SanTan Sun News 03-12-2023

New report shows CUSD spent more per pupil in the classroom

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

The Chandler Unified School District continues to be a state leader in the latest report from the Arizona Auditor General, which found that it put 72.1% of all spending last school year in the classroom.

CUSD exceeds both its peer group and state averages in measures such as standardized test scores and teacher salaries.

And while its per-pupil spending in the three categories the Auditor General uses to define classroom spending, there was a drop of nearly $400 in how much the district spends per student and a decline in the percentage that goes to instruction.

The report said 58.2% of the district’s 2021-22 spending went to instruction as opposed to 61.7% of the previous year.

The 58.2% on instruction is the lowest percentage reported since the Auditor General began releasing these reports in 2001.

The cause for the decrease appears to be the free lunch program, according to Kyrene School District Chief Financial Officer Chris Hermmann, who explained how his district and CUSD are similar during an event sponsored by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce March 3.

“Last year, the federal government had

a program where they offered free meals for all students, breakfast and lunch in the classroom,” said Hermann. “And so for us, we typically don’t have a lot of participation in the federal programs because we have very few students in poverty that qualify for free or reduced priced lunches.

But when all the meals are free, we saw a huge increase in the number of students that were taking advantage of that for the year.”

He said a similar dynamic was likely hap-

City program turned around dying strip malls

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

About a dozen years ago there were serious worries about the fate of retail centers around northern Chandler.

The Loop 101 and Loop 202 freeways had opened, changing commuter patterns, leaving some retail centers that were once on heavily-traveled streets with fewer trips past them.

Businesses were shutting down, vacancy rates were up. At the intersection of Alma School and Elliott roads, 53% of the retail space was vacant. The strip mall at

Cooper and Ray roads had a 68% vacancy.

The city started its 4-Corner project to address the problem, looking for ways to help existing retail businesses stay open and attract new businesses to bring jobs and tax dollars to the city.

The City Council got an update on how that project is going during a Feb. 23 work session. And members learned the city has mostly turned it around.

The Cooper-Ray intersection has gone

See MALLS on Page 6

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival March 16-19 will be the second straight one to feature Black Neck Ostriches.

How they got to Chandler is an interesting story filled with hot air and heartache.

“Old man Chandler (Dr. A.J. Chandler, the founder of the city) has always fascinated me,” said Rooster Cogburn, the

man supplying 12 ostriches for this year’s festival.

Dr. Chandler became an ostrich farmer, raising the birds to supply feathers for women’s hats. He was like many Americans throughout history to think they could get rich with ostriches, Cogburn said.

Another one of those Americans is Rooster Cogburn, who now runs an os-

FEATURED STORIES

S. Chandler lawmaker stirs ire of both parties Page 4 Churro expert serves them your way in Chandler Page 24 Valley Christian, Perry win state titles Page 28 Chandler man touts benefits of doing business with

Bird supplier for Ostrich Fest has weathered hard times

Chandler Unified spent nearly three-quarters of all its money last school year in the classroom. (Arizona Auditor General)

Oscar Lozano uses a nail gun to show Ronnie Minyard how to fasten down a prefabricated building piece at the McCarthy Building Companies’ new Innovation and Craft Workforce Center in Chandler. It’s an effort to attract people to the construction trades, as you’ll read on page 18

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

The abandoned Fry’s supermarket building on the northeast corner of Warner and Alma schools might be better giving way to multifamily development, the city’s top development official said. (File photo)

Both parties assail local lawmaker over circus hearing, bogus charges

BY HOWARD FISCHER

Capitol Media Services

Freshman lawmaker Liz Harris is under fire by both parties.

The South Chandler Republican representative, who won the open seat in Legislative District 13 last November, was bashed by House Speaker Ben Toma last week for inviting someone “to present unsubstantiated and defamatory allegations’’ at a legislative hearing Feb. 23 on elections that accused the governor, state lawmakers, county supervisors and others of taking bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel.

Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said that the House is responsible, at least in part, for what happened at the day-long hearing.

And last week, House Democrats, led by Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton moved to formally censure Liz Harris over her “untrue and defamatory criminal allegations against multiple public officials.”

Stahl Hamilton in a release charged, “Harris’s actions have brought disrepute and embarrassment to the House of Representatives and aided the spread of harmful lies that have spread exponentially via social media and right-wing news outlets.”

The furor surrounds the presentations arranged by Harris, who had lined up several witnesses who were supposed to update lawmakers on issues related to the 2020 and 2022 elections.

But the hearing featured Scottsdale insurance agent Jacqueline Breger, who was given nearly 45 minutes to accuse dozens of officials and private citizens of taking bribes.

Breger’s testimony stood out when, without any factual backing, she said the governor, several Republican Maricopa supervisors, 12 Maricopa county superior court judges and Republican Mesa Mayor John Giles all had taken bribes that came in the form of money laundered through a scam involving real estate deeds.

She also presented documents to the committee which listed others – including Toma – as guilty of corruption.

Petersen said he had asked that all materials be reviewed by Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, ahead of time.

“That was not shared with him and was a surprise to the committee,’’ Petersen said.

“I assure you, had he known about the report (Breger planned to present) he would not allow it to be included,’’ he continued. “It was definitely not the proper venue to make such allegations nor to assess the credibility of such a statement.’’

REP. LIZ HARRIS

And Petersen, in washing his hands of responsibility, said, “I imaging the House will discuss how to deal with it.’’

Toma is refusing to take the blame for allowing the hearing to go forward.

“So did he,’’ the speaker told Capitol Media Services of Petersen’s role in all this. “We agreed to it collectively.’’

And he, in turn, blamed Harris for “bad judgment’’ in inviting Breger “to present unsubstantiated and defamatory allegations in a legislative forum.’’

“I this Ms. Harris needs to address this,’’ he said.

Harris, however, did not return several messages seeking to interview her.

Less clear is whether the speaker will take any action against the first-term lawmaker, including his unilateral ability to remove her from the Committee on Municipal Oversight and Elections.

“We’ll see,’’ he said.

But Toma is in a difficult political position. The speaker, who needs the cooperation of every one of the 31 Republicans to pass the GOP agenda, did not address whether Harris will be removed from committees or otherwise disciplined.

The day-long hearing of both the House and Senate elections panels was filled with topics that have been popular with conspiracy theorists.

Presentations included the state’s power over federal elections, foreign and domestic national security threats to the state’s electoral system, and one titled “The county is the first line of defense, not the federal government.’’

But it was obvious to Democrats on the panel that this was not meant to be a fact-finding mission. So they refused to attend.

That left only Republicans to hear the testimony.

The closest Harris came to citing a source was a reference to a forthcom-

ing book by John Thaler who has been cited by My Pillow executive and Trump follower Mike Lindell as being a forensic investigator. Thaler has claimed to have reviewed 120,000 documents to back his claims of extensive fraud.

None of that leaves the Senate blameless.

Borrelli was, in fact, at the Thursday hearing. But Petersen said he is not to blame for failing to halt the testimony at any point during its 45-plus minutes.

“He was caught off guard,’’ Petersen said.

And at the end of her presentation, Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, who chairs the Senate Committee on Elections, called Breger brave for her testimony, though she said the witness should stay on the topic of elections.

Days later, Rogers was distancing herself from the whole thing – and from both Harris and Breger in particular.

“To our knowledge, none of the people named had charges filed, have proceedings pending, nor had any convictions made against them,’’ she said in a press release.

The only one to actually say something during the hearing was Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, who said “this is not the appropriate place’’ for such claims.

The Feb. 23 hearing came less than 24 hours after Attorney General Kris Mayes released various internal documents from her office showing that her predecessor, Mark Brnovich, found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

Stahl Hamilton has filed an ethics complaint against Harris, slamming her for “vile smears” against officials and “the entire Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

“These lies were picked up by partisan right-wing publications and social media influencers and quickly spread around the world before the truth could put on its pants.,” Stahl Hamilton said. “The damage can’t be undone, but there should be some accountability while it’s still spreading and compounding.”

She said in a release she waited until March 6 to file the complaint “in hopes that Republican members, who have distanced themselves from Harris, would step up and demand accountability.”

“But during that time, a coordinated email campaign has sent hundreds of messages threatening retribution against any members who try to hold Harris accountable for her damaging actions,” she added. “The lies must end now.”

The Santan Sun News staff contributed to this report

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from 68% to 3% vacancy in 11 years. Alma School-Elliott went from a 53% vacancy to 14%. Alma School and Ray went from 40% to being fully occupied today.

In all, seven intersections studied in the 4-Corner project showed improvement over where they were 11 years ago.

Still, Micah Miranda, the city’s economic development director, says more work needs to be done.

“The overall theme I think you’re going to hear is because our traffic counts are low and our population growth is slowing in these areas, you need additional discretionary spending to support the existing [businesses],” Miranda said.

That means some of these retail spaces need to be converted to multifamily housing, bringing in more customers to support the retail shops that are currently open.

Miranda made some recommendations on what Council can do to help.

First, he wants updates to its area plans to identify destination neighborhoods to help with branding. He pointed to how Uptown Chandler has benefited from branding.

The areas he identified were Southside Village, which is just south and east of downtown; downtown; North Arizona Avenue and East Chandler Boulevard. The boundaries for the latter two have not been set.

Next is to update the city code and zoning that would make it easier for

both development and redevelopment.

Also, he called for an expansion of the Adaptive Reuse Overlay District, saying it has been successful in facilitating reuse projects.

The current district is mostly along Chandler Boulevard and Arizona Avenue. Miranda would like it to include all parts of the city that are north of the Santan Loop 202 Freeway.

The program started in 2015, Miranda said, and helps facilitate the redevelopment of small projects that are under 15,000 square feet.

Miranda also wants Council to expand the Commercial Reinvestment Program boundaries to match the Adaptive Reuse Overlay District.

This is a program that builds public infrastructure, such as shades, pedestrian lighting, murals and protected bike lanes. That infrastructure draws businesses.

The final recommendation is to lobby

the state Legislature to encourage redevelopment of underutilized properties to provide new housing units.

Miranda pointed to the one corner he says he fields the most calls about, – including from council members: the Sun Village Fair Towne Center at the corner of Alma School and Warner roads that once was home to a Fry’s supermarket.

Fry’s shut it down in 2016, leaving 84,000 square feet unoccupied and hurting the other retail stores in the center. The current occupancy rate is 23% with a Walmart anchoring the nearly vacant strip mall.

He said when the city tries to bring in new retail, his team considers a number of factors. First, will the new shop compete with any existing shops? They want to avoid that. Second, with the national growth in online shopping, the city is looking for experiences more than a place that sells goods.

So fitness centers and entertainment hubs are more likely to have long-term success than a business that has to compete with Amazon.

Overall, Miranda argued, the city would benefit more from building more apartment and condo complexes.

He compared the Sun Village Fair Towne Center to Riata Apartments, which were built in 2019 west of the Chandler Fashion Center. Those apartments sit on about half of the available land available at Sun Village.

The apartments’ 300 units bring in $469,088 in property taxes. The city currently gets $232,520 in property taxes from the mostly empty buildings at Sun Village.

Miranda argued that turning retail places like that one into apartments would not only provide more customers to support existing and new businesses, but also bring in more tax dollars to the city.

He said the city could choose to reclassify housing projects such as this one to encourage builders to add more housing.

He argued if the city reclassified for seven years, the lower property tax would be about the same as the city earns now.

After a decade, he added, the city would gain a benefit. He said the Sun Village center has a net income of -$81,307, while Riata Apartments is $1.94 million.

After 10 years, the General Fund revenues would be $1.67 million for Sun Village, and $5.21 million for Riata, he estimated.

Vice Mayor Matt Orlando complimented the presentation, but urged Mirada and his team to have a Plan B if the Legislature is unwilling to pass laws that would make it easier to attract housing.

“I just don’t want to sit around twiddling our thumbs waiting for legislators to do something,” he said. “I don’t know the legislators will address this, they definitely won’t this year. The bills are done. What are the tools that we have, that we can use, such as development agreements?”

Mayor Kevin Hartke complimented the presentation.

“Very good presentation, and I look forward to kind of getting some more details on some of those [recommendations].”

