The Chandler Arizonan - 11.29.2020

KYRENE PICKS NEW LEADER

LOCAL WOMAN'S COLLEGE GUIDANCE

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From Uptown to Downtown, covering Chandler like the sun.

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Virus surge closes some N. Chandler schools

INSIDE This Week

NEWS .................................

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ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

2

Nightlife may have ebbed, DUI has not.

COMMUNITY ............ 19

Chandler man drumming back to business.

T

he three school districts that serve Chandler’s northern ZIP codes are taking different approaches as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

Chandler Unified administrators told their Governing Board earlier this month that they would take an individualized approach to each campus after setting thresholds for infections among the population at elementary, middle and high school campuses.

Those thresholds, ranging from 1 to 2 percent, would have to be met or exceeded before a return to at-home learning for all students at a particular campus would be considered.

Meanwhile, Kyrene and Tempe Union High School districts returned most students to at-home learning, effective tomorrow, Nov. 30. Those districts’ officials made their announcements on Nov. 20.

Data the county released Nov. 25 – the latest available – showed that Chandler city-wide saw cases per 100,000 people up tp 281 while positive new test results were at 10.5 percent.

Both are in the substantial-spread category.

Chandler Unified's levels in both categories are the same.

Cases per 100,000 people climbed even higher in two of Chandler’s three northern ZIP codes, with 85225 recording 299 cases, 85224 showing 255 and 85226 reporting 253.

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Positive test results entered the substantial spread category in 85225 with 12.7 percent, 10.2 percent in 85224 and 9.2 percent in 85226.

With less than a month remaining in the second quarter of the school year, the chances of Kyrene and Tempe Union students returning to campuses before the end of the year are virtually non-existent.

But those two districts gave no indication as to what they might do after the Christmas break – probably because there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for the current upward trend in COVID-19 cases.

For a look at how all three districts are reacting to the surge, see pages 10 and 11.

Downtown wonder

BY JIM WALSH Arizonan Staff Writer

SPORTS ........................ 28

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NEWS........................................ 2

COMMUNITY........................ 19 BUSINESS...............................23

SPORTS...................................28 GET OUT............................... 30 CLASSIFIEDS..........................32

A

rizona’s new Proposition 207 likely will become law tomorrow, Nov. 30, enabling as many as three million residents to buy a small amount marijuana legally for the first time without a state-issued medical card and can get high in their home.

The new law, scheduled to take effect when state officials certify the results of the Nov. 3 election, promises millions of dollars for teacher training, substance abuse treatment, suicide prevention and even enforcement of impaired driving laws.

It also promises a host of challenges.

Police are preparing for more impaired drivers. The courts could see a deluge of requests for expungements of prior marijuana possession convictions.

Prop 207 provides for neither defense.

Prop 207 won a much larger victory – 1,946,440-1,302,458, or 60-40 percent, according to unofficial results – than Presi-

see WEED page 14

The holidays are here and various public and private entities are doing their best to bring some Christmas season into a pandemic-dampened holiday season, as the Downtown Chandler Partnership is doing with scenes like this from its new Sugarland display. For a rundown, see page 17. (Special to the Arizonan)

CITY NEWS

2

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Nightlife may have ebbed, drunk driving hasn’t

BY JIM WALSH Staff Writer

P

olice tactics are changing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but the East Valley DUI Task Force will return during the holiday season with the same goal of promoting public safety by busting as many impaired drivers as possible.

Throughout Arizona, driving under the influence arrests are down 10-15 percent this year, but East Valley agencies report the opposite trend, with Gilbert police arrests increasing 31 percent from a year ago and Chandler police also reporting an increase.

Mesa and Scottsdale police report little change from a year ago, with drivers still drinking or using drugs before getting behind the wheel – apparently more at home or private social gatherings.

“Overall, our numbers are down slightly from last year. However, our crashes involving impaired drivers have remained at a similar level,’’ said Sgt. Ben Hoster, a Scottsdale police spokesman. “This is still significant because of how nightlife has been impacted.

DEC 12-13

Despite curbs on bars and restaurants during the pandemic, drunk driving arrests are up in Chandler and other communities and police will be looking for impaired drivers throughout the season. (Special to the Arizonan)

“Across the Valley, we are seeing a noticeable amount of people driving impaired that are not coming from the establishments impacted by the pandemic.’’

Mesa police Officer George Chwe, a state instructor in DUI investigations, said the problem can be traced to substance abuse and addiction.

“A lot of old habits are coming back,’’ Chwe said, with people who have suffered from substance abuse in the past

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likely backsliding under the pressure of losing their jobs and sustaining other setbacks during the pandemic.

“I think impaired driving and substance abuse will be a huge factor,’’ he said, as the nation mobilizes to defeat the pandemic and return to a sense of normalcy.

“We’re just changing our tactics, but it’s business as usual,’’ Chwe said. “We’re doing it in a COVID-prevention manner.’’

Chwe said the entire point is to prevent needless fatalities and deter high-risk behavior that can have a deadly consequence for innocent people on the road.

“People do make mistakes. We would rather catch them before they make a tremendous mistake, killing someone,’’ he said.

Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, said police are changing tactics to avoid either contracting COVID-19 from each other or from suspects during traffic stops or at mobile testing and booking stations.

“We have to very careful. No briefings with 50 people in a room,’’ Gutier said.

He said the safety protocols will help protect officers and suspects alike by promoting social distancing, with maybe one suspect being booked at a time in a command van, while the others wait outside.

Other holiday enforcement campaigns this year, during the July 3 holiday and Labor Day, have followed similar practices.

Gutier anticipates that arrests statewide from the holiday enforcement campaigns will probably drop 10-15 percent from this time last year.

He canceled his yearly Thanksgiving rally against DUI at the State Capitol, where police from around the state would gather in a show of force to publicize their campaign, which is largely

funded by federal highway safety grants.

Instead, police agencies will either work on their own, or form smaller, regional partnerships to carry out the campaign through New Year’s Day, he said.

Barring an extreme flare-up of COVID-19, the East Valley task force has been divided into north and south divisions.

Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler will form the south division, while Tempe, Scottsdale, the state Department of Public Safety, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the Arizona State University police and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa tribal police form the northern contingent.

Hoster said the two divisions also cut down on travel time, allowing officers to focus more on DUI enforcement.

“Each of the respective cities have grown up enough that they need their traffic units working in their own city at night,’’ he wrote. “Eliminating the drive time, for example, between Scottsdale and Gilbert allows more time for officers to focus on enforcement.’’

Brenda Carrasco, spokeswoman for the Gilbert police, said the plan is to use a somewhat scaled-down approach featuring six nights of enforcement during the holiday period.

The task force would rotate their enforcement efforts among the three cities, hitting Gilbert one night and Chandler or Mesa the next, she said.

“We have seen a 31 percent increase in DUI arrests. We have had our traffic units go out three nights a week,’’ Carrasco said, adding that all Gilbert patrol officers are vigilant about spotting possibly impaired drivers.

“When you can take people off the road who are endangering others, you want to do that,’’ she said, adding, “we don’t have a specific answer as to why’’ arrests have increased.

Gilbert’s DUI arrests have increased to 1,092 between January and October 2020, from 832 during the same period in 2019, Carrasco said.

Detective Zachary Waters, a Chandler police spokesman, said traffic officers have noted an uptick as well and his department is planning saturation patrols throughout the holidays.

“We just want to keep impaired drivers off the roadways,’’ Waters said. “We think people still continue to drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. We believe the task force is still important.’’

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

3 CITY NEWS

Laura Toenjes named Kyrene superintendent

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Arizonan Executive Editor

T

o no one’s surprise, Kyrene School District Governing Board last week unanimously approved Laura Toenjes as its next superintendent, effective Jan. 1.

The vote came after the board fasttracked the process for replacing retiring Dr. Jan Veseley by the end of the year after she surprised members with her retirement notice in October.

Board members again alluded to the need for looking first internally for a replacement and the fact that Toenjes, a Chandler resident who has been Kyrene’s assistant superintendent, was the only candidate to submit a resume for their consideration.

But they also stressed that they had given more scrutiny to Toenjes’ qualifications than they probably would have given an external candidate and reiterated the need to replace Vesely with a qualified candidate who knew the district at a time when COVID-19 has presented myriad challenges.

“We probably put you through a harder process than an outside candidate because you were an inside job candidate,” board President Michael Myrick told Toenjes.

Toenjes in a brief thank you told the board, “2020 has been an unprecedented year in so many ways and I really am looking forward to being a partner with all of you – the board, the community, our staff – in this journey as we move forward with during these unpredictable times.

“I just want you all to know from the

bottom of my heart that I really am committed to bringing the continuity that you seek and compassion that is consistent with the tradition of excellence in Kyrene.

Now, the work begins,” she continued.

The contract carries a base pay of $145,000 annually and lasts 30 months, a district spokeswoman said, adding it will be signed this week.

Toenjes began her 26 years in education as a teacher, first in Gilbert from 1994-2000 and then in the Stanfield School District. From there, she held positions with the Maricopa County Superintendent’s Office for six months, then an elementary principal for a year in Union Elementary School District in Tolleson.

She also worked two separate stints in the state Department of Education – including deputy associate superin-

tendent for school improvement from 2011-15 – before she landed a job as director of school improvement in Sunnyside Unified School District, the same Tucson district where Vesely had been assistant superintendent.

Before Vesely hired her shortly after becoming superintendent in Kyrene, Tjoenes commuted 100 miles a day between Chandler and Tucson.

In an interview with shortly after her hiring, the Gilbert native said she worked closely with Vesely when she was in the state Education Department, stating, “I was very impressed with her leadership.”

Together at Sunnyside, Vesely and Toenjes helped four district schools improve test scores and strengthen teacher’s

can enact.

Desai pointed out, the state constitution specifically makes voters co-equal with the Legislature, meaning they have exactly the same powers.

Central to the fight is the initiative which imposes a 3.5 percent income tax surcharge on earnings of more than $250,000 a year for individuals and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. Proponents say the levy would raise $940 million a year for education.

Efforts by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce to keep the measure off the ballot faltered when the Arizona Supreme Court said there was nothing wrong with the wording of the description given to voters.

But the justices did not rule on the legal merits of the measure, saying any challenge would have to wait until after it was enacted.

This lawsuit, Elia said, raises those issues.

“We believe that voter-initiated statutory taxes are unconstitutional,’’ he said.

But the litigation faces some legal hurdles.

That includes a 2004 voter-approved amendment to the Arizona Constitution which specifically prohibits initiatives that require new state spending unless the measure also includes a way to raise the additional dollars.

That provision, known as the “revenue source rule,’’ was designed to keep voters from redirecting existing tax dollars from one program to another unless they also found the new dollars to finance the new spending.

Desai said the lawsuit is based on the premise that voters can’t raise taxes. But that, she said, would require courts to rule that voters never could enact any new spending programs despite the constitutional right of initiative because there never would be the revenues to fund it.

Desai said what the challengers are arguing would sharply and illegally impair the constitutional right of voters to create their own laws.

Elia disagrees, stating, “There are other revenue sources other than taxation,’’ he said.

He contends that if voters want a new program, they could impose new fees or even direct that the money be borrowed.

They just can’t impose taxes.

Elia cannot file his lawsuit until Dec. 1.

That’s because the state first has to certify the results of the Nov. 3 election and the fact that Proposition 208 got 51.7 percent of the vote.

Opponents and proponents of the initiative spent more than $30 million on the campaign.

see KYRENE page 15

Ex-judge, store CEO aim to stop new education tax

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

A

Scottsdale business owner and a retired judge are challenging the legality of the just-approved tax hike on the wealthy to provide more dollars for K-12 education.

Attorney Logan Elia claims there is no constitutional authority for voters to levy a tax and then direct how the cash must be spent. That, he told Capitol Media Services, is strictly the purview of the legislature and the elected representatives.

One of the plaintiffs in the case in John Buttrick, a former Maricopa County Superior Court judge and 1994 Libertarian candidate for governor.

The other is Ann Siner, CEO of My Sister’s Closet, a chain of upscale consignment shops. She complained in a prepared statement that the tax will harm Arizona businesses.

Elia acknowledged that voters have enacted numerous prior levies at the ballot box – including a 0.6-cent sales tax hike in which voters directed that the dollars be put into classroom spending.

Even the just-approved Proposition 207 legalizing the recreational use of marijuana imposes a new tax on sales.

Elia said that is irrelevant as these lev-

ANN SINER ies never were challenged. And that, he said, makes the issue ripe for a ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court as there are no precedents.

But Roopali Desai, who represents the Invest in Ed Committee that crafted the measure and put it on the ballot, said the litigation is based on a “half-cocked theory.’’

She said the people who crafted the Arizona Constitution and created the power of people to proposed their own laws imposed no such limit on what they

CITY NEWS

4

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Around Chandler Friends of Chandler Library reopens bookstores

The Friends Bookshops have reopened, with all purchases supporting programs and services at Chandler Public Library.

Located at the downtown branch at 22 S. Delaware St. and Sunset Library at 4930 W. Ray Road, the stores offer used books for $1-$3 with “Two for Tuesday” sales.

Friends of the Chandler Public Library, a volunteer-driven nonprofit, encourages Chandler residents to “Shop Local” and keep more of your money in the local economy.

The group’s Amazon Marketplace is at amazon.com/shops/chandlerlibrary and their eBay site is stores.ebay.com/ friendsofchandlerpubliclibrary.

While the discounts are available at the Chandler Downtown and Sunset Library Bookshop locations, they are not available online.

Information: chandlerlibrary.org/ friends or 480-782-2800.

Chandler Police get $232K in highway safety grants

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has awarded more than $232,000 in grants to Chandler Police.

