Opinion
www.SanTanSun.com
Dec. 5 - Dec. 18, 2015
45
Community Commentary
There is much to appreciate during this year’s holiday season And we want your Many people like help in seeing that to share their annual continue. Please take highlights with friends a few minutes to let and family through us know your thoughts holiday letters. And why through the annual not? The holidays are a online budget survey perfect time to reflect at www.chandleraz. and give thanks. We gov/budget. certainly have much to While this is a time be grateful for here in to spend celebrating our community. with friends and Things like new family, remember also parks and renovations that there are those to existing ones. The in the community people who make our who continue to community tick. Those Mayor Jay Tibshraeny. Submitted photo struggle for various neighborhood leaders reasons. If you can, and outstanding please donate some volunteers who are so engaged in time or contribute to one of the many making Chandler the outstanding place nonprofit agencies in Chandler who it has become. Events like our annual help those in need now and throughout Tumbleweed Tree Lighting, Parade of the year. A good place to find Lights, Fourth of July celebration and information is at www.211arizona.org. my annual Day of Play. Companies And, as always, remember to “Shop like Wells Fargo, Infusionsoft, Intel Chandler” for your holiday gifts, as as well as the many small businesses those tax dollars are critical to maintain that continue to invest so much in our city services. Sales taxes from the City through expansions and goodwill money you spend here help support efforts. And, much is happening in City services, such as public safety, road downtown Chandler as we work to improvements, neighborhoods—and our develop more amenities, welcome new economic development efforts. These businesses and continue to build on our taxes also support a quality of life university presence there. enhanced by parks, sports fields, trails, We can also be thankful for our pools and recreation programs. continued financial stability. We To stay in touch throughout 2016, learned just recently that our AAA please follow me on Twitter (@ Excise Tax Revenue Obligation Bond jaytibshraeny) and visit the City’s awardratings have been re-affirmed by winning website (www.chandleraz. Standard & Poor’s and Fitch rating gov) for more news on the community. agencies. These ratings pertain to both Finally, here is to a very joyful New Year our existing debt and upcoming bond for all Chandler residents. sale that will fund future water and wastewater expansion projects that Mayor Jay Tibshraeny can be reached are critical to our city’s operations. It is at jay.tibshraeny@chandleraz.gov. His great news for the City, as we continue term expires January 2019. to maintain a strong fiscal outlook.
BY MAYOR JAY TIBSHRAENY
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Police, fire spread holiday cheer to the young Toy drive is available at www.911toydrive.com. When police Our Fire, Health and officers knock at Medical Department also the door, residents is involved in a large toy typically aren’t drive campaign. Working expecting them to in collaboration with deliver presents the Chandler Unified to their children. School District and Unfortunately, too several local nonprofit often children who organizations, they target have witnessed disadvantaged youth violence and crime from ages birth to 18. perceive officers to If you can help, be the bearers of unwrapped toys, gift bad news. During cards and cash donations the holidays, this Terry Roe. Submitted photo are accepted at all perception is Chandler Fire and Police changed as officers stations. Also, from show a softer side by bringing gifts, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, hugs and smiles to the most vulnerable firefighters will be collecting items in our community. at the Chandler Fashion Center and With your support, the W. Steven providing free fire truck rides to those Martin 911 Toy Drive makes it who contribute. possible for public safety personnel In addition to gift donations throughout the Valley to pick up toys volunteers are needed to help sort at a private warehouse and deliver and wrap gifts prior to Friday, Dec. 18. them to children’s homes. This holiday On that day, Santa will distribute gifts giving tradition started more than to registered children at the Chandler 30 years ago and continues to be an CARE center. To register as a family extraordinary way for officers and wishing to receive gifts or sign up to firefighters to touch the lives of many volunteer, call the CARE center at (480) local families. 812-7900. Further back in time than I care The holiday season is a wonderful to confess, while I was with the time to show kindness and generosity Mesa Police Department, delivering to our loved ones and those in need. gifts provided by W. Steven Martin’s As a community, let’s work together toy drive meant as much to me and to help children celebrate with smiles our police family as it did to those and warmth in their hearts, while who received them. In multifamily supporting public safety personnel and complexes our squad of deputized the message of peace and safety that elves made it a point to carry extra gifts they always carry with them. and cookies to share with neighboring kids who may have been missed when Terry Roe, whose term expires in families were selected to benefit January 2019, can be reached at terry. through this program. Information roe@chandleraz.gov. about the W. Steven Martin Annual
BY CITY COUNCILMAN TERRY ROE
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46
Dec. 5 - Dec. 18, 2015
Opinion
www.SanTanSun.com
Community Commentary
Discrimination of the elderly extends to pets Too often, they never get November was Adopt that chance. a Senior Pet Month in Allow me to share some Maricopa County. It may of the great qualities and not be a surprise that a benefits, particularly for little age bias occurs in empty nesters, of adopting the animal world, too. a senior pet from one of our Senior pets are often the shelters. hardest to adopt. • O lder pets are often It often happens that less high maintenance. a great dog sporting a They’ve been through few grey or white hairs the rambunctious years. on its muzzle is often Most are housebroken Denny Barney. Submitted passed over for a playful photo and respond to simple puppy. The lounging cat commands. And yet they’re doesn’t hold the same attraction as still teachable. the energetic kittens climbing all over • T he more mature dog will walk each other. We are often drawn to the alongside you at a steady pace, not younger, feistier animals and ignore race ahead of you dragging you along the mature and equally loving. That’s a uncomfortably as you strain to keep shame. It’s a loss for the animals—but them leashed. also for many whose lives would be • O lder pets are already fully grown. enhanced by a loving, loyal companion. You see what you get and there are These older pets need help finding usually few surprises. homes to live out their golden years. Many resources and benefits are Many of them find themselves at available to those adopting senior pets one of our shelters through no fault here in Maricopa County. Dogs older of their own. In some cases, the than 5 are only $20 to adopt. For cats owner has relocated and is unable more than a year old, the adoption to keep them, or regrettably, they fees are waived. Veterans also have find themselves alone when their the benefit of waived adoption fees owner has passed away or developed through the “Pets and Vets” program. a medical condition. These animals Our Maricopa County Animal Care & get transitioned over to one of Control volunteers and staff can help our adoption facilities, where they you find the perfect pet and answer patiently wait for someone to love. any questions you may have when
BY DENNY BARNEY
looking for your new furry friend. If you are looking for ways to get more involved, our newly implemented Adoption Ambassador Program allows volunteer ambassadors to foster difficult-to-place dogs, including seniors, until they can find permanent homes. Ambassadors are in charge of marketing and handling adoption paperwork. In most cases, foster dogs will be in an ambassador’s care for an average of three to four weeks. This program simultaneously provides great
opportunities for senior dogs as well as creates more space in our shelters for other animals. This holiday season please consider adopting a senior pet and adding a companion to your life. Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
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