Gilbert Sun News; February 2015 - Community

Relentlessly local coverage of Gilbert and our neighboring communities

Arizona snow day

Bianca Darling rocks her cool shades for the Flurry Festival at Adora Trails.

Town, church await Supreme Court decision

BY MEGHAN MCCOY

The pastor of Good News Community Church said he never imagined that his fight against the Town of Gilbert to use temporary directional signs would be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I am 82 years old and have been a pastor for over 40 years,” Pastor Clyde Reed said at a January press conference held outside the Washington, D.C., court. “All we wanted to do was use temporary signs to welcome and invite the community to our Sunday morning services.”

Reed’s representation filed suit in March 2007 as Alliance Defense Fund in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against the Town of Gilbert for “discriminatory practices against churches.” The organization, now known as the Alliance Defending Freedom,

GOOD FIGHT: Good News Community Church

Pastor Clyde Reed and his wife, Ann.

Submitted photo see CHURCH SIGN page 8

Friends remember Highland High grad after tragic accident

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Katelyn Conrad, a 21-year-old ASU student who died while rappelling in mid-January, was known to friends as kind, courageous and genuine.

“She was 100 percent herself, sometimes even to a fault,” said her friend Jessica Jia in an emailed statement to the Gilbert Sun News

“This sort of honesty shines brighter than anything you will ever meet in people. I quickly came to realize that this was a person I could always count on. And so did others. We will miss the most dependable and strong-willed person we ever met.”

Jia and Conrad were among 25 ASU Outdoors Activity Club members who were rappelling in Coon Bluff Recreation Area, a popular area near the Salt River, according to Maricopa County Sheriff’s

HONEST AND DEPENDABLE: Highland High School graduate Katelyn Conrad, above, who died in a rappelling accident, is fondly remembered by friends like Jessica Jia. Photo courtesy of Facebook

Office (MSCO) deputy Joaquin Enriquez. “It’s basically a bunch of cliffs,” Enriquez said. “You hike the trails and see KATELYN CONRAD page 6

6 Costly Mistakes to Avoid Before Buying a Home

Gilbert, AZ - A new report has just been released which identifies the 6 most common and costly mistakes that homebuyers make before buying a home.

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27 Quick and Easy Fix Ups to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar

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Doctor brings sight back to Nepal

BY TRACY HOUSE

Recalling his youth in a poor country, Dr. Pravin Dugel says he and his wife work to raise their children to remain humble and engaged. Traveling overseas with his daughter, Brenna, to restore sight to the Nepalese was a natural progression.

Dugel is the managing partner of Retinal Consultants of Arizona, with 25 offices in Arizona, including one at 1712 E. Boston St., Gilbert. He has had a longtime interest in human development and international ophthalmology.

Taking his expertise to Nepal over the holiday season was part of Dugel’s mission to provide free eye care to those who are in need. Working with Dr. Sanduk Ruit, an ophthalmologist and founder of the Himalayan Cataract Project in Kathmandu, Dugel and Brenna volunteered for 10 days in the remote areas of Nepal.

Brenna, an eighth grader at Phoenix Country Day School, says she went to discover more about nonprofits and learn from Ruit. While in Nepal, Brenna took photographs of her journey.

“I wanted to be able to capture the stories of all the people that I met,” she says.

While her father performed surgeries, Brenna, with the help of Ruit’s daughter as interpreter, took photos of the patients and asked for their stories. She is planning on creating a book with the proceeds going to the Himalayan Cataract Project and Project SENA.

Dugel operated on patients who had traveled as many as seven days to the outreach camps. Some walked and hitchhiked, while others were carried on a loved one’s back.

“You realize when they can’t see, it’s not just that they can’t see, it’s that they can’t live,” Dugel says. “They can’t work, they can’t eat. There’s no social support whatsoever. They’re left in a corner, they can’t interact, so these patients are very sickly, very gaunt. The whole family is outcast because they can’t survive. These are patients that are not just not seeing, they’re not living. These are patients that not only need to be fed, they need to be housed. All of that is provided for and that’s what makes this so special.”

Brenna spoke to about 35 people. She recalled a man who was blind and could not provide for his family.

“He started to lose his sight and lost his job, so he couldn’t send his children to school anymore,” Brenna says. “All

East Valley Clinic Takes on Failed Back Pain Surgeries

(Chandler, AZ) Current data shows that around 35% of laminectomy surgical procedures for back and leg pain will not provide relief after five years. This is often referred to as FBSS or Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.

Surgeons are often satisfied with neurological improvement following back surgery and not necessarily back pain relief.

Additional surgeries performed to remedy back pain have an even higher rate of failure.

