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December 20, 2020 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Chandler spends $4.1 million to avert eviction tsunami BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

A Chandler mother had just been diagnosed with lupus when her husband decided to walk out on the family, leaving her to take care of their five children. The husband had lost his job due to

the COVID-19 pandemic and the stress of not being able to provide for his family ultimately pushed him to abandon the household. Not knowing where she would find the money to pay her rent, the mother reached out to AZCEND and received a grant to temporarily cover the family’s living expenses.

Trinity Donovan, the nonprofit’s chief executive officer, said this family is one of many that AZCEND has saved from eviction during the pandemic. So far this year, AZCEND has doled out more than $3 million for over 1,200 rental payments – significantly more than the $80,000 spent at this time last year.

AZCEND currently has a backlog of 400 applications for rental assistance and that number could possibly grow in the coming months. “We have been receiving 300 requests per month for the past few months,” Donovan said. “We expect this See

EVICT on page 6

Casteel aims to stop enrollment slide before retiring BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler Unified Superintendent Camille Casteel is aiming to resolve the district’s budget woes before she retires at the end of this school year. After 25 years as the top administrator of the state’s second-largest school district, Casteel announced two weeks ago plans to step down next June. In an interview with the SanTan Sun News, Casteel discussed her struggles with trying to manage CUSD during the

Fifty years after she started working for CUSD as a teacher, Superintendent Dr. Camille Casteel is retiring. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

pandemic and her top objective over the next six months. “We’d like to regain our student enrollment,” she said. The 2020-21 school year was the first during Casteel’s tenure that saw an enrollment decline after steady annual growth since 1996 -- the year Casteel was appointed superintendent. That growth resulted in the construction of 30 school campuses. But the pandemic has stunted that trajectory, costing the district more than 1,750 students and a loss of $13.9

million in state per-pupil reimbursement. That loss in state reimbursement could cost Chandler another $11.7 million because of the number of students who were in distance-learning earlier in the 2020-21 school year. The state reimburses districts at a rate that’s 5 percent lower for online students than they get for those who learn in classrooms. Virtually all school districts have lost See

CASTEEL on page 9

New dental practice focuses on Once more, champs! patients' minds, not just teeth BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Jeremy and Elissa Silverman are combining their respective fields of expertise in their Chandler dental pratice to accommodate the anxious patient. Jeremy is a dentist and Elissa a licensed clinical social worker – two professions that they believe will offer a more holistic approach to dentistry when put under the same roof. The couple opened Peace of Mind Dental Studio on Chandler Boulevard a couple months ago and provide special services aimed at calming a patient’s anxiety.

Stress balls, aromatherapy, weighted blankets, and noise-canceling headphones are some of the unique amenities a patient can request if they’re dreading a root canal or some other procedure. The Silvermans even chose drills that sound less shrill and unnerving to a patient’s sensitive ears. “We really want people to know anxiety is really common when it comes to going to the dentist and they’re not going to be judged,” Elissa Silverman said. The couple’s practice offers what See

DENTIST on page 10

Chandler High's Wolves celebrated theirt second consecutive Open Division Championship Dec. 12 after beating Hamilton. Stories and photos start on page 40. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor)

F E AT U R E STO R I E S City looks at accomplishments in trying year. . . . .COMMUNITY . . . . Page 17 Chandler firm ready to whack air-co bills . . . . . . . .BUSINESS . . . . . . . Page 24 Chandler woman is a "dementia whisperer" . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . Page 45 Murals transforming downtown Chandler. . . . . . . .ARTS . . . . . . . . . . Page 52 Where best charcuterie boards are served. . . . . . . EAT . . . . . . . . . . . Page 60

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Residents fail to halt 108-unit complex An edition of the East Valley Tribune

BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Efforts to stop a multi-family housing complex from going up near Gilbert and Riggs roads have failed after the Chandler City Council gave developers the green light to proceed.. In a 6-1 vote, the council overruled neighbors’ objections to the 108-unit complex, called The Villages at Chandler, which will be built on a plot of vacant land surrounded by single-family homes. Developers describe their project as a “pocket neighborhood,” consisting of several luxury duplexes and triplexes occupied by residents who can easily become friends due to their closeness to each other. “The community design will allow for spontaneity, encourage connections, and lay the foundation for lasting friendships,” the project’s plans state. The $22-million complex is expected to feature a dog park, pool, fitness area and outdoor recreation areas. Hundreds of nearby residents signed an online petition against the project, saying it would generate more traffic and eliminate the opportunity to develop the land for commercial or retail uses. “We don’t think it’s a good fit,” said Cristie Brown, who signed the petition. “We feel like it’s being developed because it’s stayed empty for many years.” Some neighbors felt blindsided by the project and accused developers of not properly notifying residents and allowing them a chance to offer feedback before seeking approval from the city. “We do not believe we are being heard,” said Deborah Kehl, another resident who signed the petition. “People are frustrated at not being heard.” Wendy Riddell, an attorney representing the developer, claimed her client went above the standard outreach requirements to keep neighbors informed about Villages at Chandler. The developers held public meetings, knocked on doors and posted information on social media to let residents know about the project in advance, the attorney said. “We value neighborhood input, we value stakeholder input, we’ve done

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This map shows the layout of the 108-unit Villages at Chandler community planned near Gilbert and Riggs roads. (City of Chandler)

everything we could to get the word out,” Riddell said. The southeast corner of Gilbert and Riggs road was developed into a bank and pharmacy in 2008, and some residents expected the surrounding vacant land would also be put to more commercial uses. But Riddell said the market has changed dramatically over the last decade and there’s much less demand for retail stores and offices at every intersection. “The world has changed to where having four corners for commercial simply doesn’t make sense,” she added. Common complaints made by neighbors involved the possible noise, crime and traffic that the development might generate in an area of Chandler consisting mostly of single-family homes. The city did not require developers to submit a full traffic analysis for the Villages because the project has a limited number of housing units. Data reviewed by city staff suggests the area’s average daily traffic trips would

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increase more substantially if the land was developed for commercial purposes. “The proposed multi-family units will generate approximately 60 to 76 percent fewer (daily trips) than the land uses permitted by the existing zoning,” city documents state. Though the city received several emails from residents opposing the Villages project, some neighbors are hopeful it will come to fruition and offer more variety to Chandler’s housing stock. Caitlyn Gulsvig, a young professional who grew up around the project site, said she would be interested in living in one of the complex’s units because it’d be near her family and more affordable than a single-family home. “There isn’t an option for me as somebody who doesn’t want to buy a home,” Gulsvig said. “This is exactly what I’m looking for at this point in time.” Despite the mixed feelings and criticisms expressed to city officials, Council ultimately sided with the developer by allowing the land to be rezoned for multi-family housing. “There aren’t any other apartments around this location,” said Vice Mayor Rene Lopez. “There’s a lot of very nice houses and there’s not a lot of diversity in housing in this area.” The Villages is estimated to generate more than $300,000 in revenue for the city over the next decade through property taxes and building permit fees. Councilman Matt Orlando, the only council member to vote against the project, felt the Villages won’t be affordable for the many residents who are already getting pushed out of the city by rising rents. “Although this is a beautiful project, it’s in my mind more of the same,” Orlando said. “It’s not going to the heart of what we’re facing in our community today.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

CUSD studying more virtual learning options BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler Unified plans to allow high school students to temporarily learn virtually from home after the holiday break. On Dec. 9, the Governing Board voted 4-0 on a resolution directing the administration to come up with a new plan that allows junior and high school students to learn at home virtually for the first two weeks of the spring semester. The virtual students would have an experience separate from pupils currently enrolled in the Chandler Online Academy, which doesn’t involve the same level of interaction between teachers and their classes. The virtual students would essentially go back to doing what they did when the fall semester began in August, which involved students logging into Google Classrooms and listening to teachers deliver online lectures. Not all the details of this two-week virtual experience have been revealed because the board gave administrators until next month to propose a plan. The board’s decision was considered a temporary compromise for students scared of COVID-19 numbers spiking after the holiday break and the students who want to continue learning in

classrooms without interruption. Board member David Evans said he sees a need for an additional choice that allows some students to continue learning with their designated teacher and classmates without the anxiety of coming to school in person. Evans’ plan is the latest in a long series of changes CUSD has made since March on how students are taught. Board member Lindsay Love, who abstained from voting on Evans’ proposal, said she wished the district would have come up with its own plans on new virtual learning options rather than forcing a board member to piece an idea together on their own. “Why even put this on the agenda if there was no plan?” Love asked during the Dec. 9 meeting. “I don’t know what we’re talking about.” Love said she expected more from CUSD especially since the district was about to recess for the holiday break and two new members will be joining the board next month. Evans and Karen McGee chose not to seek another term. “This plan did not even come from the district and so I’m a little disappointed about that,” Love added. “We don’t even really have a plan, it’s just us kicking the can down the road again.” The two-week virtual option was met with mixed feelings from some teachers, who worry about the extra

work this plan might generate. Katie Nash, a teacher and president of the Chandler Education Association, said the two-week option will satisfy a need in the district for students who are afraid of getting sick. “We do have a lot of students who are very fearful of coming back from the holidays,” Nash said. But a virtual option that forces teachers to instruct students online and in classrooms simultaneously is not sustainable for more than two weeks, she added. “Anything beyond even that time period, it’s just a lot to ask of people,” Nash said. On Dec. 10, the Chandler Education Association sent the district letter calling for better communication from the administration and the creation of a COVID-19 taskforce that involves teachers, parents, students and community members. “Our educators are exhausted and stretched to their breaking point,” the letter stated. “We need support from the community to keep our schools safe.” The letter asked the district to adhere to Maricopa County’s virus data when making future decisions about opening and closing schools. The county’s data currently shows CUSD as having a “substantial” risk of virus spread. “Other large school districts in the

East Valley have followed the course indicated by Maricopa County COVID-19 data and shifted to virtual instruction while COVID cases continue to soar,” the CEA letter stated. As the district’s learning options continue to fluctuate, some teachers have been threatening to call out sick in protest. Superintendent Camille Casteel acknowledged the lack of consistency CUSD has demonstrated since the pandemic began, but argued her administration has had to rapidly adapt to circumstances that keep changing from week to week. The decisions made by CUSD have caused divisions within the district, Casteel said, and administrators have had varying opinions on how the district should respond to the pandemic. “We don’t all agree with each other,” the superintendent said on Dec. 9. “There is not consensus, but I know we’re all well intentioned.” Casteel apologized to any families angered by the district’s choices over the last few months and insisted the pandemic forced CUSD into a series of “no-win” predicaments. “I’m sorry that we’ve disappointed some of our staff and families,” Casteel said. “It’s not like we wake up in the morning and say, ‘Well how can we upset people today.’”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Chandler High swim team devastated by 2nd COVID-19 death BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

As Chandler High School’s staff and students assembled Dec. 5 to honor a swim coach who died from the COVID-19 virus earlier this year, the school’s swimming community was recovering from the recent news of another tragedy caused by the pandemic. Tony Vasquez, president of the swim team’s booster club, died from complications related to COVID-19 on Dec. 2 after being admitted to the hospital a few days prior. A day later, Vasquez’s wife, Lisa, also succumbed to the coronavirus. The couple leave behind a 17-year-old daughter, Brisa, who’s a member of Chandler High’s swim team. “It’s devastating,” said Shannon Moxley, the school’s assistant swim coach. “This is nothing anybody could have been prepared for.” Vasquez’s health began to decline suddenly after he tested positive for COVID-19 a couple weeks ago. After he and his wife were admitted into an intensive care unit, doctors attempted to keep their oxygen levels steady with ventilators. But their condition progressively worsened and never reversed. On the same day of Vasquez’s death, 16 other Arizonans reportedly died from COVID-related illnesses. Nearly 7,000 residents in the state have died from the virus since it first started spreading back in March, according to the Arizona Department of

Chandler High student Brisa Vasquez lost her parents within a day of each other to COVID-19. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Health and Human Services. The Vasquezes’ sudden absence has been a shock to Chandler’s swim community, Moxley said, and the couple will be terribly missed by Brisa’s teammates. “They just gave limitlessly and made really strong connections with others,” she added. “People with hearts of gold and really humble.” Moxley is running an online fundraiser to collect donations for covering the couple’s funeral expenses and medical bills. Any leftover funds will be placed in a financial trust for Vasquez’s daughter, Moxley said. The loss of Vasquez and his wife feels all the more tragic because they had been striving to make this year’s swim season extra special for the students, Moxley said. “He wanted this year to be the best – especially because he felt the kids had

been through so much,” she said. Chandler High School was touched by tragedy earlier this year after Kerry Croswhite, the school’s longtime swim coach, died from the virus in July. Students held candlelight vigils, made t-shirts bearing Croswhite’s name and opened their season with a bag pipes player – an instrument played often by their deceased coach. The school board voted to honor Croswhite further by renaming its aquatic center after the coach and hosted a dedication ceremony on Dec. 5, a couple days after the team was notified of Vasquez’s death. Students and parents donned face masks and spread out six feet apart across the school’s aquatic center as they tearfully paid tribute to a coach and a friend both taken away too soon.

“Because of (Croswhite’s) leadership and example, countless students have learned the value of camaraderie, perseverance and teamwork,” Superintendent Camille Casteel said during Saturday’s ceremony. Moxley said the school’s students are hurting from this latest tragedy and are frequently checking in with each other. The students are attempting to live by standards set by Croswhite and Vasquez, Moxley added, and trying not to dwell on their deaths. “I think both Kerry and Tony shared the same philosophy of ‘You just keep going, just keep swimming,’” she said. The school’s swim season has been drastically reduced this year due to restrictions put in place to protect swimmers from contracting COVID-19. Face masks are mandatory before entering the water, the number of swimmers in a pool has been lowered, and few spectators are allowed to watch tournaments. The team’s participated in far fewer swim meets this year, Moxley said, so swimmers haven’t had as many opportunities to compete. But the students don’t seem to be too discouraged, Moxley said, because they know swimming has come to represent something greater than tournaments and medals. “Our swim team is so special and these kids are such wonderful human beings,” she added. “They’re kind to each other and they love their sport.” To donate to the gofundme.com drive: gf.me/v/c/gfm/medical-expenses-for-the-vasquez-family.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Chandler’s legislators prioritize COVID-19 relief BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler’s representatives at the Arizona Legislature say they’ll be pushing for more resources to help small businesses hurt by the pandemic during the upcoming legislative session. All the elected leaders representing legislative districts 17 and 18, which encompass Chandler and Ahwatukee, believe recovery from the pandemic will be their main focus when the Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 11. During a recent meeting with the Chandler City Council, the delegation discussed how the lingering health crisis may affect the state’s budget and any bills they might introduce next month. “COVID-19 will be the overarching issue this session,” said state Sen. J.D. Mesnard of LD17. “The good news is, unlike last session, there are fewer unknowns.” The Republican south Chandler senator said Arizona’s revenue picture doesn’t look as dismal compared to the start of the pandemic and could open the possibility for more spending. The “skinny” budget rushed through the Legislature earlier this year left out many expenditures that could come up again in the next session’s budget, Mesnard added, “It may not be a fat budget per se but I think it won’t be the literal bare bones like the last one,” Mesnard said.

EVICT

Rep. Jennifer Pawlik

State Sen. J.D. Mesnard

Chandler’s two legislative districts will be represented this session by two Republicans and four Democrats – a bipartisan mashup that’s shares many of the same priorities at the Capitol. Mesnard said he and his Democratic counterpart, Sen. Sean Bowie of LD18, agree on prioritizing issues like infrastructure and higher education. Bowie has further hinted at a desire to have the Legislature address the state’s lack of affordable housing, an issue that’s notably gotten worse in Chandler in recent years due to rising rents.

A 2019 survey by the city found that affordable housing was the most pressing concern among Chandler residents. “I’m hoping we can do something around affordable housing whether it’s a tax credit or it’s an investment in our housing trust fund,” Bowie said. Some of the delegation’s other Democrats are hopeful to see some legislation that will provide more relief to small businesses attempting to weather the pandemic’s economic woes. Since the pandemic started in March, the City of Chandler has reported more than 80 local businesses shut down and

from page 1

demand to increase when the moratorium expires.” A nationwide moratorium preventing landlords from evicting tenants is set to expire at the end of December, which is prompting Chandler to prepare for a potential housing crisis. Gov. Doug Ducey said he has no plans to extend a moratorium on residential evictions once a federal ban on ousting tenants expires at the end of the month. On Dec. 10, Chandler City Council authorized giving $4.1 million to AZCEND and the Salvation Army to help the agencies prevent evictions. Had the city not allocated these funds, the nonprofits believe they would have run out of rental assistance money by the end of December. AZCEND reported having only about $300,000 left in its rental fund at the start of this month. The $4.1 million comes out of a $30-million grant given to Chandler through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed by Congress earlier this year. The city decided to spend the majority of its federal aid on assisting local businesses and on capital investments while setting aside $9 million in reserves in case Chandler encountered any unexpected expenses in the future. One of those expenses has suddenly arrived at the city’s doorstep. “The need is even greater than we

Mychelle Arias at AZEND's Chandler headquarters talks with desperate renters seeking help to avoid pandemic-fueled eviction. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

thought,” said Leah Powell, the city’s neighborhood resources director. The city didn’t realize the backlogs for rental assistance had gotten so high, Powell said, and Chandler was recently informed Maricopa County has burned through its federal funding for rental assistance. These circumstances have placed the city in a position where it has to act quickly before the need for funds potentially exceeds after the moratorium expires. Because the moratorium doesn’t automatically protect every tenant and comes with a set of eligibility requirements, Powell said there’s a lot of confusion regarding who and when a resident can be evicted.