Miranda said it hasn’t been easy turning the tide.

“Overall, we’re in a much better place 10 years later, which I’m very happy to say because there’s been a lot of bumps along the road,” Miranda said.

City officials show how the 4-Corner project improved several intersections where retail strips were dying 12 years ago. (City of Chandler)

SCHOOLS

from Page 1

pening in the Chandler Unified district, something that CUSD Chief Financial Officer Lana Berry nodded in agreement with during the Chamber event.

“Our spending in food service areas went up by 106%,” Hermann said. “Year over year, that was almost a $4 million increase in spending. If you took that change and had it be the similar amount as a previous year, we would be right there (as far as education spending).”

The Kyrene Elementary School District dropped in instructional spending last year to 58.8% from 61.9% the previous year.

CUSD’s total spending per student was $12,041 last school year – down $396 from the $12,437 it spent in 2020-21.

However, most of the numbers in the Auditor General’s report were favorable.

And in each of the three classroom categories, per-pupil spending actually was greater last school year than the previous year, the report shows.

“In-classroom spending in Chandler and Kyrene are really, at the top of the state, as far as how much money goes into the classroom,” Hermann said. “That’s a point of pride for both of our districts.”

The largest category for classroom spending involves instruction, which the report defines as the cost of “teachers, teachers’ aides, substitute teachers, graders, guest lecturers, instructional supplies and aids, field trips, athletics, co-curricular activities, and tuition.”

In that category, CUSD spent a total $5,786 per student – up $294 over the previous year.

The district also spent $574 per student on instruction support, which the Auditor General defines as the cost of “librarians, teacher training, curriculum development, special education directors, media specialists, and instruction-related technology services.” Chandler Unified’s expenditure here was $139 per student higher than 2020-21.

The third category included in classroom spending involves money spent for student support – defined as covering “counselors, audiologists, speech pathologists, nurses,

CUSD students out-tested those in similarly sized districts and the state average in assessments of their knowledge in math, science and English Language Arts last school year.

(Arizona Auditor General)

Chandler Unified is the second-largest district in the state. So its peer group includes the 11 largest districts in the state, each with enrollments of 15,000 or more students. The average passing percentages for its peer group were 47 in math, 53 in English Language Arts and 33 in science.

CUSD also spent only $801 per student for its administration. The peer group spent $921 and the state average was $1,088. And Chandler’s ratio of students to administrator was a cost-saving 95 students to one administrator as opposed to 71 students for peer districts and the state average of 63.

There were some areas where CUSD spent more than its peers and the state average. They were in plant operations, and transportation per mile. They also spent more than their peers on transportation per rider.

The average teachers’ salary was $63,584. The state average is $58,366. The average number of students in a CUSD classroom remained low at 17.4, which matches the previous year. There’s been a steady decline since that number was 19.3 in 2017.

While per-pupil food service spending rose last year by $168 to $530, the district’s cost of a meal was lower than similarly sized districts and the state average. The report said per-meal spending for the district was $2.96 as opposed to the state average of $3.25.

However, the report labeled Chandler Unified’s transportation costs “high” in comparison to peer districts. It said permile spending of $5.36 was higher than the peer district cost of $5.60 and the state average of $5.35.

Likewise, per-rider spending of $1,851 far exceeded the peer district cost of $1,678 while it was lower than the state average of $1,945.

CUSD’s per-pupil spending in all three areas of classroom expenditures rose last year.

social workers, and attendance services.”

CUSD spent $803 per pupil in this category

– up $110 from the previous year.

The district is beating both the state average and its peer group in the number of students who passed state assessments.

CUSD’s passing rates last school year were 52% in math, 57% in English Language Arts and 35% in science. The state averages for last school year were 33% in math, 40% in English Language Arts and 24% in science.

The district’s graduation rate in June 2021 was 91%. The Auditor General’s annual report typically looks at the graduation rate of the senior class that got diplomas prior to the year under study.

In 2021-22, the Auditor General said, the district’s enrollment declined by only 2% from its 2018 student population and 11% of that group was enrolled in special education programs.

GOP wants to dismantle CUSD, other districts

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Arizona lawmakers are moving to require a public vote in the state’s largest school districts — including Chandler Unified — to determine whether they should be split up.

But what happens after that hasn’t quite been worked out yet.

The measure, HB 2546, is being advanced by Rep. Rachel Jones. The firstterm Republican lawmaker, who lives on the far east side of Tucson, said many of her constituents are unhappy with the decisions being made by the Tucson Unified board.

Jones’ displeasure and her desire to force a vote to split it also would have a spillover effect: In crafting the measure to apply to districts of more than 35,000 students, it also would mandate the same kind of vote in Chandler and Mesa – the two largest districts in the state.

That’s just fine with Rep. Justin Heap, R-Mesa.

“It is a massive beast of a school district,” he said when the measure was being debated in the House Committee on Municipal Oversight and Elections. Heap said the district’s racial and economic diversity makes it too large to ensure that parents get their voices heard.

HB 2546 also would force an election in the Chandler Unified School District, which has about 45,000 students.

“We believe splitting up districts may cause a financial burden on the taxpayer,” said a statement from CUSD. “As good stewards of taxpayer funds, we do not agree with this. Our stakeholders and constituents have not asked for this. Additionally, as Arizona’s second largest school district, Chandler Unified remains one of the highest achieving districts in the state academically.

“We were just voted the best public school district in the East Valley and continue to be recognized as a top public school district in Arizona by agencies like Niche. We attribute this to the ongoing support we continue to receive from our families, staff, and community.”

Growth in the Peoria, Gilbert and Deer Valley districts also could put them over that 35,000 figure soon and force an election.

All the House Republicans voted on March 1 in favor of the mandated election. All Democrats were opposed.

Arizona law already allows an election to split a school district to be called if 10% of the residents of an area proposing to form a new district submit petitions. A similar margin is required from the area that would remain.

Jones, however, said that option isn’t enough.

“This came from concerned parents, concerned constituents, that that process is almost impossible to get the de-

Birder to speak at Sun Lakes Methodist

BY CATHY SMOOT Guest Writer

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church at 9248 E. Riggs Road hosts “Tuesday Nights Together,” a series of free programs every month.

Topics vary from lively and entertaining to serious and informational. A light meal will be offered for a free-will offering at 5:00 p.m. and the presentation starts at 5:30 p.m.

Ever wonder what kind of birds are in your neighborhood? To fi nd out, join us

Tuesday, March 14 , in Lindsay Hall and meet Theona Vyvial, the current president of Desert Rivers Audubon. Most of her birding has been in the Desert Southwest over several years.

Theona will present information on our very own Veteran’s Oasis and The Gilbert Riparian Preserve, local riparian parks where you can see and learn about the birds that come and live in Arizona.

R.S.V.P. to 480-895-8766 so we have enough food for everyone.

you owe more than $10,000 in credit card or other debt, see how we can help.

sired outcome,” she said during House floor debate.

“What this does is it gives power back to the parents to say, ‘Yes, we would like to be able to potentially choose if we want to split up the district or not,’ Jones continued. “This does give the power to the parents to say, ‘You know, this isn’t working.’”

And Jones said that breaking up the district will empower not just parents but also the teachers and principals at individual schools.

Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, D-Tucson, questioned the finances of all this. She noted the move is coming as lawmakers debate the amount of money being spent on education, especially what is being earmarked for administration.

“Once we start dividing districts, we’re talking about school superintendent and all of the administrative staff that comes with establishing a new district,” she said.

“We would be funneling money away from the classroom, putting it into the establishment of new districts and new administration,” Stahl-Hamilton said. “I think in the long run it would cost the state a lot more money.”

“I believe if the parents were to split the district into, say, two or three more districts, that it would be a wash, if not a money savings,” Jones she said.

There is nothing at this point to say that residents would get maps to show exact-

ly where the new lines would be drawn, something that would be required in an election sought by residents. What also is missing is how assets like school buses would be divided and how to deal with existing bond debt.

Jones told Capitol Media Services that much of that would be worked out in the Senate where the measure now heads. But she declined to provide specifics. This isn’t the first time that lawmakers have debated the question of what has been a perennial question at the Capitol of what is the ideal size of a school district.

As recently as 2019 lawmakers debated a measure moving in the opposite direction by forcing consolidation of the more than 200 school districts in the state as a method of saving money by avoiding duplication.

The measure failed amid opposition from people who wanted to keep things the way they were.

That question of how big is too big isn’t just being considered in the context of school districts.

There is an effort at the Capitol to split Maricopa County into four separate counties.

There is a big difference, though: SB 1137 which was given preliminary approved this past week by the Senate, mandates the breakup, with no option for voters in the county to decide otherwise.

Food tax survives city council, Legislature

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

It does not appear likely that Chandler residents will get a tax break at the supermarket – at least from the city.

Two separate attempts that would have either cut, or eliminated the 1.5% tax ran into roadblocks last month.

Chandler Councilman Mark Stewart proposed either cutting or suspending the tax at the Feb. 23 meeting. His proposal died when no other member was willing to support it.

“I want to recognize the inflationary challenges we face and the hardship that’s been created,” Stewart said in making his plea. “For many in our city, inflation is not slowing down, as we’ve noticed with the January report (currently at 9.5%).

“That’s why I want to have a discussion with you, and with the community, about a proposal to suspend our grocery tax. It’s 1.5% on all non-prepared foods, and I’d like for that to go into effect as early as April 15, but I would settle for July 1, which is the beginning of our next fiscal year.”

Instead, Council member Christine Ellis offered up her own motion, essentially delaying a decision until later in the budget process. That is what would have happened anyway if neither had made a motion.

The second attempt to end the gro-

cery tax is coming from the state Legislature. The Arizona State Senate passed a repeal of the tax on Feb. 27. However, it does not appear likely that Gov. Katie Hobbs would allow the tax cut to go through. Last week she vetoed a similar tax on rental properties.

Hobbs has declined to say whether she will approve the Republican legislation to eliminate the ability of cities to tax groceries and save affected Arizonans more than $161 million a year.

Arizona lawmakers eliminated the state sales tax on such purchases in 1980. But they left intact the ability of cities

and towns to continue to do so to raise local revenues.

“I continue to be concerned about the impact on cities and especially public safety budgets,’’ Hobbs said.

Data prepared by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns show that the effects on those communities that continue to impose the levy would vary.

The question of whether there really will be lost revenues is less than clear.

Even Nick Ponder, a lobbyist for the League, told a legislative panel that approval of SB 1063 won’t necessarily reduce the overall tax burden. He said that

cities, having to finance operations, are likely just to increase taxes elsewhere, including possibly hiking the local sales tax rate on everything else.

That sentiment was echoed by Sen. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, when the Senate voted to eliminate the tax.

“If you take away this tax, it’ll probably be an increase in property tax or some other increase in their sales tax rate,’’ she said, calling it “playing whack-a-mole’’ with local taxes. Epstein’s district includes northern and western Chandler.

“When we change one tax that our cities are allowed to do, we’re just whacking the mole,’’ said Epstein whose home town has a 1.8% tax on groceries which raises more than $10 million a year. “It’s just going to pop up and become another tax, another place.’’

But Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, had a different take on the measure.

“This is not a whack-a-mole bill,’’ he said. “This is a bill that whacks the tax that whacks poor people.’’

Hobbs, in discussing the bill to block cities from collecting the food tax, said Tuesday she doesn’t want a “piece-meal approach’’ to providing relief to the poor.

“I think there’s a lot of other things I think we could be doing to make things affordable,’’ she said.

Chandler Gilbert Community College marking 30 years

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

A lot has changed in the 30 years since Chandler-Gilbert Community College was first accredited.

Back then, there was little else besides farms around the campus, which was come to only a couple of buildings.

What began as two buildings at Gilbert and Pecos roads has since grown to 667,240 square feet of state-of-the-art educational spaces across 188 acres, including the Pecos and Williams campuses, Sun Lakes Center, and the Communiversity at Queen Creek.

One thing that hasn’t changed as the school celebrates its anniversary is a commitment to service.

