10 5 2013stsn p47 48 opinion

Opinion

www.SanTanSun.com

October 5 – 18, 2013

Letters to the editor

Publisher’s Note

Toast for Geoff at TASTE

Laurie Fagen Photo by LightRainImages.com

Many of you know my beloved husband of more than 25 years, Geoffrey Dean Hancock, died this past March of recurrent pancreatic cancer, having survived it after the initial diagnosis for more than two and a half years. It’s been about seven months since he’s been gone, but we all know he will never be

forgotten.

So I was very touched when Landon Evans of HDE Agency, the company producing TASTE at Downtown Ocotillo this year, asked if he could offer a toast to Geoff at the event Oct. 19.

During Geoff’s and my ownership of the SanTan Sun News for 13 years, we tried to support as many things “Chandler” as we possibly could, by writing news articles, giving advertising deals, taking photographs and attending the events.

Geoff always liked Landon personally, knowing

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him to be such a hard worker and putting on great events. So he was pleased to help however he could with Landon’s events, and Landon often told us that he could track many of his attendees as having heard about the events through the SanTan Sun News.

So when Landon asked me if he could do a toast to Geoff, I thought it was lovely idea—even though I knew Geoff himself would not want to be in the limelight. He was always a “behindthe-scenes” kind of guy—not one to seek out attention for himself, always wanting to give the spotlight to others.

So, here’s to you, Geoff. Through your quiet ways, you touched more people than you will ever know. We all miss you daily and we strive to live our lives so you would be proud of us. Cheers, my dear.

Happy about Oktoberfest date change Congratulations on finally moving Oktoberfest to October. We have been put off by the still hot weather when the event was held in September. My wife, who is German, called the city last year and was told that if the Germans hold Oktoberfest in September so would Chandler. My wife tried to explain to the woman that the only reason the Germans hold Oktoberfest in September is because it can be a whole lot colder in Munich in October so the weather is warmer and more hospitable in September. However, my wife got the brush off with some dumb remark that if it was good enough for the Germans it is good enough for the people of Chandler, regardless that Chandler’s weather is the opposite of Munich’s. Anyway, glad somebody had enough sense to put Oktoberfest in October where it belongs. I wonder what the folks at the city are saying this year?

Donald and Ullrike Langlois, Chandler SEE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PAGE 48

Community Commentary

Neighborhood awards celebrate community success

BY MAYOR JAY TIBSHRAENY

For the past few years, I have placed a continued focus on neighborhoods and how we can work together to make them great places to raise future generations of Chandler families.

At a recent stop of the Mayor’s Listening Tour, I announced a new program that will hopefully better engage residents and highlight many of the great Mayor Jay Tibshraeny things happening in Chandler’s Submitted photo neighborhoods.

We have already put a number of programs in place that have provided residents the tools to succeed.

They include the Traditional Neighborhood and HOA Academies, our voluntary demolition program and the Listening Tour stops. Now, it is time to reward the community’s efforts through the Mayor’s Neighborhood Excellence awards program.

The four award categories are Best Neighborhood Event, Most Active or Engaged Neighborhood, Best Revitalization Story and Best Neighborhood Leader. The nomination process will take place this fall and I will announce the winners during my State of the City Address

in early 2014. Applying is simple and can be done at the City’s website: www.chandleraz.gov. More information is also available on the site. Best of all, once we have narrowed the field through a judging panel, residents will be able to vote online to pick their favorite.

Here is a little more information on each of the awards categories: Best Neighborhood Event (one-time or ongoing) This award recognizes a neighborhood that helps strengthen their community through a one-time or ongoing neighborhood event that encourages neighborhood participation and promotes ongoing neighborhood communication.

Most Active or Engaged Neighborhood The Most Active or Engaged Neighborhood Award recognizes a neighborhood where neighbors are actively engaged in activities that promote neighborliness. This neighborhood will have communication structures in place and ongoing activities that keep residents in their neighborhood engaged.

Best Revitalization Story The Best Revitalization Story Award recognizes a neighborhood that was diminished and where residents

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collaborated and took positive actions to unify and rejuvenate their neighborhood.

Neighborhood Leader of the Year The last award recognizes an individual that has inspired positive change both social and physical in their neighborhood through his/her leadership.

