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January 16, 2022 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Teachers head calls CUSD virus policy frustrating CUSD disputes criticism of school safety plan, page 8 BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

As COVID-19 transmission levels continue to rise here, the head of the Chandler Education Association is calling the COVID-19 situation at CUSD schools a mess after the administration announced earlier this month unveiled new quarantine guidelines that allow some affected students to return to classrooms faster. Katie Nash, the president of CEA, said it’s disappointing because Chandler Unified School District officials did not even ask their group before announcing the changes two weeks ago. “It’s disappointing to not be asked about any of this,” she said. “‘Hey, Katie, are teachers going to be for this?’ No! They’re so frustrated.” CUSD, in an email to parents, announced some changes to its COVID protocols just as the number of cases are rising to levels not seen since January 2021. Like most of its neighboring districts,

except Tempe Union and Kyrene, CUSD is maintaining an optional mask policy. The county health department’s latest update on Jan. 13 showed CUSD transmission levels at the highest point since the pandemic began in March 2020. Cases per 100,000 people soared from 347 the previous week to a whopping 2,047 while positive new test results were at a record 40%. County data on vaccination rates, given only for ZIP codes, show the percentage of South Chandler residents who have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine varies between 54.8% in 85248 and 85286 to 64.5% in 85249. Chandler Unified's dashboard for active COVID cases among students and staff showed 264 infections out of a total 49,222 people. CUSD’s adjustment of quarantine protocols reflected changes in guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maricopa County Health Department. Unvaccinated, non-symptomatic students who had a close contact with someone who has tested positive have See

TEACHERS on page 13

Chandler’s new airport manager comes from an aviation family, and one of his big tasks will be to attract businesses to come and locate within the airport’s outer fence. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

New Chandler airport manager has high hopes BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler’s new airport manager jokes he had little choice in what career to pursue. “I grew up in a family, quite honestly,

if you didn’t like aviation, disownment was considered,” Ryan Reeves said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I live, eat, breathe aviation. It’s my favorite thing in the world outside of my family, See

AIRPORT on page 9

Chandler apartment complexes are selling at record prices BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

The birds are once again the word this March as the Ostrich Fest returns. (File photo)

After 2-year hiatus, Ostrich Fest plans a big return in March BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival was an hour away from starting in March 2020 when nearly the entire country came to a stop. “The President made the announcement an hour before we were supposed to open the gates. It was awful,” said Jamie LeVine, one of the owners of Steve LeVine Entertainment, which puts on the festival with the city and Chamber of Commerce. “Everything was completely set up,” LeVine recalled. “It was a sad time for

the city, all the vendors, and the performers. We literally set up the festival, just to have to take it all down. It was a sad time.” President Trump declared a national emergency because of the COVID-19, ending normalcy in America. The Ostrich Festival was just one of many activities canceled as the nation struggled to slow the spread of the deadly virus. Last year, the Chamber had considered holding the Ostrich Festival in fall. “We just didn’t feel like it was the right thing to do. We decided to wait. It See

OSTRICH on page 11

The rush by major investors to gobble up apartment complexes at eye-popping prices came to Chandler big time in recent months. Five Chandler complexes since August sold for twice to three times the price paid by their previous owners within as little as 13 months and no longer than six years, according to data compiled by the Valley real estate tracker vizzda.com. Those sales reflect an ongoing pattern by large real estate investment companies, whose interest has been piqued by steadily increasing rents in a tight housing market in Maricopa County, where thousands of out-of-state residents are coming to live. Throughout

the East Valley, eight- and nine-figure deals have been consummated within the past 12 months, data show. “There’s more money than ever betting that apartment rents are heading to new heights,” Bloomburg.com reported, citing a Real Capital Analytics report that investors spent $53 billion on multifamily real estate nationally in just the second quarter of 2021 alone. They and other experts also point to the fact that rent offers a steady longterm income stream largely unaffected by the economic fluctuations that impact the re-sale and new single-family market. The five recent mega-transactions for Chandler complexes included: • The October sale of the Greens See

F E AT U R E D STO R I E S Mesnard in short-term rental fight . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NEWS . . . . . . . . . . Page 21 Candy and beer together at new Chandler bar. . .BUSINESS . . . . . . . Page 28 These Chandler ladies mean business. . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . .Page 38 Get ready for the Chandler Film Fest . . . . . . . . . . . .GETOUT . . . . . . . Page 43

APARTMENTS on page 4 More News . . . . . . . . . 1-25 Clip-It . . . . . . . 26-27 Business . . . . . 28-32 Sports . . . . . . . 33-35 Neighbors . . . 39-42 GetOut. . . . . . 43-47 Faith . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Directory . . . . 49-50

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Resident’s chicken coop doesn’t fly with city Chandler has what “ they call a permissive BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

In the very early days of the pandemic, many people panicked. There were runs at the grocery store, making basic goods like toilet paper impossible to find. Grocery stores responded by limiting how many of some high-demand items people could buy. One of those was a limit of a dozen eggs per customer. That was a problem for Chandler resident Shannon Ellingson. “We eat a lot of eggs,” Ellingson said. “We normally eat three to four dozen a week. We have some food allergy issues, so we eat a lot of eggs.” That’s when she and her husband decided to get their own egg supply, figuring that if they built a coop in their backyard and filled it with a half dozen chickens, then they wouldn’t have to worry about eggs being rationed at grocery stores. Ellingson said they did their due diligence before beginning. They searched the city code to make sure there was no ordinance banning chickens in residential areas. When they couldn’t find any mention of chickens or poultry they moved forward. They also spoke with their neighbors, making sure no one had a problem with them raising chickens. The neighbors were 100 percent behind the idea. So, they spent about $3,000 in

Shannon Ellingson stands next to her empty chicken coop with her son Zane and daughter Afton. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

materials to build a chicken coop and then bought eight chickens that ended up producing about five to six eggs a day. Her husband supplied the labor. Everything worked out perfectly. “We didn’t want to make this big investment and then have to get rid of them, which is exactly what ended up happening,” Ellingson said. Ellingson got a notice in the mail telling her chickens are not allowed in residential areas in the city. “Chandler has what they call a per-

missive code and because under our zoning it doesn’t specifically say that you can have poultry or farm animals or anything because we’re not in an agricultural zone … if it doesn’t specifically say you can, then you can’t,” she said. That might change. Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke announced at the December council meeting the city plans to hold a public session this month to consider allowing chickens in residential areas. Ellingson said she hopes the city will

code and because under our zoning it doesn’t specifically say that you can have poultry or farm animals or anything because we’re not in an agricultural zone … if it doesn’t specifically say you can, then you can’t.

”

– Shannon Ellingson

do just that so she can fill up her coop once again. She said it’s not a cost-saving move, because it costs about the same to feed and house the chickens as it did to buy eggs at the store. However, she said there are other benefits. “The bug population on our property was way down,” Ellingson said. “We didn’t see hardly any scorpions the whole time we had them because See

CHICKEN on page 4

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APARTMENTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

from page 1

Apartments at 125 S. Alma School Road for $125.3 million – nearly three times the 2015 sale price of $46.2 million. That sale by the Phoenix-based Conam Group of Companies to Decron Properties of Los Angeles worked out to $186,250 for each of the 324 apartments spread out across 28 two-story buildings. • The September sale to Windemere Investments of Texas of the Soleil Apartments at 725 No. Dobson Road for $63 million – less than two years after the seller, 3rd Avenue Investments of Phoenix, bought the 188-apartments-turned-condo complex for $40 million. That represented a per-unit price of $335,106. • California-based Davlyn Investments’ Dec. 15 acquisition of the 280-unit Broadstone Trevio on S. Ellis Street for $114.4 million – more than twice the $47.5 million price that seller TruAmerica Multifamily paid for the 16-year-old complex in 2015. • The purchase by Scottsdale-based Private Portfolio Group and subsidiary Pillar Communities of the 116-townhouse complex called Villas at Chandler Heights last month for $55.1 million only three years after The Carte Group, the seller, bought it for half that price. • Last month’s sale of the Marquis at Chandler complex at 2200 W. Frye Road by Pacific Coast Capital Partners to Texas-based CWS Capital Partners for $150 million – 11 months after Pacific bought it for $95 million. That transaction represented a price of $441,176 for each of the Marquis complex’s 340 apartments that are spread across nine four-story buildings. Both Decron Properties and CWS Capital Partners are real estate investment management companies with similar financial objectives. CWS says on its website, “We seek investment opportunities with the primary objective of strong growth potential while maintaining preservation of capital.”

The Marquis at Chandler apartment complex on Frye Road sold last month for $150 million – 11 months after the seller paid $95 million for it. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Stressing that it is primarily a builder, Decron Properties states its development philosophy “blends land use, entitlement, and construction expertise with a vision that creates lasting value in real estate assets” as long-term investors in real estate. Chandler by far is not the only East Valley community where mega-deals involving apartment complexes have occurred in the last 12 months. Just across the I-10 from Chandler, Sares-Regis Group of Newport Beach, California, last month bought the 312unit Arboretum at South Mountain complex on Chandler Boeuilvard at I-10 for $118.3 million – far more than the $45.5 million it sold for in May 2016. Earlier last fall, Tides Equities of California sold a complex it bought four years ago for $47.2 million to another investment group for $137 million. The following day, Tides Equities bought two Mesa complexes for a total $217.5 million. Such transactions reflect what Bloomberg called a shift by real estate investors from offices, hotels and malls, which it said “fared poorly in the pandemic.” “The influx of money has pushed prices higher and forced private equity firms to behave like the aggressive

homebuyers in the frenzied housing market,” Bloomberg said. “Some investors are frustrated by current prices for apartment buildings. But many are raising their bids, waiving inspections and promising to close fast, with rising rents driving a flurry of deals.” It quoted one investment activist as stating: “That’s what happens in a white-hot market. Some of them will sharpen the pencil on the next one and get a little more aggressive because they need to deploy that capital.” According to a number of analysts, the interest in apartment complexes also is being fueled by soaring home prices that have especially impacted first-time homebuyers and aging baby boomers anxious to downsize. Large investors also aren’t just looking at apartment complexes for the long-term benefit of a steady revenue stream that rent delivers. The Cromford Report, which closely watches the Phoenix Metro housing market, noted that large investors also are buying single-family homes in bulk – and not turning them over for resale. Instead, the Cromford Report noted, “investors are extremely interested in purchasing single-family homes in Phoenix. The receipts from rents are rising faster than anywhere else in the country. “Rents are rising because there are more people wanting to rent than there are rental properties. Many families are starting to see single-family rentals as preferable to apartments or condo-style rentals. This effect is probably supported by living conditions during a pandemic. “While this continues, we can expect investor demand to remain robust, which in turn prevents the market cooling down as it would if ordinary home buyers were the only source of demand.” Manage Case, a company that manages apartment complexes, echoed that lure of rent for investors. “There is little to support any prediction other than rising rent prices,” it said. “Those hoping for a lull in the rising price trend will likely be disappointed.”

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CHICKEN

from page 3

they were eating all the bugs that the scorpions like.” And as anyone who has had farm fresh eggs will tell you, the taste is much better. “Obviously the fresher you can get any of your food, the better it’s going to be,” Ellingson said. Ellingson said she sold her eight chickens on a group website she belonged to. Her coop is still there but empty. A residential street is right next to her backyard and anyone can see into it through the chain-link fence. That’s how a city inspector discovered she had chickens and had to send her a citation. Ellingson said the inspector told her no one filed a complaint. She said if they had a block fence, or lived between two other houses,

chances are she would still have her chickens today. Her neighbors continued to support her owning chickens, she said. They would even help corral them when one would escape the back yard, which happened a couple of times before they clipped their wings. “People would stop by and look at them through the fence,” Ellingson said. “They’d ask how the chickens are doing. Nobody complained about it.” Rick Huemann, chair of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, says it’s too soon to know which way it might go. “It depends on what staff recommends,” he said. He said while Ellingson’s neighbors may have no issue with her raising hens, the neighbors two streets down may have a problem with one of their neighbors doing the same, especially if they

have a rooster, which is much nosier. Heumann said you have to set standards for everyone. The last time this came up was in 2013 and a proposal to allow a limited number of chickens in residential backyards was defeated on a 4-3 vote by council. Some of the 75 people who attended because of the topic were concerned about the smell and noise they say chickens generate. Heumann said this issue will only affect older, traditional neighborhoods, because most homeowner associations have rules against wildlife. Ellingson said she spoke with the mayor and a couple of councilmembers and is hopeful they might change the zoning. “A couple of the councilmembers came up and expressed their support, but whether or not that actually plays out in a vote, you know, who knows.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Developer sues Chandler over garage rent default BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

In a dispute that could cost taxpayers millions of dollars, the City of Chandler is being sued for failing to pay its rent of the parking garage at the Overstreet development at Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard. Developer DT Chandler’s lawyers filed the lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court in mid-October and City Council went into executive session on Monday to discuss how to deal with it. At the heart of the dispute is DT Chandler’s claim that the city did not exercise its option to buy the parking garage correctly. It says that option is now gone, and the city must pay rent as part of their lease agreement. The city wants to buy the garage for about $8.7 million. If the court sides with DT Chandler, then it would have to pay a little more than $65,000 a month in rent for the next 27 years – about $21.1 million over the life of the lease, DT Chandler claims. Under the terms of the lease, the city paid $26,250 a month for the first three years. The rent increases starting the fourth year. According to the lawsuit, the city had to notify DT Chandler it planned to exercise its option to purchase the garage for $8,690,351 in writing at least 30 days before the third year ended. DT Chandler said it was not notified until it received a letter on Aug. 27. It claims the city did not state it was ex-

The parking garage at the Overstreet development in downtown Chandler is the subject of a lawsuit filed against the city. (File photo)

ercising the option and that the letter was not sent to the escrow holder. It also claims the city did not provide the required $150,000 deposit to the escrow holder. And it claims that written notice of the city’s intent to exercise the option was due on or before Aug. 12, since the lease began on Sept. 11, 2018. DT Chandler argues the city failed to give the required notice, or take the required steps toward actually purchasing the garage, and therefore must pay the higher rent for the rest of the lease agreement, which was for 30 years. But the city not only has denied the charges, but also has countersued the

developer. The city contends that the lease “ represents only a portion of the overall dealings between the parties” and that the lease “must be read in conjunction with” development and option agreements. Besides, the city says, the document the plaintiff attached to the complaint “does not bear the stamp of a document recorded with the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office and which the City considers the official version of the document.” The City also notes that the pandemic was a major event that automatically extended the deadline for any action on Chandler’s part. It also says it offered the purchase

agreement “in the form required by the documents which DTC refused to execute” and that DT Chandler’s allegations “misstate the nature of the documents and imposes and assumes obligations not set forth in the documents. The City denies failing to comply the terms of the documents.” The City also disputes the calculations DT Chandler made in what it is owed, suggesting DT Chandler has over-simplified the whole matter. “The City acknowledges the dispute over the Option is one issue before the Court," the responses states. "However, that issue will also require the Court to resolve whether a valid, enforceable agreement exists between the parties, and …whether Plaintiff is a proper party to any agreement, whether it breached any contract that exists and the damages incurred by the City as a result of that breach. The City denies this dispute is capable of simple resolution with only a determination of the ‘option’ issue.” Chandler also filed a counterclaim against DT Chandler, contending it had already agreed to extend the deadline for exercising its option to October 2022 and that it had agreed on a sale price of $8.8 million, with rent payments going toward that purchase. It asks the court to rule that the city is the actual owner of the site or declare the lease escalation rate “unenforceable.” The case has been assigned to Superior Court Commissioner Richard Albrecht.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

CUSD disputes advocate’s school safety concerns BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Chandler Unified School District is rebutting what a spokesman called “some false or incomplete information” in a letter it received about its school safety protocols. Katey McPherson, a mother of four CUSD students and a well-known advocate for improved mental health services for young people, last month wrote the administration and Governing Board about her concerns in the aftermath of the fatal school shooting in Michigan in November and a subsequent school-shooter scare at a Michigan school district attended by her sister’s kids. McPherson expressed a number of concerns, including the “need to increase parent awareness around sharing, re-sharing and inciting more chaos during a potential lockdown.” In response, district spokesman Terry Locke said, “Our Community Relations team produced a video for the safety/security division School Emergency Protocols for Parents and Guardians. This parent response video was sent to parents and posted on the CUSD safety website. “It details the dangers of parents sharing misinformation and provides direction for parents during a critical incident, Locke said. The video is at cusd80.com/Domain/81. Locke also said the district “has initiated and implemented a Speak Up for Safety anonymous reporting program

Katey McPherson that has been in place for two years” and utilized at all grade levels and that cards were handed out to students that advertised that program. In addition, he said, “a service called Gaggle monitors students’ writing to look for key words such as suicide, alcohol, drugs, bullying, profanity, etc. School and district administrators are notified of anything concerning. Students and parents are contacted by administrators and/or counselors.” Locke said administrators last year “reviewed training video links divided into three age-appropriate videos to assist schools with options other than lockdowns to include barricading and when to flee” and that the video is on

the CUSD safety website. “All of our sites exercise evacuation drills in conjunction with law enforcement agencies,” he added. “Elementary schools are required to participate every two years.” Locke also disputed McPherson’s criticism of how regularly the district assesses every school’s infrastructure. Stating Chandler Unified is “one of few districts that have elementary campus security (ECS) officers assigned to their sites,” he said they “assist administrators with emergency plans and conduct daily walkthrough of sites. “Our sites’ infrastructure is reviewed not just periodically, but daily,” he said. “In addition, we had a comprehensive threat vulnerability assessment completed at all schools. These were hours-long assessments completed by law enforcement personnel. This project was very thorough, taking months to complete.” He also said administrators in 2019 took an eight-hour training course taught by Chandler police and firefighters. “Lauded as a unique and forward-thinking program that allows for open communication and collaboration,” the training covered “social media awareness, stop-the-bleed and CPR overview, what to expect with fire and law enforcement response," he said. "It proved to be a very comprehensive course and valuable to our administrators.” He also said the district has conducted a campaign that addresses "the con-

sequences of social media,” which also is on the district’s website. “The video interviews law enforcement who drive home the point of the possible actions of statements that be considered threatening in nature to others,” he said. Locke said safety plans for the entire district and individual schools “are reviewed and updated every year” and shared with public safety agencies in Queen Creek, Gilbert and Chandler – all homes to district schools. “Sites have School Safety Prevention and Assessment Team in place for an approach with multidisciplinary teams meeting to include counselors, security, administrators, nurses to discuss safety issues,” he said. In response to McPherson’s questions about whether the district has tried to assess the pandemic’s impact on student well-being and other safety and mental health issues by surveying and talking with students, Locke said: “We garner student feedback and are very cognizant to include their ideas and solutions. The counseling and social services department focuses on reaching out to groups of students at our high schools. Some of their feedback became a part of our student wellness initiative response. “All of CUSD student wellness pieces focus on prevention and on evidence-based curriculum,” he said, adding parents and staff are brought into education and training related to safety. See

