Scottsdale Progress - 03.14.2021 by Times Media Group

Lawmakers curb early voting / P. 18

Local florist gives back / P. 24

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An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

Downtown parking debate heating up BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

NEWS..............................10 Short-term rental task force planned.

ARTS................................ 26 Beloved artist's work goes on display.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

year after Scottsdale City Council called for changes to the city’s downtown parking code, one member is calling for a moratorium on new developments until the issue is resolved. In February 2020, Council directed staff

Scottsdale debaters on global stage

to perform the study and investigate ways to improve the parking situation, which had been criticized by some local businesses and property owners concerned that new large developments would eat into existing public spots. Since that meeting, no study or parking proposal reached Council. Randy Grant, Scottsdale Planning and

Development director, told local business owners that proposed amendments to the city’s parking code would go before the City Council this June. “With COVID impacting everyone’s life and influencing how public outreach is conducted it seemed prudent to keep the focus

Big step forward

see PARKING page 6

BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

FOOD.............................. 28 Vegans get a voice on Scottsdale menus.

NEIGHBORS........................................... 21 BUSINESS............................................... 24 ARTS......................................................... 26 FOOD........................................................ 28 CLASSIFIEDS........................................30

wo Valley high school debate teams, including one in Scottsdale, are among only 16 teams around the world remaining in the 2020-21 International Public Policy Forum competition. The speech and debate team from BASIS Scottsdale and the team from Hamilton High School in Chandler will compete next month virtually in the IPPF Finals, vying for a $10,000 grand prize.

see DEBATE page 12

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Retired U.S. Marine Major Jim Geiser is taking a big step in his effort to build a memorial to fallen soldiers at Scottsdale City Hall near the existing Chaplain sculpture. To see what he is doing, turn to page 4. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

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CITY NEWS

An edition of the East Valley Tribune Scottsdale Progress is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Scottsdale. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of Scottsdale Progress, please visit www.Scottsdale.org. CONTACT INFORMATION Main number 480-898-6500 | Advertising 480-898-5624 Circulation service 480-898-5641 Scottsdale Progress 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219, Tempe, AZ 85282 Publisher Steve T. Strickbine Vice President Michael Hiatt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Display Advertising 480-898-6309 Classifieds/Inside Sales Elaine Cota | 480-898-7926 | ecota@scottsdale.org TJ Higgins | 480-898-5902 | tjhiggins@scottsdale.org Advertising Office Manager Lori Dionisio | 480-898-6309 | ldionisio@scottsdale.org Director of National Advertising Zac Reynolds | 480-898-5603 | zac@scottsdale.org NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 | pmaryniak@scottsdale.org Managing Editor Wayne Schutsky | 480-898-6533 | wschutsky@scottsdale.org Staff Writers Kristine Cannon | 480-898-9657 | kcannon@scottsdale.org Photographers Pablo Robles | Probles@scottsdale.org Design Veronica Thurman | vthurman@scottsdale.org Production Coordinator Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 | production@scottsdale.org Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@scottsdale.org Scottsdale Progress is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegratedmedia.com

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 14, 2021

Fallen soldiers memorial advances in Scottsdale BY DEJA BRUMFIELD Progress Contributor

memorial to fallen soldiers nearly a decade in the making is finally set to break ground in Scottsdale weeks before Memorial Day. The Scottsdale Memorial for the Fallen will be located northeast of Scottsdale City Hall and feature a seven-sided granite stone with the names of 66 Scottsdale residents who died while on active duty. The groundbreaking is scheduled for May 19. In 2014, a group of Scottsdale citizens led by retired U.S. Marine Major Jim Geiser formed the City of Scottsdale Memorial Action Committee with the hopes of establishing the memorial but the fundraising process took longer than the committee expected. “We started this process…it’ll be seven years coming up now I think in April or May and all along we started trying to raise funds,” Geiser said. “We thought when raising funds that the city of Scottsdale residents would run forward with handfuls of money to help us, we missed that by about 100% and we started pursuing other avenues of fundraising.”

A digital rendering of a memorial for fallen soldiers that will be built on the lawn northeast of Scottsdale City Hall. The project is scheduled to break ground in May. (Image courtesy of City of Scottsdale Memorial Action Committee)

While total costs are hard to predict, Geiser said the group has already raised about $110,000 towards its $200,000 goal. Geiser said there are a number of people and groups, including the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, that have come forward and made donations. “We’re not going to raise enough

money to build it, but we found some people who are willing to donate their time and efforts, so I think we’re going go ahead and break ground,” Geiser said. Another piece of the project that took some time was the research needed to identify fallen soldiers with ties to

see MEMORIAL page 8

Police Chief Jeff Walther’s title now permanent

PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

cottsdale Police Department veteran Jeff Walther will continue to lead the department as the city’s chief of police. Walther came out of retirement in December 2019 to lead the department on an interim basis while the city conducted a nationwide search for its next top cop following the retirement of longtime Chief Alan Rodbell, who held the post for 17 years. At the time, the city indicated Walther, a former assistant chief who spent 24 years with the department, would not seek the permanent post. However, City Manager Jim Thompson ultimately selected Walther, who retired from the department in 2018. “I am honored and excited to begin this new chapter in my police career,”

Former Assistant Chief Jeff Walther was named Scottsdale’s seventh police chief on March 5. (Photo courtesy City of Scottsdale)

Walther said. “Although these times are challenging, it provides a great opportunity to usher in new ways to address complex public safety issues through collaborative relationships with our citizens…” Thompson said, “Chief Walther’s ability to step-in seamlessly in an interim capacity was hugely valuable.” “During these past few months, it has become clear that his experience and relationships within our community, our organization and the police department are exactly what we need moving forward,” Thompson said. “I am very pleased that he has agreed to remain on a permanent basis.” As chief, Walther should have no issues relating to officers at all levels of the department, having served in vari-

see CHIEF page 8

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PARKING from front

on health and economic recovery until now,” Grant said in emails obtained by the Progress. The long delay in addressing downtown parking concerns irked Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield, who said she expected staff to come back with proposed changes much sooner. “It’s a constant, ongoing problem for people who don’t have enough parking assigned to the apartment complex and I think it needs to be fixed,” she said. “The council agreed with me… when we first said, Hey, yeah, let’s review this, and let’s update it and get it to where it needs to be,’ but nothing happened.” In an email to City Manager Jim Thompson, Littlefield wrote, “Since staff seems to be having such a difficult time making the necessary changes to the Parking Ordinance Code, I suggest a moratorium on accepting any applications for new downtown projects between now and when Council has the opportunity to address this issue.” That emails appears to have gotten the attention of city staff. “They (now) think they can get it done

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Merchants in downtown Scottsdale complain that their patrons are being squeezed out of convenient parking spaces near businesses and galleries. (Progress file photo)

a little sooner than” June, Littlefield told the Progress. According to Grant, the proposed changes could reach the City Council by May after staff conducts virtual open houses with stakeholders and presents the plan to the Planning Commission in April. He said the proposal will include changes to parking requirements for multifamily residential projects, residential guest parking, hotel and commercial parking, and parking for office “call centers”. It could also impact the changes to in-lieu parking program, a system in which smaller property owners downtown can pay into a parking fund when they cannot meet city parking requirements on site. When the issue reaches the Council, it could mark a win for some downtown merchants and gallery owners who argue the area is – or will soon be – underparked. At the February 2020 meeting, city staff introduced a number of potential solutions, including using technology to help visitors find open spaces. But some council members at the time also asked staff to amend parking requirements for new developments downtown. The city’s downtown parking code requires new apartment and condo projects to include one parking space per one-bedroom unit and two spaces for each unit with two bedrooms or more.

Citywide, the code requires new hotel developments to include 1.25 parking spaces for every room. But Council has relaxed that standard for downtown hotels in recent years. Littlefield and other critics of the existing code – including many gallery owners in the Arts District – argue the current requirements leave new developments under-parked, resulting in tenants and guests filling spaces that should be reserved for patrons of shops, galleries and restaurants. A petition circulated prior to the February 2020 meeting gathered 150 signatures from area property owners in favor of increasing parking requirements. At the meeting, gallery owner Bob Pejman said the petition was “not a complaint about the present parking situation…The complaint is about tomorrow.” Littlefield said she would like to see the requirements for apartments increased to 1.5 parking spaces for every studio or one bedroom apartment. “That’s to say if you and your wife live together in a one-bedroom apartment and you both have a car, that’s part of it,” she said. “Some of you won’t both have a car, Maybe there’ll only be one car but it will average out.” Not everyone thinks the parking requirements should be updated, though. “My view is if downtown Scottsdale increases its accessory parking requirements, which would mean the parking has to be built on the site, would con-

tribute to the demise of downtown,” said David King, assistant professor at the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University. “It would inhibit what is one of the best places to walk around in the Valley,” he said. King, who has studied the impact of parking infrastructure on built and natural environments, said some cities like Minneapolis and Berkeley, California, are moving in the opposite direction to lower or eliminate parking requirements. Those cities cite the negative impact more parking can have on walkability and the environment. According to Strong Towns, an organization advocating for an end to mandated off-street parking minimums, over 120 cities in the U.S. and Canada have removed minimum requirements in at least one neighborhood. “There’s definitely heat consequences of roads and parking but the big problem with supplying parking on-site…is it increases the distance between destinations. It pushes everything further apart,” he said. King said adding more parking lots to areas with heavy foot traffic can also pose safety risks by breaking up sidewalks and other walkways and increasing the number of potential contact points between pedestrians and vehicles. There is also a question of whether the city actually has a parking shortage downtown. In February 2020, city staff cited a parking study from 2015 that found there was an adequate supply of parking downtown to meet demand, though it also acknowledged that supply is not always close to attractions and shops. The study did find that parking in specific popular areas could become overtaxed during the tourist high season and special events. But, according to King, that is not a reason to increase requirements for new projects. “You don’t want to build for the busiest day of the year,” he said. King said an alternative to site-by-site parking requirements would be to collate parking – like Scottsdale does at existing parking garages – and take advantage of alternative transportation like trolleys, scooters and other means to

see PARKING page 8

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PARKING from page 6

help visitors get around. According to the city, there are 8,972 public spaces in downtown Scottsdale and nearly all destinations in the area are within 1,320 feet, or 0.25 miles, from a public garage. When the city reduced its analysis to 660 feet, or 0.125 blocks, there were considerable gaps in the northeastern and southwestern areas of downtown. More parking is scheduled to come on line over the next few years, though it is unclear exactly when it will be built. In 2019, Council approved a deal with the developer behind the Museum Square project in the Arts District to provide a $7.2-million rebate on a land sale agreement in exchange for an underground parking level with around 160 spaces. The 2019 bond approved by Scottsdale voters also included $21 million to build parking structures downtown. The Progress previously reported delays in Museum Square due to the pandemic and it is unclear when that garage or the bond parking projects will be built. The merchants have argued available

