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  • 🌿 Arizona Considers Reducing Marijuana Abstinence Period for Police Recruits 🤝 Gilbert Hosts Community Volunteer Fair and more...

🌿 Arizona Considers Reducing Marijuana Abstinence Period for Police Recruits 🤝 Gilbert Hosts Community Volunteer Fair and more...

Gilbert Local Pulse | Issue #073

Author

Lloyd Heath
January 27, 2024

In this issue of Gilbert Local Pulse

🌤️ Gilbert, AZ Local Weather

📅 Gilbert, AZ and Surrounding Area Events

🌿 Arizona Considers Reducing Marijuana Abstinence Period for Police Recruits

🚧 Gilbert Water Tower Plaza Undergoes Major Sustainable Upgrade for Fall 2024 Reveal

🤝 Gilbert Hosts Community Volunteer Fair: Discover Ways to Give Back

🚗 Gilbert's Own Darin Roberge Turns Passion into Premier Auto Marketing Firm

🎻 Metropolitan Youth Symphony Receives $50,000 Cello in Memory of Local Music Enthusiast Reid Alan Cox

Upcoming and Ongoing

Arizona Considers Reducing Marijuana Abstinence Period for Police Recruits

Melissa Huff's aspirations to join law enforcement in a northern Arizona city were temporarily put on hold due to her admission of marijuana use in January 2023. Arizona law requires a two-year abstinence period from marijuana before becoming a police officer, pushing her potential recruitment to January 2025. However, Bullhead City Police Chief Robert Trebes highlighted that Huff's consumption occurred after the state legalized recreational marijuana in November 2020, questioning the current relevance of the rule.

Chief Trebes, advocating for a waiver for Huff at the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZ POST), hired her as a police service aide in the interim, praising her remarkable work ethic and embodiment of ideal law enforcement qualities.

In response to frequent waiver requests, AZ POST is considering reducing the marijuana abstinence period for police recruits to six months. The board last revised this rule in 2019, reducing the waiting period from three to two years and removing restrictions on the amount and method of previous marijuana use. The revision aims to balance preventing drug abuse patterns with the reality of legal marijuana use in Arizona.

Matt Giordano, AZ POST's executive director, recommended the six-month period, aligning with the duration of typical hiring processes. The board's consultation with other POST agencies nationwide revealed diverse approaches to pre-employment drug use.

Board members, including Kevin Robinson, Matthew Figueroa, and Mohave County Sheriff Doug Schuster, supported the proposal, noting its alignment with Arizona's legalization of marijuana and its potential to attract more candidates. AZ POST aims to finalize the rule update later this year or early 2025, subject to approval from the Governor's Regulatory Review Counci

Gilbert Water Tower Plaza Undergoes Major Sustainable Upgrade for Fall 2024 Reveal

The Gilbert water tower, a notable landmark since 1927, is receiving major upgrades to transform it into a more sustainable and enjoyable community space. Key improvements include water conservation measures, a new restroom, enhanced splash pad, additional shade, and parallel parking. The project, focused on making the plaza more water-wise amid regional drought concerns, is expected to be completed in fall 2024.

Gilbert Hosts Community Volunteer Fair: Discover Ways to Give Back

In an effort to encourage community involvement, the town of Gilbert is hosting a volunteer fair on January 27. This event aims to showcase numerous volunteer opportunities available to its residents. The fair will be held at the Southeast Regional Library, located at 775 N. Greenfield Road in Gilbert, and will run from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Several non-profit organizations will participate, offering information and guidance to those interested in contributing to the community through volunteer work.

Gilbert's Own Darin Roberge Turns Passion into Premier Auto Marketing Firm

Darin Roberge, a Gilbert resident, shares his intense and challenging journey through the world of classic car auctions, a path marked by both passion and hardship. Roberge's deep-rooted love for vehicles, inherited from his family, led him to leave a career in the music industry for the auto world in 2014, joining Russo and Steele, a renowned classic car collector and auction house in Phoenix. His role in marketing and media was a continuation of a lifelong fascination, influenced by his grandfather and uncle, both involved in racing and running a motorcycle dealership in Denver.

Despite his love for the industry and close relationship with Russo and Steele CEO Drew Alcazar, Roberge faced immense pressures that took a toll on his health. The competitive nature of the industry demanded an intense commitment, leading to anxiety, heart issues, and extreme stress. After enduring these conditions for four years, his doctor advised him to leave for his well-being.

However, Roberge did not abandon his automotive passion. He founded Motorwerks Marketing, growing it into a leading public relations and consulting agency in the specialty, classic, and collector automotive industry. His company provides a wide range of services, including email marketing, social media, design, PR, event management, and consulting. Roberge credits his success to the solid foundation and reputation built during his time at Russo and Steele.

On a personal note, Roberge's life remains intertwined with cars and bikes. He drives a new Alfa Romeo Giulia and a classic Alfa Romeo Spider, enhanced with racing modifications. His collection also includes racing motorcycles, underscoring his lifelong exposure to and love for cool cars and motorcycles.

For more information on Motorwerks Marketing, visit motorwerksmarketing.com.

Metropolitan Youth Symphony Receives $50,000 Cello in Memory of Local Music Enthusiast Reid Alan Cox

Reid Alan Cox, a Gilbert attorney who passed away at the age of 50, leaves behind a profound musical legacy with a significant contribution to the Metropolitan Youth Symphony in Mesa. Known for his deep love for music and his dog, whom he named after the Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodály, Cox's passion for the arts is being honored through a generous donation. The symphony, a 43-year-old Founding Resident Company of the Mesa Arts Center, received an Otto Erdesz/Mateo Goffriller cello valued at $50,000 in Cox's memory. This precious instrument will be played by Emmett Wood, a 17-year-old Gilbert resident and member of the symphony’s Division 1.

Karalee K. Hagen, the symphony's executive director and Division 1 conductor, remembers Cox as a beacon of artistic talent with aspirations to study at prestigious music schools and dreams of conducting, performing, and teaching. Cox's journey in music was extensive, from participating in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony's Division 1 Full Symphony Orchestra to the Phoenix Youth Symphony. A McClintock High School senior, Cox was also a principal cellist in the Arizona All-State Orchestra and a winner in the Phoenix Symphony Guild Competition. He attended prestigious music camps but eventually pursued a career in law, contributing significantly to various organizations.

The donation of Cox's cello is seen as a testament to his commitment to music and a lasting tribute to his legacy. It serves as a source of inspiration for current and future musicians of the MYS. Emmett Wood, as the principal cellist playing the donated instrument, holds a prestigious position within the ensemble. The Metropolitan Youth Symphony expresses deep gratitude to the Cox family for this extraordinary gift, highlighting its importance in supporting and nurturing the talents of young musicians. The symphony, marking its 43rd year, continues to provide developmental opportunities for young artists.

For more information, visit azmys.org.

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