Issuu

Soccer plan moving along / P. 8

Swim club, city court bound / P. 10

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

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Sunday, April 11, 2021

20-year Scottsdale mystery haunts police BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

NEIGHBORS.............. 18 Believe it or not, he's a Ripley guy.

BUSINESS....................22 Stone Creek Furniture marks big milestone.

ARTS.................................25 Moving documentary chronicles heroic venture.

NEIGHBORS...........................................18 BUSINESS................................................22 FOOD........................................................ 24 ARTS..........................................................25 CLASSIFIEDS........................................ 26

wenty years ago this weekend, an explosion rocked a quiet southern Scottsdale neighborhood in the morning hours, sparking a house fire that sent flames over 20 feet into the air. As the home burned, no one – neighbors, police or firefighters – knew that the inferno concealed a griz- A photo of Robert Fisher alongside a FBI composite zly crime scene that has re- showing what he may look like today. Fisher is the lone suspect in the 2001 murder of his wife Mary and their mained unsolved for two two children, Brittney and Bobby, in Scottsdale. Fisher decades and made Scottsdale would be 59 years old if he still alive today. (FBI) resident Robert Fisher a fixture on the FBI’s most wanted list of fu- explosion caused by a cut natural gas gitives to this day. line. Investigators later found that an The Fisher home, which was located accelerant had also been spread around east of the intersection of Oak Street and the home. Scottsdale Road, caught on fire around see FISHER page 12 8:30 a.m. on April 10, 2001 following an

Robert Fisher is accused of killing his wife Mary and their children, Brittney and Bobby, in 2001 in Scottsdale before rigging their home to explode. (Progress file photo)

Council surprises with Kimsey project OK BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

cottsdale City Council gave near-unanimous support to the seemingly controversial Kimsey redevelopment, which

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CITY NEWS

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

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

Daily Dose lunch box helps Habitat for Humanity BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

ver the past year, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona has worked up a sweat — and an even bigger appetite. It has not only helped nearly 250 families with critical repairs and home improvements, but has also helped 20 families move into newly built homes. And to help keep the many Habitat volunteers fed — as well as raise money for the organization — Daily Dose has launched the Habitat Builders Box. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona, Daily Dose’s new lunch boxes include a wrap sandwich, chips and a homemade cookie. For every $10 lunch sold, $1 will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona. “When we have volunteer groups on the weekend, we always recommend they reward their hardworking crew with a takeout lunch,” said Habitat for Humanity Sponsor Relations Coordinator Jessica Sepulveda. “With this new partnership, we are letting our volunteer groups order these Builders Box lunch boxes from Daily Dose,” Sepulveda continued. “It’s a win-win: The volunteers get to enjoy a delicious meal, and Habitat receives a donation for every lunch sold.” Daily Dose owners JenLyn and Matt Long came up with the idea for the box last fall when the Daily Dose Rio Salado fulfilled a lunch order for one of Habitat’s volunteer crews working on a project in Mesa. Instead of a one-time fulfillment, however, the owners wanted to find a way to continue to help feed the hungry volunteers while also helping fund the Habitat’s ongoing work. Thus, the lunch boxes were added to Daily Dose’s menu. “We always say yes to any opportunity to help the community – whether it’s an auction item donation for a school, an event to benefit the Arizona Humane Society, the Feed Phoenix program, or in this case, helping an organization that gives a hand up to so many families in need of affordable

In partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona, Daily Dose added a new item to their menu, the Habitat Builders Box lunch box. (Daily Dose)

housing,” Long said. The boxes are Habitat approved, too. “Of course, we had to taste test the lunches,” Sepulveda said, “and our team gives them a big Habitat thumbs up!” In addition to helping and housing hundreds of families amid the pandemic, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona has also served nearly 140 veterans thanks to the Milanovich Family Fund for Veterans Assistance. “The need for affordable home repairs doesn’t go away in a pandemic. If anything, we’ve seen an increase in the need to help others keep their home safe and secure during this time,” said Debra Bradley, Habitat’s chief operations officer. Habitat has also helped more than 40 seniors with necessary life-safety improvements through their Aging in Place program. “I am delighted to report that all of our Habitat families are still in their homes, although over 80 required some additional help with mortgage payments due to job loss or reduced hours. We’ve retained all of our employees and most importantly, all are safe and sound,” said Habitat Presi-

dent/CEO Jason Barlow. “We are excited to see the COVID numbers trending in a positive direction in our community,” Barlow added. Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona typically hosts more than 10,000 volunteers each year. This spring, they plan to build five houses in the Central City South area south of Downtown Phoenix and four houses in Tempe and Mesa. Habitat homes are built based on a partnership between an Arizona family and the community: A qualifying family pays for their home with an affordable mortgage and through a down payment of 200 to 400 sweatequity hours. To qualify, applicants must have a need for an affordable home, an ability to pay, and a willingness to partner with Habitat. “As families across Arizona continue to navigate the tremendous economic impacts of this public health crisis, Habitat’s work is needed now more than ever,” Barlow said. The Habitat Builders Box lunch boxes are available for takeout at Daily Dose Old Town, Daily Dose Midtown, and Daily Dose Rio Salado.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

KIMSEY from front

Council voted 6-1 to approve The Kimsey on April 6 with only Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield opposing. Despite the height concerns, an outpouring of support came from local businesses and property owners who said the development will bring much-needed traffic an area that has suffered from high store turnover in recent years. “At one time, the 3rd Avenue building was a motel, just like the Rodeway motel, bringing visitors to the doorstep of Craftsman (Court) and Fifth Avenue,” Mayor David Ortega said. “The Kimsey will bring back life to the area.” Council approved rezoning that will allow PEG Development to replace the twostory motel and four-story event center with a six-story, 168-room hotel and 190unit apartment building. Both new buildings will be around 76 feet tall, well above the maximum height of 36 feet allowed under the old zoning. The new development will not replace the third building on the site, the two-story Kimsey Triangle building designed by famed architect Ralph Haver in 1961 on land owned by the Kimsey family. Council also approved a historic designation for the Triangle building, which will include a gallery with community access featuring exhibits on Haver and the Kimsey family from the Scottsdale Historical Society. “This is the first time ever in our city’s history that I am aware of to have a building up for historic preservation designation with an adaptive reuse within a development project,” said resident Christie Lee Kinchen, a city Historic Preservation Commission member. Council members on the fence about the project extracted several concessions from the developer, including a reduction in the height request from 96 to 76 feet. The development agreement also includes a stipulation that the original 36foot zoning will return if construction does not begin within five years. The developer also must deposit a $1 million letter of credit with the city to secure the project’s completion. The new development will also comply with the new proposed parking code expected to go before Council in May. That new code would increase the number of required parking spaces for one and two-bedroom apartment units

On April 6, the Scottsdale City Council approved The Kimsey, a redevelopment that will replace the two-story Howard Johnson motel and The Venue event center with a new hotel and residential building near Indian School Road and Marshall Way. (Progress file image)

while decreasing the requirement for larger two and three-bedroom units. It would also require guest parking of at least one space per eight units. According to the developer, the Kimsey development would include a total of 459 parking stalls, well above the 407 spaces required now. Council amended parking standards for the hotel, reducing required spaces from 1.25 spaces per room to 0.8 spaces. Those concessions – along with pleas from local businesses – were enough to win support from Council members Solange Whitehead, Betty Janik and Tom Durham, whose votes seemed uncertain in recent weeks. Ortega, Janik and Durham entered their first terms in January and were expected to create a new majority alongside Whitehead and Littlefield that was less willing than the previous council to grant developer requests for increased heights and density. The new members had previously expressed skepticism of increasing heights downtown and campaigned against giving away too many concessions to developers. But Janik, Durham and Whitehead also met with a group of two dozen local property owners and businesses in recent weeks who supported the project. Those stakeholders said their businesses and tenants were in desperate need of an influx in traffic and pointed to The Kimsey as a source of new customers. “It is an absolute game-changer,” property owner David Free said. “So, as I listened to all my neighbors talk about their struggles, what I hear is we’re desperate and we’re all thirsty and (Council has)

