September 13, 2020 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler
An edition of the East Valley Tribune
Chandler tykes can go to classrooms this week BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
A divided Chandler Unified School District Governing Board has voted advance the reopening of classrooms by letting kids in preschool through second grade back on campuses by Sept. 14. Partially bowing to the wishes of many concerned parents, the board on Sept. 2 voted 3-2 on a staggered reopening, with third-sixth graders returning Sept. 21. High school and junior high students will remain in distance learning until the October start of the second semester and students in all grades can continSee
Chandler Unified Governing Board decided two weeks ago to begin a "rolling reopening" of classrooms similar to one in Kyrene School District
SCHOOLS on page 3 (Special to SanTan Sun News)
Chandler tavern owner Chandler man allegedly disputes state shutdown faked diseases for money BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
The owner of Rick’s Pub and Grub hopes state authorities will allow his restaurant to quickly reopen after it was recently found to be operating in violation of Arizona’s COVID-19 restrictions. Tony Harris, who took ownership of Rick’s Pub last year, is confident the Arizona Department of Health Services will rescind its recent decision to force the Chandler bar to close after he pleads his case before the agency. “I shouldn’t be shut down,” Harris said. “I’ve been operating within guidelines completely.” The state posted a notice on Labor Day advising Harris his business was not allowed to serve customers until he could prove Rick’s Pub, 4910 West Ray Road, was following guidelines set by the Department of Health to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. At least two Scottsdale and one Tempe tavern were shut down a week earlier after authorities found them to be overcrowded with customers who were not spread far enough apart from each other. In the case of Rick’s Pub, inspectors claim they recently found the restaurant to have at least 112 occupants – 12 more than its permissible limit. The bar and restaurant can normally hold up to 200 visitors, but new regulations have forced Rick’s Pub to scale back its customer capacity. On July 9, Gov. Doug Ducey signed an executive order that forced all restaurants to cut their occupancy levels by 50 percent and to space out seating areas by at least six feet.
Harris said he had been following these specific guidelines and disputes how state authorities conducted their occupancy count at his bar. He claims the state’s count wasn’t done correctly because it contrasts with counts done by his staff. But regardless of the numbers, Harris said he’s eager to remedy the issue quickly and prove his restaurant can follow the government’s rules. “Whatever they want me to do to be
Whatever they “ want me to do to be
in compliance – even if i think it’s silly – I don’t care, I will make people do that.
”
– Tony Harris
in compliance – even if i think it’s silly – I don’t care, I will make people do that,” he said. The state Department of Health Services is requiring bars like Rick’s Pub to apply for permission to reopen by submitting plans that demonstrate its ability to conform to COVID-19 guidelines. The order covers bars with Series 6 and 7 licenses, indicating the businesses primarily serve beer, wine and alcohol with food a relatively minor part of their menu. State health officials initially gave Rick’s Pub the green light reopen beSee
BAR on page 12
BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
Scottsdale Police have arrested a Chandler man on felony charges that he allegedly attempted to scam his friends, police officers and prosecutors into believing he was dying of an incurable illness. Christopher Nelson, 49, was indicted last month by a county grand jury on 18 felony counts of fraud, forgery, and identity theft for an elaborate effort to convince the public he was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS – a rare disease that destroys the nervous system and typically ends in death within a few years of diagnosis. Authorities suspect Nelson used wheelchairs and walkers to simulate symptoms of the disease in order to evade court dates and solicit donations from sympathetic friends. The alleged ruse is the second time Nelson has recently been accused of faking a debilitating illness for financial gain. A few years ago, Nelson was suspected of utilizing social media and fake email accounts to swindle thousands of dollars out of his old high school classmates by projecting himself as a feeble,
Christopher Nelson needy invalid who was near death. But authorities claim Nelson invented his digital to manipulate dozens of people into handing over cash donations they thought would be spent on saving Nelson’s life from pancreatic cancer. According to Scottsdale Police, several of Nelson’s former classmates from Coronado High School reported giving Nelson more than $30,000 between
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NELSON on page 2
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NELSON
from page 1
2010 and 2015 after he posted Facebook posts about needing funds for cancer treatments. Nelson’s friends organized several fundraising parties to cover medical costs that Nelson claimed weren’t being covered by insurance. To cover his tracks, authorities say, Nelson used a relative’s identity in a fake email address to communicate with donors, organize fundraisers and forge documents describing nonexistent oncology treatments. “It appeared Nelson also created other fake email addresses so he could surreptitiously read and be part of group emails and monitor what was being planned and said about his fake medical condition,” a police report states. Over 40 people donated a total $15,000 and the defendant’s friends raised another $15,000 by selling T-shirts in support of Nelson’s supposed cancer treatment. One of Nelson’s former classmates told Scottsdale Police the suspect asked for an additional $2,300 to undergo experimental treatments at Virginia Piper Cancer Institute. Nelson allegedly asked the friend to also drive him to the hospital and to pay for his lunch. When friends started asking ques-
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
tions about Nelson’s health status in 2014, the defendant reportedly got defensive and would email them digitally-altered images to support his stories. As more donors became suspicious of Nelson’s claims, the defendant decided to end the fundraising operation by faking his own death. In September
uncovered more evidence earlier this year to file additional charges against him. In February 2020, Nelson appeared in court on a motorized wheelchair and unable to verbally communicate. He claimed to be suffering from ALS – more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – and was only able to
It appeared Nelson also created other fake email “addresses so he could surreptitiously read and be part of group emails and monitor what was being planned and said about his fake medical condition.
”
2015, friends received an email informing them Nelson had committed suicide. Investigators later discovered Nelson had allegedly wrote the email and sent it through a fake address. By 2017, investigators had made contact with more than 20 of Nelson’s classmates and confirmed the suspect had never been diagnosed with cancer nor undergone any treatments. He was arrested and indicted on fraud charges in December 2017. Nelson’s criminal case had been pending in court when authorities
communicate by blinking his eyes. Scottsdale Police later discovered Nelson allegedly forged documents from the Mayo Clinic to support his claims of having ALS. The defendant also used his fake diagnosis to seek donations of wheelchairs, walkers and $9,000 for a speech-generating device. Nelson also solicited someone through social media to fix his truck for free so the defendant could take “one last ride” before he succumbed to ALS, according to authorities. Investigators conducted a surveillance operation outside Nelson’s
Chandler residence and observed him walking, talking, dancing, doing yard work and lifting heavy objects – contradicting how he presented himself in court. Court records show Nelson has been accused of scheming and deceiving Valley residents for decades. His criminal history in Maricopa County dates back to 1995, when he first pleaded guilty to one count of fraud. In 1998, Nelson again pleaded guilty to theft charges and was placed on probation for a couple years. He faced several felony charges in 2014 after authorities caught him using the identities of his acquaintances to harass someone who had filed a restraining order against him. Nelson pleaded guilty to criminal impersonation and was sentenced to one year in prison. Not long after Nelson was released from the Arizona Department of Corrections in 2017, he was charged in the cancer fraud. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has been attempting to restrict Nelson’s movements since his 2017 offenses due to the level of fear his victims have for possible retaliation. “The defendant is a danger to not only himself but to the community in which he resides,” prosecutors wrote. Scottsdale Police asks anyone who may have been defrauded by Nelson to contact the agency at 480-312-8141.
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
SCHOOLS
from page 1
ue to remain learning at home if their parents want them to. The board’s decision reverses plans set earlier this summer that delayed all in-person teaching at Chandler Unified’s 42 campuses until Oct. 13 in order to avoid the risk of students and staff contracting COVID-19. But county and state public health data show the transmission risk has dropped to a level that experts believe is safe enough to allow for a hybrid approach to for students. Chandler Unified’s rolling reopening mirrors that of Kyrene School District, which will start allowing K-2 students into classrooms Sept. 17, followed a week later. Middle Schools won’t reopen until Oct. 13. Gilbert Public Schools opened for hybrid learning in all grades last week, with kids in class two days a week, broken down alphabetically so the entire student body is not on campus at one time. Meanwhile, Higley Unified opened for full five-day-a-week in-classroom learning while Mesa Public Schools will begin a hybrid learning along the lines of the GPS format on Sept. 14. Tempe Union has not yet set a date for its hybrid learning to begin. The Chandler Unified board’s decision came the day before the county Public Health Department released the latest data on virus cases per 100,000
Chandler Unified developed this chart to show the number of rooms available for classes of different sizes in elementary schools. (Chandler Unified)
people, the percent of new positive tests and the percentage of hospital visits with COVID-19-like symptoms. The county data, covering the last week of August and updated every Thursday, show Chandler Unified now has a minimal level for the latter two benchmarks at in a moderate level for cases per 100,000. The Maricopa County Public Health Department says districts can start moving away from all-virtual learning once the positivity rate in tests is below 7 percent for two consecutive weeks. Within CUSD boundaries, data show, the positivity rate was 4.67 percent Aug. 23-29 and 3.67 percent the week before. But some board members are not convinced the stats are strong enough
to warrant any in-person learning. Lindsay Love and Lara Bruner voted against reopening Chandler’s elementary schools earlier than planned because of the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak occurring at one of the district’s campuses. “I don’t think it’s wise right now,” said Bruner, who felt CUSD should wait until the infection rate remained steady under 3 percent before reopening any campuses. Love felt the two-week rule used by health experts was not sufficient for deciding when it was safe for school districts to reopen. It seems like a bit of a “knee-jerk reaction,” she said, to make a major decision based on a limited amount of
data that could suddenly fluctuate. Board President Barb Mozdzen said the community’s infection rate may never get down to a low enough level until a vaccine becomes available, and felt that should not stop CUSD from reopening its schools. Virtual learning does not appear to be effective for many students, Mozdzen added, and has not been improving since the school year started in early August. It’s time to allow parents the choice of deciding whether they want their children to be back in the classroom, she said. “We are increasing the achievement gaps all over this district,” she said. “The metrics support reopening in a hybrid method.” Frank Narducci, assistant superintendent of elementary education, said CUSD prioritized bringing the younger grade levels back first so that teachers could have some additional time introducing them to the customs and protocols of in-person learning. “It would allow staff to be able to work with them with a little more care,” Narducci said. This year is the first educational experience for Chandler’s preschoolers and kindergartners, Narducci added, so they don’t understand and haven’t seen yet how the school system should normally operate. See
SCHOOLS on page 4
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COMMUNITY NEWS
SCHOOLS
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Under this staggering model, Narducci said the elementary campuses would practice social distancing guidelines and attempt to keep class sizes as low as possible. The district’s data show 81 percent of its kindergarten classes would have fewer than 18 students enrolled, 17 percent would have between 19 and 22 students and less than 2 percent would have more than 23 students. CUSD evaluated a hybrid schedule that would have involved students splitting their week between in-person teaching on some days and virtual learning on the others. Administrators said the logistics of deploying such a hybrid schedule would have been much more complicated and the district would have had to re-configure new bus routes. The board further considered opening up Chandler’s secondary schools before the second quarter started, but board member David Evans joined Love and Bruner to vote that proposal down. Evans said he worried how disruptive it would be to ask high school students
t? o G ws Ne
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
to suddenly transition from virtual to in-person learning in the middle of their first quarter. The middle or end of September
This visual learning is a joke, I will be taking my “daughter out of CUSD if this does not happen soon. No way am I allowing my tax dollars to pay for this joke. ”
– Hamilton High School Parent
would be the “worst possible time” to have high schoolers quickly reorient themselves back to school, Evans said, because they’re already focused on studying for important exams. “It doesn’t get any worse than that,” he said. The board’s decision to reopen elementary schools conflicts with the wishes of many teachers, who preferred keeping campuses closed until October. According to a district survey, 67 percent of teachers felt in-person instruction should not start until after fall break and 59 percent didn’t feel immediately prepared to return to teaching in their classrooms.
Among the 1,200 emails and comments submitted by parents to the district in recent weeks, more than 58 percent of them demanded the district reopen schools as soon as possible. “This visual learning is a joke,” the parent of a Hamilton High School student wrote in an email. “I will be taking my daughter out of CUSD if this does not happen soon. No way am I allowing my tax dollars to pay for this joke.” The mother of a Chandler High School student also threatened to withdraw their child from the district if CUSD did not reopen its campuses immediately. “I specifically bought a home in
Chandler when my kids were toddlers because of the school district,” the mother wrote. “Over the years I have stayed in Chandler because I thought the schools were so good. I am now so disgusted with the district.” The district’s administrators have already reported student enrollment was much lower than expected this school year, which could impact how much money CUSD receives from the state. Several parents have urged CUSD to keep all campuses closed until at least Oct. 13 and felt it was irresponsible to keep changing how and when schools were to reopen. “My daughter is gaining the routine of being virtual and is comfortable,” a Haley Elementary parent wrote. “It would be irresponsible to consider partial data to make a rash decision to return in person.” Other parents pointed to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 cases reported at Arizona State University as a reason to keep Chandler’s campuses closed for the next few weeks. ‘Is ASU not enough of an example,” a Hull Elementary parent asked the school board. “The schools and state rushing will only create another surge.”
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
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
5
CUSD pays for COVID-19 insurance coverage SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
The Chandler Unified School District plans to obtain additional insurance coverage to protect itself from lawsuits filed by families of students who might contract COVID-19 on school property or during school activities. According to district records, CUSD has recently approved paying a premium of $150,000 to the Arizona School Risk Retention Trust in order to minimize its legal liability when schools eventually open later this year. The Trust offers insurance coverage to more than 200 school districts across Arizona and has recently begun offering extra coverage to protect schools from any damages caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Trust has agreed to cover up to $1 million for each occurrence caused by the pandemic that the district’s found to be legally liable to pay. An occurrence could be a student or employee who sustains injuries or damages as a result of the coronavirus. It was not clear at first if the Trust would offer any coverage for school districts because the Trust’s insurance partners were skeptical about covering claims involving pathogens. Ken Hicks, a Trust board member, told KTAR radio station in July he didn’t think the Trust would be able to protect districts from COVID-19. But the
Trust’s board later decided on Aug. 4 to offer an option for additional coverage if districts agree to pay a premium. The CUSD plan still obligates the district to pay a deductible for every COVID-related claim filed against Chandler Unified -- an amount which varies depending on whether the claimant signs an acknowledgement form before returning to school. The district has recently sent out a form to its 46,000 students that inform their parents of what they’ll be expected to do when in-person instruction resumes next quarter. Students are expected to wear masks during school hours, wash their hands regularly, and check their temperature each morning before going to school, according to the district’s form. If a child starts to show symptoms of
COVID-19, then the district plans to separate them from other students and will inform their parents they need to be picked up within one hour. The symptoms that could send a student home include fatigue, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, fever, body aches, nausea, or diarrhea. Even if the sick student doesn’t have COVID-19, the district is warning students they may still be sent home if they display those symptoms. “While the District understands that many of these symptoms can also be due to non-COVID-19- related issues, we must proceed with an abundance of caution during this public health emergency,” the acknowledgement form states. According to the Trust, school districts cannot require parents to sign this type of form before sending their kids back to school. Chandler Unified has elected to delay classroom instruction until October and students have been asked to bring their signed acknowledgement form on the first day of on-site school. The district’s form further obligates parents to inform the district if their child has recently come into close
contact with someone who’s contracted the COVID-19 virus. Parents are also asked to acknowledge the inherent risk that comes with sending their child to school amidst a pandemic “No list of restrictions, guidelines, or practices will remove the risk of exposure to COVID-19,” the district’s form states. A family who chooses to sign the form means the district will have to pay a $10,000 deductible if that family later files a legal claim for damages against CUSD. A claimant who doesn’t sign the form will force the district to pay a higher deductible of $20,000. Chandler Unified’s form notably does not ask parents to completely hold the district harmless for any injuries or damages caused by the pandemic. The Trust reportedly sent out liability waiver forms -- which is separate from an acknowledgement form -- to various districts that would have asked parents to forgo their rights to hold a school district liable for damages. Districts who opt to have parents sign a liability waiver would likely have to pay a much lower deductible compared to claimants who sign an acknowledgement form. According to the coverage plan offered to CUSD, the district would not have to pay any deductible for a claimant who signs a liability waiver. Chandler Unified has only asked families to sign an acknowledgement form and not a waiver.
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
CUSD teen’s site connects youth to issues BY STACI HAUK Contributor
After spending four years on her high school’s speech and debate team, 17-year-old Delaney Krieger is trying to fill a need she sees in Gilbert as the General Election approaches. So the Gilbert teen, a senior at Arizona College Prep – Erie in Chandler Unified, has launched: time-to-vote. com to promote knowledgeable voting by young people – a subject she is passionate about. Delaney said what she learned in speech and debate about the nation’s political process enabled her to see deficiencies. “I started to think, what is one of the largest issues relating to people my age? This was when I came across a statistic representing ages 18-28 having the lowest voter turnout,” Delaney explained. “I was shocked since these are the exact individuals that are our future and possess the power to make a change,” she continued. “So, to put it simply, my first goal was to just increase voter turnout.” Through research of organizations with a similar mission, Krieger learned about advocating for voter turnout – but that didn’t seem sufficient. While she believes that goal is
Gilbert resident Delaney Krieger’s website time-tovote.com aims to engage young people, politicians. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
important, she also feels too many elected officials don’t necessarily seem
to accurately represent the views of people her age share. That presented a larger problem that she set out to solve. “I continued to do more research as to why my demographic isn’t going to the polls,” she said. “I conducted informal surveys, spoke with some of my friends and others and found that one of the major inhibiting factors for people my age was that they are not current with the issues.” She also found an overwhelming majority of young people don’t watch the news or even do their own research, trusting instead in social media posts. “Very few people my age want to sit down and read an article written with the rhetoric and word choice for older generations,” Delaney said. “It takes too much effort to try to conceptualize and understand the history and political context behind the articles written by news sources.” Time-to-Vote.com is dedicated to presenting information in relatable terms so potential voters can understand the ballot issues and identify candidates who will best represent them. Krieger feels it’s key to offer an unbiased source that spells out facts without editorials and name-calling and her website explores the history behind topics, simplifying major issues into
digestible chunks. Her hope is to entice young voters to gain wisdom which readies them to vote – and makes them excited to do so. “It seems as though there are very few sources that properly present pure media and state only facts without having a slant in some direction. Additionally, many sources that are unbiased ultimately are written as scholarly articles or use rhetoric that is difficult to grasp. “With Time to Vote’s focus on educating young adults, I feel as though it fills both voids.” Delaney is currently focused on writing articles with titles like “The Candidate That Wins the Most Votes from the People Wins the Election Right? Not Necessarily.” And she plans to continue to explore topics that could figure heavily into campaigns over the next two months. Delaney plans to continue her site and add new contributors when she goes to college, where she aspires to study business, law or even marine biology. “I believe it is important to have an impartial way to discuss the election and political issues with no bias because of the polarized nature of today’s society,” Delaney said.
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Chandler utility delinquencies on the rise BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
The number of Chandler residents with unpaid utility bills has been escalating since the pandemic started in March. Delinquent accounts for water and wastewater services have doubled in number between February and June, resulting in an accumulated debt that has surpassed $500,000. According to city data, 406 delinquent utility accounts in March met Chandler’s criteria for warranting shutoff of services. That number jumped to 908 by June. Last year at this time, Chandler had 382 delinquent accounts owing just under $200,000. The city elected to not disconnect delinquents and instead encouraged customers to seek a flexible payment plan. Dawn Lang, the city’s management services director, said most Valley cities are trying to be sympathetic to residents who may have been financially impacted by COVID-19. “No one really wants to be the first person to start disconnecting,” Lang said. “We certainly want to be very sensitive to what’s happening with our residents.” Many Valley cities in March temporarily suspended shutting off water service, stating it made no sense to make it
difficult for people to wash their hands amid the spread of a contagious virus. Chandler’s delinquency rate had been trending downward in the months leading up to the pandemic. Lang said the city has spent the last few years making a strategic effort to reduce its number of overdue balances and was finally starting to achieve some success. The pandemic has reversed much of the progress Chandler had been making, she added. “This is still a very large concern for us and we want to make sure we get the resources out to our citizens to help with this issue,” she added. One positive trend that has offset
some of the pandemic’s negative impact is an increase in utility consumption among Chandler’s commercial customers, which have recorded higher usage. Before the pandemic, Chandler’s policy was to disconnect households from services if their utility accounts had an unpaid balance of at least $400 or was past due for more than two weeks. The city is planning to reach out to customers with balances of at least $150 with “soft notices” of their unpaid debt and the options they have to pay it off. The city said these notices will include information on utility assistance programs and residents may be asked
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questions to determine which program or agency is best suited to help them. AZCEND, a nonprofit serving residents in Chandler and Gilbert, offers a utility assistance program that has become more popular in recent months. Twenty households requested funds from AZCEND to pay rent or utility bills in the last week before the pandemic began. During the last week of August, the nonprofit helped 110 households resolve unpaid bills. Trinity Donovan, chief executive officer of AZCEND, said the recent surge in demand was somewhat expected considering the pandemic’s economic impact on households and the higher electric bills the hot weather brings. Donovan added, since COVID-19 has deepened a problem that’s been existing in Chandler for years, “Affordable housing has always been an issue in our community -- even prior to the pandemic,” she said. The types of households reaching out to AZCEND for help during the pandemic comprise a broad spectrum, Donovan added, and many of them include residents who have never asked for assistance before. “We hear from people who say, ‘I haven’t had to do this before so I’m not sure how the process works,’” she said. Residents should contact AZCEND for help during this time, Donovan added, because it’s better to resolve debts before late fees are added to the bill.
COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Chandler teacher finalist for Teacher of the Year BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
A Chandler High School teacher has been named one of five finalists for the Arizona Education Foundation’s “Teacher of the Year” award. Sara Wyffels, a Spanish teacher for 13 years, is in the running to get one of the state’s top education honors that results in a $15,000 prize and a free trip to the White House. Wyffels will find out on Oct. 23 whether she will be picked as Arizona’s best teacher of 2021 from a group that also includes educators from Glendale, Tucson, Flagstaff and Sahuarita. The five finalists, dubbed by the foundation as “Ambassadors of Excellence,” will spend the next year engaging in professional development and delivering presentations across the state on their experiences as educators. The foundation picks 10 semi-finalists each year from a list of nominations submitted by school districts across the state. Judges choose the finalists after interviewing all 10 candidates and reviewing a videotaped lesson the teachers prepare in their classroom. Wyffels said she’s beyond excited to be named a finalist from a competitive group of nominees and is excited to start her work as one of the foundation’s newest ambassadors. “I am grateful for all of the opportunities that I have had to grow as an
plauded her “amazing” ability to connect with students. Evans said his own son continues to applaud and commend Wyffels’s skills in the classroom, despite having graduated from Chandler High several years ago. Wyffels credited the district for helping her become a better teacher over the years and for creating a working environment that’s allowed her to explore her curiosities. “CUSD has supported my professional growth for the past 13 years and has given me a family of extraordinary colleagues with whom I have the joy to collaborate,” she added. Wyffels became interested in studying Spanish after taking a language course in high school Chandler High Spanish teacher Sara Wyffels is one of five finalists and knew quickly she had for the coveted Arizona Teacher of the Year 2020 tiitle. found her calling as a teacher. (Special to SanTan Sun News) She earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington educator and I am looking forward to University and taught at schools being an advocate in this capacity,” she in Oregon before relocating to Arizona said. in 2008. Chandler Unified administrators have Wyffels has become a notable leader been quick to praise Wyffels’s recent ac- in the district’s initiatives to introduce complishment and have wished her luck practices that establish a more equitaon earning the foundation’s top prize. ble and inclusive learning environment Superintendent Camille Casteel for students. called Wyffels a “delightful” instructor A few years ago, CUSD began reand board member David Evans apleasing data that illustrated significant
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achievement gaps between students of different races, ethnicities and economic backgrounds. In response, Chandler Unified has begun devoting more resources to close these education gaps and training teachers on how to make all their students feel included in the classroom. Wyffels said she believes all students should have equitable access to education and strives to encourage them to push themselves beyond their comfort zones. “I use my class as a tool for equity,” she said in 2019. “I empower the marginalized by expecting more of them.” Wyffels recently represented CUSD on a statewide committee of teachers that advised the Arizona Department of Education on how schools should reopen during the pandemic. The committee was focused on ensuring state authorities considered the extra workload teachers would have to take on by shifting their curriculum over to a virtual-friendly format, Wyffels said. “There’s a concern of possibly teachers getting overloaded with a combination of virtual learning and in-person learning,” Wyffels said earlier this year. “I think that could burn a lot of people out.” The foundation’s honor isn’t the first Wyffels has received in recent years for her teaching capabilities. In 2015, she was named “Teacher of the Year” by the Arizona International Baccalaureate Schools organization.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Chandler lawmaker seeks immunity from lawsuit BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
A Chandler lawmaker wants the state’s high court to rule that the concept of legislative immunity is so broad that he cannot be sued for defamation by ousted Rep. Don Shooter. Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-LD17, claims that he is absolutely protected from lawsuits over his decision to release an investigative report of Shooter, that concluded the Yuma Republican was guilty of sexual harassment of others, including lawmakers, lobbyists and even a newspaper publisher. That report became the basis for the 2018 House vote to expel Shooter. Steve Tully, attorney for the Phoenix Republican, said the same is true of Mesnard’s decision to issue a press release explaining his actions. But Mesnard has so far failed to convince either the trial judge or the state Court of Appeals that the allegations in Shooter’s complaint fit neatly within the areas of legal immunity. Instead they have decided that there should be further hearings to explore the issues further That move not only could cost Mesnard money both in legal fees and, potentially, a court verdict, but also publicly expose what Shooter contends are provisions of the original report that he says Mesnard removed. Mesnard wants the case tossed now. So he is making a last-ditch effort to
Chandler state Sen. J.D. Mesnard is seeking immunity from the U.S. Supreme Court in a lawsuit filed by disgraced former Rep. Don Shooter, who was ousted by his colleagues on the basis of a report Mesnard helped prepare. (File photo)
convince the Arizona Supreme Court to conclude that he has immunity and Shooter’s claims should be dismissed. What the high court decides could affect more than this case. It could set
the standards for the circumstances when lawmakers can – and cannot – use their immunity to avoid being sued. Mesnard’s petition to the state’s high court is the latest action in a series of
events that started with the vote by the House to oust Shooter and continue in a series of legal actions. That includes a still-pending federal court lawsuit over whether lawmakers are entitled to certain procedural due process protections before they can be ousted. This case, however, focuses on narrower questions. It starts with the report the House commissioned to look into various allegations of sexual harassment. Attorneys for Shooter contend that the report presented to lawmakers – the one that resulted in the vote to expel him – was “materially altered’’ from what the outside investigators originally produced. Among the items missing from the final report, the lawsuit says, is evidence that then-Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, who had been one of Shooter’s accusers, had herself sexually harassed a female former legislative staffer. That information, Shooter contends, could have undermined Ugenti-Rita’s credibility. Shooter also claims that the press release issued by Mesnard about the report contained “false and misleading statements.’’ That, Shooter said, was defamatory because it made him appear to be untruthful. But if Mesnard gets his way and the Supreme Court decides he’s absolutely immune from being sued, all that will See
MESNARD on page 16
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Philadelphia museum honors Basha High student BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
A Basha High School student has been named a finalist by the National Liberty Museum for an award recognizing teenagers who make positive changes in their communities. Nikita Bharati, 16, was honored on Sept. 12 in a virtual ceremony with the museum’s “Young Hero” award in recognition of her volunteer work in trying to improve science education for young girls. She is one of 14 honorees from across the country to be given the award this year and the only from Arizona to be named a finalist. “Winning this award means numerous things to me,” Nikita said, “it’s a recognition that is humbling and a reminder to continue to seek the call to action in my community.” The award champions young leaders who value liberty, civic engagement, conflict resolution, and promoting diversity. Nikita was singled out for her work with Girl STEMpowerment, a nonprofit that she founded a couple years ago to provide free science programs to young girls. One of the organization’s goals is to encourage girls to complete community projects that utilize technology to innovatively solve a societal problem. Nikita said the group’s latest project taught girls how they can use technol-
Nikita Bharati ogy to grow food more sustainably and with fewer resources. The nonprofit’s mission is to not only make girls feel more empowered and confident, she added, but demonstrate how math and science can be relevant to their daily lives. Nikita founded Girl STEMpowerment after she noticed some blatant gender inequities in her high school science classes. In a class of nearly 30 students, she recalled being one of only a handful of girls. The imbalance needed to change, Nikita said, and it could only change by working at the local level and teaching younger girls they’re smart enough
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to study math and science. Since its founding, her nonprofit and its various chapters claim to have educated more than 15,000 girls through its various outreach programs. The museum’s award is not the first time Nikita has been publicly recognized for her contributions to the Chandler community. Last year, she was one of four Chandler residents to be nominated for the city’s prestigious People’s Choice Award, an annual honor that allows residents to vote for one nominee who has made a lasting impact on Chandler. Aside from her work involving science education, the city acknowledged Nikita’s membership in the Mayor’s Youth Commission and activism to protect the environment. Nikita aspires to pursue a career in environmental science and help make policy changes to protect the Earth’s climate. She is a member of Basha High’s sustainability club and organizes protests put on by the Arizona Youth Climate Strike. “It’s going to be my generation that’s gonna really make the change and really make people start holding their politicians accountable for issues like these,” Nikita said last year shortly after her nomination for the city’s award. The Liberty Museum, which is based in Philadelphia, has been honoring civically-engaged teens for the last 20 years and specifically celebrates youths who inspire
a sense of liberty in their communities. Nikita said she considers liberty to involve using one’s talents and skills as an agent for the change they want to see in the world. “I have been a champion for liberty through offering open arms to others around me, a role model to other individuals inside and outside of my community service work, and simply through always working to empower others in every situation imaginable,” she said. The museum’s other finalists included teenagers who completed community projects that involved helping underprivileged children, creating face masks for nurses and doctors, raising money for blind children and baking desserts for firefighters. “We are proud to honor these young people for using their time, their talents and the needed resources to give selflessly to others, the very attributes of heroism that are ingrained in our museum’s mission,” said Gwen Borowsky, the museum’s chief executive officer. In addition to having their stories displayed in the museum’s exhibits, the 14 finalists are given a commemorative certificate and one will be surprised with a $2,000 scholarship. “These young heroes deserve recognition for the many purposeful and thoughtful things they do to make their schools and their communities a better place,” Borowsky added.
BAR
son. Harris said he spent the next couple months trying to revamp the restaurant’s image and elevate it to being more than just a pub and dive bar. The new owner wanted to attract more customers and bring in some fresh musical acts that could liven up the bar’s atmosphere. But Harris said his father’s old customers and staff weren’t all pleased with his changes. As a result, there’s been some unavoidable bad blood and Harris suspects it has resulted in his alleged foes reporting Rick’s Pub to the state authorities for COVID-19 violations. “I feel completely sabotaged – it goes beyond this COVID thing,” he said. Harris said he’s willing to put aside his suspicions and focus on getting the business back open because he needs the revenue. Rick’s Pub has had to close and reopen multiple times since the pandemic began back in March, Harris said, so he’s hopeful he can finally find some stability in the near future. This business is not part of some national franchise that can get bailed out with a bunch of corporate money, he added, saying it’s a small business that depends on locals to keep it afloat. “I have to open,” Harris said. “Otherwise they’re going to put me out of business with this thing.” Not complying with or defying the state’s order could subject Rick’s Pub to civil and criminal penalties.
from page 1
fore they later found evidence that led to the closure order. One business that didn’t get that green light was Jolie’s Place on Warner Road, which was told on Aug. 19 that it had failed to prove it was willing to take extra steps to ensure a safe operation. Bars are required to limit groups to no more than 10 people, prohibit customers from mingling around the dining area, ban karaoke and dancing and enforce a face mask order. A video that had been posted last week on the Rick’s Pub Facebook page depicts several customers seated throughout the restaurant and very few can be seen wearing a mask. Harris said he was told customers were free to remove their mask once they’re seated at their table. He said he’s been requiring every visitor to be wearing a mask when they first enter the restaurant and he’s been willing to turn someone away if they don’t comply. If there’s been any changes or revisions to the state’s mask requirements, Harris said he’s willing to enforce them. This last year has been a tumultuous journey for Rick’s Pub and the pandemic continues to add new challenges for the restaurant’s owner. Harris’s father, who assumed ownership of the restaurant a few years ago, died last November from lung cancer and passed the business down to his
COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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Chandler High senior studies virus with NASA study how human activity contributes to the spread of COVID-19 and how the pandemic can be observed from a global perspective. “We learned about how certain
SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
A Chandler High School senior spent his summer working with NASA scientists to study the initial impacts of COVID-19 on the global environment. Aryan Mathur of Chandler completed a prestigious internship at the University of Texas’s Center for Space Research. In a program sponsored by NASA, Aryan and a handful of other students were mentored by professionals who are at the forefront of space science research. Aryan said he sought the internship for an opportunity to discover how NASA scientists analyze the impact of human activity on the environment. “I wanted to get a glimpse into how companies and organizations tackle bigworld issues and problems like climate change and the other global environmental issues we are facing,” he said. Aryan attended lectures by NASA professionals and got the chance to hear former astronaut Gregory Chamitoff, who has gone on two space expeditions, share his experiences of living on the International Space Station for six months. He said Chamitoff “really inspired us to follow our passions and set our minds to what we want to achieve. That was a truly unforgettable experience.” Aryan said his internship focused specifically on the COVID-19 pandemic -- which had already been ravaging
ve
and interact with other high schoolers across the country,” he added, “so I really enjoyed getting to know them all and learning more about their experiences.”
I wanted to get a glimpse into how companies “and organizations tackle big-world issues and problems like climate change and the other global environmental issues we are facing. ”
– Aryan Mathur
NASA satellites collected data on air quality, thermal radiation, and UV radiation in our atmosphere,” he said. The interns also learned how NASA is revising its safety protocols to protect personnel from COVID-19 and invesAryan Mathur tigated how the media was spreading information about the virus. across the United States by the time Aside from the pandemic, Aryan still the program started. He also researched how NASA could got some time to explore some other space-related topics involving missions use its expertise in space science to to Mars and collecting asteroids. make the environment safer from the Aryan said the internship was a recontagious virus. warding experience on many levels. Interns observed how NASA could In addition to networking with NASA utilize its satellites to track nitrogen professionals, Aryan most enjoyed getlevels in the Earth’s atmosphere and ting a brief reprieve from the isolating research whether the global pandemic was impacting the amount of emissions pandemic that had been keeping him to introduce quarantined at home for months. being discharged is intopleased the environment. “I really enjoyed being able to talk One of the program’s goals was to
Aryan already has some prior experience using technology to solve problems not involving space or pandemics. Last year, the teenager was recognized during the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair for designing a low-cost laundry machine that utilized robotic technology to fold clothes. “I love artificial intelligence and robotics and plan on studying that in college,” he said. “One day I hope to start a tech company as I have many ideas for tech products that I want to see in the market that could help make our lives easier.” After graduating from Chandler High next May, Aryan plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Arizona State University or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 T:10"
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
55 Years Strong
Are you ready Judge rejects bar owners’ for a new home plea for closure relief or is it time to refinance your current home? BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
Gov. Doug Ducey’s order shuttering bars remains intact, at least for the time being. In a 14-page order late Tuesday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Pamela Gates spurned a request by the owners of more than 100 bars and taverns to block enforcement of executive orders that forbid bars from opening while allowing operation of restaurants with liquor licenses to continue to serve clients. She said Ducey’s orders “are rationally related to expert data and guidance on minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.’’ Gates also said she saw no evidence that the orders cause irreparable harm to the bar owners – one of the factors that judges are required to consider when determining if a law or order can remain in effect while it is being challenged. On paper, Tuesday’s order does not end the legal fight. Gates still has to decide whether a full-blown trial is needed or whether to dismiss most of the claim. But attorney Ilan Wurman conceded the chances of ultimately convincing Gates that the governor’s actions are illegal remain slim. So, he already is eyeing taking the case to the state Court of Appeals. Tuesday’s ruling was not a complete loss for Wurman and his clients. Gates said the decision by Ducey to allow restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages to go – something prohibited by state law – “impermissibly stretches’’ the governor’s emergency powers. That paves the way for Gates to declare such “off-premises’’ sales illegal. At the heart of the fight have been decisions made by Ducey going back to March about which kinds of businesses had to close in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus. That initially included all bars and restaurants, along with a host of other businesses. Ducey relented in May, allowing both to operate under certain guidelines. But when that resulted in a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases he partly reversed course. The governor said bars can open if they apply to the state Department of Health Services and detail how they will change their operations. Gates first rejected Wurman’s
arguments that the Legislature acted unconstitutionally in giving broad powers to any governor who declares an emergency. She said those laws entitle Ducey to do only those things “consistent with existing law and the Arizona Constitution.’’ The judge also rejected claims that it was discriminatory to shut down bars but allow restaurants to not just remain open but continue serving alcohol. She pointed out that Ducey has relied on recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the White House Coronavirus Task Force, both of which have said there are reasons to distinguish between traditional bars whose primary business is the sale of alcoholic beverages. Gates cited statements submitted by Dr. Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer at Banner Health, who said bars “pose a uniquely dangerous environment for the spread of COVID-19.’’ Those factors, Bessel said, include the fact that bars typically feature loud environment “which result in raised voices and greater projection of orally emitted viral droplets and cause people to lean in to each other when speaking, posing a greater threat of transmission.’’ Then there’s the dancing which Bessel said, couple with limited ventilation, results in an environment where respiratory droplets are more easily spread. And finally it’s a question of age. “Bars tend to attract a younger adult population, which currently represents the highest demographic carrying COVID-19 in Arizona,’’ Bessel said. Gates said she was convinced, saying that bar patrons “often linger for hours, mixing with different individuals and groups.’’ “The consumption of alcohol, even when not to the point of intoxication, can dull one’s sense of caution,’’ the judge wrote. “In addition, mask wearing is incompatible with sipping and sharing drinks.’’ And Gates said there’s another key difference. At a restaurant, she said, a server routinely comes to the table to tend to patrons. “Bargoers often mingle throughout the bar and seek out a new drink from the bar top or a server spotted across the establishment,’’ the judge wrote.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
MESNARD
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
from page 10
be legally irrelevant. Tully, a former lawmaker himself, conceded that there is no specific provision in the Arizona Constitution granting broad immunity to state legislators. What there is, however, is a section saying that lawmakers are not liable in any civil or criminal prosecution “for words spoken in debate.’’ Tully told the Supreme Court that the question that needs to be resolved is whether a lawmaker’s actions “fall within the sphere of legitimate legislative activity.’’ If they do, he said, the “speech and debate clause’’ of the Arizona Constitution prohibits them from even being questioned about them, much less sued. He argues that covers not just pure speech during legislative sessions. Tully
Former Yuma legislator Don Shooter was ousted by the state House and is now suing Chandler Sen. J.D. Mesnard. (File photo)
said that includes legislators “performing a legislative function.’’ In this case, he said, the investigation was conducted and the report was prepared as part of the constitutional power of the House to investigate claims against its own members. “The report was an integral part of the work of the investigation and well within the legislative sphere,’’ Tully told the justices. “It is no more subject to a claim of defamation than any other report or transcript of proceedings created by the legislature.’’ And Tully denies that Mesnard either altered the report himself or directed investigators to make changes. The press release presents different issues. But Tully said
this, too, is protected because it “occurred during a legislative session and concerned legislative matters. “It was issued from the speaker’s office on government letterhead,’’ he argued. “It informed the public of the actions taken by the speaker in response to actions taken by Shooter as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives,’’ Tully continued. “The quotes contained in the press release explained the actions of the speaker.’’ Put another way, he said that in a representative democracy that constituents are entitled to know the reason that a legislator took certain actions. “In this case the press release was within the outer perimeter of Mesnard’s line of duty,’’ Tully said. “As such, Mesnard is entitled to legislative immunity for the contents of the press release.’’ The justices have not said when they will consider the issue.
State officials urge people get flu shots now BY JOSH ORTEGA Cronkite News
Arizona officials have laid out a plan for “aggressively” combating the upcoming influenza season as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers, with the first step being to urge people to get a flu shot as soon as possible. The state plans to increase funding
for Medicaid recipients to get flu shots, combine flu-shot sites with coronavirus testing facilities, and more, while also advocating many of the same measures meant to head off the spread of COVID-19. Gov. Doug Ducey and Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said officials have always taken flu season seriously but that “the overlap with COVID-19 this
year presents greater challenges than the typical flu season.” Ducey warned that a bad flu season on top of the COVID-19 pandemic presents “a perfect storm” of potential health problems. Officials warned that flu seasons in years past have inundated hospitals, similar to the peak of the COVID-19 cases the state saw this summer, but that flu
vaccines remain a surefire way to keep those hospitalizations low. “With this upcoming flu season, and with COVID-19 still circulating in our communities, there’s a potential that our health care system could become overwhelmed,” Christ said. Last year, she said, the state saw more See
FLU on page 26
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Mammoth Mesa sports complex no pipedream, developer promises BY JIM WALSH Staff Writer
Randy and Chad Miller have a big sports and entertainment dream for southeast Mesa near Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. At 320 acres, that dream is expansive – but Chad Miller insists it’s not fanciful. It includes two stadiums, 23 soccer fields, eight baseball and softball fields, and an indoor sports building with 16 basketball courts and 62 volleyball courts. With potential for sports tourism, almost limitless recreational opportunities and even image building, Mesa officials are hoping the father-son duo’s vision turns into a Legacy Sports Park. But with such an ambitious project, it’s predictable that Legacy Sports Park needs to solve some unresolved challenges – an annexation by the city, a zoning change, an assured water supply and a major upgrade to Williams Field Road – before a building permit can be issued. While this list is substantial, Chad Miller, a former minor league catcher who played for Gilbert’s Mesquite High School, doesn’t consider any of these requirements an obstacle. Miller is so confident that he has scheduled a ceremonial grand opening on Sept. 18, knowing that he has a top zoning attorney, financing for the $250-million project and a lease on the land near Ellsworth and Pecos roads. The property is at the southern tip of the former General Motors Proving Grounds, a spacious 5,000-acre expanse of land that already is home to two upscale master-planned communities, Eastmark and Cadence. “The money is already in a trust account and the land has been secured’’ through a lease, Miller said. “Everyone from the city has been very supportive, helping us get this completed. There has been no opposition.’’ Although an adequate water and construction of Williams Field Road are critical for the development to proceed, Miller said they are not insurmountable requirements. His most immediate first step is start
proper zoning if it were to remain in Maricopa County as a county island, he said. The project would receive the closest zoning equivalent in Mesa, light industrial, by virtue of annexation on 245 acres. The remaining 75 acres will require a rezoning to light industrial as well, which Gilbert does not perceive as much of an issue. “Frankly, I think the zoning and annexation are going very smoothly,’’ Gilbert said. “We still are in detailed negotiation with the city on the water and Williams Field Road.’’ “Those ballfields will need a lot of water,’’ Gilbert said. Eventually, Williams Field Road will need a major upgrade east of The proposed Legacy Sports Park in southeast Mesa would have plenty of room for plenty of sports, say developers Randy and Chad Ellsworth Road to six Miller, who already are making moves to make it a reality. (Courtesy of Chad Miller) lanes, he said. The park is located between the for more than 15 sports at multi-purpose grading the property. Williams Field Road alignment and Pecos fields, including an 8,000-seat stadium “When you have the money and you Road. that could be used for field sports such have the land, it’s just the details that While Mesa has a $100 million transneed to be worked out,’’ Miller said. “We as soccer, rugby and lacrosse. portation bond issue coming before votThe indoor facility would be oriented are prepared to do what we need to do, ers on the Nov. 4 ballot, with much of it toward basketball, volleyball and health to bring this project to fruition.’’ designated for southeast Mesa, Williams Miller views his project as more varied and fitness classes, including yoga. Fields Road is not included, Gilbert said. “This is a multi-purpose sports comand flexible than Mesa Plays, a Visit Mesa That leaves the developer and the plex and an entertainment district. These proposal that focused on attracting recity in negotiations for who will pay for a are events that will drive people from all gional and national soccer tournaments potentially costly construction, he said. over the Valley,’’ Miller said, with stadito expanded facilities at Red Mountain The Legacy Sports proposal is under ums and other venues built to handle Park in northeast Mesa. review by the Mesa Planning Departfestivals and other special events, placing The concept was to attract tournament. Gilbert said he is hoping to make a an emphasis on flexibility. ments and to take advantage of sports presentation to the Planning and Zoning “I think the biggest differentiator tourism, with children on club teams and Board sometime in October. their families coming to Mesa and spend- is the entertainment aspect,’’ he said. Rich Adams of Visit Mesa is a big fan “When you have something great for ing money on hotels and restaurants. of Legacy Sports Park and is hoping all the community, everyone wants to get Although Mesa voters approved the details can be worked out. behind it.’’ millions of dollars in bonds in 2018 on a Mesa Economic Development DirecPaul Gilbert, Miller’s zoning attorney, series of quality of life-oriented imtor Bill Jabjiniak also is enthusiastic about said the annexation and zoning changes provements, they also shot down Mesa the project’s potential and is hoping for Plays, creating an opportunity for Legacy required are not overly complicated. He great things ahead. said the annexation is simple because Sports Park. In contrast with Mesa Plays, Legacy Sports Park potentially provides facilities
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Unemployment funds drying up in state BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
Hundreds of thousands of unemployed Arizonans are within weeks of losing more than half of their benefits. That would leave them with just the $240 a week the state provides, the second lowest in the nation. Michael Wisehart, director of the state Department of Economic Security, said last week he believes there are sufficient federal dollars to pay the $300 in extra benefits in the special federal Lost Wage Assistance program for this week, the sixth week it has been available. But he said given that other states are drawing against the $44 billion federal allocation, dollars will dry up before next week and likely come without warning. Gov. Doug Ducey has no plans to have the state step in. “We’ve known these funds were limited,’’ said press aide Patrick Ptak, explaining that’s why Arizona moved quickly to accept the offer by President Trump to get a share of that federal cash. “As we’ve said all along, Congress needs to work together to extend these benefits long-term,’’ Ptak said. Complicating matters, Wisehart said that the economy remains soft and Arizonans continue to lose their jobs. He said about 131,000 people made first-time applications for benefits two weeks ago. That compares with 86,000 the prior week and just 50,000 the week before. The situation is even more dire than that. Wisehart said the unemployment trust fund – the dollars set aside by a tax on employers to pay regular state benefits – will become insolvent in about eight weeks. The account had $1.1 billion in it before the COVID-19 outbreak and the restrictions imposed by Ducey on business operations is now down to about $400 million. Wisehart said the state is burning through the cash at about $50 million a
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from page 18
“It ratifies our vision’’ with Mesa Plays, Adams said. “I think Visit Mesa sees it as a huge opportunity. I absolutely think it’s a great idea. It’s exactly what we were hoping for with Mesa Plays and more.’’ Jabjiniak said he first met with the developers of Legacy Sports Park a year ago and was impressed by their plans. “You have to dream big to accomplish big things,’’ Jabjiniak said. “If they can pull it off, this is a home run.’’ He said the project would create excitement not only locally, but nationally. “This is a great opportunity for the city. Sports tourism is an economic driver. I think it will be about the quality of
week with no end in sight. “Obviously the pandemic isn’t going to end soon,’’ he said. That won’t mean an end to regular state jobless benefits. Instead, it will mean Arizona will have to borrow money from the U.S. Department of Labor. “But you have to pay that money back, through taxes on employers, going forward,’’ Wisehart said. And that, in turn, could provide a new financial impediment to companies still reeling from the pandemic. Ptak said his boss has set aside more than $400 million Arizona got from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. That could be used to pay jobless benefits going forward rather than forcing the state to borrow and raising taxes on employers. But with $50 million a week more going out in benefits than what is being collected from employers, that becomes only a temporary solution. State law entitles those who lost their jobs through no fault of their own to collect half of what they were earning, with the proceeds coming from a levy paid by all employers on the first $7,000 of each worker’s salary. But lawmakers capped that at $240 a week; only Mississippi pays less. There has been little pressure on lawmakers to alter that given what has been the state’s relatively low unemployment plus strong job market. In a typical preCOVID week only about 18,000 Arizonans were collecting benefits. As recently as July, Ducey refused to discuss altering the cap. He sidestepped questions about the ability of Arizonans to survive on $240 a week – unchanged since 2004 – by pointing out the federal government was providing another $600 a week through Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program. And when those dollars ran out, President Trump agreed to put up $44 billion from the federal Disaster Relief Fund for the $300-a-week Lost Wage Assistance program.
