East Valley Tribune: Chandler/Tempe Edition - Dec. 4, 2016
BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
One of the favorite activities of sporting East Valley residents is a hike up South Mountain, which looms over a sprawling quilt of red-tile roofed suburban neighborhoods.
Beyond giving Ahwatukee its identity, South Mountain Park plays a major role in the quality of life of residents who use it regularly and the region as a whole, attracting an estimated 3 million visitors a year.
“People don’t move out here for the cul-desacs. They move out here for the beauty,’’ said Laurel Arndt, an avid bicyclist and hiker who has lived in the area for more than 30 years.
After many years of little change, the park is now on the verge of a substantial update as it heads toward its 100th anniversary in 2024. A $23 million project will bring more parking at trailheads, better restrooms and improved ramadas during a five-year period starting this spring.
Another phase of improvements is expected to stem from the South Mountain Trail and Preserve Master Plan. Residents will have
Hikers may see big changes to a favorite park
their last opportunity to weigh in on the plan in December, when the third in a series of public meetings will complete the public comment period.
“It’s the biggest change we’ve ever had in South Mountain Park,’’ said Phoenix City Council member Sal DiCiccio, a strong advocate for open space. “It’s going to be an amazing change for hikers and bikers.’’
DiCiccio’s district includes not only South
Mountain Park, but also Papago Park and the Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain. He said the city is investing in the preserve system—one of its most important assets.
“You look at our quality of life, it’s fundamental to our community,’’ he said.
An open house is scheduled for Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m. at the Pecos Community
School bus tragedy rekindles seat belt controversy
BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
Two major East Valley school districts are responding differently to the longsimmering safety issue of whether school buses should have seat belts—and whether that would decrease injuries to children in traffic accidents.
The decades-old issue has taken on new urgency since six elementary school students were killed on Nov. 21 in a school bus crash
in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Police and school officials have said the driver was speeding on a winding road before he struck a pole and a tree.
The force of the crash was so great that the bus was found wrapped around the tree. A Tennessee legislator has called for renewed efforts to require that school buses be equipped with seat belts, even though police have not said whether any lives would have been saved with them.
Johnthony Walker, 24, the driver, was
arrested and charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, with more charges pending. Court documents said he was driving “well above the posted speed limit of 30 mph.”
Walker had been involved in one minor prior accident. There are reports that he had trouble controlling the children and that they did not feel safe with him behind the wheel.
(Cheryl Haselhorst/Tribune Staff Photographer) Aubri Stough and Claire Schmaltz return to the Pima Canyon trailhead after a walk with Tux, the dog.
COVER STORY
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Nonprofit reaps generous gift from Chandler businessman
BY DAVID M. BROWN Tribune Contributing Writer
What do you do with 286 new children’s sweatshirts, 41 pairs of shoes and 576 pairs of socks?
Give a new store to the group that doles out those items to kids whose parents can’t afford them.
That’s what happened recently when Chandler resident and businessman Michael A. Pollack did for the Assistance League East Valley, a nonprofit that serves needy children and adults in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee and Scottsdale.
At his expense, Pollack renovated an 8,256-square-foot store at 2326 N. Alma School Road, Chandler, spending $200,000 in cash and in-kind donations to create the Assistance League’s new thrift store.
Now, with a great street presence through large windows, the thrift store has neon lights, finished metallic ceilings, wood-grain laminate flooring and display cabinets. And the Assistance League also got a deeply discounted fiveyear lease.
“The Assistance League East Valley serves thousands of families here in the East Valley every year. The services they provide through having a thrift store are crucial to our community,” said Pollack.
His Mesa-based Michael A. Pollack Real Estate Investments has been refurbishing commercial and industrial properties in the Valley for more than 25 years, infusing millions of dollars of value into older East Valley communities.
“This is an incredible re-use of a building,” he added.
Pollack is particularly proud that all of the AL East Valley members are volunteers, with no paid staff.
“Through donations and fund-raisers, they help children in the schools with clothes and other items, and they do a really good job,” said Pollack, who grabbed a paint brush to join a group of community volunteers, coordinated by the Painting and Decorating Contractors of Arizona (PDCA), to help prepare the vacant building in August.
Pollack purchased it about a year and a half ago to add to his Pollack Alma School Shopping II, just north of Warner Road. The site was originally Oasis Waterbeds, then Oasis Furniture on rebranding.
“I’ve known a lot of the women for
many years who have volunteered,” he said, adding that he had rented AL East Valley its original space in another Chandler center, again at rents far below market. That store operated for 14 years, but needed modernization and expansion.
“Michael Pollack offered us three options with great visibility, increased square footage, and the best cost per square foot,” said Susan Harrison, AL East Valley president.
The Tempe resident is a former principal of Islands Elementary in Gilbert, where Pollack met Harrison when his wife, Cheryl, was PTA president.
Harrison, who calls Pollack “Our Mr. Wonderful,” said of the new store: “Everyone feels that they are home here. There’s lots of joy here.”
“The first week, we made more money than we usually do in a month,” she added.
At the grand opening of the store last month, Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and 85 Assistance League volunteers joined him in stuffing a bus that would be used to distribute the new clothing to needy children at local schools.
An additional 500 people joined in, donating slightly used clothing and household wares for the store. They also purchased items, donated money and bid on a silent auction, raising more than $6,000.
“It was a great day for our community, and we appreciate all of the help the community has given,” Harrison said.
AL East Valley clothes nearly 7,500 school children annually with new
clothing. It also provides 4,000 kits with clothing and personal-care items to 10 agencies working with children and adults in crisis, hosts spelling bees and awards scholarships. The Chandler Fire Department even provides specially tagged Teddy bears, called “AL,” to the children it assists.
Its Operation School Bell began two decades ago by clothing 200 children; in 2015, 7,452 students benefitted.
Assault Survivor Kits helped 4,037 adults and children through hospitals, emergency rooms and other facilities. And $12,389 in scholarships went to 15 students to intensify or continue their education. The group even schedules birthday parties at a local adult day care center.
The East Valley chapter, in its 21st year, branched out from the Phoenix chapter and is celebrating eight decades of service.
The 101-year-old California-based nonprofit was the first philanthropic organization headquartered on the West Coast, founded after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Harrison explained.
“The Assistance League of the East Valley has been close to my heart for many years with my Aunt Dorothy having served as its first president just over two decades ago,” Mayor Tibshraeny said. “And, with this new, larger facility, the Assistance League can continue to make precious contributions to the people of Chandler and the region.”
Information: assistanceleagueeastvalley. org.
(Special to the Tribune)
Members of the Assistance League/East Valley include, from left, Monica Hale, Barbara Osgood, Ginny Wegener, Jeanne Chapman and Kathy Zeches. Chapman is from Gilbert, and the others are from Tempe.
(Will Powers/Tribune Staff Photographer)
Cars are stacked up along roads leading to the South Mountain trails. A plan to expand parking and to make other trailhead improvements is already generating controversy among neighbors concerned about more noise, pollution and destruction of the desert.
HIKERS
from page 1
Center, 17010 S. 48th St.; and on Thursday, from 6-8 p.m. at the South Mountain Environmental Education Center, 10409 S. Central Ave.
Phoenix parks employees will display boards summarizing comments received from the public at the prior hearings in June and September, and on an interactive map, Erickson said. They will explain to residents why they incorporated some suggestions into the plan and did not include others.
The plan’s purpose is to serve as guide to improving a 51mile maze of popular, but sometimes confusing trails. It seems likely that some unrecognized “spider’’ trails created by wayward hikers and bikers will be recognized and upgraded to create a more cohesive system. Other spider trails will be closed and restored.
“These huge plans will merge nicely together,’’ said Inger Erickson, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “At the same time that we are improving access, they are getting better signage, better sustainable paths.’’
“Obviously, you have to have a starting point. You have to have amenities to direct people to a place,’’ she said. “We are trying to get people on the path and
Hikers strike out for a pleasant time on the Desert Foothills Trail in Ahwatukee.
including a woman who got lost near Telegraph Pass, Erickson said.
the trail and the inevitable 20 percent looking for destructive shortcuts.
get rid of those spider trails.’’
The most heavily used trailhead is Pima Canyon, near 48th Street and The Arizona Grand Resort. Erickson described that trailhead as “over-loved.’’
A plan to expand parking and to make other trailhead improvements is already generating controversy among neighbors concerned about more noise, pollution and destruction of the desert.
The new trail marking system will improve safety, making it less likely that people get lost and more likely that they will be found in the event of emergencies, Erickson said.
Emergencies and mountain rescues occur less often at South Mountain Park than other parts of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve system, such as Echo Canyon in Camelback Mountain or Piestewa Peak in north Phoenix, Erickson said.
But that doesn’t mean tragedies don’t occur occasionally.
Although most injuries are broken ankles and twisted knees, two people died in the park within the past year,
(Will Powers/Tribune Staff Photographer)
Signage is usually available at trailheads but is very scarce at some interior locations. The problem is aggravated further by criss-crossing trails.
The marking system envisioned by Erickson goes well beyond simple metal poles with trail names stenciled on them. It will combine conventional signs and maps with Quick Response codes, commonly known as QR codes. Visitors will be able to take pictures of the code with their smartphones, which will deliver text on a website.
The system will give Phoenix parks another way to deliver safety tips, such as warning people about the dangers of heat stroke or telling them to stay on the trails. Visitors would obtain directions and other information to help them decide on their route.
The Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative, last approved by voters in 2008 and in effect for 30 years, will pay for the improvements. The initiative sets aside one cent of sales taxes for every $10 of purchases, with 40 percent of those funds dedicated to land acquisition and development of the preserves, including trails, trailheads and signage.
Arndt, a land use planner with the Sonoran Institute, has been attending the hearings on the trail master plan. She said the improvements are overdue, with some trails and facilities in poor condition, and vital to the area’s quality of life. She wonders whether the city can pull off all the changes in the massive, 16,000-acre park with a limited staff.
Better signage will help the park serve its preservation mission by discouraging use of destructive spider trails and restoring them to a more natural state, she said.
“It’s the 80-20 rule,’’ she said, with 80 percent of hikers and bikers following
“The good news is that they have gotten the message loud and clear that they need to do some trail management,’’ Arndt said.
Rather than new trails, “what we need is better definement and management of the trails we have now,’’ she said.
Brad Anders, also an avid bicyclist and an Ahwatukee resident, praised any effort to create a coherent trail system and to reduce confusion among park visitors. He realizes the system is mainly intended to help occasional visitors, rather than regulars like himself, who sometimes end up assisting rangers.
“Not everything was planned. A lot of it happened over time,’’ he said. “They are trying to get back to a coherent plan.’’ He said the trail system’s problems were apparent when he encountered some German tourists who were lost.
“They were trying to figure out where to go and we were trying to help them know where to go,’’ Anders said.
Mark Schmisseur, an avid bicyclist and hiker, said he tries to help lost hikers all the time. He said signage is usually available at trailheads but is very scarce at some interior locations. The problem is aggravated further by criss-crossing trails.
Schmisseur said he appreciates the city considering feedback from park users before installing the new facilities.
“I am excited about it. We use it extensively. We welcome the improvements,’’ Schmisseur said.
– Reach Jim Walsh at 480-898-5639 or at jwalsh@timespublications.com.
– Comment on this article and like the East Valley Tribune on Facebook and follow EVTNow on Twitter.
(Cheryl Haselhorst/Tribune Staff Photographer)
‘Breakfast with Santa’ coming to Mesa Convention Center
Tickets are on sale for “Breakfast with Santa,” Dec. 17 at the Mesa Convention Center, 201 N. Center St., Building B.
Two rounds, with photos and food, will be 8:30-9:30 a.m. with breakfast served until 9:15 a.m., and 10-11 a.m. with breakfast served until 10:45 a.m.
Tickets are $7 for adults and children over the age of 1. Gift baskets and a $100 Target gift card will be raffl ed off at the event. Raffl e tickets cost one for $2 and three for $5. Proceeds from the breakfast benefi t city of Mesa’s Community Spirit.
To purchase tickets, go to mesaamp.com or visit the Box Offi ce (Building A) at 263 N. Center St., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit mesaaz.gov/parksrec or call 480-644-4948.
– TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Four Peaks Brewery collecting items for donation to Maggie's Place
Four Peaks Brewery is collecting new or gently used coats, jackets, scarves, hats, blankets, bedding and towels to donate to Maggie’s Place, A New Leaf and Helen’s Hope chest, benefi tting Arizona mothers, families and foster youth in need.
The drive is also extending its help to the Arizona Animal Welfare League, the oldest and largest no-kill shelter, collecting blankets, towels and comforters to provide warm bedding for animals awaiting adoption.
Valley residents can drop off their new or gently used items at any Four Peaks Pub, not including the Sky Harbor Airport location. Brat Haus, an eatery in Old-Town Scottsdale, is also a collection
– RACHEL EROH, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Park improvements to be discussed at public meetings in Chandler
THE WEEK AHEAD
Tempe Community Action Agency hosting Holiday Toy Shoppe for needy families
Each year, Tempe Community Action Agency hosts a Holiday Toy Shoppe, offering families in need a “store” at which to choose gifts for their children.