the ability to give us a drink of water right now.” A petition sent to Council hours before the meeting included signatures of around 100 nearby property owners and stakeholders in support. And all 15 comments from the public at the April 16 meeting were in favor of The Kimsey. Half of those commenters owned businesses or properties within a few hundred feet of the Kimsey site. Those appeals had a real impact on the final vote. “The Kimsey is not about the developers who profit from their projects…It is about the heart of the city, which is on life support,” Janik said. “And this was true even before COVID; there are too many empty stores, too many revolving doors where tenants move in for six months only to move out after spending their investment and their money for naught.” Whitehead said she trusts the local businesses that she called the experts on the state of the area. “We have 110 local businesses that have come to us in support of this project, and we’re going to tell them no and we’re going to tell them that we know better – not me,” she said. Though much smaller in scale, The Kimsey drew parallels to Southbridge Two, a redevelopment approved by City Council in 2019 that would have brought increased heights to the nearby Fifth Avenue district downtown. That project’s height and density increases drew opposition from many of the same people who now opposed The Kimsey. Janik and Durham were both active

participants in that referendum campaign before being elected. Ortega was also a vocal critic of Southbridge Two before he won the mayor’s office. Whitehead, who was already on Council at the time, voted against Southbridge Two. Durham said his vote did not conflict with previous statements against increased height downtown, He said the areas surrounding The Kimsey, like Craftsman Court, need an infusion of traffic. The same can’t be said for the Fifth Avenue area that would have been impacted by Southbridge Two, he said. “While we have many tourists in the area around Fifth Avenue and the canal, my observations tell me that much of this foot traffic does not move south…If you find yourself at the intersection of Craftsman Court and Third Avenue, you’re probably a tourist who is lost because there’s no reason why anyone would want to go there,” Durham said. Even with that justification, their support for The Kimsey is already drawing criticism from some who rallied behind them during the last election. “I like the Kimsey - NEVER said I didn’t. I said it was about 40 feet too tall,” resident activist Emily Austin wrote on the Save Scottsdale Facebook page she moderates. “Also, we now know that most of our City Council members are on the side of the developer. It is what it is.” Austin and others in recent weeks asked Council not to approve The Kimsey. Littlefield said she was listening to those voices when she voted no. “This is exactly what citizens across the city who voted for us, the new council majority, want us to vote against,” she said. “The vast majority of citizens do not want our (downtown) destroyed by replacing it with an out of code, tall, dense building at the very heart of our city.” But Durham, Janik and Whitehead all argued the The Kimsey provided enough public benefits to offset potential negatives caused by rezoning the site. Durham said before approving a project, it should be tested to see if it the location is a match for the proposed use and whether or not it has citizen support. He said each project should also meet the city’s high design standards. “In my view, this project passes all those tests,” he said.

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

Tonalea-Rising lease talks moving along BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Progress Managing Editor

cottsdale Unified School District is moving forward with plans to lease the old Tonalea school site to the Phoenix Rising soccer team. On April 6, the Governing Board gave its lawyers the go-ahead to continue negotiations with the Rising, which wants to create new fields for the club’s youth soccer program. The Progress first reported on negotiations between the district and team in December, though at the time it was thought the Phoenix Rising would lease the property to create practice fields for the pro team. Since then the pro team has started building a new stadium with practice fields at the Gila River Indian Community’s Wild Horse Pass in Chandler. It is set to open when its season begins next month. But the youth program is in dire need of fields due to a Valleywide shortage in youth soccer fields. “The reason we’re looking for more fields…is because we have 8,000 kids in our program, and we just don’t have enough fields,” said Tim Riester, co-owner and board member of Phoenix Rising FC. “Even with adding these two, we still won’t have enough fields,” he said. “The kids need this space, so we’re, we will continue trying to find as much space for the kids as we can.” The team is already converting its old pro stadium space near Loop 202 and McClintock Drive into youth fields but Riester said he does not know how long that lease will last due to redevelopment plans for that site. The Tonalea site could provide a longer-term solution as the district can offer a lease of up to 20 years under state law. The lease amount is still not known but the district is working with a real estate broker to determine a fair market value, Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel said. Under any lease agreement, the Phoenix Rising would bear 100 percent responsibility for all development, mainte-

The Phoenix Rising and SUSD held a meeting on March 18 with a visioning committee made up of local residents and stakeholders. (Scottsdale Unified School District)

The Phoenix Rising are in negotiations with Scottsdale Unified School District to lease the long-vacant Tonalea school site to build new soccer fields for its youth program. (Progress file photo)

nance and operations costs, Riester said. Current plans include building two new soccer fields along with several community amenities, such as a playground and perimeter walking track with exercise equipment. The fields would largely be reserved for Rising’s youth soccer teams though organization officials said they were open to allowing school children to use them for events. The other amenities would be open to

the public 24/7. According to a presentation by Riester on March 18, the new facility would host youth soccer practices Monday to Thursday from about 3:50 to 9 p.m. Games would be held Saturdays and Sundays. It would also be one of several sites across the Valley the Rising would use to host large soccer tournaments twice each year. Riester said the fields will feature newer directional lighting that will have less

impact on nearby houses. He said lights would be turned off around 9:30 p.m. The Rising are also planning to build a two-story building on the site that will include bathrooms, offices and a community room that will be available for use by residents. The team has also committed to preserving a mosaic mural that was designed and installed by Tonalea students. So far, the Rising proposal has received a mixed reception at community meetings hosted in January and March. At the March 18 meeting, José Velarde, head coach of the boys soccer team at nearby Coronado High School, said the proposal sounds great but he was skeptical that the team would keep its commitments to the community. He said he attempted to reach out to the team after previous meetings to find out if the Phoenix Rising pro team could meet with his players and was blown off. “So it sounds great when you say it – ‘we’ll work with (you)’… but is that going to be all spelled out in the contract?” Velarde said. Some community members also expressed concern that the youth program will generate more traffic and parking issues for the surrounding neighborhood because it has thousands of play-

see RISING page 16

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

Goldwater Institute sues city over swim club BY ZACH ALVIRA Progress Sports Editor

local swim club is taking legal action against the City of Scottsdale, claiming it has been repeatedly denied the ability to rent aquatic facilities. Swim Neptune Foundation, a private swim club that works with metro Phoenix swimmers ages 5 to high school, is getting help from the Goldwater Institute in pressing its contention that Scottsdale violates the state Constitution’s gift clause by giving a discounted rate to another swimming club. Neptune contends Scottsdale Aquatic Club’s discount rates from the city violate a clause in the constitution that prohibits government entities from gifting businesses or organizations. Joe Zemaitis, who founded the Neptune Club 20 years ago, has been trying for more than 10 years to get access to Scottsdale’s facilities for its local swimmers. He said he is repeatedly denied by the city, which lets the Scottsdale Aquatic Club pay 25 percent of the hourly rate for pool lane rentals as part of a sponsorship deal. “It’s been super frustrating,” Zemaitis said. “Starting back in 2006-07 we first approached the city and they, at the time, said renting to another team would be a conflict of interest, which doesn’t make sense. We applied again in 2010 and 2017. It’s been this continual issue.” The Goldwater Institute, a conservative public policy think tank based in Scottsdale jumped into the fray and issued a news release last week that stated it was ready to “take on those bureaucrats and defend taxpayer rights.” The city’s most recent contract with Scottsdale Aquatic Club was signed in June 2016 and scheduled to run through June 2019. That contract, however, included two options for one-year renewals. In 2019, the contract was renewed through June 2020. City council re-

