Neighbors
www.SanTanSun.com
October 4 – 17, 2014
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Neighbors Dentist collecting items for breast cancer ‘Hope Bags’
Church hosts fall events
Where to Eat
Spirituality PAGE 59
PAGES 72-74
Neighbors PAGE 55
Sublime adventures AZ Pho Napa Valley fills three secluded days with rewarding for eager thrills by Jeep, balloon and viniculture. Nguyen family
Chandler senior an ‘inspiration’
BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
When Tom Nguyen moved to the United States in 1992 from central Vietnam, he worked hard to put himself through California Polytechnic State University. Tom, who at times worked at restaurants, soon began his 20-year engineering career. Now, he has come full circle, with wife, Thao, by purchasing the former Natalia’s 1912 restaurant and reopening it as AZ Pho and Grill. “A lot of people want to try Vietnamese food, but there aren’t very many Vietnamese restaurants,” says Tom, who has been in Arizona for 10 years. “Wherever I go people say, ‘You’re Vietnamese? I want to eat some of that noodle soup, pho.’ They always asked me where to go to get good food.”
As a survivor of breast and ovarian cancers, Chandler resident Grace Ruby felt fragile. She knew she needed to take action. So, nearly 12 years ago, Ruby joined SilverSneakers, a typically free exercise program open to everyone eligible and enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement programs. Ruby is enrolled in SilverSneakers through SCAN Health Plan. For her efforts, she was honored with the 2014 Richard L. Swanson Inspiration Award at the Tempe Family YMCA on Sept. 26. The award pays tribute to older adults SEE INSPIRATION PAGE 52
SEE PHO PAGE 50
WINE COUNTRY: The Jeep Girls spent three days traveling by Jeep and balloon, visiting vineyards along the way. Submitted photo BY ASHLEY AND BRITTANY HILL, “THE JEEP GIRLS”
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Tom and Thao Nguyen own AZ Pho and Grill, where about 20 of their family members also work. STSN photo by Lynette Carrington
As dark broke to daylight in Yountville, California, the ground became increasingly farther away, and we were floating aloft in our hot air balloon. It was not a dream, though the air was cool and calm enough to lull all 12 passengers to an awestruck silence. We were climbing high over Pope Valley. Staring down at the becoming harvest, there was not a sound. This seemed a fitting kickoff to a three-night, adventure-fueled stay in the starkly alluring Napa Valley. Our itinerary included the
aforementioned hot air balloon ride, a leisurely turned adrenaline-addled, offroad romp—lost without cell service— historic family vineyards, and farm-totable-cuisine. We spent our first night at the Hampton Inn Roseville. The hotel was located 16 miles from Sacramento, the state capital and an excellent fly-in choice destination from Phoenix. To get started, we sought consistency and proximity. Situated near a Trader Joe’s and the open road, we were set. We stopped at Sacramento Chrysler SEE NAPA PAGE 54
WINNER: SilverSneakers instructor Donna Horwitz, right, congratulates Grace Ruby for her 2014 Richard L. Swanson Inspiration Award.
Get a ‘TASTE’ of area restaurants at Ocotillo event BY MANALI CHAVAN
Residents will get the chance to indulge in the best flavors the East Valley has to offer at TASTE, Chandler’s sixth annual culinary festival, held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in downtown Ocotillo. It is the second year for the location. “We really fell in love with the space last year,” says HDE Agency’s Jennifer Pruett. “There’s this really beautiful lake, and there’s a building that’s not completely built out that we cleaned up and reused.” TASTE will include unlimited food samples from 30 restaurants across the East Valley, including Grimaldi’s,
The Keg and Chop. Attendees will also receive 12 drink tickets and enjoy live entertainment. TASTE’s goal is to expose new restaurants to residents. “We’re providing an opportunity for patrons to get a sampling of 30 different restaurants they may have not tried or maybe want to try,” Pruett says. “It’s a chance for the restaurant to present itself in front of 1,200 people that could potentially be regular customers.” The 30 restaurants participating in TASTE will be competing for titles in nine categories, including the top title “Best of TASTE.” Along with the competition, a silent auction will be held, and all of the proceeds
will be given to this year’s charities, The American Foundation for Cardiomyopathy. “We always partner with one, sometimes two charities and we give a portion of the proceeds back,” Pruett said. “This foundation works on getting research and money raised for screenings for children for heart disease.” Many of the restaurants that have participated in past years will be returning this year. H&H City Pizza, which was 3 weeks old when it participated last year, found TASTE to be a successful way to get the word out about its business. “It brings the people together,” SEE TASTE PAGE 50
LOCAL PARTICIPANT: Roy’s Chandler showcased lakanilau rolls and crunchy golden lobster potstickers at a recent TASTE festival. Submitted photo