To order gift donations online, visit Amazon.com and access the TCAA Holiday Toy Shoppe wish list. Items purchased from the wish list will ship directly to TCAA.
Volunteers are also needed to help set up and staff the Holiday Toy Shoppe in the days leading up to and during the Dec. 18 and 19 events, which run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Toy donations can be dropped off through Dec. 16 at the Escalante Senior Center, 2150 E. Orange St., or pickup times can be arranged by contacting TCAA at 480-350-5884.
For more information, contact lexiek@ tempeaction.org.
– RACHEL EROH, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade takes to the water
Tempe Town Lake will feature up to 50 decorated boats for the Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade on Saturday. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. with music, food and face painters. After dark, more than a thousand luminarias will illuminate the sidewalks and paths of Tempe Beach Park. The parade is at 7, with fireworks at its conclusion.
For more information, go to downtowntempe.com.
– TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Chandler will host a series of public meetings to discuss the master plan for the Dr. A.J. Chandler Park on Wednesday at the Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Copper Room.
Three public meetings will be held that day: city staff from 1-2 p.m., members of the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership from 2-4 p.m., and downtown residents and the general public from 5:30-7 p.m.
The park is between Buffalo Street and Boston Street, and San Marcos Place to Arizona Place. Arizona Avenue, which runs north and south, divides the park into two areas.
This project will examine the existing features of the park and will develop a conceptual master plan.
Family Day at the i.d.e.a. Museum coming up this weekend
Family Day will feature pictures with Santa at the i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa. A Mesa Police Department dog and entertainment from the East Valley Children’s Theater help round out the program. Crafts will be available, too.
The event is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 150 W. Pepper Place in Mesa. Regular museum admission is $8 for ages 1 and up; free for members. More museum special events are listed at ideamuseum.org/special-events.html. – TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
CONTROVERSY
Chattanooga police detectives have been focusing on the criminal case and have not offered an opinion on whether seat belts would have made a difference, said Elisa Myzal, a Chattanooga communications coordinator.
She said the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which focuses on how to avoid similar tragedies in the future, is more likely to address the issue of seat belts. No children were thrown from the bus in Chattanooga.
In the East Valley, the Kyrene School District has been replacing its fleet of school buses with propane-powered buses to cut fuel costs, emissions and maintenance. Authorities also opted for a model equipped with seat belts.
“The seat belts add a layer of safety to an already-safe bus,” said Eric Nethercutt, Kyrene’s director of transportation and buildings. “The cargo we transport is people’s kids. There’s nothing more important to them.”
About 80 percent of Kyrene’s buses are equipped with seat belts, and those without seat belts are used only as backups.
“We felt it was a common-sense move to take that next step for the safety of kids,” Nethercutt said.
But Mesa takes a more traditional approach, citing the heavy-duty steel construction of school buses, the high padded seats and the compartmentalized approach to safety as reasons why school buses rank among the safest possible forms of transportation.
Terry Locke, a Chandler Unified School District spokesman, said Chandler has a fleet of 200 buses that are not equipped with seat belts. He said special-needs buses have seat belts as required by law.
A chart prepared by the American School Bus Council and NHTSA says that between 2005 and 2014, school bus accidents were responsible for less than 1 percent of student fatalities during school travel hours. It says that teen drivers were responsible for 57 percent of deaths and adult drivers were responsible for 23 percent.
The council says students are 70 times more likely to arrive safely at school if they travel by bus than by car.
“School buses are carefully designed on a different transportation and protection model than the average passenger car. The children are protected like eggs in an egg carton—compartmentalized, and surrounded with padding and structural integrity to secure the entire container. The seat backs are raised and the shell is reinforced for protection against impact,” the council says on its website.
Jeanne Vandemark, Mesa’s director of transportation, said statistics show that students are more likely to be injured when stepping off or onto a bus than during a rollover accident.
About half of Mesa Public Schools’ larger fleet of buses—mostly smaller buses often used to transport specialneeds students and preschoolers—are equipped with seat belts. The large buses do not have seat belts, and there is no federal requirement to have them.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends seat belts for the larger buses but does not mandate them, and only six states require seat belts. Authorities say retrofitting a bus to add seat belts can be a costly proposition, ranging from $7,000 to $10,000 per bus.
Mesa has a fleet of 541 buses and provides about 37,800 rides per day.
Kyrene has a fleet of 110 propane buses purchased after voters approved a bond issue in 2010. Kyrene started with 25 propane buses and bought more once it was clear they were reliable. Kyrene provides about 12,000 student trips per day.
“The bottom line is that we want to protect children, period,” Vandemark said.
But she is not sure seat belts offer a panacea for safety, saying that she believes fires are a bigger threat to school buses than rollover accidents.
Cynthia Wells, a Mesa school bus driver at the time, was praised for quickthinking and resourcefulness when she smelled a wisp of smoke coming from
near her radio on May 8, 2014.
Wells stopped her special-needs bus in a parking lot near Brown Road and Country Club Drive and evacuated an assistant and four Carson Junior High School students without injury. Mesa firefighters found the engine compartment on fire when they arrived, according to published reports.
A second bus was dispatched to take the students to school.
“I lived through a school bus fire,” said Vandemark, a former school bus driver. “I don’t think they would have been evacuated from the bus in a timely manner if they were wearing seatbelts.”
But Nethercutt said he doesn’t think seat belts would be an obstacle in evacuating children.
“Every kid is used to wearing seat belts. They already wear seat belts in a car,” he said.
Nethercutt said he believes the federal government may require seat belts eventually, especially after the Chattanooga deaths. He said the cost of retrofitting a bus is so high that he would expect a “soft conversion,” with buses that don’t have seatbelts gradually replaced by those with seat belts.
The cost of retrofitting is so high because up to 72 seats have to be torn out and replaced with new ones that can accommodate the three-point belts, he said.
“I would say it is probably heading in the direction that we are going,” Nethercutt said. “What happened in Tennessee will probably intensify the focus.”
– Reach Jim Walsh at 480-898-5639 or at jwalsh@timespublications.com. – Comment on this article and like the East Valley Tribune on Facebook and follow EVTNow on Twitter.
(Larry Mangino/Tribune Staff Photographer)
Kyrene de la Mariposa Elementary School students (from left) Basant Abdelrahman, Edward Castro, Joaquin de Leon, Tanish Chauhan, Jeremiah Walker and Madison Ruggeronae are buckled up on the bus.
Man demanded prescription pills, is being sought
A man is being sought after demanding prescription medications from two pharmacies in Chandler.
According to police, the man entered a CVS Pharmacy on 2005 N. Dobson Road at 7:48 a.m. on Nov. 25 demanding pills. At 10:30 a.m., he went to the Walgreen’s Store at 1925 W. Chandler Blvd., again seeking medications.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 5-feet-7, 180 pounds in his late 20s to early 30s, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a gray hooded sweater, blue jeans and dirty red tennis shoes, to include a black beanie cap that had a skull picture or logo.
Anyone with information can call Chandler Police at 480-782-4130.
Man involved in hit-run pleads guilty to aggravated assault
A man involved in a Chandler hit-and-run that left an army veteran with life-threatening injuries pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Police said Cody James Gibson, 18, intentionally struck Stephen Richardson, 31, with his Honda SUV in the parking lot of a Fry’s Food and Drug Store near Riggs and McQueen roads on April 7.
Witnesses reported seeing Gibson assault a woman at a fast-food restaurant near the Fry’s around 5:45 p.m. When the woman fl ed, witnesses said Gibson followed her, dragging her by the hair to the SUV.
Richardson saw the incident while driving and used his vehicle to block Gibson from driving out of the parking lot. When Richardson and his friend got out of the truck, Gibson pressed the gas pedal and struck Richardson, sending him over the vehicle’s hood and drove away.
Richardson suffered a skull fracture, lacerations on the back of his head, and partial hearing loss in his left ear. He was released from the hospital one week after the incident.
Gibson is set to be sentenced Dec. 19 in Maricopa County Superior Court.
– RACHEL EROH, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Body
recovered in
Chandler lake; man had been missing
A man found dead in a Chandler community lake on Nov. 27 had been reported missing for a week.
Kai restaurant notches another 5-Diamond ranking from AAA
Kai restaurant in Chandler received its 11th designation as a Five-Diamond restaurant from AAA, making the list for 2017.
It’s the only Arizona restaurant on the coveted Five-Diamond list, the highest ranking by AAA.
Kai is inside the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass.
For 14 years, the restaurant chefs and staff have worked to elevate Native American-inspired cuisine and service standards to national levels of critical acclaim, restaurant offi cials said.
Patron falls from Gammage balcony, four hospitalized
Four people were hospitalized after a man fell from the balcony at Arizona State University’s Grady Gammage Auditorium on Nov. 27.
According to a statement from the ASU Police Department, all four had injuries that were not life-threatening.
ASU Police said the man stepped over a wall and fell from a second-fl oor balcony during a performance of “Beautiful - The Carol King Musical.” The man’s wife reportedly told police he was headed to the restroom but did not want to disturb other patrons. He climbed over a wall, mistakenly assuming there was a walkway on the other side, and fell onto the crowd below.
Valley buses now designated
Detectives said Jared Austin Brandstatter, 20, was reported missing on Nov. 21. His body was found at Arizona Avenue and Lake Drive. No cause of death has been reported.
According to the missing person’s report, Brandstatter went for a bike ride on Nov. 20 around 10 p.m. after returning from an AA meeting with his father.
‘safe places’
Teens who are in need of help have an additional 900 places in the Valley to go to seek it.
Every Valley Metro and city of Phoenix bus is now a designated “Safe Place,” part of a program managed by Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development. Valley Metro light rail stations have been part of the program, along with all QuikTrip stores, libraries and fi re stations in the Valley.
Safe Place is a national youth outreach program that supports young people who are in need of immediate health and safety resources, typically helping homeless, runaway and abused teens. Safe Place decals, which are yellow and black and state “Safe Place,” have been added to all of the public buses.
– TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT
Winner of Tempe Union board seat is ex-PTA president
Tribune Staff Report
Aformer PTA president at three different schools is the new member of the Tempe Union High School District governing board.
Berdetta Hodge of Tempe defeated Ahwatukee businessman Scott Ryan with 15.7 percent of the vote to his 15.3 percent, according to unofficial results.
Hodge will join incumbents Sandy Lowe and Michelle Helm, who clinched new terms in the Nov. 8 election with 19.3 percent and 23.5 percent of the vote, respectively.
A question had been raised about a possible recount between Hodge and Ryan, but a spokeswoman for the county recorder’s office said one will not be ordered.
A Tempe resident for 35 years, Hodge has one child at McClintock High and another who graduated from there.
The Arizona State University graduate has been a Hope’s Crossing board member, a PTA president in three different schools and a booster club member.
She is on the board of the Booker T. Washington Child Development Center, and is a site council member and a volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley Ladmo Branch.
When asked early in the campaign why she was running, she replied:
“As a Tempe Union High School District graduate, involved community member and parent, I have experienced and witnessed the positive growth of our district and the substantial impact it has had on both our students and community.”
“I want to give back to the district that has not only enriched my life, but has also left an everlasting fingerprint on our community,” she added.
In discussing issues facing the district, she said, “I believe that the single most important issue that the district currently faces is ensuring that we maintain adequate funding to sustain smaller class sizes as well as hire and retain highlyqualified, passionate teachers.
“Quite honestly, I believe that our district is on a sustainable path for success, providing and delivering the highest quality of service,” she continued. “As a board member, I will work diligently so that we continue being among the top 5 percent of districts in the State of Arizona.”
New board members will take office in early January.
(Special to the Tribune)
Berdetta Hodge has one child at McClintock High and another who graduated from there.
Republican legislative leaders oppose killing state income tax
BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
Had he not lost to Senator-elect Sean Bowie, Tempe Republican Frank Schmuck apparently would have received a cold shoulder from his GOP colleagues in the state Legislature over the central plank of his campaign platform—eliminating the state income tax.
The Republicancontrolled legislature doesn’t plan to vote this coming year—or in the near future—to kill the tax.
In his campaign for the Legislative District 18 Senate seat, covering Ahwatukee and parts of Chandler, Tempe and Mesa, Schmuck hammered constantly on his plan to gradually replace the income tax with a consumption levy on everything but gas, clothing and food.
He reasoned that such a tax would yield millions in revenue from tourists.
After the election, Bowie, an Ahwatukee Democrat and the only member of the state Senate who has never served in the Legislature, said he didn’t think Schmuck’s platform resonated with voters.
It’s not resonating with Schmuck’s party, either.
Incoming House Speaker J.D. Mesnard of Chandler said he wants to focus on creating a single-rate income tax, collapsing the current system of five tax brackets into one. But it would not be a “flat tax” because Mesnard proposes to have sufficient tax credits to ensure that those at the bottom of the income scale do not end up paying more.
Chandler Sen. Steve Yarbrough, the new Senate President, has a different agenda. In fact, he actually likes the idea
that Arizona has an income tax.