Its first two presidents, Arnett Scvott Ward and Maria Hesse, “wanted to be massively involved in our community,” said Russell Luce, the school’s athletic director. “They wanted to be a community college, not just in name, but they wanted to be involved.”

Ward and Hesse made service a key component of attending CGCC, Luce said.

“The service learning department here is one of the best in the country,” he said. “It is - and it has been for a long, long time.”

Chandler-Gilbert Community College began in 1985 as an extension of Mesa Community College. When it first opened it was one pink building across

from a dairy farm.

The school earned its accreditation during the 1992-93 school year, so it is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Today, it is the second largest school in the Maricopa County Community College District with about 14,000 students at four locations.

Service is a big part of the CGCC experience.

Mike Greene is the current head of student life at CGCC. His previous job was running a Boys and Girls Club program, and that is how he said he learned

about the school’s commitment to service.

“I really didn’t understand it at the time, when I was at the Boys and Girls Club,” Greene said. “The reality is, it’s not about me and my kids. It was about those kids in those classrooms who are getting connected, and learning about themselves, and learning about service and how important that is.”

Luce offered an example. In English class, most students are asked to write a paper so the professor can evaluate their writing skills. At CGCC, they are asked to

volunteer somewhere, put in 15 hours of community service and then write about the experience.

“I finally came back into a classroom after they did service at the club, came back into classroom and listened to the stories they had written,” Greene said.

“And I was like, ‘wow, that’s powerful stuff.’ They were talking about how it influenced them as individuals.”

KT Campbell now works in the student life department, but was among the first group of students to attend CGCC after it earned its accreditation.

“I was given the choice to move out on the street, or you’re going to school,” Campbell said. She tried Mesa Community College at first, but said it was too big for her liking.

Her mom told her about this new college that was opening up.

“I started driving out here, … and I pulled up to just two small buildings.”

She said the one service event that stood out to her was Generations Prom. The students at the school would invite seniors living in the community to a prom-like event.

One year, the number of students signing up was not what it should have been. So, Luce told his baseball team at the time to sign up. Once they did, and had a good time, Luce said it became a very popular event.

Chandler Gilbert Community college staffers, from left, Russell Luce, KT Campbell and Michael Greene said the school has changed a lot over the last three decades.

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

See CGCC on Page 12

City building more diamonds at Tumbleweed

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Chandler resident Wally Burke said if you want to reserve a baseball field in the city, you need to be quick.

“When a coach goes to the Chandler recreational website to reserve a field, they need to be ready at 8 a.m. with the website open to reserve a field,” he wrote in a social media post. “All fields get reserved by 8:01 a.m.”

And that’s for a week in advance, Burke added in answer to a reporter’s social media question about the state of baseball and softball fields in Chandler.

He was not alone.

“Not even close,” Jonathan Stahl wrote. “I have coached youth baseball and softball for several years, and field rentals are a nightmare. [It’s] worth mentioning there are zero dedicated softball fields in the East Valley.”

“Absolutely not enough softball fields,” Miranda Rae wrote. “There’s a public league for the city and there are three fields that we play at, but it’s been the same ones with no upgrade since I was a child.”

City Council on Feb. 23 approved a contract for nearly $19 million to build four lighted artificial turf softball fields at Tumbleweed Park. John Sefton, the city’s community services director, said the artificial turf should help.

“If you think about a natural turf area with irrigation and downtime and renovation and dormancy of our turf, that takes away playable time,” Sefton said. “So, we’re hopeful that making this decision to increase that playable time through the use of the artificial turf will be hitting a home run, pardon the pun.”

The contract is with Hunter Contracting Company to build on 31 acres. In addition to the playing fields, they will add 420 parking spaces, a restroom, landscaping, an extension of Pioneer Parkway and all required infrastructure improvements, including water, sewer, storm drain and electrical systems.

Construction will start in April and is expected to open during the spring of 2024.

Sefton said this project was chosen based on input from the community in helping draw up the parks master plan. It was the top of four priorities citizens wanted and they have been working for a few years to deliver them.

“If you’ve touched base with the community, it’s certainly a resource that we could use more of,” Sefton said. “That same study, and a comparison, showed that we probably need six more fields to

meet our ultimate [goal].”

Resident Eric Cope said there are five leagues that operate inside Chandler and the city reserves Snedigar Sportsplex and four other parks (Folley, Espee, Nozomi and Pima) mostly for them.

With those fields taken, there’s only a handful of other options for the 50 to 75 club baseball and softball teams that operate in the area. Arrowhead Park has four fields, Desert Breeze two, and then there are single parks at Shawnee, Thude and the Boys and Girls Club.

The city also reserves

The Chandler Prep Titans last week went through team warmups before a game against Highland Prep at Snedigar Sportsplex.

fields at Andersen and Bogle junior high schools, because both fields are lighted. Multiple residents said one of the biggest concerns is that most of the fields are located in one part of town.

When asked on social media about the need for fields, a number of residents replied.

“We definitely need more fields with lights on the east side,” Maria Flores wrote.

Added Michelle Bishop: “We need more fields for tournaments, driving to the West side every weekend is exhausting.”

But baseball and softball fields are not the only need.

“We need more indoor volleyball courts, it’s nearly impossible for my youth volleyball team to find a court,” Andrew Lynn wrote.

“We need more practice fields with lights for football,” Jamie Shuman wrote.

Aaron Largo wrote that there is “definitely not enough multi-purpose” while TerryLee Tyrell said, “Need more beach volleyball courts.”

“Soccer fields,” Peter Muñoz Jr. added. Sefton has heard it all and they’re working on it.

The next parks likely to get a renovation are Mesquite Groves and Folley, he said.

“We talked to the softball players, we never have enough softball,” Sefton said. “We talked to the swimmers, we never have enough swim lane. There’s a big demand on the aquatic side too.”

Brooks Petersen, 9, practices hitting on a tee with coach Brian Conchuratt during the Chandler National Little League AA Ranger’s practice at Snedigar Sportsplex.

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

The city plans to begin building the diamonds at Tumbleweed Park next month with a completion about a year later.

(City of Chandler)

CGCC from Page 11

“We’d have our big band play,” Luce said. “We would bring young people and seniors together and we’d have a date. We’d have snacks and refreshments and food from their generation.”

However, it did not survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still, service remains a huge part of be-

Growing wide and tall

Chandler-Gilbert Community College now has four campuses.

The Pecos Campus: The anchor of CGCC, the Pecos campus boasts the Arnette Scott Ward Performing Arts Center, a bustling student center, and the Coyotes’ athletics sports fields. With 132 acres of land and 21 buildings Pecos Campus has partnerships and/ or lease agreements with Grand Canyon University, Arizona State University, Chandler Unified School District, and Northern Arizona University, all of which include a physical presence on site.

Williams Campus: The Williams Campus is located on 55 acres at the

ing a CGCC student.

“When I got here, I got to see more of what was going on with those students,” Greene said.

“And what they learned, what they got out of it, was that connection to the college. When they come back they talk about that connection, that experience and whatever they learned. It’s really pretty cool.”

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and is home to career and technical education fields – including the FAA-certified Aviation Maintenance Technology Program.

Sun Lakes Center: This location is home to the New Adventures in Learning program. It’s for retirement-age adults who love to learn new skills and explore new topics, without having to worry about grades, homework, or tests. It’s lifelong learning for learning’s sake.

Communiversity: CGCC’s fourth and newest location at Queen Creek and Ellsworth is a unique civic and educational partnership offering classes and advisement/enrollment services in the far East Valley.

FOOD

from Page 10

Yet the governor continues to push a measure that would eliminate state sales taxes on diapers and feminine hygiene products, something that would save customers -- and reduce state revenues -- $40 million a year. She said singling out those items is different.

“It’s something that has some impact for some folks,’’ she said. At the same time, Hobbs said it really doesn’t cut local revenues other than the share of state sales taxes they receive.

Chandler officials have said they were concerned the Legislature would pass both the food and rent tax cuts, which would have meant up to $25 million cut to the general fund.

Stewart said the city has too much money, and it’s time to give some of it back to its residents.

“The state threatens to undermine our local control because other cities don’t watch the money like we do,” Stewart said. “The reality is that each city is different.

“We have a $10 million emergency fund, right? We have a $38 million contingency fund. These dollars are not marked for anything, so $48 million right there. When I started on council, that contingency budget was about $24 million. Now it’s $38. We could lower that by 3% and that would take us to $26.6 million.”

Stewart said the city is well run, adding services, and can afford to give back

some of the money it collects.

“We’re building ballparks, we’re adding more policemen,” he said. “We’re adding fire stations, we’re investing in infrastructure. … We are killing it. … So that brings me to the cost of this proposal. Suspension of the entire 1.5% would cost the city about $14 million.”

Council is in the middle of its budget planning for the next fiscal year. It has already had one overview meeting in the fall, and its first budget workshop last month.

The second budget workshop is scheduled for March 23, followed by an all-day budget briefing on April 28. The Council is scheduled to adopt the budget on June 15. It is scheduled to consider tax levy for the next fiscal year on June 29.

“Where else can we figure out something to be able to help others and alleviate some of the concerns that [Stewart] had concerning the … inflation?” Ellis said.

She suggested waiting until staff had a chance to get updated budget numbers and look for recommendations on how best to help residents.

She expressed concerns that suspending the grocery tax, and then voting on keeping it suspended, or bringing it back each year was not as easy to do as Stewart suggested.

“Valid points,” Stewart said. “And I think tabling this discussion … or the vote on the ordinance for a later date is great.”

Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.

trich ranch and petting zoo off oInterstate-10 just north of Tucson.

However, the ostrich business has not been easy for Cogburn.

First, he tried to raise wild ostriches and soon learned that would not work. Then, he purchased some Black Neck Ostriches in South Africa. That breed is ideal for ostrich farming, he said, but that nation has limited who can have them.

Cogburn claims he’s the only rancher in the U.S. with that breed.

He would sell the feathers and skin. A good pair of ostrich-skin boots sells for about $1,200, he said.

Just when his ostrich business was taking off, closing in on a deal to supply hatching eggs to Brazil, disaster struck.

Two hot air balloons crashed on his ranch on Feb. 3, 2002, spooking his birds and triggering a deadly stampede.

“I had 1,600 birds hit the fence at 35 miles an hour,” Cogburn said. “Lost hundreds of birds. The ones that didn’t die were crippled – or skinned up like you can’t believe.”

Cogburn spent years trying to get the balloonists to pay for his losses. He was unsuccessful.

“I lost confidence in our system,” he said, admitting he was angry and frustrated. “American Way of life and everything. When you talk about somebody who is sad and ruined, that was me.”

A number of people showed up wanting to tell the story, but Cogburn said he

was so angry and fed up he chased them all away.

But one young man, a University of Arizona student, kept coming back. Jonathan VanBallenberg made a documentary about the incident titled, “The Ostrich Testimonies” that was released in 2008. It won a number of awards.

Eventually, Cogburn was able to pick up the pieces and rebuild his ranch. He turned it into a tourist attraction for folks driving between Phoenix and Tucson.

“From there we have slowly built this thing up one deal at a time to now we’re recognized as one of the top 10 roadside attractions in America,” Cogburn said.

When it came to supplying ostriches for Chandler, Cogburn said he didn’t have the time. Then someone showed up, try-

ing to lease his ostriches for Chandler. Cogburn said he didn’t know or trust this stranger, so he didn’t want to hand his birds over for them to look after.

He talked directly to the city, telling them to hire a former ranch worker of his that he trusted, and that as long as they paid him, they wouldn’t have to pay him for the use of his ostriches.

His former employee does all the work, including transporting the birds and caring for them. They started this arrangement last year.

This year, Cogburn is planning to make some money off the Ostrich Festival. He said they will be selling ostrich eggs at the Ostrich Festival. The shell is a popular item in their gift store. And, he said, one ostrich egg is equal to about 24 hen eggs.

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce is putting on the 33rd annual Ostrich Festival at Tumbleweed Park.

Unlike last year, when the Chandler Chamber of Commerce scheduled the festival over two weekends as a way of recovering from its cancelation during the pandemic in both 2021 and 2020, the festival will stretch across a four-day weekend.

