Sept. 19 - Oct 2, 2015 www.SanTanSun.com
Little Leaguers hope to score big with trip to Taiwan BY NICOLE CHOKSI
After hosting the Tainan Little League last August, Chandler National Little League is heading to Taiwan in just a few weeks. “I think this is a fantastic opportunity for our young players to be able to have this kind of cultural experience,” said Councilman Jack Sellers at the Chandler All-Star and Sponsor Reception on Thursday, Sept. 10. Fifteen 12-year-old players from the CNLL, along with their coaches and some parents, are traveling to Tainan City, Taiwan, as a part of a two-week cultural exchange program. “Baseball is really secondary for me,” said manager BJ Shagena. He is looking forward to experiencing the culture with his team. Their first week will include team practices and an exhibition game against the winner of the Tainan Little League Team Championship Series. The second week will be spent touring cultural sites in the city and hanging out with host families. “I think the team will be great
Chandler National Little League coach Mike Richey, from left, manager BJ Shagena and coach Bobby Gonzalez are prepared for their trip to Taiwan with their team. STSN photo by Becky Smith
representatives of Chandler Arizona, the state of Arizona, the United States and Chandler National Little League,” said
Backers encourage voters to say ‘Yes to Students’ BY TRACY HOUSE
Chandler Unified School District registered voters are being asked to say “Yes to Students” by supporting a bond election that will raise nearly $196 million in funding for the district’s capital needs. The mail-only ballots must be signed and returned by Tuesday, Nov. 3. Jim Bishop, chairman of the Back the Bond Committee, explained this is different than the override election that voters passed in 2013. “The override was for the M&O (maintenance and operations) part of the budget,” he said. “What an M&O is is basically the daily operations of the school, including the big ticket items—salaries and benefits, educational programs. The vast majority of the school budget.”
Doug Brewster of CNLL. The City of Chandler, Tainan City, the local Taiwanese community, Chandler
Human Relations Commission and CNLL coaches worked to organize the cultural exchange visit. “We started planning earlier this year, around January,” said Shen-Yi Michelle Chang, a key figure in the trip’s planning and a member of the Chandler Human Relations Commission. One of the hardest parts of the trip planning was the fundraising and working around the drastic time change, Chang said. CNLL had the help of sponsors to raise money for the trip. “It is a very worthy cause. It is a great opportunity for the kids,” said George Bliss of the Mesa Hohokams, which has been providing support for youth sports in the East Valley for over 60 years. According to Shagena, one of the first steps in preparing was putting the team together. But his son, Kyle, who plays on the team, said he and his fellow athletes are ready. “We have been on the team a few months now, but I have been playing baseball probably since the time I could stand,” Kyle said. Ching Ling Chang, president of Taiwanese American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Phoenix, said that experiencing a different culture will provide an impact to the young players on the trip. Preparing for a trip like this takes time off the field as well. BJ Shagena said the boys will have to learn the cultural etiquette as well as baseball. Ballplayer see TAIWAN page 4
Home upgrades improve vet’s quality of life
The bond election is separate, and is dedicated to capital purchases, such as school buildings, repairs and renovations to existing buildings, transportation needs and technology. “When you drive by the school, what you see on the outside, that building and bus, is bond/capital money,” Bishop said to clarify. “The education going on inside the school, is override money.” The lifetime of a bond is 10 years. Chandler has had two other bond elections, one in 2006, the other in 2010. “The 2006 is almost paid off. Obviously they’re still paying off the 2010 bond,” Bishop said. “The plan is for this to cover maintenance costs between five and six years. The plan is not to have another bond for five years.” see STUDENTS page 4
Voted Chandler’s BEST REALTOR for 4 years!
BY TRACY HOUSE
Posttraumatic stress disorder doesn’t make it easy for Gulf War veteran David Campbell to feel comfortable. But when more than 120 contractors and volunteers arrived at his Southeast Chandler home to make necessary upgrades, he was at ease. Thanks to HandsOn Greater Phoenix, The Home Depot and home improvement specialist Shane Duffy, Campbell’s home is receiving wheelchair-accessible furniture, ceiling repairs, outdoor landscaping, patio repairs and interior painting. A flagpole will be replaced in his backyard. Not only is Campbell a veteran, he’s a Triple Bronze recipient and recent amputee. “Five years ago, before I started
working on my PTSD, I would never have let anybody in this house,” he said. “But now, I’m a lot better with my PTSD and I do a lot of volunteering, a lot of service work. I’ve had to learn that if I don’t allow others to help me, I’m keeping them from their grace. That’s a lesson I had to learn.” His volunteer efforts include PTSD therapy for veterans in crisis through The Mission Continues and Soldier’s Best Friend, mentoring troubled teens in a group home, and facilitating at Healing Memories. He’s also trained law enforcement and first responders on how to deal with vets in crisis. Team transformation Rhonda Oliver, CEO of HandsOn Greater Phoenix, was part of the
F E AT U R E STO R I E S CPD conducts DUI task force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . community . . . . . . . . Page 6 Spine and Disc Center of Arizona is a one-stop spinal health shop . business . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 19 BASIS junior devotes summer to scientific research . . . . . . . youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Family and Community Nights make fall season fun . . . . . . . neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . Page 50 Sheared beard and beers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 60
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