SAFETY on page 15

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

AIRPORT

from page 1

and my kids are sick with it.” The city selected Reeves to be its airport manager, promoting him from airport business coordinator, a position he has held since 2019. Reeves said it was a natural progression for a kid who is the third generation of his family to work in aviation. Before that he was coordinator of the Buckeye Municipal Airport and general manager for Lux Air Jet Centers at Phoenix-Goodyear Airport. The 44-year-old Reeves said he’s received a lot of support since the announcement was made. “I’ve been choked up more times than I can count,” Reeves said. “You would think there’s something wrong with me. People have been saying the nicest things, and I’ve just been so welcomed. It’s overwhelming.” Reeves has a number of duties. He describes his job as being a bit of a tactician. “They make sure that the dreams of Council, the dreams of the city management at the airport getMARTHA fulfilled, but Thje city's Airport Master Plan blocks out land around the airport by its different current or intended uses. CLIPPER MAGAZINE Mail Week: 12/27/2021 NEESE FOR VON HANSON S at the same time make sure everybody (City of Chandler) roof Release Area: 02503-12-21 Tempe/Ahwatukee; MEATS SPIRIT 02763-12-21 Chandler-West/Gilbert stays the lines of federal regulapprove By:within 12/13/21 Account #: CL112232 ontact your Account Service Coordinator: Ad #: CL-5068359.INDD tions and state regs.” ly-opened Loop 202 has cut his travel fence. nesses can operate to support existing Brad Bass-Alex Richmond Martha Neese in Team: 2J One of his duties is to help bring time by more than half. He graduated Reeves said they have multiple aircraft,” Reeves said. “There’s seemingphone: 717-509-9495 phone: 480-917-2525 email: 2J@cmag.com new businesses that will setemail: upMarthaneese@aol.com shop from Eastern Illinios University and requests for proposals out and will ly a wait list for everything. We need fax: 480-917-2995 inside the airport’s outer fence. He said hangars for every make and model of earned a master’s degree from the Uniultimately let the market decide what there is a huge need for more hangars Gary Millslagleaircraft that can utilize this airport.” Sales Rep: businesses will be added to the airport. versity of Illinois. He is in the process of and service shops. earning a private pilot’s license, someBut he said he hopes to see more large There are 450 aircraft based at “What we need right now is simply thing both his grandfather and father hangars added. Chandler Municipal Airport. It has two ❑ more hangars,❑ not necessarily❑small Reeves lives in the West Valley and maintenance businesses and four flight hangars, but larger hangars where busiSee on page 11 commutes daily, saying the recentschools located inside of the facility’s

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

AIRPORT

from page 9

accomplished. The city has been trying to lengthen the runways at airport for a while. A previous City Council put in a mandate that any such project would have to be put before voters in a bond election. The city has tried twice – and it has been defeated twice. Reeves said it will take educating voters to get it passed. He said too many people think if the runways are longer, it will open the door for major passenger airlines – which he said is not true. “The runway can never be that long,”

OSTRICH

from page 1

was a collective decision with the city and the Chamber,” LeVine said. Two years later. life is poised to return to normal – and that includes the Ostrich Festival. “We decided to bring it back, bigger and better than ever,” LeVine said. This year’s Ostrich Festival is scheduled for two weekends for the first time, March 11-13 and March 17-20 at Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road. The festival pays tribute to the early days of Chandler when ostrich

Reeves said. “What we got now can take mid-size jets. If we lengthen it out to 5,550 feet, which is the longest we can get that southern runway, two things are interesting.” First, is that they can do it inside the existing fence, so no land needs to be acquired Second, he said, it won’t necessarily mean more airplanes, but it will lead to more cycles. That means the airplanes that are already using the field will be able to do so year-round. “Even some of our smaller aircraft, as we get into the heat of summer, hot air is thin air, so an airplane needs a longer runway to get off,” Reeves said. Reeves said some businesses that uti-

lize the airport have to be careful about how much weight they have on their planes to ensure they can take off on the shorter runways. Lengthening them will allow them to carry more weight. He also said shorter runways are costing the city money. Some business planes are forced to go to other airports. Reeves said the large passenger jets will continue to operate at Phoenix Sky Harbor and Mesa Gateway airports and will not be coming to Chandler. Reeves says Chandler is the 32nd busiest airport in the nation with about a quarter of million flights annually. The airport is still waiting on a final report from the National Transpor-

tation Safety Board about the fatal crash that took place at the airport in October. Reeves said air travel remains very safe. He said he is confident that they have excellent service from the Chandler and Gilbert fire departments. Reeves said they have been staging drills and says the response time has been very good. Reeves says one of the best aspects of his job is that the Chandler Airport is a fun place to work. “It is one of the best flying communities, not just in the state. I think it’s one of the best flying communities in the country,” Reeves said.

ranches existed. It began and drew between 250,000 and 300,000 people over three days. Now they’re expanding it to six days. The festival includes live entertainment, carnival rides, food, beverages and of course, ostriches. Country music star Walker Hayes is the featured performer for March 12. His hit “Fancy Like” was number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs list for four weeks. Also lined up is GRAMMY Award winning R&B singer Nelly. St. Patrick’s Day will fall during the festival and LeVine said special activities are being planned to take advantage of that.

She said the past two years have been rough, with no Ostrich Festival since 2019. She said the performers they are talking to about appearing are all excited to get in front of people again. “They’re very eager, very excited,” she said. “They’re very interested in coming to see what this Ostrich Festival is all about.” Admission is $20 for 13 and older, $15 for ages 4 to 12, and free for children 3 and younger. VIP tickets that include access to the front of stage viewing area and VIP tent are $100. The carnival rides will cost a dollar each, or visitors can purchase 25 tickets

for $23 or 80 tickets for $70. They also plan to offer unlimited ride wristbands. No price has been announced for those. For details as the gala event gets closer, check ostrichfestival.com. And as organizers continue to plan for this year’s bigger and better festival, COVID cases are once again spiking to record highs. “We’re still a few months away, we’re hoping that the numbers get under control,” LeVine said. “The entire thing is outside, and that is a positive component to this. We’re certainly watching and listening and seeing what other events are doing in the Valley and across the country.”

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NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Chandler first responders introduced their new ambulances last week. (City of Chandler)

Chandler deploys new fleet of ambulances BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

There are a lot of bells and whistles that are part of Chandler’s new ambulance fleet, but the most important attribute for the city is that there are more of them. “Because we’ve had so many struggles with ambulances, we knew that we’re growing and that we needed to grow our number of ambulances,” said Keith Hargis, the city’s assistant fire chief. “We also knew that backup ambulances are important.” Maricopa Ambulance replaces Amer-

ican Medical Response as the city’s private partner in providing ambulance service. It began serving the city on Friday. Under the previous contract, the city had five full-time ambulances with a surge to six during peak times. One ambulance was left in reserve, so it could replace another that needed maintenance. The new contract increases the total number of ambulances from seven to 10. Maricopa Ambulance will have six full-time ambulances and that number increases to seven during peak hours. “The equipment that’s supplied on

the ambulances is a huge win for us,” Hargis said. “It’s a win for the community, really. Having more ambulances on the road that can respond to medical calls and patients that are in need is critical for us. Not only to absorb the volume, but to increase the response time.” But perhaps the biggest improvement from the city’s standpoint is there will be three reserve ambulances. Hargis said under the old contract, the city only had one ambulance in reserve and that sometimes caused a strain. Hargis said if they needed additional reserve ambulances, they had to pull

from a shared supply. He said that was a problem because those reserve ambulances often rely on different communication systems, making them difficult to contact in the field. Hargis said all 10 ambulances will be using the same system that is compatible with Chandler Fire. The contract is for four years with options to renew for up to three additional years. Maricopa Ambulance has been around about five years and has grown quickly. In addition to Chandler, it currently is the ambulance provider See

AMBULANCE on page 15

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NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

TEACHERS

from page 1

a choice: quarantine for 10 days, return immediately if they wear a mask for 10 days or wear a mask for five days with a negative COVID-19 test. Students who are vaccinated can return to school immediately and masks are strongly recommended. Students are considered unvaccinated until proof is submitted. Students who have symptoms must still stay home for at least 24 hours. Any student who tests positive for the virus must still isolate at home for a minimum 10 days. But that time can be shortened under the new guidelines: While students must isolate at home for at least five days, they can return if they are showing no symptoms; have not had a fever for at least 24 hours and have not used fever-reducing medication. However, they must wear a mask for five days. “We are confident in the protocols we have in place as we know that students learn best when they are in school,” CUSD wrote parents. Most school districts in the Valley made similar adjustments to their quarantine policies, although the American Medical Association called the CDC's changes confusing and said it feared that they would make it easier for the virus to spread. Nash said the new guidelines are adding more stress to already overworked teachers. “It creates more tension in the classroom,” Nash said. “And it’s additional work for educators. We’re not supposed to enforce when they wear a mask.

"Typically, it’s the unvaccinated kids that are the ones that don’t want to wear a mask. And many of them are being told by their parents they don’t have to. It puts the kids in an awkward position as well. It’s just a mess.” Nash said teachers are already overwhelmed because of extra tutoring they’ve been asked to do to help students catch

up because they had been quarantined or lost ground during online learning. She also said a mandatory mask policy would be welcome. Last month, Vanessa Lopez Delgado, a teacher at Seton Catholic Preparatory, died from COVID-19. Nash said she didn’t know about it until told by a reporter. “This woman died and it never even

crossed my radar,” she said. “Last year when we lost a teacher it was everywhere. This year it’s like a speed bump in the road, and it shouldn’t be like that. “Are people still worried? Yes. I think people have a false sense of hope. It feels like COVID has taken a backseat to trying to return to normal. People are going to have to pay attention.”

Community steps up to help as CUSD teacher subs BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

On the first day of the new term, Chandler Unified School District’s top administrators headed back to school, ready to step in and teach a class if needed because of a shortage of substitute teachers. Among them was Superintendent Frank Narducci. “Actually, I’m available to sub,” Narducci said. “We stopped in at our high-risk schools to see if there was any help needed.” The district used social media to appeal to parents, putting out a call for parents to apply for sub positions and increasing the daily pay from $115 to $145. It worked. “I want to thank our community, because they have turned in over 10 applications to ESI [Educational Services Inc.], who works with the hiring of our substitute teachers,” Narducci said

t? o G ws Ne

during Wednesday’s CUSD Governing Board meeting. “When we were at 43, Dr. [Wendy] Nance was told by ESI, that that was the most applications they ever got for one school district. When we hit 100, they said, ‘What are you guys doing out there?’” Nance, the assistant superintendent in charge of human resources, said the shortage was severe, but that CUSD still had it better than other districts in the area. “Since we came back from winter break we’re probably averaging about 10 percent,” Nance said. That means about 500 to 550 teachers out. The high came on Monday with about 600 out. Nance says they typically are able to fill about 92 percent of that with substitute teachers. However, with the current spread of COVID-19 that number dropped to the low 80s. “But we were still higher than our neighbors,” Nance said. “We just divide and conquer: if there’s any school that

was hit particularly hard, our departments are willing to go in and assist them.” Katie Nash, who is president of the Chandler Education Association, said part of the problem is some substitute teachers don’t feel safe stepping into a classroom during a pandemic. “We have a number of substitutes who don’t want to come in because the case counts are too high,” she said. “What are we going to do when we have so many staff out?” Nash said adding to the stress teachers are already under are new guidelines adopted based on county health and CDC recommendations that allow students back into the classroom quicker after exposure to the coronavirus or testing positive. She said in addition to everything else, they are now supposed to act as enforcer and keep track of which students must wear a mask. During Wednesday’s meeting, Narducci stressed that the recent uptick in cases did not start in the schools.

“It’s important to understand, it’s community spread that’s impacting schools. It’s not school spread that’s impacting our community.” After the meeting Narducci said as bad as the substitute teacher shortage is in the district, it’s much worse elsewhere. “We have a very high fill rate, about 90 percent average,” Narducci said. “Our fill rate is pretty high compared to other districts. There’s some districts that might have a 47 percent fill rate, so it’s very hard for them to do that. So, we’re blessed. The people who recently filled out an application to substitute teach will have to submit their fingerprints and go through a background check before they can start working. “I’m just overwhelmed with the number of people who showed support to come in to sub,” he said. “That’s just amazing to get a hundred more applications in, and these are applications and not just inquiries to sub in our school district. It’s just fantastic.

Contact Paul C Contact Paul P l Maryniak Maryniak M y i k at at 480-898-5647 480 898 5647 or or pmaryniak@timespublications.com p pmaryniak@timespublications.com pmaryniak@timespublications y i k@ i p bli i com

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Around Chandler S. Chandler couple found dead in suspected murder-suicide

Chandler Police say they found the bodies of 76-year-old Sheldon Butler and 74-year-old Linda Butler inside their south Chandler home. Officers say they received a phone call from Sheldon at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. He reportedly told them he had shot his wife. There was no response at the door when police arrived at their home. They entered and found the bodies, both with a single gunshot wound. Detectives say no motive is known and are considering this a murder-suicide. The investigation continues.

EMD Electronics to invest $28 million into Chandler

Chandler’s Economic Development Department announced EMD Electronics plans to invest $28 million and bring 100 jobs to the city. The firm plans to build a new factory near the Chandler Airport to make equipment for its delivery systems and services division. The company is part of the North American Electronics business of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany. It intends to capture and grow its chemical and gas delivery systems in North America and Europe. The company expects to begin operations at its new factory by the end of this year.

2 Chandler restaurants raise money on Betty White’s birthday

Two Chandler restaurants are raising money for actress Betty White’s favorite cause on what would have been her 100th birthday. Ginger Monkey Gastropub and BLD say they will donate 15 percent of all food sales during specific hours on Monday, Jan. 17, to East Side Elves, which will use the funds to buy toys and enrichment items for animal shelters in Maricopa County. Anyone bringing in something for a shelter (blankets, treats) will receive a free Betty White birthday cupcake. Ginger Monkey Gastropub is at 135 W. Ocotillo Road and is doing the fundraiser between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. BLD is at 1920 W. Germann Road and will be holding its fundraiser between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Chandler city manager fills out his top leadership team City Manager Josh Wright filled out his leadership team to close out 2021, naming named Tadd Wille as the new assistant city manager and Andy Bass as deputy city manager. “Both Tadd and Andy stood out for their professional experience, knowledge, approachability and commitment to Chandler among an exceptionally talented candidate pool,” Wright said. “Their diverse municipal leadership experience will enhance our capabilities

to provide outstanding quality and value through the services and programs offered for Chandler residents and businesses.” Wille replaces Debra Stapleton, who is retiring in February. Bass is filling the role Wright had when he was named the city manager last year. Wille is currently the deputy city manager for Tacoma, Washington, and oversees several city departments. Bass is Chandler’s community services director and oversees the library and recreation/aquatics, park operations and park development divisions. He will continue in that role until a replacement is hired.

National Haitian American officials coming to Chandler

The National Haitian American Elected Officials Network is planning to hold its annual retreat in Chandler at the end of this month. Councilwoman Christine Ellis is a member of the group, which will meet Jan. 28-31 at the Marriot Phoenix Chandler. The group has been meeting annually since 2009 to discuss ways to improve relations between the United States and Haiti.

Councilman Stewart appointed to national panel on technology Chandler Councilmember Mark Stewart has been appointed to the National League of Cities information

technology and communications federal advocacy committee for this year. He’s being asked to provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s advocacy agenda. Stewart just finished his one-year term as the city’s vice mayor.

Cajun Festival coming to A.J. Chandler Park next month

Angry Crab Shack and Forty8 Live! plan to help Chandler residents have a small taste of Mardi Gras with a Southwest Cajun Fest planned for Feb. 26. It will take place from 2 to 9 p.m. at A.J. Chandler Park. In addition to seafood, there will also be entertainment, a live alligator petting zoo, jugglers and brass marching bands. Tickets are $12 online and $20 at the door. Children 12 and younger are free. Admission price does not include food or beverages. The money raised will be donated to Greater Cause Foundation, which raises funds for a number of Arizona charities.

Devorah Hadassah off to a big start, seeks members

The Devorah Hadassah Chapter is inviting East Valley women to join them in the club’s activities. Interested women can contact Eliana Bar Shalom at ebarshalom.eb@gmail.com. The group will have a general meeting online at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 26 with Dr. Craig Scharf of LifeQuest Physical MedSee

AROUND on page 15

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NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

AROUND

Around Chandler from page 14

icine and Rehab speaking about healthy and pain-free aging. You are invited to a Zoom Register at hadassah-org.zoom. us/meeting/register/tZAvduGorjIiEtTPHQ6HwrXYh1v Fg7XEn2uG

LOOK Brewing Company to stage its grand opening this week

The brewery inside the LOOK DineIn Cinemas at 1 W. Chandler Blvd., will hold its grand opening at 6 p.m., Jan. 20. LOOK had never included a brewery inside of their previous cinemas but when it bought the former Flix Brewhouse location, inherited one.