Promising multiple attractions for families and people of all ages, the festi-

val also is an important economic driver for Chandler. Chamber President/CEO Terri Kimble said.

Kimble said the festival usually draws between 80,000 and 100,000 peop General admission tickets start at $30 for adults, $20 for children, children four and under will be admitted to the festival free of charge. Limited VIP tickets are available starting at $150 and pricing for family packs will be available for purchase at a later date.

Many of the folks who visit the Ostrich Festival come from outside of Chandler.

“This year, we did an inside-the-fence kind of economic impact for the local community,” Kimble said. “And we estimated that the economic impact was about $9.4 million for the local economy, from hotel nights to restaurants to just everything that it takes to put on the festival – which is pretty significant.”

Cogburn said there is hope for a brighter future, and his ostriches just might be the reason why. He said he’s been contacted by a Japanese scientist who believes he can build human health antibodies from ostrich eggs. They’ve done some preliminary studies the results have been fascinating, Cogburn said.

So he’s working on a deal to supply ostrich eggs to the scientist. It’s another potential international deal, so Cogburn would prefer hot air balloons stay far away from his ranch.

If you go Ostrich Festival

WHEN: times vary, March 16-19 WHERE: Tumbleweed Park 2250 S McQueen Road, Chandler. COST: General admission tickets start at $30 for adults, $20 for children, children 4 and under are free and rides cost extra. Tickets and other information at ostrichfestival.com.

OSTRICH FARM: roostercognurn.com

Chandler Unified seeks student more growth for Online Academy

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Molly Garrison has been teaching for 26 years, the last three at the Chandler Online Academy.

“It’s a big change going from in-person to teaching kids on screen,” the elementary school teacher said, adding that she never thought she would try to teach online had it not been for the pandemic.

“I didn’t expect to come online and just fall in love with teaching online,” she said. “I never would dream that in a million years. But I feel like online, I am a more effective teacher than I ever was in the building.”

Chandler Online Academy is succeeding where other districts are falling short. Recently, two neighboring school districts announced they were shutting down the elementary portion of their online schools.

“Despite much effort, enrollment at the elementary grades K-6 has steadily declined since HVA’s (Higley Virtual Academy’s) inception,” Higley Superintendent

Dr. Dawn Foley wrote to parents. “The lack of enrollment has made this model unsustainable for the district, therefore we have made the very difficult decision to close the elementary sections of the HVA beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.”

They are not alone.

“With much consideration and in consultation with our elementary Global families, it has been decided that GPS Global Academy will no longer include grades K-6 due to extremely low enrollment,” Gilbert Unified said in a statement. “We are working with our families to ensure a smooth transition for any students and families affected by this

CIRCUS from Page 15

ences and value each individual person.

With the circus’ personable setting, the cast has witnessed little girls in awe at the acrobats and wanting to go up high in the air just like them; little boys thrilled to shake the strongman’s hand and be lifted by him; and excited grandmothers who want to go on stage and hang out with the clowns.

“As a performer, you get to see that wonder and enjoyment on every one of those faces,” Elia said. “It’s very rewarding, it’s why we love what we do. It’s pretty beautiful.”

“We believe that as circus performers and as children of God, that we are supposed to take care of people,” Elia said. “The moment you’re in our circus, you’re family, and we’re here to take care of you because we love you already.”

While they’ve spent more time on the road in recent years, the Taylors love to

change.”

Both districts said they will continue to offer an online school for grades 7-12. Chandler Unified is urging Gilbert and Higley parents who are looking for an elementary alternative to check them out.

According to the Arizona Department of Education, Chandler Online Academy had 821 students enrolled in the 20212022 school year. Of that number, 374 were in the elementary school grades of 1-6.

Gilbert Global had 704 students, but only 240 were in grades 1-6. Higley did not fare as well, with only 186 students in its Virtual Academy, only 24 in grades 1-6.

The state has not reported the numbers for this school year.

Garrison described what she likes about teaching online.

“I teach kindergarten and first grade,” she said. “So I only have my little guys on the camera for 20 to 25 minutes at a time before they need to have a break and come back. My teaching is very focused so that I can make sure that I reach my standards and my teaching goals within that short timeframe.

“And what it also has done is allow me to reach every student more effectively because we teach in small groups, rather than a whole group setting.”

She said she also likes the fact that online teaching helps her to get to know a student’s entire family better - not just the parents, but also the siblings.

Andrew Penland is a Chandler Online Academy high school teacher who says he made the switch to the virtual world because of the pandemic, but is happy to stay there.

See ONLINE on Page 18

perform in their home state in Arizona.

“We’re just thrilled to be able to do what we love to do and to share that, and we’re excited that Bell Bank Park is giving us that opportunity,” Martin said.

“It’s an absolutely stunning and beautiful facility, and it’s going to be an absolutely wonderful experience for anybody who comes out – they will enjoy the show and the park.”

If you go

Circus Americana

WHEN: Various times Thursday through Sunday from March 16 to April 2

WHERE: Bell Bank Park, 6321 S. Ellsworth Road, Mesa

COST: $25 general admission (bleachers), $45 VIP (seats) INFO: circusamericana.com

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McCarthy Companies’ Chandler center addresses big need

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

There’s been a severe labor shortage that has caused delays to building projects around the nation and St. Louis-based McCarthy Building Companies is doing something about it with its first Innovation and Craft Workforce Center in West Chandler.

The $10 million investment is meant to help train future workers, bringing more electricians, carpenters, plumbers and others into the workforce.

“We noticed the same deficiency in craft workers and the gap between what the overall need is in the local market, and the supply of workers,” said Eric Fields, the vice president of operations for the company. “

“So we wanted to create a space that we could attract that talent that might not be interested in the construction industry, have a space to be able to train them, to give them the skills they need to pursue a career in construction.”

The new training center is partnering with East Valley Institute of Technology to expose young people to possible careers in the construction field.

Fields said ideally these new workers will be hired by McCarthy, but that if they decide to go to a different company, so be it.

“It’s not a selfish thing, we want to just generate momentum for the industry is large,” Fields said. “We have a lot of peer

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companies that we work with, and we want them to be just as successful as we are.

“But there’s a shortage of 4,000 workers – not all of those need to go to McCarthy.”

Fields says many of their new trainees respond to job listings. They will take someone who has no experience and pay them $19 an hour to start.

The first step is to teach them the safety habits they need for their jobs. That

happens in the new training center with the Safe Start classes.

Then, they can expect to work with experienced workers in whatever field they are learning for a few years.

“That’s kind of individual based, but we follow a typical fouryear apprenticeship program,” Fields said.

“If you’re coming to us as a green individual with no experience, usually it’s about four years to get through to get all the knowledge you can before we’d send you out on their own. But, some people develop faster than others.”

He said they are flexible, so if someone starts out as a plumber, but soon learns they don’t like that, they can switch to something else.

“We can help foster that transition into the different trades that might, they might be more passionate about,” Fields said.

“I’m big on wanting to put people in roles that they’re passionate about, because we

ONLINE

2040 S Alma School Rd Suite 19

Chandler, AZ 85286-7075

480-855-1531

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from Page 17

“This has actually been a rejuvenation for me,” he said. “I’ve been in the classroom for 16 years. I really enjoyed it, I had a great experience. But for me this has brought teaching to a different level. With online schools, that this might sound strange, but you can actually make a deeper connection with students than you do in a traditional classroom.”

He explained:

“When you have 180 students in-person, you might have some shy students, students who really kind of stay away from the teacher and they don’t want to interact that much. With online students

usually get better results. And so helping folks find that right career path is definitely something we’re trying to do.”

EVIT students were at the center the first week of March. Fields said they had the class work with the integrated design and delivery team, led by architects, working on a virtual 3D model.

“Then our self perform teams take that model, and break it up into their individual things, you can generate fabrication sheets, those fabrication sheets are then manufactured in our prefab facilities,” Fields said.

“So those students were learning that and then taking one of the fabrication sheets and generating a hands-on activity related a built in-wall roughed in for a plumbing fixture.”

McCarthy is spending a lot of money to attract and train new workers.

“I think you’ll start to see some of these pop up around the country in other McCarthy regions, and probably see other industry partners generating facilities like this to help with that overall demand,” Fields said.

“It’s not just McCarthy that has the need. Definitely want to attract the best talent, then train them and retain them.”

that are all there because they have their own story.”

“I get to interact with them and figure out why they’re there and what I can do to help them. I’m able to really get to know these students on a deeper level.”

Both teachers said they plan to keep teaching online. They also see benefits for students.

“I had a little girl last year who had a death in the family in India, and she was able to go to India and still be at school with me because she was on a screen,” Garrison said.

“That’s another big benefit to our school is that we are so flexible in that all you need to have is your computer and your supplies and you’re good to go.”

Training and prefabrication work yard and storage areas are part of the center.

McCarthy Building Companies Vice President of Operations Eric Fields said, “We wanted to create a space that we could attract that talent that might not be interested in the construction industry. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Ethan Covington measures a pipe fitting in a training jig at McCarthy Building Companies’ new Innovation and Craft Workforce Center.

Interfaith workshop in Chandler to focus on teen mental health

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 901 Erie St., Chandler, will host a “civic academy” examining youth mental health warnings and resources 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, March 13.

The event is sponsored by the Valley Interfaith Project and will discuss warning signs of teens struggling and where to fi nd help.

Speakers will also share stories of how such struggles are affecting Chandler and next steps for building a school district and community that care for students’ mental well-being.

Attendees are asked to RSVP to vipphx@gmail.com.

Information: valleyinterfaithprojectaz. com

Chandler-Gilbert Community College gets science grant

The National Science Foundation has awarded Chandler-Gilbert Community College a grant to help students pursuing degrees in engineering and artifi cial intelligence/machine learning.

Each student will receive a $5,000 per semester scholarship for up to four semesters.

The deadline to apply for the REACH (Research, Engineering, and Artifi cial Intellgence Career Heights) grant is March 31. Information: cgc.edu/reach.

Around Chandler

Chandler Police arrest 17 suspected online predators

The Chandler Police Department says it arrested 17 suspected online predators during a sting operation that took place the week of the Waste Management Phoenix Open and Super Bowl.

Police say it was a joint operation with several law enforcement and non-government organizations during the high-profile events to deter illegal sex-related activities.

The people arrested allegedly solicited illicit sexual activities with minor children in Chandler. The 17 suspects were arrested for 43 sex-related felony crimes. Three firearms and drugs were also seized.

MAG awards $7.1 million in grants to Chandler for various projects

The Maricopa Association of Government (MAG) awarded the city of Chandler $7.1 million to fund several projects as part of its closeout funds.

Most of the money, $4.17 million, will

go to the Frye Road Protected Bike Lanes project. That project is adding barriers between the bike lanes and traffi c from San Marcos Park to the Paseo Trail.

The rest of the money is going toward alley paving ($800,000); a shared use path along Highline and Kyrene Branch

Canal ($100,000); an arterial detection project ($940,000); adding video detection systems and communication equipment to key intersections ($480,000); and improving the regional detection and communication system at 16 intersections ($530,000).

Chandler Library partners with In-N-Out Burger

The Chandler Library and In-N-Out Burger are encouraging children to read during a spring campaign. They are partnering on the Cover-To-Cover Club, asking children 4-12 to read through April 15.

Once they have read five books, they get an Achievement Award, good for a free burger at any In-N-Out location. Participants are eligible for up to three free burgers.

Children must register and will receive a reading log to keep track of the books they have read. They can sign up at any of the library’s four locations.

For more information call 480-7822800.

Bike with the Mayor event coming in April

Mayor Kevin Hartke is inviting Chandler residents to bike with him along the Paseo Trail for the 15th annual Chandler Family Bike Ride.

The nearly eight-mile ride starts at

“Without your donations, I would not be able to go to my Christian school. In my past, I struggled quite a bit with learning, but this school has helped me get better grades and make better friends. This was the opportunity I have been needing for a very long time.”

See AROUND on Page 20

8:30 a.m. April 1 at Chandler’s Park & Ride lot near Tumbleweed Park, at the southwest corner of Germann Road and Hamilton Street.

