Neighbors
www.SanTanSun.com
May 2 - May 15, 2015
45
Neighbors Copperstar, Higley Center team up for ‘Les Miserables’ PAGE 50
I-HELP provides nightly shelter, meals to the homeless PAGE 68
Where to Eat PAGES 58-59
Life with hearing loss poses variety of challenges specialist with the Arizona Commission for For Larry Serpa, the hardest part about the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, said that having a hearing loss is not keeping his Serpa is one of around 1.1 million people new digital hearing aids dry or having to in Arizona who have some type of hearing ask for a special closed-captioned device loss. at movie theaters so he can follow the In honor of May being Better Hearing dialogue. and Speech Month, Michaels said the It’s the unnerving feeling that organization is on a statewide campaign to he’s always a encourage everyone to microsecond get their hearing tested. behind hearing and Michaels said the processing what No. 1 cause of hearing someone has said. loss is noise. “With a hearing “Our environment loss, it’s not just is much noisier now hearing that is than it was in the olden a challenge but days,” she said, adding processing it too, so that the popularity of I always feel like I’m ear buds, which direct a bit behind,” said sounds right next to Serpa, a Chandler the ear drum, can also resident. cause damage over “It can be very time. distracting to always In many cases, think, ‘Did they just Michaels said, a person say this or that?’ who has a hearing and you often hear loss might not realize things that are not there is a problem. said, and miss things As someone whose hearing loss was Oftentimes, a spouse, brought on in part by exposure to loud that are.” friend or co-worker will Serpa has a high- noises, Larry Serpa of Chandler is connotice that something cerned with how loud everyday life has end hearing loss is amiss. become, and how kids and adults are overthat was caused by “People who have stimulated by constant background noise. exposure to too a hearing loss may Submitted photo much loud noise, complain that other including music people are mumbling, and hunting, as well as ear infections as a or that they cannot hear talking from child. He estimates he has about a 30- to another room, or that they cannot hear 40-percent loss, and has worn hearing aids their grandkids’ little voices,” she said. in both ears for the past 10 years. These, she said, are definite signs that Michele Michaels, hard of hearing
BY ALISON STANTON
SEE HEARING LOSS PAGE 46
Pick Your Ride to help charities BY KEN ABRAMCZYK
Organizers of fundraisers often pick one—and only one—mode of transportation used by the events’ participants in the quest to raise donations and pledges for notable causes or charities. Fundraisers run the gamut, as organizers might schedule a 30-mile trek on a bicycle, or a short motorcycle ride followed by a motorcycle show to view these fine pieces of machinery. Riders can use either of these twowheeled methods, or a car, truck or even a Segway personal motorized scooter on the Club 480 Pick Your Ride event on Saturday, May 9. Registration is scheduled at 9:30
a.m. The ride begins at 10 a.m. Participants will ride to help the Chandler Firefighters Charities. Registration is $15. Shirts will be sold for $15 at 480 Neighborhood Bar to support the charities. The ride starts at Hungry Monk, 1760 W. Chandler Blvd., then riders proceed to The Perch Pub & Brewery, 232 S. Wall St.; the William B. Pate VFW Post 7401, 751 S. Arizona Ave.; Bourbon Jacks, 11 W. Boston St., and 480 Neighborhood Bar (also referred to as Club 480), 480 N. Arizona Ave. Participants will receive a card at each of the five stops to create a poker hand. “Whoever has the best hand wins $50, the holder of the worst hand wins $15,” SEE CHARITIES PAGE 46
The outside patio behind Stone & Vine Urban Italian restaurant features a view of the water. Photo by Stephanie Studer
Stone & Vine brings Italian comfort food to Chandler BY KEN ABRAMCZYK
Joe Popo remembers growing up in the Chicago area in a household with Italian parents. Sunday staples were lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs, the comfort foods of home. “The food accompanied the family gatherings,” Popo said. “You felt comfortable with the food of those occasions.” Popo captured some of those homey, comfortable feelings he experienced growing up at his Stone & Vine Urban Italian, a 5,000-square-foot eatery on the southwest corner of Queen Creek and Alma School roads. The Chandler location opened on March 2; the first Stone & Vine opened in Scottsdale in May 2011. The restaurants are two of four in the JGP Restaurant Concepts group, which also
includes Black & Bleu and Salt & Lime, both in Scottsdale. Popo came up with the name from pizza and wine, represented by a pizza stone and grape vines. “I came from a larger restaurant and wanted something a little more comfortable and more homey,” Popo said. “I wanted customers feel like they were coming to a dinner party. I also wanted to price it so it was affordable.” With a menu that ranges in price of entrees and pasta dishes for $12 to $18 and a lunch menu with a choice of one of eight items for $8, a couple can dine for about $50 to $60 with two glasses of wine and two entrees and/or pasta dishes. Employees from nearby businesses can grab a quick bite at lunch for under $10. SEE STONE & VINE PAGE 47
Enjoy Mother’s Day with this host of specials BY MEGHAN MCCOY
Treat your mother to an afternoon out at one of the many nearby restaurants that are offering specials this year. Free cakes offered this Mother’s Day at Chompie’s Chompie’s, Arizona’s New York Deli, is making Mother’s Day extra sweet this year by offering a free slice of strawberry white chocolate layer cake, valued at $6.95 for moms from 11 a.m. to close Sunday, May 10. The special is for dine-in only. Chompie’s is a family-owned and operated business. For more information, visit www.chompies.com.
UltraStar buffet runs the gamut Join UltraStar in Maricopa for an allyou-can-eat Mother’s Day brunch. Food includes smoked salmon, carved roast beef with creamed horseradish and au jus, fresh homemade waffles with berries and fresh whipped cream, scrambled eggs with fresh mozzarella cheese and chives, Maplewood-smoked bacon and sausage, biscuits and gravy, imported and domestic cheeses, fresh fruit, and an array of cakes and pies. Prices start at $29 for adults, $16 for children, and free for kids 5 and younger. The multi-tainment center is located at 16000 N. Maricopa Rd., Maricopa. For more information, visit www.ultrastarakchin.com/ mothers-day-brunch. SEE MOTHER’S DAY PAGE 48