SanTan Sun News - 10.25.2020 by Times Media Group

October 25, 2020 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Chandler senator a million-dollar election target support they provide for or against a candidate. And this year, independent organizations of all political stripes and causes have flooded Arizona with money, spending it on mailers and other forms of advertising in support of or opposition to individual candidates as well as the two initiatives on the Nov. 3 ballot. Of the six independent organizations that have spent the most in Arizona races, according to documents filed with the state, one favors conservative causes and candidates. Of the other five, four support liberal candidates and issues while one supports moderates on both sides of the aisle. The total spent by independent groups in Mesnard’s campaign against Democratic political newcomer Ajlan AJ Kurdoglu not only is the biggest spent by such organizations in a single Arizona legislative race. It also exceeds the total $1,015,109 in

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

South Chandler state Sen. J.D. Mesnard has become a million-dollar target in his reelection bid. Independent organizations have spent $1,099,882 on advertising and other efforts to unseat him, according to campaign financials filed with the Arizona Secretary of State by Oct. 14. Another $507,558 has been spent by other independent organizations supporting the longtime Republican lawmaker’s campaign for a second term in the State Senate. “I admit to being a little shellshocked when I saw it,” Mesnard, who served eight years in the House, the last two as Speaker, before being termed out. Unlike political action committees and candidate’s own campaign finance statements, independent organizations do not have to disclose the source of the funds they spend on ads and other

Independent groups have spent more money on attack ads against Chandler Sen. J.D. Mesnard than the total amount of donations to his and the other four Legislative 17 candidates combined. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

See

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Chandler police increase oversight on use of force BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler Police Chief Sean Duggan has added some extra layers of accountability for incidents involving officers using force against civilians. Students at Arizona College Prep-Erie will be moving to this enw high school in Gilbert once construction is In the wake of calls for police refinished in July. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer) forms across the nation following the recent deaths of several Black citizens in various states, his department is refining some rules and procedures for Chandler officers. Duggan, who has led the department since 2014, said Chandler Police spent the last few months reviewing proimously on Oct. 14 to move Erie’s BY KEVIN REAGAN tocols, studying the policies of other campus to a bigger facility designed to Staff Writer agencies and making adjustments that accommodate up to 2,000 students. will hopefully maintain the communiThe board additionally approved Chandler Unified officials have ty’s trust in its police department. adjusting some of enrollment bounddecided to relocate Arizona College “Each day we are looking and we are aries for other high schools in order to Prep-Erie’s 800 students to a new high learning from our neighbors,” Duggan school under construction near Gilbert balance out enrollment numbers at all told City Council earlier this month. and Ocotillo roads in Gilbert. “We’re learning from their successes See on page 3 The Governing Board voted unan-

CUSD will move Erie students to new school

and we’re learning from their mistakes.” In the months following the officer-involved killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, protests erupted across the country – including some in Chandler, Gilbert, Phoenix and Mesa – as activists cried for radical reforms that in some cases included defunding police departments. Floyd died on May 25 after a Minneapolis officer allegedly pinned him to the ground and knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Duggan at the time condemned the incident, calling it “disgusting” and claiming it went against the philosophy his officers are taught. “In my 30 years of policing, that tactic that was utilized was not something I had ever seen condoned or trained in,” Duggan said in June. Duggan has since gone one step

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COMMUNITY NEWS

ELEX

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

from page 1

donations given directly to all five LD17 candidates combined. Running for two House seats in LD 17 are incumbent Democrat Rep. Jennifer Pawlik and two Republicans – incumbent Rep. Jeff Weninger and Realtor Liz Harris. Asked about the spending against him by independent groups, Mesnard said, “It’s never felt so blatant, so palpable that it’s like people are just trying to buy the Legislature. It’s such an obscene amount of money.” “Certain people are targets, but I’m obviously Target Numero Uno,” he added. LD17 is reportedly one of four districts eyed by Democrats as ripe for the plucking in their bid to flip at least one legislative chamber in Arizona from Republican control to Democratic. Republicans have the registration edge in the district with 59,232 registered voters to 48,821 registered Democrats and 52,808 independents, according to final Count Recorder data. But Mesnard said Democrats may see two hopeful signs in LD17. One is a single-digit percentage difference between Republicans and Democrats, he said. The other factor is Pawlik’s 2018 victory that not only cracked the all-red legislative delegation but also made her the top vote getter among House candidates in the district that year.

Four of the five candidates for in the Legislative District 17 race appeared in the virtual town hall sponsored by the Arizona Clean Elections Commission last month moderated by Julia Shumway, an Arizona Capitol Times journalist (top center). They were, Republican House candidate Liz Harris, top left; Demcoartic Rep. Jennifer Pawlik, Republican Sen. J.D. Mesnard, bottom left, and his Democratic challenger Ajlan AJ Kurdoglu. Republican Rep. Jeff Weninger did not participate. You can watch the debate at youtube.com/ watch?v=KadZ9VC5Tns&feature=emb_logo. (YouTube.com)

Additionally, President Trump carried LD17 by only 3 percent in 2016. Independent organizations just aren’t going after Mesnard. They also are targeting the other LD17 candidates. For example, independent groups spent $128,820 advocating for Pawlik’s reelection while others spent $90,217 to campaign against her. Harris, who is trying to unseat her, has attracted only $15,381 in support from independent groups while those opposing her election have shelled out $84,873. Independents have spent $45,879 in support of Weninger while negative advertising against him from other organizations has totaled $65,867. But the most cash is flying in the LD17 Senate race, where independent organizations have spent $277,366 to urge Kurdoglu’s defeat and $186,784 advocating his election.

In straight-out donations to their respective campaigns, Kurdoglu has amassed a campaign war chest totaling $337,351 and has spent $124,82. Donations to Mesnard’s campaign so far totaled $234,260, of which $74,087 has been spent. Mesnard theorized that the spending by independent groups for and against him may have something to do with those totals, suggesting groups that support him have spent nearly a half million dollars on his behalf because of the gap in donations between him and his opponent. And he claimed polls may be spurring independent groups opposing him to ramp up their spending. “It’s something of a broader issue,” Mesnard said. “There’s a lot of money just being spent in general. I think the extra-large sum probably has to do with

how I’m performing in the polls relative to my opponent. “I’ve heard rumors that there was a bit of a gap between he and I and so they decided to nuke me and create a closer race, but I can only speculate,” he added. “I don’t have conversations with these people. I just know that is an astronomical amount of money.” In the LD 17 House campaigns, Pawlik leads the pack. Donations to Pawlik totaled $232,656 while Weninger has raised $182,586 in his bid for his fourth and last term and Harris has raised $78,256. Pawlik also leads in spending, having shelled out $95,974 to Weninger’s $30,845 and Harris’ $20,645. Records show that of the six independent organizations that have spent at least $500,000 in the state this election cycle, only the Arizona Free Enterprise Fund could be described as strictly conservative. But dozens below that $500,000 threshold have spent hundreds of thousands on either conservative or liberal candidates. The granddaddy of the six biggest spenders is the New York City-based Beyond Carbon Victory Fund. It was founded by Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire who was a Republican when he was mayor of New York City and jumped into the Democratic presidential nomination this year. He is spending millions to defeat President Trump. State records show the Beyond See

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

ERIE

from page 1

six campuses. Students currently attending the district’s other high schools – not including Erie – won’t be impacted by the boundary changes because the adjustments will only start to apply with the class of 2025. The new high school, which is set to open in July, has been under construction for the last year and is intended to help relieve some of the overcrowding seen at the district’s other schools. The board was presented with a number of options for how it might redraw the district’s boundary lines to account for the new campus and ultimately picked a plan that moves Erie students from their current campus near Dobson Road and Chandler Boulevard. Assistant Superintendent Craig Gilbert said this option was recommended by the district’s administrators because it allows for more students to experience Erie’s model of instruction. “This has been a very successful school and I think bringing this success to many students in our district is a viable option,” Gilbert said. The U.S. Department of Education named Erie a Blue Ribbon school last year for its excellent academic performance and many of the school’s students have attracted publicity over the years for innovative projects. Unlike the district’s bigger high schools, Erie only accepts students

Chandler Unified's newest high school, located in Gilbert, is under construction and expected to be ready to welcome students for the 2021-22 school year. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

through an open enrollment process that involves filling out an application. The new high school, which will adopt the “ACP-Erie” name, is expected to continue the open enrollment process and draw some additional students who had previously been assigned to Perry High School. Eighth graders living within the perimeter of Ocotillo, Cooper, Lindsay and Chandler Heights roads will be joining Erie’s existing students as the first crop of pupils to attend the new school for the 2021-2022 school year. Before the board made its boundary changes, some families voiced concerns over how Erie’s students would mix with students who are assigned to attend the new school. Erie has a reputation for its heavy student workload and some parents

worried their children couldn’t keep up with the school’s expectations. Gilbert said Erie’s homework requirements are comparable to the district’s other high schools and the school’s course catalog is not much different from the others. The new Erie campus will offer many of the same programs and amenities that can be experienced at any typical high school, he added. “It is going to be a comprehensive high school,” Gilbert said. “And all the things that we offer at all our schools is what our plan is to offer at this school as well.” Another concern parents expressed involved the close-knit, communal culture Erie has become known for throughout the district. Some parents worried this culture

could be lost by moving over to a bigger campus and others felt their child might not feel accepted in this type of learning environment. Myron Blueford, an Erie teacher, pointed out how Erie is still a relatively young high school and is still developing a campus culture. So parents shouldn’t fret about their children not fitting in, he said, because they can be part of Erie’s journey of growth and expansion. “This is not necessarily an established culture that we’re going to be projecting onto them,” Blueford said. Although Erie plans to keep its name and mascot, the school’s administrators will eventually have to decide whether the school should continue mandating students to follow a specific dress code at its new campus. Principal Rob Bickes said he’ll be holding community meetings over the next few months to figure out whether Erie should continue requiring students to wear uniforms. Bickes said he has already sketched out a schedule over the next few months for how he’ll begin the process of acclimating Erie’s existing and new students to the new facility. Erie’s staff is excited to move over to a campus that will be able to accommodate more programming, Bickes added, and they’re eager to welcome a new cohort of students into the Erie family. “I’m very excited for a new chapter,” the principal said. See

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Chandler high schools reopen again BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler’s high school students returned to campus on Oct. 13 after the pandemic forced seven-month hiatus absence. All six Chandler Unified high schools reopened their classrooms to start the school year’s second quarter with the added option of in-person learning while still allowing some students to continue studying from home. CUSD staggered reopening its 42 schools by starting with elementary schools last month and keeping its secondary schools closed until last week. One challenge CUSD faced was figuring out how to manage a campus with thousands of students who needed to maintain a physical distance. The district is home to some of the biggest high schools in Arizona with enrollment exceeding 3,000 students at nearly every campus. Hamilton High School with 4,200 students has one of the biggest enrollment rolls in the state. About 3,500 of Hamilton’s students chose to return to campus this week and many more plan to return next semester, according to Principal Mike De La Torre. Hamilton’s first day back was “fantastic,” the principal said, and most of the school’s students didn’t need to be reminded to follow the safety protocols.

Hamilton High Principal reminded students to observe social distancing and other protocols to stay safe now that they're back in school. (CUSD)

Students and staff are expected to keep their faces covered at all times and can’t loiter around campus before or after school. Teachers now have to hand out disposable hall passes to students wishing to move around campus during class and pupils must be dismissed from their classrooms in small groups rather

than leave all at the same time as they did before. De La Torre, who taught at Chandler High School before becoming an administrator, said Hamilton’s students seem to understand the need to have all these new rules and routines and hasn’t observed any of them trying to undermine them yet.

The principal spent most of that first day of in-person learning wandering around Hamilton’s large, mostly-indoor campus checking in with the school’s 200 teachers and administrators. He said most teachers appeared to be relieved to finally meet their students in person after instructing them virtually for the last six weeks. “They were happy to have students back,” De La Torre said. “There was some apprehension going in but I think there was some surprise in terms of how solid it turned out.” Hamilton has been keeping a close watch on class sizes, the principal added, by making sure teachers are not burdened with having to spread out too many students within a confined space. Teachers have been instructed to rearrange all their desks to point in the same direction and to avoid clumping tables together for group projects. The school’s science labs look particularly different than before, the principal noted, because desks have been moved around to areas normally taken up by lab tables. “Teachers are taking advantage of those extra spaces that would not have typically had desks,” De La Torre said. Like other high schools in the district, Hamilton’s made some slight adjustments to its schedule in response to Chandler Unified’s COVID-19 protocols. See

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

REOPEN

from page 4

The school’s “conference period,” a 20-minute period typically used for club meetings or studying, has been eliminated and an extra lunch period was added to prevent the school’s cafeteria from getting too overcrowded. Hamilton further gave students a couple more minutes to move around campus in between classes. The school’s hallways and stairways are marked with lines and arrows to help students walk around without bumping into classmates. A rigorous cleaning schedule has been put in place to ensure desks, door handles, and locker rooms are getting wiped down and disinfected each day. The school’s many extra-curricular activities remain available for students, the principal said, and several clubs have found ways to hold their meetings and competitions virtually over Zoom. Hamilton plans to host its homecoming assembly virtually by filming it live inside the school’s auditorium and then broadcasting the event online so students can watch from a classroom. The school is trying its best to keep the customs and routines students are accustomed to, De La Torre said, because it’s vital to keep morale up during this transitional period. Hamilton’s morale among staff and students is certainly not the same as it was last year, the principal admitted, but he and his assistant principals are

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Even a statue of Hamilton High's mascot was wearing a facemask to remind students and staff they are required on school grounds. (Courtesy of Hamilton High)

attempting to stay engaged with as many people as possible. “There are anxieties and fears and concerns,” De La Torre said. “There are good days and bad days for everybody. I think our staff has done a really good job working through those things.” As Hamilton slowly begins returning to some sense of normalcy in the coming weeks, De La Torre said his priorities will be focused on safety and academic performance. Keeping students healthy and

safe from the coronavirus will be the school’s first priority, the principal said, the second will be centered around filling in any learning gaps that may have happened during the pandemic. De La Torre said his staff will need to take some time to go back and examine what lessons may have been missed during the virtual-learning period and figure out how to cover that material again later in the school year. “That’s going to be a big piece of the puzzle,” he said.

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ERIE

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

from page 3

In addition to offering Erie a bigger campus to grow, CUSD leaders commended their boundary plan for its potential economic benefits on the district’s budget. Board President Barbara Mozdzen is grateful CUSD may be able to avoid having to spend up to $7 million on renovations at Erie’s current campus by moving the school over to a newer facility. Erie started out as a high school with a graduating class of only 10 students, Mozdzen noted, and has proven its need for a better campus to fit all the students wishing to enroll. According to district records, Erie’s current campus was intended to only accommodate 765 students and the school ended the last school year with

ELEX

from page 2

Carbon Victory Fund has spent $2.1 million, focusing its state-level spending on the Democratic candidates for the Corporation Commission. Its filings with the Secretary of State, however, do not indicate where most of its money went. The other five independent organizations have spread their largesse among many campaigns – including legislative races. The American Leadership Commit-

817 students. “I’m very much in favor of being able to give them a place to continue to grow,” Mozdzen said. The board’s reshuffling plan also involves redrawing some of the boundary lines for Hamilton High School, the district’s largest campus which ended the last school year with more than 4,000 students. CUSD will move Hamilton’s perimeter of Chandler Boulevard, Alma School, Pecos and McQueen roads to Chandler High’s boundary. This move would be the least troublesome considering the perimeter is geographically adjacent to Chandler High’s campus, officials said. Chandler High has new facilities to accommodate an extra horde of students, district officials added, that could help Hamilton’s campus from becoming too crowded.

The district’s boundary plan further involves moving a section in the area of Val Vista Drive, Ocotillo, Lindsay and Chandler Heights roads out of Perry High’s boundary to Basha High. CUSD said reshuffling the boundaries in this way will hopefully keep enrollment levels at each high school campus between 1,500 and 2,000 students. At the end of the last school year, none of the district’s schools had fewer than 2,000 high school students. If Erie’s students had remained at their current campus, then CUSD would have had to move more of Perry’s boundaries over to the new school and carve up more of Hamilton’s enrollment zone. Administrators claim the district’s reshuffling plan best ensures the least amount of disruption for students and maximizes the district’s existing resources.

tee, which is linked to the Democratic Legislative National Committee, has spent the second highest amount of money in Arizona races with $932,584 – including at least $45,087 advocating the defeat of Mesnard and Harris in LD17. Anti-Mesnard spending totaling at least $10,000 also was part of the $530,836 in expenditures by the Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund, a nationwide coalition of public officials and others who support more firearms regulations and that ranks fifth in total campaign expenditures.

Opportunity Arizona, another liberal-leaning independent group, has spent the fourth largest sum of money with $579,633. It directed much of its money to advocating the defeat of Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick and a couple West Valley Republican legislators. The third biggest spender among independent groups is the conservative Arizona Free Enterprise Club, whose vice president is Gilbert Councilwoman Aimee Yentes. It has spent $590,664 to defeat not only Democrats but some Republi-

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cans viewed as too moderate, including Reps. Michelle Udall of Mesa and Heather Carter of Cave Creek during the primary. Udall won and Carter lost. The Free Enterprise Club also has spent over $30,000 advocating Pawlik’s defeat. Supporting Pawlik was the sixth biggest spending independent group, the New York City-based the Environmental Defense Action Fund. It has supported moderate Republicans and Democrats, including Udall and Pawlik. It reported spending over $24,000 to advocate Pawlik’s reelection.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

South Chandler's palm trees are dying BY SRIANTHI PERERA Contributor

People driving or walking around south Chandler neighborhoods may have noticed withering and dying queen palms. Once regal and standing tall, most of these palms are on their way out this year – a victim of the paltry summer rains. Other communities throughout the East Valley are worried about grass and trees following a monsoon season that between June 1 and Sept. 30 saw an inch of rain, 37 days of temperatures over 110 degrees and another 14 days that topped 115 degrees, according to National Weather Service data. Lynn Hatch, a resident of Palo Verde in Sun Lakes had four queen palms in the spring. They were planted in 2002, when she moved to Arizona from California. Now, two palms are dead and the other two are dying. “They were beautiful, just beautiful. They were taller than my home. Very

them during these months, she said. “It’s because we didn’t have the monsoon rain which provides the moisture in the air; the queen palms need that moisture,” she said. “It didn’t matter if you over-watered them or didn’t water them very much, in the heat they rely on the moisture from the monsoon rains.” Cynthia Parker, a Withering palms are becoming a common sight in south Chandler after a resident of Saguaro bone-dry, excessively hot summer. (Srianthi Perera/Contributor) Canyon, watched three of her queen beautiful and then, all of a sudden, they palms and an ash tree decay and die. just went boom, dead,” she said. She remembers two rainfalls this sumHatch watered deep and fertilized mer, but that hasn’t been enough. with a special palm tree fertilizer, but it Her palm trees were 17-and-a-half didn’t help. years old and 25’-30’ tall. Her neighborhood received only “It broke our hearts to see our two hours of rain the whole summer, strong, tall trees die,” she said. “Our thereby stripping the palms of the backyard isn’t as lovely as it was,” she much-needed moist air that sustains

said. Michael Chamberland, assistant agent of the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension at the University of Arizona, said he received many inquiries about how to manage failing queen palms and also Aleppo pine trees, both of which were impacted this summer. “These palms are raised in other states and imported to Arizona. They often wind up planted around hotels, resorts, and pools. Queen palms are not well suited to the temperature extremes (hot and cold) and the desert soils of central Arizona,” he said. “They are only being planted here because people like their tropical look,” Chamberland said. “They are inexpensively produced out of state, and people are unaware of the issues the palms face in our climate. Queen palms may have been seriously damaged or killed in our summer heat wave.” The best palms for Arizona, also commonly planted here, are California fan palms, date palms and Canary Island See

PALMTREES on page 10

Extreme heat could be with us for years BY DANYA GAINOR Cronkite News

Arizona will experience more days of extreme heat in the coming decade, according to an Arizona State University study. But researchers are looking for ways to mitigate a hotter, drier climate. The study, “The Motley Drivers Of Heat And Cold Exposure In 21st Century U.S. Cities,” is one of the first looks at human exposure to extreme temperatures, examining three factors that haven’t previously been considered together: data on population growth, greenhouse gas emissions and temperature changes caused by human development. Researchers at ASU’s School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning ran decade-length climate simulations “to quantify potential changes in population-weighted heat and cold exposure” in metropolitan regions. Phoenix and other fast-growing Sunbelt cities will see the “largest relative changes in population heat exposure,” according to the paper. “It was all about trying to understand how these three major factors combined and interact to determine better how humans will experience climate change in the future,” said Ashley Broadbent, an assistant research professor at the School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning who co-authored the study. “We need a local-to-regional scale of information to try to quantify the different agents (variables), these different agents are responsible for impacting climate change,” said Matei Georgescu, a co-author of the study and associate director of the ASU school. Every city has its definition of ex-

Ahwatukee resident Craig Sullivan used U.S. Weather Service data to put together this chart on temperatures in Arizona between June 1 and Sept. 30 over time. (Courtesy of Craig Sullivan)

treme heat – in Phoenix, it’s 112 degrees. According to Austin Jamison, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Phoenix, August and July were the two hottest months recorded in Phoenix since official record keeping began in 1896. September 2020 tied with September 2010 as the third hottest September on record in Phoenix, he said. “The way the weather pattern played out this summer,” Jamison said, “we have a lack of clouds and humidity, which would otherwise reduce the amount of solar energy to bake the ground. And there were less thunderstorms around that normally help cool the air as well. These patterns could very well happen each year.” Based on data provided by the

Climate Prediction Center, Jamison also predicts this winter will be warmer than usual in Arizona. “If you look at the predicted forecast for these next few months, we expect a 50 percent likelihood that temperatures will be above normal,” he said. “We are looking at a possibility of below-average precipitation, too.” The team is focused on the smaller-scale impacts of their research. “If we are discussing extreme heat,” Georgescu said, “what we are really very interested in is not the extreme temperature itself, but the extreme impact it will have on humans.” Maricopa County recorded 197 heat-related deaths in 2019, compared with 182 the previous year.

