August 1 - August 14, 2015 www.SanTanSun.com
Hudson ‘pumps up’ firefighters with visit to station BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher and Southeast Chandler resident Daniel Hudson is modest when he talks about his July visit to Fire, Health & Medical Station 283. He doesn’t necessarily consider the visit “giving back to the community,” but the joy in the fire station was palpable— on both sides. “I went out there and had a good time with them,” Hudson said during a recent interview in the team’s clubhouse at Chase Field. “They gave me a little tour and I sat down and had lunch with them. They were all pumped up.” The visit was in advance of the D-backs’ first responder night at Chase Field on July 17. Phoenix Police Department Chief Joseph Yahner and Phoenix Fire Department Chief Kara Kalkbrenner hurled the first pitch. D-backs players and coaches presented personalized jerseys to Valleyarea police and fire precincts during a special pregame ceremony. The D-backs also recognized the Phoenix and Peoria Police Explorers before the game.
Chandler resident and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson recently visited Fire, Health & Medical Station 283. STSN photo by Tim Sealy
The team donated a portion of all tickets purchased at www.dbacks. com/100club to the 100 Club of Arizona. “We did this great thing last night with
the first responders,” Hudson said. “There were people from all over the Valley who work in police districts and firehouses. We presented jerseys to everyone.”
Chandler Battalion Chief Keith Welch was there during the visit, and attended the ballgame against the San Francisco Giants. Welch was impressed with Hudson’s kindness. “He’s a real personable guy; just down to earth,” Welch said. “He’s pretty laid back; easy to talk to. We sat at this huge table with 20 of us there just shooting the bull.” Four-year Chandler resident Hudson has lived near Basha High School for about four years, moving to Chandler because the city’s houses are in his price range. “I used to rent in Scottsdale—North Scottsdale,” he said. “I couldn’t find anything that I liked in my price range. My Realtor, he lives in Chandler. He said, ‘Let’s check out my neck of the woods and see if you like it down there.’ “I explored the area and, man, I really liked it here. I found something our price range that we love.” The reliever said his neighbors have been respectful to him and his family. “Everybody knows who I am, but nobody really cares,” he said. “They give us our privacy. They’re all fans as well. They like to shoot me a text message every once in a while letting me know they watched me play and stuff like that.” These four years have been trying for Hudson and his wife, Sara. In the summer of 2012, Hudson underwent Tommy John surgery, a sort of elbow reconstruction operation, which put him on the disabled see HUDSON page 4
Chang named an Outstanding Voters asked to update Global Chinese Female Entrepreneur election dates BY ALISON STANTON
Shen-Yi Michelle Chang believes in giving back to the community. In addition to serving on the City of Chandler Human Relations Commission and the City’s General Plan Update Advisory Committee, Chang helped organize the Taiwan Little League visit to Chandler last year, and she is coordinating the Chandler Little League’s forthcoming visit to Taiwan. The Chandler resident said she enjoys serving on committees in the city, which she described as “very diverse and dynamic.” “It’s great to get involved with great outstanding leaders like the council and the mayor, and I’m proud to be part of a team that is trying to build the city even more.”
Chang, who owns DA FA Realty and Investments LLC, is also the founding president of the Asian Real Estate Association of America-Arizona Chapter and is the president of the Taiwan Benevolent Association of Phoenix. Chang also serves as the treasurer of the Arizona State Chapter Women’s Council of Realtors, and is the former president of the Arizona East Valley Chapter Women’s Council of Realtors. Recently, Chang was recognized by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou as one of the Outstanding Global Chinese Female Entrepreneurs. Chang said she is one of 29 women from six continents to receive this honor. In late June, Chang flew to Taiwan, where she and the other Outstanding
BY KEN ABRAMCZYK
Voters in Chandler have been asked to approve a charter amendment in a special election dated Aug. 25, but they aren’t heading to the polls to vote. For the first time, the City is conducting an all-mail ballot election, though voters still can drop ballots off at the Chandler City Clerk’s office or at three Maricopa County Elections Department offices up until and including Election Day. The City began sending ballots to registered voters on Wednesday, July 29. Voters are deciding on Proposition 484. If approved, the charter language will change the election months from May to November for the mayor and
councilmember offices. The charter language governing the actual terms of office would change the start date of office from June to January. The changes are necessary because a recent court case struck down the state law regarding charter city election cycles. In March, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld a ruling by the state Court of Appeals that Phoenix and Tucson do not have to follow a state law that attempted to force cities to align on one election calendar. That meant that the state law was invalid, and because the City conformed to state law, the city charter now must be modified so the elections can continue to occur on see ELECTION page 9
see CHANG page 4
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Associate Broker REALTOR® CDPE ABR GRI SFR SRS CSSPE
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“Selling Chandler Since 2005” See Page 7
Partnership prepares students for emergencies . . . . . . . . community . . . . . . . Page 10 My Sisters’ Charities donates $72,000 to nonprofits . . . . . business . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 20 Chandler National Little League All-Stars win state title . . . youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 25 Study wine at the Ed Robson Library Aug. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 52 Chandler organizations earn grants from arts commission . . arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 65
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