SAFETY

from page 8

“The safety of our community is of utmost importance,” he said. “CUSD recognizes that staff, students, law enforcement and the community as a whole has important roles to play in this effort.” McPherson fired back at Locke’s letter, which contained many specifics that were not part of CUSD Superintendent Frank Narducci’s initial response to her letter last month. “My email asked for an ongoing social media awareness campaign not a video … from three years ago that no one knows about. How are they addressing the impact that social media has on safety? They did not even respond to the TikTok challenge threat to their teachers.” McPherson also said that Locke made no mention of her question on whether children have been trained “in how to run, hide, fight” like her nieces in Michigan. “So they did a one-time assessment of threat,” McPherson said. “I asked if the admin conducted this every year as suggested by Steve Dieu of Chandler PD and other national experts. So the an-

AMBULANCE

from page 12

to Scottsdale, Surprise, Glendale and Goodyear. “We really find that we have a niche with the fire departments in helping them bring to life the model of EMS service that they want that’s a public-private partnership,” said Alan Smith, who is Maricopa Ambulance’s west region president. The company expects to transport between 80,000 to 100,000 patients this year. The ambulance service does not cost the city anything. Maricopa Ambulance will reimburse the city for the cost of accessing the 9-1-1 system; it will also cover the costs of the city’s EMS personnel who use the ambulance; and it will pay rent to be stationed at the city’s fire stations. Maricopa Ambulance will pay the city about $2.5 million annually to provide service to Chandler. Rates will not change for patients because ambulance prices are regulated by the state. Amanda Shell Jennings, the director of marketing for Maricopa Ambulance,

Owners could not open the brewery when the cinema opened in October because they had not acquired a liquor license at that point. LOOK hired Flix’s head brewer, Marisa Bernal, to the same position.

Sun Lakes Improv troupe says its next show is already a sell-out

It didn’t take long for Sun Lakes Community Theatyre’s Comedy Improve Troupe to sell tickets. Tickets for the Feb. 5 show at Sun lakes Country Club went on sale Jan. 3 and were gone by Jan. 10. The troupe said disappointed ticket seekers can expect a new show to be announced soon. swer is no. I have never seen an elementary security guard doing walk throughs, by the way and I was a PTO mom. I have seen them patrolling at night.” She also noted that while Locke said training ahd been conducted for administrators for eight hours in 2019, “I asked if there was yearly training conducted. He said eight hours in 2019. So the answer is no.” McPherson also said there was no mention of student-driven committees and that “no committee exists for pandemic related student input” or any avenue for input for K-8 students. “I would like to know which evidence-based curriculum they are using,” she added. “He can’t even name the programs because they don’t have any.” “He did not address my main concern: are you continuously assessing kids for risk and if so, how? Do you have behavioral health teams at each campus? if so, who trained them and what model are you using?” McPherson said. Asked if any governing board members had responded to her email, which had gone to them as well last month, McPherson said only one briefly replied.

said the company is proud it was able to custom-build 10 new ambulances and deliver them despite the current supply shortages being experienced around the world. And they each come with those bells and whistles. First is a Lucas 3 automated chest compression device that can give patients CPR, freeing up a paramedic if needed. “We had our arms, and our bodies, we did it the old-fashioned way,” Hargis said of how ambulances operated before adding the Lucas 3. “We’re good at it, but we’re human like everyone else and we fatigue and get tired.” Another first is each ambulance is equipped with ultra-violent lights to help kill any virus. Hargis said they relied on foggers before this new fleet. Each ambulance will also come equipped with gear for most hazardous situations. “If this unit happens to be first on the scene of a heart attack, we have all capability to address that,” Hargis said. “If it’s a car accident, we can initiate command. If it’s a house fire, we can start the process of actually doing something to mitigate that hazard.”

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As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms. The main problem is that your doctor has told you to just live with the problem or try the drugs which you don’t like taking because they make you feel uncomfortable. There is now a facility right here in Mesa that offers you hope without taking those endless drugs with serious side effects. (See the special neuropathy severity examination at the end of this article) In order to effectively

The treatment to increase blood flow, stimulate small nerve fibers and get you back to health is our new $50,000.00 SANEXAS UNIT! In addition, we use a stateof-the-art diagnostics like the TM Flow diagnostic unit to accurately determine the increase in blood flow and a small skin biopsy to accurately determine the increase in small nerve fibers! The Sanexas electric cell signaling system delivers energy to the affected area of your body at varying wavelengths, including both low-frequency and middlefrequency signals. It also uses amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) signaling. During a treatment session, the Sanexas system automatically changes to simultaneously deliver AM and FM electric cell signal energy. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT SANEXAS IS COVERED BY MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCE! Depending

Aspen Medical will be offering this chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination from now until January 31, 2022. Call 480-274-3157 to make an appointment to determine if your chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated. Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this FREE consultation offer to the first 15 callers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL Call 480-274-3157 … NOW! We are extremely busy and if your call goes to our voicemail, please leave a message and we will get back to you asap.

480-274-3157 4540 E Baseline Rd., Suite 119 Mesa Az 85206

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Chandler’s population soared in last decade BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Arizona added nearly 109,000 new residents last year, but Chandler got only a slim portion of them. Gilbert’s population last year grew by a measly 1.1%, according to recent figures from the state Office of Economic Opportunity. But the city’s population soared between 2011 and 2021, rising by 17.8%. That increase is not nearly as big as the increase in neighboring Queen Creek’s population, which grew by a whopping 144.8% in that 10-year period and 9% in the past year. The figures also show the state grew at a rate of 1.5% between June 30, 2020, and a year later. That’s how the agency tracks annual growth. And the more than 860,000 new residents in the past decade amounted to a 13.4% increase. The newcomers were picky and choosy about where in the state they decided to live. So where did a lot of them go? Think about areas near the state’s major population center, but far enough away to have houses that are affordable. And since growth for Phoenix to the immediate south is blocked by the Gila River Indian Community, that left Pinal

AREA POPULATION CHANGES Community

2021 population

Change since 2020

Change since 2011

Apache Junction Chandler Gilbert Maricopa Mesa Phoenix Queen Creek Scottsdale Tempe Maricopa County Arizona

39,009' 280,189 273,796 61,109 510,792 1,630,195 66,275 243,528 181,548 4,507,419 7,825,370

1.1% 1.1% 1.9% 4.2% 1.1% 1.2% 9.0% 0.7% 0.8% 1.6% 1.5%

8.0% 17.8% 29.1% 38.2% 15.5% 12.2% 144.8% 12.0% 12.3% 17.3% 13.4%

- Source: Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity County communities of Coolidge and Eloy at 7.1% and 5.3% respectively. The desire for affordable homes also boosted the population of Casa Grande by 4.3% and Maricopa by 4.2%. Florence probably should have been in that list somewhere. But the official tally shows that community actually lost close to 1,600 residents over a 12-month period, making it the community with the greatest percentage loss at 6.2%. What’s behind that, though, has little to do with the desirability of the community. Jim Quang, the state demographer, said it has to do largely with the fact there are fewer people in

the custody of the state Department of Corrections there. Population in the Eyeman and Florence units went from 9,031 in June of 2020 to 7,796 a year later. And the trend continues, with the most recent inmate count at the two facilities now below 7,500. Anchor cities are growing slower than the rest of the state. Phoenix added about 19,000 residents, but only enough to post a 1.2% year-over-year increase. Mesa grew at 1.1% annually and land-locked Tempe – like Scottsdale – was pretty much where it was a year earlier. At the other end of the area, Glendale added just under 1,900 residents,

a 0.7% increase. But nearby Peoria, stretching much further out and with room to grow, managed to post a 1.9% growth rate, increasing to 3.8% for even farther out Surprise. Pima County lags not just Maricopa County but the statewide average. And the key according to George Hammond of the Eller College of Business at the University of Arizona is how the economy is built. “Tucson is just a less dynamic economy,’’ he said, heavily reliant on jobs in federal, state and local government. “We just have a lot more of that. And it’s just not a growth industry.’’ There is a plus side to all that. Hammond said it tends to make the economy less susceptible to wild swings. But he also said that geography plays a role in economic development. Hammond said as firms look to locate or expand in Arizona, the Phoenix area is “just more of a draw,’’ with things like much better airport connections. Elsewhere around the state, Prescott Valley continues to grow more rapidly than Prescott, at 2.1% versus 1.8%. But even those were outstripped by a 3.1% population increase in Clarkdale and 2.4% in Chino Valley, though Cottonwood grew by just 1.1% Sedona posted a 1.0% growth rate. And Flagstaff actually lost 345 residents, translating to a 0.4% loss.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Chandler pastor earns city MLK Achievement Award BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Pastor Victor Hardy was at a comic book convention interviewing “Ghostbusters” star Ernie Hudson and thought he was the one asking the questions. Not so. When the interview ended, it was Hudson’s turn. “He looked at me, and he said, ‘What are you doing for the African American people in your neighborhood?’ And I went, ‘ah, dah, dah, dah.’” Hardy has done enough since then to earn recognition, something he received on Friday as he was given the MLK Lifetime Achievement Award by the city in an event organized by Councilmembers OD Harris and Christine Ellis. “The only thing I can think of, is I’m only 60 years old,” Hardy said. “Lifetime achievement? I don’t think so,” he said with a laugh. “That’s what went through my mind.” Hardy, pastor of the Congregational Church of the Valley in Chandler for six years, founded the Chandler Men of Action, which hosts an annual banquet to honor African-American men. “Pastor Hardy has been in our community for 20-plus years,” Harris said. “He has been a community leader, he’s been an advocate, he’s been a spiritual parent to so many people and he has just been a pillar in the community.” Another member of Chandler City Council, Mark Stewart, attends Hardy’s church. “He’s my pastor, first of all, but sec-

work anymore. Family needed to eat. All these different things that kept happening in my life, and I wound up in this church.” The Chandler Men of Action has been around for a decade. Hardy said he got the idea for a banquet because he was going to a lot of other banquets that recognized other groups. He would see only two other African Americans, the same ones, Pastor Victor Hardy of the Congregational Church of the Valley at every banquet. He said when he in Chandler was honored last week with the MLK Lifetime first proposed the idea, Achievement Award from the city. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) he ran into people who told him he’d never pull it off. He pushed to get ond of all he’s been a friend,” Stewart the city involved, and they were able to said. “He’s been a stalwart of our community for years. His impact as it relates pull it together in about six months. “The only way we could get it done, to Martin Luther King’s dream, has been really and truly, was for it to look like incredible for Chandler.” Hardy never envisioned this path for a man did it,” Hardy said. “Not all the flowers, and not all the glitz and glamhimself, however. Though he grew up our. This was a man’s banquet. We’re in a family of pastors and ministers, he wanted to be a singer, possibly headlin- going to eat, and we’re going to give somebody an award, and that’s it.” ing a show in Las Vegas. The dinner honored former Chan“God said, ‘This is what you will do,’” dler Mayor Coy Payne, the first AfriHardy said. “And I ran from God. Truly ran. can-American mayor in Arizona. I didn’t want to have anything to do with “Somebody told me the only thing what He wanted me to do. All of a sudden, you did was to take a hundred men everything else closed down. Couldn’t

out to dinner. Fantastic, that’s what we wanted to do. Everybody came out, they had a good time. I was prouder of that than anything.” His moment to enjoy what he accomplished didn’t last long. “Then the vice mayor got up, and I thought that maybe we’ll just do it once, no. ‘Thank you all for coming to the annual African American banquet …’ and I’m looking at him like, ‘you said annual what? What is your problem?’” Harris said in keeping with King’s dream, the inaugural class of Chandler’s MLK award recipients includes people of all races who have shown they deserve it based on their character. Here is the first class of the city’s MLK honorees: Kiana Sears, Monique Hughes, Amya Rodriguez, Laura Capello, Ernest Clark Jr., Jaylen Jones, Michael Bankston, Juanita Encinas, Angel Encinas, Michael Franklin, Shawn Mitchell, Dr. Bill Crawford, Cianna Kirksey, Dr. Adama Sallu, Faith Johnson, Julia Peixoto-Peters, Lisa Grayer, Ashlee Atkins, Keasha Beach, Crystal Blackwell, Shelby Pedersen, Terri Kimble, Brian Fox, Cristian Brantley, Bardo Brantley, Derek Kennard, and Nzinga Lyakaremye. Hardy said he didn’t set out for this kind of recognition. “Somebody once told me, ‘the only thing you need to do is to make things better in the corner of the world where you live,” Hardy said. “And that’s what I’m trying to do. Not trying, that’s what we’re doing.” SCAN FOR

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

ADOT chief forecasts early end to some I-10 work SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski has good news and bad news for Chandler motorists who commute on I-10 to Phoenix for work – and those who go at all to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The good news doesn’t take as long and it applies to work on the I-10 eastbound lanes between Baseline Road and the Santan Loop 202 Freeway: “We anticipate the work in this area to be completed two years earlier than much of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project – in 2022 rather than in 2024.” “ADOT saw value for our customers in working to complete construction on eastbound I-10 between Baseline Road and Chandler Boulevard early in the project,” Halikowski explained. “So, we worked with the developer team that is designing and building the project to make it happen.” “The primary work along eastbound I-10 between Baseline Road and Chandler Boulevard is widening on the outside to provide another travel lane,” he added. “Crews will work behind the concrete barrier, limiting the need for restrictions or closures that impact drivers. In terms of highway construction, it is relatively “easy” work; yet the payoff for thousands of motorists is tremendous.”

Now for the bad news: “The I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project will be highly impactful in other areas of I-10, the US 60 (Superstition Freeway) and State Route 143.” Besides widening I-10 to six general purpose lanes and two high-occupancy-vehicle, or HOV, lanes in each direction between US 60 and I-17 and adding a fourth general purpose lane in each direction between Ray Road and US 60, the project includes: • Adding collector-distributor roads that parallel I-10 between Baseline Road and 40th Street to separate through-traffic on I-10 from local traffic entering or exiting the highway. Unlike frontage roads along portions of the existing freeway system, these CD roads will not intersect with perpendicular roads. • Rebuilding the I-10 interchange with SR 143 to improve traffic flow and create direct connections to and from SR 143 for drivers in the I-10 HOV lanes. This part of the project will reduce lane changes and often hair-raising weaving between Interstate 10 in the Broadway Curve and on State Route 143 at University Drive. When work is completed, drivers on westbound I-10 will exit I-10 near Baseline Road and use the CD roads to access northbound SR 143 and reach the airport. The entire SR 143 and I-10 interchange will be replaced by ramps that make a direct connection for drivers from the

general and HOV lanes and eliminates the existing cloverleaf ramp that connects southbound SR 143 with eastbound I-10. • Razing and replacing the Broadway Road bridge over I-10; • Replacing the 48th Street bridges over I-10 and widening the I-10 bridges over the Salt River; • Installing a wrong-way driver detection system with thermal cameras, flashing signs and other specialized equipment that ties into ADOT’s intelligent transportation system. Some 50 interruptions in traffic will be involved over the next two years

and that while ADOT officials have said they’ll try to limit those to evenings and weekends, that won’t always be possible. That’s why they’re urging motorists to subscribe to traffic alerts and updates through a project app called The Curve and get familiiar with their special website for the project, i10BroadwayCurve.com as well as #StayAheadOfTheCurve on Instagram. That’s particularly true if you’re picking up anyone at Sky Harbor – or taking a flight yourself, since interruptions on SR 143 will inevitably also impacvt traffic on the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway at times.

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This map shows the outline and scope of the I-10 Broadway Curve Project, which also will have ramifications for anyone using Sky Harbor Airport. (ADOT)

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Pandemic improved employment for the disabled BY MEGAN NEWSHAM Cronkite News

The pandemic has depressed employment all over the world, but for those living with a disability, employment challenges were a reality long before COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. have some type of disability, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, only 17.9% of people with a disability were employed, down from 19.3% the previous year. But the increase in remote work, prompted by office closures during the pandemic, has the potential to improve the employment rates for millions of people living with a disability. Tools for remote work, including Zoom, Slack and Google Docs, are designed to be accessible for all. Jason Clement, who works remotely, is the vice president of the Aetna One Advocate program, but his professional and personal journey came with profound challenges. “With my particular eye disorder, it’s degenerative, so it slowly gets progressively worse as you get older and older,” said Clement, who was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder in which the retina breaks down over the

Jason Clement, vice president of the Aetna One Advocate program, was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder where the retina gradually breaks down over many years. He only has 3% of his vision remaining. (Megan Newsham/Cronkite News)

years. He began noticing his poor eyesight about the time he entered kindergarten. “I grew up playing sports, I drove, I did all of those things, and then … as my vision got worse, I would find a sport that had a larger ball that I could see a bit better,” Clement said, joking. While working on a degree in communication and business administration at Arizona State University, Clement married and started a family. He graduated in 1996, and by age 22, he no longer could drive because of his vision. But he got jobs at MCI Communications, Nike and now Aetna One, which is owned by CVS Health. “I remember I used to work really hard to hide my disability, and people could always tell something was off, but they were never quite sure what was off,” Clement said. He had to travel for work, which was difficult as he navigated airports and new destinations, but he learned to adapt. With just 3% of his vision remaining, he’ll soon need a guide dog to get around. But he’s managed to stay positive, find success in work and navigate hardships. However, this isn’t the case for many people living with disabilities who struggle to find professional opportunities willing to make accommodations. According to the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the U.S. employment rate for graduates of four-year colleges is 89.9%. For college

graduates with disabilities, that rate is just 50.6%. April Reed, vice president of advocacy for Ability360, works with people to learn how to live with their disability and ultimately find work. Ability 360 is a Valley nonprofit with offices in Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties that provides programs for people with disabilities to help them become more independent. “Fifty-one percent of our staff and our board and our management are people with disabilities,” Reed said. “Disability is a natural part of life, and there isn’t a reason to feel ashamed.” The organization works with individuals on everyday tasks, such as how to wake up on time using an alarm clock, sending polite emails and ultimately figuring out what they want to do in life. But Reed said the responsibility doesn’t solely lie with the individuals. Her goal is to educate the community, especially employers that people with disabilities understand the value of work and the independence that comes with it. Clement knows people with disabilities can get the job done just as proficiently, they just may go about doing it differently. “I use speech readers that read what’s on my computer screen; I use the reader on my mobile phone,” he said. “When I have asked for help from employers they have been more than willing to help.”

