Tempe Police Narcotics Detectives Arrest Drug Traffickers

On November 30, 2011, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Detectives from the Tempe Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit coordinated with the Southern Nevada Cannabis Operations Regional Enforcement Task Force (SCORE) and the Las Vegas Police Department to serve simultaneous warrants at the Yoki A Ma “Your Herbal Solutions” business at 1920 E. University in Tempe, the Yoki A Ma at 4639 E. Virginia in Mesa, as well as at the business of the same name in Las Vegas, Nevada regarding the illegal sale of marijuana.

 The following suspects were taken into custody yesterday in connection with the five month long investigation: Tempe Police Detectives arrested the following individuals in connection with the five month long investigation: Craig Allen Scherf (Age 45, of Chandler, AZ), Nicole Dawn Scherf (Age 27, of Chandler, AZ -Married to Craig Scherf), Richard Ray Hagerman (Age 55, of Mesa, AZ – Father of Nicole), Renee Bruggeman (Age 41, of Tempe, AZ), Rodger Murray (Age 26, of Chandler, AZ), Mark Siegezwki (Age 46, Mesa, AZ).

The investigation began in July of this year when the Tempe Police Department received information from the City of Tempe Community Development Department that Yoki A Ma was operating without a license.  Undercover Tempe Police Detectives initiated investigation and visited the business on a number of occasions.  Through this investigation Detectives discovered that the suspects in this investigation were illegally selling/dispensing marijuana to medical marijuana card holders as a “gift” after receiving $65 to visit the business.

It should be noted that Craig Scherf submitted an application to the City of Tempe to operate as a medical marijuana dispensary.  The permit was denied due to the business’ proximity to a residential area.

The search warrants served yesterday resulted in the seizure of numerous items associated with drug packaging, transportation, marketing and sales, including:

• (6) suspects arrested
• (1)  lb. marijuana seized
• (4) handguns seized
• (1) rifle seized
• (1) shotgun seized
• $2,000 in cash confiscated

The suspects in this case were booked into Tempe City Jail and where booked on charges of Possession of Marijuana for Sale (A class four felony), Illegal of Control Enterprise (A class three felony), and Transportation of Marijuana for Sale.

###

Craig Scherf                                                          Nicole Scherf

Mark Sigezwski                                                   Renee Bruggeman

Richard Hagerman                                             Rodger Murray

It’s that time of year again – Tempe Fall Festival of The Arts – December 2 thru 4, 2011

www.tempefestivalofthearts.com

The Tempe Festival of the Arts consistently ranks among the Top 20 art festivals in the nation by Sunshine Artist and has received the Pinnacle Award from the International Festival and Events Association. The spring and fall events each attract nearly 250,000 visitors to the Mill Avenue District  over the course of a 3-day weekend.

Quality artists are fundamental to the success of the event. Each year, the Festival receives more than 1,000 applications from artists across the country. From these applicants, a jury comprised of members of the local art community selects the top artisans in each category to participate in the Festival. During the Festival, a new jury then selects the best overall artist and the top artist in each category.

Participants are separated into 18 different artistic categories for judging, ranging from  woodwork to photography to ceramics and even wearable art. More than 400 artist booths line Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets presenting unique, and hand-made artwork that offers visitors a distinctive shopping experience.

While the Tempe Festival of the Arts primarily focuses on art and the artists that create it, there are also a wide variety of other activities for guests to enjoy. Live entertainment stages provide musical entertainment for festival-goers. Performances by a number of well-known local musicians keep audiences in high spirits throughout the day. Past performers have included the Gin Blossoms, Walt Richardson, Margo Reed, and Hello Swindon. In addition to the scheduled entertainment, street performers, vendors, sponsor exhibits and entertainment booths are set up for the amusement of Festival visitors. In addition to arts and entertainment, the Tempe Festival of the Arts offers support to the Tempe community. A portion of the proceeds raised at the Festival benefits local charities.