The city has already seen more eviction petitions filed in the local courts, she added, which is an indication that landlords may be preparing to evict once the moratorium ends. Chandler could possibly obtain additional assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but Powell said the allocation process is lengthy and the city may not see any new funding until April. City officials ultimately determined that pulling money out of its reserves would be Chandler’s best option for easing any tsunami of evictions. “We don’t want to see any break in services from the nonprofits,” Powell See

EVICT on page 7

many more have depended on funds from the federal government to stay afloat. “Retail is really, really hurting right now,” said LD 18 state Rep. Jennifer Jermaine. “Restaurants are really hurting.” Jermaine said she is working on providing relief exclusively to businesses with fewer than 15 employees because they’re the “backbone” of the local economy and need additional support. Domestic violence will also be a priority for Jermaine during the next session since she’s worried by the growing number of cases that have been reported by police departments across the Valley throughout the pandemic. LD18 State Rep. Mitzi Epstein of Tempe said she plans to introduce legislation aimed at helping small businesses remain open during another health emergency The Democratic legislator is further examining Arizona’s unemployment trust fund and looking for additional sources of revenue to keep it fully operational before it becomes too late. The trust fund has dropped substantially over the last few months, Epstein said, and Arizona will need nearly $1 billion to bring the fund’s balance back to where it was earlier this year. The pandemic’s economic ripples have caused Arizona’s unemployment See

LEGISLATORS on page 7

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

EVICT

from page 6

said. “We want to make sure that continuity and consistency stays.” The city will spend $100,000 of the $4.1 million on housing homeless residents in hotel rooms – a program that Chandler started earlier this year and hopes to continue until March. “There are no shelter beds available,” Powell noted. “We do not have any shelter family options here in Chandler at all.” Some city officials were hesitant about spending a large chunk of its reserves on residents who have fallen behind on their rent. AZCEND vets applicants’ financial history and prioritizes rental assistance for first-time applicants. The nonprofit additionally coaches applicants on personal finances and refers them to job centers to seek employment. Councilman Sam Huang, whose term ends this month, said he doesn’t like the idea of helping people who might need help again. “You help them this time, they are going to need help another time,” Huang said. Councilman Matt Orlando adamantly pushed for the allocation of more rental assistance and said this is not the time of year for the city to hesitate in helping vulnerable residents. It would have been hypocritical for the city to wish its residents a happy holiday, he said, while simultaneously allowing hundreds of them to possibly lose their home. “If we don’t do this, 1,264 people potentially will not have a happy holiday,” Orlando said. “Let’s keep these people in their homes until the end of January.” In March, Ducey imposed a moratorium on evictions of renters affected by

LEGISLATORS

from page 6

rates to nearly double over the last year, putting added pressure on the state Department of Economic Security. Epstein said she’ll be signing a letter to Congress asking for funds to ensure Arizona’s unemployment trust won’t run out money in the coming months. “We want to make sure we have a good plan for unemployment insurance,” she said. “If Congress doesn’t want to help, then we have to get really creative.” Though COVID-19 relief will be occupying the time of most legislators, LSD17 Rep. Jennifer Pawlik is continuing to work on issues impacting public education. Pawlik, a teacher herself, said she’ll specifically focus on funding for special education and new technology. The pandemic has made Arizona’s digital divide much more apparent over the last year, the Democratic legislator said, as many students have found themselves unable to access their classes virtually from home. “We really need to look at making

COVID-19, whether due to themselves or a family member with the virus or simply by virtue of having lost a job because of the outbreak. He said this is health related because keeping people in their homes helps prevent the spread of the virus. Ducey extended his order several times before allowing it to expire at the end of October. But the governor noted at that time there would be no immediate effect because the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had imposed its own moratorium. That federal bar itself self-destructs at the end of this month. Earlier this month, citing the rise in COVID-19 cases and that Dec. 31 expiration, Democratic legislative leaders called on the governor to once again protect tenants from losing their homes and apartments. But press aide CJ Karamargin said the governor has no plans to step up, saying it’s a federal issue. Karamargin acknowledged that the governor did not wait for federal action earlier this year. But he said Ducey believes that this should be part of the discussion going on in Washington about the next step in federal coronavirus relief. Rep. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, said that makes no sense, given that the governor has advised people that the safest place to be is at home. “You can only stay home if you have a home,’’ she said. The most recent survey by the U.S. Census Bureau shows about 14 percent of Arizonans said they were caught up on their rent. About 56,000 said they are very or somewhat likely to lose their homes or apartments in the next two months. (Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.)

sure broadband is available for everyone,” Pawlik said, “I’m hoping that’s an area we can all work on together.” When it comes to matters unrelated to the pandemic, some legislators are still finding time to study other issues that appear to be getting lots of attention from their constituents. Sen. Mesnard said he’ll be focusing on trying to restore public confidence in Arizona’s elections after many members of his party have made accusations of widespread fraud during November’s general election. Mesnard said he can’t dismiss the lack of trust many Republicans currently have in the election’s results, which saw Arizona pick Democrat Joe Biden over President Donald Trump by about 10,000 votes, so he’ll be trying to increase transparency in the state’s elections. Mesnard did not outright condone his party’s fraud allegations but indicated he’s worried about the “existential threat” that may occur if Arizonans lose trust in the electoral process. “I’ve been keeping my own thoughts close to the vest,” Mesnard said, “but I think we should all be concerned when that many people don’t trust the system.”

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Chandler restricts recreational pot sales BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler City Council has passed an ordinance limiting how recreational marijuana can be sold and consumed within the city limits. In response to the passage of Proposition 207, which allows adults over 21 to possess small amounts of recreational marijuana, Council followed the lead of other neighboring municipalities in curbing how many facilities can sell the drug. In a 5-2 vote, Council authorized an ordinance on Dec. 7 that prohibits standalone dispensaries from solely selling recreational marijuana. The city will only permit licensed medical-marijuana dispensaries to sell recreational marijuana in Chandler if they obtain a special dual certification from the state. Prop 207 forbids cities from stopping such an expansion of sales. The ordinance also forbids smoking marijuana on city property and outlaws marijuana testing facilities from operating in Chandler. Any resident found to be in violation of Chandler’s ordinance could be subject to a civil citation and fee. Council members Mark Stewart and Jeremy McClymonds voted against the regulations because they thought the rules unfairly benefited the single medical dispensary operating in Chandler. “We need to prevent the monopoly,” Stewart said. Chandler presently has one medical-marijuana dispensary located

within the city limits and a couple more stationed on county land surrounding the city. According to the ordinance, Chandler would only permit these types of medical dispensaries to sell recreational marijuana. Chandler’s ordinance is similar to regulations recently introduced in Mesa, Gilbert and Scottsdale in preventing the proliferation of recreational marijuana facilities. Chandler City Attorney Kelly Schwab said Prop 207 allows municipalities to decide how they want to regulate the delivery, marketing or sale of recreational pot. Cities have the option to limit the number of recreational dispensaries or outright ban them. Prop. 207 further empowers municipalities to restrict these dispensaries to specific regions within the city. “The thing the city cannot do is prevent a medical-marijuana dispensary

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that has a dual license from selling recreational,” Schwab said, adding that Chandler’s ordinance “complies 100 percent with the initiative as approved by the voters.” If Chandler had not passed its ordinance, Schwab said recreational dispensaries could essentially open up in any retail space across the city. The state has yet to issue regulations for selling recreational weed and likely won’t until April. Chandler’s zoning codes only account for medical dispensaries, she explained, and don’t address recreational dispensaries. An amendment to the city’s zoning code takes longer than passing an ordinance, Schwab said, so an ordinance was the most efficient method for responding to the passage of Prop 207 last month. “This is very new to the state of Arizona,” the city attorney added. “We have not seen any regulations from the Department of Health Services yet.” Once the state rolls out new regulations, Schwab said Council could revisit its ordinance. “Right now, we really don’t know what the Department of Health Services is going to do on regulating this,” she said.

Prop 207 specifically instructs the Department of Health to issue up to 36 licenses for new recreational dispensaries in parts of Arizona that have been negatively impacted by the criminalization of marijuana consumption. “The purpose of this program is to issue recreational dispensary licenses to people who come from communities that have historically been adversely affected by marijuana-related law enforcement policies,” public records state. Arizona first legalized medical marijuana in 2010 and nearly 280,000 residents currently have state-issued cards to obtain medical marijuana at one of the 120 dispensaries located throughout the state. Chandler has been known in the past for strictly regulating when and where medical dispensaries can set up shop. In 2011, Council denied an application for what would have been its first marijuana dispensary because it was too close to residential neighborhoods and Chandler Regional Medical Center. The city’s new ordinance won’t interfere with a resident’s ability to legally obtain recreational marijuana, said Councilman Terry Roe, because they will still have several retail options across the Valley. “It will be available,” Roe said. “So, no one is being deprived and it was passed by the voters,” Roe said. “But we do have a process and I don’t think anybody is going to go without.”

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

CASTEEL

from page 1

enrollment. Officials in other districts have said that statewide, some 40,000 students have literally disappeared from their enrollment lists and no one knows how – or if – they are learning since charter school numbers do not reflect that kind of increase in their student population. CUSD also had $13 million in unexpected expenses in the 2019-20 school year for pandemic-related costs that ranged from equipment for distance learning to protective gear to cleaning and sanitizing supplies. Casteel said her staff will be ramping up marketing efforts in the coming months to try and win students back to the district. She said she also has been in regular contact with state legislators in the hope that the reimbursement formula can be readjusted for districts. Casteel’s retirement announcement came during t=one of the district’s most turbulent times. For the last nine months, the superintendent has been regularly bombarded with angry emails from parents upset over how CUSD has responded to the pandemic. One side has insisted CUSD keep its schools open during the health crisis and another has pushed for more virtual learning options. The lack of consensus among Chandler’s families has often placed Casteel in the position of trying to play peacekeeper with two groups unwilling to make a compromise.

Dr. Camille Casteel, seen here several years ago when a new high school was named after her, has presided over the construction of 30 campuses. (File photo)

It’s been a “horrible” place to be in at times, Casteel said, because the district is frequently shoved into a corner and can’t make any decision that won’t upset lots of people. “You feel like you’re surrounded by a number of firing squads and no matter which way you turn, you’re going to be taken out,” the superintendent said. She said CUSD could have handled some challenges better, explaining, “I wish we knew in March what we know now. We might have changed the way we were operating.” Her decision to resign was an incredibly difficult one to make, she said, yet

50 years in public education seemed like a nice number to end on. “I just felt it was time,” Casteel added. “I would like to have some more time with my family.” Living through a pandemic that has claimed the lives of 7,400 Arizonans also made her feel the need to spend more time with her 95-year-old mother and many grandchildren, Casteel said. “The pandemic has affected all of us,” she added. “It certainly has made me rethink the time I would like with my family.” Looking back on her long career, Casteel said she can’t believe she went from teaching first grade to sitting in

the superintendent’s seat. She said she never saw herself as an administrator when she was first hired at CUSD in 1971 and credits her success to the many mentors who pushed her to be a leader. “I had a number of people who saw qualities in me that maybe I didn’t see in myself,” she said. Public education has evolved over the last five decades and educators have had to adapt to some significant changes, she said. From statewide teacher strikes to competing with charter schools, Casteel explained, superintendents across Arizona have had to navigate complex problems to keep their districts operational. Casteel said she’s worried about the future of public education and hopes Arizona will always prioritize student well-being over everything else. “I believe public education has become politicized and that certainly wasn’t the case 10 years ago,” Casteel added. If Casteel was to pass along some advice to her successor, she’d tell them to maintain a calm demeanor, remain accessible to the community and try to stay open-minded. “There’s always multiple sides to an issue and to listen to all sides,” she added. Brighter days are ahead for CUSD, Casteel emphasized, and she’s eager to be back in a time when she and her staff didn’t have to worry endlessly about COVID-19 data and health guidelines. “I’m looking forward to the day when the pit in my stomach goes away and I can sleep through the night,” she said.

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DENTIST

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

from page 1

the Silvermans call “mental health-informed dentistry,” which focuses on what’s going on inside a patient’s head in addition to their mouth. While many dentists use medications to subdue or numb a patient’s anxiety, the Silvermans try to offer other therapeutic options that may uncover why the patient’s anxious to begin with. “We really want to be an alternative for people who don’t want to rely on medication and possibly get to the root of their anxiety,” Elissa added. About 19 percent of adults suffer from high rates of dental anxiety and frequently avoid seeking treatment due to their fears, according to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene. Before deciding to open their own practice, the Silvermans pondered how they could compete with all the dental offices spread out across the Valley. “We were trying to think of what could make us different,” Elissa added. Nobody else in dentistry was offering an in-house therapist who could help patients feel more comfortable and assist them in confronting their trauma, she noted. Elissa’s background in mental health inspired her to reimagine a dental office with a less intimidating and foreboding atmosphere. She guided her husband through creating sights, scents and sounds that

Depending on how they answer the questions, Silverman and his staff will take some time to address any dental-related trauma they have had in the past. Staff is trained to coach patients through breathing exercises or they can try strapping on some vibrating wristbands designed to ease their nerves. Elissa, who has her own office within the dental studio where she treats clients, offers a free 15-minute consultation with any of her husband’s patients who may need additional help in putting their mind Dr. Jeremy Silverman and his wife Elissa think their respective at ease. disciplines will ease patients' nerves at his dental pratice. “I think a lot of (Special to SanTan Sun News) patients feel like they’re not heard, so could make his office feel less clinical. I make an eff ort to really sit down and ”It was important to make sure the understand what kind of experience office didn’t have the traditional dental they’ve had that they felt didn’t go smells,” Jeremy said. “We know all the great,” Jeremy said. senses can be triggering for patients.” Their initial goal may be to get paEvery new patient coming to Peace tients to relax in the dental office, but of Mind fills out a questionnaire assessthe Silvermans believe their services ing their sensitivity and anxiety toward could have a deeper impact on somedental care. one’s overall health.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

City spends $2.5 million on more cop cameras SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler Police have spent $2.5 million to equip more of its officers with body cameras. A contract with Axon Enterprise, the nation’s leading manufacturer for cameras utilized by law enforcement, was authorized by the City Council last month for 334 new cameras for the city’s officers. The contract will be paid out over a five-year period. Chandler first started equipping officers with body cameras in 2015 after several civil protests erupted across the country that demanded for more accountability from law enforcement. Chief Sean Duggan said body cameras have proven useful over the last five years and many officers have been requesting an expansion of the program. The city initially purchased 260 Chandler Police Officer West checks out a body camera worn by his department's officers. cameras for patrol officers to record (Twitter) their daily interactions with civilians. The extra cameras obtained through to highest practices in policing,” Duggan and in those incidents those officers the city’s new contract will allow all ofwere held accountable,” Duggan added. said. ficers to have access to the technology, The city has a panel of 15 civilians Body cameras have protected the Duggan said. that city from potential lawsuits, the chief PRM Taxadded, Credit AD - SanTan Sun News 10 xregularly 6. 6 reviews body-camera The19.11 cameras MIS79170 have helped officers with their ability to record foot- footage and advises the agency on usegather evidence related to criminal inof-force incidents involving officers. age in real time and verify the testimovestigations, the chief said, and assisted ny of officers. During the panel’s September meetin resolving civilian complaints made ing, civilians probed investigators about But the cameras have also helped against personnel. an incident where an officer’s camera the agency police itself by capturing “Not only are we acting more moments of officers not always uphold- hadn’t been turned on when a suspect efficiently but MIS79170 we’re also beingPRM moreTax ac- Credit to evade custody by slipping ing Chandler’s professional standards. 19.11 AD - SanTan Sun News 10 x 6. attempted 6 countable and we’re demonstrating to off their handcuffs. “In a few instances, our officers have our public that we’re holding ourselves Chandler Police explained the officer responded and acted inappropriately

didn’t have enough time to reactivate their camera after placing the suspect in a patrol car. The Axon contract will also permit clerks and forensic technicians to have access to the evidence databases where digital files are uploaded from cameras. Officers upload their video footage at the end of each shift and Axon’s database allows for the agency to securely share files with other agencies. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office routinely watches the city’s body-camera footage when prosecutors make decisions about charging suspects. The city said contracting with Axon to house its digital footage has helped Chandler save money from providing the infrastructure needed to catalog thousands of video files. A new feature of the Axon contract allows officers to give civilians access for uploading pictures and videos into the Axon database that may be related to an investigation. Duggan said this new facet will curb the time officers spend traveling back and forth to a witness’s home to collect digital evidence.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

New preschool opens in south Chandler

Crème de la Crème, a national operator of early education and child care centers has opened a new center in Chandler at 2105 W. Germann Road and is enrolling children. The 21,000-square-foot state-of-theart facility opens next month and will serve children ages 6 weeks-12 years and be open Monday through Friday. Crème de la Crème offers all-inclusive programs for its age groups, flexible hours and days and enrichment classes such as coding and robotics, Spanish and Mandarin, culinary, art music and digital education. Outdoor amenities that include age-appropriate playgrounds, a soccer field, baseball diamond, basketball court, tennis court and splash pad. Information: Cremedelacreme.com/ locations/chandler-az or 800-374-5715.

Chandler nursing home gets new executive director

Desert Cove Nursing Center, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Chandler, has a new executive director. Brianne Schmitz previously was an administrator for two years at North Chandler Place and before that was executive director at Mariposa Point of Gilbert. She has 10 years of experience in senior care, starting in activities. “Brianne has served the East Valley for a number of years and is known for being a leader in the community due

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Around Chandler

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Scholarships available for college’s law enforcement program

Brianne Schmitz to her commitment to her patients, families and staff,” said Kristin Shambro, vice president of the Mesquite Region for Desert Cove’s managing company, Life Care Centers of America. “I love being able to lead a strong team, and we have a strong team here at Desert Cove,” said Schmitz. “I love making a difference in the lives of our seniors and getting to be a part of their home.” Originally from Illinois, Schmitz has a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in music therapy. She currently resides in Mesa with her husband, Eric, and their daughter, Sydney. Desert Cove Nursing Center, located at 1750 W. Frye Road, is one of 10 skilled nursing and rehab facilities in Arizona managed by Life Care Centers of America. Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. With headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee,

Chandler-Gilbert Community College has partnered with the Jaxon Foundation to provide financial support for students entering its Law Enforcement Training Academy in January 2021. The Jaxon Foundation was established in January 2020 to recognized the life and goals of Chandler teen Jaxon Fairchild, who died at age 18 last year. When presented with the question of what wish would he like to realize by the Arizona Make-A-Wish granters, he chose to have a scholarship for students to pursue careers in law enforcement LETA Director Jon Terpay noted that his program is not eligible for financial aid, “so this partnership will ease the financial burden for all of our recruits. With the assistance from the Jaxon Foundation, it will not only fulfill Jaxon’s dreams, but it will carry on to each and every recruit throughout their careers. LETA is a training program students who are seeking employment as a peace officer in Arizona. The program has partnered with police departments across the East Valley and more than 97 percent of all students who graduate from LETA are currently working as officers across Arizona. “The program is emotionally, academically and physically challenging and includes instruction in physical criminal

law, traffic law, search and seizure, rules of evidence, patrol and observation, domestic violence, cultural awareness, crime scene investigation, crowd control and death investigations,” the college said in a release. The 800+ hour program meets Tuesday and Wednesday nights and all-day Saturday for 11 months. Information: 480-988-8756 or jonathan.terpay@cgc.edu.

Phoenix man charged with Chandler officer’s aerosol assault A Phoenix man has been accused to spraying a Chandler police officer during a traffic stop that left the patrolman temporarily blind and gasping for air. Frank Zamora was accused of spraying the unidentified officer after he was stopped around noon Dec. 3 near Gilbert and Riggs road. Chandler police said that when the officer asked Zamora for his license and registration, he reached over to the passenger seat and “sprayed him in the face with a substance similar to pepper spray. The officer was temporarily blinded, had difficulty breathing and a burning sensation on his face.” Zamora fled but later was arrested with a passenger at the time. Police learned that when the assaulted officer had stopped Zamora, he was unaware that the suspect had just stolen a case of beer from a nearby supermarket. Zamora, who has a history of shoplifting was charged with a number of felonies and misdemeanors.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

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CITY OF CHANDLER INSIDER

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Despite the pandemic, Chandler maintained a brisk pace BY THE CITY OF CHANDLER

2020 has definitely been one for the books. Despite the craziness with a worldwide pandemic and a U.S. Presidential election, there is still much to acknowledge and celebrate about this year in Chandler. Everyone had to pivot and adjust the way they live their lives: families, business, schools, churches and municipal government. Virtual experiences became the new normal. Despite the many challenges to the economy, several companies announced their relocation to or expansion in Chandler and are now thriving. Once again our Community of Innovation was honored with multiple accolades to further showcase Chandler as a world-class city to live, work, play and visit.

JANUARY

2020 started off strong as the City of Chandler was named the #6 Best Place to Find a Job by WalletHub, moving up from last year’s #10 ranking. In early January, the Tumbleweed Recreation Center (TRC) held a grand reopening to celebrate the refurbishment of the fitness center floor and the jogging/walking track. The new surfaces provide TRC guests with a more cushioned workout experience designed to reduce impact on the joints when running, walking and stretching. New strength training equipment features state-of-the-art technology to enhance the workout experience, with ergonomic designs to help alleviate joint stress. Chandler City Council unanimously voted during its Jan. 9 meeting to elect Councilmember René Lopez as the new vice mayor. The City’s Diversity Office hosted the 25th annual Chandler Multicultural Festival, bringing the community together to celebrate Chandler’s diverse cultures. The one-day event featured live entertainment, arts & crafts and a variety of ethnic foods.