The Traffic Section was allotted $24,070 to fund civilian motorcycle training courses with corresponding equipment and supplies and $40,000 to enforce Arizona’s seat belt and child safety seat laws. It also received $40,000 for pedestrian and bicycle safety overtime associated with the campaigns to raise awareness through education and enforcement.

The DUI Unit will use $93,440 to fund officer overtime to work DUI enforcement during select times of the year and $35,000 for the Know Your Limit nonenforcement, education program. Monies from the DUI enforcement sub-total will also fund phlebotomy and preliminary breath test supplies.

AFTER

Starting tomorrow, Nov. 30, the Chandler Environmental Education Center is marking Star Party Week but it will be a little different because of the pandemic.

Located in Veterans Oasis Park on the northeast corner of Lindsay and Chandler Heights roads, the center will not have nighttime telescope viewing by is offering free goodie bags to the first 250 children who drop by during the daytime.

The Star Party bags are filled with solar system crafts and activities for kids to take home, including materials to build an air powered rocket ship, a constellation projection light and balloons to help demonstrate how the moon orbits the Earth and how both orbit the sun.

The bags can be picked up in the EEC lobby 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. It is closed on Sundays.

park’s lake while following the Chandler Solar System Walk along the way. The self-guided Solar System Walk is a series of stone monuments and interpretive signs that represent the solar system.

The signs are placed along the 2,500-foot pathway that surrounds the lake at distances that are relative to the scale of the solar system. Every foot traveled on the pathway represents 1.5 million miles in space.

“The Solar System Walk is both fun and educational, for all ages, with a mix of science, mythology and history that make the signs interesting no matter what age you are,” said Recreation Coordinator Dexter Belling.

Dedicated in 2012, the Chandler Solar System Walk was designed by Chandler residents and funded entirely by private donations through a partnership between the Howard Israel family, the City and EVAC.

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Man convicted of killing Chandler couple released early

BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

M

aryAnn and Mia Contreras held up a picture of their dead parents as they stood before the lectern of a San Diego courtroom last year.

The sisters were pleading for a judge to give the maximum prison sentence to Richard Sepolio, a 29-year-old Navy crew member convicted of killing four people and injuring seven others on Oct. 15, 2016.

A jury convicted Sepolio last February of recklessly plunging his pickup truck off a bridge and into a crowd of spectators at a nearby motorcycle rally.

Amidst the horde of 3,000 attendees were Cruz Contreras, 52, and his wife AnnaMarie, 50, who had traveled from their home in Chandler to attend the San Diego event.

Sepolio’s truck fell 60 feet and crushed a vendor’s booth positioned near the bridge. A scene of carnage and horror then played out as bystanders scrambled to lift the wrecked vehicle off of people who had been standing underneath the booth’s tent.

Chandler couple Cruz and Anna Marie Contreras and another couple were killed in a 2016 auto crash in San Diego caused by a drunk driver, Richard Sepolio, who caught a break on a 10-year prison term when the state of California released him seven years early, claiming he needed to be protected from COVID-19. (File photos)

Contreras and his wife were among the four victims killed -– which also included two Los Angeles residents -leaving behind three daughters and two

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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F

ive teachers in Chandler public and charter schools have something special to be grateful for this season thanks to Fiesta Bowl Charities, the charitable arm of the organization that handles the celebrated end-of-the-season football game.

They are among 200 teachers statewide who each will receive $2,500 through the organization’s Wishes for Teachers program, which distributes $500,000 through Desert Financial Credit Union to teachers who apply for consideration.

The 200 teachers represent 161 schools and 70,000 students in 67 school districts.

“Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers has been built into the preeminent program for teacher support,” said Fiesta Bowl board Chairman Patrick Barkley. “My mom was a teacher and we all know teachers who inspire us with selfless work, shaping today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders.”

Each fall, Arizona K-12 public and charter school teachers are invited to apply for a grant by detailing their school or classroom need. Grantees’ names are drawn randomly.

Over the five years of the program, Fiesta Bowl Wishes for Teachers has awarded $3.7 million to more than 840 Arizona teachers, “impacting over 225,000 children across the state,” organizers said.

“What’s more fun than granting wishes? Wishes for Teachers is even more meaningful this year as teachers have adapted to extraordinary circumstances,” said Jeff Meshey of Chandler, president and CEO at Desert Financial. “Desert Financial has made it a practice to support education to honor the legacy of our 15 founders, all teachers.”

Each of the unique wishes will benefit teachers and schools in technology, reading, music, fitness and other needs.

“The need this year was more in line with the circumstances related to COVID-19, with more technology needs, plexiglass dividers and flexible seating equipment than ever before,” organizers said in a release.

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Chandler resident and Desert Financial Credit Union CEO Jeff Meshey helped make teachers' wishes come true. (Twitter)

are honored to support them as they adjust to today’s circumstances yet still work tirelessly and selflessly every day to help our children on their life journey,” said Mike Nealy, Fiesta Bowl executive director.

Among the lucky Chandler recipients is Tarwater Elementary teacher Jamie Droeg, who wanted to provide Chromebooks and additional technology equipment for her class.

Conley Elementary’s Ayana Gilchrist will use the money for individual STEM materials for each student.

Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School teacher Soledad Jackson plans to buy iPads for the entire class.

Sirrine Elementary School teacher Elizabeth Peco hopes to buy new books for her classroom while Kyrene de las Brisas Stacy Thomas aims to spend it on alternative seating and sensory resources for the classroom.

Fewer Chandler teachers were lucky to have their names drawn than their counterparts in Mesa and Gilbert, where more than a dozen in each community had their names pulled for the fulfillment of their wishes.

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Chandler Unified adopts new approach to closing campuses

BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

A

s COVID-19 surges across Arizona, Chandler Unified officials are taking a school-by-school approach to closing campuses rather than implementing a district-wide shut-down.

Stating transmission rates are not high enough district-wide to warrant closing all campuses, CUSD administrators last week unveiled a plan to close campuses on an individualized basis if the number of coronavirus cases among staff and students combined would hit certain percentages of that total.

Gilbert Public Schools adopted a similar approach earlier this month.

CUSD administrators told the Governing Board that the county’s data, released every Thursday morning, don’t entirely represent how the virus is spreading in Chandler’s schools.

“Our early CUSD data does not indicate COVID-19 is being transmitted on our campuses really at any substantial rate,” said Larry Rother, the district’s executive director of educational services. “Transmission rates at our schools do not mirror the transmission rates in the community.”

As of Nov. 18, CUSD reported 45 active cases of COVID-19 among its students and staff district-wide. Another 180 cases have been cleared and the infected individual has been allowed to return to campus.

Casteel High School has had one of the highest rates of infection among the district’s 46 campuses -- reporting at least 61 cases of the virus since CUSD reopened schools in September.

Casteel’s infection rate is currently still below new thresholds CUSD has recently implemented dictating when it will temporarily have to close a school.

At least 1 percent of a high school’s population would have to test positive for COVID-19 before CUSD closes the campus for five days and shifts back to virtual learning.

Elementary schools would need to have a 2-percent infection rate and junior high schools a 1.5 percent rate before activating closure procedures.

Families would be notified at least 48 hours before CUSD initiated a school closure and staff would begin disinfecting the entire campus, according to the new procedure.

For example, a campus the size of

Hamilton High School, the district’s biggest school, would need about 40 active virus cases before it would be closed.

District data show Hamilton currently has five cases of COVID-19.

A smaller campus like Frye Elementary School, which has reported no cases, would need to at least 10 students and staff test positive to meet the closure threshold.

Assistant Superintendent Frank Narducci said CUSD intentionally made the thresholds different between elementary and secondary schools because campuses with fewer students are better at mitigating the virus.

The public has underestimated how well kindergartners have adapted to the district’s health protocols, he said, which has kept the infection rate lower at most of the elementary campuses.

That mirrors the reports from other school districts, which have found younger children present less resistance to wearing masks all day.

“A lot of people thought our little kids couldn’t wear masks when they came back to school,” Narducci said. “Well, every single one of them did a great job.”

The board met hours after an unrelated press conference by Gov. Doug Ducey in which he refused to impose new restrictions or mandates on individuals even as his own health chief warned of an increasing number of Arizonans becoming infected with COVID-19.

The governor dismissed the idea of a statewide mask mandate, calling it unnecessary given various local ordinances. Nor will he clamp down on existing occupancy limits at bars, restaurants, gyms or movie theaters or seek to curb their hours of operation.

Ducey also made another push for keep-

ing kids in classrooms.

“I think children should be in school,’’ the governor said. “I want parents to have options and one of those options should be in-person learning.’’

Ducey said he believes that is in the best interests of children, even as schools have wrestled with how to provide instruction and keep the youngsters and staffers – and, by extension, their families – safe.

A statewide spike in COVID-19 cases has prompted districts in Yuma, Phoenix, and Tucson to close all their campuses again until infection rates ebb.

During the Chandler Unified Governing Board meeting, Narducci said that because it is generally more challenging for bigger campuses to implement socialdistancing guidelines, CUSD administrators think high schools should have a smaller threshold to trigger a shutdown.

All the district’s elementary schools have had a smaller number of COVID-19 cases compared to the high schools, Narducci added, so it seemed logical to give elementary campuses a higher threshold for closure.

CUSD officials said eliminating inperson learning could have disastrous effects on students and their mental health and that their individualized approach would be most beneficial for families and the community.

But some district leaders also are worried how the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays could impact infection rates.

Board member Lindsay Love said she is concerned that district’s teachers and support staff are being forgotten during discussions about closure policies.

“One of the things we’re missing is how this is going to impact the positivity rate of our staff when we have two holidays coming up,” she said. “We have a lack of testing and a lack of transparency within our community.”

Love, who is self-isolating at home after showing symptoms of the virus, highlighted how everyone -- especially teachers – can be vulnerable to infection despite the precautions they may take to

protect themselves.

“Even with the mitigation that I have taken, I’m still at home with a virus that has not been determined and it could be COVID,” Love added. “If we’re not looking at our teachers and their health, we’re going to have teachers who are going to walk.”

According to the district’s data, 46 out of the 5,000 CUSD staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in an infection rate that’s less than half of a percent.

Since the district reopened schools on Sept. 14, more than 1,800 students have had to return home and quarantine after coming into contact with an infected classmate.

Only nine of these quarantined students ended up testing positive for the virus. No teachers have reported catching the virus after contact with an infected colleague or student, district officials said.

Board President Barbara Mozdzen said she feels the district’s data vindicate CUSD’s health protocols and their effectiveness in minimizing virus spread on campuses.

“I am very, very happy to see that our mitigation strategies are actually being proven – by our data – that they are effective,” Mozdzen said. “That is a testimony to all our staff and families who are complying and taking this seriously.”

Though transmission rates appear to be low on campuses, board member David Evans is worried about the number of students who may have to undergo a 2-week quarantine.

More than 1,000 students have already had to be quarantined since the schools reopened, Evans noted, and have to had transition back and forth from virtual to inperson learning over a short period of time.

Quarantined students are given virtual access to their classes and teachers have to make accommodations so they can still participate remotely in lessons.

This type of constant transitioning must be destabilizing to students and teachers, Evans added, and should be addressed as more students continue to be quarantined.

“We know that if spread is happening from the outside into the district, we’re probably going to continue to see more (quarantining),” Evans said. “If not over this holiday, then over the next one and ongoing.”

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

11 CITY NEWS

Kyrene, TU return to at-home learning for all

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

A

mid metrics showing a surge in COVID-19 throughout Ahwatukee and Arizona, virtually all Kyrene and Tempe Union students are back to learning at home – likely for the rest of 2020.

Both districts within hours of each other on Friday notified parents that virtual instruction would be the order of the day effective next Monday, though they are making on-campus provisions for special education and a few other students.

Though neither districts’ officials indicated when students might be invited back into classrooms – even for a few days a week – the last day of the quarter is Dec. 17 and officials have previously said it takes two weeks to ramp up for open campuses.

Meanwhile, Horizon Honors in Ahwatukee remains open, although it announced last week that secondary students would learn at home on Wednesdays to allow for deep cleaning of their part of the campus. Elementary

classrooms remain open and all families can elect five-day virtual learning More significant is the likelihood that Kyrene and Tempe union students will learn at home the rest of the calendar year as the virus surges. It shows no sign of reversing, especially after the long Thanksgiving weekend that already was causing considerable concern among health and other officials in Arizona.

During a press conference Nov. 17, Gov. Doug Ducey said that “getting back to normal isn’t in the cards right now” and state health Director Dr. Cara Christ said virus metrics “are going in the wrong direction.”

At the same time, Ducey renewed his contention that schools should provide in-classroom learning.

Noting that more than 800 students are in quarantine, Kyrene Superintendent Dr. Jan Vesely wrote parents: “When we see substantial community spread, it poses a risk to our entire school community, not just children, and for those who are older or at high risk, the outcome could be life threatening. My first and fore-

most priority is to keep everyone safe.”

Kyrene followed Tempe Elementary in closing classrooms in the wake of increases in all three benchmarks used by school districts in deciding whether to keep campuses open. Both those districts are feeder districts for Tempe Union and it was no surprise that Tempe Union pulled the trigger quickly.

Tempe Union Assistant Superintendent Sean McDonald briefed his Governing Board on Nov. 18, the day before updated metrics were released by the county, and noted that there has been a steady increase in cases the last two weeks and said it is unlikely the metrics would decline any time soon.

“We know what’s coming our way,” he said.

During that meeting, Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil reiterated that – unlike Gilbert Public Schools and Chandler Unified – all schools would close if a decision is made to return to full virtual learning because principals had said months ago they wanted all schools maintaining the same approach to learning.

Both Gilbert and Chandler are closing schools on an individual basis after setting thresholds for the percentage of active COVID-19 cases on their campus.

Separate triggers were established by those districts for elementary, middle and high school campuses that range from 1 to 2 percent of a school’s population with infections. The higher percentages were set for elementary schools because it is easier to keep those students socially distant.

