SanTan Sun News - July 5 2020 by Times Media Group

July 5, 2020 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Chandler Uniﬁed to start new year all-online BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Parents appear divided on Chandler Unified’s reopening plan even as the district prepares to start the new year with all online classes Aug. 5. Parents were quick to either condemn or celebrate the district’s last month's decision to require mandatory mask-wearing among students and teachers when in-person classes resume, tentatively on Aug. 17. Online petitions and Facebook groups have been forming over the last couple weeks advocating for Chandler Unified to take a pro-mask or anti-mask position.

Some believe masks are essential at mitigating a potential COVID-19 outbreak, while others think they mostly create a culture of fear on campus. “I don’t agree with this mask thing,” one Chandler resident wrote online. “This closes the children off – making them more alone. How do you learn social skills when everyone has their face hidden?” The school district intends to give students the option of deciding whether they want to return to school in person or complete their coursework online for the upcoming school year. On June 24, the district’s Governing Board spent nearly six hours probing administrators on the logistics of

reopening all 42 of Chandler Unified’s campuses by Aug. 5 before narrowly voting 3-2 to authorize a plan that essentially gives students the option to determine whether they feel safe enough to return to school amid an ongoing pandemic. But less than a week after the board’s decision, Gov. Doug Ducey on June 29 issued an executive order that forbids districts from reopening campuses until Aug. 17 – a date he called "aspirational and that still could push back further. The directive allowed districts to begin offering online learning earlier than Aug. 17. The district has told parents it

needed time to possibly refine its campus-reopening plan. But some parents are hopeful that Ducey’s decision to further delay the reopening of campuses might allow enough time for Chandler Unified to reverse its mandatory mask policy. “If a delay means no masks, then I’d be for it,” one parent commented. “I won’t be sending my kids if they require masks.” The district’s initial reopening plan revealed some divisions among its Governing Board members, some of whom felt the plan didn’t go far enough to protect the health and safety of See

SCHOOLS on page 3

Ex-Chandler mom at center of trail of deaths BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Like wildﬂowers in spring, political signs pop up in the weeks before early voting begins and Chandler streets have been no exception. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

Ready, set, go! Early voting begins this week BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

As early voting is set to begin this week for the Aug. 4 primary election, voter registration numbers in Chandler appear to be on an upward trend. Early voting for three seats on Chandler City Council – as well as in county and state races – starts July 8 and the latest registration numbers suggest there could be greater civic participation in this year’s local elections. There is no school board primary and candidates have until July 6 to file petitions to get on the Nov. 3 ballot. At least 12,000 more Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters have recently registered in Chandler’s two legislative districts within the last year, according to data maintained by the Arizona Secretary of State.

Registered Republicans still hold a combined majority in Legislative Districts 17 and 18, but the number of new Democrats registering in Chandler has been outpacing the opposing party over the last couple years. Between April 2018 and April 2020, nearly 17,000 Democrats registered in the Chandler area while 4,800 Republicans were added to the voting rolls. Registered independents only grew by about 2,700 during this same time span. This growing Democratic presence has earned Chandler the reputation of a potential “swing” city that could help determine some of the statewide and regional races. In 2018, several of Chandler’s precincts narrowly helped U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema defeated her Republican oppoSee

ELECTION on page 10

Lori Vallow’s former husband warned Gilbert Police that his wife had “lost her mind” a few months before he and his children wound up dead. Vallow, a one-time Chandler resident, has spent the last couple months in an Idaho jail awaiting trial for criminal charges related to the abandonment of her two children: 17-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua Vallow. The children were reported missing in 2019 and their bodies were discovered last month in a pet cemetery on land in Idaho located near the residence of Vallow’s newest husband, Chad Daybell. Idaho authorities have filed charges against Daybell and Vallow in relation to the corpses’ discovery but neither has been charged with their deaths. They are both in custody. Vallow’s convoluted case has attracted international media attention and sparked several theories that paint the former Chandler mom as a devoted member of a secretive, doomsday religious cult. New videos and reports released this month by the Gilbert Police Department help to support these theories

by providing some first-hand testimony from Vallow’s now-deceased husband. Charles Vallow, who had been married to Lori up until his death last summer, contacted Gilbert Police on Jan. 30, 2019, claiming his estranged wife was acting “nonsensical” and had disappeared with their two children. “I don’t know what she’s going to do with them,” Vallow told a Gilbert officer. After returning home from a business trip in Texas, Vallow discovered his truck had been taken from the airport’s parking lot and suspected his wife of taking it. Vallow told Gilbert Police his wife had locked him out of their home and withdrew $35,000 from the couple’s bank account. “I’ve got $7 to my name,” the husband claimed. A Gilbert officer kicked down the door’s home and found the family’s residence empty. Vallow worried his wife might have done something to their children, claiming she had been “brainwashed” by religious fanatics in Utah. “She’s lost her mind,” Vallow told the officers. “She thinks she’s a resurrected being. Her religious stuff has gone way off the deep end.” See on page 15

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F E AT U R E STO R I E S Children's Cancer Network has virtual camp . . . . .COMMUNITY

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Chandler's shrinking housing market. . . . . . . . . . . . .BUSINESS . . . . . . . . Page 30 CGCC star running for Arizona Hall of Fame . . . . .SPORTS . . . . . . . . . Page 36 Chandler man's rough encounter with COVID-19 NEIGHBORS . . . . . . Page 38 Imported wine industry faces crisis. . . . . . . . . . . . . .EAT . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 49

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Ducey shuts some businesses as virus cases surge BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Conceding he made a mistake in allowing them to reopen, Gov. Doug Ducey last week shuttered all bars in the state for at least the next 30 days. Ditto gyms, water parks, movie theaters and tubing along Arizona rivers. And schools can’t open campuses until at least Aug. 17, almost two weeks later than Chandler Unified had planned and nearly a month later than CUSD’s original start date. The order does not prevent schools from starting the year with all-online instruction, though it was unclear what Chandler or any other district would do. The moves come as Ducey acknowledged the explosion of cases of COVID-19 that started two weeks after his mid-May order reopening the state economy. That two weeks pretty much coincides with the incubation period of the virus when people are exposed. “We’re fixing it’’ the governor said when asked if he screwed up in letting bars reopen six weeks ago. He separately banned gatherings of more than 50 people. Public swimming pools, those run by cities or in hotels or motels, will have to restrict groups in or out of the water to no more than 10. For semi-private pools at apartment complexes and condos, owners will need to post notices about the 10-person limit. But Ducey, who repeatedly hammers home the message that people are “safer at home,’’ refused to reinstate his stay-at-home order. He said it’s not necessary. “The objective today is to slow the spread of this,’’ the governor said. And Ducey said he believes the state can get infection levels back to where they were in the middle of May -- when the restrictions were lifted -- without an edict. “I think Arizonans are smart and have common sense and will demonstrate responsibility,’’ he said. And what if the rate doesn’t decline? “I wake up every day and there is an additional set of problems,’’ the governor responded. “And we solve them in their turn.’’ State schools chief Kathy Hoffman, in a prepared statement -- she was not at the press conference -- said she supports the two-week delay in sending students back to class. “With COVID cases hitting new highs every week, it is clear it is not yet safe for students and teachers to return to school facilities,’’ she said, noting that some districts with year-round schedules were set to reopen in the next few weeks. But Hoffman said that schools are free to start distance learning earlier than Aug. 17 or to delay the start of the academic year. Less clear, however, is how that affects the requirement for schools to be operating for 180 days to get full state funding. That mandate was reaffirmed just a week ago when Ducey and Hoffman announced that schools needed to be open and operating for that many days if they want their share of $200 million

Gov. Doug Ducey last week took measures to curb the steadily rising number of COVID-19 cases in Arizona, shutting down bars, gyms, tubing, theaters and water parks and delaying the opening of school campuses until at least Aug. 17. (Capital Media Services)

of additional state aid that will be made available. Ducey closed all bars and restaurants in March following decisions already made by the mayors of Tucson and Flagstaff. He relented in early May, allowing sit-down dining at restaurants. Even then, however, he said that did not apply to bars. But his administration relented, with the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control permitting any bar to open – and serve customers – as long as food was made available. That could include anything from snacks to a food truck parked outside. The result has been some viral videos of bars packed full of patrons, with few wearing masks or social distancing. As recently as Friday, Ducey was sticking by his decision to permit operation of bars even as Republican counterparts in Texas and Florida shuttered them. Instead, Ducey said he would crack down on those “bad actors’’ who did not follow proper health protocols and work to educate all operators about safe operation The governor conceded that didn’t work out quite the way he planned, leaving him no option but to close down anything licensed as a bar, meaning any establishment where food sales account for less than 40 percent of revenues. “When necessary, when needed, we will do what it take to get the job done,’’ Ducey said. So why did it take six weeks to figure out that reopening bars was a mistake? The governor said it was all about providing clarity and guidance. “We do want to open our economy,’’

he said. “We just want it to be safe and we want it to be successful.’’ It was only when he saw the spike in infections, Ducey said, “we had to adjust this.’’ Still, the governor was not willing to say he had any regrets about how he has handled the pandemic. “No decision has been easy since we declared the emergency on March 11,’’ he said. “I have made what I believe, in my heart of hearts, is the best possible decision to protect people’s lives in Arizona and to protect livelihoods in the state,’’ the governor continued. “That has been the standard.” As of Monday, there were 1,588 deaths in Arizona and 74,533 confirmed cases. Those numbers included no new deaths reported and just 625 new cases. But state health officials said that latter figure was because one laboratory had not met the deadline for filing reports. By contrast, there were 3,858 cases reported the day before. Chris Minnick, spokesman for the Department of Health Services, said that is unrelated to the problem with the laboratories. But he said that figures after weekends often tend to be lower. Separately, state Health Director Cara Christ said her agency is activating its crisis standard of care plans as hospitals are approaching rated capacity. That requires facilities to address space, staff and resource issues as necessary. It also says that those approaching capacity must cease all surgeries except those that are essential and do not impair the care of other patients.

Meanwhile, state Rep. Kelly Townsend asked the governor to call a special session of the Legislature, which ended its session abruptly in May because of the pandemic. The Mesa Republican said there was a need “to restore the balance of power in these trying times.” “While I appreciate the Governor’s attempt to address the COVID-19 crisis on a day to day basis, addressing the needs of the state while trying to preserve livelihoods and personal freedoms, his state of emergency declaration has removed all other sources of input, outside of his consultation with his own attorneys,” Kelly said in a release. “This has disrupted our critical balance of power and has authorized him to govern this state as a monarch, rather than an executive of a three-branch government,” said Townsend, who has been an ardent opponent of mandatory face mask orders. “As the crisis worsens, I believe that calling a special session of the Legislature where 90 other individuals who are the voice of the people of this State can offer input and guidance, is now beyond prudent,” she said. “I realize that past Legislators gave him this authority to act alone in a crisis, however that language was passed shortly after 9/11 when fears of biological warfare were cresting. “I believe the entire state now realizes that this is not a good idea, and that the people in each district want their voice to be heard and desire the representative government that they were promised.”

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

SCHOOLS

from page 1

Chandler’s students. Board members Lara Bruner and Lindsay Love voted against the district’s two-option plan over concerns that too many students would return to campus at the same time. “I can’t support this plan,” Bruner said, “I wish that I could support it. I want kids back on campus.” Ducey delayed campus reopenings amid a surge in COVID-19 cases and said he hopes the situation improves over the next month so that kids can eventually be in classrooms. Assuming the virus won't disappear by Aug. 17, Bruner said that if not enough students voluntarily enroll in online schooling, it would be impossible to achieve any type of social distancing on campuses and the district could find itself in violation of the state health department’s guidelines. “Our high schools are going to be shut down,” Bruner predicted. Bruner, who has worked as a teacher for the last 28 years, said she proposed an alternative, contingency plan that would account for the prospect of not enough kids choosing to take online classes. She said the district could split the in-person students into two groups: one would come to school on Monday and Wednesday to take three classes, then the other group would attend classes on Tuesday and Thursday. Both groups would take their remaining

classes online. But because the district’s plan didn’t allow for this type of hybrid learning, Bruner said she didn’t feel comfortable voting for it. District officials acknowledged the complexity of planning for the upcoming school year while the COVID-19 crisis continues to plague Arizona. Superintendent Camille Casteel said the district is stuck in a “no-win” situation because parents have such a diverse range of opinions on how CUSD should react to the pandemic. “There is not a right answer or a single solution,” she said. “We don’t have consensus from our community on the direction they think we should go.” For every parent wishing the district delay its reopening date, Casteel added, there’s an equal number asking for the district’s calendar to go unchanged. Though some parents have requested CUSD not reopen campuses at all, administrators say they must follow the lead set by the state’s leaders and prepare for the roadmap they’ve laid out. Echoing concerns from experts across the country, state officials worry about the social-emotional health of students and want them engaging again with their school communities, Casteel said, so CUSD must prepare to offer some sort of in-person learning model. During the June 24 meeting, the school board unanimously approved a new school calendar that shortens the fall and spring breaks by one week so that the district can still provide at least 180 days of instruction – a legal requirement mandated under Arizona law.

Casteel said those additional two weeks are needed to ensure all teachers will be properly trained on the district’s new protocols and models of instruction. Furthermore, the extra time will allow families some “breathing room” to make an informed decision regarding whether to send their child back to school, the superintendent added. Casteel made her decision despite a significant number of CUSD employees expressing opposition to delaying the district’s first day of school. According to a recent survey of more than 3,700 district employees, 59 percent of teachers didn’t think the school year should have been delayed. The students choosing to return to their respective campuses in August will undoubtedly notice several changes made to their school’s physical environment. Water fountains will be closed, floors will be marked, desks rearranged, and younger students will walk about campus tethered together with a rope. According to the district’s reopening plan, CUSD will heavily monitor playground activity and make sure students are not clumping together in large groups. Lunch times will be staggered out so that a limited number of students will be inside the cafeteria. Masks, gloves, face shields will be available at each campus and every school office will have plexiglass shields installed at their front desks. Touchpoint areas inside school restrooms and health offices will be disinfected by staff at least twice each day.

Hand sanitizer will be available to use in all classrooms and cafeterias. Teachers will ask students to bring their own water bottles to school each day and advise them not to share it with their classmates. Classroom items that are commonly shared among students, like computer keyboards, will be regularly wiped down and sanitized. Parents dropping off children at school will be told to remain inside their vehicles and non-essential visitors will have limited access to campuses. Extracurricular activities at the elementary and secondary schools are expected to still be available with some new precautions that encourage social distancing. “We have no intention to reduce our electives,” said Assistant Superintendent Craig Gilbert, “we may just have to make some adjustments.” The students choosing to enroll in the online program can still come to their home campus and participate in sports or extracurricular activities, Gilbert added. The district’s online curriculum is expected to be radically different from what students were subjected to during the fourth quarter of the last academic year, which was when the pandemic first hit and triggered a statewide shutdown of Chandler’s schools. Chandler Unified was in “crisis mode” at the end of last year, Casteel said, and had little time to provide a comprehensive online program for students. See

SCHOOLS on page 4

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SCHOOLS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

from page 3

The district’s new online academy for elementary students is intended to be more enhanced and engaging than what had been offered previously. Online students can expect to have at least three live interactions with a teacher each day and have regular access to a school counselor. Virtual students will follow a schedule that blocks out how much time they should spend studying math, English, science, and history. Fifteen-minute “movement breaks” will be factored into the online schedule so students can get away from their computer periodically throughout the day. The goal is to have the online academy feel the same as the brick-and-mortar classroom experience, said Jessica Edgar, the district’s director of elementary curriculum. Chandler Unified wants the online option to be able to fit the needs of every student, Edgar added, so teachers and administrators will be tracking and assessing the progress of each pupil as they move through the semester. Regardless of how comprehensive the online option may be, some of the district’s parents are already apprehensive about the unintended consequences that come with learning from home on a computer. “I am deeply concerned about online school,” one Chandler parent wrote online. “I have one child with high-func-

tioning autism and another who does poorly at online anything.” The district’s secondary students have been able to enroll in online school for several years through the Chandler Online Academy, a state-accredited program that allows students to complete courses at their own pace throughout the semester. Gilbert said the online academy will attempt to have more of a relationship-building component this year between students and teachers so that students still feel connected to the district. Since more high school students are expected to enroll in the online acad-

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emy this year, the district’s planning to add more Advanced Placement courses to the academy’s catalog. Students electing to enroll in the online program must commit to it for at least the first quarter of the new school year. The district will consider special circumstances that may force a student to quickly switch between in-person and online learning, Gilbert said, and these situations will be reviewed on a caseby-case basis. The school board’s decision to reopen schools came only a few hours after Ducey announced new monetary resources the state would be supplying to Arizona’s schools to ward off the

pandemic’s economic impacts. Ducey signed an executive order that provides up to $270 million in onetime funding to help districts reopen by paying for more digital resources and supplementing lost revenue. CUSD Chief Financial Officer Lana Berry said the governor’s plan shouldn’t be viewed as schools getting an extra pot of money. These funds are intended to stabilize a district’s budget in case their enrollment was to suddenly drop due to the pandemic, she said. Ducey’s spending plan wouldn’t allow for a district to quickly hire additional teachers, Berry added, which would help a district reduce class sizes. Some board members repeatedly expressed concern over the number of kids expected to be in a classroom at one time and wished to try and reduce that number. Board President Barbara Mozdzen conceded there are several fears and concerns about what the future will look like for Chandler Unified in the coming weeks. The district won’t be able to qualm all of these fears and satisfy the demands of every family, she said, but the options mapped out for the upcoming school year appear to be as flexible and accommodating as the district can offer at this point in time. “We cannot make every single person happy with what we do,” Mozdzen added.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Chandler High’s new principal ready for challenges BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Michael Franklin, Chandler High School’s incoming principal, is starting his new job at a chaotic time. Classes have been delayed by the pandemic, more teachers are preparing to teach online and students are facing the prospect of having to return to school wearing masks. On top of all that is the certainty that there’s almost nothing certain about what may happen over the next few weeks. Whatever the school district tries to plan out could be changed in an afternoon. Chandler High was scheduled to start its fall semester on Aug. 5, before Gov. Doug Ducey suddenly decided this week he wouldn’t let campuses reopen until at least Aug. 17. The day-to-day changes leave administrators like Franklin struggling to keep pace, but he said he has yet to feel overburdened by the pandemic’s turbulence. “I haven’t felt overwhelmed by it,” he said. “People are so supportive and helpful.” Franklin, who was recently picked to replace Larry Rother as principal of Chandler’s oldest high school, said he’s trying to remain optimistic about

to operating in a more virtual environment. “It’s politely pushed us into the 21st century,” Franklin said. “We’re exploring more online options for students. We’re having to utilize more technology in the classroom.” Chandler High canceled in-person classes in March, closing down the school for the entire fourth quarter. That means it could be nearly five months by the time students return to campus again in August, Franklin noted. These kids have had their whole routine disrupted, he added, and they may be facing challenges they’ve never experienced before. The new principal has spent this last month surveying Chandler High’s students to find out specifically what Michael Franklin is coming in as Chandler High School's new principal concerns and questions they and remains upbeat despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. have about the future. (CUSD) Franklin worries most about the students who dethe current health crisis and believes it pend on Chandler High as a safe haven could wind up changing public educafrom a troubled home life – or to even tion for the better. have a few regular meals. The whole world has changed drasti“For so many kids, they rely on cally over the last few months, he said, school for more than just the academic and schools are quickly having to adjust

purposes,” Franklin said. “Sometimes it’s a way to get away from the realities of life.” Despite all the uncertainty plaguing the upcoming school year, it’s hard for Franklin to not feel excited about starting his new job. He’s a product of the Chandler Unified School District, having graduated from Hamilton High in 2002 and wants to emulate the same educators who put him on a positive career path. After earning a degree from the University of Arizona, Franklin spent 12 years working at schools around Tucson before accepting an administrative position at his alma mater a couple years ago. He and his wife have two children who also attend Chandler Unified schools. While serving as Hamilton High’s assistant principal, Franklin was put in charge of overseeing the district’s equity and diversity initiatives – a program Chandler Unified started a couple years ago to address achievement and discipline gaps among racial minorities and different socio-economic groups. The issue of equity has come up again this summer as Black Lives Matter activists have staged civil protests across the Valley in reaction to recent incidents of police brutality committed See

PRINCIPAL on page 6

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PRINCIPAL

from page 5

against African-Americans. Several of Chandler’s local protests have been staged not far from the Chandler High campus. Franklin said he fully supports approaching education from an equity mindset because every student – regardless of race or class – will encounter a feeling of inequity at some point during their high school experience.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

“I am all for continuing our district’s initiatives in equity and inclusion,” he said. As a school that dates back to 1914, Chandler High is considered one of the city’s oldest and most famous institutions. It has weathered through wars, economic depressions, racial segregation, and the flu pandemic of 1918. Parts of the school’s original campus were even designated a historic landmark in 2007. Chandler High is already a great school, Franklin said, and has been so

for a long time. That’s why the new principal is not exactly eager to come in and shake things up. Franklin wants to spend his first year on the job listening and observing, rather than instituting any rash changes. “I’m not one to make a bunch of changes in isolation,” he added. “Change is not something I’m necessarily looking for or looking to make.” Franklin said he’s essentially looking to continue a service that’s helped shape him into the person he is today. Chandler Unified never left him feeling

misguided or out-of-place as a teenager, Franklin said, and he hopes all the students attending Chandler High this year will feel the same way. “I’m proud to be back home,” Franklin added. “I never thought I would have an opportunity to come back to the Valley and come back to the school district that’s given me so much.” In a video to the Chandler High community, he said he will be guided by this mantra in all school decisions: “Go forth with pride, go forth with passion and go forth with heart.”