The public’s vulnerability to climate change must be addressed “on multiple levels,” Broadbent said, “mainly through infrastructure, but also through some of the measures that will help protect vulnerable people from heat. We have quite a lot of projected population growth for the Phoenix metropolitan region, so that really compounds another potential problem to heat deaths.” The increasing heat over the next few years will not affect Arizona residents equally, and Phoenix has projects in place to prepare for this, said Ariane Middel, a senior scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation at ASU. “It’s important for the city to identify disparities and make a plan to reduce heat exposure. And they have,” she said To help battle the increasing heat in Phoenix, the Phoenix Street Transportation Department this year chose sections of eight neighborhoods and one city park for a pilot project that involves painting pavement with a lighter color than asphalt. Cool pavement, reflects sunlight rather than absorbs the heat. Over the past 10 years, Phoenix has also been planting more trees and building shade structures as part of its Tree and Shade Master Plan to achieve an average of 25 percent shade coverage for the entire city. Middel said, “If you do plant trees or do these interventions, to do them where people are. It’s not just good enough to increase the tree canopy cover in the Valley. “It’s important to plant those trees where people actually stand at the bus stop, or where people walk so that they’re directly getting the benefits from the shade.”

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

POLICE

from page 1

further by revising his agency’s policies to include language intended to prevent an incident that resulted in Floyd’s death. When faced with situations where citizens have to be forcefully brought down to the ground, the chief said officers are must always bring the citizen back to a “recovery position” so they can breathe. This type of instruction is not exactly new, Duggan said, but the department decided it was time to formally add it to its official protocols. “It’s something we’ve trained foryears and years but now it’s explicitly written in policy,” Duggan told Council. The department also has revised how reports of use of force are reviewed within the agency’s chain of command. Duggan said all use-of-force incidents will now be reviewed by his office rather than solely by a lieutenant, sergeant or commander. The city already has a panel of 15 civilians that reviews review Chandler Police’s use-of-force incidents on a quarterly basis. The panelists get to ask officers questions about officers’ conduct during encounters with members of the public. Duggan said adding his office to the review process will create another layer of oversight for any type of incident involving force against a civilian. Duggan’s office will also begin reviewing all requests for any “no-knock warrants” his agency may attempt to obtain during an investigation.

Protests in Chandler and other cities across the country have been triggered by incidents involving police tactics against people of color. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Although judges have the legal authority to sign off on search warrants that give officers the freedom to enter a home without announcing their presence, the use of these warrants have come under greater scrutiny in recent months following the death of Breonna Taylor in March. The 26-year-old Black woman was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police officers after they raided an apartment she shared with her boyfriend. Though investigators had obtained a no-knock warrant from a judge, they claim they still announced their presence before forcibly entering Taylor’s apartment. The incident has sparked a nationwide debate about the necessity of no-knock warrants and some cities have recently have prohibited their use. Data obtained by the New York Times show at least 81 civilians and 13

police officers were killed between 2010 and 2016 during the execution of a noknock warrant. Half the civilian deaths were members of racial or ethnic minorities. Duggan said these types of warrants are seldom used in Chandler, but that he still wants his office to be part of the review process to make sure these warrants are not being obtained when not needed. “We have added a whole different layer of accountability and oversight to that to ensure all other options are explored before a no-knock warrant is sought,” he said. Another adjustment Chandler Police have made involves how the agency responds to officer-involved shootings. Duggan said one of his training sergeants will be dispatched immediately to the scene of a shooting and begin

assessing the officer’s actions. The agency already has a team of investigators who probe each officer-involved shooting and submit their findings to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for prosecutorial review. But involving a training sergeant during the immediate aftermath of a shooting helps the agency make recommendations that could be impactful to other officers, Duggan said. “That gives us a lot more mobility and we’re able to effectively make changes right away based on that incident,” the chief said. The agency has further attempted to boost its transparency by inviting a civilian to sit on an existing committee tasked with examining how Chandler’s officers are trained. Duggan said adding an outsider’s perspective to the committee will hopefully add some insight to how civilians perceive and interact with law enforcement. “It just gives us another opportunity to learn and grow,” he said. Reform is nothing new to the agency, Duggan said, as Chandler Police frequently evaluate new evidence-based practices and update the department’s policies. When the White House issued an executive order on safe policing practices over this past summer, Duggan said his agency quickly began reviewing it and determining whether its recommendations can be applied to Chandler Police. “We are not standing still,” Duggan added. “We are certainly paying attention and we are committed to being a leader in our profession.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

String of robberies, carjackings ends in arrest BY JIM WALSH Staff Writer

Mesa and Chandler police ended a violent series of armed robberies, car jackings and a shooting when they arrested a 34-year-old suspect on suspicion of numerous felonies at a Chandler hotel room. Guillermo Reyes is accused of 19 felonies committed within a four-day span in Mesa, Chandler and Scottsdale. The spree included five armed robberies of six victims, with five cars and trucks stolen at gunpoint and later found abandoned, police said. The stolen vehicles ranged from a Mercedes to a pickup truck and finally a Ford Mustang. Police arrested Reyes inside the motel room on Oct. 9, after a standoff

PALMTREES

from page 8

date palms. “These tend to be the largest palms in landscapes. They should not be overly impacted by the heat and drought unless already stressed by other conditions or if given inadequate irrigation,” Chamberland said. Nextdoor, the app that connects neighborhoods, is full of residents’ posts on queen palms. Most report they are dying and some ask for recom-

with the Chandler SWAT team that ended when the suspect eventually surrendered. Police said the crimes occurred between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2. Inside the hotel room, police found a handgun and ammunition that they linked to the first incident in central Mesa, when Reyes is accused of firing several shots on Sept. 29 at two men who were outside the Diamonds Sports Grill. “At least 12 rounds were fired at the victims, who were seated in their vehicle. Both victims suffered minor grazing wounds. Neither victim knew why they were fired upon or what might have precipitated the suspect’s actions,’’ according to Detective Nik Rasheta, a Mesa police spokesman. The victims were able to give police

a good description of Reyes, including that he was stocky and was wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap. Rasheta said the ammunition recovered by police from the hotel room matched the bullets used in the shooting. Beyond the high level of violence, perhaps the strangest twist in the case occurred on Oct. 2, when police found a stolen GMC Sierra in the 500 block of W. Erie in Chandler. “A short time later, Guillermo robbed a 10th victim on the same street at gunpoint. He forced the victim inside his home and apparently sought to throw police off his trail by stealing the victim’s clothes,” Rasheta said. “Guillermo took off his own clothes and put on the victim’s clothing, which included a camouflage shirt,” he added. “He left his clothes behind and fled in

the victim’s blue Ford Mustang.’’ During the manhunt, police recovered a series of critical pieces of evidence that eventually helped them identify and track Reyes down. One example was when police recovered a Dodgers cap and a backpack after it fell out of the stolen Sierra, Rasheta said. Police also located a trail of fingerprints matching those of Reyes in stolen vehicles and even on some food containers after an armed robbery at an East Mesa barbeque restaurant. “Mesa Police want to thank all the extremely observant victims and witnesses, the meticulous Crime Scene Specialists and especially the Chandler Police Department for helping us arrest a tremendously violent offender,’’ Rasheta said.

mendations on tree removal. Queen palms don’t have an extensive root system that goes deep underground or fans widely to buckle the sidewalk or affect the foundation of your house; the roots are shallow and easier to remove than most other trees of their size. Hatch paid $75 per tree to the gardener she employs and others posting on Nextdoor state they have paid upwards of $250 to remove them. Parker removed three queen palms and one ash tree and replaced them

with another variety of trees. She paid $1,000 for the labor and purchased the 24” box replacement trees for $1,700. “We did not replace with queen palms because we had to baby them and didn’t want to go through this again,” she said. So far, the new trees are only eight to nine feet tall and “look like babies,” she said. “Very disappointed for the cost. We were told they’d be at least 12-feet tall. It will take a long time to renew the look we did have,” she said. Hatch said she planted queen palms

to remind herself of California, Hawaii and Florida. “I am so hurt, I’m crushed,” she said. “I loved my palm trees, they were beautiful, in the breeze they’ve always looked so regal and imperial like. And then, all of a sudden, they all started dying. It was a great loss to me.” If you are planning to replace queen palms with other varieties of palms, read this document published by the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension: extension.arizona.edu/pubs/arizona-landscape-palms

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

We want to hear what matters most to you.. • Things took a turn in 2020. Which virtual options should continue? • What does staying connected mean to you? How do you want to get your City news and information? • How much do you value water, wastewater and solid waste services? • What businesses would you like to see added to the mix? • Arts, culture and recreation in Chandler speak to residents in many different ways, what speaks to you? • What makes you feel safe? What makes our City beautiful?

Tell us what you think! Take the survey: chandleraz.gov/budget

CITY OF CHANDLER INSIDER

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

COMMUNITY NEWS

City urges Christmas shopping locally BY THE CITY OF CHANDLER

With the holiday season right around the corner, we know that it’s a significantly challenging time for everyone right now, especially for small businesses. With Chandler businesses busy reopening, they need our help – now more than ever. So as you start your holiday shopping, we want to you to Choose Chandler. Launched by the City’s Economic Development Division, the Choose Chandler initiative is about choosing Chandler businesses first. Every time you make a purchase at a local business, you’re not just helping that business, you’re giving back to their employees, their vendors, the local economy and your community. In fact, $43 out of every $100 spent at a Chandler business gets recirculated back into our local economy to stimulate jobs, improve community infrastructure and provide services to maintain Chandler’s high quality of life. It all starts with a single purchase – from day-to-day purchases like a meal at the neighborhood eatery, new

clothes from your favorite boutique, weekly groceries and even those more infrequent purchases like a new car – they all add up. Please remember, we’re counting on all our residents to Choose Chandler this holiday season. While the Choose Chandler initiative highlights the value of supporting Chandler businesses, on the other side of the column is determining how that sales tax revenue will be spent to support City services. The City begins its process of building the next fiscal year budget plan almost immediately upon the acceptance of the current year plan. A City budget, while much more complex, is similar to your personal budget. You anticipate a certain amount of income (which would be like sales tax revenues for the City), and you have certain things that you need to pay. As the staff in the City’s Budget Division begin their work each fiscal year, a critical piece in the planning process, is to hear from residents about what matters most to them. How well maintained is the park near

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your neighborhood? Do you feel like the City is doing a good job of sharing information? Are the services and programs provided by the City meeting your needs? Providing feedback on topics such as these helps the Mayor and Council decide how funds should be allocated. As city staff review the feedback provided by residents, they can share those results with the Mayor and Council, and under their direction can begin to find ways to address the community needs. As gaining insight into what the community feels are the current needs is so vital to any spending plan, there are many ways the City has provided for you to participate. The first outreach during the process is through a survey conducted each year beginning in October which is available now through Nov. 15 at chandleraz.gov/budget. The survey is broken into two sections, and everyone is asked to answer the first six general questions which should only take about 2-3 minutes. The remaining questions are optional and allow those completing the survey to answer more comprehensive ques-

tions within the six City Council strategic goal areas, which include: Being the Most Connected City (Transportation, Mobility, Technology); Being a Leader in Trust and Transparency (Communication/Citizen Engagement); Maintaining Fiscal Sustainability (Financial Services, Cost of Services); Attracting a Range of Private Sector Businesses (Employment/Economic Vitality); Fostering a Contemporary Culture that Embraces Unity (Arts, Culture, Recreation) and Being Safe and Beautiful (Public Safety, Parks, Neighborhoods, Infrastructure). In this year’s survey there was a question added to ask residents to provide feedback about some of the virtual options that were provided this year. We all know that programs and activities in 2020 have not been the norm, and we want to know which of the new virtual style programming residents enjoyed most, and those that the City should perhaps continue to offer. We hope you’ll take some time to participate in the survey and tell us what matters most to you.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Chandler easing outdoor dining rules

BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

The City of Chandler has proposed easing regulations on restaurants in help them serve more customers during the pandemic. As some restrictions on inside dining remain in effect across Arizona, Chandler restaurateurs want to create additional dining spaces that extend beyond their rooftops and into adjacent parking lots or patios. After Gov. Doug Ducey signed earlier this year reduced the eateries’ dining capacity by 50 percent, city officials began examining options that would allow businesses to expand their premises without jeopardizing the public’s health. The city had discovered some restaurants still weren’t earning enough revenue with smaller indoor dining areas. “In many cases, limited dine-in service has been more financially challenging than when dining rooms were closed as staff costs can outweigh the additional revenue created by dine-in service,” a city memo stated. The city has proposed streamlining the application process restaurants must complete if they wish to serve alcohol outside. These types of requests are typically reviewed and voted on by City Council before they’re passed along to the Ari-

zona Department of Liquor Licenses. In order to speed up the review process, Chandler may temporarily allow City Manager Marsha Reed and her staff to authorize applications. The proposed changes would also waive a 48-day time limit on these extension permits as well as waive the

Kim Moyers, the city’s cultural development director, said her department is working to ensure the proposed changes will still comply with health guidelines. Every applicant wishing to expand their premises will have to sign an agreement acknowledging their under-

This is an incredible way to provide more “opportunity and liberty for our businesses that have been really hamstrung by this COVID crisis. ”

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$100 application fee. The city will also waive a $25 fee that restaurants ordinarily pay for each day covered by the temporary extension permit. The city has recommended letting them remain in effect until May 31, 2021. “This program has been designed to satisfy regulatory constraints while also creating as little burden as possible for the businesses,” city documents state. Ginger Monkey, a bar and restaurant located near Ocotillo Road and Arizona Avenue, has already asked for the city’s permission to serve alcohol in an outside dining area and Council reviewed their application earlier this month.

standing of the health guidelines and follow them, Moyers added. The regulation changes were driven in part by the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership, a nonprofit that advocates for downtown businesses and events. The partnership approached the city about devising some sort of “street dining” program. Mary Murphy-Bessler, the partnership’s executive director, said she’s visited other cities that have employed strategies to help restaurants expand their dining capacity and thinks the same can be done in Chandler. The city has the chance to imple-

ment a cheap, easy solution that could have a major impact on small businesses hurt by COVID-19, she added. “This is an opportunity for communities to add their own character to outdoor dining experience for their community,” Murphy-Bessler wrote the city. Chandler would not be the first municipality in Arizona to introduce regulatory changes designed to encourage more outdoor dining. Earlier this year, Prescott began allowing restaurants to use public parking spaces as temporary dining areas. Prescott officials recently announced that they are looking for an end date to the dining program. City leaders in Chandler have already expressed support for easing regulatory hurdles that may be harming the restaurant industry and opening up the permitting process to more potential applicants. “This is an incredible way to provide more opportunity and liberty for our businesses that have been really hamstrung by this COVID crisis,” said Councilman Mark Stewart. Councilman Matt Orlando thinks the regulatory changes are sensible during a time of uncertainty and allow for greater flexibility among applicants. “It makes a lot more sense than a piecemeal approach,” Orlando said. “We want to make sure everything’s equitable and everyone has an opportunity to do this.”

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

EV Veterans Parade names grand marshal ogy, counter-terrorism national security organization in Phoenix. He co-founded in 2015 the Muslim Reform Movement, a coalition of pro-liberty Muslim reform-minded organizations based in the United States, Canada and Europe that rejects interpretations of Islam that call for any violence, social injustice or politicization of the faith. The parade will start at University Drive and Center Street and head south to 1st Street. Details on the parade route and participating entries are at evvp.org and its Facebook page at facebook.com/EastValleyVeteransParade. When the annual Mesa Veterans Pa-

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Reflecting this year’s East Valley Veterans Parade theme of “Celebrating Lives of Service,” Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser has been named as the Grand Marshal of the Nov. 11 event. This year’s parade format will be “in reverse” with spectators forming the parade driving past 25 to 30 of the annual parades most popular entries. The Parade Association said it selected Jasser “as a model of a life spent in service to his country and his fellow man.” Jasser, now in private practice in Phoenix, served as a medical officer in the Navy for 11 years, leaving the service as a lieutenant commander in 1999. While in the Navy, he received the Meritorious Service Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. He was Chief of Residents at Bethesda Naval Hospital and was selected to be Staff Internist at the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court. He was the only physician on duty, along with four corpsmen, during the 1998 attack on the U.S. Capitol and he and his corpsmen treated the wounded. Jasser has specialized in internal medicine and nuclear cardiology in private practice since 1999 after finishing his Navy service. He is a bioethicist and has provided bioethics education and consultation for Banner Health since 2003. He served on the Maricopa County Board of Health 2004-12 and the Area Agency on Aging board from 2007 to 2012. He is a former president of the Arizona

Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser Medical Association, serving from 200607, and is currently one of four delegates for the Arizona Medical Association to the American Medical Association. He also chairs the Private Practice Physicians’ Congress at the AMA House of Delegates. He has written several books, along with many articles for national publication, hosts his own radio show and has testified in front of Congress. Jasser has become known nationally and internationally as an activist for Muslim reform though his work as founder and president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, a counter-ideol-

rade fell victim to necessary budget cuts in 2006, local residents Gerry Walker and Frank “Gunny” Alger spoke out on behalf of the 40-year-old Mesa tradition. Walker said, “There will be a Veterans Day parade if it is only me marching down the street with Frank watching.” The Marine Corps League Saguaro Chapter in Mesa took the lead and the Mesa Veterans Parade Association was formed. In 2013, the all-volunteer organization changed its name to the East Valley Veterans Parade Association to reflect the participation of parade entrants and sponsors from most East Valley communities. Donations to this 501c3 nonprofit organization are tax-deductible.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

City expanding relief grants for Chandler businesses BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

City of Chandler officials plan to broaden eligibility requirements that local businesses must satisfy to receive financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. In August, the city began disbursing $9.5 million in federal pandemic relief funds to local companies hurt by the pandemic’s economic repercussions. Businesses had the chance to receive $1,300 for each employee they had retained during the pandemic – with the total amount of relief capped at $10,000 for each recipient. Micah Miranda, the city’s economic development director, said more than 430 local businesses have already shared in a total $3.2 million but hopes the city will be able to open up the funding to more recipients in the coming weeks. “We’re really pleased with how the program’s been responding but we’re looking to expand the program,” Miranda said. The program’s original requirements only accounted for private businesses with fewer than 100 full-time employees on the payroll and didn’t acknowledge the use of independent contractors. But many in Chandler regularly con-

tract with temporary or seasonal workers for specific services, Miranda said, but they’re not formally recognized as employees of the company. The city intends to allow local businesses to apply for COVID-19 benefits based on the amount of funds they spend on paying independent contractors. For every $40,000 spent on independent contractors, a business may be eligible for $1,300 from the city’s COVID-19 relief fund. Like the previous recipients, applicants will still only be able to obtain up to $10,000 from the relief fund. Miranda said if a local gym annually spends up to $120,000 on contracting with fitness trainers, then the gym could get a check for $3,900 in order to retain those independent contractors. Public records show several gyms and fitness studios have already received a portion of the city’s COVID-19 funds based on the employees they have on the regular payroll. Azfitco, a gym on Riggs Road, East Valley Crossfit, located on Roosevelt Avenue, and MegaFit, a studio located on 54th Street, are among the 430 recipients to get a chunk of the city’s COVID-19 funds thus far. The other recipients range widely from dental offices to daycare centers to flower shops. Some other beneficiaries include

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Lee’s Black Belt Academy on Alma School Road, Burst of Butterflies Art Studio on Boston Street, and SanTan Brewing Company. Aside from location and size of the company, the city has few requirements for the businesses that apply to get a relief check. One of the city’s few rules prohibits applicants from spending their relief funds on any political expenditures intended to influence the outcome of an election or state legislation. The city could demand the return of its COVID-19 funds if a recipient has been found to misuse the money. Chandler’s large population entitled the city to receive nearly $30 million of federal aid given out through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. City Council chose to spend a third of the funds on helping local businesses, $7 million on improving the city’s technology, $1.6 million for community services and save the rest in the city’s reserves. Another $500,000 was carved out for grants the city gave out to businesses needing to buy Plexi-Glas, face masks, and hand sanitizer. More than 200 entities have already been reimbursed by the city for protective gear purchased during the pandemic. When Chandler first received its allo-

cation of federal aid, the city and many other smaller municipalities across Arizona were limited at first with how it handed out COVID-19 funds to local businesses. Because Arizona law prohibits the government from directly writing checks to private businesses, Chandler was forced to contract with the nonprofit Arizona Community Foundation to process requests for COVID-19 aid. The city also had to base its program specifically on job retention to ensure the business grants didn’t violate any state or federal laws. Miranda said the foundation will ask applicants to prove they’re registered within city limits and provide a summary of expenses proving they pay independent contractors. The city will accept its next cohort of applications until Nov. 9. Local leaders expressed support for the city’s decision to open up the relief program to more businesses who may have been shut out when applications first opened up. Councilman Matt Orlando said the city’s gotten many inquiries from businesses hoping to get financial aid for their independent contractors and is pleased the city’s chosen to expand the program’s eligibility criteria. “It’s going to go a long way and help broaden the base,” Orlando said.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Health experts see worrisome COVID-19 trends SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Worrisome trends about an increase in COVID-19 cases in Arizona were noted by a prominent Valley health expert and an organization that tracks cases in the state’s 15 counties. Joshua LaBaer, executive director of Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, said last week the rise in COVID-19 numbers in recent weeks is reminiscent of early summer conditions that preceded a spike in cases and rollback of measures to reopen businesses. “This is a moment to sort of stop and take measure and think hard about: What can we do to prevent this?” said Meanwhile, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicted an escalating increase in deaths beginning next month if the state imposes no new restrictions and said the effective “reproduction rate’’ of the virus in Arizona is at 1.14, its highest point since early June. The latest data posted by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health shows that Chandler is in the range for minimal virus spread in two of the three COVID-19 benchmarks. Data posted Oct. 22 showed that in some Chandler ZIP codes, one of two benchmarks that had been in the category showing minimal virus spread had moved into the moderate level while cases per 100,000 people also were increasing, although that metric

still remained short of the "substantial" level for virus spread. The data posted every Thursday are 12 days old when put online by the county. In 85286, for example, the percent of positive new test results moved from a "minimal" level of 2.85 percent to a "moderate" level of 5.05 percent. Cases per 100,000 people in that ZIP code doubled from 41 to 83. In 85248, however, the new data were basically unchanged. COVID-like symptoms in hospital visits and positive new test results remained in the "minimal" category and cases per 100,000 people essential remained around 50.