The Arizona Association for Economic Development rarely gives out its Best of Arizona Award, but it did this month to Chandler's Price Road Corridor. (City of Chandler)

The City also partnered with the Chandler International Film Festival to host their weekend series of cinematic events, which attracted thousands of attendees to Downtown Chandler. The community celebrated the lives of two former Chandler Mayors who passed away - Mayor Jerry Brooks and Mayor Coy Payne. Mayor Brooks served on the Chandler City Council from 1982 to 1984 and as mayor from 1984 to 1988 following a 30-year military career. Mayor Payne, the first African American mayor in Chandler and in the state, served on the City Council from 1982 to 1990 and as mayor from 1990 to 1994. Council members Matt Orlando and Mark Stewart were appointed to serve

on the National League of Cities 2020 Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations (FAIR) federal advocacy committee and the Community and Economic Development (CED) federal advocacy committee, respectively. The City kicked off its Live at Lunch weekly series at the Downtown Stage at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park that featured a variety of local musical performers, including Blaine Long. The Chandler Arts Commission and Downtown Redevelopment teamed up to commission a new mural for the Downtown Chandler Breezeway, which is located in the passage between the Historic Square and New Square development. The mural, completed by Cam DeCaussin and Joey Salamon, was inspired by the City’s historic past and innovative future. “Monuments to Us” depicts Chandler’s agricultural roots that evolved into the City’s iconic contemporary buildings. The City’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) waitlist opened up for the first time in four years. In two weeks, 6,560 total pre-applications were received and, through the lottery process, 4,000 of those pre-applications were added to the waitlist. Chandler released its 2019 Annual Report to highlight major projects and accomplishments as a Community of Innovation, as well as progress made to implement the City Council’s strategic policy goals.

FEBRUARY City staff and volunteers helped with the count for the 20202 Census. (City of Chandler)

Chandler commemorated the legal incorporation of the town, which was approved by the Maricopa County

Board of Supervisors on Feb. 16, 1920. To commemorate the anniversary, a new historical marker was installed on the northwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Chicago Street, the site of the original Town Hall that was dedicated in 1923. Chandler became one of the first cities nationwide to implement a free texting service for customers and contractors to schedule construction inspections and receive results via text messaging. The city Economic Development Division hosted the 9th Annual Chandler Science Spectacular. Sponsored by Northrop Grumman, Intel and First Things First, the event brought thousands of attendees of all ages into Downtown Chandler to experience science in an interactive way. Chandler Municipal Airport held its first open house to kickoff the Airport Master Plan update to the community. The open house provided attendees with the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the initial results of the inventory phase of the airport master planning process. This was the first of three open house events scheduled for the public. Clarivate Analytics, a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics to accelerate the pace of innovation, signed a 30,000 square foot lease at Chandler Viridian in the Price Corridor — with plans to employ approximately 150 people. The Chandler office will be one of three new Centers of Excellence, with the other locations in London and Malaysia. See

INSIDER on page 17

CITY OF CHANDLER INSIDER

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

INSIDER

from page 16

During the annual State of the City Address, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke highlighted Chandler’s achievements during the past year as well as new things coming in the year ahead. The event kicked off with a Made in Chandler Expo, featuring local businesses with innovative products made in the City. View the State of the City address and accompanying videos on YouTube at youtu.be/X1X5HLMtVTE. The Chandler Center for the Arts organized its ninth Annual Eat Your Art Out Chandler community event. For one day in February, 10 local restaurants donated a percentage of their proceeds to support the programs at Chandler Center for the Arts, making them accessible to everyone.

MARCH

The City signed a new one-year recycling contract with Chandler-based United Fibers. As part of the contract, there were additional fees included at the request of the contractor for the disposal of contaminated materials (or items that aren’t accepted) that are often unintentionally placed in the recycle bin. Chandler held an all-mail ballot Special Election to amend the City Charter regarding the timing of City elections to conform with state law, which was passed by Chandler voters. Root Insurance, the nation’s first car insurance company to incorporate

individual driving behavior in every rate, announced plans to expand its operations in Chandler, creating 480 new jobs over the next five years. Starting March 12, Chandler residents received an invitation to be counted in the 2020 Census. It was the first time in the history of the Census that residents were able to participate online. Mayor Kevin Hartke signed an emergency declaration proclaiming a local emergency in response to COVID-19. As part of this declaration, all Chandler residents were ordered to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to further prevent the spread of the virus, including wearing a mask when not able to be physically distant. Chandler City Council approved a resolution to relax standards on the City’s temporary sign code. This gave local businesses that might be struggling during the pandemic the opportunity to have additional signage to promote their services and without needing a permit. Chandler’s Economic Development Division created a “Choose Chandler” online tool for businesses to submit current offerings, such as online services, specials, delivery/takeout, curbside pick-up and hiring opportunities. This was promoted to residents to help support local businesses, find new places to dine/shop and maybe even find a job. The tool is accessible at chandleraz.gov/ChooseChandlerMap. By mid-March, Chandler temporarily closed City facilities including four

libraries, four recreation centers, the senior center and six aquatic centers and pools to the public. All special events on City property through April 30 were postponed or canceled to help stop the spread of the virus.

APRIL

The month of April kicked off with National Census Day — another reminder for all Chandler residents to complete their census online, by phone, or return the completed questionnaire sent by mail. Census outreach efforts continued through mid-October. Chandler launched a recycling awareness campaign to educate residents about recycling in order to reduce contamination, thus reducing the overall cost to the city. With the potential for increased fees, it’s more important than ever that Chandler residents are only placing the items that the contractor accepts in their blue recycle bins. April was Water Awareness Month and throughout the month the City shared water facts, tips & resources to help residents become more water aware and learn ways to conserve in and around their home. After months of planning for the annual Family Bike Ride, the City changed course to host the first Chandler Family Bike Ride as a week-long community-building ride and social media event to coincide with Valley Bike Month. Many of Chandler’s regularly scheduled programs, events and meetings changed from in-person to a virtual platform for the public to participate

COMMUNITY NEWS

safely at home, including City Council meetings. Council meetings still can be watched live or on-demand on Chandler’s YouTube channel or chandleraz. gov/video. Chandler launched a hotline and webpage dedicated to assist residents with needs or questions related to City services impacted by COVID. The webpage, chandleraz.go/COVID19, highlighted the numerous resources and services accessible online. In addition, the City promoted a variety of wellness and outdoor activities that residents could experience at parks or in their neighborhoods. A new sculpture was installed on the southeast corner of Arizona Avenue and Boston Street in Downtown Chandler. The Chandler Arts Commission supported the effort through IN FLUX, a temporary public art installation initiative providing opportunities for local artists. Roommates is a six-feet sculpture that is equal parts saguaro cactus, paper airplane and building. The artwork will remain in place for one year. Chandler launched a virtual Live at Lunch series that featured a variety of local musicians who performed live acts from their homes during the lunchtime hour. The Chandler Center for the Arts (CCA) was awarded $50,000 from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust to offset major economic losses and to support the Center’s community re-

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

City Council ratified an emergency declaration brought forward by City Manager Marsha Reed to reduce liquor license renewal fees by 50% and to push back their due date by three months (from June to September). Chandler’s Economic Development Division received Council approval to prepare a multi-faceted “I Choose Chandler” marketing initiative to support local businesses and inform the community of the impact residents make when they choose to spend their money and volunteer their time in Chandler.

from page 17

sponse to COVID-19. In addition, the CCA was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Ruth McCormick Tankersley Charitable Trust to support its Connecting Kids program for the 2020-2021 season. Chandler Police offered a business watch program to businesses closed for an extended period of time during the essential service restrictions by conducting extra patrols and spot checks at the business.

MAY

Chandler joined the International Code Council and its partners to celebrate the 40th Annual Building Safety Month. This year’s theme was “Safer Buildings, Safer Communities, Safer World.” Throughout the month, Development Services staff was featured, along with safety tips and activities for kids. City Council hosted a Return to Service community briefing to discuss the City’s plan to begin reopening its parks, libraries and recreation center, as well as what departments are doing to serve residents during the pandemic. The city Diversity Office and the Chandler Museum partnered to create the Veterans Database to document our community’s history of military service. The information will be used as a foundation for future initiatives to honor the service and tell the stories of Chandler’s veterans.

In June the Chandler Center for the Arts presented the group Fushiko Daiko. (City of Chandler)

The city created a Memorial Day video tribute highlighting the community’s history of military service that includes interviews, exhibits and a musical performance. The city installed temporary 30-minute free parking signage in the Downtown Historic Square. This assisted patrons with easier access to their favorite eateries and shops for takeout/ delivery options. Chandler kicked off a new initiative called ‘Dine in the Park’. In an effort to provide additional capacity for restaurants as they adapt to restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, patrons ordering from local eateries are now able to consume beer and wine in Dr. A.J. Chandler Park West and the Courtyard with their take-out meals. Chandler implemented an advance appointment scheduling option for a variety of services that require a one-on-one session with city staff. This

eliminated long lines and wait times for customers. The Cultural Development Department teamed up with SanTan Brewing Company, The San Marcos Resort and the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership to commission a new mural in Downtown Chandler, along Commonwealth Avenue. The colorful addition, titled Hum of the Desert, was completed by Chandler resident and Chandler High School graduate Ariana Enriquez. Rachelle Kuzyk was hired as the City’s new Library Manager overseeing the operations of the Chandler Public Library system. She brings extensive experience to Chandler from the City of Wetaskiwin, Alberta. The Chandler Parks Division introduced a new website, planchandlersparks.com, to inform the public about the Parks Strategic Master Plan. As part of the outreach, several virtual forums were held to get community feedback.

JUNE

Chandler Libraries kicked off the annual Summer Reading Challenge with this year’s theme being ‘Imagine Your Story.’ The Chandler Center for the Arts launched its CCA Anywhere Series, virtual performances that the public could watch anywhere with a phone, tablet or computer. Mayor Kevin Hartke and the City’s Economic Development Division, in partnership with ARIZONA@WORK Maricopa County, Career Connectors, Pipeline AZ and BestCompaniesAZ hosted a virtual hiring event. The job fair continued through July 10. Chandler’s Economic Development Division, in partnership with the Chandler Industrial Development Authority, initiated an “I Choose Chandler” reimbursement grant program to assist See

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small businesses with costs incurred from purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE). Qualifying Chandler businesses can still apply for a grant in amounts between $100 and $500. A total of $200,000 was made available for the program. City Council approved the city’s annual budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 in the amount of $931,336,929 and the 10-Year Capital Improvement Program budget in the amount of $1,164,226,378. The $931 million budget represents a .46 percent increase from last fiscal year and included a slight reduction in the property tax rate. Chandler Aquatics, Fire and Police mobilized to bring together the power of community to raise water safety awareness. Fire trucks from all 11 Chandler fire stations converged on 11 neighboring elementary schools for a mini “Pool Together” drive-by parade, accompanied by police vehicles and City lifeguards. The partnership also included Chandler Unified and Kyrene school districts. The city Economic Development Department, in partnership with University of Arizona Eller College of Management announced the new Professional MBA program blending online learning with bi-weekly practicums in Chandler. Chandler Public Library was awarded four grants totaling $42,206 through the Library Services and Technology Act

(LSTA) for projects developed by library staff to better meet the needs of the community. CVS Health announced a new 101,000 square foot office at Allred Park Place development along the Price Corridor. CVS Health will employ approximately 500 workers at the site. As a result of the governor’s executive order, Tumbleweed Rec Center closed its doors, Chandler Libraries reverted to drop-off and pick-up services, and capacity was reduced at Chandler pools and the Tennis Center. During a council meeting on June 8, Mayor Kevin Hartke and the City Council issued a Unity proclamation, which tasked the Human Relations Commission (HRC) to engage with the community and make recommendations to the City Council to benefit the quality of life, economic opportunity and relationships within Chandler. Mayor Kevin Hartke issued a proclamation regarding use of masks/face coverings in Chandler businesses and public spaces. The Chandler Museum hosted the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation, which detailed the history of Indian Americans and their contributions to the United States from the 1700s to the present. The exhibit was on display through August. Through an annual allocations process, the city Neighborhood Resources Department administered $1.2 million in human services grants that were awarded to 40 programs serving Chandler’s families in crisis, special populations

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JULY

The annual July 4th Fireworks Spectacular was canceled due to new social distancing restrictions ordered by State leadership. The Chandler City Council approved the allocation of nearly $30 million in federal coronavirus relief aid (AZ CARES Fund). A total of $9.5 million will assist businesses retain and hire employees and acquire personal protective equipment. The city’s nonprofit and community service organizations will receive nearly $2 million in additional funding. Chandler will use $7.1 million to update the city’s technology infrastructure. The city allocated $500,000 to purchase protective gear for employees and disinfect city facilities. The remaining $9.9 million will be saved for future needs. The Douglas Allred Company broke ground on two additional office buildings at their Park Place Development on Price Corridor. Both of these three-story buildings will be 150,000 square feet and located on the northeast corner of Price and Willis roads. These buildings will have the capacity to bring approximately 1,800 jobs to Chandler. The Chandler Symphony Orchestra returned to the stage for a livestreamed musical extravaganza – “CSO Wind Quintet LIVE.” The free concert was broadcast through televëda, the live-streaming partner of Chandler’s Community Services Department. The virtual performance was hosted by

COMMUNITY NEWS

the Chandler Center for the Arts, in partnership with Chandler Parks and Recreation. The Mayor and City Council dedicated four new multipurpose fields at Tumbleweed Park (south of the Park and Ride). Chandler’s Neighborhood Resources Department and For Our City-Chandler hosted the annual Operation Back to School event. This year, four drive-thru events were held at four different locations. More than 2,000 backpacks filled with donated school supplies were distributed within two hours to Chandler families in need.

AUGUST

Chandler voters elected three candidates to serve on the City Council: Christine Ellis, OD Harris and incumbent Mark Stewart. The elected Councilmembers will take office after an installation ceremony that will be held on Jan. 14, 2021. The Economic Development Division announced the creation of the “I Choose Chandler Business Hiring and Retention Program.” Approximately $9.5 million was made available for the program from the AZ CARES Fund, which provided qualifying businesses with $1,300 per employee retained or hired since Dec. 31, 2019, up to a maximum of $10,000. More than 540 Chandler businesses were provided funding. City Council authorized the payment of $250,000 from the city’s AZCares

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

registration process was put in place for 45-minute sessions allotted for some services, such as computer access. The City of Chandler asked the community to participate in a diversity and inclusion survey to gauge community awareness and involvement. The Human Relations Commission presented the survey results to the City Council in early December. This year’s Mayor’s Neighborhood Excellence Awards winners were announced on Facebook Live. Congratulations to Lagos Vistoso, winner of the People’s Choice Award, and to Fox Crossing, winner of the Mayor’s Choice Award.

from page 19

grant funding to Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) to purchase 1,000 mobile hotspots. The hotspots provided Internet access to CUSD students in need so they can connect with their teachers and online/virtual classrooms. The 2020 Citizen Bond Exploratory Committee was formed to provide a recommendation to the City Council of bond authorization needed to support important public capital/infrastructure based on the highest priorities. “Bigger Than Boxing: Zora Folley and the 1967 Heavyweight Title” opened its year-long run at the Chandler Museum on Aug. 25. This 3,000-square-foot exhibition features the stories of two boxers (Muhammad Ali and Chandler’s Zora Folley), the circumstances that weighed heavy on each man and the fight that was a turning point in both of their careers. The Chandler Museum also launched Museum in a Box, a series of themed at-home activities for the family -- the first one titled, “Build It: Frank Lloyd Wright in Chandler.”

SEPTEMBER

September kicked off with a new pilot program in partnership with rideshare platform Lyft. The program provides up to 50% off on rides to and from designated bus stops south of Pecos Road. Dubbed the First-Mile, LastMile program, this partnership helps

OCTOBER

The pandemic did not stop the annual Operation Back to School event sponsored by For Our City-Chandler and the city Neighborhood Resources Department. (City of Chandler)

the City expand public transit access to an area of the city with limited availability, while at the same time avoiding the high cost of adding multiple new bus routes. Chandler Center for the Arts announced CCA Under the Stars, its first live outdoor concert experience presented on the terrace at the CCA and under the outdoor living room space at the Chandler Museum. The 60-minute intimate series were limited

to 50 or less attendees in a social distanced seating arrangement to provide a comfortable and safe environment for patrons. After many months of restricted access and limited hours, the four Chandler Public Libraries reopened all public areas to customers. Adjustments included: patrons were required to wear a protective face mask upon entry, capacity was reduced for social distancing purposes and a

VB Cosmetics Inc. signed a 40,000 square-foot lease to expand and relocate their corporate headquarters, R&D and manufacturing operations in Chandler. The company will move into the Lotus Project, one of Chandler’s premier industrial developments, located near Kyrene Road and the Loop 202. The city launched a new program to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to Chandler businesses. Businesses may apply through the Chandler Chamber of Commerce to receive a free I Choose Chandler PPE Kit, valued at $240. Chandler Parks and Rec hosted a free Halloween Spooktacular drive-thru event. From the comfort of their own vehicle, the public enjoyed a HallowSee

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een-themed cul-da-sac featuring a special soundtrack, festive décor and lights and tasty treats. Chandler’s Price Corridor was honored with the Best of Arizona Award during the Arizona Association for Economic Development’s (AAED) annual Economic Development Distinguished by Excellence (EDDE) awards event. This award has been given out only a handful of times in AAED’s 45-year existence. During National Manufacturing Month, the City’s Economic Development Division profiled a variety of high-tech manufacturing companies based in Chandler. There are more than 26,000 manufacturing jobs in the city, which is approximately 20 percent of all jobs citywide. Valley Metro recognized Chandler’s travel reduction program and Transportation Coordinator Nancy Jackson as ‘Champions For Clean Air’ during a virtual ceremony that celebrated the 33rd annual Clean Air Campaign Awards.

NOVEMBER

The Chandler Museum hosted a weeklong grand opening celebration for its new Museum Store. The store, located in the lobby of the museum, features a variety of quality gift items, including locally made pieces that capture the culture, history and art of Chandler. The city Diversity Office, in partnership with the Chandler Museum, created the first annual Chandler Veterans Path of Honor at Veterans Oasis Park. Large signs featuring nearly 20 local Veterans were on display and placed along the trail. Banner Health‘s newest hospital, Banner Ocotillo Medical Center, opened this month in Chandler. The four-story, 240,000-square-foot hospital is located on the southeast corner of Alma School Road and the Loop 202/Santan Freeway. The hospital anticipates handling about 21,000 emergency visits per year to start. Chandler launched a new program that allows businesses to expand their premises into on-street parking. ‘On the Street’ was created to assist businesses who have been faced with indoor capacity restrictions due to the pandemic. The program also gives patrons the option to continue supporting their favorite local establishments safely outdoors. The city was recognized as one of the top 10 Digital Cities Survey award recipients, by the Center for Digital Government (CDG). The annual sur-

The city held open houses to solicit ideas and feedback for its master plan to upgrade Chandler Airport. (City of Chandler)

vey recognizes cities using technology to tackle social challenges, enhance services, strengthen cybersecurity and more. Chandler ranked fifth in the category for cities with a population of 250,000-499,999. City Council approved a historic preservation ordinance, allowing property owners to establish historic preservation districts on private property and neighborhoods to protect historically significant parts of the City from redevelopment. The ordinance also established a historic preservation commission, a historic preservation officer and a historic property register for the city. In conjunction with the General Election, the city held a Special Election on Nov. 3, to approve a franchise agreement with Southwest Gas Corporation to allow the utility to construct, maintain and operate its natural gas system in the City-owned public rights-of-way. Chandler residents voted in favor of the item. Mayor Harkte opened applications

Accolades abound in 2020

Chandler was among the top cities on many lists this year. Here is some of the special recognitions: • Economic Innovation Group: #2 Most Prosperous Cities in U.S. • Fundera: #15 Best Cities for Women Entrepreneurs • Government Finance Officers’ Association: Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

(38th consecutive year) and Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (32nd consecutive year)

• Government Technology Digital Cities Survey: #5 Digital Cities Award •H omeSnacks: #6 Best Places to Live in AZ • L endEDU: #21 Fastest Growing Cities and Affordable for Renters in Arizona (#775 nationally) • L endingTree: #7 Best Cities for Work-

for CIVIC, an new interactive, 10-session program that will provide Chandler residents with the opportunity to meet with city leaders, tour facilities that keep our city running, participate in interactive sessions and learn how to stay engaged with the city and in their community. The free program will launch in January 2021. Compound Photonics, a leader in compact high performance microdisplay solutions for Augmented and Mixed Reality (AR/MR), announced its opening of MiAC (MicroLED Innovation Acceleration Center) in Chandler.