The Tempe Union Governing Board on Nov. 18 voted 3-2 to give Mendivil authority to make the decision on closing. Andres Barraza and Sandy Lowe abstained, saying they didn’t think the board could vote because the resolution was not on the agenda. Mendivil disagreed, as did the three other board members who backed him.

The latest data from the county showed that for the week of Nov. 15, cases per 100,000 jumped 215 in Kyrene’s boundaries and to 246 within Tempe Union’s

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VIRUS SIDE from page 11

boundaries. That indicates substantial virus spread.

The data are 12 days old when the county posts them on Thursday mornings.

The percentage of new test results coming back positive was 7.8 percent in Kyrene and 8.48 percent in Tempe Union.

Although that latter metric's level is considered an indication of moderate spread, Mendivil noted the state was “cavalier” in changing that guideline since earlier this year a 7 percent positivity had been considered a sign of substantial spread.

In both Tempe Union and Kyrene, the third benchmark – percent of hospital visits with COVID-like symptoms – rose for the first time in a couple months from the minimal-spread category and entered the moderate-spread level.

Both Mendivil and Vesely made indirect references of that particular metric’s increase.

“A growing number of staff are experiencing COVID-like symptoms due to flu, colds or other viruses. Staff are required to remain home with ANY symptoms, and we are having extreme difficulty

securing substitute teachers for those classrooms,” they said in their respective messages to parents, adding: “Soon, we will not have enough personnel to cover classes. Moving to contingency reduces the risk of teachers being out sick.”

Both superintendents also stated that while many families “have been diligent about practicing good safety habits both on and off campus,” they have seen “multiple cases of students sent to school with symptoms or while awaiting COVID test results.

“These incidents put staff and students at risk in addition to causing preventable school quarantines,” their messages said.

“Higher community spread translates into higher positive COVID cases on campuses, higher counts of quarantine and greater risk for everyone,” they added.

Mendivil also noted that, like Kyrene, while the actual number of active cases on any Tempe Union campus was relatively low, more than 600 students and staff had been isolated or quarantined due to possible exposure on campus.

The two districts’ decision came three days after Ducey told a press conference he wants to see in-classroom learning continue. “I think children should be

in school,” the governor said. “I want parents to have options and one of those options should be in-person learning.”

He also insisted that his position did not compromise children’s safety, stating: “Despite the best efforts of of teachers and parents, no one can argue: Kids have already missed out on too much learning due to this pandemic.”

Kyrene began reopening campuses in mid-September, opening classrooms for the lowest grades in mid-September until finally all campuses were open by mid-October.

In mid-October, Tempe Union students were divided alphabetically to attend inclass instruction either Monday-Tuesday or Thursday-Friday while all students are learning at home on Wednesdays.

Mendivil at the board meeting Nov. 18 said that more students’ families throughout the district were opting to learn at home five days a week.

He said about 60 percent of students in the district’s northern campuses had opted for at-home learning. Virtually all school districts in the East Valley are showing similar increases in cases per 100,000 and positivity. 

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Virus delays winter sports to Jan. 5

BY ZACH ALVIRA Arizonan Sports Editor

T

he Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board has approved a Jan. 5 start date for winter sports.

The winter sports season was originally scheduled to begin on Nov. 9, but was delayed as COVID-19 surges across Arizona.

It is safer to be at school with your kids than at home,” AIA Executive Director David Hines said. “Delaying the start of the season will give our coaches and administrators time to implement safety protocols and put sports modifications in place.”

For competition to begin, specific guidelines must be met.

Student who participate with a nonschool team must be excluded from practice for 14 days. All winter sports modifications must be followed, and scrimmages, invitational tournaments, regional tournaments and out-of-state competition are banned.

The metrics introduced in the fall by the AIA’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee will be used to determine when and if fans are allowed to attend events. However, they will not be used to determine when competition may begin.

“The metrics can be all over the place but if kids are doing all the mitigation they’re required to do when at school, practice and games, the health department and our sports medicine said they are safer there than at home,” Hines said.

“They aren’t following the protocols when they’re home.

“The cases are not being caused by being at school or playing sports.”

The AIA board also approved sp,e nmew rules for wrestling, the winter sport with the most contact of the three.

Greg Haagsma, the athletic director and head basketball coach at Valley Christian in Chandler, said club sports were some of his main concerns.

But with the AIA’s plan, students must stop playing with a club team 14 days prior to the start of official practices at school in order to be eligible right away.

“I like the concepts they’re coming

up with,” Haagsma said. “My main concern was that they gave us something to compete against club sports. They’ve answered my questions with that so I really like the plan.”

Campo Verde soccer coach Drew Guarneri said he was pleased with the AIA’s decision and hopes everyone involved, from the coaches to the players and fans, will follow the protocols.

“This is a difficult time for all of us and we want these kids to play, which is the goal of AIA,” Guarneri said.

“But we have to make sure we keep everyone safe as we move forward and I know that AIA is making recommendations that will hopefully allow these kids to enjoy a full season of competition.

“I know we will have specific rules in place to keep those kids away that are not well so that everyone can continue playing.”

Guarneri said he accepted the January start “if this is what it takes to make sure kids can play and hopefully experience their high school season. This is something that is very important for the seniors.”

As was the case with fall sports, once schools are approved to begin practicing and competition in the winter, the AIA will not stop the season. Only state health officials or the governor could make that call.

Hines and the AIA have said on numerous occasions they want to avoid the same scenario that unfolded last spring, when baseball, softball, boys’ volleyball, beach volleyball, track & field and tennis saw their seasons cut short as the pandemic made a bigger impact.

The delay in winter sports pushes back the start date of spring sports by a week from Feb. 8 to Feb. 15. Spring championships schedules have not been changed.

“If we didn’t do some of these protocols, we aren’t playing sports,” Hines said.

“If we don’t make adjustments and follow the health data and listen to experts, we don’t get to do these things. I know sometimes that’s hard for people to understand but we are going through a lot of important people that have a lot of say.

“We aren’t going to do anything that would cause the government entity to shut us down.”

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WEED from page 1

dent-elect Joe Biden did in the state.

Although it legalizes possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, its full impact probably won’t hit home until April – when medical marijuana dispensaries will be able to sell weed to millions of new customers who won’t have to qualify for a medical marijuana card.

Of course, it’s not as if those without a card couldn’t find marijuana in Arizona, a border state known for illegal drug trafficking.

However, voter approval of the medical marijuana proposition in 2010 gave birth to a thriving industry.

Through October, 287,715 residents with cards bought 2,786,197 ounces of marijuana from dispensaries this year alone, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Tom Dean, a defense attorney who specializes in marijuana cases, said he anticipates many people will not understand all the nuances in the new law.

He said people may mistakenly believe they can buy recreational marijuana now.

They can’t because no dispensary is authorized to sell it and likely won’t be until April and Dean thinks some people “are going to say, ‘screw that, I’m going to buy it from someone willing to sell it to me.’’

Assuming the election results are certified tomorrow, the law will allow anyone over 21 to possess an ounce of marijuana legally and smoke it in their home.

Since those without a card won’t find any place to buy it legally, Dean advises people to be patient and wait until April, when dispensaries are expected to have the green light to sell recreational weed.

“I expect at least short term, there will be an increase until April or May’’ in black market sales, Dean said. “When there is demand, there is supply. This

Prop 207 legalizing the sale and possession of recreational marijuana had opponents in the election, but it sailed to approval by voters 60-40 percent. (Special to the Arizonan)

will cause a large increase in the blackmarket supply.’’

Meanwhile, police are readying for more stoned drivers.

Mesa police Officer George Chwe has spent the past year working with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, helping to establish a statewide standard for driving-under-influence investigations, which includes the influence of marijuana Mesa alone has 25 officers trained as Drug Recognition Experts and the state has added 50 more, bringing Arizona’s statewide total to 346.

“I think we have a good head-start for this’’ law, Chwe said, noting more Mesa patrol officers are scheduled to receive additional training in how to spot marijuana-induced impairment.

Chwe agreed with Dean that at least some people won’t want to wait and simply want to get high, fueling an increase in impaired driving.

“It’s going to go up. People will think it’s okay to smoke marijuana and drive,’’ Chwe said. “People smoke marijuana for the feeling it gives them.

“I tell them that feeling, because they

feel different, they are going to drive different. If you drive different, you are impaired.’’

Under the new law, simply driving with an illegal drug in your system will no longer apply to marijuana.

One major enforcement issue is the difference between arresting a driver high on alcohol and one high on weed.

While drivers can be arrested for having a .08 blood alcohol level, there is no established number of nanograms of marijuana metabolite at which drivers are presumed impaired on weed.

Officers must instead rely on their own observations of impaired driving and on an evaluation by a certified drug recognition expert.

For marijuana consumers, the new law does come at a financial cost.

Prop 207 includes a 16 percent excise tax on recreational sales – a surtax on top of normal state sales taxes.

Paul Paredes, a Tempe-based marijuana consultant, urged anyone with a medical marijuana card to continue using it because they won’t have to pay the excise tax.

He also noted that a medical marijuana card allows the purchase of 2½ ounces of marijuana in a 14-day period while someone without the card will be able to buy an ounce a day starting in April.

“The medical marijuana program is not going away,’’ Paredes said. “It would be advantageous for all patients’’ to have a medical marijuana card.

The proposition creates a potential market of more than 3 million recreational marijuana customers, he said.

“The dispensaries are stocking up and ramping up production,’’ Paredes said.

“The product is going to expand in availability. It won’t be about quantity – it will be about quality.’’

But Dean said many users will opt to risk arrest and continue buying from their street dealer to avoid paying any tax.

“The black market will be able to offer a product for substantially less,’’ Dean said. “There’s going to be a lot of people who decide to sell without a license.’’

He said some users resent the fact that the marijuana industry will become a monopoly under the new law, likening it to behavior of the tobacco industry.

Prop 207 allows all current medical dispensaries to apply to the Arizona Department of Health Services for a recreational license, starting in January.

AZDHS also can award 26 new “social equity licenses’’ in communities that have been disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.

Although AZDHS has until April to set the rules for such licenses, many people in the marijuana industry believe those licenses will go to minority communities, based upon arrest statistics and other metrics.

Beyond the creation of instant “marijuana millionaires’’ through the awarding

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

15 CITY NEWS

WEED from page 14

of these new licenses, thousands of past felony convictions for possession of small quantities of marijuana could be expunged from defendants’ records under Prop 207.

The first step in this potentially life-changing process is already underway.

Maricopa County prosecutors already are dropping charges on pending cases related to possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

Mesa prosecutors also are dropping related charges of possession of drug paraphernalia if they are related to marijuana possession cases filed in Superior Court.

“Instead of continuing to spend resources on these cases, this office will begin implementing the will of the voters immediately. We are instructing deputy county

KYRENE from page 3

support systems through the University of Virginia’s School Turnaround Program.

In her resume, Toenjes describes herself as a “student-centered and purposedriven leader with diverse experience in all levels of the public education system providing strategic leadership and day

Medical dispensaries won;y be able to sell their many marijuana offerings to Arizonans without a medical card until April. (Special to the Arizonan)

attorneys to file a motion to dismiss any charge covered by Proposition 207,’’ said Jennifer Liewer, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

“If those charges make up the entirety of the charges of the case, the entire case

to day operational and fiscal oversight through the lens of access, equity and excellence.”

She also says she is “well-positioned to further establish the organizational goals of the district, not only because of diverse background and strong knowledge of supporting organizational systems with continuous improvement,

will be dismissed. If there are other felony charges the case will remain pending, but we will file motions to dismiss the charges covered by Proposition 207,’’ she said.

Dean said he anticipates a second wave of defendants with convictions for possession of 2 ½ ounces or less will petition in July for expungements.

He is working with the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association to set up a nonprofit that will file the petitions for free.

“If it’s pending, you get it dismissed. If it’s over, you get it expunged. But what about the people in the middle?’’ he said.

Gray areas affecting defendants serving time in prison or who are on probation will probably end up being litigated in court.

He said the potential pool of defendants who can improve their job prospects by get-

but more importantly because of a keen ability to effectively blend the big-picture with strategic actions to inspire, build trust and achieve growth.”

When she takes over the district’s reigns, Toenjes will be working with a newly constituted board that includes two new members – Wanda Kolomyjec of Ahwatukee and Margaret Wright of Chandler.

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Small Business Saturday Downtown Chandler

Nov. 28 – Jan. 3 Downtown’s Chandler Sugarland Downtown Chandler

Nov. 28-Dec. 22

Nov. 28 – Jan. 3 Downtown Chandler Holiday Lights

Dec. 5 | 2-8 p.m.

Chandler Fire Department Toy Drive Chandler Fashion Center

Dec. 5 | 6 p.m.

Tumbleweed Tree Lighting: A Re-Imagined Tradition

Nov. 29 | 1-5 p.m.

Chandler Museum Store Sunday

Dec. 5 – Jan. 3 Lit Tumbleweed Tree

Various Drop-Off Locations

Dec. 4-20 S’more Holiday Fun

Chandler Fashion Center

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Chandler Museum

Downtown Chandler

Dec. 1 - 22 Tis the Season for Giving: Food Drive

The new board will include two Chandler residents, including Kevin Walsh, two Ahwatukee residents, including Margaret Pratt, and Tempe resident Michelle Fahy, who appears likely to become the next board president because she has the longest tenure on the board after winning reelection to a second four-year term.

Dec. 5 – Jan. 10 Tumbleweed Tree: A Very Chandler Christmas

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Chandler Museum

ting felony records expunged is enormous.

State Department of Public Safety records list about 15,000 to 18,000 marijuana possession arrests a year since 2006 and numerous other defendants merely being cited for a violation.

Will Humble, the former director of AZDHS, said there’s no doubt marijuana hinders the development of the adolescent brain and that parents will need to communicate with their children about the new law.

But Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, said he ended up endorsing the law for it’s potential in helping people get better jobs and live healthier lives.

“To me, the existing marijuana law caused more public health damage than the drug,’’ he said.

Dr. A.J. Chandler Park

Dec. 5, 12, 19 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Farmers Market Dr. A.J. Chandler Park

Dec. 8 | 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Give Back Night: Food Drive Collection Dr. A.J. Chandler Park

Tumbleweed Tree Pictures Dr. A.J. Chandler Park

Dec. 12 | 1-6 p.m.

Sippin’ Santa

Downtown Chandler

Dec. 13 | 1-4 p.m.

Tumbleweed Tree Pictures Dr. A.J. Chandler Park

Dec. 17 | 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Give Back Night: Food Drive Collection Dr. A.J. Chandler Park

Tumbleweed Tree Pictures Dr. A.J. Chandler Park

Dec. 19 | 7 p.m.

Under the Stars - CCA at the Museum: Holly Jolly Christmas Chandler Museum

Dec. 20 | 1-4 p.m.

Tumbleweed Tree Pictures Dr. A.J. Chandler Park

16

CITY NEWS

RELEASE from page 6

long as possible.

“I have to parent myself because both of my parents were taken by someone so careless,” Mia Contreras said last year during Sepolio’s sentencing hearing.

But the Contreras family was disappointed to discover that Sepolio is already out of prison.

On Nov. 6, he was released early from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after serving nearly three years of his 10-year sentence, which included the time he served in jail while awaiting trial.

The pandemic prompted the state to release some inmates earlier in order to free up crowded cells and avoid an outbreak of the virus. In addition to the health crisis, the CDCR cited Sepolio’s “good behavior” as cause for releasing him earlier than scheduled.

Sepolio’s release sparked the outrage of local prosecutors, who feel blindsided by the state’s decision and dispute its justification.

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan described Sepolio’s release as a “miscarriage of justice” in a letter sent to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“This very early release is unconscio-

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

nable,” Stephan wrote. “It is re-victimizing the family and friends of the four people killed and seven injured who have been devastated by their loss and continue to deal with the financial, emotional, mental and physical trauma

at the moment he lost control of his truck.

Sepolio had been arguing with his girlfriend over the phone while attempting to pass another motorist along the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. He lost control of his truck and swerved too far left,

This very early release is unconscionable. It is “re-victimizing the family and friends of the four

people killed and seven injured who have been devastated by their loss and continue to deal with the financial, emotional, mental and physical trauma caused by the defendant.

”

– Summer Stephan

caused by the defendant.”

Stephan further cited Sepolio’s actions on the day of the accident as reasons to cancel his early release, claiming the defendant continues to “minimize” his role in causing the crash.

According to court testimony, Sepolio admitted to consuming two alcoholic beverages shortly before the crash and was accelerating at speeds exceeding 80 mph

lunging the vehicle over the bridge’s barrier wall and into the nearby park.

Though the jury convicted Sepolio of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, it concluded his level of intoxication was not higher than California’s legal limit for driving.

At his sentencing hearing, Sepolio, dressed in his Navy uniform, apologized to the families of his victims for any pain

he had caused them. He was denied probation and given the maximum possible sentence of nine years and eight months.

The Contreras daughters already felt nine years was not a long enough sentence and now they’re more outraged to see Sepolio serve less than half that time.

“How can a healthy 29-year-old inmate who is not at high risk for COVID-19 be released early and not even serve a third of his sentence” MaryAnn Contreras wrote in a statement.

She said her family was only notified of Sepolio’s release a few days before he got out -- not affording them much time to try to appeal to Gov. Newsom or the CDCR. “While (Sepolio) gets to have another Thanksgiving with his family, we now continue to have two empty seats surrounding our kitchen table,” Contreras added.

Her parents had been together for 36 years and were high school sweethearts.

After their deaths, friends of Cruz and AnnaMarie honored them by assembling at Chandler’s Tumbleweed Park and conducting a motorcycle motorcade.

“Cruz and AnnaMarie were loving, kindhearted, thoughtful, and they both strongly believed in acknowledging everyone’s self-worth,” the couple’s obituary states.

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

17 CITY NEWS

Chandler holiday events continue amid pandemic

BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

S

ome of Chandler’s holiday events won’t look and feel the same as they did in previous years, but the city hopes the pandemic won’t completely stop residents from enjoying the winter season.

Mainstay traditions like the lighting of Chandler’s iconic tumbleweed Christmas tree will go forward but without a public ceremony with crowds of spectators.

The lighting event will instead involve a handful of city officials and be broadcast live at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 through television and social media.

It is a necessary precaution Chandler must take, said Hermelinda Llamas, the city’s events coordinator, in order to discourage the transmission of the coronavirus.

“It just wouldn’t be safe for everybody to gather in that kind of a forum,” she said.

But the city hopes its virtual ceremony will still be meaningful to Chandler’s residents, Llamas added.

“We’re just hoping that we can give a little fun and spice back into the holiday spirit for the community,” Llamas said.

“We want them to still feel that we’re there and we’re thinking about them during the holiday season.”

More than 9,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Chandler since the pandemic started nine months ago.

Despite the pandemic’s dreary circumstances, the city has a full calendar of holiday-themed events over the next month aimed at giving residents a pleasant but safe holiday experience.

Llamas said her department has planned smaller leisurely events that would be both safe and enjoyable for the public.

On Dec. 8 and 17, the city will have a professional photographer available to take portraits of families standing next to Chandler’s tumbleweed tree in A.J. Chandler Park near Arizona Avenue and Boston Street.

Visitors will be instructed to distance themselves from each other while waiting in line for the photographer.

Llamas said it was important to still offer the same holiday rituals residents expect each year -- like the tumbleweed tree -- in order to offer some sense of

Chandler's iconic tumbleweed tree will be lit as usual, but you''ll be able to watch the event only online.

(File photo)

normalcy to the public.

“We’ve kind of taken it, reimagined it and put a little spin on it to still kind of give folks that holiday feeling they were used to,” she said.

Residents will be able to learn more about Chandler’s tumbleweed tree through a new history exhibit on display at the Chandler Museum until Jan. 10.

The 25-foot-tall tree made of 1,000 tumbleweeds has been an annual tradition in Chandler since the 1950s and attracts thousands of visitors to the downtown area each year. The new exhibit will tell the story of the tree’s unique origins and explain how its construction has changed over the years.

Some of the city’s events will attempt to showcase businesses littered around Chandler’s downtown region who have had to navigate a tumultuous year of shutdowns and economic downturns.

Several bars in the city’s downtown area will be offering cheap drink specials on Dec. 12 through a pub crawl event hosted by the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership.

On the afternoon of Nov. 28, live music will be staged in San Marcos Place for an event the city’s dubbed “Small Business Saturday,” which aims to get residents to visit the 28 local restaurants lined up around the courtyard.

A.J. Chandler Park will transform into

a fantastical “Sugarland” throughout the month of December and feature a collection of decorative holiday displays.

Children will be able to climb over giant marshmallows spilling out of a lifesize mug or pose for a picture next to a sleigh full of candy. The walkway over the Commonwealth Canal will also be lit up with colorful lanterns each evening.

In addition to being a leisurely activity, Llamas said the “Sugarland” display is intended to draw some attention to Chandler’s downtown businesses wishing to see some extra customers during the holiday season.

“Our businesses would absolutely appreciate folks stopping in and patronizing them,” she said.

Because the pandemic has brought hardships to a number of Chandler families, the city will be conducting a monthlong food drive and collecting non-perishable goods for local nonprofits.

Up until Dec. 22, donations can be dropped off at Tumbleweed Recreation Center, Sibley’s West Gift Shop or during the farmer’s market events every Saturday morning at A.J. Chandler Park.

Llamas said the pandemic’s pushed the city to intentionally try to ramp up its efforts to gather more charitable donations this year.

“We’re really trying to reach out to the community and let them know that folks

have been struggling,” she said.

The Chandler Fire Department will host its annual toy drive on Dec. 5 and is encouraging residents to consider making donations through a hands-free delivery system.

Gift cards and unwrapped toys can be mailed to the agency’s headquarters at 151 East Boston Street or gifts can be bought online through the city’s Amazon wishlist. Gifts can still be dropped off inperson at any of Chandler’s fire stations until Dec. 11.

The Chandler Care Center, which hosts charitable holiday events each year, is trying to not let the pandemic stop its volunteers from handing out food and toys to needy families.

Katie Kahle, the center’s executive director, said her staff is preparing to feed more than 400 families for Thanksgiving and offer holiday presents for at least 1,000 children.

The center has had to restructure its giveaway events to fit a drive-thru model in order to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus, Kahle added, but it shouldn’t prevent her staff from servicing residents.

To further protect families, the center is wiping down all donated items and setting them aside for at least 72 hours before a masked volunteer packages them into bags.

The number of families asking the Care Center for assistance is comparable to previous years, Kahle said, though there has been a shift this year in the types of families reaching out for help.

“The largest difference we have seen is the number of new families coming to us for assistance,” Kahle said. “Over a third of families coming to our food bank since the pandemic began have been new families and we expect we will continue to see that this year.”

Food donations have been down recently at the center and Kahle said they’ve made up for the deficit by getting a flood of new monetary gifts from the community.

“Our community is incredibly generous – we have received donations from schools, churches, clubs, and businesses this year, and each one has brought us closer to being able to provide food for our neighbors in Chandler,” she said.

CITY NEWS

18

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Chandler plans month of holiday magic ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

C

ally – Social Media & Channel 11. The tree will be lit through Jan. 3 at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.

handler has set a full calendar of holiday-related events – some of which are intended to help needy local families.

Here’s a look at the full calendar.

• Dec. 5,12,19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Farmers Market, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.

• Now–Jan. 3, holiday lights, downtown Chandler.

• Dec. 12, 1-6 p.m., Sippin’ Santa, downtown Chandler, tickets must be purchased in advance at downtownchandler.org/sippinsantas.

• Now-Jan. 3, Chandler downtown Chandler.

Sugarland,

• Today (Nov. 29) 1-5 p.m., Chandler Museum Store Sunday, Chandler Museum.

• Dec. 1-22, Tis the Season for Giving Food Drive, various drop-off locations.

• Dec. 4-20, S’more Holiday Fun, Chandler Fashion Center.

• Dec. 5–Jan. 10, Tumbleweed Tree: A Very Chandler Christmas, Chandler Museum.

• Dec. 5, 2-8 p.m., Chandler Fire Department Toy Drive, Chandler Fashion Center.

• Dec. 5, 6 p.m., Tumbleweed Tree Lighting: A Re-Imagined Tradition Virtu-

• Dec. 8, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Give Back Night food drive collection, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.

• Dec. 13, 1-4 p.m., Tumbleweed tree pictures, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park •

Dec. 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Give Back Night food drive collection, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.

• Dec. 19, 7 p.m., Tumbleweed tree pictures; Also, Under the Stars-CCA at the Museum: Holly Jolly Christmas, Chandler Museum.

• Dec. 20, 1-4 p.m., Tumbleweed tree pictures, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.

Sugarland, brought to you by the Downtown Chandler Partnership, is one of the city's big Christmas gifts to virus-weary residents this season. (Special to the Arizonan)

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

19 COMMUNITY

Drumming was his life – until he got shot

BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

T

ommie Bevardos had accepted the fact his days as a professional drummer were over.

He thought a stray bullet had ruined his dreams nearly a decade ago after a near-fatal incident in the Arizona desert left Bevardos disabled and unable to pick up his drumsticks.

Doctors warned his injury would probably keep him from playing music again.

So, Bevardos sold his drum set, got a day job and tried to settle into a quiet domestic life in Chandler.

But his wife, Lacey, kept nudging him to reconsider his decision to quit playing music. After much poking and prodding, Bevardos started practicing again earlier this year and rediscovered how his drums could offer him a comforting

Tommie Bevardos of Chandler gave up drumming because of injuries sustained in a shooting, but he is now slowly returning to his onetime livelihood and passion..

(Pablo Robles/Arizonan Staff Photographer)

creative outlet.

He’s now determined to get back into

the industry he walked away from 10 years ago.

But it’s not for the fame and glory, the 47-year-old said, as it is about proving his life won’t be defined solely by a gunshot wound.

“I’m not trying to chase rainbows,” Bevardos said. “I want to be able to inspire drummers.”

Bevardos is a native of Santa Monica, a city often portrayed as Southern California’s prime destination for beach parties and stun-

ning sunsets.

But he described his childhood as be-

ing anything but glamorous or sanguine.

The kids from his rough neighborhood were expected to grow up and become either a drug addict, a dealer or gang member.

“I didn’t fit into any of those,” Bevardos said.

His mother pushed him to take piano lessons and he struggled to master the hand coordination it required.

Bevardos said he was more interested in using his mother’s tupperware containers and kitchen utensils as a makeshift drum set.

By his teen years, Bevardos had committed himself to drumming and played whenever and wherever he could. After high school, he started playing for various bands and touring around the state.

He could rotate through different

see DRUMMER page 20

Mother-son duo open Chandler thrift shop

BY STACI HAUK Arizonan Contributor

C

handler residents and mother-son duo Janet and Christian Weninger are not new to being philanthro-

pists.

But they are adding a new effort to their many ongoing philanthropic efforts with Born Again Vintage at 590 N. Alma School Road in Chandler. Born Again Vintage became a reality on Nov. 11, with a grand opening in Chandler.

The goal is to raise funds to help those aging out of foster care.

From the time Christian was in grade school, his mother Janet feels he had a calling to do something important.

“Christian has a beautiful heart and has consistently gone above and beyond to make lives better,” she said. “As a boy, he would invite the whole neighborhood

Janet Weninger and her son Christian have opened Born Again Vintage in Chandler, a thrift store that raises money to help foster kids who age out of the system.