Joe Zemaitis has recruited the help of Scottsdale-based Goldwater Institute to take legal action against the city of Scottsdale after what he says is a violation of the state’s Gift Clause, which prohibits state or city entities from gifting monetary loans or grants to businesses. (Courtesy Goldwater Institute)

cords show in March 2020, a new scoreboard was donated to the city by Scottsdale Aquatic Club at Cactus Aquatic and Fitness Center. The Goldwater Institute won a unanimous ruling from the state Supreme Court in February over its contention that the City of Peoria violated the gift clause when it gave away nearly $2.6 million in subsidies to Huntington University. Goldwater has also brought similar cases in New Mexico and Texas. In 2018, a representative from Goldwater’s American Freedom Network notified Scottsdale about the possible gift clause violation. Jon Riches, Goldwater’s Directors of National Litigation, said the city reopened the application process for renting facilities after Swim Neptune answered a city request for proposals. Riches said Neptune’s proposal, which included the additional funds to rent the lanes, scored higher than the Scottsdale Aquatic Club but the city then said funds only accounted for 30 percent in scoring the proposals. The city then canceled the RFP. “They finally said they would do the RFP, which I thought was great

“But in a bizarre turn after we were scored the highest by the city’s evaluation committee, they canceled the RFP. After we were fully qualiﬁed by the RFP committee, they came back and said we weren’t eligible to rent the space.” because we would finally be able to make our case to get some pool time and provide a great program for the kids in Scottsdale,” Zemaitis said. “But in a bizarre turn after we were scored the highest by the city’s evaluation committee, they canceled the RFP,” he continued. “After we were fully qualified by the RFP committee, they came back and said we weren’t eligible to rent the space.” Progress requests for comment from the city were not returned. During two council meetings in 2018, a representative from Swim Neptune shared the amount of money

the city was losing by not accepting its proposal. Swim Neptune offered to pay $12 per hour per lane in 2018 – four times the $3 per hour rate the city charged Scottsdale Aquatic Club. At the current rate, the city lost $326,300 per year – which said directly violates the gift clause. “The government can’t give out special advantages to private special interests, which is exactly what is happening here,” Riches said. “You have a situation where a city owned resource, a scarce resource that members of the public should have the ability to bid on and have access to. “But rather than open that process up, the city has decided to close it off entirely and grant one special privilege to one special interest.” Riches said an opening brief has been filed with the state Court of Appeals. The city has 30 days to respond, around the middle of May. He hopes to appear before the court sometime in the summer. Zemaitis last heard from the City of Scottsdale in August, when he applied for pool space yet again. Sometime between September and October he was made aware of incorrect information on his application. Once corrected, he sent it back to the city but has not heard from representatives since then. With several swimmers from the Scottsdale area in his club, Zemaitis said they are forced to go outside city limits for practices and lessons. He said as a club that thrives off the ability to help kids become interested in competitive swim, continuously being denied practice space at Scottsdale pools has hurt his program. Overall, he hopes a resolution for a resolution that allows him and some of the swimmers in his club to stay closer to home in the near future. “We have a presence in many parts of the Valley and want to bring our program to Scottsdale,” Zemaitis said. “Hopefully they step back from everything that’s gone on and see that not only is it unfair but illegal and do the right thing.”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

FISHER from front

When the flames were extinguished, they found the bodies of Fisher’s wife Mary Fisher, 38, and their children, Britney, 12, and Bobby 10. Robert Fisher and the family dog Blue were nowhere to be found. All three bodies were discovered in bed with their throats slashed. Mary Fisher had also been shot in the back of the head. To this day, Robert Fisher, who would be 59 if he is still alive, remains the only suspect and investigators have no credible information on his whereabouts or whether he is dead or alive. The last confirmed sighting of Fisher came from an ATM camera at 10:43 p.m. the evening before the explosion. Fisher can be seen withdrawing $280, the maximum allowable amount at the time. Mary Fisher’s Toyota 4Runner is visible in the background. Police did not name Fisher a suspect in the murders until three days after the fire. A week later, an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter spotted Mary Fisher’s 4Runner 140 miles north of Scottsdale in the remote Hellsgate Wilderness north of Young, Arizona. Blue, the family dog, was also with the vehicle. Fisher, an avid outdoorsman, was known to frequent the area for hunting and recreation. Dozens of officers with local, state and county law enforcement agencies descended on the isolated location and conducted a multi-day manhunt. Police officials first speculated that Fisher had disappeared into one of the many caves in the area. “We believe the dog won’t leave his master. We’re banking on it,” said Bill Fogle, who was the chief deputy of Gila County Sheriff’s Office. But after days of searching, they found no sign of Fisher, leaving investigators and the public to question whether he was dead or alive.

A Scottsdale tragedy The murders were a blow to the community and resulted in an outpouring of grief from family, friends, neighbors and fellow members of the Scottsdale Baptist Church, where the Fishers were active congregants. “They had a lot of friends here. They

p.m. on April 9, shortly before Fisher was captured on camera removing money from the ATM. According to Scottsdale Police documents, while some friends described him as a devout father and family man, others painted a different picture of Fisher. Several individuals interviewed by police told detectives that Robert had cheated on Mary on at least one occasion and one acquaintance described him as having a “wandering eye.” Some friends told police that Fisher never or rarely drank alcohol, but another friend said “Robert was always one to start something with other people. Robert often started fights, especially when he was drinking.” Investigators also found that Robert was deeply impacted by his own parents’ separation when he was a child and had an aversion to divorce, suggesting a potential motive for his alleged crimes.

On April 10, 2001, the Fisher home was engulfed in flames following an explosion that rocked a southern Scottsdale neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of Rob Koebel)

were loved,” Executive Pastor Steve Daniels told the Scottsdale Tribune in the days after the tragedy. Mary Fisher was a devout churchgoer and helped lead the children’s ministry. Britney, a student at Supai Middle School, was a basketball player and had recently been inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. Her brother Bobby, a student at Pima Elementary, played baseball and was remembered by friends as a goofball with a unique sense of humor. Friends and family also remembered Robert Fisher as a family man, kind neighbor and devout Christian. Neighbor Don Kuhbander told the Tri-

bune that after he became paralyzed, Fisher volunteered to mow his lawn. Mary Fisher’s father Bill Cooper, who has since passed away, pleaded with the public not to jump to conclusions about his son-in-law. “Pray for my son – he was my son too,” Cooper said a week after the murders. “Don’t judge Robert, just know this was God’s way. We know this is a tragedy, but more will be revealed.” The investigation revealed that Fisher was something of an enigma and that there were indications of trouble in his household. A neighbor reported hearing a loud argument in the Fisher home around 10:30

Disappearance captivates many In the years since the disappearance, the case has taken on a mythological quality and theories about his whereabouts abound. Some believe Fisher took his own life in one of the countless remote caves that dot the Hellsgate Wilderness while others think he escaped out of state or out of the country. Still others speculated Fisher relied on his knowledge of the land to survive off the grid in northern Arizona. In the years since Fisher’s disappearance, there has been no shortage of reported sightings and potential leads. In 2004, Canadian police arrested a Canadian citizen who lived near the U.S. border after a neighbor reported him due to an “uncanny” resemblance to Fisher. “Canadian officials said the look-alike shared Fisher’s height, weight, eye color and had the same scar on his lower back,” according to the Tribune. However, the man was released after his fingerprints did not match Fisher’s, which are on file with the U.S. Navy. At the time, Canadian police floated a theory that the Canadian citizen actually assumed Fisher’s identity in the U.S. and then fled back to Canada following the murders, but U.S. officials dismissed the theory. “That’s absurd,” FBI special agent Bob Caldwell told East Valley Tribune.

see FISHER page 14

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

Former Valley reporter hasn’t forgotten Fisher BY ROB KOEBEL Progress Contributor

’ve been hunting Robert Fisher for two decades, chasing down new leads across the country. Tracking Fisher is tough work. As the years go by, memories fade, people have died and urban myths replace the facts in the case. Even my memory isn’t as good as it used to be. But I will never forget the day that Gila County Deputy Andy Bunson uttered, “As of 6 o’clock this evening we are going to suspend the search based on the fact we have no further clues.” My heart sank and at that moment I promised myself I’d keep working to bring this monster to justice. As a TV news reporter at different Valley stations, I’ve covered plenty of crimes and murders. Some cases just stick with you. The Fisher case is my cross to bear. That’s why I am standing here in Northern Arizona at a place called Hell’s Gate Wilderness. I wonder if that’s why Fisher picked this spot to abandon his SUV and dog? Some type of sick inside joke? I’m back where it ended because I hear the FBI is poking around and asking questions. Hell’s Gate Wilderness is just outside of Young, Arizona. The area is a deadly mine field of caves and that’s why I’m with David Klingbeil, an expert outdoorsman’s guide. “The dirt, the roots, don’t trust those,” he warns. “I could fall 60 feet into a pit and die.” Most people don’t realize these aren’t caves you walk into; they are holes in the ground. You need to crawl inside them, head first through a tiny entrance. Fisher is six feet tall, has a bad back and