Novocur Pain Management Clinic now offers an alternative treatment that can often successfully provide long-lasting back and leg pain relief to patients with FBSS.

Neuromodulation uses tiny electrodes implanted over the spinal cord that are powered by a “pacemakerlike generator.” The technology works by replacing pain signals to the brain with a pleasant tingling sensation. The technology represents a giant leap forward in successfully solving difficult back pain for many sufferers who have failed to find relief after surgery.

Novocur’s president and CEO Dr. Alex Bigham says, “a wonderful aspect of this technology is that we can test it on the patient’s specific pain before making a long term commitment to the treatment.” The test procedure takes about an hour and does not require general anesthesia or conscious sedation.

More information about FBSS and neuromodulation is available at the novocur.com website or by calling the Novocur clinic at (480) 855-6686.

of his children had to drop out of school; two of them had to find jobs and the other four were going to have to stay at home and farm. This man had never been able to see his youngest daughter. Within 10 minutes, Dr. Ruit was able to remove his cataracts, so now he’s able to see again and he’s going to have a higher quality of life being able to get back his job. He’s able to see his family and spend time with them.”

Dugel worked on another woman who was finally able to see her child after the procedure. “We have an amazing video of her seeing her 3-year-old child for the first time,” Dugel says.

Dugel says he operated on more than 400 patients during his stay in Nepal. The cataract removal takes seven to 10 minutes.

“It’s not just math, it’s the quality of restoration of sight,” he says.

“In these eye camps, the vast majority are done absolutely free. Not only are they done for free, they’re housed for free, they’re fed for free and they’re transported for free. Their postoperative care is free.”

He says there are some patients who do have the means to pay for the procedure and that money is used to offset the medical expenses for those who cannot pay.

“There’s an amazingly sustainable effort of having a minority of patients who are able to pay...to sustain those patients who cannot pay,” Dugel explains.

Pieceful Solutions hires Poiani as culinary instructor

Pieceful Solutions has hired Colleen Poiani as its culinary instructor to help students thrive in the kitchen and perfect everyday life skills taught at the school.

Poiani will teach classes at the school’s Gilbert campus, in addition to working with staff in Mesa and Chandler to incorporate culinary and nutritionbased curriculum in the classroom. The school is Arizona’s first kindergarten through 12th grade facility for children with autism spectrum disorders.

In her new role at Pieceful Solutions, Poiani will teach students about the importance of nutrition and the science behind food. Students will learn how to make healthy food choices along with how their nutrition decisions affect them both mentally and physically. She will teach students basic baking instruction through a culinary course focused on making cookies, cakes, pies, pastries and breads. The course will help students apply their math skills as they measure ingredients and learn to use alternative baking ingredients to help maximize their health and reduce allergies.

Poiani has more than 10 years of experience in promoting the diverse virtues of raw, organic, plant-based and process-free foods. She specializes in teaching the vital link between what you consume and how it impacts your physical and emotional well-being.

Poiani received her certification as a holistic nutritional specialist from the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts.

RESORT LIVING IN VAL VISTA LAKES!

after you get to the top, you anchor in and rappel down. A lot of technical teams go out there and train. A lot of rock climbers go out there, too.”

An MSCO report said Conrad fell 125 feet and was lying on the ground unresponsive. Deputies began life-saving efforts, but they were unsuccessful. An investigation into the cause of the accident continues.

A Highland High School graduate, Conrad was the daughter of Lt. Robert Conrad, a 27-year Phoenix Police Department employee.

“The entire Phoenix Police Department wishes to express their condolences to the Conrad family,” Chief Joe Yahner said. “At this time of grieving, the family has asked everyone to respect their privacy.”

ASU spokesman Mark Johnson said the university made support services available to fellow students and faculty.

“The ASU community sends our thoughts and prayers to Katelyn’s family

It’s ‘picking time’

at this difficult time,” he added.

A biomedical engineering major, Conrad held notable research internships positions in San Francisco and Colorado. She also was the president of the campus Biomedical Engineering Club.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she was a senior at ASU, enrolled in the 4+1 program. She planned to study for an additional year after she graduated in May to complete her master’s degree. Conrad was interested in a summer internship in the medical device industry this summer.

Jake Swanson, ASU Outdoors Activity Club treasurer, wrote on the organization’s Facebook page, “It will be rough for a while, but we will move on. Though it will always be different, we will all run a little faster, hike a little further, climb a little higher, bike a little quicker, and eat a little harder because we have a little bit of Katelyn in us. And we need to compensate for that.”

‘American Pickers’ seeks collectors for Southwest visit

The History Channel TV show

“American Pickers” is looking for folks who are enthusiastic about their collectables, but willing to part with them. Keep in mind, show producers stress that the collector—not the goodies— really makes the show.