Arizona dropped into negative numbers in June after Gov. Doug Ducey reimposed some of the restrictions. The state Department of Health Services is reporting an upswing in the past month in the number of patients in intensive-care units of Arizona hospitals who have with COVID-like symptoms. And the outlook unless something changes is not good. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projects that the number of daily deaths, which has been on a declining trend since the beginning of August, is likely to start rising again by the end of the month based on current

projections. But IHME contends that could be sharply tempered if the state were to impose a universal requirement for people to wear masks. By Christmas, for example, the report says Arizona will have an average of more than 31 deaths a day using current practices. But a statewide requirement for everyone to wear a mask, it says, would cut that to fewer than 15. Gubernatorial press aide Patrick Ptak said no one should be alarmed by the figures. “We’ve been clear that as schools resume and businesses begin operations again, we should expect a rise in cases,’’ he said, noting other states are seeing a resurgence of the virus. Steve Elliott, spokesman for the Department of Health Services, acknowledged that the “dashboard’’ of issues his agency monitors, things like cases, deaths and hospital admissions, “has shown an uptick in statewide cases in recent weeks.’’ “It serves as an important reminder that COVID-19 remains active in communities,’’ Elliott said. “And that this is no time to let our guard down.’’ Ptak said the Ducey administration sees no reason to look at new or renewed restrictions. He said Arizona is in a much better situation now, with businesses like See

COVID on page 23

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Mayors rap early close of U.S. Census counting BY OLIVIA MUNSON Cronkite News

Mayors from around the country last week questioned the reliability of the just-ended census and demanding that the Census Bureau be given more time to verify its count of the U.S. population. The U.S. Conference of Mayors said recent court fights over the census – and shifting Trump administration messages on it – have eroded public trust in the count that is used to determine everything from congressional representation to allocation of federal funds. “We now have a perception that the Census, as an American institution, has been manipulated for political gain,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said. But the Census Bureau has said that 99.9 percent of all households in the U.S. – and in Arizona – were counted in the census that ended Oct. 15. “Hundreds of millions of people were counted in the 2020 Census, and statisticians and data quality experts are now busy making sure everyone was counted once, only once, and in the right place,” bureau Director Steven Dillingham said. The comments come less than a week after the Supreme Court blocked two lower courts that had ordered the bureau to keep counting until Oct. 31 in order to allow for the fullest count. The bureau in August said it would cut off enumeration on Sept. 30, a move that critics said would hit minority communities hardest. With the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Census was able to stop the count Oct. 21. Mayors on Oc. 12 criticized the rush to stop counting. “Clearly an administration that cared about an accurate count would have pushed to extend the process, not cut it short,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “This rushed process is likely to lead to an undercount.” One reason the bureau gave for ending sooner is the current Dec. 31 deadline for it to report its findings to the president. The mayors urged Congress to extend that deadline so that if the bureau is no longer counting, it at least has time to properly analyze the data it does have. Giles called an extension a “physical necessity.” “Experts in this field will tell you that the data, it’s impossible for them to accurately process the data before the end of the year,” Giles said. He said that while Mesa had a higher participation rate in this census than it did in 2010, other parts of Arizona did not perform as well, particularly rural areas. “The Navajo Nation really was decimated by this Census,” Giles said. And one expert said that the 99.9 percent household response rate cited by the Census does not mean the 2020 Census will be complete and accurate. “The percent of housing units counted by itself tells us nothing about

the quality and accuracy of the data collected, or the overall accuracy of the Census,” said Terri Ann Lowenthal, a census consultant on the mayors’ call. She said that data collected by enumerators from homes that did not respond on their own, is generally less reliable than self-response data. And this year’s in-person data was harder than in previous years because of the challenges of COVID-19, she said. But Dillingham said that while the bureau expected the self-response rate to drop this year, requiring more follow-up by Census enumerators, it actually increased slightly over the 2010 self-response rate. Considering the challenges of COVID-19, Dillingham said, “we had not expected to exceed the 2010 self-response rate.” “America stepped up and answered the call: shape your future by responding to the 2020 Census,” Dillingham’s statement said. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, questioned the enumeration process, raising doubts about the usefulness of the door-knock operation used during the non-response follow ups. “It is more clear now than ever that there is still an attempt to interfere with an accurate count,” Bottoms said. “I am irritated. I am frustrated with this administration, I am disappointed in this administration that something this important, something that is guaranteed and called upon by our Constitution is now being cut short in the midst of a pandemic,” Bottoms said. An accurate count is just one concern of the mayors: Giles pointed to Trump’s push to exclude undocumented citizens from the Census, a question the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider on Nov. 30. “My city is a third Hispanic and we have a large immigrant population, a lot of DACA in our city as well,” he said, referring to undocumented immigrants who have won a deferral of deportation. “We minister to a lot of people in our community, not just those who have the correct immigration status.” Giles joined other mayors who called on Congress to pass an extension of the Dec. 31 reporting deadline. He urged his fellow mayors to reach out to their congressional representatives to encourage them to “better insulate” the bureau from political influence. “It’s time for us, Republican or Democrat alike, to realize that that’s the reality that needs to be addressed,” said Giles, a Republican, emphasizing that the need for an accurate Census count is not a partisan issue. Rochester Hills, Michigan, Mayor Bryan Barnett, echoed that, saying that calling for an accurate census “is not a political edgy statement.” “It should be the desire of every mayor in every community to do everything we possibly can to see that end results are true,” Barnett said.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

GOP lawmakers to examine governor’s powers BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Seven months into a gubernatorial-declared emergency, top Republican lawmakers have created a panel that will examine whether the powers they have given to the governor need to be curtailed. State Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, and Rep. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford, were appointed to a panel formed by Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, and House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa. It is charged with trying to determine if Arizona has the proper balance between the need of the state’s chief executive to respond to unforeseen events and the role of the Legislature in providing oversight. Issues will range from what is needed to trigger a gubernatorial declaration of an emergency to exactly how long it can go on without needing legislative approval. That last issue has become a sore point among some lawmakers who note that Gov. Doug Ducey declared an emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March and it is still in effect, with no hint from the governor of when he is ready to declare it over. All indications are that won’t happen soon. Ducey continues to use those emergency powers to limit the operations of businesses with everything from occupancy limits and bans on evictions to prohibitions against dancing in bars. And Cara Christ, the state’s health director, has said she expects that bars, now closed for normal operations under Ducey’s directives, will not be able to resume normal operations until sometime next year. State and federal judges have so far rebuffed various legal challenges to Ducey’s authority, saying the existing laws give him wide latitude, even to override certain laws. Brett Johnson, a private attorney hired by Ducey and paid for with taxpayer dollars, has told judges there is no reason for them to intercede because lawmakers remain free, with a simple majority vote, to cancel any emergency. That, however, is not a realistic solution when the Legislature is not in session, as is currently the case. It takes

Scottsdale Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita is co-chairing a legislative panel that will examine the governor's emergency powers. The pane;l was created by top legislative Republican leaders, including House Speaker Rusty Bowers of Mesa. (Special to the SanTan Sun News)

a petition with two thirds of both the House and Senate for lawmakers to call themselves in to even have the vote. Fann told Capitol Media Services this isn’t about Ducey. She said the governors of all 50 states and the president all have had to deal with this unprecedented situation. But she said the current situation isn’t what lawmakers had in mind when they granted governors broad powers. “The assumption (was it) would be a Rodeo-Chedeski Fire,’’ the 2002 blaze that burned more than 468,000 acres in eastern Arizona, “or a 9-11 or something that would last a short duration,’’ Fann said. “Nobody foresaw that it would be something like this that could potentially for on for months.’’ Ducey appears cool to the whole idea of reviewing his powers – at least not while he’s still exercising them. “These are unprecedented times,

and there will be plenty of time for after-action reports once we’ve navigated through what’s in front of us,’’ said press aide Patrick Ptak. He said his boss is following the laws as they now exist. But Ugenti-Rita told Capitol Media Services she already has some ideas of things that need change in the statutes. One would be some sort of time limit on how long an emergency could last without getting the approval of state lawmakers for an extension. Ugenti-Rita said there could be some flexibility in how that is crafted. But she said the current situation is not acceptable. “We’ve been in this now for seven months,’’ she said. “So clearly, we have moved out of an emergency,’’ Ugenti-Rita continued. “Now we’re just in a state of crisis, I guess?’’ The result, she said, is that one branch of the government is running it.

There is precedent for such an approach. The National Conference of State Legislatures says that in six states, the expanded executive power under an emergency has a built-in expiration date of between two and 60 days, depending on the state and the type of emergency. “It makes sense that we have triggers in place and statutes in place to deal with unprecedented situations,’’ Ugenti-Rita said. “But this has gone on for far too long, with no end in sight, minimal communication (from the governor) about what to expect,’’ she continued. “It’s completely gutted the legislature and we need to bring back the balance of power.’’ The state Health Code provides broad authority for the Department of Health Services during a state of war or a gubernatorial-declared emergency “in which there is an occurrence of imminent threat of an illness or health condition caused by bioterrorism, an epidemic or pandemic disease, or a highly fatal infectious agent or biological toxin that poses a substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities or incidents of permanent long-term disability.’’ Those powers include mandating treatment of vaccinations of those who have been exposed, quarantine of some individuals, mandating medical examinations for exposed persons, and ration of medicine and vaccines. The more sweeping powers are in a separate section of Arizona law. These give a governor who has declared a state of emergency “the right to exercise, within the area designated, all police power vested in the state.’’ The only statutory limit lawmakers have put on the governor in these situations is that she or he cannot impose new restrictions on the possession, transfer, sale, carrying, storage, display or use of firearms. Ducey has cited that section of law in everything from a now-expired stayat-home order to prohibiting residential evictions and telling businesses like restaurants, bars, gyms, fitness centers and water parks how they can operate. Ugenti-Rita said she wants to begin hearings right away, “like yesterday.’’

Nonprofit seeks people, others for holiday help SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is asking families, individuals and community or office groups to sponsor families in need by providing gifts and a holiday meal for the whole family. “I have had the pleasure of working on this 25-year-old program for the past 13 years. I’ve heard stories from sponsors about the huge grins on children’s faces as they rip open their gifts, and the tears from parents who know that the spirit of the season has moved community heroes to help their families,” said Dottie Sullivan, a volunteer coordinator of its

Adopt-A-Family program. “Because of the pandemic, the holidays are going to look very different for the families who are simply trying to stay afloat by keeping a roof over their kids heads and food on the table,” Sullivan added. “With the help of our community, I know we will be able to assist many of those families and make a difference.” Because of the unusually tough year it’s been financially for so many, the Adopt-A-Family program is expecting more families than ever to need its help. With the help of many dedicated individuals who support SVdP’s mission, families in need are identified and matched

with supporters across the Valley. Sponsors are asked to buy and wrap two new presents (toy and clothing) for each child under 16 and one present each for older siblings, parents and grandparents living in the same household. In lieu of supplying the ingredients for a holiday meal this year, sponsors will provide a gift card to an accessible grocer so each family can purchase their own ingredients for their own special holiday meal. To sponsor a family, call 602-261-6820 or contact adoptafamily@svdpaz.org. St. Vincent de Paul is accepting requests to “adopt” until Dec. 4 and

will provide instructions for best health and safety practices in response to the pandemic. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a nonprofit dedicated to serving people in need and providing others with the opportunity to serve. It has been assisting central and northern Arizona families since 1946 and has more than 80 parish satellite locations. It offers services for the homeless, medical and dental care for the uninsured, charity dining rooms, transitional housing and homelessness prevention assistance.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Around Chandler Chandler holding last open house on airport master plan Chandler officials will discuss their Airport Master Plan at their last public open house on the long-awaited proposal at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. The meeting will be held virtually and interested participants must register online at bit.ly/Airport-RVSP to join via WebEx or phone. During the event, a presentation will be given to discuss the recommended development concept and proposed capital program. Questions may be submitted in advance when registering online or be emailed to airport@chandleraz.gov. Attendees will also have the option to ask questions using the chat feature during the virtual meeting. The comprehensive long-range study of the airport is aimed at developing a course of action for the facility ”to provide a safe and efficient environment to accommodate future aviation activity.” The Federal Aviation Administration recommends that public-use airports prepare a new master plan every seven to 10 years to address local changes at the airport. “The goal of the master plan is to provide the framework needed to guide beneficial airport development that will cost-effectively satisfy aviation demand, while considering community development and potential environmental and socioeconomic issues.” The city said in a release.

The public can cmment at chandler. airportstudy.com/comments. Information: Contact Coffman Associates at 602-993-6999, Chandler Municipal Airport staff at 480-782-3540, or visit chandler.airportstudy.com.

Creative Expression contest open to Chandler students Entries are sought for Chandler’s 25th annual Creative Expression Competition. Students living or attending school in Chandler may vie for awards in writing, visual arts and video. Entries must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 30. This year’s theme is “Culture and Equity Across Time.” Students may express how their experience of culture or understanding of equity has changed with time. Submission guidelines and judging criteria are at chandleraz.gov/ CreativeExpression. Students may submit their writing, visual or video entry online or mail or drop off entries to the City of Chandler – Neighborhood Resources Department, Attn: Rori Minor, 235 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ 85225. Winners will be notified in late November. The visual arts winning entries will be displayed on street pole banners downtown along Arizona Avenue during January. Winning entries also will be featured on the City’s website at chandleraz.gov/CreativeExpression. Information: Rori Minor at 480-782-

4329 or rori.minor@chandleraz.gov.

East Valley Hadassah seeks new members The Devorah Chapter of Hadassah East Valley is seeking members. Although the group is not holding regular in-person activities, we are doing zoom socials, discussions and fundraising activities. Information: Ann Baum at ann. hadassahmembership@gmail.com

National Charity League chapter seeks members

The Santan Chapter of National Charity League, Inc., a mother-daughter volunteer organization, is accepting applications from women with daughters currently in 6th through 9th grade. The Santan Chapter comprises nearly 220 members in Maricopa and Pinal Counties. Information: nationalcharityleague. org/chapter/santan or membershipsantan@nclonline.org Interested mothers are encouraged to attend one of the prospective member meetings. For an invitation, email membershipsantan@nclonline.org

Annual Chandler Golf Challenge reservations sought The 24th annual Chandler Golf Challenge swings into action Nov. 13 with reserved tee times and physical distancing guidelines at Chandler’s Bear Creek

Golf Club, 500 E. Riggs Road. The challenge supports the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Scholarship Fund. The tournament contributes nearly $10,000 a year for the city Parks & Recreation Department’s programs for more than 300 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Chandler and neighboring cities. Participation in the all-inclusive tournament is $85 for individuals and $425 to be a tee box sponsor and host a foursome. Presented by longtime sponsor, Dignity Health of Arizona, the tournament includes 18 holes of golf, player gifts, special contest holes, individual and team prizes and raffle tickets. There also is an auction. RAD stands for Recreation and Athletics for Individuals with Disabilities, a non-profit organizations founded by parents of individuals with disabilities and other concerned citizens. Information: chandleraz.gov/ explore/special-events/chandler-golf-challenge.

Hospice program prepares grieving families for holidays Hospice of the Valley’s New Song Center for Grieving Children will hold a free online discussion 6-7 p.m. Oct. 28, to help bereaved parents and caregivers See

AROUND on page 23

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

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from page 22

deal with the challenges of the holiday season. “Families who are grieving the death of a loved one may find it even harder to cope during the holidays,” spokeswoman Deborah Britz said. “Just the thought of celebrating, decorating and continuing old traditions can be overwhelming. “Our experts will cover self-kindness, holiday grief triggers and handling the stress of meeting others’ expectations. They will discuss new and creative ways to prepare for the holidays and successfully manage celebrations with family and friends.” New Song Clinical Director Jill Lovill and pediatric bereavement counselors Erica Schwartz and Amanda Sahli New Song are hosting this educational presentation, in collaboration with Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Ryan House. To register and receive a Zoom link, email rsvp@newsongcenter.org. For questions, call 602-776-6811.

COVID

from page 18

restaurants operating at reduced capacity and customers required to wear face masks. Ptak said large gatherings remain prohibited, except for political rallies. And the governor himself has said repeatedly he won’t reimpose any restrictions even if the infection rate goes up. “The expectation is they are going to remain open," he said three weeks ago. As to that rising reproductive rate for the virus, commonly referred to as “R-naught,’’ Elliott said his agency does monitor that statistic. But the decisions being made by the health department are not tied to it, saying that the modeling used by Rt Live is “sensitive to days with high reports of cases or low lab numbers’’ and “may not provide the full picture when comparing to all data.’’ “Our response will be based on an uptick in the metrics on our dashboard,’’ Elliott said, which measures things like new cases, daily deaths and hospital admissions. But how important those reproduction rate numbers are to the Ducey administration appears to be based on whether they tell the story the governor and his staff want to convey. On Sept. 1, for example, Ptak tweeted out “BREAKING: Arizona’s r-naught has dropped to being the lowest in the nation again at 0.81.’’ Now Arizona has the tenth highest reproductive rate in the country. The change in Ducey’s staff publicizing the rising rate did not escape Will

Humble, the executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association. He said the governor wants to use those numbers for PR purposes only when they are low. “And then it’s like CIA data when it’s 1.2,’’ said Humble, a former state health director. Humble said health officials also need to look at things like the percent of tests coming back positive, hospitalizations and even the number of visits to emergency rooms of people with COVID-like symptoms. He said monitoring hospital capacity, as does the health department, simply “shows you where you are.’’ “But the Rt can forecast what might be happening in terms of hospitalizations in the coming days and weeks,’’ Humble said. LaBaer foresees “a path headed toward exponential growth.” “The tricky thing about exponential growth is that it doesn’t look like it’s growing very fast at first,” he said. “The numbers day over day don’t look like they’re big changes. But then all of a sudden, it really can take off. And so I am concerned.” As of Oct. 1, no county in the state remained in the “substantial” transmission category, meaning restaurants, movie theaters, gyms and other businesses could begin reopening. “The choices Arizonans have made in the interest of public health have gotten us to this milestone,” Dr. Cara Christ, director of the state health department, said at the time. But there must be a balance between public policy and personal re-

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sponsibility, LaBaer said, urging anyone in a public-facing job or who interacts with new people to get tested on a regular basis. “We’re still not testing enough,” he said. “People are just not showing up.” LaBaer noted that things might only get worse with Halloween weeks away, followed by Thanksgiving and the December holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. He advises parents to proceed with caution if they plan to allow their children to trick or treat. He recommends wearing masks that cover nose and mouth, avoiding big groups of people and wiping off candy wrappers before the kiddos dig in. Traditional trick-or-treating and indoor parties have been designated as high-risk activities by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. LaBaer said upcoming holiday parties should be kept small and restricted to immediate family, noting that larger gatherings have been found to be COVID-19 “super-spreaders.” If events can’t be kept small, he recommends mask-wearing, social distancing and testing before the event to ensure safety. “We have to really be thoughtful about gatherings of people,” LaBaer said. “It’s just not good right now to bring a lot of people together, and if people are coming together, they really need to be wearing masks and maintaining distancing.” Capitol Media Services and Cronkite News contributed to this report.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Financial advising duo excited about acquisition BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Nothing succeeds like success. As cliché as that might sound, it pretty much describes the business and personal trajectory of financial advisors Jim Dwyer of Ahwatukee and Michael McGinley of Gilbert. On the personal side, they have been close friends since the 1990s when they were undergrads at Arizona State University. And for the last seven years, they also have been partners in a Chandler firm they founded called Providus Advisors. Now they’re hanging a new shingle on their offices at 1490 S. Price Road and will now be known as EP Wealth. They’ve been acquired by EP Wealth Advisors, a fee-only registered investment adviser and financial planning firm based in Torrance, California that has offices in the California cities of San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Irvine as well as Seattle, Denver, Dallas and the Chicago region. EP Wealth manages more than $7 billion through its client-centric financial planning and investment management services to individuals and businesses. The two men specialize in investment management and financial plan-

Mike McGinley of Gilbert, left, and James Dwyer of Ahwatukee are excited about the acquisition of their firm by a growing financial services company. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

ning for high-net-worth individuals and families and retirement plan services for small businesses. The move helps the two friends, who will hold the titles of partner and vice president with EP Wealth. Although they have maintained a parttime staff over the years, they needed more time to spend with clients. “Typically, we shared financial planning and investment management functions of the firm,” McGinley said.