(Staci Hauk/Contributor)

over at least twice a month for a big celebration, ‘just because.’

“We started working together to help end child abuse when he was very young. He would put on events at the local ice cream shop and at his school during fall festivals – basically whenever possible – that would raise awareness about the thousands of children suffering in our state.”

Janet, the wife of state Rep. Jeff Weninger, owned a clothing boutique in Chandler at that time and on her

and Christian’s quest to do more, she came across Childhelp.

Janet had been hard-hit by the news story of a daycare worker silencing a child who suffocated due to the cuffing of her mouth for too long. The story hit a nerve for Janet, as the child was a foster child who she felt deserved a voice after her death.

“My heart was aching, but not as much as my blood was boiling over the fact that no one was being charged in the child’s death,” Janet recalled. “Everyone was allowed to just keep on going about their lives as if nothing had happened.

“Meanwhile, this beautiful girl was tagged as an accidental death. I had a 4-year-old daughter at the time, and I recall sitting in the back of my boutique and crying, thinking ‘I will not give up

see VINTAGE page 21

20

COMMUNITY

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Wreaths Across America underway in Chandler ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

V

alley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery and the Chandler Exchange Club will host the fifth annual Wreaths Across America memorial at its graves for military veterans Dec. 19.

“We are very proud to honor area veterans with this dedication service,” said Brent Bouche, general manager of the cemetery at 10940 East Chandler Heights Road.

The Chandler Exchange Club is soliciting individuals, businesses and community service organizations to sponsor wreaths for the more than 2,700 veterans known to be buried in the cemetery.

DRUMMER from page 19

genres – rock, pop or funk – and found himself increasingly in demand throughout the 1990s.

Bevardos said he once auditioned for Alanis Morissette during the peak of her singing career. But she cancelled her tour and Bevardos missed out on what could have been a high-profile job.

But he said his career didn’t suffer from the missed opportunity since he continued getting lucrative drumming gigs up through the early 2000s.

“You don’t need to be a rock star to make a nice living as a musician,” he noted.

By the time he married and had a child, Bevardos decided to take a break from touring and relocated to Arizona.

On Dec. 29, 2010, Bevardos had some time to himself and decided to go hiking alone in the Four Peaks Wilderness area up in a remote region of Maricopa County.

As he was walking out of a ravine, Bevardos recalled hearing four loud gunshots ring out from a distance. He stumbled back, fell down an embankment and landed on a bed of rocks.

His leg felt numb and he noticed a hole in his pants near his upper thigh area.

Realizing he’s probably been shot, Bevardos said he quickly used his belt as a tourniquet to tie around his bleeding leg and began crawling back up the em-

Michael Whitaker, a member of the Chandler Exchange Club, noted with a grant of $5,000 from Northrup Grumman, the wreath count has grown to almost 1,000 wreaths, but the club is hoping for donations to put wreaths on the other 1,700 graves so that all the veterans are honored.

Wreaths Across America finds its roots in one family’s tribute in 1992, when a Maine family that owns a tree farm had a surplus of wreaths during the holiday season.

The family sought the help of their local congressman to put the spares on those graves at Arlington National Cemetery that were least visited.

“Several volunteers stepped up to

help, including veterans from American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and a truck company owner who transported the wreaths to Arlington, Virginia, where a small ceremony was held at the cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” according to the U.S. Defense Department.

This remained a small yearly tradition for nearly 15 years until a photo taken at the 2005 ceremony went viral.

“Almost immediately, thousands of people wanted to know how to help or how they could begin a similar tradition in their states,” the Defense Department said.

By 2008, it had become a traditional at dozens of cemeteries across the coun-

try and has continued to grow, with more than 2.2 million graves across the country now decorated with a wreath at more than 2,100 cemeteries.

The ceremony and wreath-lacing at Valley of the Sun will be different this year because of the pandemic, Whitaker said, and only 50 people will be allowed to participate.

“Unfortunately, we cannot have the hundreds of volunteers from previous years, but we will stream the ceremony on Facebook Live for those who want watch the ceremony,” Whitaker said.

He stressed that regardless of the limited participation, the cemetery still

bankment.

His cellphone service was spotty so he figured his best chance was crawling all the way back to his car.

An hour passed by and Bevardos noticed his vision started getting blurry by the time he reached his car.

“Everything started going black,” he said. “I started getting scared because I didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel.”

A man out walking his dog luckily stumbled upon Bevardos and called the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. He was rushed to a Scottsdale hospital and underwent surgery to save his wounded leg.

Bevardos said the bullet grazed an artery and passed down his femur until it lodged up against his kneecap.

“That’s where it’s parked to this day,” he said, noting that doctors chose not to remove the bullet.

Who fired the shot that struck him is still a mystery.

He thinks someone in the wilderness fired at him because the bullet in his leg came from a 45 mm gun and Bevardos said the firearm he had with him that day was a 9mm model.

But the Sheriff’s Office said it appears Bevardos may have accidentally shot himself with his own gun.

Sgt. Jason Gilchrist, who works in the agency’s lake patrol division, said the case was ruled an accident based on evidence reviewed by deputies and lack of

other 911 calls for a mysterious shooter on the day of the incident.

The area where it happened is a popular spot for gun enthusiasts, he added, especially in late December.

“We get a lot of target shooting out there,” Gilchrist said. “During that time of the year, there would be a little bit more than right now.”

Bevardos further disputes the accident theory because, he said, the bullet entered his leg from an unusual angle that would have been awkward for him to fire the gun himself.

Regardless of how it happened, the shooting forced Bevardos to spend weeks relearning how to walk with the assistance of a cane.

Since he couldn’t work while in recovery, Bevardos sold his beloved drum set – valued at about $10,000 – in order to support his family.

The music career he had spent years investing in was suddenly gone and Bevardos fell into a deep depression.

“I was in a very dark place for quite a while,” he said.

He got a job at AutoZone and still struggled to walk without the assistance of a cane. One day, a child came into the store and asked why Bevardos walked “funny.”

“That hit me really hard,” he recalled.

“I took my cane and I chucked it.”

Bevardos went back to physical therapy and improved his strength enough to where he could walk with only a slight

limp. Yet, he still didn’t show much interest in trying to play music again.

His wife eventually took him to a local music store and forced him to simply go inside and look around.

It worked.

Bevardos quickly found himself feeling enthused by the sight of all the drums and cymbals.

Over the last year, he has been practicing each day on a small electric drum kit and slowly building his skills back up to where he was 10 years ago.

Bevardos said he’d like to get back into a recording studio or drumming on a live stage in the near future.

But he realizes that goal may be difficult considering how much the music industry has changed since his heyday in the 1990s.

He has tried to adapt to the times by creating an Instagram account and regularly posting videos online of himself drumming.

Bevardos is also trying to raise $4,000 from family and friends through crowdfunding sites to buy a better drum set that he hopes could put him on a path back into the business.

The response and support he has received so far has been overwhelming, Bevardos said, and his new venture has given him something to be passionate about for the first time since the shooting.

“Now it’s like I have something to look forward to,” he said.

see WREATHS page 21

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

WREATHS from page 20

needs wreaths for the veterans’ graves.

An individual wreath sponsorship costs $15, and a family pack of four wreaths is available for $60. A small business sponsorship for $150 will supply 10 wreaths.

Go to wreathsacrossamerica.org/ AZ0084P to sponsor a wreath for the

VINTAGE from page 19

until I know that every child is safe in our foster care system.”

Fast forward five years, and Janet and her kids were actively involved in Childhelp, assisting with the abundance of kids entering into state care, with not enough places to house them.

The state Department of Child Safety was opening the first ever placement center in Arizona at that point, where kids could stay while a safe and stable home was found for them.

“The placement center was so important to me that I was willing to give up everything for it, including my own plans and dreams, as well as my children’s toys, clothes and furniture,” Janet said.

“I even went into debt to ensure that new baby beds and everything that was needed was provided. My hope was that the next generation would never have to hear about another child being hurt or killed while in foster care.

“The center curbed the number of those in foster care by a significant amount, and the beautiful testimonials prove lives were changed for the better.”

Janet expanded her efforts by helping the homeless.

She partnered with DCS workers to organize the donations that began with Janet’s many years ago. The donations had taken over a massive storage room at DCS with a continuous flow of new donations every week.

These often went to the homeless population, many winding up in Janet’s basement while they found new homes.

“Many of the items being donated were not needed for kids in foster care or the homeless,” Janet said. “I had them all in my basement for sale so we could get needed funds to help the people who needed housing after aging out of foster care.

“I jokingly set up the basement like

Valley of the Sun Cemetery.

The Chandler Exchange Club, chartered in 2013, is part of a national network of community service clubs across the nation.

The club name is derived from “exchanging” ideas to better serve the local community.

Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery has been serving Chandler and the East Valley since 1963. my old clothing boutique after Christian moved out, as some of the items were really expensive and most were like new.

My basement quickly became a business, and folks said I must open a thrift store and sell the items.”

Janet credits her son Christian with the success of the store’s grand opening.

“Christian loves to do events and to be involved in things that are bigger than just his own personal gain, so he was eager to help and the day that he decided to ask the community to help was the day that this project took on a life of its own,” Janet said.

Donations began pouring in, and Janet is overwhelmed by the community support.

The store is packed with clothes for every size and age, as well as shoes and accessories. The prices range from $1 for a pair of socks to $25 for a beautiful formal gown.

“Our desire is to help bridge the gap for many young adults that find themselves alone and hopeless after the money and the support is gone,” said Christian, adding: “We are so grateful for the clothing donations and support we have seen from local Facebook group members and invite everyone to shop for a cause in our beautiful location in the heart of Chandler.”

Every Sunday Born Again Vintage will upload ten new items to their online store at bornagainvintage.com. These pieces will be available online-only for one week.

For those who prefer to shop in person, the new Chandler location will have hundreds of thrifted offerings, and would love donations from the community. For tax-deductible donation consideration, contact Janet at Janet@CrusadersofLove.org.

The store is accepting clothing, accessories and monetary donations at this time.

21 COMMUNITY

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

23 BUSINESS

Chandler homes going fast in hot market

BY ALLEN HENDERSON Arizonan Contributor

A

review of the October real estate market shows the Chandler average home sale price is up 19.5 percent and the number of units sold was up 19.2 percent over 2019.

Properties are selling in a matter of days. In October, 503 properties came on the market and 207, or 41 percent, were under contract in less than seven days.

In this fast market, 308, or 66 percent, were under contract in less than 14 days and 427, fully 85 percent, were under contract in under 30 days.

The October real estate sales snapshot for Chandler indicates that the average sale price rose to $454,271 – up over the same period in 2019 when the average home value was $381,112. The

This 7,700-square-foot, two-story house on W. Harmony Place in Chandler recently sold for $2.6 million. Built in 2010, the six-bedroom, 7.5-bath house in Fulton Ranch has theater and game rooms. (Special to the Arizonan)

number of units sold in October totaled 479 – higher than the 401 sold in the same period in 2019.

Homes sold faster in 2020 with average days on the market dropping to 32 days versus 42 days in 2019 as buyers

continue stepping up with higher offers to get prime properties.

Buyers are not willing to overpay to get a property. As a result, the number of October listings that required a price reduction to get an offer declined to

155 units, or 32 percent of the closed listings.

Moving from the monthly snapshot of the market to the bigger picture, in the

tion, admission and post-admission processes.

Using a network of colleagues in higher education, Avalos guides families and students through the often-Byzantine world of academia’s admission and postadmission processes.

Saying there are “crucial gaps in communication between potential students, parents and higher education institutions,” Avalos aims to turn their questions “into well-informed answers.”

Families can learn more at smartalacarte.com or emailing info@smartalacarte.com. The Santan Sun News asked Avalos about her business.

folded last year, I reflected on my time as a first-time college student fresh out of high school and how much my dad and I weren’t aware of (like financial aid, FAFSA, scholarships and various deadlines).

Then I thought about the obstacles I faced when going back to school after an almost 10-year hiatus, this time as an adult and a wife, and later, as a university employee and working in the community college system. There are simply so many students to help but not enough passionate people with the time and dedication to help these students and their parents.

Plus, there are many departments to visit in order to get specific answers:

see HENDERSON page 24

College bound? This Chandler service might help ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

L

ongtime Chandler resident Evonne Avalos has had an eventful career life.

She has been a journalist, an executive/ personal assistant in the entertainment industry for a host of different stars.

Now she is using all the hustle and talent she brought to those jobs for her new business – one that parents and their college-bound high school students will find useful in the shadow of the pandemic and the wake of the college admission scandal.

Her boutique college and research guidance business, called Smart à la Carte, provides school profiles and the tools required to navigate the applica-

Evonne Avalos

What inspired you to start this business?

As the college admissions scandal un-

see LACARTE page 25

24

BUSINESS

HENDERSON from page 23

January to Oct. 31, the year-to-date average Chandler sale price was $402,978 – up 12.2 percent over the same period in 2019, when the average sale price, was $359,099.

The number of units sold remains about the same with 4160 units sold in 2020 versus 4,167 units sold in 2019.

There are many frustrated buyers looking for homes in Chandler. The number of units sold would be higher if there were more appropriately priced properties on the market.

So why are the 76, or 15 percent of the properties, that came on the market in October still waiting for an offer? The answer is in the numbers.

When we look at the October sales summary of closed sales, we can see that 155, or 32 percent, of the closed listings required a price reduction to get an offer.

Month after month, we find that 30 percent to 40 percent of the listings require a price reduction to get an offer.

Even in a “hot” seller’s market, buyers are not going to overpay to get a property. Buyers will offer a few points above what the comparable sale data would indicate.

However, they are not going to overpay. If they did, it would still have to appraise. Appraisers will come up a few

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

points over comparable sales values, but they will not appraise property at a price that is unreasonable and unsupportable.

