March 15 – April 4, 2014 www.SanTanSun.com
Nachie Marquez named assistant city manager
Ozzie Smith, Clydesdales visit downtown Chandler
BY BETH LUCAS
BY TRACY HOUSE
Nachie Marquez is no stranger to a challenge. Second youngest of six children, Marquez never questioned whether she would become the first in her family to earn a college degree. She’s embraced challenging roles in life since, forging enthusiasm among coworkers and family along the way. On March 17, Marquez will end her 14-year stint as Chandler’s communications leader and leaps into a new role as assistant city manager, following an exhaustive interview process. “It’s still a little surreal to me. But I think it sends a super strong message that communications continues to be very important in Chandler,” Marquez says. “I think my interpersonal skills not only established with employees, but with community contact, in partnering, building coalitions—that’s a huge advantage as well. I’m passionate about community service.” Her No. 1 goal is one also repeated by employees who City Manager Rich Dlugas says played an important role in the hiring process: Creating infectious enthusiasm about the City’s work. Employees joined City management and elected officials to serve on finalist panels, as the municipality whittled down 150 candidates in a
Downtown Chandler was transformed into a production set when Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith and the worldrenowned Budweiser Clydesdales, with a little help from Coach and Willie’s, worked to persuade baseball fans to sign a petition to make Opening Day a holiday. Fans lined up along Boston Street outside Coach and Willie’s as eight majestic Budweiser Clydesdales were secured to the Budweiser coach and special guest Smith took the infamous horses around downtown Chandler for the filming of the commercial. Smith explains “We’ve had some surveys done and there are 22 million Americans that have played hooky from school or work and it really is an unofficial holiday that we’re trying to make an official holiday by getting 100,000 signatures. “We’re halfway there after about a week of starting the campaign. So we feel pretty good about our chances of making it. When you get 100,000 signatures on any proposition then you can take it to D.C. and they have to take a look at it.” The first video is posted at www. budweiser.com/opening-day.html and the newest video shot in Chandler is due out the week of March 17. “(We’re) just making our trips around the country to try to drum up support
NEW ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER: Longtime Chandler communications director, Nachie Marquez, works with Mayor Jay Tibshraeny. Marquez was named the city’s new assistant city manager. Submitted photo
national search. “I’m looking forward to adding her to the city manager’s staff in terms of her enthusiasm and her willingness to tackle issues and projects,” Dlugas explains. “I think she’s going to bring a new enthusiasm. She’s also one of those people who really think outside of the box. She’s very creative and has a lot of good ideas.” Her experience as the city’s first communications and public affairs director yields an emphasis on SEE ASSISTANT
CITY MANAGER PAGE 6
FAN FAVORITE: Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith takes center stage in downtown Chandler. Smith filmed a commercial to promote the petition to make MLB Opening Day a national holiday. STSN photo by Tracy House
for this and if this is any indication of how people feel about it, then we’ll do pretty well,” Smith says of the turnout in Chandler. Smith says that Opening Day “was my life.” SEE OZZIE SMITH PAGE 4
Rattlers’ Kerry Reed ready to get the ball rolling
Hamilton Aquatics hosts ‘Water Safety Awareness Day’
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
BY TRACY HOUSE
Sitting at a patio table with planes from Falcon Field flying overhead, Kerry Reed is exhausted after a training session with his fellow Arizona Rattlers at Gene Autry Park in East Mesa. The 6-foot 2-inch, 210-pound wide receiver from Chandler emerges from the Rattlers’ office with a white towel covering his head and a wide smile that reveals a gold tooth. His demeanor perks up, however, when asked about the Rattlers’ forthcoming season that begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at US Airways Center against the Philadelphia Soul. It’s a rematch between last year’s Arena
Spring is around the corner and summer is close behind. In Arizona that means swimming weather and to get ready for the season the City of Chandler Aquatics and Chandler Fire Department are teaming up to bring Water Safety Awareness Day to the community. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 22, Chandler Aquatics is hosting the free community Water Safety Awareness Day at Hamilton Aquatic Center, 3838 S. Arizona Ave. The facility will be open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. for swimming and water fun. Hillary Bellus, aquatic coordinator at Hamilton Aquatic Center, says Salt River Project (SRP) will be out there in addition
SEE KERRY REED PAGE 5
STAR PLAYER: Wide receiver Kerry Reed, shown here during a game at US Airways Center in Phoenix, takes his sport seriously on and off the field. Photo courtesy of Yeung Photography FOR A COOLER ARIZONA
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to the fire department which will offer demonstrations and answer questions. “We’ll do some demonstrations of rescues in the water and we’ll also swim test children so that if parents want to they can know what class to sign their children up for swimming classes in Chandler. We will be raffling off free swimming lessons and other prizes and goodies.” Bellus says there will be food available to buy and participants are welcome to bring in their own. The pool will be open for swimming throughout Water Safety Awareness Day. The Chandler Fire Department will demonstrate hands-only CPR—basic skills
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Living the good, healthy life in Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 Tootsie’s Boutique features flip-flops and more. . . . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 RAK Summer Camp Fair brings camps to community. . . . . . . YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 26 Train enthusiasts chug to twice yearly tour. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . . . .Page 45 Reinvention on Blues Traveler’s itinerary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 60
CLIP-IT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Center Section
SEE WATER SAFETY PAGE 7
More Community . . . . . . 1-16 Business . . . . . . . . 17-25 Youth. . . . . . . . . . 26-38 Opinion. . . . . . . . 43-44 Neighbors. . . . . . 45-59 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . 60-66 Spirituality . . . . . 67-70 Directory . . . . . . .71-72 Classifieds. . . . . . .73-74 Where to eat . . . 75-78