CITY NEWS
CIGNA VOLUNTEERS DONATE HANDMADE HATS TO
PATIENTS AT IRONWOOD CANCER & RESEARCH CENTERS A GROUP OF CIGNA VOLUNTEERS KNOWN AS “A COMMON THREAD” MADE AND donated 1,105 crocheted caps for patients at the Ironwood Cancer & Research Center in Glendale. The group has made and donated nearly 13,000 caps to cancer patients and babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) throughout the state in just the last five years. “As a global health service company with a mission of helping to improve the health, wellbeing and sense of security of the people we serve, Cigna encourages employees to positively impact the health of their local communities,” said Theresa Richards, Cigna employee and A Common Thread volunteer. “Making the caps together with other employees is one way that we can give back locally to those in need and connect with each other over a common passion.” A total of 26 ladies volunteer to make the caps. Twenty-four of them are Cigna employees who work at the North Phoenix Cigna office at 25500 N. Norterra Dr. and the other two volunteers are friends and family members. The employees get together once a week on their lunch break to crochet, knit and loom the caps, and they work on them at home as well. Each of the adult size caps takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to
make. The baby caps take about 30 to 60 minutes to make. All of the caps have their own unique design and color. Some have a scarf attached, others are colors of popular sports teams and universities and some are holiday themed.
“This was the second year Cigna donated knitted caps for our patients receiving chemotherapy. This year we received 1,105 lovely, unique hats. We are so grateful to partner with Cigna and for their donation to our patients,” said Kelly B. Huey, director of Integrative Services & Social Work for Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers. “The hats were disseminated among our 12 offices throughout the Phoenix area for all of our patients to enjoy. Our Chandler office made a ‘hat tree’ in our lobby for the patients to take the hats for the holidays.”
Shortly after starting to crochet the caps for babies in NICU’s the group decided to make caps for patients going through cancer treatment and have donated more than 4,000 so far. “It is so awesome for Cigna to have such wonderful caring employees who donate their time and materials to make the hats for those in need,” said Huey.
A Common Thread started the community service project as a result of Cigna’s national partnership with the March of Dimes. The caps provide warmth for babies facing serious health challenges. Since the group started, more than 18,000 baby hats have been donated to NICUs throughout the country and more than 9,500 have been donated in Arizona. Most recently in May 2018, 1,000 caps were donated to Maricopa Integrated Health System’s Level III NICU at Maricopa Medical Center.
PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: TERESA CALDWELL, THERESA RICHARDS, NICOLE MCCALLISTER, CAROL BEYER AND KELLY HUEY
I-17 IMPROVEMENTS COMING, BUT SAFETY DEPENDS ON DRIVER BEHAVIOR ADOT WORKING ON DESIGN STUDY FOR ANTHEM TO SUNSET POINT AREA AS THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADVANCES PROJECTS THAT WILL add capacity to Interstate 17 north of the Phoenix area, drivers can help improve safety and reduce delays today by avoiding speeding, aggressive driving, distraction from things like cellphones and other behaviors that lead to crashes. The longest backups stemming from crashes occur most often on weekends, when many drivers take I-17 to and from Arizona’s high country. “New lanes will play a role in improved safety, but driver behavior remains the key,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “The reality is
that a reduction in speeding, sudden lane changes and impaired driving would reduce crashes, closures and frustrating traffic backups along this corridor.” ADOT is conducting an environmental and design concept study scheduled for completion by summer 2019. Initial construction of a third southbound I-17 lane between Black Canyon City and Anthem is planned in 2020. The Maricopa Association of Governments, the Phoenix area’s metropolitan planning organization, has committed $50 million in its Regional Transportation plan in 2019 and 2020 for design work and the start
4 • December 2018 • DEER VALLEY TIMES
of construction of the third I-17 lane extending south from Black Canyon City. ADOT’s statewide construction program includes more than $100 million starting in 2021 to build I-17 “flex lanes” between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. Construction is expected to take two years. Flex lanes will operate as a separate two-lane system next to the existing I-17 southbound lanes between Black Canyon City and Sunset Point. Separated by barrier wall, the flex lanes will carry vehicles in one direction depending on traffic needs. These new lanes will provide
flexibility and additional traffic capacity at times when I-17 traffic is heaviest in one direction, including northbound on a Friday or southbound on a Sunday. The flex lanes, with gates or movable barriers at each end, also will help keep traffic moving if a crash or other incident has occurred on the steep, winding section of I-17 north of Black Canyon City. Driver behavior is the leading factor in crashes along I-17 in the Black Canyon City region. An ADOT analysis conducted for a recent safety project showed that “speed too fast for conditions” was cited by Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers in more than 40 percent of I-17 crashes in that area. deervalleytimes.com