If a nice property stays on the market longer than similar, comparable properties, there is a pricing issue and a price reduction is in order to get an offer.

Always price it right the first time to get it sold faster and for more.

Recently, there were 226 active listings in the Chandler market. With 416 units selling per month, the 226 active listings will be depleted in less than 17 days.

Anything less than a six-month inventory is considered to be a seller’s market.

The Chandler market remains a very strong seller’s market.

If you have any questions or if you need a free professional consultation, East Valley Realtor Allen Henderson can be reached at 480-392-2090.

The average days on the market is a good indicator of the strength of the real estate market. The number of days on the market, in the January to October time frame, dropped from 64 days in 2019 to 39 days in 2020. Homes sold on average 39 percent faster in 2020 than in 2019. The strong seller’s market we have seen for months is getting even stronger.

We must say again, that this is one of the few times we would advise sellers to list a little higher to test the market. This will not always be our advice, however,

it is a prudent consideration in this market.

There were 14 sales of properties over a million dollars in the October 1 to October 31 market. Today there are 28 active listings for million-dollar-plus properties. There have been 45 sales of million-dollar-plus properties in Chandler in 2020. They were on the market an average of 86 days and 28 percent required a price reduction to get a sale.

• In the luxury market from $600,000. to $999,999, there have been 344 sales in 2020. The average sale in this price range was $707,042. Marketing time on average was 64 days.

• In the $500,000 to $599,000 price-range there have been 388 sales at an average price of $540,171 in 2020. Marketing time on average was 46 days.

• In the $400,000 to $499,000 price-range there have been 777 sales at an average price of $442,605 in 2020. Marketing time on average was 44 days.

• In the $300,000 to $399,000 price-range there have been 1492 sales at an average price of $391,000 in 2020. Marketing time on average was 71 days.

• In the under $300,000 market, there were have been 1056 sales at an average price of $251,153 in 2020. Marketing time on average was 28 days.

In summary, the highest number of sales (1492 units) was in the $300,000

a blank page of space that can evolve as we do, and that can adapt as life beyond the pandemic does.”

The Gilbert facility includes an 11,500-square-foot main building with a front room that will be open to the public for take away sales.

The entry space will also house the canning line, allowing visitors to see the packaging in action. A second 2,500-squarefoot building will provide cold storage.

Cider Corps will move all its existing production equipment to the Gilbert spot in addition to upgrading its fermentation tanks. The new set up allows for a 1,000 barrel production capacity – nearly tripling its current abilities.

When the time is right, the Durens plan to open the cidery to tours and other events to help people learn more about cider making and the variety of ci-

der flavor profiles.

Cider Corps creates a range of craft cider styles that infuse fruits, botanicals and spices with its hard apple cider.

As lead cidermaker, Jason Duren has created specialized fermentation techniques to reduce the tartness of the apples for flavors that are smooth and balanced without added sugars or sulfates.

This move will be the second expansion for Cider Corps.

The cidery opened its doors on Veterans Day in 2017 in Downtown Mesa.

In 2019 it expanded into neighboring space to add another 2,000 square feet to its production area.

The cidery had already begun to can its products when the taproom closed in March due to pandemic stay-at-home directives. It now has three flagship styles in four-packs at Whole Foods, AJ’s Fine

to $399,000 price- range. Further, 3,713 properties or 89 percent of the total closed sales in Chandler this year are for properties under $500,000. As expected, we see that the marketing time, calculated as the number of days on the market, increased as the price point increased.

The economic outlook continues to be strong. Demand is high and increasing, for homes in the Phoenix and Chandler real estate market. Interest rates are low and the Federal Reserve has indicated they are not anticipating interest rate increases in the short term.

Phoenix is ranked number three in the country for job creation.

Despite some rumblings about a downturn in the national real estate market, the outlook appears to be mostly positive. Of course, the political situation is always a wild card as Washington reacts to the Corona Virus, social unrest, and dissidence, and international trade issues.

All in all, there has never been a better time to sell a Chandler property for a great price and quickly.

For a free consultation on home purchases or sales or on marketing a home for sale, contact local Realtor Allen Henderson at 480-392-2090.

Popular Cider Corps moving production to Gilbert ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

A

s it celebrates its third anniversary this month, Cider Corps announced it will expand to Gilbert with a new cidery designed for growth.

Starting in mid-2021, all production of its craft ciders will take place in a 14,000-square-foot facility on 2.5 acres at 685 S. Gilbert Road. Its Downtown Mesa location will remain open as a taproom.

Cider Corps co-owners and brothers Josh Duren and Jason Duren, Sgt. USMC (Ret.) said the property gives them “the ability to make more ciders to share throughout the state and educate people about the craft beverage.”

“Our immediate goal is to ramp up production to be able to share our ciders with even more people in Arizona,” said Josh.

“As we grow, it’s nice to have kind of

Foods and Total Wine & More and over a dozen rotating styles for take away from the Mesa taproom.

Cider Corps reopened the taproom to limited seating this month, and Jason Duren said that throughout the pandemic, the cidery continued to be “a destination as people picked up new and favorite styles.”

He said dedicated regulars helped influence the decision to expand in Gilbert.

“We get a ton of people from the East Valley, Gilbert and beyond, who make the trek to the taproom. We’re really excited about being closer for them” he said. “But I’m just as excited about being able to grow and create more ciders for all of Arizona.”

The Durens started the cidery as a hobby and their operation is now Arizona’s largest craft cidery.

Information: cidercorpsaz.com

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

LACARTE from page 23

Payment deadlines are typically handled by the registrar’s, financial aid from the financial aid department, questions on majors might be answered by either the admissions office or department the student’s major falls into.

I’ve never known of a service that helps you once you have been admitted to a college. There are even more deadlines to meet once you’ve been admitted.

I help guide parents and students through the different processes to help everyone make sure their i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.

What can a client expect from you?

I compile the basic information about the college that most people want to know when they are looking to apply to a certain school, along with the requirements a student needs in order to help determine if they might qualify for not only general admission, but admission to their program of study.

I also compile the school codes that students and parents may need when sending financial or standardized test results to the colleges they are applying at, a brief history of the school, and other various contact information that families will need if they decide to proceed with applying and eventually, get accepted.

A lot of this information is available

from the school itself, but many times, you are put on hold, or told to apply first before your question can be answered, risk being transferred to another department, or worse, get accidentally hung up on.

I am a non-biased, one-stop shop for all of your college research needs. Combined with my previous experience as a personal assistant, nothing will stop me from finding out a specific answer.

I offer no “side door” to help students get accepted to any specific school. Rather, I help guide parents and/or applicants through the admissions, scholarship, and financial aid processes – very stressful, sometimes confusing and possibly overwhelming situations for families.

Are people buying some kind of packet of info or your direct consultation or both?

I don’t want clients to feel pressured into purchasing services they may not want to use, which is why each service is priced separately and how “à la carte” became part of the business name. I am always available for consultation as part of my services.

What gave you the idea for this business?

When the college admissions scandal broke last year, I reflected on my career in education: I was in international admissions, I was a financial aid student worker, I participated in a project that aimed to streamline the community

25 BUSINESS

college student experience, and looked back on my own experiences as an outof-state college student straight out of high school, and as an “adult re-entry” student years later.

It would have been extremely helpful to have someone guide my dad and me, as we were bounced from one facet of my future college life

How does your service differ from what a high school guidance counselor would provide?

They perform such a wide range of assistance, from identifying any potential behavior or social issues that might need honing, to helping a student realize their natural gifts and talents through aptitude tests, etc. They can also provide information on when and where the next college fair or financial aid workshop.

There are plenty of services offered to high school students that help prepare them for the college application process, such as writing an engaging college essay, test assessment practicing, bootcamps or workshops on saving up for college, etc.

But what happens once your applications have been submitted? What takes a school so long to make an admission decision? Where does your financial aid information go once you (or your family) has filled out the FAFSA? What is a SAR? Is my school notified when I’ve received a scholarship? These answers are actually answered by various departments in

charge of various parts of your college life.

My experiences as a college student and employee provide not only answers from the student perspective, but I can also explain what happens “behind the scenes” from the college perspective.

The services that I offer are akin to a tour guide before you go on the tour: I provide historical, program, deadline, and contact information on a college and degree program for applicants and parents, provide step-by-step instructions and deadline information after an applicant has been admitted, and can also explain what happens (behind the scenes) if or when certain deadlines can’t be met.

Not every school is the same, and not all of them have the same deadlines. Organizing this information in a customized school profile, will help parents and applicants in streamlining the college selection process, as well as throughout their college career.

What was the biggest challenge getting started?

I would have to say the research for similar businesses. While there are many that offer tutoring, financial aid or scholarship assistance, I was not able to find one that offered college information, financial aid, scholarships, assistance for international students, or deadline reminder services, all under one proverbial roof.

Beauty academy president reelected to board ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

C

athy Koluch, president and founder of The Studio Academy of Beauty in Chandler has been re-elected to the board of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools for a three-year term.

Named by the Arizona Capitol Times as one of the top 25 top Women Achievers in Arizona, Koluch became the most visible voice of the beauty industry in Arizona fighting the “blow dry bill” and led the industry to create a reformation package to deliver to Legislature to move the beauty industry forward.

Cathy Koluch

Sidelined by the abrupt ending of the 2020 legislative session, the bill was moved to 2021.

Koluch also lobbied in Washington, D.C., for school choice in post-secondary education, arguing that vocational and trade schools offer a great option for those who choose not to go to traditional colleges and universities.

Her biggest challenge was responding to COVID-19 and delivering beauty school education in an innovative way.

Putting students online on over 45 Zoom links and sending home supplies in to-go packs was just the beginning, she said.

She also implemented safety measures such as acrylic barriers for esthetician students and flexible plastic barriers between salon stations for hair services to keep staff, students and clients safe created a safer environment to perform these personal services.

Without furloughing any staff member, Koluch said her instructors worked through many challenges that earned her these honors.

The Studio Academy of Beauty has campuses in Chandler, Phoenix and Tolleson and provides education in cosmetology, hairstyling and esthetics. Information: tsaob.com.

26

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Opinion

OPINION 27

ICAN addressing needy Chandler families

BY SHELBY PEDERSEN Guest Writer

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has caused substantial inequities among families living in poverty.

The cost of childcare, along with access to quality childcare, is of great concern to many families.

Even prior to the pandemic, the cost of childcare in Arizona for two children was more than a family’s mortgage payment, according to Child Trends, 2020. This widening inequity among concentrated communities of poverty hits close to home for us at ICAN, as these are the families we are serving.

A new study by the Afterschool Alliance surveyed program providers across the

country who represent over 7,600 afterschool and summer program providers (including ICAN).

They found that disparities in access to afterschool programs are growing as well, with youth who stand to benefit the most least likely to connect to such opportunities.

These programs are not just a childcare resource for families either. Programs like ICAN have continued to provide critical support, including serving meals and referrals for families needing other vital services.

The study also shared the insight of over 1,000 parents across the country, who overwhelmingly agreed that afterschool programs are critical during the pandemic, with 70 percent emphasizing academic support, 71 percent emphasizing safety (staying out of trouble) and 75 percent emphasizing posi-

#ChooseChandler this holiday season for shopping, dining and gifting.

Keep our local economy strong!

Learn more about your impact at iChooseChandler.com

The City of Chandler is proud to support our local business community.

tive relationships (emotional support).

We surveyed our own parents over the summer and found that their biggest challenges were access to education, social isolation and access to childcare.

We listened to the needs of our families and responded. We worked closely with the Chandler Unified School District to open a second ICAN site at Galveston Elementary.

The site opened on Oct. 13 and is serving 30 youth daily. The second site has given us the flexibility to spread out youth between two locations and serve more youth with ICAN’s vital youth development program.

ICAN is not just a safe place for kids to go afterschool – we use structured curriculum that instills life skills, self-confidence and a myriad of social-emotional skills that are more critical than ever to vulnerable youth.

Our expansion model has proven so successful in the midst of the pandemic that we are planning an aggressive increase in sitebased locations over the next two years.

The concept of bringing our established ICAN model directly to youth in their schools is working, and our vision is to expand free youth development programs in other underserved communities as we grow.

Our plan includes a second school site at Hartford Elementary in January, a third site by the end of next year and future expansion beyond Chandler into other underserved communities by 2023. We are committed to expanding ICAN’s free program to the youth who need it most.

If you feel inspired by our vision and would like to support our program and its growth – you can donate to ICAN at icanaz.org.

28

SPORTS

Sports

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Hamilton volleyball battles for first-ever title

BY BRITTANY BOWYER Arizonan Contributor

H

amilton High School will have a new addition to the trophy case this season, as the girls volleyball team was able to capture the 2020 6A state title on Saturday night with a 3-1 win over Perry.

The Pumas came into the match looking to avenge a tough loss in the 2019 championship game to Basha, but unfortunately for Perry, it wasn’t its night.

“They’re a great team, but we played well on the right night,” Hamilton coach Sharon Vanis said.

The two teams are no strangers to each other. Both in the Premier Region, the two play each other at least twice a year. This season, Perry was able to snag a win in both of the regular season matches.

The Pumas boasted a prestigious 18-0

Hamilton’s volleyball team battled its way to a four-set victory over Perry to win the 6A state championship.

(Pablo Robles/Arizonan Staff)

record going into the game, but Vanis believes that might have played a factor in

Perry’s mental state and could have impacted their performance.

“It’s almost like they came in here worried about last year or worried about that undefeated record, and that will catch up with you,” Vanis said.

Determined not to lose three times in a row to the same team, Hamilton knew it was going to be a battle and this time they came prepared. It was not only a great opportunity to avoid being swept

by Perry this season, it also was a chance for Hamilton to make school history, which they did.

“They have just established Hamilton as one of the programs,” Vanis said.

“These kids, they feed off that. They take pride in that, not only on the court, but in the classroom, they want to be the best.