“We did divide other tasks.” Dwyer handled marketing, including the website, and McGinley handled operations, such as compliance matters. Yet, McGinley said, “As our firm grew, we found running the firm on a day-to-day basis to be more challenging. More importantly, we wanted to offer our clients more attention and greater resources. “With EP Wealth, we feel we can offer our clients more and personally

improve our own quality of life.” Added Dwyer: “With that added support from such an established firm, we will be able to offer our clients more robust services and an even more personalized experience overall.” “Our clients have been very excited about the transition,” Dwyer said. “Every client moved with us to EP.” EP Wealth is excited as well. “We are thrilled to partner with Providus and add their team’s areas of expertise and industry experience to our roster,” said Patrick Goshtigian, CFA, President and CEO of EP Wealth. “Providus has earned and maintained a loyal client base through a deep commitment to delivering on clients’ financial goals, a philosophy that aligns with the EP Wealth approach,” Goshtigian added. He said that Providus “has helped its clients achieve and maintain financial independence.” The acquisition marks the 11th transaction in a period of strategic growth for EP Wealth. McGinley, a native Arizonan, and Dwyer, a Missouri native who moved here with his family 35 years ago, met at ASU around 1997 when they paired up for a college assignment and have been best See

WEALTH on page 25

Discount grocer Aldi opening first S. Chandler store SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Aldi, a fast-growing national grocery chain, is continuing its westward expansion by opening its first Arizona store in Chandler on Nov. 5. The Illinois discount company’s new store on the northwest corner of Alma School and Queen Creek roads is one of close to a dozen it is opening in the Valley as part of a $5 billion multi-year expansion. It also plans to open two stores in Gilbert and at least one each in Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Mesa, Queen Creek and Tempe. Aldi already has more than 2,000 stores in 36 states and is eyeing the addition of at least 70 more, mostly in western states. “Each new store is an opportunity to serve another community, which is an honor and responsibility we do not take lightly,” said Jason Hart, CEO, of Aldi U.S. “As we continue to expand, we promise to do everything in our power to offer the lowest prices, every day, without exception. “In fact, as food costs are rising across the country, we’re lowering prices on hundreds of items to meet our customers’ increased need for savings.” The company also increased its fresh

About 90 percent of Aldi’s brands are exclusive to the supermarket chain, which does not have pharmacies or coffee shops in its stores. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

food selection with a focus on new produce, meat and organic options, as well as easy to prepare foods “without compromising its commitment to low prices.” Aldi has also expanded its e-commerce offerings and in May announced the accelerated rollout of its curbside grocery pickup service to nearly 600

stores. It claims it has grocery delivery in 10,000 ZIP codes already, although it is unclear if the Chandler store will be added to the list. Ninety percent of Aldi’s shelves are stocked with its own exclusive brand with a limited selection of national brands. The company states shoppers can save up to 50 percent on their gro-

cery bills by shopping at Aldi. Besides produce, Aldi also sells items such as bed sheets, small kitchen appliances, patio furniture and clothing. “Aldi brands are made by many of the country’s leading food producers and meet or exceed the quality of national name brands,” the company said. Other ways Aldi keeps cost low is keeping staff to a minimum and no free bags for customers – they can bring their own or buy a reusable bag at checkout. And customers who want to use a shopping cart must first deposit a quarter, which they get back when they return the cart. The cart-rental system means Aldi doesn’t have to hire someone to police the carts, passing along the savings to customers. Additionally, with the system there are no stray carts littering the parking lot or causing dents to cars. Aldi also does not have coffee shops or pharmacies. “We will be sure to let you know of future Arizona expansion plans and store locations, once available,” said Tom Cindel, Moreno Valley Group director of operations and logistics. “Arizona is an exciting next step in See

ALDI on page 26

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

WEALTH

from page 24

friends ever since. They both are certified financial planners, have bachelor’s degrees in finance and got into wealth management for similar reasons. “I’ve always been interested with personal finance,” McGinley said. “In modern society, money is a challenging topic for everyone and I get enormous satisfaction out of helping my clients.”

Dwyer said, “I discovered my path in college when taking an options and financial derivatives class. I have been fascinated by the financial markets ever since.” They also feel they provide an essential service. “Everyone wants to make good decisions in regards to their finances,” McGinley said. “Today’s financial world is very complex.” “A good wealth advisor should be willing and able to assist you with all

aspects of your financial life. Investments are important but a good advisor should help you focus on so much more – helping you build an enjoyable retirement, reducing your taxes and having your affairs in order.” They also said that complexity likely has become even more challenging as a result of the pandemic. He said there have been some technological challenges for some clients moving to a primarily virtual setting but that has only served as a critical

reminder: “I would say many of our clients now place a higher priority on making sure their affairs are in order – in other words, ‘if something happens to me I want to make sure my loved ones are cared for.” Dwyer added, “I think people have come to realize in 2020 that things can happen that are completely unexpected so having a plan is more important than ever.” Information: 1490 S. Price Road, Chandler; 480-704-3024, epwealth.com.

Jack Daniels’ lawsuit stirs a whiskey row in federal court BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

A major bourbon whiskey manufacturer wants the U.S. Supreme Court to stop an Arizona firm from producing a dog toy that the company’s attorneys say associates its “image of sophistication’’ with “juvenile bathroom humor.’’ And it could all come down to whether the justices think it’s funny. The petition by Jack Daniels seeks to bar Scottsdale-based VIP Productions from producing and selling a squeaky dog toy in the shape of – and with a label that looks like -- a bottle of the company’s Old No. 7 Black Label Tennessee Whiskey. There are some differences. For example, the “Old No. 7 Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey’’ on the label is replaced by “The Old No. 2 on your Tennessee Carpet.’’ It’s also labeled “Bad Spaniels’’ instead of “Jack Daniels.’’ And instead of alcohol-content descriptions, the toy was labeled “43% Poo by Vol.’’ and “100% Smelly.’’ A trial judge sided with the whiskey company, citing evidence that 29 percent of consumers believed Jack Daniels actually sponsored the toy, declaring that it infringed on the company’s trademark. But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals saw the issue through a different legal lens. “The toy communicates a humorous message, using word play to alter the serious phrase that appears on a Jack Daniels bottle – ‘Old No. 7 Brand’ – with a silly message – ‘The Old. No. 2,’ ‘’ wrote Judge Andrew Hurwitz. “The effect is a simple message conveyed by juxtaposing the irreverent representa-

The makers of Jack Daniels, left, are not amused with the label on an Arizona firm’s dog toy. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

tion of the trademark with the idealized image created by the mark’s owner.’’ Hurwitz wrote that the whole purpose is to comment humorously on the message conveyed by a Jack Daniels bottle. And that doesn’t mean it has to be on something like a formal work of

FIND OUT!

art. “The fact that VIP chose to convey this humorous message through a dog toy is irrelevant,’’ the judge said. The company is clearly not amused. “Jack Daniels has invested substantial resources into an image of so-

phistication,’’ attorney Lisa Blatt, who represents the company, told the high court. “Accordingly, Jack Daniels has a strong interest in protecting its trademarks and trade dress from association with juvenile bathroom humor.’’ Blatt also told the justices that the company “carefully licenses’’ its images on non-whiskey products, including pet products like branded dog leashes, dog collars and dog houses. She said the toy in question is likely to confuse consumers about who is sponsoring it. What’s happening here, she said, is VIP Products “pirated’’ the Jack Daniels trademarks and design of its bottle by imitating it “while adding dog poop humor.’’ And Blatt took a swat at the 9th Circuit for failing to apply what she said is supposed to be the legal standard: the likelihood of confusion. “In other words, because the court of appeals though VIP Products’ notorious copying was funny, it held that the company has a First Amendment interest in confusing consumers into believing that Jack Daniels sponsors a dog toy spotlighting poop,’’ she wrote. VIP is due to file its response to the lawsuit next month. What the court rules could have a spillover effect onto other products manufactured by VIP. The company’s web site features similar products, including Heine Sniff ’n in something that looks like a Heineken bottle, Mountain Drool that mimics a Mountain Dew bottle and Cataroma that bears more than a passing resemblance to Corona.

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ALDI

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

from page 24

our continued West Coast expansion after our success entering California in 2016,” he added. “We look at many factors in choosing new store locations, including proximity to our shoppers and ability to support a high daily traffic volume. “Bottom line, we want to be conveniently located for our customers and the Arizona locations were a natural fit.” The company, ranked as the nation’s third-largest supermarket chain, recently published the results of a survey of more than 177,000 customers on their favorite Aldi-exclusive products from

20 categories sold by the store. Mama Cozzi’s Take & Bake Deli Pizza earned the title of overall winner and repeated as the Fan Favorite in the easy meal category, receiving more than 55,000 votes. Another back-to-back winner, Happy Farms String Cheese, secured the highest single-product vote count with 58,000 votes and a win in the kids category. Nine of the 20 winners – such as the Earth Grown Veggie Burgers, Little Journey Baby Wipes, Winking Owl Wine and Specially Selected Brioche Buns – also made the fan-favorite list for the second consecutive year. “The incredible response to our sec-

ond Fan Favorites survey reinforces how much our customers love Aldi-exclusive items,” said Joan Kavanaugh, vice president of national buying. “Aldi is known for its commitment to high-quality groceries at unbeatable prices, but it’s our loyal fans who truly define us.” Kavanaugh said the survey results prompted the company to expand refrigerated space and include “a broader selection of meats and seafood, fresh produce and better-for-you options.” “It is exciting to see several newer items ranked the highest among fan favorites,” she said, noting many of the winners have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal and awards from other

third-party organizations. The first four new stores will create a combined 90 new jobs. ALDI is currently hiring for these positions, ranging from store associates to store managers. Those interested in applying can go to careers.aldi.us/ PHOENIX. Cindel said the pandemic has “reinforced how much consumers rely on us to provide the foods and items they want at the lowest possible prices. “As an essential business, we take our commitment to serving communities very seriously, and opening new stores enables us to reach, serve and support new customers across the country,” he added.

3 boys’ company mixes business and service In this time of a pandemic, the boys “have helped a local teacher fund her

BY STACI HAUK Contributor

Cooper Johnson’s urge to give back to the community started when he was 5. Seven years later, he and his brothers Travis and Daniel own the Good Care Company, specializing in pet care and serving Gilbert and Chandler with plans to expand to Tempe as well. Hard work and serving others motivated Cooper to “get a job” even though he was so young. His passion for animals and people alike led to this successful home and dog care company. “The boys do everything from dog walking and dog waste pick-up to other animal care, age-appropriate landscaping and odd jobs,” the boys’ mother Stacy Johnson explained. She said some customers are elderly and need assistance with dog walking or help with moving trash cans while others need light maintenance work like changing light bulbs. “Cooper enlisted his brothers when he couldn’t take on a task,” Johnson said. “Travis has even become the ‘director of droppings’ as he helps with yard clean up.” Cooper is a student at Willis Junior High in Chandler. Travis attends CTA Liberty in Chandler and Daniel goes to Perry High School in Gilbert. All three boys are leaders at their

program, enabling learning tools for the deaf community to be more successful in their virtual environment.

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She asked the boys to come swim with the dog a few times a week and it made an immediate difference. The dog is calmer at night and enjoys getting right in the water with boys whereas he was not a swimmer in the past. The Good Care Company has a number of standing dog walking and waste pick up jobs as it is more cost effective to use a local company in these difficult times. The boys’ personalized attention is often described as a “client perk” as well. Johnson says she is proud of the boys and their continued perseverance, “Instilling good values and hard work is an important part of parenting. “My husband Rich and I want our kids to understand the value of money and hard work, as well as the correlation,” she said. “This, coupled with serving the community, is paramount. As the boys continue to grow, they can do more too. Imagine what it will be like when they can drive!”

When the boys were all at CTA Liberty years prior, Good Care Company served as a company sponsor for a school fundraiser, donating seed money to enable the school to earn 10 times as much in profits. “In this time of a pandemic, the boys have helped a local teacher fund her program, enabling learning tools for the deaf community to be more successful in their virtual environment.” Positive feedback and Cooper, Travis and Daniel Johnson have a company that’s more devoted to word of mouth have serving the community than making money. (Special to SanTan Sun News) helped the Good Care Company grow and exschools, serving on the student council pand into new communities. as well as participating in various clubs Typical of why is a recent customer and sports. They also are members of who said that she was having problems the National Elementary Honor Society. with a young, overly energetic dog.

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BUSINESS

E. Valley duo’s invention could be a COVID-buster As 2020 began, he and Jodi were upbeat about As partners in business as well as their invention. life, Yani and Jodi Deros have been the “We raised parents of invention. $1.6 million to The Ahwatukee couple’s company, help us advance ATOM, has conceptualized, tested this technology and developed over 300 products for and we were a range of national and global brands going on an from Honeywell, KitchenAid and UBS incredible tear at to Axon, the former Taser Internationthe beginning of al – generating more than $3 billion in the year with our product orders over 15 years. second-generaNow, they say, their latest invention, tion system – and CIRQ+CLEAN, could be the answer to then COVID-19 the arduous task of cleaning and disinhit,” he said. fecting hotel rooms, offices and even Suddenly, classrooms. travel ground They’ve already met with leaders in to a halt – and five states to tout Cirq+Clean’s potenFlanking Yani and Jodi Deros with their invention are their children, Andrew, a Desert Vista with it the hotel tial to effectively – and in touchless Class of 2018 member and now an ASU junior majoring in mechanical engineering and industry. industrial design, and Alicia, a 2014 Desert Vista grad who graduated last year from ASU. fashion – decontaminate classrooms And, as Yani and spare teachers, students and custo- (Special to SaTan Sun News) explained, the dians of the arduous task in a matter of couple confrontabout the technology in the first place. minutes. ed a decision: “We “As a result, we found an incredible The year had not started out that either sit back and ride this out or we opportunity to develop a technology way for the 19-year Ahwatukee resitake it upon ourselves to use our smart dents and Boston transplants who base solution that could transform any hotel room technology and develop a soluroom in the world instantly, moderniztheir company in Skysong, Arizona tion to take on COVID.” ing the space with one system.” State University’s economic develop“We saw the devastation that was Depending on the model, Cirq+ alment complex in Scottsdale. happening across the world and sitting When 2020 began, the Deroses were lows guests to control thermostats and back in our home, we were saying, lights and interface with the front desk touting CIRQ+, a mult-functioning hub ‘What are we going to do? You know and room service. that resembles a miniature version of the future doesn’t look so bright,’” Yani One benefit of the app, Yani said, the Star Wars robot R2D2 and turns explained. is that the user’s preferences, such as hotel rooms into smart hotel rooms. ATOM got to work and by Sep“We have engaged with almost 1,000 room temperature, will travel with him tember they were unveiling at a New hotels and properties around the world or her between CIRQ-equipped hotels. York City media event CIRQ+CLEAN, The technology has benefits for to capture their challenges, aspirations a touchless sterilization device that hotel operators, too, enabling them and unmet needs that eventually built moves around the room on a robot and to control energy costs and include the foundation of CIRQ+,” Yani exdispenses an electrostatically-charged thermal occupancy sensors that reduce mist of an EPA-registered fluid. plained, adding that spending at least energy consumption when rooms are 100 nights a year in hotels while trav“Because we’re technologists and not occupied. eling for his business got him thinking innovators, we started thinking about how can we leverage our smart room capabilities to take on COVID-19 and through a series of internal meetings and brainstorming we leveraged our capabilities and discovered a natural liquid.” The liquid, HOCL or hypochlorous acid, “is a natural substance that is similar to what your white blood cells make to fight off infections and diseases in your body,” Yani said, explaining that it has been used since World War II in caring for wounds. “It’s EPA-registered to kill pathogens, including the novel coronavirus,” he said. “So we got a hold of the liquid and we started thinking, ‘Okay, how do we treat surfaces and spaces that people live in because there’s really a lot of uncertainty out there?’” Once they had developed the spray device, they needed a robot to move it around the room. “We asked our son to tap into the network at ASU and see what he could pull together,” Yani said. “He networked with his friends and brought on three graduates and underclassmen at ASU to help build the robotics portion of the system.” That was around July 4 and by Labor Day, they were ready for the New York City debut. CIRQ+CLEAN scoots around the room spraying a fine mist of a fluid that the EPA has registered as a coronavirus killer. In the upper corner are the different sizes of the CIRQ+ hub that the Deroses are marketing to hotels. The Deroses said hotel operators BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

are excited about CIRQ+CLEAN’s possibilities. For example, it can keep housekeeping staff safe. Once the initial spraying is complete, housekeeping can safely enter the sterilized room to change linens, clean bathrooms, vacuum and complete other tasks. Then, when housekeeping leaves, the hub can be told to spray the room again for the next guest. The fluid itself is “a superior layer of sterilization,” the couple said, not only because of its effectiveness against COVID-19 and other coronaviruses but also because it doesn’t trigger respiratory problems like many disinfectants and sanitizers do and because it’s safe for children, adults and pets. It’s also inexpensive, Yani said, since it takes only about a quarter of a liter to treat an 800-square-foot room. The Deroses have their eye on another market as well. With the sheer number of classrooms that school officials have to give extra attention to provide safe environments for students, they’re meeting with officials in various states – including Arizona – in the hope of selling them on the device. Andrew Collins, principal of the Phoenix Modern School said CIRQ+CLEAN has been a Godsend. “Our challenge is how do we do really big things and important things with a very limited staff,” Collins said, adding that he likes the device’s effectiveness “and its ability to do it multiple times a day in order to keep our studio spaces as healthy as possible.” Added Yani: “Teachers are on the front lines and they’re being asked to do things that they didn’t sign up to do and parents are obviously concerned sending their kids back into the spaces. This is a very unique circumstance that nobody ever planned for and we see ourselves as a solution that every school can and embrace and protect the teachers and the students every day.” Deros said not only are states and school systems interested in CIRQ+CLEAN, but so are insurers, especially those that work with schools. Deros is working with a multi-billion-dollar company, Arrow Electronics of Colorado, to build a manufacturing facility, preferably in Arizona. He said it takes no more than 90 minutes to put one unit together. Deros said he’s received a number of inquiries as to whether a residential version of CIRQ+CLEAN is in the offing. “I think that from a commercial standpoint, there’s going to be a lot of need and demand in that area and I think eventually in time we could consider that.” But right now, he and Jodi are focusing on schools and offices. “There’s a real major crisis that’s unfolding here and we’ve got to do something about it,” Yani said. “We’re just, first and foremost, thrilled to be able to provide a solution to protect the teachers and the students and give parents peace of mind.” Information: cirqplus.com or info@ cirqplus.com

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Pandemic creating havoc with state job numbers BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Arizona added 30,200 new jobs last month but the question of what that means in an unemployment rate is a little less certain. On paper, the state Office of Economic Opportunity puts the seasonally adjusted jobless rate for September at 6.7 percent. That follows a 5.9 percent figure for August and 10.7 percent the month before. What’s causing these wild swings is not the number of people working. It’s the number of people not working but reportedly looking. The way the state figures it, another 151,727 people joined the workforce between August and September. That includes both those working – a figure that did not change markedly – and those who said they are looking. But the month before, the workforce figure dropped 151,220. What’s going on? More to the point, are these swings real? Doug Walls, the agency’s research administrator, said blame COVID-19.

Not the virus itself, he said, but the pandemic has resulted in some issues with the surveys of households that determine the size of the workforce along with other factors. It starts with what Walls said is “the volatility that’s come from the COVID-19 pandemic.’’ “One thing that we’re hearing from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Labor is that there are challenges that the Local Area Unemployment Statistics are going through and the LAUS program is experiencing associated with the impacts of COVID-19 on the workforce movement,’’ he said. That, he explained, is complicated by the fact that these numbers are based on a survey of just 1,400 Arizona households. So, some big month-to-month changes in who is employed, who is not and who is looking – all pieces of determining the jobless rate – can play havoc with the data. “It is a challenge to parse out whether those are actual changes in the economy or those are due to the large swings and large changes in the work-

force because of COVID,’’ he said. Can the numbers now being released for September be counted on as reliable? And was that 5.9 percent rate for August – which led Gov. Doug Ducey to crow about the recovery – accurate? “Fair points,’’ Walls conceded. “This is something the BLS is working to address.’’ But making true comparisons month over month may be difficult. Walls said BLS used some “modified methodology’’ in coming up with the September figures in an effort to address some of the drastic changes in the numbers. Still, Walls said he believes the September numbers are accurate enough. “They’re not making dramatic changes to the methodology or approach,’’ he said. “The month-to-month comparisons are still justifiable.’’ At least for the time being. Walls pointed out that there is a “benchmarking’’ process where the numbers are reexamined at the end of the year, opening the door to retroactive adjustments to the figures now being released. But those revised and presumably

more accurate numbers won’t be available until March. A clearer picture of the Arizona employment situation may come from a separate survey of employers. It starts with that addition of 30,200 jobs. But fully a third of those were in public education, people who are not on annual contracts like food service workers and janitors who are returning to schools. Private sector employment is up 19,400 month-over-month. But the state is still far from being out of the woods. Employment by private companies is still 85,500 below where it was the same time a year ago. There were continued gains in wholesale and retail trade. In fact, Walls says that sector of the economy actually has regained all the jobs lost since February. All that, however, has been more than offset by losses elsewhere. Leading that column is the state’s leisure and hospitality industry. It has shed 56,000 jobs in the past year, with another 24,300 lost in professional and business services.

