End of an Era With the Passing of Lou Poulos
Transcription
End of an Era With the Passing of Lou Poulos
The Showd own Page 20 Founded 1936 ARIZONA LICENSED BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION, INC. Edition 1– 2012 End of an Era With the Passing of Lou Poulos By Andy Limber He went quietly in the dark early morning hours of Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, just two weeks before his 83rd birthday, this man who made such an enormous imprint on Arizona’s liquor industry and the state’s political landscape. The word “legend” is often trivialized by too casually applying it undeservingly to this person or that. But it’s a word not diluted in the least when associated with Lou Poulos, who was unique in a field of larger than life contemporaries, such as Jim Hensley, Bill Clements, Harold and Dorothy Finley, and Arthur Pearce, among others. Lou was rooted deep into the earth of Arizona, amidst the digging, grinding and pounding of the bountiful copper mines that gave rise to Miami, the place of his birth, and neighboring Globe, some 85 miles east of Phoenix. His heritage was also steeped in the ancient culture of the Hellenes, as both of his parents had emigrated from Greece to the United States in the early 20th century. Lou’s father, Demetrios Poulopoulos—who would later “Americanize” his name to James Poulos—began his quest for the American dream working on the railroads. His wife, Despina, was originally from a neighboring village. “One might think my mother was dismayed by her new home in America, a one-horse town,” Lou once light-heartedly reminisced. “But Miami was a step up from her onemule village in Greece.” The Poulos family grew and grew to five girls and three sons, including Lou. Another male child, died in infancy. When he was two years old, Lou contracted poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, for which there was no cure. When he was eight, he was taken to San Francisco for surgery on one afflicted leg. “It was 1937,” recalled Lou, “and I saw the Golden Gate Bridge being constructed. I was amazed by the cables going across the water.” Although he would never regain full use of his legs, there was little in life that would escape Lou’s involvement. In 1929, his father and a partner started the wholesale Farmers Produce Company. Poulos managed the Miami operation, while his partner ran Farmers in Phoenix, covering an entire downtown city block. At the end of Prohibition in 1933, the elder Poulos acquired one of the first wholesale liquor licenses in Arizona and began selling alcoholic beverages to retailers. Lou got his first taste of the business by helping his father in the Miami office taking orders for liquor over the phone. In 1943, Poulos’ partner died, and he moved with his family to Phoenix, where Lou entered North High as a freshman. Despite walking with leg braces and crutches, Lou had been driving a car since he was twelve when he lived in Miami. Although not exactly of legal driving age, the police chief in the small town looked the other way. Besides, there were few vehicles on the road in those days. From that time on and his first car—a 1932 Ford with a rumble seat—which he drove to high school, Lou would not be denied the freedom of going where he wanted, when he wanted, for the rest of his life behind the wheel of his own automobile. This was one of the testaments to Lou’s steadfast determination to live life on his terms, not the disease that damaged his legs. After graduating from then-Arizona State College in Tempe in the early 1950s, Lou worked for his father’s wholesale produce and liquor business. That downtown area, where the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks and their massive modern playing venues now call home, was then a skid row referred to as “The Deuce.” It was there that Lou came to know some of the famous and infamous of the era. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was a regular customer, strutting into Farmers with his cape and cane, ordering cases of Irish whiskey and being notoriously late in making payment. Continued on page 3 The ALBA Reporter is published four times annually by the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, a non-profit Arizona corporation, 77 E. Columbus Ave., Suite 102, Phoenix, Arizona 85012. Telephone: (602) 285-1092 – Fax: (602) 285-1258 Copyright 2012. Circulation: Bulk mailed to ALBA members, associate members, other Arizona licensees and to key business, political, law enforcement and education leaders in Arizona and elsewhere. Style: Slightly modified Associated Press Stylebook. Letters to the Editor: Always welcomed. Maximum 200 words. Subject to editing for length and clarity. Send by regular mail to ALBA office or e-mail to [email protected] Managing Editor…………………...Andrew A. Limber Graphics/Layout…………………...Joseph Belfiore Advertising Director……………....Fred Mallaire Proofing/Production Assistants……April Sutter/Deborah Belfiore Historian…………………………...Lou Poulos Printing…………………………….Brickprint Circulation………………………....American Bindery Contributing writers: Drew Alexander, Alan Everett, Don Isaacson, David T. Kratt, Andy Limber, Fred Mallaire and Bill Weigele. Scan this QR barcode with your smart phone to visit the ALBA website 77 E. COLUMBUS AVE. #102 PHOENIX, AZ 85012 1-800-453-5232 602-285-1092 FAX 602-285-1258 ALBA e-mail address: [email protected] President Bill Weigele: [email protected] Business Mgr. April Sutter: [email protected] Managing Editor: [email protected] Advertising Director: [email protected] Graphics/Ad Production: [email protected] Advertising Specifications: Display ads not limited to liquor industry or related. ALBA reserves the right to reject any advertisement deemed inappropriate or inconsistent with the standards of this publication. Full Page: 7.75” wide x 10” high (no bleed ads) Half Page: Horizontal – 7.75” wide x 4.875” high Half Page: Vertical – 3.8” wide x 10” high Quarter Page: Horizontal – 7.75” x 2.8” high Quarter Page: Vertical – 3.8” wide x 4.875” high Business Card Size: 3.5” wide x 2” high Specifications for submitting camera-ready ads: PDF format: Grayscale, hi-quality setting, original files should be hi-res also. Jpeg format: Grayscale at 300 dpi. Tiff format: Grayscale at 300 dpi. There will be a production charge for ads that must be adjusted to conform to the above specifications. Visit ALBA’s website: www.albainc.org ALBA Email: [email protected] website: www.albainc.org OFFICERS President Bill Weigele Phoenix 602-309-7202 Vice President Robin Cantrell Branding Iron Steakhouse & Lounge Safford 928-651-2411 Vice President David Delos Tony’s Cocktail Lounge Glendale 602-938-1956 Secretary Brad Henrich Shady’s Scottsdale Treasurer Fred Mallaire Phoenix 602-526-7870 DIRECTORS Anthony Bartoli Bunkhouse Lounge Phoenix Andy Ingram Four Peaks Brewing Co. Tempe Bill Riddle Valle Luna Glendale Mark DeSimone Hidden House Phoenix Wendy Jack Wendy Jack’s Lounge & Rest. Avondale Janie Riddle Valle Luna Glendale Chris Espinoza Valle Luna Phoenix Betty Grotewold Phoenix Jerry Grotewold Phoenix George Hollingsworth Lions Den Pinetop 2 ALBA Reporter Barbara Jensen-Zgonc Phoenix Jim Shaffer Johnny’s Other Place Yuma Allen McCarthy Duke’s Sports Bar Scottsdale Bob Smith Empty Pockets Holbrook Dave Michelson The Palace Prescott Dave Werner The Dirty Drummer Phoenix Matt Minakes Bisbee Frankie Zanzucchi Pantera Phoenix ALBA-Business Manager IN MEMORIAM Paul Klett 1911-2007 April Sutter 77 E. Columbus Ave. #102 Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-285-1092 or 800-453-5232 Past Directors ALBA-Admin. Assistant Phil Bay 1935-2005 Deborah Belfiore 77 E. Columbus Ave. #102 Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-285-1092 or 800-453-5232 Past President Tony Marino 1936-2004 James Poulos 1959-2009 Louis Poulos 1929-2011 Lou Poulos Continued from page 1 At an area bar, Lou and a friend would sit for hours with World War II Marine hero Ira Hayes, one of the American flag raisers atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, thinking, well-meaning but naively perhaps, that they could talk the Pima Native American out of his alcoholism problem. Long before the famed Supreme Court case that would make legal history, Ernesto Miranda worked for tenants at Farmers and was well known by Lou. He also knew Miranda’s defense attorney who would be catapulted to national recognition, Phoenician John Flynn. This landmark case established the Miranda warning or “Mirandizing” against self-incrimination of arrested crime suspects by police. Lou was widely recognized and respected in the liquor industry and the Arizona community as a whole from the time he was a young man. But he really came into his own when he developed a chain of drive-thru liquor stores, which were launched from his father’s business. Farmers Liquors was the first retail liquor chain in the state, with some 15 locations throughout the Valley of the Sun. Financially astute and with a keenly enterprising mind, Farmers Liquors under Lou’s management prospered. While he was building his own business, he was also mindful of the importance of all three tiers of the industry—the product producers, wholesalers and retailers—and the impact of political legislation and the people who made those decisions. Early on, Lou became active in the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association (ALBA), founded in 1936 to protect liquor licensees against unfair legislation. He was largely responsible for putting teeth into ALBA by hiring professional lobbyists to fulfill the mission of the organization. Serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for decades, Lou was also the association’s longest serving treasurer—45 years. Although he had no political aspirations for himself, Lou was deeply ingrained in the people and mechanisms that operate every level of government, from municipalities to counties to the state. He was very much aware that as a regulated industry, the state’s Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (DLLC) had to be impartial and even-handed in its enforcement of Title 4 liquor law. To this end, he became close to every Director since the 1950s, and in some instances had a voice in their selection by the governor at the time. Whether it was the airing of ideas, seeking reliable advice, or organizing campaign fund-raising, Lou was the go-to man for anything political. Your party affiliation didn’t matter to him. Nor did skin color, ethnic background, religion, social status or gender. Who you were as a person, and your qualifications for public office, are what he weighed in his mind to determine his support or not. Lou’s stamp of approval didn’t guarantee election, but it meant something, something of singular value to the candidate that could not come from anyone else. Love for Lou began to blossom in, of all places, a bowling alley—the Gold Spot, across the street from the Westward Ho Hotel at Central Avenue and Fillmore in Phoenix. Among a gathering of Greek Orthodox teenagers one day in the late 1940s at the Gold Spot was a slim, pretty brunette girl named Georgia Hotis. Over time, the pair dated, and on January 30, 1955, Lou and Georgia were married. Their wedding reception was at the Westward Ho, overlooking the couple’s first meeting place, the Gold Spot Bowling Alley. The 57-year union would prove to be a lovingly solid one, producing a daughter, Deanne, and two sons, James and Alex. Over the years, Lou had earned such affection and respect from family, friends, political figures and members of the liquor industry that he was alternately referred to by the nicknames of the “governor,” the “godfather,” and the “big guy.” Lou would smile at such references, simultaneously flattered by them and maybe just a little embarrassed. How did you know if Lou Poulos liked you? You got teased. Unmercifully. He would zero in on some little flaw or habit, then, with a mischievous grin and a glint in his eyes exaggerate it with a brief barrage of verbal ribbing that brought a wave of laughter from everyone nearby, including the ‘victim.’ The beauty of it was that Lou’s words were on the mark but never mean-spirited or insulting. It wasn’t personal. It wasn’t business. It was Lou being Lou. He elevated teasing to a high art form. About once a month, Lou convened his small inner circle of poker pals, loving the game, along with the back and forth banter over the table, the subjects ranging from politics and business, to football and the big news story of the day. Lou’s favorite version of poker was seven-card stud, with the low hole card wild and the high spade in the hole winning half the pot. This was known as ‘Lou’s game,’ with no further explanation required by the dealer to the other players. This extraordinary and generous man, with his unswerving devotion to his family, his faith, his friends, his community, and to the industry that he was so instrumental in shaping for over half a century is, in the full context of the word, legendary. When Lou was a youngster, the iconic George Herman Ruth, Jr., best known as “Babe” Ruth, was still knocking baseballs clear out of the park and was every boy’s hero. The Babe might have been talking to Lou when he said: “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart, kid, and you’ll never go wrong.” Lou Poulos did. And he never went wrong. v (Photo courtesy of the Poulos family.) ALBA Reporter 3 Veteran attorney-lobbyist Don Isaacson and his firm, Isaacson & Moore, P. C., are important to ALBA’s ongoing mission of protecting Arizona liquor licensees against unfair legislation. Don’s unique insight and experience always makes his commentaries on issues especially pertinent to our association’s members. Further Liquor Law Changes Loom as 2012 Session Begins By Don Isaacson, Isaacson & Moore, P. C. The 2012 legislative session began on January 9. For the first time, maybe ever, the leadership of the House and Senate has been drawn from the same rural district in Arizona. Speaker Andy Tobin lives in Chino Valley and Sen. Steve Pierce lives in rural Yavapai County. The result is that the Yavapai County area will have more firepower than ever before. As a follow-up to the last two years of significant liquor legislation, 2012 also promises to deal with a number of liquor issues. First, the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, whose members also play a significant role in ALBA, is proposing to increase the current gallonage cap that exists for microbreweries. The current cap is 40,000 barrels, which is now becoming a hindering limit as Arizona’s very successful microbreweries plan for expansion in the near and intermediate future. While a specific number has not been agreed on at this time, numbers being discussed would provide significant expansion capacity for Arizona’s microbrew industry. The microbrew industry nationally has become a major part of tourism promotion efforts. Similar to the effect wine industries have on the tourism industry in California, Washington and Oregon, and to a lesser extent in Arizona, the growth of microbreweries has also created a tourism attraction in a number of western states, including Colorado and California. While the recession has flattened growth in many segments of the Arizona hospitality and liquor industry, the microbrewery sector has continued to experience strong growth. It is our understanding when this subject was raised to the Arizona wholesale community, they reacted favorably and continue to participate constructively in the go-forward decision to raise the cap. Another significant issue that will likely be addressed is a revisiting of the subject of limitations on city fees and taxes. Section 9-500.06 has provided a significant barrier to the ability of many cities to single out the liquor industry for discriminatory taxes and fees. Last year, the previous exemption for smaller cities was eliminated, and now all licensees are protected from 4 ALBA Reporter that law’s basic provisions. However, there is currently no protection for a hospitality business located in a city that charges only the hospitality business for business fees; the discriminatory limit is currently in terms of not being raised higher than the general fee or sales tax structure. ALBA will propose and advocate for a limit on hospitality-only fees. ALBA will also advocate for limitations on new increases on general liquor application and renewal fees. Another area which ALBA wants to address is to achieve a balance between the legitimate membership and guest use of private clubs versus abuse of the “guest” status in a way that allows any patron to benefit from the private club status. As everyone knows, private clubs serve a valuable purpose. In Arizona, they also enjoy a competitive advantage over other liquor licensees by virtue of the fact that smoking is permitted, doors can be locked, and pull-tab games can be operated. ALBA is fully supportive of its non-profit club members and has advocated in many ways on their behalf in the past. However, ALBA does not support the illegitimate use of “guest” status as a way to bring in more revenue. This simply provides an unfair competitive advantage against other liquor licensees. ALBA will work to achieve a balance of both interests in 2012 legislation. There will be other more mundane changes proposed as well, including providing consistent sampling practices. Other issues that may be addressed include verifying that there does not have to be a hearing at the Liquor Board once an issue has been resolved prior to the hearing, and providing a higher level of reimbursement for Liquor Board members who attend that body’s meetings. In subsequent editions of the ALBA Reporter, we will report progress on 2012 legislation. In the meantime, the association and I welcome comments from all members on pending liquor legislation and other matters. v ALBA’s Lobbyists Score a Big One in Law Change By Fred Mallaire, Chairman, Government Relations Committee Arizona Senate Bill 1200 went into effect January 1, 2012. This allows for a reduction from one year to six months for a convicted first-time low-level DUI offender who has been required to have an interlock device installed on his or her vehicle. This piece of legislation was the result of ALBA’s lobbyists, Don Isaacson and Norm Moore, working with the sponsor of the bill, Sen. Linda Gray (R-Dist. 10). She was one of the legislators that took a very hard line in 2007, successfully convincing lawmakers to make Arizona DUI laws some of the toughest in the nation. Don was able to convince Sen. Gray that our laws were much too harsh for first-time offenders and a reduction was in the best interests of all. ALBA initiated the discussion