Nonprofit uses motorcycles to help veterans heal BY RUDY CAVAZOS Cronkite News

For some veterans, searching for help can prove difficult and unsuccessful. But the nonprofit Operation Restoring Veteran Hope is reaching veterans on a number of levels, from healing retreats to services outreach to helping them bond over motorcycles. The operation was started by Ray Perez and Sandra Topete, who saw the need for a support system for veterans like themselves. Perez experienced incarceration, homelessness and drug addiction, and he wanted to help fellow veterans experiencing similar issues in their lives. “It’s to help inspire our brothers and sisters that are struggling with addiction, homelessness, incarceration. … I myself have been through the struggle. After getting out of the military, I struggled with all of the above,” said Perez, who is president of the organization. The organization is all about hope: the hope that recovery is possible and veterans can once again be themselves. Services are free for veterans and funded mostly through partnerships and donations. “We help out veterans that are struggling with addiction; suicidal ideations; those coming out of prison, out of jail, out of rehabilitation programs,” Perez said. The organization provides annual healing retreats, community and family activities and workshops, and access to mental health care and treatments for addiction. The retreats are held near Mormon Lake south of Flagstaff. Donation drives and other events take place at operation headquarters, known as

One of the offerings of Operation Restoring Veteran Hope is Trenches II Wrenches, in which vets bond while building, repairing and restoring motorcycles, while learning a skill. (Rudy Cavazos/Cronkite News)

the Bunker. It also serves as a place for veterans to come together, share life experiences and heal together. “You’ve gone through some of the same stuff,” said veteran William Turner, who’s part of Operation Restoring Veteran Hope, which he calls “a brotherhood that helps out.” “Trenches II Wrenches,” a workshop held at the Bunker, is a way for veterans to bond and grow through the building, repairing and restoring of motorcycles. Perez said veterans can bond and heal by “bending wrenches and building brotherhood,” although vets of all gen-

ders are welcome. Recently, veteran Joe Lucero was working on a Harley-Davidson engine. Lucero started going to Trenches II Wrenches and the Mormon Lake retreats around the time the nonprofit was established in 2018. He volunteers at the Bunker and Trenches II Wrenches a few times per week. “I’m in, I want to learn this, and it gives me a reason to get up in the morning and come do something productive – something I enjoy – and it keeps me enthused about doing things,” Lucero said. Veteran Todd Rhodes, who is experiencing homelessness and has been

using the operation’s resources since mid-August, said he appreciates the opportunity and support Operation Restoring Veteran Hope has brought him. It “helps bring your self-esteem,” he said, adding that Perez has “been able to help us, get us clothes. If you need food or something, he opens up his doors for you.” Perez can get emotional about his work: “Being able to help the veteran community in the capacity that we do is unexplainable in my eyes, in my heart, It’s priceless.” Veterans who need help can reach the organization through its website, orvh.net.

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Chandler senator takes stand in short-term rental fight BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Some Republican lawmakers want to revisit and repeal the 2016 measure that stripped local governments of their ability to regulate short-term and vacation rentals but Chandler Sen. J.D. Mesnard wants a less radical measure. Rep. Walt Blackman of Snowflake said the legislation pushed by Airbnb and its other companies and supported by Gov. Doug Ducey has had a serious negative effect on neighborhoods. He has introduced HB 2069 to put the law back the way it was before. Sen. Wendy Rogers of Flagstaff has identical legislation in SB 1026. The move will get a fight – and not only from the companies that benefit from being clearinghouses for people to rent out everything from individual rooms to entire homes. Mesnard plans to introduce a less-comprehensive measure which gives cities and counties some control over issues like noise and other violations. He said that should help address the perennial complaints of “party houses’’ popping up in residential areas. But Blackman said those efforts fall short of what is needed to ensure that homes in neighborhoods are not turned into de facto hotels. The measure was sold to lawmakers as allowing individuals to rent out a spare room to make a bit of extra cash. In fact, that’s how Airbnb got its names, the idea being an air mattress set up for a guest.

“For thousands of hardworking citizens, opening up their homes to outof-state guests provides the financial breathing room they need to provide for the family or enjoy extra expenses that they otherwise couldn’t afford,’’ Ducey said in signing the bill. But the reality turned out to be something quite different. In some communities, homes and apartments in entire areas have been bought up by investors to be converted into these short-term rentals, drying up the availability of affordable housing for local residents and converting whole areas into vacation rental zones -- possibilities that Ducey dismissed in 2016 as “hypotheticals.’’ By 2019, however, the governor conceded there were “some unintended consequences’’ in the law. That resulted in some amendments allowing cities to issue some public safety regulations, like requiring owners to provide a contact for who could respond to complaints and prohibiting rentals from being used for special events like weddings. Blackman said these are local issues and none of the business of state lawmakers. Mesnard, however, sees the question from a different perspective. First, he said, it will create “a mish-mash of regulations’’ among cities. And, he said, leaving these decisions to mayors and council members will “trample on property rights,’’ meaning the ability of individuals to use their homes in a way they want and make money by renting them out. Blackman said the property rights

For thousands of “ hardworking citizens,

opening up their homes to out-of-state guests provides the financial breathing room they need to provide for the family or enjoy extra expenses that they otherwise couldn’t afford.

’’

– Gov. Doug Ducey

that are at issue here are those of the people living in the neighborhood, which is why these questions are best handled by local officials. Mesnard said he sees the big complaint being those “party houses.’’ And he said there are ways to address that. Last year, for example, he proposed allowing communities to impose fines on owners who fail to provide information for police and others to contact them if there are problems with the tenants. The measure also would have let cities mandate minimum liability insurance. Potentially more significant, it would have meant an owner would lose a state license to do business following three violations of local ordinances within

three months, violations that could include noise or nuisance complaints. It failed. “It feels like that issue of party houses is being used to try to do more than just address party houses,’’ Mesnard said. And he said he would be open to further tweaks in the future to maintain that balance between the rights of individual property owners and the neighbors. “But they want to take a sledge hammer to the thing,’’ Mesnard said, rescinding all limits on what cities can and cannot forbid. “I’m not going to support that.’’ The problem is not limited to party houses. During hearings last year there was testimony about investors creating de facto hotels in residential neighborhoods, dividing up homes into multiple rooms being rented out by the night. And then there’s the question of drying up the supply of affordable housing. There have been estimates that up to 40% of residential properties in tourist destinations like Sedona are now vacation rentals. And Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, who voted against the 2016 law, said it also is happening in places like Scottsdale. Unsurprisingly, Airbnb is opposed to what Blackman and Rogers want and instead supports the more limited restrictions in the Mesnard bill, arguing that anything more would harm the tourism economy. No date has been set for a hearing on any of the proposals.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

State’s gambling revenue share falls short of expectations BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Arizonans bet nearly $780 million in the first two months that the state allowed gambling on sporting events and that translated to just slightly more than $1 million in state revenues. That’s because of a provision in the law has the state effectively financing free games to entice people to gamble. And if the pattern doesn’t change, the state will wind up with far less than the $100 million a year in new revenues that proponents were claiming. Moreover, revenue sharing from the tribal casinos, which until this past fall had a monopoly on gaming, was less than $21.5 million for the last three months of 2021. The Department of Gaming reports that is 32 percent less than from the same period a year earlier. Max Hartgraves, spokesman for the agency, acknowledged the numbers – and the fact that the 2020 legislation built in five years’ worth of what amount to credits the gaming industry can use to offset what they owe the state. But he said the low net revenue numbers are likely to be only temporary. “It’s basically to jump-start the market in the state,’’ he said of the deductions the gaming companies can take. Gubernatorial press aide C.J. Karamargin agreed. “These numbers are going to go up,’’ he told Capitol Media Services. And he boasted of Arizona already having the

This rendering illustrates FanDuel's plans for its sportsbook at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. (Courtesy FanDuel)

fifth highest “handle’’ of wagers in the entire country. But that has so far not translated into actual dollars into state coffers – the prime reason behind the legislation. Newly legalized fantasy sports – wagering on made-up teams of real players – also has not taken off, with the state collecting only about $24,000 in gaming taxes in its first two months. The new reports are the first since Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation in August allowing the sports franchises that are being given licenses to take bets on professional and college games to give away free samples. As adopted, the franchises or the outside firms they hire to run their gaming operations can provide free bets or promotional credits.

But the key is the law says these operators can reduce what they report in the amount used to compute what they owe the state by up to 20% for each of the first two years they are in business to compensate them for those free bets. That drops to 15% in the third year of gaming and 10% in years four and five. After that, write-offs are not allowed. In September, the state reported $291.2 million in gross wagers, virtually all of that placed on phones and other mobile apps. The companies paid out $258.9 million in winnings, leaving them with $31.6 million in net wagers. But the companies also took $31.2 million in “promotional credits,’’ leaving them with about $392,000 subject to

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the state tax of 8% on in-person bets and 10% on mobile – or just $31,393 owed to the state. It got somewhat better in October, with $486.1 million in wagers. But here, too, after deducting the promotional credits, that left $10.4 million in net revenues – and slightly more than $1 million for the state Karamargin, however, preferred to focus on the gross handle rather than what wound up in state coffers. He said the Arizona numbers are incredible, given that Nevada, in that same month, had $1.2 billion in gaming handle. Rep. Jeff Weninger, R-Chandler, who was the sponsor of the House version of the legislation, said the numbers showing the level of gaming are a positive sign. “It shows there’s clearly demand,’’ he said. “People of Arizona are responding and are embracing this.’’ So if there is all that interest, does the state need to incentivize enticements for people to gamble? Yes, said Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, the sponsor of the Senate version. “I’m likening it to a store offering a holiday sale or something like that,’’ he said. “You need to entice people into the door to get them interested in doing something that they may have never done before.’’ Weninger had his own explanation. “What it’s really geared for is enticing the existing illegal bettors to come over to these platforms, to bring them into the legal fold,’’ he said. Weninger said the companies that operate the sports wagering will voluntarily begin to scale back their giveaways and enticements once Arizonans are in the habit of betting on sports. “You saw a big drop from September to October,’’ said Weninger, with the amount of credits taken dropping from $31.2 million to $26 million. It’s no different, he said, with how he operates his own restaurants, providing incentives to get new customers that aren’t necessary after they become regulars. Anyway, Weninger said, it would be wrong to look at the benefits of legalized sports gaming based solely on the tax on net profits of the wagering companies, even after the promotion deductions. “I believe there’s a lot of indirect revenue that comes through this, through economic development, through lots of tourism,’’ Weninger said. And that, he said, doesn’t count all the money that TV stations in Arizona are making from the blizzard of commercials promoting gambling and the free wagers. The numbers do not include the initial $14 million in licensing fees for the operations plus the $3 million a year the state expects to get in renewals. Weninger said he was not surprised that tribal gaming numbers are down. He said it reflects the fact that slot machines, keno and blackjack tables require physical presence. “You have to be masked up the entire time you’re in there,’’ Weninger said. “So I’m sure COVID is affecting that somewhat right now, and has been.’’

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

ASU awards special MLK honor to professor BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

It’s been 53 years since the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and the societal change he fought and prayed for seems as much a dream now as it did in 1969. But as his birthday is commemorated Monday, the countless individuals who have continued his legacy haven’t given up his fight – people like Dr. Neal Lester. Lester, Foundation Professor of English at Arizona State University and founder director of its Project Humanities, will be recognized for his work Jan. 20 as the first recipient of ASU’s new MLK Jr. Faculty Servant-Leadership Award. As ASU noted in announcing the award, “Lester’s work not only connects communities, but gives a voice to those who feel marginalized.” He told ASU he was gratified and humbled by the award, which was announced late last year in what was a big 10th anniversary year for his Project Humanities, whose mission is to “bring together individuals and communities, within and around Arizona State University, to instill passion and knowledge of humanities study, research, and humanist thought. “By exploring shared ideas and experiences, Project Humanities facilitates conversations across diverse communities to build understanding through talking, listening, and connecting.” In 2021, Project Humanities received the MLK Diversity Award in Education from the City of Tempe in January and the ASU Committee for Campus Inclusion Catalyst Award for “inspiring and igniting transformation and inclusion.” The culminating anniversary event was a conversation between Lester and King’s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King, about her family’s legacy and her and the King Center’s global effort for nonviolent social change. “This all feels cosmically connected,” Lester told ASU. Lester has been as busy as the cosmos in making connections as he strives to apply the principles that Project Humanities terms “Humanity 101”: compassion, integrity, respect, kindness, forgiveness, empathy and self-reflection. Those principles, he said, “challenge us to do better and be better people.” Lester has built a wide variety of programs and activities around his

Left: Ahwatukee resident Dr. Neal Lester will receive Arizona State University’s inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Faculty Servant-Leadership Award as part of the annual MLK Jr. celebration by the university, where he has been Foundation Professor of English since 1997. (Courtesy ASU) Right: Dr. Neal Lester surveys clothing items that his Service Saturdays volunteers neatly lay out for people experiencing homelessness at the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix. Rather than blindly hand them out, the items are arranged so people can pick and choose their items. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

conviction that “culture and difference must be acknowledged, valued and celebrated as elements of our shared humanity.” “While I get great joy witnessing my students’ “aha!” moments in class…I experience another level of joy when – sometimes years later – they express to me that they see connections between texts we’ve explored and their own lives, and particularly the world around them,” he told ASU. Often it doesn’t take years. For example, last month a 16-yearold boy who told his family to help him celebrate his birthday by volunteering at the Human Servicers Campus in downtown Phoenix Dec. 11 to participate in Project Humanities’ biweekly Service Saturdays. There, people who are experiencing homelessness have a chance to pick out clothing and hygiene items that Project Humanities volunteers have neatly laid out so that recipients can pick and choose what they want – almost as they would in a department store. Nuanced actions like that make the recipients feel valued as human beings, and, as Lester noted, “so much of homelessness is about people being denied their humanity.”

And they reflect Lester’s feelings about “poverty porn” – images, for example, of impoverished people often used by organizations to pull the heart strings of donors so they open their wallets. “While it may be well-intentioned,” Lester said, “it denies other people their dignity and their humanity. …It does nothing to make you see these individuals as human and worthy of something that feels like quality. You’re always above them and they always need your help. And it brings up something we used to call – we still call – that sort of white savior mentality.” It explains why he bristles when people without a home are referred to as “the homeless” rather than “people who are experiencing homelessness.” “It’s a way of thinking and if you care about language and you care about people’s humanity and you know something about this population, then you know that it’s not an identity that you’re born into, that homelessness is something that can change, depending on your circumstances,” Lester explained. With part of the nation preparing to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr., it’s only natural to ask Lester if society is more divided or less so today. “I think our society has always been

divided,” Lester replied, explaining that what has changed is people’s access to that division through the 24/7 news cycle and “different ways of communicating” – particularly social media.” “We’ve always had sex discrimination. And we’ve always had homophobia. We’ve always had racism,” he said, “and the interesting thing is how technology has allowed us to witness that on multiple sides very quickly.” He refers to his conversations with Bernice King about how some people say her father advocated color-blindness. “Well, that’s not true. There’s nothing in the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech that says we shouldn’t see difference. In fact, he calls difference out. He says there are some people who live in this nation who are not getting the rights that everybody else is getting. And another instance he talks about there’s a group of folks who have the opportunity and those who don’t.” “There is a way in which he did acknowledge difference,” Lester said. “Acknowledging difference doesn’t mean you have to deny people their humanity. So, I think every year, we get an opportunity to renew our commitment to what that dream was. But we got to look at the dream as not sugar-coated.”

Project Humanities planning more initiatives SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Dr. Neal Lester isn’t resting on any laurels that Project Humanities has garnered in the last 10 years. As the Arizona State University program enters its second decade, Lester is planning initiatives for “talking, listening and connecting” that include but go beyond events, homeless outreach, keynotes, podcast discussions, inter-

views, hackathons and film screenings. Currently select students are participating in a new Undergraduate Research Ambassador Program that tasks them with a project focused on a specific social justice issue while studying under the mentorship of an Arizona State University faculty member. “Students will present their findings at an Ambassador Expo event set to

occur in June 2022,” Lester said with topics that will include “gender-specific pandemic burnout, decreased African/Latinx enrollment in higher education, refugee mental health on ASU’s campus” and other subjects. Lester also is working on a special 10th Anniversary Viewbook that will showcase “the Humanity 101 principles of compassion, empathy, forgive-

ness, integrity, kindness, respect, and self-reflection in action throughout Project Humanities history.” Project Humanities also is working with PBS Indie Lens Pop-Up to present screenings of four films with related panel discussions: Missing in Brooks County, Writing with Fire, Apart, and Try Harder! Information: projecthumanities. asu.edu/events.

