Santan Sun News - April 7, 2018 by Times Media Group

APRIL 7–20, 2018 | www.SanTanSun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler and our neighboring communities

Waymo unfazed by driverless vehicle fatality BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Staff

The nation’s first death associated with the self-driving car program doesn’t worry the top official of the autonomous vehicle pioneer that calls Chandler home. A fatal crash in Tempe March 18 involving an Uber van has reignited the debate over the safety of driverless vehicles and raised new questions over liability and fault. But that doesn’t seem to bother the CEO of Waymo, the Google-affiliated autonomous vehicle company that has operated in Chandler since 2016 and now has vehicles that drive without a backup driver behind the wheel. “For those of us at Waymo, it was a very sad day because that was an accident that was in a car that had technology representing the self-driving space,” Waymo CEO John Krafcik said at the NADA conference in Las Vegas last month. He did not speculate on the cause of the accident as investigations are ongoing, saying, “I want to be really respectful of Elaine, the

Special to SanTan Sun News

Investigators for the National Traffi c Safety Board examine the driverless vehicle that killed a Tempe woman last month and forced Uber to pull its autonomous vehicles off the road.

woman who lost her life, and her family.” Krafcik also expressed confidence in the ability of Waymo’s vehicles to prevent a crash in a similar situation. “Our own knowledge of the robustness that we’ve designed into our systems . . . in situations like that one — in this case a pedestrian or a pedestrian with a bicycle — we have a lot of confidence that our technology would be robust and would be able to handle situations like that one,” he said. A self-driving Volvo XC90 – one in Uber’s fleet of silver SUVs that have become a common sight around Tempe – hit 49-yearold Elaine Herzberg around 10 p.m. March 18 at Curry Road and Mill Avenue as she crossed the road outside a crosswalk, police said. Based on the findings of pending investigations, negligence claims involving the accident could include arguments that Uber, the operator behind the wheel, and/or the companies behind the technology that powers the autonomous vehicles were liable, experts said. See

UBER on page 4

Non-winter won’t leave region high and dry

Chandler teens prep for glitzy proms – with dates optional

BY GARY NELSON Contributor

BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

If you’re wondering where the winter of 2017-18 went, you’re not alone. The period from November through March will go down as one of the warmest and driest winters in East Valley history – and, by one important measure, the most parched ever. That measure is the amount of water flowing from northern and eastern Arizona into the Salt and Verde rivers to fill our bathtubs and swimming pools. Typically in late March, as the high country thaws, the two rivers are healthy torrents tumbling toward the Valley. But on March 26, their combined flow was only 6 percent of normal.

Teenagers at local high schools are planning glamorous group photo sessions, elegant decorations at upscale venues and the perfect formal gowns to wear to prom – a time-honored tradition around the country this season. Like their parents and those in graduating classes decades before them, today’s Chandler area teens plan to get gussied up and make it a formal night they hope will be a highlight of their time in high school. Unlike older generations, though, many current high school students say teens do not feel the need to hit the big dance with their boyfriends, girlfriends or

See

WINTER on page 8

Getting a LEGO up

Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer

Colin Brock concentrates on making the perfect model during a meeting of the LEGO club at Chandler Basha Library. All four Chandler libraries have LEGO Clubs and for a look at how kids respond, see page 10.

F E AT U R E STO R I E S Making a Move in 2018? Experience the Amy Jones Group Difference! See Page 13 For Your Local Market Update

Cruise becomes ‘vacation from hell’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . . Page 18 Local thrift store benefits shoppers, needy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . Page 24 Chandler woman a pinball wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . Page 42 Chandler gets an escape room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . Page 54 Kind Bean is more than java . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EAT . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 68

STFF ................................................................... Center Section

See

PROMS on page 16

More Community . . . . .01-23 Business . . . . . . . . 24-31 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Neighbors. . . . . . .42-53 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . 54-60 Faith. . . . . . . . . . . .61-63 Directory . . . . . . 64-65 Classifieds. . . . . . 66-67 Where to Eat . . . 68-70