Cyclists will then travel to Tibshraeny Park, before turning around and returning to Tumbleweed.

Participants get a free T-shirt while supplies last. There will be refreshments and bicycle safety information. Check-in starts at 7:30 a.m.

Working America exhibit opens at Chandler Museum

The photographer exhibit “Working America” is now on display at the Chandler Museum through May 21. Artist Sam Comes presents immigrants and fi rst-generation Americans working in skilled trades in a way to highlight the American experience.

The museum is located at 300 S. Chandler Village Drive and open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

LibCon celebrates pop culture at the Chandler Library

The Chandler Library’s celebration of pop culture, LibCon, in underway through the end of this month.

LibCon celebrates K-pop, comics, super heroes, sci-fi and other pop culture with free programs in March.

The annual event has grown in popu-

larity, from 100 attendees its fi rst year to 400 last year. It targets a teen audience. For a list of upcoming events visit chandlerlibrary.org/LibCon. For information, call 480-782-2800.

Chandler Chamber accepting Community Awards nominations

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its annual Community Awards through April 7.

This will be the 36th year the Chandler Chamber has recognized top businesses,

educators, and public servants. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 1.

For information on how to submit nominations, email info@chandlerchamber.com.

Semicolon Society to host community mental health event

The Semicolon Society plans to hold its fi rst Community Hope Project, which will focus on connecting and healing our Chandler community, and every event

RETURNS MARCH 16-19, 2023

will include a community discussion related to mental health as well as an experiential activity to build community and family connection and support.

The fi rst event is scheduled for 5-to-7 p.m., April 28 at the Chandler Community Center courtyard, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave.

There will be a rock painting activity where participants are asked to write messages of hope to others.

Chandler-Gilbert Community College opens new exhibit

The spring 2023 exhibition, titled “The Art of Storytelling: Illustration and Sequential Art,” has opened at Chandler Gilbert Community College’s Pecos Library Gallery.

The exhibit highlights the development of narratives through traditional and digital media and celebrates students’ works from the Illustration and Sequential Art Program at the college.

Illustration and sequential art is a quickly evolving and relatively new genre and it includes a variety of media such as comic books, animation, gaming, picture books, graphic novels, fantasy illustration, anime, cartooning, and more.

Visitors can explore the inking process by interpreting, fi nalizing, and adding depth and clarity to the pencil drawings provided in the gallery. A walkthrough and reception will be held 4-5 p.m. March 27. The exhibition runs through April 7.

33RD ANNUAL CHANDLER CHAMBER

The Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions Club donated more than 400 books to Galveston Elementary School as part of the “Kids Need to Read” program. Marking the donation were, from left, Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions Club Vice President Brian Curry, Galveston Elementary Dean Carissa Lynch, Lions member Suzanne Coffman and Lions Vice President David Coffman. (Photo courtesy of Mary Gutierrez)

2 S. Chandler girls vie for state spelling title

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

There is no magic formula for being a top speller. It’s pretty much the same requirements for being on top in anything else: You have to work hard.

That’s the takeaway from the two Chandler Unified School District students who will compete at the Arizona Spelling Bee March 18 in Phoenix.

Both South Chandler school students say they are studying every day, getting ready for the competition. They have been busy trying to memorize the more than 4,000 words that were handed out to them.

“Well, I don’t know the meaning of almost all of them, but I know how to spell them,” said Regina Rascon, a 7th grader at Bogle Junior High School.

“I just do a page every day,” said Opal Mishra, a 6th grader at Basha Accelerated Junior High. She said there are 25 pages of words to memorize. “And then the week before I review all the pages.”

There are 27 state finalists who are scheduled to compete at the Madison Center for the Arts. It starts at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public.

The competitors range in age from 8 to 14. The winner and runner-up of the state competition will get to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee starting on May 30.

Arizona has one of the highest spelling bee participation rates in the nation, with more than 484,000 students competing. Thunderbird Charities and the Arizona Educational Foundation are major sponsors for the event.

Both girls play musical instruments, Mishra the clarinet and Regina the piano and violin. Winning spelling bees is noth-

ing new for Regina.

“I lived in Mexico and there was a spelling bee,” she said. “But it was a lot easier than the United States spelling bee.”

She said her family moved to the U.S. in 2020 after her dad got a job here. Regina said there’s no comparison, she prefers the U.S. education over Mexico.

“It has better education and it has electives,” she said. “Mexico didn’t have any electives.”

Her electives here are orchestra, design and modeling. When she’s not playing the violin, she said she likes to read, preferring youth action series such as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.

Opal says her mom is helping her prepare for the bee by quizzing her each night. And when she’s not studying, she enjoys watching TV and playing the clarinet.

Why the clarinet?

“My sister played it, so I wanted to play it too,” Opal said.

The two girls have something else in common. They both said math is their favorite subject.

So what do they think of their chances of winning the Arizona Bee and representing the state at the National competition?

“I think I’ll do it,” Opal said.

“I don’t really know what’s gonna happen, but I hope I can make it to the national,” Regina said.

If you go

Arizona Spelling Bee

WHEN: 10:30 a.m., March 18

WHERE: Madison Center for the Arts, 5601 N. 16th St., Phoenix

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Cafe serves up churros in various

BY MELODY BIRKETT Contributor

Childhood memories of eating churros and watching them made in Santiago, Chile, motivated Jared Naumann to bring the dessert concept to Arizona.

In 2016, Jared and his wife Annie visited Spain and tried the churros.

“When we tried them over there, one of the things I really liked was not only the churro itself but the hot chocolate,” said Naumann, owner of Dulce Churro Cafe in Gilbert and Chandler.

“I’m not a big fan of hot chocolate but when I tried the hot chocolate in Spain, I was surprised and shocked at how good it was. It’s a dark chocolate you dip churros in,” adding that in Spain, people eat churros for breakfast.

There is one big misconception surrounding the tasty treat, he said.

“While a lot of people think churros come from Mexico, they don’t,” Naumann said. “They come from Spain. That’s where they originated. They came to Mexico in 1930. Spaniards went to Mexico and started to make

churros there.”

He said each country throughout South America has its own small variation on how to make churros but they’re typically eaten plain or filled with dulce de leche. Mexico introduced the concept of cinnamon sugar.

In Spain, the shape of churros also is different.

“It’s a little loop,” explained Naumann. “A small loop. Second, the dough is simply made with flour, salt and water. You can add a little bit of sugar if you want to. It’s a very simple mix.

“Over there they fry churros in sunflower seed oil or olive oil that gives it a little bit different taste. After I tried it, I wanted to look into it more.”

The Naumanns learned about a churro school in Spain and six months after his first visit, Jared went back and took the class – learning about the history, preparation and business of churros.

He then bought churro equipment.

“By far, Spaniards make the best quality, longer-lasting equipment for churros,” Naumann said. “I decided to

buy all the equipment. I brought it all back.”

Next, it was time to design the restaurant around this concept — not only the way churros are made in Spain but also in Chile and Mexico because Naumann wants customers to have a choice.

His shops make one dough but offer several shapes that include el grande, loop, Spaniard, bites and donut shapes.

“People can have the churro from all different parts of the world,” he said.

“One of the main things I wanted to do is let people have the experience. You can watch them fry the churros if you go to Mexico or Spain.”

Naumann designed his shops where churros are made to order but also where customers can watch how they’re made.

“The equipment is fun to watch,” said Naumann. “We created a corner with glass…where people can come up, order their churro and then walk over and see the churro being made

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Two South Chandler industrial sites buildings and an office building changed hands in the last month in three separate deals totaling nearly $70 million.

The largest transaction involved the $40.5 million sale of Chandler Crossroads

I and II near the northwest corner of Gilbert and Queen Creek Roads, according to Valley real estate tracker vizzda.com.

Around the same time, CFC-Bracken LP and Ambitus Partners bought a warehouse near the Loop 202 Santan Freeway and Frye Road of a warehouse for $9.7 million.

In a third unrelated deal, Madhouse

Engine bought the Bravo Business Center at Alma School and Queen Creek roads for just under $14 million.

Chandler Crossroads comprises one finished flex building with six tenants that was constructed in 2016 and a second that was finished last August.

Together, the buildings comprise over 216,000 square feet of Class A industrial space on 17.9 acres with over 600 parking spaces, according to vizzda. It said the sale price equaled $185.60 a square foot.

In a marketing brochure representing seller Alidade Capital, brokers Cush-

The two buildings comprising Chandler Crossroads recently sold for $40.5 million, according to Valley real estate tracker vizzda.com. (vizzda.com)

See CHURROS on Page 25

Jared and Annie Naumann bring the taste of Spain to their Dulce Churro Café. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

CHURROS from Page 24

from scratch.”

He said the whole restaurant is designed around the fryer because it’s different than what you see in other kitchens.

Customers have a choice of glazes, toppings, fillings and ice cream.

“We fill them right in front of you,” said Naumann. Fillings include dulce de leche, Nutella, Bavarian cream, peanut butter, strawberry and lemon.

All churros come with cinnamon sugar but Naumann said many people order them plain.

“From that point, you can create your own and add icing, glazes, drizzles like chocolate, caramel, strawberry and white chocolate,” explained Naumann. “You can also choose toppings such as Fruity Pebbles, Oreos, marshmallows, almonds and sprinkles. Sprinkles are the favorite among kids.”

Filled churros are the most popular with dulce de leche being the favorite filling followed by Nutella or Bavarian cream.

As far as the shapes go, the grande

filled is the #1 choice among customers followed by bites. The Spaniard shape seems to be the more popular one for dipping into Spanish hot chocolate.

Naumann opened his first churro store in Gilbert on March 30, 2018, and opened his second store in Chandler two years ago.

“When we opened, we had a line out the door, around the building from 11 a.m.-midnight every day, non-stop,” Naumann. “We served over 12,000 orders in the first 1 1/2 months. We hired 13 employees in the first month.”

Eventually, the business got into catering and serves hundreds of guests each weekend at wedding receptions.

The Mesa resident would like to start franchising but is also looking to open another store in the West Valley and possibly in San Tan Valley and Queen Creek.

Dulce Churro Cafe

1674 N.Higley Road, Gilbert 480-981-3628

1050 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler 480-900-7038 dulcechurrocafe.com

DEALS from Page 24

man& Wakefield pitched projections for the county’s strong future growth – and soaring rental costs.

“Tenant demand keeps driving vacancy down and rental rates upward, it said, noting that mid-way through 2022, vacancy rates for industrial buildings was only at 3.6% while rental rates had climbed 41% in the previous 12 months.

Stating that “high land costs and the lack of available industrial parcels create significant barriers to entry for companies into the Valley market,” the marketing brochure.

The $9.7 million purchase by CFC-Bracken LP and Ambitus Partners involved a nearly 48,000-square-foot building constructed in 1986 on 5.4 acres, vizzda reported, estimating the sale equaled $202 per square foot.

California-based Ambitus Partners describes itself as a real estate investment and property management company that has completed $70 million worth of projects in both California and Arizona.

The Bravo Business Center at Alma School and Queen Creek roads is a set

of five singly-story buildings comprising a total 45,000 square feet of space on 5.6 acres.

Built in 2008, they house 13 office suites.

The $13.9 sale price exceeded the complex’s last sale in 2021 by more than $3.5 million, according to vizzda.

California-based Mad Engine produces various kinds of apparel as well as headwear and backpacks, according to its website.

The global real estate investment company JJL said that over 33.2 million square feet of new light industrial space hit the market last year in the United States alone

But, it added, “this amount is negligible in the grand scheme of things as it only accounts for 0.2% of all vacant space.”

It said total space, both rented and vacant, in the Phoenix Metro area currently is at 328.8 million square feet, although new proposals for new buildings have almost routinely been coming before Valley municipalities for review and approval.

In all, there are more than 1.3 billion square feet of industrial space in the nation, according to JLL.

Chandler comedy club merges with another

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Snow White is setting up shop in Downtown Chandler.

The comedy club ImprovMANIA is undergoing major changes, including adopting a Snow White theme.

The intimate club on Arizona Avenue has moved to a bigger space more than a block north on East Boston Street. It now has two stages, one outdoors, and has changed its name to Mic Drop MANIA.