FISHER from page 12

“We know who Robert Fisher is…We’ve tracked Robert Fisher throughout his life. His parents – we’ve had contact with them the whole time.” In 2014, police in Colorado raided a home after receiving reports that Fisher was hiding out there. But again, the tip turned out to be bogus. Police arrested two men at the scene on firearm and drug charges but found

Former Valley TV reporter Rob Koebel gave an account of his recent visit in search of Robert Fisher. (Special to the Progress)

getting inside one of these caves would not only be tough but painful. And why? To kill himself? To hide out? He had almost a two-week head start before the SUV was found in the woods. Fisher wasn’t hanging out waiting to be captured. He was toying with us, making sure we knew he was in control. I never expected to find a smoking gun out here but I wanted to look it over again. I glance up from the cave, looking down the dirt road. This isn’t just any old road, a few hundred feet and you are on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. Klingbeil tells me, “If he had it in mind to get out of here…. be in New Mexico probably within five, six hours.” Exhausted and frustrated I drive back

no sign of Fisher. “Over the years, we’ve had several really good look-alikes, individuals that look very, very similar and very much resembled Robert Fisher,” said FBI Special Agent Taylor Hannah, who has been assigned to the Fisher case for about a year. Previous agents “absolutely ran all of those to ground,” Hannah said. “They positively identified those individuals and obviously they came back that they were not Robert Fisher.”

to the Rocking X Ranch where I’m staying in a small cabin. Klingbeil and his wife Jessie run the ranch and invite me to share dinner with them in the main house. That’s when the case takes a sudden turn, Jessie reluctantly tells me about a little old man pulling an oxygen tank whom she had a run-in with at the Cherry Creek Store in Young. “He just got upset, really upset. He was pounding his finger on the counter, on the flyer, saying, ‘Why do you have his picture here? This is my friend. What did he do?’” The rancher was pointing at the FBI Most Wanted poster of Fisher. Jessie adds, “He mentioned that his friend is at his ranch, that he was there at his ranch, lived with them. And then that’s

While the case is 20 years old, investigators said new tips are coming in. “We get tips every week,” Hannah said. Scottsdale Police Detective John Heinzelman, who has been on the case for six years, said he usually receives new tips once or twice a week. He treats every call as a potential new lead and vets the caller to determine how viable the information is. “Is it a good potential that we need to follow up in-person or can we identify

when he started getting really upset and just kind of started going into ‘I know him and he is dead now, we buried him three days ago.’ He said Fisher got sick and died.” Jessie called the FBI and agents came out to interview her. She never saw the old man again or his ranch hand. Who was this old man with an oxygen tank? I need to find him and his ranch. The FBI refused to return my phone call or answer any questions. In town, I couldn’t find anyone who knew a man fitting this description. I did remember something in the police report about a man with a heart condition described as a hermit living off the grid in Clint Wells, Arizona. Fisher met him a few weeks before the murders. Scottsdale Police Det. John Heinzelman tells me that the “problem is that it has been handed from agent to agent and from officer to officer. So, I talked to my counterpart at the FBI and we were just trying to figure out. He seemed to remember some sort of tip that came in that said there was a ranch but he didn’t have the specifics on it. “And I guess that’s why I was reaching out to you to say what else do you know about that person? Have we identified him yet?” I haven’t found this rancher yet and I have to get back home to Los Angeles. I’m out of time on this trip. A visit to Clint Well’s will be in my future. I have one stop to make before I leave Arizona. I’ve never paid my respects to Mary, Bobby and Brittney. I visit their graves, spending a few quiet moments, remembering the victims. In the end that’s what my journey is about, justice for them.

them as somebody else and rule them out more or less,” Heinzelman said. Both Hannah and Heinzelman are charged with the seemingly impossible task of vetting each new tip and attempting to solve this uniquely complicated case. For Heinzelman, it’s really two cases. “Because it’s the case itself, the actual homicide, which is pretty much done until we’d find somebody or until we can

see FISHER page 16

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

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CITY NEWS

RISING from page 8

ers and coaches compared to the pro team, which has two dozen players and five coaches. But the organization stressed that it is only building two fields that will be used in shifts and it is working with Paul Basha, a former Scottsdale transportation director, to develop traffic and parking plans for the site. At the meeting March 18, Riester said they would keep the existing parking lot with some modifications that would allow for 50 cars to park. At a community meeting in January, another community member expressed skepticism that the Rising youth organization will have enough money on hand to build and maintain the project. But Riester said that is not a problem, stating the lease will be through the Rising’s non-profit youth organization, which has significant money in its re-

FISHER from page 14

actually bring them in and interview and those things,” he said. “The rest of it becomes a sort of fugitive apprehension to say who is Robert Fisher? Where would he have gotten to? Did he have help? And, if so, is he local? Is he hidden somewhere in plain sight? Is he out of the country?” The investigators said they are concentrating on going back through the entire case file in an attempt to turn up some piece of overlooked evidence. Hannah said she avoids adopting “pet theories” or giving into the mythology of the case and instead has combed through both the FBI and Scottsdale Police case files. “And I wanted to basically come up with a plan to continue this investigation based off of those facts opposed to kind

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

serves. That non-profit – the Arcadia Scottsdale United Soccer Club – generated nearly $3 million in revenue and had $1.9 million in assets in 2019, according to its most recent tax return. Some community members have said the district should put the lease out to an open bid to ensure the district is getting the best value for the land. “I believe that they have an obligation to put it out as a public solicitation and say ‘we have excess capacity and we are considering leasing this’ and let everybody bid on it,” resident John Washington said. However, district facilities Director Dennis Roehler said bidding is not required. “We really are not required under any statute to go through a RFP or a solicitation process to enter into a lease,” Roehler said. “We are required to have an evaluation of the property and (find of the mythology that has developed over the years,” she said. So far, nothing has shed light on what happened to Robert Fisher. “We have not had a verified sighting that we can say ‘yes, this was Robert Fisher’ after the ATM video,” Heinzelman said. The 20-year investigation seems to have turned up more questions than answers. Some acquaintances described Fisher as a survivalist with the skills to survive long stretches in the wilderness. One friend – whose name was redacted in police reports – told detectives that Fisher considered himself a “paramilitary” and “goes out with his buddies and plays war games in the woods.” He also told police that Fisher was an avid hunter, proficient with weapons and that Fisher told him that at least

out) what is the fair market value.” According to Arizona State Law, school districts can lease property for any number of purposes, including recreational uses, as long as the use is “in the interest of the community” and the district charges a reasonable fee. The law does not include an open bid requirement. The law does not define uses in the community interest, and an Arizona Attorney General opinion from 2002 stated that is left up to the district’s governing board. Recently, one competing idea has come in from a local resident who like to turn the property into a native seed garden, though the proposal has not gained traction with the district. Amber Sampson, a local resident, said she is in the process of organizing the Southwest Native Agricultural Center nonprofit that would work to grow and preserve native food sources in the southwest, including indigenous seeds. once a year he would go into the woods and live by himself. But others painted a different picture. Kuhbander, the neighbor, told the Scottsdale Tribune he used to go hunting with Fisher. “He’s not that rugged,” Kuhbander said. “He had some pretty bad back problems. Last time we went hunting he was miserable – his knee was really hurting him bad.” Fisher, a Navy veteran and former firefighter, suffered back issues from damaged discs and police reports suggested he may have struggled with an opioid addiction connected to the injury. Investigators continue to grapple with these disparate descriptions of their lone suspect. “It’s difficult because I would hate to close a door or an avenue where we’re going,” Heinzelman said. “So the