Fall 2010 Awards

Spring 2010 Awards

Bring the Beach back to Tempe Beach Park?

By:  Tempe Thoughts

Hawks Cay Lagoon in Florida

Today candidate for Tempe Mayor, Michael Monti and candidate for City Council Dick Foreman announced their intentions to explore swimming in the town lake.    Their ideas revolve around creating a barrier that would effectively separate the new swimming hole from the lake itself.   This would allow the water water to be treated to “swimming pool” standard    Hawks Cay Lagoon in Florida was brought up as an example of how waters areas could be separated with sand.

Although the idea of a swimming area within the the Town Lake is not a new idea and has been studied by staff in the past, the project has not risen very “high on the priority list” according to Foreman.    When asked about funding both Monti and Foreman stated that the project should be self funding through “user fees” and that they would be asking the community for their thoughts.   The first community forum is set for December 20,2011.

Links:  http://www.hawkscay.com/hawkscay_pools.php

www.monti4mayor.com
www.foremanforetempe.com
 

 

Candidates to announce intentions to create public beach

Forget San Diego! Tempe Businessmen, Candidates Michael Monti and Dick Foreman Announce Proposal to Create the Valley’s First Public Beach  

(Tempe, Arizona) Candidate for Tempe Mayor Michael Monti and Tempe City Council Candidate Dick Foreman will be holding a news conference Tuesday November 29th at 11am to discuss their proposal to create a swimming beach, complete with sand, at the Tempe Town Lake.  The news conference will take place behind the Tempe Center for the Arts at 700 West Rio Salado alongside the pedestrian bridge.

Who: Tempe Mayoral Candidate Michael Monti and Tempe Council Candidate Dick Foreman

What: Announce swimming beach proposal

When: Tuesday, November 29th at 11am

Where: At the Pedestrian Bridge on the south shore of the Tempe Town Lake behind the Tempe Center for the Arts at 700 West Rio Salado

These two candidates believe Tempeans should not have to travel all the way to Saguaro Lake or San Diego to go swimming at a public beach. And they have a plan to get it done without soaking the taxpayer.

Play a round of golf, bring a toy and get a free cart

Play a round of golf, bring a toy and get a free cart

Donate a toy when you golf at Tempe’s Ken McDonald or Rolling Hills golf courses Dec. 4 through 10 and you’ll get to drive the cart for free. Golf Tempe is collecting toys for Tempe Community Action Agency’s annual holiday Toy Shoppe for children in need.  The shop provides a “store” for parents to choose gifts for their children. Donated toys should be new, unwrapped and valued at $10 or more.

Call for tee times or book online at www.tempe.gov/golf.

·         Rolling Hills Golf Course

1415 N. Mill Avenue

480-350-5275

·         Ken McDonald Golf Course

800 E. Divot Drive

480-350-5250

Golf Tempe promotes community-based golf that is affordable, accessible and adds to our quality of life as a lifetime leisure activity.

 

Pub Night – 10 Years & Counting

Another first visit for the Pub Nighters group, we have talked previously about dropping in to the Tavern, and there is some difference of opinion on whether we have or not. (See note below.) Unconfirmed reports of a terrific new menu being the impetus, I dropped in and spoke with John, the general manager. The menu does indeed have some tasty looking offerings including a variety of small plates. Happy hour runs from 4 to 7 pm and entices with $1 off all beer (bottle and draft) and wine (limited to Vendage in cab, merlot, chard and white zin flavors). Drafts include Miller Lite, Coors Lite, Blue Moon, XX Lager, Fat Tire, Fat Tire Seasonal, Ballast Point Yellow Tail Pale Ale, SanTan Devil’s Ale, Left Hand Brewing Co. Milk Stout and a house selection. Also available are three offerings from Four Peaks in cans: Kilt Lifter, Sun Brew and Hop Knot, decanted into iced mugs. Happy hour includes half-price appetizers, and John will extend the happy hour appetizer pricing to 7:30 for the Pub Night! group this Thursday.