MEMORIAL from page 4

Scottsdale. That research, though lengthy, was a necessary part and forms the foundation of the Scottsdale Memorial for the Fallen project. “I eventually came up with (66) names, three of whom I knew personally, 17 are from the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community lands, and three from the Yavapai Nation and the rest are residents of Scottsdale,” Geiser said. Marshall Trimble, a committee board member and Arizona’s official state historian, said the research project relied heavily on family members of those

CHIEF from page 4

ous roles before his first retirement. He first joined the Scottsdale Police Department in 1994 as a patrol officer and later became a detective and SWAT officer before entering leadership positions in patrol, investigations and training. Walther was the McKellips District

public spots make little difference if they are not located near shops, especially during the hot summer months when shoppers are less likely to walk longer distances. King disagreed. He acknowledged that heat will always

be an issue in Arizona in the summer, but said shoppers will walk a few blocks as the downtown environment is designed to provide relief from the heat. He pointed to the existing shaded porticos along 5th Avenue as an example of this type of design-based solution.

“You put in stuff like that, and people will walk,” he said. “It’s when you have these buildings that are set back and you have just this asphalt is cooking and then you’re expecting people to walk through an environment that’s 180 degrees…” He said the prevalence of rideshare companies like Uber is also decreasing the need for parking spaces. “It’s very damaging for the city to think that the only way people get around is by driving,” King said. Littlefield does not buy it, arguing cars will continue to be a primary mode of transportation for the foreseeable future. Last month, the Verge reported that the pandemic has negatively impacted rideshare usage. Over the winter, Uber’s active ridership dropped 16 percent over the year prior and Lyft reported a 45 percent drop in active users in the fourth quarter over the year before. “You really think people are going to want to share rides right now?” she said. “I don’t think so.” “I think that is an excuse for not doing what developers don’t want to do, and that’s not how we should govern,” Littlefield said.

Commander, the Downtown District Commander and finally as assistant chief over the Uniformed Services Bureau, where he oversaw all patrol operations and the Special Operations Division. Walther takes over following a tumultuous year for the department, marked by the Scottsdale Fashion Square riot in May that saw hundreds of rioters de-

scended on the area and cause millions of dollars in damage to the mall and surrounding shops, leading to criticism from some locals that the department was too hands off in dealing with the offenders. Rodbell defended the response, pointing out that no one was seriously hurt or killed during the unprecedented event. A postmortem report issued by Rod-

bell acknowledged the department was overmatched and that it underestimated the size of the riot in the hours leading up to the event despite social media posts calling for the event that were circulating for hours earlier in the day. Over the past 10 months, Scottsdale police have so far arrested more than 50 participants in the riot on a variety of charges.

City Council could consider increasing parking requirements in downtown Scottsdale in the coming months, over a year after the Council directed city staff to investigate the issue. (Progress file photo)

who served. Trimble first came on board after Geiser contacted him about his uncle Jack, an Army sergeant who served in New Guinea. He said most helpful were “the ones who had sons or daughter in the military and if they knew anything, we really had to rely on the public to help us out on this.” “The place is so large now, people don’t know everybody around in town like they used to and so I have to say we have to credit a lot of the people that knew somebody who knew somebody who knew somebody and so forth,” Trimble said.

One of the most helpful resources were old high school yearbooks. “Back in the early days when my uncle went to school at Scottsdale High there was only one high school, so it was pretty easy to track that,” Trimble said. “Now we’ve got five, or six, or seven high schools here in Scottsdale, and that’s a lot of names and we don’t know everybody like we used to and so we had to do a lot of searching and just get help from the community with what we were trying to do.” Geiser hopes the memorial becomes as important to the Scottsdale community as to relatives of those it honors. “We try to set something as an example for moms and dads and aunts and

uncles to take their kids and show them these are the individuals who gave their lives so we could have the freedoms we have today, we don’t want that to get lost,” said Geiser. “It’s just something we think needs to be done,” he added. “It would be my hope that every other city in the state of Arizona would have a monument like this for their fallen, a by-name monument.” Donations can be made online at arizonacommunityfoundation.com or by mail to Arizona Community Foundation 2201 East Camelback Rd., #405B, Phoenix, AZ, 85016 with checks made out to Arizona Community Foundation” and designated for “SMFTF.”

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 14, 2021

Council OKs short-term rentals task force

who host nuisance parties or unlawful gatherings. The ordinances apply to all residential properties in Scottsdale in order to comply with the 2016 state law but were widely seen as a reaction to complaints about short-term rentals. Violators can face police service fees of up to $4,000 for repeated violations. Milhaven said the ordinances have not resulted in the anticipated drop in violations. “We still know we have a short-term rental problem, so, despite our best efforts, there’s still more work to do,” she said. Records obtained by the Progress show police have issued 143 notices of

violation of either the nuisance party or unlawful gathering ordinance between Oct. 24, 2019 and Feb. 1, 2021, resulting in fees of $62,750. Raun Keagy, Scottsdale’s neighborhood planning services director, said the ordinances also allow for fines if a short-term rental property owner fails to register with the city, fails to have a transaction privilege license tax number or operates the rental for non-residential use like an event center. “While there have been 316 cases opened for violations of this ordinance for the below violations, all of them have come into compliance without the need to issue a civil citation,” Keagy said. The city recorded 17 violations in November and December 2019 in the months after the ordinances went into effect and 16 violations during the same time frame in 2020. “I cannot tell you how many hours I spent in 2019 (and 2020) trying to use the ordinance to realize change and to make things better,” Councilwoman Solange Whitehead said. Added Councilwoman Tammy Caputo: “This is a serious problem in our community. We all know that we get endless emails every day – all of us are I’m sure in agreement with how many comments and problems there are related to short-term rentals.” The effort will be complicated by the fact the Legislature’s current consideration of legislation that could further impact a city’s ability to regulate short-

term rentals. City officials, including Mayor David Ortega, support a bill from Rep. John Kavanagh, who represents much of Scottsdale, that would give cities greater freedom to limit short-term rentals. However, that bill, HB 2481, is considered a dark horse and has not received a vote in the House. A competing bill sponsored by Chandler Republican Sen. J.D.. Mesnard was already passed in the Senate. Mesnard’s bill, which has the support of industry heavyweights like Expedia and Airbnb, would include occupancy limits and insurance requirements for rentals and allow for revocation of a property owner’s tax license if they repeatedly violate local regulations. It will take the city at least a few weeks to put the task force together, meaning the result of the legislative debate will likely be known by the time the group convenes to examine the issue. “The Legislature typically ends the session in April; then I think by the time we get started, they will be finished,” Milhaven said. The task force will include representatives from Council, Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors and Experience Scottsdale. It will also include residents from various types of HOA and non-HOA neighborhoods throughout Scottsdale. City staff will now craft a proposed ordinance that will go before Council at a future meeting to officially create the panel.

likeness or image. That would pretty much place them on par with professional athletes who now can get cash for endorsements and other products and services bearing their names. Potentially more significant, SB 1296 would ensure that any student who takes advantage of this does not lose a scholarship or forfeit the right to complete. Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, said that, by extension, it means that their

schools don’t end up getting dinged by the National College Athletic Association which sets the rules that schools must obey. Only Rep. Beverly Pingerelli, R-Peoria, voted against the measure. With the Senate already having approved the measure on a 29-1 margin, that sends the bill to the full House. Gov. Doug Ducey has previously indicated he is open to the idea. All this is occurring as the NCAA itself is trying to figure out ways to up-

date its own rules. That, in turn, was forced by several states already approving laws like the one being considered here. Shope told lawmakers that the underlying issue goes back even further to when an UCLA athlete found that an image of someone who looked particularly like him, right down to skin tone and jersey number, was being used without his permission in a video

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

cottsdale City Council plans to form a citizen task force to address the impact of short-term rentals on the community. On March 9, Council unanimously supported a proposal by Councilwoman Linda Milhaven to create the panel to examine how the city could improve its handling of short-term rental properties. “In conversations I’ve had in the community, there were comments made to say that they thought that there were opportunities for us to do a better job of monitoring and enforcing the ordinances we already have,” she said. “And then I also got some suggestions that there might be things we could do to enhance our existing ordinance.” There are at least 4,000 active shortterm rentals in Scottsdale. The rentals, popularized by companies like Airbnb and VRBO, have been a hot topic in Scottsdale since 2016, when the state tied municipalities’ hands by prohibiting them from regulating them. That irked some residents, who complained that the rentals are essentially commercial hotels situated in residential neighborhoods and are responsible for an increase in party houses and trash, noise and other issues. In 2019, City Council passed two ordinances designed to address some of those concerns by levying heavy fines on property owners and renters

Councilwoman Linda Milhaven found wide support on the Scottsdale City Council for her proposal to create a citizen task force to address the impact of short-term rentals on the community. (Progress file photo)