growth. This is something people will talk about around the country,’’ Jabjiniak said. The GM Proving Grounds always has been considered a major factor in the development of East Mesa, along with the construction of Arizona 24. Jabjiniak said the 5,000-acre GM property turned into Eastmark and Cadence. He said the owner, Bill Levine, is leasing the 320 acres to Legacy Sports Park and reserving some of it for future development. Miller said the new freeway is vital to Legacy Sports Park, which is paying a great deal of attention to traffic and parking. He said the new freeway opens up Queen Creek as a market and also makes it easier to reach his development from Scottsdale or Phoenix. “You have a large number of families moving to the community,’’ Miller said.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Teen Lifeline helps kids through their despair BY MOLLY BOHANNON Special for Cronkite News
The small office building, nestled just off the road near a medical office and appliance store, looks more like a house where a quiet family might live. On a Friday night early last spring, Madison Marks, 20, sits in one of the chairs waiting for the phone to ring. The part-time Starbucks barista, who’s dressed in black and rocks blonde streaks through her short brown hair, picks up when a 15-year-old calls to share the troubles that led her to seek help from a stranger. Marks stops her at one point and asks the requisite question: “On a scale of one to 10, one being you’re OK and 10 being you’d kill yourself right now, how are you feeling?” Marks is among about 100 volunteers for Teen Lifeline, a teen-run suicide prevention hotline that opened in 1986 – the year after “Surviving,” a controversial Molly Ringwald film portraying teen suicide, aired on primetime television. In 2003, Teen Lifeline became the first teen-run hotline nationwide accredited by the nonprofit American Association of Suicidology. Teen Lifeline has been growing since then, helping other hotlines receive accreditation while expanding and improving its own services, including a text-based hotline launched in 2016. It remains Arizona’s only crisis ho-
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hard in recent years, with its teen suicide rate surpassing those in more than half the other states. A 2019 United Health Foundation report showed that from 2017 to 2019, the suicide rate for ages 15 to 19 rose 17 percent – to 13 deaths per 100,000 teens from 11.1 deaths – well above the national rate of 10.5 deaths per 100,000. Kelli Donnley Williams, a suicide prevention specialist in Arizona, said the state’s increase in teen suicides mirrors national trends, especially in states west of Mississippi River, where “the thread that seems to weave through everyone’s suicide story is one of isolation and loneliness.” The trained volunteers work shifts from 3 to 9 p.m., answering calls and Teens trained to help calm their suicidal peers in crisis staff Arizona's Teen Lifelin and work in shifts from 3-9 p.m. . texts. Some come to the (Teen Lifeline) hotline in sweatpants, their smartphones loaded to one main reason for the high numtline operated by teens. with Netflix, YouTube and other apps bers, although many U.S. teenagers are A 2018 study from the U.S. Centers so they can watch movies between feeling alone despite seeming more for Disease Control and Prevention calls. Others are still dressed in school connected than ever, thanks to social ranked suicide as the second-leading uniforms and use free moments to media and the internet. cause of death for teenagers nationArizona has been hit particularly wide. Experts and studies can’t point See on page 22
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
21
Federal eviction ban longer than Ducey’s BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
A new federal directive could provide Arizona renters with new protections even if the state Supreme Court rules that an anti-eviction order by Gov. Doug Ducey is illegal and unenforceable. And it would be in place for a longer period of time. The order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prohibits millions of renters from being ousted from their homes or apartments for nonpayment of rent. It is far more expansive than earlier federal directives that covered only federally financed rental units. The conditions to get the relief also could be seen as more liberal than those imposed by Ducey. The new order goes through the end of the year while Ducey’s expires Oct. 31. The action came as the Arizona Multihousing Association is trying to convince the Arizona Supreme Court that it should override the governor’s eviction ban, contending the emergency powers that lawmakers gave governors decades ago amounts to seizure of property. But assuming the CDC order is valid – no challenges filed so far – it could mean that the Arizona landlords could win their lawsuit and still not be able to evict tenants. There was no immediate response from either the landlord organization or its legal team. The new federal directive has a multi-
part test to qualify. The tenant must have “used best efforts’’ to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing, though the order does not define what that involves. Tenants must make undefined “best efforts’’ to make timely partial payments “that are as close to the full payment as the individual’s circumstances may permit.’’ There is an income cap of $99,000 for individuals and $198,000 for couples. Also required is a reason for the inability to pay rent, which can be “substantial’’ loss of household income, loss of work hours or wages, a layoff or “extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses.’’
The last category includes unreimbursed medical expenses likely to exceed 7.5 percent of an individual’s gross income for the year. Finally, there is a requirement for an applicant to say that eviction likely would leave the person or family homeless or force them to live “in close quarters.” That last provision could provide the legal underpinnings for the order to be considered valid. “Housing stability helps protect public health because homelessness increases the likelihood of individuals moving into congregate setting, such as homeless shelters, which then puts individuals at higher risk to COVID-19,’’ the directive states.
It says the ability of these facilities to allow for social distancing and other infection control measures decreases as crowding increases. “Unsheltered homelessness also increases the risk that individuals will experience severe illness from COVID-19,’’ the CDC states. As with Ducey’s own order, the CDC says none of this removes the legal obligation of anyone to pay under lease agreements. And it allows landlords to collect late fees, penalties and interest. Under the CDC order, violators can be fined $100,000 and jailed for up to a year; for business enterprises the fine is $200,00 per violation or $500,000 if it results in death. Ducey’s order has a separate list of what can exempt a tenant and allows a judge to order an eviction when it is “necessary in the interest of justice’’ or for other violations of the lease, like lying about the number of occupants, pets, income, employment or a criminal record. The CDC actions drew a mixed reaction from National Low Income Housing Coalition President Diane Yentel, who called it “badly needed” but also a “half-measure’’ because it delays evictions and provides no financial relief. She urged Congress and the White House to try to iron out differences in a COVID-19 relief bill which she said would provide at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Chandler man accused as prostitution ringleader
dler Police Department, Smith was arrested at his residence last month and was arraigned in Maricopa County Superior Court on Sept. 10. Smith had appeared to be a rising star in college football when he was recruited to play for the University of Arizona in 1995. Sports reporters dubbed him an “extraordinary” player during his first
season and often referenced his lineage as the son of a former NFL coach. Smith is one of three sons born to Lovie Smith, former coach of the Chicago Bears and current head coach of the University of Illinois football team. “Growing up the son of a coach has helped me immensely,” the younger Smith said in a 1995 interview. “My instincts are good and I can react and play instead of stop and think.” But a criminal scandal suddenly disrupted Smith’s football career and got him suspended from UArizona’s team. In 1997, the then-20-year-old student was arrested for stealing textbooks and reselling them on campus to make a profit. Smith and one of his football teammates would take several books stored in a bin inside the college’s athletic department. The textbooks were loaned out to scholarship athletes, who had to return them to the university at the end of each semester. Smith’s scheme also involved buying textbooks using fraudulent vouchers and selling the books back. The university launched an investigation after bookstore employees became suspicious of a customer selling the same book back to the store twice
in two days. As a result of the scandal, UArizona made several reforms to prevent students from abusing the university’s textbook system. Smith later pleaded guilty in 1998 to theft and was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation. PIma County Superior Court Judge Rick Fields had the option of sending Smith to prison for two years but chose to give a more lenient punishment for the college student, according to the Arizona Daily Star. “I’m going to assume what occurred here was a fluke,” the judge said at Smith’s sentencing. Smith expressed remorse for the textbook scheme and assured Judge Fields he was aware how his actions had hurt his family – especially his 2-yearold son. “I realize that I have not been the greatest role model to my children,” Smith said in 1998. “I’m trying to get my life together.” Smith eventually left UArizona and transferred to Catharge College in Wisconsin. He later worked under his father as a quality control coach for the Chicago Bears.
would be missed with all through the cracks and have a safety net.” The success of peer hotlines, she said, is largely dependent on the preparation of its volunteers. She suggested hotlines follow Teen Lifeline’s example and train volunteers on active listening, collaborative problem solving and the ability to connect with callers. It takes two months to two years to train a volunteer to work at Teen Lifeline. The rigorous, three-phase training includes two weekend seminars, speak-
ers from organizations the hotline refers callers to and thorough role playing and practice calls. Although the process is lengthy, volunteers say every step is necessary for the job they’re preparing to do. The second phase is the longest – six to 52 weeks – and focuses on six areas: suicide, pregnancy, relationship violence, runaways, abuse and sexuality, which are the issues that come up most frequently on the hotline and drive many of the callers to consider suicide. Clinicians rotate through the call room supervising volunteers and teaching trainees intervention tactics for each problem area. Modules on the six focus areas end with a role-playing exercise in which trainees are tested on their ability to have a conversation that meets Teen Lifeline’s strict standards. “They don’t have to be counselors,” said Nikki Kontz, clinical director of Teen Lifeline. “They just have to learn how to be themselves and use good communication skills.” Kontz said her group’s volunteers are
taught skills that behavioral health experts typically learn in graduate school programs. They practice how to actively listen, solve problems, show empathy and build relationships with callers to guide the caller to what a good next step would look like. They learn the techniques during the second phase of training, by practicing phone calls, discussing with the clinician team what might happen during calls and watching situational videos of what callers may be experiencing. Learning to apply these skills to callers isn’t too hard for the volunteers because so many of them have friends who are going through similar problems, or they’ve been through the issues themselves. For callers, it should feel as though they’re talking to a friend. “We are not an advice hotline,” Kontz said. Even after the three phases are complete, volunteers can remain in training until they’re confident enough to take calls. It typically takes 80 to 100 hours of training for teens to be cleared to work the hotline, Kontz said. Kontz said calls and texts increased as the COVID-19 outbreak began and continued to rise in the following months. Although the subjects of calls were mostly the same, she said, callers felt added stresses from the pandemic. “We’re also dealing with the reality of what’s being affected immediately: graduation is nonexistent, (and) when you’ve worked so hard for something and to have that taken away, it’s heartbreaking,” Kontz said. Those added stresses, including the loss of prom and other typical school
SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
A Chandler man and former football star is facing several criminal charges after authorities arrested him as the ringleader of an alleged prostitution ring. Mikal L. Smith, son of former NFL coach Lovie Smith, was indicted last month by a state grand jury on 11 counts of sex trafficking, prostitution, money laundering, and illegally conducting an enterprise for offenses allegedly committed between December 2018 and September 2019. According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Smith, 43, conspired with Aprel Mae Ramsmussen to coerce an adult woman into engaging in multiple sexual acts over a two-month period. Smith allegedly spied on the woman and monitored her movements to ensure she was meeting with clients. If the woman attempted to break away from Smith, authorities claim he would use threats of retaliation to keep her under his control. Smith is accused of coercing Rasmussen to also commit acts involving prostitution and would allegedly receive a portion of her earnings. After an investigation by the Chan-
LIFELINE
Mikal L. Smith,
from page 20
finish assignments in notebooks and on laptops. They work under the supervision of clinicians, who train volunteers and sit with them during calls, offering words of assurance and writing notes to help the teen operator when needed. The teens aren’t there to give advice. They try to calm the callers and, mostly, just listen. Marks tries not to let her mind wander during calls. Occasionally, something a caller says reminds Marks of her own struggles and takes her back to her own dark times. These are the moments that remind her of how much having someone to talk to can improve a situation. “You can hear a difference in the caller’s voice, when they’re like, ‘Thank you, you helped me so much,’” Marks said. “And, really, all we did was listen when they felt like they had no hope at all.” Although no research has been done on the effectiveness of peer-to-peer hotlines with regard to teen suicide, Madelyn Gould, a researcher specializing in suicide prevention lines at Columbia University Medical Center, said there’s promise in the format because teenagers are more likely to turn to peers during mental health struggles. A main reason, she said, is that teenagers often believe they’ll be better understood by someone who might have had the same experiences. “It’s not the only thing (to combat youth suicide), it’s not going to be the main thing,” Gould said. “But it has the potential to be a way to get kids into help that ordinarily wouldn’t have that
See
LIFELINE on page 24
COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
23
A library card gets more than ever in Chandler BY CRAIG YOUNGER Guest Writer
Easy access to technology, information resources and services that can help people pursue their passions and dreams are at your fingertips when you have your own library card, especially one from the Chandler Public Library. September is Library Card Sign-up Month and serves as a reminder that libraries provide creative educational and cultural spaces for learners of all ages, from birth to high school and beyond. Started in 1987, the commemoration traditionally marks the beginning of the school year. During the month, the American Library Association and libraries everywhere unite in a national effort to ensure every child signs-up for their own library card. However, during this unprecedented year, library cards have proven to be more important than ever. The Chandler Public Library, which has been serving the community since 1954, offers much more than books at its four locations and through its website. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chandler Public Library has continued to provide services while operating just a little differently to help keep visitors
and staff safe. Chandler Library staff realizes the importance of providing books, information, and resources to the community, especially when people may not be able to connect with each other in person. “Libraries are an important hub in all communities. They thrive on engagement and human interactions, which is why keeping them closed during a pandemic is so difficult,” said Chandler Library Manager Rachelle Kuzyk. “Keeping everyone safe is a priority, so our staff has had to be innovative in many ways to continue to provide our much-needed services to the people who depend on them.” In the past six months, while dealing with a closure and then re-opening with limited hours, the Chandler Public Library has continued to offer its collection of ebooks and audiobooks, streaming movies on Kanopy, emagazines offered by Flipster, downloadable music from Freegal, Lynda.com classes, as well as access to many online research and informational databases. All of these digital resources are accessible at no charge and at all hours simply with a valid library card. As the public health emergency improved this summer and library facilities reopened and in-person services began
to return, Chandler Library staff created additional services to meet customer needs, including: Singalong, craft and STEAM videos on the library’s YouTube channel. Book It! reservations for use of public desktop computers, Wi-Fi, self-service print/copy services, scan/ fax self-service, open area study tables. Bag O’Books, a grab bag of 20 books for young readers, or a bag of 10 books for teens and adults, available for pick up at the Downtown and Sunset libraries. Research Bundles that are requested online with items collected by staff members, including a list of online resources for students in grades K-4 on a specific topic they are interested in or need to complete a school assignment. This service is currently only offered at the Basha Library. Programs in a Bag, such as Craft Take It!, Grab & Go STEAM Activity Kits, Sunset Seed Swap, and Wednesday Puzzle Pick-up, which are available at various locations. Virtual programs such as book discussion groups, English conversation skill building and “Our Stories” historical presentations that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home. Online job resources, including Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning) courses, resume writing tips, access to online job
listings on PipelineAZ, and more. While the Library was not able to offer the annual Summer Reading Challenge in a traditional sense, this year’s program had more than 4,000 participants. Children were able to participate in online virtual programming, read books online or pick them up, and earn prizes, which are now available for pick at the library. Throughout everything that has happened in 2020, Chandler Public Library has remained connected to patrons and the community through social media, online book discussion groups, CPL Reads programs, and enewsletters. To get a library card, come in to any of the four Chandler Library locations with your picture ID. Library cards are free for residents of Maricopa County, residents of the Gila River Indian Community who live in Pinal County or for nonresidents who work or go to school in the City of Chandler (with an additional ID that verifies the workplace or school). For those who only want to access library services online, the Chandler Public Library offers eCards. To apply for an eCard, complete an online registration form at chandlerlibrary.org/ecard. Information: chandlerlibrary.org, or 480-782-2800.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Dog, cat adoptions at Ahwatukee pet store On Sept. 19 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the Love Connection Dog Rescue Adoption Day will be held with puppies and adult canines – which also will be offered Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Help a Dog Out Rescue Adoption Day. Gordy’s also has two free puppy play
days 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sept. 16 and Sept. 30. Puppies that are 10 weeks to 6 months old with at least one round of vaccines can come and socialize with other puppies and humans. All supervised by trainer Brenda Dreyer of Foothills Canine Academy. Gordy's also will be sponsoring an anesthsia-free dental cleaning event at
10 a.m. Oct. 15, Dr. Jodie Gruenstern and Canine Cares will provide the services and the fee varies. Gordy's also has several other animals available for adoption, including several rabbits and guinea pigs. Information: 480-577-0514 or Facebook.com/Gordy’s Goodies Pet Food & Supplies.
er one is writing an essay or answering a hotline text until they ask for a second opinion on a message or need help crafting a response. Gregory, a senior at Brophy College
began training in November 2019, after realizing she was the “friend group problem solver.” She has considered being a counselor when she grows up. “I’ve always enjoyed helping people,
the similarities end there in a lot of cases, Kontz said. “The kids that are attracted here, really the thing that unites them is that they want to help, but they look very different from each other,” she said. “(They) probably would never talk to each other at school. But here they get to know each other on a different level; they get to be a more genuine part of who they are, versus who they have to be at school or on social media.” If you or someone you know is in need of help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor right away. Or, contact Teen Lifeline directly at 602248-8336 (TEEN). This story was produced in partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation.
SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
adoptions it hosts.