A November special, “Movember” (a combination of the words November and mustache, one of which John and other male employees sport, some for the first time, in solidarity with cancer patients) raises funds for testicular cancer. Coronas and Corona Lights are $3 any time in November, so here is your chance to support research to beat this nasty illness in a pleasant manner. To double down on that ante, all beer, both bottle and draft, are $3 every Thursday from 7 pm (the end of happy hour) to closing time.

Not applicable to Pub Night!, but if a weekend breakfasts with south of the border victuals and a tequila sunrises are your thing, the Tavern will dish up a nice selection of Mexican or U.S style. fare until noon on Saturdays and Sundays.

Look for Pub Nighters this Thursday on the small west patio accessed through the cantina.

Note: We have been Pub Nighting for going on 10 years now. The first Pub Night was held July 18 2002 at Casey Moore’s. In August 2009 we missed the boat, so to speak – no Pub Night! was recorded for that month. At any rate, I don’t have a notice for that month; could there have been a gathering at the Tavern on Mill? Kirby thinks we have met here; can anyone corroborate his memory? (This only counts if it was a declared Pub Night! event.)

Prodded by inquiring minds (mine mostly) I went back through the notices and we have visited the following establishments, some with regularity, over the years. They are listed from the most recent (a fun light rail trip, and a bit of bar hopping on Central Avenue in Phoenix) to Pub Nights! receding into the past. The places in parentheses no longer exist as the same business.

Durant’s, Little Szechuan, Taste of Tops, Thai Elephant, Mucho Gusto, Canteen Modern Tequila Bar, Robbie Fox’s, Boulders on Broadway, (Sucker Punch Sally’s Diner), Dave’s Electric Brew Pub, La Bocca, (Purvine Winery Tour), (Dragonfly Vietnamese Kitchen), Essence Bakery Café, Cornish Pasty, El Penasco Mexican Kitchen, (Cafe Roma), Thai Basil, Bison Witches Bar and Deli, Café Boa, Monti’s la Casa Vieja, (Old Chicago), Rula Bula , Sail Inn, (Guedo’s Taco Shop), Mill Avenue Beer Company, (Vinoteca), (Chrisdee’s), (Iguana Lounge), Four Peaks Brewery, and Casey Moore’s Oyster House

Thank you for participating in these monthly gatherings to support our local taverns. See you at the next Pub Night!    -Karyn Gitlis

Neighborhood Pub Night! was conceived and organized by residents of  Northwest Tempe for the purpose of reintroducing local residents to their local establishments in the new era of smoke-free air. We hope to bring neighbors together, support local businesses and reinforce the traditional Irish/English concept of bar, restaurant or pub as a “Public House” or gathering/meeting place for the local community. Please join your neighbors at Neighborhood Pub Night!, and look for the rune.

Jenny, Karyn, Kirby and Tom

Race with the Mayor for charity

Tempe, Arizona – For the eighth time, Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman is challenging Valley media representatives to a mini-triathlon on Thursday, Nov. 17, in celebration of Ironman Arizona. So far, 14 reporters, producers and other journalists have signed up to take him on. The Ironman Arizona Mayor’s Media Challenge involves a 24-yard swim in Tempe Town Lake, a 1.12-mile bike ride and .26-mile run. The race is affectionately known as the “Tin Man” because it is a very scaled-down version of the real Ironman Arizona, which takes place in and around Tempe on Sunday, Nov. 20. The challenge happens at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, at Tempe Beach Park, Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway. Members of the public are welcome to watch. This year, in honor of Mayor Hallman’s last challenge, Ironman has doubled the prize and will donate $2,000 to the winner’s charity of choice. Hallman has released a couple of videos on YouTube to taunt his media rivals. They are available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTk8FrJbDyg&feature=youtu.be and at http://youtu.be/BBX5z_c-A6w. For the second year, Vice Mayor Joel Navarro also will compete in the race. Past media winners have included the East Valley Tribune, CBS 5 and College Times. Bikes for the event are being loaned by Landis Cyclery, which has two Tempe locations. Visit http://www.landiscyclery.com. For more information on Ironman Arizona, visit http://www.ironmanarizona.com. For Tempe traffic closures and restrictions during Ironman Arizona, visit http://www.tempe.gov/streetclosures.