Bill entitles college athletes to compensation BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

tate lawmakers are just a step away from allowing athletes at Arizona colleges and universities to profit from their skills, at least indirectly. With only one dissenting vote, the House Education Committee approved a measure requiring all schools to allow student athletes to earn compensation from the use of their own name,

see ATHLETES page 13

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 14, 2021

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DEBATE from front

The top 16 teams represent schools from nine U.S. states and Austria, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Slovakia. “It feels great to have these students do so well. I’m so very proud of them,” said Scott Woods, BASIS Scottsdale speech and debate team coach. “This is a highly competitive, worldwide competition. Even making the cut into the round of 64 is very difficult.” The IPPF is the first and only competition that gives high school students from around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. BASIS Scottsdale’s Speech and Debate Team boasts 44 students and 17 are on the IPPF Team. The IPPF Team is then divided into groups of between three and five students. Karsen Wahal, Madhura Shembekar, and Katelyn Cai, all 17, are on the team advancing to the “Sweet 16” round of the tournament. “Karsen, Madhura, and Katelyn are very hard working, intelligent, excellent writers, and well-rounded, interesting people. They are also really good leaders,” Woods said. “Above all, our team is a group of friends,” added Madhura. “We’ve all known each other for several years, which has made working together not only effective, but also enjoyable. In fact, I would say this is our greatest asset.” Madhura also attributes their success to a shared passion for public policy. “Working together has been an opportunity for humorous yet informed conversations about real-world issues such as the effects of artificial intelligence,” Madhura said. The 20th annual competition began in October, when more than 180 teams submitted qualifying round essays on the topic of “Resolved: The benefits of artificial intelligence outweigh the harms.” The submitted 2,800-word essays were then reviewed by a committee that determined the top 64 teams. This year was particularly competitive with more entries than it has received since 2016. “The IPPF is always an essay debate, with students writing either a pro or con side and a rebuttal to their oppo-

Debate teams from around the world entered the 2020-21 International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) competition, but only 16 remain – including the Speech and Debate Team from BASIS Scottsdale. The team consists of Katelyn Cai, Madhura Shembekar, and Karsen Wahal; and Scott Woods (not pictured) is the coach. (IPPF)

nent’s case,” Woods explained. “These essays are then read and judged, with the winners moving up in the bracket.” In November, the top 64 teams began a single-elimination, written debate competition, exchanging papers with another team via email for six weeks. After a panel of judges reviewed the essays, BASIS Scottsdale advanced over a Houston, Texas, school. In the “Top 32” round, BASIS Scottsdale advanced over University High School from Tucson to clutch a spot in the Sweet 16 round. “It is such a pleasure and privilege to work with such highly motivated young people,” Woods said. “I attribute their success to their highly developed research, writing, and argumentation skills, as well as to their teamwork and drive.” The BASIS Scottsdale team wasn’t totally confident they’d advance after reading the University High’s essay. “We ... immediately thought we were going to lose,” Madhura said. “The essay was concise, persuasive, and grounded in statistics. Yet in the end, all three judges voted for us! The last round showed us that, despite not making it this far before, we’re able to compete with the top teams in the world.” “It felt like a comeback moment,” Katelyn added. “Karsen and I were actually on the same team last year, and we dropped out after the Round of 64. Being

the competitive people we are, we came back looking for vengeance.” Katelyn, the head of the speech part of the team, said she and her colleagues struggled to condense numerous 40-plus-page research papers into one essay. “In addition, all three members of our team have busy schedules. Finding the time to thoroughly research every argument has been quite the challenge!” Katelyn added. This year marks the second time a BASIS Scottsdale team has advanced to the Sweet 16. “The last time was three years ago,” Woods said. “We have also had several teams advance to the round of 64 and the round of 32.” Karsen has been co-captain of the BASIS Scottsdale debate team for over two years and, according to Woods, has been responsible for organizing practices, training debaters, and developing his replacements, “one of whom is Madhura, who has taken over as a co-captain and is doing a great job.” Karsen calls himself a “bit of a politics and policy ‘junkie,’” so speech and debate was a “natural outlet.” “The thrill of debating real-world issues, persuading a judge, and winning competitions was incredibly alluring,” Karsen said. “Speech and Debate taught me skills in public speaking, research, synthesis, and quick thinking, as well as

given me extensive knowledge of politics, economics, and international relations. “Speech and Debate also taught me how to argue without descending into personal attacks.” Karsen has also taken his passion for politics and policy to the “real world,” starting a project with his sister and friends called The Polling Place, which educates the public and future voters on local issues and figures. “We’ve recently begun expanding our initiative to ensure all voters are educated about all candidates on a ballot,” Karsen said. The IPPF’s “Sweet 16” round is now underway. BASIS Scottsdale is competing against the Slovak National Team from Bratislava, Slovakia. On March 22, the “Elite 8” teams will be announced. If the two local teams advance, they will compete virtually in the IPPF Finals on May 1; and the winning team will take home the “Brewer Cup” and the $10,000 grand prize. “These events are, arguably, the most powerful training an aspiring professional can get,” Woods said. “Competing in these events is not only really fun, but also trains young people in speaking, in confidence, in research and performance, and in so many other life skills,” Woods continued. “Oh, and speech and debate competition is really fun. Did I mention that?” Madhura added that, even if the BASIS Scottsdale team doesn’t advance, they’re happy with how they’ve performed so far. “We’ve learned a lot and become closer as a result. I’d highly recommend this competition to anyone considering it!” Madhura said. Woods encourages parents and students who would like to start a speech and debate program at their respective schools to contact him at scott.woods@ basised.com. “If there is no speech and debate program at your child’s school, discuss this with the principal. These programs can be started, but they usually need parents and students pushing for them. I would be glad to help parents and schools start speech and debate programs in local schools,” he said. Information: ippfdebate.com

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 14, 2021

ATHLETES from page 10

game. Joined by other athletes, that resulted in a lawsuit that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. He said the athletes, most of whom were at least 18, should have had the right to consent to and profit from those images. Shope stressed that nothing in the legislation would result in students actually being paid to play. But he said there is no reason they should be precluded from profiting from their abilities. The shortcomings of the current law were pointed out by Mike Haener, lobbyist for Arizona State University. He cited the case of Anthony Robles, an ASU wrestler, who won the NCAA individual wrestling championship in his weight class in the 2010-2011 season despite being born with only one leg. “He actually did write a book,’’ Haener told lawmakers. But that could not happen until after Robles graduated because he would not have been allowed before then to make money from it. “He had to wait until he was out of college before he could profit from his own story,’’ Haener said. Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, said the change in law makes sense. She said universities have been able to profit from the images of their athletes in ways that have been denied to their students solely because they participate in interscholastic sports. “If they were not an athlete but were any other student on the campus, be it a regular student, be it an activist, a performative student, other avenues, they could write books, they could set up training camps, they could make money through YouTube channels,’’ she said. The measure does have some restrictions. Most notably, it bars a student athlete from entering into a contract if it would interfere with any contracts that the team and the university already have with a company that may have a conflict. Rep. Bret Roberts, R-Maricopa, expressed some concern about ending the nature of amateur sports. But he agreed to support the measure based on the “free market capitalism aspects’’ of the bill.

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Move afoot to protect huge swaths of Scottsdale lane

BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

controversial effort to preserve large rural land tracts in northern Scottsdale that helped sink the last General Plan update effort has reemerged this year in City Council’s attempts to craft a new plan. Scottsdale has not received voter approval of a new General Plan – the city’s primary long-term planning document – since 2002. Voters shot down a proposal at the polls in 2012 and Council axed a second update in 2016, nullifying four years of work by city staff and residents who helped develop the new document. That 2016 document, also called General Plan 2035, is the basis for the current draft, which was updated by a citizen task force and is now under council review. What prompted Council to scuttle the last effort on Dec. 1, 2016 was a disagreement over proposed a measure designed to protect large rural lots by making it difficult to subdivide them for denser developments. Now, the new Council has pushed to include those rural protections in the new draft. The proposal would impact large residential lots north of Deer Valley Road by making it difficult for property owners and developers to slice and dice lots into smaller parcels. Specifically, the proposal would create a new “desert rural neighborhoods” land use designation for the largest residential lots. That new designation would include lots that are currently designated “rural neighborhoods” and zoned R1-130 and R1-190, which generally include parcels with minimum housing lot sizes of than 3 and 4.5 acres, respectively. It would also require an amendment to redesignate the parcels for denser development. That means property owners would have to go through the major amendment process to upzone a site from R1190, with its minimum 4.5-acre lots, to a denser rural neighborhood use like R143, with minimum one-acre lots sizes. In recent years, Council has approved those types of requests for projects like

To prevent dense housing developments in northern Scottsdale, some people are pushing for a new category in the draft of the new General Plan that would make it difficult for owners of very large parcels to subdivide easily. (Progress file photo)

