March 1 - 14, 2014
www.SanTanSun.com
Celebrate Chandler’s history during the Ostrich Festival BY MEGHAN MCCOY
Families can partake in fun and healthy activities while celebrating Chandler’s history during the 26th Ostrich Festival from Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 9, at Tumbleweed Park. Chandler was the home to the largest ostrich farms in the country in the early
OFFICIAL KICKOFF: The 26th annual Ostrich Festival will kick off with the Mayor’s 5K Fun Run and parade on March 1, but the fun continues Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 9, for three days of activities. Submitted photo
1900s. Twenty-six years ago, the Ostrich Festival was created to pay homage to that. “We created the Ostrich Festival as a way to celebrate our heritage,” says Terri Kimble, Chandler Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “It’s a great event to bring families and traditions together.” Terry Locke, chairman of the Mayor’s 5K Fun Run that officially kicks off festivities on Saturday, March 1, calls the festival a signature event for the community. He says nothing else attracts as many people. “There is something for everyone,” Locke says. “People are amazed when they see all the things to do. There are so many different stages and entertainment and rides for the kids. It’s a lot to take in, in one day.” The fun run begins March 1 with registration at 6:30 a.m. followed by the main event at 7:50 a.m. Locke says participants can run or walk down Arizona Avenue to help raise money for the Chandler Education Foundation. “It’s a nice event and it leads into the (10 a.m.) parade,” Locke says. “The two events complement each other very well.” Kimble says the parade is a nice way to feature local people and organizations. SEE OSTRICH FESTIVAL PAGE 4
Lions Club commemorates 75 years of community involvement BY TRACY HOUSE
Best known for its commitment to providing school-age children with eye glasses, the Chandler Lions Club is celebrating 75 years of service to the community on Saturday, March 8. In 1927 the Lions Club International was challenged by Helen Keller to become the “Knights of the Blind,” according to Ron Wick, secretary for the Chandler Lions Club. “Since that time vision has been our primary goal—one of our primary objectives. Obviously we do a lot of other things, but that’s always been top of the board.”
PRIDE OF LIONS: Members of the 2014 Lions Club Membership Conference gather. The club has been active in the community for 75 years and has 49 active members. Submitted photo
Wick says the Chandler Lions Club provides free eye examinations and glasses to school children living in Chandler. To date, the club has been able to provide 134 school children with glasses by working with the school nurses to screen students who may be in need. “We’ll continue to screen until June,” Wick says. “We’ve noticed a dramatic rise…last year we only had 107 (students), which is a big number.” Each year the club collects about 2,700 pairs of used glasses, Wick says. “Those are processed and sent to Third World countries on missions.” All Chandler-area students receive brand new glasses, Wick clarifies. About 60 years ago, Wick explains, Chandler Lions Club began the Chandler Youth Baseball organization. “We’ve worked and supported that ever since.” The Lions came together with other local groups to build the first playing field where the Downtown Chandler Library stands. In 1956 the club was an integral partner in having the first medical facility built in Chandler. Today, that facility is Chandler Regional Hospital. Other ventures that include the Lions are the Mistletoe Magic holiday dinner-dance and free Santa SEE LIONS CLUB PAGE 6
Payne program promotes healthy lifestyle
Backpack Food Program serves up weekend nutrition
Merrill wins trip to Pro Bowl BY TRACY HOUSE
BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
For 80 years, Chandler Service Club has been devoted to the community with different service projects that assist a variety of people. One of its newest projects, Weekenders Backpack Food Program, is designed to combat child hunger during a time when kids are often most in need of nutrition. Chandler Service Club started the Weekenders Backpack Food Program last summer at select city elementary schools. Fundraiser Chairwoman Peggy Vincent says she was hearing that children were showing up to school on Mondays hungry after not having eaten or having eaten very little during the weekend. She immediately knew that the Chandler Service Club could help. She teamed up with Philanthropy Chairwoman Pam Thelander to put the program in motion. “Chandler Service Club has made it
HELPING OUT: Chandler Service Club Fundraiser Chairwoman Peggy Vincent unloads supplies for the Weekenders Backpack Food Program. Submitted photo
our mission to feed Chandler,” states Bridget Hanger, a club volunteer. “The intent is to keep our fundraising stable enough and to increase it, so that we can feed additional children.”
When Stephanie Merrill, media specialist at Payne Junior High School, became involved with Fuel Up to Play 60, it was to help promote a healthy living lifestyle to the students on her campus. Her efforts helped her win a trip to the 2014 Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages good nutrition and activity in students in school. The program was founded by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to encourage students to eat healthy and get active 60 minutes a day. Merrill was responsible for monitoring the program at PJHS and completing the website so the school could be recognized. She credits the physical education teachers, specifically Dianne Penner, who she says was a big supporter and heads the wellness committee on campus. “Every Wednesday they offer wellness Wednesdays and they offer activities during lunch and incentives.” Merrill explains.
SEE FOOD PROGRAM PAGE 8
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Feb. 13 Chandler City Council meeting recap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . Page 9 Associated Dental Care Providers offer quality care. . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Students explore U.S. through books. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 27 Chandler couple followed their dreams to GCU. . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . . . Page 49 McCain content with family life, variety of projects . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 60
SanTan Family Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Center Section
SEE FUEL UP PAGE 5
More Community . . . . . . 1-16 Business . . . . . . . .17-26 Youth. . . . . . . . . . 27-38 Opinion. . . . . . . . 39-40 Neighbors. . . . . . 49-59 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . 60-73 Spirituality . . . . . 74-77 Directory . . . . . . 78-79 Classifieds. . . . . . 80-81 Where to eat . . . 82-86