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Gov. Doug Ducey gave his final State of the State address to the Legislature on Jan. 10 as it opened its 2022 session. (Capitol Media Services)

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Election changes, water high on Legislature’s agenda BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Lawmakers returned to the Capitol last week with a full agenda of things they want, ranging from reenacting what the Supreme Court voided to deciding what to do about previously approved tax cuts that are subject to voter repeal. But the biggest fights may be over how much to alter state election laws. And at least some of the proposals stem from the continued charges that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump despite numerous lawsuits and audits that have shown those claims have no basis in fact. A few of what lawmakers are expected to debate could be considered relatively innocuous, at least on the surface. For example, Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, proposes to make the dates of the primary and general elections a state holiday. That would mean a day off for public workers. The plan, however, could run into business opposition because the same measure says anyone registered to vote “may be absent from the service or employment’’ to go vote and cannot be penalized or having his or her pay docked. By contrast, current law allows just a three-hour window selected by the employer. But Rogers would also set up a new Bureau of Elections within the governor’s office to investigate any allegations of fraud in any state, county or local election. That new $5 million agency would have the power to not only subpoena individuals but also get a court order to impound election equipment and re-

cords. It would issue public reports but would be unable on its own to bring criminal charges. There also will be debates over the actual process of how people vote. Arizona already uses paper ballots. But they are tallied by machines. House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, brushed aside calls to have ballots counted entirely by hand as impractical. “If we’ve got seven months to wait for an election, then count away,’’ he said. “Most people want it in a relatively short amount of time. And that’s what I’m interested in delivering.” But Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, who will head the Government Committee that handles election issues disagrees. Meanwhile, Gov. Doug Ducey and Arizona lawmakers appear finally ready to act on a more permanent solution to the fact that it’s hotter and dryer and there just isn’t enough water to sustain the state’s growth. And that could involve not only the state spending far more money than it has before but some creative solutions, ranging from piping and treating salt water from the Sea of Cortez to what is commonly known as “toilet to tap.’’ The consensus comes as prior efforts to stabilize Arizona’s water supply have come up short – by a lot. Facing a diminished supply of Colorado River water, lawmakers in 2019 adopted a “drought contingency plan’’ requiring Arizona and other states in the lower Colorado River basin to reduce the amount of water being taken from the river in an attempt to restore the level of Lake Mead to 1,090 feet. Even Ducey conceded at the time See

LEG on page 25

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

LEG

from page 24

that was just a temporary solution, designed to preclude further cuts until 2026, by which time there would be new plans. As of this past week, however, the lake had dropped to less than 1,070 feet. That’s less than 200 feet above the point at which no water would pass through Hoover Dam, cutting off not just that supply but also the electricity the dam generates. Arizona has enacted some other short-term fixes, like renting the river allocations that belong to Arizona tribes, convincing them not to use their Colorado River allocations to keep Lake Mead from dropping any further. That included a $30 million infusion just this past October, on top of $40 million already provided to the Department of Water Resources for the same purpose. But as hot temperatures and dry conditions continue, further action will be necessary. “You can expect some big things on water,’’ Ducey told Capitol Media Services. House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, said he envisions something more than the stop-gap measures of the past. “Water is the determiner of growth in Arizona,’’ he said. At the very least, what a new supply would do, said Bowers, is protect rural Arizona. He noted that some urban communities are looking around for water supplies elsewhere as they seek to continue to grow. “I don’t want to empty every aquifer in Arizona to build the central three counties and then not have anything,’’ Bowers said. More to the point, the House speaker said the state needs a really long-term solution. “I’m looking at more than 100 years,’’ he said. And that means tapping a source that is going to be around and available for that long. “The biggest body of water, while it is controlled by Mother Nature, at least it’s a slower impact, is the ocean,’’ Bowers said. “And so, desalinization is a huge part of our future.’’ Tom Buschatzke, head of the Department of Water Resources, has said the price tag could be perhaps $2,500 an acre-foot, about 0.7 cents per gallon. And even if the political issues of international water transfer could be resolved, he said that kind of project is seven to 10 years away. Bowers said he is prepared to introduce legislation to allocate “a substantive amount of money.’’ How much? “Much bigger than anything I’ve ever asked for,’’ he said, declining right now to put a dollar figure on it. Agriculture uses 75% of all the water in the state. Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, said she doesn’t want to impair the industry. But she said there needs to be a recognition that may not be sustainable. A starting point, said Fann, are the current practices of flood irrigation: opening up a canal gate and letting the water run onto the property. That, she

said, no longer makes sense. She wants to look at using some of the state’s surplus to provide grants to farmers to convert to drip irrigation. Fann said test projects on two 500-acre parcels show that water use can be cut by 25% without harming crops. That leads to the other key option: If there isn’t a new supply and if conservation efforts don’t work, then it comes down to better using what the state already has. Put another way, today’s sewage becomes tomorrow’s drinking water. Buschatzke acknowledged the “ick factor’’ that may conjure up. So it comes down to rebranding. “We don’t call it ‘toilet to tap,’ ‘’ he said. “We call it ‘direct potable reuse.’ ‘’ Bowers said it comes down to convincing people that this is not something unusual. “We do it now,’’ he said. “We stick toilet water, A-plus water, in the ground at Granite Reef Underground Storage Project and pull it out in Tempe,’’ Bowers said. “I mean, it’s the

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same water.’’ What happens in between, he said, is a chemical and physical reaction. “There’s stuff in the ground that eats bad stuff,’’ Bowers said. And he said it’s no different whether you use a natural filter like the earth or one that’s made by humans. In fact, he noted, it’s how the astronauts keep their water supply. Buschatzke said there is a plan for Arizona and Nevada to pay California to start using its own sewage, now dumped into the Pacific Ocean, for drinking water. In turn, California would leave more of its allocation in the Colorado River, helping to stabilize the level of Lake Mead. There are other water-related issues for lawmakers to consider, like forcing those in rural areas to actually monitor and report how much they are pumping out of the ground. That, in turn, leads to another controversial issue: Out-of-state and foreign interests effectively exporting Arizona water. That most visibly has taken the form of a Saudi Arabian dairy buying a farm and pumping water to grow alfalfa which is then exported to feed cows in that country. But Bowers said it would be wrong to think of that as somehow stealing Arizona’s water. He said it’s no different than farmers here growing cotton to be exported to the rest of the country. Or, looking at it another way, Arizonans eating tomatoes that were grown with water from Mexico.

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Chandler Strip mall king sells 5 shopping centers BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Commercial real estate baron Michael Pollack is reaping the benefits of one of the best markets in 15 years. His company, Michael A. Pollack Real Estate Investments, sold five of his Valley shopping centers for more than $32 million. “It has been very good for us for the last three years,” said Pollack, who is one of the largest commercial real estate owners in Chandler. “Anyone who wants to sell right now, it’s a sellers market, just like it is for anyone looking to sell a home.” Pollack sold retail centers in Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix and Tempe. He said they worked hard to wrap up all five transactions before 2021 ended because he is uncertain what the federal government might do this year with the capital gains tax rate. “Hopefully, the federal government doesn’t do something irrational,” he said. Pollack said he’s been working for more than a decade to make sure his retail centers continue to thrive in a changing marketplace. He called them “Amazon-resistant,” saying they have focused on businesses that offer experiences or services. “You can’t get a haircut at Amazon,” he said.

Michael Pollack, seen here in his recently renovated Pollack Tempe Cinemas, sold five of his shopping centers last year. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Pollack said they will look to buy more retail centers but, considering how hot the market is right now, they might wait. “It’s a little too hot to be a buyer,” he said. “We would love to put capital out right now, but we’re also realists. It’s a very hot market, not just in sales but the leasing side is on fire like I haven’t seen since 2006.” He said 2006 was the peak before this current market. Pollack said he cur-

rently has occupancy rates in the high 90 to 100 percent. He’s even had some of his tenants ask about a wait list for any openings he has. “I haven’t seen it this way in a long time,” he said. Pollack said his strong numbers shows there is still space for retail centers despite the growth of online shopping. He said the biggest trouble facing retail today is not Amazon, it’s

the inability to find workers. He said he knows of businesses looking to expand, but they can’t because they can’t find the workers. The retail centers he sold are Trailside Center and Lindsay Marketplace in Mesa; Tower Plaza in Phoenix; Olive Plaza in Peoria; and Apache Central Center in Tempe. Pollack said his company follows the same model. They look for retail centers that have an issue, such as poor occupancy, tenant issues or just needs major remodeling. Those centers usually come with a discount. They then invest in the centers and fix whatever issues they have. The Tempe property, Apache Central Center, was sold to the City of Tempe for $10.6 million. He said the city plans to redevelop it into a mixed-use center that has retail on the ground level and housing for working class and low-income residents above. Lindsay Marketplace went for the highest amount, $11.2 million. Pollack’s company had owned it since 1993. He owned the other Mesa and Phoenix properties for nearly 30 years. His company bought the Peoria property in 2003. “This business is ever evolving, ever changing” Pollack said. “Anyone who thinks it’s easy, that you can buy a center and lease it out to the local T-shirt shop, well, they won’t be in it for long. You have to a have a specialty, you have to do a niche.”

State’s first candyland-bar opens in Chandler BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Zabdi Hess said it wasn’t hard coming up with the inspiration for a new kind of tap room. She and her husband Kyle have a three-year-old child. “We wanted something different,” Zabdi said. “There’s lots of tap rooms in the area, but we wanted to stand out, and offer different pairings with candy and beer.” So that’s how she came up with the idea to open The Sugar Bar at Warner and McQueen roads in Chandler. It’s Arizona’s first bar and candy store. It’s a family-friendly place where a couple can bring their children. While they are sampling craft beers, the kids can eat candy or select one of the board games to play. “Outside of downtown Chandler and downtown Gilbert, between them there’s not much in terms of craft beer availability,” Kyle said. “We did our demographic research too, and around here there’s a ton of that 30-to-45 year range, … one or two kids, so that family demographic that we’re looking for.” The Sugar Bar opened in early December and Kyle said they’ve been very happy with the turnout. “It’s been awesome man,” Kyle said.

Above: Zabdi and Kyle Hess have opened The Sugar Bar at Warner and McQueen roads in Chandler. It’s Arizona’s first bar and candy store. Right: The family-friendly Sugar Bar is a place where adults can bring their kids to eat candy or play games while they enjoy some craft beers. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

“We’ve been busy pretty much every day. Mondays and Tuesdays are a little

slower, per the usual, but every weekend is busy.” Before opening their combination bar and candy shop, Kyle worked in digital marketing and Zabdi was a teacher. They admit changing fields during a pandemic and with a young child was a challenge. “It was definitely a risk, for sure,” Kyle said. “But we felt confident enough in a lot of the research we had done, and the overall market for it.” They began forming the company at the start of 2021, when hopes were high that the vaccine would soon allow people to socialize again. By summer they had selected the location and began getting their shop ready to open. And just a few weeks after the Dec. 2 opening, COVID cases are hitting record highs as the Omicron variant spread. “Everything was looking like it would be OK,” Kyle said. “Obviously, that’s taken a weird turn.” See

SUGAR on page 29

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Inﬂation requires better retirement planning BY HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

Inflation is accelerating in America. Recent data shows that the producer price index (a wholesale prices measure) in November 2021 increased by 9.6% over the previous 12 months, the largest gain on record. Case study: Joe and Susan Boomer are 60 and are not sure when they will retire. Many of their retired friends who are 1020 years older than them are now very frightened by the current high inflation. This is forcing Joe and Susan to rethink their retirement plans and investment strategies. Assume that inflation will average 6% over the next 10 years. Facts: Joe and Susan, currently, have total wages of $150,000 and $10,000 of investment income. They pay a total of $11,475 of Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes and $22,000 total income taxes. They save $30,000 per year and invest it.

SUGAR

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Patrons can bring their own food to The Sugar Bar. That’s because the food options inside are limited, mostly to

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They have saved $1 million of financial assets and have no debts at all. They hope to be able to spend $120,000 per year in retirement and expect to live until 92. They have no pensions and their combined Social Security if taken at age 62 would be $35,000 annually vs. $70,000 if taken at age 70. According to moneychimp.com, the compound annual growth rate in the S&P 500 Index has been 4.57% in the 21year period starting Jan. 1, 2000. When one adds dividends of 2.02% the gross is 6.59%. If one subtracts a future 6% inflation rate, the net return would be 0.59% before annual Wall Street fees. Even if they invest only in super lowfee Vanguard index funds, their projected net return would be zero. Note that if you loan to Uncle Sam by buying a 30-year US Treasury Bond, the current interest yield is 1.91%. Using $35,000 from Social Security taken at age 62 (most take it at 62) plus an assumed average 3% cost-of-living increases for eight years, that equals

$44,337 annual Social Security income at age 70. One would add their $1 million times 2% return = $20,000 annually. One would add their $30,000 of annual savings for 10 years = $300,000 more saved times 2% return, which gives them an extra $6,000 of income. Now total retirement income is $70,337, which is only 59% of their desired $120,000 retirement income. However, with 6% annual inflation for the next 10 years, they would need $214,902 annual income in 10 years to buy what $120,000 will buy today. Their $70,337 retirement income will be only 33% of what is needed and retirement looks grim. Inflation means they need three times their projected income to retire as planned! Different plan: They take Social Security at age 70 and it’s $80,000 a year, counting cost-of-living increases. They deposit $700,000 in a private pension plan at age 60 and it generates $70,000 a year at age 70. They invest $70,000 annually in solar equipment that saves them $20,000 a year in taxes and has a

10% return. Using a financial calculator: PMT = $70,000; I = 10% return; N = 10 years; and FV (Future Value) = $1,227,181. At age 70, 7% ($1,227,181) = $85,903. Now total retirement income is$235,903 and allows them to spend more than what they planned on, even with high inflation for the next 10 years. They will still have some extra financial assets left over for emergencies. Conclusion: Continued high inflation requires innovative retirement planning. Live seminar: For a discussion on “Double Your Retirement Income and Slash Your Taxes! At 10 a.m. Jan. 29 at Hyatt Place, 3535 W. Chandler Blvd. Chandler, and a free lunch at 12:15 p.m. catered by La Madeleine French Café, RSVP or schedule a free consultation by contacting Dr. Harold Wong at 480-7060177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. His website is drharoldwong.com. Dr. Harold Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/ Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

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“Obviously our dark beers pair really well with chocolate, we have a lot of sour beers that pair well with our gummies and sour candies.” Above all, however, was Kyle and Zabdi wanted a place for families.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

At 31, Ahwatukee Carpets still going strong BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA Contributor

For more than 30 years, the family-owned Ahwatukee Carpets has been known for their wide selection of flooring and carpets, whether installed or for the DIYers. And during that period, the owners have continued to expand their offerings to include a wealth of products for the home or business. As the company begins its 31st year, Traci Tartaglio – who calls herself “a designer at heart”– remains at the helm, making Ahwatukee Carpets one of the longest running women-owned businesses in the village. “Living in Ahwatukee, raising my daughter Bailee, and running a small business here was challenging, but it also allowed me to interact with thousands of my neighbors, customers, friends and community leaders through the years,” said Tartaglio. With her signature blonde tresses and wide smile, Tartagloi is often recognized and greeted when dining out or shopping locally. “Actually, I don’t like to be in front of the camera, but years ago someone advised me to use my photo in my ads, so I did. This was before it became a trend. And it surprised me that it did get me business,” she laughed. When speaking about Tartaglio with her customers and cohorts, they invariably use the same descriptive phrases: honest, reliable, dedicated, charitable and extremely hardworking. Tartaglio admitted all are apt – and intended. Her work ethic, a family trait she said she gained from her father who started the business in 1991, has seen her through some tough years. Those included making her way in what was traditionally a man’s domain; weathering economic and, more recently, pandemic hardships; and the birthing and bringing up of her daughter who graduated from Seton Catholic High School in 2015 and the University

Traci Tartaglio has owned Ahwatukee Carpets for more than 30 years, building it into a region-wide business (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

spaces, farmhouse styling and black and white decor,” recalled Tartaglio. “Fast forward 30 years and I’ve seen some of these same decorating trends come full circle and enjoy renewed popularity. And while carpet and tile are still popular, especially in bedrooms and bathrooms, other forms of flooring like luxury vinyl plank, hardwood, and laminate have grown in popularity over the years.” Tartaglio describes herself as “a designer at heart” and her showroom evinces that. “We’ve not only restyled our showroom to include all the popular flooring types, but we’ve expanded the business into countertops, area rugs, baseboards, fireplace makeovers, custom baths and curbless showers,” she said. Curbless showers? “Due to our aging population, curbless showers are one of my favorite projects, and I tell people I already have one so when my time comes, my family can wheel me in and hose me down,” she said with a hearty laugh. Even during economic downturns, she resolved to give back to the community. Even as her busienss ahs acquired a Valley-wide reputation, she remains active as a community volunteer, supporting projects to help those less fortunate. Among her many charitable involvements have been the National Charity League/Ahwatukee chapter, Ahwatukee Rainmakers, the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA, Kyrene Family Resource Center, Chandler Christian Community Center, Seton Catholic Prep, Girls Rule Traci Tartaglio frequently redesigns the showroom for Ahwatukee Carpets to keep customers apprised of Foundation and Valley the latest trends. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) of San Diego in 2019 and is now a talent acquisition advisor for Boeing. Ahwatukee Carpets first opened its doors at 48th Street and Warner before relocating in 2003 to their present spacious showroom at 15215 S. 48th St., a deliberate decision made by Tartaglio to provide greater accessibility to the entire East Valley. At its 2,500-square-foot showroom, customers are invited to take their shoes off and “feel the difference.” The showroom is regularly redesigned by Tartaglio – a three-decade practice of updating offerings to not only keep up with the styles but stay ahead of trends. From the beginning, she said, both anticipating flooring and decorating trends combined with purposeful attention to customer service, has helped the business thrive. “It was the 90s, and some of the design trends of the time included light wood floors, pastel accent walls, mauve and hunter green color tones, white kitchens, minimalist Zen bathroom

Big Brothers and Big Sisters where she signed on to be a Big Sister after her daughter headed to college. “One of my favorite organizations is the Tempe Union Workbridge program. I’ve had the honor of offering jobs to several students and I have to say I’m not sure who gets more out of the opportunity,” she said. “I’ve always believed it’s important to give back to our communities which support us and other small businesses.” Tartaglio has also been involved with various business and networking organizations, often serving on committees with the Ahwatukee Chamber of Commerce, which honored her with a Business of the Year award. Posted on her office walls are awards including multiple Ahwatukee Foothill News “Best Of’ winnings as determined by the newspaper’s readers. Among those awards were Best Decor Store and Best Home Improvement/Remodeling. Tartaglio said she’s proud to say her business has enjoyed many repeat customers. “According to the flooring industry, the average homeowner updates their flooring every seven to 10 years. We have families who updated their flooring in the 90s who’ve come back again and again,” she said, admitting she’s redecorated several homes multiple times in the past decades as trends, lifestyle changes and new products have come and gone. Adriana Estrada and her husband Andres Londono are among those who have regularly updated their Ahwatukee home of 15 years. “We’ve had great experience with Traci and Ahwatukee Carpets since we moved into our home. We’ve used them quite a few times as we like to decorate and update in stages,” said Estrada, a project manager for a health and wellness company. She described how after the family’s dog passed away, the couple opted to continue their wood flooring from their bedrooms to the front of their house. See

CARPET on page 31

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

CARPET

from page 30

“There was a three-year difference, and her contractor made sure the flooring in the whole house was seamless with the same pattern and flow we had in our bedroom,” she said. “Another time we placed tile in our main bathroom and after two weeks we noticed a problem with the seam and our door. Traci sent people out right away and they fixed it. She is very reliable and honest in every sense of the word. ..I go to her every time and I’ve never been disappointed.” WestUSA Realtor and 27-year Ahwatukee resident Lisa Miguel said in her 17

years in business, she has often recommended Ahwatukee Carpets to clients. “Traci has worked with both my home seller clients to help get their homes ready to list as well as with my buyer clients who’ve recently purchased homes, and the feedback has always been super positive,” said Miguel. “She’s my ‘go-to flooring gal’ because her service is so personalized and she’s very responsive which is not something you can count on with a large chain. Traci goes the extra mile by offering suggestions for flooring color, style and price point which my clients really appreciate, and so do I.” Tartaglio said providing buyers with exceptional guidance, selection and

customer service is key to Ahwatukee Carpets continued success. “Whether you’re a business owner or a homeowner, you can rely on Ahwatukee Carpets to perform service that’s a cut above the rest. Doing what’s best for the customer is always our highest priority, which is why we’re not satisfied with your flooring job until you are,” she said. “Many of our clients have moved to other parts of the Valley and yet still prefer to do business with Ahwatukee Carpets.” Commercial projects are a growing concern at Ahwatukee Carpets. “We’re licensed to handle commercial projects as well as residential,” explained Tartaglio. “We have a variety

of options including commercial carpet and luxury vinyl plank or LVP. Our commercial installations include churches, dental offices, business complexes and tenant improvements.” Also available at Ahwatukee Carpets are made-to-order designer area rugs. “We can bind or serge any carpet to any shape or size. Area rugs finish a room with its warmth much like accessorizing an outfit,” she said. “With vaulted ceilings and surround sound, an area rug will help absorb sound, making the space more pleasant.” Ahwatukee Carpets is licensed, bonded and insured. Information: AhwatukeeCarpets.com or speak with designers at 480-598-9811.