Fiesta Ranch, which upzoned 273 acres near Rio Verde Drive and 136th Street to R1-43 to increase the number of homes allowed from 116 to 227. If the new protections are adopted, getting a plan like Fiesta Ranch past Council would be more difficult. According to Adam Yaron, a city planner working on the general plan, major plan amendments can only be heard once a year and require a 2/3-vote of council for approval. Minor amendments can be heard at any time of year and require only a simple majority vote for approval. The protections were originally supported by residents who wanted to preserve large rural horse properties from hosting smaller lot sizes. “There are demands for larger lots; this is the Arabian Horse Show city,” resident Joanne “Copper” Phillips told the Progress in 2019 “Unless you have land space for people to bring horses and raise horses, they will leave. That’s why so many people have left Scottsdale and moved to unincorporated land.” Phillips, who served on the General Plan Task Force in 2013 and 2014, said the proposal was a compromise crafted by some current and former taskforce members who are split on the issue. Some expressed concern it would violate an owners’ property rights by unduly restricting their freedom to redevelop their land. Former council member Virginia Korte

said she voted against on the proposal because it could have devalued land owned by some people who were not included in the compromise. Larry Kush, a former planning commissioner who works in commercial land sales, echoed those concerns. He argued the proposal would result in increased time and costs for both the city and property owners who want to redevelop land in the affected area. He said that could put the city at odds with the Private Property Rights Protection Act, a ballot initiative approved by Arizona voters in 2006 that states land owners are entitled to compensation if zoning actions by municipalities lower the value of their land. “You’re taking away the value of people’s land; you’re diminishing their value through that change,” Kush said. He also said the issue could once again derail the General Plan approval process by tying the document up in court. “If they try to push this through landowners and, maybe let’s say someone like the Goldwater Institute, will probably sue the city because it is in violation…then it gets all tied up again,” he said. But the proposal appears to have some support on Council. Littlefield said she still supports the rural land protections. “It seems to me like a logical progression to do saving what we’re trying to save in Scottsdale,” she said. Littlefield said she is not concerned

about derailing the General Plan ratification process. “I think the community is very supportive of checking density as well as acreage…They don’t want these high-density projects to be automatically approved and go through without any say one way or the other,” she said. New council members Betty Janik and Tom Durham have also voiced support for including the new “desert rural neighborhood” designation. Councilwoman Tammy Caputi, another new member, said she is concerned about the impact the protections would have on property rights, but said residents should be able to weigh in. “I’m okay with asking citizens how they feel about a desert rural designation,” Caputi said. “That doesn’t necessarily designate my own opinion about that, but I’m certainly fine with asking others…that’s the whole point of the general plan to make sure that we reflect what the citizens want.” Yaron said city staff is still gathering input about the proposal from affected property owners and the general public. Staff is scheduled to present an update on the rural land use protections and other general plan topics on March 23. Residents interested in learning more about the general plan update can attend virtual open houses hosted throughout the day on March 15 or access self-guided videos at scottsdaleaz.gov/general-plan/ general-plan-updates.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 14, 2021

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Arizona National Guard busier than ever BY MIKE PHILLIPS Progress Contributor

he three hikers stranded in snow near Sedona were in a tight spot. After days of sub-freezing temperatures stuck in a rock crevice without food, they were showing signs of frostbite. As they braced for another cruel night, they heard the whomp-whompwhomp of an Arizona National Guard Blackhawk Helicopter piloted by Maj. Shannon Lancaster. After a few harrowing minutes last January, the hikers were aboard the aircraft and headed to safety. “They got a jolt of motivation when they saw us,“ said Lancaster, a Mesa resident who has spent a decade flying helicopters for the Guard. “It definitely gets you going when you put your training to work and you know you’re saving people’s lives.” The Arizona National Guard has been feeding off that life-saving adrenaline for the past year. Not since World War II has a greater percentage of Arizona Guard been deployed – whether responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, fighting wildfires in several states, securing the southern border, serving overseas, or assisting communities during a summer of civic unrest. “We faced things we never faced before,” said Allen Clark, director of the Division of Emergency Management for the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.. “We daily treaded new waters that we haven’t had to float before.” Clark, is director of emergency management for the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. When one of Arizona’s 15 counties or 22 tribal governments needs crisis assistance these days, the request lands with Clark. His team coordinates with the National Guard and other agencies to provide help. The EOC, usually a short-term response to emergencies, has been operating since March 2020. The statistics compiled by the Arizona National Guard reflect the unprec-

Allen Clark of Mesa is director of the Division of Emergency Management for the state Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.

edented needs and challenges. In the past year, its roughly 8,300 members have supported more than 875 COVID-19 testing sites, delivered 300,000 pieces of protective equipment to medical workers and assisted more than 140 food banks across the state. Members have worked more than 360,000 hours, driven 775,000 miles to deliver goods and dropped 130,000 gallons of water on wildfires. At one point, 85 percent of available Arizona Guard members were on deployment. Roughly 1,300 of those troops were overseas. “I am constantly inspired by their willingness to serve; I couldn’t be more thankful for their contributions,” said Maj. Gen. Michael T. McGuire, who recently announced his retirement as the Guard’s adjutant general and director of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. “I say this all the time … they are the next Greatest Generation,” McGuire added. When not rescuing stranded hikers, Lancaster is a fulltime aviation instructor assigned to the Papago Military complex in Phoenix. It’s normally a five-day-a-week job, but not in 2020. First came a mission in April when Lancaster flew medical personnel

Both Major Shannon Lancaster and her husband Sam were called up for duty at varying times, forcing them to scramble to find a long-term babysitter for their 2-year-old son. (Mike Phillips/Progress Contributor)

to Tuba City to tackle a severe COVID-19 outbreak on the Navajo Nation. Last summer, Lancaster spent several weeks using her flight skills to surgically drop water on wildfires raging first in Arizona and then California. Then she recently ferried nurses and support staff to Yuma to administer COVID-19 vaccinations. Her husband, Sam, also serves in the National Guard and was deployed last summer in response to civil unrest.

That left the couple scrambling to find supervision for their 2-year-old son while Shannon fought fires and Sam worked to quell the heat of angry protests. “We had to fly my mom out to help with the childcare,” Lancaster said. “Those were some really long days.” “Long days” could well be the 2020 theme for Arizona’s National Guard.

see GUARD page 20

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 14, 2021

Arizona National Guard leader retiring April 10 BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

he state’s top military and emergency management official is leaving, with a possible run for U.S. Senate in his future. Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire announced that April 10 will be his last day as the state’s adjutant general and director of emergency and military affairs. That ends not only his service with the state but the end of 37 years in the military. “I have been in uniform since June 1983,’’ he told Capitol Media Services. Given that he remains active military, McGuire said he can’t talk about future plans until he sheds that uniform. And he said that, with his granddaughter just moving to Arizona, that is likely his first priority. But he is looking beyond. “I think service is in my blood,’’ said McGuire, who is a registered Republican. And he said that if he were to go down the path of a future in politics, he would have to make a decision relatively quickly. That could put him into what could be a crowded GOP race for the right to take on newly elected Democrat Mark Kelly. Mesa Congressman Andy Biggs told Capitol Media Services he has been talking with political advisers and reviewing the polls. Biggs said he knows he would have to make a decision relatively soon, given the amount of money – it could be north of $100 million – it would take to oust Kelly. There are others who could be looking at the chance to try to put the Senate seat back in GOP hands, including two who have shown they can win statewide office: Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Treasurer Kimberly Yee. Others mentioned include current Congressman David Schweikert, former Congressman Matt Salmon, Taylor Robson who is a business owner serving on the Board of Regents and even Kirk Adams, a former legislator who served as chief of staff for Gov. Doug Ducey. That potentially paves the way for a divisive primary among various factions of the Republican Party, a move that could leave the survivor wounded.

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Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire But Biggs, who has gained a national reputation as a close ally of former President Trump, said he is “quite confident’’ if he gets in that he could win both the primary. And he said that, given the national attention paid to Arizona, there will be the resources to wage a viable campaign for the general election. “We have to take that seat back,’’ Biggs said. McGuire said his decision to retire now was not based on setting the stage for a future political run. He said he had planned to leave this past June. “You know what happened in March 2020,’’ he said, with the governor declaring an emergency declaration in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. “It would have been totally inappropriate for me to leave at that point,’’ McGuire said. The emergency declaration remains. But McGuire said the timing is now right. “To use a football analogy, I think we’re in the middle of the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead,’’ he said. And McGuire said this gives a chance for whoever Ducey chooses as his successor to get some realworld experience handling an emergency. McGuire was appointed to the post in 2013 by then-Gov. Jan Brewer. He replaced Maj. Gen. Hugo Salazar after the Arizona National Guard came under scrutiny during his leadership. A Department of Defense report pointed to cases of alleged sexual harassment, lax leadership and misconduct among guard leaders.

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GOP lawmakers setting up early voting roadblocks

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

epublican state lawmakers, including two Scottsdale representatives, are moving on multiple fronts to erect new hurdles for early voters. On a party-line vote, GOP senators decided to scrap existing laws that determine the validity of early ballots based solely on county election workers matching their signatures on the envelopes with what’s on file. Instead, they would need to provide an affidavit with their date of birth and the number of a state driver’s license, identification card or tribal enrollment card. State lawmakers also are one step away from removing the concept of “permanent’’ from the state’s permanent early voting list. The House Committee on Government and Elections approved a measure that would require counties to stop sending out an early ballot to anyone who has not used it in either of the last two statewide or federal elections. Even at that, the proposal by Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, would require county recorders to send a notice to people informing them of the pending removal from the list. Then, if the voter responded, he or she would remain on the list and continue to get ballots in the mail. Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, said the measure, which already has been approved by the Senate and now awaits a House vote, is just another attempt to make voting more difficult. She said the evidence shows that it would more likely affect minorities. What makes all that important is that Rep. Raquel Teran, D-Phoenix, said data from the 2020 election shows there were about 126,000 people who cast a ballot in that record-breaking year but had not, for whatever reason, used their early ballots in 2016 or 2018. Had this measure been in effect, she said, is none of those people would have gotten early ballots last year. And Salman said that, given the propensity of minority votes to skew Democrat, eliminating those votes would

Athena Salman

John Kavanagh

Michelle Ugenti-Rita

have allowed Donald Trump to win in Arizona. She wasn’t the only one to link the 2020 victory of Joe Biden to SB 1485. Sandy Bahr, chapter director of the Sierra Club, also suggested a direct link between the measure and the 2020 election. “Is it because more and more Arizonans are using early ballots to vote?’’ she asked of the motives behind the bill. About 80 percent of Arizonans voted early in November. “Or is it because the election results were different than certain people would have liked?’’ Bahr asked. Rep. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, rejected the idea of some “grand conspiracy’’ to make it harder for minorities to vote and said “this is an administrative cleanup.” Backers have another argument. “This will reduce the opportunity for ballots to be sent out to people who are no longer voting,’’ Ugenti-Rita said, ballots that may then be picked up by someone else and voted. Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said that would be easy to do. He said the only check now on validity of early ballots is a comparison of signatures on the envelope by election workers with those on file. But Kavanagh said it would be easy for someone to get another person’s signature, perhaps off of publicly filed documents, and simply trace it.