Valley Metro Requests Input on Transit Fare Changes

Changes to bus and light rail fares will be discussed at public hearings in November and December. A price increase would impact the cost to ride the bus and light rail as early as July 2012. The current one-ride fare of $1.75 would possibly increase to $2.00 and the All-day pass purchased in advance would cost riders $4.00 instead of the current cost of $3.50. The 31-day pass would increase from $55.00 to $64.00 and the Express 31-day pass price would change from $85.00 to $96.00.
“Asking riders to consider paying a higher fare for transit service is never easy,” said Dave Boggs, Valley Metro executive director. “We know that transit service is important and that riders are willing to pay a little more to keep the service they need to get to work, school and vital appointments.”
In addition, Phoenix and East Valley ADA Dial-a-Ride services, the Arizona State University U-Pass, and the Platinum Pass will also be impacted by the fare change. Valley Metro plans to introduce a new 15-day pass and eliminate the 3-day pass due to its limited use.
If approved, the rural route fare structure will be simplified to a fare of $4.00 ($2.00 Reduced fare) per one-way trip. Rural Route 685 provides service between Ajo, Gila Bend and Phoenix.
To maintain a business standard established by the Valley Metro Board of Directors, the agency has a goal to recover at least 25 percent of the cost of transit operations from fares. Changes to fares will be considered every three years to help retain the 25 percent goal. Currently, passengers are paying about 23 percent of their cost to ride bus and light rail and that amount continues to decrease as the cost of operations continues to rise. Many transit agencies across the United States are experiencing budgetary struggles. According to the American Public Transit Association (APTA), nearly eight in ten transit agencies (79%) have cut service or raised fares or are considering either of these actions.
The public meetings are designed to collect input that will then be presented to the Valley Metro Board of Directors next spring for consideration and approval. Fare change public meetings are scheduled for:

Tuesday, November 15
Town of Buckeye Council Chambers
530 E Monroe Avenue
Buckeye, AZ
Presentation during regular Council Meeting: 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 30
Cesar Chavez Library
3635 W. Baseline Road
Phoenix, AZ
Open House: Noon-12:30 p.m.
Public Hearing: 12:30-1:15 p.m.

Wednesday, November 30
Juniper Branch Library
1825 W. Union Hills
Phoenix, AZ
Open House: 5:30-6:00 p.m.
Public Hearing: 6:00-6:45 p.m.

Monday, December 5
Maryvale Community Center
4420 North 51st Avenue
Phoenix, AZ
Open House: Noon-12:30 p.m.
Public Hearing: 12:30-1:15 p.m.

Tuesday, December 6
Valley Metro RPTA, Lake Powell Room
101 N. 1st Ave., Ste. 1300
Phoenix, AZ
Open House: Noon-12:30 p.m.
Public Hearing: 12:30-1:15 p.m.

Tuesday, December 6
Tempe Transportation Center, Don Cassano Room
200 E. Fifth Street
Tempe, AZ
Open House: 6:00-6:30 p.m.
Public Hearing: 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Wednesday, December 7
Mesa City Plaza, Room 170
20 E. Main Street
Mesa, AZ
Open House: 6:00-6:30 p.m.
Public Hearing: 6:30-7:15 p.m.