Why Americans don’t save lots of income tax BY HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

According to the Tax Foundation, America will spend more on taxes – including federal, state, and local – than it will on food, clothing, and housing combined. This is especially true for retirees that own a free and clear primary home. When I gave talks to annual conventions of dentists, their main goal is to retire 5-15+ years earlier. This is also the goal of other medical professionals such as physicians as well as other high-income households with $250,000 or more annual gross income. By saving $50,000 per year of income taxes for 20 years, if we can average an 8 percent return, this will be an extra $2,471,146 in their retirement fund. For lower-income households, the impact of saving $20,000 per year of income taxes for 25 years, averaging a 7 percent return, will be an extra $1,353,529 in their retirement fund. This is enough to retire early! Typical goals of clients that I see are:

retire early; afford major fun and bucket list items in retirement; never run out of money; investments that don’t lose; increase spendable income; grow assets; pass a financial legacy to kids and grandkids; and save income taxes. By saving substantial amount of income taxes, one can achieve these goals without taking a lot of risk in the stock market. By keeping what you earn, you avoid losing 15-30 percent of your hard-earned income in taxes every year. This is safer than volatile stock market investments that lose 25-50 percent of your life savings each stock market crash. It only took five weeks for a major stock market index to crash 35 percent due to the 2020 coronavirus panic. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 targeted tax shelters and eliminated 90 percent of the major tax-savings strategies one could use at the end of the year, such as the 10 percent investment tax credit. Instead of the 15-year depreciation on rental houses and residential apartments allowed by the Economic Recovery Act of 1981, residential property depreciation

was increased to 27.5 years life and 39 years for all other classes of real estate (deemed commercial). Stiff penalties on tax preparers and CPAs discourage major tax savings. In addition, a number of tax laws starting in the 1980s added stiff penalties on any tax preparer or CPA. Due to the 18 percent mortgage rates and 22.5 percent prime interest rate in 1981, there was a terrible recession with major unemployment. The federal government estimated that 10 percent of the economy was underground (meaning not taxed). The solution was to use stiff penalties on tax preparers and CPAs to discourage them from saving major tax for their clients. In other words, the federal government turned them into quasi-IRA agents. If it was a choice of losing their license or saving major tax for clients, it was clear that they wanted to protect their license. The field became mainly tax preparation. In contrast, it’s major tax planning strategies that are needed to save you major income taxes.

Then there is the fear of the IRS and unwillingness to pay for tax planning. According to a 2018 study by Lexington Law, 25 percent are afraid of an IRS audit. For those over the age of 65, one in three fear being audited during their lifetime. These are understandable but irrational fears because the current audit rate by the IRS is 0.5 percent. However, older Americans remember the decades of higher audit rates and illegal bonuses paid to the auditors who extracted the highest dollars from taxpayer audits. In addition, most taxpayers are unwilling to pay top consultants $200-500 per hour for advanced tax planning. Free information on income tax savings, retirement planning, and solar business investments can be found at drharoldwong. com or solarbusinessinvestments.com. To schedule your free consultation, contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. Dr. 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 | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Who do our health care heroes trust to tackle the COVID-19 crisis?

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Who do those we trust to keep our communities safe support?

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Chandler home prices going up, up and away BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

The steadily high demand for homes is sending desperate buyers in search of new houses instead of resales – but they shouldn’t expect developers will take any offer that comes along. So says the Cromford Report, which closely monitors the Valley’s housing market. It also reported that home sales on average over the past month in Chandler ZIP codes 85224, 85225 and 85226 sold above the listed price. Those three were among 46 Valley ZIP codes where the sold price exceeded the listing price – almost one third of all the ZIP codes in Greater Phoenix,” Cromford noted. “With low supply and high demand,” Cromford said, “we see the unusual situation where the average selling price exceeds the average list price becoming more commonplace.” And no relief will be found in newbuilds, it said. “With the chronic shortage of resale homes, many buyers are turning to new-builds,” Cromford said last week. “Here they will not face multiple offers, but they may well find some builders are not accepting contracts except for homes that are near completion.”

The kitchen in this home on Kenwood Lane in Chandler, which recently sold for $790,000, is a gourmet chef’s playground, as is the rest of the 4,695-square-foot home. Built ona half-acre lot on a cul de sac, it also sports a pool, patio, nasketball court and a grassy area the size of a football ﬁeld. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

The reason won’t make buyers happy. “Prices are climbing steeply and some developers do not want to tie themselves to a fixed price until the home is almost complete,” it said. “The builders are experiencing an extreme seller’s market and buyers (and their

agents) are likely to feel a little less appreciated than usual.” Developers are finding themselves in the catbird seat. Homes are moving so quickly on both the resale and new-build markets that developers “can also spend less on sales and marketing,” Cromford said.

Demand has not declined for months in the Valley’s market. Active listings across Maricopa and Pinal counties for September were down 41 percent from September 2019 by 41.1 percent, excluding homes where the buyer’s offer was contingent on selling their own home and those that were under contract but where the seller was seeking back-up offers. When those homes were added to active listings for September 2020, listings were down 24.4 percent from a year ago but up .9 percent from August because there were 73 more houses on the market last month, Cromford said. More discouraging news for buyers involves price. The median sales price for homes sold last month was $327,000 – up 17 percent from September 2019. Yet, despite that, sales last month were up 20.5 percent over September 2019. “It is unusual for the number of listings under contract to be higher on Oct. 1 than Sept. 1, but this is what we see in 2020,” Cromford said. “Even more startling is the amount by which the number of listings under contract exceeds the 2019 level – 34 percent. The market was strong this time last year, See

MARKET on page 32

Eviction ban could create more problems BY BEN GOTTLIEB Guest Writer

On Sept. 1, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an order providing for a nationwide residential eviction ban effective through the end of 2020. This federal order has significant ramifications for Arizona residential landlords,

who have been chomping at the bit to bring eviction actions against non-paying tenants once Halloween arrives, which is the date that Gov. Doug Ducey’s Residential Eviction Postponement Executive Order 2020-49 is set to expire. Executive Order 2020-14, the original residential eviction postponement order, was signed on March 24 and was set to expire in late July. Executive Order 2020-49 extended the expiration date to Oct. 31. Execu-

tive Order 2020-49 applies to Arizona residential landlords and requires non-paying tenants to qualify by, among other things, showing a financial hardship due to COVID-19. Those unfortunate landlords who were expecting to save money on Halloween candy and instead spend it on eviction lawyers will now need to wait two more months before bringing eviction actions against tenants who cannot pay rent.

The new federal order applies only to residential leases, not commercial leases which include small businesses. The order provides that “a landlord, owners of a residential property, or other person with a legal right to pursue eviction or possession action” may not “evict” a tenant, lessee, or resident of a residential property. Similar to state Executive Order See

EVICTION on page 34

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

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Should I sell my home now or should I wait until next year?

Should I sell my home now or should wait until next year? Our real estateImarket is ﬂuid. It ebbs and ﬂows. Call me at 480-776-5231

This is a question I get every day. Of course, I do not have that elusive crystal ball to look into the future. What I do have is data! Data is today’s new dollar. What the data has revealed is a sol-id and healthy real estate market throughout our State. The Maricopa Pinal County way not in appreciation. This is and a question I getmarkets everyhave day.been Of leading course,theI do have that Again, looking at the data, I am convinced the next 90 days might be the best time to elusive ball look into the future. What I do have is data! sell your crystal home, even forto years to come. If you look at the price per square for revealed the East Valley, Chandler is Data is today’s new dollar. Whatfoot therankings data has is a sol-id and up a whop-ping 8.5%, Mesa up 8.4% and Gilbert up 7.9%. Demand for Chandler, healthy real estate throughout State.inventory The Maricopa and Mesa, Gilbert homes market has increased while theour available has certainly decreased. 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REAL ESTATE

MARKET

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

from page 30

but now it is on fire.” “To be fair,” it added, “September had one extra working day in 2020 compared to 2019, but this does not take much away from the impressive number of closed listings.” All of these trends prompted Cromford to warn that people who expect a rash for foreclosures in the Valley soon can expect disappointment, “There have been a number of articles written predicting that home prices will fall next year because of the damage to the economy by the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said. “This will cause some people, those

The home on Kenwood Lane was built in 1990 and has six bedrooms, four baths and a rare basement. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

who took those articles seriously, to be very surprised by the huge increase in pricing that is currently going on.” Cromford predicts, “The upward price trend will continue for the near

and medium term, making any price reductions in 2021 rather unlikely.” In Maricopa County, it noted, foreclosures last month plummeted by 79 percent from September 2019.

Meanwhile, the upward trend in price is so steep that it predicts year-over-year increases will soon hit 20 percent. “The economy has severely damaged the finances of a large number of people,” it said. “However, most of those people were unlikely to be in a position to buy a home anyway. Those who are in a position to buy a home have had their determination to do so increased dramatically by the pandemic. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening.” It also cited recent data suggesting “there is unlikely to be the sort of foreclosure flood that we saw in 2007 through 2012. “ “We currently have no more than a molehill, it said, adding: “The market is still showing no sign of weakness.”

Chandler is changing – and home values rising BY CAROL ROYSE Guest Writer

The landscape in Chandler is changing. Have you noticed the dairy farms are mostly gone, so are the alfalfa fields and other farm-

ing fields? In their place, infrastructure – and homes, apartments, senior living and retail. Case in point is the corner of Chandler Heights and Gilbert Road. It is called the Steel Yard and will be home

to several restaurants, including High Tide Sea Food, a sit-down lunch and dinner house, Pita Jungle and the ever popular Someburros, among others. If you drive McQueen Road, you have also noticed the four-lane extension project from McQueen to Gilbert Road along Chandler Heights. McQueen is following many other two-lane roads that once meandered through farmland and dairy farms. What does this mean for the area and zip code 85249? Well, it means more amenities, more traffic, but also more appreciation in housing prices.

The average median price in the area is approximately $600,000. Prices are up year over year in the area an average of $44,000! Buyer demand is very strong. With buyer demand comes the new home builders who have snapped up the farmland like Maracay Homes, Taylor Morrision and Beazer among others. This is also another reason for a new high school in the South Chandler area. To add another dimension, renters and young buyers are flocking to the suburbs, which is upending an urbanization trend. Many renters leaving Phoenix for Chandler are young couples who are

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now getting married and having families. The downtown and urban lifestyle has lost it charm with many venues being closed or limited capacity. Thousands of millennials and empty nesters flocked to the activities and energy of Phoenix but now they are finding more space and the relaxed atmosphere of the suburbs more desirable. Chandler is a great place to live, a vibrant downtown, great shopping, easy freeway access and beautiful neighborhoods. For more information on home values in the area, call Carol Royse, 480-776-5231 and ask about her 100-percent-of-sales-price offer.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Boomers own major share of home market SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

First-time home buyers, especially millennials and Gen Xers, are facing an uphill battle when it comes to house hunting because baby boomers, the generation that owns the largest share of American homes, are planning to stay put. Construction Coverage analyzed homeownership and demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau and said current trends continue to support a 2018 survey by AARP that found 76 percent of Americans over the age of 50

would prefer to remain in their current home rather than move in with family or a senior care facility. That trend is “leading to less inventory for new buyers,” Construction Coverage said. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the share of homeowners over the age of 55 has been steadily increasing. In 2008, at the onset of the Great Recession, Americans over the age of 55 owned 44.3 percent of homes. By 2019, that percentage had increased to 53.8 percent.

“While the share of homeowners under the age of 35 remained fairly steady within the same time span, the share of homeowners between the ages of 35 and 54 decreased from 42.3 percent to 34.1 percent,” Construction Coverage found. Americans between 55 and 74 comprise just over 22 percent of the U.S. population but account for nearly 42 percent of homeowners nationwide. The only Valley cities listed by Construction Coverage were Scottsdale, where boomers comprise 47 percent of all homeowners, and Mesa, where 39

percent of all homeowners are over 55. Statewide, boomers make up 42.6 percent of all homeowners, it said. That equals 742,407 homes with a median price of $293,397. With baby boomers owning 32 million homes across the country “prospective homebuyers from other generations are left with little to choose from in an already constrained housing market,” Construction Coverage said. Information: constructioncoverage. com/research/baby-boomer-dominant-housing-markets-2020

Remote working changes home buying trends BY NICK CALVI Guest Writer

While the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t slowed the Phoenix real estate market, it has shifted the focus of homebuyers to location. In May, Zillow Group found that 75 percent of Americans working from home due to COVID-19 would prefer to telecommute at least half of the time once the pandemic subsides and 66 percent said they would consider moving if their job allowed them to continue telecommuting. Now, the extension of working remotely has made that a reality for employees looking for a new home. A shift to permanently working from

home provides an opportunity to explore other areas of the Valley that might not have been feasible while commuting. From considering a larger house to accommodate a home office or to create more space while staying at home, to an entirely new area that is closer to a better school, the options are now endless for those who don’t have to consider a drive to the office. In addition, people from across the U.S. are taking advantage of remote work by booking weeks long stays in new areas to change their scenery. There’s no denying that the cost of living in California is one of it’s major drawbacks, so I believe we’ll see not only more Californians than usual moving to Arizona. But more people are testing the

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waters with long-term rentals to make a more educated decision before packing up and moving. One of the added benefits to house shopping while working remotely is the flexibility to look in more affordable neighborhoods. Typically, the more reasonably priced homes are toward the outskirts of the Valley versus centralized cities like Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. While distance may have been unappealing while commuting, without that factor, millennial buyers who, according to Apartment List, haven’t bought a home because they couldn’t afford to find a great home in their budget. Low interest rates are also encouraging homebuyers to make a purchase

now rather than waiting until after the pandemic subsides. Will many companies continue to have their employees telecommute? A high percentage of companies found no loss of productivity with work from home so removing the cost of a physical office just makes sense and employees can continue to reap the benefits of the flexibility. Only time will tell, but it’s likely that the migration to the suburbs and more affordable areas will continue well beyond the pandemic. Nick Calvi is the founder and CEO of Tweener Homes, the first technology based real estate brokerage of fully furnished homes that can be rented on a monthly basis. TweenerHomes.com.

EVICTION

time getting back on their feet with respect to employment when dealing with the burden of having to pay off an expensive judgment. Others may be forced into bankruptcy to discharge the judgment. It is strongly advisable that tenants work with their landlords to stay as up to date on rent as possible and to also seek out all available governmental assistance to make rent payments. Some real estate industry experts also anticipate that many tenants will not be able to afford an attorney and aggressive landlords could pursue eviction actions in cases where the tenant has not provided the landlord with the required signed declaration form, as required by the federal order. And even in cases where the declaration is provided, some landlord lawyers could challenge the declaration as not complying with the federal order. All in all, the federal order is yet another unprecedented step to help protect displacing renters into a state of homelessness. This is certainly a strange year and for the first time in 114 years, there will be no crowd to watch the ball drop-in Times Square as the year concludes. Absent any further extension, 2020 will also conclude with a large wave of eviction lawsuits. Chandler resident Benjamin Gottlieb is co-founder of MacQueen & Gottlieb, the state’s top-ranked real estate law firm for two years running. You can contact him at MandGLawGroup.com or 602-533-2840.

from page 30

2020-49, in order to qualify for protection under the federal order, the tenant must state that the tenant has a financial hardship and cannot pay rent and has made his or her best efforts to obtain all available governmental assistance for rent or housing. The federal order also requires the tenant to sign a declaration under penalty of perjury. The federal order applies equally to all landlords across the U.S. Many have questioned how the CDC has such broad authority to fashion such an order. The order argues – and provides accompanying data to support – that a large wave of evictions would lead to mass homelessness, congregating in close quarters, and interstate travel among evicted persons, thus exacerbating the interstate spread of COVID-19. Many critics are skeptical of the data and arguments set forth in the order and believe that the order is unconstitutional. Also similar to the state Executive Order 2020-49, the federal order does not relieve a tenant’s obligation to pay rent or late fees. Thus, the federal order may create just as many, if not more, problems than it solves. At the end of the year, many tenants worry they will not be able to repay the total amounts owed. Some tenants may then get judgments against them for a large amount of back rent and late fees. These tenants may have a harder

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Basha’s Demond Williams coming of age at quarterback BY ZACH ALVIRA

Sports Editor

Demond Williams Jr. was reluctant to admit he was nervous when he made his first-ever start at the varsity level in the first week of the prep football season. Though, nobody blamed him, especially when taking into account Williams is only a freshman. Typically, he would be playing amongst his peers at a slower speed than what is typically seen at the varsity level. But Williams, with a football IQ, arm strength and overall athletic ability well-beyond his years, was leaned upon by Chris McDonald and the rest of the Basha varsity coaching staff to step in and lead the offense. That decision has started to pay off. “It was a close race going into the season and we felt D offers things really only God gives,” McDonald said. “We knew the kid could throw the ball and we knew he was a good athlete, but we wanted to know how he would react when he gets hit in the mouth. “He’s resilient. People take shots at him because they’re trying to intimidate him. But he keeps getting up and going right back at them. Every game he has gotten better.” Basha lost its first two games to Shadow Ridge and Corona del Sol by a combined 14 points, with the offense

“I’ve kind of calmed down now,” Williams said. “I’m becoming more comfortable. Some teams are starting to spy me a little bit for when I get out of the pocket but I kind of approach it like I’m playing 7-on-7 with a line. I just have to find my guys and air it out.” McDonald’s decision to start Williams at quarterback didn’t come easy. He and junior Josh Sink battled through the summer despite limited to certain exercises and equipment due to the coronavirus pandemic. Once cleared for full contact and “normal” practices, Williams began to separate himself from the competition. But not by much, according to McDonald. Basha coach Chris McDonald said the decision to start Williams despite his young age stemmed from his God-given talent He ultimately made his and overall understanding for the game that is well-beyond his years. (Pablo Robles/Staff) decision to start Williams just weeks before the start led by Williams pacing the competition over the hump and defeat the Thunder of the season. One of the key compountil late in the fourth quarter. Through 38-24. It was a quiet night for Williams nents to handing the reigns to Williams by comparison to week’s past, but he the first two games, the Bears scored was his athletic ability. Not to mention, seven touchdowns. Williams accounted still added another touchdown pass to he had already established chemistry his stat sheet for the season. for five of them. with the veteran leaders on the team Most importantly, however, Williams Facing Desert Vista in Week 3, Bathroughout the spring and summer on further learned how to manage the sha’s offense once again clicked. This offense. time, however, they managed to get See on page 40

WILLIAMS

Nonprofit helping kids get in the game BY CIERRA LUNA

Cronkite News

Raquel McNabb, a former college athlete and mother of four active children, has witnessed firsthand how money affects or limits a child’s ability to participate in sports. Maybe kids can afford the uniform but not the travel expense. Others can’t pay for the required equipment. Some children never get around the first road block: team or entrance fees. That is why McNabb, along with fellow Valley moms Nicole Hawkins, Jennifer Krause and Ashley Schuggher, founded Caris Sports Foundation, a Chandler nonprofit designed to help children and their families meet the costs associated with recreational and competitive sports. “We saw a lot of kids who are struggling to pay,” McNabb said. “A lot of the burden either falls on the organization who are struggling to raise money themselves, or other parents reach in their pockets and cover costs for kids, or the kids just do not play.” Even before the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily shuttered sports worldwide, youth sports suffered declines in participation in the last few years for numerous reasons, from health and safety concerns to lack of time and

The co-founders of Caris Sports Foundation all share the same passions for sports, giving back and helping kids get on the field regardless of socioeconomic status. They include, from left, Jennifer Kruse, Ashley Schugg, Raquel McNabb and Nicole Hawkins. (Courtesy Caris Sports Foundation)

travel commitments. Nonprofit organizations in the Valley are stepping in to alleviate the burden of costs to ensure all kids who want to play organized sports, can. In an Aspen Institute study called Project Play, data showed that only 21.6 percent of children, ages 6-12, from a household with annual income under $25,000 participate in sports regularly.

That’s compared to 42.7 percent of children from a household with an income of $100,000. “If you look at the statistics, kids that come from affluent families have more opportunities to play sports,” McNabb said. Founded in 2019, the Caris Sports Foundation, said McNabb, has a simple goal and purpose: donate money to

kids and club teams in need. “Some foundations are really complicated, and we are not. We raise funds to help kids play sports,” she said. “We have actually given out approximately $30,000 in funds this year to kids.” McNabb was a high-achieving athlete herself. A point guard for Syracuse in the 1990s, she made the Big East academic All-Star team three times, was named the school’s Athlete of the Year and was twice team MVP. “It gave me the ability to travel places I would never travel otherwise,” she said. “And the bonds that I made, the relationships built and all the fun times. That is what was important.” McNabb also mentioned the disparities in participation of children from minority groups compared to white (non-Hispanic) children. According to the Aspen Institute report, participation rates among minorities were about 5 percent less than white children. When the age range is widened to children ages 6-17, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health, the participation among white children is about 70 percent and among minorities 48-58 percent. “When we level the playing field, it is giving everybody the opportunity to See

NONPROFIT on page 41

SPORTS & RECREATION

WILLIAMS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

but in years to come. On a personal level, he holds himself to high standards. Good friends with former Pinnacle and current Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, Williams has already taken aim at the passing record the Sooner star set during his time in north Phoenix. While surpassing 11,083 total yards passing over a high school career will be a feat in itself, Williams is confident he has not only the ability to do it, but a level of talent around him that

from page 39

their own at local parks. Despite the difficult decision, McDonald is pleased with how it has worked out thus far. Especially after notching their first win of the season after two close losses. “I feel like we are making progress every week,” McDonald said. “We still made some mistakes that we need to fix, and we will, but I’m very happy for these kids and happy for these young guys to get a taste of victory and I hope that stays with them.” Williams has leaned upon a few of Basha’s veterans to help him adjust to the varsity level. Senior running back Caleb Jones, who had four total touchdowns against Desert Vista as a two-way starter, and senior athlete Andrell Barney are among those who have taken Williams and several other freshmen who see considerable playing time for Basha this season under their wings. “I see a lot of heart in them,” Barney said. “For me it’s all about leading by example. In practice I go full speed so Demond can get used to throwing to me and Miles can get used to covering a varsity receiver. It’s helped them get used to things.” Basha’s youth movement on varsity this season extends well-beyond Williams at quarterback. Bryson Dedmon has become a staple

People “He’takes resilient. shots at him

because they’re trying to intimidate him. But he keeps getting up and going right back at them. Every game he has gotten better. Basha freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is one of three freshmen making an immediate impact at the varsity level for the Bears this season. (Pablo Robles/Staff)

in the offense at wide receiver while Miles Lockhart has established his presence on defense at corner back and on special teams returning kickoffs. Additionally, sophomore transfer Wyatt Milkovic will step in at linebacker after a stellar freshman season at Ham-

ilton in which he started in most games during the Huskies’ run to the Open Division semifinals. Milkovic will become eligible in Week 5 of the season. Williams said he is excited to see what the future holds for this program not only the remainder of this season

”

will continue to help him make a splash this season at the 6A level. “I want to break the Basha records first then go after what my guy Spencer Rattler did here in Arizona,” Williams said. “I think I’m on track right now. “This is the most fun of my life. Just being in this environment, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

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from page 39

play,” McNabb said. Garrett Brolsma, YMCA’s district executive director who oversees the East Valley location and helps lead youth sports and aquatic operations, said nobody will be turned away from the facility’s programs because of an inability to pay. “We want to make sure that every child and family, regardless of economic status, have the same opportunities as anybody else,” Brolsma said. Like other youth sports programs, the YMCA charges program fees, but when an athlete cannot afford to pay they are offered some assistance. “We raise money every year directly for scholarships so that every child is able to access the same experiences that all other children do,” Brolsma said. “There are 10 kids on a basketball team and four or five of them might be on some sort of financial assistance or scholarship,” Brolsma said, “But nobody on the team would know and aren’t treated differently.”