A series of pet-adoption events will be held this month at an Ahwatukee store. Gordy’s Goodies Pet Food & Supplies, 15425 S. 48th St., also welcomes donations of money and animal-related items to help the rescues that hold the
LIFELINE
from page 22
activities, made it clear to Kontz that the volunteers needed the hotline as much as it needed them. “They don’t have the outlet of school,” she said. “This is the time where the reason we exist is very evident: we exist for them as well as them to be there for callers.” When they’re not answering calls or texts from teenagers in crisis, some volunteers alternate between napping on the bean bag chair and answering Snapchats on their phones. Some do schoolwork and browse the internet. Others talk – with each other and the supervisors – going quickly from hotline-related topics to debating who rules the foosball table. The volunteers are discreet about their work, making it hard to tell wheth-
You can hear a difference in the caller’s voice, “when they’re like, ‘Thank you, you helped me so much, and, really, all we did was listen when they felt like they had no hope at all. ”
– Madison Marks
Preparatory, became a peer counselor in 2018 after seeing Teen Lifeline’s information on the back of his school ID, which is one of the organization’s initiatives to expand its community presence. Eva, a sophomore at Scottsdale Prep,
or knowing that they’re happier feeling better about something. So I really like being able to know that (callers are), in a better and safer place,” she said. All the volunteers at Teen Lifeline have the desire to help their peers, but
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
25
Around Chandler Chandler Chamber goes virtual for awards fete
The Chandler Chamber of Commerce is honoring Chandler’s businesses, educators, public servants and community members with its 33rd annual Community Awards in a live virtual broadcast on Facebook and YouTube at 4 p.m. Sept. 23. Presented by Gila River Hotels and Casinos and hosted by Dave Specht of ImprovMANIA, the event celebrates local businesses and individuals for their outstanding contributions to the community. “This year, we pivoted and took the virtual approach, keeping everyone’s health and safety in mind,” said Chamber President/CEO Terri Kimble. “These accolades are too important to postpone and we have some special surprises in store for our viewers. Plus, for the first time, the winners will be announced during the show, so you will have to watch to find out who the winners are.” Kimble added, “It’s wonderful to have such remarkable people and organizations here in Chandler. They each make unique and valuable contributions to our community and Chamber.” During the broadcast, viewers will have the opportunity to congratulate and engage winners on the chats and win prizes during the show, including staycations in the Gila River Hotels and Casinos sports fanatic rooms. The Chamber is asking that people
register at bit.ly/CommAwrds to receive the link for the broadcast or visit the Chamber’s Facebook or YouTube account on at 4 p.m. Sept. 23. The awards will include large, small, micro and medium business of the year; Community Cup, Chamber Cup and Chandler Cup; the James R. Snedigar Public Service Award, Business Diversity in Action Award, Ambassador of the Year, Veteran’s Advocate Award, Educator of the Year, School Administrator of the Year, School Support Staff of the Year, Red Apple Award and Chandler Chamber Community Foundation Scholarships.
Community College offering free food for needy
As families struggle to balance homeschooling and job losses and confront food insecurity, Chandler-Gilbert Community College has relaunched two resources for both the community and students. The Coyote Cupboard and free produce distribution returned earlier this month at the Williams Campus. The college has implemented COVID-19 safety measures in order to offer community members and students access to these resources during this time of unprecedented need. In addition, face coverings or masks are required to obtain these services. “The Coyote Cupboard and free produce distribution are vital services, not only to our students, but to the
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communities we serve,” said Dr. Anne Suzuki, CGCC Dean of Student Development. “Now more than ever, it is important for us to stay connected and support those around us by providing basic needs. We are honored to partner with Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank and United Food Bank to aid in these efforts.” Through a partnership with Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, the Coyote Cupboard provides non-perishable food items, school and home supplies to CGCC students, faculty, staff and the community. The Coyote Cupboard is dedicated to ensuring no one in the community goes hungry or without certain necessities. Items available include canned foods, pasta, snacks, drinks, toiletries and personal items. Coyote Cupboard pickups are available on a weekly basis, and pre-made bags are available to reduce contact. For more information on pickup dates and times at the Pecos Campus: cgc.edu/student-resources/student-basic-needs/food-pantry/food-pantry. “Our free produce distribution events remain popular with our students and the general public,” said Michael Greene, CGCC Director of Student Life and Leadership. “We know many of our students face food and housing insecurities,” he said. “Student Life’s mission is to empower students with resources to help them focus on learning rather than their food or basic needs.
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Chandler will roll out the results of its community needs survey in connection with its Parks Strategic Master Plan in a virtual meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 15. The survey will be a “building block” for the 10-year parks plan, the city said in a release. People must pre-register for the Zoom meeting on the survey by visiting planchandlersparks.com and following the instructions. The teleconference is expected to last about 90 minutes. Prior to the teleconference call, participants can visit planchandlersparks. See
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“We’re excited to continue to offer these resources once again this fall semester and encourage our students and community to get the help they need.” Free produce distribution is a monthly event hosted in partnership with United Food Bank. Produce and other perishable items, such as milk and bread, are available for pickup at the Pecos and Williams campuses, and the community is welcome to visit either location. No appointments are necessary, and items are distributed on a firstcome, first-served basis in set amounts. For upcoming event dates, visit cgc. campuslabs.com/engage/events?query=Produce.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
AROUND
Around Chandler from page 25
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Sun Devil Auto opens 2nd location in Chandler
Sun Devil Auto has opened its second motor vehicle repair shop in Chandler. The new shop at 5855 W. Ray Road, which joins one at Sun Devil Auto at 895 E. Chandler Blvd., is one of four new facilities the company opened recently – expanding a network that has grown to include Las Vegas and Austin, Texas, since the first shop opened in Phoenix in 1978. The company offers a full range of auto repair and maintenance services and said it chose Chandler for a second location because a survey showed “overwhelming trust and appreciation for the Sun Devil Automotive brand.” The new shop will employ 10 to 15 people.
Chandler Museum offers Day of Dead exhibit Chandler Museum will host a bilingual exhibition showcasing the traditions and celebration of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, in Oaxaca, a southern state in Mexico. “A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico,” features 26 photographs that capture the holiday and with text in English and Spanish.
The free exhibition is on view through Nov. 29. Each Nov. 1 and 2, families in villages across Mexico gather to welcome home the visiting spirits of departed relatives on Día de los Muertos by decorating burial plots and altars with skeleton models, elaborate wreaths and crosses, votive lights and fresh seasonal flowers. “A Celebration of Souls” showa villagers immersed in all aspects of the celebration, preparing centuries-old recipes for the departed to enjoy, scattering trails of marigolds to guide the dead home, and offering chocolate and bread of the dead at gatherings. Additionally, Chandler Museum will display a selection of Mexican Folk Art that connect to the thematic elements of Day of the Dead. “Chandler Diversity is thrilled to support this traveling exhibit,” said Niki Tapia, Chandler’s community resources and diversity supervisor. “Chandler has a large and vibrant Latinx population and this exhibit just showcases the commitment of the City to support Latinx culture and community.” The Chandler Museum has social distancing reminders throughout the building and limits the number of visitors in the exhibit spaces. The museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Drive, southwest of Chandler Fashion Center, 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.
Gov. Doug Ducey and health services director Dr. Cara Crist emphasized the importance of getting a flu shot. (Capitol Media Services)
FLU
from page 16
than 36,000 flu cases. She said the same recommendations health officials make for COVID-19 – washing your hands, wearing a mask, physical distancing and staying home when you feel sick – apply for those looking to prevent the spread of the seasonal flu. The difference is there is a vaccine for the flu that state residents can get right away. The state will increase reimbursement
under the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System – AHCCCS, the state’s Medicaid program – to providers who offer flu shots to Medicaid recipients. It will also expand the availability of flu shots to various COVID testing sites around the state by late September, Ducey said. While the state was laying out its plans to battle the flu, Christ also pointed to advances in the fight against COVID-19. She said nine of the state’s 15 counties See on page 27
FLU
27
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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NEW TIMES REQUIRE NEW THINKING Better read this if you are 62 or older and still making mortgage payments. It’s a well-known fact that for many older Americans, the home is their single biggest asset, often accounting for more than 45% of their total net worth. And with interest rates near all-time lows while home values are still high, this combination creates the perfect dynamic for getting the most out of your built-up equity. But, many aren’t taking advantage of this unprecedented period. According to new statistics from the mortgage industry, senior homeowners in the U.S. are now sitting on more than 7.19 trillion dollars* of unused home equity. Not only are people living longer than ever before, but there is also greater uncertainty in the ecomony. With home prices back up again, ignoring this “hidden wealth” may prove to be short sighted when looking for the best long-term outcome. All things considered, it’s not surprising that more than a million homeowners have already used a government-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loan to turn their home equity into extra cash for retirement. It’s a fact: no monthly mortgage payments are required with a government-insured HECM loan; however the borrowers are still responsible for paying for the maintenance of their home, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and, if required, their HOA fees. Today, HECM loans are simply an effective way for homeowners 62 and older to get the extra cash they
need to enjoy retirement. Although today’s HECM loans have been improved to provide even greater financial protection for homeowners, there are still many misconceptions. For example, a lot of people mistakenly believe the home must be paid off in full in order to qualify for a HECM loan, which is not the case. In fact, one key advantage of a HECM is that the proceeds will first be used to pay off any existing liens on the property, which frees up cash flow, a huge blessing for seniors living on a fixed income. Unfortunately, many senior homeowners who might be better off with a HECM loan don’t even
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bother to get more information because of rumors they’ve heard. In fact, a recent survey by American Advisors Group (AAG), the nation’s number one HECM lender, found that over 98% of their clients are satisfied with their loans. While these special loans are not for everyone, they can be a real lifesaver for senior homeowners - especially in times like these. The cash from a HECM loan can be used for almost any purpose. Other common uses include making home improvements, paying off medical bills or helping other
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*Source: https://reversemortgagedaily.com/2019/12/17/senior-housing-wealth-reaches-record-high-of-7-19-trillion Reverse mortgage loan terms include occupying the home as your primary residence, maintaining the home, paying property taxes and homeowners insurance. Although these costs may be substantial, AAG does not establish an escrow account for these payments. However, a set-aside account can be set up for taxes and insurance, and in some cases may be required. Not all interest on a reverse mortgage is tax-deductible and to the extent that it is, such deduction is not available until the loan is partially or fully repaid. AAG charges an origination fee, mortgage insurance premium (where required by HUD), closing costs and servicing fees, rolled into the balance of the loan. AAG charges interest on the balance, which grows over time. When the last borrower or eligible non-borrowing spouse dies, sells the home, permanently moves out, or fails to comply with the loan terms, the loan becomes due and payable (and the property may become subject to foreclosure). When this happens, some or all of the equity in the property no longer belongs to the borrowers, who may need to sell the home or otherwise repay the loan balance. V2020.06.30 NMLS# 9392 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). American Advisors Group (AAG) is headquartered at 3800 W. Chapman Ave., 3rd & 7th Floors, Orange CA, 92868. Licensed in 49 states. Please go to www.aag.com/legal-information for full state license information. These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency.
FLU
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have met the threshold for some businesses to start reopening on a limited basis, and that more than 1,200 businesses have applied to do so. Those businesses must certify that they have a plan in place to safely reopen and agree to abide by state-mandated standards, including reduced occupancy, wearing masks unless eating or drinking, and enforcing physical distancing of at least 6 feet. Businesses that don’t live by the rules will be shut down, she said, pointing to
two bars in Scottsdale and one in Tempe that were shut down over last weekend as a result of law enforcement investiga-
Actions against bars that violate reopening standards could include the revocation of their liquor license, she said.
With this upcoming flu season, and with “ COVID-19 still circulating in our communities, there’s a potential that our health care system could become overwhelmed. ”
– Dr. Cara Christ
tions and a health department tip line for reporting violators.
Christ also announced a partnership with Hanes, the clothing manufacturer,
that will let students get up to five facemasks for themselves and their families through the health department. Steve Purves, president and CEO of Valleywise Health, said the best way for people to protect frontline COVID-19 health workers is to get a flu shot to prevent another disease outbreak. Doing so means abiding by the “tried and true procedures” people have grown accustomed in recent months, he said. “We’re all in this together,” Purves said. “And I thank Gov. Ducey and Dr. Christ for their teams of experts, for being such great partners here, and in helping us to keep Arizona going in the right direction.”
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
For more community news visit SanTanSun.com
Chandler couple offer relaxation on wheels SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
If one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity, the pandemic has been a gold mine for Shannon Stevens and Penny Briney. The Chandler couple last year launched an online furniture store, myfurniturefreak.com, and have seen an uptick in business as more people spend more time at home and prefer doing even furniture shopping on the internet instead of entering stores. Now, Stevens has launched a second business that benefits from increased awareness to maintain social distance and the need to relieve the tension that the pandemic and its accompanying woes may be causing for people. For people who hanker for a massage but don’t want to be touched, he’s invented ChairlaxedTM, a mobile service built around the highest end luxury Infinity massage chairs. Stevens bought a trailer, decorated it, equipped it with four of Infinity’s highest-end massage chairs and a 50inch Smart TV that broadcasts soothing nature sounds and travels to parties or corporate gatherings. Forget those coin-operate massage chairs in malls. “These are totally different,” Stevens said. “These four chairs give you a full
Penny Briney and husband Shannon Stevens of Chandler have launched a mobile unit with four high-end Infinity massage chairs that provide a relaxing diversion for parties and other gatherings. (File photo)
body massage in less than half the time because every part of your body is being touched,” he explained. “Plus, built-in airbags provide a soothing feeling as well.”
“Many people don’t like to be touched,” he added. “Two of my chairs also provide a glute massage. There’s no awkward conversation like you may have with a human masseuse. Plus, you
get a full body massage in less than half the time as it’s like having 10 hands on you at any given time.” Stevens is targeting both workplaces and homes. “The service is ideal for workplace wellness in that the chairs are provided for between one and six hours outside of a workplace in a climate-controlled coach that pulls up to the office,” he said. “Big companies have their own gyms,” he said. “So, employees can go there and avail themselves of those facilities. However, small and mid-sized companies typically don’t offer that. ChairlaxedTM is an added perk for those businesses to promote employee wellness and demonstrate appreciation for their staff.” He also makes ChairlaxedTM available for weekend social events, such as ladies’ luncheons, bridal showers, bachelorette parties and even block parties. People are free to BYOB at their own private residence. Food is also OK. He also offers Pandora or people can bring out a portable speaker and play whatever music they wish. Stevens got the idea after buying one of the chairs for him and his wife, who coaches principals in Mesa Public See
CHAIR on page 32
Shutdown ruins Chandler woman’s spa dream BY LEE SHAPPELL Contributor
Essentials Day Spa was just hitting its stride. After nearly three years in Ahwatukee, it had built a loyal clientele of those looking to relax in a unique and restorative environment for a couple of hours and enjoy a specialized, targeted massage or a facial – a more personable experience than at a franchise spa. Owner Tatyanna Brenner of Chandler was especially encouraged by the spa’s brisk business in January and February of this year. “We were on a pretty good track for this year,” Brenner said. “Our first two months were great. We were on track for really good year.” And then? “And then, it just tanked completely.” Essentials was forced to close from March 17 to June 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before closure, Brenner had six employees. When Essentials reopened, three chose not to return. It was just as well. Additional time was required between appointments for cleaning and sterilization, fewer appointments could be scheduled for each therapist. Brenner also quickly discovered that the public just wasn’t ready to return to one-on-one activities in close quarters.
Tatyanna Brenner of Chandler saw her lifelong dream of opening a spa fall to pieces after the business shutdown earlier this year. (Lee Shappell/Contributor)
Last month, Brenner went out of business. She was forced to permanently close her spa, which had been her labor of love.
“It was really mostly economics,” Brenner. “When we came back, I just wasn’t able to make it happen to where we were generating the income to keep
going. “I did get the PPP (Pandemic Protection Program) Loan but it ran out super fast. It helped out a little bit but it wasn’t enough for us to sustain and keep going.” As a young Black female, Brenner, 29, who lives in Chandler, took pride in founding and operating a successful business. Ahwatukee has been good to her, she said. Six years ago, she had opened a small massage studio in Ahwatukee, AZ Massage Essentials. She was the sole employee. After three years, “I just decided I wanted to do something bigger and have employees.” At Essentials Day Spa, she offered more than massages. Clients could get customized spa services including skin care. The estheticians specialized in acne and anti-aging facial treatments. Brenner also sold an array of takehome products, including essential oils, cleansers, exfoliants, moisturizers, serums, skin-care kits and toners. Brenner said that the strip center’s landlord, Elite Property Investments, was slow to offer relief. “Once they were willing to work with us, there was only so much they could do because they have bills, too, and they really were trying,” Brenner said. “So, See
ESSENTIALS on page 30
30
BUSINESS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Essentials Day Spa in Ahwatukee had six employees who provided massages and other services,including skin care. But owner Tatyanna Brenner had to sell all her equipment after experiencing economic woes as a result of the shutdown of non-essential businesses, including spas, between March and May. (Lee Shappell/Special to SanTan Sun News)
ESSENTIALS
from page 29
I understand that side, as well. All around, it just wasn’t enough to keep going.” Brenner said there was a party interested in buying her spa, but no formal offer was tendered.
The space is now empty. She sold everything, down to the barn-style doors on the massage rooms. “There were random grants here and there but those are very hard to get. I didn’t get any of those,” she said. “And, I did get denied for the SBA (Small Business Association) Loan. Those were
really the only other options.” She is taking a break now, working on projects around the house. She and her three young children live with her boyfriend, who is working. “So, we’re OK for now,” she said. “I’ve been doing massage for 11 years and I’ve never done anything else in my adult
life. I went to massage school right after high school. In my early 20s, I went back to school and got my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Arizona State, so I might be able to use that. “Hopefully we’ll be talking about something else in a couple of months when the pandemic eases.”
Retired ASU prof’s new book looks at time well spent SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
With a 30-page resume enumerating 57 years of teaching at four universities, over 300 publications and presentations and more than a dozen consulting roles to the likes of Shell Oil and the American Cancer Society, one might expect Dr. David Van Fleet would be spending his retirement fishing or pursuing a sedentary pastime. Wrong. Fleet has just written his 12th book – and it may upend a lot of the thinking by managers and employees alike who pay more attention to “putting in their hours” instead of what they do with that time. “Management and workers alike must focus on what’s accomplished on the job rather than the clock to be flexible and ready to adapt to changing conditions,” said Fleet, whose new book, “Quality Time: Productivity Through Time Management” is available at infoagepub.com. Offering concepts to help employers and workers cope with the COVID-19 pandemic in the workplace, the book has already drawn plaudits by some corporate and other executives. Among them is HonorHealth Scottsdale CEO Todd LaPorte, who praised Van Fleet’s “broadly comprehensive and immediately applicable look at the ways we can make team’s use of time better” and his “novel use of the V-REEL Frame-
Dr. David Van Fleet work to focus the efforts to improve team time.” Basically, a V-Reel Framework provides a practical guide to strategically thinking through what a manager or employee knows and needs to know about their resources and capabilities in assessing their potential for creating value in the marketplace. And when it comes to considering time in that equation, Van Fleet’s new book says, the hours on the job don’t matter “but rather how that time is used to achieve individual and organizational productivity goals.” Retirement has helped Van Fleet
clarify his thinking on this so he could write a book about it. While has led time-management workshops and seminars for years, he explained, “I changed my thinking as a result of two recent books I read. Being retired gave me time to work on it.” Long before the pandemic, Van Fleet has used his time productively. He taught for 30 years at Arizona State University – 20 at its West Campus and 10 at its Polytechnic Campus in Mesa – and before that was on the Texas A&M faculty for 16 years, three years at the University of Akron in Ohio and eight years teaching at the University of Tennessee while finishing his doctorate. He has won dozens of awards and honoraria, led or participated in numerous research projects and estimated he has taught more than 14,000 students along the way. Van Fleet said his new book is aimed at having bosses rethink their approach to productivity among their workforce so they can “inspire employees and ensure fairness, consistency and a future-oriented workplace culture.” Management and workers alike must consider adopting some new ways as “the new norm” in the post COVID-19 era, he said. “No doubt the world of work will never go back to exactly what it had been,” he said. “Organizations will need to be flexible and ready to adapt to changing conditions.”
Hence the importance on looking at how time is used to achieve individual and organizational productivity goals.” “Managers who get upset over employees coming to work late or socializing on the job often care more about them ‘putting in time’ than putting their time to good use,” said Van Fleet, who has devoted countless hours since 1975 to studying and writing about time management and organizational behavior. “Managers who focus on time usually concentrate on the wrong things,” he said. “They’re saying that being on the job is important when they should be saying that what’s accomplished on the job is what is really important.” “Time-conscious bosses often focus more on clock than job being done,” he added, suggesting that some people with flexible working hours may actually do more than others who are on rigid clocks. “I can understand why an assembly line production manager would get upset if someone came late, and if a store is to open at 10 a.m. then someone has to be there, but these are cases involving interdependency. That’s another issue,” he said. “There are a tremendous number of jobs where performance, not time, should be emphasized,” he continued. “People should be paid for what they do, not for how much time they take doing it.”
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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Pandemic hit Black-owned businesses harder BY VANDANA RAVIKUMAR Luce Foundation: Southwest Stories Fellowship
Black-owned businesses were particularly hard-hit when the spread of COVID-19 shut down or restricted nonessential activity throughout the country last spring, leaving many to wonder whether they could survive the plummet in daily customers. COVID-19 had shuttered 41 percent of Black-owned businesses by April, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, compared with 17 percent of white-owned businesses. The movement that arose from the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police seemed to provide a brief respite for Black business owners, whose sales were boosted by advocates and allies early this summer. But policy experts said that support may not be enough to offset the systemic challenges Black business owners and employees still face, such as historically higher unemployment rates, more than a century of discrimination and barriers to applying for federal small business loans. “I believe that to generate a radically different economic future for Black communities … an understanding of the racialized history of economic policy in the United States is necessary,” said Mark Little, executive director of CREATE, an economic development research center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Honey Bear’s BBQ owner Mark Smith said he has seen a surge in sales as a result of demonstrations calling attention to racism. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
“For me, the question is: Is it inevitable that COVID-19 will further entrench these devastating economic trends that, depending on how you cut them, have either been (in effect for) the past 30 years or the past 400 years? Or is it possible to chart a different path?”
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Those economic trends are a direct outgrowth of discriminatory policies, Little said. In the 1950s and ’60s, for instance, many cities received federal urban renewal grants to overhaul their downtowns, clearing out low-income neighborhoods to make way for higher-class developments. Those programs, Little said, “had the effect of literally displacing and destroying the infrastructure around Black businesses.” Six decades later, a 2019 report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found disparities between minority business owners and white business owners when it came to financing decisions, loan application outcomes, overall profitability and
other metrics. For instance, white business owners who declined to apply for financing more frequently cited having sufficient funding to begin with, the report said, while minority-owned businesses tended to
not apply for loans because they didn’t believe they would be approved. Researchers also found Black and Hispanic-owned businesses were approved for smaller loan amounts than white-owned businesses, which more frequently received approval for the full amount requested. “Black business owners hardly were able to access business loans even before COVID,” said Nikitra Bailey, the executive vice president of the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit that pushes for policies to curb predatory lending. Now, she said, those owners are feeling the effects of disparate treatment even more acutely. The consequences could have a ripple effect on minority communities, according to Robert Fairlie, who wrote the report by the nonprofit National Bureau of Economic Research. “(Our) findings of early-stage losses to small businesses have important policy implications and may portend longer-term ramifications for job losses and economic inequality,” he wrote. In late May, protests against racism and police brutality materialized in cities across the country. Supporters on social media encouraged their followers to patronize Blackowned businesses, educate themselves on racism and history, and speak up in See
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Chandler-based Chairlaxed is a mobile unit equipped with four of Infinity’s most expensive massage chairs and a TV with soothing nature sounds that owner Shannon Stevens provides for group gatherings. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
CHAIR
from page 29
Schools. “I used to visit my chiropractor every month, but since I started getting massages in ChairlaxedTM, the pain has completely gone away,” he said. Then he decided to sell Infinity chairs through his Furniture Freak business. “I carry the full lineup of Infinity. Many are much lower priced with less features,” he said, noting the ones he uses in his mobile business are top of the line, retailing for $7,000.