“American Pickers” hosts and childhood friends Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are planning a trip to Arizona or New Mexico in the spring and are looking for “rusty gold.”

To be considered, collectors must send an email to americanpickers@ cineflix.com or call (855) OLD-RUST. Be sure to include your name, contact number and description of your item(s). Some of the items sought are:

• Motor scooters: Vespas, Lambretta and Cushman

• Old advertising signage

• Motorcycles

• Old toys: Tin, wind-up and cast iron

• Pre-1950s vending machines

• Pinball and slot machines

• Old movie posters

• Unusual radios

• Antique casino/gaming machines

• Vintage movie memorabilia and advertising items

• Taxidermy

• Vintage concert posters and T-shirts

• Early Boy Scout items

• Sports memorabilia

• Casino tables

• Houdini items

• Old rodeo items

• Airline collectibles from Pan-Am, TWA, etc.

• Mobster memorabilia

• Vintage police officer collectibles

• Firefighter collectibles

• Pre-1940s telephones

• Folk art

• Vintage BB guns/cap guns

• Early Halloween items

• Pre-1940s Christmas items

• Hawaiian/tiki collectibles

• Vintage election memorabilia

• Musical instruments

• Civil War antiques

• Vintage gas pumps

• Pre-1970s neon signs

• Strange woodcarvings

• Vintage collegiate collectibles. The show’s hosts are not seeking farming/agriculture items, tools, glassware, appliances,

stoves or country primitives.

Four collections of homes from 1,600 sq. ft. to just over 4,000 sq. ft. starting in the $200’s

Blandford Homes is creating hometown charm, for real! Mulberry will feel like an enchanted land magically reminiscent of the early 1900s when homes sprung up to create quaint neighborhoods Blandford Homes presents an inspired line of home designs with significant character differences Imagine corner lots featuring homes with wraparound porches! This “New Old-Home Neighborhood” will be one-of-a-kind in Arizona

Mulberry will feature two beautiful main entrances with lush date palm and tree-lined boulevards leading to centrally located Mulberry Park, no more than a 5-minute walk from anyplace in the neighborhood You will enjoy the park’s impressive Georgian Colonial-style building complete with white trim and green shutters, along with the pool, sport courts, fitness, and playgrounds Just imagine the events, concerts, and celebrations you’ll attend within the huge pavillions and green playing fields of Mulberry Park

Mulberry is part of the top-rated Gilbert School District, and within a mile you’ll find major shopping, dining, a carwash and an IMAX theater A shopping area, “Mulberry Marketplace,” will include a Fry’s Marketplace designed in a Craftsman Bungalow style to tie into Mulberry’s architectural theme Mulberry residents won’t even have to leave the community to shop!

Located just 1.8 miles east of the 202 on Guadalupe and Signal Butte Roads in Mesa!

Gilbert introduces expo for outdoors enthusiasts

BY KIMBERLY HOSEY

Outdoors enthusiasts around the Valley can grab their hiking boots and comfortable clothes to check out activities like hiking, camping, fishing, birding, hunting, kayaking, outdoor cooking and more at the free Gilbert Outdoors Expo at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, 2757 E. Guadalupe Rd., Gilbert, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 15.

The expo, the first of its kind that is planned to be an annual event, will feature exhibitors including Liberty Wildlife, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Arizona Outdoor and Travel Club, Desert Fly Casters, REI and more in a two-day celebration designed to showcase adventurous and leisure recreation available to Valley residents. It will also allow guests to brush up on hobbies or learn new skills and highlight the Riparian Preserve as a prime spot to enjoy outdoor activities.

The premier event is expected to draw more than 8,000 attendees and will feature 20 to 25 exhibitors, according to Town of Gilbert Recreation Coordinator Mike Leppert.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to fly-fish, observe a safe hiking demo, go on birding walks and even try

their skill with a bow and arrow in a handson archery activity.

The expo will feature professionally guided tours around the preserve, showing off the area’s trails and educating guests about local plant and animal life and habitats.

The preserve, a 110-acre wildlife habitat containing several ponds and organized into ecological zones ranging from native Arizona riparian areas to swaths simulating marshlands, is maintained by the Gilbert Riparian Institute. The group created and preserves riparian areas that host almost 200 species of birds as well as numerous amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects and mammals. The seven ponds at the preserve recycle waste water.

The expo is free, but vendors will be on hand offering outdoors-themed products. Food trucks will be also offering food for purchase.

The Gilbert Outdoors Expo is sponsored by Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and organized by the Gilbert Parks and Recreation Department.

To learn more about the Riparian Preserve visit www.riparianinstitute.org.