Healthcare company with local office rebrands SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A Pinal County healthcare company that is expanding into Maricopa County with several centers, including one in Chandler, has rebranded. Sun Life Family Health Center is now Sun Life Health. “As we transition to our new brand over the next two years, we plan to continuously innovate our healthcare, expand our footprint, and above all else, focus on our patient’s health,” said Dr.

Eddie Estrada, CEO at Sun Life Health. Sun Life Health started in 1976 with one doctor’s office and two physicians into one of Pinal County’s largest primary care providers. It now has clinics as well in Apache Junction, Maricopa and at 655 S. Dobson Road, Chandler. It serves 42,000 patients, 25% of whom are children. The new branding, which includes a new logo, stresses Sun Health’s patient-centered care and emphasizes that “anyone who walks through the

door is empowered and supported to start their health journey at Sun Life Health,” the company said in a release. Sun Life Health has coordinated care, where doctors create a personalized health care plan that meets individual needs. It offers pediatrics and dentistry to women’s health to onsite lab testing, pharmacies, telehealth, and more. They offer same-day visits and same-day appointments as well as integrated care that focuses on the whole person,

including education on prevention and chronic condition support. A coordinated team of medical, dental, and integrated behavioral health providers addresses the whole person, empowering their patients to live their healthiest lives. Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Sun Life offers primary and walk-in care, pediatrics, dentistry, obstetrics and gynecology, in-house laboratories, x-ray, and pharmacy services. Information: sunlifehealth.org

Chandler Gilbert Arc has been serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the East Valley since 1975, providing community living, community based employment and day services and training. We help people with varying support needs to achieve their fullest potential while improving their quality of life.

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For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Players, coaches rejoice over tourneys’ return BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

The pandemic robbed high school athletes of “normal” experience in 2020. It forced an extension of the winter sports season and for indoor sports such as basketball and wrestling, athletes were forced to wear masks. As a result of a delayed fall season, winter sports were forced to compete in fewer games, eliminating in-season tournaments that basketball players love when schools are on winter break. But 2021 allowed teams to turn the page on condensed seasons. And with that, tournaments returned. “You miss the fans being in here, you miss the atmosphere, you miss the coaches and going up against other great teams,” Hamilton basketball coach Doug Harris said. “To have it back is monumental. They really get you ready and geared in.” Harris grew up playing in the McClintock Holiday Shootout and others when he attended Corona del Sol. They became are a part of who he was as a player and who he is now as a coach. And like other coaches and

It was a breath of fresh air for him to see tournaments return this season, especially with fans allowed to attend – another aspect of the pandemic last season that made the winter season one of the most unique in the history of Arizona high school sports. Harris coached Hamilton to the championship game in the McClintock Holiday Shootout. While the Huskies fell to Gilbert, it was still an eye-opening experience for the team. It showed them and the rest of the state they have what it takes to compete for a title. And for Harris, it was Hamilton senior guard Jalen Lee said he missed the tournaments last season. To him, they provide an opportunity to prepare for a brutal region schedule and the postseason tournament where games can take special being able to place several times a week. (David Minton/Staff) coach in one of his favorite tournaments. players, they prepare his team for a half of the season – when wins matter brutal stretch of schedule in the latter the most. See on page 35

TOURNAMENTS

A sports complex with great promise opens BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Bell Bank Park, the massive 320-acre amateur and youth sports complex in East Mesa, opened this month – bringing to the city the promise of a new revenue stream and a new national claim to fame and a major addition to the world of youth and amateur sports in Scottsdale and the region. Legacy Sports USA, the founder of the $280-million facility near Ellsworth and Pecos roads, opened its fields and courts for the first time as part of a soft opening for parents and athletes. It already hosted several high school soccer matches as part of the AZ Soccer Showcase on its sprawling set of artificial turf fields and held several friends and family events. The owners welcomed the public for the first time two weeks ago to walk the grounds and meet tournament and sports directors. “It’s so exciting,” said Chad Miller, the CEO of Legacy Sports USA. “To bring something like this to where we grew up. This is our home and it means so much to us.” For sports enthusiasts, Bell Bank Park means a 3,000-seat outdoor stadium, as eSports arena, an indoor arena, 31 soccer/lacrosse/football fields, 57 indoor volleyball courts, eight baseball and adult softball fields, 16 fastpitch softball and Little League baseball fields, 20

his team estimate 5.5 million people to visit the park per year. Some amenities are still under construction, including the zipline in Miller Way, a walkway that connects two of the main complex’s main building that houses the Esports Arena, basketball courts and gymnastics center. Full completion is slated for February. “The closest thing we ever had growing up was Disney’s Wide World of Sports on the East Coast,” Chad said. “On the West Coast and particularly here in Arizona, we never had anything available to us. For so long club teams here would have to go out of state to expeThe new Bell Bank Park in Mesa is quickly becoming a national mecca for youth and amateur sports rience these national leagues. (Special to SanTan Sun News) level tournaments. Now Arizona has Bell Bank certs and events and a 17,000-squarebasketball courts, 48 pickleball courts, Park to call its own.” foot sports restaurant and bar. 12 beach volleyball courts, an obstacle It’s more than that to Mesa – even if The first tournaments for several course racing park, 23 futsal courts, a its residents never set foot in the comof the youth sports organizations that gymnastics center, dance studio, cheer plex, according to Mayor John Giles, center, sports performance center, fam- partnered with Legacy Sports USA took who noted this is “the largest youth and place last Friday. Chad was expecting ily fitness center, wellness center, kids play center, 2.7 acre great lawn for con-

45,000 visitors last weekend. He and

See

BELL on page 35

SPORTS & RECREATION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Basha cornerback Cole Martin commits to Oregon BY DREW SCHOTT Contributing Writer

In December, Cole Martin told 247 Sports that he was choosing between USC, UCLA, Arizona State and Colorado. But another program soon entered the picture: the University of Oregon. Martin was impressed by new Ducks head coach Dan Lanning and his coaching staff, which soon included Martin’s father Demetrice – the former cornerbacks coach at Colorado – as cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator. “It’s just an amazing combination and something I couldn’t just pass up and ignore,” Martin said. “The opportunity to be able to play with them was something special to me.” On New Year’s Day at Basha High School, the four-star recruit made his college destination official by announcing his commitment to the Ducks in front of teammates, coaches and his family. He becomes the latest topflight recruit to leave the East Valley for Eugene after Mesquite quarterback Ty Thompson and Saguaro offensive tackle Bram Walden joined the Ducks in 2021. “I came to the decision after coach Lanning got hired,” Martin said. “I started thinking I want to add them to my top four, I want to add them into the decision of where I wanted to go. After a whole lot of thinking, my dad

Basha cornerback and 2023 top-100 recruit Cole Martin, “middle,” surrounded by his family, announced on New Year’s Day his verbal commitment to continue his football career after he graduates at the University of Oregon. (Drew Schott/Contributor)

gets hired a couple of days after, so it made it perfect and made it a whole lot better.” Ranked as Arizona’s second-best recruit in the class of 2023, the fivefoot-10, 175-pound cornerback racked up 67 tackles, two-and-a-half tackles-for-loss and two passes defended during the Bears’ run to the Open Division playoffs. He also showcased his versatility by recording two kickoff

return touchdowns, including a 91-yarder, and two rushing touchdowns. He previously started at cornerback for Hamilton High School during his freshman and sophomore seasons but transferred to Basha last summer. With the Huskies, Martin recorded 77 tackles and three interceptions across two seasons, as well as 733 return yards. Martin’s playmaking and mentality has made an impression on his

coaches and teammates. Basha head coach Chris McDonald said Martin has become a voice on the field and in the locker room and is well-respected by his teammates, while Basha defensive backs coach Kenneth Harper calls Martin “the thermostat” because “he sets the tone for the entire program.” Basha running back and defensive back Deshaun Buchanan, who transferred to the Bears from Hamilton with Martin, added that he studies his teammate’s game while lined up with him in the secondary. “He’ll always be able to hold his own no matter who he’s going up against,” Buchanan said. “He can play with the best of the best.” After receiving offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, USC and 30 other programs, Martin — the 88th overall recruit in the 2023 recruiting class — is set to join one of the Pacific 12’s best defensive squads. Oregon intercepted 17 passes last season, the most in the Pac-12. Yet Martin still has one more year of high school football before heading to the next level. Now that his college decision is made, he is prepared for the opportunities that lie ahead. “I’m ready to ball out, ready to go recruit, ready to help out,” Martin said. “Finish this last year of high school off and then go into Oregon extremely excited and ready to go ball out.”

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TOURNAMENTS

from page 33

“I never thought I would get the satisfaction I do from coaching,” Harris said. “You’re trying to take your vision and perception of basketball and sharing it with young people on the court. And to do it here, that’s what is the most satisfying to me.” Much like Harris, Hamilton senior guard Jalen Lee and his teammates also welcomed the tournaments back. For him, his affection for them returning began in the summer when Hamilton competed in the 160-team Section 7 tournament at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Section 7 allowed local programs to face teams from as many as 12 different states, including Arizona. When the season began in November, Lee and his teammates went on to compete in the Fear the Hop Thanksgiving Tournament before taking part in the McClintock Holiday Shootout. Especially playing in the Premier Region, which features the likes of Perry, Basha and Brophy, Lee said competing in several games per week in the tournaments and against a wide variety of competition will help them prepare for a brutal region schedule. “We’re extremely grateful to get in these games,” Lee said. “It’s an opportunity to play against great competition

BELL

from page 33

amateur sports complex in the United States.” For one thing, it’s a new source of sports tourism revenue for the city, which already reaps millions annually as a host to two spring baseball venues. Adding to the direct tax benefits the city sees is the broad economic impact Bell Bank Park will have for hotels, restaurants and other businesses in Mesa. Last year, Mesa Economic Development Director Bill Jabjiniak said the park “is something people will talk about around the country.” Giles added: “This is a continuation of something that’s a proven successful part of our economy. Particularly, with regard to youth and amateur sports – which is kind of recession-proof. People are going to take Susie to her soccer tournament, even if they have to put it on the credit card. It’s very exciting from an economic impact perspective.” Beyond money is the cachet Mesa now will have as the host city to the complex, he added. “We’re going to see people regionally, nationally and international traveling to Mesa, Arizona, specifically for this complex,” Giles predicted. Once construction of the State Route 24 is completed, organizers expect Scottsdale teams will flood the complex because it will offer a relatively clear shot from the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway. Legacy partnered with several youth and adult organizations that will bring a variety of sports to the park. One of those organizations is Arizona Arsenal,

Valley are also reaping the benefits of midseason tournaments and other showcases returning. Gilbert has long established itself as one of the top programs in the 5A Conference, dating back to the Tigers’ championship in 2018. Head coach Jay Caserio prides himself on his team’s ability to compete with the highest level of competition in the state. And at the McClintock Holiday Shootout, they proved that to be a fact. Caserio coached the Tigers to a championship win in the holiday tournament, beating fellow 5A contender McClintock in the quarterfinals, Apollo in the semifinals and Hamilton in the title game. It’s the second straight in-season tournament Gilbert claimed the trophy, as it won its preseason Welcome to the Jungle Hamilton coach Doug Harris, who grew up playing tournament in November in several midseason tournaments while attending downing 6A favorite Perry. Corona del Sol, said they provide an opportunity The two showed Caserio for players and coaches to see where they stack up the level of talent his team against other competition. (David Minton/Staff) has and their ability to work together. It also gave them a and to play as a team. We have the wave of momentum heading into region chance to prove ourselves.” play. Other programs across the East “The more touches you can get as a

team, that’s an opportunity to develop that chemistry and play your best in February,” Caserio said. “I’m just appreciative that we are able to play again. We missed it, especially with fans in the stands.” Mesa coach Scott Stansberry, whose team hosts their own tournament, said last year his team went into the season blind with that and others canceled. Usually, they would have a two-week buffer with preseason matchups and exhibition games to see where his team stood. But the delay due to the pandemic forced teams to enter region play right away last January. So, the return of tournaments are a welcoming site. “These tournaments are big time,” Stansberry said. “We do our own – Fear the Hop – and that prepares us going into the season. Last year our very first game was not only a power point game but a region game against Red Mountain. We had no idea about my team.” Not only do tournaments allow coaches like Stansberry to see where his team stacks up against other competition, it allows his players to build comradery on the court. That was missed last year. And they will no longer take it for granted. “With the team I had last year, maybe with the tournaments we would’ve been better prepared,” Stansberry said. “It was weird last year. I’m glad it isn’t like that anymore.”

off. The Professional Tour of Pickleball, another organization in a booming sport, will also descend upon Bell Bank Park for a stop in February. National Pickleball will also host two amateur events at Bell Bank. All three organizations will utilize the park’s 41 courts. In March, Bell Bank will host Trilogy Lacrosse for its Elite Spring Break Training Camps, where some of the top high school lacrosse players from across the country will train for four weeks. Also, in March, West Coast Premier Baseball plans to its month-long spring training series on the park’s eight baseball and softball fields. Other partnerships include Jam On It AAU Basketball, the Arizona Gym Rats and the 2022 USA Gymnastics Men’s and Women’s Development Program National Championships. “We are very excited to open it and there’s been an influx of people reaching out to us telling us how excited they are for it to open,” said Brett Miller, president of Legacy Sports USA. “Do I wish I was younger and could play on all of the fields? Absolutely. But we are excited to see some smiles.” One of the park’s most unique partnerships is with the Arizona Cactus Football League, an adult semi-professional league that allows players to continue competing in the sport they love beyond their high school, college or professional careers. The league will feature eight teams, reduced from 16 the year prior. Three games will take place every Saturday beginning in February inside the park’s main stadium. Matt Archer, the owner of the AZCFL, aims to take his league to new heights in the next year or two. He

plans to get away from the stigma of being a club league and turn into a developmental association for players looking to go on to the next level. He believes that becomes easier with the exposure his league will receive while playing at Bell Bank Park. “I think it will help us set the standard for what developmental football at this level is,” Archer said. “All of our teams will be prepared, and our teams will be prepared for what it’s like to play in front of organic fans. Preparing our players and showing them what it will be like if they move on to the next level is what I’m really trying to get out of it.” While the park itself was fast-tracked and built in six months, the vision was 30 years in the making. Brett and Chad both collaborated with their father, Randy, who is the founder of Legacy Sports USA, to come up with the idea for the massive sports and entertainment complex. Brett, who graduated from Corona del Sol in Tempe, and Chad never had the opportunity to play in big venues growing up. But they wanted to create a space that would double as sports and entertainment venue for families and athletes to enjoy. They did that. And the fact they were able to do it together as a family makes it even more special. “Whenever we got together for family gatherings, this would be the topic of conversation,” Brett said. “You can’t beat family. This is a family entertainment park and it’s an idea that was created by my dad for my brother and me. For us to live and breathe this, there’s not better feeling.” For more information about Bell Bank Park, visit legacysportsusa.com.

one of the state’s largest and most wellknown club soccer programs. Arsenal became the flagship club last March and will utilize its turf fields and main stadium that seats just over 5,000 people for its matches. David Belfort, the technical director for Arizona Arsenal and the club soccer director at the park, said it provides youth players a new opportunity to play on a large stage. He expects most of the Arsenal teams to utilize the fields for practices throughout the club season. With 31 fields and a stadium, he believes it creates an opportunity for more clubs and college coaches to flock to the state. “I think this facility can really bring a different experience that people will be attracted to,” Belfort said. “Just with the AZ Soccer Showcase all the junior colleges in the area and the NAIAs were all present and they’re wide-eyed as they watched games. There’s definitely a buzz around it.” Along with Arsenal, Legacy also partnered with ELITE Youth Football, which will be rebranded as ELITE Football Powered by Legacy Sports USA. Currently, ELITE sponsors 20 youth football teams in the Chandler area. At Legacy, ELITE will expand and offer boys and girls flag football leagues, 7-on-7 leagues and adult flag football leagues. There will also be an ELITE Football Academy, ELITE club football teams, the ELITE Bears tackle teams – a local Chandler team that routinely competes for national championships – and kids camps and NFL player camps. The park also plans to host the Association of Pickleball Professionals Tour from Jan. 4-9 as part of its season kick

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

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Available if You Still Owe on Your Home or Owe Nothing

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*https://www.yahoo.com/now/senior-housing-wealth-exceeds-record-150300719.html Reverse mortgage loan terms include occupying the home as your primary residence, maintaining the home, paying property taxes and homeowners insurance. Although these costs may be substantial, AAG does not establish an escrow account for these payments. However, a set-aside account can be set up for taxes and insurance, and in some cases may be required. Not all interest on a reverse mortgage is tax-deductible and to the extent that it is, such deduction is not available until the loan is partially or fully repaid. AAG charges an origination fee, mortgage insurance premium (where required by HUD), closing costs and servicing fees, rolled into the balance of the loan. AAG charges interest on the balance, which grows over time. When the last borrower or eligible non-borrowing spouse dies, sells the home, permanently moves out, or fails to comply with the loan terms, the loan becomes due and payable (and the property may become subject to foreclosure). When this happens, some or all of the equity in the property no longer belongs to the borrowers, who may need to sell the home or otherwise repay the loan balance. V2021.06.21 HYBRID NMLS# 9392 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). American Advisors Group (AAG) is headquartered at 18200 Von Karman Ave., Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612. Licensed in 49 states. Please go to www. aag.com/legal-information for full state license information.