The name change reflects a merger of two comedy clubs.

David and Colleen Specht owned and performed at ImprovMANIA. For the new space, they wanted to bring in business partners, Casey Currier and Hillary Hutson, who own the Mic Drop Comedy Club in San Diego – which has an Alice in Wonderland theme.

David said that when he and Colleen started ImprovMANIA in 2014, there was little for folks to do in Chandler.

“There was just no entertainment in Chandler at all,” David said. “So we wanted to do improv in Chandler. We did that over there for about eight and a half years.”

He said they are leasing the space on Arizona Avenue and that he and his wife decided to make the move because the space on Boston Street was available to purchase. So, they put in a bid and

bought it.

Then they realized they needed to make changes.

“We just realized the space needed to be open all the time,” David said. “And we’re only two people and we perform at every show.”

That’s when he reached out to Currier, who they knew through mutual friends and who had started out working security at Tempe Improv.

In addition to improv shows, the club plans to bring in top comics from around the nation to perform.

“So if you have not heard of who is on stage, you are going to hear about them

23SPRING TRAINING

OPENING DAY ROCKIES VS. D-BACKS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - 1:10PM

soon because they are on the rise,” Currier said. “And they’re the best comedians in the country.”

Next month actor and comedian Jamie Kennedy is scheduled to perform at Mic Drop MANIA.

The new club will serve a limited menu (it only has seven items, in keeping with the theme). Currier said unlike a lot of comedy clubs, there is no drink or food minimum.

“If you buy a ticket, you can come here and enjoy it,” Currier said. “We’re not going to force you to spend any more money. We want you to have a fun experience and order at will.”

One of the uses for the outdoor stage will be an open mic night every Saturday at 10 p.m so that any local comedians who want to test their material and gain experience can do so.

Those coming to watch might be surprised at the quality of local comedians, Currier said.

“Outside of L.A. and New York, Arizona, and Phoenix is one of the best com-

edy scenes in the country,” Currier said. “So outside of the four or five major clubs in the market, there are little clubs and open mics every night of the week.

“And I think for those that don’t know, Arizona is an absolute hotbed of comedy. The local scene is tremendous.”

The outdoor area in back can also be rented out for local parties and groups. In addition to the shows, David said that they have improv and stand-up classes for those interested in getting into the business.

David and Colleen said that so far, the all the changes are working.

“There are a lot of events in downtown Chandler that, organically, bring foot traffic. There was the Cajun festival last weekend, there’s the Beer and Barbecue Festival, Fourth of July has moved back down here. There’s a weekly farmers market.

“There’s the Corvette show, the wedding walk, there’s all kinds of organic foot traffic that we’re now a part of. And I think we fit in perfectly.”

If you go

Mic Drop Mania

51 E. Boston St., Chandler 480-564-1844 micdropmania.com

Case studies show little used IRA strategies work

BY HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

My February column identified three advanced IRA strategies that aren’t used enough. these strategies and the huge benefits become more understandable with real-life client case studies.

The Roth IRA conversion strategy: I met Joe and Judy in a seminar I gave in June 2019. Joe was 63 and an outside salesman for a premium window and door company. Jill was 65 and retired. They had saved $850,000 of financial assets and wanted to secure their retirement without stock market risk.

They were currently spending $50,000 per year and in retirement asked whether they could spend $75,000 per year in order to afford lifelong bucket list dreams.

Retirement income solution: We were able to reduce the amount invested in Wall Street to only $85,000 and used the other funds to deposit in private pension annuities and other safe alternatives.

Joe was able to wait until age 70 to retire and take maximum Social Security because he loved his job. At age 70, total annual retirement income is projected to be about $119,922, which is much more

than their $75,000 goal.

Tax solution: In 2020, the only question left was whether Judy wanted her future $22,097 annual private pension income to be taxable (because it was funded with a traditional IRA) or tax-free.

They bought some solar business equipment to reduce federal tax to $0 on a total $300,566 taxable income, including the $252,720 Roth IRA Conversion of her private pension. Now her future $22,097 of annual income will be totally tax-free for the rest of her life.

Roth and Multi-Generational IRA strategies: Mary is a retired nurse, age 71, whose physician husband died many years ago. She has $4 million of financial assets, including $1.2 million in a traditional IRA.

She has only one child, a son age 40 who lives with her. Her goal is to avoid having to take required minimum distributions (RMDs), starting at age 73, and leave her son as much as possible.

She decided to convert $600,000 to a Roth IRA in 2022 and will convert the other $600,000 to a Roth IRA in 2023. Using an advanced financial concept, economic opportunity cost/benefit analysis, the tax-savings effect of a $1.2 million Roth IRA Conversion will add $4,981,524 more

Mic Drop MANIA offers a small but intimate setting for comedians to work their magic. (Facebook)

Pickleball Kingdom founder franchising his concept

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The founder of an indoor pickleball facility in Chandler says his business has been so successful that he’s franchising it.

Mike “Ace” Rodrigues opened the 15-court Pickleball Kingdom last May on the northeast corner of Ray and Rural roads, touting his facility as not only air-conditioned and wind-free but also an ideal spot for corporate events, birthday parties and other celebrations.

Now, he’s hoping his idea will catch on statewide and across the nation – if not the world – because he considers it “with a proven successful working model.”

“We all know how fun pickleball is. What’s not fun is waiting for a court, playing in the heat or cold with the sun in your eyes, and having the wind affect your game. We’ve solved all those problems in Arizona. Now we’re exporting it, first to the rest of the country… then the world,” said Rodrigues, founder and CEO of Pickleball Kingdom.

A recent report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association called pickleball the “fastest-growing sport in America, reporting that it has attracted 4.8 million players nationwide and has grown in popularity by 40% since 2020.

from Page 26

net wealth for her family.

She bought solar business equipment, and used the massive 30% solar credit and “bonus” depreciation to offset all the federal income tax on a total $790,053 of 2022 federal taxable income.

She has achieved her goal of a large Roth IRA Conversion without paying federal income tax or having to take future RMDs. She will owe $0 income tax for the rest of her life on the $1.2 million Roth IRA and her son will owe $0 income tax on the Roth IRA for the first 10 years after he inherits it.

Conclusion: these advanced IRA strategies can add millions of net wealth to a family.

Free live seminars: 6 p.m. March 22 followed by free dinner or 10 a.m. March 25 followed by free lunch. Both are at Hyatt Place, 3535 W. Chandler Blvd. Chandler. Topic is “Advanced IRA Strategies: Secrets of Roth, Multi-Generational, and Self-Directed IRAs”

Free tour/workshop: 9 a.m.-noon April 1 at Solar Reefer (Refrigeration) Factory. Topic is “How Solar Reefers can Reduce Taxes to $0 and earn a steady 1014%.” Lots of tasty refreshments served, Location is at Advanced Energy Machines: 4245 E. Norcroft St., Mesa, a quarter mile southwest of McDowell and Greenfield roads.

To RSVP for the seminar or schedule a free consultation, contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@ hotmail.com. His website is www.drharoldwong.com. Wong earned his Ph.D. in Economics at University of California/ Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

The association tracks the popularity of sports through the sale of related merchandise.

“It is almost a cliché at this point that the pandemic did not so much create trends as much as accelerated them. Pickleball has grown in popularity for the past five years and did not miss a beat during the pandemic. Pickleball’s growth trajectory gives every indication it will be a significant part of the American sport landscape for the foreseeable future,” said Tom Cove, President/CEO of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

Municipalities have had a tough time meeting the demand for public pickleball courts.

For example, the pickleball complex at Pecos Park in Ahwatukee at the southern end of 48th Street, draws players from as far south as Casa Grande, according to some local residents who are lobbying Phoenix to create more courts.

Rodrigues said his idea for Pickleball Kingdom was born two years ago on a dirty public court while standing in the sun waiting to get onto a court on a windy day.

It took a year to build the Chandler arena and now he and his team put to-

gether an operations manual they call

“The Keys to the Kingdom.”

“It would have been irresponsible of us to have launched franchising earlier,”

Rodrigues said. “Indoor pickleball is a brand-new industry. It’s not a gym, it’s not a giant playground. There was so much to learn and mistakes needed to be made and fixed.

“The heavy lifting is done. I didn’t want franchisees paying us while we were still figuring it out. That learning curve happened on our dime.”

Rodrigues said his team “checs all the boxes” for the five elements of a successful franchise: a market that desires the product or service, working proof of concept, a plan, franchising experience and industry-specific knowledge.

His team includes: Jon Brovitz, who has over 20 years as a large multi-unit franchisee with Massage Envy and Amazing Lash; David Haynie, a professional pickleball player and coach and general manager of Pickleball Kingdom; and Steve Holmes, whose business serves franchisees.

“One of our core beliefs is, ‘Life is better with pickleball,’” Rodrigues said, saying his concept includes a free introductory lesson, courts without waiting, and “a better environment to play in.”

Information: PickleballKingdom.com or ladyj@pickleballkingdom.com

Mike “Ace” Rodrigues is CEO/founder of Pickleball Kingdom in Chandler. (Courtesy of Pickleball Kingdom)

Valley Christian wins back-to-back 3A titles

BY SPENCER DUROSE

Contributing Writer

The kings of the 3A division showed no mercy in Saturday night’s 3A state championship matchup versus Monument Valley. The Trojans of Valley Christian fueled o of a near-perfect second half to claim a 65-44 victory.

After a slow start, the Trojans found themselves down 15-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Luke Shaw, the team’s leading scorer this year, put up nine points alone. He quickly followed that up with another nine in the second quarter, nailing three 3s.

Shaw, who played for the Trojans state championship team last year, totaled 34 points on the night. He expressed how much this win meant to him.

“It’s amazing,” Shaw said. “God’s blessed me with this amazing team, this amazing program, these coaches. Every guy on this team I love to death, and we just came out here as brothers and that got us the win.”

The Trojans led at half 30-23 after a much better second quarter.

Valley Christian followed up its second quarter performance with an even bet-

ter third quarter. The team went up by as much as 15, ending the quarter leading 48-38.

Head coach Greg Haagsma attributes the team’s versatility as the main reason for their second-half surge.

“The game plan was we’ve got great o ensive players, and we’ve got Caleb

Danseizen and Jake Harrison who absolutely love to play defense,” he said. “We have guys who fill roles and we value every role as being important on this team whether it’s a defensive role, o ensive role, or rebounding role. They all do their roles well.”

The Trojans continued the pressure heading into the fourth, leaving no questions behind as to who the better team was. The team put up 27 points, allowing the Mustangs just six.

From there they cruised to victory and the celebration was on.

The win marks the eighth state championship won by the Trojans under Haagsma. The team has appeared in nine title games overall.

It’s quickly become one of the powerhouse programs in the state, let alone at the 3A level. It’s attracted multiple star players and in recent year, star coaches to mentor the players alongside Haagsma, too.

Assistant coach, and longtime hall of fame head coach in the state of Washington, Roger De Boer described how blessed he was for the opportunity to start coaching for the program just two years ago.

“Our family has found a home,” De Boer said. “This community’s been so good to us and Greg has been so great to me as far as being a friend and giving me a ton of leash as a coach and allowing us to put in a lot of our systems. I just appreciate this community so very much for embracing our family. Being around great people is what it’s about for us and our family.”

Valley Christian ends its season with a 30-2 record, one of the best all-time for a team that many counted out due to their young age.

The win could only simply be described by Haagsma as emotional.

“For me, obviously I love it. But this is about the kids,” Haagsma said. “I get nervous because I want it so bad for them.”

Perry wins first Open Division basketball title

BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Perry head boys basketball coach Sam Duane said his players have handled the expectations set on them this season well.

They’ve stayed grounded. They haven’t let national rankings or other outside forces get in the way of their ultimate goal: Winning the first-ever Open Division state championship.

That goal was accomplished earlier this month at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in dominating fashion.

Sophomore forward Koa Peat led the way for the Pumas, finishing with 35 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks as No. 1 Perry beat No. 10 Sunnyslope 74-58 to win the Open Division state title.

“This one feels really good because of the expectations and the challenges our guys had to go through,” Duane said. “I’m really proud of our guys.”