Thursday, December 8
Glendale City Council Chambers
5850 W. Glendale Avenue
Glendale, AZ
Open House: 6:00-6:30 p.m.
Public Hearing: 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Other methods to provide input on the proposed fare changes:
• Email comments to fares@valleymetro.org
• Provide input via an electronic survey at www.ValleyMetro.org beginning November 28
• Send comments by mail to:
Valley Metro RPTA
Attn: Fare Program Manager
101 N. 1st Ave., Ste. 1100
Phoenix, AZ 85003

• Phone call comments to Customer Service at 602.253.5000

Comments on the recommended fare changes will be accepted through Friday, December 9, 2011.

Ho Ho Home! IKEA parking lot home to new model house this holiday

Ho Ho Home! IKEA parking lot home to new model house this holiday Reach Lennar: www.lennar.com This year, when people go to IKEA, they may not be shopping for household items – they might be shopping for a house! Lennar Homes, a Tempe-based company, is building a new kind of model home for multigenerational families in the IKEA parking lot. The house will be filled with IKEA furniture, creating a full-sized home showroom.   The public can visit the house starting on Black Friday. To enter during the holiday season, people will be asked to donate a can of food or give $1 to one of Tempe’s charities.   This house won’t reside in the IKEA parking lot permanently. It will be torn down in a year and all the components, including the IKEA furniture, will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona for resale. The funds will allow Habitat for Humanity to build homes for low- and moderate-income families.   The model is a new kind of home designed for multigenerational living. Whether you have a college student returning home or an aging parent who needs a bit of extra attention, the NextGen home may be the right solution. The home has separate entrances and private space for the older or younger generation returning to the family.   American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) 2011 reported that in 2000, there were 5 million households comprised of multiple generations. In 2010, that number jumped to 7.1 million households. The number is expected to keep growing based on Baby Boomers, the current housing market and economy.   The 2,945 square foot model features a 600-square foot NextGen suite with a bedroom, living room, bathroom, kitchenette , washer/dryer, one car attached garage, and separate front door entry. A door separates that space from the main home which includes three bedrooms, den, two bath, great room, dining area, gourmet kitchen and attached two-car garage. You can watch a video about this home at http://youtu.be/CG0ZnFKkd1g.

Read and watch the 2011 Tempe State of the City Address online

Read and watch the 2011 Tempe State of the City Address online

Tempe’s State of the City Address featuring Mayor Hugh Hallman looked “Beyond the Horizon” this morning, toward ways that the City of Tempe could ensure a bright future.

The speech explored concepts of leadership and critical, future-oriented thinking while revealing a new potential corridor for the streetcar. It introduced the potential impact of the new ASU Athletic Facilities District, the largest development of its kind in the world and continued support for development densities in the downtown and Town Lake area.

You may read the speech, http://www.tempe.gov/elected/images/State%20of%20the%20City%20Address%202011.pdf,) which contains links to YouTube videos created for specifically for this event.

There are two streetcar videos that simulate routes. The first video shows the route that Tempe is currently seeking federal funding to accomplish. The second is a route that Hallman, in his speech, suggested would be beneficial to Tempe in addition to the initial route, as it goes past Tempe Marketplace and the proposed ASU Athletics District to the soon to be built Cubs Spring Training facility.

The PowerPoint presentation shown during the speech is available for viewing and downloading at: http://www.slideshare.net/tempegov/tempe-state-of-the-city-address-2011

While the links to the videos are embedded within the speech, should you care to view them independently, here is a list:

Streetcar: Proposed Rio Salado Route with ASU Athletic Facilities District and Cubs Stadium:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWKFy70mbhg

Streetcar: Mill Avenue Route:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eUrxvV2bfI

Pedestrian Bridge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXJ8FESBt8U

West 6^th:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0EkBfrQwZ8

The speech, hosted by the Tempe Chamber of Commerce at The Buttes, 2000 West Westcourt Way, was attended by 250-300 people.

The video of Mayor Hallman giving the speech will air on Tempe 11 and on www.tempe.gov/tempe11 in coming days.