Agency to launch series on hoarding by elderly SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Registration is now open for the Area Agency on Aging’s Too Many Treasures Hoarding Therapy Group. The 14-week virtual sessions will begin in early September and run through mid-December. The series is designed for Maricopa County residents over 60 “who are challenged by compulsive object hoarding and willing to self-identify and commit to addressing the disorder,” a spokesman said. Groups will be limited to 12 people and online links will be provided to individuals who qualify for the program. This is the only object hoarding therapy program in Maricopa County. Bi-weekly follow-up support groups are offered to individuals who successfully complete the free, confidential and voluntary therapy session.

Qualifying participants will need to complete an intake process by calling 602-241-5577 by Aug. 10. Participants must be willing to attend the 90-minute weekly sessions, engage in group activities and complete home assignments. “The goal of the program is to help someone understand their hoarding behavior and to know that they do have the ability to make changes in their lives,” said Heidi Donniaquo, a licensed clinical social worker who manages Too Many Treasures. The sessions, which are moderated by a licensed professional counselor, are comprised of three phases: • Understanding the causes of hoarding disorder, techniques to identify obstacles and tools to help decluttering or acquiring. • Discovering new ways to change un-

helpful behavior. • Techniques to help avoid recurrences and to maintain progress. Too Many Treasures has been recognized with an Aging Achievement Award by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. “Through the therapy groups, participants suffering from hoarding disorder are introduced to new information and techniques to help them change their current behaviors and thoughts,” Donniaquo said. “Compulsive object hoarding is a serious problem that can be managed.” According to statistics, 5 percent of the world’s population displays some sort of clinical hoarding that affects between 700,000 and 1 million people in the United States. Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine indicates that the

compulsion to hoard often starts in childhood or the teen years but doesn’t become severe until adulthood. According to psychologydegree.net, 75 percent of those who hoard engage in excessive buying, 50 percent excessively acquire free items, 15 percent acknowledge that their behavior is irrational and 50 percent of those who hoard grew up with a hoarding family member. Information: hoarding@aaaphx.org or aaaphx.org. Founded in 1974, Area Agency on Aging develops, coordinates and delivers programs and services to older adults and their caregivers, adults with physical disabilities and long-term care needs, adults with HIV, residents in long term care facilities, and survivors of lateFor more information, contact the 24Hour Senior help line at 602-264-4357.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Councilman donates his city expense account to nonproﬁts BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler Councilman Jeremy McClymonds has transferred nearly $5,000 of his city-funded expense account to a separate city fund that distributes money to local nonprofits. In what was described as an “unusual” transfer of public funds, City Council authorized McClymonds to give away nearly all the funds he is allocated each year on personal expenses such as travel reimbursement. Each member of the council is annually given $5,000 to spend on traveling expenditures or costs associated with their public duties. Any money a councilman doesn’t spend is rolled back over into the city’s general fund at the end of the fiscal year. McClymonds, who is running for reelection this year, had $4,940 left in his expense account by the end of this month and decided to reallocate the funds to the city’s Neighborhood Resources Department. That department contracts with several local nonprofits to provide community services. The $4,940 will specifically be split between AZCEND, which operates a food bank in Chandler, and Chandler Men of Action’s back-to-school program. “I felt it was vital to help these nonprofits,” McClymonds said. “I know this

ous levels. Each member is given a certain amount of discretion to spend these funds however and whenever they choose. During the 20192020 fiscal year, Councilman Mark Stewart spent $4,560 on attending various conferences and Chamber events – the highest amount utilized this last year by Chandler City Councilman Jeremy McClymonds has shunned his city expense any member of the account in favor of nonprofits. (File photo) council. Mayor Kevin Hartke money will go to good work.” spent $4,380 to attend conferences in The councilman said he was motivatWashington D.C., Houston and Tucson. ed to reallocate his personal funds after Other spending included: Vice Mayor the city cut its funding to local charRene Lopez, $3,290; Councilman Matt ities by $500,000 due to the financial Orlando, $2,960; Councilman Sam uncertainty generated by the COVID-19 Huang, $1,390; and Councilman Terry pandemic. Roe, $490. During these extraordinary times, The $13,000 not spent by the six othMcClymonds said, it seemed best to er council members will carry over into re-dedicate these unutilized funds for a the 2020-2021 budget and drop back greater purpose. into the city’s General Fund. McClymonds, a self-described “fiscal The Neighborhood Resources Deconservative,” claims he typically tries partment has recently decided how it not to utilize money out of his council will divvy up $1.2 million of its general fund to reimburse himself. Financial fund dollars among Chandler’s charities records show McClymonds used $60 and nonprofits. this last year on attending Chamber of Fifty-two organizations applied for Commerce events. funding from the city – totaling nearThe council’s other six members ly $2-million worth of requests. City have used their personal funds at vari-

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ELECTION

from page 1

nent, Sen. Martha McSally. McSally was appointed to fill a portion of the late Sen. John McCain’s term and is running this year to finish the remaining two years of it. District 17 also elected its first Democrat, Jennifer Pawlik, to the State House in 2018. But the party numbers won’t make much difference in determining who gets elected to fill three seats on the Chandler City Council – especially since they are nonpartisan races. Incumbent council members Mark Stewart and Jeremy McClymonds face challengers from one former council member and three newcomers. Stewart, who owns a digital marketing company, is seeking a second term with a political platform that presents him as a “budget watchdog.” He’s been endorsed by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce. McClymonds, who was appointed to fill an empty council seat in 2018, is running his first campaign this year on a platform that emphasizes economic development and fiscal responsibility. Rick Heumann, who served on the council from 2009 to 2016, is attempting to win his old seat back; the city’s term limits prevented him from serving a third consecutive term. He’s relying on his extensive experience in local governance as a major selling point to win over voters, noting

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

he also chaired the Chandler Chamber’s Public Policy Committee for several years. Heumann has already earned the endorsements of the Chandler Chamber, Professional Firefighters of Arizona and Chandler Law Enforcement Association. OD Harris, an entrepreneur and military veteran, is entering local politics for the first time this year with his bid

Our goal during this “ election cycle is to make voting at home easier and in-person voting safer for voters who choose to do so.

”

– Adrian Fontes

for one of council seats. Harris has received endorsements from state Rep. Jennifer Jermaine, D-Chandler, and former Vice Mayor Martin Sepulveda. He said he’s committed to supporting Chandler’s after-school programs and providing more affordable housing for the city’s residents. Councilman Sam Huang, whose first term expires at the end of this year, chose not to run for reelection and is instead competing for the Republican nomination in Arizona’s 9th Congressional District race -- an area presently

represented by Democrat Greg Stanton. The council’s current all-male status could potentially change this year with the addition of a female presence if either Beth Brizel or Christine Ellis win enough votes in the primary election. Brizel is a local business owner and former member of Kyrene School District Governing Board. She’s been endorsed by the Chandler Chamber, the Chandler Law Enforcement Association and the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs. Ellis has worked in the assisted-living industry for several years and promises to foster new relationships between Chandler and the higher-education community. It’s unclear what type of impact the COVID-19 pandemic might have on Chandler’s voter turnout, but election officials have begun taking steps to ensure residents will still be able to easily submit their ballots in a safe environment. Maricopa County is allowing voters to ignore precinct rules and cast their ballot at any polling place they want. Several sites will be open during the two weeks leading up to Election Day on Aug. 4, which will allow citizens more time to vote in the evenings or on weekends. “We had always planned to provide voters with precinct voting for the August primary,” said County Supervisor Clint Hickman, “but COVID-19 has required us to alter our initial plans in order to safely serve the voters.”

County elections officials expect more than 600,000 ballots to be cast early during the primary election, which is prompting administrators to take extra precautions with how each ballot is being tabulated. All poll workers in the county will be expected to wear masks and gloves and voters are asked to do the same when visiting a polling location. The county has created a new online portal where voters can quickly and easily request a mail-in ballot. “Our goal during this election cycle is to make voting at home easier and in-person voting safer for voters who choose to do so,” said County Recorder Adrian Fontes. One of Chandler’s only contested, partisan primary races is for justice of the peace in the San Tan Justice Court. Republican Sam Goodman, who’s presided over the court since 2004, is being challenged by former state legislator Warde Nichols in the primary. There are no LD 17 or 18 primary battles. Maricopa County Supervisor Jack Sellers, who represents the district encompassing Chandler, has no one challenging him this year for the Republican nomination. Democrat Jevin Hodge – son of Tempe Union Governing Board President Berdetta Hodge – intends to run against Sellers in November’s general election. Registered voters have until July 24 to request a mail-in ballot and the last day to vote early in person will be July 31.

R E - E L EC T

CHANDLER CITY COUNCIL • Proud supporter of First Responders • Worked with Mayor & Council adding new youth sports fields and courts, giving Chandler families a safe place to play • Champion of innovation and investment, focusing on core services like clean water, infrastructure & public safety • Lowered the city budget (2020/21) in light of possible economic challenges due to COVID-19 • Actively listens and engages with our community to understand concerns and I take action • Believer in servant leadership and service for ALL of Chandler REPRESENTING CHANDLER: • MAG Vice-Chairman of the Human Services, and Community Initiatives Committee • The Arizona League of Cities & Towns Budget, Finance & Economic Development Committee • The National League of Cities & Towns Budget, Finance, & Economic Development Committee (Sub-Committee & Co-Chair) • East Valley Partnership Board of Directors • Chairman for the 2020 Census Complete Count Committee

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Start of new school year clouded in uncertainty BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

A two-week delay in the start of in-classroom learning ordered by Gov. Doug Ducey may give schools more time to prepare to teach in the middle of the pandemic. But that assumes students are going to show up on Aug. 17 – and anyone will be there to teach them. “A lot of parents are ready for their kids to go back,’’ said Joe Thomas, president of the Arizona Education Association. And he said teachers also are ready. But Thomas said it’s not that simple in the days of COVID-19. “We’re all starting to learn that there are people that we know who either they have it or their kids have it or a family member has it,’’ he said. “So there’s a lot of anxiety,’’ Thomas explained. “They want to be back. But they just don’t feel safe.’’ Gilbert Public Schools last week announced it may begin school Aug. 5 with all-online learning. Mesa Public Schools is contemplating a three-option reopening plan involving all-online, all-in-class and a hybrid. Higley had been contemplating the same. But the Higley and MPS plans likely will change =in light of Ducey’s directive to keep campuses closed until at least Aug. 17. Even state schools chief Kathy Hoffman said there’s no guarantee that

Arizona School Boards Association, said it all may come down to how extensive COVID-19 infections remain in the state. “We don’t know any better than anybody else what the numbers are going to look like,’’ he said. But the issue, said Kotterman, is even more basic than that. “We do know that we have a lot of school staff who had expressed a lot of concern about coming back into the classroom when the numbers are so high,’’ he said. Hoffman agreed, saying any final decisions will have to be based on whether parents are willing and ready to send their children back into classrooms. “We have seen and heard directly from families and also from teachers and school staff State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said this growing sense of anxiety when campuses can open is a moving target right now because and fear about returning to the the coronavirus is not under control. (Capital Media Services) school setting,’’ she said. Hoffman said some districts there will be children in classrooms already have been sending out surveys on that date – or that it will be safe to to both parents and staffers to find out open schools on Aug. 17. if they’re ready to be in a classroom Instead, she sees that date really as setting. a point when education officials will “I think that’s going to continue to evaluate conditions at that time. be a challenge,’’ she said. “And there is a potential for that “It’s really hard to address those date to shift,’’ Hoffman said. emotions because the COVID-19 virus Chris Kotterman, lobbyist for the is with us for now,’’ Hoffman said. “We

don’t know when we’re not going to be living under these circumstances.’’ And the schools chief made it clear she’s not seeking to minimize those concerns. “We’re talking about our loved ones,’’ she said. Hoffman said a lot of this is linked to the announcements June 29 by the governor in the latest efforts to curb the spread of the virus, including promoting and enforcing social distancing. “We can’t even have groups of more than 10 people at the pool,’’ Hoffman said. “How can we possibly open our schools safely where we know that we have classrooms of 20, 30 or more students and high schools with upwards of thousands of students and teachers all coming together.’’ Even the governor conceded that Aug. 17 start date is “aspirational.’’ And if last school year is an indication, those dates tend to slip. Ducey’s original mid-March order got extended by another two weeks before he and Hoffman pulled the plug on the rest of the academic year, telling schools to do the best they can in remote and online education. If nothing else, there seems to be an agreement that pushing the start date for the new year back at least two weeks – if not longer – makes sense. “It has become clear over the past See

AZSCHOOLS on page 13

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

AZSCHOOLS

from page 12

couple of weeks that it is just not safe for students and staff to congregate in-person at school facilities,’’ Hoffman said. “This was an unfortunate, but necessary decision to protect the healthy and safety of all Arizonans.’’ Thomas said it gives schools more time to consider options. And he said it may provide time to answer some questions about whether classrooms can be made healthy or at least relatively risk free in an enclosed space. “The Centers for Disease Control says you should be in a ventilated room,’’ Thomas said. And that, he said doesn’t mean simply having a vent in the room. “They mean open the windows,’’ he said. “There’s not a school that can afford to open the windows in August.’’

And until educators can feel safe, Thomas said, they’re going to be reticent to return. How many will stay away remains unclear. Thomas said he expects to release a survey of AEA members later this week. In announcing a delay in in-class learning, the governor did say schools can actually start operations on schedule -- but only using online or remote teaching. “It does have the benefit of starting to get teachers paid when they would normally expect to get paid,’’ said Chuck Essigs, lobbyist for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials. Potentially more significant, he said, is that starting “classes’’ as scheduled in early August eliminates the need for schools to either extend their academic year or eliminate mid-year breaks to get the required 180 days of education

necessary to qualify for full state aid. But that online start raises other issues, starting with the fact that some students lack access to computers as well as high-speed speed internet connections to actually participate. “That was not something we could solve over the last several weeks or months,’’ Hoffman said. But doing nothing, she said, is not an option. “Our kids need to keep learning,’’ she said. “We can’t just stop the school year and push it back and push it back,’’ Hoffman said. “We need teachers teaching and students learning.’’ There’s another consideration for districts to consider when deciding whether to start the school year as scheduled with online learning. And it’s financial. The state doesn’t provide as much aid per student for those who are in

either fully online or “hybrid’’ programs, the latter being a combination of inclass and remote learning. That leaves the question of whether this early online-learning start will leave schools with less cash than they were anticipating to cover expenses, including teacher salaries. The numbers can be meaningful. If state aid runs about $5,500 a year, a 5 percent cut equal $275. Multiply that around several hundred – or several thousand – students and it’s a real hit to school budgets. Kotterman said there is a presumption that if schools start online only and get less state aid, the missing cash eventually will be made up. “But we still don’t have guidelines from the governor’s office and the Department of Education on exactly how that process would work and the timelines for that,’’ he said.

Chandler nanny service starts tutoring program SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler-based Trusting Connections Nanny Agency is launching two efforts for parents to help them cope with extended school closures and their concern about sending their kids to school in the midst of the pandemic. It will offer a free webinar, “Pandemic Parenting: Planning for Fall,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 9 at 7:00 p.m. Interested families can visit Trustingconnections.

com/tcteaches/ and select the “parent” category to register or call 520544-6612 to learn more. The agency also is offering a Private Educator Service for homeschooling or any hybrid approach to distance learning for the 2020-2021 school year. “Exhausted parents are once again contemplating how they can be their child’s parent, teacher and fulfill the duties of their paid job as they head into fall, even if only for one month,” the

agency said in a release. “The moving targets, the prospect of another start date change come Aug. 17, the longterm effects to their children and many parents whose job does not allow for them to be home all day to facilitate in-home education leaves many Arizona parents feeling insurmountable and conflicting pressures.” Couple these with the concerns of health, physical and mental well-being and the increasing data that reports

distance learning did not work for many students this spring and parents everywhere are really struggling. “We know that parents are headed into the busy fall season already feeling stressed out,” said Trusting Connections co-founder, Rosalind Prather. The agency offers certified teachers through their flex or placement services for parents who want a private educator. Information: info@trustingconnections.com.