The project has been endorsed by Jacob Butler, the cultural resources department garden coordinator with the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, and John Weser, executive director of the Center for Native and Urban Wildlife at Scottsdale Community College. According to an email sent to the SUSD board, Sampson has not yet filed the IRS paperwork to organize the non-profit and has yet to secure funding, though she has applied for over $50,000 in grants. A spokesman for the district said SUSD only has been in negotiations with Phoenix Rising for over one year and is not currently entertaining other proposals. “Should the current and ongoing discussions with the soccer team fail to result in a lease agreement that is taken to the Governing Board for approval, other proposals for the property would be considered at that time,” according to a statement to the Progress.

thoughts are he was a survivalist on one extreme all the way to no, he was just a weekend warrior and he liked to ride ATVs on the other extreme.” For that reason, Heinzelman said he wants to avoid putting out a specific characterization of Fisher for fear that it would dissuade someone from calling in with pertinent information. “I would hate to see somebody not call, because they would say ‘well, I don’t think he would do this after this long,’” he said. “He could be right under our noses and we just don’t realize it.” Despite all of those open questions, Scottsdale Police and the FBI are still actively trying to answer the question: What happened to Robert Fisher? “I think the message, especially for us locally, is that we’re still looking,” Heinzelman said. “By no means is it mothballed or put away in a closet.”

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Board member’s Project Prom a hit with students BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

n Easter weekend, racks upon racks of shimmery, silky, sleek prom formalwear were rolled onto the Saguaro High School parking lot. For two days, nearly 150 students came through to pick up their dress, suit, shoes and accessories of choice free of charge. The event – the first of its kind for Scottsdale Unified School District – was called Project Prom and the organizer of the event, Governing Board member Patty Beckman, was thrilled with the turnout. “It was a labor of love for everyone involved,” Beckman said. Project Prom featured more than

SUSD Board Member Patty Beckman and Scottsdale Education Association President Becky Williams organized Project Prom. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

1,500 dresses and about 40 pieces of men’s wear, accessories, and shoes. The clothes and accessories came from a formalwear drive held last spring and organized by a group of parents, teachers, the Scottsdale Education Association and the Scottsdale Parent Council. “Last March, when our schools moved abruptly online, prom was canceled,” Beckman explained. “However, I still had individuals contacting me wanting to donate formalwear. Over the course of the last year, 1,000 more dresses were donated. Many of the dresses and accessories came from boutiques/stores that closed due to the pandemic.” Beckman and her family cared for the clothing, spending the past year cleaning, mending, hanging and tagging all of

see PROM page 20

Believe it: Scottsdale man is in Ripley show BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

t the gift shop for the newly opened “The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” exhibit at Arizona Boardwalk, a pyramid of dominoes, checkers, and chess pieces is balanced on a single vertical domino. This impressive feat was created more than 50 years ago by Scottsdale resident and retired Laguna Elementary School teacher Gary Wojton. “Fifty-three years ago, I was a freshman in college, and while waiting for my turn to play chess, I started building structures with the available dominoes, checkers and chess pieces,” recalled Wojton, who, at the time, was 17 and living in Chicago. One of Wojton’s friends was so impressed with the pyramid that he snapped a photo of it and sent it to the Ripley En-

Newly opened “The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” exhibition at Arizona Boardwalk features an astonishing artifact created by Scottsdale resident Gary Wojton: a pyramid of dominoes, checkers, and chess pieces balanced on a single vertical domino. It was submitted more than 50 years ago. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

tertainment headquarter offices in Orlando, Florida. And they responded to Wojton – believe it or not. “I was later contacted by them and they needed to have an affidavit signed by my friend that no adhesive was used,” Wojton said. Once authenticated, Wojton’s creation was published in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” book published on Aug. 1, 1968. But there was one problem: His submission was published without his name, as Wojton discovered 34 years later. “I was thrilled with this but forgot about it until 2002, when I was sharing the story and the pocketbook with students I was teaching,” Wojton said. “But the pocketbook did not contain my name, just ‘a man from Chicago,’ so it was hard to prove that

see RIPLEYS page 20

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

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PROM �� page 18

the donated dresses. “My husband put together racks and my daughters created hang tags with sizes for each dress,” she said. “Even my sweet mother took a break from sewing masks and instead focused on fixing zippers and reinforcing spaghetti straps.” Project Prom was inspired by the Paradise Valley Education Association, who took to social media to post about a recycled formalwear event. Beckman loved the idea and immediately reached out to the teachers and parents to gauge their interest in hosting their own formalwear event. “As always, our students were incredibly appreciative and respectful,” Beckman said of the response to Project Prom. “The students and parents that attended were courteous and handled the formal wear with care. “It is also worth noting that everyone wore masks and took our COVID risk mitigation measures seriously.” Beckman and her team of volunteers wanted to host the event to help Scottsdale families in need. “Prom can be out of reach for some of our students, as we have many families living in poverty. A new dress alone can

cost hundreds of dollars; and when you add in a suit or tux rental, the prom ticket, transportation, and a meal, the cost can be extraordinary. Many students simply won’t go,” Beckman said. “If we can help by eliminating some of the financial stress by offering free formal wear, these children are able to participate in one of high school’s most memo-

rable rites of passage,” she continued. While final details are still being worked out for each of SUSD’s five high schools’ celebrations, two proms are scheduled for late April and the other three in May, according to Acting Public Information & Marketing Officer Nancy Norman. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Milissa

was me.” Wojton reached out to Ripley’s to prove he created the pyramid. “They were kind enough to send me a copy of the newspaper page, which did contain my name,” Wojton said. Ripley’s also sent him a certificate of recognition for the contribution of “Stacked Game Pieces Pyramid.” Now, both items, as well as the book and the pyramid, are now hanging on the wall at the Ripley’s exhibit near Scottsdale. “Having a local resident that has a real connection to our new exhibition is simply amazing,” said Ran Knishinsky, chief marketing officer and managing partner at Arizona Boardwalk. “It gives credibility to the objects within the exhibit because it shows that these oddities and rare items, whether discovered by Robert Ripley himself, or others associated with Ripley’s, could be created, or found by everyday people – possibly from around the corner or right in your own neighborhood.”

Wojton calls it an “honor” to have his structure on display. “It is really an honor to have the pyramid I created 53 years ago hanging on the wall of the Ripley’s gift shop,” Wojton said. “I honestly never expected it to be accepted.” Wojton used to work at Butterfly Wonderland at Arizona Boardwalk at the indoor, interactive rainforest habitat after retiring as a teacher. After working at Chicago Public Schools for 34 years, he moved to Scottsdale in 2008 and became an instructional assistant at Laguna Elementary School. “Here I stayed until the pandemic hit and have been on furlough since last March, but hoping to be back around summertime,” Wojton said. But before Wojton would be furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he attended a meeting at Butterfly Wonderland, where employees were informed that “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” would be replaced by the Ripley’s exhibit. That meeting prompted Wojton to send his supervisor a photo of the pyramid he

created decades prior, as well as the certificate from Ripley’s. “[I] mentioned it was an interesting coincidence,” Wojton said. “My supervisor, in turn, forwarded my email to the Ripley’s site and it was mentioned that they would be interested in having it on display. I felt honored, felt a sense of pride, to know something that was created so long ago would be on exhibit.” “The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” opened at Arizona Boardwalk Feb. 9 and has drawn thousands of people and rave reviews, Knishinsky said. “The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has been a wonderful addition to Arizona Boardwalk and feedback has been extremely positive,” he added. The interactive exhibition boasts a collection of intriguing objects and oddities that allow visitors to explore the real science behind Robert Ripley’s collection of oddities and fantastic feats. Jim Pattison Jr., president of Ripley Entertainment, said the exhibit is a great introduction of the Ripley brand to a

RIPLEYS �� page 18

Student Laurel Newell, 18, searches for the perfect prom dress at the Project Prom formalwear event on April 2. (Pablo Robles/Progress Staff Photographer)