with Sen. Gray and took the lead in the industry to see the legislation through to its final approval. Such endeavors by ALBA in working with reasonable legislators on issues that impact retail liquor licensees is an example of why you should be a member of the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association. As always, since 1936, our mission is the protection of your right as a liquor licensee to sell and serve a legal product without having unfair legislation impede your business. v “The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” —Lucille Ball ALBA Reporter 5 Bill Weigele, ALBA President Arizona’s Liquor Industry Loses a Pioneer and Icon On December 28, I lost a mentor and a dear friend when Lou Poulos passed away at his home in Phoenix with his family at his side. Some of you in the hospitality industry may remember him as a person with leg braces and crutches, the man who would accompany me to various industry events and fundraisers. Actually, the opposite was true. It was I who had the pleasure of going along with Lou Poulos to those events. As a new Series 6 licensee in 1970, I knew very little of the history and people of Arizona’s liquor industry. I was only interested in the daily goings on in my new world as a bar owner. I was oblivious to anything other than I had to have a license and must buy my products from a wholesaler. We did not have Dram Shop liability in those days, so life was good, and I thought as a bar owner I had it made. I soon learned how naïve and uninformed I was. In early 1972, Lou Poulos and Paul Klett came to visit me at the Scotch Mist, my bar in Scottsdale. I can still picture them coming in the front door and Paul commenting how dark it was. I never noticed that Lou was handicapped. They asked me to join the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, but I was not terribly interested. Not until Lou began discussing the early years of the industry and how things were changing, including Dram Shop liability. Lou was adamant that to survive, it was important that we all were members of an organization that had a strong presence at the Legislature. Until that moment, I never considered how laws and regulations were formed. I didn’t realize that all of society wasn’t always composed of friends and loving neighbors. I became a member of the Board of Directors of ALBA in 1980. Lou Poulos was the treasurer at the time, but he was much more than a bean counter. He was the most powerful member of the Board, and perhaps the entire retail liquor industry. I was in awe of the influence that Lou had with the association’s members, wholesalers, regulators, policymakers and the highest political officials in the state. He reached 6 ALBA Reporter out to all of them, and had the capability of developing long-lasting friendships. After some years as a do-nothing Board member, I realized that Lou was the only person in ALBA who had any appreciable knowledge of the system we had to work in. ALBA had well-paid lobbyists working for the organization, but it was really Lou who directed the lobbying effort. In the early 1990s, I was asked to be ALBA’s representative to the National Licensed Beverage Association. When I decided to accept this position, Lou and I began a new relationship. He told me I would be meeting key individuals from other state organizations, as well as legislators from Arizona and other states. Lou tutored me in the need to establish sincere and enduring relationships with some persons, while being cautious and guarded with certain others. I came to realize that I had become the student of a very knowledgeable and perceptive man. Being his friend made this schooling fulfilling and effortless. I learned the importance of making contact with those who did not like our products and our industry, and maintaining a dialogue with them. Even in his latter years, Lou continued to be a force in ALBA. He had slowed down some, but still loved to come to the office as often as he was able. His desk was always a maze of articles about some of his friends, or something about the latest health craze. Lou’s dedication to ALBA and its mission will never be matched by anyone. In all the years he was my mentor and friend, I never heard him complain or even make reference to his crippling impairment, which was an indication of his incredible strength of character. When I was elected president of ALBA, it was Lou who suggested whom to meet and what meetings I should arrange. I followed his lead most of the time and never regretted it. I will greatly miss his counsel, his friendship and his presence. The passing of Lou Poulos leaves a void that can never be filled. v ALBA Reporter 7 Liquor and the Law By Alan Everett, Director, Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses & Control DLLC Offers Free Fake ID Training Course. What is the legal age to.....? Age is the topic we’ve chosen for this issue of the ALBA Reporter because licensee’s knowledge of age limits can greatly improve compliance. Our goal is to simplify answers to the question “What is the legal age to…?” by making this chart available to your establishment staff. Legal Age – Arizona Liquor Laws To accurately verify age when a patron presents a valid ID, three practices are key to ensure compliance: 1) maintain strictly enforced house policy for checking IDs, 2) use some form of daily age calculation and, 3) keep staff current on fake ID training. First, what is your house policy for checking IDs? If you don’t have one, work with staff to establish one. To make it effective, it must be strictly enforced, incorporated it into staff training, and updated regularly. Next, when you provide doorman and liquor-service staff with a daily age calculation, everyone working will pinpoint the legal age to drink by number of years, months, days, and even hours for that particular day. This makes age verification practically fool-proof. By using an online tool, you simply plug in the birth date for persons who will reach age 21 that day, press the “calculate” button, and the online age calculator instantly returns the birth date cut-off for the day. How simple is that? Finally, the Department of Liquor has streamlined the course content from a fake ID training course for law enforcement, and geared discussion specifically for licensees and their staff. Beginning in January 2012, the free, 2-hour course is now available to audiences of 50 people or more at a location you arrange. By handling seized IDs, using UV magnifiers, and receiving personal instruction from a Department of Liquor officer, participants will be brought up to date on fake ID trends and tools used to identify them – all with the goal of eliminating the sale of liquor to underage persons. When possible, magnification 8 ALBA Reporter tools and fake ID books will be available for sale, at cost, during the course. Websites where books and tools are sold will also be provided. If you and some of your neighboring establishments can find a location to gather 50 or more people for fake ID training session, please email Lee Hill at [email protected] to schedule a class. Classes will be held Tuesday through Friday between 12 noon and 4 p.m. beginning in January 2012. In your request, please include two dates (preferred and alternate), the time you’d like to have the 2-hour course, and the street address of the location. Confirmation of 50 or more people will be required one week prior to the date of the course. Happy New Year to all ALBA members! On February 14, 2012 Arizona will celebrate 100 years of statehood. We hope you’ll join in on the many celebrations taking place statewide. Find out more by visiting www.az100years.org. v EvERyThING yOu NEEd TO KNOw AbOuT LIquOR LAw Since it was established in 1985, the non-profit Arizona Business Council for Alcohol Education has been the leader in state liquor law training. ABC has maintained an unblemished reputation for professionalism and has trained over 350,000 retail licensees and their managers and servers, as well as wholesaler executives and sales personnel. In addition, ABC has been the premier provider of liquor law instruction for major sports venues, private clubs and government entities. Inasmuch as it has been purchased by the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association (ALBA) the ABC has seamlessly continued to offer its professional instruction in the Arizona Title 4 liquor laws throughout the state. ABC Certificate Programs • On-Sale and Off-Sale Basic • On-Sale and Off-Sale Management • In-House and Customized Seminars • TIPS Certification • Concessions Program • Wholesaler Information Program ABC Current Publications • The new edition of A. R. S. Title 4 • The “ABC Guide to Arizona Liquor Laws” is also available. For everyone in the liquor industry this publication has a wealth of information put in simple terms. • “Identification Register” – $5.00 • “Driver’s License Guide” – All 50 States - $15.00 • Approved forms of ID poster – $3.00 and other signs – $0.75 • Laminating available for any of these signs $1.00 additional. These publications are priced: for the Title 4 – $12.00 each, for the ABC Guide – $10.00 each or $20.00 when purchased as a set. To order by mail add $3.50 S&H or call the ABC office at 602-285-1396 or 1-800-453-7597. For a color brochure explaining all of our services and a free statewide