RN U T RE

Experience Matters • Chandler City Council, 2009-2016 • Planning &Zoning Commission, 2000-2007, 2017-2020 • Co-Chair Successful Chandler Bond Election, 2007 • President AMWUA Regional Water Authority • Parks and Recreation Board, 2007-2008 • Started Chandler Education Coalition and Started Read On Chandler • Treasurer Desert Cancer Foundation of Arizona, 2007-2020 Board Member EVJCC, 2010-2019 • Board Member Chandler Chamber of Commerce 2017-2020

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Tucson election calendar rankles Chandler senator BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

A Chandler state senator is at the forefront of a new legal fight brewing over the ability of cities to set their own election dates. Republican J.D. Mesnard is asking Attorney General Mark Brnovich to investigate whether Tucson’s odd-year elections violates a 2018 state law. That statute says if turnout in those off-year events falls below a certain standard, cities must bring their election dates into conformity with statewide races. If Brnovich agrees, he can order that the city more than $100 million of its state aid. both Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and City Attorney Mike Rankin concede that the city ordinance setting the next election for August 2021 conflicts with state law. But both told Capitol Media Services that the statute can’t legally apply to Tucson – or any of the state’s 18 other charter cities – as they have voter-approved charters giving them the right to decide issues of strictly local concern. And they intend to fight it out in court if it comes to that. Mesnard said he doesn’t see this as a local issue. “The state has a vested interest in making sure that voter turnout is reasonably high, not abysmally low,’’ he

J.D. Mesnard said. “You need to realign because you need more participation,’’ he said. “Otherwise it’s just a few people making decisions that impact the vast majority.’’ Rankin did not dispute that turnout is going to be higher in elections where Arizonans choose a president or a governor. But he said that doesn’t translate to more local involvement. “Local issues get lost in those elections,’’ Rankin said. “So even if there’s a higher voter turnout, we’re at the end of the ballot,’’ he said. “The local elections are drowned out by the state elections

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for governor and senator and, then, presidential.’’ Romero said the issue is even more basic than that. She said Tucson voters have been asked multiple times whether they want to move to even-year elections. All have been rejected, Romero said, including the most recent proposal in November 2018, after the new state law was adopted, by a margin of 58-42 percent. Mesnard’s complaint is the latest in a fight which started in 2012 when lawmakers voted to force cities to consolidate their elections with those already scheduled and taking place for federal, state, local and school issues. The state Court of Appeals tossed the law two years later, saying that the state’s 19 charter cities can have their elections pretty much when they want, no matter what lawmakers said. Appellate Judge Michael Miller said those charters, authorized by the Arizona Constitution, trump state laws on matters of strictly local concern. He said there may be legitimate reasons for city officials to want their own election dates, saying it forces voters to focus only on those issues. Two years ago, Mesnard, tried a new approach that he believes will withstand judicial scrutiny. First, it declares that having consolidated elections “is a matter of statewide concern to increase voter participation in elections.’’

It also contains something not in the earlier version: a trigger. It would spell out that the mandate for consolidated elections would kick in only if there is a “significant decrease’’ in turnout in its off-year elections. That would be computed by comparing the number of people who turn out for a local election with how many went to the polls in the same jurisdiction during two prior primary or general elections. If that drop off is 25 percent, the city loses its right to have elections on its own schedule. In filing his complaint with Brnovich, Mesnard said Tucson’s voter turnout went from 67 percent in the 2018 general election to just over 39 percent in the 2019 city election. Yet he said the city has scheduled its next election for August 2021. Mesnard wants Brnovich to declare that the ordinance setting that 2021 election date violates state law, subjecting the community to a loss of state aid. “We do have a vested interest in democracy at large and making sure the people are participating and elections aren’t set up seemingly to inspire lower turnout,’’ he said. “At that point, it’s a whole ‘nother argument,’’ Mesnard said. “It’s not one that the court has looked at. So it is different than what they ruled on before.’’ Romero disagreed. She said the issue See

MESNARD on page 18

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

VALLOW

from page 1

Vallow claimed his wife believed he was some sort of imposter pretending to be Lori’s husband – referring to Charles by the name “Nick Schneider” – and threatened to use her “powers” to harm him. “She said, ‘I will have you destroyed,’” Vallow recalled. This 2019 incident with Gilbert Police took place six months before Charles Vallow was killed by his wife’s brother, Alex Cox, during a domestic dispute at the family’s other home in Chandler. Cox told Chandler Police his brother-in-law had threatened to harm the family with a baseball bat before Cox shot Vallow with his gun. Cox last December died suddenly from what the Maricopa County Medical Examiner has determined were natural causes and was never criminally charged with killing Vallow. Lori uprooted her children from their Chandler home and relocated to Idaho shortly after her husband’s death. When Charles Vallow contacted Gilbert Police before his death, officers seemed reluctant to intervene in the affairs of his marriage. They told him his situation presented a “grey area” since there was not enough evidence to suggest Vallow’s wife had broken the law. “There was no information obtained that Lori had committed a crime,” a Gilbert officer wrote in a report.

t? o G ws Ne

Top photo: The late Charles Vallow was married to Lori Vallow. Bottom: Lori Vallow and her new husband, Chad Daybell, left, are in an Idaho jail after the remains of her two missing children by Charles Vallow were found in a makeshift grave. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

“There was no information obtained that Charles and Lori`s children were in danger.” Despite a lack of assistance from law enforcement, Vallow was encouraged by officers to obtain a petition to have Lori involuntarily committed at a mental health facility. The husband later got Community Bridges to authorize a petition and attempted to serve it.

“She needs some serious help,” he told officers, “I want her to get help.” Lori Vallow contacted Gilbert Police on her own and attempted to frame her husband as the person at fault for the whole ordeal – alleging Charles had stolen her purse and cell phone. The wife told officers she allegedly uncovered evidence of Charles having a romantic affair and reacted by moving

her children into a hotel. Charles tends to be dramatic about their marital problems, Lori alleged, and didn’t want her kids around him. “He just goes nuts sometimes,” Lori told officers in January 2019. Melanie Gibb, a long-time friend of Lori’s, backed up her claims and went to the Gilbert Police Department with Lori to file a report against Charles. Gibb would later turn on Lori by serving as a valuable witness during the investigation into the whereabouts of her friend’s missing children. According to court affidavits, Gibb told authorities Lori called her two children “zombies” when she visited the family at their Idaho home in September 2019, when Lori’s children were last seen alive. A couple months later, Gibb alleged Lori asked her friend to lie to police by claiming Lori’s son was living with Gibb in Arizona. Gibb refused to take part in the ruse and reported the incident to Gilbert Police in December. As of late June, no one has been criminally charged for the deaths of Vallow’s two children. The authorities in Idaho have recently ordered additional postmortem testing be done on the children’s remains. Six months before his death, Charles Vallow expressed wishes to possibly reconcile with his wife of 12 years and anguished he couldn’t protect Lori from whatever outside influences were tainting her thinking. “I love her to death,” Vallow told Gilbert Police. “This is killing me.”

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

THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS AUGUST 4TH Citizens Clean Elections Commission is your unbiased source for all 2020 elections. Find important deadlines, candidate info, voting locations and more voter details at AZCleanElections.gov, or call 877-631-8891 for more information. 22019-3-4_CCEC_ElectionEducation_EastValleyTribune_10x4-9.indd 1

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Landslides and deterioration of Apache Trail, right, prevent motorists from traversing its length between Tortilla Flat eastbound to Roosevelt Lake and prevent East Valley residents from reaching the sprawling Apache Lake Marina. ((Save the Apache Trail/Special to SanTan Sun News)

Apache Trail buffs, ADOT at odds over shattered road BY GARY NELSON Contributor

On any given weekend afternoon, the Apache Trail looks like one of those ant highways you see on the sidewalk – cars and trucks zipping by in either direction as East Valley sun-seekers take in the fresh air and Old-West ambiance. That’s how it is, anyway, between Apache Junction and the tiny frontier outpost of Tortilla Flat. East of there, not so much. Not so much because a few miles beyond Tortilla Flat the Apache Trail – also known as State Route 88 – has been closed since last summer because floodwaters from a fire-scarred piece of Tonto National Forest tore pieces of the road to shreds. The shutdown has rankled thousands of East Valley residents and others who are demanding that the state repair the wildly scenic but admittedly primitive road that serves as the shortest link from the Valley to Roosevelt Lake. More than 18,000 people have signed an online petition under the museum’s auspices urging the Arizona Department of Transportation to repair the road. The state has no intention of doing so, meaning that an iconic reminder of the region’s rich history might remain permanently severed. The road, in fact, is so significant that it’s one reason the East Valley is the East Valley, with its array of prosperous communities whose residents almost never have to give thought to where their precious water comes from. The origins of the trail are lost in time, but it seems Native Americans traveled the route long before Europeans arrived here.

After that, settlers found themselves at the mercy of the capricious Salt River, sometimes in flood and sometimes in drought, a yearly gamble with the elements and hardly any basis for longterm prosperity. With other Western regions in the same predicament, Congress in 1902 passed the Reclamation Act, which provided federal funding for dams and irrigation projects in the nation’s arid regions. That led quickly to the forma-

says. “Some of the retaining walls they built using only fitted stones with no mortar outlasted the concrete and steel walls built by the project’s engineers.” The road was substantially finished by September 1905, and in its first month, according to the SRP history, more than 1.5 million pounds of freight moved laboriously up the hilly, winding course. A lot of that stuff came from the Wong family grocery store at the corner of Mesa Drive and Main Street. The build-

The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the “ Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon, and then adds an indefinable something that none others have. To me, it is the most awe-inspiring and sublimely beautiful.

”

– Theodore Roosevelt

tion of the Salt River Valley Water Users Association, the forerunner to today’s Salt River Project. Soon enough, plans were afoot to dam the Salt River 60 miles east of Mesa. Planners decided it would be less expensive to haul supplies to there from Mesa than from Globe, even though no road existed for doing so. Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix issued bonds totaling $75,000 to build it. “Construction of the road was one of the more difficult and hazardous components of the dam project,” according to an official SRP history published in 2017. “Apache laborers, who possessed skills in dry masonry and grading, signed on to the road construction crews,” it

Apache Trail is a challenge for most motorists but a rockslide has made it virtually useless. (Special to the San Tan Sun News)

ing survived until a few years ago, when it was razed for a light-rail parking lot. When the dam was completed in 1911, Theodore Roosevelt himself rode the Apache Trail to dedicate the structure named in his honor. It appears he enjoyed the ride. “The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon, and then adds an indefinable something that none others have. To me, it is the most awe-inspiring and sublimely beautiful,” Roosevelt said. The “indefinable something” that Roosevelt praised has drawn legions of adventuresome drivers over the past century, though truth be told the awesome scenery may have been too much for some to resist: It is said that you can still find the wrecks of cars that plunged off the roadway’s unguarded edges a half-century ago. Over the years the Trail fed recreation and tourism in that reach of the Superstition Wilderness – one favorite site being the Apache Lake Marina and Resort, reachable only via the rustic roadway. Then, last summer, disaster struck. In June the human-caused Woodbury Fire consumed almost 124,000 acres of the Tonto National Forest. In September a storm dumped some 5 inches of rain onto the fire scar and the runoff ravaged 14 miles of the unpaved road. Seven miles between Fish Creek Hill and the entrance to the marina remain closed.

That cut off access to Apache Lake from the East Valley except for those willing to drive first to Globe so they could reach it via the Apache Trail from the northeast. Starved for customers, the resort and marina closed in October. That the road remains closed is frustrating to John Schempf, chairman of Apache Trail attractions at the Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction. Referring to the Apaches who carved out the road, Schempf said, “They built it in less than a year, and they did it with pick and shovel. Now it’s been closed almost a year, and I don’t understand why, with modern technology and equipment, we cannot get it open.” ADOT, which maintains the road, is adamant that it will not be reopened anytime soon. “Because of widespread and extensive damage to the landscape from the Woodbury Fire, additional damage from massive flash flooding is not just possible but likely until vegetation recovers,” ADOT told The Tribune via e-mail. “This process will take several years.” The ADOT statement added, “While ADOT has worked aggressively to maintain access to Canyon Lake, Tortilla Flat and Apache Lake, the seven miles between Fish Creek Hill overlook and Apache Lake will remain closed indefinitely because of the inevitability that flash flooding from the Woodbury Fire burn scar will add to the already massive damage this unpaved section has suffered and the potential for flooding to trap and/or harm the public.” Schempf doesn’t buy that explanation. “It was an extraordinary storm we had last year,” he said. “It wouldn’t have made any difference if there was a fire or not, it still would have washed the road out. That’s what happens in the Superstitions.” Schempf said no one is asking ADOT to actually improve or pave the road, and that money for repairs is available from federal emergency relief funds. ADOT’s website says the repair bill would total in the millions. Schempf said that in addition to the marina closing, the road blockage has negatively affected recreational destinations at Roosevelt Lake, in Globe and near Superior. “A lot of people like to go the whole circle around – go out the Apache Trail and then come back by Boyce Thompson Arboretum or vice versa,” Schempf said. “It used to make a really nice circle trip.”

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

State AG to enforce gay discrimination ban BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Attorney General Mark Brnovich is going to begin enforcing Arizona’s civil rights laws against private employers who discriminate based on someone’s sexual orientation. In a new court filing, Brnovich said that he now considers the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to be binding in all cases of sex discrimination in the workplace and will interpret the law that way even though state legislators have not amended Arizona’s own statutes. The attorney general acknowledged that the Legislature is free to come in and amend the Arizona Civil Rights Act to specifically say that sexual orientation or transgender status is not covered under the state law. But, absent some legislative direction, Brnovich said that’s how he’ll enforce the law from now on. Sen. Eddie Farnsworth, R-Gilbert, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee,

MESNARD

from page 14

remains the same: The voters have approved a charter which also governs how they want to conduct local elections and have repeatedly said they want to keep that provision. There actually already is a court case on this issue, with Tucson asking a Pima

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said he first wants to see how broad is the Supreme Court decision. He said a lot of what happens next could depend on whether the ruling covers only employment discrimination or other forms, like housing or public accommodation. But Rep. John Allen, R-Scottsdale, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said he’s not sure such a move to limit the scope of Arizona’s anti-discrimination laws – assuming there were the votes for it – would make sense. The case involves Jane Bruer who had been employed at Phillips Law Group. What got the state involved is that the Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General’s Office would not issue her a “right-to-sue’’ letter because her allegations of sex discrimination were not within the agency’s jurisdictions. She then sued Brnovich, seeking a court ruling that the definition of “sex’’ within the Arizona law also includes “sexual orientation, sex stereotyping, transgender status, and gender identity and expression.’’

Brnovich said the dispute is now moot based on the June 15 Supreme Court ruling and said his Civil Rights Division “will now review cases alleging employment discrimination because of sexual orientation or transgender status.’’ Brnovich did give lawmakers who may disagree an escape clause of sorts. “The Arizona Legislature may, of course, pass legislation clarifying that the definition of ‘sex’ in the ... statute did not include sexual orientation or transgender status,’’ he wrote, adding: “Legislatures often pass legislation to correct a court’s statutory interpretation to which they disagree.’’ Brnovich spokesman Ryan Anderson said there’s a good reason for Arizona to follow the Supreme Court precedent. “It avoids the state from potentially incurring potentially unnecessary litigation costs in the future,’’ he said. “And, legally, it is consistent with what the Supreme Court decided.’’ Allen said it would have been nice if the justices had left the issue up to law-

makers. But he conceded it makes little sense for lawmakers to try to effectively overturn the high court ruling, at least in Arizona. “But I’m not sure it would hold up’’ against any future court challenge, he said. “I mean, you’re fighting a battle that’s already been fought.’’ Anderson said there are many reasons that individuals would want to file sex discrimination claims under the Arizona law. Most crucial, he said, is the state can usually reach a decision as to whether discrimination has taken place within months and, if necessary, file suit on that person’s behalf in under a year. By contrast, taking cases through the EEOC can take five to seven years to resolve. Several Arizona cities do have their own ordinances. And a 2003 executive order by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano, still in effect, makes it illegal for state agencies to discriminate in employment practices based on sexual orientation.

County Superior Court judge to declare that the 2018 state law does not apply. But Mesnard said he chose this path rather than waiting for the outcome of the lawsuit which, with appeals, could take years. By contrast, Brnovich is required to come up with his findings within 30 days, with a decision against the city setting the stage for automatic loss of state aid.

The fight over election dates isn’t the only time state lawmakers have tried to tinker with local elections. In 2009, the legislature voted to forbid cities from having partisan elections for mayor and council. The same law would have voided Tucson’s modified ward system in which council candidates are nominated from each ward but elected citywide.

But the Arizona Supreme Court voided that law in 2012, ruling that the Arizona Constitution gives charter cities special rights to control their own local matters. Charter cities in Arizona include: Avondale, Bisbee, Casa Grande, Chandler, Douglas, Flagstaff, Glendale, Goodyear, Holbrook, Mesa, Nogales, Peoria, Phoenix, Prescott, Scottsdale, Tempe, Tucson, Winslow and Yuma.

ADOT installs dust-warning equipment on Interstate 10 BY CAITLYNN MCDANIEL Cronkite News

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The Arizona Department of Transportation has implemented a new safety device for monsoon season: a new dust-detection system to protect drivers on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson. Dust storms in Arizona can blow up suddenly and the patch of desert between Eloy and Picacho Peak is especially prone to wind-driven dust, reducing visibility for motorists. The roughly $6.5 million technology – the first of its kind in Arizona – uses 13 visibility detectors, a weather radar system, speed sensors and a small weather station, all of which are run through ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center in Phoenix. Construction began in 2016, and the system became operational in early June after a 30-day test period. Drivers will likely first notice the caution signs alerting them to the changes ahead. Then, electronic speed limit signs are spaced every 1,000 feet and are updated in real time based on weather indicators. “The idea is that if blowing dust comes along and there is a need to slow the speed limit down to, say 35, then

each set of signs can drop it down by 10 miles per hour,” said Garin Groff, a spokesperson for ADOT. “There’s going to be a bunch of them on both sides of the highway.” The visibility sensors use light beams to check the density of airborne dust and determine the likelihood that a

if you begin “toCertainly get visibility that is

less than a mile, consider pulling off. As they say, ‘Pull aside, stay alive.

”

– Marvin Percha

driver could see the road. A 20-foot tower at I-10 and State Route 87 near Eloy is topped by weather radar that detects storms more than 40 miles away. These technologies help, said Marvin Percha with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, but they don’t replace drivers’ common sense. One of the best things a driver can do, he said, is monitor weather radio or

social media for warnings about hazardous conditions. Percha also stressed the need to check the sky and the nearby environment for signs of a storm. “Certainly if you begin to get visibility that is less than a mile, consider pulling off,” he said. “As they say, ‘Pull aside, stay alive.’” The dust-detection system will operate year-round to prevent accidents caused by lack of visibility. In the spring, Arizona commonly experiences another type of blowing dust called dust channels, where strong wind push soil from unplowed fields or open desert. Dust channels “are actually more dangerous than your classic haboob, which you can see from many miles away, but these dust channels, you can all of a sudden just hit them,” Percha said. The money for the multi-million-dollar system was partly funded by a $54 million federal grant given to ADOT for a series of I-10 projects that included widening the section between Eloy and Picacho. ADOT hopes the new technology will work as a pilot for future systems to be replicated on other Arizona freeways.