Perry knew in order to slow down Sunnyslope, it had to limit guard John Mattingley. But perhaps his biggest challenge was ahead of him going toe-to-toe with

Perry senior and five-star Colorado signee Cody Williams.

Duane challenged Williams to guard Mattingley on the defensive end of the floor and he rose to the occasion, as he has all season.

Mattingly was held scoreless in the first half. It allowed Perry to jump out to an initial 16-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Then, a surge in the second quarter from Perry quickly put the game out of reach as the Pumas outscored the Vikings 20-8.

“Cody did a great job on him in the first half, he had zero points,” Peat said. “I gotta give big credit to Cody, man. We all played really good defense, but Cody played really good defense. He’s the player of the year, come on.”

When given a chance to take over, Peat took it.

He powered his way into the lane, drawing contact on nearly every trip for and one opportunities. When Sunnys-

Valley Christian’s boys’ basketball team secured its second straight 3A state championship on Saturday, Feb. 25, beating Monument Valley. (Spencer Durose/Contributor)

lope blocked o the lane, he pulled up for a midrange jumper. Shot after shot fell for the 6-foot-8 sophomore.

“Koa Peat is hard to stop,” Duane said. “He makes guys good coaches.”

Even as Sunnyslope gained some momentum in the second half behind Portela and Mattingly finding space to score, the Vikings couldn’t stop the onslaught from Perry’s o ense.

Williams finished his final high school game with 15 points. Sophomore Nono Brown had 9, senior Ben Egbo had 7 and

sophomore D’Andre Harrison corralled 10 rebounds.

Peat exited the floor in the fourth quarter to “MVP” chants from the Perry student section. Williams and Egbo, the only two senior starters, received standing ovations.

“It’s even better when the whole season people were saying we weren’t going to win the Open Division, we’re not as tough, we can’t go back-to-back,” Williams said. “It’s nice to see all of those brackets they drew up of us losing pulled up and see we beat everybody.

“It’s nice to be the best in the state.”

Perry’s boys basketball team hoists the Open Division state championship trophy after knocking o Sunnyslope on Saturday, March 4 at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. (Dave Minton/Sta Photographer)

Chandler man touts benefits of doing business in Israel

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Israel is really good at business, David Wanetick argues. The Chandler man said the rest of the world could benefit by partnering with Israeli companies – and he’s ready to help.

“Israel has about as many unicorns as all of Europe,” Wanetick said, referring to the business term for a startup company that has a value of at least $1 billion.

“The Israeli population is maybe 9 million, and greater Europe, including Eastern Europe and so forth, is about 750 million.”

That is one reason why Wanetick is promoting Israeli businesses to the rest of the world with his podcast, “Solution Nation.”

So what is the secret to Israeli success?

“I think they have the capability, they just have a lot of good ideas, a lot of great technology, there’s a lot of funding in Israel, and a lot of venture capital money is available,” Wanetick said.

“The government has been helpful to the government is has incubators, and facilitate alliances between universities and companies. So they just have a lot of capability to bring good solutions to the market.”

Wanetick said he has always had a connection to Israel.

“I’m Jewish. When I was going to college, I spent a semester at university of Tel Aviv, I went through ... basic training in the Israeli army a long time ago,

learned how to speak Hebrew, married a woman from Israel.

“The wife is Israeli, the kids are Israeli. So we have that connection. Israel is just a very fertile place to, to find great innovation,” Wanetick said.

One reason Israeli businesses are successful is that they are forced to think globally, because their population is so small, Wanetick said.

Also, being a land of immigrants, it has a population that has connections all around the globe.

“The point there is that Israeli companies can recruit the people that they need if they want to open markets in Latin America, or Western Europe, or wherever people speak those languages and are familiar with the countries,” he explained.

In addition to the podcasts, Wanetick has written a book, “Solution Nation: One Nation is Disproportionately Re-

sponding to the World’s Most Intractable Problems.”

He said Israeli companies are looking to build good will around the world because Israel needs the support of other nations.

For example, Wanetick said that Israeli companies are doing a lot of work in Africa to address famine there, saying that they have a lot of expertise about growing food in a desert.

Wanetick said any business person who wants to take their company global can learn from his podcasts.

For example, he has one podcast on an Israeli company trying to do business in Cambodia and the lessons they learned. Those lessons could be applied to a U.S. company that wants to do business in that Asian nation, he said..

“It’s a great place to learn about a lot of industries,” Wanetick said. “And even if people don’t care so much about Israel, if they just want to learn about insurance technology ... it’s a great library.

“If a company is looking to add a cybersecurity element to their software package, that would be something to consider.”

To listen to the podcasts, visit solutionnation.info.

Sun Lakes mourns Pearl Harbor survivor Jack Holder

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Sun Lakes resident Jack Holder, a survivor of the Pearl Harbor bombing on Dec. 7, 1941, died Feb. 25 at Chandler Regional Medical Center. He was 101.

“It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of our dearest friend and esteemed member of the Greatest Generation, Pearl Harbor survivor and Navy Flight Engineer Jack Holder,” Darlene Tryon wrote in a social media post. The retired master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force is a friend and executor of Holder’s estate.

The Sun Lakes community celebrated Holder’s 100th birthday in December 2021 with a parade. There was a surprise party later that night at an American Legion post in Phoenix.

Holder said at the time they pulled it o .

“Completely surprised,” the Navy veteran said. “I had no idea where it was going to be, what it was going to be.”

Holder was 19 on the day the Japanese

bombed Pearl Harbor. He and a shipmate jumped into a ditch to escape the bombs. They clung to one another and prayed the attack would end quickly. At one point, a Japanese plane flew toward them with its machine gun firing.

“When I came out, I saw devastation I’ll never forget,” he said during a 2020 interview. That included watching men swim through oil and fire. Some of those men did not survive. More than 2,400 died in the attack and nearly 1,200 more were wounded.

David Wanetick touted his book, “Solution Nation,” at the Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Chandler.

(David Minton/Sta Photographer)

A neighborhood parade rolled in from of the late Jack Holder’s Sun Lakes home in December 2021 when he marked his 100th birthday.

AP classes help CUSD students acquire college credits

BY MURRAY SIEGEL Guest Writer

The Advanced Placement program was designed to allow high school students to take college courses at their school, taught by qualified high school teachers.

Chandler Unified School District recognizes the value of AP and in the 202122 school year, students took a total 6,694 AP exams with 78.7% receiving a grade that will earn them college credit.

Why do colleges accept AP exam results to o er college credit and what benefits accrue from receiving this credit?

Some years ago, colleges were disappointed with the results of some students who had AP courses on their high school transcript.

It appeared that some high schools were labeling classes “AP” without those classes being college-level.

The College Board required schools to verify that their AP classes were appropriate by responding to an audit. Course outlines were submitted and the textbook was identified as a college-level text. In some cases, examples of tests were requested and teachers were interviewed.

College credit received via AP has several advantages. Many of the AP classes

HOLDER

from Page 30

Holder earned two Navy Distinguished Flying Crosses for his service during World War II. He sunk two enemy submarines and participated in the Battle of Midway. That medal is awarded to individuals who acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while in aerial flight.

After the war he became a commercial pilot while living in California. He retired in 1991 and moved to Arizona then.

He spoke to more than 30,000 school children about his life experiences.

Holder was raised as an only child on a farm in Gunter, Texas, watching his uncle fly crop dusters. He said in that 2020 interview he realized that life was not for him.

“It’s all work and no money,” he said, “I learned pretty quick that I wasn’t going to let farming consume my life.”

Instead, with what looked like war on the horizon he said he remembered his father’s stories of traveling across Europe during World War I and longed for a sim-

are the basic “core courses” where the college class is in a lecture hall with a class of 500 students – not conducive for significant learning.

AP credit will allow students to skip these large lecture classes and provide flexibility. Students can change majors, add a second major, participate in a study abroad program or add minors without delaying graduation.

Some parents and politicians have decided that some material in an AP class were not appropriate for high school students.

Assigned readings in AP English were deemed “too adult” while essays to be studied in AP History included topics such as slavery, segregation, racial prejudice and same-sex marriage.

AP Statistics texts described statistical studies involving birth control, the value of prayer and homosexuality, to which parents did not want their children ex-

posed.

The AP course is a college course and the material is commonly studied in university classes. At the vast majority of high schools, AP courses are not required.

Parents who object to the AP curriculum can simply have his or her child regis-

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ilar adventure.

During the war the Navy flight engineer participated in battles over both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. In addition to Midway, he was also part of the fighting at Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands.

After the war he started flying corporate and commercial aircraft. He also was a pro golfer for three years and started Texco Oil Company, serving as its board chairman and president for four years.

During most of his adult life, he did not speak about what happened during World War II. That changed in the 1980s after he was invited with other veterans to be part of an honor flight for the World War II Memorial.

One of Holder’s last public appearances was a return to Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 2022, to mark the 81st anniversary of the bombing.

Tryon said memorial services for Holder ware being planned for early April in Phoenix. She said she will take Holder’s remains to Arlington National Cemetery outside of Washington, D.C.

ter for an alternate high school class. Murray Siegel has taught AP Calculus and AP Statistics and was a College Board consultant preparing high school faculty to teach AP Statistics. As a member of the leadership team, he supervised the grading of AP Statistics exams by high school and college faculty.

(Stock image)

Sun Lakes Rotary seeks help in library campaign

BY DR. HONORA NORTON

Guest Writer

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes is proud to support many educational opportunities within the East Valley.

One of these exceptional programs is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which launched in 1995 and has become the premier early childhood book gifting program in the world and has mailed almost 200 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, the Republic of Ireland and the United States.

Currently, the program mails over two million specially selected, age-appropriate books monthly to registered children from birth to age 5.

Recent studies suggest participation in

the Imagination Library program is positively and significantly associated with higher measures of early language and math development.

Reading regularly to your children during their preschool years gives them the biggest boost toward a successful education.

Val Crump, who is leading the club’s drive on behalf of the library, said Dolly Parton’s vision was to create a lifelong love of reading, prepare children for school and inspire them to dream, as well as support her desire to improve each child’s educational opportunities.

RCSL partnered with the Dolly Parton Foundation in 2019 to provide books to children in four East Valley zip codes, at no cost to the family.

These books are available at no cost for children from birth until their 5th birthday.

The Sun Lakes Rotary Club currently has over 700 children registered in its program, and it is rapidly growing.

If you believe in and have a passion for early childhood development, the club is asking for your help to continue to provide this valuable service to our community children.

RCSL is looking for corporate sponsors and any individual donations. For only $150, one child would receive one book a month, from birth until their 5th birthday. That’s 60 books!

For more information, contact Val Crump at mcrump9544@hotmail.com.

For more information about the RCSL

Jewish War Veterans post helping homeless vets

Jennifer Gewarges, executive director for U. S. Vets-Phoenix, will address Jewish War Veterans, Copper State Post 619, Sunday, March 19.

The veterans meet in the poolside building of Oakwood Country Club, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd., Sun Lakes, and will be accepting clothing donations for the new homeless shelter at 9:15 a.m. A free brunch is o ered beginning at

9:30 a.m. followed by the speaker at 10 a.m. All are welcome, but brunch reservations must be made by March 17 by contacting Judy Wolin at cjsunlakes@ msn.com or 480-802-8521.

The four-floor U.S.Vets’ new site, which will hold 182 veterans, is anticipated to open in April and o ers elevators, a private wing to allow more safety for women, an indoor gym area, a kitchen and dining hall.

At the JWV meeting, Gewarges will detail how the veterans are selected and the services provided to help them obtain regular housing.

The new facility will have a drop o center and a mini-store where veterans can have a shopping experience selecting clothes to get them started in the program.

JWV is collecting used clothing in excellent condition and new socks and underwear. Shirts, pants, sport & outerwear jackets, pajamas, accessories, and shoes are welcomed for men. Women can use sportswear, sweaters, jackets, outerwear, casual business attire, sleepwear, accessories, and shoes.

JWV Post 619 meets the third Sunday of every month from September-May boasts members who represent a wide range of religious a liations. JWV participates in philanthropic activities to help

veterans of all faiths. It is not necessary to be a veteran to join.