The reason is that Yarbrough has been a champion of providing dollar-fordollar state income tax credits to people who contribute to charities as well as to “school choice” programs. That includes one where the donated funds are given to parents to send their children to private and parochial schools.
told Capitol Media Services he remains convinced that lower tax rates are good.
Yarbrough runs the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization, the largest of the groups that benefits from and gives out those credits. No income tax means no tax credits—and Yarbrough’s operation is out of business.
The reticence by the two top legislative leaders to move toward cutting income taxes could put them on a collision course with Gov. Doug Ducey.
He campaigned on a promise of working every year to move the tax rate “as close to zero as possible.” And Ducey
“We have to recognize our state is in a competitive situation with places like California, Utah, Colorado, Florida and Texas,” he said.
Asked specifically about a single-rate tax, Ducey said “anything that lowers taxes, simplifies taxes or flattens taxes is a good idea.”
Lowering revenues, however, is not what
Mesnard has in mind, at least for now.
Mesnard said he envisions a “revenueneutral” proposal, where the amount of money the income tax brings in under the current system remains the same.
And there’s something else that could affect how much Arizona can afford to cut taxes: Whether the state has the money.
– Tribune Managing Editor Paul Maryniak contributed to this story.
(Capitol Media Services)
Steve Yarbrough, the new Senate president, explains why the state is not in the financial condition to start or expand programs.
(Capitol Media Services)
Incoming House Speaker J.D. Mesnard details some of his legislative priorities at the annual conference of the Arizona Tax Research Association.
Community
Taiwanese baseball players experiencing culture of the East Valley
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Tribune Contributing Writer
Doug Brewster, Chandler National Little League president, has one goal for his visitors from Tainan, Taiwan.
“We want to show them the best American time we can,” Brewster said.
The 24 10- and 11-year-old boys and one girl who make up the Tainan City All-Star team arrived Saturday. They are staying with CNLL families and will head to the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell and Sedona, and will tour Chase Field and the ASU baseball field in the next week. They will also shop at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Former D-backs catcher Ken Huckaby will host a clinic for the kids.
“They wanted to go to the Chase Field because there are quite a few famous Taiwanese baseball players,” said Michelle Chang, the organizer and broker/owner of DA FA Realty and Investments LLC in Tempe.
One is Tainan-born Chien-Ming Wang, who pitched for a variety of teams before becoming a free agent.
Chandler Vice Mayor Jack Seller appreciates Chang’s efforts.
“(She) has really put together a lot of stuff from them,” said Sellers, the point person for the Sister Cities relationship between Chandler and Tainan. “We’ve had a lot of participation from Doug Brewster, too. He’s arranged a lot of extracurricular activities.”
A visit to Tarwater Elementary School, which has a Mandarin-language immersion program, is scheduled. The kids will also play baseball games, practice in the morning at Snedigar Sportsplex, and, of course, hang out with their peers’ parents.
“When I had meetings with the parents, they all agreed to host them,” Brewster said. “We were all excited to do it. Each family is taking on two kids for a week. They must drop them off every day and pick them up every night. Do laundry, feed them. There are two kids per family so the kids are comfortable.”
The City Council is scheduled to meet the team, according to Chang. The Chandler/Tainan City teams also will
play in two exhibition games (Friendship Exhibition) on Saturday at Snedigar Sportsplex, 4500 S. Basha Road. An opening ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. to kick off the games, which will be played at 12:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Both games are open to the public.
Last year, Chandler National Little League players traveled to Tainan to play exhibition games.
Sellers said officials are in talks for the American children to return to Taiwan next year. Funds must be raised, first. The new Sister Cities partnership is seeking sponsorships to continue its Little League exchange program and allow for future student exchanges and cultural programming. The sponsorship opportunities range from $25 to $10,000. To view the detailed list of sponsorship levels and benefits, visit chandleraz.gov/diversity.
“We’re contacting companies primarily here in Chandler,” Sellers said. “What we’ve done is, for a certain level of contribution, Chandler National Little League will hang the company’s banner on the fence during the regular season.
“Hopefully we can get some money out
of that. It’s a little bit problematic. When you go to these companies, they say approach us April.”
Sellers and Chang traveled to Tainan in late October for the opening ceremonies of a tournament that Chandler National Little League played in last year.
“It was mainly for a follow-up for our Sister Cities relationship with Tainan that we’re working on, though,” Sellers said. “We met a guy there named Winson Lin and he speaks fluent English. He lives in Tainan and he’s the founder of the Giant Cup Baseball Tournament.
“He’s a very highly regarded guy. He’s knowledgeable about the whole Little League structure. He said he would be the main point of contact for Chandler and Tainan’s Sister Cities program. For me, that was a really outstanding thing
that happened on that trip.”
Brewster is excited for the kids to return to Chandler. Baseball players from the same organization visited two years ago as well.
“Our players will go to dinners with the team and do quite a bit of stuff with these kids,” he said. “I think they’re going to really enjoy it and get a lot out of it.
“I told the parents to feed them whatever you feed your family. Give them the American experience.”
(Special to the Tribune)
Members of the Chandler National Little League traveled to Tainan last year for a tournament. The players mixed with local players for photos.
(Special to the Tribune)
Chandler National Little League players were greeted in Tainan last year.
Mesa names first female fire chief
BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
It was a festive event, not just a routine press conference, when Mesa City Manager Chris Brady announced a popular decision: the appointment of Mary Cameli as Mesa’s new fire chief.
A trailblazer since she was hired as one of Mesa’s first two female firefighters in 1983, Cameli carries on a family legacy in the fire service. Her brother, Gil Damiani, retired after serving as a Mesa deputy fire chief.
“I feel so blessed to work with such great people,” a beaming Cameli said to a packed house in a conference room that included many firefighters and several family members. “Thank you so much for this privilege. We will continue to excel. Quality customer service is what we do every day.”
0.4 percent sales tax that would have created funding for the Mesa police and fire departments, and also built facilities for a downtown Arizona State University campus and completed the Benedictine University campus. Cameli was one of three internal finalists for the job and had been serving as interim fire chief since September when Harry Beck retired.
(Will Powers/Tribune Staff Photographer) Mary Cameli was named the Chief of Mesa’s Fire and Medical Department. She became one of Mesa’s first female firefighters in 1983.
Cameli, Mesa’s first female in the role, assumes command of the Mesa Fire and Medical Department, which has a national reputation for progressive leadership and medical programs. These programs include a two-person unit, including a captain and a nurse practitioner, who respond to lowlevel calls.
But the department also is under financial strain after voters rejected a
BRIEFS
GILBERT
Heritage District businesses decorating for best display
Several businesses in Gilbert’s Heritage District are competing to be awarded “Best Holiday Window Display.”
Visitors can vote for their favorite display until Dec. 18. Voting and an online map of participating businesses is available at discovergilbert.com/ holidaywindowcontest.php.
The winner will be announced on Dec. 22 and decorations will remain in place until Dec. 25.
Roads to be restricted for 12k’s of Christmas
Val Vista Drive and Greenfield Road,
Beck served 13 years as Mesa Fire Chief after a long career with the Phoenix Fire Department. He was named Career Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs in recognition of 43 years in the fire service.
Cameli said she is seeking additional funding to continue the innovative medical program after a major grant expires. She praised deputy chiefs Mike Dunn and Cori Hayes, the other two finalists, and said they make a great management team.
“I am very humbled and honored to serve in this capacity,” Cameli said. “I think it’s trying to meet the needs of the public and continue our service at the level we have.”
– Reach Jim Walsh at 480-898-5639 or at jwalsh@timespublications.com.
– Comment on this article and like the East Valley Tribune on Facebook and follow EVTNow on Twitter.
between Elliot and Guadalupe Roads, will be closed to through traffic at the Power Line Trail on Saturday from 9:45-11:30 a.m. for the 12k’s of Christmas.
Access to businesses and residents will be available. Traffic traveling north or south will be detoured along Elliot or Guadalupe Roads to either Lindsay or Higley Roads. Valley Metro Bus Route 108 will be detoured on Lindsay to Guadalupe from 9:45-11:45 a.m.
For more information, visit 12krun.com.
CHANDLER
Fire, Health & Medical collects toys for local kids
The Chandler Fire, Health & Medical Department is hosting the Holiday Toy Ride from 2-8 p.m. Saturday at Chandler Fashion Center.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25,
6
Developer loves historic angle of Ben U dorm project
BY SHELLEY RIDENOUR Tribune Staff Writer
The owners of a creative redevelopment company are pretty excited about their current project in downtown Mesa.
Lorenzo Perez, one of the owners of Venue Projects, describes his company’s renovation project at the historic Alhambra Hotel as “not for the faint of heart.” Once finished, the building will be leased to Benedictine University for student housing.
Perez and his partner, Jon Kitchell, came upon the Alhambra after a friend, who owns the building next door, told them the hotel’s previous owners might be amenable to selling. Since the two men were looking for a downtown Mesa project, it made sense to look into the prospect.
Perez remembers being stunned when he walked into the Alhambra because the 122-year-old building was largely intact. While some modifications had been made, he knew they could “quickly be undone.”
As he viewed the “small rooms with a lot of character,” he began thinking about what Venue Projects could do with the building. His first thought was to convert it to creative office space, but then he thought of Benedictine University.
Perez was a member of the downtown Mesa visioning committee.
“I fell in love with downtown Mesa and its buildings,” while part of that group, he said.
Through the committee he met and worked with Jo Wilson, an administrator at Benedictine. He remembered conversations about how Benedictine needed student housing and put the two things together.
The Alhambra is expected to house its first Benedictine University students in January. There’ll be space for about 30 students then, with room for about 30 more coming in the spring when construction is completed.
Featuring both single and double dorm rooms, the building will also include a cafe, lounges, laundry facilities, an exercise room, patios, outdoor common areas and study areas.
“I thought this was a perfect opportunity for Benedictine,” Perez said, so he reached out to Wilson who told him that Benedictine “needed housing in a big way.”
An agreement was reached and the building will soon become a dorm leased to Benedictine by Venue Projects of Phoenix and Community Development Partners of Newport Beach, California, the owners of the Alhambra. The two firms paid $960,000 for the building. The renovation price tag is $3.5 million.
Charlie Gregory, Mesa campus executive officer at Benedictine, said having a historic building as the college’s dorm is cool, because the main Benedictine building was once a hospital.
The Alhambra is on South Macdonald Street, about a half block off Main Street and about a mile from Benedictine’s main Mesa campus at 225 E. Main St.
As Perez scouts for projects for his company, he keeps three things in mind: finding a good opportunity, looking for holes in the community and preserving old and historic structures.
“We want to give new life in creative
(Shelley Ridenour/Tribune staff) Flaviano Vazquez measures the length of a portion of the ceiling in what will become a Benedictine University dorm room at the old Alhambra hotel in downtown Mesa. Vazquez works for True Value Drywall, a subcontractor on the restoration project.
Bob Dylan’s Nobel prize is subject of ASU class
BY SHELLEY RIDENOUR
Tribune Staff Writer
Leave it to Bob Dylan to be so pervasive that an Arizona State University English professor is planning a summer class on his receipt of the Nobel Prize for literature.
It’s not only because Elizabeth Horan is a Dylan fan, she insists. She has taught a class on the Nobel literature prize every fall semester for about two decades. This year, it didn’t make the fall schedule.
Because Nobel winners are typically announced in October, students in those fall classes predict a winner in the literature category, explain and discuss their choices and then spend the latter weeks of the semester talking about the winner.
Without fail, Horan said, every semester at least one student predicts Dylan to win. Last year, he was the choice of three students.
“It was ironic that the one semester I skip the class, Dylan wins,” she said.
Mesa resident Todd Butler earned a degree in English literature from ASU in
2011. He took the Nobel class in 2009.
Butler said he found the class “really interesting,” but admits he didn’t choose Dylan as the winner.
“I wouldn’t have thought that was an option,” Butler said. Instead he chose an Israeli author “who still hasn’t won.”
Butler has no qualms with the academy’s choice of Dylan as the winner this year.
“I think it’s great that Dylan won ... recognizing a recognizable figure in America.” He’s chosen to view Dylan’s win as “a break in a difficult year in America” that allows people “to remember that there were some good things in America this year” and said it gives people a reason to celebrate.
because of the quality of his lyrics, his status as a cultural marker and the changes he’s led in the music industry.
Does Professor Horan have a theory about why Dylan won in 2016?
Maybe.
“There’s a growing body of work about Dylan by scholars,” Horan said, “and there have been some changes within the Nobel committee.”
She describes Dylan as “a populist with clear roots in populism and racial issues.”
about “what function awards have in society, what their value is.”
Reading the works of past Nobel winners, Clark noticed that many of them make social commentary in their writings. He thinks the same of Dylan.
“He redefines and challenges what we perceive as literature,” Clark said.
Horan isn’t part of the crowd who has said a songwriter isn’t creating genuine literature and therefore Dylan shouldn’t have won.
“The clout of the Nobel is it attracts attention to the literary value” of the recipient’s work, Horan said.
Likewise, she said “it’s ridiculous to think only songwriters will win again.”