Former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, a spokesperson for Caris and husband of Raquel, said when starting the foundation they had similar goals in mind. “The thing that stuck with us, there are kids coming from single parent homes or adopted, and they don’t have the financial (backing) to pay AAU and

Some foundations are really complicated, and “ we are not. We raise funds to help kids play sports,” she said. “We have actually given out approximately $30,000 in funds this year to kids. ”

– Raquel McNabb

club dues each and every month,” he said. “We are providing support for them to be able to do that, so that the kids may have the opportunity to be on the same platform as other kids who do have families who can afford to pay the dues.” The purpose of nonprofits like the YMCA and the Caris Sports Foundation are to get more kids on the field. Once

Have an interesting sports story? Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

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that happens, a child’s future is likely to expand. “I think it’s just tremendous for children to build positive relationships with other children through sport,” Broslma said. Both Raquel and Broslma agreed that skills learned in organized sports play

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an important role in a child’s future job prospects and influence who that child eventually becomes in their adult lives. “I think you learn so much about your own abilities, your ability to persevere, your ability to work with others on a team,” Brolsma said. “We feel it is important to play sports because of all the other values and skills that come with playing,”

McNabb said. “How you develop as a person, not just as an athlete.” Brolsma said coaches also positively influence athletes and deserve just as much credit in shaping children’s futures. “I think they are paramount as well, the relationship with a coach that a child can build and learning from an adult role model that’s not their own parent, is really, really important,” Brolsma said. He said that the coaches at the YMCA are volunteers who generously give their time to children not because they have to or are being paid but because they want to be there to teach and support. Donovan McNabb said youth sports can also open doors for athletes that would otherwise remain closed had they not played. “Club sports play such a major factor in the future of these individuals, these kids,” said McNabb, who played 13 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. “It gives them an opportunity and platform to be showcased, to be put out there so college coaches can recruit them, and they can fulfill a dream of playing D1 sports.”

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■ RESIDENTS IN 6 STATES CASH IN: The phone lines will be ringing off the hook. That’s because for the next 48 hours, packages containing actual Gold Vault Bricks still loaded with four

5-ounce Jumbo State Bars layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold minted by the Federated Mint are being shipped to residents in 6 states. These are the only Gold Vault Bricks known to exist and everyone wants them. That’s because they’re still loaded with Jumbo Gold Bars bearing the name of The First Bank of the United States of America and the state they were once destined for. And here’s the best part. If you live in one of the 6 states listed in today’s publication you cover only the minimum gold fee set for state residents of just $49 per ounce. That’s a real steal because residents living outside of the designated 6 states must pay $124 per ounce if any remain.

Residents snap up Gold Bars issued in 6 States Heavy Gold Vault Bricks loaded with valuable Jumbo State Bars layered in 24 Karat Gold are up for grabs as thousands stand to miss the deadline to claim the gold bars; now residents in 6 states can claim the Gold Vault Bricks for themselves and keep all the valuable bars found inside just by covering the minimum gold fee set for state residents within the next 48 hours “It’s like a modern day gold rush,” said Mary Ellen Withrow, emeritus 40th Treasurer of the United States of America. That’s because actual Gold Vault Bricks™ still loaded with four 5-ounce Jumbo State Bars layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold bearing the name of the First Bank of the United States of America™ and the state they were once destined for are up for grabs as thousands of U.S. residents stand to miss the deadline to claim the gold. Now any resident of those states can claim the Gold Vault Bricks for themselves and keep all the valuable gold found inside. That’s four massive bars weighing a full 20 ounces of high demand bullion copper layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold in all. And here’s the best part. If you live in one of the 6 states listed in today’s publication you cover only the minimum gold fee set for state residents of just $49 per ounce which totals $ 980 for the full 20 ounces locked away inside these gold vault bricks. That’s (Continued on next page)

Who gets the Jumbo Gold Bars: Listed below in bold are the states that get the gold. If you live in one of these states immediately call the State Distribution Hotline at: 1-800-749-6917 GB1282

AK AL AR Arizona California Colorado CT DE FL GA

HI IA ID IL IN KY KS LA MA ME

MD MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE Nevada

New Mexico NH NJ NY OH OK OR PA RI SC

SD TN TX Utah VA VT WA WI WV WY R1007C

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

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(Continued from previous page) a real steal because residents living outside of the designated 6 states must pay $124 per ounce which totals $2,480 if any remain. “As special counsel to Federated Mint I earn my pay delivering breaking news. And today’s announcement confirming the release of Gold Vault Bricks to the general public is as big as it gets. Believe me, I know how valuable these Gold Vault Bricks are to resellers, collectors, dealers and anyone else who gets their hands on them,” Withrow said. “So my advice is this, anyone who gets an opportunity to get their hands on one of these Gold Vault Bricks better jump at the chance before they’re all gone,” Withrow said. “These Gold Vault Bricks loaded with massive 5-ounce Jumbo State Bars layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold make the most impressive gifts for Christmas, birthdays, graduations, weddings, and any other occasion, especially for that hard-to-buy-for person,” Withrow said. According to Ms. Withrow, since thousands of U.S. residents stand to miss the deadline to claim the gold, today and tomorrow are intended as a “special 48 hour release” for the benefit of persons living in; AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM and UT. This gives residents of those states a fair chance to claim the Gold Vault Bricks and all the valuable gold loaded inside for themselves. But, Ms. Withrow added, “The Gold Vault Bricks are only available as inventory permits during the special 48 hour release and once they’re gone, they’re gone.” The emeritus Treasurer added, “Remember this, these Gold Vault Bricks contain a full 20 ounces of high demand bullion copper layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold and we have no power to stop dealers, resellers, collectors and the like from buying up all the Gold Vault Bricks they can get their hands on and reselling them for a big profit,” Withrow said. Anyone who fails to obtain them during this special 48 hour release may be forced to buy them later in the secondary market from a dealer, reseller or collector at a hefty premium. ”We already know the phones will be ringing off the hook. That’s why hundreds of agents are standing by to answer the phones beginning at 8:30am this morning. We’re going to do our best, but with just 48 hours to answer all the calls it won’t be easy. So make sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all lines are busy. We’ll do our best to answer them all,” Withrow said. “That’s why Federated Mint set up the State Distribution Hotlines in order to make sure residents in the 6 designated states listed in today’s newspaper publication can get them now,” Withrow said. The only thing readers of today’s newspaper publication need to do is make sure they live in one of the 6 states listed in today’s newspaper and call the State Distribution Hotlines before the special 48 hour release ends midnight tomorrow. ■

NEVER BEFORE SEEN: THESE FIRST BANK OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JUMBO GOLD BARS ARE THE ONLY ONES KNOWN TO EXIST

VALUABLE: THESE ARE THE FOUR 5-OUNCE JUMBO GOLD BARS SEALED AWAY IN EACH GOLD VAULT BRICK BEARING THE STATE DESTINATION

How much are the Gold Vault Bricks worth: The answer is, it’s impossible to say. But, it would be foolish for anyone to try and determine the value of these Gold Vault Bricks based on today’s price of gold. Here’s why. Gold, silver and all precious metal values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But what we do know is that these are the only Gold Vault Bricks still loaded with four 5-ounce Jumbo State Bars known to exist. In fact, the value of the pure 24 Karat Gold layered content is just a bonus for anyone lucky enough to get one of these Gold Vault Bricks because there’s no telling how much the actual collector value could be worth. That makes the minimum gold fee set for state residents of just $ 49 per ounce which totals $ 980 for the full 20 ounces locked away inside these Gold Vault Bricks a real steal since residents living outside of the designated 6 states must pay $124 per ounce, which totals $ 2,480, if any remain. Why the vault fee is so low: Since thousands of U.S. residents stand to miss the deadline to claim the gold, Federated Mint has re-allocated Gold Vault Bricks to be sent out in the next 48 hours. That means the gold is up for grabs and now residents in 6 states can claim the Gold Vault Bricks for themselves and keep all the valuable bars found inside. These are the only Gold Vault Bricks known to exist and everyone wants them. That’s because they’re still loaded with four 5-ounce Jumbo State Bars layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold bearing the name of The First Bank of the United States of America and the state they were once destined for. That’s four massive bars weighing a full 20 ounces of 24 Karat Gold and valuable bullion copper in all. And here’s the best part. If you live in one of the 6 states listed in today’s publication you cover only the minimum gold fee set for state residents of just $ 49 per ounce. That’s a real steal because residents living outside of the designated 6 states must pay $124 per ounce if any remain.

■ FIRST LOOK INSIDE THE GOLD VAULT BRICKS: Pictured above are the Gold Vault Bricks containing the only Jumbo State Gold Bars known to exist bearing the name of the First Bank of the United States of America and the state they were once destined for. State residents are rushing to get them because the Gold Vault Bricks are still loaded with four 5-ounce Jumbo State Bars layered in valuable 24 Karat Gold. To claim you Vault Brick, just call 1-800-749-6917 GB1282 before the deadline ends. Everyone lucky enough to get them better hold on to them because there’s no telling just how much they could be worth.

R1007C

FEDERATED MINT, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS SHIPPING AND RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. FEDERATED MINT, PO BOX 1200, MASSILLON, OH 44648 ©2020 FEDERATED MINT

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Helping our most-vulnerable populations in a pandemic BY MAYOR KEVIN HARTKE Guest Writer

Providing housing options for our most at-risk populations is a high-priority in Chandler. Prior to COVID-19, the need for low-barrier shelter for those experiencing chronic homelessness was high due to a variety of reasons, including pets, addiction and mental health. Once COVID-19 hit, the need for shelter increased substantially due to the shelter space reduction to allow for social and physical distancing.

While residents were advised to quarantine and stay in their homes, our most vulnerable populations did not have this option. Specifically, people experiencing unsheltered homelessness had no ability to shelter-in-place, putting both themselves and others at risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. To mitigate the growing issue, the City partnered with Maricopa County to utilize a block of hotel rooms for those experiencing homelessness to safely shelter-in-place. “Every person needs a safe place to shelter-in-place. As a group, people

experiencing homelessness are highly vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 because of their age and compromised health status resulting from lack of regular health care and repeated exposure to harsh weather,” said Chandler Community Resources Manager Riann Balch. “This program provides that safe place and gives us the opportunity to really understand and address the barriers each individual is facing in their journey to housing. We’ve had great success so far and hope to be able to continue providing this level of service in the future.” To date, over 50 households have

been sheltered in the hotel rooms supported by Maricopa County and the City of Chandler. Funding has been provided by the Maricopa County CARES Act funding and Federal Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus funding. The hotel rooms will be utilized through Dec. 31, 2020 for shelter. I am proud that our community continues to support all residents with innovative programs to ensure high quality of life for all who call Chandler home. For more information, please visit chandleraz.gov/HomelessServices.

A smart approach to teenagers and vehicle safety BY DR. NORMA HUBELE Guest Writer

If you have a teenager, you know how cooped up they’ve been at home this year. Now as schools begin to re-open, you can imagine how they might be tempted to fully enjoy their freedom behind the wheel. But as parents, we worry. When our kids go out, we hold our breath until they get home safely. And we’d do anything to make sure they don’t become a statistic – even sit them down and talk about car safety. National Teen Driver Safety Week is October 18-24. Even with everything we’ve been through this year, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens. As a mother, I know how hard it is to get your kids’ attention. So let me suggest an approach that they will grasp immediately because it involves their smart phone. Help them picture a shattered phone screen and then think about a shattered windshield of a car. One is an inconvenience. The other is a lifelong tragedy. Protection vs. personal responsibility Packaging engineers design systems that protect phones during shipping. That includes a box, a hard plastic shell

that cradles the phone, and material that cushions its trip to the store. Once your teen buys the phone, most of them add a protective case. But even the best case won’t protect the phone 100 percent of the time. Teens also need to adopt responsible habits. They learn to keep their phones away from water, try not to drop it, and they definitely keep it away from their siblings. On the road, their vehicle is the

protective case. Many modern cars have crumple zones that absorb and redistribute some of the force from a crash. Then there’s the passenger compartment that works to protect the occupants. But even if your teen’s vehicle comes with the most advanced safety features, statistics show that they’re still in danger. As a parent, you are not powerless. You can prepare your teen to spot risky situations – and to take responsible

actions. Tips for teen drivers & passengers Statistics indicate that drivers die the most in crashes. So if your teen is driving, tell them not to be afraid to call you if they’ve been drinking or feel tired. You’d much rather rescue them at a party, than visit them in the hospital. And it’s fine to have fun, but let’s keep our eyes on the road and our foot off the gas. As the driver, it’s their job to get their friends home safely. If they’re in the passenger seat, then they can take responsible actions, too. If the driver is drinking, don’t get in the car. If he or she is distracted or speeding, get them to stop, leave the car, and call you for a pickup. If there’s no seat belt, get out of the car. Speed, distraction, alcohol, and driving older cars with fewer safety features all put your teen at risk. But they don’t have to become a statistic. Instead, talk with your teen about car safety and let’s keep the joy of newfound freedom going strong. Arizona State University engineering professor emeritus Norma Hubele, who is absed in Chandler, is the inventor of TheAutoProfessor.com, a website that helps families make safer car choices. She is working on a book, “Car Safety: Where the Numbers Help and Where They Don’t.”

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Chandler teen on national anti-gun violence board BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

The pandemic – with its school closures, online learning angst and a general sense of isolation – may have pushed school shootings out of many people’s minds but Anvitha Doddipalli isn’t one of them. The Chandler resident, a senior at Corona Del Sol High School, still remembers her shock over the 2018 Valentine’s Day massacre at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead and 17 others injured – most of them students. She was 14 and a freshman at Corona del Sol and she was shaken by the slaughter. “Like many others my age, I was initially unaware of the gun violence crisis in America and just the extent to which it ran. The Parkand shooting in 2018 was kind of that wake-up call for me,” Anvitha recalled. “It was the realization that this isn’t really even an isolated tragedy but a frequent recurrence.” She first researched the issue of gun violence for a paper for a class, recalling, “I was quite shocked at the lack of response to this issue.” And then, she said, “slowly I was drawn to activism. I didn’t want to just

Anvitha Doddipalli sit back.” Anvitha earlier this month was named one of 16 national advisory board members for Students Demand Action, a grassroots network of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund. Created by and for teens and young adults, Students Demand Action says it aims “to channel the energy and passion of high school and college-aged students into the fight against gun

violence” and has 400 chapters across the country. Everytown for Gun Safety is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, counting six million supporters and more than 375,000 donors who include parents, local government officials, survivors, students and other citizens who campaign “for common-sense gun safety measures that can help save lives.” As a leader in Students Demand Action’s statewide operations and the statewide virtual field office it set up in the wake of the pandemic, Anvitha has spent the last few years balancing her energies between her studies and her quest for those measures. Her elevation to the group’s national advisory board means that she not only will be sharpening her own leadership and rhetorical skills but will also mentor other teens into becoming effective proponents for change in the hope of ending the scourge of deadly school shootings that ironically has only been abated by the scourge of a deadly virus. The pandemic first threw her and her colleagues for a loop. “We definitely hit a huge block initially just because all of this organizing initially was going to be in-person with field work and community drives and

in-person recruitment,” Avintha said. “But we definitely have been able to adapt as we’ve taken things virtually and used kind of relational organizing and trained differently in virtual networking,”she added, noting that right now she and her colleagues have been focusing on the election That alone is a challenge for her and her compatriots. “With in-person learning coming back, everyone just has a lot on their plate trying to balance these new unusual circumstances along with the super-important election coming up,” Anvitha explained. “It’s definitely been a little challenging.” Nationwide, she said, Students Demand Action has registered over 100,000 young people to vote and while school shootings has all but disappeared from the national conversation, she and other members of the group say their mission lives on partly because addressing police violence has become part of their mission as well. Though she herself is too young to vote, Anvitha said age has been no barrier to teens when it comes to the election. “We are trying to increase voter See

ANVITHA on page 47

Chandler teen raising money for school’s sneakers BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

A Hamilton High School student is aiming to raise $23,000 by the end of this year in order to buy every student at Galveston Elementary a new pair of sneakers. Sam Bregman, 16, has already raised accumulated $7,600 of the money he needs to purchase 650 pairs of shoes and hopes to collect the remaining funds by Dec. 11. “I would like to have all the funds ready by that time so that I can purchase the shoes and have the sneakers to the kids by the holidays,” Sam said. Sam has partnered with Shoes That Fit, a national nonprofit that’s provided two million pairs of shoes to American children, to ensure every Galveston student will be fitted with shoes specific to their size and supply them with several pairs of socks. “They not only get a new pair of sneakers but a pair of sneakers they can truly enjoy,” the teenager said. “I’ve always been very interested in sneakers and I’ve had a passion for helping other people as well.” He got his inspiration for the philanthropic project – the biggest Sam has taken on – a few years ago when his math class sponsored holiday gifts for needy families. Sam picked out a family asking for new shoes and quickly gathered to-

Sam Bregman gether some cash to buy a nice pair of sneakers. “Doing this filled me with so much joy and happiness,” he recalled, “I thought, ‘Why not do this on a larger scale?’” Sam put the project off for the next couple years as he continued focusing on his studies and extracurricular activities. But then the pandemic came along earlier this year and he suddenly had more spare time to devote to his passion projects. The pandemic had been causing a great deal of turmoil in the community, Sam noted, and it seemed like residents

needed something positive to boost their spirits. He was simultaneously suffering from a medical ailment that frequently gave him dizzy spells and was feeling gratitude for all the doctors who helped him recover. “I want to make good things happen and give back to other people,” Sam said. Sneakers seemed like the perfect gift to offer children and Sam thinks a new pair could have a long-term impact on Galveston’s students. According to data collected by Shoes That Fit, new shoes have been found to raise a child’s self-esteem by 87 percent and their physical activity by 70 percent. “When you put those sneakers on for the first time, you stand up tall (and) you feel very confident,” Sam said. “I think it will improve physical activity, attendance, and behavior.” Although he graduated from Tarwater Elementary, Sam specifically selected Galveston after mentoring some of the school’s students at a soccer camp. He discovered that many of Galveston’s students walk to school and some can’t afford to regularly buy new shoes. “Galveston is a walking school which basically means there is no bus transportation,” he said. “Almost all the students walk to school.” Galveston is also one of the Chandler Unified School District’s Title I

schools – meaning it qualifies for federal aid due to a high number of students from low-income families. During the first few weeks Sam spent soliciting donors, he managed to raise about $750. His donations suddenly escalated over a few days after a local TV station profiled his project. The thousands of dollars that came flooding in after the news story aired was shocking, he said, and fortified him to follow through on his mission. “I was so overwhelmed with joy and happiness,” he said. “It was truly unbelievable.” The project is potentially offering Sam a taste of what he’d like to do after finishing high school – becoming a tech entrepreneur. Sam said he aspires to launch his own startup company and is not intimidated by the prospect of having to start something from nothing. Asking strangers for help and money to buy all these shoes has been a great learning lesson, Sam said, because it has taught him how to be resilient in the face of rejection. In order to collect the remaining $15,000, Sam intends to reach out to Arizona’s local sports teams and apply for grant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Monetary donations can be submitted online by visiting connect.clickandpledge.com.

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

ANVITHA

from page 46

turnout in general,” Anvitha said. “We of course know that young people especially have grown up in the midst of our country’s gun violence crisis and now especially with the recent killings George Floyd Brianna Taylor and so many others it’s added even more urgency to the conversations around police violence and gun violence and their disproportionate impact on Black people in America. “So we definitely know that the

youth are a lot more passionate for change and a lot more motivated to end gun violence and police violence and we are definitely trying to help amplify their voices in the election.” But she also stressed, “Nobody wants their Second Amendment rights controlled and I think it’s important to note that neither do we. “Our goal is to merely prevent gun violence and keep communities safe, which is something that we can all agree on,” Anvitha continued. “That is why the gun violence prevention movement is made up of individuals across partisan boundaries, including gun owners.