DECEMBER

Chandler hosted “Tumbleweed Tree Lighting: A Reimagined Tradition” - a video experience in place of the annual Parade of Lights and tree lighting ceremony. The holiday spectacular was full of musical performances, stories about Chandler traditions, and more. The event is available for viewing on the City’s YouTube channel.

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In addition, the city kicked off Chandler for the Holidays, a variety of activities including photos at Tumbleweed Tree, a food drive held in partnership with AZCEND and the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership, Chandler Fire’s annual toy drive and more. Comtech, a company that designs, develops and manufactures satellite ground equipment used throughout the world, signed a 15-year lease to occupy the entire 146,000 square feet at 305 N. 54th St. in West Chandler. The company will consolidate between 300 to 400 employees from four buildings into the single building that can facilitate all operations and provide for future expansion. Comtech plans to begin operating in the building by June 2021. The University of Arizona College of Law launched its Master of Legal Studies program in Chandler. The Chandler Public Works & Utilities Department received full accreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the fifth time.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Chandler resident James Chalifoux dazzles his neighborhood with this lights display at his home at 1075 W. Mulberry Drive. He's hping that when you come by to enjoy the sights and soungs of Christmas that you bring some nonperishable food items he can donate to AZCEND. (Courtesy of James Chalifoux)

Chandler man’s light show delights and helps SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

As a broadcast engineer, Chandler homeowner James Chalifoux likes tinkering with electrical stuff. And as someone who likes to give back to his neighbors and community, he has constructed huge Christmas light and sound displays around his home since 2006 with thousands of lights, vintage blowmold figures and synchronized music. He dubs his display “Fouxlights.” “I usually start right after Halloween,” Chalifoux said. “I am always out front, tinkering and adding new stuff.” He said spends about 100 hours each season setting up the display and noted that because of his job, “running wires and programming circuits comes second nature to me.”

Five years ago, Chalifoux got another idea for merging his two passions: He asked people who came by to enjoy his display to bring a nonperishable food item and leave it in the box he puts in his driveway. He then donates the collected items to AZCEND Chandler, a nonprofit that provides a variety of services to needy families with the mission of “alleviating poverty in our community.” While the food donations came in strong initially, Chalifoux said, “unfortunately, the donations have been dwindling.” But after the San Tan Sun News published a story on his efforts just four days before Christmas last year, Chalifoux collected over 240 pounds of non-perishable food in less than a week.

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“I actually started to cry Sunday morning when I found the box filled with donations. It was a Christmas Miracle,” he said. “I know this year even more families are struggling so I’m hoping for a second Christmas miracle.” Chalifoux is a big supporter of Chandler AZCEND, which helps people move from crisis to stability to prosperity with services including food boxes, senior nutrition and activities, rent and utility assistance, homeless services, case man-

agement and family programming. So if you want to enjoy a Christmas light show and help an organization that does a lot for the community, head over to 1075 W. Mulberry Drive, near the intersection of Willis and Alma School roads and night from 5:30–11 p.m. Donations are accepted until New Year’s Day. Info: James Chalifoux, dmdllc@cox. net z

These are difficult times for everyone. We find ourselves in uncharted waters while the demand for our serves continues to grow. In the midst of this pandemic, Chandler/Gilbert ARC continues to work diligently to maintain safe programs for the vulnerable people we support resulting in the service modifications to our group homes and program sights in order to keep fulfilling our mission, we need your help. We want to let you know about a key provision of the new CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. This new law is designed to help you, businesses, and nonprofits facing economic hardship during the coronavirus pandemic. The new law allows taxpayers to take a charitable deduction of $300. even if you do not itemize. For those of you who itemize their deductions, the new law allows for cash contributions to qualified charities such as ours to be deducted up to 100% of your adjusted gross income for the 2020 calendar year. *Contributions also qualify for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on your AZ Tax Return. The maximum credit is $400 for a single head of the household or $800 for married taxpayers. Chandler/Gilbert Arc has been serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the East Valley since 1975, providing community living, employment, and day treatment & training opportunities daily. We are so grateful for your generosity, which touches-and changes-so many lives.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler firm aims to take a bite out of electric bills SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Mike Rodrigues is so confident about his product that he puts his money where his promise is. As the owner of True North Energies in Chandler, he says if his Energy Cool high-performing secondary condenser for air conditioning systems doesn’t cut a customer’s energy consumption by at least 20 percent, they don’t owe him a dime. The Chandler man and his partner/ operations manager Joseph Marino, also of Chandler, are in a good place to back that claim since 50 percent of a building’s energy costs involve air conditioning. With the air running a good six to eight months a year in Arizona, they feel their product will be especially appealing to places, like restaurants, that have had to reduce occupancy because of the pandemic. “I was expecting a good savings but I was pleasantly surprised when the Energy Cool units saved me 42 percent on my HVACs electrical use,” said Scott Yarbrough, a Chandler Chick-fil-A franchisee. Explained Rodrigues: “Many restaurants can only seat a fraction of their dining capacity but have to cool their entire space. The weighted cost of the electricity is significantly higher than what it was pre-COVID. So when we can come in and reduce that burden

for them, it creates a sizable increase to their bottom line instantly.” That explains why Rodrigues thinks that the pandemic in the long run “will enhance our value proposition.” He wasn’t so cheery about the pandemic when it first hit Arizona. A native of Hawaii who has lived in Arizona the last 20 years - operating a financial services firm with his wife for most of that time - Rodrigues had planned to launch True North Energies in April after spending the previous six months preparing. “Of course we, like everyone else, never expected a worldwide pandemic to hit at the end of Q1 2020,” he said. “That shut down our supply chain for a while and disrupted conversations we started to have with major retailers. “Our target customers shut down their facilities and didn’t know when they would reopen and what their new-normal would look like, so most of them weren’t very open to make changes. “But as things opened up, we’ve been able to pick back up on most of those discussions and start many new ones.” Rodrigues got interested in Energy Cool after meeting the owner of the patent, who lives in Japan. “I was amazed how well the product See

Mike Rodrigues is president and co-founder of True North Energies in Chandler and

ENERGY on page 26 boasts a product that can significant reduce energy costs. (True North Energies)

Samurai Comics opening Chandler location BY JAYSON PETERS Contributor

Arizona’s Samurai Comics, which already has locations in Phoenix, Mesa and Glendale, is expanding to Chandler. Owners Mike and Moryha Banks confirmed to the Nerdvana blog that the new Samurai Comics location will be at 1994 N. Alma School Road, in the Warner Plaza neighborhood shopping center. “2020 continues to be crazy,” he said. “In April I was wondering if we would have to close down one or more of the stores and here we are in December with all three stores doing well and working on opening a fourth.” Samurai, also at 1120 S. Country Club Drive in Mesa, found an “absolutely perfect” site in Chandler, Banks said. “I was there today for a little while and people kept walking by and stopping and looking in. I feel really good about it,” Banks said. “Of all of our various locations, this one offers the most foot traffic of all.” Mike Banks credits Moryha’s initiative and hustle for securing the location, just as she did when launching the business in Mesa when Atomic Comics

Samauri Comics owners Mike and Moryha Banks, seen here with their children, are excited bout their new Chandler location. (Jayson Peters/Special to SanTan Sun News)

closed up shop back in 2011. “We’ve always subscribed to the idea of comic shops being ‘destination locations’ – you build it and the fans will

come,” he said. “And I do believe that is true. Paying high rent rates to be in next to some big anchor store never made sense to me.

“Our Phoenix store is our top earner, and our only neighboring business is a See

SAMURAI on page 25

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

SAMURAI

from page 24

small sandwich place, Luke’s of Chicago. That store has great visibility though, which helps our walk-in business.” At a time when most small businesses are struggling, Mike Banks recognizes that Samurai Comics – which has faced its own struggles in the pandemic – is fortunate to be expanding its footprint. “We didn’t really have any intention of opening another store – especially not now,” he said. “That being said, I’m always scouting out new locations for possible store moves, new stores, etc. “In this case, the lease on our Mesa store ends the middle of next year. We wanted to do our due diligence and see what was open in the area just in case. My daughter had a cross country meet in Chandler, and due to COVID concerns parents weren’t allowed to be spectators,” he continued. “Most of the parents dropped their kids off and went to get breakfast, Me? I drove around the area scouting possi-

shopping centers and developed a new appreciation for Chandler. “We live in the heart of central Phoenix and other than going to our Mesa store, are rarely in the East Valley,” Mike Banks said. “I was impressed with the energy of the area. So many great schools and neighborhoods – a key component for us since we’ve worked so hard to be a family-oriented business.” Even better? The new storefront is pretty much ready to go. “Every single store we have built has involved a LOT of work— tearing Mike Banks feels fortunate about his ability to expand his business at a time when the pandemic has hurt many other down walls, putting up walls, new floors, slat businessses. (Jayson Peters) wall, the list goes on,” he explained. “This spot ble comic shop locations.” though already had slat wall throughout The Bankses looked at several

and a counter area ready to go — a total pop-up store opportunity.” The surrounding businesses are a good fit as well, Banks said. “There is a lot of synergy there with our business and some of the neighbors, like Sweeties, an AMAZING huge store filled with every type of candy you can imagine, from nostalgic favorites, to cool specialty candy with pop culture relevance. There is a great coffee shop — SoZo. Some great eateries like Zorba’s Greek Cafe …” Banks said making this move in the middle of a pandemic and the associated economic uncertainty reminds him of when the couple moved their original store during the 2008 recession housing market collapse. “We were on the ropes, trying to figure out what we were going to do if we had to close our business. Our lease was coming up, and instead of doing the sensible thing and renegotiating for less rent and staying put, we moved the store to a spot twice as big for a little more rent … “That turned out to be one of the best moves we ever made.”

EV designer’s book aimed at peers, newbies SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Mesa mom and U.S. Army veteran Tabitha Evans has been an interior designer for 13 years, the last eight as the owner of her own company. She has won accolades and awards for her work and she is now adding a new accent to that career as an author. The title shows the audience she has in mind: “Becoming a Designer of Distinction: What Interior Design School Won’t Teach You.” The book offers straightforward advice on how interior designers can either begin, or positively transform, their careers with insight on how to find mentors, gain valuable experience, connect with clients and maintain a positive outlook. “I have a lot people ask me questions about how to run their businesses,” said Evans, married and the mother of three children. “School doesn’t teach you everything you need to know so it feels the

Tabitha Evans gap,” she added. “It’s filled with great reminders and practical tips that help

FIND OUT!

you be the best version of you and how to find out what that is.” Evans, who holds a bachelor of arts degree in interior design, has the credentials one would expect of someone who gives advice to peers and colleagues in her line of work. With a bachelor’s degree in interior design, the owner of Tabitha Evans Design has worked for both residential and commercial clients, earning along the way the American Society of Interior Designers Design Excellence Awards as an emerging professional, first place for universal design and gold and silver awards, Emerging Professional 2nd & 3rd place, 1st place for Universal Design, and the National Association of Home Builders’ 55+ gold and silver awards. She also is a member and past president of the Arizona North Chapter of the American Society of Interior Design and an instructor at Scottsdale Community College. Evans said her book “It focuses on

things like finding your strengths and authenticity, the importance of contracts, having a mentor, what to look for in a school or job.” And from both reviews and the marketplace, reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, she said. “We sold a box right away and orders keep trickling in,” Evans said. “We are excited about the response.” One designer called the book “a reminder of best practices and a tool to energize a designer if they’ve suffered a failure or feel broken” while applauded how her “sensitivity and kindness for people come through in this book.” It took her a year to write the book, partly because she’s busy in her business and partly because she also has a family and volunteering to balance in the mix. lennar But that hasn’t stopped her from contemplating another writing project. “I’ve already started making a list of topics,” she said. lennar Information: tabithaevans.com.

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BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Air Guitar, Epicenter move along in Agriptopia SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Owners of a new market concept billed as a “fresh take on the traditional corner store” have broken ground in Agriptopia. Restaurateurs and co-founders of Upward Projects, Craig and Kris DeMarco, and retail store gurus, Eric and Elissa Seitz of Bro Retail Group, broke ground for Air Guitar, with an opening slated next fall. “The groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction for one of the Valley’s highest profile new retail concepts, and brings together a dream team of local architects and builders in its mission to bring “Life’s Little Luxuries” under one stylish, convenient roof,” the owners said in a release. The market, sporting an unusual design by debartolo architects, is located on the northwest corner of Higley and Ray roads next door to Epicenter at Agritopia. The owners describe Air Guitar as a “a grab-and-go stop (that) could be a meaningful part of your day, not just something on the way.” It sports an airy 5,000-square-foot interior under a soaring 9,000-squarefoot canopy that floats and bathes the store in natural light. Bookended with dramatic floor-toceiling glass walls that are protected from the sun, the building is considered “desert sensitive yet highly technical” and aimed at giving customers “rapid arrival, efficient flow, self-service and high-convenience,” said architect Jack DeBartolo III. “Most important, the timeless yet timely building offers generous exterior seating in a park-like setting featuring 60-plus trees, making the corner of this important intersection feel more like a park than a new building,” he added. Air Guitar will offer “heathy grab and go items with premium beer and wine and exceptional coffee and tea, all served up by an enhanced food and beverage-trained staff,” the owners said. It is being built separately but in parallel with the new Epicenter at Agritopia. Agritopia founder Joe Johnston worked with the DeMarcos & Seitzes to purchase and develop the corner parcel based on their experience creating

ENERGY

from page 24

worked,” he said, “how the results could be validated, and yet it wasn’t being sold in the United States. I first helped get it into Hawaii and now am building our distribution in the continental United States, starting with Arizona.” He said he and Marino picked Chandler as their base not just because they have homes here, but because “Chandler is a very pro-business city. It supports its local businesses and has the entrepreneurial climate that we wanted to be in to grow our business in.” Energy Cool is a high-performing secondary condenser for air condition-

Once it is completed next year, Air Guitar might be the most avante guard convenience store in the Valley. Located in the mixed-use Epicenter in Gilbert’s Agritopia, the store aims to provide healthy “grab-and-go items.” (Courtesy of Air Guitar)

best-in-class concepts that transform entire neighborhoods. “We couldn’t be happier to have Air Guitar anchor one of the most significant intersection transformations in the state,” Johnston said. Epicenter is a mixed-used project that includes luxury loft-style residential units and ground-floor retail. During a Gilbert Planning Commission meeting in August, planner Ashlee MacDonald said the 16.5-feet-tall market will have a large covered patio and 32 parking spaces, more than the 21 required. Meanwhile, Johnston’s company said Epicenter “is progressing on schedule with construction since its groundbreaking in January” and expects residents by next fall as well. Epicenter will feature 320 apartment homes “that will appeal to a broad

spectrum of residents seeking a walkable lifestyle,” it said in a release. Amenities will include co-working space and a conference room replicating a greenhouse; a resort-style pool with cabanas; a yoga lawn and fitness facility with live-streaming classes; and a dog park. Covered parking, garages with electric charging stations and elevator access for every building also will be provided, as will be package lockers and food storage and delivery lockers to eliminate non-resident foot traffic beyond secured areas. Epicenter will also feature a fully secured bike storage and repair shop. “Capturing the magic of the Agritopia community when designing Epicenter was very important to our team,” said Greg Nadeau, StreetLights Residential’s vice president of development.

The residences will include studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom living options and range from 504 square feet to 1,600 square feet. All units feature 10-feet ceilings, 8 -foot doors, granite countertops, undermount stainless steel sinks, upgraded GE stainless steel appliances, walk-in closets, large exterior balconies, dimmable decorative lighting, under-cabinet lighting, urban mudrooms and two beautiful finish schemes. Epicenter will consist of some of the tallest buildings in Gilbert and its retail space will house Beer Barn, Matt’s Big Breakfast, Gadzooks, Peixoto Coffee, Bunky Boutique, Wylde Salon, Hooligan’s Barbershop, Vintage Home and The Fit Collective workout community. The project will complete Agritopia, which includes an 11.3-acre organic farm. Information: epicenteratagritopia.com.

ers with a multi-stage double cooling system that maximizes an air conditioner’s efficiency while reducing its energy consumption. It’s not something that anyone can install on their own, which explains why North Star is aggressively courting HVAC companies. ”Our product is a natural fit and enhances HVAC companies’ product offerings,” Rodrigues explained. As for how the product works, Rodrigues said, “It’s basic physics.” “The most efficient way to cool something is to increase its surface area. By increasing the amount of condenser coils, this is achieved. But with the increase in length of the coils, other products have run into the problem

of the refrigerant getting stuck and clogging the system. What’s patented in our device is the adapter nozzle that accelerates the refrigerant all the way through. “So it provides the additional cooling area without any of the problems previously associated with additional condenser coils. The net effect is that the HVAC’s compressor runs less and therefore consumes less electricity. Additional benefits are reduced CO2 emissions and the life of the HVAC gets extended.” Some notable companies have bought into Energy Cool: Toyota, Marriott, Sony, 7-Eleven, Panasonic and TDK. As with any start-up, Rodrigues said his biggest challenge is “getting to the

decision maker.” “Once I can have a conversation with him or her, typically good things happen,” he said. “It just makes sense and they have absolutely nothing to lose to get a No-Cost Performance Pilot Program going at their place of business to experience our results. We prove the system works to them before they buy.” Still, he recognizes as well that “many business owners are dealing with major problems and are in survival mode.” “I understand why they are consumed with what’s wrong but for those who think strategically and act proactively, our devices will get them to their financial goals quicker.” Information: TrueNorthEnergies. com or 480-462-8022.

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Business Briefs New dental office opening in Chandler’s Steelyard development

Dr. Komal Saqib, DMD, has opened her new Steelyard Dental Care, a full-service, state-of-the-art family dental practice. “Steelyard Dental Care will be fully equipped with the latest products and equipment available in the dental industry,” according to a release. Saqib and her team will provide services ranging from routine cleanings and simple fillings to more in-depth restorative and cosmetic services. “Our mission is to provide exceptional experiences to each patient who walks through our doors,” Saqib said. Saqib earned a bachelor’s degree from Fatima Jinnah Dental College in Karachi, Pakistan, and her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia. She is an active member of the Arizona Dental Association. Steelyard Dental Care is located at 5095 S Gilbert Road, Chandler. Appointments: 480-378-7113 or SteelyardDentalCare.com.