Quarterly Training Schedule, or to register for a regular, special or in-house training seminar, call toll-free 1-800-453-7597 or 602-285-1396, Mon. - Fri., 9a.m. - 3p.m. REGISTER ON LINE AT Scan this QR code with your smart www.BCAE.com phone to visit the ABC website The ABC office is located at: 77 E. Columbus Avenue, Suite 102; Phoenix, AZ 85012 e-mail: [email protected] • web site: www.BCAE.com ALBA Reporter 9 By Fred Mallaire, Chairman, Government Relations Committee Co-Ops Are Legal and Save Licensees Money Arizona Retail licensees who buy any spirituous liquor brand from wholesalers in a quantity less than a case will pay a “broken case charge.” This can be as much as $2.50 on every bottle, which can in time really add up. On top of this, wholesalers can add a small delivery charge to a retailer in an urban area. Such charges can be avoided by forming a “cooperative” of two or more retail licensees, providing that their combined orders are in case lots and of sufficient quantity. The co-op must have a retail agent who is registered as such with the Director of the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (DLLC). The agent is required to have a signed written agreement between the co-op members and provide all basic information regarding each party to the Director for his approval. All orders for “cooperative purchases” from a wholesaler are placed and paid for by the agent, who is responsible for the accuracy of the orders. After delivery is made, the merchandise becomes the sole and separate property of each member in accordance with their proportionate share of the order, which is separated by the agent. No exchanges of product can be made unless there is an error by the wholesaler. A master invoice is prepared by the wholesaler for the agent for each cooperative purchase, detailing the individual member purchases and the specific discount for each purchase by the cooperative. The agent is responsible for the fiscal operations of the co-op and must retain all records for two years, as do the members. Note that “product,” according to Title 4 Liquor Law, “means a particular brand of spirituous liquor in a designated size container or a mix of brands and containers when sold on a combined basis established by the wholesaler which is offered on quantity discount terms established by the wholesaler.” Agents are required to store all co-op products at a licensed retail premise, unless they have written permission by the DLLC Director to do otherwise. Wholesalers may deliver to an agent’s licensed onsale premise or any off-premise warehouse storage facility of the agent which has been approved by the Director. The agent may choose to deliver from there to each member, or they may obtain their merchandise themselves. No mixing between members’ product is permitted at any time. If the co-op has 20 or more members, it will be designated as a “qualified retail cooperative.” Wholesalers must sell to such a co-op without regard to volume at the lowest price at which the wholesaler sells the product to any other retail licensee at or near the location of the co-op. But this pricing applies only to a purchase of 50 cases or more of a product on a single occasion. While the legal language regarding the establishment of a co-op may sound somewhat daunting, it really isn’t. Far too few licensees have taken advantage of this simple and effective way of saving some money on liquor purchases. Once you have a co-op organized and running, you’ll see the wisdom and economic benefits of it. The co-op registration fee is only $5.00. The application form for registration of a retail co-op agent can be downloaded from the DLLC website: www.azliquor.gov. Or call us at ALBA if you would like to have some help from us: (602) 285-1092 or toll-free at 1-800-453-5232. v “Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.” —Alex Levin 10 ALBA Reporter ALBA Reporter 11 Beer Now Officially Beer in Russia So, you thought beer, the widely-consumed brew that is probably the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage, is the same everywhere. Not so, comrade. Until last summer, the Rooskies treated beer like a soft drink, even promoting it as a healthier alternative to vodka. New legislation now officially classifies beer as, well—beer, with actual alcohol in it. Before, any drinks containing less than 10 percent alcohol have been designated as a foodstuff. It’s not unusual to see people in Russian cities drinking their “foodstuff’’ in the mornings on their way to work. Then There’s British Beer as Bait Police in Derbyshire County sent letters to a bunch of people who had evaded arrest for months, inviting them to claim a crate of free beer from a marketing company. Nineteen suspects, wanted for such offenses as robbery, burglary and sexual assaults, fell for the hoax. When they called a phone number on the letters, covert cops told them when and where they could get their complimentary brew. Instead of walking away with the beer, the unsuspecting suspects walked right into the hands of arresting officers. Two Guinea Pigs Walk Into a Bar and… Down under in Queensland, Australia, constables were called to a bar in a hotel about a man and his two guinea pigs that were “behaving inappropriately” and disturbing other patrons. When the authorities arrived, the man had left the pub and was sitting out front with the two animals. Senior Constable Mick Bleakley said the man resisted arrest and would not let go of the guinea pigs. “I said, ‘Sir, put the animals down,’” recounted the constable, who was eventually forced to take the guinea pigs and the man into custody. He was charged with a range of offenses. Thankfully, the guinea pigs were released without being charged. There’s nothing worse than a guinea pig with a criminal record. Babe Bashes Bottles of Booze In Nyack, N. Y., a woman in a liquor store felt the clerk was taking too long to wait on her. So she got his attention by sweeping her arm through a shelf of costly spirits, smashing $1,600 worth of the luscious liquor onto the floor. A spokesman for Rite-Buy Wines & Liquors said the damage included bottles of pricey Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch. Oh, the outrage! At T-N-T we can only pray that Gentleman Jack and Mr. Jim Beam escaped a similar fate. Police said the wacky woman later turned herself in. 12 ALBA Reporter Behind This-N-That The Bar ByDavid T. Kratt THE ROLE WE MUST PLAY What drains you behind the bar? I’ve got a couple things. Okay, there’s more than that. For example, I call her the Margarita Lady. No matter how exact I prepare her margarita to her specifications she complains – usually because there’s not enough tequila. So I add more tequila. Then later she’ll want more Triple Sec. It never fails. Then she’ll nurse the drink forever, need something every time I walk by her and want “a fluff” so she doesn’t have to pay for a second drink. And then, need I say it, she leaves a terrible tip. Customers like that will bleed you. But what can you do about it. You have to be polite. The other day I told a bartender coworker, “I can’t believe how nice you were to that guy.” He asked why. I said, “Because the last time he was in the bar he went totally ballistic on you.” My coworker laughed and said, “Oh yeah, I thought he looked familiar.” Recently, a couple of regular bartender customers were at the bar. The younger bartender complained, “I can’t take the drunks anymore.” The older bartender responded, “Really? I consider them good customers.” So how do you reconcile the difference between how you think you should be treated and how you are treated or how about between what you really want to say or do and what you have to say or do? Is having a short memory or sense of humor the key? It doesn’t hurt. But that’s not it. Your professional persona – Both the bartender with the short memory and the sense of humor have been around long enough to know who the regular annoying pains in the neck are and, maybe more important, know the annoying behaviors that cause the bleeding. They don’t let it sink in. It’s evident; one doesn’t remember the insignificant incidents without being reminded and the other doesn’t lose her sense of humor over it all. In short, when it’s needed, these bartenders project their professional persona to keep their inner self safe and sound. I don’t know the younger bartender very well but have seen him get frazzled. In short, he may never quite figure this one out. Have you? Savoring those moments – Remember, all customers are not created equal! If you want to widen that gap instead of reconciling your differences, then keep giving those customers who bleed you the same special treatment you give your good customers. Don’t turn on the charm, either. That will bleed you even more and reinforce their behavior. And when you’re busy, those customers will just have to wait while you’re servicing that good customer. See if that helps. Oh, and if you have a customer like my Margarita Lady, tell the customer something like, “The boss said we can’t give out ‘fluffs’ or sell half-drinks anymore. But would you like to buy another drink?” Please send correspondence to [email protected] or P.O. Box 638, Grand Haven, Michigan 49417. GUTTILLA MURPHY ANDERSON Representing individual and corporate liquor licensees since 1975 _ Distributors/wholesalers _ Importers _ Retailers _ Grocery and drug stores _ Convenience stores _ Restaurants and bars Nicholas C. Guttilla Ryan W. Anderson City North 5415 E. High Street, Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85054 Tel: (480) 304-8300 Fax: (480) 304-8301 E-mail: [email protected] For ALBA Members Only! A Huge 25% Discount On All Small Wares at Andrews Restaurant Supply, NW corner of Alma School & W. University Dr. in Mesa. Call the ALBA Office for Your Special Coupon. 