These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency.

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EV Leading Ladies helps women connect BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Businesswomen have different needs than their male peers, Mary Harp argues. So, a friend had an idea. “She wanted a group where women would celebrate each other’s wins, that they would feel safe to be able to take that shot at earning one another’s business, and really grow together in business and life,” Harp said. “That it would be natural, it would be fun, it would be very relational, all the things that women love. And also be profitable.” Her friend created Leading Ladies in southwest Florida. Harp is starting her own Leading Ladies group for the East Valley and she has plans to make it global. Harp said her friend expected about a half dozen women to turn out for that first organizational meeting in Florida. She was surprised when 50 did. Harp said she’s seen the same enthusiasm here. Even before their first event, they had already signed up more than three dozen women to be members. There are other business networking groups out there, such as the Chamber of Commerce, but they don’t

Among the East Valley Leading Ladies are, from left, ennifer Abbs, Helen Minor, Angela Fort and Mary Harp. (David Minton/Staff Photogra[her)

quite fill what the members of Leading Ladies say they are looking for. “Even though I’ve been in this space for six years, I’m still intimidated to go

to the Chamber of Commerce,” said Jennifer Abbs, who has a network marketing business. “Something like this, is not intimidating.”

The East Valley Leading Ladies held their first event earlier this week. They plan to continue to meet at 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month. “Many times we think of networking groups as just that, just sitting and networking,” said Angela Fort, who has a home décor business, Angela’s Place. “But many women are looking for relationships. Now, if you’re going to help me build business on the side, that’s the icing on top, but people are looking for relationships. And I’m personally looking for relationships outside of my comfort zone.” Fort said she’s been a member of the Chandler Chamber and said it’s great. But that having a variety of groups is appealing. Helen Minor, a former teacher, said she and her husband are just starting a crafting business. She said they know they have a lot to learn about running a successful business, and that’s why she joined Leading Ladies. “I’ve been Mrs. Minor for 30 years to kids, so coming out of my comfort zone and this is a challenge, and I’m really excited about it but I can’t do it on my own,” Minor said. “I’m looking for supSee

LADIES on page 41

Chandler teen working on a career in music BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Justin Bieber’s singing career began in earnest when a music executive accidentally clicked on the wrong YouTube video and was impressed by what he saw in the young Canadian. Lil Nas X was living at his sister’s home when his country rap song, “Old Town Road,” went viral on TikTok. Now, a Chandler teen is hoping social media will help him launch his music career. Jakob Van Rossum, 17, a senior at Perry High School, has uploaded three original songs to YouTube and Apple Music. “Originally, I kind of was just keeping the songs to myself and I didn’t really do anything with them,” Jakob said. “I’d just go around my math class, actually, and show all my friends. They really liked it, and they were like, ‘You should create a Soundcloud account.’” Jakob said he wasn’t really confident in his music then, so he didn’t create an account on the music distribution website. However, a friend set up an account for him and uploaded his songs. “I got like 800 plays on one of my songs, so that was really exciting for me,” he said. “So I felt like I could really do this.” He took over his account and continues to upload music. Most of it is original work, but he has done some covers. Jakob says he’s written about 70 songs. But he’s not alone. There are many others who dream of music

Jakob Van Rossum of Chandler is hoping social media can help his career as a singer take off. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

stardom and are releasing their songs online, hoping to follow in the steps of giants who started the same way. How do you separate yourself? “It’s a lot about promotion,” Jakob said. “I use my social media to the best of my ability. I always make sure

everyone knows when my next song is coming out. You can’t just say you’re coming out with a song in a week. I have to give myself a good amount of time ahead so that everybody knows about it. I release little samples of my songs, and make cute little videos.” The three songs he has released on YouTube and Apple Music are “It Always Ends,” “Love The Way,” and “Find Peace.” None of those three are his personal favorite. That honor belongs to “Forget The Way,” which he is hoping to release this spring. “I’ve recorded it seven different times and a million different styles,” Jakob said. “It has a lot of potential, but I just can’t decide how I want it to sound.” He said he hopes by getting inside a professional studio and hiring a producer he can find the version he’s happy with. “I have seen him grow immensely,” said Jameson Staley, Jakob’s choir teacher at Perry High. “I attribute his quick rate of progress to his passion and curiosity. When he learns a new skill or concept, he goes home and explores it, usually through incorporating it into his own music. “Perhaps one of Jakob’s best attributes is that he knows he still has a lot to learn, but he is passionate and inspired to do the work to grow.” Jakob plays mostly the piano and guitar. He also plays the violin, harmonica and drums. “I like to dabble in everything,” he said. He also sings backup on most of

his recordings, a technique that he says he’s still working to improve on. He said Michael Jackson is a major influence on his music, but he has also learned from some international stars. He said he likes Dimash Kudaibergen from Kazakhstan and Piet Arion from France. “I love Michael Jackson a lot,” Jakob said. “His vocal range is really impressive. His song writing is really, really good, like every single thing he wrote was successful. He is probably the greatest entertainer of all time.” Jakob said he found them because he was looking for singers who can hit really high notes, something he can do. He plans to go to Northern Arizona University in the fall. He plans to pursue a double major computer programming and performing arts. “That way I can build my skill, get better with my music, but then also, in case I don’t make it in the music industry, I have computer science to back me up.” Jakob says he is very ambitious and he wants to be a pop star. And for now that means using social media to introduce people to his music. “Social networking is really fun, but it’s really tiring,” Jakob said. “I feel like I can spend a whole day promoting a song, and nobody cares. It’s hard to get people interested in my music, because I’m just a 17-year-old kid. “Social media is really hard, but if you’re good at it, ... it can get you really good results.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Area man’s nonproﬁt helps his homeland BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA Contributor

After immigrating to the U.S. at age 19, earning a degree at Arizona State University and beginning his own American Dream, Victor Jakpor learned you can go home again. And, in his case, should. After 20 years in Ahwatukee working in finance, Jakpor returned to his hometown of Sapele, Nigeria, following the death of his mother in 2004 and was accompanied by his sister, Helen Jakpor of Chandler. There, he experienced a strong desire to reconnect with his city of birth and to help the people, especially children who were underserved educationally. Like his parents, education is important to Jakpor. It was through the largesse of his father that he came to the United States at age 19 to live with a cousin attending ASU. “My father said ‘I can help you get there, but I can’t support you when you’re there.’ I said, ‘Of course, that will work.’ Six months after I got here, he passed away and my whole life changed. I was just trying to survive while I pursued my goal to go to school.” Though enduring privation and working at several menial jobs, Jakpor persevered and graduated in 1992. “I like to tell people to just go after what you know you want,” he said. “Follow your dream.” While attending a 2006 hunger conference at his church, Mountain View

Lutheran, Jakpor and the other attendees were presented with a question that would alter his life course: “If time and money wasn’t an issue, what would you do to make a difference?” “I said I wanted to help my people in Nigeria. When I told the facilitator my answer, she said, ‘There are three other people here who want to help in Africa – you need to get with them.’ We went back to Nigeria to do discovery, to see what needed done. It was overwhelming, and I thought, ‘Where do we start?’” Cheryl Jones, a fellow conference attendee, is now a Mission Africa board member. The following year, Jakpor established the nonprofit Mission Africa, which can be found online as MissionAfricaProject.org. The Ahwatukee-based nonprofit, now in its 14th year, continues to raise money to fund a growing list of ventures in Sapele – many of which have already seen success. Maintaining that a good education prepares the next generation to lead, helping schools in his hometown of Sapele, Nigeria, is one of the major project goals for Mission Africa. Many of those schools that Jakpor first encountered in his first forays to Sepela were in disrepair, from crumbling foundations to roofs falling off or gone. There were no toilets, few desks and benches, no textbooks or school supplies, no electricity. Many children who did attend

were garbed in ill-fitting uniforms. It wasn’t the way it had been when Jakpor was growing up, and it touched his heart. “For a long time, schools were run by missionaries so that they had a lot of support to run the schools. Then the government took over the schools, and they couldn’t support them. Parents couldn’t afford to send their children to school,” he said. “Mission Africa now supports these schools by providing textbooks, teachers, teacher training and infrastructure like water wells and access to healthcare services.” Mission African estimates there are 59,000 children under the age of 14 in Sapele, half of whom do not attend school. Many are unable to afford the uniforms and fees levied to attend including the purchase of their school books. Jakpor emphasized that 100% of all donations to Mission Africa go to provide these services and others, including the establishment of Sapele’s Community Center, also known as the Dream Center, where the nonprofit provides literacy and healthcare training, and instructs adults on organic farming techniques. A sewing center has also been established where women can learn to sew and design clothing with the goal of becoming self-sustaining. “The community center is meant to be a gathering place for the people, and also for community leaders to come

and discuss the challenges the community is facing. The meeting place also helps strengthen the personal connections,” explained Jakpor. “Most of Sapele’s children are malnourished, so we’re training mothers about nutrition and organic gardening for their families and to bring health to the community.” Jakpor, an insurance agent, who, with his wife and two sons, has made Ahwatukee his home for 26 years, travels to Nigeria twice yearly, often with a group of volunteers. Mission Africa Board President Kim Steele said, “For several years now we’ve supplied textbooks to Oghwere Primary School, and if it weren’t for Mission Africa, they would only learn what the teacher could write out on a chalkboard each day. “On distribution day, the books are given individually to each student. The students have appreciation written all over their faces when they’re able to hold their brand-new textbooks. My mind goes immediately to our students here in the US that just expect that textbooks will be there when school starts.” She said two years ago, working with another nonprofit in Nigeria, Mission Africa undertook a six-month pilot program for literacy in Sapele. “In June of 2022, we’re working with a group in Nigeria to offer literacy classes throughout the community, to women See

AFRICA on page 41

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LADIES

from page 38

port, and friendships that are outside of my previous life.” Harp, who started the Arizona group, said the pandemic played a major role in the formation of Leading Ladies. “Women were disproportionately affected by the pandemic,” Harp said. “Staying at home, taking care of kids, household responsibilities, a lot of services went away that women in business relied on, and so women were the ones who stepped up I’m going to take care of this for my family. As a result of that, a lot of women looked to entrepreneurship to meet the demands of the income of their families.” She said women who took that route are finding it can be lonely. That’s why they are looking for a group like hers

AFRICA

from page 40

and children. ...“This is such a passion for me to be part of, to see the selfworth on their faces and being given the opportunity to have their world opened up,” she said. Steele said Mission Africa is working on a “monthly giving” campaign that will help the nonprofit better budget funds for school maintenance, the community center training, and other programs and needed projects. She emphasized that $50 a month provides a year-long supply of textbooks and workbooks for 24 children; and a pledge of $100 a month is enough

to help fill a need for relationships with other businesswomen. Harp said among the 50 members who had signed up by the end of last week, there are businesswomen from Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Gilbert. She said others from outside the East Valley are welcome for now, but they plan to expand when there is enough interest in other communities. Abbs, the network marketer, said Leading Ladies fills a niche. “I think that it’s good for the mom that’s like, I want to be the stay-athome mom and I don’t know where to start, to come in and meet some friends who are from millionaires to just got started last night, and then you can pick and choose from the box of donuts what you want to do,” Abbs said. Follow on Instagram @eastvalley _ leadingladies to “provide food to nourish thirty children for an entire year, elevating their overall wellness and preparing them to thrive educationally”. Through donations, the nonprofit has installed four school wells and three toilets. On their website, MissionAfricaProject.org, a 17-minute video provides an overview of Nigeria – the world’s sixth largest producer of oil. The black gold of this oil-rich nation doesn’t trickle down to its impoverished population including that of Jakpor’s hometown of Sapele, population The video also captures a trip led by Jakpor who was accompanied by Steele and board member Jessica Lamartiniere,

Peter Meade is Sun Lakes Rotarian of the Month SANTAN SUN NEWS

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes has named Peter Meade its first Rotarian of the Month of 2022. The Sun Lakes resident “has been one of the club’s most active members since becoming a member in July 2014,” club publicist Dr. Honora A. Norton said, adding he has been “always willing to lend a hand” in numerous Rotary activities. He facilitates technological presentations at meetings and manages invitations to club events. Meade also “has contributed and served and/or led multiple RCSL project and fundraising committees, including recent veteran activities, Healing Vets Motorcycle Ride and Golf Tournament,” Norton said. Meade was the 2017-18 club president and is a multiple Rotary International Foundation Paul Harris Fellow.

Sun Lakes Rotary Club is a leadership organization made up of men and women from local businesses, professional, education, civic and emerging leaders. Information: sunlakesrotary.com.

Jakpor’s sister Helen Jakpor of Chandler, and his cousin David Egboro. They are shown visiting a church, the city of Sapele’s one library with bare bookshelves and no electricity, and the schools, some still in disrepair, where the children’s faces glow when the group presents them with their new textbooks and supplies.

Caring for the needs of the disenfranchised in Sapele is a part of Jakpor’s Christian tenets. “I’m a follower of Christ, and God wants us to reach out to the less privileged people in our communities. And when I look at my own community where I came from, I feel that’s a good place to start from,” he said.

Peter Meade

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

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For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler Film Festival ready to roll downtown BY KEN SAIN GetOut Staff

Running a film festival during a pandemic is a challenge. It was more so last year, when most Americans had not been vaccinated. The president and director of the Chandler International Film Festival says they still managed to hold a great event in 2020. “Luckily, nobody got sick,” Mitesh Patel said. “And it was a really good event.” This year, the festival returns for the sixth time and it won’t have the restrictions it faced a year ago, which included a 33 percent maximum occupancy in theaters and 50 percent at the after-parties. The festival, Jan. 18-23, is also returning to downtown with showings at the LOOK Dine-In Cinemas. With fewer restrictions and most Americans vaccinated, Patel expects an even better festival. “It’s a whole one year of work, and we worked so much this year. We thought it was going to be full-on again,” Patel said. He said that was why they decided to expand the festival from four to six days. What they didn’t know was that the Omicron variant would have the number of COVID-19 cases soaring to record highs just before the festival begins.

Left: Mitesh Patel, is ready and set for five days of action as the sixth Chandler International Film Festival is set to begin in downtown Chandler. Patel, president and director of the festival, has big plans that won’t be as affected by pandemic-driven protocols as the event was last year. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) Center: A random conversation leads them to create a team called “Crasher.” Together, they show up at skate parks and events where their skateboard tricks attract a growing flock of admirers. Right: Nicholas Rice, a renowned journalist for the Los Angeles Times, returns to his hometown of ‘The Dunes’ to investigate the disappearance of the tenant in his childhood home. While there, a mysterious figure from his past re-emerges and threatens his existence. (Special to GetOut)

“Definitely, it’s challenging, but I’m a filmmaker and I accept challenges.” Patel said he plans to offer rapid COVID-19 testing at the theater. And like last year, if patrons are uncomfortable coming to the theater, they can buy a digital pass to stream movies at their homes. About 115 films were selected for

this year’s festival. The opening night film is “American Cherry.” It won two jury prizes at the Cannes Film Festival for first-time filmmaker and producer. It was also named the best film of the Berlin Movie Awards. The story is about a teen-age girl who must deal with family issues, including mental illness and drug abuse.

She does that while falling in love the mysterious boy next door. The movie is described as a psychological romance-thriller. It was directed by firsttime filmmaker Marcella Cytrynowicz. The other films include some foreign entries, from about a dozen other See

FILMFEST on page 47

Chandler Arts Center spotlights Tucson artist BY SRIANTHI PERERA Contributor

Lex Gjurasic wants to radiate happiness in these troubled times. The Tucson artist found the meditative process of creating art a balm during the pandemic isolation and is now displaying her work in an exhibition, titled “Radical Happiness: Lex Gjurasic,” at The Gallery at Chandler Center for the Arts through April 9. The pieces incorporate a range of unconventional materials that she had at home, from sample house paint to Styrofoam. Created in her home studio, they include imagined landscapes on panel, paintings on handmade paper, sculpture from Styrofoam and mortar and mixed media on found antique photos. “The initial seed of the series started with a funny little yellow painting that I created just for myself, to make me happy,” Gjurasic said. “As I proceeded with the work and my Flower Mounds series grew, I returned to my natural tact of making art as a way to process emotions, and therefore, the state of the world.” For Gjurasic, art became a form of coping.

mental health challenges and societal shame,” she said. “When we don’t allow negativity to take away our happiness, our delight, our joy, we win.” Gjurasic, a professional artist who also teaches, has had her work shown nationally for more than 29 years. In 2009, she was a featured artist in the exhibition Kokeshi: Folk Art to Art Toy at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, and in 2017, her video as part of the Miranda July Archive Joanie4Jackie became part of the permanent Left: Lex Gjurasic Right: Artist Lex Gjurasic made this mixed-media 17”x17” sculpture, titled “Flowering collection of the Getty Mound,” last year. (Special to SanTan Sun News) Institute. Last year, she was invited “As I began to work in my studio and letter, a longing for being out in the to collaborate with the New Mexiworld in this ideal setting.” spend more time at home during the co-based art collective, Meow Wolf, as The show’s title, Gjurasic said, comes pandemic, or exclusively with my family part of the permeant immersive expefrom the understanding that happiness in nature, camping, I started funneling rience Convergence Station in Denver. this longing for art, being able to be out is often a choice. She Last year, also, she was nominated “It’s often a choice we make in the of the house, looking forward to be out for the Governor’s Arts Award. face of not just the doom and gloom in nature as a respite and distraction of a never-ending pandemic but other from the pandemic,” she explained. “Some of the landscapes feel like a love outside forces such as oppression, See on page 45

ARTSHOW

GET OUT

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Barrett-Jackson the perfect job for April Rose Rose to discuss cars at Barrett-Jackson. She fell in love — and earned respect. “When I got there, he said, ‘Wow. You’re really into cars. You know a lot about them, and you love them,’” she recalls. He wrapped up the conversation with, “We’re looking to add someone to our broadcast team.” “It seemed like a dream come true,” she adds. “It was the perfect fit.” She joins a team of automotive experts, including announcers Steve Magnante, Mike Joy and Rick DeBruhl.

