June 21 – July 4, 2014 www.SanTanSun.com
Hope rising from blighted Elevation Chandler site BY JOAN WESTLAKE
From the south side of Chandler Fashion Mall, there are signs of hope that from the blighted Elevation Chandler site could rise Chandler Viridian, a multiuse development with the hotel, office and retail elements of the original project plus studio, one- and two-bedroom residential units. Brandon Dillingham, Arizona director of development for Hines Interests Limited Partnership, says the seeds for
this rebirth were sown back in late 2012 when the Houston-based, international development, investment and property management firm entered into a contract to purchase a 15-acre adjacent property owned by John Propstra of Propcor Associates and Macerich Company. They entered into a contract to purchase the 25.6 acres which houses the abandoned shell last year. Since 2006, the bones of the failed see HOPE page 6
GOING AWAY?: Construction of apartments could begin in late 2014 with the demolition of the remnants of the former project being hauled away simultaneously. Submitted photo
PROUD TO SERVE: In the shirt commemorating his Honor Flight, Stan Fagerstrom was part of Company G of the 167th Infantry Regiment of the 31st Dixie Division during World War II. Fagerstrom has two Bronze Stars for his service. Submitted photo FOR A COOLER ARIZONA
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Si Se Puede means “Yes, we can.” The phrase aptly describes the foundation of the same name as well as its founder, president and CEO Alberto Esparza. He started Si Se Puede Foundation in 1994 with a vision of engaging kids in education and focusing on the area of social services while encouraging youngsters to become peaceful leaders. “Even as a young child I was involved in some type of service. When I was in high school, I also got involved in service,” says Esparza. “When I graduated college, I knew there was something I wanted to do. I wanted to create a foundation and wanted to create a program to serve others.” He worked as a probation officer after graduating college, but left that profession and, despite arduous struggles, created Si Se Puede. The organization focuses on helping those associated with Title 1 schools in Chandler. “The Chandler Unified School District is very important to us because they allow us to work with their kids,” Esparza notes. The organization is expanding into the Florence Unified School District and the Town of Guadalupe. “It gave us an opportunity to expand our STEM program which is science, technology, engineering and math,” Esparza says. “That’s what we’ve become known for throughout the years.”
A LEADER WITH COMMUNITY VISION: Alberto Esparza founded Si Se Puede, which features programs designed to enrich and assist the community. Submitted photo
In 2006, an after-school tutoring program was created at Galveston Elementary School. The program mentors are Chandler High School students who assist younger students with homework, reading and math. The tutoring program will also be offered in Florence and Guadalupe beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. Programs through Si Se Puede are free to participating families. “We work in communities that are in ‘survival mode.’ see SI SE PUEDE page 4
SRP still seeking Gila River Community option
BY TRACY HOUSE
see STAN FAGERSTROM page 5
BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
Route alternatives reduced for proposed power lines
WWII veteran ‘honored’ for service The recipient of two Bronze Stars, 91-year-old Stan Fagerstrom recently traveled to Washington, D.C., with 26 fellow World War II veterans as part of the Honor Flight network. Honor Flight’s mission is to transport U.S. veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices. Fagerstrom, who lives in Sun Lakes, served in the Pacific Theater in the Army for three and a half years. Originally slated for his Honor Flight at the beginning of the year, Fagerstrom
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Summer Tune-Up
Private land route alternatives for a power line project needed to address continued economic development in the Chandler area known as the Price Road Corridor (PRC), have been further reduced by Salt River Project officials. After collecting public comments and considering electrical requirements for substation siting, the PRC transmission project team was able to narrow the proposed areas for substation sites within the corridor in south Chandler. By reducing the potential locations for substation sites, the following north-south transmission line
route segments were also removed from consideration:
Kyrene to RS-27 to RS-28 component
• Two north-south route segments, one along McClintock Road and one east of the Loop 101 • A route segment along Ellis Road • Several other small route segments within the corridor
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Chandler upgrades its utility billing system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . community . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 Gardens at Ocotillo to offer engaging lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 Great Play of Chandler offers fun and safe camps for kids . youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 25 Area exploding with July 4 festivities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . Page 45 Chandler singer aims for top with forthcoming EP . . . . . . . . . arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 57
CLIP-IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Center Section
see SRP page 7
More Community . . . . . . . 1-12 Business . . . . . . . . 13-24 Youth . . . 25-34, 39-41 Opinion . . . . . . . . 42-43 Neighbors . . . . . . 44-52 Spirituality . . . . . 53-56 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . 57-63 Directory . . . . . . . 64-65 Classifieds . . . . . . 66-67 Where to eat . . 68-70