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Horizon Honors’ reopening: masks on campus, dress code at home SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Horizon Honors last week unveiled its reopening plan for the fall, giving parents of K-12 students the option of fulltime in-class instruction with a requirement to wear face masks or all-online instruction with a strict regimen that even includes a dress code. The school also wasted no time in getting parents to commit to one of the options, rolling out its plan June 25, holding three virtual question-and-answer session between then and the next day and giving them until yes-

Social distancing, with “community members

6 feet apart, is not guaranteed. However, modifications to classroom setup and the creation of student behavior protocols will be utilized to maximize distancing. In addition, some classroom activities, like group projects, will be modified.

”

terday, June 30, to make a choice that commits. The Ahwatukee school also said its enrollment, totaling about 1,200 students for the elementary and secondary schools together, is at capacity and new students will only be considered if a current enrollee drops out. Horizon also still has an Aug. 1 graduation on its calendar that includes four different scenarios for an in-person commencement and a fifth that’s all-virtual, although spokeswoman Melissa Hartley said a final decision has not yet been made. In many respects, Horizon’s protocol for in-class learning resembles what the same that’s been announced by some public-school districts, including Kyrene. For the most part, K-4 students will be spending their day in the same classroom as the teachers of different

subjects rotate in or out. Higher-grade students will be walking to different classrooms in one direction, following paths that at times may take them outside the school building. And while the school stressed it will be trying to maintain social distancing with reduced class groupings and other measures, it stressed this warning on its website: “Social distancing, with community members 6 feet apart, is not guaranteed. However, modifications to classroom setup and the creation of student behavior protocols will be utilized to maximize distancing. In addition, some classroom activities, like group projects, will be modified.” Other group activities will be modified in a way that resembles plans in Kyrene and other districts: no field trips or other student travel; rescheduled or modified assemblies, concerts and the like; and athletic activities under Arizona Interscholastic Association guidelines. Additionally, congregating on campus will be forbidden and when parents come to pick up their children, they’ll have to stay in their car and have their children’s name and classroom posted on their dashboard. But there are some striking differences between Horizon’s plan and other districts. For example, students opting for on-campus instruction at all grade levels will have to bring their own lunch – as well as a water bottle and their own mask. Horizon has a lunch program consisting of items from local restaurants but that program has been indefinitely suspended. There will be no shared classroom supplies. Students have to bring their own and then leave them in their classroom. From fifth grade up, students will have to clean and sanitize their work area when they arrive each morning. Stressing that all students would receive “an Horizon education,” Principal Cynthia Shaheen also said in a video to parents that all students will have wellness classes that will include “mental health wellness, coping strategies, resilience education, preventative safety measures, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.” One of the more surprising regulations involves online learning: students won’t be rolling out of bed when they feel like it and switching on their device to catch a lesson or two. There are strict times when students have to log in – and they’ll be required to follow Horizon’s dress code. Horizon also has told parents that they – or the older students – will have to have their home-study area ready to go, complete with a filled water bottle and a full-charged device and earbuds or headphones. Student support sessions will be provided for remote learners three days a week and additional sessions can be arranged by appointment with a teacher.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

High court voucher ruling cements Arizona’s program BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

A new U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing state funds to be used for parochial school scholarships in Montana cements in place a system that has existed in Arizona, all with the blessing of courts. The nation’s high court in 2011 upheld a virtually identical program in Arizona. And while the reasoning of the justices in that case was different, the result is the same. Arizona has a much more direct form of aid to religious schools than the one at issue in the Montana case decided Tuesday. But even that has been found to be legal by state courts here. At issue in both Arizona and Montana is a system that gives people a dollar-for-dollar credit against their income taxes for money donated to organizations that provide scholarships for students to attend private and parochial schools. In the Arizona program, individuals can divert up to $593 a year – double that for couples – to the scholarship organizations. There are similar programs for corporations and insurance companies. All totaled, the state Department of Revenue figures there was about $192 million taken in these credits in the 2018 fiscal year, the most recent figures available. Challengers to the Arizona law charged that the system is an illegal

Save Our Schools held drive-through petition signings when the pandemic first broke in March. (File photo)

subsidy of religious schools, pointing out that the organizations that accept the donations and give out the aid can decide where those scholarships can be used. And the largest organizations give scholarships to parents only if they agree to send a child to a religious school. What makes all this relevant is there is a provision in the Arizona Constitution that bars state aid to religious schools – exactly the same provision that exists in the Montana Constitution and in 36 other states. It was on the basis of that amend-

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ment that the Montana Supreme Court ruled the tax credit unconstitutional. But the U.S. Supreme Court last week declared that applying the amendment that way discriminated against religious schools and the families whose children attend or hope to attend them. The 2011 Supreme Court ruling upholding Arizona’s tax credits didn’t get into that level of detail. Instead, Justice Anthony Kennedy, said the people who filed the lawsuit – Arizona taxpayers represented by the American Civil Liberties Union – had no

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legal right to challenge the law. He said the diversion of tax receipts does not necessarily undermine the goal of providing state funds for public education. Since that ruling, Arizona has enacted an even more far-reaching program, this one giving actual vouchers of state dollars to parents to send their children to private and parochial schools. In a challenge to that system, the state Court of Appeals concluded that the program, officially dubbed “empowerment scholarship accounts,’’ does not run afoul of that constitutional amendment making it illegal to use tax dollars for religious worship or instruction. The judges also found no violation of a separate constitutional provision that bars public funds from being used to subsidize private and parochial schools. The court said the fact that the parents control where the money is spent was sufficient to make the program legal. A pending initiative drive seeks to limit the number of vouchers the state can issue to no more than 1 percent of the total number of children enrolled in public schools. With about 1.1 million in traditional district and charter schools, that would set the cap at about 11,000. The group has had to deal with social distancing to get signatures and has held drive-through petition signings since before lockdown orders were issued in March. The petition deadline was after the SanTan Sun News went to press.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Children’s Cancer Network day camp goes virtual BY KATY SPRING Guest Writer

When Sharon Wozny realized that kids with cancer were missing out on important learning opportunities – a result of cancer-related school absences – she went to work on a solution. The Mesa resident and program manager for Children’s Cancer Network has a special eye for education – she spent 30 years teaching elementary school for Mesa Public Schools. It wasn’t long before Wozny, in partnership with CCN’s executive director, Patti Luttrell, created and launched a summer STEM camp for kids fighting cancer. “Kids with cancer miss out on so much,” said Wozny, who started volunteering for CCN in 2013 and joined the staff in 2016. “They’re stuck in the hospital or stuck at home, too sick from the cancer and chemo to go to school, and often are isolated from friends. We wanted to give them back a piece of their childhood.” CCN’s day camp, which launched in 2018, is offered at no cost to kids with cancer and their siblings. It focuses primarily on immersive, hands-on STEM projects and experiences to fill the gaps for kids who missed out on such learning at school. “The camp has been a huge hit among our families,” said Luttrell. “In addition to doing really cool projects and learning new and interesting things, it’s a chance for them to spend time with other kids and forget about cancer

year’s virtual camp the week of June 15. CCN delivered boxes of materials to campers’ families in advance, providing all needed items – like nuts, bolts, transistors and aluminum foil – for the week’s learning activities. Gilbert mom Laura Groth sent her young daughters to CCN’s in-person camp last summer. Her 12-year-old daughter Lizzie is in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She and her younger sisters – 10-year old Lily, 9-year-old Leilani and Aaron and Makenna Carroll were thrilled with the Chandler-based 7-year-old Lexi – participatChildren's Cancer Network virtual summer camp. ed in the camp again this (Chldren's Cancer Network) year, this time via Zoom. “Last year’s camp was for just a little while.” such an amazing experience,” said Wozny began planning this year’s Groth. “I cried with gratitude for the summer camp in early 2020, but she opportunity it provided my girls. I shifted gears when it became clear that wasn’t sure how a virtual camp would COVID-19 wasn’t going anywhere. turn out, but Sharon kept them enSince children with cancer are at gaged from the moment they logged high risk for serious illness, she began on to the moment camp ended. She brainstorming virtual options that also provided cool ideas to extend the would provide the same level of enjoylearning throughout the afternoon.” ment, engagement and learning – withThe camp’s theme – “Imagine That” out compromising kids’ safety. – was threaded throughout the week’s “Kids are pretty Zoomed out right projects and activities. Tuesday was all now, so we worked hard to come up about “Imagine with STEM” and included with lessons and projects that were a tie-dye experiment using Sharpie marktruly fun and engaging,” said Wozny. ers, self-portraits using nuts and bolts, The Arizona Coyotes sponsored this

and an afternoon robot-building project. Friday’s “Imagine Just Me” gave campers a chance to study strawberry DNA and get creative by decorating large wood initials. Kids across Arizona joined the camp, building pool noodle monsters, making aluminum foil art, and completing a project with local artist and guest instructor, Christy Puetz. “The camp was so much cooler than any other virtual experience my girls have taken part in,” added Groth. “We are just so thankful. CCN has touched our lives in so many ways.” CCN continues to modify programs and create new options for delivering services and programs amid the pandemic. The Chandler-based nonprofit organization serves families across Arizona, providing gas and grocery gift cards, hospital admission kits to help new families navigate the road ahead and adopt-a-family programs for back-toschool and the holidays. The organization also hosts activities to boost self-confidence in young cancer fighters, programs to help siblings cope with cancer, and provide a multitude of other services and resources. “Our focus right now is adapting our programs for the world we’re living in today,” said Luttrell. For more information, to make a donation, or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, visit childrenscancernetwork.org.

Get them care, while still being careful.

Even in times like these, your child’s healthcare needs don’t stop. At Phoenix Children’s, we’re making it safer for you to see us, with telehealth appointments and enhanced precautions for in-person visits. Whether your child requires vaccines, an appointment with a specialist or a scheduled surgery, don’t let being careful stop you from getting your kids the care they need.

Vaccines. Scheduled surgeries. Specialist visits. Visit phoenixchildrens.org or call 602-933-KIDS to schedule an appointment.

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Face masks create challenges for the deaf BY HALEY LORENZEN Cronkite News

For many people who are deaf or hard of hearing, lip reading, facial expressions and body language are vital to communication, but protective face masks and remote work and school meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 have made it more difficult. More than 1.1 million people in Chandler and the rest of Arizona are hard of hearing, and more than 20,000 are deaf, according to the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. “That’s a large percent of us in the state,” said the commission Executive Director Sherri Collins. “You think about communication, and why it’s so important that information and access is critical for that 1.1 million people that we serve.” Collins, who is deaf, has served 22 years as the executive director of the state commission, which works with organizations throughout the state to provide services for people who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. The commission also oversees the licensing of American Sign Language interpreters. Commission staff members have transitioned to a fully remote work environment, Collins said, and the change has worked out well for the staff, with Zoom meetings, interpreters and cap-

Sherri Collins, executive director of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for the past 22 years, shares her remarks in American Sign Language at the Phoenix Women’s March in 2019. (ACDHH)

tioning. “The only thing that’s lacking is the interaction with the face-to-face,” she said. However, the transition for other deaf individuals has been more challenging. Ronda Moriarty is an ASL instructor

who has taught at Arizona State University, Mesa Community College and Phoenix College. She also works as an ASL Master for Netflix. “The internet is great to have; it was very beneficial when teaching my class.

But teaching a class with 11 or more people on the computer was really hard,” she said. “There were students trying to take See

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

DEAF

from page 22

the class on their phones, but because it’s so small on the screen it’s hard for them to see and it was very distracting. They had to put the phone down to sign and it would fall over, however, they did the best they could with what they had,” Moriarty said. For those who use sign language, facial expressions are essential for proper communication. Sign meanings can change depending on the type of facial expression, such as exaggeration. Melissa “Echo” Greenlee is the founder of deaffriendly.com, an online resource where people who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing provide input for local businesses in order to increase deaf-friendliness. “Now, many states are requiring people in businesses to have a mask,” Greenlee said. “So that means when we go into a business, we feel there’s a barrier. It’s very tough emotionally because some of us have trained ourselves for 20, 30 or 40 years to read people. “Now, my area in Washington state started opening, but I don’t want to go out because I know I have to deal with the masks and that’s a barrier. I’d rather just stay home.” Some companies, such as ClearMask, are making clear face masks which are said to be “antifogging.” Hundreds of clear masks also are available on sites such as Etsy or Facebook Marketplace. However, most such masks are imper-

Some students have invented masks with a clear portion that allows the deaf and hard of hearing to read lips. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

fect. “Clear masks are a great idea,” Moriarty said. “I know someone who could make clear masks, but they said it’s hard to breathe with the plastic and difficult to read lips as the steam will rise in the mask.” Greenlee said many deaf people also lack access to important public health information. “Access to media, for example, the news,” she said. “Every day, there’s a person on the news explaining what’s going on in the state, how many people have died today, et cetera, but if a deaf

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person doesn’t have access to an ASL interpreter and captioning, there’s a huge part of the population without access to that information.” Under the 30-year-old Americans With Disabilities Act, effective communication, which often includes interpreters, is required for deaf or hard of hearing people in a hospital setting. Despite the law, interpreters often are missing from important news conferences. In March, the National Association for the Deaf wrote a letter to the White House expressing concern about the lack of an ASL interpreter at

public COVID-19 briefings. “From the first White House press conference on this coronavirus, the NAD has received daily complaints from deaf and hard of hearing citizens across the country asking why their President is not ensuring they are getting the same access to emergency information as everyone else,” wrote Howard A. Rosenblum, the association’s chief executive officer. In April, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was sued for not providing an ASL interpreter during his televised briefings. “Some states do a good job with providing an interpreter and captioning,” Greenlee said, “but other states have been slower to respond. Still today, the president doesn’t have an ASL interpreter.” The deaf community is very social, she said, which means isolation can be another big challenge. “We get together a lot. With the stay-at-home order, some of us are alone. Some of us live with hearing people who sign or don’t sign, some of us are having a hard time with that isolation.” Even so, some in the deaf community have turned to video conferencing apps for social events. “It can be hard for friends to get together,” Moriarty said, “but we had Zoom get-togethers. We had a few happy hours, had some drinks. One good thing about Zoom happy hour is no one is drinking and driving, right? So that’s good!”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

High court abortion ruling could impact Arizona BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

A new ruling Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court could aid legal efforts here to void a host of Arizona laws and regulations governing abortion. In a 5-4 ruling, the justices said Louisiana has no legal right to prohibit doctors from terminating pregnancies unless they also have admitting rights at nearby hospitals. The majority concluded that the statute placed a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking an abortion. Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for himself and three other justices, said the requirement served no legitimate purpose in protecting the health of women. Chief Justice John Roberts joined in the conclusion with a separate opinion saying the court was bound by previous similar rulings. On one hand, the challenges filed in federal court here in Arizona deal with different restrictions imposed over multiple years by the Arizona Legislature. These range from who can perform what abortion service to requiring women to make two trips to a clinic and forbidding doctors from prescribing abortion medications via telemedicine. But attorney Catalina Vergara – who is representing Planned Parenthood – said the Arizona lawsuit is about more than the individual regulations. She

The Planned Parenthood center in Chandler has been the scene of periodic protests by anti-abortion groups over the years. (File photo)

wants a federal judge here to look not just at the individual hurdles being placed in the path of women but what Planned Parenthood says is the cumulative effect. That cumulative effect, the lawsuit says, resulted in the closure of Planned

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ABORTION on page 25

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

ABORTION

from page 24

Planned Parenthood, said that means the courts look at the statutes “to determine if the benefits of the restriction outweigh the burdens.’’ What makes Monday’s Supreme Court ruling so significant is that attorneys for Louisiana, while acknowledging the 2016 decision, were hoping to use it to get a different ruling from the high court this time around. That would have opened the door not just to uphold the existing Arizona laws but potentially paved the way for new ones. But the high court majority concluded there was nothing wrong with the precedent set in 2016 and agreed it should remain. That precedent, however, may hang by a thread. “Today, a majority of the court perpetuates its ill-founded abortion jurisprudence by enjoining a perfectly legitimate state law and doing so without jurisdiction,’’ wrote Justice Clarence Thomas, in his dissent. He acknowledged earlier court rulings affirming a woman’s rights to have an abortion. “But those decisions created the right to abortion out of whole cloth, without a shred of support from the Constitution’s text,’’ Thomas wrote. “Our abortion precedents are grievously wrong and should be overruled.’’ That risk of overturning decades of precedent did not go unnoticed in a statement put out Monday by Arizona abortion providers who pointed out in a prepared statement that, technically speaking, there are still laws on the books that make it a crime to perform or get an abortion or even advertises for the procedure. The only thing that keeps it from being enforced is the historic 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade which declared that women have a constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. The abortion providers said the risk of a future Supreme Court ruling voiding that 1973 decision underscores the need for Arizona lawmakers to repeal those currently-unenforced laws on the books. Monday’s ruling drew criticism from

Cathi Herrod, whose Center for Arizona Policy has been a prime force behind the various abortion restrictions here. “Somehow providing for women’s health and safety remains a ‘substantial obstacle’ or ‘undue burden’ on a woman’s right to an abortion,’’ she said. “The tragedy of abortion continues in our land.’’ But Herrod would not concede that Monday’s ruling dooms the Arizona restrictions. “It will take some time to analyze the legal issues and implications,’’ she told Capitol Media Services. In filing the Arizona lawsuit, Planned Parenthood is urging the federal court here to consider the implications. “When states restrict abortion under the guide of women’s health they have to actually produce evidence that the restrictions enhance public safety,’’ Clapman said in filing the suit. She said several of the challenged Arizona statutes are “sham public safety laws where there’s no evidence of benefit.’’ “The court is going to take a hard look at that evidence and really ask the state to justify these restrictions when they’re imposing a burden,’’ Clapman said. Herrod, however, has argued the statutes at issue all are justified and justifiable. “Abortion is different than other medical procedures,’’ she said in opposition to the lawsuit. “It involves taking of a life, it involves risks to the woman’s health.’’ The Arizona lawsuit surrounds three basic areas. First are what as known as “physician-only’’ rules, spelling out that abortions, both medical and surgical, as well as abortion-related procedures can be performed only by someone who is a doctor. Foes say there are many of these chores that can be done by specially trained nurses. Challengers also say there is no medical reason to require a woman to visit a clinic and have an ultrasound at least 24 hours ahead of terminating a pregnancy for a consult with the physician. The lawsuit also says Arizona not only allows but encourages the use of telemedicine, allowing medical advice to be given and prescriptions to be written after a video conference with the patients. But the lone exception is when an abortion is involved.’’

