Perry girls courting strong season PAGE
Gilbert teen takes on Reese Witherspoon
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS ......................... 10
Rock ‘N Roll Marathon more than a race for 2 Gilbert runners.
Gilbert siblings’ business lights up your life.
GET OUT .................. 28
Hollywood turning out for Chandler film fest.
COMMUNITY ..................... 16 BUSINESS .......................... 20 OPINION..............................25 SPORTS ................................26 GETOUT ...............................28 CLASSIFIED........................33
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Residents can weigh in on paratransit cuts
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
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esidents who take paratransit can weigh in on a proposal to scale back the ride service for the disabled. Instead of paratransit provided townwide, the Dial-a-Ride service would be limited to within three-quarters of a mile of all local bus routes. If the change is approved, it would take effect Oct. 26. “I’m one-eighth of a mile too far outside
the boundary,” said Susan Williams, who spoke at the December town council meeting accompanied by her guide dog. “That would affect me, my ability to get to and from work and serve my community.” The 20-year Gilbert resident, who is an academic liaison in the Supported Education Program at Foundation for Blind Children in Phoenix, said she wasn’t always blind. “I lost my vision about 15 years ago,” she said. “I had normal vision all my life, drove
and ran a business, raised my children and my vision slipped. “I’m asking you to be mindful when this decision comes about, to think about the population of people this is going to impact. Keep in mind, this population of people has no other choice to get about.” The town wants riders to take RiderChoice instead, which is cheaper for Gilbert to operate but costs residents more to ride than paratransit.
see PARATRANSIT page 13
Gilbert mayor rocks the town away in video BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
BUSINESS ............... 20
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com
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ayor Jenn Daniels is boogying and singing along to Huey Lewis and the News’ Back in Time as she rides past iconic landmarks in Gilbert such as the Water Tower and Liberty Market restaurant. The town’s newest Carpool Karaoke video features the theme from the “Back to the Future” movie and comes with a message – everyone will need to get involved to help shape Gilbert’s future as it turns 100 this year. “We are in a critical point,” Daniels said. “We’re 100 and we’re looking for the next 100 years. It’s a pretty authentic conversation we have pretty regularly with anybody we encounter.” The town’s videos are a take on The Late Late Night Show’s “Carpool Karaoke,” which features host James Corden driving while he and a musical guest, such as Paul McCartney, Adele and Madonna, sing along to one of their songs. “This is the latest in the series and the idea is we share critical information on what local government is doing in a fun and engaging
about a 17-year-old Marty McFly, who accidentally goes back in time to 1955 with the help of his friend Dr. Emmet “Doc” Brown and his time-traveling DeLorean. A dashboardmounted camera captures the two Mayor Jenn Daniels and Valley actor/director Tim Dietlein, dressed as Doc Brown from as they reminisce “Back to the Future,” belt out a tune in her new Carpool Karaoke video. (YouTube) about the bygone days of Gilbert when it was one known as the way,” Daniels said, adding: “I have a lot of trust built up with our “Hay Capital of the World.” “So, mayor, it seems like Gilbert has come a communications team and so when they have an idea about how to, in this case, share long way in the last 100 years,” Dietlein said. our vision for the city of the future, I didn’t “What do you think the future holds for the city of Gilbert?” hesitate and was excited to participate.” Daniels responds one of the most The latest and fifth in the karaoke videos includes Valley director and actor Tim important things town leaders can do is to Dietlein, who wears a white wig and lab coat have a vision for the community such as how to best serve residents in the transportation in his role of Doc Brown. The duo is even in a replica of the revolution and what the much-talked-about DeLorean time machine borrowed from a connectivity with one another will look like Gilbert resident. from a futuristic standpoint. The 1985 movie, part of a franchise, is
see KARAOKE page 9