Neighbors

Gym owner competes for a mixed martial arts world title

Longtime Gilbert resident Ryan Bader will be competing for a mixed martial arts world title on June 24 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. To prepare for the Bellator 180 Light Heavyweight fight, Bader, 33, has been...

Shea Homes in Gilbert has opened The Reserves

The Reserves, a gated enclave by Shea Homes in Gilbert, is open for sales. About 400 people have toured the models of the housing development, located on Val Vista Drive just south of Riggs Road, since its grand opening on May 6,...

Longtime town resident assumes police chief role

Former Assistant Mesa Police Chief Mike Soelberg will replace longtime Chief Tim Dorn on June 5, but he jokes that he doesn’t need to go far to assume his new job. While Soelberg, 44, has worked for the Mesa Police for 22...

Gilbert teen keeps fighting after brain aneurysm

By Melody Birkett Katie Solliday was a typical teenager with a bright future. She was captain of her school color guard team, had a 4.0 GPA, and had just been accepted to ASU’s Barrett Honors College’s biomedical engineering...

Uprooted Kitchen offers tasty fare, naturally

Story and photos by Srianthi Perera Gilbert residents Erin and Chad Romanoff first experimented with their plant-based recipes in a food truck parked outside the Quonset Hut in Agritopia in 2012. Plant-based food (mostly vegan,...

Quail Park senior living facility coming to Morrison Ranch

By Srianthi Perera Quail Park at Morrison Ranch in Gilbert had its groundbreaking during a warm spring afternoon recently. A small group of dignitaries, including Gilbert Town Council members, Chamber of Commerce representatives...

Gilbert’s three riparian preserves provide an urban escape to nature

Story and photos by BJ Alderman Early spring in the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert, the air felt warm, despite the sun intermittently hiding behind puffy clouds. My companion and I sat quietly on a bench overlooking...

GPS superintendent may leave for Hawaii position

BY SRIANTHI PERERA Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto is one of two finalists being considered for a top education position in Hawaii. Hawaii’s Board of Education confirmed that Kishimoto is in the...

Teen overcomes childhood illnesses to participate in beauty pageant

BY SRIANTHI PERERA Every mother feels that her child is a miracle. But Diane Passafiume of Gilbert possibly has a bigger claim than most. Her daughter, Alyssa, a 17-year-old junior at Williams Field High School, was born with...

Five more GPS schools receive A+ ratings

BY SRIANTHI PERERAFive schools in the Gilbert Public Schools district and Eduprize School, Gilbert received “A+ School of Excellence” titles from the Arizona Educational Foundation recently. The GPS schools are Superstition...