Butler speculates that Dylan won
Because this year’s literature winner was announced a week later than other Nobel prizes, Horan said she was tipped off that “there was a potential controversy.” Then when the chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee made such a short announcement about Dylan’s award, her hunch was reinforced. Those announcements often involve about 15 minutes of talk by the chairman, but Dylan’s was about three minutes long.
Clark agrees with his professor. He said people who argue that Dylan isn’t a writer because he writes poetry and songs have “a narrow definition of what a writer is.”
Defining any art is a difficult task, Horan said.
“Art is for reaching people,” Horan said. “It appeals to our emotions, our better selves, our community. Song in particular does that.”
The Dylan Nobel class is planned as an online course, running for almost eight weeks this summer. Because it’s coming after the 2016 announcement and quite a bit before the 2017 winners are chosen, Horan will change the tenor of the class from past classes.
Another of Horan’s former students, Jerome Clark, considers Dylan’s win important “because it challenges us to what we believe literature to be.”
Clark, who lives in Tempe, has a bachelor’s degree in American Indian studies from ASU, a master’s in English from Northern Arizona University and is in the English Ph.D. program at ASU now. He took the Nobel class in 2013. He appreciated the class discussions
“Instead of saying who should win, I will have my students write about what realms” Dylan is in and why he won. “The class will look at the origins of his voice and his music.” Students will discuss the controversy surrounding his Nobel prize, the process and his decision not to attend the awards ceremony.
– Contact reporter Shelley Ridenour at 480-8986533 or sridenour@timespublications.com.
(Shelley Ridenour/Tribune staff)
DEVELOPER
ways and tell old Arizona stories,” he said of Venue Projects.
Perez and Kitchell founded Venue Projects in 2008 after working together at Kitchell Contractors. Jon’s father, Sam, had founded that firm, which is now employee-owned.
They began Venue Projects with plans to do infill and redevelopment projects. Kitchell and Perez are proud of their reputation as redevelopers, as opposed to new construction contractors.
“We’re always looking for unique buildings with heritage,” Perez said. “We really are about community building and place making. We’ve become community and economic developers as much as we are property developers.”
Perez and Kitchell say they want to “create, inspire and serve, not manage.”
Perez is bothered by “the demolition culture of Arizona.”
“How are we ever going to have a historic building here?” he asked. “We’re trying to save as many of them as we can.”
Because of that, Venue Projects has a mission “to tell Arizona stories through
BRIEFS
from page 15
Anyone who donates a new, unwrapped toy during the Holiday Toy Ride will receive a ride in a Chandler fire engine.
The toy collection point at Chandler Fashion Center is near the valet parking area outside of the food court on the south side of the mall. An adult must accompany all children 6 years of age and younger on their ride.
Toy donations can also be dropped off in the lobby of the Fire Administration Headquarters at 151 E. Boston St. through Dec. 16 or at any Chandler fire station.
MESA
Altered Tails to offer $20 surgeries for cats
Altered is offering a $20 spay and neuter surgery promotion for all cat owners in Maricopa County. This special rate also includes rabies and FVRCP vaccinations.
Cat owners must mention the “Merry Fixmas” campaign when they schedule their appointment. This campaign is based on availability.
Visit alteredtails.org or call 480-8071200 for more information or to schedule an appointment at the Mesa office at 7246 East Main St.
creative redevelopment,” he said.
The Alhambra is the oldest building Venue Projects has renovated. They’ve worked on buildings constructed in the 1920s, but nothing older, Perez said.
Learning the processes and rules for historic renovations “has been somewhat educational for us,” he said.
Essentially, the exterior of the building can’t be altered because the building is listed on a historic register, but interior work isn’t restricted much
The workers reuse every brick they remove, part of the process Perez refers to as “peeling the onion and harvesting the old materials.” They’ve saved some of the redwood removed from the building and will create picnic tables for the outdoor courtyard from that wood, Kitchell said.
Perez is optimistic that the Alhambra could give other property owners in downtown Mesa incentive to rehabilitate their buildings and boost the vibrancy of downtown. The addition of 60 residents who live, walk, attend classes, eat and “do everything in downtown Mesa will have an impact,” he predicted.
– Contact reporter Shelley Ridenour at 480-8986533 or sridenour@timespublications.com.
Residents urged to recycle leftover paints, stains, finishes
Stardust Building Supplies is hosting a paint recycling event to collect latex and water-based paints, stains and clear finishes Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Paint can be dropped off at Stardust Building Supplies, 1720 W. Broadway Road, Mesa. A fee of 40 cents per pound will be charged. The event is open to the general public and businesses.
Paint collected will then be recycled by GreenSheen for reselling. Oil, alkyd, lacquer, urethane or other chemicals will not be accepted.
For more information, go to stardustbuilding.org.
TEMPE
Massing of the Colors ceremony held in Tempe
The Apache Trail Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars Is inviting the public to join them for the invites the public to celebrate the 24th Annual Massing of the Colors & Service of Remembrance.
Marcos de Niza High School will host the event, which celebrates the lives of fallen veterans.
The event is 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at 6000 S. Lakeshore Drive, Tempe.
Think you’ll get that earworm out of your head? Don’t stop believin’
BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Tribune Columnist
This is tough to confess, because it calls into question so much of what makes me me: My intellect, my taste, even the essence of my manhood. Still, they say confession is good for the soul. So, here goes.
My name is David and I suffer from a super-serious case of what psychologists call INMI. Spelled out, that’s “involuntary musical imagery,” or, in laymen’s terms, “earworms.” Or, as we put it at my house, “a freakin’ raging case of tragically awful songs being stuck in my head for days on end.”
Like for the past week, Bruno Mars riffing his way through “24K Magic.” What, that’s not a big deal to you? Try being a 51-year-old sitting in a meeting with executive team of a bajillion dollar company, the group allegedly focused
Thank you, voters!
Some of the candidates I voted for won and some of them lost in this year’s elections. However, I wanted to commend and congratulate my fellow Maricopa County voters on their repudiation of the current sheriff in our county. He has shown and proven himself to be egocentric and full of narcissism, and we have deserved and needed better for many years. We didn’t vote him out of office because of his party affiliation but because of his personal agenda almost always trumped his law enforcement obligations. Thank you, Maricopa County voters, for being able to differentiate between a con artist and a law enforcement professional.
– Richard K. Meszar – Mesa
About the Electoral College
For those who believe that Ms. Clinton should be president because she won the plurality of the vote (yes, she did not get a majority), they might consider the reasons the Founders embedded the Electoral College in the Constitution.
It should also be considered that they
on public relations strategy, while you’re mostly thinking to yourself, “24 karat magic in the air/Head to toe so player/ Uh, look out!”
Uh, thanks, Bruno. And no, playa, I don’t want to “put my pinky rings up to the moon.” Hell, I don’t even own a pinky ring.
Frankly, that song still beats this summer, when I spent a month mentally reciting Britney Spears’ “Work B*tch.”
You know: “Go call the police/Go call the governor/I bring the trouble/That means the trouble y’all/I make it bubble up/Call me the bubbler.”
And let’s not even discuss the summer of 2007, when the final episode of “The Sopranos” featured Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” That song spent a good three months atop the mental Casey Kasem Top 40 chart in my head.
Fortunately, thanks to a team of British shrinks, I now know I’m not alone. They just published a study titled “Dissecting an Earworm: Melodic Features and Song
Popularity Predict Involuntary Musical Imagery” in the journal “Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts.”
Their verdict? “Musically sticky” songs are “usually faster, with a fairly generic and easy-to-remember melody but with some particular intervals, such as leaps or repetitions that set them apart from the average pop song.”
That whispering you hear? That’s me doing a karaoke version of “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga, cited by study participants as the worst earworm tune of recent years. Also on the list: Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” (which always makes me imagine a senior citizen injuring his hip on a high kick) and “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
The scariest part of the study?
“Our findings show that you can, to some extent, predict which songs are going to get stuck in people’s heads based on the song’s melodic content,” said Dr. Kelly Jakubowski, the lead author. “This could help aspiring songwriters or
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
invented a form of government that has not only lasted 228 years, but has seen a stable, peaceful change of the top office 43 times—the exception being the secession of the southern states. Once the Civil War ended, there has been an unbroken succession of peaceful transfers of that power, and with it, the building of the most economically successful and most powerful nation in the world.
The genius of the Founding Document is that it spreads political change over both time (every two years for congressmen, four years for president and six years for senators) and geography, preventing chaotic change and protecting the minority from excesses of majority rule. It created a constitutional federal republic—not a democracy—and a federation of states with representative democracy. The effect was to spread political equality across the vast geography of our country. The two-party system that has evolved from this unique governing principle has been the vehicle for the checks and balances preventing unresponsive abuse of power.
But Ms. Clinton won the most votes. Shouldn’t she be the next president? Only
five times out of 58 national elections has the elected president received less than the plurality of votes—two of the last three new presidents. But, while Clinton won the popular vote by about 2 million votes (drop California’s vote and she loses), she lost the geographic vote—“…the vote that reflects the different ways that Americans live”—catastrophically. Out of more than 5,000 counties in the United States, Ms. Clinton won barely 300.
It is the function of the Electoral College system that levels the playing field so that densely populated geographic areas don’t dominate the national will. That is why our country is not called “The United People of America” but is, in fact, “The United States of America.”
– Jim Barber – Mesa
Caring for others
The headlines are clear; no matter which side of the election we came out on, people are motivated to make a difference in the way our government leads. The best way to make sure your values and opinions are represented is through direct advocacy and citizen engagement. Americans want to have
advertisers write a jingle everyone will remember for days or months afterwards.”
For the love of Pete, let’s pray that whomever is responsible for that abysmal Express Flooring jingle—“Express Flooring is the best/Call 800-Express”—never uncovers the magic formula. I’d hate to think they could make that commercial any worse—or any more insidious.
On to the million-dollar question: How do you dig earworms out of your head? The psychologists’ advice includes listening to the tune all the way through to flush it from your subconscious; distracting yourself by listening to a new song; or simply trying not to think about it and letting the song fade away naturally.
Me, I’ve tried all those cures. The only thing that seems to work with this malady is time. Because, like noted INMI causer Mick Jagger has said for many years now, over and over and over: “Time, time, time is on my side/Yes it is.”
– David Leibowitz has called the Valley home since 1995. Reach him at david@leibowitzsolo.com.
more influence on political processes, but many don’t know how.
I volunteer with CARE Action, the global humanitarian organization that’s eradicating poverty through the lives of girls and women, because I understand when women are equipped with the right resources, they are change-makers. CARE Action provides bipartisan, easy-to-understand advocacy training and national and local opportunities to learn about and lobby on issues like humanitarian assistance for refugees and natural disasters, gender-based violence, eradicating maternal mortality and improving global food security. These issues impact American lives and our national security, which demand that we do our civic duty to raise our voices.
CARE Action’s advocates are all over the U.S. Our influence on legislation to reduce poverty and improve human rights is significant and effective. Now more than ever, citizens must mobilize, organize, apply political pressure and let our representatives know what matters. Learn how at CAREAction.org.
– Anissa Rasheta – Mesa
Republicans get a second chance – let’s hope they don’t blow it
BY TOM PATTERSON Tribune Contributing Writer
Not many of us get to have do-overs after a gigantic fail. Yet Washington Republicans are getting a golden opportunity to redeem their policy failures of the past. They better not mess it up again.
We all remember the Republican legislative majorities of 2010 and 2014, their victories propelled by a base appalled at our national decline under Barack Obama. But once elected, they went into a shell, not making a dent in Obamacare, overregulation or the growth of the welfare state. They caved repeatedly on budget negotiations, out of fear a government “shutdown” would be blamed on them and weaken their prospects for reelection. They had their priorities.
Their fecklessness deepened public disgust with a self-seeking, out-of-touch Washington establishment. It inspired a massive blowback that resulted in the
Trump phenomenon. Voters were so eager for change, they elected the most unpopular major presidential candidate in history in hopes of achieving it.
The improbable result was that Republicans were the beneficiary of the very firestorm they helped ignite. This time, they have the presidency and a mandate for reform that is beyond dispute.
Of course, they still have headwinds. The mainstream media is pitching a fit that Trump is appointing people to his administration from the political Right. Protesters are refusing to accept the election results. Obama, hyperpartisan to the end, plans to hang around Washington and promote his agenda, defying decency and tradition.
It’s not clear as of this writing whether Republicans will keep their eye on the ball this time. The appointments have been mostly encouraging (posting a battle-tested school-choice advocate at Education was brilliant) and people are saying the right things about economic growth, energy and immigration. But as usual with Trump, there’s not much meat on the bones and some worrisome
indicators.
For example, there has been a move by some House Republicans to lift the 2010 ban on earmarks. If we’re serious about reform mode, why is this even a question?
Earmarks are undebated add-ons to appropriations bills. They are generally local pork projects granted to individual legislators. Their elimination played a role in Republicans regaining the House in 2010.
Now, some House Republicans argue that Obama ended up taking the money and the credit, so what was the point? Yet frustration over Obama’s unconstitutional power grabs doesn’t justify a return to cronyism and corruption. Speaker Ryan put this one on hold, but it’s undecided.