Local Motors signs lease for new headquarters location in Chandler Local Motors, which bills itself as a “ground mobility company focused on empowering communities through in-

novative and locally-relevant vehicles,” has signed a lease for 10,000 square feet of space in the Chandler Tech Center at 7400 W. Detroit St. This new headquarters location will have 80 percent of the building dedicated to office space with the remaining 20 percent reserved for research and development. Local Motors is developing the Olli, a 3D-printed, autonomous, electric shuttle that has been used around the globe by hospitals, campuses, bases and universities. Chandler has developed a growing cluster of automotive technology companies, with technology giants like Waymo choosing Chandler to test out their latest autonomous vehicle technology. There are multiple other companies in Chandler involved in various stages of the automotive technology supply chain, such as NXP, Garmin, Maxim Integrated, Intel, Rogers, and ARM. “Chandler has been focused on growing our autonomous vehicle industry and we are excited to see Local Motors sign this new lease in our community,” said Mayor Kevin Hartke. “We look forward to working alongside Local Motors as they continue to innovate with new products and we wish them many years of success at their new headquarters in Chandler.” “We are very excited to be moving

into our new headquarters in Chandler, said Local Motors President, Vikrant Aggarwal. “Chandler is building an amazing ecosystem of technology companies that will allow us to accelerate our product and technology roadmaps.” Local Motors says it was founded “in 2007 with a belief in open collaboration, Local Motors began low volume vehicle manufacturing of open-source designs using multiple micro-factories.” It claims credit for three world “firsts”: first co-created vehicle, first 3D-printed car and the first co-created, autonomous, electric vehicle, Olli. “We believe that Olli is the answer to a sustainable, accessible mobility solution for all. For more information,” the company said. Information: localmotors.com.

Chandler security firm hiring scores of professionals

Allied Universal, a security and facility services company, is seeking to hire more than 300 security professionals in Chandler. Allied Universal also employs a virtual interview process where applicants can complete the company’s online application from the comfort of their home through highly advanced video interviewing technology. Applicants can apply online. “We are recruiting for all shifts for all

levels of experience,” said Southwest Region Recruiting Director Julie De La Mora. “Our clients, and the public at large, rely on us to keep our communities and businesses safe and secure especially during these challenging times,” said company CEO Steve Jones. “Our security professionals play a pivotal part ensuring facilities can continue business as usual and other businesses that had to close, can rest assured that their assets will remain protected.” Full-time positions include medical and dental coverage, life insurance, 401(k), holidays and more. Allied Universal is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce. “Our #1 priority is to keep our employees safe and healthy in the workplace,” said Jones. “We have a dedicated safety team constantly monitoring all COVID-19 developments ensuring we continuously educate our employees to understand and follow the CDC guidelines.” Allied Universal offers careers and long-term growth in the thriving security industry. The company has countless examples of individuals that began their career as a security professional and today are in senior leadership positions. Job listings are at: jobs.aus.com. Allied Universal has more than 235,000 employees and revenues over $8.5 billion.

Made With Love reopens at retail center BY PATTY VICENTE AND MILAN ANDRADE Cronkite News

Nine months since closing down because of COVID-19, the Made With Love Market is back and bringing much-needed exposure to small businesses in the Valley. Made With Love Market was born three years ago with the help of Maribeth Suvlette and her business partner, Cody Waltz, along with their shared love for supporting local small businesses. The market’s mission is to provide “a space for makers to come together, sell their gorgeous goods, connect with the people who come out to shop, and show the world what the small shop community is all about,” according to its website. Like many businesses and events, Made With Love faced difficult decisions, but the owners ultimately put their events on hold until recently. “At the time in February, we felt like it was the right thing to do,” Suvlette said. “Not knowing what this was, not knowing the effects on children, on the community as a whole, so we made a very early decision to postpone our events.” The outdoor market in SanTan Village and Suvlette hopes to stage a comeback. “There is so much room and we felt that we could safely host this event and give our vendors a chance to showcase their products and sell and give the community a space that is fun and free and enjoyable to come out to,” she said. Amanda Archinuk of Kozy Knit

The Made With Love Market, started by Maribeth Suvlette and Cody Waltz (left), offers a plethora of vendors. (Cronkite News)

Designs, who sells through the market, found some alternative ways of continuing to work and grow her business in the absence of in-person shopping. “I have a website, I’m on Etsy, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest,” Archinuk said, adding the closure of nonessential businesses earlier this year “did take a lot of opportunities away during the pandemic, but I’m still afloat.” Archinuk used to host in-person classes on the basics of knitting, which provided income in addition to selling

her products. During the shutdown, she conducted them

virtually. Jill Mancuso owns Modern Roots Kids Co., a line of home-sewn clothing for babies and children sold at the market. Mancuso said it’s a bit easier for her to stay optimistic about what the remainder of the year will bring now that small and local vendors are receiving more support from their communities and beyond. “Now that the season is ramping up

again, I think vendors and customers are both eager to get back into the swing of things and show that small shop support,” Mancuso said. “One good thing that came from it (the pandemic) was it gave people more of an appreciation for small business and to support local in this community, which is what this market does,” Mancuso added. The market plans to remain open for the rest of 2020. Vendors are spaced 6 feet apart and aisles are 40-feet wide, though attendance is limited to 500 people at any time. The market is open Friday-Sunday.

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Chandler Fashion Center owner Macerich is optimistic about its malls’ revenue picture, saying rent collections are up and traffic to the malls has been steadily improving. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Mall owner optimistic about future BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Staff Writer

The Covid-19 pandemic and associated shutdowns have hurt shopping malls across the country, but executives with Macerich see some small signs of improvement heading into 2021. Macerich, the California-based real estate investment company that owns and operates Scottsdale Fashion Square, San Tan Village Mall in Gilbert, Superstition Springs Centers in Mesa and Chandler Fashion Center, last month held a conference call with investors and told them conditions improved between the second and third quarters this year. Macerich said the overall occupancy rate for the company’s malls was at 91 percent – down three percent from the same time one year ago. Traffic at Macerich’s malls was at about 80 percent compared to a year prior and sales were trending at 90 percent compared to one year ago, according to the call. Zacks Equity Research, an investment research firm, reported that Macerich’s revenues of $185.8 million for the third quarter were down 19.6 percent com-

pared to a year ago. But the Macerich executives noted some signs of optimism. They noted that all of its malls had reopened as of Oct. 7 and it had around $630 million in cash and cash equivalents, up from $573 million in June. Macerich is also seeing improved rent collections, which had become a problem for malls earlier this year after many states shuttered retail stores. The company collected about 80 percent of its billed rents in the third quarter, up from 64 percent in the second quarter. Additionally, O’Hern said Macerich came to deals with most tenants who missed rent payments to defer back rent payments to 2021 “in many cases in exchange for landlord-friendly amendments to leases.” That included deals with most of the company’s top-200 retailers. Of those 200 retailers, Macerich had reached agreements with 147 of them and was nearing agreements with another 23, according to information presented on the call. Even with those deals in place, Macerich or related entities have a number of lawsuits pending in Maricopa County Superior Court for unpaid rent.

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Macerich-owned entities have at least nine active lawsuits alleging breach of contract against tenants at Scottsdale Fashion Square and Chandler Fashion Center, including The Disney Store, Gap, Banana Republic, Express, Guess, The Children’s Place, J. Jill, Talbots, MAC Cosmetics and Windsor Fashions. Macerich leadership said the closure of local stores during the pandemic and retailer bankruptcies was largely to blame for the drop in occupancy. Kingmore said Macerich is in the process of paying off loan deferrals for a total of 19 properties. This all came after Macerich invested $140 to $160 million to renovate Scottsdale Fashion Center and build a luxury wing that opened up in late 2018 featuring high-end retailers like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Bulgari. Not all experts thought the expansion was a smart play, even pre-pandemic, as online shopping continues to eat into traditional retail sales. “Absolutely bad idea,” said Hitendra Chaturvedi, professor of supply chain management at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business. Chaturvedi said the pandemic is only accelerating the shift away from We Offer Federal Travel Identifications • Vehicle Registration • Title Transfer / Bond Title • Duplicate registration / iitle • Replacement Plate Or TAB • Permit 3, 30, 90 day • Level One Inspection: Abandoned title inspection • Mobile home • Handicap placard / plate • MVR / Driver license record • Fleet registration

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brick-and-mortar retail experiences to online shopping and has also hurt sales of luxury clothing items like those sold in the new wing at Fashion Square. “When you are buying a Gucci or high-end… you typically end up going out with people and going to places where you can show off some of the stuff,” Chaturvedi said. “With us staying at home, if you look at the data, you will see that high-end shoes and clothes and accessories sales have come down.” In November 2019, the Fool reported Macerich’s malls posted yearly sales per square foot of $800, up from $707 the year before. Still, even if 2021 includes a return to normal shopping habits, Macerich may sell off non-core assets in order to better its financial position. The company did something similar coming out of the Great Recession when it sold 25 properties and generated around $500 million in liquidity, O’Hern said. “We expect post-pandemic, post-vaccine things will return to a more normal level, and we will have the opportunity to dispose of non-core assets and use that capital for reducing leverage levels,” O’Hern said.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Chandler housing market remains strong for sellers BY ALLEN HENDERSON Guest Writer

The November real estate sales snapshot for Chandler indicates that the average sale price rose to $420,238 – up 9.7 percent over the same period in 2019, when the average home value was $382,786. The November number of units sold is up 18.8 percent with 417 units sold versus 351 units a year earlier. Homes sold faster in 2020 with average days on market dropping to 29 days versus 44 days in 2019. Buyers are continuing to step up with higher offers to get prime properties. However, some buyers are not willing to overpay to get a property. The number of November listings that required a price reduction to get an offer declined to 126 units, or 30 percent of the closed listings. Prices and the number of units sold are up while the number of listings requiring a price reduction to get an offer is declining. Moving from the monthly snapshot of the market to the bigger picture, between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, the average Chandler sale price was $404,619. This is up 12.1 percent over the same period in 2019, when the average sale price was $360,939. The number of units sold remains about the same with 4,575 units sold in 2020 versus 4,518 units sold in 2019. This market is still hot. The Chandler listing inventory is hovering around 200 units and many buyers are frustrated with the lack of inventory. Many sellers are still insisting on pricing their properties up to 10 percent over the listing price of comparable sales. Even in a hot market, buyers are letting sellers know that they 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 points over comparable sales values, but they will not appraise property at a price that is unreasonable and unsupportable. Sellers would be better served to ask no more than 5 percent over the list price indicated by comparable sales. To list higher will extend time on the market and, in many cases, the property will sell for less than if it had been listed more accurately from day one of the listing – when the buyer’s interest is at a peak. Average days on market for sold listings in November was 29 days. Nicely appointed houses are going under contract in hours and days. If a nice property stays on the market longer than comparable properties, there is a pricing issue and a price reduction is in order to get an offer. The old real estate axiom, location,

This home on East Teakwood Place in Chandler recently sold for $1.4 million. The 6,200-square-foot house was built in 2005. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

location, location and price, price, price, always holds true. Our advice is consistent: Always price it right the first time to get it sold faster and for more. There are 199 active listings in the Chandler market today. We are averaging 416 closed sales per month in 2020. With 416 units selling per month, the 199 active listings will be depleted in less than 15 days. Anything less than a six-month inventory is considered to be a sellers’ market. The Chandler market remains a very strong sellers’ market. With the holidays upon us, we anticipate that the listing inventory will go down as potential sellers wait for the new year to list. The market may slow in December but the prospects for a strong January market are high as home buyers and home sellers enjoy this unusually strong market. There were only three sales of properties over $1 million in November. Today, there are 24 active listings for million-dollar-plus properties. There have been 53 sales of million-dollar-plus properties in Chandler in 2020. They were on the market an average of 92 days and 28 percent required a price reduction to get a sale. In the luxury market from $600,000$999,999, there have been 387 sales in 2020. The average sale in this price range was $708,639. Marketing time on average was 61 days. In the $500,000-$599,000 pricerange, there have been 432 sales at an average price of $540,945 with an average time on the market of 45 days. In the $400,000-$499,000 pricerange, there were 859 sales at an average price of $442,745 in the first 11 months of this year. Marketing time on average was 43 days. In the $300,000-$399,000 pricerange, there have been 1,657 sales at an average price of $344,048 so far in 2020.

Marketing time on average was 33 days. In the under-$299,000 market, 1,026 homes sold at an average $246,908 in 2020. Marketing time on average was 28 days. In summary, the highest number of sales was in the $300,000-$399,000 pricerange. Further, 3,974 properties – or 78 percent of the total closed sales in Chandler this year – were for properties under $500,000. As expected, we see that the marketing time, calculated as the number of days on the market, increase with a higher price point. The economic outlook continues to be strong. Demand is high and increasing for homes in Chandler. Interest rates are low and the Federal Reserve has indicated it is 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 in Chandler and the Valley. Of course, the political situation is always a wild card as Washington reacts to the virus, social unrest 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. We know that every home is unique. If you have any questions or if you need a free professional consultation, local Realtor Allen Henderson can be reached at 480-392-2090.

7-ﬁgure beauty

This 4,469-square-foot home on West Yellowstone Way in Chandler recently sold for $1.1 million. The single-story Fulton Ranch home, built in 2007, sports a private courtyard with ﬁreplace, huge family room and gourmet kitchen.

REAL ESTATE

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

2021: Higher prices, mortgage rates in offing SANTAN SUN NEWS SERVICES

The soaring home prices that became a hallmark of the COVID-19 crisis may be here to stay. Realtor.com’s 2021 housing forecast predicts record-high prices will continue rising in 2021, delivering a blow to first-time buyers and those on a budget. Mortgage interest rates, which hit historic lows this year and helped fuel the go-go growth in U.S. housing markets, are also expected to tick up again, making monthly housing payments ever more expensive. So, folks shouldn’t hold their breath for a bargain. However, the pace of the wild price growth seen in 2020 will slow. Prices are expected to jump 5.7 percent next year as a result of more properties forecast to hit the market, particularly in the second half of next year. While still unwelcome news for buyers, the double-digit price hikes seen this year aren’t expected to carry over into the new year. “We expect affordability to become a bigger challenge. It’s going to make [housing] more expensive,” said realtor. com Chief Economist Danielle Hale. “Home prices will rise slower than this year, on the upper end of what we consider normal price growth.”

The forecast anticipates mortgage rates will begin slowly going up toward the last half of 2021, reaching 3.4 per-

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listing their properties as well as builders completing more abodes. Realtor.com predicts single-family housing starts, which are homes that have begun construction but aren’t yet completed, will rise 9 percent. And it’s sorely needed as there was an estimated shortfall of almost 4 million new homes heading into this year. The new construction, while often more expensive than existing homes, are likely to appeal to move-up buyers looking for larger abodes with the latest amenities. Once people purchase brand-new abodes, they typically list their existing homes, adding more inventory to the market. “A lot of that new construction is not necessarily targeted at first-time buyers,” said Hale. “But we have seen builders shift what they’re building to better reach first-time home buyers.” While 2021 is expected to be another banner year for sellers, most are also buyers. And while they can use their home equity to help finance their new abode, they’re still likely to be affected by the inventory shortage and loftier home prices and mortgage rates. “Sellers are still expected to get top dollar for their home sales,” said Hale. “The biggest challenge is finding their new home.” However, if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that everything can change in an instant. If the nation undergoes additional lockdowns due to COVID-19, then fewer homes may go up for sale and the market could slow. If everything goes well with the vaccines being rolled out early, then the housing market could benefit with additional inventory and sales. Another wildcard is the possibility of sustained economic pain. The country could still fall into a double-dip recession if unemployment remains high and businesses continue to suffer. If the economy doesn’t improve, it could put a dent in the market. “The value of housing is tied to the economy,” said Hale. “As long as the economy continues to rebound, I expect the housing market will do well.” This report was provided by Realtor.com.

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cent by the end of the year. Mortgage rates are currently at an all-time low of just 2.72 percent for 30-year fixed-rate loans in the week ending Nov. 25, according to Freddie Mac. While a roughly 70 basis point rise isn’t dramatic, it will make those monthly mortgage payments even pricier. This has the potential to price out some buyers or force others to purchase cheaper abodes in less desirable locations. However, even higher prices – and therefore higher required down payments – aren’t likely to keep the hordes of determined buyers at bay. Sales of existing homes are projected to increase 7 percent in 2021. That’s coming as people stuck in their homes for months on end seek larger residences or ones with different features. Younger millennials are competing with older members of Generation Z for starter homes, and baby boomers are downsizing. Many apartment dwellers are also seeking homes on their own. Ironically, it’s those high prices that are keeping prices from rising even further. “Home prices can’t outpace income growth indefinitely. The higher prices rise, the harder it is for more buyers to get into the market. That tends to dampen demand,” said Hale. That means that with less competition, prices don’t have as much room to rise. The bright spot for buyers is that more homes are likely to become available in the last six months of 2021. That should give more options to choose from and take away some of their urgency. With a larger selection, buyers may not be forced to make a decision in mere hours and will have more time to make up their minds. The inventory bump is expected to be due to a combination of more sellers

1750 East Northrop Boulevard | Suite 170 Chandler, AZ 85286

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Carol Royse Real Estate Expert Carol Royse Carol Royse Carol and Royse Radio Host Real Estate Estate ExpertExpert RealReal Estate Expert and Radio Radio Host Host andand Radio Host

See Page 31 to view some of our Valley forofSale See Page 32 to view some of Page 32 toHomes view some of SeeSee Page 32wide to view some ourwide Valley wide Homes for Sale Valley wide Homes for Sale ourour Valley Homes for Sale * Seller and Carol Royse must agree on guaranteed price and closing date at time of listing

Each Keller Williams® Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Each Keller Each Williams® is KellerOffice Williams® Office is * Seller and Carol must agree guaranteed * SellerRoyse and Carol Royseon must agree onprice guaranteed price Each Keller Williams® Office is * Seller and Carol Royse agree and must closing date atguaranteed time date of listing andon closing atprice time of listing Independently Owned andOwned Operated Independently and Operated and closing date at time of listing Independently Owned and Operated

REAL ESTATE

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Early forecast for 2021: More grief for home buyers SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

If you were expecting a change in the Valley housing market as the new year steadily marches closer, it looks like that expectation will be met. Only it’s not a change that homebuyers are hoping for. “The supply situation has gone from bad to worse with many areas hitting record lows for the number of homes available to buy,” the Cromford Report said last week, continuing an unbroken string of bad news for people looking to buy a home. Indeed, November saw a “respectable” number of new listings, according to Cromford, which closely monitors the housing market in Maricopa and Pinal counties. “However, it increased by far less than the annual increase in demand and many of these new listings went under contract within days of listing,” it said, noting that the month ended with 15 percent few homes for sale than when the month began. “We have run out of adjectives to

describe the weakness of the supply situation,” Cromford said. “It looks almost certain that supply will collapse further during December.” “Demand is extraordinarily strong for this late in the season, so we currently have a market that is more unbalanced in favor of sellers than we have ever seen before, even at the height of the 2005 bubble,” it warned. “But next month will be even more extreme.” And don’t expect the pandemic-s economic impact to douse the hot market, Cromford said. “There seems to be a certain amount of denial in some quarters,” it said, noting a lot of discussion about delinquency rates and mortgage forbearance applications. “We do not think the level of delinquency is anything like high enough to seriously disrupt the housing market,” it said. “For such drama, you probably need to look to the commercial real estate market, particularly the retail, office and hotel sectors. “Housing has been bolstered by the pandemic,” Cromford continued.

Offered at $289,900

“This is a worldwide phenomenon, not confined to Arizona or even the USA. At times of medical emergency, people really value their homes across the globe.” Can this state of the market continue? No, said Cromford. But that doesn’t mean it is ending any time soon, either. “According to Black Knight Financial Services, the level of delinquency has fallen for the last five months,” it said. “Pre-payment activity is the highest since 2004. It is likely that we will see more distressed sales in 2021 than 2020, but 2020 was a record all-time low and reverting to normal would help a bit with the supply situation. “In fact, we would have to see a colossal increase in delinquency from current levels just to get back to normal supply conditions.” Cromford also noted that while foreclosure is a particularly easy way in Arizona to walk away from a home when the owner is under water, significant equity has been building in many

homes as the result of a 16 percent average increase in appreciation over the past 12 months. “Smart people are not going to let their home go to foreclosure if they can help it,” Cromford said. “They will sell it and repay their loan with the proceeds, keeping the excess funds and their credit intact. This will continue unless prices decline significantly. Prices only decline when there is an excess of supply.” Moreover, it noted, “rising rental rates are a fundamental support for home prices because they represent a great return on investment for potential landlords. …Rents are increasing at a rate of 15 percent in just the last six months.” So, how does Cromford see the new year beginning? It’s not pretty for buyers: “Closings will be higher than November. Average price per square foot will rise from November. Dollar volume will set a new all-time record for December. “Supply will decline further reaching a low point on Jan. 1.”

