emphasis on supporting local breweries, the beer menu features craft beers on draft and in a can from Four Peaks Brewery and San Tan Brewery.
he 2022 professional football season is filled with eye-grab bing headlines.
“He’s my hero,” he said. “He really is a wonderful man. He has a lot to say, and God bless him. It’s OK to have opinions. He’s to the left of where I am, but we both agree it’s about making the human condition better. He won’t call himself a conservative, but we do bridge the gap.
Free speech is everything.
“I was asked to make this movie in other states for a tax rebate,” he said. “I’m glad we did it here. I think we’re looking to open a studio here, but we need to see how this movie does and how it’s received and then we’ll take it from there.
Rob Schneider has a love affair with the Valley, where he now resides. Because of this, he’s bringing a taste of Hollywood to the Grand Canyon State.
Actor
“I had to explain that it’s not that easy. It’s work,” he said.
“But ‘Life of Brian’ is the greatest British comedy of all time. I love British humor. Monty Python is the high water mark of comedy in the 20th century. If you think otherwise, you’re not educat ed about comedy, and you can’t argue it. They changed comedy. Without Monty Python, we wouldn’t have had ‘Satur day Night Live.’”
Comedian’s new film is a love letter to Arizona
QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022 25GET OUT
“We want to support other filmmak ers. I’ll produce the movies and make a few more. I don’t know how many more I’ll do. I’ll make more films here and have them made here. As a matter of fact, I’m flying to meet some investors to produce more films here.”
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tribune Staff Writer
“It’s my love letter to the state and the people who were unbelievably helpful to get this movie made. I show some
His forthcoming movie “Daddy Daughter Trip” — which he produced, directed and stars in — will be shown exclusively in Harkins Theatres. Its world premiere is Sept. 27, at Camel view at Fashion Square in Scottsdale, and rolls out in the 15 Harkins Theatres on Sept. 30.
After a series of misfortunate adven tures, their vacation is saved when the duo meets a couple of famous travel
A blend of live action and animation, “Daddy Daughter Trip” tells the story of second grader (Miranda) who dreams of a fun-filled spring break vacation her family can’t afford. Against the better judgment of her mom (Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler’s wife) and with only coins in their pockets, her dreamer father (Rob) decides to take her on a spring break trip anyway.
Information: daddydaughtertrip movie.com
“It’s fun and it’s exciting and it’s glam orous, with camera and makeup. It’s long hours. It was so hot in the back of the car. We had an old car and it was repainted a beautiful blue. That’s the theme of the movie. The color of the car is the color of the sky that I see in Arizona.”
bloggers.“It’sabout dreams,” Rob said. “If you don’t have money, it doesn’t mean you can’t figure out how to have a dream. It’s about family and hanging on to your dreams.“Inaway, it’s a universal truth that we’re dealing with in the movie that I’m really, really happy with. Besides all the jokes and the physical comedy, this is about love and family and that’s some thing I really wanted to show.”
Comedian Rob Schneider and his daughter Miranda Scarlett Schneider star in his upcoming movie, “Daddy Daughter Trip. (Special to the Tribune)
“We hope people love it,” he said. “I hope people get the love. My daughter is fantastic. She’s young and she never made a movie before, of course. She just turned 8. It was her idea.”
She took multiple takes well, too, once she understood.
Shot in Arizona, the film is a family affair. His wife, Patricia Maya Schnei der co-wrote the script, and it stars his daughters, singer-songwriter Elle King and Miranda Scarlett Schneider. “Daddy Daughter Trip” also features the legend ary John Cleese (“A Fish Called Wanda,” “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”) and in troduces Gavin Guerrero.
Rob and Cleese appeared at come dy clubs around town during the film ing. The actor, often paired with friend Adam Sandler, said it was an honor to work with Cleese.
“Myago.family, we are California refu gees,” he said. “Arizona was nice enough to take us in. This is my thank-you letter to the people in Arizona. We feel very welcome here. I’m grateful.
pretty cool places here and how beau tiful the state is. The differences are in credible between Flagstaff and Sedona. It just goes to show how gorgeous the state is. I love it here.”
The film is also a love letter to Arizo na, where the Schneiders moved two years
Now he’s hoping to bring more films here, thanks to the state’s tax incentives.
In fact, the website joepastry.com, credits the R&D department at Betty Crocker Inc. with dreaming up the very first lemon bar and printing the first known recipe in 1963.
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (3-4 lemons)
WickedSEAHAWKSRain
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Just gimme football
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with parchment paper or
lightly spray the pan with cooking spray. With an electric mixer (using paddle attachment if available) cream together butter and sugar. Add flour and salt, mixing just until dough comes together.Pressinto the bottom of pan making sure to pat evenly on the bottom and about 1/2 inch up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate dough for about 15 minutes.
