Neighbors
www.SanTanSun.com
July 5 – 18, 2014
51
Neighbors Relax this summer with Tai Chi-QiGong
When Life is Hard
Where to Eat
Spirituality PAGE 59
PAGES 76-78
Neighbors PAGE 56
Chandler Chino Bandido tantalizes with named Playful fusion cuisine City USA eight years in a row BY MEGHAN MCCOY
With more than 1,200 acres of park space, Chandler was designated as Playful City USA for the eighth consecutive year. Brooke Peterson, Chandler’s marketing and communication coordinator for community services, says this year 212 communities were named Playful City USA and Chandler was one of 12 in Arizona. “We are extremely excited about that,” Peterson explains. Only 14 cities and towns in the entire nation have received the designation for eight years in a row. The designation is made by the nonprofit organization KaBOOM!, which works to advocate on behalf of children and the necessity of play. Peterson says that cities have to answer such questions as what is Chandler’s population of children 18 and younger; what are Chandler’s biggest challenges; what is being done to identify those challenges and how many play spaces are available to be considered for the designation. Peterson said the approximate number of people younger than 18 living in Chandler is 65,185. The Chandler Parks and Recreation division maintains 1,214 acres of park space, which equates to one acre per 199 residences. She says their mission SEE PLAYFUL CITY USA PAGE 54
Women recognized at Soroptimist Regional Conference BY MEGHAN MCCOY
things, including some renovating,” Varela states. Updates include a new paint job, speakers and televisions in the large fast-casual restaurant. New menu boards are on the way. “We’re kicking off a happy hour now... We’re doing a soft rollout, and we’ll have six new menu items including chips and salsa, taquitos and a guaca-dilla, which will be a flat quesadilla with a guacamole dipping sauce. Like all of our food, it will be made fresh.”
Two Chandler women, who have changed the lives of others through their dedication to the community, were honored during the Soroptimist International Golden West Regional Spring 2014 Conference at Wild Horse Pass recently. Lindsey Chew, a Hamilton High School graduate, received the Violet Richardson Award for the work she performs with the Chandler Regional Hospital’s Volunteer Program. “It was definitely an honor,” she says of receiving the award. “I was happy that something that I consider small would be recognized by others.” Chew was awarded $900, a combined total from the regional Soroptimist International and local Soroptimist chapter. Chandler Regional Hospital also received $200. “I’m thankful for everyone who supported me and all the staff and mentors I have had at the hospital that have really encouraged me along the way,” Chew says. Since her freshman year in high school, she has volunteered on average four hours a week. Seeing many patients alone and bored in their rooms, Chew founded Operation Origami. “It was a good way for me to give
SEE CHINO BANDIDO PAGE 52
SEE SOROPTIMIST PAGE 53
CHINESE MEXICAN: Chino Bandido in Chandler has been serving up Chinese and Mexican fusion cuisine for eight years. STSN photo by Lynette Carrington BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
When thinking of Chinese food and Mexican food, one might think of culinary styles that are from two vastly different countries and cultures. Chino Bandido didn’t really see it that way and went ahead and combined the two unique cuisines into one dazzling combination of flavors that make perfect sense as soon as they leave the fork. Ron Varela, general manager of the Chandler Chino Bandido, just came on board five months ago. “We’re doing a whole bunch of new
CHANDLER LANDMARK: The Bashas’ Gallery, located in the Bashas’ Corporate office facility, is an expansive collection of paintings, sculptures and Native American woven baskets. Every turn in the gallery takes you into another large exhibit area.. STSN photo by Tim Sealy See page 58 for more photos of Chandler landmarks