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REAL ESTATE

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Be careful with this roadblock to a sale BY BEN GOTTLIEB Guest Writer

Many of us have heard stories about a friend, family member, or acquaintance, who, while attempting to sell real property, learned that a Lis Pendens was recorded against their real property – clouding title and preventing a sale from occurring. While a Lis Pendens is intended to provide notice that there is a pending legal action affecting title to real property, it is a commonly misunderstood and misused vehicle to “tie up real property” to gain perceived leverage over the homeowner. One should exercise caution before recording a Lis Pendens, as it is incredibly distressing to learn during escrow that a sale of one’s property cannot proceed forward. And if the Lis Pendens does not comply with Arizona law, the wrongdoer can get stuck being liable for fairly stiff penalties. So, what is the basic law governing the recordation of a Notice of Lis Pendens in Arizona? In order to have a proper legal basis to record a Lis Pendens, there must be a complaint filed with the court consisting of an action affecting title to real property. The Notice of Lis Pendens shall contain the name of the parties, the object

of the action or affirmative defense, the relief demanded and a description of the property affected. It is improper to record a Notice of Lis Pendens if (a) no complaint has been filed with the court, or (b) if the complaint filed is not an action affecting title to real property. But what is an action affecting title to real property? These actions generally involve issues where title or ownership of real property is at issue.

For example, an action to seek specific performance in a breach of contract action by a buyer against a seller of real estate, would constitute an action affecting title to real property. What can you do if you believe a Notice of Lis Pendens has been improperly recorded? Under Arizona, stiff penalties exist if a person causes a document to be recorded which creates a lien against real property if the person knows or has

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reason to know that the document is forged, groundless, contains a material misstatement or false claim. Arizona law permits the aggrieved person to file a lawsuit to remove the Lis Pendens and/or recoup actual damages and attorneys’ fees caused by the wrongful recording. Further, in an action to remove an allegedly wrongful Lis Pendens, the court’s focus is limited to whether the action is one affecting title to real property. Although courts employ a liberal standard for determining the propriety of a Lis Pendens – the court must only find some basis for concluding that the action affects title to real property – the short-term benefits realized from recording a wrongful Lis Pendens can backfire quite significantly. It can leave the wrongdoer owing a significant amount of damages and attorneys’ fees to the aggrieved homeowner in the long-run. Chandler resident Ben Gottlieb is a partners and co-counder of MacQueen and Gottlieb PLC, the state’s top real estate law firm. Reach him at 602-533-2840 or email him at ben@mandglawgroup.com.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

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REAL ESTATE

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Lennar pivots sales strategy, touts ‘home within home’ SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Lennar Homes has implemented a sales strategy that the nation’s largest homebuilder believes will become the new normal in homebuying in the Phoenix area and the nation” self-guided home tours. It also is touting its Next Gen model, that offers a “home within a home” to accommodate multigenerational living. Lennar said its internet sales team has nearly doubled in size since May 2020 and that that team’s leads and calls also have doubled. Since the pandemic began, Lennar has also seen a surge in their self-guided home tours so that buyers can check out a property and then make an appointment with a sales rep. “The growth in these numbers shows just how important the internet and self-guided tours have become to the home sales process,” the company said in a release, adding that 70 percent of home tours at Lennar are self-guided. “Recent trends show that more than 30 percent of all current Lennar home sales have come from these self-guided tours,” the builder added. Alan Jones, president of the Arizona market for Lennar, said sales are up despite the pandemic. “In April 2020, we saw a reduction in home sales,” he said. “But since that time, we’ve actually seen an increase. We pivoted and it’s working.”

Meanwhile, Lennar believes its Next Gen model will be the home of the future because it offers separate living space to people with older children living at home or are caring for their older parents. “Arizona families are also moving to this Next Gen solution as they navigate teaching their children from home, as well as creating new home offices and gyms,” the company said. “In the past six months, Lennar has seen increasing interest in the sales of their Next Gen flexible suite homes, as the new realities of social distancing, remote learning and work from home mandates have taken hold.” Lennar is not offering floor plans with home offices, gyms and even a classroom that helps kids keep engaged if they are learning virtually. Next Gen homes also provide a completely separate suite with their own entrances and some models even have their own garages. Citing consulting firm Global Workplace Analytics’ estimates that more than a quarter of the workforce is working from home at least several days a week and that employees can save thousands of dollars a year in work-related expenses, Lennar sees a lot of opportunity. As for gyms, it notes that there have been more than 20 million gym cancellations nationwide while gym equipment sales have risen more than 50

This is one a number of different floor plans Lennar Homes has developed for its Next Gen models, aimed at providing privacy for multigenerational families living under the same roof. (Lennar Homes)

and the Next Gen model offering the extra space many families need, Lennar is hitting the mark, looking to the future and our sales show it,” said Jones.

percent since the pandemic began. “We are proud to offer what current homebuyers are looking for. Between the autonomous home touring features

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Real Estate News Update

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

by Real Estate Expert & Local Radio Host, Carol Royse

Pricing Strategy to Sell Your Home Real Estate News Update

Estate News y Real EstateReal Expert & Local RadioUpdate Host, Carol Royse

480.776.523

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

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Chandler holds off Hamilton to win state title BY ZACH ALVIRA

Sports Editor

Chandler High School’s football program has proven time and time again it is one of the toughest to beat on a weekly basis. The Wolves were pushed to the breaking point in the Open Division semifinals against Liberty, as it took overtime for Chandler to win. On Saturday night against rival Hamilton in the Open Division State Championship, the Wolves once again found themselves on the opposite end of a potential game-winning score. With 17 seconds remaining trailing by two points, Hamilton lined up for a 27-yard field goal. The kick sailed wide left, turning the ball over to the Wolves. A kneel down from Chandler senior quarterback Mikey Keene was met with an eruption from the Chandler fans, as the Wolves secured their fifth straight championship and second straight Open Division state title with a 23-21 nail-biting win over Hamilton. “Five straight feels incredible,” Chandler coach Rick Garretson said. “Having the ability to lead young men two years as a head coach and under Shaun (Aguano) is so special. Words can’t really describe it.” The decision to go for a game-winning field goal was one Hamilton coach Mike Zdebski stood by after the final buzzer had sounded. Hamilton was backed up to the 10-yard line after a penalty and with no timeouts, Zdebski worried what a potential sack would do to his team’s

Hamilton senior running back Rodeny Clemente tries to outrun Chandler senior defensive back Kentrell Williams Jr. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor)

chances. After all, Chandler defensive line sacked Hamilton junior quarterback Nicco Marchiol three times on the night, and forced errant throws that resulted in three interceptions. Marchiol’s legs and short out routes led the Huskies down the field to put

them inside Chandler’s 10-yard line, but Zdebski feared a mistake would take away the field goal opportunity. “I didn’t want to make a mistake,” Zdebski said. “We were thinking one more play until we had that five-yard penalty. We didn’t want to take a

chance, we figured we were in the middle of the field and close enough. We couldn’t get it done.” Chandler made a statement on the opening play from scrimmage as senior See

OPEN on page 41

Eli Sanders relished his opportunities with Chandler BY ERIC NEWMAN

Contributing Writer

The opportunity to play in games like the 2020 AIA Open State Championship Finals was what drew running back Eli Sanders to transfer to Chandler from Mountain Pointe between his sophomore and junior year. Now a senior, Sanders nearly broke down with emotion reflecting on his performance in Chandler’s 23-21 win over Hamilton in Saturday’s title game. He had 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Huskies, likely the most physical and talented defense Chandler had played all season. “These are the type of games we live for. This is the type of game every athlete wants,” Sanders said. His tremendous night got started early. On the first play from scrimmage, Sanders took a handoff right, eluded a couple of tacklers, and sprinted up the field for an 80-yard touchdown run. It gave the Wolves a 6-0 lead just 18 seconds into the game that they would never squander. “All week we were just harping on See

SANDERS on page 43

Eli Sanders, who transferred from Mountain Pointe to Chandler after his sophomore season, finishes his high school career with two state championships. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor)

SPORTS & RECREATION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

OPEN

from page 40

running back Eli Sanders burst through an open seam and scored an 80-yard touchdown. The play took the wind out of Hamilton’s sails for a moment before the Huskies were able to bounce back and play as good of a game defensively as they could have against one of the top teams in the nation. Russell Davis and company on Hamilton’s defensive line pressured Keene on numerous occasions and eliminated any potential home run plays from Sanders or other Chandler backs. The Huskies held Chandler scoreless through the rest of the first quarter and gave up one more touchdown in the first half — a seven-yard pass from Keene to senior tight end Eli Swope. But Hamilton answered with a touchdown of its own to trim the lead before the half. Marchiol threw his first and only touchdown pass of the game to wideout Christian Anaya, who made a sliding grab in the back of the end zone. Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter as the two defensive units dug in and allowed little in the way of momentum. Chandler managed to capitalize early in the fourth quarter on a Crew Peterman field goal to extend its lead. On the ensuing possession for Hamilton, Chandler senior linebacker Kyler Orr picked off Marchiol and took it to the one-yard line. Sanders punched it in on the next play to grow Chandler’s lead. “We just kept pushing,” said Sanders, who rushed for 131 yards and the two touchdowns. “I had hard, physical rushing yards. That’s all I could really do. To win, it’s just a great feeling. It’s one I’ll never forget.” Hamilton, however, came right back. Marchiol led the Huskies down the field and capped off the drive with a twoyard touchdown run. After Hamilton’s defense forced a Chandler punt, Marchiol again led his team down the field. Senior running back Rodney Clemente, who transferred from Chandler before the 2020 season, capped off the drive with a six-yard score. Hamilton’s twopoint conversion was ruled short of the goal line, which eventually led to Hamilton’s potential game-winning field goal. “All this time, even with what was going on in the game, we knew it would start with defense and end with de-

Hamilton junior tight end Michael Masunas blocks Chandler snior defensive end Zion Magalei. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor)

fense,” said Chandler senior defensive end Brandon Buckner, who two sacks on the night. “We knew this would be a dog fight coming in. We are blessed to be crowned as champions.” Seniors on both sides were brought to tears after the final buzzer sounded. Hamilton, a team most had written off after down years, once again fell short to its rival. However, the 2021 senior class that helped rebuild the Hamilton program under Zdebski and brought it back to the status as one of the state’s premier programs had plenty to be proud of despite the loss. Zdebski said his goal when he moved from Michigan to Arizona to take over the Hamilton program was to resurrect it. The senior class helped him accomplish that. “They stuck around when some people thought this school was down and out,” Zdebski said. “They worked excessively hard. They did a great job.” Chandler’s seniors who were on varsity as freshman end their playing careers with four state championship

rings. They also do so without losing a game in two years. Garretson acknowledged how special this year’s group of seniors are for all they accomplished both on and off

the field. “They’re so special because they’re internal leaders,” Garretson said. “This is a self-driven team. It’s been a tremendous ride and I love them all.”

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Open war

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

1. Chandler senior running back Eli Sanders finds a crease in Hamilton’s defense. 2. Chandler celebrates its fifth straight state championship and second straight Open Division title after beating Hamilton, 23-21. 3. Hamilton junior defensive lineman Russell Davis sacks Chandler senior quarterback Mikey Keene. 4. Hamilton sophomore cornerback Cole Martin returns a punt against Chandler. 5. Chandler senior defensive end Brandon Buckner sacks Hamilton junior quarterback Nicco Marchiol. 6. Hamilton senior offensive lineman Caiden Cummings leads his team onto the field ahead of the Open Division State Championship against Chandler. All photographs by Zac BonDurant/Contributor

5 2

SPORTS & RECREATION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

SANDERS

from page 40

that first play, coming out with our momentum,” Sanders said. “We just needed to come out there fast, strong and physical.” Running the ball well was a necessity to succeed against Hamilton. The Huskies’ pass defense was among the best in Arizona this year. It proved early that it could pressure senior quarterback Mikey Keene and limit Chandler’s gains through the air. But, behind a massive offensive line, the Wolves kept the clock running and ultimately scored enough to win by pounding Hamilton with the run, mostly with Sanders. Senior offensive lineman Seth Smith took a moment to reflect postgame about Sanders and the group of ‘amazing’ tailbacks. “The amount of talent we have at running back I don’t even think you’re going to get at some places at the next level,” he said. “It’s so much fun running the ball like that. We can dominate up front on the offensive line, and then the running backs like Eli can take the holes and hit them. We talked about it before the game, that championships can be won with establishing the running game.”

Sanders’ impact came not just on offense, but defensively as well. At least in theory. The Wolves won the 2020 championship in part because their defense forced four Hamilton turnovers and held the Husky running game in check. Facing Sanders in practice every

never certain he would be able to produce for Chandler in the capacity he did in the championship game. In his junior year, he would have likely taken most of the offensive responsibilities at Mountain Pointe. Despite possessing the talent in 2019 to prove

Where I started from and being accepted by “ Chandler, my sophomore year they had open arms

and brought me in. It’s just been a blessing ever since. Being coached by coach Garretson and coach (Eric) Richardson, it’s just been a blessing. I can’t thank them enough.

”

day prepared Chandler’s defense for such a moment. “He’s fast, physical, elusive. Going against him just helps us against other backs because he makes us have to actually wrap him up in practice like we do against the best ones we’ll face. So, it’s amazing to be able to practice against him,” said senior defensive end Zion Magalei. Even with the obvious skill, it was

– Eli Sanders

himself as one of the top backs in Arizona, he was merely the second option in the backfield for Chandler after transferring. 2020 graduate Dae Dae Hunter, now a freshman at the University of Hawaii, starred running for the Wolves that year. Finally, as a senior, Sanders was given the reigns to the offense. Coach Rick Garretson trusted him with the majority of Chandler’s carries on a rush-heavy team in 2020, even as

the COVID-19 pandemic shortened offseason workouts and made offensive playbooks more difficult to master. With a performance like Sanders had in the final game, it was clear that even though he had to wait his turn, the fit was right with the Wolves. “He’s in the line of great tailbacks at Chandler, and we’re going to miss him. And he’s just a phenomenal player. He’s a reason we won this year,” Garretson said. Sanders’ football career is not done with the conclusion of the 2020 AIA season. He verbally committed to play running back at Boise State earlier this year, but his high-caliber play this season has garnered him offers from several bigger-name programs. He will have to decide what his fate holds as a college football player. But, for at least one night, he was simply able to shed a few happy tears celebrating another state championship and thinking about what his time at Chandler meant to him. “Where I started from and being accepted by Chandler, my sophomore year they had open arms and brought me in. It’s just been a blessing ever since,” Sanders said. “Being coached by coach Garretson and coach (Eric) Richardson, it’s just been a blessing. I can’t thank them enough.”

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

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McClymonds: I plan to continue giving back BY COUNCILMAN JEREMY MCCLYMONDS Guest Writer

I moved to Chandler more than 17 years ago for opportunity in business, to start a family and to become part of a community where I could make a lasting impact. Throughout my years of living in Chandler, I have contributed to the City economically, charitably and politically. I believe children and commerce are the lifeblood of all great communities. Throughout my career I have worked with local organizations, like the Chandler Compadres and Kiwanis Chandler Young Professionals, which work to improve the quality of life for those who call Chandler home. I have dedicated my time through local business organizations and as a councilman to ensuring a strong economy through a focus on economic development and fiscal responsibility. My professional experience in finance and as a business owner lent itself well to my duties on Council, allowing me to look at situations through many different lenses. My civic journey from the City’s Parks and Recreation Board, to the

chairman of the Vote Yes on Prop 493 campaign for our General Plan, to my appointment in 2018 to City Council member has been incredible. As a councilman, my mission was to continue giving back to my community, leave a positive impact and inspire programs that would benefit our city for years to come. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Chandler for the last two and a half years. I have learned so much during that time. I can only hope that I achieved my goal, which is to leave Chandler in a better place than when I was appointed. We dealt with unprecedented issues during my time on Council while still delivering the first-class services the residents deserve. Through my participation on Council subcommittees for Public Safety; Communications and Public Affairs, Information Technology, Management Services; and Facilities and Fleet, I have gained a well-rounded view and respect for how well Arizona’s fourth largest city is run and I am proud to have been part of that during my time on Council. Some of my proudest accomplishments as Councilmember include: • Setting the vision for the future of Chandler through Council’s first Five Year Strategic Plan;

• Laying the foundation for city planning through updates to several master plans including the transportation master plan, parks master plan and the airport master plan; • Encouraging the growth of Downtown Chandler through my support of projects like Overstreet and New Square, the attraction of George Oliver’s $53 million redevelopment and the expansion and openings of several new and unique businesses; • Seeing through the completion of major infrastructure projects like the New Square Parking Garage and the Downtown South Arizona Avenue street improvements; • The refresh of the Chandler Museum, including the formation of the Chandler Cultural Foundation and the new Museum Store; • Advocating for additional multiuse sport fields resulting in four new lit fields and tournament quality Volleyball courts; • Lowering taxes so Chandler could continue to boast one of the lowest costs of service for local sales tax, property tax and City utilities across the Valley; • Supporting our public safety professionals through supporting the completion of the first and second phases of the Public Safety Training

Facility and voting to approve a rapid pay down of the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System; • S ecuring funding for the Chandler Fire Department to purchase specialty tools that would allow first responders to be ready with the most stateof-the-art equipment designed to ensure the safety of residents and the preservation of property; • S upporting economic development projects that resulted in more than $190 million of capital investment in the community, created nearly 4,000 jobs and added 1.7 million-square-feet of office, industrial and flex space in the community in 2019 alone; and • P rioritizing innovation in all aspects of our community including launching an autonomous vehicle ride hailing program for City employees to reduce fleet costs, using technology to better connect with residents during the pandemic and creating unique relief programs to support our business community through trying times. After my term expires, I will continue to look for opportunities to give back and serve Chandler going forward. I thank our residents and business community for allowing me to serve them, the rest of Council for their leadership and my family for their support.

Huang: I will keep advocating for city’s prosperity BY SAM HUANG Guest Writer

Four years ago, I ran for Chandler City Council with the platform of bringing in fiscal accountability, economic opportunity, and quality of life to city administration and the residents’ lives. As an elected official, the interests and needs of the community remained at the forefront of my mind and have driven all my decisions. As promised, I was able to serve with passion, promoting our existing programs and leading with a vision to take Chandler to the next level. I am honored to have been Chandler’s first Asian City Council member. I often benefitted from my international background when presented with challenges. It provided me with a different perspective and unique, innovative solutions. I have advocated for various

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diversity programs that celebrate the rich cultures in our community, including the Chandler International Film Festival and the creation of the first Asian Village at the annual Multicultural Festival. Along with Mayor and Council I am so proud of the initiatives I have supported that benefit the quality of life not only for our current residents, but for generations to come, including: • Completing the New Square project after several attempts in 23 years; • Acting as Vice Chair to Chandler’s Census Complete Count Committee, aiding in the achievement of one of the highest response rates in the East Valley at nearly 75 percent; • Creating the table tennis programming and funding equipment at both downtown Community Center and the Tumbleweed Recreation Center; • Advocating for additional resources for our libraries, including the Early Literacy Spaces that launched in 2019;

• Finding dollars to build a shade structure for the toddler area at Nozomi Aquatic Center; • Supporting economic development projects that have created and retained thousands of job within our community and added millions of square feet to our office and industrial portfolio; • Keeping our City fiscally accountable and responsible, resulting in continued AAA Bond Ratings; • Starting and finishing the construction of the new Chandler Museum; • Completing all the planned parks. Through my service on the City Council subcommittees of Community Services, Economic Development, Neighborhood Resources and Cultural Development; and Airport, Development Services, Public Works and Utilities and Transportation Policy, I focused on updating ordinances and master plans to better reflect the needs of our community.