Dreamland Villa’s UPCOMING EVENTS
Earmarks aren’t that consequential but Obamacare is a major threat to our nation’s financial stability, to our healthcare and to business growth and employment. No issue was (rightly) flogged more by Republicans during the election. Yet now many are urging that repeal be scrapped and only cosmetic changes be made.
Farnsworth Hall, 6159 E. University, Mesa AZ
Old and new featuring forgotten gems from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s $14
Desserts, coffee, and punch provided
Wade Hammond Concert Sunday, Jan. 8th
Our former Gov. Brewer is telling Trump to preserve the expansion of Medicaid (AHCCCS) that she championed. She says he should look to Arizona as the “gold standard” for reform of Obamacare/Medicaid.
That’s actually kind of funny. Arizona is widely regarded as an Obamacare basket case and the AHCCCS expansion is a looming disaster. New enrollments have far exceeded expectations and state expenses are set to explode. Moreover, an MIT study shows that for every dollar spent, recipients receive only $0.20$0.40 in benefits in this wildly expensive and inefficient program.
Trump himself could do a lot of good by repealing Obama’s unilateral directives on immigration, the Iran nuclear deal and EPA regulations.
But Republicans must be strong and focused. If they punt another chance, most likely their last, to fundamentally change America’s direction, they must be prepared to own the consequences for their party and their country.
– East Valley resident Tom Patterson is a retired physician and former state senator. He can be reached at pattersontomc@cox.net.
Business Business
Inventor’s training firearm helps police learn to prevent accidents
BY MIKE BUTLER Tribune Staff Writer
When Mike Farrell of Tempe signed up for formal firearms training some years ago, he was surprised—and a little alarmed— by how often guns were accidentally triggered.
As he progressed to advanced training, he said, things didn’t get much better. He saw elite shooters and experienced instructors accidentally discharge their weapons. Farrell discovered that it was even a problem among veteran law enforcement officers. He learned that for every 1,000 officers on the street, there’s one on-the-job accident per year.
Such accidents can have tragic consequences. Earlier this year, a rookie NYPD officer was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and put on probation for the accidental 2014 shooting of an unarmed resident in a housing project stairwell. During the trial, prosecutors argued that the officer breached department protocol by having his finger on the trigger.
Farrell speculated that part of the problem with accidental firings might lie with the inert plastic guns that police officers train with before going to live firearm training. So, he hit the garage and invented a “smart” training aid that warns shooters when their index fingers come off the barrel and move toward the trigger.
Police departments around the country think it’s a good idea.
Farrell’s Smart Firearms training guns are being used in Phoenix, New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is a client, as is the Law Enforcement Training Academy at Chandler Gilbert Community College.
Farrell said when a stressful and dangerous confrontation occurs, fingers reflexively clench and instinct wants to move the forefinger to the trigger. That can be disastrous when using a modern pistol that lacks a safety and has a short trigger pull. Repetitive training with the Smart Firearms gun, he explained, ingrains a smooth move of the forefinger
from barrel to trigger when a shot is warranted.
In traditional inert gun simulation training, according to Farrell, police officers literally say “Bang! Bang!” to indicate when they’ve fired.
“That does nothing to train muscle memory,” said Farrell. “Their thinking was, ‘We’ll fix it in live fire.’”
After receiving patents and getting a few departments to try out an early model, Farrell used feedback to keep improving.
“What they had to say at first wasn’t too flattering,” he admitted.
His first smart firearm had a chip that could handle three algorithms. Today, the chip has an accelerometer and handles more than a hundred algorithms.
“We never want that alarm to go off if they’re doing it right,” Farrell explained.
“We can’t build for the pretend world. That’s deadly.”
In addition to the alarm, Farrell’s top training guns make firing sounds and include integrated lasers, night sights and removable magazines. Pistols are designed and molded to resemble the weight and feel of the real-life Glocks, Smith & Wessons and SIG Sauers that police departments use. Grips must be
The training
has things you wouldn’t ordinarily see in a
precisely contoured to fit the specialized holsters used by law enforcement. The holsters contain friction fits and catches to prevent bad guys from grabbing officers’ weapons.
“I know more about plastics than I ever wanted to know,” joked Farrell, a former cargo and corporate jet pilot.
The transition from professional to entrepreneur has hit some potholes along
like batteries.
the way, but they’ve been no match for the passion and drive he has for his new product and mission.
“We’re saving lives. We’re saving careers.”
– Reach Mike Butler at 480-898-5630 or at mbutler@ timespublications.com.
(Will Powers/Tribune Staff Photographer)
Mike Farrell has created a training device that functions like a police officer’s weapon without using ammunition. It uses sensors to teach “muscle memory.” It is designed to function more like a weapon used in the field so that the training is more realistic and doesn’t teach bad habits.
(Will Powers/Tribune Staff Photographer)
weapon
firearm,
2nd airline adding flights to Canada from Mesa
A second airline is now offering direct flights from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport to cities in Alberta, Canada.
WestJet Airlines plans to operate three direct, non-stop flights each week to Calgary, beginning on Jan. 19. And, the airline will fly once a week directly between Mesa and Edmonton, starting Jan. 21.
Earlier this month, NewLeaf Travel Co. announced it would offer charter flights from Gateway to Calgary and Edmonton beginning the same week in January.
Arizona has long been a winter destination for Canadians and Canada is the top international employer in the state, Gateway Executive Director and CEO Brian O’Neill said.
People can book flights on each airline at their respective websites: westjet.com and gonewleaf.ca.
Orbital ATK to expand Chandler presence, add jobs
Orbital ATK, one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense technology firms, is expanding its Launch Vehicles Division operations into an additional facility in Chandler.
The company is eyeing Allred Park Place along Chandler’s Price Corridor. The building will add 46,000 square feet of office space to Orbital ATK’s Launch Vehicles campuses.
The additional Orbital ATK facility will help support a projected growth of up to 500 full-time, high-wage jobs over a five-year period.
Fired Pie to hire 70 people, hosting job fair for Mesa
Fired Pie is hosting a job fair to hire 70 people, mostly for its new location in Mesa.
The restaurant, which will open at 1003 N. Dobson Rd, Suite 106, is also looking for front house staff, managers and shift leaders for all over Phoenix.
The fair is Tuesday from 3-5 p.m. at the Tempe store, 414 W. University Dr. Applicants are also encouraged to apply online at firedpiejobs.com if they cannot make the job fair.
Phoenix Premium Outlets adds two stores to lineup
Johnston & Murphy Factory Outlet and GNC will open stores at Phoenix Premium Outlets in Chandler.
Johnston & Murphy designs, creates, and markets high-quality footwear, apparel,
HAPPY HOUR
leather goods and luggage to both men and women. The 2,714-square-foot store will be next to Tommy Hilfiger and will be the brand’s first outlet in Arizona.
GNC will offer from vitamins and minerals to beauty items and weight-loss products. The 1,200-square-foot retailer will be across from Old Navy.
Phoenix Premium Outlets is at 4976 Premium Outlets Way, Chandler.
Expert to give presentation on getting small biz funding
Kristin Slice, Business Analyst with the Maricopa Small Business Development Center, will discuss “How to Secure Funding for Your Business” Tuesday at the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce.
Slice, founder of Empowered Lab Communication, will tell how to finance your businesses through personal, borrowing, crowd funding and assistance eligibility.
Her talk will be noon-1 p.m. at the Chamber Office, 25 S. Arizona Ave., Suite 201, Chandler. Register at business. chandlerchamber.com/events.
ASU student project showcase open to public
Innovation Showcase, an exhibit of studentproduced projects, will be open to the public
Friday at ASU Polytechnic in Mesa.
The projects demonstrate how ASU students solve real-world problems with innovative and imaginative solutions. Innovation Showcase enables creators to produce, refine and develop new inventions, new methodologies, new creations and new ideas.
The showcase is from 3-5:30 p.m. at the ASU Polytechnic Fitness Complex, E. Texas Ave., Mesa. Free parking will be in green lot 16A.
For more information, contact anna@asu. edu.
Fingerprinting security firm opening location in Mesa
Secureone LiveScan Fingerprinting is opening in Mesa to manage the city’s fingerprinting needs.
Secureone is a nationally renowned fingerprinting program that incorporates an inkless digital fingerprinting process that submits fingerprints electronically to the state police and/or FBI.
The new Mesa location of Secureone will also offer a home base for its East Valley security operations and a new Security Training Center.
For more information, visit Secureone livescanprinting.com.
Championship season comes together one piece at a time
BY JASON P. SKODA TRIBUNE PREP SPORTS DIRECTOR
The pieces have been there since August for every football program.
Some just fall into to place easier than others.
Three area teams were able to complete the puzzle Nov. 26 to win the state title in the respective classifications.
Chandler won the 6A Conference title for the second AIA title in program history, Williams Field is champion of 5A for the Black Hawks’ first title and American Leadership Academy brought back the 3A trophy for the Patriots’ first championship.
Here is a look at how each team went about it.
Patriots knock off Sabino for first title
Having been handed their only loss of the season back in September by Sabino, the Patriots of American Leadership Academy came into the 3A Conference state title game seeking revenge.
The Patriots got all of that and more, blowing out the Sabercats 31-14, making them 2016 3A state champions.
“I am at a loss for words,” senior quarterback for the Patriots Dallin Edwards said. “To be able to get it done with these guys is the best feeling in the world.”
Early in the first quarter on just his second run of the game, Patriots leading rusher Jermiah Boyd was pulled from the game after taking a big hit to the head.
With Boyd out for the game, Edwards went to work through the air, throwing two touchdowns of 10 and 27 yards to Stowers and Bujon Boyd to give the Patriots the 14-0 lead at halftime.
Edwards would finish with four total touchdowns including a 1-yard run of his own.
The story of the game however was the Patriots defense.
A stout unit all year, the Patriots had arguably their best game of the season on the biggest stage, shutting down Sabino playmaker and University of Arizona commit Drew Dixon in the first half and most of the second.
Williams Field tops Centennial for title
As Tre’ Bugg put it, surrounded by his jubilant Williams Field teammates, “It was a year of many firsts.”
Williams Field’s first-ever meeting with west-side power Centennial ended with Williams Field claiming the most satisfying first of all—the first state championship for Steve Campbell and the Black Hawks.
After previously falling short in the title game in 2010 and 2014, Williams Field broke through on its third try, defeating Centennial 14-6 for the 5A championship and completing the first undefeated season in school history.
“It’s been a long road,” said Campbell,
the only coach Williams Field has known in nine seasons as a varsity program. “A lot of kids and a lot of people have put a lot of hard work and time and effort into this to make it happen, so it’s phenomenal.”
As it did all year, No. 2 Williams Field (14-0) won Saturday on the strength of its defense, holding No. 5 Centennial (12-2) without a touchdown for the first time all season.
Bugg, a senior cornerback, had two of the highlights: an interception in the fourth quarter to kill a Centennial drive and a 65-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery following a teammate’s interception in the second quarter.
Chandler wins second title in three seasons
This ‘Ohana thing just might be working.
Ever since Shaun Aguano took over the Chandler football program, he has gone out of his way to bring his Hawaiian heritage and his belief of extended family to the Wolves. Since 2011, it has seemingly infiltrated everyone associated
with the program.
It was on display again at University of Phoenix Stadium as the secondseeded Wolves won their second state championship in three seasons, topping No. 1 Mountain Pointe 36-17 in the 6A Conference title game, after never winning one under the AIA era dating to 1959.
“If you look around program the word ‘Ohana is all around program,” Aguano said. “It comes from my Hawaiian heritage and making sure we have a family feel. I’ve been trying to build that. Football is just sport, but if I can give them a sense family that’s the biggest thing.
“Does it help win football games? I think so.”
The Wolves (12-2) won 10 straight games to end the year, all in convincing fashion, to hoist the golden ball behind an underrated offensive line and a bevy of talented skills players led by senior running back TJ Green, who finished with 233 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
While the offensive line was impressive in winning the physical portion of the game, the Wolves had plenty of other contributors as well while building a 22-7 halftime lead after the Pride (13-1) scored first.
Sophomore Jacob Conover did a good job of spreading the ball around, while connecting with a wide-open Jarick Caldwell for a 59-yard touchdown to go up 15-7 with 7:39 left in the second quarter.
Then anytime it seemed the Pride had anything going offensively, senior cornerback Imani Lee stepped to the forefront with a couple of interceptions, including a very athletic one-handed grab.
“We played like a bunch of savages and executed,” Lee said.
– Contact Jason Skoda at 480-898-7915 or jskoda@evtrib.com. Follow him on Twitter @ JasonPSkoda.
(Cheryl Haselhorst/Staff Photographer) Chandler football players celebrate on the field with their trophy immediately after besting Mountain Pointe, 36 to 17, to win the state football championship.
East Valley prep stars find success in the college ranks
BY ZACH ALVIRA TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
As the high school football season has now come to an end, the recruiting trail is starting to heat up, as players haul in offers from colleges all over the country.
In honor of those committing to schools and extending their football careers, here are three players who know a thing or two about being in that position and are now on college rosters.