For more information about the Gilbert Outdoors Expo call (480) 503-6200 or visit www.gilbertaz.gov/outdoors.

successfully challenged the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate in the Hobby Lobby suit. It is described on its website as “an alliance-building, nonprofit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.”

Jeremy Tedesco, Alliance Defending Freedom’s senior legal counsel, said the Town of Gilbert’s sign code imposes strict limits on size, location, number and duration of signs, but it doesn’t impose the same restrictions on political, ideological and homeowners association signs.

“Gilbert’s targeting of the church’s signs for discriminatory treatment led to the lawsuit, and we hope that the Supreme Court will not allow the Town of Gilbert to continue giving preferential treatment to certain messages while marginalizing others,” he said.

“The Supreme Court should ensure that no government in America is allowed to prefer one form of speech over another.”

The lawsuit, according to Gilbert Town Attorney Michael Hamblin, went to district court in Phoenix twice, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

“Each time, those two courts held in favor of the town, but the U.S. Supreme Court has granted review of the case and heard arguments on Monday (Jan. 12) in Washington,” he said.

Hamblin said he anticipates a decision before the end of June.

Sign ordinance

Hamblin said the sign ordinance went into effect in 2006-2007 and has been amended since its implementation.

The ordinance states that signs can only be displayed for up to 12 hours before and during a qualifying event and for only one hour afterward. According to Hamblin, Good News Community Church placed its service signs in the right-of-

way, two feet from the back of the curb, which was fine. The conflict, he said, stemmed from church officials believing the signs should be displayed for longer periods of time.

The ordinance describes a qualifying event as any assembly, gathering, activity or meeting sponsored, arranged or promoted by a religious, charitable, community service, educational, or other similar non-profit organization.

Good News Community Church rents space for its Sunday morning services at Gilbert Elementary School. It uses small signs to invite and direct the community to join.

During his speech, Reed said that he and fellow church officials saw a variety of signs, including political and real estate signs, throughout Gilbert at different points in the year.

“So, we did not think it would be a problem to place church invitation signs,” Reed added during his press conference.

“But much to our surprise, we soon found out that Gilbert’s code requires our church signs to be much smaller and up for a far shorter period of time than many other types of signs.”

He said that because the church was only allowed to erect signs up to 12 hours before services, they began “placing them in the dark of night, the evening before our services, while other types of signs can be up for months at a time.”

“We also learned that if we violate the strict rules on our signs, we face criminal fines and even possible jail time. This whole experience has been shocking to me—our signs inviting people to church are very important, yet are treated as second-class speech. We aren’t asking for special treatment; we just want our town to stop favoring the speech of others over ours. I pray that the Supreme Court will affirm our First Amendment freedoms and uphold our church’s and others’ free speech rights.”

The Town of Gilbert is inviting the public to its third annual Digital State of the Town premiere at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Harkins SanTan Village 16. Registration is open.

Join Mayor John Lewis and the Town Council as the first to watch this year’s documentary, highlighting the community’s many accomplishments in 2014. The theme, “Growing Up Gilbert,” will also showcase various accomplishments in the community being made by those who grew up or are growing up

About Dr. Garza:

• Bachelor of Science from the University of Oklahoma (1990).

• DR of Dental surgery DDS, University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry (1994).

• First dentist to use Cerec for “single visit Smile Makeovers” and the first to place a single visit Cerec crown on an implant (2003).

• LVIF/Las Vegas Institute: Neuromuscular dentistry, TMJ, migraines, Bruxism.

• Laser Certified Dentist

Dr. Garza can attend to all of your dental needs:

Cerec Single Visit Dentistry • Crowns • Inlays • Onlays

Veneers • Smile Makeovers • Teeth Whitening • Dentures

Oral surgery/extractions • Fillings • Implants • Root Canals

Implant Supported Dentures • Invisalign • Routine Cleanings

Periodontal Treatment/Laser

Neuromuscular Dentistry: Treating TMJ disorders, Bruxism, and Migraines.

There’s a story behind every smile .. ... and everyone wants to have a beautiful smile they feel good about, no matter their gender, age, profession, or circumstance. Allow us to be a part of your story and together we can work to create the smile you have always wanted.

Dr. Garza is passionate about your dental care; he is always investing in continuing education and the best technology to provide his patients with the best care possible and here’s what they say ...

“The staff and services provided were excellent. I went to this office after visiting another practice a couple of days prior to get a second opinion.The impression that I felt after the initial visit was very comforting, even for me because I have a huge phobia of dentists.”

— Jerry

“Dr. Garza and his team are the best. Everyone gives you a great sense of comfort and care. I had a wonderful experience as usual. I have been a patient for at least 10 years, and service and care are and have always been excellent.”

— Anthony