Anyway, he said, it’s not like county election workers are trained to be forensic signature experts. Salman said there are good reasons for suspicions of sinister motives by Republicans and why, in her words, SB 1485 should be seen as a “voter suppression bill.’’ She pointed to arguments made a week ago at the U.S. Supreme Court by Michael Carvin, an attorney for the Arizona Republican Party. He is defending a 2016 law which makes it a crime for anyone to take someone else’s early ballot to the polls in situations where the voter forgets to get it in the mail on time to arrive before 7 p.m. Election Day. Asked why the GOP is a party in the case, Carvin was clear. “It puts us at a competitive disadvantage relative to Democrats,’’ he said. “Politics is a zero-sum game,’’ Carvin continued. “And every extra vote they get through unlawful interpretations of Section 2 hurts us. It’s the difference between winning an election 50 to 49 and losing an election.’’ The Senate bill would require voters without a driver’s license to send a copy of any other federal state or locally issued ID card. The proposal by Sen. J.D. Mesnard, RChandler, gets more complicated. First, there’s the need for someone’s voter registration number. “Raise your hand if you know your

voter registration number,’’ said Sen. Sean Bowie, D-Tempe. Then they have to enclose an actual physical copy of something with their actual address like a utility bill dated within the past 90 days. Right now, any ballot delivered by the post office by 7 p.m. on Election Day gets counted. SB 1593 says any ballot not actually postmarked by the prior Thursday is discarded even if it shows up before close of business on Election Day. Nothing the bill precludes a voter from taking that early ballot to a polling place on Election Day, turning it in and instead getting a regular ballot. Ugenti-Rita said criticism of the GOP measures amounts to saying that Republicans are racists. She said the new forms of ID don’t disenfranchise anyone and that nothing in legislation applies solely to one group. But Sen. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, pointed out that courts have voided otherwise “facially neutral’’ law if they have a disproportionate impact on minorities. Mesnard said he sees nothing wrong with providing some extra security to ensure that the votes received come from the people who were supposed to get those ballots. Still, Mesnard said he will make some further changes when the bill now goes to the House to ease some of those requirements.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MARCH 14, 2021

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CITY NEWS

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GUARD from page 16

In his civilian life, Tommy Leeper is an emergency room physician at the Phoenix VA Hospital. But last March he was mobilized to establish a “surgeon cell” as part of the state’s COVID-19 response. Leeper, a Gilbert resident with 40 years of military service, had an idea of what was coming. He studied pandemics during a year at the Army War College and has conducted research around pandemic influenza. He anticipated the wave of change that disrupted Arizona last spring. “That’s kind of the nature of pandemics,” he said. “They kind of brew along for a while and then they all of a sudden explode.” Arizona’s first detonation occurred in isolated Tuba City. Leeper led the initial team to land there and found a rural health system overwhelmed by patients and ill-prepared to deal with it. “They had a lot of admissions in critical condition and a lot of the staff was out due to illness,” Leeper said. His team spent a week training workers on how to better manage the patient influx, provide specialized treatment and effectively use personal protective equipment. They evaluated patients and transferred the sickest to hospitals across the region better equipped to provide care. Joining Leeper on the trip was National Guard paramedic Sgt. Brian Bowling, a Tempe native who in civilian life works as a Maricopa County Deputy Sheriff. Unlike most natural disasters the Guard deals with, he said it was clear early on that addressing COVID-19 was going to be a long, drawn-out slog. “It seemed like people took one extreme or another, either being very cavalier about it or being extremely cautious to the point of paranoia,” he said. “Part of our job was to strike a balance in the community. You don’t need hazmat gear, but you do need to wash your hands.” That meant training medical personnel and front-line workers how to protect themselves. “We couldn’t afford to have a community market shut down that was the only store for 50 miles around,” he

Arizona National Guard Soldiers checked in patients and administered the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Payson as 2021 began. More than 650 Arizona National Guardsmen continue to assist at vaccination sites, testing locations and food banks throughout Arizona. (Tech. Sgt. Michael Matkin/U.S. Air National Guard)

said. The Guard soon discovered another challenge. Most of its members with medical training were already working in critical civilian occupations, be it as doctors, nurses or first responders. “It made no sense to take a health care worker out of a hospital and place them on active duty,” said McGuire. Meanwhile, COVID-19 prevention measures were keeping workers and volunteers at home – and creating gaps in the transportation and distribution of food and other necessities. The Guard’s mission shifted away from a direct medical response to providing training, logistics and transportation support. At one point, growers in western Arizona had excess produce they wanted to donate, McGuire said, but had no way to deliver it. Into the breach stepped the Guard, which devised a distribution system to serve the state’s food banks and then deployed trucks and personnel to get it done. The response ensured thousands of needy Arizona residents received food and other aid when they needed it most. At one point, the Guard was serving 143 food banks in all 15 counties and early on manned United Food Bank’s

massive food box distribution operation at the Mesa Convention Center. “A year ago, I had no idea of the role of a food bank and how critical they are to our community,” said McGuire. At the same time, Leeper and his team were shifting from emergency response in hotspots like Tuba City to take on a broader education and training role. COVID-19 tests were being delivered but few facilities and organizations knew how to use them. Two-person teams were established to visit nursing homes and other care facilities to provide not only training but directions on how to report results to the state for tracking. “It was an evolutionary process,” said Bowling. “Once our nation’s testing capabilities ramped up, our missions increased to assist larger testing events.” Last December, vaccines arrived in Arizona and again the National Guard played a critical role in distribution. McGuire called it a “game changer,” but said it also came with its own unique challenges. Clark’s team at the state Emergency Operations Center worked to form a coalition of government, civic groups and businesses to speed the distribution and delivery of the vaccine. “We’re constantly moving people around off of one mission and on to

another,” said McGuire. While COVID-19 and wildfires raged, the border beckoned and civil unrest broiled, the Arizona National Guard still had core missions to perform this past year. The 161st Refueling Wing based at Sky Harbor International Airport had pilots to train and a requirement to refuel fighters and bombers that make up the U.S. nuclear deterrence force. In Tucson, the 162nd Fighter Wing not only trains F-16 pilots from 29 countries but also protects and patrols the border. The cost for the Arizona Guard’s multifaceted response in 2020 is still being tabulated. It will run into the millions and be borne by a mix of local, state and federal jurisdictions. For civilian employers who lost workers called for deployment, there is disruption and lost productivity, but also a sense that they, too, answered a call. “Everyone serves in a different way,” said Dan Irving, the Arizona chairman for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve – part of the Department of Defense that provides support and recognition of businesses employing National Guard and reserve troops. “Without the support of employers, we wouldn’t be able to sustain an allvolunteer force,” said Irving, a Gilbert resident who retired after a 38-year career in the Guard. “We have many, many Arizona businesses that take care of their guard and reserve members and their families,” he said. “That’s really important in times like this.” For many Guard members, 2020 was the year their military commitment hit closest to home. “If you talk to almost any guardsman and asked them why they joined … it is to serve both the local community and the nation in general,” said Bowling. “This is personified when we see people from our own towns, from the places we live in or are working in.” For Lancaster, it’s a feeling that overshadows the long hours, stress, and separation from family. “These are the things that give meaning to what you do,” she said. “Like any job not every day is perfect, but it sure helps when you’re doing a rescue or helping your community.”

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Mindset coach addresses parent-teen relationships BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

bout two years ago, Scottsdale resident Vanessa Baker embarked on a major career change, moving from supply chain management to working with teens and parents as a mindset coach. Through her coaching company Vanessa Baker Mindset, her unique coaching approach helps parents and teens better connect with each other. Her well-received “simple, streamlined program” is now available in book form: “From Mean to Real Clean: How to Create a Fully Functional Relationship with Your Teenager.” Published in January, the book offers a straightforward guide on how parents can change their mindset and become the �irst person their teens talk and listen to, not the last.

Scottsdale resident Vanessa Baker is a teen-parenting coach and mother of six children who recently wrote and published her ﬁrst book, “From Mean to Real Clean: How to Create a Fully Functional Relationship with Your Teenager.” (Vanessa Baker)

“As a coach, teacher and a parent myself, I have a deep and compassionate understanding of the various issues that come with the territory of raising teenagers,” Baker said. A coach with a background in education and business, Baker is also the mother of six children, �ive of whom are between the ages of 13 and 18. “When they were 3, 4, 5, 6 — 10 years ago — I was like, ‘I’m not going to buy into this thing where my life has to be miserable when they’re teenagers,’” Baker said. “This is my life and I’m planning to enjoy it and have excellent relationships with these �ive blessings. I get to be their mom, and no, I’m not going to drink the Kool-Aid of ‘this has to be terrible.’” Thus, Baker approached parenting teens in a different way: via her innovative framework comprising three acro-

nyms – M.E.A.N., R.E.A.L., and C.L.E.A.N. – that helps parents to better understand both their teenagers and themselves. “Let’s treat ourselves like actual people,” Baker said. “That’s the �irst step is really working on the parents to let themselves calm down and be who they actually are because that’s who your teenagers are going to respond to and respect and be inspired by, not some fake, weird robot version of you.” “From Mean to Real Clean” is broken into four parts. The �irst three explain the acronyms: M.E.A.N. stands for “misunderstood, entitled, authoritative and numb”; R.E.A.L. stands for “resilient, effective, authentic and loving”; and C.L.E.A.N. stands for “connected, level-headed, expressive, aware and nice.”