I encourage neighbors to get together and discuss which awards they will apply for. Winners will receive some great recognition for their efforts, and the entire community can share in the pride of the continued achievements that make this city such a great place to live.

Oops – In a Sept. 21 “Doing Business” profile in the SanTan Sun News about Care in Choosing, it should have mentioned there is not a physical business address for the company. The address 333 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler, belongs to a medical office.

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October 5 – 18, 2013

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM PAGE 47

Explore State Parks’ plan When Arizona’s business and education leaders came together in 2009 to create a new plan for Arizona’s future, they decided to do Gallup polling of residents to identify a set of common goals that would mobilize people and survive transitions in leadership over time. They came up with the eight suggested goals to follow down the path to the “Arizona We Want 2.0” (thearizonawewant.org).

I would encourage everyone to investigate this detailed plan and venture to the edge of shaping Arizona’s future.

Amazingly, the first polls of residents indicated that of 14 features, Arizonans rate the state’s natural beauty, outdoor parks and trails as its greatest asset. They felt that the quality and accessibility of the State Parks and recreation areas must be protected for future generations; as National Parks founders also felt in the mid 1800s. As natural resources planners, we consider the future of our 30 State Parks and contemplate how long State Parks’ 60,000plus acres can last with 2.2 million visitors each year. Arizona’s fast-growing population forces us to look 20 or 100 years into the future to protect lands that will become our grandchildren’s parks and retreats from their daily jobs and stress.

Our State Parks attract visitors from around the world to Arizona’s rural communities to boost economies and create jobs and opportunities for entrepreneurs who are investing in new

Opinion hospitality businesses such as kayaking, mountain bike shops, restaurants, and lodging. I can tell you there are few experiences better than getting outdoors and interacting with our amazing state.

Whether you are a hiker, biker, camper, photographer or are just thinking you might want to learn to camp, outdoors Arizona has something for you.

As you cross the streams on the stepping stones to reviving Arizona’s economy, take the time to visit your State and National Parks and bask in the natural beauty we often smell, see, and experience. Don’t be scared to leap into the cold pools. Get wet! Embrace your parks and embrace the “Arizona We Want.” Join an Arizona State Parks Friends Group or volunteer at a park near you and see how you can get involved.

We make memories.

Bryan Martyn, State Parks director

Let’s restore local funding for Chandler education As a parent, a Chandler small business owner and a real estate broker, I know that the No. 1 reason people purchase homes in Chandler is due to the reputation of our public school system.

That’s why my wife, Cheryl, and I relocated to Chandler 10 years ago from the Northeast Valley. Our oldest daughter graduated from Perry in 2010 and our youngest is a sophomore at Hamilton. Our

kids have been in the Chandler public school system for 10 years. We have been blessed.

The Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) has been “A” rated for two straight years. Every Chandler high school is “A” rated. Our 10th graders were No. 1 in Arizona in every AIMS category—math, science and overall score.

Unfortunately, according to the Sept.

13, 2013, edition of the Arizona Republic, Arizona ranked third in the United States in the most cuts to spending per student since the recession hit six years ago. In raw dollars, Arizona ranked 11th out of 48 states in most dollars cut per student, about $629 per student from fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2014.

In its efforts to balance a difficult budget during the Great Recession, the Arizona Legislature has contributed to this shortfall.

No matter how well-intended those efforts may have been, the results are the same.

Arizona schools—specifically Chandler public schools—have been underfunded.

The Chandler Unified School District’s Override Election is not so much about raising taxes as it is about Chandler residents taking local control over education funding.

We are simply attempting to replace the money that was taken away by the Arizona Legislature.

By supporting the November Override we are going to be able to enhance school safety by hiring 15 additional armed school safety officers, update mass notification systems, acquire surveillance cameras and perimeter fencing, as well as, purchase technology for card access and to remotely lock doors at each school site in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, the additional funding would allow for maintaining or improving current pupilto-teacher ratios and, finally, allowing for

www.SanTanSun.com the professional development of our great teachers and attracting and retaining new ones.

Are you aware that the base pay for Chandler teachers has only increased 1/10th of 1 percent since 2008? Embarrassing.

Remember, you can only vote by mail in the Override Election. Let’s restore local funding for education. It’s the best investment we can make this year.

Jon Beydler is a 35-year Valley resident, the former mayor of Fountain Hills and an owner/broker of Valley of the Sun Real Estate in Chandler.

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