People also can buy the two highest-end models that he uses in his mobile business. One retails for $179 a month for 24 months and the other goes for $263 a month for two years. It was during a “deep sleep” that Stevens got the idea for the mobile service. “My friends and I did the customization of the trailer ourselves,” he said. “The plan going forward is to offer licensing agreements nationwide.” Even though the mobile service is less than three months old, he’s already seen a big demand. “It’s been a big hit. Some comments
I hear are ‘It’s like a game truck for adults;’ ‘This is way better than the massage chairs at the mall;’ and ‘When people start going back to work more, I’m going to have you out for an employee-appreciation day.’” Clients who want the mobile service can make all the arrangements online at Chairlaxed.com. Stevens said he arrives 15 to 30 minutes ahead of time to cool down the interior of the trailer. “Customers come out, get in the chairs and I do a quick tutorial about picking the correct massage for their
needs and how much pressure to apply,” he said. Then he turns on the soothing TV program and lets the chairs do the rest. The service starts at $195 an hour – good for four hour-long massages, eight 30-minute sessions or 16 15-minute sessions. Through Sept. 30, his grand opening prices are two hours for $295, three for $395 and six hours for $595. He also is offering a $45 coupon on the website for a first booking. Information: relax@Chairlaxed.com or 480-329-4131.
Area woman’s moxie evolves into business tool BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor
Women in business have a new tool to help them through these perilous economic times, thanks to Gilbert entrepreneur Allie Stark. She recently rolled out Moxie. Inspire. Empower. Grow., a comprehensive platform that businesswomen can use to connect. A former businesswoman and a mother of two, Stark bills Moxie as an app that “combines the social aspect of Facebook with the business aspect of LinkedIn.” Accessible both from its website, moxieinspire.com, and downloadable on mobile devices, moxieinspire.com enables users to create a business profile and bio for starters. Then they can create groups, post topics of discussion, teach classes, attend classes, private message other members and create inperson or virtual events. The app also allows members to search by category or geographical location, and create longtime connections that could last a lifetime. “It’s like carrying a whole directory of women-owned businesses right in the palm of your hand,” Stark said. Stark’s creation is a natural progression from a non-business-oriented digital social media platform she and a partner devised three years ago called The Girlfriend Connection, an umbrella for 36 different Facebook groups across
we get, it seems the harder it gets. Our groups make finding friends who share common interests easier. Who doesn’t like easier? And fun?” “No business is allowed in the girlfriend groups,” she added. “They are just for fun and making friends.” That sense of sisterhood has now carried over to moxieinspire.com. “With everything going on in today’s world, women supporting women both in business and in life is more important than ever,” Stark explained. “When women work together by inspiring, empowering, and supporting one another, the sky’s the limit on their individual growth potential.” “Moxie. Inspire. Empower. Grow. is a social Gilbert entrepreneur Allie Stark has developed the web platform Moxie. Inspire. Empower. Grow to help businesswomen. (Special to SanTan Sun News) network in itself. It’s a separate app. It can be used just like existing social media the U.S. and Canada that help women networks. You can set up a business find friends. profile and search members by business “Women thrive with connection,” category or by geographic location.” she said. “We need other women to A Nebraska native with degrees in talk to, lean on, laugh with – everyelementary education and psycholthing. Often, job opportunities take us ogy, Stark moved to Arizona in 2000, away from our roots and we are left to settling in Scottsdale until she moved establish new relationships. The older
to Gilbert five years later after she and her husband Richard decided the town was a good place to raise their children, Savanna, 15, and Jaxon, 12. For a while she ran a business called Moxie Estate Sales, working in the East Valley and Ahwatukee, after a friend needed an estate sale service “but didn’t know how it worked or where to start.” “I found there was a great need for the service with our large elderly population who often move into care homes and need help liquidating their estates,” she recalled. “It was nice to be able to help so many families.” Though she closed the business when she became the primary caregiver for her father-in-law, the “moxie” name stuck with her. “I had a friend turn mentor who was helping me with all the legalities,” she explained. “When it came time to choose a name, she told me it didn’t matter what I called it because I would be a success regardless. I asked her why she felt that way, she said, because I had moxie. I wanted to honor her for her help by naming my company ‘Moxie.’” Indeed, she thinks women could use some help finding their moxie. Stark believes women in business need a comprehensive platform to connect, learn and grow. “A recent study by global marketing See
MOXI on page 36
3 3 for for $99 $99 Statewide startup workshop slated this month BUSINESS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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Budding entrepreneurs can participate in a statewide event later this month aimed at helping develop “a startup ecosystem” by learning how to create a company and get it off the ground. Startup Weekend AZ is a project of the Next Foundation’s partnership with Google and two of the world’s largest startup accelerators – Techstars and the Founder Institute – that will roll out online Sept. 25-27. The event is focused on giving aspiring entrepreneurs a fun and powerful experience in how to launch a product
or startup in 54 hours. Attendees need little more than a desire to start a company but can leave with having built a team and launched a real company. In 54 hours, participants “will experience the highs, lows, fun and pressure that make up life at a startup,” organizers said, as they learn how to create a real company with the help of mentors, investors and other experts. Organizers say the conference will connect “people driven to build something new from the rich and diverse talent from any county in Arizona” and will provide resources to help. Participants will learn what it takes to
start a company in a way that books and blogs can’t teach. “The only way to learn is the experience of trying,” said Chandler Innovation CEO Diana White “Our team helped build a national event focused on COVID startups back in April,” she said. “We had over 1,000 attendees register to attend and formed more than 100 startup teams in just one weekend. We decided to bring that success back home and create a uniquely Arizona experience that can truly unify all corners of our large and diverse state around its entrepreneurial spirit. By moving the event online, we make the program equally accessible to so many
geographically and demographically underserved communities.” Experts will bring an Arizona focus to technology possibilities in agriculture, environment, solar, mining security and defense, healthcare, education and others. There also will be “cornerstone themes” like creative and entertainment, local small business, digital, web and mobile and social and community impact. Registration deadline is Sept. 20 and there will be pre-conference events Sept. 20-24. Sponsorships also are available for companies. Information: azstartupweekend.org.
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BUSINESS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Know the law on home remodeling projects BY BEN GOTTLIEB Guest Writer
In today’s COVID-19 world, more people are at home and as a result, more people are creating home
projects. According to a local TV report, “Since Arizona’s stay-at-home order went into effect in March, many people have had time to think of changes they would like to make inside their homes. As a result, contractors have seen a boost in calls over the last month.” https://www.fox10phoenix.com/ news/for-contractors-covid-19-pandemic-means-more-home-renovationjobshttps://www.fox10phoenix.com/ news/for-contractors-covid-19-pandemic-means-more-home-renovation-jobsAccording to a MarketWatch article published on June 27, “Bank of America polled 1,054 Americans about their attitudes and shopping habits during coronavirus and found that more than 70 percent have decided to tackle home improvement projects, with more planned for 2021.” With home improvement projects on the rise in Arizona, it is important that homeowners do not unknowingly violate Arizona law in completing their projects. Arizona has strong laws in place that protect the public from unlicensed
contractors performing work. Arizona imposes significant requirements for licensure – an aspiring contractor must post a bond, obtain experience or train at an accredited institution, and pass a written test. He or she may also have to submit fingerprints for a background check. If a person dismisses these licensure requirements and proceeds with performing unlicensed work, the person may suffer severe legal consequences. And these consequences may extend beyond civil penalties into the criminal realm – and disqualify the person from ever obtaining a license. Like most areas of the law, however, exceptions exist. Arizona law permits a property owner to build or improve their property without themselves needing to be licensed, assuming the property is not intended to be placed for sale or for rent. Prima facie evidence of intent for sale or for rent is doing either within a year of the project’s completion. Notwithstanding this exception, in some cases it is best to hire a licensed contractor. Arizona law also permits contractors without a license to perform certain jobs provided they cost less than $1,000, including labor, materials and other items. This is generally referred to as Arizo-
na’s “handyman” exemption for a limited range of services. This exemption does not apply in all cases. For instance, the work must be of a casual or minor nature to qualify for the exemption. It should also be noted that, to avoid a potential legal issue, if and when a homeowner sells his or her home, appropriate disclosures should be made to any prospective buyer regarding the work done on the property. Arizona law requires a homeowner to disclose to a potential buyer any information or defects regarding the homeowner’s real property that is known to the seller, is “material” and is “latent.” “Material” means something a reasonable buyer would attach importance to; “latent” is something not readily visible to the naked eye from a reasonable inspection. Minor repairs that fall under the “handyman” exemption are probably not something that an ordinary seller needs to disclose to a prospective buyer, unless the specific circumstances warrant disclosure – i.e., perhaps it is a minor issue but the issue keeps recurring and the seller had to fix it multiple times. On the other hand, if the seller fails to disclose that he or she engaged an unlicensed contractor to perform a more substantial project – such as building a casita in the backyard, the seller could have liability exposure for the non-disclosure.
This is especially the case if the unlicensed contractor performed substandard work or if proper building permits were not obtained. Non-disclosure is a serious issue and can provide a buyer with a variety of remedies. In extreme cases, where fraud occurred, a court may award rescission of the purchase contract – an equitable remedy which contemplates the undoing of the transaction. In cases where negligent misrepresentation is claimed, the buyer can recover damages that are necessary to compensate the buyer for the monetary loss to him or her of which the misrepresentation is a legal cause, including (a) the difference between the value of what he or she has received in the transaction and its purchase price or other value given for it; and (b) monetary loss suffered otherwise as a consequence of the buyer’s reliance upon the misrepresentation. In addition to compensatory damages, in civil fraud cases, the jury or court can also award punitive damages, which are additional damages designed to punish the defendant wrongdoer. Chandler attorney 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.
Gilbert firm’s craft cards spread the love BY DAVID M. BROWN Contributor
The Davis family of Mesa and Gilbert have many scrapbook memories – and people throughout the world have saved theirs because of Scrapbook.com. Founded in 1999 by Jill Davis, the website began as a way for her to share techniques, tips and project ideas from her home office in Mesa. “My mom had been scrapbooking for over 25 years, was an expert crafter and taught local sold-out classes on paper-crafting,” said her son, McKane Davis, president of the Gilbert-based business. “Creative expression filled her life with meaning and joy, and she loved sharing that passion with others so much that she wanted to do it on a larger scale,” he added. “Students asked her: Can we keep project examples to learn from?’ But, if she did this, she would not have had any to show her next classes,” Davis said. “So, she came up with the idea of sharing these projects online, so students could log on and look whenever they needed inspiration or a reminder.” Originally, crafters would mail projects to her, mostly scrapbook pages. “She would scan every project, upload the images to the Scrapbook.com website and mail each project back to its creator,” he said. As the site grew, users could photograph/scan and upload their projects. Today, the site’s gallery has three mil-
Gilbert-based Scrapbook.com does a huge business around the world. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
lion projects. Eventually, Scrapbook.com began selling paper-crafting supplies for card making, mixed media art, stamping and die cutting items, journaling and more. “The website and online store have grown beyond my mother’s wildest dreams,” he explained, noting that Scrapbook.com is the world’s most visited paper-crafting site, with millions of visits each month and 100-plus employees, mostly East Valley residents. The site also includes forums, an online gallery of submitted projects, free
classes, articles and podcasts, a free crafting newsletter and events. “And we still carry out Jill’s passion for teaching and strive to inspire people everywhere to live a handmade life,” added Davis, noting that his mom and dad Charles are retired and living in Mesa. His childhood home was suffused with creativity: calligraphy, crafting, card making and scrapbooks. “My mother was also very entrepreneurial,” said Davis. “So those two elements have combined to make Scrapbook.com.” He attended MacArthur Elementary,
Kino Junior High and Westwood and Mountain View high schools in Mesa. Next, he graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, planning a law career. After moving back home in 2001, his parents asked him to assume operations for the young website, although they were at first reluctant to launch an online store with its paperwork and other e-commerce requirements. “I didn’t want to become a lawyer and I was enamored with the internet,” he said. “I was all in.” “We have been overwhelmed by the support, love, and kindness the community of Gilbert has shown us since we moved the business here two years ago,” he said. As part of the company’s gratitude, Davis began a Cards for Kindness program last year for the annual Gilbert Kindness Week after he asked to participate in some way. The initiative finds people who need an act of kindness and sends him or her a handmade card. “The program,” said Davis, “is a way to spread joy and happiness to adults and children who are facing challenging circumstances.” That effort succeeded so well locally that Davis and his team decided to make it a global effort six months ago – just before the pandemic changed everything. “We saw how much need there was See
SCRAPBOOK on page 36
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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Here are 3 ways to become a millionaire BY DR. HAROLD WONG Guest Writer
Many Americans say they want to be a millionaire but it’s just a dream for most. Credit-Suisse reports that in 2020 there were 18.6 million individuals (representing 11.8 million households) that had a net worth of at least $1 million or more. This is 3 percent of the U.S. population. According to Investopedia and Thomas Stanley, author of “The Millionaire Next Door” series, 80 percent of all millionaires are first generation, selfmade millionaires. According to Spectrum, the average age of a millionaire is 62 and about 38 percent are over 65. Research by Thomas Stanley shows that there are three ways to become a millionaire. High income. The first is to earn such a high income that even if one doesn’t save, one is worth at least $1 million. There are many cases of very highly-paid athletes or entertainers, whether it be Mike Tyson the boxer, or Willie Nelson the country singer, who went broke. In 1990, Willie Nelson filed bankruptcy because he owed $16 million to the IRS. If they lose their money, they will live a very meager lifestyle. However, if they are able to keep their house and it’s free and clear, they can still have a net worth of $5 million or more because they live in expensive homes. However, you can’t pay your bills with house equity. Small business. The second path to becoming a millionaire is to start a small business. This is what many immigrants have done in the past, especially when normal employment options were closed off by discrimination. In New York City, there was historic discrimination against the Irish, Italians, Asians, Puerto Ricans, Jews and every new immigrant group. Many in these groups started small businesses and became millionaires. Even without the typically high incomes of doctors, dentists and highly-paid officers of major companies, they prospered with a very tough formula. Start a small business; work 10-16 hours per day, six to seven days per
week, for decades; and live like poor immigrants. I know of Asian immigrants who never netted more than $75,000 profit in their small business, but died with $2 million because of their high savings rate. Often, both spouses worked fulltime in the business and the kids helped out, such as at the corner grocery or convenience store. Example: Net profit from the small business is $75,000, but the owner saves 40 percent or $30,000 annually. If he can average a 6 percent annual return for 30 years, that becomes a $2,514,050. In addition, the family home would be free and clear and they could sell the business. However, this formula will not work for most Americans, who want weekends off; an 8-hour work day; and spend almost all their income. According to an August 6, 2020 article by Jennifer Rudden in Statista.com, the 2019 personal savings rate in America was 7.6 percent of disposable (after-tax) income, compared to 11 percent in 1960. The third way. The third way to becoming a millionaire is to invest in real estate. There’s a famous quote by Andrew Carnegie, founder of U.S. Steel and one of the original Robber Barons in U.S. economic history: “Ninety percent of all millionaires became so through owning real estate. More money has been made in real estate than in all industrial investments combined. The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his money in real estate.” There are many real estate formulas, whether it be single family homes, apartment buildings, or hotels. All require skill as there can also be great risk. Conclusion: America is a country that offers economic freedom. If your goal is to become a millionaire, your vision and hard work give you the opportunity. Free information on retirement planning, solar business investments, and tax savings can be found at drharoldwong. com or solarbusinessinvestments.com. RSVP by contacting Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@ hotmail.com. Harold Wong earned his Ph.D. in Economics at University of California/ Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
S. Chandler complex sold for $79M
SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
A major international real estate developer and apartment management company has bought a south Chandler apartment complex for $79 million. Greystar Real Estate Partners, which has an estimated $32 billion in gross as-
BLACK
from page 31
support of racial justice movements. Those efforts translated into a boost in sales for such businesses as Honey Bear’s BBQ, which has two locations in Phoenix. “Man, there was a couple days when it was so busy that I had to call in everybody, all of my employees, because of the ordering that went on,” said Mark Smith, one of the restaurant’s owners. Much of the support came from returning customers, Smith said, but he also saw a wave of new patrons placing orders. “There’s a lot of people out there in this world and in Arizona who want to see a difference,” he said. “They want to see a change. And they have supported me and other Black businesses. The community here in Arizona stepped up to the plate … They’ve stepped up 100 percent.” Before Floyd’s death, Grassrootz Books and Juice Bar in Phoenix also struggled to compensate for the loss of in-person sales and the ability to host events, co-owner Tremikus Muhammad said. “It became almost, in a sad way, a saving grace,” Muhammad said. “We’re at a point where online sales, for now, are
MOXIE
from page 32
services company, Experian, revealed that women-owned businesses tend to generate lower revenues with 14.5 percent of women-owned businesses generating sales in excess of $500,000, compared to 24 percent of male owned,” she noted. “Historically, it seems that women have been taught that we need to compete against each other in order to succeed. I don’t believe that and I know that I’m not alone,” Stark said. “When we work together, we can all succeed. Networking groups and BNIs
SCRAPBOOK
from page 34
for handmade cards locally and felt like we needed to expand this globally. We’re just getting started and we’ve already seen tens of thousands of donated cards – and each one of those is a selfless act of kindness,” Davis said. Crafters make cards that are blank inside, then mail them to Scrapbook. com, which distributes them to cancer foundations, hospitals, children’s homes, shelters, retirement centers, deployed troops and other organizations. “The cards are used by nurses, doctors, staff members, counselors, parents and volunteers who add handwritten
sets, purchased the Coronado Crossing apartments near Ray and Price roads. The $79 million price tag represented a $246,800 price for each of the complex’s 320 units. The complex, built in 1998, is located on just under 20 acres and was sold by Crow Holdings, a Dallas real estate investment company.
Meanwhile, County Recorder records show that Delta Frye LLC has purchased an 18-acre parcel near Dobson and Frye roads for $14 million in connection with a proposed 420unit multifamily complex approved by Chandler City Council earlier this summer.
According to records, the complex would include 11 three-story and four four-story buildings in a gated community with a clubhouse and pools. The development includes 48 studio apartments, 144 one-bedroom units, 176 two-bedroom units and five units with two to three bedrooms.
doing very well. But that only seems like it’s only going to last as long as there’s some type of attack on Black life.” Muhammad said the store has received book orders from all over the country, making it one of dozens of Black-owned bookstores nationwide that have sold out of popular titles intended to educate readers on anti-racism. “It’s kind of a Catch-22,” he said. “You have business, but you don’t quite want it to come this way … It would be nice if the energy, the understanding, was kept as we move away” from the protests. Aisha Tedros, one of the owners of A.T. Oasis Coffee and Tea Shop in Phoenix, said the business had received “support from everybody” during the anti-racism protests, but owners “don’t know what’s going to happen” going forward. It’s unclear whether the sales prompted by social justice movements can keep Black-owned businesses going, especially as the pandemic drags on. Many of the barriers that owners faced before the pandemic, such as trouble obtaining financial support from the federal government, persist. Take the federal Paycheck Protection Program, created by Congress to provide relief to small businesses using funding from the CARES Act.
Some Arizona recipients of PPP loans, including Smith of Honey Bear’s, said the money made the difference between having to let employees go to keep the business afloat and retaining his full staff. “We were moving to lay off people because of just not being able to make the payroll,” he said. “That (PPP loan) helped turn it around, and now business is going pretty good – we’ve hired a few more people.” But many other Black business owners reported not being able to access PPP funds. A 2019 study by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition provides a possible explanation: Researchers found banks treat Black applicants different from white applicants, encouraging white business owners to apply for one or more loans while discouraging Black business owners from applying for any. “This ‘double impact’ on minority applicants, discouragement and failure to provide complete information, not only limits minority access to credit, it also damages the credibility of the small business lending community,” the study said. “Further, these actions are all fair lending violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which requires that equally qualified borrowers are able to access
credit regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender and other protected classes.” Bailey suggested Congress should have anticipated these outcomes when it chose the Small Business Administration to oversee the Paycheck Protection Program, given its history of uneven lending outcomes. “Structurally, these small businesses have not historically had the best relationship with banks,” she said, despite the fact they “actually employ a ton of residents in our community and keep our communities as viable economic engines.” If these “pillars” of society fail, she said, it would affect “communities all across the country that have a high proportion of African Americans.” “Everyone thought that the COVID-19 crisis would be a very short-term phenomenon. It’s proved to be very different,” Bailey said. “We cannot lose important community infrastructure through our businesses to this crisis.” This story is made possible through a partnership between the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict at Arizona State University, with the support of the Henry Luce Foundation.
can do great things, but they usually command a large time commitment and come with a long list of responsibilities. I knew there was an easier way.” And she thinks Moxie. Inspire. Empower. Grow. Offers that ease in connecting and learning. “You can carry a whole network of women and women-owned business with you everywhere you go,” she said. “Whether you need business advice, or you’re looking for a women-owned business to support. It’s all there.” Stark’s target group comprises “any woman who is serious about building her business and supporting others to do the same.”