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Inspire Kids Montessori eyes Chandler for school SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Ten years ago, Diana Darmawaskita opened Inspire Kids Montessori in Ahwatukee with four children and a passion to inspire children to reach their full potential and develop a lifelong love of learning. Starting with only four students, the school only offered half-day programs. But it didn’t take long before enrollment swelled to 120 students and the school expanded to full-day programs. The enrollment created a need for a larger space so Darmawaskita moved to her current Chandler Boulevard location, and over time modified the building, creating bright, clean classrooms designed for collaborative learning, adding enhanced security systems and building nature-themed playgrounds for students of different age groups on 15,000 square feet of outdoor space. Now, Darmawaskita has her eyes on a different kind of expansion. While still running the Ahwatukee school, she hopes to open a second, larger campus in south Chandler at 3111 E. Queen Creek Road. “We are very excited about this new chapter in our school’s history,” she said. It’s just not physical space that has changed in that time. “Our curriculum has also evolved through the years,” Darmawaskita said. “To our individualized academic curriculum for ages 13 months through 6 years – which features a strong emphasis in reading and writing – we’ve added an introduction to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) principles and project-based learning, music and movement classes, the study of fine art, social studies, lessons in manners and other activities to engage students.” They’ve even added “Story Yoga.” “It’s all about giving children a balanced education and our teachers amaze us with their creativity,” she said, noting toddlers learn about the effects of water pollution and have studied Michelangelo by learning how to draw with markers upside down. “Our kindergarten students are introduced to public speaking by presenting their end of year STEM projects to their parents and other students,” she added. With programs geared to meet the unique needs of each child, students

Inspire Kids Montessori founder Diana Darmawaskita, lower right, is hoping to open a second campus in south Chandler this fall. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

also learn to treat other children and adults with grace and courtesy and they are taught how to cook and clean up after themselves.” Gardens offer students a chance to explore and learn to tend plants as part of the Montessori principle of practical life skills. With a National Early Childhood Program Accreditation, Inspire Kids also involves parents in all aspects of its programming and its Halloween parade in the Trader Joe’s strip mall, kindergarten graduation and winter performance give students a chance to show their mothers and fathers some of the things they have learned in school. Although Darmawaskita got her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and an MBA in operations management and supervision, she said she discovered she had a passion for working with children. She had her share of challenges implementing that passion, recalling how she founded the school during the Great Recession and had to overcome a lack of brand recognition and an orig-

inal campus site that had little street visibility, making it difficult to some parents to find the school. Overcoming those challenges also brought some surprises. “I was originally planning on providing only half-day programs,” she recalled. “However, soon it became clear that there was way more demand for all-day programs….We were surprised and pleased with how quickly we were able to reach our full capacity.” Looking at the next 10 years, Darmawaskita exudes the same kind of passion that propelled her founding of Inspire Kids Montessori. She envisions eventually starting a third campus, a wider variety of educational programs with workshops “on the importance of early childhood education and parenting skills that will reflect Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy and will benefit children and parents in our community.” “We are not just a Montessori school,” she stressed. “We are part of the community who cares and commits to providing the highest quality early

education programs possible to our community. Our children deserve it and our country depends on it.”

If you go What: Inspire Kids Montessori Where: 4025 E. Chandler Blvd., Ahwatukee Info: 480-659-9402 or inspirekidsmontessori.com Tours: Inspire Kids Montessori is enrolling now utilizing the IKM C.A.R.E.S. (Covid-19, Assessment, Responsibility, Education, Safety) program. Virtual school tours via Zoom, and campus tours on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m. are available for working parents by appointment by contacting inspirekidsmontessori.com or by emailing info@inspirekidsmontessori. com. For more information on Inspire Kids and the C.A.R.E.S. program call 480-659-9402.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Around Chandler New Chandler exhibit looks at Indian Americans

A new exhibit at the Chandler Museum looks at the contributions of Indian Americans, long part of American life, from building some of America’s earliest railroads and farms to being civil rights pioneers and digital technology entrepreneurs. The Smithsonian traveling exhibition, “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation,” details the history of Indian Americans and their contributions from the 1700s to the present and will be at the museum until Aug. 23. The exhibit features migration experiences, working lives, political struggles and cultural and religious contributions of Indian Americans. Approximately 17 million people in the United States are of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and the number is expected to climb to 41 million by 2050. One in every 100 Americans has a family connection to India. Through a collection of photographs, artifacts, art and interactive learning stations, visitors will experience the Indian American story. Lisa Sasaki, director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, said the exhibit “deepens our understanding of the American experience as lived by the Asian Pacific American communities who have journeyed from being exotic outsiders to being the faces and voices of the future.”

Hailing Indian Americans who “have enriched our community in wonderful ways, museum director Jody Crago noted, “Chandler’s tech industry in particular has been a draw for many years and continues to diversify our community.” The Museum has social distancing reminders throughout the building and limits the number of visitors in the exhibit spaces. All touch interactives have been removed. “Beyond Bollywood” is also available as a digital exhibit. The Chandler Museum is at 300 S. Chandler Village Drive, southwest of Chandler Fashion Center. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m., and closed Monday. Admission is free. Information: chandleraz.gov/museum or 480-782-2717.

Chandler seeks feedback on municipal airport’s future

The City of Chandler is seeking community feedback on the recent findings of the airport master plan. Residents are encouraged to view the update through an online video presentation at chandler. airportstudy.com/public-meetings/. Due to the pandemic, this video presentation replaces the second open house originally scheduled for input. After viewing the video, residents are encouraged to answer a few survey questions as well as share additional input. The link to the survey for public feedback also is provided on the

website, and will be accepted through July 10. The plan is a comprehensive, long-range study of the airport that describes a course of action for the facility to provide a safe and efficient environment to accommodate future aviation activity in Chandler. The Federal Aviation Administration recommends that public-use airports prepare a new plan every seven to 10 years, or as necessary, to address local changes at the airport. The goal is to provide the framework needed to guide beneficial airport development that will cost-effectively satisfy aviation demand, while considering community development and potential environmental and socioeconomic issues. At any time, the public is encouraged to share comments on the project online at chandler.airportstudy.com/ comments/. Information: chandler.airportstudy.com.

Hadassah chapter seeking interested women here

The Devorah chapter of Hadassah is looking for new members. “If you’d like to connect and join, we would love to have you,” a spokeswoman said. “Even though we’re not holding regular activities in the traditional way at this time, we are doing Zoom events such as a book club and some meetings. We are also looking to put something together to play mahjong, meet as

social groups with varying interests and to just see each other.” The group also has a monthly food drive to help people during these challenging times. The group prides itself on offering members both social opportunities and a way to help the community. Interested women can contact ann.hadassah@gmail.com.

Stormwater survey open to all Chandler residents

The City of Chandler is required to prepare and maintain a Stormwater Management Program to ensure it complies with state and federal regulations. Stormwater is the runoff generated from rainfall. Chandler’s storm drain system is designed to move that stormwater along conveyances like city streets and gutters where it is directed into storm drains or spillways constructed along the street and eventually deposited into retention basins, greenbelt areas, parks and lakes within the community. The city’s program meant to help residents understand the effects of stormwater drainage and to educate them on how to reduce pollutants into the storm drain system. David Verhelst, Chandler’s stormwater program coordinator said, “It’s important for us to get feedback from Chandler residents to learn where program improvements can be made.” See

AROUND on page 29

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Around Chandler

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The current plan is at chandleraz. gov/stormwater comments should be sent to david.verhelst@chandleraz.gov. Online academy to include elementary kids Primavera Online Schools, which has provided online education to middle and high school students for 20 years, is partnering with Sequoia Choice to bring a fully online K-5 school to students across the state. “We have always hoped to open a Primavera elementary school one day,” said Academics Director Jason Tourville, “But the outpouring of parents asking for this option for their kids has made this a priority for us and we are excited to have a partner in Sequoia Choice.” The program is tuition-free and offers an accredited project-based curriculum aligned to state standards. In addition to digital learning activities, videos and animations, highly certified teachers will lead small group and individual instruction inside a fully virtual classroom. Information: PrimaveraK5.com.

City co-sponsoring MBA program with UArizona

The Chandler Economic Development Department is partnering with University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management to offer a new professional

This photo of an Indian-American family is part of the Smithsonian traveling exhibition on Indian Americans now showing at the Chandler Museum. (Chandler Museum)

MBA program blending online learning with bi-weekly practicums in Chandler. The program encourages the Chandler workforce to explore the intersection of business, technology and their future, creating a stronger workforce for Arizona. The program “brings the quality and rigor of a premier MBA program with market-driven specializations to a key and growing market in the state of Ar-

izona, giving students a lasting foundation for their careers as well as handson learning,” said Paulo Goes, dean and Halle Chair in Leadership in the Eller College of Management. The Professional MBA program is geared toward working business professionals with three or more years of experience. The 21-month program has two courses online every eight weeks

and an in-person meeting every other Tuesday from 5:30 – 8 p.m. at the Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., on topics such as data visualization, artificial intelligence, interpreting data, agile decision-making and more. The GMAT/GRE has been waived for the fall 2020 admissions requirements. Information: eller.arizona.edu/programs/mba/professional-mba.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Homebuyers facing ‘feeding frenzy’ amid short supply SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The Valley’s shortage of homes for sale – including Chandler – is beyond critical. Some communities are actually close to running out of houses to sell, according to the Cromford Report, which monitors the Phoenix Metro housing scene. In Chandler, 85228 had no active listings last week and 85224 had only 16 homes on the market. The Chandler ZIP code with the most listings was 85248, where 104 were on the market. “A surge in demand coupled with an unusually weak supply of new listings is creating an almost surreal market,” Cromford said 10 days ago. “In many segments, buyers outnumber sellers many times over.” Cromford said it also is exhausting adjectives to described the “colossal” imbalance between buyers and inventory. “In many cities the supply of active listings without a contract is dwindling to levels not seen since the bubble year of 2005,” it said. For example, some West Valley communities’ inventory was in the single digits, such as El Mirage, where only eight homes were available. Only 20 are available in Tolleson. “Calling it a feeding frenzy does not do it justice,” the Cromford Report stated, adding that even the luxury home market is shaking out of its sluggishness. The 55-and-over communities, with the exception of Sun Lakes, “are also less

Among the homes that are on the market in Chandler is this two-story, 7,500-square foot house on James Place. Priced at $4.2 million, this spectacular five-bedroom, eightbathroom home was built five years ago and has water on three sides. Almost every window has a view of a 28-acre lake with streams and waterfalls. The gourmet kitchen has three ovens and two dishwashers and the master suite includes a separate sitting area and dual-sided fireplace. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

skewed in favor of sellers,” it said. Cromford reported buyers likely would not find many bargains – or much bargaining power most anywhere in the Phoenix Metro area. Additionally, some sellers report

being inundated by offers – sight unseen – within hours of listing their homes. In many cases, those offers were as much as $10,000 above the listing price. Cromford warns that the nearly historic sellers’ market means that buyers

have to be extra careful. “In this environment things can get very frenetic and stressful,” it said. “Decision time is often very short and See

MARKET on page 31

Chandler mask policy welcomed, criticized BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler’s new mandatory-mask policy didn’t have much impact on local businesses like Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants. The long-time, family-owned business had already been requiring its employees to wear face masks when they reopened its Chandler location in early June. CEO Ric Serrano said the recent mask proclamations passed by cities across the Valley haven’t changed how his restaurants operate and only remind customers that they’re expected to wear a mask whenever they’re not seated at a table. “Restaurants are in a unique position since you can’t wear a mask while eating and drinking,” he noted. “That’s why the social-distancing practices we’ve put into place – like spaced out seating, reduced capacity and comprehensive table sanitization after each party – remain important.” Other local restaurants, like Ginger Monkey and SanTan Brewing Company, were also already requiring staff to cover their faces well in advance of the city’s decision to mandate mask-wear-

Waiter Ernesto Escamilla wears a mask and gloves while taking an order at Serrano's Mexican Restaurant in downtown Chandler. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

ing in public places. Schools, businesses and public facilities across Chandler have spent this last week adopting new masking requirements intended to curb Arizona’s rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The City of Chandler officially adopted its mask proclamation on June 19, the same day the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors passed a similar edict for the whole county. Shortly after Mesa, Scottsdale and

Tempe announced mask mandates in their cities, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke decided he wanted to follow suit by authorizing a similar edict that would hopefully reduce the spread of the coronavirus. “It makes no sense to do anything that is so out of step with our neighbors,” Hartke said during a special council meeting on June 18. The mayor amended Chandler’s existing emergency proclamation, which was issued in March, to include language that encourages everyone over age 6 to wear a mask whenever they’re unable to keep themselves from others at a safe distance. The proclamation further asks local businesses to require staff and customers to wear masks. The city is not looking to throw anyone in jail for not wearing a mask, Hartke said, so the proclamation’s language has a limited enforcement aspect to it. Chandler Police Department said it would likely take an educational approach to how it would enforce any mask-wearing proclamations meaning officers would remind and advise residents to comply rather than issue a See

MASK on page 32

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

MARKET

from page 30

mistakes can result. Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions a buyer will make so I hope they will take time out to think carefully and not get caught up in the frenzy.” The rapid change in the market surprised Cromford. It said that as recently as May 21, Valley cities “were moving in favor of buyers.” “The change in direction has been sudden and violent,” it said. “This is not normal.” In the last two months, Valley inventory has plummeted, dropping from 6,653 available homes to 3,496. “That is a decline of over 47 percent and so far no end is in sight for this trend,” it said, adding: “At the moment the supply of homes for sale is collapsing, making things extraordinarily tough for buyers, who must compete with each other for the few homes offered for sale.” In Phoenix, only 1,285 homes were on the market on June 16 – a sharp difference from the historic average of more than 4,500. The 421 that were for sale in Mesa around the same time was a third of what usually is available. Gilbert and Chandler showed even bigger imbalances, with only 255 and 237 houses for sale, respectively, as compared to an historical average of around 1,100. Despite the widespread loss of jobs driven by the pandemic, the Valley’s housing market is reflecting a nationwide scarcity of inventory, according to Realtor.com. Experts partly attribute that to his-

This five-bedroom, 5,600-square foot house on Each Birchwood Place in Chandler is listed at $2.35 million. Built in 2007, the single-story home has five bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. Venetian plaster, custom-laid brick-vaulted ceilings, a sweeping resort-style backyard and a theater room are only a few of the amenities that grace this house. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

torically low mortgage rates as well as a downturn in new construction – although even new construction has not been as adversely affected by the recession as it had been after 2008, experts say. Also fueling the imbalance in the Valley between sellers and buyers is a continuing influx of newcomers from other

parts of the country, especially California. “At the moment the supply of homes for sale is collapsing, making things extraordinarily tough for buyers who must compete with each other for the few homes offered for sale,” Cromford said, adding: “At the start of the pandemic, we

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MASK

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

from page 30

citation. But some Chandler restaurant owners were confused by the city’s requirement and begged officials for clarification. The owner of one restaurant emailed city officials June 19 about a patron without a mask threw a chair and walked out without paying his bill when a waiter asked him to put on a face covering. “How do you want restaurants to address this?” the owner asked “Are we supposed to FORCE people to wear one? Walk around the restaurant and keep every individual in check? Give us some guidance on this, please. “Some customers are taking this out on my staff, walking out on them, not tipping them and yelling at them. My manager told me she was yelled at multiple times.” Chandler Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Terri Kimble also emailed city officials there, noting one section of Hartke’s proclamation said anyone over 6 “shall” wear a mask while the next section said it was voluntary. She said her only response was the proclamation. Rick Heumann, one of the City Council candidates, chastised the city’s leadership for waiting longer than most other Valley cities to decide whether to issue a proclamation. “We are now more concerned about politics than our citizens,” Heumann wrote in a Facebook post. “It is time for

Cynthia Moore works the cash register at Serrano's Mexican Restaurant downtown, wearing a protective mask to keep customers safe. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

the mayor and council to act and do their jobs. Stop waiting for others to act.” The public’s interest in finding out how Chandler would approach the mask issue was been immense last week. Council has received hundreds of emails from concerned residents and thousands of spectators tuned in to watch the mayor’s special meeting on Thursday with other council members. Hartke acknowledged the opposition but he said he’s trying to make

decisions based on the advice offered by health experts and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before Thursday’s meeting, Chandler had been attempting to display a positive message that the city was open again for business. But a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases quickly reversed the city’s attitude. According to data being tracked by the Chandler Fire Department, the city saw a 27-percent jump in COVID-19 cases and the figures are estimated to go up again

by 33 percent in the near future. Before Hartke issued the proclamation, City Manager Marsha Reed said she recently required all city employees to wear a mask while on duty or during interactions with the public. Councilman Matt Orlando expressed an urgency for the city to not further delay any action on issuing a mask-wearing proclamation. The large majority of residents have emailed the Council asking for this type of action, he said, so it’s up to the council to comply. “We’re hesitant to say what the residents are asking us to do,” Orlando said. “When this is over, these residents are going to look at us and they’re going to say ‘What did you do to protect me and my family?’” Vice Mayor Rene Lopez rebutted Orlando’s argument, disagreeing that Council should make policy decisions based on how many emails it gets from the public. This proclamation cannot become a “slippery slope” that starts criminalizing minor infractions, he said, adding: “Simply because we may not do exactly what you want doesn’t mean we’re not listening.” Councilman Mark Stewart agreed that any proclamation could become a “slippery slope” for violating the personal rights of citizens. The city needs to push back when the “authoritarians” come to take the people’s liberties, Stewart said, so the last thing the city needs is to have law enforcement start citing and arresting residents for not wearing masks. See

MASK on page 33

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BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Care needed with stormwater controls on your property BY BEN GOTTLIEB Guest Writer

Summer is almost here, which for Arizonans means a lot of heat – and a lot of sunshine. It also is indicative of intense, random rainstorms – hence, why it is referred to in Arizona as monsoon season. Monsoon season brings thunderstorms, higher humidity, heavy rain, lightning, hail, high winds, flash flooding, dust storms and extreme heat. Everyone recalls the infamous 2014 monsoon season, which wreaked havoc on numerous homes and neighboring communities in Phoenix by dropping up to 6 inches of rain on parts of the Valley in a matter of just a few hours. While these torrential rainstorms cause many Valley residents to drive extra carefully or avoid the roads altogether during such storms as well as taking other ordinary precautions, most

MASK

from page 32

“We need more self-governance, we need more responsibility to one another and we need less bickering and fighting on Facebook,” Stewart said. During the June 18 public meeting, Orlando was the only councilman seen wearing a mask during the council’s discussion. But by June 22, three more members joined Orlando by wearing a

Arizonans do not realize they could face liability to a neighbor or other nearby property owner – or have a legal claim against a neighbor or nearby property owner – for changes they may make to their property that create unlawful changes in drainage conditions. That’s right: in Arizona, it is unlawful to divert stormwater or change drainage conditions in such a way that adversely affects neighboring properties. That innocent wall that you built around the perimeter of your property last year without first obtaining drainage and grading plans or consulting with an engineer? If a large intense rainstorm hits, and substantial storm water diverts off that wall causing damage to your neighbor, you could face liability. The same goes for the shed or addition you built which now no longer permits storm water to naturally flow towards its intended path. And, of course, any developments

your neighbor or nearby property owners have made that have adversely changed the drainage conditions on or near your property, may give rise to a legal claim against the offending property owner. The above is particularly concerning in the new, COVID-19 world because many people are at home a lot more. People who stay at home more frequently are more likely to engage in home improvement projects, which may include building a perimeter wall, installing a shed, or erecting a casita. If you are going to build any kind of structure on your property or engage in a home improvement project, it is important that you consult with a qualified engineer to determine any impact the project will have on the surrounding drainage conditions, as well as obtain all necessary permits from the applicable municipality. Additionally, it may be prudent to consult with any neighbors who may be potentially impacted by the project.

