Neighbors
www.SanTanSun.com
September 6 – 19, 2014
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Neighbors Local woman a grant recipient
YMCA hosts morning of prayer
Neighbors PAGE 52
Spirituality PAGE 67
Wok Box offers Chandler photographer wins healthy, fast- prestigious awards casual dining BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
Wok Box, which just opened at Gilbert and Germann roads, is one of the few fastcasual concept restaurants that offers the many tastes of Asia in one stop. There’s a little bit of everything on the clever menu—Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, Vietnamese and Korean entrees—and each dish is fresh. “We cut up our vegetables daily,” says John Stevenson, Wok Box area developer. “Our chicken and steak are grilled every day, and everything is prepared fresh.” All main entrees are offered with a choice of chicken or tofu, marinated steak or shrimp or vegetables and are served with a choice of chow mein, Shanghai, ribbon or udon noodles. White, brown, jasmine or basmati rice can be substituted for free. Wok Box signature sauces don’t contain MSG or preservatives and are
Where to Eat PAGES 74-78
Benefit to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries BY TRACY HOUSE
Since suffering a spinal cord injury on Nov. 21, 2005, Joe Jackson has lived by the motto “I can.” Only three weeks after his injury during an intrasquad scrimmage at Hamilton High School, he began intensive physical therapy. Four months later, he returned to Hamilton to finish out the fourth quarter of the school year. The 2007 graduate now works with SEE BENEFIT PAGE 54
SEE WOK BOX PAGE 52
SCENIC CATEGORY: Chandler photographer Colleen Miniuk-Sperry won first place in the Outdoor Writers Association of America scenic category for “Raven’s Nest on Schoodic Peninsula.” Photo courtesy of Colleen Miniuk-Sperry BY MEGHAN MCCOY
POPULAR DISH: The Singapore cashew chicken entree is one of the most popular dishes at Wok Box and is available with a low-carb option. STSN photo by Lynette Carrington
Colleen Miniuk-Sperry was a software engineer for 10 years at Intel when the stress of the job became overwhelming. To relax, her mom suggested she take an introduction-to-photography class. “I showed up without a camera and without a clue,” she says about the September 2001 move. The atmosphere was supportive and encouraging and led to a February 2007 career change. “I found a lot of comfort in being able to communicate, not verbally, but
visually,” Miniuk-Sperry explains. “It opened my eyes to a whole different way of seeing, by putting a camera in front of my eyes.” It opened the eyes of judges at the Outdoor Writers Association of America Excellence in Craft Contests as well. She received first place in the flora category for “Summer’s Gift, Avalanche Lilies, Glacier National Park;” first place in the scenic category of the photography contest for “Raven’s Nest on Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park” and SEE PHOTOGRAPHER PAGE 50
PLAYING TO WIN: Joe Jackson, left, leads a teammate up the court to score during a rugby game at the Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center in Phoenix. The Joe Jackson Foundation is sponsoring a golf tournament Sept. 27 to raise money to help others with spinal cord injuries. Submitted photo
Workshop to help first-time homebuyers in Chandler BY MATT LEWIS
Barbara Dowling never thought she would be a homeowner. But thanks to the Tempe-based Newtown Community Development Corp., she is. “The process is really good,” says Dowling, who lives near 68th Street and McDowell Road in Scottsdale. “I remember the day I came over here and said, ‘This is mine. This is mine.’” She even uses the word “serendipitous” to describe the process and the notion of living in her home. Now, the organization is coming to Chandler to host a workshop from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday,
Sept. 30, at the Chandler Police Department’s community room at 250 E. Chicago St. The City has partnered with the Newtown Community Development Corp., a nonprofit that has pledged to help up to 17 families purchase foreclosed homes totaling $1.4 million. The monies come from the federal government and are part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Fund. Potential buyers cannot have owned a home within the past three years and must meet certain income criteria. To qualify, a family of four can only have a maximum income of $79,080.
The homes being purchased must be owner-occupied, not rented out and, if sold by the homebuyer, the homebuyer must share any accrued equity with the Newtown Community Land Trust. Visit www.chandleraz.gov/content/ CommDev_NSP3_TargetArea.pdf for a map of the target areas. Dowling is one of 18 members of Newtown’s board of directors, having joined not long after purchasing her home. Jim Phipps, a Chandler public information officer, says the City has supported a handful of workshops like this. According to him, about 45
homes in Chandler are part of the CLT program. Phipps says the CLT program can change someone’s life because it allows someone to purchase a home who normally wouldn’t be able to afford one. Registrants can register on the Eventbrite website. Registration will remain open until the day before the event. As of Tuesday, July 29, there were 40 spots still available. The registration link is www.eventbrite. com/e/community-land-trustorientation-chandler-9914-tickets8096792725?aff=es2&rank=10 SEE HOMEBUYERS PAGE 50