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

April Rose likens Barrett-Jackson collector car auction to a theme park. Celebrating its 50th year, the event makes people smile. In lieu of rides, there is a virtual playground of vehicles to view and purchase, and it bustles with anticipation. As the event’s co-host on A+E Networks’ FYI and The HISTORY Channel, Rose witnesses the plethora of beautiful — and sometimes exotic — automobiles passing through the auction block. “You could spend your entire life driving through a city and you’ll never see the variety you see coming through Barrett-Jackson auctions,” said Rose, who hosts a classic rock show on terrestrial radio in Chicago. She’ll eye and discuss more sleek automobiles when Barrett-Jackson The World’s Greatest Car Collection Auction celebrates its 50th anniversary at WestWorld from January 22 to January 30. Celebrating its 50th year, Barrett-Jackson will feature rare hypercars and customs, as well as a diverse docket that includes a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing that is one of only 855 built in 1955 and one of only 1,400 built from 1954 to 1957. Selling with No Reserve, this highly desirable Gullwing is powered by the original matching-numbers M198 inline-6 engine paired with a 4-speed

In her blood

April Rose will be part of the announcing team at the Barrett-Jackson auction, slated to begin Saturday at WestWorld of Scottsdale. (Special to GetOut)

manual transmission. Rose slid into Barrett-Jackson’s broadcast team after she and Bob

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Varsha, a broadcast journalist who covers motorsports, filmed a promotion. During the assignment, Varsha invited

Rose began her professional career in health and medicine. She earned her EMT certification through Des Plaines, Illinois-based Oakton Community College and a cardiovascular technologist license from PCCTI Healthcare in Chicago. She was also certified as a medical crisis counselor for Rape Victim Advocates. Then she fell into modeling. She was voted Maxim’s “Hometown Hotties” winner in 2008 and was subsequently featured as the cover girl on Maxim Canada. She hosted the Chicago Bears’ pregame show and parlayed that experience into other gigs. She appeared on TV shows like “Guy Code” and “Girl Code.” She parlayed her love of hockey and football into “Chicago Faceoff with April Rose” and “Chicago Huddle,” respectively. See

BARRETT on page 45

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

BARRETT

from page 44

ARTSHOW

from page 43

Closer to home, she created a mural with the City of Tucson’s downtown mural project. She also participated in an immersive exhibition at the Scottsdale Public Library with Scottsdale Public Art. Her work for larger canvases doesn’t start on a small scale. “My process is a totally flip-flop of what most artists tend to do, starting with a small sketch and blowing that up bigger and bigger like a balloon,” she said. “I usually, to my own detriment, light my inspiration on fire by starting with a big piece, which then gets whittled down to smaller and smaller pieces that are more digestible.” Gjurasic was born in Seattle and has lived in Albuquerque and the Florida panhandle. Born to an American mother and a Croatian father who was born in Egypt, she is of mixed heritage. Her Slavic heritage and the traditional work of Slavic women comes through her work. “When it comes to embroidery, painting the outside of a house with a botanical floral feel, this isn’t just me

a new car. She admits, with a laugh, that was a dangerous car to give a teenager. “The rearview mirror is so small and it’s hard to see out of it because the pillars are so wide,” Rose explains. “You don’t have a good visualization of the road.” She has collected plenty of highlights during her time at Barrett-Jackson. Rose vividly remembers sitting in the original 1966 Batmobile, which was built by George Barris. Tempe logistics company owner Rick Champagne grabbed the vehicle for $4.2 million. “While we were in it, George spoke about all the gadgets he had in the Batmobile,” she said. “It was neat to see that sell though. Two gentlemen in the front of the auction, who were sitting really close to each other. They were outbidding each one when they stopped and one of the guys suggested flipping a coin and whoever gets it, gets the car. “They could have kept bidding for eternity. That’s how the owner of the car won — it was a flip of the coin. That was a first for Barrett-Jackson.”

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doing this. This is a subconscious link to my heritage,” she said. Slavic embroidery is characterized by tiny floral motifs that make up a larger pattern, either geometric or organic. Gjurasic’s flower mounds series features spears of florals. “Throughout the creation of this series, I thought often of the delight and solace my Slavic foremothers took in floral motif embroidery on garments, decorated “pisanica” or Easter eggs and traditional Croatian silver filigree jewelry during tremulous times,” she said. With Radical Happiness, Gjurasic wants viewers to feel positive emotions. “I’d like them to feel high as a kite! I want them to not walk about from the art but I want them to literally levitate and float away feeling elevated,” she said. Radical Happiness runs through April 9 at The Gallery at the CCA, located inside the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission free. Details: visiongallery.org. Also, lexgjurasic.com.

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Rose has acted in a smattering of films like “Grown Ups 2.” “It all started falling into my lap. I thought I would be in crisis counseling forever. “The jobs just kept paving the right path to walk down. I’m also asked to report on hockey and football. However, I’ve always been passionate about — obsessed with — cars. I feel lucky with Barrett-Jackson.” Rose still occasionally models on special occasions and requests. “I usually don’t do it if a wardrobe company or designer needs me to wear an outfit,” she said. “I’ll do it if they want me to come to an event for photos. I’m not just a number. “When I was 19, it didn’t matter if I was a clothes hanger for whatever image they wanted. It shifted a little bit. I feel like I’m more important to the product because they want to use a personality.” Like entertainment and news, cars are in her blood. She learned early on of the freedom that comes with driving. “Growing up, parents always tell their kids what to do, where to go,” Rose said. “The first time you’re in a car by yourself, you choose your own path. That realization made a big imprint on me. I really appreciate what cars can do for you.” That first car was a hand-me-down from her brother — a 2005 Camaro. She was gifted it when he wanted to purchase

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

Laughs come naturally to Pat Finn of Toyota fame BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

As a kid growing up in the Chicago area, Pat Finn was introduced to Toyotas. His mom drove a Camry and his family loyally supported the brand. So, it was fate that Finn landed the role as the overenthusiastic Pat in the car company’s commercials. “On the first audition for the spot, I thought, ‘This commercial is so fun. It’s like a mini sitcom about this likeable, bumbling dad who loves Toyotas,” he recalled from his LA-area home. “LaneTerralever, the ad agency, comes up with the concepts and they do a great job. I always say one of my favorite days of the year is when they send the scripts.” Recently, he filmed a commercial with his real-life daughter, who, in the commercial, drives a Toyota off to college. While she’s in the driveway, he and his wife, played by Kristen O’Meara, tear up. “He’s obviously emotional and my wife is questioning whether I’m upset about her leaving or the Toyota leaving,” he said. “You kind of don’t know. That’s what makes them fun.” Finn will screen his documentary, “Pat TV: The First 15 Years,” during the Chandler International Film Festival. Directed by Jordan Brady, “Pat TV: The First 15 Years” screens from 6:10 to 6:45 p.m. Jan. 22, at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas, 1 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler.

Pat Finn is known for Toyota ads. (Special for GetOut)

“Jordan Brady is an amazing director. He directs a lot of the Toyota spots, which is an amazing accomplishment,” Finn said. “We shoot three or four commercials in one day. A commercial generally can take anywhere from one to five days to shoot. The fact that we can film nine commercials in three days is pretty remarkable. The 35-minute documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at what makes it work from his end. It’s a cool little behind the curtain look at some

of the really fun stuff we’ve been able to put out.” Finn is one of six kids who grew up in a three-bedroom house. He enjoyed dinners with his family as they shared stories. He gravitated toward comedy. After all, “nobody dislikes comedy.” “My mom and I watched ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ and ‘The Odd Couple,’” he says. “I really liked the idea of sitcoms. Growing up in Chicago, nobody said they wanted to be an actor. They wanted to be firefighters or in sales.”

Things changed when he attended Marquette University. “I met my wife, Donna, my freshman year when I was 18,” he says. “I also met one of my best friends, Chris Farley. The two of us were inseparable. We listened to comedy albums by Steve Martin and National Lampoon.” Farley’s goal was to star on “Saturday Night Live” and Finn knew he would thrive there. The two prepared for their comedy career at the Chicago improv troupe The Second City. As fate would have it, the show’s director was actor George Wendt’s wife, Bernadette Birkett. Wendt needed someone to play his brother in “The George Wendt Show.” “I was flown out for a big interview, and I ended up getting the job on ‘The George Wendt Show.’ It lasted about a year but George, Bernadette and I are still friends and he’s the godfather to my youngest son.” Finn also appeared in a couple episodes of “Friends” as Dr. Roger and “Seinfeld” as Joe Mayo. From there, he “lily padded” into work. He and Donna moved to the LA area to pursue his career further. “I always say, if you were to tell me as a college kid or high school kid I’d be living in LA, driving to the beach, surfing with my son, I’d think you were crazy. I don’t know how I fell into it. I feel so fortunate, and it fits. It feels right.” Information: eventbrite.com or chandlerfilmfestival.com

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

FILMFEST

from page 43

countries. They include movies from Argentina, China, Japan, and a number of European countries. Patel said just under a third of the films at this year’s festival would be from outside the U.S. Patel said at least three celebrities had committed to attending, but he expected more than that would attend. Sean Young, star of “Stripes” and both “Blade Runner” films, is one of the celebrities who have agreed to attend. Joining her at Pat Finn and Bubba Ganter. Finn will be instantly recognizable as “Pat” from the Valley Toyota commercials. Patel said the festival makes it a

Some highlights: American Cherry: The opening night film was named the winner of the Berlin Movie Award and was a jury prize winner at the Cannes World Film Festival. It’s the story of a teen-age girl who falls for the boy next door while she deals with family issues. 8 p.m., Jan. 18. Apache Leap: This film was made near Chandler, just outside of Globe. An Apache artist tries to pursue his dreams despite family issues, enemies from his past, and an unpredictable old car. 9 p.m., Jan. 19.

priority to promote local filmmakers. One of those local filmmakers is John Badalamenti, from Scottsdale. His documentary, Horse Heroes is one of the films at this year’s festival. “The film was shot completely in Arizona, in Gilbert and Scottsdale,” Badalamenti said. He said being in a film festival is vital as he looks to secure a distributor. He had to make a choice to make his Arizona debut in Chandler, or Phoenix. He chose Chandler. “I like their layout, I like their attitude,” Badalamenti said. “I really like that they feature so many diverse filmmakers.” He said being in a local festival is

extremely important. “What’s nice about Chandler, local people who know about the film, heard about the film, or are in the film, get the opportunity to come see the film in a theater,” he said. Patel said the Chandler International Film Festival is starting to create its own identity, and it’s one where people know they will have fun. “This is our sixth year, and we’re still learning what we’re good on,” Patel said. “What I’m learning so far, filmmakers and people who attend the festival are telling me this is one of the coolest film festivals, and the reason is because our movies … are fun. We have every night an after party. We have an opening cer-

emony, a closing ceremony, red carpet every day.”

Beneath the Banyan Tree: A Chinese mother is forced to flee to the U.S. and live with her independent daughter. Problem is, she finds it difficult to salvage their reputation in a foreign land. 9:25 p.m., Jan. 22.

up with him. 8:50 p.m., Jan. 20.

how they are beginning to exert themselves to deal with some of the world’s biggest problems. Noon, Jan. 22.

Cult Cartel: Remember Ralph Malph from the 1970s sit-com “Happy Days?” Don Most stars in this film about a religious cult that engages in questionable acts. 8:35 p.m., Jan. 21. The Dunes: A reporter returns to his hometown in Australia to investigate the disappearance of a tenant from his childhood home. While there, his past catches

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Hot Money: This documentary stars former General Wesley Clark and his son and focuses on how climate change is a risk to all the wealth many people have spent a lifetime building. 4 p.m., Jan. 20. One Grave For Three Men: In this Spanish-language crime thriller, three men deal with the consequences of their failed getrich scheme. 4 p.m., Jan. 21. The Revolution Generation: This documentary focuses on Generation X, and

If You Go

Chandler Film Festival

When: Jan. 18-23 Where: LOOK Dine-In Cinemas, 1 W. Chandler Blvd. Tickets: $15 to $10 for individual showings; $50 for a day pass; $220 for all-access pass Streaming: Films can be streamed for $8 to $10 per show, or $100 for all shows Website: www.chandlerfilmfestival.com

Second Chances: A young woman works at a thrift store, watching many objects get a second chance at life. She realizes that people too can get a second chance, and decides to take that leap. 7:30 p.m., Jan. 22. Stand Strong: Four skateboarders in Japan are making a name for themselves online. But when two of them land a big sponsorship deal, it threatens to tear them apart in violent ways. 2:35 p.m., Jan. 23.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 16, 2022

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

New Year gives us a new opportunity with God BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER Columnist

Another year has begun. What kind of year just passed and what kind of a year lies ahead? These are just two of the questions we will ask ourselves as we do each year at this time. It was a year that was filled with traumas and destruction and more importantly, the loss of so many lives because of a virus that was uncontrollable and saw many ignore the science as 800,000 of our fellow countrymen perished. It was a year that saw a building collapse with people snuggled in their beds unaware that in an instant they would be no more. It was a year in which floods and hurricanes inundated our cities and destroyed life and property. It was a year that contained heinous

crimes and indiscriminate killings and murders involving not only adults, but children in the prime of their lives as they attempted to learn the purpose and value of life. It was a year that was filled the most hate-filled rhetoric that has become uncontrollable. It was a year in which civility seemed to be a thing of the past and violent episodes prevailed even in the treasured halls of our government. It was a year that will be remembered for a long time, more than perhaps others. Some of us will never stop wondering whether we did enough to matter, and some will contemplate about things that never were and maybe will never be. Through it all, however, there is one constant theme that will resonate within us as we sit and imagine what could have been and as we imagine what will be in the new year. Perhaps it is best illustrated by the following story:

A student was having a discussion with his teacher. “Someday, I too hope to become a teacher,” said the youth. “Aside from my studies is there any other all-important qualification I will need?” “Yes, the stimulus of imagination,” replied the teacher. “You will have to imagine that somebody is paying attention to what you say.” Will we listen to the climate watchers who shout from the rooftops to stop the destruction of our planet and all life therein? Will we listen to our medical professionals who warn us that science is the answer to combating illness and disease? Will we listen to each other as we attempt to bring sanity to a chaotic environment? Sometimes we say things that really don’t matter and, of course, we do say things that affect our lives and those around us. Sometimes we say things that have different meanings because we are not clear and precise. Sometimes we say

things we really don’t mean because we want to be sensitive to another’s feelings. And sometimes we say things that aren’t true because we are too ashamed or embarrassed as to our real intent. A new year gives us an opportunity to also say things to God we never thought we had the ability to express. There are thoughts we have that mean so much because we are at a stage in life where minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years are precious and not to be wasted. As we embark on another year, we all should listen to our inner voice that tells us life is to live and treasure because it is a gift that keeps on giving. Listen to a friend or relative as they reach out for understanding and compassion. And, if we are having difficulty hearing, be sure we are tuned in to what is being said. Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D., is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.

Desert waterfall reminds us of God’s love BY LYNNE HARTKE Guest Writer

“Listen! Do you hear that?” my husband Kevin asked as we walked along a trail in the Superstition Mountains. I stopped, stilled the crunching of my hiking boots as I tugged Mollie, our rust-colored mutt, next to me. I waited. Listened. Char char. A cactus wren tilted back his head and rasped from the top of a tall saguaro. Hew hew. A northern

mockingbird answered as it flitted to a nearby creosote bush. Other birds joined the anthem as a slight breeze stirred against my cheek, but I knew these desert sounds –although familiar – were not the sounds my husband meant. I slowed my breath as I tuned my ears to the morning. There. I heard it. Up ahead, along a cliff face, came the out-ofthe-ordinary sound of cascading water. Moving forward, we pushed past some underbrush and skirted several barrel cacti until we came to a wall of

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solid rock. Turning right we felt the spray before we saw it – water streaming about 100 feet above us, tumbling down the gray rock to the earth below. A desert waterfall. Most waterfalls in the Sonoran Desert are ephemeral, lasting about twenty-four hours after a substantial rainfall. With one inch of rain falling the previous day, we had come with the express purpose of hiking to Carney Springs Falls accessible from the Goldmine Trailhead. That had been the original plan, but we got sidetracked. The sound of water drew us. Enticed us. Beckoned us like a siren call, luring us from the original quest to investigate an unnamed falls instead. While Kevin took photos and Mollie lapped water from puddles, I stood in wonder under the mist of this temporary falls that whispered the sound of renewal in the desert. I couldn’t help but think it was a promise for the new year, a promise

found in Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Streams in the wasteland. A way in the wilderness. A new thing. I felt something larger than myself arise as I joined the faith of other desert dwellers who have repeated this promise throughout the centuries. Yes, God, do it. In this generation. In the months ahead. In the tired and worn-out places inside us all. In the deep darkness where we have forgotten how to believe in the good and the beautiful. I prayed the words, no matter how improbable, as hope sprang up inside me, cascading through my soul. Like a waterfall in the desert. Lynne Hartke is the author of Under a Desert Sky and the wife of pastor and Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. She writes at www.lynnehartke.com.

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