We’re just all coming together to pass common-sense legislation.” Anvitha thinks her peer group is particularly energized to continue their actions well beyond Nov. 3. “Young people have definitely grown up amid all these crises,” she said, “I definitely would say we get their young people are a lot more motivated and just a lot more passionate about making a change and we definitely are trying to harness that.” “It not enough for this movement to just be built from survivors of gun violence,” she stressed. “It is the rest of us that must rise as allies to ensure that no else has to live in fear or identify

as a survivor again. Having grown up in the heart of this crisis and being so closely impacted, the youth have strong ideas and opinions and are committed to ending gun violence and police violence in America. “Even as students we can make a difference and moving forward, we will demand action. Although Students Demand Action is part of a network of nearly 6 million supporters with over 400 student action groups throughout the nation, we are definitely still growing in Arizona.” Information: anvitha.studentsdemand@gmail.com

Crayola Experience Chandler names ‘CEO’ SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A 10-year-old Chandler girl can add “chief executive” to her resume after Crayola Experience Chandler named her their Kid CEO. Indigo Chai was designated “chief experience officer” and once the Chandler Fashion Center’s Crayola Experience Chandlee reopens, she “will impart her kid-expert feedback on new and existing attractions, activities and products,” Crayola said in a release. She also won a $600 prize package and will get to name a limited-edition crayon to be sold at the Crayola Store. “Indigo is a dynamic kid, bursting with ideas and embodying the Crayola

Indigo Chai

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spirit – clearly the right skill set for the most colorful job ever,” said Victoria Lozano, senior vice president and general manager of Crayola Experience. “Our Chandler team looks forward to working with this creative young leader to help us continue to deliver the kinds of experiences that will inspire creativity in children.” Indigo won the title with a video application that started with her reminding the company, “I share a name with one of your crayons.” While touting her experience and ease with working with other people, Indigo also said she had “a great idea for a new Crayola exhibit.” “Imagine this: Crayola. Animal. Res-

cue. Boom,” she said enthusiastically, explaining her idea also would involve contributing to an animal rescue. “Remember, I can be CEO because my name is already Indigo,” she concluded. Indigo is one of five CEOs Crayola picked for its five entertainment centers across the country. Children who lived within 150 miles of a Crayola Experience location were invited to submit a 30-90 second video “resume” that showcased their colorful personality, explained why they would be the best choice for the position and described their idea for making Crayola Experience even more fun for other children. Nearly 240 children applied for the five positions.

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NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

East Valley man makes genealogy an artform BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Staff Writer

Helping others trace their family tree through the generations is a hobby David Davenport has turned into an artform. The Ahwatukee resident has examples of his work on display at the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA’s “Artists Among Us” exhibit wall through Oct. 31. Although Davenport has already completed 135 genealogy charts, he said he’s ready, willing and able to help others search their family’s sometimes circuitous journey through the decades and often centuries. He doesn’t charge for his time, though there is a charge for the Utahbased Family Chartmasters service he uses to design the layout and print the genealogy charts. Davenport’s interest in genealogy and creating these charts began 11 years ago when he decided to track his own family. “I decided to research my family, and even though I’d done it before, I saw a chart I liked at a company called Family Chartmakers, so I phoned and talked with them,” he recalled. “They have a designer that puts it all together, and they have tons of examples.” Davenport has made two charts for his family. The first one traced his family be-

Davenport, 75, firmly believes every family should investigate their genealogy as it is a history of what has been and may have clues to the present and future. “I believe genealogy is important to all of us. I think we need to know where we came from. I think it’s more and more important to know about our ancestors,” said Davenport, who has lived with his wife in the same house in Ahwatukee since 1994. Davenport said through researching our ancestors, there are often surprises to be unearthed. “Maybe I might not David Davenport stands with some of his genealogy charts that are mounted in the lobby of the Ahwatukee YMCA. (Pablo Robles/ look like your dad, but Staff Photographer) you get a photo of your great grandfather and anniversary and Davenport decided to ginning with Thomas Davenport, his you learn you look just like him,” he do one of his own progeny, which made eighth great grandfather on his father’s said. “And you may learn why we do for a large chart as the couple has six side who was born in England in 1615 certain things, certain traits.” children, 24 grandchildren and 11 great before immigrating to the U.S. where When Davenport starts working with grandchildren with numbers 12 and 13 he died in Massachusetts in 1685. a new client, he does in-depth research. due in two and eight weeks, respectively. His grandmother, Evelyn Legg DavIf there is no photo available of a “My wife’s line is also shown on this enport, was born in England in 1870 and long-passed relative, through his online chart – her father’s side is from Ireland died in 1952 in Rochester, New York. and her mother’s mostly from the U.S.,” Three years ago, he and his wife he said. Cheryl celebrated their 50th wedding See on page 49

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NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

GENEALOGY

from page 48

research he’ll find where the person was buried and then locate someone in that area to photograph the gravestone. “I’m a member of the LDS church and recently I put the address of the cemetery where someone’s relative was reported buried and then found the closest LDS chapel. I contacted them by phone. The bishop had someone in his ward go take a photo of the gravestone. I wish I had come up with that 10 years ago,” he said laughing. Retired at age 67 in 2013, the last nine employed as a workers compensation specialist for Phoenix-based Swift Transportation, Davenport launched his new hobby. In the seven years since, he said he’s come across some fascinating history. “There are so many interesting stories,” he said, citing discoveries of 1800’s outlaws, and another done for a local man who was 8 months old when his father died in a gun battle with the Roaring 20s gangster Baby Face Nelson. “There’s a wide diversity of stories to be found; I’ve run into some that are quite intriguing.” Of Davenport’s six genealogy charts on display at the YMCA is one of the lineage for Amy Rulli, a long-time Ahwatukee resident. Her ancestry chart harkens back to Catanzaro and Nusco, Italy, in the 1700’s. “I come from a very large and close

bilt, Pennsylvania, where they owned and operated a hotel. “It depicts St. Amato, the patron saint of Nusco, watching over the people of the city and the Rulli family who’d left for a new home in America,” she explained. “Dave is dedicated and skillful in researching the charts and he’s very well known for his talent in Arizona and Utah.” Davenport is modest about his work, which he refers to as his hobby. “I’m retired and I get a lot of joy out of doing it,” he said. The majority of his charts run approximately David Davenport needs a couple charts for his family tree, as demonstrated by a family reunion a couple years ago. (Special to SanTan Sun News) 24 x 36 inches, though some can be larger or smaller, as evidenced at know. family, we all lived close by each other the exhibit at the Ahwatukee Foothills “My mother’s family, the Orlandos, in Pennsylvania. We’re traditionally Family YMCA at 1030 E. Liberty Lane. lost several children in early childhood, Italian on both sides,” she said. He said the size makes it easier to as happened during that time. Dave “We have so many relatives, we find a ready-made frame at local stores. located a grave marker that revealed weren’t able to put everyone on the Family Chartmasters, which does the an additional child no one alive today charts. Even my parents’ families were design, printing and mailing, charges knew existed.” large. There were eight children on my between $250 to $350. Rulli said passing along her family mom’s side and 11 on my dad’s.” “They make wonderful one-of-a history to her daughter Blaise means Though her family was close knit, kind gifts for Christmas, weddings and a great deal to her. Among them is an there were surprises when Davenport birthdays,” he said. uncovered story behind a substantialdid his research. Davenport can be contacted at ly-sized stained glass window in a Con“We just really knew our generation DaveDavenport@cox.net or by phone and the one before us, so a lot of things nellsville, Pennsylvania church that was at 480-600-1114. He does not accept sent from the city of Nusco, Italy to the texts. came to light,” she said. “Dave was able Rulli family who had settled in Vanderto come up with things we didn’t even PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT

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NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Chandler nonproﬁt helps tykes ﬁgure things out BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

A Chandler nonprofit is attempting to fill a curriculum gap in preschool education by introducing young children to mathematical concepts. Amanda Gryzkewicz Gloyer, founder of I Can Math, said she has spent years working in preschool classrooms across the country and noticed a few years ago a lack of emphasis on math-based activities. There was so much attention on language and reading skills, she noted, and very little time dedicated to math lessons. “We hardly ever did math,” the Chandler resident recalled. “Math is really only 3 percent of the day in a preschool classroom.” Gloyer did some research and quickly realized a systemic problem in preschool education where literacy was always favored over mathematics and science. “On average, preschoolers spent about four minutes per day on mathematics and three minutes per day on science whereas approximately 15 minutes were devoted to language and literacy,” a 2014 study published in Early Education and Development concluded. A couple years ago, Gloyer decided to remedy this deficit by starting an organization that would dispatch math tutors to preschool classrooms around the Valley. No other nonprofits seemed to be focused on this aspect of early childhood education, Gloyer said, so there

I Can Math enlists college students to help preschool children get an early start on their education in mathematics. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

was a need in Arizona to shift the focus in preschool curriculum. “I wanted our organization to really be the forefront of math in early childhood classrooms,” Gloyer added. Last year, I Can Math sent out its college-age mentors to four classrooms in Mesa and Tempe to educate 65 preschool students. Mentors would spend each day playing games that sneakily introduced preliminary math concepts – shapes, numbers, counting – so students wouldn’t

realize they were learning math. A mentor might oversee a game of musical chairs in which students match a shape attached to a seat or read a storybook about characters learning to use numbers. Eight months into the nonprofit’s first year of operations and everything seemed to be going well. Students appeared to be responding positively to mentors and Gloyer was starting to collect some data on the impact of their lessons.

But then the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly shut everything down. “We were finally making progress and then we had to stop,” Gloyer said. After daycare centers and schools closed in March, I Can Math had nowhere to send its mentors and wasn’t sure how to continue operating. Gloyer was determined to not stop working and began a six-month process of adapting her math activities for a virtual audience. It wasn’t easy at first, she said, since the nonprofit is run by only two staff members and not many economic resources. “We’re working on a really small budget to do really big things,” Gloyer said. I Can Math eventually created an online schedule that allows preschool students and their parents to purchase pre-recorded and live classes. There are up to 12 activities available to buy and many of them require a parent or family member to work alongside the student. Though the nonprofit is offering some scholarships for families unable to pay for online lessons, I Can Math hopes some parents will support their services so they can continue operating during the pandemic. Gloyer said she is reworking all the nonprofit’s math activities and make them adaptable for a virtual setting. It won’t always be the same as doing the activities in-person, she said, but See

MATH on page 52

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NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

NBC streaming service honors Gilbert ranger BY CECILIA CHAN Managing Editor

Park ranger Supervisor Jody Becker’s duties include everything from inspecting playground equipment for safety to chasing down pet bunnies left to fend for themselves at Gilbert’s Riparian Preserve. The longtime town employee – who will mark 25 years in January – was recently honored for her service by Peacocktv, the NBCUniversal’s new streaming service, and the National Recreation and Parks Association. The special celebration recognized the real-life Leslie Knopes and Ron Swansons, characters in the network TV sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” which ran on network TV from 2009-15 and continues to be streamed on Peacock, which is owned by NBCUniversal. Becker and four other essential park workers around the country were each given a plaque and interviewed by Jim O’Heir, who portrayed Jerry Gergich, an employee of the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee in Indiana. “I guess I am kind of mystified to some degree,” Becker said. “I don’t think I did anything that special but on the other hand if you look at the fact my guys had just as much responsibilities as me in all of this, I am really proud of my people. I really wished they could have been directly included.”

the water would create an uncomfortable humidity as she stood there watering, according to Becker. Because the town used treated wastewater for the parks, she would work her entire shift covered in mud and smelling of effluent, she said. “It was great,” she said. “I loved it. It kind of reminded me about the old Army recruitment commercial, ‘We get more done before 6 a.m. than most people do all day.’ The work was kind of the same.” “Parks and Rec” star Jim O’Heir, who played Jerry Gergich on the popular sitcom, interviewed Gilbert park ranger Supervisor Becker, who is a certified Jody Becker. (Peacock) playground safety inspector, also oversees court-appointed Though the Ahwatukee resident’s ac- on line, including the 272-acre regional community service and county park, Butler’s favorite remains Freecomplishments are many, she is mainly crews, rescues and rehabilitates wildlife credited with developing Gilbert’s park stone near Lindsay and Guadalupe and work on graffiti abatement. roads. rangers. Becker was asked what she liked best That’s where she started her career. When Becker was hired in 1996, she about her job. “The others were, ‘oh, a woman replaced one of two non-uniformed “It’s hard to choose between getworking at night, aren’t you scared,’” caretakers assigned to help with mainting to rescue and being in contact and Butler recalled being asked at the time. tenance duties at the town’s major close up to the wild critters out there,” “Freestone was the worst, the hardest parks, which at that time included she said. one to do and I liked that because it Freestone, Crossroads District, the first Another big appeal of the job is no was a challenge.” phase of McQueen Park and a handful one day is the same, she added. At the time, Freestone had no sprinof neighborhood parks. “I might come to work and spend klers at the softball fields and so, at Today, there are eight uniformed four to six hours on playground safethe beginning of her shift, Butler would ty inspections and on the way from rangers tasked with protecting and have to water the grass by hand, lugging one to the next I may get a call to the securing the town’s nine major parks a heavy, water-filled hose from one and 14 neighborhood parks and their Preserve to chase a pet (abandoned) field to the next. amenities. Summers were the worst because Despite several new parks coming See on page 52

PARKS

EV ﬁlmmaker’s Christian movie set for release BY CECILIA CHAN Staff Writer

Gilbert resident Thomas Bonifield is bringing a Christmas message of hope early this year. The longtime TV journalist turned filmmaker and screenwriter is debuting his first faith-based movie, “Miracle on Christmas” on Nov. 3, Election Day. “I started writing this last fall before all this turmoil happened in the country,” Bonifield said. “It’s really not my doing. It’s the hand of God. It’s a very timely message for where we are in the country, anxious and fearful of the circumstances in light of the virus and political division.” The movie tells the tale of Mary Boyce, a Christian woman wavering in her faith until an unexpected visitor arrives for the extended-family holiday celebration and changes everything, according to Bonifield on his Christian film blog. Bonifield’s new career direction was a natural progression of what he had been doing for nearly three decades. He said there are a lot of similarities between the two professions – especially the visual story telling. After graduating from Arizona State University in the mid-1980s, Bonifield worked as a producer for Fox 10 Phoenix, ABC News, NBC News as its deputy foreign news editor and Moscow bureau chief and IHA, an international

From left, First Assistant Director Ryan D’Silva, writer/director Thomas Boniﬁeld and Director of Photography Josh Maas plot out some scenes. (Courtesy of Thomas Boniﬁeld)

news gathering agency in Istanbul. “For the last eight years of my career as a journalist it was in an executive role, CEO of news in Istanbul, Turkey,” Bonifield recalled. Bonifield’s journalism work took him all over the world where he’s interviewed U.S. Presidents Ronald Regan and George H.W. Bush, Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev and Russian President Vladimir Putin and covered the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and wars in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He said he didn’t want to be on the road anymore and three years ago, he

and his wife and three children moved to Queen Creek and then to Gilbert four months ago. “I thought a lot of it and prayed a lot,” he said. “Screenwriting was the best way to go.” Bonifield used some of his life experience in his screenplay. “When we were still in Istanbul, my family and I endured a difficult year where my wife had serious health problems, her dad died and my contract unexpectedly ended early,” he said. Despite the three traumatic events, Bonifield said as Christians, he and his

family experienced an inner peace. “This was the catalyst for the (screenplay),” said Bonifield, who began actively practicing his faith while involved with Campus Crusade for Christ at ASU. “Even in times of trouble, God is in control.” The film was shot in February and March in Brighton, a suburb in Detroit, Michigan. Bonifield’s screenplay originally had the location set in the Valley but was told by Green Apple Entertainment that a Christmas movie needed snow. Green Apple is a distributor of independent film and TV content. So, cast and crew flew to Michigan and initially got the white fluffy stuff. “The first half of the shoot was buried in half a foot of snow and over one weekend the temperatures went to 55 degrees and all the snow disappeared, which is bad,” Bonifield said. “This move takes place on one day, Christmas Day. I was sweating bullets and prayed like crazy over the weekend.” Bonifield said movies backed by big studios would simply go back and reshoot the scenes but he was on a tight budget and didn’t have that luxury. The film cost just under $500,000 and most of it was self-funded. “We came up with solutions to make it work so people hopefully won’t notice,” he said. See

MOVIE on page 52

NEIGHBORS

MATH

from page 50

it should still offer some productive instruction. “We’ve transitioned everything we’ve done to be an online platform,” Gloyer said.

PARKS

from page 51

there. You can’t leave them out there for coyote bait. “People turn their domesticated pets loose in the Preserve and don’t understand they are handing them a death sentence.” She’s rescued pet dogs, cats, bunnies, tortoises and iguanas from the Preserve and parks and turned them over to the appropriate rescue groups. One aspect of the job she doesn’t particularly relish is using her enforcement powers when there are violations.

MOVIE

from page 51

Although the film talks about faith, Bonifield said it’s not done is a heavy-handed way so it would reach a broader audience. “I’ve made it universally acceptable,” he said. “There are universal issues here, love of family, fidelity to family, forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Aside from servicing preschoolers, Gloyer said she wanted to offer online programming for all the mentors still seeking hands-on teaching experience during the pandemic. I Can Math primarily depends on recruiting students from Arizona State University to serve as mentors. Despite the ASU campus being rocked recently

by the pandemic, students working for I Can Math are still able to gain some educational experience this semester by teaching lessons online. Gloyer said many mentors come to her with a preconceived notion that they’re terrible at math and incapable of teaching it to preschoolers. The nonprofit is trying to reverse

society’s judgements it has toward math, she said, and convince students of all ages that math is a subject not to be feared. “I really wanted to set-up mentors to be successful math teachers once they graduate,” Gloyer added. More information about the nonproﬁt’s online curriculum can be found at icanmathaz.org.

“It’s not our favorite thing,” she said, adding rangers preferred to educate the public for voluntary compliance. Becker also gives back to the community through a successful Junior Ranger program, she and her staff facilitate that educates 6- to 11-year-olds on the responsibilities of a park ranger. So far, 24 youths have completed the program. Becker said she didn’t learn of the TV show until after its first season and soon became a fan. When it comes to the show character she most identified with, Becker picked two – Amy Poehler’s Knope and Retta’s Donna Meagle.

Meagle, the office manager for the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department, surprised people with things from her background like she served on a NASCAR pit crew and came in ninth in Italy’s Got Talent. “I sometimes surprise my colleagues when they discover things I did before coming here,” Becker said. “I was in the Army, I used to jump out of airplanes and I used to fight fires.” Knope is the main protagonist of the show and for most of its duration was the parks department’s deputy director. “Leslie is really passionate about what she does and that is why I may identify with her to a degree because

people tell me, ‘you’re like a Leslie,’” Becker said. Becker said she was totally surprised by the award and didn’t realize she was even nominated for it. She has received other recognition for her work. She was Gilbert Employee of the Quarter in 2001 and the Gilbert MVP for Innovation in 2014. “Honestly it’s not so much my own accomplishments but the thing I am most proud of is my team,” Becker told O’Heir during the interview. “A lot of the things I’ve been acknowledged for are things we, my entire team and I are responsible for.” To see the video: Go to Peacocktv.com”

and support of family. I made it so it appeals to anyone out there irrespective of your faith.” So, on Election Day, the DVDs will line the shelves of major retailers like Walmart and Target and the movie will be available on-demand and in digital format. Bonifield said he is working on deals to bring screenings to venues, with more information to be announced at a later date.

“I think if this movie has some success, I would love to have a sequel,” Bonifield said. “Christmas movies have become an absolutely phenomenon. Hallmark makes 40 brand new Christmas movies a year and Lifetime makes 30 Christmas movies a year – that’s 70 made-for-TV movies every year in America. “Interestingly, I think when you consider there are 100 million Americans who attend church every week, there’s

a huge faith-based community out there and Hallmark and Lifetime do a great job but from a secular perspective I think there is a place for us as Christian filmmakers.”