Cole Luke (Hamilton High School) – Notre Dame (Sr.) Defensive Back
Being recruited out of Hamilton, defensive back Cole Luke had a rocky start. Second-guessing his college
decisions, Luke sought out advice from others, but ultimately, kept receiving the same feedback.
“Everybody I asked told me that it was my decision. It was all over the place and it hit a point where I realized friends and the weather weren’t important,” Luke said. “Once I realized that I needed to pick a school that could do the most for me, I made my decision.”
Luke made an immediate impact for
Local
pro
soccer team rebrands, seeks new field
Arizona’s only professional soccer franchise changed its name from Arizona United Soccer Club to Phoenix Rising Football Club.
The also announced plans, in collaboration with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the Solanna Group, to develop a 15.8-acre soccer-specific training and stadium facility at McClintock and
the Irish in his freshman season, seeing action on special teams and at cornerback before starting his sophomore season and every game since.
He finished as the team leader in interceptions (2), passes broken up (6) and passes defended (8). Luke also had 48 tackles, including two for a loss.
Playing for Notre Dame where success is expected has been a challenge for Luke this year, as the Irish find themselves with a 4-8 record.
Familiar territory for the Hamilton grad.
“We started 0-2 my senior year (at Hamilton) and we had a lot of hanging heads,” Luke said. “We are going through a lot of downs now, and having that background of playing at Hamilton has set myself up for handling this.”
Even with struggles, Luke isn’t letting that spoil the overall outlook of his time at Notre Dame.
“It’s been unbelievable, I truly think this is the best decision of my life,” Luke said. “I am proud and honored to have had this opportunity.”
Alex Barrett
(Desert Ridge High School) – San Diego State (Sr.) Defensive End
A three-year starter for the Jaguars in high school, earning first-team all-state selections on two occasions, Barrett has continued his success on the gridiron as an Aztec for San Diego State University.
Barrett found himself in the rotation as a redshirt freshman for the Aztecs, totaling 15 tackles and showing that the transition from high school to college wasn’t as hard for him as it may have been for others.
“It was definitely a change in game speed but working with all of the older guys has helped me a lot,” Barrett said. “I took advantage of the off-season work
the 202 Freeway bordering Tempe and Scottsdale.
The club plans to kick off the 2017 soccer season at the new Phoenix Rising FC soccer complex.
Finally, to commemorate the change in name, Phoenix Rising FC unveiled a revamped website, PHXRisingFC.com.
and you catch up to the speed.”
Now, as a fifth-year senior and starter on the defensive line, Barrett has earned many honors, including a pre-season all-Mountain West selection along with being rated as one of the top pro prospects for the 2017 class in the Mountain West.
That, along with a current 10-1 record, it has proven to be a special career for Barrett at San Diego State as he prepares for what could be an NFL future.
“It’s a blessing, our coaches out here preach toughness and they allow us to get to where we are,” Barrett said. “Every year we have been improving, and overall it has been a blessing in disguise. “
Darell Garretson
(Chandler High School) – Oregon State (RS Jr.) Quarterback
Garretson finished his career at Chandler with 5,421 total passing yards, 50 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions thrown.
Now at Oregon State after transferring from Utah State, Garretson earned the starting job for the Beavers in spring practice.
“It was a smooth transition from Utah State, it helped that I have a really close childhood friend here,” Garretson said. “I learned a lot about myself and about the team and fit in really well.”
Garretson finished the year with 617 yards while completing 50 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions.
Oct. 8 in a game against Cal, Garretson ran for the game-winning touchdown, boosting the confidence for Cal heading into a showdown with Utah.
Against the Utes, Garretson’s season came to a sudden end, as he went down with a fractured ankle. Even while down, Garretson is keeping his hopes high, as he continues to heal from the injury ahead of a return next season.
“Going from an extreme high to almost an extreme low it was hard to deal with,” Garretson said. “Looking on the brighter side of things It’s a learning experience but I’m taking both positive and negatives from this whole thing.”
Jalen Brown
(Mountain Pointe High School)Oregon (RS Soph.) Wide receiver Brown graduated high school early expecting to get a jump on his career. It didn’t go as smooth as he would have liked.
“It was definitely a mental challenge for me coming in here,” Brown said. “I was the only early enrollee in my class. It was a huge adjustment socially and understanding their culture and coming in and learning how to get right physically. That was tough.”
His third year on campus proved to be his most productive, more than doubling his freshman numbers, as Brown finished with 19 catches for 318 yards (16.74 avg. per catch, the highest for anyone with at least 10 catches) and three touchdowns.
Ivy Zhang
(Special to the Tribune)
San Diego State defensive linemen Alex Barrett rushes the quarterback in a game against the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
(Special to the Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Cole Luke returns an interception against Northwestern.
FAITH CALENDAR
SUNDAY, DEC. 4
SPECIAL CONCERT PLANNED
Guest artists from the first annual Summer Artist in Residence Program, Chandler Gilbert Community College piano professor Piano Amanda Sherrill, and Arizona Opera soprano Melissa Solomon, will present a holiday concert of Bach, Handel, Rachmaninov and beloved classics.
DETAILS>> 2 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 739 W. Erie St., Chandler. Admission, $15/students, $10. Children under 10 are free. Information: 480-936-4127, or Earl@ htlutheran.com.
SATURDAY, DEC. 10
CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS
Children ages 3 through 10 are invited to come and celebrate the birth of our Savior in Calvary Lutheran Church’s Christmas for Kids. Besides the Christmas lesson, children will have all kinds of activities from crafts, to music, to Christmas treats, including birthday cake to celebrate and grow in the true Christmas message. If parents are looking for some time to shop or prepare for Christmas, we would love to have your children enjoy the morning with us.
DETAILS>> 9 a.m.-noon, 1270 N. Dobson Road, Chandler. Free. Register at calvarychandler.net under Events, through Dec. 5. Information: 480-963-9397.
THE GOOD LIFE HEALTH EVENT
Foothills Community Church in Chandler hosts a health education service for local residents to experience improved health and quality of life. The event includes various workshops, classes and activities on topics such as: nutrition, stressmanagement, wellness, healthy cooking, diabetes prevention, organic gardening, health screenings, CPR classes and healthy meals on a budget. DETAILS>> 1:30-3:30 p.m., 700 S. Hamilton St., Chandler. Information: 480-917-4688, goodlifeopenhouse@gmail.com, foothillsaz.org.
SUNDAY, DEC. 11
‘JAZZOPERETRY’ RETURNS
After a four-year absence, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and Jazzoperetry (“Jazz-OP-ruh-tree”), Inc., will join forces to present the long-awaited return to Arizona of the contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Robert Moffat. The Holy Trinity Chancel choir will join the Rob Moffat Chorus and instrumental ensemble to perform a musical nativity.
Information: 480-936-4127, or earl@htlutheran.com.
FRI-SUN, DEC. 16-18
WALK THROUGH BETHLEHEM
First Baptist Church Chandler’s 4th annual Walk Through Bethlehem Live Nativity will guide visitors
through the city of Bethlehem, past the stable of live animals and end at the manger and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Food trucks and photo opportunities will be available. Carolers will be singing on the grounds.
DETAILS>> 6-8 p.m., 3405 S. Arizona Ave, Chandler. Cost: Free. Information: fbc.net or 480-963-3439.
SUNDAY, DEC. 18
HANDEL’S ‘MESSIAH’ SING-ALONG
The Stapley Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Gilbert is hosting a community sing-along with orchestra. Individuals and families are welcome, including children. There is no admission and no donations will be accepted. Soloists will be auditioned and must attend a dress rehearsal on Dec. 17. The orchestra for this event is open to the community, but requires attendance at rehearsals which are held Sunday evenings from 4-6:30 p.m. until the performance.
DETAILS>> 7 p.m., 1100 N. Cooper Rd, Gilbert. Cost: Free,. Information: Richard Ewer at 480-507-5758 or richard.ewer@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, DEC. 25
HANUKKAH BOWLING CELEBRATION
Chabad of the East Valley is hosting an afternoon of bowling, food, music, raffles and prizes. A latke bar, menorah lighting, Hanukkah gifts and Hanukkah arts and crafts will be offered.
DETAILS>> 2-4 p.m., McRay Lanes 3825 W. Ray
Rd. Chandler. Cost: Fee for bowling and shoes. Information: Rabbi Mendy Deitsch at 480-855-4333.
MONDAY, DEC. 26
‘CHANUKAH WONDERLAND’ “Chanukah Wonderland,” a project of Chabad of the East Valley, will feature a concert and dancing, a photo booth, olive oil press and “Dreidel Mania.” DETAILS>>10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 875 N. McClintock, Tempe. Cost: Free. Information: 480-855-4333 or visit chabadcenter.com.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28
CANDY MENORAH LIGHTING
Ancient traditions meet a new twist with the lighting of a 9-foot candy menorah lighting Each year Chabad of the East Valley takes Chanukah to the next level. Live music will accompany a doughnut dipping bar, a raffle and gifts for all children.
Valor Christian Center in Gilbert offers “great praise and worship and great messages for today’s living,” according to Pastor Thor Strandholt, associate pastor. “Our mission is evangelize, healing and discipleship through the word of God.”
DETAILS>> 10 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Thursdays. 3015 E. Warner Road. Information: valorcc.com.
HORIZON SEEKS YOUNG PEOPLE
High school and middle school students meet to worship and do life together.
DETAILS>>5 p.m. at Horizon Presbyterian Church, 1401 E. Liberty Lane. 480-460-1480 or email joel@ horizonchurch.com.
Highland Yard Vintage
Four days of home decorating heaven
BY JUSTIN FERRIS
Get Out Editor
In a world of disposable machinemade, mass-produced goods, words like “vintage,” “handmade” and “do-ityourself” increasingly seem to strike a chord with shoppers, and for good reason.
“The whole vintage concept is picking up because people want that touch of history, like they’re going to grandma’s house. It brings them a sense of joy and security,” said Jill Herman, owner of local business Junk N Love District, which provides a one-stop directory for antique vendors and events.
compete. In fact, they share the same owner, Mike Moore.
According to Herman, “Merchant Square is an antique mall. Highland Yard is a vintage decorative market,” which means completely different inventories, look and feel. “We felt like [Highland Yard] would bring in a whole new audience.”
people standing in line,” says Herman. November saw 6,500 people pass through the doors.
Not bad for a market that only opens four days a month.
One reason for the popularity—and the limited hours—is that each monthly market boasts its own unique theme. From May’s “Endless Summer” and October’s “Shades of Fall” to this month’s “Winter Wonderland,” these themes are more than just a name change.
She also manages a growing mecca for vintage enthusiasts, Highland Yard Vintage. This 6,000-square-foot market sits in an old Payless building behind the much larger Merchant Square Antiques Marketplace in Chandler. However, the two businesses don’t
And in the last nine months of operation, that strategy seems to be working.
“We have well over 5,000 people a month. We sometimes have up to 200
“It takes us a full month to build it out because it’s not just a store,” Herman says. The 30 or so local vendors selected for that month work together for weeks to overhaul the building interior. They create vignettes based on that month’s theme using their wares.
These “interactive marketplaces” are like Ikea’s room displays, except with vintage and handmade items.
decorating ideas as well as pick up items for your home or yard. And for those not looking for a complete vintage home makeover, “we specialize in mixing old with new,” says Herman.
In addition to purchases and decorating, a popular regular feature of the market, according to Herman, are the porters that help you load larger items of furniture into your car. The market can also hold items for later pickup.
Special to the market for December will be free gift wrapping on purchases. For the young and young at heart, Santa will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The market costs nothing to enter, although you might wait in line for a bit depending on when you visit. Food and drinks are available inside for a fee.
– Contact Justin Ferris at 480-898-5621 or jferris@ timespublications.com.
– Comment on this article and like GetOutAZ on Facebook and follow GetOutAZ on Twitter.
(Special to the Tribune)
Every month, Highland Yard Vintage gets a new theme and a new look.
(Tribune Staff Photo)
Highland Yard Vintage sits in an old Payless building behind the much larger Merchant Square Antiques Marketplace in Chandler.
The first at coming in second
The holidays and politics with Clay Aiken
CARSON MLNARIK
Tribune Contributing Writer
Thirteen years ago, Clay Aiken was runner-up on “American Idol.”
In the years since, the 37-yearold has started a family, published a New York Times best-selling memoir, moved 6 million albums and sold out 11 nationwide concert tours.
His visit to the Chandler Center for the Arts on December 16 is his first concert since 2012 and his only show in the near future.
“We’re doing it because we got asked to go and I thought, ‘You know what, it’ll be fun to sing with an orchestra,’ so I said OK,” said Aiken, who will be backed by a 22-piece orchestra.
While he says he can’t help the occasional dip of the toe back into the water, he’s on a bit of a singing hiatus.
“It’s not what I’m focusing on now. I’m pushing 40 and realized that everyone has a second chapter in life,” Aiken said. “I’ve have maybe seven already, but this is a new one.”
The singer’s new chapter began in 2014 when he ran for Congress in his home state of North Carolina. While he won the Democratic primary, he lost to the Republican incumbent in the general election.
Aiken said he always had an interest in politics and issues.