602-285-1092 E L P M A S Andrews Restaurant Supply 1304 West University Dr., Mesa, AZ 85201 602-244-2403 or 888-888-3312 andrewssupplies.com ALBA Reporter 13 Meet Your Members Story and Photos by Andy Limber Paradise Lounge a Cozy Place for Fun and Games On East Cactus Road in northeast Phoenix, across the street from Paradise Valley Mall, nestled behind a BaskinRobbins ice cream store and next to a tailor shop, the Paradise Lounge has been a popular gathering place in the area for decades. “We’re a quaint little neighborhood bar,” says Jennifer Holliday, who purchased the place four years ago. “Everyone can come here and relax, play some games, talk with friends, watch TV, whatever they want to do.” Although there are a few floor-mounted electronic games, it’s the stack of low-tech, play-them-on-top-of a-table, oldfashioned board games available to Paradise Lounge customers that you won’t find at most other establishments. Patrons can select from such familiar game names as Trivial Pursuit, Yahtzee, Monopoly and Clue. “We used to come in as regulars, my husband and I, before buying the place,” said Holliday, an Arizona resident since 1995. “We would play Dominoes, and next thing you know it was four hours later. So I thought, why not get some more board games and have people stay longer.” Early on, Marketing-conscious Holliday recognized that just cheerfully serving adult beverages wasn’t enough to build and maintain a customer base. Besides the “We have fun here. games, she has put in place an extensive list We have a good time.” of activities designed to appeal to a wide range of customers in all adult age groups. “We do a lot of events,” Holliday says. “Every month we have a party based on Zodiac signs, such as Capricorn, which is this month. Everyone (born under a particular sign) can come in and get their first drink for two dollars, and we have a little birthday gift for them, too.” Additionally, the Paradise Lounge hosts several charity functions, a Christmas in July event, and Halloween, Oscar night and Hawaii-themed parties, on top of a daily Happy Hour. During milder days and nights, and as a convenience for those customers who smoke, there’s a patio—heated during the winter months—adjacent to the main bar room. Holliday has scheduled a unique event on February 7 associated with a member of her family when she has a viewing party at her bar for the premiere of a new ABC-TV series, The River, a mystery drama with supernatural overtones. A cousin, actor Jeff Galfer, has the role of cameraman of Sammy Kirsch in the show. If all this activity at the Paradise Lounge isn’t enough, there’s live entertainment every Tuesday and Thursday evening, sometimes on Wednesdays, and once a month on Saturdays. The performers are a variety of gifted individuals who are mostly guitar and fiddle players. To acquire musical 14 ALBA Reporter talent, Holliday works with an organization called ‘Chicks with Picks,’ representing some 100 women singers, songwriters and performing artists. We’re a quaint little neighborAt the age of nine, hood bar,” says Jennifer Holliday began learning the art of customer ser- Holliday of her establishment. vice helping fill coffee cups at her grandmother’s 1950s-type diner in the northwest Chicago suburb of Wauconda. Sometime later, she gained further experience working as a bartender and server, from small cafes to fine dining restaurants. With a degree in human resources management, Holliday worked in HR and benefits programs for a number of years, then went back to school to earn another bachelor’s in elementary education, all the while bartending on the side. The most challenging part of being a bar owner, she says, is keeping up with everything, “and even when I’m not here, my brain is still working, thinking what I can do to improve this or that, or when I need to talk to a certain person.” Of her five employees, Holliday says, “I have the most incredible staff. I’m very fortunate, very lucky.” One of them is bartender Laura Koch, formerly from Cleveland, Ohio, who has over 20 years of bartending “people experience.” With an infectious laugh and outgoing personality, she compares the atmosphere of the Paradise Lounge to that of television’s Cheers. “We have fun here, we have a good time,” she said. “It’s a matter of attitude on our part. When everything is personalized, when you recognize people the moment they walk in, when you know their name and what they drink, people like that. They enjoy coming into a place where they feel comfortable.” Jennifer Holliday has been a member of ALBA for about three years, and she recognizes the importance of the organization and its mission of protecting liquor licensees against unfair legislation. “Each bar owner can’t go to the Legislature and fight for or against every single thing,” she said. “Having an organization that supports you, that you can trust and rely on to act in our best interests, is priceless.” The current economy has created some inconsistency in the amount of customer traffic at her establishment, Holliday says, making it difficult to predict staffing needs, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Even so, she says her business continues to go up every year. “In the long run, it all works out.” v At 4541 E. Cactus Rd. in Phoenix, this little gem of a bar is a homey favorite of the Paradise Mall neighborhood. There’s a large choice of classic board games for customers at the Paradise Lounge. A creative customer made this novelty item out of tin cans for Chicagoland native and Bears fan Jennifer Holliday. The covered patio provides a comfortable setting for those customers who smoke. Outgoing and customeroriented, bartender Laura Koch is one of the five pleasant staff members at the Paradise Lounge. From birthday celebrations to Hawaii-themed parties, there’s always something going on at the Paradise Lounge. In addition to traditional board games, there are electronic entertainments as well. ALBA Reporter 15 ALBA Photo Ops… At the Annual Holiday Party Story and Photos by Andy Limber The annual ALBA Holiday Party is an event that everyone looks forward to. Business matters, political issues and other concerns are set aside as our members and guests enjoy tasty food, a few adult beverages, and mixing with a lot of good people from the liquor industry, government and other key entities of the Arizona community. Held again at Bill and Janie Riddle’s Valle Luna Mexican Food Restaurant and Cantina at 33rd Avenue and Bell Road in Phoenix on Dec. 8, the attendance was high, filling an entire room at the popular eating and drinking establishment. The legendary grand old man of ALBA, Lou Poulos, and his wife Georgia were there, although their longtime friend Among the happy party guests were Stacy Cotroneo (left), Denise Ross, Adam Ross and multiple bar owner and ALBA Vice Pres. David Delos. Bracketing ALBA chief Bill Weigele are Maricopa County Deputy Sheriffs Nick Udall (left) and John Brown. Michigan transplant and recent bride Cleopatra Hitchcock (left) is welcomed to the party by ALBA Director and Lion’s Den owner in Pinetop, George Hollingsworth. Cleo also had the opportunity to meet Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Chief Deputy Brian L. Sands. 16 ALBA Reporter Gov. Jan Brewer was unable to attend as she has in most years past. The high-profile and always interesting Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was present, however, along with some of his top deputies. The mood was festive and the outlook generally optimistic for a new and improved year ahead, exemplified by a comment by ALBA President Bill Weigele. “The year 2011 was a difficult one for many people and organizations, including the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association,” he said. “But we’ve made some late in the year gains in membership and in other areas, so I’m confident that this upward course will continue through 2012.” Co-owner and brewmaster of Arizona’s Four Peaks Brewing Company Andy Ingram enjoys a glass of, what else, Kilt Lifter. Andy is an ALBA Director. Then there were these prominent people all in one group (from left), Bill Weigele, ALBA president; Brian L. Sands, chief deputy, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office; Don Isaacson, attorney-lobbyist; Sheriff Joe Arpaio; and Jesus Altamirano, former DLLC officer and now a leading Spanish-language Title 4 instructor. Frankie Zanzucchi is the Pantera Show Club owner and an ALBA Director. Bill Riddle, Valle Luna co-owner and an ALBA Director, is always a gracious host. Having dual areas of responsibility, April Sutter is ALBA’s business manager and the director of training for the Arizona Business Council for Alcohol Education (ABC). With her at the party was husband Brian. Servers Vanessa Savaiano (left) and Claire Kohlhofer are among the always cheerful, always efficient staff at Valle Luna. The renowned Phoenix husband and