Sackos said proms will be held at venues selected by each school’s students where mitigation can mirror what is currently in place in schools. “This includes allowing proms to be scheduled with enhanced mitigation strategies and planning for in-person graduation ceremonies, with some restrictions on the number of attendees to allow for physical distancing while also ensuring the Class of 2021 has a graduation experience that is in-person,” Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel wrote parents. Many students are ready, thanks to Project Prom. “The SUSD community is passionate, loyal, hardworking and fiercely proud of its students. This event was a success because of those attributes,” said Beckman, who hopes to host Project Prom next spring, too. “Words cannot express how heartwarming it was to watch our students smile as they picked out and tried on the free formal wear. It was very emotional to see each student carefully pick out a dress or suit and feel special,” she said. “Working together, we can eliminate equity issues for our students and make wonderful high school memories, one prom at a time.” new audience. “It’s colorful, exciting, bursting with family fun and very hands-on,” Pattison Jr. said. “Robert Ripley was always fascinated by the scientific side of his finds as he traveled the world. The exhibition proves that Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is, indeed, the global leader of the weird, strange and unusual.” Attendees of the exhibit can measure up against Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man who grew to 8 feet 11 inches tall. Kids can crawl through a life-size model of the prehistoric snake, Titanoboa. Guests should also keep their eyes peeled for the calf with two faces, a megalodon shark jaw, a Rolls Royce made of matchsticks and a portrait of Einstein made of toast, among other items. “I will never get tired of seeing such a variety of such interesting displays,” Wojton said. “I highly recommend that families place a visit to Ripley’s on their to-do list.” The exhibit runs through Summer 2022. Information: arizonaboardwalk. com

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Stone Creek celebrates 30 years as a leader BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

his year marks a milestone for Stone Creek Furniture: It's their 30th anniversary. And to celebrate, Stone Creek Furniture is skipping the big bash and instead will maintain that day-to-day grind they’ve mastered over the past three decades – the same grind that helped them not only to survive the pandemic but thrive during it. The pandemic spurred sales for two products: entertainment centers and home offices. “When people were coming to realize that this work-from-home was not a temporary situation, the need to invest in a nicer work environment in the home – and also ways to entertain the family at home – came forefront. Like, how do we make the best of this?” said Stone Creek Furniture

Ron Jones is the president and founder of Stone Creek Furniture, which has a showroom in the Airpark. (Stone Creek Furniture)

President and Founder Ron Jones. Stone Creek Furniture has become a leader in the home furnishings industry with the quality of everything from furniture to kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. Its first order was for 80 chairs, and since then, Stone Creek has been committed to “time-honored craftsmanship.” What also sets Stone Creek apart is they manufacture locally, at their 44,000-squarefoot factory in Chandler. Their other showroom is located in northern Scottsdale, just north of Scottsdale Quarter. “We’re not like other furniture stores,” Jones said. “They’re not manufacturing; they’re buying from many factories around the world to provide the commodities that are in demand.” This allows them to provide beautifully crafted furniture directly to the public at a wholesale price. “We sell factory direct. So, that no-mid-

dleman concept is still alive and well here at Stone Creek,” Jones said. In fact, Stone Creek Furniture is the largest furniture manufacturer in the state. The company produces furniture and cabinetry using only the best selection of quality hardwoods and offers an extensive of selection of 35 fine finish colors among other features. But Stone Creek’s niche, Jones said, is in customizing cabinetry. In the midst of the pandemic, it saw strong sales during Q2 and Q3 of last year for media walls and entertainment centers, and home offices. “Scottsdale has always been a vibrant customer base for us,” Jones said, adding that the Chandler factory “was well-equipped to handle more volume than we had been doing.” Stone Creek did, however, face their fair

see FURNITURE page 23

Mountainside Fitness jumps into pickleball craze PROGRESS NEWS STAFF

ooner or later, it was bound to happen. Pickleball has made it to the gym. The senior sensation that has soared in popularity over the last decade to the point where East Valley and other cities have scrambled to build courts for the sport’s enthusiastic fans, can now be played on select days at three Mountainside Fitness facilities, including those at 1253 N. Greenfield Road in Mesa and 5320 E. Shea Blvd. in Scottsdale as well as one in Surprise. And Mountainside is gearing up to spread the cheer for pickleballers at some of its other facilities within a month or so, according to CEO Craig Cote. Pickleball is a combination of several racket sports – badminton, tennis and ping-pong – that once was mainly a perk at RV parks. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge

Mountainside Fitness CEO Craig Cole and company founder Tom Hatten try their hand at pickleball at one of their three gyms where the popular game is offered at select times during the week. (Courtesy Mountainside Fitness)

Island, Washington, at the home of former legislator and lieutenant governor Joel Pritchard, who started using a Whiffle ball when he couldn’t find a tennis ball to bat around. Over time, the paddles have evolved from an unwieldy solid wood into a lightweight graphite, enhancing the sport’s popularity because it doesn’t require the physical stamina demanded by tennis. There’s a multi-pronged business strategy to Mountainside’s adoption of pickleball. First, Cote explained, the company can get some use out of its full-court basketball courts, which are usually vacant in the daytime, by repurposing part of them as pickleball courts from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday, 2-4 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m.-noon on Sundays.

see PICKLE page 23

BUSINESS

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FURNITURE �� page 22

share of challenges keeping up with demand. One being interruptions in supply. “Some of the supplies that we would have in hardware are made in China. So, there were some interruptions in supply in that. We had to pay more, but we could still manage to get it. The raw materials have been going up in price, too,” Jones explained. Jones added that countertops also increased in price. “There was also an exodus of the coun-

PICKLE �� page 22

“We believe that each full-size court could handle three pickleball courts,” Cote said. “So, we went from one and will graduate to two in the next week and then we’ll likely backfill some of our other clubs that have half- court basketball courts. They will only accommodate one pickleball court, so that’s our next move.” Second, Mountainside has taken some of the hassle out of getting court time – often a hassle at public parks’ courts, where players endure long lines waiting to get on the court. The Valley fitness giant gives members an app through which they reserve, up to 24

tertops that were being made in China,” he said. “That became a little bit of a problem as those manufacturers tried to move their sourcing to other countries, and they got that done pretty rapidly, but there was quite a bit of price increase in the countertops.” Despite the minor setbacks, Stone Creek Furniture managed to not only keep up with demand but also retain their staff amid the pandemic. “We never laid off any employees,” Jones said proudly, adding that many of their hours ahead of time, a pickleball court for 45 minutes. Players also get three balls specially made for hardwood floors. Third, the fact the court is indoors has numerous advantages that Cote thinks will appeal to many ardent pickleballers. “Our locker rooms and restrooms are part of a private fitness facility,” Cote said. “So, they are well maintained, they’re air-conditioned and they’re also well-appointed with soaps, lotions, mouthwashes – things that a city park would never have.” And there’s no wind, which Cote said “makes for a nice stable game because we’ve all played pickleball when the winds pick up. “That ball doesn’t weigh much and the

employees have been with Stone Creek for more than seven years. Jones expects work-from-home will “become very permanent” and that the home office market will “stay strong.” “And I think the media wall entertainment center for the home is also going to stay strong,” he added. According to a December 2020 report by Research and Markets, the global home office furniture market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 7.5 percent through 2026. wind can really move that ball to at least one side’s favor because you don’t switch sides like you do in some racquet sports.” Cote said he, Mountainside founder Tom Hatten and most of the company’s executive management team picked up the game six or seven months ago. And they eventually got the idea for the partial repurposing of the basketball courts because they’re often not in use during the daytime. And “the cherry on top” for the inspiration came one Sunday in January when it was raining and “it was nice for my wife and another couple to be able to play outside of the rain. Nobody else was playing pickleball throughout all Phoenix on rainy

A fluttering heart is a romantic idea. But not a healthy one. 1 in 4 adult Americans over the age of 40 could develop an irregular heartbeat. Those odd sensations, a fluttering feeling in your chest, erratic heartbeats? The fact is, irregular or abnormal heartbeats, known as arrhythmia, aren’t normal at all, and they definitely aren’t to be ignored. It could be atrial fibrillation or other heart rhythm disorders—conditions that may cause the electrical impulses of the heart to happen too fast, too slowly, or erratically, when left undiagnosed and untreated. The first step in protecting yourself is a heart health checkup with one of our heart rhythm experts at the Dignity Health Heart Arrhythmia Center – Chandler Regional Medical Center. Now’s the time to schedule a consultation with our experts at LearnAboutArrhythmia.org or call 480-728-5500.