IF YOU GO
Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler When: Dec. 16, 8:30 p.m. Cost: $52-$72 (selling out fast!)
More info: 480-782-2680 or chandlercenter.org
Even though he lost, he did not leave without a few lessons learned.
“I learned more about politics than I ever wanted to,” he laughed. “I never necessarily expected to win because it was a very Republican district, but I hoped to be able
New
the restaurant. Great atmosphere, the unique tables and live music are waiting for you. This is a very affordable little spot. The flavorful salsa, the delicious margaritas, the extraordinary and well-priced food will definitely keep you coming back.
to get enough people to pay attention to the race—and it worked!”
His involvement didn’t end there. He continues to have discussions with people across the world and appears weekly on Meghan McCain’s radio show, “America Now,” to offer his opinion and listen.
That doesn’t mean that Aiken will not enjoy his Chandler Center for the Arts gig.
“Christmas has always been my favorite show to do,” says Aiken, who toured for five years after his 2004 Christmas album.
“We often did it with a full orchestra and people are always in festive or emotional
spirits when they come to a Christmas show.”
As for his favorite holiday song to perform? After much deliberation, Aiken settled on “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
“It’s an old, somewhat stale hymn if you open it up in the hymn book, but it’s a completely different arrangement of it that I just think is beautiful,” began Aiken, before proclaiming his love for any orchestral arrangement with French horns.
“If the French horns are playing, I’m happy,” he said. “That triumphant horn sound just kind of does it for me.”
(Special to the Tribune)
Perennial runner-up Clay Aiken brings his love of music and a 22-piece orchestra to Chandler Arts Center for his first concert since 2012.
Scores of young actors taking to the stage for ‘Annie Jr.’
Tribune News Staff
It was 9:15 p.m. on a Friday and the studio was buzzing with excitement.
Grade-school girls raced through the halls, packing up their dance bags, storing the prop brooms and buckets and singing bits and pieces of the musical number they just rehearsed.
They had just finished a four-hour rehearsal to cap off a long school week, yet they were untouched by fatigue. If anything, the hours of blocking, dancing and singing filled them with new energy.
For the cast of “Annie Jr.,” the experience is magical.
The show, produced by Gilbert’s Studio 3 Performing Arts in partnership with Limelight Performing Arts, will play at Mesa Arts Center Dec. 14-20 with a bigger-thanexpected cast of actors and actresses from the East Valley.
So many young actors turned out for auditions that director Caroline Wagner opted to double- and even triple-cast many of the featured roles, dividing them into a blue, red and green cast.
“I like performing a lot because it makes people excited and happy if they’re down,” said 8-year-old Baylee Horvath who plays the role of Kate, one of the orphans.
Emma Martin, 10, who plays Tessie, added, “The fact that I get to express myself to an audience, to make them laugh or feel what I’m feeling, is awesome.”
Said Abby Springer, 9: “Being in the show brings my spirits up and makes the audience happy. It’s a really fun experience getting to perform and being with other drama kids who share my same interests.”
Despite their youth, the kids bring a giantsized share of talent to the stage. Many cast members are decorated actors, with AriZoni and National Youth Arts awards and nominations to their credit.
IF YOU GO
bawdy, hilarious and ill-tempered Miss Hannigan.
“Playing Miss Hannigan was always a childhood dream,” said Sinodis. “It is not like any theater experience I’ve ever had. Unlike me, she hates children and is very crass. This is definitely a role that has taken me out of my comfort zone.”
Added Emma England, Studio 3 owner and “Annie Jr.” artistic director: “You can’t help but be swept up when you see the cast perform.”
The depth of the cast’s talent is especially evident among the three 11-year-old performers playing Annie, a dream role for any young girl.
What: “Annie Jr.,” presented by Studio 3 and Limelight Performing Arts. Where: Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St., Mesa. When: Times vary, Dec. 14-17. Tickets: $17.
Among them is 17-year-old Jessica Sinodis, who recently starred as Grizabella in Studio 3-Limelight’s summer production of “Cats” and dazzled audiences with a voice that has Broadway written all over it. She played the role of Pepper in Studio 3’s “Annie Jr.” when she was only 11—it was one of the studio’s very first productions— and now comes full circle to portray the
Julia Pitman of Chandler heads up the blue cast. With her red hair, sparkling eyes and freckled cheeks, she truly embodies the role the Annie.
She is a skilled and seasoned performer with a big voice and a kind heart who serves as a mentor and big sister to her younger cast mates.
Mesa’s Reagan Plank, who doubles-up as Annie in the green cast and Pepper in the red cast, may be the surprise breakout performer of the group. Even her mom, Amy Plank, had no idea her daughter could sing like that.
Alyse Negroni, who recently moved to
Chandler from Yuma, stars in the red cast. She looks the part, acts the part and sings with a pure, yet powerful, voice.
But the show goes well beyond beautiful singing.
When choosing the final cast—after a weeklong audition process and multiple call-backs—the directors carefully evaluated the skill, the look and even the height of each performer.
“When choosing our casts, we lined up the girls to make sure they were stair steps in height,” said Wagner. “Just like the movie, Molly had to be the smallest, Duffy had to be the tallest, and Annie was right in the middle. Every single one of them needed to be able to hold their own in singing, acting and dancing.”
Surrounding the orphans is a cast of teenage actors, many of them Studio 3-Limelight regulars. They include Maddy Rathbun (Grace), Matthew Pitman (Rooster), Sarah Golden (Ms. Hannigan, blue cast, and Ms. Pugh, red cast) and Nicolas Caglia (Rooster, blue cast, and Drake, red cast).
Others, like Kendall Kingdesky (Lily St. Regis) and Kate LeCheminant (Tessie) have built their repertoire in productions at other theaters.
Under the artistic direction of England, a lifelong performer, the dancing is fun and energetic, yet challenging and polished.
While “Annie Jr.” is one of the mostperformed musicals of all time, the dancing in Studio 3-Limelight’s production gives this show a brand all its own.
“It was important to me to create a show that’s fresh and unexpected—not the same old ‘Annie’ everyone has already seen,” added England. “The choreography is an area where we are really bringing some magic, not only with dancing but with tumbling, too.”
For example, “Hard Knock Life” is full of handsprings, walkovers and even flips over broomsticks and blankets. “NYC,” a song featuring the entire cast, explodes with energy, bringing to life the magic of New York City through tap, jazz and acrobatics.
Performing in “Annie Jr.” is a dream for the cast and even their parents, who grew up quoting lines and singing along to the famous 1986 movie. The red-headed orphan, full of spunk and wisdom, imparts a lesson for the generations: never lose hope, take good care of those around you and life will turn out just fine.
“There’s something uplifting and magical about this show, and it goes well beyond the talent of our actors or the quality of the performance,” said Wagner, an accomplished director, choreographer, actress and teacher. “In a world that’s increasingly troubled, the sweetness and innocence of ‘the sun will come out tomorrow’ fills us with hope for the future.”
It’s a lesson, too, for the kids in the cast, who put in hundreds of hours in rehearsals to produce the best possible performance.
“This is what I love to do,” said Lily Nelson, who plays Duffy in the red cast.
(Katy Springer/Special to the Tribune)
The orphans in “Annie Jr.” include, from left,Baylee Horvath, Abby Springer, Hailey Laidig, Karis Puckett, Shayla Forero, Kaylee Delgado, Emma Martin, Savannah Springer, Claire O’Malley, McKenna Henry, Mia Tarwater and Reagan Plank.
PassedawayinGilbert,AZ.BorninMonroe, LAtoMikeandLorettaAshbrook,Jeffwas45 yearsold.JeffwasagraduateofNevilleHigh SchoolandalsoLouisianaTechUniversit y wherehereceivedhisdegreeinArchitecture Heusedhisdegreeasasuccessfulfreelance architectandlivedinDallas,TX,Denver,C O andGilbert,AZ.
Heenjoyedlisteningtobands,music,andridinghisHarleys.Jeffwasthe proprietorofTriple2'sTaverninArizonaandloved"bussing"tablesan d visitingwithhiscustomersandfriends.Heisprecededindeathbyhis f ather,L.MichaelAshbrook.Jeffissurvivedbyhismother,Lorett a BarkleyAshbrook;brother,ScottAshbrookandhiswife,Donna;thre e nephews,Lowell,HunterandArcherandnumerousfamilyandfriends Jeffnevermissedabirthdayofhismother,brotherornephewsandwould alwaysfindthefunniestandhumorouscardstosend.Jefflivedlifetoth e fullestandlovedtotravel.Hewillbemissedthemostbythefriendshe madethroughoutLouisiana,Texas,ColoradoandArizonia.Visitationwill beheldfrom10:00A.M.until12:00P.M.,Saturday,December3,2016at KilpatrickFuneralHomeofWestMonroe.
The Place “To Find” Everything You Need EastValleyTribune.com
Employment General
IntraEdge has multiple openings for Sr Programmer Analyst II Reqs US Bachelor degree/foreign equiv in Commerce/BusAdm/ STEM field. Will accept combination of IT training/education/experience for equiv to ed req. Analyze/resolve/test/report on IT related projects using skills in EMC/MS/SQL/ Excel/Java/C. Fax your resume to V Singh @ (866)273-1073 with ref no 2016-25 directly on resume & reference ad in East Valley Tribune
Duties: Work in nursery facilities or at customer location planting, cultivating, harvesting, and transplanting trees, shrubs, or plants. No EXP REQ. No EDU REQ.
Days & Hours: 40 hours/week (6:00am-2:30pm); day shift; Mon-Fri. Dates of employment: 02/01/1710/31/17. Wage: $9.51/h, OT $14.27/h if necessary. Raises, bonuses, or incentives dependent on job performance. OJT provided.
Assurances: Transportation (including meals and, to the extent necessary, lodging) to the place of employment will be provided, or its cost to workers reimbursed, if the worker completes half the employment period. Return transportation will be provided if the worker completes the employment period or is dismissed early by the employer. Employer will provide workers at no charge all tools, equipment and supplies required to perform the job. Job location: Maricopa and Pinal counties, AZ.
Sales & Shipping Position Needed Imperial Wholesale 1 PHX 2 Mesa Email jhabib@ imperialwholesale com
Applicants may send or contact the AZDES Office, 4635 S Central Ave, Phoenix AZ, 85040. Desirae Diaz ph:520-866- 3608. Please reference AZDES Job Order #: 2474337.
Employer: Moon Valley Nursery, Inc. 19820 N. 7th Street, Suite 260, Phoenix, AZ 85024. Contact: Jeni Knop, fax (602) 337-8658.
Phx Brazas Soccer Club 7650 S. McClintock Dr, #103-313, Tempe, Az 85284,6024323400; Two Temp F/T, Coaching seasonal positions start 1/3/176 /15/17 in Chdlr, Tempe area. 35 hrs a wk. No OT. $17.21 hrly. Mon- Thu 3pm9pm, Fri 9am- 2:30pm & Sat 8am-1:30pm. Coach & teach 2-3 soccer teams usin g Brazilian style soccer technqs thru theoretical & practical classes, lectures & fld exp to youth players. Monitor & track player perf & implement corrective action as needed to enhance player participation, skills, knowledge and appreciation o f the sport. Req. 1 yrs exp coaching youth soccer players. Single workweek used for computing wages. Emplye paid every two weeks; will make all deductions fro m the wkr’s paycheck req’d by law. No addt’l dedcts will be made. Submit resumes directly to the nearest AZ Job Connection office & include SWA contact info. Emplye must have own transp to/ from work. Emplyr will pay all costs associated with emplye obtng work visa which includes visa procsng, border crossing & othe r related fees incldng those mandated by the gov. Emplye not need to front these costs. Emplyr will provide worker, w/o charge or deposit charge, all tools, supplies & equip req’d to perform the duties assigned. Emplyr will offer the worker emplymnt for a total number of work hours equal to at least 3/4 of the workdays of each 12 week period, if the period of emplymnt covered by the job order is 120 or more days or each 6-week period, if the period of emplymnt covered by the job order is less than 120 days. If the wrkr completes 50% of the work cont ract period, emplyr will reimburse the wrkr for transp & subsistence from th e place of recruitment to the place of work. Upon completion of the work contract or where the wrkr is dismissed earlier, emplyr will prov’d or pay for wrkr’ s reasonable costs of return transp and subsistence back home or to the place the wrkr originally departed to work, except where the wrkr will not return due t o subsequent emplymnt with another emplyr. The amount of transp payment or reimbursement will be equal to the most economical or reasonable common carrier for the distance involved. Daily subsistence will be prov’d at a rate of $12.09 per day during travel to a maximum of $51.00 per day with receipts .Inquire abou t t he job opportunity or submit resumes directly to the nearest Arizona Stat e W orkforce Agency office which can be found at www.azjobconnection.gov o r Gilbert Employment Service 735 N. Gilbert Rd, #134, Gilbert, Az 85234 Job orde r #2441306
Developprogramsand/ormethodstooptimize productivityandreducecycletime,manufacturinglosses,andoverallcostsforplasticinjection m oldingequipment.4yearsofexperiencein overseeingthermoplasticinjectionmoldingproc essandscientificmoldingprocessdevelopmentrequired.Musthaveworkingknowledgeof p lastictechnologywithemphasisoninjectio n m olding,SPC,DOE,GD&T,andplasticmold a ndpartdesign.Employer:MedplastEngineeredProducts,Inc.Joblocation:Tempe,AZ Q ualifiedapplicantsshouldemailresumet o kwitherbee@medplastgroup.com.