• 1/2 cup white sugar
dale, clancyspubscottsdale.com
Tangy lemon bars offer a fitting farewell to summer 2022
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
With JAN D’ATRI GetOut Columnist
Info: 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, haroldscorral.com
Harold’sSTEELERSCave Creek Corral
• 1/3 cup milk
travels well for any picnic or pool party! Where did I get the recipe? I adapted it from my 1992 Betty Crocker’s Ultimate Cookie Book, of course!
ForIngredients:theshortbread
26 QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2022GET OUT
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
BevvyPATRIOTSOldTown
Established in 1979, Max’s fea tures more than 100 flat-screen tele visions and a recently redeveloped smoking patio. For the Rams, the sports bar houses a massive room decked out in Rams gear and sits 80 people.Info: 6727 N. 47th Ave., americangreyhoundracing.comGlendale,
Harold’s Cave Creek Corral is one of the most well-known Steelers bars in the Steeler Nation. Harold’s seats a whopping 600 potential Steelers fans inside, and another 200 in its outsideHarold’sseating.ispartnered up with UNI BET, allowing its guests to experi ence a Vegas-like betting experience where games can be bet on live, or upcoming sporting events and ingame betting can be bet on as well. A specific game-day food and drink menu is available as well.
do “Blue/Red Fridays” where guests wearing either a Seahawks or Cardi nals jersey can receive $1 off their draft beer. For game days, they offer $4 pub beer and $16 pitchers.
No favorite team? No worries. Sports bars abound in the East Val ley and here are just a couple where fans of football generally can find like-minded people to enjoy a game on any given day. Here are just a few:
Blue 32 Sports Grill also has mul tiple locations – at 4845 S. Arizona Ave, Chandler; 1524 E. Williams Field Road and 6348 South Higley Road, Gilbert; and 2028 N. Gilbert Road, Mesa –and offers a e. blue32sports grill.com.
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
Zipps Sports Grill
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
Zipps is another sports bar with multiple TVs and multiple locations to satisfy any football fan: 4710 E. Warner Road, Ahwatukee; 690 S. Mill Ave. and 1860 E. Warner Road in Tempe; 4060 S. Arizona Ave. in Chandler’s Ocotillo neighborhood; and 211 E. Warner Road, Gilbert. zippssportsgrills.com.
Coldbeers & Cheeseburgers
In 1993, Betty Crocker added the lem on bar to its Supreme Dessert Bar line of baking mixes, but nothing compares to making lemon bars from scratch. A four ingredient crust and a few more ingredients to make a filling and you’ve got a fantastic dessert that is delicious chilled or room temperature and
• Powdered sugar and lemon slices for garnish
Wicked Rain opened its doors back on March 23, and ever since has been showing love toward its roots in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), and now Arizona. With 40 beers on tap and another 70-plus in bottles and cans, Wicked Rain offers beers from the PNW area, Arizona, Oregon and Idaho. This Seahawks – and Cardinals –hangout spot features nine televi sions and a 100-plus-inch big screen for viewership pleasure. They also
I
Max’sRAMS Sports Bar
f you didn’t get your fill of lemonade, lemon cake or lemon anything this summer, this is your chance to indulge in citrusy, bright and tangy lemon bars. It’s the perfect way to say goodbye to summer. Although lemon loaf, lemon curd, lemon cakes, pies and cookies have been around for centuries, the lemon bar or lemon square is apparently a relatively new creation.
Lucky Lou’s American Grill
Blue 32 Sports Grill
For the filling:
Directions:
Bevvy welcomes Patriots fans to its pub-style hangout with an expansive drink menu and bar fare-style food.
Info: 4420 N. Saddlebag Trail, Scottsdale, bevvyaz.com
With locations at 3245 West Ray Road, Chandler; 1929 N Power Road, Mesa; and 23706 South Power Road in Queen Creek, East Valley fans won’t have to drive too far for good drinks, good food and good games at Lucky Lou’s. luckylousaz.com
• 4 large eggs
Info: 1817 E. Baseline Road, Gil bert, wickedrain.com.
All Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers have with more than 30 high-defi nition flat screen TVs, booming sound systems and a mouth-water ing menu. Locations include 5005 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee; 1980 W Germann Road, Chandler; 4604 S. Higley Road, Gilbert; and four Scotts dale locations at 18529 N. Scottsdale Road, 4222 N. Scottsdale Road, E. Shea Blvd. and 10767 N. 116th St.
FOOTBALL from page 24
crust:
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened (12 tablespoons or 1 1/2 sticks)
Place pan on middle rack in oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Let cool while making the filling. Whisk or blend together eggs, sugar, flour, lemon juice, lemon zest, milk and salt. Pour into baked crust. Reduce oven to 325 and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until filling feels slightly firm to the touch.Cool to room temperature. (Bars will firm as they cool.) Sprinkle with powdered sugar, slice into square and garnish with lemon slices if desired. Serve room temperature or chilled. Makes about 20 small squares.
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