Jones’ goal this year is to become the largest selection and largest manufacturer of home office and media walls in Arizona. “We’re putting a lot of focus again on those two commodities,” he said. “We’re extremely proud of the work we do here at Stone Creek,” Jones added. “We are not just selling cookie cutter furniture made in China; we are collaborating with each customer and design that one-of-a-kind piece of furniture or cabinetry for their home.” Information: stonecreekfurniture. com Sunday,” he said. While pickleball is breaking age barriers, the game has been a near-obsession for many in the 50-and-over crowd. Cote noted that almost all Medicare plans now cover gym membership and Mountainside has extensive relationships with organizations, such as AARP, that serve an older demographic. Although Cote said Mountainside has not given any thought to offering lessons, “we have put a rule book in a three-ring binder hanging on the wall.” For information on the pickleball feature and other offerings: mountainside�itness.com

FOOD & DRINK

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Guido’s serving up Italian favorites for 38 years BY MELODY BIRKETT Progress Contributor

“Instead of eating in, they were coming in and taking it to go and it worked out ok. I’m a Christian man and I believe that God is deﬁnitely a part of this business and that’s why we didn’t suffer.”

uido’s Chicago Meat and Deli opened in 1983 in a shopping center at Scottsdale and Shea roads and hasn’t budged since. “We got here right after the cowboys and Indians left,” joked owner Joe Guido. “They were riding horses behind the store when we got here.” His eatery serves a variety of Italian items, from sandwiches and soups to dinners and including broasted chicken, pizza and chicken wings. “We also have a wide variety of Italian cold cuts, Italian cheeses,” Guido said. “We make our own homemade Italian sausage. We roast our own roast beef so the beef is out-of-this-world. Sausage as well. We make our own lasagnas. Everything is made in-house including all of our sauces and dressings.” Guido brings in groceries and specialty items – mostly Italian – not commonly found everywhere. “I get stuff from Italy, naturally, New York, California, Chicago, all over the world,” Guido said. “I try to be different than your run-of-the-mill grocery store or other small places. I like to have things they can’t get anywhere else. “My wife makes a wide variety of delicious Italian cookies and desserts. She makes the arancini, which is known as rice balls. We make our own mozzarella cheese. It’s all made right here.” From Italy, Guido orders mainly cheese, tomatoes and olive oils. “It’s all top-ofthe-line stuff. Our prosciutto is fabulous.” Guido grew up in Chicago and learned the business from his father, who owned several grocery stores. All in all, he said, “I’ve been in this business for over 50 years.” At the Mini Mart inside the restaurant, Guido said, “We have lady�ingers and

Joe Guido has operated Guido's Chicago Meat and Deli in the same Scottsdale location for nearly four decades. (Melody Birkett/Contributor)

your mascarpone for a good tiramisu. We have great gelato ice cream in our freezer. We have ravioli, stuffed pasta, stuffed shells from people you don’t usually see out here. “They’re based out of Chicago and New York such as Pastosa which is a big brand

in New York. We have Perfect Pasta which is a big brand out of Chicago. I’ve got to keep all of these big city boys happy.” Despite the pandemic, Guido’s business did not take much of a hit, other than one month early last year. His restaurant was already doing

take-out when he had to close the dining room. “Instead of eating in, they were coming in and taking it to go and it worked out ok,” said Guido. “I’m a Christian man and I believe that God is de�initely a part of this business and that’s why we didn’t suffer.” He and his wife run the restaurant and mini-mart. His kids also help out but no word if they’ll take over the business. But Guido has no plans to retire anytime soon since he enjoys what he does. His secret to his success? “We treat our customers very well,” explained Guido. “We aim to please. We’re reasonably priced for the items and quality we put out. We just come here every day with the attitude of doing the best we can and suit up and do it again tomorrow.” “I have people who’ve been coming in here since day one that are still coming in. And now their kids are coming in. I remember when they were coming in holding them in their arms. Now, the kids are coming in, holding their kids in their arms. I did a wedding for one guy. I married him and his wife (catered the food) and then 25 years later, I married his daughter and her husband-to-be.” Information: guidosofchicago.com, 480-951-0636

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Filmed blind kids’ voyage earns many accolades BY KRISTINE CANNON Progress Staff Writer

welve blind teenagers in three boats spent seven days at sea navigating the Caribbean, overcoming nature, fatigue and their own fears. This is more than a synopsis for an award-winning documentary shot and created by local filmmakers. This was the real-life adventure of 12 legally blind local teens – called the Blind Buccaneers — who embarked on the life-changing trip to the Spanish Virgin Islands in 2018. “It was a very awesome thing to be a part of,” said Elle Dingwell, 17, of Scottsdale. “I developed friendships that have lasted me through this day.” Released on digital and cable VOD by Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios Company, “Ocean of Obstacles” relates the teens’ moving tale of perseverance, courage and grit. After spending months learning how to sail at ‘Tiller and Kites’ Sailing School at Lake Pleasant Harbor and earning their International Yacht Training Skipper certification, the Blind Buccaneers traveled to Puerto Rico in November 2018. There, they embarked in three sailboats and circumnavigating the Spanish Virgin Islands. For Elle, it was an unforgettable – and, at one time, frightening – experience. “There was a massive storm,” Elle recalled, “and at first, I was sitting on the front of the boat, enjoying the waves coming, crashing over.” But the weather progressively worsened and Elle went inside the boat to dry off. “I was getting cold and wet and miserable. So, I went down into the cabin and stuff started flying out and moving

Among the 12 legally blind teenagers from the Phoenix area who sailed through the Spanish Virgin Islands in 2018 is Elle Dingwell, 17, from Horizon High School. Collectively they call themselves the Blind Buccaneers. (Gravitas Ventures)

around. That was scary,” she said. Elle’s proudest moment was scaling a slippery mountain. “When I got up to the top, I remember feeling very accomplished,” she said. “I talk about that in the film where I’m like, ‘If I can do this, then I can do anything.’” The once-in-a-lifetime trip was made possible by the Foundation for Blind Children, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that serves the blind and visually impaired of all ages. One of the foundation’s programs is the Blind Buccaneers, which uses sighted guides, staff and community partners to offer students demanding physical and mental challenges.

For Elle Dingwell, the weeklong Caribbean journey was an empowering one that not only boosted her confidence but also helped her make lifelong friendships. (Gravitas Ventures)

The purpose is to inspire visually impaired individuals to achieve more in life. “Whether it’s to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, the bottom of the Grand Canyon, or across the ocean, our kids rise to the challenge,” said Marc Ashton, foundation CEO and creator of the challenge events. “They succeed, and that success leads to confidence, and that confidence is a tool they will use for their whole lives.” “Ocean of Obstacles” marks the first time the Blind Buccaneers became the subject of an award-winning documentary – and they have Phoenix-based director Louie Duran to thank. “I witnessed the strength and hope these kids possess shine full from challenging themselves. When given the opportunity to show the world this lifechanging experience, I jumped at the

chance,” Duran said. Duran first discovered the foundation’s their challenge events in 2015 and began documenting the stories several years later at Lake Pleasant Harbor, where the Blind Buccaneers trained for the trip to the Caribbean. “This adventure has been a challenge for everyone who got to be a part of it in some way,” said executive producer Loudin Dennis Krueg. “What you will feel watching these young adults in this call to contest with the open water changes how you approach everything down the road. I know it has for me, and I will never be the same because of what I have seen firsthand at sea,” Krueg added. The trip boosted Elle’s confidence. “It really showed me what I can

see DOCUMENTARY page 26

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

DOCUMENTARY �� page 25

do,” she said. “It also helped me make friendships.” Both Elle and her mom, Caroline Dingwell, hope the documentary shows people who are blind or visually impaired they can do anything. “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover,” Elle said. “And I hope that it also inspires them to be more confident and try to overcome challenges in their lives.” “You never know the strengths of people,” Dingwell added. “It helps everybody — it helps her family, her community — to see people in a different light. We’re extremely grateful for these opportunities.” The Dingwell family moved to Scottsdale from Ireland 11 years ago, specifically so Elle could attend the foundation. “My children were born in Germany. They were four months premature, and they’re twins. And one of the consequences of the premature birth was that Elle is visually impaired and she has mild cerebral palsy,” Dingwell explained. Dingwell researched where she could take Elle for early intervention and eventually stumbled upon the foundation. “I called them the next day and I said, ‘This is unusual, but I’m calling from Ireland. Would you accept us?’” she recalled. Since then, the foundation has been so important to the family that after volunteering for two years, Dingwell became a teacher for the blind.