Less than two months into marketing the platform, she said her biggest challenge “has been trying to get people to understand what it is.” “Locally, I’m known for leading a women’s Facebook social group (Gilbert Girlfriends), so just the idea that this is a whole social network in itself and not part of an existing social media network like Facebook has been challenging. I am not the leader, just the developer and founder. I hate to continuously make comparisons to Facebook, but the apps do have a lot of similarities in their usage and capabilities.” But she’s convinced that once businesswomen see the possibilities in
Moxie. Inspire. Empower. Grow., they’ll flock to it. “What sets it apart from other social networks is that it’s specifically designed for women in business to support each other – none of the other noise that can come with social networking,” she explained, adding: “There are no hidden fees, no paid advertising, no selling your personal information for target marketing, no algorithms that control and power other existing social media networks. Similar to Facebook, the Moxie app has its own events tab and its own messaging system. Members can set up in person and/or virtual events whenever they want.”
messages of encouragement and love before giving them to patients, children and other people in need,” he explained. The company is not compensated for the initiative; the participating crafters can buy their materials anywhere, including Scrapbook.com, or use materials from home. “We donate our time and resources to the project to facilitate it,” he said. Thousands of handmade donated cards have been delivered to groups such as Operation Gratitude, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, American Orchards Assisted Living Community, Cardon Children’s Medical Center and Impact
One Breast Cancer Foundation. “Each of our Hope Boxes that is shipped to women all over the country has a special card inside donated by Scrapbook.com,” said Elizabeth Cluff, founder of Gilbert-based Impact One. “These beautiful cards given to women going through breast cancer diagnosis allows our service to add additional hope to women fighting the disease.” Just before COVID-19, Scrapbook. com employees delivered handmade cards to American Orchards Senior Living in Gilbert. “The residents use the cards to write to family members, friends and pen pals, and the staff surprises the residents with them on their birthdays,
to cheer them up when they need a sympathy or get-well card,” said Aase ‘Osa’ Erickson, Life Enrichment director on the Assisted Living side. “It’s beautiful to see how tickled they get every time they open one of those special, unique cards.” They are “a beacon of hope now, and many of them will be saved, cherished and re-read and perhaps become heirlooms,” said Davis. “Handmade cards say you matter. It’s a great time, particularly now, to show tenderness and care,” he added. “They touch the forgotten, the elderly, the endangered, the overlooked and the underappreciated.” Information: scrapbook.com/kindness.
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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AIA to move forward with fall sports schedule
BY ZACH ALVIRA
Sports Editor
The Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board voted Wednesday to approve the updated recommendations from the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and move forward with the fall sports season as scheduled. The vote occurred during a special meeting held Wednesday, which included a near two-hour long executive session before the official vote took place shortly after 3 p.m. The recommendations from SMAC, the association’s committee that has advised the board throughout the coronavirus pandemic, were officially released a short time after the meeting had concluded. “I would like to say on behalf of the staff and the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, especially for the sport of football, we would not have been able to make this decision until this time right now based on the metrics,” Executive Director David Hines said in a release. “So the metrics have gotten to a place that we can start football practice. “That we can start the heat acclimatization (guidelines). That we can get kids in a helmet and shoulder pads and begin doing work.” The recommendations were widely based off benchmarks set forth by state health officials to allow the resumption
The Arizona Interscholastic Association ruled Wednesday the fall sports schedule would proceed with new recommendations from the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. (File Photo)
of in-person learning. Over the course of the last several weeks, many zip codes in Maricopa County and around the state had achieved at least two of the benchmarks, resulting in several district feeling comfortable to set a date for a hybrid in-person learning model. Hines said it is not recommended for teams to begin contact until all benchmarks are met. However, most will likely meet those in as little as a week. The approval to adopt the new recommendations means fall sports will
continue without any further delays. Golf is in its second week of competition while swimming, cross country, badminton, volleyball and fall soccer began official tryouts and practices. The only sport that has yet to begin official practices this fall is football, though that will change Monday when teams take the field in helmets for the first time. There will be, however, several teams across the state that do not take the field Monday. Phoenix Union announced in early
August fall sports would not take place until students are back in the classroom. Pima County, which includes all of Tucson, made the same decision along with the Tolleson Union High School District. The news Wednesday for teams on the path to begin, however, was welcoming to say the least. “Happiness,” Chandler head football coach Rick Garretson said. “My kids were in film when I told them and there was a bit of a roar. They’re ready to go.” The SMAC updated the return-toplay guidelines for players who test positive for COVID-19, which includes an extensive check list before they are cleared for a full return to play. Symptoms must not still be present in the athlete. Additionally, if the athlete had to go to the hospital at any point because of their illness, they will not be immediately cleared. The athlete also has to be screened for myocarditis, a heart defect that has been shown to occur after infection. If all criteria are met after the infection, the athlete will then begin a minimum 7-day return-to-activity protocol, which involves three days of light activity followed by three more days of complex and normal training. “We are excited it’s finally here,” Higley coach Eddy Zubey said in a text See
AIA on page 40
Research into female athletes’ concussions lags BY JORDAN ROGERS
Cronkite News
Research into sports-related concussions started with football injuries but has since spread to other activities where hits and falls are routine, such as hockey, soccer and cheerleading. The long-term effects of concussions, however, are still being studied. It is a subject important to Stephanie Cahill. She played club volleyball from 14 to 16 years old and suffered five concussions, two of them while playing club ball. Now 23, she believes the anxiety and depression she has experienced since the injuries are related. A study by Cognitive FX in 2019 shows that up to 30 percent of post-concussion patients have lingering, long-term symptoms that don’t go away with time and rest. Those lucky enough to walk away from getting a concussion without having long-term symptoms will always be more susceptible to getting another concussion, particularly within the first year, it found. Research into female athletes has lagged, even as some studies show women and girls get concussions at higher rates than male athletes. A 2019 study in Pediatrics revealed concussion rates were higher for high
Stephanie Cahill suffered five concussions when she played club volleyball in her mid-teens and those injuries caused severe depression when she attended Arizona State University. (Cronkite News)
school girls than in boys in 20 high school sports. Cahill said the concussions affected her emotional, mental and physical health. She had bouts of depression. She’s fought hard to get better.
“I have found ways to cope with it better, but they do still exist,” said Cahill, who graduated from Arizona State University in the spring, but did not play volleyball. “Through that and more research has come out linking all of the
mental health issues that athletes are experiencing to brain trauma.” Only in recent years have concussions suffered by teenagers drawn attention. In 2011, the Arizona Interscholastic Association, along with the Barrow Neurological Arizona, introduced a first-of-its-kind concussion education program known as Brainbook that requires all athletes to pass a formal concussion test before being cleared for sports. The club sports scene, however, has been far less regulated, and even now USA Volleyball, the governing body of the sport, does not have an official concussion protocol because of the challenge of developing a policy that conforms to individual state laws. Club sports are fiercely competitive. Cahill said she re-entered both games right away because she felt as though if she decided to leave the game, she would lose her starting spot. Her reaction doesn’t surprise Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of The Concussion Legacy Foundation who says the sports world hasn’t been consistent in the way it views head injuries. “The pendulum has been swinging back and forth on concussions for a See
CONCUSSION on page 40
SPORTS & RECREATION
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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Chandler Gilbert athlete in Hall of Fame SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
An athlete that Chandler Gilbert Community College calls one of its best players in its history has been selected for the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. Andre Ethier, an outfielder who played for the Coyotes from 2000-2001, will be inducted at a later date. Ethier 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 Chandler Gilbert, he batted .468 and had 94 hits, including 32 doubles. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2001. Ethier always had a special place in his heart for CGCC, college officials said. “During his playing days with the Dodgers, Andrew would workout with our players often,” said Chandler Gilbert 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 election 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’s motto is to honor athletes “who have recognition and distinction in sports and have “brought fame and honor to the State of Arizona through outstanding sporting accomplishments or contributions.” 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 provided 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 the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. The next night, he hit his first career home run against See
ETHIER on page 41
Former Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Andre Eithier, who was recently voted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, is fondly remembered from his baseball days at Chandler Gilbert Community College. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
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AIA
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message after the AIA meeting. “We are ready to go on Monday!” Higley Unified School District is among those planning for a return to in-person classes in a hybrid model on Sept. 8. Other school districts such as Mesa Public Schools, is targeting a return near the middle of September. District officials are currently targeting Sept. 14 for a return to a hybrid model of in-person learning. Athletics had already been given the metaphorical green light to proceed with the AIA’s schedule. “I’m jacked,” said Dobson football coach Bill Godsil, who was in the middle of practice when he heard the AIA’s ruling. “I’m sure as soon as I tell the boys when I bring them together, I’m sure they’ll be excited. “The kids are ready. It’s going to be great for them to have some sort of a normal life again.”
CONCUSSION
from page 38
long time,” Nowinski said. “If you go back 100 years, they were very serious about concussions. Somewhere along the way, we lost our way and I think it has a lot to do with when sports became big money. “A lot of athletes were returned to play very quickly for a long time when today we’d look and say that was inappropriate. … I’m still a little bit embarrassed that we didn’t think about this
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Jeremy Hathcock, the head football coach at Desert Ridge, said the AIA’s decision was one he expected. All along, he told his players to prepare for a season. “I always thought we would play, honestly, but you also never know,” Hathcock said. “It’s a day-by-day, hour-byhour kind of thing. I think the thing we tried to do was tune out the noise. “I didn’t even have much of a reaction from my players. They just said, ‘alright, let’s go.’” Dan Hinds, the head football coach at Desert Vista, shared the same feeling as Hathcock. Much of that stemmed from several other states, including Utah, already entering into the second and third weeks of their respective fall sports seasons. “I really thought we were going to hear this news,” Hinds said. “I think the AIA saw what was going around them in all of these other states. I think they made the right decision.”
Mountain Pointe head football coach Eric Lauer said the summer of uncertainty has given him and his players a new appreciation for the opportunities they have. “With every step or stage they give us, we will advance full speed with great appreciation,” Lauer said. “For a privilege up until this point the year 2020 we have taken for granted.” Modifications to postseason eligibility are currently being updated and will be posted on the AIA website at a later date. Hines previously said the minimum number of games teams must play to be eligible for the playoffs will be reduced, that way teams in districts on the fence could potentially join later on in the season. Additionally, Hines said teams that join late can play an independent schedule and qualify for playoff. Teams with a reduced schedule will also have the option to play an extra game at the end of the regular season if they do not appear in the postseason tournament.
“If teams want to jump in, we can create an independent schedule for them,” Hines said. “An independent schedule can qualify you for the playoffs. Teams could also come in and say, ‘listen, I’m not so concerned with playoffs, but I want to play four or five games then when we get to the playoffs, I want to play an extra game or two.’ That’s fine, too.” Football schedules for the 6A and 5A conferences were released Thursday. Other conferences are set to follow soon after. After a summer of uncertainty, all fall sports will be played in Arizona. “To say we are happy to be where we are now is an understatement,” Hines said. “The Board members really took their time to make sure that this could be done safely. We think that it definitely can. “With the help of everyone at our member schools doing their part, we can absolutely make this a memorable season.
more when the fact that a brain injury is just far more serious than other injuries.” After Cahill’s first concussion in January 2013, she couldn’t hear out of her right ear for 48 hours. After the second one, just one year later, she developed tunnel vision for 12 hours. The third concussion, which was just three months after her second, was the most extreme. It impacted her equilibrium and caused her to run into walls. To this day she puts her hand out to feel her surroundings to keep from doing so.
In the long term, those concussions affected her athletically – she stopped playing volleyball – and academically. She went back to school against doctors’ advice. By the time she attended ASU, she had hit a low. Cahill said it took years to realize what was actually wrong with her. “I thought it was depression and anxiety based off the fact that I couldn’t go back to school,” Cahill said. “I was having a lot of the same issues and I still do today.” During her time at ASU, Cahill served as the president of Active Minds, a stu-
dent-run group that aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues. She now works with the crisis text line in their communications department. Cahill believes too many people are unaware of the long term emotional and cognitive effects of a concussion. She hopes her story can educate others. “I do have mental health problems even today and I’m learning to cope with them every single step of the way and I hope to tell other people that I will be with them when they figure theirs out.” © 2020 VILLAGE HEALTH CLUBS & SPAS
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
ETHIER
Chandler Gilbert’s baseball program boasts an impressive roster of major and minor league players. 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
from page 39
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
We are so proud to call Andre Ethier a Coyote. “ Andre’s election 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.
”
– CGCC President Dr. Greg Peterson
1300 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.
Pacific League) Dennis Sarfate and former Oakland A’s and Toronto Blue Jays reliever Carlos Ramirez. 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,” the college said in a release.
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This is a bad time for costly anti-tech litigation BY MOSES SANCHEZ Guest Writer
In most sectors of the economy, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has slowed commerce down to a crawl. Millions are out of work, demand for commodities like fuel has evaporated, and small businesses are struggling to stay afloat as shoppers stay home. The impact on Arizona’s economy has been profound, although it is nothing compared to the burden on those who have fallen ill, their families, and health care providers. Still, our experiment in social distancing has held a magnifying lens up to an array of business trends and supercharged others. As always, necessity is the mother of invention, and rapid expansion in online
commerce, education, and tele-health has provided a much-needed floor on the economic decline – keeping people and essential commerce moving, virtually or otherwise. In that sense, America has had some good fortune, thanks to our nation’s leadership in online marketing and communications. Without the ability of leaders like Google, Zoom, and Amazon to swiftly expand service to millions of Americans, it’s hard to imagine how many of the nation’s workers – both blue-collar and white – would avoid being added to the record-breaking unemployment rolls. It’s a technological safety net that, until recently, has gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Some of our own elected leaders have been using tech leaders as a political punching bag on the dubious theory that big is automatically bad. But when it comes to innovation,
companies like Amazon and Google are often vital players in promoting U.S. competitiveness. With COVID-19 keeping consumers at home, the value of those online tools is now fully on display right here in Arizona. At Nonnahs Marketing in Phoenix, we specialize in helping local businesses grow through targeted social media and online advertising. From GSuite to Google Ads, it’s a robust toolkit that wouldn’t be available in a world without ‘big tech.’ The success and popularity of Google’s tools is likely what makes the company so popular among consumers. A recent study by the National Taxpayers Union found that only 17 percent of respondents had a negative opinion of Google and only 9 percent had a negative opinion of the tech industry in general. That same study showed that antitrust investigations are the lowest
priority to Arizona citizens with only 4 percent believing that it should be the most important priority. Arizonans have a high opinion of our tech providers, and they also do not believe antitrust investigations are a priority during the pandemic. I can’t help but wonder, why are our politicians willing to spend millions in taxpayer dollars to fund them? My point is that no industry is perfect but I think that the tech industry is providing a huge benefit to society right now and our politicians should recognize that. Let U.S. tech companies help us through this difficult time and work with them to address issues of concern, outside of the courtroom. Moses Sanchez, a Navy combat veteran, is director of operations at Nonnahs Marketing in Phoenix and an adjunct faculty member at South Mountain Community College.
Grandparents play a major role in a child’s life BY DONNA SHOTT Guest Writer
Grandparents play a variety of roles in their grandchildren’s lives. For many, a grandfather or grandmother is an additional loving adult who provides positive, nurturing support early in life. For other young children, grandparents have taken their grandchild into their home and have taken on the responsibility of raising them. First Things First Arizona’s early childhood agency, knows that families can look different, but they can all help babies, toddlers and preschoolers feel safe and secure. As national Grandparents Day is celebrated on Sept. 13, FTF reminds families about programs that can help grandparents build positive relationships with their grandchildren, which promotes healthy development and learning for young kids. FTF provides funding for programs that are having positive impacts on grandparents and Arizona’s children,
including a statewide resource that can provide advice and support to grandparents raising their grandkids. The Birth to 5 Helpline (1-877-705KIDS) is available to all Arizona families with infants, toddlers and preschoolers. This free program fields questions from families looking for advice and the
latest child development information from early childhood experts. FTF also funds training and support for family, friend and neighbor caregivers in regions across Arizona. The family friend and neighbor strategy focuses on increasing the caregiver’s knowledge and understanding of
early childhood development, health and nutrition, language and literacy, and safety and injury prevention, including first aid and CPR certification as well as crib safety. This type of training is critical in Arizona, which mirrors the rest of the country, where one-third to one-half of all children under age 5 are cared for by informal family, friends and neighbors, and in many cases, those caregivers are grandparents, who are taking care of young ones during the day. For a comprehensive list of what programs are available at no cost for children birth to age 5 in your area, visit: firstthingsfirst.org/resources/find-programs. The relationship bet ween a child and a grandparent is a special bond and supporting grandparents in their special role will help young kids learn, grow and succeed. Donna Shott is a spokeswoman 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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PUBLISHER EMERITUS
Laurie Fagen
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Jane Meyer jane@timespublications.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Paul Maryniak STAFF WRITTER
Kevin Reagan
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Courtney Oldham DESIGN MANAGER
Chuck Morales III
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Jay Banbury
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OPINION
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
How old TV standbys might play today BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Columnist
When I was a kid, we subscribed to TV Guide. The best issue always came at the end of summer, because it previewed the upcoming fall television season. I loved knowing reruns were finally ending and being teased about new seasons of “Happy Days” and “S.W.A.T.” and “Welcome Back, Kotter.” Sure, it meant going back to school and again suffering an early bedtime, but what a small price to pay if it meant Fonzie might stage a record motorcycle jump over 14 garbage cans, or Jimmie Walker, playing J.J. on “Good Times,” might have new reasons to shout “DyNo-Mite!” Simpler times, huh? I haven’t seen a print edition of TV Guide in 20 years, but it’s easy to imagine Hollywood rebooting our favorite shows for 2020 and all the great storylines we’d have in store after Labor Day weekend. What’s on the horizon? Laverne & Shirley (ABC) - When the girls get laid off from the Shotz Brewery assembly line because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they take shifts at the Pizza
Bowl, where a customer assaults Laverne for not wearing a face mask. Sounds like a laugh a minute. The Streets of San Francisco (ABC) Chasing after a serial killer in the Tenderloin District, Lt. Stone stumbles in a pile of human excrement and ruptures his Achilles. His ensuing opioid addiction ends his career as a homicide investigator. Karl Malden at his very best. I’d watch. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS) The WJM newsroom must choose sides when an intern files a #MeToo sexual harassment complaint against anchorman Ted Baxter. Things get uglier in real life when actor Ted Knight – who plays Baxter – retweets
a Harvey Weinstein meme and draws the attention of President Trump. What’s the opposite of far-fetched? Closefetched? Either way, I’d say there’s a great chance this could happen. Little House On The Prairie (NBC) - When Minnesota legalizes recreational marijuana, Charles and Caroline Ingalls argue about the merits of planting wheat or getting rich growing weed. Laura joins PETA to protest the leather goods being stocked at the Oleson’s country store. The Six Million Dollar Man (ABC) - While his bionic right arm, legs and zoom-vision left eye thrive, Colonel Steve Austin’s regular body parts start to suffer. His physical issues lead Steve to the Mexican border, where he gets cheap dental work, a prescription for blood pressure meds and explores surgery for bionic, uh, manhood. In a special two-part episode, Steve also uses his bionic jumping ability to leap the newly installed border wall,
becoming the rare American able to avoid long lines at the Lukeville/Sonoyta border crossing. So what do you think a bionic guy is worth in 2020 dollars? CHiPs (NBC) - The 2020 season ends up cancelled before a single episode airs after protesters from both sides of the political aisle fight in the streets of Los Angeles, where the show is filmed. Progressives, angered by the show’s sympathetic portrayal of police officers, clash with furious conservatives, who demand that Ponch and Jon boycott their Japanese-made Kawasaki motorcycles. “It just seems like everyone hates us now,” said one confused NBC studio executive. “We were thinking about making them bike cops, but Schwinns didn’t test well with focus groups.” The more I think about it, the more I understand why Hollywood TV producers have gone away from comedy and drama to crap like The Masked Singer, Celebrity Family Feud and America’s Got Talent. There’s not much funny about 2020 right now. And we’re exponentially too sensitive to handle real life. It’s like the whole year has been one long “very special episode” – minus the laughs and all the teary hugs at the end.
Letters to the Editor New faces, same lack of solutions this election
Election year is here. Most street corners are flooded with street signs of vying candidates, well-intentioned people who feel they are best suited to serve the needs of society. I’ll vote for a candidate that brings humanity. What do I mean by that? I mean there are certain middle-class statistics and general policies that get progressively worse or never change regardless of who resides on Pennsylvania Avenue. And why is that? With each year, each passing President, each list of accomplishments shared by the supporters of that POTUS and party, the same downtrends continue. I love this country. But something doesn’t add up. Consider: one in five children live in poverty; the No. 1 cause of bankruptcy is medical bills; 80 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck; 60 percent of Americans can’t afford an unexpected $500 bill; one veteran commits suicide hourly; 130 Americans overdose daily; the suicide rate has increased 35 percent since 1999.; life expectancy has dropped in three of last four years; U.S. education ranks 30th in world when in 1990, we were top five; 94 percent of jobs created since 2005 are temporary/gig/contract with little to no benefits. By the looks of it we’re producing an unhealthy population. Media-infused citizens who lack financial security,
financial literacy, accessible healthcare, bandwidth and empathy. Studies have shown financial health and overall wellness is directly intertwined. Lack of it creates an unsettled and anxious citizen. These statistics are the underlying reason why the U.S. doesn’t profoundly improve or evolve for the better. And they all involve money or lack of investment in citizens. Outside of labor force rate, these numbers were preCovid. Think they’ve gone down since? These statistics are not outliers. They have continuously worsened for the last 30 years. We are like a classic car in dire need of a tune-up. Enter COVID with 40 million jobs lost since March. Economists project 15 million are gone for good. Over a third of small businesses went bankrupt. Stock market, GDP and unemployment rate are not direct/best metrics of economy or how we’re doing as a society. The top 20 percent of income earners own 92 percent of market. The United States is best in the world at two things. We spend more on defense than the next 10 countries combined. And we are first in incarcerated citizens per capita. That’s it. Other countries are putting us to shame in financial literacy, education, vocational work, crime rates, science, nutrition, health and wellness, etc. So I ask, why is it things never really change? If you want to keep it Republican vs. Democrat, that’s one option. The two-party debate is dated and ineffective.
The U.S. economy contracted by a third and our elected officials couldn’t come together and legislate to help to Americans in need. The scales of wealth and our tax code are grossly lopsided. We pay more in state and federal taxes than housing, clothing and food combined. Since 1989, the top 1% of income earners have gained $21 trillion in assets. The bottom half has lost nearly $1 trillion and have more debts than assets. This has nothing to do with whether that money was hard-earned and everything to do with the inability to invest in Americans in a way that benefits all of us. The solution? Most of us can agree something needs to change in order for this country to move forward together. You get what you pay for. Invest directly into Americans. Universal Basic Income (UBI). But that’s an opinion for another day. “As Americans, I remember a time when it didn’t take a catastrophe to get us to care for one another.” - George Carlin. -Alden Holewinski
Thor exemplary on Maricopa community college board
Dr. Linda Thor’s leadership, honesty and ethics are mandatory for our community colleges. I have worked for the Maricopa County Community College District about 10 years now and could not be more proud and grateful than I am today.