wife lawyer team of Andrea and Jerry Lewkowitz with Valle Luna CEO Janie Riddle at right. Janie Marino (right) had relative Toni Dorenzo from Michigan as a guest at the year-end festivities. Among other handsome young couples at the party were Stacy Cotroneo and husband Joe, executive vice president and general manager of Crescent Crown Distributing. Lou Poulos and wife Georgia. A first-time ALBA Holiday Party attendee was George Quezada, a highly professional Spanish-language instructor for ABC, the Arizona Business Council for Alcohol Education. ALBA Director Barbara JensenZgonc and husband Gene enjoyed the cheerful holiday gathering at Valle Luna. Making certain the superb buffet was filled with a selection of tasty food fare was Valle Luna staff member Juana Mendez. ALBA Reporter 17 Playing It Safe By the ALBA Safety Committee New Year a Good Time for Safety Review So you got too busy toward the end of last year and let some safety or repair issues slide at your licensed premises. Now, at the start of 2012, this would be a good time to make—and keep—a really beneficial New Year’s resolution: I will review on a regular basis all possible safety matters related to my establishment and make any necessary repairs or improvements. At the heart of your safety program is a very simple, very effective device that you design yourself, and that’s a checklist indicating such major categories as electrical, plumbing, structural, furnishings, etc. This isn’t only a convenient visual way to guide your periodic safety inspections, it can be a permanent documentation of the dates and actions taken to correct current problems and measures implemented to prevent any possible future safety issues. The diligent use of a checklist could save you a great deal of anxiety and money in the event there’s an incident that results in an accident and a legal claim against you. We’re not saying that a checklist would automatically mitigate a claim; but it is an indication that you are a responsi- 18 ALBA Reporter ble and safety-conscious licensee, and insurance companies and courts tend to look favorably on such paperwork. The responsibility for safety policies and measures are not limited to the liquor establishment’s licensee. Employees need to be a part of this important process and share in the duties of keeping your bar, tavern, restaurant or private club as free as possible from hazards that may impact customers and staff. An occasional, documented meeting with your employees to keep them informed and conscious of safety subjects is well worth the time. We’ll admit that the subject of safety isn’t very exotic. But stop and think of the consequences of a slip and fall— or something worse—at your establishment. The impact on your business emotionally and financially could be substantial. The best way to possibly prevent such an occurrence is to have an active safety program. There’s nothing extraordinarily complex about workplace safety. It really comes down to one very basic application: common sense. Have a prosperous, happy…and safe New Year. v The Mystery of Sheriff Joe’s ‘Gun’ Story and Photo by Andy Limber For the past decade at ALBA year-end holiday parties and sheriff, about your tie tack. I’ve noticed that you wear it a scores of other social events related and unrelated to the lot.” liquor industry, I have for one publication or another “It keeps my tie from flopping around,” he said in his interviewed and photographed Maricopa County Sheriff usual vigorous tone, his fingers lightly grasping each end of Joe Arpaio. the tiny pistol. Whether it was at a Chinese New Year’s “Does it represent something, maybe banquet or some charitable function, the your first weapon or a miniature replica sheriff has always been generous with his of your personal firearm?” I asked. time in answering questions and posing “I don’t carry a gun,” the sheriff informed me. for photos. Huh? A law enforcement officer who In recent months at such occasions, and doesn’t carry a gun? I’m standing next to the during Arpaio’s numerous appearances on television news programs, I began to notice toughest, baddest, most famous lawman in something. When not in uniform and wearArizona and the entire planet no less, and he ing a business suit, there was always the just told me he’s not armed. same metal tie tack in the shape of a Colt .45 “You don’t carry a gun?” I said, wanting automatic handgun affixed to his neckwear. to make sure I heard him correctly. My curiosity over this eye-catching item “That’s right,” responded Arpaio. “I intensified. What was the story behind this don’t like guns.” pistol-shaped men’s wardrobe accessory? The sheriff doesn’t carry a gun and doesn’t like guns. Maybe this was the story, not Did someone give it to the sheriff for a “It keeps my tie from the tie tack. Still, I had to believe that there unique reason? Does he wear it so consis- flopping around.” was something special, some deep, hidden tently because he attaches a sentimental value to it? philosophical meaning to the little pistol All these questions and more raged through my mind. If clinging to the sheriff’s tie. Sheriff Joe answered even one of them, I would be the only “But the gun on your tie,” I said, pointing to it. “It has one in the world who could write about it. I would be the some particular personal significance, doesn’t it, sheriff? envy of those national and international journalists who have “No, nothing special about it,” he answered. “I have made the “Toughest Sheriff in America” a household name. another one like this with diamonds on it, but I don’t use it My chance came the evening of December 8, 2011, at the much.” So that was that. My big story had fizzled. A server came holiday party hosted every year by the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association. Arpaio was there and I was ready with by and I ordered a double Jack and Seven, and asked her to my questions, ready to unravel the mystery of Sheriff Joe’s hurry. I thanked the sheriff and retreated to a corner of ubiquitous pistol-shaped tie tack. the people-filled room with only Gentleman Jack Daniel I was excited but tried to act casual when I said, “Tell me, to comfort me. v ABC/ALBA benefits: ABC was purchased by the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association, Inc. (ALBA) in December of 2010. As a member of ALBA you are entitled to discounts on your training. ALBA/ABC would like to be your trainer. Contact the office for a color brochure explaining all of our services and a free statewide Quarterly Training Schedule, or to register for a regular, special or in-house training seminar, call toll-free 1-800-453-7597 or 602-285-1396, Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The ALBA/ABC office is located at: 77 East Columbus Ave., Suite 102 Phoenix, Arizona 85012 ALBA Reporter 19 Johnny Sparks: A Legend of the Old West Episode 4 “The Snake Eyes Showdown” By Drew Alexander In their stay at the Hopi Indian village of Oraibi in northeastern Arizona Territory, Frontier Lawman Johnny Sparks and his sidekick Scruffy Magee received the warm hospitality of the tribe’s chief and his son, Jumpin’ Joe Coyote. In pursuit of that damnable outlaw Snake Eyes Smith, the trail had grown cold for the famed peace officer and his pal until they learned what happened at Oraibi two weeks before. The alleged mastermind of multiple felonies and misdemeanors had tricked the villagers into believing he was a respectable man. Then, in the middle of the night, Smith rode off with two of the tribe’s best horses and the pretty maiden, Eternal Blossom. To make matters worse, Snake Eyes had fled to that mysterious place where it’s said that people are turned to stone. “I don’t care what anybody says about stone people,” said Johnny as he mounted his horse. “I’m after a flesh and blood criminal who’s added the unpardonable offense of horse thievery to his contemptible chronicle of crimes.” “And what about kidnapping the girl?” said Scuffy. “Yes, that’s pretty bad, too,” responded Johnny. “I’m going with you,” said Jumpin’ Joe. The lawman shook his head slightly from side to side, saying, “You realize, Joe, we’ll probably have to ride far into that vast field of stone to catch Snake Eyes. Anything might happen in such a place…anything.” Joe looked contemplative for a quick moment, as if he were grappling with some inner conflict. “My people are a people of traditions and folklore,” he said. “Their perceptions are through simple, almost child-like eyes, not science or factual evidence.” “So, Joe, you’re telling me that you don’t believe there’s a place where people are turned into stone,” said Johnny. “I’m telling you that my white man’s education has made me question the old beliefs of my tribe, even though I still respect them. That there is an unusual place of strange stones is unquestionable, but I’m skeptical that our incursion there will result in our petrification.” Scruffy’s eyes narrowed a bit, and he wagged a finger at the other two men, telling them, “Don’t be too quick to dismiss the visions of the old wise ones…” “Enough talk,” said Johnny, spurring his horse. “Let’s ride!” The three men rode south, leading out of the high mesas of the Hopis and down to the vast rangelands of the Navajo, which made Jumpin’ Joe a bit uncomfortable. While there had been commerce between the two native peoples, even intermarriage, their