�� BAKER �� 22

Notre Dame Prep run helps notMYKid nonpro�it PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

otre Dame Prep in Scottsdale is partnering with notMYkid to host the �irst annual Saints Virtual 5K to help fund programs to help teens cope with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. The event is set for March 20, but since it is virtual, runners and walkers can participate any time, any place this week. Online registration is available at ndpsaints.org/Saints5K and the cost is $25. Runners are encouraged to take a sel�ie in their race shirt and post on social media using the hashtag #SaintsStrong. T-shirts will be mailed to those who sign up for the

virtual run. Proceeds from the race will go to support the mental health programs offered through Amplif[i] the teen empowerment entity of notMykid. “The struggle is real. Teen mental health issues are rising as a direct result of the year-long pandemic,” said Notre Dame Prep President/ Principal Jill Platt. “This past year has been very hard on everyone, but especially teens.” Notre Dame Prep has received permission from the city of Scottsdale to host a small, in-person fun run at the school for their students only on March 20. It will be the �irst event the school has hosted on campus since 2019. “We are looking forward to giv-

ing our students a chance to make a difference, have some fun and feel somewhat normal,” Platt added. “We hope the community will join in virtually for this important cause.” Notre Dame Prep is a Catholic diocesan college preparatory high school with a co-ed enrollment of 804 students. The school has received national recognition for the caliber of its academic, arts and athletic programs. The school is located at 9701 E. Bell Road in Scottsdale. notMYkid provides children and families with lifesaving programs, support, resources, and education. Their mission is to empower and educate youth, families, and communities with the knowledge and courage to identify and prevent negative youth behavior.

Notre Dame Prep freshman Kinsey Chervenak and the school mascot Samson get ready for the ﬁrst annual Virtual Saints 5K on March 20 to support teen mental health programs run by notMYkid. The public can join the cause virtually this week through March 20. (Special to the Progress)

NEIGHBORS

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BAKER �� 21

“So, I’m saying that we aren’t really mean, we’re actually misunderstood; and a lot of why we aren’t functioning at the level that we could and aren’t being as kind and level-headed and not able to access our knowledge to be as effective is because we aren’t taking care of ourselves,” Baker explained. The last part, titled “A Fully Functional Relationship with Your Teen,” dives into how parents can create a new relationship with their teens based on respect, cooperation, and even fun. “You cannot do this rigorous impossible job unless you are actually well taken care of,” Baker said. “So, a lot of the changes that they can make are going to impact their teenagers very simply because they will just have made these internal, personal shifts.” Baker spent a whirlwind two months writing the book and she credits that to knowing exactly what her message was when she began. “My message is so, so important to me, and I know that it will make – and has made – a huge difference for people,” Baker said. Baker started writing the book in August and submitted the �inal product to her

“From Mean to Real Clean” is a fourpart guide that helps parents achieve real change and form new bonds with their teenagers. (Balboa Press)

publisher, Balboa Press, on Sept. 15. And since its release, Baker has received positive feedback from readers, some of whom have said that the book has given them freedom and peace about

who they needed to be for their children, regardless of their age. “Vanessa gets real, raw, honest about how we as parents can shift our mindset and set up a relationship with our children to be a ‘clean’ version,” said Kara Carreño of Thrive with a Purpose. “It won’t always be sunshine and rainbows, but there can be respect and love where your children feel heard and seen — and you do, too,” Carreño continued. “Her parent/child communication approach is nothing short of life-changing. What I learned is that it doesn’t have to be as hard as we’ve made it out to be.” This month, Baker launched an interactive course that teaches the same approach outlined in the book, as well as a �ifth part that explicitly guides parents through �ive big life-changing steps. The course includes a three-month subscription to a private Facebook group that features live group coaching, exclusive coaching videos and content, monthly “level up” challenges, a community where participants can share wins and challenges of the process, and discounts on coaching services. The course costs $1,000, and Baker encourages families to join under one login and split the cost. “I don’t think it should be inaccessible

to people because it’s $1,000,” Baker said. “It’s a small price for what the actual outcome and transformation is.” Baker also offers the Real Clean Family Total Overhaul Package, which includes four days of customized coaching with intensive group work and highly individualized coaching. On March 22, Baker is launching a free �ive-day challenge on her Facebook page, “Vanessa Baker Mindset: Helping Teens Amaze Themselves.” Participants will be alerted of the challenge for the day, and later, Baker will follow-up with participants on their results. “That’s a great way to get a �lavor for me and my style and the kinds of results that we can get so fast,” Baker said. Baker describes her coaching style as “extremely nonjudgmental,” “extremely vulnerable,” “very direct,” and “very fast.” “I know that people think that this is impossible, but it’s just like any other relationship,” Baker said. “It’s something that you have to get real with yourself about our own personal responsibility as parents. There’s a lot that we can control on our end that will naturally, and almost like magically, impact our teenagers. It’s amazing. I see it every day with my coaching clients.” Information: vbakermindset.com

DAR honors Chaparral senior, 3 other students PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

our Scottsdale Uni�ied students have received awards from the Scottsdalebased Grand Canyon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The awards entitled them to go on to another round of judging by the Arizona chapter that could ultimately lead to national recognition. The 165-member chapter led by Regent Karen Andrews has held an awards ceremony or luncheon in March for many years where the students, educators attend with parents or guests. This year, the pandemic has required the group to present awards at the schools and at a spring zoom meeting of the chapter. Recipients will receive a NSDAR Certi�icate and pin or medal. The Good Citizen Award went to Diya Sirvan Kutur Reddy, a senior at Chaparral High School. She was nominated by Tammy Anderson, the school’s college and

Chaparral High senior Diya Reddy, winner of the DAR Grand Canyon Chapter’s 2021 Good Citizen Award, is ﬂanked by, from left, Leslie Rold, Chaparral counselor; Betty Heenan, Good Citizen Committee chair; Regent Karen Andrews and Vice Regent Stephanie Troth. (Courtesy of Mike Heenan)

career counselor. The DAR Good Citizens Award, created in 1934, is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. It

recognizes and rewards individuals who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities.

The American History Essay Contest winners are Will Ross, a Kive Elementary �ifth grader; Miriam Krist, a seventh grade student at Mohave Middle School; and Cooper Davidson, an eighth grader at Desert Canyon Middle School. Last year Maeve Lomax of Chaparral High won the DAR’s Good Citizen Award nationally after winning the recognition at the local, state and regional levels. The Grand Canyon Chapter, founded in 1983, is a non-pro�it, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and supporting education for children. The DAR consists of 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters around the world. It is open to any woman regardless of race, religion or ethnic background who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. Information: grandcanyon.arizonadar.org

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Scottsdale florist brings joy to shut-ins BY DAVID M. BROWN Progress Contributor

hen the pandemic forced Sue Hagan to briefly close her LeBouquet Florist & Boutique in northern Scottsdale, she couldn’t stop thinking of the people that COVID-19 left isolated. Her mother, Betty, had spent her last two years in a health care community and she recalled, “Her only joy was our visits. I could feel her loneliness and isolation.” “When the facilities across the country were closed to visitors, I couldn’t imagine how lonely these family members were feeling,” Hagan said. “It broke my heart that these people were so isolated due to the pandemic,” she added. “I have always been very involved in giving back and felt strongly that we could make a difference and make their

Scottsdale florist Sue Hagan has made bringing joy to shut-ins a mission during the pandemic. (YouTube)

days brighter.” Assisted by six employees, also Scottsdale residents, Hagan emptied the

flower cooler and assembled 51 mixed arrangements. For the remainder of the day, her drive

team delivered them to nine Scottsdale health care and assisted living facilities, asking their staffs to distribute the flowers to those they felt would most benefit from them. They included Pueblo Norte Senior Living Community, Westminster Village, Desert Flower, Andara Senior Living, Eckstein Center | Hospice of the Valley, Maravilla Care Center, HonorHealth Rehabilitation Hospital, The Ranch Estates at Scottsdale and Tuscany at McCormick Ranch. Two weeks later, she decided to work with a limited team and provide contactfree deliveries only. LeBouquet delivers to businesses, funeral homes, hospitals and residences within 12 miles. She purchased the full-service florist and boutique on 90th Street in December

see FLORIST page 25

Restaurant finds a way to serve Chinese kosher-style BY MELODY BIRKETT Progress Contributor

itchen 18 is serving up Mediterranean and Chinese cuisine true kosher. “We are supervised by a kosher supervision that makes sure all the meats, chicken and fish are all kosher,” said Nathan Uvaydov, owner of Kitchen 18 near Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard. “We don’t serve shellfish or pork and don’t mix meat and dairy together. This is a meat restaurant. We don’t have any cheeseburgers or cheesesteaks. So, you’re either a meat restaurant or you’re a dairy restaurant. If you’re a dairy restaurant, you can’t have any meat.” While Kitchen 18 doesn’t serve shellfish, patrons can find a wide variety of fresh fish – tuna, salmon, tilapia and red snapper –

Nathan Uvaydov, owner of Kitchen 18 near Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard, likes to provide variety in Scottsdale’s only kosher restaurant. (Melody Birkett/ Progress Contributor)

but no Sushi. “All of our greens are all pesticide-free,” said Uvaydov. “We have a rabbi on-premises to make sure everything is cleaned. All of the greens are triple washed with a special soap to make sure it’s pesticide-free.” “The rabbi is a supervisor to make sure no non-kosher food is going in and out,” he added. While the restaurant does serve noodles, Uvaydov has found a way to make some items without dairy. “We have a pasta bolognese or spaghetti marinara. On the Chinese menu, we have the chicken and beef lo mien so we don’t have any dairy with that – no Parmesan cheese, of course.” While it is unusual for a Jewish restaurant to serve up Chinese dishes, Uvaydov said that since Kitchen 18 is the only kosher restaurant in Scottsdale, he likes to

give a variety to his customers. “All of our beef and cold cuts are brought in from the east coast,” Uvaydov explained. “We specialize in good, quality beef. Our biggest seller is the BBQ ribs we braise for four hours in the oven. We also have a pastrami burger. “The pastrami is brought in from New York. We do all of our own ground beef. All of our beef is grass-fed so we do a lean meat burger so it’s 90/10 mix so we don’t have so much fat in it.” Another popular menu item is shawarma, made out of dark meat chicken and seasoned Mediterranean style. “We also do our homemade falafel bowls, homemade hummus and homemade babaghanaush,” said Uvaydov. “Everything is homemade.”

