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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Inside This Week
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Bottled Blonde uncorks furor in Gilbert BY PAUL MARYNIAK GSN Executive Editor
NEWS ........................... 9 State schools chief puts GPS, CUSD on notice.
COMMUNITY............ 17 Gabriel’s Angels seeks volunteer dogs and owners.
Sunday, July 2, 2023
T
he announcement by a nightclub conglomerate that it is coming to the Heritage District has uncorked a wave of protests on social media from Gilbert residents. Gilbert officials reacted quickly to the opposition from residents that spread like wildfire over Evening Entertainment Group’s plans to open a Bottled Blonde Pizzeria + Beer Garden on the site of the old Bergie’s Coffee Shop at 309 N. Gilbert Road. Its planned two-story restaurant-bar and rooftop patio would replace a building that dates back to 1919 but it wasn’t so much history that spurred the negative reaction as it was concerns about scantily clad women and drunk patrons invading the district. The town posted a notice on its website that warned its hands are pretty much tied when it comes to blocking Bottled Blonde.
“The proposed use by the property owner would be allowed through the current Heritage Village Center zoning under Gilbert’s Land Development Code,” the town stated. “Just as we’ve done with other new businesses in the Heritage District, the Gilbert Police Department will work to ensure that safety is a top priority,” the town said, adding police “will provide input to help enhance the safety and security of any new or existing business in the Heritage District.” That announcement failed to quell support for an online petition started June 22 by a woman identified only as Ashley B. The petition ripped Evening Entertainment Group owners Les and Diane Corieri’s plan to replace the one-story coffee shop just north of Topo and Joe’s Real BBQ. The change.org petition to Town Council drew over 3,300 signatures in a matter of days with a goal of 5,000. It stated, in part:
see BLONDE page 4
This photo from Bottled Blonde Fort Worth’s Instagram page reflects the party atmosphere that has alarmed critics of the concept’s plans for the Heritage District. (Instagram)
Killer gets life – kind of – for Gilbert icon’s slaying SPORTS..................... 22 Gilbert boys basketball players shine in prestigious Section 7. COMMUNITY..............................17 BUSINESS .................................. 19 OPINION ...................................21 SPORTS ...................................... 22 GET OUT..................................... 23 CLASSIFIEDS ............................ 25
GSN NEWS STAFF
F
or 22 years Conrad Bernal had lived in the same White Fence Farms neighborhood in Gilbert as his brother Frank Bernal. Conrad said Frank, who was 15 years older, was his hero growing up and had attended all his high school games and served as best man at his wedding. He would often
see Frank take his daily walk down Warner Road to Sonora Town and down the canal. “I miss that and I’m never going to get that back because my brother’s gone for no real good reason other than somebody had a bad night,” Conrad said. “I love the White Fence neighborhood but that neighborhood will never be the same without Frank.” Conrad spoke at the June 23 sentencing of Jacob Samia, who was found guilty by a
jury in May of first-degree murder in the fatal beating and strangulation of Frank, a 73-year-old decorated Vietnam War veteran, in his own home over two years ago. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Barbara LaBianca handed Samia, 35, a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 25 years. She also sentenced Samia to 21 years
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see KILLER page 12
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