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 11, 2021

“It’s hard not to be emotional because they gave us hope,” Dingwell said. “You meet people there when you’re at a point in your life that you’re very vulnerable, you’re looking for guidance, and I think the spirit of helping others is how we, Elle and I both go forward.” “We never would’ve had the opportunity to learn how to guide her and for her to grow and get away from us as well and be her own person,” Dingwell said. Added Elle: “I can do almost anything that anyone else can do.” “Ocean of Obstacles” has received numerous awards at the Las Vegas and Orlando film festivals. It also was well-received at the Phoenix Film Festival in November. “I had family see it, and they were really inspired and touched,” Elle said. “There wasn’t a dry eye. It was emotional,” Dingwell added, “like tears of joy.” In addition to Elle, the Blind Buccaneers consisted of the following students: Adonis Watt, Cesar Yanez, Ethan Roberts, Evelin Rios-Perez, Isabelle Chapman, Jorge Castro, Maggie Lindsay, Marc Ashton, Morgan MacDonald, Roman Robago, Steven Clemens, and Spencer Churchill. “Ocean of Obstacles” will be officially released on April 13. “Every one of these kids had to overcome fear and doubt to reach their goals, and they all became my heroes,” Duran said. Information: o3�ilm.com, seeitourway.org

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Public Notices

Project Name: Scottsdale General Plan 2035 Case Numbers: 1-GP-2021 Location: Citywide Purpose: Pursuant to A.R.S.§ 9-461.06.(E), promoting citizen participation in the adoption of a new General Plan for the City of Scottsdale (General Plan 2035), in order to revisit and revise the community’s long-term objectives and land development policies for future -growth, development and redevelopment and to add and amend existing General Plan elements. General Plan 2035 is intended to comply with State law requiring cities to adopt new, or readopt a General Plan every ten (10) years. Staff Contact: Adam Yaron, 480-312-2761 Email – ayaron@scottsdaleaz.gov For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov search "Scottsdale Planning Case Files" or in your URL search bar you can type in https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/ A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING: Online at: http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/Boards/planningcommission -----------------------------------------------NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hear public comment regarding this case at the hearing listed below: Remote Hearing Date: April 28, 2021 at 5:00 P.M Location: This Remote Planning Commission meeting, in accordance with A.R.S.§ 9-461.06.(E) so as to promote citizen participation, will be held electronically. Instructions on how to provide public comments will be provided on the posted agenda. Attest BRONTE IBSEN Planning Specialist For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY MAY REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BY CONTACTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7767). REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OR AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW TIME TO ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION. FOR TTY USERS, THE ARIZONA RELAY SERVICE (1-800-367-8939) MAY CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7767). Published: Scottsdale Progress, Apr 11, 2021 / 375xx

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION REMOTE (ELECTRONIC) HEARING Project Name: Parking Text Amendment Case Numbers: 5-TA-2020 Location: Citywide Purpose: Request by City of Scottsdale to amend the City of Scottsdale Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 455) for the purpose of amending Article IX Parking and Loading Requirements, Sections 9.100. through 9.201., including any applicable sections related to the required parking for hotels, multi-family residential, and office, the in-lieu parking program, downtown overlay, and Article VII General Provisions, Section 7.1200. related to special improvement requirements for public parking.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hold a REMOTE public hearing on April 28, 2021, at 5:00 P.M in Scottsdale, Arizona so as to promote additional citizen participation. Until further notice, Planning Commission meetings will be held electronically. While physical facilities are not open to the public, Planning Commission meetings are televised on Cox Cable Channel 11 and streamed online at ScottsdaleAZ.gov (search “live stream”) to allow the public to listen/view the meeting in progress. Instructions on how to provide Public Comments will be provided on the posted agenda. 16-ZN-2020 (Greystar Active Independent Living Rezoning) Request by owner for approval of a Zoning District Map Amendment from Single-family Residential (R1-35) to Commercial Office (C-O) zoning on a +/-4.5-acre site located approximately 1,000 feet northwest of the East Raintree Drive and North 90th Street intersection. Staff contact person is Katie Posler, 480-312-2703. Applicant contact person is Michele Hammond, (480) 385-2753.

Staff contact persons: Bryan Cluff, 480-312-2258 Email: bcluff@scottsdaleaz.gov

7-AB-2020 (90th & Raintree GLO Abandonment) Request for approval to abandon GLO easements located along the north, west, and south boundary of a property located approximately 1,000 feet northwest of the East Raintree Drive and North 90th Street intersection. Staff contact person is Katie Posler, 480-3122703. Applicant contact person is Michele Hammond, (480) 385-2753.

3-UP-2021 (Belles Nashville Kitchen Live Entertainment) Request by owner for approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Live Entertainment at an existing establishment on a +/-5,579-square foot site with Downtown Retail Specialty Type-1 Downtown Overlay (D/RS-1 DO) zoning located at 7212 E. Main St. Staff contact person is Ben Moriarity, 480-312-2836. Applicant contact person is Mike Haley, (602) 3004006.

A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING: Online at: http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/Boards/planningcommission

1-GP-2021 (Scottsdale General Plan 2035) Pursuant to A.R.S.§ 9-461.06.(E), promoting citizen participation in the adoption of a new General Plan for the City of Scottsdale (General Plan 2035), in order to revisit and revise the community’s long-term objectives and land development policies for future growth, development and redevelopment and to add and amend existing General Plan elements. General Plan 2035 is intended to comply with State law requiring cities to adopt new, or readopt a General Plan every ten (10) years. Staff contact person is Adam Yaron, 480-312-2761.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Scottsdale, Arizona, will hear public comment regarding these cases at the hearing listed below: Hearing Date: April 14, 2021 @ 5:00 P.M. Location: Meeting will be held electronically and remotely

For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov search "Scottsdale Planning Case Files" or in your URL search bar you can type in https://eservices.scottsdaleaz.gov/bldgresources/Cases/ A COPY OF A FULL AGENDA, INCLUDING ITEMS CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AT THE FOLLOWING: Online at: http://www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/Boards/planning-commission CHAIRMAN Attest

Attest Bronte Ibsen Planning Specialist

BRONTE IBSEN

PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY MAY REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BY CONTACTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-2412). REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OR AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW TIME TO ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION. FOR TTY USERS, THE ARIZONA RELAY SERVICE (1-800-367-8939) MAY CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-2412).

Published: Scottsdale Progress, Apr 11, 2021 / 37576

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Planning Specialist For additional information visit our web site at www.scottsdaleaz.gov PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY MAY REQUEST A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION BY CONTACTING THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7767). REQUESTS SHOULD BE MADE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, OR AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW TIME TO ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION. FOR TTY USERS, THE ARIZONA RELAY SERVICE (1-800-367-8939) MAY CONTACT THE CLERK'S OFFICE AT (480-312-7767). Published: Scottsdale Progress, Apr 11, 2021 / 37553

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