see KOSHER page 25

BUSINESS

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FLORIST �� page 24

of 2016. The independently owned store is associated with Santa Monica, Calif.-based BloomNation, which works with thousands of florists nationwide. Hagan also offers gift items such as candles, tea towels and mugs. Last year, she added a wine/beer option under a Series 10 state license, offering customers another gift option. “I like to carry small items that are perfect for gifts, like house-warming presents, and all of our baskets are original,” she explained. During the summer, she launched an eight-week program to deliver 24 small rose-bud vases to a different facility each week. “We were very grateful that our flower wholesalers, We Got Flowers and Mayesh, generously donated most of the flowers,”

KOSHER �� page 24

The pitas come from a bakery in Israel, he added, and, of course, he offers a traditional chicken matzo ball soup. Despite having a rabbi on staff and undertaking extra safety precautions, Uvaydov said his food is priced competitively. SINCE 1978

Hagan said. She randomly chose a different facility every week. They were Amber Creek Memory Care Community, Pueblo Norte, Maravilla, The Auberge at Scottsdale, Advanced Health Care of Scottsdale, Avenir Memory Care at Scottsdale, Life Care Center of Scottsdale and HonorHealth Rehab. Each delivery included a letter telling the recipients that she and her staff were thinking of them during the stressful times. “As we are in the business of creating joy and sometimes comfort through flowers, we decided to develop a project to help send cheer to people that are isolated,” it read in part. Even the shop mascot, Baxter, a Goldendoodle, signed the letter. On the back, Hagan’s granddaughters and the sons of one of her floral designers added encouraging thoughts, such as “Thinking of You” and “Stay Safe,” and their drawings. “I don’t price point my product because I take special procedures.” Born in Russia, he immigrated with his parents and sister to the U.S. in 1990 when he was 5. He grew up in New York City but moved when he was 18 with his family to Arizona, where he finds “People are so nice and Prompt Quality Professional Service

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Rose Sissingh, hospitality manager at Maravilla in Scottsdale, said, “We gave the vases to our activity department, and they gave them to the residents who don’t have as many visitors to deliver to them.” The Auberge also sent a thank-you note, signed by residents and staff. In her earlier career, Hagan was a corporate relocation executive, managing offices in Europe, Central America, Canada and Mexico. She and her husband, Pat, have been living in Arizona since 2011, their second time here. They have four children and three grandchildren nearby. “This is now our home,” she said. “I have always believed that contributing to worthwhile causes is everyone’s responsibility,” Hagan explained, noting that during her career she has often been able to lead teams to help those in need. In Chicago, for example, she joined with generous. Everyone is willing to help one another.” Uvaydov opened his first restaurant in Phoenix when he was 19. Kitchen 18 is his sixth restaurant and the only one he is running at the moment, though he said every restaurant he has owned was successful.

For the last five years, he’s had success with out-of-towners, catering kosher meals “to all of the major hotels in town.” Kitchen 18 observes the Sabbath and is open Sunday through Thursday. Information: thekitchen18.com, 480284-6001.

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250 associates to be the largest contributor to Chicago’s Make-A-Wish Foundation, helped distribute 250 backpacks for foster children and walked the three-day Susan G. Komen event with co-workers. Canines are also a cause, as she and Pat have raised two guide dogs. “When I reflect on my career, these are the things I am most proud of,” she said. In Scottsdale, she is realizing a dream to be a florist, hoping to comfort those grieving and to share thoughts and feelings during holidays. “I love working in this medium,” she added. “I don’t think I will ever get over the overwhelming beauty and the intoxicating smell of fresh flowers.” Until the pandemic ends, she hopes to continue to deliver flowers to area facilities, Hagan said: “I have the space, an amazing team, the flowers and the business partners to make this happen.”

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Larsen Gallery slates spring auction April 17 BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

arsen Gallery’s 2021 Spring Larsen Art Auction takes place April 17 and will he held both at the gallery in Old Town as well as online and via telephone to accommodate bidders around the world. Until then, however, Larsen Gallery continues to accept consignments. “We already have almost 200 pieces secured,” said Polly Larsen, who owns the gallery with her husband, Scott Larsen. “We’re hoping that we’re going to have around 300 to 400 pieces.” Ahead of the auction, potential bidders have the opportunity to stop by the gallery April 1-16 to view the artwork up for bid. Larsen Gallery will not be hosting a preview party as it did pre-pandemic. Instead, the Larsens encourage interest-

Scott and Polly Larsen are the owners of Larsen Gallery in Old Town. They’re hosting their spring art auction on April 17, where hundreds of pieces will be available for auction. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

ed parties to preview the artwork Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The April 17 event follows a successful

fall auction during what the Larsens called during the gallery’s “best year ever.” “We’re entering our 29th year. Last year,

was our best year ever. Isn’t that crazy?” Polly said. At the fall sale, they sold 90 percent of their offered lots. With approximately 2,500 bidders, including some at the gallery, the fall auction executed more than 400 telephone and absentee bids, with bidders hailing from more than 40 countries. “Our phone bidding and our telephone bidding and our internet bidding increased 100-fold,” Polly said. The fall auction brought in more than 150 new clients and saw a more than 50 percent increase in consigners. Highlights from the fall include selling a Deborah Remington piece for nearly $12,000. “This lot had more action than any other lot in the room,” Polly said. “The winning

see AUCTION page 27

Late local artist Dorothy Fratt’s work comes home BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

orothy Fratt’s artwork is back in her hometown of Scottsdale. Following an exhibition of the late artist’s work at The Gallery at Mountain Shadows in March 2019 and exhibitions in New York City and Europe last year, Fratt’s collection of work is now at the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale’s main gallery, where it will remain through May 4. The exhibition was curated by Mayo Clinic Arts Program Specialist David Haff. “He immediately began searching out local artists to display in the galleries at all the Mayo campuses. It didn’t take him long to see that one artist rose above the rest, my mother, the ‘First Lady of Art in Arizona,’ Dorothy Fratt,” said former Scottsdale resident Gregory Fratt.

The late Dorothy Fratt’s artwork is back in her hometown of Scottsdale — at the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale’s main gallery. The exhibition of her artwork went up in January and will remain at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale through May 4. (Gregory Fratt)

Since his mother’s passing in 2017, Gregory has traveled far and wide with her artwork. He wanted to not only keep the art and

memory of his mother alive but also ensure she receives “the recognition she deserves” in their hometown. He said Haff called him at his Louisi-

ana home and asked about displaying his mom’s work. Artwork includes an acrylic painting on canvas, two of serigraphs and six other acrylic works on paper mounted on canvas. “These last six were all mounted on canvas and framed by Steve at Portfolio in Scottsdale, who has framed my mother’s work for over 30 years,” Gregory said. Gregory added that the exhibition was a “real community effort.” “It is this community aspect of the exhibition that makes me feel this is important,” Gregory said. The Dorothy Fratt exhibition is part of Mayo Clinic’s Center for Humanities in Medicine, which integrates the arts “into the healing environment.” Humanities in Medicine activities in-

see FRATT page 27

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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AUCTION �� page 26

bidder stated that his hometown museum had a Deborah Remington in their collection, which was his favorite work when he was growing up, and he always vowed one day he would own one of her works.” Other highlights included an Andy Warhol piece selling for more than $50,000, an Allan Houser piece selling for $57,000, a

FRATT �� page 26

cludes dance programs, classes and seminars, live music, and exhibitions of local and regional artists’ work. They are open to Mayo Clinic patients, staff, visitors and community members. “My hope is that the medical community will better understand the importance of good abstract art,” Gregory said of his late mother’s exhibition. “I also hope that the experience of this exhibition will be something that patients visiting Mayo can enjoy – something that will lift them up,” he continued. As part of the exhibition, Gregory is listed as a contact for viewers to reach out to for more information about the exhibition. And since the launch of the exhibition, he’s already received three phone calls, one

Paul Jenkins piece selling for $33,000 and a Logan Maxwell Hagage piece selling for more than $26,000. Due to the success of their fall auction, Larsen Gallery will now host two auctions annually. “It was really smooth because we really prepared for it,” Polly said. “We were open to the public, but we had very few people in here. And most of our clients from a patient. He recalled a patient calling and telling him, “I can’t tell you how much your mother’s paintings have affected me and lifted me up.” “You can’t ask for a better response than that,” he added. After Mayo, his mother’s artwork will be on display at Yares Art in Santa Fe. Yares Art is owned by Dennis Yares, the son of Reva and Clare Yares, who previously owned Clare Yares Gallery in Old Town. “My mother was the �irst artist to sign with Reva in 1965,” Gregory said. “Now, with Dennis Yares in New York City exhibiting my mother’s work, it is a relationship that has continued for over 55 years.” “I feel fortunate that Dennis and I are second generation of two women who were the leading modern art pioneers in Arizona.”

who normally would have attended became telephone bidders instead.” Larsen added that they limited the amount of people into the gallery and had hand sanitizer stations throughout. “We had plexiglass in between all of our tables where people were doing the telephone bidding and absentee bidding,” Polly added. “So, each one of them had plexiglass in between them.”

Dorothy was an abstract painter of the western landscape who specialized in color theory and is known for her expressive use of color. She lived for almost 40 years in a house perched on the east side of Camelback Mountain. The home was designed by architect and former student of Frank Lloyd Wright, Paul Yaeger. A studio was later built on the property. From within that home, Dorothy offered private instruction in painting and color theory from 1958 to 1972. “She always said that she produced more professional artists and painters than ASU did from her teaching,” Gregory said. Gregory said she stopped painting because she said she was “tired of inventing.” “She was always exploring and inventing; her artwork was always changing and growing,” he said.