Notable projects include the creation of the historic preservation ordinance, the multigenerational feasibility study and updates to the airport and parks master plans. I was also fortunate to serve on regional committees such as the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Domestic Violence Council, where I could be an advocate for not only Chandler residents but residents across the state. In these four years Chandler has experienced an exceptionally prosperous period. We have developments on virtually every street. City revenue continues growing. We were able to lower City taxation three times in a row. I feel so fortunate and humbled to be a part of these great achievements. I will continue to be an advocate for Chandler’s prosperity after my term ends and look forward to what the future holds for me. Thank you, Chandler for four great years.

Contact Paul C Contact Paul P l Maryniak Maryniak M y i k at at 480-898-5647 480 898 5647 or or pmaryniak@timespublications.com p pmaryniak@timespublications.com pmaryniak@timespublications y i k@ i p bli i com

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler woman becomes a ‘dementia whisperer’ BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

When Laura Wayman’s father started showing signs of dementia, her mother tried to downplay his symptoms to friends and relatives. Her parents had already retired and were spending their days traveling the country in a recreational vehicle. But then Wayman’s father started to become increasingly forgetful and confused. Wayman’s mother turned down offers from her children to help look after him and tried to manage the situation on her own. But her father’s condition became blatantly apparent after a tragedy struck the family. Her mother suffered a heart attack and Wayman’s father couldn’t comprehend what was happening to his wife, so he didn’t call 911. “(His) reactions to this emergency were slowed by his dementia, which was far more advanced than anyone had realized,” Wayman recalled. See

DEMENTIA on page 47

Laura Wayman of Chandler teaches caregivers and others non-verbal tools for them to more effectively relate with people who suffer from demenitia. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

Many options for Chandler residents to volunteer BY STACI HAUK Contributor

During the holiday season, many people seek to give their time to worthy organizations in the community. While COVID-19 has posed challenges in that arena, many local nonprofits have adjusted to offer volunteer opportunities fit for the times. Counselor Cherrie Vierra-Lonkar founded Branching Out, along with her husband, psychologist and professor, Dr. Brian Lonkar. Cherrie’s dream was to create a new approach to supporting families just like theirs. In addition to being behavioral health professionals, the Lonkars are both special needs and adoptive parents. Branching Out Family Services offers a variety of programs and services to help meet goals of foster and adoptive parents while connecting them to other families just like theirs. In addition to counseling, coaching and referrals, they now offer therapeutic recreation programs, selfcare and other services. “I am both a foster/adoptive parent and a special needs parent,” Cherrie said. “As a counselor, I knew that children and families like mine weren’t getting the support they desperately needed. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I promised myself that if I survived, I would spend the rest of my days making the world a kinder and more supportive place for Arizona’s

Counselor Cherrie Vierra-Lonkar, surrounded here by her husband and their children, welcomes volunteers to help her nonprofit help foster families. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

most vulnerable children. “As soon as I was well, I hit the ground running and have never looked back.” Lonkar shared. Lonkar has been actively involved in advocacy and education within the foster care and special needs communi-

ties as both an educator and a counselor in the Chandler/Gilbert area. She encourages involvement as a volunteer with Branching Out now and any time of year. “Branching Out’s volunteers are the best,” she said. “They are the key to our

success. We provide programs, events and support services to the most vulnerable children in our community. “Our volunteers do everything from assembling goodie bags to doing administrative work, to wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume to bring joy to the children we serve. We are all about joyful childhood memories for these kids so we have a lot of fun.” With the added uncertainty of this year, Lonkar wants to encourage those willing to become a foster family as well. There are over 19,000 Arizona children in foster care with only around 4,500 licensed foster families. This means that most of Arizona’s foster children are sleeping in congregate care facilities. Monetary donations are the ideal way to give back for some and Branching Out’s Good Works Project has recently become a qualifying foster care charitable organization with the Arizona Department of Revenue. This means that those who give monetary donations can receive a dollar-for-dollar credit towards their Arizona tax liability. “We have so many ways to get involved and obtaining the QFCO designation is huge for us,” Cherrie said. “Donations made in this way allow us to provide school clothes, shoes, jackets and so many programs throughout the year. Donations can be made See

VOLUNTEER on page 49

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

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DEMENTIA

from page 45

By the time a neighbor called for help, Wayman’s mother had died. Wayman feels her mother might have survived had she informed others of her husband’s deteriorating condition. “She was just doing what she had always done, believing she could do it alone,” Wayman said. “It ended up taking her life.” Wayman, who recently relocated to Chandler, is now on a mission to prevent another family from enduring the same tragedy she’s experienced. “My vision is to bring light into the darkness of dementia through education, awareness, support, encouragement and hope,” she said.

She has written books, consulted caregivers and held lectures on the complexities of treating someone with dementia. Her knowledge and expertise have promopted her to call herself the “dementia whisperer” because she teaches caregivers non-verbal tools. Adults with dementia communicate on the basis of emotions, Wayman said, and need caregivers who can adapt their body language and facial expressions. “My years of observations and interactions have taught me that communicating with the dementia-challenged person involve much more than the words coming out of your mouth,” she said. Wayman has trained nurses, police officers and family members on how to

positively interact with someone showing dementia symptoms. As more of the general population continues to reach retirement age, Wayman hopes society will begin to shift its perspective on cognitive disorders like dementia and eliminate the stigmas associated with them. There’s a tendency to ignore the severity of a relative’s disease, Wayman said, and that’s because there is not enough awareness in the community on the intricacies of dementia. “Denial will make the dementia care journey much more treacherous,” she added. “Dementia-denial causes a caregiver to go along with the person’s insistence that he or she is fine.” The pandemic has understandably interfered with Wayman’s mission to

spread awareness around Chandler over the last few months. She transitioned to training sessions on Zoom and continues trying to connect digitally with Chandler’s elderly communities. “My work is all online and virtual right now due to COVID restrictions and I can continue raising dementia-awareness from anywhere,” she said. There are ways to ease the burden dementia can afflict on a patient and their family, Wayman added, but there are not always enough resources publicly available to navigate this complex disease. “Every dementia care journey is unique— and you can also expect that the landscape will be constantly changing,” she said. Information: laurawayman.com.

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through the Branching Out AZ Facebook page.” The Humane Animal Rescue and Trapping Team was founded by Cheryl Naumann, who serves as the organization’s president. Naumann has more than 20 years of animal welfare experience and served as the former CEO of Arizona Humane Society. She has led efforts to trap lost animals in Maricopa County since 2012. Cheryl recognized that there was a great need for the skill, equipment and patience required to rescue shy, skittish and injured animals in the field and founded HARTT to meet this underserved need. “HARTT volunteers are those special people who see a lost dog and have to pull over and try to help,” she said. “They enjoy being in the outdoors and getting some exercise and are able to strategize on search areas and hang flyers in neighborhoods. “Needs tend to arise on short notice but searches and flyer hanging can be done at any time of the day or night. We also always need foster homes, especially for our shy and older dogs.” HARTT has several locations throughout the Valley, though Naumann said the Chandler/Gilbert area – the group’s Southeast Chapter – is a special group where help is always welcomed. She recalled an incident where an adopted dog named Buddy in late July

Chandler volunteers with Diane Scholl distribute clothing to homeless people. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

squirmed out of his collar and fled into a neighborhood. “His family was immediately referred to HARTT, and our Southeast Team jumped into action, Naumann said. “Hundreds of flyers went up all over the neighborhood and out to a radius of about one mile – sightings started pouring in. He eventually started settling in late October in an area of Gilbert near Guadalupe and Gilbert road. “Our initial attempts at trapping him with a traditional trap were not successful,” said, noting HARTT members tracked Buddy with their cellular

cameras. “HARTT volunteers made sure he was fed daily. In early November, we brought our ‘drop trap’ to the scene. On the third night of attempting this trap, we were successful,” she said. “After 75 days on the run, covering miles of territory, Buddy was finally safe.” During these times of uncertainty and stress, pets bring comfort and joy, and rescuing a homeless dog brings huge reward. “The holidays are a great time to become a volunteer, as we all feel the spirit of giving, and it’s extremely rewarding to give your time and efforts to bring lost or homeless pets to safety,”

Naumann said. “Lost dog searches are outdoor activities done in very small groups, and fostering happens in your own home both very COVID-19 safe options.” To learn more about HARTT, as well as volunteer opportunities, visit azhartt.org/volunteer. Seven years ago, a group of women on Facebook were collecting donations to deliver to the homeless population in the Chandler/Gilbert community and they didn’t have a drop off location. Enter the kindness of a stranger, Diane Scholl, who allowed them to use her address if she also could be involved in helping deal directly with homeless people. “I went out with them and it was devastating to see – there was a huge need and I decided then and there to start Scholl’s Helping Hands for the Homeless.” Scholl, unlike many philanthropists, had no previous experience with running an organization. She did, however, have the motivation, as she had been a central drop off location for years, assisting with getting items to those in need from her home in Chandler. All of her meaningful work is done outdoors or from the comfort of home, making it a safe and family friendly way to give back this holiday season. Needs range from donating items for holiday meals and pre-packaging hygiene kits for those living on the streets

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Diane Scholl is flanked by some volunteers for her nonprofit, Scholl’s Helping Hands, which helps homeless people in the Chandler-Gilbert area. At right, volunteer and pet foster Alyssa Bentley with the Love Connection Dog Rescue, has her hands full. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

VOLUNTEER

from page 49

to donating gently used clothes, shoes, backpacks and even dog items. Scholl even hosts volunteer days where the homeless population can come and collect items or food they may need. “Volunteers are extra special because I couldn’t do this alone. They go to the streets with me, make food, package hygiene kits – whatever is needed. COVID-19 has slowed us down some, but I have met some amazing groups and make sure our donations go out to those who are still hitting the streets on a regular basis. “Helping someone in need is a feeling unlike any other. Right now, we are asking for food donations for a family we have chosen to help over the holidays, but please visit our Facebook page to learn about other options.” Another nonprofit that always can use volunteers is Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, founded in 1954 and located in Mesa. Jim and Vera Dingman saw the need to help hurting children that were homeless or in the foster system. They felt sad for the families that were struggling to take care of their children and wanted to aid – it was a calling

to provide a safe, loving home for children to live in for as long as they needed. Originally from Oregon, the Dingmans had relocated to Arizona for health reasons. Jim was a pastor and so was Vera’s father, so both wanted to build a career doing something they were passionate about and that would better their community. They prayed for a job that would fulfill these needs and they feel that is what led them to their own “miracle in the desert,” Sunshine Acres. “We are so blessed to have an amazing community that wants to either give their time through volunteering or through helping financially,” said Assistant Executive Director Shara Markwell. “We love our volunteers and the many duties that they help with on our campus. We are on 109 acres with a learning center (volunteers can help children with their homework), a dining hall (where volunteers can help wash dishes or keep everything clean), a horse program, and 4h, (animal care is needed there), a donation center where help with intake is appreciated and even a greenhouse where volunteers enjoy growing vegetables with us. “This is an extension to our outdoor garden where help is always welcomed as

well. We also have volunteers that help in our front office answering phones and greeting guests,” Markwell said. COVID-19 has created limits to how many volunteers per area are allowed at Sunshine Acres, however they are able to offer many outdoor opportunities which is a plus. Markwell noted that a listening ear or a smiling face plants a seed within these children’s’ hearts and can potentially change their lives. “I received a letter in the mail from a former Sunshine Acres resident who lived here with his siblings in the late 1950s. His brother had passed and he was reflecting on his life. “He believes that the compassion and love that his brother exhibited in his life was due to the time he was at Sunshine Acres. Before he passed, they had many talks about how thankful they both were for having the Dingmans show them compassion and love. That is the Sunshine Acres way.” To get involved with Sunshine Acres as a volunteer, visit: sunshineacres.org. Founders of Love Connection Dog Rescue Jodie Maggio and Kristen McCown have been in the business of

Volunteers at Sunshine Acres Children’s Home in Mesa are always needed for a wide variety of functions. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

rescuing animals for quite some time. For Jodie, it was about starting her own rescue one day, so when the opportunity arose, she jumped in wholeheartedly. Kristen always had a special place in her heart for animal rescue and made for a passionate partner. Love Connection started in November 2019, but in that short time over 500 dogs have been adopted through the rescue, including behavioral, medical and senior pups. Home checks and meet-and-greets are essential at Love Connection, so there is an assurance that each dog will go to a loving home. If snuggling dogs is the ideal image of volunteering for someone, then Love Connection delivers this season. “Our volunteers are so special to us because we are a foster based rescue, so without them, we wouldn’t be able to help dogs,” said volunteer Alyssa Bentley. “They are the heart and soul of the rescue.” Duties include providing a safe environment while the rescue searches for forever homes. “We also need fosters sitting in x-pens at events, walking dogs at events, setting up and breaking down at events, administrative work – the list goes on. The more volunteers we have the more dogs we can save,” she said, adding that without fosters, the rescue would be unable to pull dogs from shelters and the streets. Bentley recalls her favorite rescue story, as a volunteer. “We rescued a momma and three pups. One pup had Parvo and spent months at the emergency vet fighting for his life at only 6 weeks old. We never lost hope and finally got the message from the vet saying that he’s thriving, taking his liquids very well, eating, running around and playing – when we all saw that message, we put our phones down and cried, ‘Our baby was going to make it.’ Now he is adopted by one of the vets who took care of him.” To become a volunteer, foster or visit one of Love Connection’s upcoming events in Gilbert, Chandler or Queen Creek, visit their website at loveconnectiondogrescue.com.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

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Murals transform downtown Chandler cityscape BY BROOKLYNN DOREN

Contributor

In recent years, vibrant murals have promoted a sense of belonging, community identification and increased foot traffic to downtown corridors across Maricopa County. Downtown Chandler is no exception. A recently introduced event known as the “Mural Mile Tour” was hosted by the Vision Gallery and the city’s Visual Art’s team, leading the participants and sharing stories of the vibrant art scene depicted on various walls. The tour included “reasons for the mural placements in specific locations, background about the artists and their inspirations and techniques used to create the murals,” according to Michelle Hirsch, vice chair of the Chandler Arts Commission. The “Hum of the Desert” mural by artist Ariana Enriquez, a long-time Chandler resident, is located along the canal wall on Boston Street and was one of the murals showcased by the tour. The mural is filled with bright colors, water motifs, desert flowers, hummingbirds and bees. “The city of Chandler continues to grow in these vast ways both in building developments and the diverse people who inhabit it,” Enriquez said. “I thought the king protea flower, along

Chandler artist Ariana Enriquez stands in front of her “Hum of the Desert” mural along a canal wall on Boston Street downtown. She used images that tried to capture the activity and diversity in Chandler. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

with the numerous bustling hummingbirds in the mural, could visually serve as a symbol to capture this.” Enriquez draws much of her inspiration from the outdoors because the “tactile and detailed aspects of it allow us to be present.” She creates art in hopes that it

will brighten someone’s day and help people slow down and appreciate the details. “The City of Chandler recognizes the importance and value of public art by continuing to support it,” Hirsch said. “City Council established a Percent for Art Ordinance, where one percent

of limited capital improvement projects, primarily new buildings and parks, is allocated for the acquisition, commission and installation of public art.” Hirsch explained the implementation process of bringing new murals into See

MURALS on page 55

EV actor diverts from usual gangster role BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Staff Writer

Mesa multihyphenate entertainer Michael Saquella is thrilled about small things as well as easy laughs. “I’m excited that I got out of bed this morning,” Saquella says dead pan. High on his priority list, though, is “Dream Round,” in which he wrote, produced and stars. The film features Richard Grieco and premiered last month on streaming services. “It’s a great role for me,” said Saquella, who owns Cactus Blue Entertainment. “I normally play mobsters and gangsters. In this film, I play a real sweet, innocent gentleman who lost a family.” He and Grieco have known each other since 1991, when the two worked on the Burt Reynolds vehicle “Forget About It,” which was shot in Mesa. “We played a lot of golf,” he said. “We’re like brothers.” Saquella is also looking forward to the release of “Carolina’s Calling,” in which he appears alongside Antonio Sabato Jr. The indie film is “comedy with an alien twist,” he said. It was filmed in Arizona in midJune, when the state reopened, and it wrapped principal shooting on July 3. The project continued in the Carolinas

After living in New York and LA, actor Michael Saquella now calls Mesa home. (Photo by Jay Curtis)

this summer. A major film studio is considering releasing it this winter. “It’s one of my better projects,” he said. “Besides Antonio Sabato Jr., it has Stacey Dash in it. We’re hoping to do a red carpet event at Harkins and make a

big event out of it. We’ll open it up to the public and have paparazzi.” Saquella grew up in New York but moved to Arizona to attend ASU in 1977. After that, he relocated to Los Angeles. He has been entertaining for nearly four decades. His versatile acting skills have landed him roles in film, television, comedy and live entertainment. Saquella’s career began when he took to the stage as a stand-up comic, opening for notables such as, Charro, Tony Bennett and Rachel Welch. He showcased his talents when he wrote, starred in, and made his directorial debut in the horror film “Blue Lake Butcher.” As an actor he also starred in the movies “Used Cars,” “O’Hara’s Wife,” “Assassin,” “Second Chance,” “Lady Blues,” “News Traveler” and “Desert Rose.” He directed and wrote the film “Ambush at Peck Canyon,” based on the true story of murdered Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. A comedian and a blues singer, Saquella does impersonations of the late comedic talent John Belushi in live performances in “Legends in Concert” and “Legendary Superstars.” Saquella’s favorite role was in “Forget About It,” as he and Burt Reynolds have a

long-standing relationship. As a boy, Saquella and his family drove from Los Angeles to La Jolla only to find the beach blocked off because Reynolds was filming “Lucky Lady.” He went through the yellow caution tape and walked up to Reynolds, who offered an autograph. “I said, ‘No, I want to know how I get started,’” he says with a laugh. “He said, ‘Figure out what it is to make you want to do that and never quit.’” Saquella replied, “Mr. Reynolds, I’m going to work with you some day.” The two ran into each other frequently before they reunited for “Forget About It,” which was filmed at Sunrise Village on McKellips Road. “We were sitting under the orange trees talking,” he said. “Burt said, ‘I think I remember you.’ His son, Quinton, had the hots for my daughter, Samantha.” Saquella enjoys living in Arizona, though, because of the cactus and rocks. “People love the ocean,” he says. “I love the desert. I love Arizona. It’s like home. I’ve been here 43 years now and I absolutely love this place. I would definitely tell everybody to move here.” Info: Michael Saquella, imdb. com/name/nm1130592/

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Theaters continue to reel under COVID-19 the national average. “Our audiences are mostly seniors over 60-years-old,” said Paley. According to Paley, younger audiences are more attracted to works of contemporary opera playwrights. This is in stark contrast to the interests of the older audiences that are regulars at his opera company, however. “Classics are a consistent draw,” said Paley, “They want to see ‘Aida’ or ‘Carmen.’” Classic opera productions are primarily sung and spoken in foreign languages such as French, Russian and Italian. Paley said this could deter new and younger audiences. To counteract this, the opera company installed a system to translate the productions in real-time. “Super titles are captions above the stage that audiences can use to understand,” said Paley, “Languages are no longer a barrier.” As for the East Valley Children’s Theatre, Rolston hopes to slowly transition back to performing for in-person audiences. “The hope is to do a couple of in-person shows with small audiences that we will also stream,” Rolston said. However, the director remains cautious and does not expect to hold these shows until 2021. Right now it hopes to present in March “The Clumsy Princess” by JS Puller and Joel Esher, which won the theater company’s playwriting contest “Those are all scheduled after the new year,” she said. “Hopefully, we will feel safe doing it at that time.”

