July 5 - 18, 2014
www.SanTanSun.com
Firefighters help refurbish Salvation Army center BY TRACY HOUSE
When the Chandler Firefighters Charities sees a void in the community, there’s little that stops the group from making a difference. The organization’s volunteers recently spent two mornings at the Salvation Army Community Center, 85 E. Saragosa St., in downtown Chandler sprucing up the buildings’ exterior, giving the center a new paint job. Keith Welch, Chandler Fire
Department public information officer, says a firefighter who sits on the Salvation Army board approached the charities about the much-needed facelift. In the two days, 30 to 40 members helped out with the Salvation Army project. Firefighters worked before and after their shifts to get the painting finished. “The guys come out for an hour and a half, just to help out,” Welch says. SEE FIREFIGHTERS PAGE 4
LENDING A HELPING HAND: Volunteers from Chandler Firefighter Charities helped paint the Salvation Army Center. The two-day task brought out 30 to 40 volunteers painting the exterior of the building. STSN photo by Tracy House
Longesttenured administrator retires from CUSD BY TRACY HOUSE
The Chandler Unified School District’s longest-tenured administrator retired after 42 years at the end of June. Melinda Romero started her teaching career with CUSD in 1972. Romero has worn a lot of hats during her distinguished career: elementary teacher; grades third through sixth; math teacher at junior high and high school; starting the first self-contained gifted program for the district; spearheading the Instructional Resource Center (IRC) for the district; and executive director of professional development and instructional resources. She earned bachelor degrees in elementary education and mathematics and a master’s in education administration. While working as a math specialist for the district, CUSD superintendent Dr. Camille Casteel asked Romero to
coordinate the IRC project. It became a labor of love. “I’ve always believed that teachers make the difference in how students learn,” Romero says. “To be able to support teachers with resources, whether the resources are SEE MELINDA ROMERO PAGE 5
Chandler 202 breaks ground on new building
DCCP executive director steps down BY TRACY HOUSE
BY TRACY HOUSE
A new spec project at Ellis and Frye roads near the Price Road Corridor and Loop 101 and Loop 202 freeways broke ground on June 25. In attendance for the occasion were Bill Woodruff, general manager for Kieckhefer Properties, James Murphy, president of Willmeng Construction Inc., City of Chandler Vice Mayor Rick Heumann, City of Chandler Councilmembers Kevin Hartke, Jack Sellers, Jeff Weninger and Nora Ellen, and Terri Kimble, president and CEO of Chandler Chamber of Commerce. Kieckhefer Properties is the developer and owner of Chandler 202. Tenant improvement work will begin on Dec. 8, 2014, with substantial completion of shell, site and core on April 10, 2015. Woodruff explains the company began developing the 40-acre site in 1999 with the installation of Benson Lane and Fairview Street and the construction of
DEDICATED EDUCATOR: Melinda Romero retired from Chandler Unified School District in June after 42 years. The Instructional Resource Center, which she was instrumental in developing, has been named in her honor. Submitted photo
GROUND BREAKING: Members of the Chandler City Council joined Bill Woodruff, general manager for Kieckhefer Properties and James Murphy, president of Willmeng Construction Inc., for the ground breaking ceremony for Chandler 202 on June 25. STSN photo by Tracy House
three industrial buildings. It was then followed up with the second phase in 2004 by building three additional industrial buildings and a two-story office building. The third phase, consisting of two flex office/ industrial buildings, was completed in 2008. Chandler 202 located at 2525 W. Frye Rd., on the southwest corner of Ellis and Frye roads, is about a 140,000-square-foot, Class A office project. The three-
For the last three years, Jennifer Lindley has been the executive director of the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership, bringing events to the downtown area and offering unique experiences to the community. But June 19 was her last day with DCCP. Lindley says she’s “absolutely loved the people that I’ve met and the relationships that I’ve established here. I think one of my favorite perks, and pieces about the job, is that we’ve created a sense of community. We’ve been successful the past three years with the businesses we’ve had come down here, special events we’ve had, the stage along Arizona Avenue and some of the additional projects that are going to be announced very shortly.” One of the projects Lindley worked on for the DCCP was getting a permanent stage for the downtown area to host more outdoor events. (See related story page 9.) “It would be a permanent structure. It looks like there wouldn’t be permanent seating, but the area which we’re looking at over by the library has a large grassy area, which would lend itself to a wonderful music venue, performance venue and place for people to come
SEE CHANDLER 202 PAGE 8
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Chandler PD warns citizens about scam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Reality show seeking real estate agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Prep school hosts open house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 30 Soroptimists recognize two Chandler women . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . . . . Page 51 ‘Tango’ inspires artwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 63
SanTan Family Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Center Section
SEE LINDLEY PAGE 9
More Community . . . . . . .1-15 Business . . . . . . . .16-26 Youth. . . . . . . . . . 27-38 Opinion. . . . . . . . 47-49 Neighbors. . . . . . 50-58 Spirituality . . . . . 59-62 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . .63-71 Directory . . . . . . .72-73 Classifieds. . . . . . .74-75 Where to eat . . . 76-78