Finally, it is important to keep in mind Arizona’s disclosure law as well when selling a home: if your neighbor builds a structure on their property making it more likely your home will flood during an intense rainstorm, this fact may need to be disclosed to a prospective buyer when you decide to sell your home. With all this extra time on our hands and our imaginations running amok with home improvement ideas, we can only hope these changes do not result in legal disputes among neighbors. If you are concerned about monsoon season and your real estate, and before you flood your neighbor with nasty demands, the smart course is to consult an attorney, so you know where you stand before you act. Benjamin Gottlieb is co-founder in the Phoenix law firm MacQueen & Gottlieb, the state’s #1 ranked real estate law firm for two years running. Information: MandGLawGroup.com or 602-533-2840.

mask during their regular meeting. On June 24, the Chandler Unified School District matched the city’s actions by passing a new policy that will require all its staff and K-12 students to wear masks when they start the new school year on Aug. 5. The district plans to allow some exemptions to the mask-wearing rule for students with certain disabilities. If a student shows up to school without a mask, the district said they will contact the child’s parents and distance

them from other students until a mask is provided. Chandler’s teachers have been split on the issue of mandatory mask-wearing inside the classroom. A recent survey of 3,700 district employees found that 53 percent of respondents did not think staff should have to wear masks on campus at all times. But 95 percent of employees said they’ll follow whatever policy is set by the district. Barbara Mozdzen, president of the CUSD Governing Board, acknowledged

the many parents who may not want their child wearing a mask at school, but she was in favor of implementing such a mandate until the COVID-19 pandemic starts to subside. “It does help stop transmission between people,” she said, “It makes a difference.” The school board further granted Superintendent Camille Casteel the power to quickly adjust the district’s new mask policy as the pandemic’s impacts continue to change and develop.

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BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Here are 2 ways people have large Roth IRA accounts BY DR. HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

Since 2009, I have typically given at least 40 talks per year and thousands have attended my financial seminars. Many have seen me for a consultation on their taxes, investments, and retirement planning and I’ve noticed that no more than 2 percent have more than $30,000 in a Roth IRA account. The main reason is that Americans love getting the immediate tax deduction when they contribute to a traditional IRA or 401(k) account. The earnings are tax-deferred, but then all withdrawals (with the bulk taken during retirement) are taxed as ordinary income. This is only fair because traditional IRA or 401(k) contributions come from either wage earnings from a job or profits from one’s business. There are only two ways to have large amounts in a Roth IRA account. One designates most annual contributions as Roth instead of traditional. This means that one does not get an immediate tax deduction in the year of contribution. However, if one waits until age 59.5 and has had any Roth IRA account for at least five years, one can withdraw funds in the future and there are no taxes on one’s earnings. The second way is to convert existing

traditional retirement accounts (typically IRA or 401(k), but also eligible are the 403(b) plans for non-profit employees and the 457 thrift savings plan for government employees) to a Roth IRA. Example: one has $250,000 in a traditional 401(k) account and does a complete Roth IRA conversion in 2020. This creates $250,000 of extra taxable income and most folks just can’t stomach paying the large tax bill. What kinds of folks actually have large Roth IRA accounts? Farmers: Consider their farm a multi-generational legacy and want their kids and grandkids to inherit the farm and continue working the land. Example: In 2010, I met Bill and Susan,

married farmers from a small Iowa town, who attended a seminar I gave in Mesa. They converted their entire $510,000 traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. I offered them the option of converting a third ($170,000) per year over three years to keep the tax rate down, but they did the entire $510,000 Roth IRA conversion in 2010 and paid $175,000 in extra income tax with other savings. The Roth IRA would generate over $2 million in future tax-free income for their four kids. Their hope is that this $2 million will allow the kids to stay in the small Iowa town and continue to work the farm. This also allowed them to stop paying $110,000 per year of annual premiums on two different $1 million death benefit whole life insurance policies which was their original strategy to leave the kids $2 million. Mary loved having an extra $110,000 of annual income she could spend.

Those who want to leave a legacy to kids, grandkids and charity: In 2015, a single client did a $400,000 Roth IRA conversion and it cost him $150,000 of income tax, which he paid with savings in order to have the full $400,000 inside the Roth IRA. He then invested in real estate deals where the expected rate of return would double his money every five years (about a 15 percent compounded annual return). In 20 years, the expected value of his Roth IRA would be $6,400,000. The entire $6,000,000 of earnings is taxfree. In 20 years, if the entire amount is shifted from growth-oriented real estate to cash-flow real estate including lending programs, he expects an average 10 percent cash flow. This $640,000 of annual income would be available to kids, grandkids, and various charities. What is lower, paying tax today on $400,000 of income OR on $6 million of earnings in the future? Free webinar. A webinar on solar business investments and tax savings: will be held monthly. Please RSVP by contacting Dr. Harold Wong at 480706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. Dr. Harold Wong earned his Ph.D. in Economics at University of California/ Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

Two win big as Spencer’s 4 millionth customers BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Arizonan Staff Writer

Two Spencer’s TV & Appliance customers were awarded major shopping sprees at its original location in Mesa recently. Patti Everts of Scottsdale and Richard Holmes of Peoria each won $10,000 to spend at the store for being its 4 millionth transaction. John Polainer, the Scottsdale location’s general manager, gave them certificates. He also served as the salesperson who sold Everts her appliances at the Scottsdale store. Everts’ prize-winning trip was her first visit to Spencer’s. “I bought a whole new kitchen,” Everts said gleefully. “I bought everything that a kitchen should be—a washer and dryer, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher, the whole kitchen.” Everts said she’s never won anything like this. At first, she thought she thought the phone call from Spencer’s was a trick. “I received a phone call in the afternoon, and I thought I was punked; I really did,” Everts said matter of factly. “I didn’t know the person calling me. I didn’t recognize the number on my cellphone. I was trying to be excited for him, but I didn’t want to be super excited and be wrong. “Then John (Polainer), my salesperson, calls me about an hour later and congratulated me and then I knew it was real.” Everts is not sure how she will spend her $10,000, but she’s excited to return to Spencer’s when she is ready. Holmes is a long-time customer of Spencer’s and was also surprised that

Scottsdale Spencer’s TV & Appliances General Manager John Polainer, center, awards the 4 millionth transaction winners Richard Holmes, left, and Patti Everts, right. (Annika Tomlin/Staff)

he had won. “One of the managers let me know,” Holmes said. “I was surprised and right after that the salesman called me.” To enter into the competition, Holmes bought a new stove and refrigerator. He bought all of his appliances at Spencer’s in the last 15 years. Holmes had also never won something to the magnitude of this prize. “My first experience with them was

really good and every experience since has been great so I just keep coming back,” Holmes said. He already used most of the gift on more appliances and will finish + using the winnings and continue to be “a Spencer’s customer forever.” “We got another new stove and another new refrigerator, and a deep freezer and a TV. Now we’re just waiting to get some more stuff,” Holmes said.

After buying a new stove, Holmes sold his other one but now has three refrigerators and a freezer in his house. Spencer’s has 10 Valleywide locations that are practicing social distancing during the pandemic and offers virtual listings of its appliances on its website. Polainer was happy to award the winners and is hopeful that by next year the company will have reached the 5 millionth transaction mark.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

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CGCC baseball star nominated for Arizona Hall of Fame SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Andre Ethier, one of the best players in Chandler-Gilbert Community College history, has been nominated for the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. Ethier, an outfielder who played for the Coyotes from 2000-2001, was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft out of Arizona State University where he transferred after his CGCC career. At CGCC, Ethier batted .468 and had 94 hits, including 32 doubles. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2001. The list of 2020 inductees will be announced at a later date. Ethier always had a special place in his heart for CGCC. “During his playing days with the Dodgers, Andre would workout with our players often,” said CGCC head baseball coach Russ Luce. “He’s spoken to our players at least 10 times and has made financial contributions to the program as well.” “We are so proud to call Andre Ethier a Coyote,” said CGCC President Dr. Greg Peterson. “Andre’s nomination to the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame is a testament to not only his skill on the diamond, but also his care for the community. His desire to help current CGCC baseball players with their skills and as a mentor has been invaluable.” The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame honors athletes who have recognition and distinction in sports and have “brought fame and honor to the State of Arizona through outstanding sport-

Chandler Gilbert Community College is beaming over outfielder Andre Ethier’s nomination to the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. He played at the school in 2000-01. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

ing accomplishments or contributions” according to the Hall. Nominees must be native Arizonans and immediately recognizable as Arizonan. “He’s very active with our players and in giving back,” Luce added. “He would help them not only on the field but provided mentorship.” “He would work with the outfielders on mechanics of the position and with hitters, talking about and showing his approach at the plate,” Luce said. “He also showed them how he changed his approach through the game too. He pro-

vided mentorship and it was a big deal to our players because he accomplished what they want to (by going to MLB).” Ethier, who was traded by the A’s to the Dodgers in 2005, played his entire Major League career in Los Angeles. In his major league debut, he hit a double and walked against his hometown Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. The next night, he hit his first career home run against the San Diego Padres. During his time with the Dodgers, Ethier batted .308 in his rookie season of 2006 and averaged .285 over the

course of his career with more than 1,300 career hits. He was an All-Star (2010, 2011), a National League Silver Slugger (2009) and a Rawlings Gold Glove winner (2011). He retired in 2018 after leg and back injuries limited his playing time in 2016 and 2017. Game 7 of the 2017 World Series was the last game he played in. That series, won by the Houston Astros, is considered tainted by some around baseball because of the Astros’ sign stealing scandal. During his MLB playing career, Ethier put together a 30-game hitting streak in 2011. Since the CGCC baseball program began in 2001, 43 former Coyotes have made it to professional baseball including Ethier, Colorado Rockies’ Eric Young Jr., Fukuoka Softbank Hawks (Japan Pacific League) Dennis Sarfate and former Oakland A’s and Toronto Blue Jays reliever Carlos Ramirez. CGCC’s Baseball program boasts an impressive roster of major and minor league players. Established in 2001 by Jeff Mason and Doyle Wilson. the athletics team is proud to offer an opportunity for players to develop their athletic and academic skills as a foundation for next steps into university, minor and Major League Baseball career opportunities. “The strength of the program is the commitment from the coaching staff, led by Head Coach Russell Luce, to develop and build up future leaders and academically strong players,” a college spokesperson said. Information: cgc.edu/athletics/mSports/baseball/Pages/home.aspx

Pandemic not stopping recruiting of high school stars BY CHRISTIAN BABCOCK

Cronkite News

Making a college decision is hard enough. Add in a deadly global pandemic and continued participation in a dangerous full-contact sport, and the decision becomes harder. Yet nearly 1,300 class of 2021 high school football prospects have already committed to Division I universities according to 247Sports, a number that grows by the day. That total includes at least 18 prospects from Arizona. “I kind of put it together that I wasn’t gonna be able to take many visits because of the whole quarantine going on,” said three-star offensive lineman Brock Dieu of Casteel High, who committed to Washington State. “I knew that all I had to do is do my research and, you know, get on a whole bunch of Zoom calls and FaceTimes with coaches,” Dieu said. Ohio State and Tennessee have been among the most active schools nationally in taking commitments during the

quarantine dead period. Arizona State and Arizona have received all of their 2021 commitments, 15 in total, during the COVID-19 pandemic. None are from an Arizona high school. Arizona prospects have instead committed elsewhere during the quarantine. Among them is Steven Ortiz Jr., a four-star cornerback from Desert Edge in Goodyear. Ortiz committed to Minnesota despite never setting foot on its campus. He got to know the program via Zoom calls with the coaching staff and other virtual measures and connected with them despite being unable to interact face-to-face. Dieu has never seen the school he committed to in person. Realizing he wouldn’t be able to visit programs he was interested in anytime soon, Dieu focused on fact-finding from home, which included talking to coaches from different schools. Those coaches included Washington State offensive line coach Mark Weber and safeties coach Mark Banker, who recruited Dieu by showcasing the

school’s Pullman campus via video chat. “It’s that small town, college football kind of feel that I’d kind of been looking for,” Dieu said. After finding what he was looking for, Dieu committed sight unseen to Washington State on May 13. Chandler head coach Rick Garretson has seen his players garner numerous scholarship offers during the pandemic recruiting dead period. But even though college coaches cannot evaluate prospects in person the way they normally would during the spring, he doesn’t necessarily see that as a downside. “What people are looking at is their film,” Garretson said, “not their ability to run a pro agility drill or some combine thing. They’re actually watching them play football and they’re making their decisions based off those evaluations from their game films.” Spring live evaluations often consist of college coaches testing a player’s athleticism by running them through combine-style drills. Although drills help coaches better understand a prospect’s athleticism, Garretson noted that film showcases

a player in a game environment and serves as their true “work and their resume.” “Recruiting is not a perfect science by any means, and, you know, last time I checked, I want to know how they play football,” he said. “Not how they look out in shorts, and running through a bunch of hoops and whistles. And ultimately, that’s who you are and that’s what you are … That’s what sells you.” Four-star pro-style quarterback Kai Millner of Higley in Gilbert visited University of California-Berkeley shortly before the state of California instituted a stay-at-home order to prevent further spread of COVID-19. That visit was instrumental in his decision to ultimately commit, as well as the relationship he built with new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave. “I felt like I really didn’t need to go see all the other schools,” Millner said. “I felt like Cal was the perfect fit and absolute best option, so I went ahead and made that commitment.” The NCAA extended the recruiting dead period to July 31, so no prospects will visit campus before then.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

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A conversation about racism opened my eyes BY DAVID LIEBOWITZ Columnist

As our days fill with talk of race, you wonder about the honesty of it all. Blacks, whites, Latinos, Asians, so many shades of skin color, everyone screaming, posturing, but is anyone truly capable of telling hard truths? You crave hearing someone plainly speak their mind without fear. So, you call the Reverend Jarrett Maupin. To label Maupin a controversial figure is to do him little justice. Loathed by many, called out by Blacks and whites alike, Maupin nonetheless has been a fixture in Arizona for more than 15 years. Say what you want about him – and I have – but the Reverend rarely holds his tongue for fear of bruising feelings on matters of race. So, you ask him, point blank, what percentage of whites does he believe

are racists? “If I just had to put a number on it, I’d say about 10 percent have some kind of prejudice because of their upbringing or their estrangement from minorities, any number of factors,” Maupin begins. “Now if you get deep in the weeds of race relations, I would say maybe 40 percent of whites have what you might call subconscious bias.” This would be the “you people” crowd, Maupin explains: Whites who mean no offense, but blurt out lines like “You people have really good soul food.” As he puts it: “They don’t mean anything by it but a compliment, but it’s interpreted the wrong way. That doesn’t bother me actually. I get a smile out of it.” The Reverend’s summation: “The vast majority of white people are not racist.” Which raises a second question, equally blunt: What percentage of Blacks does he believe are prejudiced? “Now you’re asking me a tough ass question,” Maupin laughs. “I’ll tell you

the honest to God truth. I think 50 percent of Blacks have some prejudice against Whites because of things they’ve experienced or heard firsthand that have sort of jaded them. They’ve come across that one in 10 white man or one in 10 white woman and they’ve painted with a broad brush.” Considered from the perspective of statistics, Maupin’s response feels breathtaking. Of late, you have heard frequently that racism is a public health crisis, an affliction with all the virulence of COVID-19. To date, not even one percent of Americans have tested positive for coronavirus; Rev. Maupin has just pegged the infectiousness of discrimination at a rate of one in two. You wonder which cohort you’re in, and your loved ones, friends, colleagues? More to the point, you wonder if America has passed the point where a cure is possible, because unlike a virus, racism does not seem to fade due to herd immunity, at least not if the 155

years since Emancipation tell the tale. But then Rev. Maupin preaches a little. He speaks about his grandmother, the great Opal Ellis, and the late Lincoln Ragsdale, Arizona civil rights icons, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He talks about South Africa’s recovery from apartheid and America’s need for a similar formal reckoning. He talks about his belief that fighting racism in 2020 is less about making new laws and more about changing minds. He shrugs off ideas like reparations or pumping endless tax dollars into public programs. “Brother Leibowitz, we cannot spend our way out of emotional discord,” says Maupin. “I wish I had a better answer. I know I probably sound like I don’t have one.” Not at all, my friend. You sound like a man struggling with something hard. And you sound like someone open to baring your soul. Maybe that is the best two men from opposite worlds can do. And maybe – you pray – that is truly something.

Strong social connections support families BY SHERI COLLINS Guest Writer

As Arizona’s early childhood agency, First Things First (FTF) recognizes that babies, toddlers and preschoolers need positive interactions with adults for healthy development. It’s equally important that their parents and caregivers have positive connections in their community to help them face the challenges of parenting. During these times of social distancing, FTF, along with community partners remind families that there are ways to reach out and find places to make these social connections - for example, within local communities of faith, online support groups and local health providers. Social connections that provide emotional support to parents is one of five protective factors that families are encouraged to develop as a way to mitigate or eliminate stress more effectively. The other four are parenting skills, concrete support through meeting basic economic needs like food and shelter, resilience (ability to manage and bounce

back from challenges) and social and emotional competence in children. “Having someone to reach out to is important when you’re stressed and searching for support,” said Sandy LaCava, community development manager at Southwest Human Development, which runs the Birth to Five Helpline, a statewide helpline that is partially funded by FTF. The helpline is a free service for all Arizona parents or caregivers to call, text or email with questions about their young child’s development. The helpline can also offer families connections to local resources and supports. The Birth to Five Helpline is available at 1-877-705-KIDS (5437) from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can also leave a voicemail, submit your question online, or text the Helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or download the Birth to Five app for your phone through the Apple App Store or Google Play. Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the helpline had started meeting with parents to answer questions over online video chat. “The specialists are able to see mom or dad face-to-face,” LaCava said. “It’s an

opportunity to enhance that support.” Aside from help from early childhood experts, families can seek out social connections in a variety of ways. Immediate family can provide the support in home, or reaching out to non-immediate family, friends and neighbors through the use of video chat programs such as FaceTime, Zoom and Skype. Support can also be found in community organizations such as 4th Trimester Arizona, which supports Arizona families during their transition to parenthood and beyond through community events and support groups. “New families, and especially new mothers, often feel socially isolated after the birth of a child,” said Jennie Bever, executive director of 4th Trimester Arizona. “During COVID-19, many new families have also faced physical isolation, leaving them to tackle new parenthood without the support of friends and family. To combat this, 4th Trimester Arizona moved our monthly Community Gatherings to an online format via Zoom and Facebook Live. “These gatherings provide a safe

space for families with young children to connect around their shared experiences as new parents, which may have become increasingly stressful during these uncertain times.” 4th Trimester Arizona’s free Community Gatherings are held every second Wednesday from 10-11:30 a.m. Social connections can be a powerful antidote against the isolation and loneliness that parents of young children may feel even more now during social distancing. Helping to provide community connections to families can help buffer parents from stressors and help support nurturing parenting that will then benefit their young children. For more information and resources for families, visit the First Things First page of resources for parenting during coronavirus. Sheri Collins is community outreach coordinator for First Things First, a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early learning, family support and children’s preventive health services to help kids be successful once they enter kindergarten. Information: FirstThingsFirst.org.