“We’ve had three state runner-up trophies, but we’ve never been able to get that final one.”

see VOLLEYBALL page 29

Chandler, Hamilton top seeds in Open Division CHANDLER

BY ZACH ALVIRA Arizonan Sports Editor

Chandler squared off against Hamilton in the regular-season finale on ESPN2, winning a close matchup between two of the state’s best programs.

The win solidified the four-time defending champions spot at the top of the Open Division. The No. 5 nationally ranked Wolves were to face No. 8 Desert Edge in the opening round of the Open playoffs Friday.

T

he 2020 football season is nearing its conclusion – a feat many might deem incredible, given the uncertain circumstances the pandemic created.

Nearly every Chandler program finished their entire schedules without COVID-19 issues, though some teams were forced to play fewer games.

Still, Chandler is once again represented well in the playoffs – especially the Open Division.

Teams were able to schedule a “bowl game” after the regular season concluded. Here’s how each Chandler football team fared in the COVID-shortened 2020 regular season.

HAMILTON

For the second straight year, Chandler has emerged as the top-ranked team heading into the Open Division playoffs after the Wolves knocked off rival Hamilton to finish the regular season 7-0. (Pablo Robles/Arizonan Staff)

Hamilton came into the Open Division playoffs as the second-ranked team after the close loss to Chandler in the Battle for Arizona Avenue.

Despite the loss, Hamilton is still

see FOOTBALL page 29

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

VOLLEYBALL from page 28

The first set started as a back-andforth battle, with things tied up early at six. However, the Pumas quickly exploded to a 20-12 lead over the Huskies thanks to strong performances by junior Jordan Suan and sophomore Avery Burks. The Pumas looked unstoppable, and it didn’t take long for them to close it out, taking the first set 25-19.

“We told our girls, if they didn’t play close to perfect, we didn’t stand a chance,” Vanis said. “We got out to a good lead, but we lost focus and they took advantage of that.”

Remaining positive, Hamilton came into the second set aggressive, despite having to battle against the momentum that Perry had already built up. Just like the first set, both teams fought to establish dominance, but Hamilton was able to make the necessary plays to find itself with a large 18-10 lead.

Hamilton’s lead forced Perry to call timeout. As the two teams gathered near the benches, the entire energy of the

packed arena, especially for COVID-19 conditions, quickly changed. It was nearly impossible not to feel the momentum in the air for the Huskies.

Senior Jahara Campbell along with juniors Micah Gryniewicz and Jordan Middleton were largely behind the second set rally for Hamilton, and the three of them did what was necessary to close things out 25-12 and tie the match at 1-1.

Perry came in to the third set fighting to establish dominance, but Hamilton was still playing off the energy they garnered in set two. Once again, the two teams found themselves fighting tooth and nail to get a lead to start things off, as it was tied early again at eight.

Even though the Huskies were able to jump out to a 15-10 lead at one point, Perry continued to battle back and tied it up at 22. Unfortunately for the Pumas, the rally in set three wasn’t enough to overcome the large deficit, as they fell 25-22 in set three.

It all came down to the fourth set. Perry was facing elimination and another

SPORTS 29 crushing loss in the championship game, while Hamilton knew there was just one set remaining on what’s been a long road of obstacles to reaching the championships.

“They’re talented, but I think our chemistry is just there,” Gryniewicz said.

“We really love playing with each other and we know how to put it all together.”

A slew of blocks by senior Ella Rud and sophomore Reagan Reynolds helped Hamilton climb out to an early 6-1 lead, but Perry was going to do its best to fight to the very end. Despite being able to get the game within two, Hamilton eventually was able to pull away to a 25-18 victory in set four to claim the title with the set point coming on a kill by Campbell.

Campbell, one of only two seniors on the team, says that in a year where there was so much uncertainty, actually being there in the moment was surreal.

“I transferred to Hamilton to win a state title, and we did it,” Campbell said.

“My senior year, we did it.”

Middleton led the Huskies in kills with 20, followed by Campbell and Grynie-

wicz with 14 and 12, respectively. Campbell also had 13 digs on the night. Middleton also led in attacks with 35, with Campbell and Gryniewicz both racking up 32 each.

“We didn’t serve as tough as we wanted to and get them out of their system, because it’s hard to stop them,” Perry coach Fred Mann said. “You can see how physical they are. We had a hard time blocking them.”

“It’s still so unreal to me,” Middleton said. “The fact that we just made Hamilton history, that’s just amazing to me.”

Campbell believes that Gryniewicz and Middleton are the future of the Husky program. Despite the fact that they’ll return nearly the whole roster, she expects those two to have the biggest and most lasting impact on next year’s squad.

“They both pushed me so hard to be a better player,” Campbell said. “They’re already so amazing. I can’t wait to see what they do.”

“We’ve had the runners-up, now it’s the real thing, and I’m ready to carry that on to next year,” Gryniewicz added.

nior class from the 2019 team.

Their loss to Basha Nov. 20 to finish the regular season gave them an 0-6 record. It was the first time in program history the Pumas finished the season winless.

pectations with a 5-3 record. However, coach Myron Blueford has the Knights on the right track as they prepare to move to their new campus.

FOOTBALL from page 28

ranked in the top-25 nationally. The Huskies made their second consecutive trip to the Open Division and were to face No. 7 Corona del Sol in the opening round.

BASHA

SETON CATHOLIC

Basha, led by freshman quarterback Demond Williams, lost the first two games of the season then went on to win six straight. The Bears are set up to become an Open Division contender next season, but for not will enjoy their No. 6 ranking in the 6A playoffs.

The Bears were to travel to face No. 3 Sandra Day O’Connor in the first round last Friday.

Seton Catholic secured its first victory of the season on Friday, Nov. 20 over Coronado. The Sentinels struggled to find a rhythm on both sides of the ball and faced tough 4A competition throughout the season.

It’s the first time Seton Catholic finished the regular season winless since 1987.

CASTEEL

Casteel appeared to be on its way to contend for a spot in the Open Division before losing three straight games in the middle of the season.

The Colts managed to bounce back against Desert Ridge and finished the season with a win over Red Mountain to claim the 6A Fiesta Region title. At 5-3, the Colts were placed in the playoffs at No. 5 and slated to play a tough No. 4 Highland team Friday.

ARIZONA COLLEGE PREP

Arizona College Prep, which won just one game two seasons ago, finished the 2020 season as the 3A Metro East Region champions and faced off against Thatcher in the conference playin tournament.

The Knights lost a close battle to the Eagles, cutting their season short of ex-

Hamilton’s lone loss of the season came against rival Chandler on Friday, Nov. 20 to conclude the regular season. The Huskies still finished as the No. 2 overall seed in the Open Division playoffs.

(Zac BonDurant/Arizonan Contributor)

PERRY

COVID-19 issues forced Perry to cancel two of its games this season. The Pumas struggled all year after losing a large se-

VALLEY CHRISTIAN

Valley Christian has long been one of the premier programs at the 3A level, even when losing large senior classes filled with talented players.

This year was no exception, as the Trojans advanced to the 3A play-in tournament as the No. 8 seed and faced ninthranked Round Valley.

The game came down to the wire and it was the Elks who were able to knock off the Trojans, ending their season with a 6-2 record.

CHANDLER PREP

Chandler Prep figured to make a deep run in this year’s 2A Conference playoffs with father-son coaching duo Josh and Tom Brittain leading the charge.

A talented young core group of athletes helped the Titans advance to the play-in tournament with a 4-1 record after COVID-19 issues forced cancellations.

Chandler Prep took on a tough St. Johns team and fell by a touchdown, ending their season and championship hopes.

30

GET OUT

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Chandler Film Festival expanding audience access ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

M

itesh Patel’s motto might just as well be “When 2020 gives you lemons, if you are the fastest growing film festival in Arizona, you simply make more popcorn.”

Patel, president and director of the Chandler International Film Festival won’t let COVID-19 restrictions scuttle the event’s fifth presentation in January.

Instead, he’s expanding access for film enthusiasts with online viewings, drivein events at Chandler High School as well as traditional theater viewings at Harkins Theater Chandler Fashion Mall.

Featuring over 120 films from more than 35 countries and six continents, the festival will take place Jan. 21-24.

“Despite the challenges this year, we wanted to look at the positive and make the festival even stronger than in year’s

Mitesh Patel of Chandler founded the film festival.

(File photo)

past by giving film lovers more ways to watch the films and attend events,” said Patel.

“Our goal is to showcase diversity, innovation, and uniqueness through the works of filmmakers from across the world in a local setting. Our drive-in events and online options this year give us the ability to reach more people.”

Events such as the red carpet opening ceremony, closing ceremony, Q&As with producers and actors – previously held at Harkins Theater – will now occur at Chandler High School during the drivein events.

Each drive-in event can accommodate up to 100 cars.

CIFF was created to bring together filmmakers, industry professionals and film fanatics to celebrate all genres of cinema.

Along with a diverse mix of interna-

tional films, the weekend will include a variety of programming and events including a red carpet, opening ceremony, award ceremony, filmmaker workshops, Q&As, panel discussions, daily after parties, and celebrity guest appearances.

Past celebrities attending the festival include Michelle Rodriguez, Brian Sacca, Robert Davi, Anna Chazelle, John-Paul Howard and Lee Chambers.

As part of the festival’s mission of giving back to the community, CIFF is partnering with two nonprofits this year, ICAN and AZCEND. Each organization will receive 100 percent of the profits from a select festival film.

ICAN is a free youth center in the East Valley that offers programming for youth, teens, families and the community. AZCEND, located in downtown Chan-

see FILM FESTIVAL page 31

Web series features Chandler special effects wizard

A

Chandler man is among the four artists featured next month in the popular AZ Creates! a web series.

The series, which highlights artists and authors, is produced and hosted by Laurie Fagan of Chandler’s Fox Crossing community.

Among her guests is Robert Diepenbrock of Chandler’s Clemente Ranch neighborhood.

He will be joined by author Karen Mueller Bryson of Florence, fiber and glass artist Adriene Buffington and author Edward L. Gates, both of Prescott.

In the Dec. 3 installment, Diepenbrock will discuss his background in theatre, film and television and creating special effects models for “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” and “ET: The Extraterrestrial,” among other blockbusters.

He is also launching a new web series

Edward Gates

Adriene Buffington

about locomotives, based on his model train involvement.

Bryson, a best-selling author, playwright, screenwriter, university psychology professor and publisher, will be

Karen Mueller Bryson

featured in AZ Creates! “What Are You Reading?” installment.

In the Dec. 17 edition of the series, the Creative Connection artist is Buffington, who talks about her years of making fi-

ber art quilts and more recently, lamp work glass beads.

Also on that program is Gates, a western/sci-fi published author who is also involved heavily in theatre.

In the program’s regular arts events segment, called “Something to Look Forward To,” co-host and graphic designer Cathy Beard of Clemente Ranch will highlight art happenings from around the state.

The featured nonprofit for the Dec. 3 episode will be the Arizona Citizens for the Arts, an organization for that helps with legislative issues for the arts. The Dec. 17 installment will feature Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona.

The programs all close with a “Creative Quote of the Day.”

see CREATES page 31

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

FILM FESTIVAL from page 30

dler, changes lives by nourishing minds and bodies to create a connected, thriving community.

Sponsors include Harkins Theaters, WAYMO, Yelp, Hilton Garden Inn, Residence Inn Chandler, Wolter Realty, Mortgage Right and Casanova Bros. Pizza.

When Patel started the festival in 2016, he aimed to cater to a broad, international audience. He wanted to showcase films that not only entertain audiences, but also educate them about the world’s diverse customs.

“It’s important for people to see the other cultures,” Patel explained.

Patel started the festival after moving to Chandler a few years ago and noticing there was a lacking film presence in the city.

He had been producing and directing

films in Los Angeles before deciding to flee to a city with less traffic and smog.

Chandler is a great place to live, Patel said, but it didn’t have anything for film buffs like him.

He said he’s proud of the presence his festival has made in the East Valley and the platform it’s created for unknown filmmakers to tell their stories.

“I just want to have people come and enjoy the films,” Patel added.

The festival supports independent filmmakers from all over the world and their filmmaking, providing a platform through which projects are reviewed, judged and honored for their uniqueness, creativity and storytelling ability.

For more information about CIFF and to purchase tickets: chandlerfilmfestival. com or check the Facebook page @ChandlerFilmFest.

GET OUT 31

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Chandler resident Robert Dipenbrock has worked on special effects for many Hollywood movies, including "Starship Troopers."

(Special to the Arizonan)

CREATES from page 30

AZ Creates! is a twice-monthly, halfhour web series to highlight artists, writers, dancers, musicians, film, theatre and TV creatives, and other artistic people in Arizona.

Fagen, an artist and crime fiction novel writer, designed the program to connect art patrons with artists, and to work on a positive project during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Show #7 airs at 7 p.m. Dec. 3, and Show #8 on Dec. 17. All episodes are available on the AZ Creates! YouTube

channel at any time, along with other video content.

Sponsorships are available with introductory rates and discounts for multishow commitments. Sponsors for the show include Mary Contreras State Farm Insurance, Sibley’s West, an Arizona and Chandler Gift Shop and Times Media.

Subscribe to the AZ Creates channel on Youtube.com at is.gd/AZCreates, visit the Art Online AZ Facebook and Instagram pages or email AZCreates.ArtOnlineAZ@ gmail.com for details.

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Please see your local E-Z-GO Authorized Dealer for details.

25820 S. Arizona Ave. • Sun Lakes, AZ 85248 480.895.2000 • www.A1GolfCarts.com

32

CLASSIFIEDS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Employment General Clairvoyant has openings for the following positions in Chandler, AZ area.