BY SARAH NGUYEN

Contributor

Local theaters are learning to pivot and adapt as the pandemic continues to rage on. Since the start of the pandemic, Valley theaters have faced closed and canceled shows. Karen Rolston, artistic director of Mesa’s East Valley Children’s Theatre, said the pandemic has imposed numerous changes that cost the nonprofit revenue. “We had to move all of our classes and camps from March through June online in a virtual setting,” Rolston said, “The online programs just don’t generate as much income.” In addition to loss of revenue, she said, the transition to an online format has created other challenges. “Our technical theater program is not functioning currently,” she said, “All of our outreach programs for performances at retirement communities, libraries, bookstores and elementary schools have been canceled.” Arizona Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Sean Daniels, saw a similar decline. “For us, we estimated the loss at about a $1.5 million in revenue,” said Daniels. Theaters also have had to cut staff. “Our staff went from 96 people to 26 people just in March,” said Daniels. Rolston added, “We have been unable to hire a large portion of our part-time staff since we don’t have programs.” Daniels has managed to find some-

Elaborate productions like this one by the East Valley Children’s Theatre can’t be produced because stages are dark. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

thing to be grateful for. “The silver lining is that we were terrible at social media before,” he said, “It forced us to be present in the modern world.” In addition to having a stronger presence on social media now, the Arizona Theatre also started streaming its former productions online. “Online programming has attracted younger theater goers,” said Daniels. Another local theater has also turned to social media to stay present, afloat and appeal to younger audiences. “Everybody’s out of business now,” said Howard Paley, general manager of the Phoenix Opera Company, “On Facebook, we have outtakes of performances from the past.”

Prior to the pandemic, the smallest demographic that attended performing arts productions comprised younger generations like millennials. A 2017 study by the National Archive of Data on Arts and Culture found that millennials were less inclined to attend performing arts events than older generations. In fact, 13 percent of respondents 18 to 34 years old in 1992 attended plays in comparison to 7 percent of polled those 18 to 34, the study reported. “Typically, the average theater goer in the country is a 57-year-old married woman,” said Daniels. The Phoenix Opera Company’s general demographic was consistent with

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ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Gilbert school nurse pens children’s book BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Contributor When Gilbert resident Mary Jantz lived in Wisconsin a few years ago, her three little boys loved story time at Barnes & Noble. “Every Thursday morning, we would go,” she recalled. “It was a time for them to sit and listen to another adult read a wonderful book, and I needed that as much as them.” As a newly published writer, Jantz is looking forward to reading her own picture book, “The Penny Book,” to audiences at local outlets of the bookstore. “I want to be able to do that for other families. I can’t wait to have that chance,” she said. Jantz, a former kindergarten teacher and now a school nurse at Bridges Elementary School, wrote about the life of a penny, from the year it was made and the first person to take ownership of it, to its last owner, who happens to be the same person. It talks about decades of adventures, both happy and sad, overcoming hardship and adversity, and understanding one’s purpose and place in life. “It is about being loved, the desire we all have to belong and feel accepted, and what it really means to have a place to call home,” she said.

from a book. “I cherished that time before bed with my boys, where I could focus on them. I told them the story of the penny, and then decided to write it down because I thought it was cute and worth remembering,” she recalled. This was eight years ago. Jantz, who has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, taught kindergarten and preschool for five years after graduating. She loved teaching but struggled with keeping her work separate from home. When Cam was born, there Mary Jantz said her children’s book, “The Penny were complications for both Book,” teaches an important lesson to kids. (File) mom and baby and Jantz was struck by how the nurses “Through the penny, we learn that it helped them recover. After does not matter where you live or have Ethan was born, she decided to go back lived. Your loved ones are your true to school to study nursing. home. God has a plan to help us realize Like the penny in her story – which there is always hope in finding your true had many adventures but ended up home.” with its first owner – Jantz said it’s ironThe idea for the story came when ic that she’s back in a school setting. her children were little. As “Nurse Mary” at Bridges ElemenShe was in nursing school and had a tary, she uses her teaching and nursing routine to put them into bed and study skills. each night toward her nursing license. Her husband Steve’s work as a However, the boys wanted her to tell general manager for a beverage comher own stories rather than read them

pany took them to Texas, and then to Arizona. Now, Cam is 13, Ethan is 11 and Bo is 8 and they have lived four years in Gilbert. Steve usually travels to New Mexico and Nevada for work but has been working from home since spring. The younger two boys attend Bridges Elementary while Cam attends Sossaman Middle School. The family is active and sporty. Jantz is an avid runner. At University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Jantz competed in women’s cross country, as well as indoor and outdoor track and field. She ran on three national teams, helping her team win the NCAA Cross Country National Championship in 1996, as well as placing 17th in the nation for the women’s 5000 meters for Track and Field in 2000. She has completed more than a dozen half marathons as well as nine full marathons, including running the Boston Marathon four times. Not surprisingly, her three sons play club baseball at Scottsdale Dirtbags. This entails practices four nights a week and tournaments during the weekends. Some weekends, all three boys play in different cities in Arizona, and they also travel across the country for the sport. See

JANTZ on page 55

Sistine Chapel exhibit gives unique look at frescoes BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Staff Writer

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited the ability to travel, so Special Entertainment Events Inc. brought a piece of the Vatican to The Croft in Downtown Phoenix. “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” began its three-month run Nov. 20 at the 17,000-square-foot venue, which accommodates physical distancing. Guests will be required to wear a mask at all time after purchasing timed tickets. The immersive art exhibit features 10,000 square feet of the artist’s frescoes that adorn the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The 34 panels of frescoes were produced in their near-original size. Among these reproductions are masterpieces like “The Creation of Adam” and “The Last Judgment.” “We are thrilled to bring this exhibit to Downtown Phoenix and the state of Arizona for the first time,” said Martin Biallas, CEO of Los Angeles-based SEE Global Entertainment, producer of the Sistine Chapel exhibit. “People all over the world have been amazed to see Michelangelo’s work up close in such detail, and we’re glad the people of this state and region will have that opportunity as well.” Biallas is the original creator of the award-winning “Titanic” and “Star Trek” exhibitions, which visited Scottsdale and Phoenix, respectively.

The downtown Phoenix exhibit gives people a chance to appreciate the artistry in the Sistine Chapel if they can’t afford a flight to Rome for the real thing. (Special to the SanTan Sun News)

“We are overjoyed at the opportunity to host this unique experience for the region,” said Angela Karp, co-owner of The Croft Downtown.

“Health and safety remain the highest priority, so our exhibition will be equally as safe as it is spectacular.” Guests may enhance the experience

with a downloadable premium optional audio guide, with accompanying narraSee

SISTINE on page 56

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Artists Ca, DeCaussin and Joey Salamon completed this mural in January in the breezeway connection New Square and Historic Square. (City of Chandler)

MURALS

from page 52

downtown Chandler. It begins as a simple request for the artwork. That request is followed by a discussion of Art Commission members regarding budget and other city needs or projects. Once agreed on, a Call to Artists is sent out and the artists’ proposals are reviewed by the commission and decided upon. Proposed mural locations in Chandler are usually “near a public location in the city such as the new Police/Fire Training Facility, a City park, or part of the Downtown development,” Hirsch stated. Murals are strategically placed throughout cities in order to lure in more locals, tourists, potential new residents and even businesses to the adorned areas. Hirsch described Enriquez’s work as “a perfect complement to the canal,” making for a “beautiful view from the San Tan Brewery patio across the street, the San Marcos guests, and anyone walking or driving by.” Other East Valley communities also are boasting a boom of murals in public areas. Accessible and visible locations are key when it comes to proposing new mural locations, said Downtown Mesa’s events and promotions manager, Erica Snyder. Downtown Mesa has experienced a “huge revitalization,” in the past 10 years, according to Snyder. She hopes to offer people “a dif-

JANTZ

from page 54

As busy as she is, Jantz has a few more books slated for the future. “The Nickel Book,” a sequel to The Penny Book, is about friendship: Nickel and Penny meet during Penny’s adventures, and become best friends until they are separated one day. Nickel goes on his own adventures, but is always wondering and thinking about Penny. And then, after many years, fate and hope reunite them. The story theme is how you can have

ferent type of experience when they come to a downtown,” by implementing more colors and transforming Main Street into “a place where people can come and spend an entire day.” Tre Bella, an event venue, located at 119 W. Main St., is neighbors to an almost 30-year-old mural depicting a scene straight out of the fairytale Cinderella. Since Tre Bella bought the space in 2009, the mural has actively encouraged brides to feel like princesses on their wedding days, “people love to take pictures in front of that, in their wedding dresses on their wedding day,” Snyder said. The mural reaches audiences larger than newlyweds, “the beauty of art is there’s no concrete meaning,” said Logan Cromeens after a visit to downtown Mesa. Added Abby Seact, 19: “Whenever I walk past the Cinderella mural, I am reminded of the lessons the movie taught me at such a young age. Be kind, be brave and never stop dreaming.” Murals are much more than a pretty wall that a passersby gets to look at. They embody empowerment and education. Murals “create dialogue about important issues our world is facing,” Seact said. Mesa’s newest mural has worked to uplift its community. Kelsey Montague, a Denver artist who has created murals all over the world, painted a pair of butterfly wings on the side of a building between North Robson and North Macdonald along Main Street.

The hashtag “What Lifts You” is painted on the side, and passersby are encouraged to share their answer. Sarah Bluff, Phoenix local, visited the mural and explained that “finding that beautiful place of hope and positivity in moments of contrast,” is what lifts her. The Chauvet Cave, located in Southern France, is one of the most famous prehistoric rock art sites in the world. It was discovered in 1994 but the Paleolithic cave paintings date back over 30,000 years. Although researchers will never be able to give a definite answer on what this art stood for, it “was based upon and rooted in a cultural experience - an overall belief system which persisted with little change for over twenty millennia”, wrote the Bradshaw Foundation. The means, methods and techniques of public art have all changed drastically since Paleolithic times. In 2002, a mural of a girl with a balloon surfaced on the streets of London. This piece grew to become England’s favorite piece of artwork. The mural was created by an anonymous street artist and political activist who goes by the name of Banksy. It depicts a young girl within arms’ reach of a red balloon, the audience was left to figure out the rest. Did the girl let go of the balloon? Or did it float towards her? Some look at it as “an archetypal symbol of childhood and freedom [...] the meaning can be interpreted as a loss of innocence or the arrival of new hope and love,” explained MyArtBroker.

com, under Banksy’s artist portfolio. After 18 years, the world still doesn’t have an explanation for the mural, yet that has not stopped Britain from ranking it as its favorite piece of art. Murals are meant to “showcase society as it is in the time it was created,” according to Book an Artist Team. “Even if you don’t come up with a picture to cure world poverty, you can make someone smile while they’re having a piss,” Bansky said. TheConversation.com, argues that “All too often, strategies for urban regeneration seem to focus on improving a place’s image, instead of the lives of its residents.” “Planners and government officials often write off our projects as mere fantasy, which has nothing to do with reality, because our work focuses on tactile and sensuous ways of knowing, as opposed to the rational and technical approaches that prevail in urban planning.” Enriquez’s experience was different. She called it “special” and thanked Chandler for caring about local artists and supporting their work. She especially liked her project because it has the potential to impact younger generations and teach them that “it is possible to paint on walls.” There are many factors that go into building communities, but the most important factor will always remain its residents. It is up to them to appreciate the art and interpret its meaning. Just like an individual’s life is their message to this world, a mural is an artist’s message to their community.

a best friend in your life and even if life changes and causes you to go your separate ways, love and hope and faith will bring you back together when the time is right. It also speaks to those friendships where even after lots of time goes by without seeing each other, when you finally do, it’s as if no time has passed at all. Jantz has also written a descriptive picture book called “I Run” about a girl who runs, and depicts the passion a person can have for the incredibly difficult sport of running. She’s also coming to the end of writ-

ing a chapter book called “Defending the Title” geared toward late elementary to middle school age, about a boy who plays baseball. “That one was definitely inspired by watching my three boys play,” Jantz said. “I actually take notes at all of their games, of different baseball plays, different baseball situations, things coaches say, things coaches yell, things parents yell.” “It’s about friendships, relationships, heartache, and success on and off the field. I can’t wait for the it to be done,” she added.

Right now, Jantz’s mind is on The Penny Book. “My goal for this story is that it reaches out to all children, in all different walks of life,” she said. They include foster children, adopted children and those who may be struggling with anxiety, depression or self-esteem. “Or, even just the children who want to read a cute and fun-loving book with beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming theme,” she added. The Penny Book by Mary Jantz is available as a hardcover book at Amazon. com and Barnes & Noble for $24.95.

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

Adding to the experience, the exhibit features a small theater that shows educational films about Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel. There also is a 90-minute audio guide for the tour. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

SISTINE

from page 54

tive available in English and Spanish. Adding to the experience, the exhibit features a small theater showing educational videos about Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel. Biallas has hosted this exhibit for five years; it opened in Montreal in 2015. He said he wanted to bring it to Phoenix but couldn’t find an appropriate venue. “I’ve done a lot of projects here in Phoenix, like ‘Titanic’ and ‘Star Trek’ over at the science museum,” he said. “This is not something for the science museum, obviously. We have four units

that are touring.” Biallas is hoping the public isn’t afraid to visit because of COVID-19. “This is the type of exhibit where you can actually stay distanced,” he said. “We limit the number of people inside per hour. “This is almost like a sanctuary. You come in here and you just leave everything behind. We have this beautiful music. We have these gorgeous frescoes that Michelangelo worked on for five years.” At the Sistine Chapel, photos are not permitted. The Croft and the exhibit are allowing cameras. A big hit among visitors is pointing a finger at “The Cre-

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ation of Adam” or the photo opp with angel wings. “It’s, obviously, a wonderful experience the original,” he said. “I came up with the idea after a visit and thought, ‘If we can get the licensing and recreate these in the original size for people to see up close and have a wonderful audio guide, that would be amazing.” The 90-minute audio guide is available through an app. The exhibit is perfect for anyone who’s stressed over COVID, those who aren’t religious, art patrons and history fans, he said. “This is almost like you’re walking at 15 feet underneath the ceiling,” he said. “You’re that close. It’s from a

perspective that even a pope has never seen. Obviously, you can’t get up to the scaffolding.”

If you go What: “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays through February 14; Also closed on Christmas Where: The Croft, 22 E. Buchanan Street, Phoenix Tickets: start at $12 chapelsistine.com

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 20, 2020

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A wish for 2021: Let us enjoy life to the fullest BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Guest Writer

During the journey of life, we encounter many roadblocks and detours, and sometimes we cannot find our way to where we want to be because of all the distractions. We wonder whether we took the right road to begin with. Should we have turned to the left or to the right or continued straight ahead? Should we stop and start all over? What could we, or should we have done differently? The difficulty we encounter, in some cases, has nothing to do with the journey but rather the ability to understand where we want to be. It is like wanting to say goodbye to someone we love who has passed away. We find it difficult because our minds start to wander and wonder about what was and what may have been.

No longer will that person be there to encourage us, or guide us, or love us, or share in the many experiences yet to be. This detour in our journey is filled with so many regrets. And the guilt is sometimes unbearable. And this journey we take contains instances when we have said things that perhaps were hurtful or misunderstood. Words are used to communicate and there are instances when the communication is incoherent or just unnecessary. We humans are a strange breed. We want to be there for people in their hour of need, but we just don’t have the same enthusiasm to prop people up before they get into situations that require our help. We rush to help but are slow to prevent. We are at a stage in our lives when little things mean a lot. A touch, a caress or a hug are the ways of our expressions. We talk to each other but there are times we really don’t understand what is

When uncertainty surrounds you, trust God BY LYNNE HARTKE Guest Writer

Certainty. I am a bit addicted to it. More addicted than to my cup of caffeinated Earl Grey first thing in the morning. More than to chocolate-covered caramels from a little shop in Chandler. I like lists, checked off boxes, and no big surprises by the end of the day. So, when my husband Kevin and I missed a turn-off on a loop hike in the Superstition Mountains that resulted in extra miles, you could say I was not a happy camper. Not one little bit. The plan had been to take Second Water to Black Mesa to the Dutchman Trail and back to the car. But the devastation from a recent fire distracted us as we snapped sobering photographs of shriveled up barrel cacti and six-foot saguaro giants toppled on the desert floor. We walked right past the juncture to Black Mesa taking us to Boulder Canyon and unplanned adventures. Boulder Canyon. The name is not a misnomer. We found ourselves crossing a dry creek bed multiple times as we scrambled over large rocks and boulders being careful of ankles, older knees, and burrs that had to be removed from our dog’s paws from the dried-up vegetation. False turns and side trails increased our walking on the unfamiliar terrain as our watches ticked off the hours and our cheerful conversation dwindled to dismay as we ventured down one more twist and turn.

Certainty. As we head into the holidays, I can’t help but wonder how much certainty Joseph faced when he packed for a trip to Bethlehem in response to a government decree, while being mindful of Mary in her advanced pregnancy? Dusty miles. An overcrowded inn. A birth in a stable. I am sure none of those circumstances were on any mental checklist of how they thought Jesus would enter the world. In the book, Searching for Certainty by Shelly Miller, she writes of the tension we live in between hope in the new things God is releasing us into and the fear he won’t come through in the way we planned. Miller continues to detail the danger of assuming transitions will be ordered without any bumps or detours (or boulders) and challenges her readers to “translate unforeseen roadblocks and delays as an opportunity to know God and be known by him.” Unplanned events give us the chance to rely on God and not on ourselves. We can learn a lesson from Mary, who chose to treasure all the things that happened and “to ponder them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Taking time to ponder God’s ways during this uncertain holiday season is a good spiritual practice. And as for us? Our unplanned turn on a hike in the Superstition Mountains led to a snack break at a desert oasis, incredible views, and stories to tell around a future campfire. Not a bad end to an uncertain day. Lynne Hartke is the author of Under a Desert Sky and the wife of pastor and Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. She blogs at lynnehartke.com.

being said. We hear but we don’t listen, or maybe we listen but don’t hear. We have reached our stage in life because of medical science and because retirement affords us the opportunity to do things we couldn’t do when we were younger. Now we want to have peace and contentment and enjoy our children and grandchildren and, if we are lucky, our great grandchildren. Our maturing years are here and with it should come calmness. We remain relevant because we understand that without relevance, we are nothing. Then, a strange phenomenon occurs – a pandemic. We are told that this has not happened in over 100 years. How lucky are we to live in a time when we must endure the agony and the pain of this devastating experience? Not lucky at all. And yet, here we are. Each generation, for sure, has had its difficulties, some destructive such as a World War I or II and some productive such as a cure for polio. Scripture teaches us that the road of life is filled with so much adversity but equally contains joy and fulfillment. There is hope that the end of this horrendous calamity is soon to be

delivered so that life, as we knew it, will begin to become normal again. Some wonder what normal is or will be. Whatever we develop into in the coming months and possibly years, there is one thing we need to acknowledge: Survival. Tales will be told for a long time. Then one day, the next generation will look back and marvel at all we endured, as well our determination to remain strong and resilient. So, as we approach the New Year 2021 let us resolve to live life to the fullest, always remembering those who were not so fortunate to be with us to celebrate another milestone. Let us remember our houses of worship that will once again welcome us to acknowledge our ability to join together as we usher in new experiences, sing the familiar songs that bring memories alive, listen to the chatter as we enter the familiarity of a building that houses all our wishes and desires. On that day we will know that all is well with the world and we will, with one voice, express our gratitude to the One who gave us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this joyous moment. Rabbi Irwin Wiener is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.