Because of their leadership in the current pandemic, the colleges for which I work have given all faculty, adjunct faculty, students and staff the opportunity to advance our skills with online learning as well as providing technologies and internet access options to assist us all. I attribute much of this leadership to not only our college presidents, but members on our Governing Board like Dr. Linda Thor. Not only does she know about the challenges and privileges of being a teacher, she served as a college president of Rio Salado College in multiple roles for nearly 20 years. But my vote for Dr. Thor was really solidified when I learned that she was chairing our search committee for a new chancellor. In March of this year, an independent investigation was initiated out of concerns that the search process had been tainted. Thanks to the aggressive action taken by Dr. Thor, who reported these concerns to the Governing Board, the investigation proved there were people on the committee who did not sustain the integrity of the process and the search has since been suspended. We need to be able to think and act critically in order to have a ‘just’ and ethical society. Dr. Thor is one of those leaders; therefore, I am voting to retain Dr. Thor on the Governing Board at large for MCCCD. -Angela Buer
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
For more community news visit SanTanSun.com
Chandler’s Mrs. America fights colon cancer BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor
The news of “Black Panther” star Chadwick Bozeman’s death last month stunned Jennifer Ruddle. “I thought it was a hoax,” recalled the Chandler woman, the 2020 Mrs. Arizona who also made the top 12 for the national title. “He was a superhero. He always seemed so strong and healthy.” Then, Ruddle added: “But so did I.” It was the cause of Chadwick’s death at age 43 that unnerved her. Chadwick died of colon cancer – a disease that Ruddle, 44, has been fighting for three years. “His story is similar to mine,” Ruddlee said. “Mr. Boseman was diagnosed the year before me, at stage III. I was diagnosed at stage IV. And he was four months younger than me. So, his odds of beating this disease were better than mine.” According to the National Institutes of Health, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths – even though it is 90 percent preventable.
Chandler resident Jennifer Ruddle, Mrs. Arizona 2020, was shaken by the death of actor Chadwick Bozeman, seen here in “Black Panther.”(Special to SanTan Sun News))
Researchers said people often are embarrassed to seek a screening, contributing to higher rates of the cancer. In Ruddle’s case, embarrassment didn’t occur until after she had been diagnosed. “I also didn’t share my diagnosis publicly for the first two years,” she recalled. “I See
RUDDLE on page 47
D-backs’ radio engineer follows in dad’s footsteps BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Staff Writer
Leo Gilmartin sits high above the players at Chase Field, in a small room with souvenir newspapers peppering the walls. The décor is typical for a journalist, but he’s no ordinary media type. Reporting and sharing information are in the blood of Gilmartin, who is celebrating his 24th year with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Currently the team’s radio engineer and producer, Gilmartin comes from Arizona royalty. His father is the late, great Joe Gilmartin, the first president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association and a 2014 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Gilmartin couldn’t help but enter the sports journalism field. “Beats working for a living,” Gilmartin says with a laugh. In short, he produces and engineers the D-backs’ radio broadcasts, taking the audio from the ballpark to the radio station and to the team’s affiliates. “Everything’s different,” the Chandler resident says. “The game itself is different every day. It keeps things fresh. Every day’s a different storyline, a different conversation, a different outcome. Baseball, more than any other sport, is so unique in how each game is so different, for so many different reasons. I’ve been around sports my entire life.” Following in his dad’s footsteps, Gilmartin was obsessed with basketball. He started his sports career as a ball boy for the Suns in the mid-1970s. “I grew up around sports and around
Chandler resident Leo Gilmartin is celebrating his 24th year with the Arizona Diamondbacks as the team’s radio engineer and producer. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)
the Suns,” he says. “I wanted to be a professional athlete. Basketball was my goal when I was a young kid. In junior high, I figured out that probably wasn’t going to happen. I had to figure out other ways I could stay in sports.” His family spent time in Tempe, a mile from ASU. ASU football head coach Frank Kush lived around the corner. Baseball coach Bobby Winkles lived down the street. “It was such a different time back then, in terms of the relationship media had with sports,” he says. “We were all
close to each other.” Gilmartin became acquainted with Phoenix Suns player and subsequent coach Paul Westphal, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer; the Colangelo family; Connie Hawkins and Dick Van Arsdale. Around the late 1970s, early 1980s, Gilmartin started working for the visiting team on the bench and became acquainted with Dr. J, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. “Sports was everywhere I turned,” he says. “My dad was unassuming about it. I get a little embarrassed the more I
drop the names.” After graduating from Tempe High School, Gilmartin went to Minneapolis for a year to a broadcasting school recommended by Suns broadcaster Al McCoy. He returned to the Valley and went to ASU, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism in 1991. Afterward, he coached basketball for nearly a decade at Tempe High, Phoenix College, NAU and Arizona Western See
GILMARTIN on page 48
NEIGHBORS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
RUDDLE
That’s the scary “ thing about this disease
from page 46
was scared and embarrassed. And I didn’t want people to look at me differently.” News of Bozeman’s death prompted her to remark, “You can’t help but think ‘Why him?’ or ‘If he couldn’t beat it, how can I?’” It also provoked some frustration. “That’s the scary thing about this disease –it affects everyone differently,” she said. “Treatment that works for one person doesn’t always work for someone else. You can’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. There’s definitely more work to do in education, awareness and research.” And that’s precisely why Ruddle partially uses her Mrs. America cache as a member of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to colorectal cancer. “We empower a nation of allies who work with us to provide genuine support for patients and families, caregivers, and survivors; to raise awareness of preventive measures; and inspire efforts to fund critical research,” she said. She feels “united in our fierce determination to dramatically impact the way society sees this devastating disease” and said the alliance wants “We exist to end colorectal cancer in our lifetime.” A native of New York, Ruddle lived in Phoenix for 30 years before moving last year to Chandler with her husband of 17 years, Brian. She holds a bachelor’s degree in arts
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–it affects everyone differently. Treatment that works for one person, doesn’t always work for someone else. You can’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. There’s definitely more work to do in education, awareness and research.
”
– Jennifer Ruddle
and performance from the University of Arizona. While she works with the alliance to defeat colon cancer, her personal battle against the disease is not over. She is still not in remission and recently underwent 10 days of radiation to her lungs, where the cancer metastasized. “I’ll have a CT scan later this month and am hoping to be in remission at that time,” she said. Ruddle’s work with the alliance has her on the Never Too Young Advisory Board, which is “committed to learning
Jennifer Ruddle of Chandler, this year’s Mrs. America 2020, was in the top 12 for the national title. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
more and providing support for those under 50 currently in their fight.” And despite her own battle, she re-
mains optimistic, stating, “Together, we are defying and redefining the odds. We are changing the face of this disease.”
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NEIGHBORS
GILMARTIN
from page 46
Community College. From 1994 to 1996, he worked as the assistant to the director of the Arizona Department of Commerce in Sports Development. “The D-backs were born, and the rest is history,” he says. “It’s an evolution. It’s a wild evolution.” Gilmartin joined the D-backs in September 1996 as manager of broadcast services, overseeing the club’s radio and TV network relationships. Since 2001, Gilmartin has been an integral part of the radio broadcast production team and a full-time member of the travel party. “I got to be around that entire team,” he says. “Anyone who’s come
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
through the Valley, who has some sort of high profile, I’ve had some sort of relationship with them, absent of the current Suns. I’m on the outside looking in. Al McCoy and their broadcasting group does a fantastic job. I still consider myself connected and I feel privileged.” This season, things are different – vastly different. Gilmartin isn’t traveling with the D-backs. “We’re doing every game from the ballpark—home or road,” Gilmartin says. “It’s the times we live in and baseball’s doing everything it can to keep the player and the staff safe. We want to keep ourselves safe as well. We’re fine doing it from the ballpark.” He has his eye on switch-hitter Ketel Marte as an “unbelievable talent and a fun-to-watch player.” He’s rooting
for Buckeye native/right fielder Kole Calhoun. “He’s fun to watch and a real genuine guy,” he says. “Starling Marte is a new addition who plays the game right and is a very good player. He’s very understated. He’s really good at what he does. “It’s always great watching Nick Ahmed. Fortunately, for our franchise, we’ve had some really good players— not only really good players, but really good people who are fun to follow, get to know and be around.” As a child, he grew up watching athletes win championships and celebrate on the field or court or in the locker room. He always dreamed of joining them. “Fast forward to 2001 and while I wasn’t on the dogpile, I was able to get
in the clubhouse and celebrate with the people I became very close with,” he says. “I just want to keep doing what I’m doing and being valuable to the D-backs and root for their success. Their success will mean more unbelievable opportunities for me.” But Gilmartin’s career comes down to his dad. “I can’t even put into words what he means to me, aside from him being an amazing father,” he says. “The opportunities his career afforded me are just unbelievable. He did inspire me. He had tremendous respect. He was an extremely talented writer. I was just re-reading his Suns book. I was too intimidated to be a sportswriter, too, because of how good he was. But I knew sports was my future.”
Chandler woman calls reiki a help in pandemic SANTAN SUN NEWS
Olivia Veloso is looking forward to 2022. The Chandler author and reiki master is helping to spread the about the Centennial International Reiki event and gathering that will be held in Kyoto, Japan, two years from now. “I know that it’s a long way out,” she explained, “but we will be opening the registration soon and we are expecting it to fill up hopefully fast since we will only have room for about 500 participants.” Moreover, she noted, the event is open to reiki practitioners and non-practitioners alike world-wide, expanding the pool of potential applicants because the event “is big news in the world of reiki.” Of course, she’s also hoping by then the pandemic will be brought under
control, given that she had to cancel all the reiki classes she had scheduled from April to August.” “However, I gave quite a few national and international zoom chats on the subject of reiki in relation to COVID-19 and I’ve been getting a lot more people sign up for reiki classes and treatments, so I’m happy with the response,” she added. “Reiki is a great way to help anyone, especially during this time, because it can help relieve depression, stress, anxiety and fear...and also speed up the recovery stage of surgery, illnesses and for anyone who had contacted the virus,” she said. Moreover, she said, “People are looking for a solution to find peace and balance and I have no doubt that once this situation settles, more people will turn to holistic healing centers and
teachers for support.” Veloso early this year published her autobiography, “Wherever You Take Me” which details a life’s journey of seemingly unrelated events that eventually come together and show “everything is an integrated reality and that we are all connected in one way or another — making up the big picture in every chapter in our lives.” “Many times, we don’t even know that we are in search of anything,” Veloso said. “Often we are not even aware that we are being guided to rediscover a greater person than we could ever imagine ourselves to become.” A native of the Philippines who lived in Spain before moving to Arizona in 2007, Veloso has enjoyed considerable success with her first book, “On the Wings of Manifestations,” published by Amazon in 2017.
When she isn’t writing, Veloso teaches Reiki, the Japanese practice of channeling reiki, or energy, for healing. She is a master of eight different systems of Reiki and has taught this practice for 24 years. A member of the Gendai Reiki Healing Association since the year 2000 and Gendai Reiki Network International in Japan, Veloso continues to teach Reiki and the Law of Attraction abroad, in Arizona and in other states. Veloso is also certified in other holistic fields and is an intuitive reader. So far details of the 2022 event haven’t been posted but updates will be shortly on facebook.com/Usui-Reiki-2022-101260078050919. Information on Veloso’s Reiki and other holistic practices: 480-471-5891 or 480-266-4575 or e-mail ochiong@ hotmail.com
Hospice of the Valley celebrates Hispanic heritage tions – and it’s hard for them to believe that we care for everyone, regardless of whether they have insurance.” Dispelling misconceptions is what Hospice of the Valley community liaison Suzanne Sanchez does every month on her radio show, “Brindando Comunidad con Dignidad,” on Spanish-language station La Onda. She invites colleagues – social workers, nurses, chaplains and volunteers – to talk about the many programs and resources the nonprofit agency offers the Hispanic community. “We work together to break down cultural and language barriers about hospice,” she says. “We want to make sure people are aware of all that is available to them – especially those who do not
BY LIN SUE COONEY Guest Writer
While Hispanic Heritage Month is traditionally celebrated Sept. 15-Oct. 30, it’s a year-round priority for many community agencies, including Hospice of the Valley. During this pandemic, when so many are isolated and anxious, it’s more critical than ever that those on an endof-life journey are not traveling it alone. Many Hispanic families are still culturally conditioned to view hospice as a “place,” instead of a philosophy of care. In their native Mexico, hospice meant leaving home and family to die among strangers. In this country, hospice care means the opposite – clinical teams come to your home to offer care and support. “It’s our goal, each and every day, to educate the Hispanic community that this beautiful care exists to help support family members and keep families together,” says Hospice of the Valley nurse Erica Coronado. “There are so many false assump-
Esperaza Baboa and her son Johnny sing Spanish songs at Hospice of the Valley as nurse Giancarlo Fratiglioni holds her hand. (Hospice of the Valley)
See
HOSPICE on page 49
NEIGHBORS
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
HOSPICE
from page 48
have consistent healthcare.” Across the Valley, Hispanic families can see special billboards featuring Spanish-speaking patients and their bilingual care teams. One depicts three generations of the Dominguez family – Isidora is the proud matriarch who is grateful that her daughters took the time to understand the concept of hospice care. “Hospice of the Valley is help, trust and hope,” Isidora’s daughter, Gladis, says. “It’s important that we share that message with other Hispanic families.” She hopes more people will get the support they need and understand firsthand what “un legado para el cuidado” – a legacy of caring – means. Spanish-speaking chaplains offer comfort at the bedside – these days in masks and from a safe distance – but it’s not just patients who need reassurance. Family members struggling with worries about the coronavirus must feel supported, too. “People need kindness and understanding more than ever right now,” says chaplain Cristiano Artigas. “They aren’t spending time with friends, co-workers or extended family and
t? o G ws Ne
It’s our goal, each and every day, to educate the “Hispanic community that this beautiful care exists to help support family members and keep families together. ”
– Erica Coronado
they desperately need a listening ear and sympathetic heart.” One of the biggest obstacles is language. Spanish-speaking families need to feel comfortable reaching out for help in their native tongue. That’s why Spanish-speaking staff are available — in person or over the phone; any time of day or night, seven days a week. Hospice of the Valley has the only grief support program designed specifically for Spanish-speaking youngsters – and it is offered at no charge. The group, Luz del Corazon, helps children and teens feel safe so they can clearly express themselves and move toward healing. “Everybody wants the best care, love and respect. That’s universal. That’s why it’s so important to be able to communicate with my patients in Spanish,” says Giancarlo Fratiglioni, an after-hours
nurse for Hospice of the Valley. “There is always something that gets confused, missed or misunderstood when you translate from English to Spanish. We don’t take that chance.” The Venezuelan native loves all his patients, but there’s one he can’t wait to see every Thursday: 94-year-old Esperaza Borboa. That’s because the Guadalupe resident always sings to him in Spanish – musica ranchera and boleros – as her son Johnny strums the guitar. Johnny even created a YouTube channel (“Maez Vega”) that has over 350 videos of them singing their hearts out. “It makes me look forward to the day just to come here and see her,” Giancarlo says while he visits Esperaza in her home. “Her positive energy is contagious. It makes you feel good, it makes you feel happy! It’s good for the soul!” To learn more about Hospice of the
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Valley’s bicultural care, visit hov.org or call 602-530-6900. For information on Spanish-language grief support, call 480-951-8985. For career opportunities, visit hov.org/careers; Spanish skills are a plus. Lin Sue Cooney is director of community engagement at Hospice of the Valley. The coronavirus pandemic has imposed a multitude of losses upon lives. Feelings of loss can be magnified during the social isolation caused by the pandemic. Hospice of the Valley is offering a Zoom online presentation 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, to help you cultivate strength and cope. It is free, accessible from home or office and designed to support any adult who is struggling with losses. The speaker will be Bob Barrett, a chaplain with Hospice of the Valley since 2006 serving patients in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. With the onset of the pandemic, his work is increasingly focused on comforting families who cannot visit their loved ones in these facilities. Register: hov.org/community-education/community-event-registration.
Contact Paul C Contact Paul P l Maryniak Maryniak M y i k at at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com p pmaryniak@timespublications.com pmaryniak@timespublications y i k@ i p bli i com 480 898 5647 or
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Pandemic grounds Ostrich Festival’s for 2020 SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
They tried, but it couldn’t be done – not at least while COVID-19 still remains a threat to large gatherings. And so the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations gave up on trying to hold the 2020 Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival over Halloween weekend. Instead, they’re working with the City of Chandler to find a new date for next year. “The Ostrich Festival has been a long-standing community tradition and a year without it is difficult for us to comprehend,” said Terri Kimble, president/CEO of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce. “Our main focus remains the well-being of our attendees, staff, vendors and all people involved in the festival,” she said. “Because the state and federal executive orders on large gatherings are still in effect, the Ostrich Festival will be postponed until March
The Poynter Sisters were among three headliners who were benched after the Chandler Chamber canceled its annual Ostrich Festival in March. (Special to the SanTan Sun News)
of 2021. “We look forward to bringing the community together again in March and can’t wait to share more information on what’s in store.”
The pandemic began to take hold of Arizona only a matter of a couple weeks before the 2020 Ostrich Festival was scheduled to take place in March. It had been rescheduled to Hallow-
een weekend at a time when no one anticipated that the coronavirus would remain a threat into fall. Numerous events throughout the nation that had been set for late summer and early fall subsequently fell by the wayside, postponed outright or taken to an online platform. All 2020 tickets will be honored on the new spring dates. More information on the 2021 event will be released as soon as it’s available, the Chandler Chamber said. The Chandler Chamber of Commerce Ostrich Festival began in 1988 and is based on Chandler’s colorful early history of ostrich ranching. The event has grown to become one of the premier festivals in the southwest. The Ostrich Festival is a community family event featuring live ostriches, national and regional entertainment, carnival midway, food, and upscale arts and crafts. Fans can stay abreast of the latest developments at OstrichFestival.com.
Gilbert artists’ work honors medical workers BY SRIANTHI PERERA
Contributor
People lucky enough to escape the debilitating illness caused by COVID-19 may not have met the healthcare workers on the frontlines. But they are aware of the critical and dangerous role they are playing during these troubling times. Four members of the Gilbert Visual Art League joined the international community to pay homage to healthcare workers via brushstrokes. Jane Bradley, Rosalie Vaccaro, Shelley Marler and Glenda Nieman have painted their appreciation of medical heroes and sent their portraits to the subjects. “Each health care worker has a story. The bravery and selflessness of those on the frontlines is amazing. The art that has been created for them around the world is a small offering for what they do,” said Jane Bradley, who took the initiative on the project on behalf of the Gilbert group. Bradley created a portrait of an anesthesiology resident in Chicago and a doctor at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, among others. She plans to do more as soon as she recovers from eye surgery. “The pandemic is frightening to everyone. It has changed the whole world. We just have to do the best to stay sane as we can and to find a way to help others. For me that is painting,” she said. The project started in England when artist Tom Croft presented an online exhibition of more than 700 works
Gilbert Artist Jane Bradley painted this portrait of a Chicago anesthesiologist.
of staff at National Health Service during U.K.’s lockdown. His idea was to galvanize artists across the country and celebrate the frontline workers. The idea spread around the world’s arts community almost as easily as the virus did. Bradley was contacted by French artist Aldo Balding who started a group called Soignantssurlefront on Facebook. “We put offers on our pages both on
nature, animals and portraits of people. “I want very much to be able to give to others, especially to those who are risking their own lives to help those in need. When Jane (Bradley) offered this opportunity, I jumped on it. I felt that this would be one way to honor our medical heroes,” she said. “I may not have the skills necessary to help ease someone’s pain in these difficult situations, but I can share the skills I do have,” Nieman added. Shelley Marler asked around for subjects and settled on Dayton Gardner, a frontline medical worker on the emergency respiratory floor in a Utah hospital. “It was a great experience painting Dayton,” Marler said. “I Rosalie Vaccarro paid tribunte to Jacqueline Rios, a phlebotomist at kept in contact with him throughNew York City’s Montifiore Hospital. out the project and came to appreciate what he does to help his Facebook and Instagram for people to patients. request paintings. After completing two “The doctors and RNs don’t get of my paintings, some of my students enough credit for the time, expertise also followed. Once we painted these, and extra hours they put in treating we posted them with information COVID-19 patients. Anything we can do about the people we have painted,” to show our appreciation is worth it.” Bradley said. Marler, who creates a type of circular Nieman completed two portraits dotted paintings called mandalas, is also of nurses on the COVID-19 frontlines: creating a medical mandala for Gardner, Corey, an RN in Ohio and Ginny, who and others for a chiropractor, holistic answered a call to work with New York medical doctor and a urologist. state patients. Of the two portraits Vaccaro creA retired educator from the Chanated, one is of her granddaughter who is dler Unified School District, the artist working in an assisted living facility in Consaid she is humbled to be a part of the necticut, and who recently got licensed movement and will continue to explore more avenues to share. She paints See on page 52
PORTRAITS
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 16, 2020
from page 51
as a CNA. The young woman became sick with the virus but has since recovered. “I believe she deserves a portrait,” Vaccaro said. Even if most people are not working in medical care, they are dealing with the depressing effects of long-term quarantining. “As all of us, we are feeling tired and confined, but trying to keep our spirits optimistic,” Vaccaro said. “I miss the camaraderie of painting in groups with other artists. I am painting other portraits and paintings to keep my skills improving.” Nieman said that the pandemic took her by surprise. “I never imagined the scenario that we are now living with. It saddens me to hear of all the suffering that it has caused throughout the world,” she said. “At the same time, I am more aware of what is important in life and value the kindness and concern that others share.” Bradley received an email from a
Shelley Marler painted Dayton Gardner, a frontline medical worker on the emergency respiratory floor in a Utah hospital.
colleague of the anesthesiologist she painted out of a photograph. She wrote: “James is an Anesthesiology resident in Chicago who has been taking care of COVID patients. As an anesthesiologist, he is responsible for performing emergent procedures which place him at the highest risk of COVID exposure, as those procedures aerosolize the virus. However, he never complains and whenever there is downtime, he is always goofing around and cheering people up. He hates taking pictures of himself, but before the pandemic, he had a slow shift and took this silly photo. He is holding a laryngoscope, which is the tool used for intubations. They are the most common tool of an anesthesiologist and is used on most COVID patients who end up needing a ventilator.” To read more about these artists, visit their websites at jane-
Glenda Nieman painted Ohio Registered Nurse Corey.
bradleyart.com; glendaniemanfineart. com; rosalievaccaro.com; and shelleymarler.com. Gilbert Visual Art League: gval.org.