Software Engineers reqs US Masters degree/foreign equiv or Bach degree + 5 yrs experience w/ skills in J2EE, Java, XML, SQL, and Unix to analyze/dsgn/dev/implement/test systems & applics. Sr. Programmer Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) in Commerce/BusAdm/ST EM field to analyze/resolve/test/report on IT related projects using skills in EMC/MS/SQL/ Excel/Java/C. Email your resume to jobs@clairvoyantsoft.c om with ref # 2021-19 for Software Eng; 2021-20 for Sr. Prog Analyst & ref EVT ad

Obituaries Elizabeth “Betty” DiBona

Elizabeth “Betty” DiBona, 89, of Mesa, AZ passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. She was born Sept. 1, 1931 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Daughter to the late Louis and Florence Ackerman, she was preceded in death by her husband Anthony DiBona; sister, Vera Hawes of Atlantic City, NJ; sister, Jean Roe of Mesa, AZ; sister, Edith Beyer of Hyde Park, NY. Elizabeth served as a volunteer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society and an active parishioner at Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

She is survived by her five children; Louis DiBona and his wife Brenda of Tempe, AZ; Edward DiBona of Mesa, AZ; Theresa DiBona of Mesa, AZ; Peggy Stone and husband Kelly of Bullhead City, AZ; Maryanne DiBona of Mesa, AZ. Other surviving relatives include her 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass will be held on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 141 N. McDonald, Mesa, AZ. A private family burial will follow at the National Memorial Cemetery, Cave Creek, AZ.

H E A DSTO N E S

EVERLASTING MONUMENT Co.

“Memories cut in Stone” • MONUMENTS • GRANITE & BRONZE • CEMETERY LETTERING • CUSTOM DESIGNS

480-969-0788 75 W. Baseline Rd. Ste. A-8 Gilbert, AZ 85233

www.everlastingmonumentco.com info@everlastingmonument.phxcoxmail.com

Make your choice Everlasting

Merch andise

Employ ment Employment General Architectural and civil drafter Perform tech. specifications in landscape design proj. 2020 AutoCAD/ Pool Studio skills+ knowledge of math. Construction + BS in landscape design Req. Mall to job Loc: Lavender Landscape Design Co LLC, 602 W. 22nd Street, Tempe, AZ, 85282

Classifieds 480-898-6465

Garage Sales/ Bazaars Mult-Family Garage Sale 12/4 7am4pm & 12/5 7am-12 Electric smoker, antique dishes and bed, clothing all sizes, misc items Wearing masks are appreciated 6456 E. Dodge St Mesa, AZ 85205 6457 E. Duncan St. Mesa 85205

Wanted to Buy

Wanted to Buy Diabetic Test Strips by the box, unused. Any type or brand.

Will pay top dollar.

Call Pat 480-323-8846 WANTED BY COLLECTOR OLDER MODEL 22 CALIBER RIFLES AND HANDGUNS IN NICE CONDITION CONSIDER OTHERS I DO NOT SELL GUNS. CALL WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. LEE 602-448-6487

Real Estate

For Rent

Manufactured Homes BRAND NEW NEVER LIVED IN 2 BED / 2 BATH HOMES $58,900 Financing Available 55+ Mobile Home Park in Great Chandler Loc. Call Kim 480-233-2035

OUR JOB BOARD HAS THE TALENT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR.

ALMA SCH & MAIN 1b 1 bath duplex Income verified UTILITIES INCLUDED Bad Credit OK. No Deposit Close to Lightrail $700 (602) 339-1555

Bridge Engineer. MS in Civil Eng. Knowledge of bridge load rating. T. Y. Lin International, Tempe.

Email: Debbie.parsons@tylin.com for Job#2 or apply @ https://careers-tylin.icims.com/jobs/2596/bridgeengineer-%28job-%23-2%29/job

Three Phase Mechanical

480-671-0833

www.3phasemech.com Sales, Service & Installation

ROC# 247803 Bonded • Insured

ACCREDITED BUSINESS

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

FIND THE BEST TALENT. EASILY POST JOBS. COMPETITIVE PRICING AND EXPOSURE More info: 480-898-6465 or email jobposting@evtrib.com

J BS. EASTVALLEY TRIBUNE.COM

QUALITY, VALUE and a GREAT PRICE!

Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship Furnace / AC Tune Up - $69 New 3-Ton AC Units - now $3,995 New Trane Air Conditioners NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 MONTHS!

‘A’ RATED AC REPAIR FREE ESTIMATE SAME DAY SERVICE

Most jobs also appear on Indeed.com

Manufactured Homes

Bonded/Insured • ROC #289252

THE LINKS ESTATES

ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

Why Rent The Lot When

YOU CAN OWN THE LAND And Own Your New Home

480-405-7588 Appliance Repairs

Appliance Repair Now

Cash 4 Diabetic Strips!

Best Prices in Town.

Sealed and Unexpired.

480-652-1317

Employment General

Family Owned & Operated

NO TRIP CHARGE • NOT COMMISSION BASED

Apartments APACHE TRAIL & IRONWOOD Secluded Cute Studio, A/C $650/Month Bad Credit ok No Deposit.

Water/Trash Inc. (602) 339-1555

Air Conditioning/Heating

If It’s Broken, We Can Fix It! FROM THE UPPER 100’S

ASK US HOW YOUR $105,000 CASH INVESTMENT AND OUR SENIOR LOAN PROGRAM ENABLES QUALIFIED 62+ SENIORS MAKING THE LINKS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE HAVE NO MORTGAGE PAYMENT & NO LOT RENT AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN HOME.

Gawthorp & Associates Realty 40667 N Wedge Dr • San Tan Valley, AZ 85140

602-402-2213

www.linksestates.net

• Same Day Service • On-Site Repairs • Servicing All Major Brands • Quality Guaranteed

We Also Buy, Sell & Trade Used Appliances Working or Not

480-659-1400 Licensed & Insured

33 CLASSIFIEDS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

The Chandler Arizonan

1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway #219 • Tempe, AZ 85282 480.898.6465 class@timespublications.com

Deadlines

Classifieds: Thursday 11am for Sunday Life Events: Thursday 10am for Sunday

The Place “To Find” Everything You Need | ChandlerNews.com Concrete & Masonry

Handyman

Block Fence * Gates

HANDYMAN 37 years experience.

Drywall, framing, plumbing, painting, electrical, roofing and more. Stan, 602-434-6057

602-789-6929 Roc #057163 Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

Garage/Doors GARAGE DOOR SERVICE East Valley/ Ahwatukee

DESERT ROCK

CONC R E TE & MA SONRY BLOCKWALL CONCRETE RETAINING WALL BLOCK FENCE PLANTER BBQ

FOUNDATION DRIVEWAY SIDEWALK PATIO

PAVER • CONCRETE REMOVAL • HARDSCAPE BONDED & INSURED • ROC#321648 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! FREE ESTIMATES • 16 YEARS EXPERIENCE RESIDENTIAL CALL JOHN: 480.797.2985 COMMERCIAL

Broken Springs Replaced Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610

Glass/Mirror

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices.

FREE Estimates

Not a licensed contractor

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online!

Call 480-898-6465

WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY Call 480-306-5113

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs!

Painting • Flooring • Electrical Handyman Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Decks • Tile • More!

Marks the Spot for ALL Your Handyman Needs!

Marks the Spot for ALL•Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Painting Painting Flooring • Electrical “No Job Too ✔Small Flooring Painting • Flooring • Electrical Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry Drywall Man!” Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry ✔ Electrical Decks • Tile • More!

1999 e Sinc k Wor lity Qua Decks •Affo Tile • More! rdable, ✔ Plumbing 2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 ✔ Drywall JOSE DOMINGUEZ Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor “No Job ✔ Carpentry Too Small Marks the Spot for“No DRYWALL & PAINTING Job Too ALL Your Handyman Needs! ✔ Decks Painting • Flooring • Electrical Small Man!” “No Job Too Man!” ✔ Tile Plumbing • Drywall • Carpentry

House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Small Man!” Decks • Tile • More! ✔ Kitchens 9 199 Baseboards, Crown Molding ce Sin rk Wo Affordable, Quality ceBSMALLMAN@Q.COM ✔ Bathrooms 2010, 2011 9 199 Sin able, Quality Work 2012, 2013, Reliable, Dependable, Honest!

Afford And More!

2010, 2011 2014 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 Call Bruce at 602.670.7038 2012, 2013, 2014 QUICK RESPONSE TO Ahwatukee YOUR Resident/ References/ Insured/ NotResident a Licensed Contractor Ahwatukee / References Call BruceCALL! at 602.670.7038 15 Years Experience • Free Estimates “No Job Too Small Man!”

Since 1999 Affordable, Quality Work

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor Insured / Not aCall Licensed Contractor Bruce at 602.670.7038

480.266.4589

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

josedominguez0224@gmail.com

LLC

Not a licensed contractor.

Obituaries - Death NOtices iN MeMOriaM We are here to make this difficult time easier for you. Our 24 hour online service is easy to use and will walk you through the steps of placing a paid obituary in the East Valley Tribune or a free death notice online.

Visit: obituaries.EastValleyTribune.com

2010, 2011 2012, 2013, 2014

Home Improvement HOME REMODELING REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING Move a wall; turn a door into a window.

From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all.

Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more.

All trades done by hands-on General Contractor.

Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable.

40 years' experience.

Call Ron Wolfgang Pleas text or leave message Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934

CLASSIFIEDS and LEGALS Deadline: Thursday at 10am for Sunday 480-898-6465 Email Your Ad: class@times publications.com

Home Improvement

ACTION CONTRACTING INC. WE DO IT ALL!

Bath & Kitchen Remodels • Car-Port to Garage Conversion Drywall & Stucco Repairs • Plumbing • Electrical • Can Lights Windows • Doors • Cabinets • Painting • Block Fences Wrought Iron Gates • Remodeling • Additions • Patios Tenant Improvements

East Valley

480-833-7353 - Office 480-430-7737 - Cell A+

• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

All Estimates are Free • Call:

520.508.1420

www.husbands2go.com

Licensed, Bonded & Insured • ROC#317949 Ask me about FREE water testing!

78

-

aaaActionContractingInc.com

ChandlerNews.com

HIRING?

If someone Needs a Job, They Look Every Day! For a Quote email: class@times publications.com

480-898-6465

General Contacting, Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766 Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists All Remodeling, Additions, Kitchen, Bath, Patio Covers, Garage, Sheds, Windows, Doors, Drywall & Roofing Repairs, Painting, All Plumbing, Electrical, Concrete, Block, Stucco, Stack Stone, All Flooring, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Welding, Gates, Fences, All Repairs.

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

Irrigation

• Old Paint & Chems.

• Yard Waste • Concrete Slab • Remodeling Debris • Old Tires

• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service

NTY

5-YEAR WARRA

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

I

19

LIC/BONDED/INSURED Res/Comm’l ROC#218802

Hauling

• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

-S

E NC

Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

Meetings/Events?

Get Free notices in the Classifieds!

Submit to ecota@timespublications.com

CLASSIFIEDS

34

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Landscape/Maintenance

Landscape/Maintenance

Superstition Landscape Maintenance

Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

Junk Removal PLUS House Cleaning Call or Text Adrian 480•376•9803 or 480•925•1418

Honest & Reliable

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Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured Technician

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

L L C

Painting

Pool Service / Repair

Jose Dominguez Painting & Drywall SEE OUR AD IN DRYWALL! Quick Response to your Call!

15 Years Exp 480-266-4589 Not a licensed contractor

Prepare for Monsoon Season!

LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

Tree Trimming • Tree Removal Stump Grinding Storm Damage • Bushes/Shrubs Yard Clean-up Commercial and Residential PMB 435 • 2733 N. Power Rd. • Suite 102 • Mesa dennis@allprotrees.com

480-354-5802

Call Lance White

Painting

480.721.4146 Irrigation

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Repairs • Modifications • Installs

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

480-338-4011

ROC#309706

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident

HYDROJETTING

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

480-477-8842

SEWER CABLE COMPREHENSIVE, FULL-SERVICE PLUMBING COMPANY

BOOK ONLINE! STATE48DRAINS.COM 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED ROC 3297740

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Plumbing

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PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH!

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com Now Accepting all major credit cards

See MORE Ads Online!

Beat Any Price By 10% • Lifetime Warranty Water Heaters Installed - $799 Unclog Drains - $49 FREE RO UNIT w/Any WATER SOFTENER INSTALL NO INTEREST FINANCING - 60 Months!!

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SHARE WITH THE WORLD! Place a Birth, Anniversary, Wedding Announcement, In Memoriam, Obituary or any life event in this paper today!

Call us for details.

class@timespublications.com or call 480-898-6465

Sell Your Stuff!

480.345.1800 ROC 304267 • Licensed & Bonded

Not a licensed contractor.

480-706-1453

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality

• 20 Years Experience • 6 Year Warranty

480-720-3840

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Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Light Carpentry • Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Pool Deck Coatings Garage Floor Coatings • Color Consulting

Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

East Valley PAINTERS

Family Owned & Operated

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

Roofing

Plumbing

Voted #1

Sprinkler & Drip Systems

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR Call Juan at

www.irsaz.com

ROC# 256752

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

www.ChandlerNews.com

480-405-7099 ItsJustPlumbSmart.com

Call Classifieds Today!

480.898.6465

CLASS@TIMESPUBLICATIONS.COM

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020 35

NOW OPEN

HAPPY HOUR

Every Day 2pm-6pm and 10pm-CLOSE • $2 OFF ALL Draft Beer • $4 House Wine • $2 Well Drinks

• $4 Titos, Bacardi, Tanqueray, Herradura Silver, Jack Daniels

ALL DAY SPECIALS MONDAY $10 Burgers WEDNESDAY $10 Wraps

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THURSDAY BUY ONE, GET ONE WINGS & TENDERS

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480-899-7999

REGULAR HOURS DAILY 11AM - 12AM

T:10"

36

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | NOVEMBER 29, 2020

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