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Chandler man recalls hard battle with COVID-19 BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Less than 48 hours after checking himself into a hospital for COVID-19, Jeffrey Esperson’s vitals were crashing and he had to be rushed over to the intensive care unit. The 39-year-old Chandler man’s oxygen levels had dropped to dangerous numbers – prompting his doctors and nurses to presume he might not make it out of the hospital alive. “That hadn’t even dawned on me at the time,” he recalled. “It was just so surreal.” But his health eventually started to improve and the virus’s symptoms began to wane. Speaking by phone from his hospital bed on June 22, Esperson said he’s hoping to be discharged soon and continue his recovery at home. Esperson, an investigative fraud specialist by trade, is one of the more than 1,500 cases of COVID-19 found in Chandler since the virus started proliferating in late March. Though local municipalities have begun opening up public facilities and lifting stay-at-home restrictions, Chandler’s infection rate continues to climb on a weekly basis. The Chandler Fire Department warned city leaders earlier this month that the region’s infection rate could

COVID-19 has put Chandler resident Jeffrey Esperson through a gut-wrenching ordeal that doctors initially feared he would not survive. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

increase by 33 percent in the coming weeks. Esperson had thought he was being careful when he moved about the city. He often wore a mask and only ventured outside his home to buy groceries or pick up food from a restaurant. He felt pretty insulated from the virus’s reach since no one within his inner circle had tested positive for the disease. “I’m the first person I know to have it,” he said.

He’s not entirely sure how he may have contracted the virus but recalls feeling the first symptoms on June 7, saying he started feeling dizzy, light-headed and plagued by a terrible headache. Within days Esperson said his whole body started to ache. His temperature escalated to nearly 103 degrees. The situation became more dire after Esperson’s wife Carolyn started displaying symptoms as well. The couple traveled to a local urgent

care facility and both were tested for the coronavirus. Once they returned home, Esperson received a startling message from his boss. Budget cuts caused by the weak economy were forcing his employer to lay off some staff members; Esperson was one of the guys to get the ax. He didn’t have much time to process the bad news because a couple days later, Esperson’s test results came back: both he and his wife had the coronavirus. The couple’s first concern was not wanting to spread the virus to anyone around them, Esperson said. They quarantined themselves and had supplies delivered to their door. When Esperson’s sister, a registered nurse, was told of his diagnosis, she ordered a pulse oximeter machine online and had it shipped to her brother’s home. Esperson was able to regularly monitor the oxygen levels in his blood and noticed they started to drop. He rushed to Banner University Medical Center while his wife stayed home. Esperson checked in on June 12 and soon found himself in the COVID-19 ward of the hospital’s intensive care unit. His sister, who works in the same hospital, was able to keep him company See

VIRUS on page 40

Chandler teen’s nonprofit aids local elderly

BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

A Hamilton High School student has started a nonprofit to collect and distribute electronic devices for her community’s elderly residents. Nidhi Athreya, 17, has recently formed a local chapter of Telehealth Access for Seniors, a national organization aiming to help elderly residents connect virtually with their physicians by receiving donated cell phones and computers. A group of Yale University students started Telehealth in reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic after they noticed a serious lack of digital connectivity between doctors and older patients. As more medical offices move their services online, patients are suddenly in need of more technology to help them make appointments and conduct video chats. Before the pandemic hit, researchers were already noting a major technological gap within the nation’s older demographics. A study by the Pew Research Center in 2017 found that only about 42 percent of Americans over 65 own a smartphone and poorer senior citizens were considerably less likely to own any tech than their richer counterparts. Telehealth claims to have donated more than 900 devices in 26 states since it was founded and Athreya is one of the organization’s newest members

Hamilton High student Nidhi Athreya is helping elderly nursing home patients connect virtually. (Special to SanTan Sun News))

to form a chapter in the country’s Western region. Nidhi has spent years volunteering at local hospitals and has seen how important communication is for older patients to feel more comfortable about their medical care. “I’ve seen that having tech and having devices is a really big part of them

just feeling better about the situations that they’re in,” she said. She discovered Telehealth online and realized it would be a great service to provide in the East Valley amidst the current health crisis. Not only does Telehealth provide some much-needed devices, Nidhi said, but they offer instructional guides that educate patients on how to use them. “Since the COVID crisis was worsening here in Arizona,” she noted, “I saw that there was a great need for such an organization especially here.” The total number of COVID-19 cases in Chandler’s zip codes has grown from 518 to 2,203 over the last month, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Because the pandemic doesn’t appear to be slowing down, Nidhi said it seemed like there would be a good amount of senior citizens who will need help communicating from the confines of their home. These devices should additionally be able to help them feel a little less lonely during a chaotic time, she said. “We can only imagine how difficult it must be for them especially when they’re in isolation,” she said. Nidhi has already partnered with a health clinic in Mesa to find patients in need of technological devices and is looking to make 20 donations over the next month. She’s also looking to recruit some local volunteers and is constantly on

the lookout for some unwanted smartphones, computers or tablets. “We’re really relying on device donations to help get this chapter established,” she added. The teenager said she’s always had a passion for public service – spending much of her youth volunteering at food banks and raising funds for international humanitarian efforts. Nidhi credited her parents for raising her to take an active interest in her community and to not stand idly by while there are people in obvious need of assistance. “I don’t like just sitting at home not being able to do anything to help out,” she said. When the pandemic started back in March, Nidhi said she immediately reacted by stitching 160 face masks and donating them to the staff of Phoenix Children’s Hospital. After she graduates from Hamilton High in 2021, Nidhi plans to pursue some sort of a career in health care. She has some relatives back in India who work in medicine and she aspires to provide the same type of public service they offer to their communities. “It’s a really noble effort that they’re undertaking,” she added. Nidhi’s Telehealth chapter has a GoFundMe page that’s accepting monetary donations and those interested in donating devices can contact nidhiathreya1@gmail.com.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

East Valley man republishes ‘Sassy Saguaros’ book BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA Contributor

Area retiree Steve Ryan has a penchant for both photography and the ever-unique Sonoran Desert Saguaro cactus and combined the two passions into a coffee table book. “Sassy Saguaros,” originally published in 2014, has recently been re-released by a new publisher and is available for purchase online. Ryan, who lived in Ahwatukee in the 1980s, moved back to the village last year after a sojourn in Ocotillo. He said he carefully curated the 22 saguaros that appear in his book. “I spent hundreds of hours each year for three years searching the Sonoran desert for the saguaros that eventually ‘qualified’ for my book,” Ryan said. “By that I mean that I was never willing to settle for any saguaro that wasn’t so unique that any person wouldn’t have to say ‘Wow, I’ve never seen a Saguaro that looks anything like the one before my eyes,’” he explained, adding: “In other words, I never settled for a saguaro to which I could assign a usual description to. The saguaro had to be totally unique and unlike anything anyone had likely seen to make the book.” He stated at least “90 percent of the time” he’d return home from his arduous trips through the desert without snapping a single photograph.

Steve Ryan hopes readers will get a kick out of the oddly shaped saguaro cactuses he found on his jaunts through Arizona’s desert. (Special to the San Tan Sun News)

“I never lowered my standards just to get the book published,” he said. “Time didn’t matter, nor should it when you’re dealing with saguaros that are over 100 years old.” Ryan said he went down “every trail or backroad from Wickenburg to the west, Saguaro Lake to the east, and Black Canyon City to the north.” He got to those out-of-the-way places by hiking or biking on his trusty 25-year-old Gary Fisher mountain bike. “I suffered more flat tires than I can

count,” he laughed. “I often had to walk my bike miles back to my car.” People often ask him why he chose to photograph saguaros for his first book. “I’ve always loved the Sonoran Desert because it is so unique compared to the Midwest where I grew up,” he explained. “And I’ve loved mountain biking on all the trails surrounding Phoenix where I’d look at the Saguaros and note their individual and unique styles. “So, one day I decided to start taking

my camera with me on the trails and, as they say, the rest is history,” said Ryan. His camera of choice is a Panasonic Lumix FZ35. And as evinced by his years searching for the perfect photo of the saguaro cactus, the captions he chose to accompany them were not blithely brought about. “I could never just look at a cactus and say to myself, ‘Okay, think of a funny caption for that one. Quite to the contrary, every saguaro featured in my book was selected because when I first saw it, the caption raced through my mind automatically,” he said. “There was never any doubt or question what the saguaros were doing or saying.” Ryan admitted that though he could have included “countless more photos” to make the book bigger, that was never his objective. “My goal was to locate saguaros that were unique, one of a kind, and uniquely expressive as to the caption I assigned to the picture,” he said. “As one good example, the photo in the book where the saguaro literally bends over at a 90-degree angle is a look I’ve never seen in my 45 years here in Arizona,” said Ryan. “What act of nature could possibly cause that saguaro to do that and still look totally healthy and otherwise normal?” See

CACTUS on page 40

NEIGHBORS

VIRUS

from page 38

as doctors treated him. “I was blessed to be able to look into the eyes of a family member when I was fighting the hardest parts of the fight,” Esperson said. Though he and his wife appear to be recovering, Esperson faces an uncertain future. The health insurance coverage

CACTUS

from page 39

The fittingly captioned photo he referred to is humorously entitled “Man, I hate those Scottsdale height ordinances!” “There are always one of two reactions when people see the photo. The photo and the caption either make you laugh out loud, such as ‘7,8,9,10. (cq) Ready or not, here I come!’ or make you sigh and go ‘Aww’ – like the ‘You are forgiven, my son’ photo.” The latter photo he mentions is a towering beauty of a saguaro that appears to be blessing the smaller one below with a bowed head. Other fan photo favorites include “United States Marine... in camouflage” and “Twin Girls,” each crowned with circlets of spring cactus blossoms – Arizona’s State Flower since 1931. And you’ll not be finding any salacious saguaros among Ryan’s curated photos.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

he had through his former employer will be running out soon and he’s not sure what long-term respiratory problems he may experience. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute launched a study this month in an attempt to predict the long-term health outcomes of COVID-19 survivors. Initial studies in China suggest a significant number of COVID-19 patients have sustained ongoing heart damage. But Esperson said he’s trying to stay

optimistic, noting his problems don’t seem so awful compared to all the other hardships going on in the world. “It’s also an opportunity for change and good things to happen,” Esperson added. “I’m going to continue to trust things will work out the ways that they should.” He feels his experience has helped him grow and develop as a person. Now that he’s survived the pandemic’s wrath, Esperson said his perspective

on the global health crisis has started to change. He hopes everyone will follow the advice of health officials by donning face masks whenever they’re in public. There’s no reason to take the risk by not wearing a mask, he said. “Nobody really wants to find out for themselves whether they’re going to be one of the ones who end up in the hospital from it,” he said. “It’s just not worth it.”

“I deliberately avoided using any pictures where the saguaro’s arms and ‘legs’ could lead to a sexually suggestive caption and I’m sure you’d know, there are saguaros out there who would fit that role,” he chuckled. The saguaro’s scientific name – “Carnegiea gigantea” – was given in honor of Andrew Carnegie, who established Tucson’s Desert Botanical Laboratory in 1903. It is found throughout the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, Southern California’s Whipple Mountains in eastern San Bernardino County and reportedly small pockets in Imperial County’s Palo Verde Mountains. Saguaros are the largest cactus in the United States. Two of Arizona’s tallest saguaros on record – the 46-foot-high “Grand One” in Tonto National Forest and 40-foot ”Oro Valley Saguaro” have both died. Another giant, once standing proud

in Tucson’s Saguaro National Park, was estimated to be 300 years old when the 40-foot saguaro started dying in the 1990s. It was said to be the oldest, biggest and with 52 arms, the most thickly-limbed saguaro. In its first printing, Ryan’s book found fans locally, many of whom purchased additional copies for friends who’d visited Arizona or were considering doing so. “Not one person has ever not truly loved it, literally everyone who’s seen it,” said Ryan. “And nearly everybody in Arizona has family or friends living in the Midwest or Northeast, and the book makes a great gift as it shows how ‘fun’ Arizona is, and how great it is to live here.” Rene Thompson of Gilbert is one of those who both saw and loved the “Sassy Saguaros” book, then purchased a copy for her family. “I’ve looked through “Sassy Sagua-

ros” several times over the years and I laugh out loud at the photos and captions every time,” said Thompson, a Realtor. “Laughing out loud at pictures you’ve seen many times before says it all.” Thompson, who has lived in Arizona since 1978, said she and her children always enjoyed seeing the unique and diverse shapes of the saguaro. “Our children always loved competing with each other to discover the most unusually shaped saguaro. This book playfully demonstrates precisely that, adding humorous quips to match. It’s a perfect coffee table addition; you can’t help but enjoy it over and over again. I think Steve’s book is a perfect souvenir of Arizona; it always makes me smile.” “Sassy Saguaros” is available for purchase on Amazon and BarnesAndNoble.com. To see more pictures and maybe have a laugh: sassysaguaros.com.

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

Ahwatukee pilot built his own stairway to the heavens BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

The skies are more than friendly for Scott Williamson. They’re his home. Sure, on terra firma, he lives in Ahwatukee but the retired commercial airline pilot’s heart soars when his immediate neighbors are wispy clouds and a sea of blue. “It’s just a part of me, a form of self-expression for me,” Williamson explained. “When I’m up in the air in my airplane, I feel at home. I like the feeling.” That feeling has been with him since 1970, when a twist of fate put him in his first cockpit at age 23 as a Navy recruit. After seven years as a naval pilot, he flew commercial airlines, first for now-defunct Braniff from 1978-85 and then Southwest before he retired in 2007. Retirement didn’t ground him, though. Indeed, even before he turned in his Southwest wings, he started building an experimental, four-seater Bearhawk. And in 2017 – 13 years after he started – he had his own stairway to the heavens. Often accompanied either by his wife May Beth and their dogs or friends like Ahwatukee resident Kevin Deutscher and fellow Bearhawk owner-pilot Pat Fagan of Paulden, Arizona, he has crisscrossed Canada and the United States, often zooming into remote camping areas otherwise accessible only by boat or horse. Last month he chalked up a new adventure in the skies: With Fagan flying his own plane and Deutscher riding shotgun in his own, Williamson visited all 89 airports and two air museums in North Dakota in 10 days. Before getting to the significance of that accomplishment, some history is in

Scott Williamsson, left, and fellow Bearhawk owner-pilot Pat Fagan took their planes and crisscrossed North Dakota for 10 days, flying into 85 of the state’s 89 airports and making another landing at an unofficial airstrip on a friend’s farm. (Courtesy of Scott Williamson)

in your life. A door opened and I walked through it. I didn’t have an affinity for flying airplanes and I had no interest prior to that time at all.” That twist of fate decades later led to another adventure that might be described as a pilot’s version of buying a piece of furniture from Ikea: assembling a 17-foot-long airplane with a wingspan of 33 feet and a take-off weight of 2,500 pounds.

Years of toil

“You can build it from scratch with plans where you make everything and that’s how Pat built his,” Williamson explained. “I kind of cheated a little bit. I purchased what’s called a quick-build kit where most of the welding is done on the airplane. I’m not a welder.” For several years, he was still a commercial pilot, so the project occupied many hours on his off-days. “I was a fairly senior captain so I was basically able to work three, with four off,” he said of his days. Those four days were hardly spent kicking back. “lt would consume the whole day,” he said. “Part of the experience of building an airplane is how much you learn about stuff you didn’t know how to do. It’s a love-hate thing. It really is. You love it some days, then you hate it other days. But Pausing at the terminal of one of the airstrips they visited in North Da- it’s for personal growth. I kota are, from left, Kevin Deutscher of Ahwatukee, who is building his was facing retirement and I own Bearhawk and rode shotgun with Scott Williamson, center, while wanted something else that Pat Fagan, right, took his own plane. (Courtesy of Scott Williamson) would continue to challenge me and I already was order, starting with how he became an in aviation and we really enjoy camping. airborne adventurer in the first place. So, it was just hand-to-glove for what we In 1970 at a California community wanted to do and it was a great expericollege, a Navy recruiter overheard Wilence and still is a great experience.” liamson complaining that he was going About six years into that labor of to get drafted. love, May Beth had an idea. “He said, ‘Hey, come back here at “When we were first building the noon I’ll get you an immediate deferairplane, the plans we were building ment if you pass these two tests and all the airplane from were like a puzzle you got to do is go up to Alameda and to us. We didn’t quite understand and take a physical.’ I had no idea what it was for. All I knew is the guy offered me she said, ‘You know, Scott. if we had a deferment and it turned out it was for another airplane to go by, a similar airplane, another Bearhawk to go by, it’d a naval aviation program. be easier building ours and you’ll have “I passed the two tests and it was one of those twists of fate that happen something to fly.’” So, Williamson and his wife had a

plane to fly in while he was building another. They’d pack the dogs, camping gear and enough provisions and head for back-country regions of Utah, Idaho, Arizona and other states. When they weren’t on an adventure, he’d be hard at work at his Chandler Airport hangar working on the plane. “I had a lot of help from my friends,” he said. “My wife did the fabric on the airplane. She did a great job on the fabric and she did the upholstery on the seats and she was with me on most of the major decisions about how we were going to outfit the airplane.” Then, in 2017, he took his homemade Bearhawk on its maiden voyage at Chandler Airport. “I was a little concerned going up in an airplane I built,” he recalled. “You start thinking ‘Did I tighten this up? Did I measure that correctly?’ All these things go through your head. I knew the engine was good because it was put on a test … It flew like a dream. It went really, really well.” It performed superbly last month too when he went on his North Dakota adventure.

On to North Dakota The trip was organized for the most unlikely of reasons: His friend Pat wanted a leather jacket. It’s the prize awarded by the Flying Legacy Program sponsored by the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission and the state’s Department of Commerce. The jacket – which isn’t handed out until a banquet in December for all the pilots who complete the program – is the prize for zigzagging across North Dakota and visiting all 89 landing strips – as well as the two museums and sit through three lectures. Actually, Williamson exceeded the airstrip goal, since he also swooped in for a 90th landing that isn’t part of the Flying Legacy Program. He decided to visit a friend for lunch, so he landed his plane on the friend’s farm. All in all, he said, the North Dakota trip “was an immensely fulfilling experience.” “It was so beautiful up there,” he said. “Every little town of 1,000 to 2,000 people would have a landing strip and North Dakota supports their landing strips little terminals, Lazy Boys, a kitchen, a flush potty, sometimes the shower

and there’s always a couch. So, Pat and I would set up our cots and Kevin would sleep on a couch.” For 10 days, they’d get up at the crack of dawn and, following the itinerary they had mapped out before leaving Arizona, would fly from one strip to the next – Williamson and Deutsch in one plane and Fagan in the other. They hit a record 17 strips one day. Their worst was a day when it poured so hard that they couldn’t fly. Instead, they used a courtesy car – most of the strips make one available for pilots – and drove to four strips. At each strip they landed, they’d have their Fly North Dakota Airport Passport stamped – needed proof to earn those leather jackets. Sometimes at night, they’d use that airport’s courtesy car to visit the nearby tiny downtown and look around, maybe have a real dinner instead of camping chow. And at most every airport, they’d meet someone.