history was also etched with bitter, mostly unsettled land disputes. For days, the riders didn’t see another human being and were a mere dot against the stunning panorama of mountains, canyons, mesas and valleys. Their immediate destination before going into the place of stones was the burgeoning, rowdy new town of Holbrook along the banks of the Little Colorado River, created by the arrival of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad. Before washing off the trail grime and adding a few more provisions to their saddlebags, Johnny, Scruffy and Joe set out to find 20 ALBA Reporter the local law, if there was any. One of the locals directed them to the Cottage Saloon, where Sheriff Commodore Perry Owen happened to be at the moment. “Sure, I’ve heard of you,” said the long, red-haired sheriff after Johnny introduced himself and his two traveling companions. “You’re building quite a legend for yourself, son.” “You’ve got something of a reputation yourself, sir,” smiled Johnny. “I recollect that they started calling you ‘Iron Man’ after you plugged two Indian bucks trying to steal some horses…” “They were Navajo,” cut in Jumpin’ Joe. “Just wanted to make that clear.” The sheriff gazed at Joe, his eyes scanning the imposing Hopi with the language command of college professor. He could see, though, that there wasn’t anything bookish or meek about this tall, muscular man with the olive skin and confident demeanor. “Noted,” said Owen, twisting the ends of his lengthy silken mustache with three fingers. “So what brings you gents to Holbrook?” “It’s a long, sordid story, sheriff,” answered Johnny. “We’re on the hunt for a really mean, bad desperado and—” Stopping midsentence, Johnny pointed to the huge, dark stain on the saloon floor. “Say, what’s that all about?” “Dang, if it don’t look like blood,” said Scruffy, kneeling down and touching the large dark spot. “Even feels a little wet.” “Had us a bit of a fracas here yesterday,” said the sheriff. “Grat Dalton and another fella got into an argument during a poker game with two other men and shot ‘em dead to the floor in a bucket of blood.” “Dalton, of the Dalton Gang?” asked Johnny. “One and the same,” said the sheriff. “Afterwards, Dalton and his cohort took off real quick, too quick for me to catch ‘em, sorry to say.” Scruffy stroked his gray whiskers. “Do ya think, Sparky? Do ya think that the guy with Dalton might have been…” “Maybe,” said Johnny. “Do you know who the man was with Dalton, sheriff?” “No, never did see him. Word was, though, that he was mean, real mean.” Johnny touched the brim of his Stetson. “Thanks, sheriff. We have to get going, out there,” he said, pointing east. “Ever been there?” The sheriff chuckled. “You mean the place where people turn into stone? Sure, I been there. But the only thing I seen that’s turned to stone are trees. Don’t know exactly how that came to be, but it’s real sure that what used to be trees are now big and small chunks of cold, hard and kind of pretty rock.” “What Sheriff Owen is talking about was the end result of one of nature’s most extended and complex mechanisms,” said Jumpin’ Joe. “So what does that mean exactly?” asked Johnny. “The way it came to be was with downed trees that existed during the late Triassic period, about 225 million years ago, at the time of the early dinosaurs,” said Joe. He went on to explain, saying, “The fallen trees amassed in river waterways and were buried at times in volcanic ash. Eventually, the silica dissolved from the ash and carried it into the logs, forming into quartz crystals that replaced the organic material. Incredibly, over this very long period of petrification, the uprooted trees retained their outward appearance.” “Trees into rocks, huh?” said Johhny. “Does this place have a name to it?” “Folks around here have been calling it a petrified forest,” the sheriff said. “You’re welcome to come along with us, Owen,” gestured Johnny toward his destination. “You just might catch your man Dalton in that petrified forest.” The sheriff hooked his thumb into his gun belt. “I’d like nothing better than to bring that killer to justice,” he said. “But I’ve got my hands full right here. Holbrook is still a new and rowdy town, where it isn’t yet ready for respectable women and churches.” It was nearly sunset when Johnny and his two-man posse made camp about 20 miles out of Holbrook. They had gotten a later start than they planned and now had to wait until the next day to reach the outer fringes of the remote, nearly 150 square mile petrified forest. In the early dew-covered morning, with men and beasts rested and fed, the intrepid trio continued their ride east, coming to a distinct mile-high terrain of semi-desert and highly-eroded badlands. It was unimaginable that this expansive range of grasses, washes and scattered rock formations were once a towering forest. Stopped on a small rise, Johnny, Scruffy and Jumpin’s Joe caught their breaths as they gazed in silent wonderment at the endless, sweeping scene before them. “Snake Eyes is out there, someplace,” said Johnny. “But where? How are we ever going to find him? “He could hide here for years if he wanted to,” said Scruffy, sounding almost defeated. Jumpin’ Joe was of a different frame of mind. His native kinship with the lands of his forefathers overcame his years of white man’s book learning, speaking to him now in a more earthy, revealing way than the perspective of his companions. “The land will tell us where to find him,” said Joe, spurring his horse on, with Johnny and Scruffy following close behind. About an hour later, they came upon a huge, almost smoothfaced upright slab of stone, roughly triangular, its notched top pointing skyward. The surface of the reddish stone was etched with a hundred or more symbols, some of them clearly of human hands and various animals, others more abstract and mysterious. “What in tarnation does all this mean?” asked Scruffy, running his right hand lightly over the stone tablet. “These are petroglyphs, rock engravings,” answered Joe. “Carved here thousands of years ago by the ancient ones. These pictures tell their story,” he went on, pointing at the different ‘pictures.’ Joe’s attention then zeroed in on an etching that stood apart from the main group. He lightly ran the tips of his fingers against it, then rubbed them together. “This one, this coiled snake with the big eyes is fresh,” Joe told Johnny and Scruffy. “This is the nukpana, the evil one, leaving us a sign. He’s leading us to him, he wants us to find him.” Johnny clenched his jaw. “And we’ll rightly oblige him,” he said. A while later, under clear blue skies and a blazing Arizona summer sun, the three men saw something glistening atop a lone petrified tree stump. It was a .44 caliber bullet, its nose pointing northeast. In a few hours, with dusk approaching, another bullet led to the ruins of a centuries-old pueblo, the stone remains indi- cating a once large structure that served as a home with additional rooms for food storage. Sitting around their campfire amidst the pueblo remnants after their evening meal, Johnny, Jumpin’ Joe and Scruffy all sensed that their long journey in pursuit of that reprehensible fugitive Snake Eyes Smith was nearing its final chapter. They knew, no matter what strategy they devised to capture or kill the alleged criminal, Snake was in control. Their fate, and that of the captive Eternal Blossom, was largely in the hands of a cunning madman, and they were beginning to feel a sense of their own mortality. It was nearing high noon when the valiant trio arrived at the Blue Mesa badlands, a terrain like no other. With its cone-shaped hills, chiseled ridges and steep-walled canyons and ravines, no other place on Earth looked quite like this. The air was very still, even though dark clouds were beginning to form overhead, signaling the coming of torrential summer rains. Suddenly, the quiet was stabbed by a booming voice that seemed to bounce off the canyon walls. “Welcome to hell, gentlemen,” said the voice, mixed with a sardonic laugh. “Are you ready to die?” Johnny moved a few paces forward. “Herman P. Koenigschmidt, alias Snake Eyes Smith, in the name of the law, you are under arrest.,” he said at the top of his voice, his words clear and deliberate. There was a long pause before Snake broke out in a prolonged fit of laughter, then answering, “Sure, come get me Mr. Frontier Lawman.” “I’ll be coming for you, Snake, but not until you release Eternal Blossom, alive and unharmed.” “You can have her, Sparks, you and your grizzly old sidekick and your new Indian pal,” said the desperado. “I don’t have any use for her anymore.” There was a long silence as Johnny, Joe and Scruffy looked anxiously toward a shadowy vertical crevice that appeared to lead into a small canyon. A lone figure came walking out, slowly at first, then at a faster gait. It was Eternal Blossom. She was about 30 yards from the three men when hot lead began kicking up the soil around her, making her cry out and run in a zigzag pattern. Snake kept firing at her, laughing all the time, relishing the girl’s confusion and fear, running this way and that, sometimes in circles. “You fiend!” shouted Johnny, unable to see Snake, and shooting with aimless anger at the canyon.” At last, Eternal Blossom reached the three men, exhausted and sweaty, nearly falling into Jumpin’ Joe’s open arms. He took her to some large petrified wood stumps where Scruffy had some water and food for the girl, along with a blanket spread out on the ground for her to lie down and rest. With the girl safe, Johnny concentrated on going after Snake. Joe wanted to go with him, but the lawman wouldn’t allow it. “Thanks for the offer, my friend. But this is law business. I’ve waited a long time for this final showdown with the ignominious Snake Eyes Smith. This is something that I have to do…alone.” Johnny mounted his horse and rode at an unhurried gallop, sitting tall in the saddle, toward the large cluster of rocks and canyons where Snake was holed up. His stomach muscles tensed, knowing he was an easy target out in the open as he was. He was betting his life on Snake’s bloated ego, betting that the notoriously narcissistic outlaw couldn’t resist making some kind of dramatic ritual of killing the increasingly famous frontier lawman. “Hold it right there, Sparks,” said Snake as he stepped out on a high ledge several feet ahead of Johnny. “I could have killed you easy enough anytime I wanted, but there’s no fun in that,” he grinned. “Dismount,” he commanded. Continued on page 22 ALBA Reporter 21 “The Snake Eyes Showdown” Continued from 21 Johnny slowly stepped down to the ground, his right hand hovering over his Colt .45 ‘Peacemaker.’ The sky above was rumbling loudly and had turned into a gray-black mass of enormous churning clouds. “I have a warrant for your arrest, Snake Eyes. Surrender now.” Snake laughed and swiftly drew his pistol, getting the drop on Johnny, telling him, “You’ve got something that belongs to me, lawman, you’ve got the mate to my Scholfield .44, and I want it back.” “I can’t do that,” said Johnny. “I’m holding that weapon as material evidence from a crime scene.” “Have it your way, Sparks,” sneered Snake, holstering his pistol. “I’ll just have to take it from you after I shoot you dead.” For a long moment, the two men stared intently into each other’s eyes. The bad blood between them, the months of the hunter and the hunted had come down to this sliver of time in a remote, spectacularly imposing section of the Arizona Territory. Overhead, the dark clouds, bulging with moisture, began to release a few droplets of water. Johnny drew first, but it was Snake who got off the first shot, the round missing the lawman by a mere inch. Johnny dropped to the ground, firing twice, missing his target both times as a sheet of rain obscured his vision. He stood up, seeing that Snake was still on the ledge, firing wildly through the heavy downpour in his direction. One random bullet hit the side of his pistol, knocking it painfully out of his hand and disappearing into the muddy ground below. “What’s the matter, lose your gun?” laughed Snake, the muzzle of his weapon pointed straight at the heart of the now helpless lawman. “I’ve grown mighty weary of you, Sparks, you and your high and mighty laws. It’s time to get you out of my way…” Just as Snake was about to squeeze the trigger of his revolver, the ledge under his feet cracked and gave way, and the outlaw went plunging down 50 feet or more into the deep ravine oozing with a thick, clay-like mud. He landed on his back into the muck with a loud, resounding ‘splat.’ In seconds, Snake was coated head to toe with the viscous substance, holding him prisoner against the bed of the ravine, suffocating him. The powerful summer rain passed as quickly as it had arrived, giving way to a sunny sky. Scruffy, Jumpin’ Joe and Eternal Blossom had ridden closer to the action during the storm and saw what happened. They now went to Johnny, who was standing at the upper edge of the ravine looking down at the bizarre sight below. Brownish-gray liquid clay had seeped down the sides of Snake Eyes Smith’s lifeless body, forming the distinct outline of a man, with legs and arms outstretched. There were even some facial feature details, and a pistol shape could be seen grasped in his right hand. “Goldarnest thing I ever saw,” said Scruffy, staring transfixed at the sight below. “What’s that stuff that ol’ Snake fell into?” he asked of anyone who would answer. “It’s call Bensonite,” said Jumpin’ Joe. “That’s a natural clay substance found in abundance in this area. Its molecular structure is such that it absorbs water like a sponge, and when it dries it becomes as hard as, well, stone…” They all gazed at each other, all thinking the same thing, and then kept looking down in amazement at the stiff human shape in the bed of the ravine. “This is what the old wise ones of my tribe spoke of,” said Eternal Blossom. “Bad people in this place are turned to stone.” “ A fitting end to the wicked ways of Snake Eyes Smith,” said Johnny. “The girl and I are heading back home to Orabai,” said Jumpin’ Joe. “Why don’t you and Scruffy come with us, Johnny, and we’ll have a big victory celebration.” “Thanks, Joe, but there’s no time for that,” answered the lawman. “I have to help out Sheriff Owen by getting on the trail of that alleged cold-blooded killer Grat Dalton and bring him to justice.” “Yesiree, that’s the way it has to be with Frontier Lawman Johnny Sparks,” added Scruffy, tapping the handle of his holstered gun. “There’s just no rest for a legend of the Old West.” Editor’s Note: This concludes in the ALBA Reporter the serialized adventures of Johnny Sparks: A Legend of the Old West. We hope you have enjoyed this tongue firmly planted in cheek storytelling. If you would like free reprints of all four episodes in this series, send an e-mail to [email protected] or call (602) 565-7220. Look for the further heroics of Johnny and his sidekick in other publications. © 2012 AAL/Drew Alexander TUDOR INSURANCE GROUP Chuck Smith Quality “A” rated companies looking to insure well run businesses Quality coverage’s ———AGGRESSIVE Pricing for: Restaurants – Bars–Clubs – Hotels/Motels – Liquor Stores – Grocery Stores Convenience stores (with or without gasoline sales) LET US HELP YOU Phone: 480-656-4099 Fax: 480-452-0242 [email protected] 22 ALBA Reporter Mary Zordan Buying a Business? Selling a Business? That’s our Business! (over business) (over 29 25 years years in experience) Specializing in Bars and Restaurants Associate ALBA Member JanCo West Business Brokers (602)978-3313 Isaacson & Moore, P.C. Van Leer-Ambassador Group Insurance Services Representing ALBA and Liquor Retailers Since 1985 Restaurant-Bar-Nightclub Insurance Attorneys Don Isaacson – Norman Moore (602) 274-2200 3101 N. Central Avenue – Suite 740 Phoenix, AZ 85012-2638 E-Mail: [email protected] Chuck Van Leer 480-776-6989 [email protected] TURLEY CHILDERS HUMBLE & TORRENS, P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW DANIEL TORRENS 3101 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE SUITE 1300 PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85012-2656 (602) 254-1444 FAX (602) 287-9468 E.MAIL [email protected] YES, I want to become an ALBA Member! My annual dues check of $225 is enclosed. Business Name_________________________________________________________________Owner’s Name________________________________________________________ Liquor License#____________________________________________________________ Phone___________________________________________________________________________Fax ______________________________________________________________ E-Mail Address____________________________________________________________ Mailing Address _____________________________________________City_______________________________State ________________________Zip______________________ Credit Card #__________________________________________ Expiration Date___________________Signature_____________________________________________________ Please make check payable to ALBA Mail Application & Check to ALBA 77 E. Columbus Ave. #102 - Phoenix, AZ 85012 Questions? Call 602-285-1092 or 800-453-5232 E-Mail: [email protected] Fax: 602-285-1258 Web Site: www.albainc.org Pay by Visa, MasterCard or DiscoverCard Remember: Dues are Tax Deductible. ALBA Reporter 23 ALBA 77 E. Columbus Ave. #102 Phoenix, AZ 85012 PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX, AZ PERMIT NO. 3449 Welcome New ALBA Members American Legion #44 Scottsdale Carla Renee Yuma Ayothaya Thai Café Sushi & Bar Payson Kwik Mart Tempe Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar Bullhead City Café Margarita Tombstone Pro’s Ranch MarketsPhoenix 1 Phoenix Sandbar Mexican Grill Peoria Union Hills Smoke Shop Phoenix Pro’s Ranch MarketsPhoenix 7 Mesa Sandbar Mexican Grill Chandler VS Beer & Wine Glendale Mint Scottsdale Punkin Center Bar & Grill Tonto Basin Sapphire Lounge Tucson Mirage Sports Grill Apache Junction RNR Scottsdale Mido Sushi Chandler Associate Member Suede Scottsdale Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral Phoenix Tonic Chandler ALBA MEMBER BENEFITS ★ Health-Care Insurance through Argus Group. ★ BMI and SESAC Music Licensing Discount ★ SFC Arizona Workers’ Compensation Cash Dividends. ★ Ongoing Programs to Guard Against Unfair Liquor Legislation. ★ Informative Quarterly Newsletter. ★ The full resources of a strong, established, respected trade association. ★ "A-Team" visitations anywhere in the state to personally help licensees with special concerns and problems. EASY PAY ON WEB SITE Check out ALBA’s redesigned web site (www.ALBAINC.org) You can now pay your membership dues on line!