Duties: Laborers will be needed for turf care, pruning, fertilization, irrigation system maintenance and repair, general clean up and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units. 3 months landscape. EXP REQ. No EDU REQ. Pre-employment and post-hire drug testing.
Days & Hours: 40 hours/week (6:00am-2:30pm); day shift; Mon-Fri. Dates of employment: 02/01/1710/31/17. Wage: $11.74/h, OT $17.61/h if necessary. Raises, bonuses, or incentives dependent on job performance. OJT provided.
Assurances: Transportation (including meals and, to the extent necessary, lodging) to the place of employment will be provided, or its cost to workers reimbursed, if the worker completes half the employment period. Return transportation will be provided if the worker completes the employment period or is dismissed early by the employer. Employer will provide workers at no charge all tools, equipment and supplies required to perform the job. Job location: Phoenix, AZ - Maricopa and Pinal counties. Daily transportation provided to and from worksite. Housing optional - $250.00/month, if provided, cost of housing and utilites will be deducted.
Applicants may send or contact the AZDES Office, 4635 S Central Ave, Phoenix AZ, 85040. Desirae Diaz ph:520-866- 3608. Please reference AZDES Job Order #: 2490066.
Employer: Underwood Brothers, Inc. 3747 E. Southern Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040. Contact: George McNeely, fax (602) 437-2970.
Duties: Work in nursery facilities or at customer location planting, cultivating, harvesting, and transplanting trees, shrubs, or plants. No EXP REQ. No EDU REQ.
Days & Hours: 40 hours/week (6:00am-2:30pm); day shift; Mon-Fri. Dates of employment: 02/01/1710/31/17. Wage: $9.51/h, OT $14.27/h if necessary. Raises, bonuses, or incentives dependent on job performance.
Assurances: Transportation (including meals and, to the extent necessary, lodging) to the place of employment will be provided, or its cost to workers reimbursed, if the worker completes half the employment period. Return transportation will be provided if the worker completes the employment period or is dismissed early by the employer. Employer will provide workers at no charge all tools, equipment and supplies required to perform the job. Job location: Queen Creek, AZ - Maricopa County.
Applicants may send or contact the AZDES Office, 4635 S Central Ave, Phoenix AZ, 85040. Desirae Diaz ph:520-866- 3608. Please reference AZDES Job Order #: 2469625.
Employer: V & P Nurseries, Inc. 21919 E. Germann Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142. Contact: Dominick Carissimo, fax (480) 917-2856.
TEMPE Christmas Concert at Mission del Sol Presbyterian Church Dec 17th @ 5PM Join us for some Holiday music! Appearances by: Mission Chorale & Mission Bells Featuring: The ALETHEIA String Quartet 1565 E Warner Rd Tempe 480-820-9944
Merch andise
$399 DOWN DRIVES! Need a Vehicle? Bad Credit? Repos? You're Approved! 480-462-5549 V sit www 399downdrives com
Duties: Laborers will be needed for turf care, pruning, fertilization, irrigation system maintenance and repair, general clean up and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units. 3 months landscape EXP REQ. No EDU REQ. Drug testing REQ.
Days & Hours: 40 hours/week (6:00am-2:30pm); day shift; Mon-Fri. Dates of employment: 02/05/1711/05/17. Wage: $11.74/h, OT $17.61/h if necessary. Raises, bonuses, or incentives dependent on job performance. OJT provided.
Assurances: Transportation (including meals and, to the extent necessary, lodging) to the place of employment will be provided, or its cost to workers reimbursed, if the worker completes half the employment period. Return transportation will be provided if the worker completes the employment period or is dismissed early by the employer. Employer will provide workers at no charge all tools, equipment and supplies required to perform the job. Job location: Gilbert, Arizona - Maricopa and Pinal counties, AZ.
Applicants may send or contact the AZDES Office, 4635 S Central Ave, Phoenix AZ, 85040. Desirae Diaz ph:520-866- 3608. Please reference AZDES Job Order #: 2488998.
Employer: Caretaker, Inc. 741 N. Monterey Street, Gilbert, AZ 85233. Contact: Patricia Myers, fax (480)545-8020.
MOVING SALE Sat, Dec 10 7am-2pm Patio furniture, bicycles, treadmill plus much more! 325 N. 58th St. Mesa 85205 Yard Sale - December 10, 7AM, 3624 W Saragosa St, Chandler (cross streets are McClintock and Chandler Blvd) Items: Tools (yard and automotive), pool table overhead light and other accessories, Christmas tree with lights, tent camping stuff, stereos, household items, grilling equipment, furniture (chairs, desk, toybox, pictures, rug), RV things,
Pink Depression Glass Ms America Pattern 8pl Settings H2O Glasses, Sorbet Dishes, Serving Dishes. Sell Complete Set ONLY. Ex. Condition. $1000/obo 206-601-0353
Meetings/Events
H O P E Help Overcoming Painful Experiences 7 p.m. Tuesdays Free weekly small-group sessions helping people overcome emotional pain caused by divorce, grief, addictions and more; free childcare for children ages 10 and younger. Desert Springs Church, Room 106, 19620 S. McQueen Rd., Chandler Info: hope4all@comcast.net, helpovercomingpainful experiences org
JumpStart 11:45 A-4:30P. Saturdays JumpStart is a sidewalk Sunday school community outreach program serving “some of the poorest neighborhoods” in Chandler, offering snacks, games and teachings about Jesus to area children. Participants meet at Faith Family Church 11530 E. Queen Creek Rd., Chandler Info: Joanne Sweeney 480-539-8933
Kenmore Elite Total Care System Washer Heavy Duty King Size capacity. Like New In and Out. $200/obo 480-917-2916 Place Your Meeting/Event Ad email ad copy to ecota@times publications.com
AQFLLC7055S164thStGilbertAZ85298 needs5 “temporaryfull-time” HelperofCarpentertowork&resideinPhxMetroplexAreato helpcarpentertosupply,carry&holdtools,material,cleanworkarea3moexpreqd,on-the-job trainavail,noedu,nortravelreqd.bend,liftup to50lbworkinextweather7am-3pm40hrs/wk M-F2/1-10/31/17$15.81/hrOTavil@$23.72 US&H2Bworkersofferedsamewages&worki ngconditionstoincludepaidpost-hireddrug testSglewrkwkcomputeswages.Weeklypmt “Transportation(includingmeals&totheextent n ecessarylodging)toplaceofemploymentor i tscosttoworkersreimbursed,iftheworke r completeshalftheemploymentperiod.Return transportationprovidediftheworkercompletes employmentperiodorisdismissedearlybyemp loyer” H-2BWrkrtobepaidU.S.Consulate , border,lodgingfeeson1stworkwkonacomp anycheck “Toolsprovidedatnocharget o worker”“Theemployerguaranteestoofferwork h oursequaltoatleast¾oftheworkdaysi n each12weeksoftotalemploymentperiod” Job l oc:PhxMetroplexareaApplyinpersona t nearestSWA,call520-866-3608orfaxresto 520-836-5876Attn:DesiraeDiazJP:2482386 orfaxemplr480-302-8566Attn:MrAraujo
WANTED:
WANTED:
WANTED:
WANTED:
WANTED:
36 People to try the latest digital technology in hearing aids
36 People
to try the latest digital technology in hearing aids
Are you, or
someone you
know, struggling with hearing loss?
Are you, or someone you know, struggling with hearing loss?
with hearing loss?
hearing loss?
with hearing loss?
We need 36 people with difficulty hearing, especially in noisy situations, to evaluate the new style in digital technology from NuEar. We will perform thorough hearing consultations FREE of charge to ALL callers. We will then choose 36 qualified candidates for this program.
We need 36 people with difficulty hearing, especially in noisy situations, to evaluate the new style in digital technology from NuEar. We will perform thorough hearing consultations FREE of charge to ALL callers. We will then choose 36 qualified candidates for this program.
We need 36 people with difficulty hearing, especially in noisy situations, to evaluate the new style in digital technology from NuEar. We will perform thorough hearing consultations FREE of charge to ALL callers. We will then choose 36 qualified candidates for this program.
We need 36 people with difficulty hearing, especially in noisy situations, to evaluate the new style in digital technology from NuEar. We will perform thorough hearing consultations FREE of charge to ALL callers. We will then choose 36 qualified candidates for this program.
We need 36 people with difficulty hearing, especially in noisy situations, to evaluate the new style in digital technology from NuEar. We will perform thorough hearing consultations FREE of charge to ALL callers. We will then choose 36 qualified candidates for this program.
We need 36 people with difficulty hearing, especially in noisy situations, to evaluate the new style in digital technology from NuEar. We will perform thorough hearing consultations FREE of charge to ALL callers. We will then choose 36 qualified candidates for this program.
4 DAYS ONLY!
Monday – Thursday
December 5, 6, 7 & 8
MEET
MEET
MEET
MEET
MEET
MEET
NuEar Factory Specialist
NuEar Factory Specialist
NuEar Factory Specialist
NuEar Factory Specialist
NuEar Factory Specialist
Dr. Jane Petersen
Dr. Jane Petersen
Dr. Jane Petersen
Dr. Jane Petersen
NuEar Factory Specialist Dr. Jane Petersen
Dr. Jane Petersen
Jane’s experience gives her tremendous insight into the problems and frustrations that accompany hearing loss and the exciting solutions that are now available. Her time is dedicated 100% to traveling across the country to help people with all types of hearing loss.
Jane’s experience gives her tremendous insight into the problems and frustrations that accompany hearing loss and the exciting solutions that are now available. Her time is dedicated 100% to traveling across the country to help people with all types of hearing loss.
Jane’s experience gives her tremendous insight into the problems and frustrations that accompany hearing loss and the exciting solutions that are now available. Her time is dedicated 100% to traveling across the country to help people with all types of hearing loss.
Jane’s experience gives her tremendous insight into the problems and frustrations that accompany hearing loss and the exciting solutions that are now available. Her time is dedicated 100% to traveling across the country to help people with all types of hearing loss.
Jane’s experience gives her tremendous insight into the problems and frustrations that accompany hearing loss and the exciting solutions that are now available. Her time is dedicated 100% to traveling across the country to help people with all types of hearing loss.
Jane’s experience gives her tremendous insight into the problems and frustrations that accompany hearing loss and the exciting solutions that are now available. Her time is dedicated 100% to traveling across the country to help people with all types of hearing loss.
Don’t miss your chance to meet with Jane!
Don’t miss your chance to meet with Jane!
Don’t miss your chance to meet with Jane!
Don’t miss your chance to meet with Jane!
Don’t miss your chance to meet with Jane!
Don’t miss your chance to meet with Jane!
REWARD
REWARD
REWARD
REWARD
REWARD
REWARD
Candidates selected will receive tremendous savings due to their participation.
Candidates selected will receive tremendous savings due to their participation.
Candidates selected will receive tremendous savings due to their participation.
Candidates selected will receive tremendous savings due to their participation.
Candidates selected will receive tremendous savings due to their participation.
Candidates selected will receive tremendous savings due to their participation.
Make
and more to your hearing aids
If your evaluation shows hearing improvement with the new NOW hearing aids, you may choose to retain them and receive up to $1,500 OFF the suggested retail price!* Participants who choose to keep the hearing instruments will also receive FREE in‑office maintenance for the life of the hearing instruments.
If your evaluation shows hearing improvement with the new NOW hearing aids, you may choose to retain them and receive up to $1,500 OFF the suggested retail price!* Participants who choose to keep the hearing instruments will also receive FREE in‑office maintenance for the life of the hearing instruments.
If your evaluation shows hearing improvement with the new NOW hearing aids, you may choose to retain them and receive up to $1,500 OFF the suggested retail price!* Participants who choose to keep the hearing instruments will also receive FREE in‑office maintenance for the life of the hearing instruments.
If your evaluation shows hearing improvement with the new NOW hearing aids, you may choose to retain them and receive up to $1,500 OFF the suggested retail price!* Participants who choose to keep the hearing instruments will also receive FREE in‑office maintenance for the life of the hearing instruments.
If your evaluation shows hearing improvement with the new NOW hearing aids, you may choose to retain them and receive up to $1,500 OFF the suggested retail price!* Participants who choose to keep the hearing instruments will also receive FREE in‑office maintenance for the life of the hearing instruments.
If your evaluation shows hearing improvement with the new NOW hearing aids, you may choose to retain them and receive up to $1,500 OFF the suggested retail price!* Participants who choose to keep the hearing instruments will also receive FREE in‑office maintenance for the life of the hearing instruments.
Please call immediately to schedule your evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for this program!
Please call immediately to schedule your evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for this
Please call immediately to schedule your evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for this program!
Please call immediately to schedule your evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for this
Please call immediately to schedule your evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for this program!
Please call immediately to schedule your evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for this program!