Registration is required to bid on lots in the auction; and prospective attendee, telephone, and absentee bidders can register online by visiting larsenartauction. com. Registration for online bidding is available through liveauctioneers.com, invaluable.com and bidsquare.com. Larsen Gallery is located at 3705 N. Bishop Lane. Both Gregory and John A. Reyes, the Gallery at Mountain Shadows curator and owner of Reyes Contemporary Art, said Dorothy is under-appreciated as an artist in Scottsdale. “If you look at the numbers, so many female artists are underrepresented in galleries and undervalued in price,” Reyes said. “Dorothy Fratt unfortunately falls into that category.” Currently, Museum Art Plus in Donaueschingen, Germany has the largest single collection of Dorothy’s work, boasting about 25 of her paintings. And a museum in Paderborn, Germany — Stadtische Galerie in der Reithalle — had an exhibition of Dorothy’s work from March to July last year. “The demand and interest in my mother’s work continue to grow,” Gregory said.

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More restaurants turn to vegan, vegetarian options BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

n search of vegan takeout? Look no farther than Scottsdale, which recently ranked as having the country’s highest share of restaurants serving vegetarian and vegan options. According to WalletHub’s Best Cities for Vegans and Vegetarians ranking, Scottsdale’s restaurant scene has the highest percentage of eateries serving vegetarian options at nearly 28 percent and vegan options at more than 16 percent. Overall, Scottsdale ranked 22nd on WalletHub’s list, while other East Valley cities such as Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa ranked 25th, 28th, and 34th, respectively. “That’s great to hear Scottsdale is earning a reputation as a vegan dining destination!” said Los Sombreros co-owner Bobi Rivera. “It’s certainly something that’s top of mind for us.” Los Sombreros, which has two locations in Scottsdale and Mesa, has seen an 11 percent increase in their vegan and vegetarian option sales from 2019 to 2020. Especially popular at Sombreros are the vegan enchiladas and their crispy potato tacos. “Vegan enchiladas are stuffed with vegetables and topped with a vegan, soy-based mozzarella. We tested quite a few vegan cheeses before finding this one that we all agree is the best: It melts perfectly and can stand toe-to-toe against any dairy-based cheese on the market,” Rivera said. “Our crispy potato tacos are super popular with vegetarians and meat-eaters alike – a true fan favorite and the ultimate comfort food,” Rivera added. Los Sombreros has vegan and vegetarian dishes since first opening in 1996. “Our style of cooking – central Mexicobased – lends itself naturally to vegan and vegetarian options, since corn is king in our kitchen,” Rivera explained.

Michelle Donovan is the owner of the Nile Coffee Shop, a “100 percent vegan establishment” in Mesa. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

Los Sombreros’ vegan and vegetarian options include crispy potato tacos (pictured). (Los Sombreros)

“One of our most popular starters, our elote, [which] literally means corn in Spanish, features corn as the showcase and harkens back to the flavors and aromas from

Mexican backyards and street festivals alike.” But it wasn’t until their meat and cheesebased enchiladas became popular among

guests that Los Sombreros added the vegan relleno and vegan enchiladas. “We didn’t want to leave anyone out on the fun,” Rivera said. “We want guests to have a variety of options, regardless of their dietary needs.” Since 2004, the number of Americans who have adopted a plant-based diet increased to 9.7 million people, according to Ipsos Retail Performance. In Arizona, heavy interest in vegan and plant-based diets sates back to 2013. Research has linked vegan diets to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer. People have also turned to a vegan diet to help the environment. According to the Vegan Society and PETA, the production of meat and other animal products burdens the environment, from the pollution created by meat production to the crops and water required to feed the animals. “Most people become vegetarian because of health, but as more people become aware about the impact of their diet on the environment, more people will start to make the change,” said SOL Mexican Cocina Director of Food and Beverage Development Michael Gaines. Gaines and Rivera predict an increase in vegetarian and vegan offerings at Scottsdale-area restaurants. “More and more people are learning about the health benefits of moving away from true carnivore status. Scottsdale residents and visitors are no exception,” Rivera said. “We have seen many restaurants begin to offer different options or the ability to make it vegan.” Gaines attributes the increase in vegetarian and vegan offerings here to the rise of plant-based, meat-alternative products like those sold by Beyond Meat and Impos-

see VEGAN page 29

FOOD & DRINK

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VEGAN �� page 28

sible Foods. “More restaurants will increase their vegetarian offerings because of the increase in demand and also because there are so many options to do so now with ingredients like plant-based meat,” Gaines said. One restaurant that has embraced plantbased meat is Dilla Libre, a Mexican restaurant in southern Scottsdale that offers gourmet quesadillas, tacos and bowls with nearly every menu available in vegan form. Their most popular dishes include vegan carne asada fries, topped with Beyond Burger carne asada and shredded vegan cheese and served with vegan ranch; and their papa verde tacos, made with vegan cotija cheese and featuring potatoes in place of meat. “When you start to look at the vegan demographic, it’s growing like wildfire. They’ll go out of their way to find it. So, when we put the options out there, people are on it,” said owner Mike Baum. SOL Mexican Cocina also sells its popular Sweet Potato & Black Bean Taco. “It is popular because it is as satisfying and tasty as a meat taco,” Gaines said. “It is sweet, savory, spicy and offers a plethora of textures in a bite because of the black beans and sweet potatoes.” SOL Mexican Cocina added two more

Los Sombreros co-owners Bobi and Adam Rivera have seen their vegan and vegetarian option sales increase 11 percent from 2019 to 2020. (Los Sombreros)

vegetarian tacos in 2019: BBQ Seitan Taco and spicy cauliflower taco. “We already had many vegetarian items on our menu then but wanted to create more options for vegetarians,” Gaines said. “We wanted to create a more inclusive menu.”

SOL Mexican Cocina is one of many restaurants – like Cornish Pasty Co. and Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen – that have “vegan options” as its own category. “I think it will become a whole new category on menus,” Rivera said. At some restaurants, like the Nile Coffee

er,” Johnson said. “We liked the feel of the place and its location. We decided to give it a shot. We renovated the inside, redid the menus and the bar over time.” The “shot” was successful. Affordable with large portions, Blue Agave Mexican Cantina has an extensive menu broken into appetizers, tacos, Mexican “flare,” salad/soups/wraps, agave creations and enchiladas. The most popular dish, Johnson said, is the ultimate chimichanga filled with slow-roasted pork, cilantro rice, pinto beans and mixed cheese. Dubbed “very spicy,” the entrée ($15.99) is smothered with green chili sauce, pico de gallo, baja cream sauce, jalapeno cream sauce, chipotle puree, guacamole and sour cream. Fish tacos take a close second, with a choice of grilled or flash-fried fish, sliced avocado, pico de gallo, red cabbage and

chipotle mayo Oaxaca dipping sauce ($13.49). Spicy cholula chicken salad, with a lettuce mix, mixed cheeses, pico de gallo, crispy fried chicken, spicy cholula sauce and chipotle ranch ($12.99) is another standout dish. Those who eschew Mexican food, may try the border burger – a 1/2-pound Black Angus burger with poblano pepper crispy bacon, sliced tomato and avocado, American cheese and chipotle mayo ($11.99) – or the carne asada pizza ($13.99). Johnson said the COVID-19 pandemic posed a pleasant surprise for him. “I struggled for three or four months, but we were also over sales from last year. That has to do with catering.” He also attributes taking care of his people, and his passion for food and the hospitality industry.

Shop in Mesa, vegan dishes make up the entire menu. “We are a 100 percent vegan establishment,” said the Nile Coffee Shop Owner Michelle Donovan, who also owns the attached music venue, the Nile Theater. “I have been vegan for 10 years and was vegetarian for 15 years prior to becoming vegan. We made the transition... because it didn’t feel right offering foods that I personally have an ethical issue with,” Donovan said. The Nile Coffee Shop also launched a vegan drive-through, which takes place on the third Saturday of each month. “You can taste dishes and treats from over 10 vendors all in one space,” Donovan explained. Attendees must preorder at vegandrivethru.org and the event is so popular, it fulfills between 115-140 orders over three hours. “There are all sorts of amazing vegan pop-ups and bakers in the Valley,” Donovan continued. “We thought it would be great if people could try a good number of them all at one time while being socially responsible.” Other popular restaurants that offer vegan dishes in Scottsdale and the East Valley include Tocaya Organica, Simon’s Hot Dogs, The Vig, Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen, Toca Madera, La Locanda Italian, Ruching Vegetarian South Indian Cuisine, Pita Jungle, Green Lotus and Hopdoddy.

Blue Agave jumps the COVID-19 hurdles BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Progress Staff Writer

lue Agave Mexican Cantina owner Brian Johnson was excited to have a day earlier this year when a socially distanced group of diners “filled” albeit at half-capacity – the 14-year-old restaurant. “When COVID first hit, it was challenging,” he said. “Thank God I’m a chef by trade and my partner in the restaurant is, too. We jumped in the kitchen and cooked every day for two months.” A 1997 Scottsdale Culinary Institute graduate, Johnson has had his hands in French, Italian and Chinese cuisine. When the Chinese concept closed, he realized he was tired of the corporate world. Blue Agave Mexican Cantina was the perfect fit. “We bought this off the previous own-

“If not, you’ll just get eaten up,” he said — no pun intended. There is so much going on, with different personalities. You have to be able to interact with different personalities and different kinds of people and be able to take care of them, make them feel comfortable, make them want to come in and return.” Food has kept Johnson inspired. “I just love food and I love cooking,” Johnson said. “I’ve done this my whole life. That’s why I got out of college. I was studying business.” He followed his passion all the way to Arizona, to Scottsdale Culinary Institute – and he loved it, just as expected. “I actually wish I would have gone a little earlier, but sometimes it takes a while to figure out what you really want to do.” Information: blueagavemexicancantina.com

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CHAIRMAN Attest BRONTE IBSEN For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY MAY REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BY CONTACTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7620). REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OR AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW TIME TO ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION. FOR TTY USERS, THE ARIZONA RELAY SERVICE (1-800-367-8939) MAY CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7620).

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