More doors to walk through “The people in North Dakota were so nice,” Williamson said. “Sometimes some of the people would call their brother and sister and friends over. It was pretty amazing. They were all so friendly. It renewed my faith in America, to tell you the truth. There are some good, good people out there.” With two or three exceptions, moreover, the airports were remarkably well maintained. One terminal in the western half of North Dakota, home to numerous oil drilling operations, stunned the three fly-mates. “It must have been professionally decorated because it was so opulent. It had a remote-control fireplace. It had marble floors. Everything was immaculate. It had a fully stocked kitchen. Then there were three or four airports that were really rough. There were no accommodations. The runway was rough. We landed there anyway. It was a challenge.” Though North Dakota is largely flat, the bird’s eye view of the terrain impressed Williamson. “You get up 1,000 in the air and the terrain changes, depending on how the farmers till their fields,” he said. “There’s rolling hills, the crops are just coming up. In the eastern half there’s a lot of standing water and they will contour all the plowing they do around the standing water. You go farther west, it gets drier. It’s gorgeous from the air, it’s really pretty.” For a while anyway, only an average nine people a year did what Williamson did last month. He’s not sure if he’ll go to the banquet to collect his leather jacket and if he does, he thinks he might fly commercially given North Dakota’s propensity for harsh winter storms. But there’s one thing that he’s sure of. There are other states that have similar programs to North Dakota’s and he feels another door has opened that he’ll be walking through. “Now that we’ve done this, I think we’ll do a little research to find out what other states offer something like this.”

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

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Winslow’s Meteor Crater impresses the world drilling, mining, and searching for iron ore but no significant deposit was found. He had grand plans for the iron, estimating that if the iron were found, the amount would be valued at more than $1 billion in 1903. Unfortunately, he lost his fortune trying to do so. The Barringer family, along with longtime Arizona ranching and business families, the Tremaines and Chilsons, now own the site. It’s been transformed into one of Arizona’s most enduring family attractions.

BY CLAIRE NATALE Contributor

Named one of the Seven Wonders of the World 2020 by Conde Nast Traveler, Winslow’s Meteor Crater is awe inspiring. As one of the world’s few meteorite impact sites, Meteor Crater is considered to be the best-preserved on the planet. At 550 feet deep and almost a mile wide, the crater was formed in about 10 seconds when the meteorite, traveling at 26,000 mph, crashed into the earth. The force of impact was 150 times greater than the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima and equal to 20 million tons of TNT. The impact occurred during the last ice age, at a time when the Arizona landscape was cooler and wetter. Winslow was then covered with a forest, where mammoths, mastodons and giant ground sloths grazed, and the force of the impact leveled the forest and wiped out life for miles. Arizona’s dry climate has helped preserve this crater. Little of the rim’s crest has eroded unlike most craters on Earth that are often erased by geological processes. Daniel M. Barringer, a mining en-

NASA ties

As one of the world’s few meteorite impact sites, Meteor Crater is considered to be the best-preserved on the planet. (Photo courtesy Evolve Public Relations and Marketing)

gineer and businessman, would have benefited from knowing that the meteorite vaporized. In 1903, Barringer believed the site was created by a large nickel-iron metallic meteorite. He formed a company, the Standard Iron Company, and staked claim to the land. He received a land patent signed

by Theodore Roosevelt, allowing the company to research the crater. Barringer found fragments of oxidized iron meteorite in the surrounding area, leading Barringer to believe there must be a large deposit of meteoric iron below the surface. Barringer spent the next 27 years

The Meteor Crater also has deep ties to NASA and space exploration. In the 1960s, astronauts preparing for the first moon landing worked and explored the crater’s rugged terrain. The move helped them train for what they could expect in space because the Meteor Crater is one of the few impact sites that is still exposed. The several hundred thousand visitors who trek to the Meteor Crater each year will see an Apollo space capsule, which commemorates the over 50-year relationship with NASA. See

WINSLOW on page 44

Arizona Theatre Company copes with pandemic Each of these videos lets ATC artists connect with audiences. “People want to feel they are closer to the work we do and the individuals who make it happen,” Daniels said.

BRIDGETTE M. REDMAN Contributor

Passing by the Arizona Theatre Company’s website or Facebook pages, patrons might think Arizona’s state theater is busier than ever. Artistic Director Sean Daniels said the pandemic forced them to improve their online presence. “A couple months ago, our online presence was just bad,” Daniels said. “It was very transactional. We were just using the internet to sell. Everyone knows that’s not how it works. You have to engage. You use it for a place to learn. Now, everyone is online for hours a day. It would have taken a long time to do what we have done. I can’t give (my staff) enough credit.” They created four rooms where artists create and talk about art. Each week, they produce two podcasts that tie the content together. “We looked back at what is the organization we always wanted to be but never had the time,” said Jasmine Roth, the director of education and learning. Artistic Programs Director Will Rogers made sure the content was diversified. The rooms are named The Green Room, The Rehearsal Room, The Black Box and The Classroom. “As long as we kept our eye toward filling each of these rooms, we would have diverse content,” he said.

The Green Room

The Green Room is where ATC mem-

The Rehearsal Room

Puppeteer Raymond Carr was among the artists that Artistic Director Sean Daniels has interviewed on the Arizona Theater Company websited.

bers chat with national and local artists. Videos feature past performers sending messages and short performances to Arizona audiences. Samples include: Brenda Jean Foley singing two songs from her home Brandon Espinoza, who played Cliff in the recent production of “Cabaret,” performing a song that was cut from that musical on his ukulele Ben Scheuer, a singer-songwriter, performing “Weather the Storm.” Channel Bragg and Cyndey Trent sharing their experience of working at ATC.

The Rehearsal Room is where artists explore plays, musicals and topics that affect artistic communities. The content here encourages conversation around art. Some examples include: Carly Grossman, who starred in the ATC production of “The Music Man” talks about her experience as an intern as a UA student. She then sings “Making Love Alone” by Bernadette Peters. Roth and Rogers host a podcast on gender queerness and theater with co-host Maybe Stewart, a playwright, director and stage manager who has worked at ATC and throughout the Valley. Daniels hosts a podcast with Chris D’Arienzo, the writer and creator of “Rock of Ages,” talking about the musical and the new piece that will premiere at ATC. Acting intern Austin Killian discusses his experience on “The Legend of Georgia McBride” Actor Kevin Cantor presents a digital prologue to “The Legend of Georgia McBride” prior to the online streaming of the show.

The Black Box

The Black Box room is the stage where

there are play readings, online workshops of plays and musicals, live streamings of performances and community conversations around performances. The content is ephemeral. It is posted for a time, and then, because of rights and contracts, is removed. It featured a streaming of “The Legend of Georgia McBride,” the show whose run had to be cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic. From May 11 to May 15, there was a live Zoom reading of Daniels’ play “The White Chip,” an autobiographical story about his recovery from alcoholism. It brought back the cast who performed in off-Broadway a year ago. While the streaming was free, donations were split between the ATC and The Voices Project, a grassroots addiction recovery program. “What we’re doing is really inspiring,” Roth said. “In supporting (‘The White Chip’), we are creating all this digital content around it and around recovery and trying to bring awareness for sobriety and recovery. We have two podcasts, a community conversation every day of the five days the show is able to stream.” She said they wanted people to share this experience to provide support and inspiration for those who are struggling—especially when people can’t get together. “I’m really proud of us for the way we’re stepping up and making sure peoSee

THEATER on page 44

ARTS

WINSLOW

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

from page 43

Daily guided rim tours provide a fun, educational and interactive experience. The observation decks are equipped with telescopes so visitors can study the crater’s rock walls see the breathtaking desert landscape from the air-conditioned Meteor Crater Visitors Center. This world-class attraction also features a museum and discovery center housing interactive displays with information about meteorites, asteroids, impact cratering mechanics and the formation of Meteor Crater. The whole family will enjoy “IMPACT: The Mystery of Meteor Crater,” which is shown in the 80-seat big-screen theater, and the new, immersive 4D movie experience, “Collision! You Can Help Save Earth.” The film allows viewers to race the meteorite’s impact to help save the planet. The Gift & Mineral Shop has miner-

Left: The new, immersive 4D movie experience, “Collision! You Can Help Save Earth,” allows viewers to race the meteorite’s impact to help save the planet. Right: The Gift & Mineral Shop has minerals, jewelry, gems, American Indian art, science-based kids’ games, toys, shirts, hats and mugs. (Photo courtesy Evolve Public Relations and Marketing)

als, jewelry, gems, American Indian art, science-based kids’ games, toys, shirts, hats and mugs. Hungry guests can fill their tank at the Blasted Bistro, which features fresh sandwiches, salads and sweets. An on-site RV park offers housing

and one of the finest star and sky shows in the Southwest. Set up camp and take in the views within the majestic pines, playground and dog park. Amenities include a gas station and general store. Humphreys Peak in Flagstaff is on the near horizon in the Western sky. Also

nearby is The Grand Canyon, Havasupai Falls, Route 66, Snowbowl and Petrified Forest. The Meteor Crater is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Elevators and ADA accessibility are available. meteorcrater.com.

Grants will aid Chandler Public Library services SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler Public Library has been awarded four grants totaling through the Library Services and Technology Act for projects developed by library staff to better meet the needs of the community. Totaling more than $40,000, the grants are awarded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services and include $17,384 to Chandler Hamilton Library for DSLR cameras, editing software and other equipment that will be used to conduct photography programs and classes for students and the general public. Some equipment will be used at the library for year-round programming, while the rest of the equipment will be checked out to students in the photography classes taught each semester. “Photography is a lifelong learning option that can be done at any age, yet oftentimes the cost of the necessary equipment and technology is too high,” said Jill Baker, librarian and instructional specialist. “Our goal with this grant will be to increase the public’s knowledge of digital cameras, photography, videography and editing software while providing community

THEATER

from page 43

ple’s stories are heard and giving them a platform and tackling an issue in our society,” Roth said.

The Classroom

The Classroom offers two opportunities. ATC Teens can sign up for programs, or those of any age can attend a Zoom class on Thursdays or watch a YouTube video later. “Jasmine Roth is our amazing theater educator,” Daniels said. “Every day she is teaching classes—not just for kids. Now, she is teaching adults. It’s progress we would have done over the course

Chandler libraries are again closed except fopr pickups and returns. See chandlerlibrary.org for details. (City of Chandler)

members access to the hardware, software and training they need to make photography a career option or a new hobby.” A partnership between Chandler Public Library and the Chandler Museum received a $16,822 grant for “Building Bridges, Collections, and New Media Skills,” a digital history collaboration focused on collecting oral histories from Chandler’s African American community. The funds will be used to purchase audio-visual hardware and software that will be used at The Makery, a maker-space production studio at the Downtown Library, where interviews will be conducted starting in the fall. The project also will provide

opportunities for community members to build digital literacy skills with current and emerging media creation tools in an inclusive learning environment. The Downtown Library also received a Collections and Programming grant in the amount of $4,000 for a program that will be aimed at new and emerging adults, ages 18-30. A city spokesman said that age group “tends to disengage from library programs after high school and does not re-engage until they have children.” The Graphic Novel Book Club funding will be used to purchase books – both physical and digital – and for programming related to graphic novels, manga and pop culture, a popular entertain-

of several years, but now we’re doing it. Everyone on our staff has rallied and really made it happen.” Roth said it’s exciting to bring in offerings that may not have happened otherwise, in part because performers would be too busy. Also, performers who couldn’t afford to fly in to teach a class for an hour or so can meet with students on Zoom. For example, she brought in Sally Cade Holmes. “I sent (the students) an Instagram video that was a funny, quirky announcement,” Roth said. “I was on her website saying, ‘I wonder what project she’s done?’ pretending I didn’t know. ‘Oh, it’s Hadestown.’ They freaked out, fangirling so hard.”

The Future

ATC was forced to lay off much of its staff. “We had to let 65 percent of our staff go, which is less than average (among arts organizations),” he said. “Most let 80 percent go, some let everybody go. We made the choice that we wanted to stay connected to our audience, to still have content and that takes a certain amount of people.” He said they’re having to be smart and make tough decisions. With the cancelation of its last two shows, the company lost $1 million. They’re paring down and trying to make sure their employees, artists and technicians have

ment medium with this age group. Another $4,000 will help the library “deliver top-quality training for staff who are unable to attend other training events offered by the State Library,” the spokesman said. The program “Developing a Culture of Organizational Citizenship with Strategic Planning” will bring a guest speaker to the annual Staff Development Day in October. Dr. Rachel Rubin, associate university librarian for research and learning at the University of Pittsburgh, will discuss organizational citizenship and healthy organizationa culture. “Our continuing mission at Chandler Public Library is to work together to meet our customers’ needs, provide outstanding service and strive to be the best public library system in the state,” said Library Manager Rachelle Kuzyk. “These LSTA grants will help us provide four new programs to better serve the needs of the community, while we also support the professional development of our Chandler Public Library staff.” Information: chandlerlibrary.org or call 480-782-2800.

a theater to return to. The ATC announced its fall season. Dates may shift, but the season will start as soon as it’s safe for audiences. “We are not going to rush back if it is unsafe for our audience,” Daniels said. “We’re looking at a lot of things we can do. Will our balcony be a social distancing are? Do we want to limit the people who can be in the building? Can you enter the building from anywhere? “Will there be masks you can pick up as you come in? It will look different. The most important thing is the safety of our audience and our staff and our artists. We won’t do anything that puts people in harm’s way.” Information: arizonatheatre.org

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JULY 5, 2020

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*2016 and 2017 ** GCU students graduate with less debt on average ($18,750 according to College Scorecard) than the average at public and private nonprofit universities ($28,650 according to 2017 data from the Institute for College Access and Success). Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission.org/). Pre-licensure nursing students who begin or resume attendance in Fall 2020 and beyond will be ineligible to utilize most GCU institutional aid/scholarships for tuition and fees once accepted into the clinical portion of the program. Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/ academic-policies.php. The information printed in this material is accurate as of MARCH 2020. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/titleIX. ©2020 Grand Canyon University 20GTR0232

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We need faith as we strive for human decency BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Guest Writer

Look around in any community within our great country. You will find people who may appear different, but in reality, they are not because each of us is distinctive in our own way. Some may speak with an accent that makes it hard to understand and some wear clothing that seems bizarre. The truth is that while we may have different customs and traditions from the various areas of the country in which we live, we are all people who want nothing but the best for ourselves and our children so we can enjoy the fruits of our labors in an environment that gives us comfort and joy. Unfortunately, there are episodes in our journey that give us pause such as racial or religious discrimination. This is our country, a mix of different races and religions, and creeds, all blended together to complete the dream of equality. Then the difficulties begin. The deliberate attempt at creating an atmosphere of mistrust and dissension translates into anger and frustration.

The summer heat and the pandemic have created isolation and also lend themselves to the expressions of hate and disillusionment. The indiscriminate killing of innocents stokes the fire of rebellion. The one thing that seems to have been neglected or ignored is the goodness that can be found in so many because it has been overshadowed by the those who shout the loudest. Our houses of faith have been silent during these difficult times. Our clergy have not really organized themselves to

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speak with one voice to calm the turmoil that has festered for so long. The buildings stand, the pews are empty, those who have chosen to listen to the “calling” have disappointed as though they have suddenly become deaf. It is a shame that it has deteriorated to what we are witnessing today because over the years we have seen what brotherhood and feelings of solidarity have meant to so many. All of a sudden, all the strides that have been accomplished are forgotten and even ignored. We may have different approaches to our understanding of God and how it is expressed and explored, the one thing that we all understand is that the path is not the only way to connection, but rather the destination. Where do we want to be in reconciling our differences so that peace and tranquility will once more reign

supreme? The destination can be and should be the same for all of us: Joining is acknowledging our obligation to honor the concept of love and faith and harmony. How best to reach this destination? Joining together at our respective houses of worship to hopefully listen to words of encouragement and inspiration. And, hopefully feel the connection to God who is there to receive us and listen to our supplications. Now, more than ever, we have been reminded that while we may seek comfort and solace, we are surrounded by a plague that seems never-ending, and hate of one another that is causing so much pain, because no one will stand and say the words “We are one and together we can overcome.” Now, more than ever, we have to realize that our feelings count, our voices need to be heard so that we will all feel the emptiness we are experiencing will disappear. Only with one voice will those responsible for our safety and survival listen to our plea for sanity and accommodation. We are sheep looking for the shepherd to guide us and steer us closer to one another. Now, more than ever we need to continue to strive for human decency. Now. More than ever, we must remember that having faith includes faith in ourselves. We have the ability to overcome adversity in partnership with God. - Rabbi Irwin Wiener is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.

Chandler United Methodist Church Making and Deploying Disciples for over 100 Years.

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480-963-3360 | www.chandlermethodist.org | 450 E. Chandler Heights Rd. Designing residential home interiors in the greater metro Phoenix area for over 20 years. By The Yard is open seven days a week with home decorating fabrics in stock and a large library of Fabric and Trims. Our experienced designers custom create your window treatments, upholstery, or bedding through our in-house workroom. By The Yard provides quality craftsmanship and product innovation.

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ST. MARY’S CHURCH

230 W. Galveston St., Chandler AZ 85225 480.963.3207

ST. JUAN DIEGO CHURCH 3200 S. Cooper Rd., Chandler AZ 85286 480.734.2187

MASS - English Mon-Fri: 11:30am Saturday: Vigil 4:00pm Sunday: 8:00am, 9:45am, 4:30pm MASS - Spanish Sunday: 11:30am Confession: Sat 8:30am-9:30am

MASS - English Mon-Sat: 8:15am; Tue: 6:30pm Saturday: Vigil 4:30pm Sunday: 6:45am, 9:30am, 11:00am, 5:00pm (Teen) MASS - Spanish Mon-Fri: 9:00am; Wed: 6:30pm Sunday: 8:00am, 12:30pm, 6:30pm Confession: Sat 2:30-3:30pm; Tue & Wed 5:45pm

You’re Invited to Attend Mass! Physical distancing is

observed & masks are required for everyone 3 years and older. We still offer communion to those who are not yet ready to attend a public mass. Watch a Mass on YouTube or Facebook or a televised Mass & communion will be available at: St. Mary’s in Hurtado Hall M-F 8:50-10am Sat. 8:50-10am, 5:10-5:30pm, Sun. 7:25-7:45am, 8:55-9:15am, 10:10-10:40am, 11:40am-Noon, 1:05-1:30pm, 5:40-6:00pm, 7:10-7:30pm. St. Juan Diego M-F in Church: Noon-12:15pm Under the Tent: Sat. 4:35-5:05pm Sun. 8:35-9:05am, 10:25-10:50am, 12:10-12:30pm, 5:05–5:25pm.

Mailing Address (both Churches): 230 W. Galveston St., Chandler, AZ 85225 • www.stmarychandler.org