To learn more about JWV activities and membership, contact Commander Chuck Wolin 602-300-5913 or cjsunlakes@msn.com.

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Dr. Honora Norton is the Sun Lakes Rotary Club’s image director.

No joke: April 1 show o ers exquisite art

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Some 26 new and returning artists will have their art on display for area residents and collectors at the Ocotillo Art & Fine Craft Show.

No kidding.

Just because the show runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 1 in Downtown Ocotillo in Southern Chandler, doesn’t mean this is a joke.

Far from it, because some of the state’s most talented artists will be bringing their creations for viewing and purchase.

And no foolin’: Admission is free and so is the ample parking.

Artists joining the show for the first time include fiber artist Mimi Damrauer of Mimi Designs and acrylic painter Susan Hansberry.

In addition, metal artist Marsha Thomas will be on hand with her artwork as will artist Noah Wilsey of Wilsey Glass.

Returning artists include mixed media artist Asi Panoutsopoulou with Designs by Asi and sculpture artist Phil Webster of Phil Webster Design.

Sponsored by the Ocotillo Artists Group, artisans include ceramicists, jewelers, painters, photographers, a woodworker and more, creating one-of-akind art for collectors as well as for gifts. Music will be provided again by violinist Shauna Hormiere.

“We are thrilled to have so many great artists joining us again this year in Downtown Ocotillo,” said organizer and ceramic artist Sandy Ashbaugh of the Ocotillo Artists Group. “Thanks again to Spike Lawrence for providing the space for us.”

Other artists at the show will be Susan Hansberry*, Simple Living Studio, acrylic; Sandy Ashbaugh, of SLAB Studio, ceramics; Robert Snyder* of Perpetuity

Pottery, ceramics; Russell Frank, Russell Frank Pottery and Pastels, ceramic, pottery.

Other artists include Noah Wilsey, Wilsey Glass, glass; Kim Nelander, Kimsgemz, jewelry; Dalena Watson, Arizona Desert Gems, jewelry; Donna Vogel, Donna Vogel Jewelry, jewelry; Stella Williams, Stella’s Balcony LLC, jewelry.

Also on hand will be Joan Adam, Joan Adam Artist, mixed media; Merrie Taverna*, mixed media; Terri Pate, Terri Pate Art, mixed media; Ginger Marsh, Stone by Stone, mixed media; and Maria Davis, MBDavis Art, mixed media.

Caryl Jonas, mixed media artists with Treasures With a Twist will be showing her work along with: William Samora, Designs by Lalo, mixed media; Asi Panoutsopoulou, Designs by Asi LLC, mixed media; Ken Tersten, Ken Tersten Photography, photography; Joel Cook*, Joel Cook Photography, photography; Phil Webster, Phil Webster Design, sculpture; Cheri Reckers, silk painting; Ryan Hill, Hill House Woodworking, wood.

Look for the white tents in Downtown Ocotillo, 2577 W. Queen Creek Road.

The Ocotillo Artists Group is an organization of high-quality artists, crafts people and makers who live in or near the Ocotillo area of Chandler, Arizona. The members are dedicated to supporting each other with monthly meetings, programs, networking and art exhibits.

For more information, visit the Facebook and Instagram pages of Ocotillo Artists Group on Facebook and Instagram or email at ocotilloartistsgroup@ gmail.com.

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Metal artist Marsha Thomas’s work will be available for sale at the Ocotillo Art, Fine Craft Show April 1.

Asi Panoutsopoulou’s popular pieces from Designs by Asi will be among the many works at the Ocotillo show.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

All lives matter and our faith matters

BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER Coumnist

How many times have we wished we had the ability to express ourselves when we are the recipients of goodness as demonstrated by others?

Sometimes we just look in amazement at the many people who cross our paths during our journey who have had an impact on our lives.

Perhaps we take these individuals for granted or even come to expect the different episodes that give us fulfillment.

Each morning when we awake to a new day, we can also find new things that will brighten our day or make the experience more exciting in so many ways. But then we forget all too often, to just say a simple “thank you.”

We tend to forget those who impact our lives – the postal worker, or the law enforcement o cers, or the gardener, or even the grocery clerk, and for sure the men and women who proudly serve our country.

If we stop to think, there are so many

groups and individuals who are part of us in so many ways.

Even Scripture demonstrates how easy it is to forget until time slides by us and we are forgotten as we forget.

People’s minds sometimes are enslaved, not for thinking di erently, but because we choose to ignore the blessings we receive. We take the benevolence o ered by God and squander it on complacency and the desire to be part of a greater society rather than contribute to it.

Then I watch a movie titled “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

And each time I find something di erent in the message. It is a timeless story of greed and goodness combined to emphasize that each contradicts the other.

The miracles experienced in this film come from the fact that adversity sometimes wakes us up to reality, the reality that goodness comes with e ort, and greed rears its ugly head so easily.

No person is alone if she or he has friends. And no person is alone if he or she has faith. I believe they go together. Our faith is somehow strengthened when can hold a hand or be together as we share the di culties as well as the

goodness.

Each of us represents a microscopic view of the world. If we listen and watch we can see the whole world in front of us – from dialogue, to accent, to wishes and completion.

We may look di erently on the outside, but inwardly we share the same needs and desires. We all need compassion and caring, acceptance and togetherness.

Most importantly, however, is our desire for life. If we really think about it we would see that our values are no di erent than those of the person sitting next to us, or living next door to us, or residing miles away, or even in distant lands.

Albert Einstein, I believe, summed it up best: “Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we know:

That we are here for the sake of others…above all, for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy.”

I could not help but think as I read these words how much impact we have on the lives of those we have contact with every day.

We probably will never know to what extent we truly a ect their lives.

I do know that every time people gather either for prayer, or to celebrate a special occasion, or share a sorrow, there is a feeling of contentment and satisfaction in the knowledge that no one need be alone.

The men and women whom we chose to lead us in these di cult times of terror, uncertainty, desecrations, hopefully are answering a noble cause – the cause of survival and continuity. Even in our small corner of this great universe, it does matter, all lives matter, our faith matters.

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D., is the spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Community.

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Train pulling into Chandler complete with hits

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

Jangle rockers Train are preparing surprises for their career-spanning set on the first night of the Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival, Friday, March 17.

“We always give people what they’d like to hear and then we always come out with something new every tour,” said Pat Monahan, Train’s singer. “We’re debating what those new things are. We have a bunch of options.”

Train kicks o the festival, followed by Commodores and Nicky Youre on Saturday, March 18. Sublime with Rome wraps it up on Sunday, March 19.

Organized by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations, the Ostrich Festival also features family-friendly entertainment, stage shows and vendors.

Train heads to Chandler on the heels of its seventh sold-out Sail Across the Sun cruise. For Monahan it was a family a air, as his son Rock, 11, and daughter, Autumn, 14, performed on the ship, too.

“My son is very passionate about music,” Monahan said. “We just did a cruise, and he was one of the artists on the cruise. He played with my band. He’s so inspiring, as great as he is at such a young age. Autumn also performed with him. They did, ‘You’re the One that I Want’ (from ‘Grease’).”

The “ridiculously fun” cruise allows Train fans to mingle with the San Francisco-born band. Monahan said he sings karaoke with vacationers and participates in game shows.

“I go out and I just start singing with whatever they’re singing,” Monahan added about karaoke.

After the Chandler gig, Train has another 50 shows, including the band’s first stop in Anchorage. The sets at all of Train’s shows will feature tracks like “Drops of Jupiter,” “Drive By,” “Play That Song,” “Hey, Soul Sister,” “Marry Me,” “Calling All Angels” and “Meet Virginia.”

Recently, Train celebrated the 25th anniversary of its self-titled debut album, which featured the melancholy hit “Meet Virginia.”

Since its formation in 1994, Train has

had 14 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100, 12 albums on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and has sold more than 10 million albums and 30 million tracks worldwide.

The 2001 “Drops of Jupiter” earned Grammy award for best rock song. “Calling All Angels” was nominated for two Grammys in 2004; and 2011 saw a return to the Grammy win for “Hey, Soul Sister.”

The band’s 2010 hit “Hey, Soul Sister” surpassed 1 billion streams in 2022 on Spotify. Monahan can easily grasp that his career has spanned a quarter of a century.

“I’ve been through enough that it feels like it’s been a good 25 years,” he said.

“It’s always good to still be in the game. There aren’t many careers you can have for 25 years, especially sports. Looking back, I wouldn’t change ‘Train’ — maybe other records. If I coul add anything to it, I would add some tempo songs. It was a good, initial kind of introduction to Train. It was pretty emotional. It had some songs like ‘Meet Virginia,’ which was quirky and fun. It was a serious record. I like that one still. I can still listen to that one.”

In May 2022, Train released its 11th studio album, “AM Gold.”

“I make records for Train fans and, myself, of course,” he said.

“It would have been fun to get that into more people’s hands. The ‘AM Gold’ album was one of the easiest albums I’ve been a part of. I worked with Butch Walker, who’s been a dear friend for a long, long time. We would work together and then go out on the boat and drink champagne. There wasn’t so much pain to it.”

If you go

Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival

WHEN: Friday, March 17, to Sunday, March 19

WHERE: Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Road, Chandler COST: $30 for adults; $20 for children; free for children 4 and younger; $150 for VIP INFO: otrichfestival.com

Big names headline KNIX BBQ and Beer Festival

BY JOSH ORTEGA GetOut Sta

Fire up the grill, chill the drinks, and crank the sound for the KNIX Barbeque and Beer Festival presented by KNIX 102.5FM and Forty8 Live.

Arizona’s largest annual barbecue event returns for its 14th year to Tumbleweed Park in Chandler on March 25, with Chris Janson, Craig Morgan, Hailey Whitters and Connor Smith taking the stage.

The ultimate barbecue experience features full day of sustenance, suds and sounds including more than 30 barbecue pit masters, multiple themed bars, line dancing, a massive March Madness sports bar, lumberjack show, and kids zone.

The expanded VIP area starting at $225, with catered barbecue, private bars, shaded areas, standing pit access in front of the stage, restroom suites, VIP exclusive entertainment, soft seating,

fire pits and a commemorative lanyard. A portion of proceeds from the event will be donated to various nonprofits. Janson, an Academy of Country Music winner, says he’ll go hunting in Florida in between stops of his “Heavy & Western Tour.”

The outdoors holds a special place in the Missouri-born singer’s heart, with honors such as receiving Bass Pro Shops’ “Fisherman’s Best Friend Award,” as well as the Tennessee Wildlife Foundation’s Dan and Cherie Hammond Sharing the Harvest Award in May 2022 for his conservation e orts.

Country music artist and author Craig Morgan served more than 17 years in U.S. Army before he produced such hits as “Redneck Yacht Club,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday” and “International Harvester,” he

He has played more than 60 shows a year for 20 years, and cautions, “First of

all, I’m not a legend,” Morgan says. “Secondly, I do every show is if everyone there had never heard it.”

Morgan says Janson has opened for him over the years and someone he’s known for nearly a decade “before he had a hit.”

“He’s got some great songs,” Morgan says. “Songs that I think the majority of our fan base can relate to.”

The influx of social media has changed the music industry, says Connor Smith.

Songwriting seemed like an “attainable” job and by the time he was 6, he was writing his own. Signing at the age of 9 with his first label as and becoming so immersed in songs and where they came from, the Music City native signed with The Valory Music Co. in 2019, and o cially joined the Big Machine Label Group.

He has special memories of finding his sweet tooth in the Valley.

Smith has made some trips to Arizona a handful of times including when he opened for Thomas Rhett in Phoenix and looks forward to making a return trip to the Valley a part of his big plans in 2023.

“It’s going to be a big year,” Smith says. “So, excited to spend a little of that time with you guys in Arizona.”

If you go

KNIX Barbeque and Beer Festival

WHEN: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 25

WHERE: Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Road, Chandler COST: Tickets start at $55. Kids 12 and under free INFO: forty8live.com

Train, fronted by Pat Monahan, far left, headlines the first night of the Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival on Friday, March 17. (Brooke Clark/Contributor)

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