WHERE TO WATCH

To view a clip of the movie, go to miracleonchristmas.com

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mailedmailed out inout early October, andand you can find atAZCleanElections.gov/voter-education-guide. AZCleanElections.gov/voter-education-guide. in early October, you can findaadigital digital version version at

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Smoothies cured Chandler teen, now she wants to cure others BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

A Chandler teenager is mixing her passions for science and nutrition by publishing a cookbook of healthy recipes designed to improve a reader’s digestive system. Diya Nath, 14, published a list of smoothie recipes last month in her book, “Healthy Habits for a Healthier You,” and hopes readers will use them as a way to subtly add more fruits and vegetables into their daily diet. “I want to use smoothies as a way to help develop a healthier lifestyle,” said Diya, a sophomore at Arizona College Prep-Erie. Diya said the cookbook was the result of research she’s been for the last two years on bacteria and the human microbiome. Her interest in the biological subject was triggered by a series of health problems that have been plaguing her since early adolescence. Doctors had warned Diya she was gaining too much weight and prescribed a medication to treat early symptoms of diabetes. Diya said she dieted and exercised for months and yet her weight hardly changed. The stress of dealing with her weight got to be too overwhelming and it eventually started to hinder Diya’s mental health, she said. “I was dealing with my health and I used to hate talking about myself,” Diya

At 14, Chandler resident Diya Nath of Chandler is becoming a culinary expert in healthy eating. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

recalled. Diya’s anxiety was amplified again after she discovered a possible food allergy to eggs, rice, and some types of gluten – further restricting her few dietary options. “I was devastated and had no way to figure out how to control my weight with all my favorite food gone from

the list of foods that I could relish,” she recalled. Diya eventually stumbled upon a series of videos on YouTube demonstrating how to make healthy smoothie shakes and she quickly became hooked. She started using her family’s kitchen as a lab for mixing her own ingredients to produce smoothies that were tasty and nutritional. Most of her smoothies have some sort of fruit base and Diya often tosses in “superfoods” like kale, spinach, or chia seeds to add some extra fiber to the blend. Her recipes include smoothies with names like “Sweet Green Machine,” “Berry Delight,” “Almond Blueberry” and “Banana Surprise.” Diya’s personal favorite is the “Water Mango” smoothie – a combination of watermelon, lemon juice, and mango. “It’s very tangy but also sweet and it has a beautiful orange color too,” Diya said. Diya said her physical and mental health has improved immensely since she’s started making smoothies and believes it’s due to her digestive system getting infused with the right amount of nutrients. Diya is fascinated by how human bacteria can be hindered by foods and medications and has already begun doing her own research to test out why certain medicines often result in causing stomach issues for a patient. She’s conducted experiments on worms to find out how E. coli – a bacteria needed for a healthy intestinal tract – is impacted by the presence of common over-the-

counter medications like ibuprofen. Diya said she’s managed to collect some data indicating the bacteria isn’t able to thrive in the presence of certain medications. “The medicines were so powerful that the bacteria didn’t even grow in the culture,” she said. “That was very alarming.” Diya’s cookbook includes some background on the author’s scientific research and Diya said she hopes the information will enhance her argument for why smoothies are an easy choice for improving a person’s health. Modern society has become so accustomed to relying on easy-tomake junk food to get through a hectic workday, Diya said, but her book proves there are alternative options that are cheaper, simpler, and healthier. She plans to continue her research and would eventually like to examine how the brain is altered by different foods and hopefully uncover a clinical recipe for boosting a person’s self-esteem. “I want to look at foods that help amplify those feelings on a healthy level to spread joy and happiness,” Diya said. Aside from science and nutrition, Diya said she is on a broader mission to encourage young people to accept their own personal flaws and learn to love them, not reject them. “I love promoting self-love and self-healing so people can be inspired to help themselves,” she added. Diya’s book can be purchased on Amazon for $20 or on Kindle for $3.

Sun Lakes authors hit shelves with new books Romance novelist publishes Arresting autobiography her second book this year full of heartbreak SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

You might say the pandemic has been both a curse and a blessing for Sandra Givens. On the one hand, it has pretty much brought an end for now to traveling, which she loves. On the other hand, being grounded pretty much in her Sun Lakes home got her creative juices running to the point where she has completed her second novel this year. “It was sort of a forced schedule,” she joked. “You can’t go anywhere and it was so hot. It was easy to stay inside.” Givens just published “Second Chances,” which comes eight months after she released “Maui Christmas.” Her new novel looks at a young widow who decides it is time to move on with her life. To rediscover who she is without her husband, she sets out on an adventure alone, never knowing what obstacles await her. The novel creates some romantic

The impish trio of boys on the book cover belies the story. They look mischievous, happy and cared for. But that’s a far cry from the events that followed John Gaudioso when he was little. The Sun Lakes resident’s autobiography, “Three Weeks, A Lie” (published by Austin Macauley Publishers), is an arresting story of a father who arranged for his wife – the boys’ mother – to be confined to a mental facility. He then transferred his sons to a “special school” for three weeks and later to an orphanage for eight-and-ahalf years. “My brothers Al, Bob, and I witnessed our mom carried and dragged past us by men in white as we huddled against our living room wall. Dad arranged for mom to be confined to a mental facility. He didn’t bother

Contributor

Sandra Givens suspense as the reader begins to wonder if secrets from her past destroy her chance at future happiness. “Maui Christmas” was published in March – two years after she published See

GIVENS on page 54

John Gaudioso considering softening our confusion by explaining Mom was sick or where she was being taken,” Gaudioso wrote. The meaning of his Italian name is “joyful.” But those years were anything See

GAUDIOSO on page 54

GIVENS

ARTS

from page 53

her debut novel, “Running Horse Ranch.” Givens, a member of the Romance Writers of America and the recipient of the prestigious International Association of Business Communicators Award of Excellence, is a native Californian who has traveled extensively. “I’m glad I did my big trips to Africa and some other places when I could because I probably won’t be doing any traveling except maybe at Christmas time this year,” she said. “I mean, you know with this virus, we just don’t know what’s going to happen.” She turned to writing more – gladly. “I find that it’s a good way for me to escape the ugliness of what has happened in this country,” she said. “I can put the news aside and go off in a fantasy land.” She normally likes to write in the morning, but doesn’t have a strict

GAUDIOSO

from page 53

but happy for the brothers. The father didn’t bother preparing the boys for what was ahead of them at the orphanage – the least of which was the absence of family influences. It was a case of adjustments, procedures and regulations, made worse by the brothers being separated, in addition to losing their mother’s love and any meaningful family communication. “Our mom endured 11 years in a men-

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

schedule or routine as to when. “Sometimes I want to have a shower and be fresh about whatever thoughts are rolling around and other times I try to just jump right in, so it varies from day to day.” Givens said. What doesn’t vary is her love for mingling romance with a hint of mystery, “I guess I’m a hopeful romantic – always wanting a happy ending. Who doesn’t love being in love? And being loved?” she told the SanTan Sun News earlier this year. “Maui Christmas,” for example, involved a woman who decides to surprise her daughter for Christmas and gets a surprise or two herself – the first being her daughter’s absence. Deciding to make the best of the trip while waiting for her daughter, she checks into a resort where soon she is pursued by an attractive but mysterious gentleman. Then one night she thinks she sees her one true love across a crowded

patio. Only he was presumed dead. Throwing caution to the wind, she knows if it was him, she must find him again. And, if she finds him, then what? That novel and her new one also draw somewhat on her personal life. “Maui” involved a character based on a lost love of long ago while “Second Chances” echoes part of her experience as a widow. “I think a lot of widows – and perhaps this is true for widowers as well – spend so much of their lives as a couple that when they are without their spouse they wonder who are they now that they are on their own again. She said that’s “sort of where this novel started” but then she added “some spicy stuff.” While a bit autobiographical, her novels mainly are rooted in her flights of fancy. “This might sound strange, but I have stories in my head,” she said. “Ideas just come to me. I often think if I could just

send it straight from my head to paper, it would be so much easier. Inspiration is everywhere.” And there’s the very act of writing to savor. “One of the things about writing that is so enjoyable, Givens said, “is the way you can do or be whatever you want.” Her tastes in novels as a reader tends more toward mysteries, crime and suspense and counts Michael Connelly, Stuart Woods and Daniel Silva among some of her favorites. “I’ve traveled quite a bit and love to be mentally taken to foreign locations in what I read,” she said, confessing that all those favorites are “very unlike what I write but what I like to read.” Givens is giving some thought to a sequel to her 2018 novel, “Running Horse Ranch,” because “readers keep asking me for more about the characters.” “Second Chances” and “Maui Christmas” are both available on Amazon.

tal facility. We endured eight-and-a-half years in an orphanage,” Gaudioso said. “As if that wasn’t enough, Dad followed up a few years later telling us that Mom was gone. A lie. What would prompt any father, for no known reason, to elect to separate a family without explanation for his actions?” The family immigrated to the USA from Italy and his grandfather was a shoe-maker. They had seven sons. His dad, who became a federal employee, was one. The events in the autobiography took place in Brooklyn, New York

between 1947-1964. Before their mother and they were placed into institutions, the Gaudiosos were a regular family that enjoyed Sunday walks, playground activities and family gatherings. “Dad’s actions were abrupt and quickly acted on,” he said. “No explanations were provided.” Years later, they were told that their mother was alive and that she was committed to a mental institution. They also became aware that she was diagnosed as schizophrenic.

“It was then we realized Dad lied to us, years earlier, that mom had passed,” he said, adding “Talk about confusion.” After they were released from the orphanage, Gaudioso and his brothers took charge of their mom, visiting her and later transferring her to an apartment, where one son lived with her. But within three months she passed away. Decades later, Gaudioso is unable to understand what motivated his father to take these steps. See

GAUDIOSO on page 56

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Artist Ray Villafane’s imaginative and striking pumpkin art will be on display throughout downtown Mesa through Nov. 8. His exhibits often are humorous with a dash of the macabre. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Scarecrows, playful pumpkins take over Mesa BY JACQUELINE ROBLEDO Contributor

Ray Villafane’s playful, carved pumpkins are synonymous with Halloween in Carefree. But when COVID-19 hit, he was forced to make a change when the town canceled its events. “Strange Encounters: A Halloween Scavenger Hunt” was installed throughout Downtown Mesa and in its storefronts – all visible from the sidewalk to ensure proper social distancing. Maps are available online and in Downtown Mesa until the show ends on Nov. 8. Villafane explained each scene tells its own anecdotal story. This year, “Mr. Hallows” is making his debut. A 9-foottall scarecrow, Mr. Hallows is made from natural materials – a pumpkin for a head and limbs made from branches Villafane found on a hike. He has a heart made of hag stone and three felted mice living inside of him. “I’m probably most proud of that scarecrow and I’m excited for his final debut,” he said. Villafane said he uses hag stones as the hearts for his scarecrows because they have naturally occurring holes through the middle and they signify magic and good luck. “My life is constantly in the pursuit

Acclaimed sculptor Ray Villafane brings his vignettes and creepy cast of characters to Downtown Mesa this year. (Courtesy Villafane Studios)

of finding what makes me tick what I’m really passionate about,” he said. “Over the years I’ve refined it to the point where I really find myself settling with making things with natural materials for the public to enjoy.” Villafane was a K-12 art teacher when he carved a pumpkin for his students, who loved it. He soon traded his chalkboard for sculpting tools. He began commercial sculpting on

the side and eventually, Villafane became a full-time commercial sculptor, working for companies such as Marvel, Warner Bros., DC Comics and McFarlane Toys. As he became more skilled in his craft, he began receiving more attention for his work, including that of the Food Network, eventually contributing to the launch of a pumpkin carving series.

Villafane found his niche in storytelling using pumpkin carving and sculpting as his medium. “I just created this sort of enchanted magical world utilizing natural materials,” he said. “I just love creating magic, making stuff from nothing. I love working with natural materials and making enchanted storylines, and while it is based in a sort of Halloween vibe, it certainly transcends that.” Villafane’s work has been displayed around the world. To name a few, he has carved at the White House, Heidi Klum’s annual Halloween party and Ocean Park Hong Kong. He holds two Guinness Book World Records, including largest pumpkin sculpture and has been called the “Michelangelo of pumpkin carving” by Martha Stewart. “It is the most magical Halloween on the planet,” Villafane said.

If you go What: “Strange Encounters: A Halloween Scavenger Hunt” When: Through November 8 Where: Downtown Mesa Info: mesaartscenter.com/strangeencounters

Three weekends of free fests at Wild Horse BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA Contributor

An Organic Pumpkin Farm Stand, hot air balloons aglow in the gloaming, a BBQ cook-off, a variety of local food trucks and retail vendors, a beer garden. What’s not to like? Those are but a few attractions scheduled at the free Fall Fest held today, Oct. 25, through Nov. 7 on the grounds of Phoenix Premium Outlets at Wild Horse Pass and organized by the Arizona Events Group and their indefatigably optimistic president and CEO Tim Matykiewicz, an Ahwatukee resident and McClintock High Class of ‘81 alum. The germ of the idea for the Fall Fest in the East Valley came shortly after the completion of the very successful 2020 Arizona Balloon Classic this past January in Goodyear. After months of research and arrangements, the agreement to have the

Promoter Tim Matykiewicz thinks people will flock to his fall festivals. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Fall Fest was signed with Simon Properties/Phoenix Premium Outlets on the Gila River Indian Community on March 1, 2020.

And then COVID and the mid-March statewide shutdown struck. “Live events are one of the first things shut down and the last to reopen,” said Matykiewicz. “We signed the deal the first of March, just two months after our ninth annual Arizona Balloon Classic. “We were on the road producing hot air balloon Glows in Beaumont, Texas, and Riverside, California. And then, March 10, COVID craziness started.” Originally, the Fall Fest event was envisioned as a one-weekend BBQ and Balloons, or what he called a BnB event, but Arizona Events Group was asked to expand it. As happens sometimes when organizing events, unforeseen obstacles loom – as it did just two weeks ago when the Gila River Indian Community Task Force asked for a meeting to review all plans for the already-in-place event. “It’s been crazy,” Matykiewicz said. “You’re getting excited, you’re discour-

aged, you’re excited, you’re discouraged but we have a positive outlook and keep moving forward. “The Gila River Indian Community and Simon Properties have been very professional, understanding and really willing to work out details for a fun, successful and safe event.” And that is what Matykiewicz and his staff are doing while striving to meet health protocols to assure locals that the Fall Fest is seriously taking their COVID concerns to heart. “In regard to social distancing, we’re distancing all our vendors – food and retail so as to not have too many individuals in one place and since it’s an open-air location, we have plenty of space,” he said. “As for personal distancing space, we’re not enforcing anything, but are relying on each individual’s responsibilSee

FESTIVAL on page 56

ARTS

GAUDIOSO

from page 54

“Dad was a talker. He was regarded as the type who assumed he was in charge. His friends included tough guys as well as co-workers who were treated professionally,” he reflected.

FESTIVAL

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

Gaudioso is retired and lives with his wife. The present and future are secure but looking back on those years, he can only revisit the painful years of isolation, loneliness and confusion. Three Weeks, A Lie is not the only book that Gaudioso has written. His first venture into publishing produced

three children’s stories: “Smoky,” “Smoky’s Adventure” and “Smoky to the Rescue.” He is now working on the latest in the Smoky series, “Uptown – Not.” But the captivating memoir following his and his brothers’ plight as they learn to cope with an unfortunate reality is perhaps the best story.

from page 55

ity to their most comfortable position and there’s lots of signage stating this health protocol.” “I’m not sure we’ll get the masses as some people are still being cautious, and we understand. But we’re committed to making our event the very cleanest and healthiest environment in Arizona,” he said. “When you come to the Fall Fest at the Outlets, you’ll be required to wear a mask – which is enforceable – distance when you can and we’ll be swimming in hand sanitizer.” He said what he and his company want most is to offer the East Valley community a little hope amid the pandemic gloom, provide activities for them to have a good time and to help raise money for the Phoenix-based Hope for the Homeless nonprofit. The organizers are donating 25 percent of all gross liquor sales and 25 percent of all Relief Raffle ticket sales directly to Hope for the Homeless. Additionally, attendees are urged to bring at least one canned food item to be donated for a Thanksgiving food drive.

Promoter Tim Matykiewicz stages a ballon fest in Goodyear annually and turns the host site into a carnival-like setting. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

The opening weekend for Fall Fest winds up today, Oct. 25, until 6 p.m. Food trucks, a variety of retail vendors, a beer garden and an organic (and sanitized) Pumpkin Farm Stand with pumpkins suitable for cooking or carving direct from Crooked Sky Farms of Phoenix, a certified organic and non-GMO produce grower are components of weekend. Under recommendations from the Gila River Indian Council, the proposed fireworks were eliminated. Halloween Weekend at the Fall Fest begins Oct. 28th and runs through Oct. 31 with the Pumpkin Farm Stand, food trucks and beer garden and retail vendors returning. And, as Matykiewicz said, it wouldn’t be

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Halloween weekend without a costume contest, a pumpkin decorating competition and other family-oriented activities. A fitting 2020 Fall Fest addition is the newly-added COVID mask competition. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7, is BBQ n Balloons Weekend with a People’s Choice BBQ competition, hot air balloon glows and tethered hot air balloon rides. All Fall Fest weekends include the beer garden, food trucks and a variety of retail, food and drink vendors. Undertaking such a large-scale event isn’t for the faint at heart, but Matykiewicz has a great deal of faith and years of experience from which to draw. A life-long east valley resident who

“Painful memories entombed in my past prompted penning my autobiography,” Gaudioso said. Three Weeks, A Lie is available as a paperback, hardback and e-book at Austin Macauley: austinmacauley.com/us/book/ three-weeks-lie and at amazon.com parlayed his McClintock High school football prowess to a scholarship at Colorado Christian University where he also played basketball, his post-grad credentials include a 10-year stint as corporate marketing manager at the Arizona Lottery, Director of marketing and special events for Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine for eight years, executive director for the Thunderbird University Balloon Classic, where his love for hot air balloons spurred him on to start Arizona Events Group with Nanette Duncan in 2008. Matykiewicz said he’s accustomed to hard work, and yet, there’s the desire and pleasure of seeing people having a good time that also drives him – especially in 2020. “Nothing’s easy right now for a lot of people and businesses but it looks and feels like people want us to be in business. I can sense that cabin fever is peaking and people are coming out more. They’re putting their foot in the water and testing it out, and they’re taking precautions as they start to go out.” Phoenix Premium Outlets at Wild Horse Pass is located at 4976 Premium Outlets Way, Chandler. For more information: theazfallfest.com

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | OCTOBER 25, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Our mandate: We will do and we will listen BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Guest Writer

Ever since the beginning when Abraham argued with God regarding the salvation of Sodom and Gomorrah, we have always had dialogue with God in one form or another. Some of us speak to God in our hearts, some through written words and some in deeds. Either of these connections form the basis for a concept called faith. Then there is hope. Hope and faith are connected because hope gives us the ability to have faith in our lives. We hope for various things and we have faith that our hopes will be fulfilled. This has been the distinctive aspect of our lives as human beings. We know and understand that if we talk to God, in whatever form, God will listen. And, just as there are times when we listen but do not hear when others talk to us, so too God may at times appear to be listening but not hearing. The simple truth is that God speaks

to us in different ways and listens differently. Things may not seem so clear, but the answer can be there and not be visible. There again, we need to have faith that our needs and desires regarding our welfare will be heard so that our lives will have meaning. Each of us attends to this in varying ways. Some affiliate with a house of worship to look for that connection that brings comfort. Togetherness is what this will bring us and helps in our desire to share the burdens and fulfillments of life with others. When we are sad, we rush to each other’s aid; when we have joy in our lives, we want everyone to share in our happiness in the hope that it will spill over into their lives too. Some of us find this attraction through social or other institutional involvement. Some of us find contentment with acknowledging our heritage with support through charitable endeavors. There are so many reasons to remember who we are, where we came from, and hope that faith in ourselves and our companions and friends will ensure our future.

Then there are times when our world seems to be in turmoil, as it is today. Our community needs our participation to guarantee that our society will thrive in peace and harmony. Organizations cry out for support so that their mission can be achieved. Families and friends flock to our side to remind us of our need for love and appreciation. Our church, synagogue or mosque needs our help to ensure that this generation and the next and the next will be there to remind us that without hope and faith, our existence has no meaning. Many congregations have members who have accepted the responsibility for people’s continuation and success, and have joined together to do just that. The task, at times can be daunting. And there are times when we lift our heads and realize that the good of the whole is what brings satisfaction to us as individuals. When God whispered to the people assembled at the Mount as the laws of society were formed, all cried in unison, “We will do and we will listen.”

We, all humanity, accepted the rule of law and survival and then worried about the content because we knew that without a civilized world there is no future for any of us. Laws were not intended to be a burden but rather a discipline. Without discipline we are no better than the monsters existing today or those from the past. As we continue life’s celebrations, let us remember that what we have built upon those words spoken thousands of year ago, emphasizing our acceptance of the continuity of the human spirit given to us by God and nurtured through the progression of understanding, is the ability to achieve salvation by learning from the past. May we continue to be blessed with a concern for caring, sharing, loving, and connection. “We will do and we will listen.” This is humanity’s mandate and obligation. It has never been more important than it is today. Rabbi Irwin Weiner is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.

It is okay to be quiet. To wait. To listen. BY LYNNE HARTKE Guest Writer

“What do you ask God when you pray?” Dan Rather, CBS news anchor once asked Mother Teresa. “I listen,” she answered. “Well then, what does God say?” “He listens,” Mother Teresa smiled, “and if you don’t understand that, I can’t explain it to you.” Prayer as duo listening. I like that. I need that. Because sometimes I simply do not have words. In this pandemic, I find myself speaking less words to actual people as I spend more time at home in front of a screen, but I am still inundated with words. And so are you.

Listen to this. Buy that. Subscribe to this. Businesses and advertisers are gearing up to bombard us with the biggest advertisement deluge that has ever existed in the history of humankind. In the fight for our dollars, the message resonates that we deserve their products after all we have experienced in this pandemic, that their services hold the magic answer to all the anxiety and uncertainty stirred up in this global crisis. The onslaught is relentless. As a teenager growing up in the 70s, I was exposed to 500-1600 ads a day from newspapers, billboards, and television, according to writer Sam Carr in a recent article for PPCProtect. With the inundation of online advertising, researchers now estimate the number at 6000-10,000 ads a day. Every single day.

Videos ads. Streaming ads. Social media ads. In addition to ads, we also have the words from emails, social media posts, and conversations with co-workers, friends, and family members. So. Many. Words. Is it any wonder I experience bankruptcy when I want to pray, that I wrestle to be quiet inside myself? My word bank is used up by the $10,000 withdrawal every single day and sometimes I struggle to rub two worn pennies together. What can I do? “I listen,” Mother Teresa had said. “God listens.” Romans 8:26-27 CEV puts it this way, “In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray

for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God’s people.” When we have no words, the Spirit of God in Christ communicates on our behalf. When we find ourselves bankrupt of syllables, it is okay to be quiet. To wait. To listen. To humbly seek His face and declare our need. In that weak place of absolute poverty, a wordless conversation of relationship arises. Suddenly, in our prayerful listening, we aren’t so poor anymore. But rich beyond measure. Lynne Hartke is the author of “Under a Desert Sky” and the wife of pastor and Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. She blogs at lynnehartke.com.

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Correction: The SanTan Sun News inadvertently used religiously insensitive artwork with Rabbi Wiener’s column in the Oct. 11 edition. The paper regrets the error.

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