Brian McKnight hits stage solo in Scottsdale followed by “I Remember You” (1995) and “Anytime” (1997). “Anytime” sold more than 2 million copies and was nominated for a Grammy. In 1999, McKnight released “Back at One” on Motown Records, which sold over 3 million copies. Along with several Grammy nominations, McKnight has been the recipient of American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, NAACP Image and Blockbuster Awards, and Billboard Songwriter of The Year. “Exodus” just may follow suit. Eleven of its songs are about Mendoza. The 12th song, “Can’t Say Goodbye,” was written for Kobe Bryant, while song 13, a cover of Sting’s “Fragile,” is an ode to social injustice. “Historically, when people are being oppressed, great civilizations fall,” he said. “Everything is so fragile right now. I have hope for America. It has been resilient in the past. This is a reminder about as far as we’ve gone, we have quite a way to go. It took these events to remind us of that.” “Exodus” is McKnight’s final album, but that doesn’t mean it’s the final chapter in his music career, as has been frequently published. “In this day and age, when everything is singles driven, it’s not even a thing to put out an entire record. There are other ways—EPs and singles. As for putting out an entire album of new material, I’m not doing it again. In no way am I retiring, though.”
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Staff Writer
It’s undeniable that Brian McKnight has a knack for writing love songs. Before he met his wife, Leilani Malia Mendoza, eight years ago, however, the R&B balladeer had never known love. “All the songs before her, they were never about anyone,” he said. “I’ve never written about anyone before. Nobody ever did it for me. Having a muse now, for the last eight years, I don’t have to think about writing. The words just materialize. She is my heart.” Released June 26, his latest album “Exodus” is an ode to his love of Mendoza, most notably the song “Nobody.” The video features footage of their wedding three years ago. The couple met at a fitness convention in Los Angeles in 2012. McKnight invested in a fitness product and she was a Hawaiian Tropic model signing autographs. “We met and it was love at first sight,” said McKnight, best known for the song “Back at One” “She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life—the most beautiful woman anyone’s seen in anyone’s life. “To make her want to like me or talk to me…I must have done something right.” McKnight will bring those songs to town when he plays two drive-in shows at WestWorld of Scottsdale Polo Fields on Friday, September 18. “I’m absolutely looking forward to it,” he said. “Six months is the longest time in my career I’ve gone without doing a show. I have new music that I haven’t been able to play since this all happened. It will be amazing.” The show will feature only McKnight on keyboards and guitar. (The multi-instrumentalist also plays bass, drums, percussion, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet.) “The cool thing is it’s just me,” he
R&B balladeer Brian McKnight will be bringing his love songs to WestWorld later this month. (Special to the SanTan Sun News)
said. “It’s a solo show—no band, no real pomp and circumstance. It’s very in your face and personal. It’ll be interesting. We’ll see how far away the cars are going to be. It’s just going to be great to play these songs and sing for this audience. None of us could have foreseen how this would all play out.”
Born in Buffalo, McKnight began his musical career in childhood when he became a member of his church choir and a band leader for his high school, Sweet Home High School. By the age of 19, he signed his first recording deal with Mercury Records. In 1992, his self-titled album was released
If You Go Brian McKnight When: 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Sept. 18 Where: WestWorld of Scottsdale Polo Fields, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale Tickets: $160 to $300 per carload Info: rec.ticketforce.com/BrianMcKnight
53
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 16, 2020
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
For more community news visit SanTanSun.com
In this time of turmoil, there is always hope BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Guest Writer
How much more can we endure? Almost 180,000 of our fellow citizens have died from this scourge of a pandemic that just does not want to go away. The streets are filled with angry people, also our fellow citizens, who because of frustration and despair have determined that the only way they can be heard is by mass demonstrations. These demonstrations have now become armed camps, no one wants to listen, everyone lives in fear. People, our fellow citizens, are killed, property destroyed, cities burned, and lives shattered. And, if that is not enough, a terrible storm of wind and rain and destruction has engulfed parts of our country and devastated land and people. Each day we wake to a new tragedy and upheaval. It is truly a nightmare that has encased us in darkness with no light in sight. Sitting at my desk, thinking about
how difficult life has become, how hope seems to have been lost, and faith thrown somewhere in the wilderness, I am reminded of something I read a long time ago. Perhaps if we read the words by an unknown author, we can learn something in these times of unrest and torment. Perhaps if we study them carefully (the words), we can settle down and try to find common ground so that this nation, filled with so many dreams, will realize once more that the dream is not over. It is just covered in darkness because we neglected to remember that God is our salvation. “Come in, God said. “So, you would like to interview me?” “If you have the time,” I said. God smiled and said: “My time is eternity and is enough to do everything. What question do you have in mind to ask me?” “What surprises you most about humankind?” God answered: “That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make
money and then lose their money to restore their health. That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present nor the future. That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they have never lived.” God took my hand and we were silent for a while, and then I asked: “As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?” God replied with a smile: “To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is let themselves be loved. To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but whom they have in their lives. “To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. All will be judged individually on their own merits, not a group. To learn that the rich person is not the one who has the most, but one who needs the least. “To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them. To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness. “To learn that there are persons who
love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings. To learn that a true friend is someone who knows everything about him or her and likes him or her anyway. “To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they have to forgive themselves.” I sat there a while enjoying the moment. I thanked God for the time and what God has done for my family. God replied, “Anytime. I am here 24 hours a day. All you have to do is ask for me, and I’ll answer.” Perhaps this is the message we should concentrate on. Perhaps this is the message we should be hearing from our spiritual leaders. Perhaps this is the message that can bring us together as one people dedicated to the betterment of all. Perhaps this is what our leaders should be thinking as they determine the path for our salvation. Just perhaps! And through it all there is hope. Rabbi Irwin Wiener D.D. is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.
Thoughts, news from Sun Lakes Methodist Sept. 17. The following was sent to me by a This fall the study will focus on the friend with no other word. I read it and book “Proverbs: Learning to Live Wisely.” marveled at how it is the right question As the Book of Proverbs offers wisat the right time for us. I am going to dom and guidance so too will this study. reflect upon it and hopefully allow it to Through the readings you will experiinfluence my life, my thinking, and my ence advice that is practical, reasonable, reactions. “If we could spread love as quickly as wholesome, understandable, shrewd, fruitful, and concrete. we spread hate and negativity, what an Because this season is so different amazing world we would live in!” from the rest, the study will be held via Might it be that I should ask ZOOM, an interactive, virtual classroom. myself if this word…, this tweet…, this If you would like to join this study, Facebook post…, will spread love or…? please call the Church office at 480-895- by Pastor Marvin Arnpriester 8766 to register. You will be asked to provide your email address for invitational purposes and directions on how Sweet Life Café, a biblical based to pick up your book. book study, will be held at noon Wednesdays in Room 4 at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church beginning -Cathy Smoot
Chandler United Methodist Church Making and Deploying Disciples for over 100 Years.
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.
SUNDAYWORSHIP WORSHIP AtONLINE 8:30 am AT & 10:00 am Childcare Provided • All Welcome! www.chandlermethodist.org
480-963-3360 | www.chandlermethodist.org | 450 E. Chandler Heights Rd.
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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Call us at 480-898-6465 or email classifieds@santansun.com AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING
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Family Owned & Operated Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
DIRECTORY / CLASSIFIED PLUMBING
24-HOUR SERVICE PLUMBING
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sunlakespestcontrol.com
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SINCE 1968 EMERGENCY SERVICE www.abcplumbingandrooter.com Lic. ROC153202/213278, Bonded & Insured *CALL OFFICE FOR DETAILS
Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor • Anything Plumbing • Water Heaters • Inside & Out Leaks • Toilets, Faucets, Disposals • Same Day Service • Available 24/7 • Bonded & Insured • Estimates Available
Not a licensed contractor
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Professional, hardworking, excellent service. No hidden fees. Whether you are moving in or moving out LEAVE THE LIFTING TO US! Serving the East Valley. www.inoroutmovers phoenixmetro.com Call Terry at 602-653-5367
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BIG JOHN'S CARPET CLEANING Our truck-mounted steam cleaning system will deep clean your carpets, ridding them of unwanted dirt, bacteria, fungus and chemical residues. Upholstery cleaning also available. Tile and grout cleaning. For a clean and healthy carpet, call 480-786-6610 John Downs, Owner/Operator Ocotillo Resident. Call for Monthly Specials.
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PLUMBING abcplumbingandrooter.com ROC 153202 Where Integrity Isn’t Watered Down. Since 1968 - 480-726-1600 1 hour response Emergency Response 24/7 A rated BBB *Free flush of water heater *Best senior discount: 20% off labor *$50.00 off with work done mention this ad Flood restoration, Water heaters, drain clogs, faucets, toilets, slab leaks, leak locating, & water main.
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
57
For more community news visit SanTanSun.com
These Chandler restaurants were voted the best SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF
Times Media Group, publisher of the SanTan Sun News, recently published its Best of Chandler, based on readers’ votes. The entire list can be seen at chandlernews.com Here are some of the restaurants voted the best in the city.
Best Asian Food Pho Chandler
4055 S. Arizona Ave. 480-895-9090 phochandler.us Among the dishes that are made to order from ingredients delivered fresh daily from local markets are Papaya Salad from the appetizer menu, Hanoi Rice on the vermicelli menu and Curry Chicken Plate from the rice menu. It also was voted as the best take-out restaurant.
Best BBQ
Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q 7300 W. Chandler Blvd. 480-874-6440 rudysbbq.com
An array of meats – brisket and pulled pork lead the parade – are available in sandwiches or by the half pound. The sides are anything but a sideshow. A meal can be made with the smoked potato, potato salad, beans, coleslaw, three-bean salad or cream corn.
Best Breakfast Spot Hangar Café
1725 E. Ryan Road 480-899-6965 facebook.com/Hangarcafechandler On the northwestern side of Chandler Municipal Airport in a
maintenance hangar, this familyrun, diner-style restaurant has an observation patio overlooking the runway is just as popular as the nofrills meals of classics like biscuits and gravy, gyro omelets, onion rings, Philly cheesesteaks and chicken-fried steak.
Best Brunch Hash Kitchen
2855 W. Ray Road 480-909-4270 hashkitchen.com Executive Chef Joey Maggiore and his dad Tomaso Maggiore conceptualized this creative brunchery, featuring a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar that complements an array of creative fare like Cannoli Donuts, Hangover Filet Hash and Lobster Hash.
Best Coffee Shop
The food at Pho Chandler drew the most votes for best place for Asian food and nest take-out restaurant in Chandler. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
Black Rock Coffee Bar
4050 S. Alma School Road 480-462-7637 br.coffee Premium, classic and even coffeeless brews are available hot or cold. Alternative milk options include soy, almond, coconut and oat. Need a smoothie instead? They’ve got’em.
Best Deli-Sandwich Shop Chompie’s
3481 W. Frye Road 480-398-3008 chompies.com/chompies-chandler Imagine authentic New York-style pastrami or corned beef, piled high on a bun. Complementing their Mile High Sandwiches are the traditional matzo ball soup and fresh specialty salads. The Jewish Sliders were featured on Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food.
Best Pizza and Wings
Zesty Zzeeks Pizza and Wings 4050 S. Arizona Ave. 480-591-1111 zzeeks.com
Start with dough made fresh daily. Zzeeks’ crust comes in thin, double dough, cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli cheddar, keto, gluten free, New York and Brooklyn. Zzeeks’ zesty marinara sauce is slow-simmered for hours over low heat. It also was voted best for delivery service.
Best Sports Bar
Blue 32 Sports Grill 4845 S. Arizona Ave. 480-284-6496 blue32sportsgrill.com
If it’s sports and it’s on TV, it’s
plastered in high definition on one of the walls at Blue 32 Sports Grill Its full-service restaurant features fresh ground burgers, steaks and seafood, cut in-house daily. The menu includes salads and sandwiches with house-made dressings and sauces, and a variety of local craft beers.
Best Happy Hour
The Casual Pint Ocotillo 1095 W. Queen Creek Road 480-219-2666 ocotillo.thecasualpint.com
Think of The Casual Pint Ocotillo as a coffee shop but with a focus on craft beer instead of java. It’s a fun spot with an upscale yet casual, relaxed atmosphere. Expert “Beer-tenders” can serve up craft beer by the pint from the tap wall, by the can, or by the bottle. Snack on tasty starters, like sidewinders or brats.
Best Local Burger
Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers 1980 W. Germann Road 480-899-2007 coldbeers.com
If the sight of a yellow river of cheese cascading down the side of a half-foot-high burger sandwich gets your motor running, then come on down – even if you don’t care to wash it down with a beer. This is not your basic burger place. Ingredients are fresh, made in-house daily. More than 150 choices grace the beer menu, on draught, bottled or canned.
Best Italian Restaurant Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta 590 N. Alma School Road 480-812-8433 floridinos.net Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers, with its extensive menu, was rated as Chandler’s best local burger joint while the breakfasts and the Hangar Cafe garnered that restaurant the most votes for best breakfast spot. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
See
BEST on page 58
WHERE TO EAT
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Zzeeks Pizza and Wings not only was voted best place for pizza and wings in Chandler but also rated the top spot for delivery service. The sushi at Rock Lobster earned that eatery top honors for Chandler best sushi. (Special to SanTan Sun News)
BEST
walleye, baked or pan fried. Other Valle Luna serves up Sonoran-style choices are swordfish, salmon, shrimp, dishes, including an array of dinner from page 57 crab, lobster and catch of the day. An specialties such as Pepe’s Sizzling Fajitas, extensive wine menu and happy hour or fundido; shrimp-stuffed poblano For Italian food served in a fun, are available. chiles and combination plates featuring family-friendly atmosphere, this locally enchiladas, tacos, and chile rellenos. It also owned restaurant has an expansive was voted the best taco joint in Chandler Best Sushi CLIPPER menu MAGAZINE with gluten-free and MARTHA kids’ NEESE FOR VON HANSON S Area: 02763-09-20 Chandler-West/Gilbert Mail Week: 09/28/2020 Rock Lobster Proof Release MEATS SPIRIT options. Floridino’s is especially proud Account #: CL112232 Best Seafood 2475 W. Queen Creek Road Approve By: 09/14/20 Ad #: CL-4522868.INDD of its entrees, which include chicken ontact your Account Service Coordinator: 480-821-9000 DC Steakhouse Martha Needs Parmigiana, lasagna and ravioli. Team 4 phone: 480-917-2525 rocklobsterrocks.com 180 S. Arizona Ave. Team: 4J email: Marthaneese@aol.com phone: 717-509-9497 fax: 480-917-2995 480-899-4400 Best Mexican Food email: 4J@cmag.com Technically, Rock Lobster is a dc-steakhouse.com fax: 717-358-2615 Valle Luna Japanese-fusion restaurant but the star ales Rep: Gary Millslagle 1949 W. Ray Road of the show is sushi. All of the classic Now in Chandler’s exciting “New APPROVE YOUR AD OR SUBMIT CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTON ABOVE OR SIGN YOUR PROOF & FAX TO THE NUMBER ABOVE. 480-786-3100 sea life is available as sashimi or nigiri Square,” DC’s shiny glass-and-steel home Ad is approved Ad is approved with changes Ad is not approved make changes indicated ❑ ❑ ❑ valleluna.com on the Traditional Sushi Menu. And also has a seafood menu would not be you’ll find the usual suspects on the complete without a nod to that region: This ad is the property of CLIPPER MAGAZINE and may not be reproduced. Please review your proof carefully. CLIPPER MAGAZINE is not responsible for any error not marked.
COUPON PLACEMENT MAY CHANGE PRIOR TO PUBLICATION.
DATE
N
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PRINT NAME
Buy 2 lbs. Fresh Brats, 10% Get 3rd lb. FREE SENIOR DAY
MEATS & SPIRITS
We Carry a Wide Selection of Craft Beers
WE PROCESS BOTH FRESH & FROZEN WILD GAME! Day Militaryretired & active nday o Every M 0% SAVeEof130 or more.
This business always has been about creating meaningful occasions around craft food and drink with a commitment to crafting uncommon, consistent quality the local community can count on since the day it opened in downtown Chandler in 2007. The beers began winning national and statewide awards as customers flocked to the breweryrestaurant.
WE CAN EVEN MAKE JAVELINA TASTE GOOD!!
Fri-Sat-Sun · October 16, 17, 18
Cleanings
Von Hanson’s Own...
FRESH GROUND BEEF
AND OTHER ITEMS IN OUR DELI SECTION!!
as on purch s sale items. Exclude
8 S. San Marcos Place 480-917-8700 santanbrewing.com
HOUR 72 SALE!
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR
• Freshly Made Dinner Rolls • Custom Sausage Trays • Fresh Deli Salads!
$
SanTan Brewing
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Equal or lesser value. Limit 2 lbs. With ad. EXPIRES 10/31/20. Arizona store only.
DISCOUNT
Tues, Oct. 13, 2020 on purchases of $30 or more. 55 or older. Excludes sale items.
Best Brewery
Dental Insurance
FRESH BRATS
N
’S
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SIGNATURE
Traditional Rolls Menu, as well.
X-rays
Fillings
Crowns
Dentures
In the Case • Lean & Extra Lean COUPON
COUPON
Von Hanson’s Own...
ay 45 Dg ed
Dry A HAWK TOMA S RIB s & Sundays
Saturday Available le Supplies Lastrson r pe Whi Limit 2 pe
SWEDISH CHICKEN HAMBURGER POTATO
SAUSAGE $1.00 Off / pkg.
only. AZ store With coupon 31/20 Expires 10/
BACON SWISS
PATTIES
BRATS 5lb. Lean or Extra Lean Buy 2 pkg. Get 3rd pkg.
SAVE $3.00/bag
(Limit 2 pkgs.)
FREE!
AZ store only. With coupon.
AZ store only. With coupon.
(Limit 2 per person) With coupon. AZ store only.
COUPON
COUPON
COUPON
COUPON
Von Hanson’s Own...
Von Hanson’s Own...
Von Hanson’s Own...
EXPIRES 10/31/20
TENDER BITES
Buy 2, Get 3rd FREE! All Varieties!
STUFFED PORK CHOPS OR STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS Buy 1, Get 1 FREE! of equal or lesser value
(Limit 2 free)
(Limit 2)
AZ store only. With coupon.
AZ store only. With coupon.
EXPIRES 10/31/20
EXPIRES 10/31/20
EXPIRES 10/31/20.
5 lb. Tin Italian or Beef
$5.00 Off Each
While supplies last
Von Hanson’s Own... OLD FASHIONED SKIN-ON WIENERS Save $1.00 Per Lb.
SAVE 20%
AZ Store only. With coupon. Limit 2 lbs. per person. Valid Oct. 16, 17, 18, 2020 only.
Von Hanson’s Own... MARINATED CHICKEN BREASTS BUY 2, Get 1 FREE
AZ store only. With coupon.
Equal Or Lesser Value
AZ Store only. With coupon. Limit 2 per person. Valid Oct. 16, 17, 18, 2020 only.
EXPIRES 10/31/20
EXPIRES 10/31/20
Helps cover over 350 services
AZ Store only. With coupon. Limit 2 per person. Valid Oct. 16, 17, 18, 2020 only.
When you buy 4 bottles of wine
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Preventive care starts right away
AZ Store only. With coupon. Limit 2 lbs. per person. Valid Oct. 16, 17, 18, 2020 only.
Von Hanson’s Own... JALAPEÑO CHEESE BRATS Save $1.00/pkg.
Wine Sale
LASAGNA
(Limit 2)
EXPIRES 10/31/20
$1.00 OFF per lb.
COUPON
Von Hanson’s Own Fresh...
Von Hanson’s Own...
FREEZER READY PACK! TAILGATE PACK
VARIETY PACK MINI
• 4 Skin-On Wieners SAVE $5 • 4 Lean 1/4 lb. Hamburger Patties (jalapeño or regular) $ 34.99 reg. • 4 Von Hanson’s Beer Brats ONLY • 2 Kabobs - Chicken or Beef $ • 1 Bag Von Hanson’s Pretzels
3 - 1lb. pkgs. NEW! Lean Ground Beef SAVE $5 1 - 2 lb. Family Steak 2 - 3 lb. Hand-Cut Fryers reg. $109. 95 1 - 2 1/2 lb. Boneless ONLY Beef Pot Roast $ 95 2 lbs. Center-Cut Pork Chops
2999
Limit 2 per customer. AZ store only. Expires 10/31/20
104
2 - 8 oz. Rib Eyes 2 - 8 oz. Seasoned Grill Steaks 2 - 6 oz. Chopped Sirloins 4 - 1/4 lb. Lean Patties
With coupon. Az store only. EXP. 10/31/20.
reg. $89.95
On Alma School Road, Between Elliot & Warner
84
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48449
N. Alma School Rd.
Visit us: www.vonhansonsmeats.net We are now on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Yelp!
Warner Rd.
Here’s the information you requested on Dental insurance
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Open: Sun 10-6 • Mon-Fri 9-8 • Sat 8-7
Elliot Rd.
855-389-4273
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2390 N. ALMA SCHOOL • CHANDLER • 480-917-2525
Call today for all the details.
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Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/ certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-888-799-4433 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds B438/B439. 6154-0120
FIRST-CL
THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
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NOW OPEN
HAPPY HOUR
Every Day 2pm-6pm and 10pm-CLOSE
• $2 OFF ALL Draft Beer and Appetizers • $4 House Wine • $2 Well Drinks • $4 Titos, Bacardi, Tanqueray, Herradura Silver, Jack Daniels
ALL DAY SPECIALS
MONDAY $10 Burgers TUESDAY $5 Dos XX Draft $4 Chips with Salsa and Guac $6 Nachos WEDNESDAY $10 Wraps
THURSDAY $8 Wings and Chicken Tenders FRIDAY $9 Fish & Chips and Fishy Wrap SATURDAY $10 Pizzas SUNDAY $10 Pastas
The location is formerly Majerle’s Sports Grill at Fashion Center in Chandler
3095 W Chandler Blvd, Chandler AZ 85226
www.howlerssportsbar.com
480-899-7999
REGULAR HOURS DAILY 11AM - 12AM
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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 13, 2020