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UBER

from page 1

“We haven’t had to deal with this yet because the autonomous vehicles haven’t been hurting anyone,” said attorney Mark Breyer, who handles liability cases throughout the region. The crash reignited a national debate over the safety of autonomous vehicles. In the wake of the crash, Uber suspended its uses of self-driving cars in Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Toronto. Toyota told Bloomberg News it would “temporarily pause” testing its driverless vehicles on public roads “because we feel the incident may have an emotional effect on our test drivers.” A day after Uber’s announcement, Gov. Doug Ducey ordered that the company be forbidden from using Arizona roadways to test its autonomous vehicles. Uber issued a statement shortly after the accident that said: “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family. We are fully cooperating with authorities in their investigations of this incident.” The Uber operator behind the wheel was not in physical control because the car was operating autonomously at about 40 mph, police said. Tempe Police Department’s preliminary investigation showed that impairment was likely not a factor. Uber is cooperating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the police in the investigation. The police released video evidence that appears to show Herzberg walking a bicycle across the left lane before entering the right lane and being struck. She is walking in a dimly lit portion of road and becomes visible in the Uber’s headlights a split second before the accident. Dashcam footage shows the driver, identified by police as Rafaela Vasquez, looking down at an object out of the camera’s view as the accident occurred.

Special to SanTan Sun News

You won’t be seeing these autonomous vans own by Uber on local streets for a while as the company and local and federal investigators determine their safety.

Police and the NTSB are gathering and analyzing the vehicle’s technology and data transmitted to Uber. The vehicle was equipped with cameras that provided the police additional evidence. “It will definitely assist in the investigation, without a doubt,” Sgt. Ronald Elcock said. The investigation to determine who was at fault likely will take months, Breyer said. “The work of the detectives just got that much more complex and we are always off from knowing” who was at fault,” he said. That complexity became apparent when Police Chief Sylvia Moir made comments to the San Francisco Chronicle that seemed to steer fault away from Uber. Moir told the paper, “I suspect preliminarily it appears that the Uber would likely not be at fault in this accident, either ... I won’t rule out the potential to file charges against the (backup driver) in the Uber vehicle.” “The driver said it was like a flash. The person walked out in front of them. (Her) first alert to the collision was the sound of the collision,” Moir said, adding, “It’s very clear it would have been difficult to avoid this collision in any kind of mode (autonomous or human-driven) based on

how she came from the shadows right into the roadway.” Moir also seemed to pin the blame on Herzberg by emphasizing that she was outside the crosswalk. But Herzberg’s friend and Mesa resident Carole Kimmerle told the Guardian that the victim “was not in any way unsafe. She rode a bike everywhere. She was very cautious of the laws.” Kimmerle told The Guardian she thinks negligent homicide charges should be filed and that the government should also be held accountable. Another friend, Deniel Klapthor, said, “Uber should be shut down for it.” The police later said in a press release, “Chief Moir and the Tempe Police Department would like to reaffirm that fault has not been determined in this case. Tempe Police Detectives will complete the investigation and it will subsequently be submitted to The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges are warranted.” Ducey signed an executive order on March 1 that enacted stricter rules on driverless vehicle testing in the state. The order requires the vehicles to comply with voluntary rules set out by NHTSA in 2017. Ducey’s order also deals with the

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

question of liability in the event of a traffic violation, stating that the “person testing or operating the fully autonomous vehicle may be issued a traffic citation or other applicable penalty in the event the vehicle fails to comply with traffic and/or motor vehicle laws.” For the purposes of this order, the word “person” likely refers to the company operating the autonomous vehicle, not the employee or contractor who may be behind the wheel, Breyer said. Beyond criminal accountability, the crash could also result in a civil suit. Breyer said the phrase “or other applicable penalty” in Ducey’s executive order would likely include civil damages. In an interview with The Guardian, University of South Carolina Assistant Professor Bryant Walker Smith said that if Herzberg’s family pursued a civil case, a lawyer could claim negligence. Smith is an autonomous vehicle legal expert who is also affiliated with Stanford Law School’s The Center for Internet and Society. However, Uber quickly reached a settlement with the victim’s daughter, precluding any civil suit. Based on the findings of pending investigations, those negligence claims could have included arguments that Uber, the operator behind the wheel and/or the companies behind the technology were liable, Smith told The Guardian. “Although this appalling video isn’t the full picture,” he later said, “it strongly suggests a failure by Uber’s automated driving system and a lack of due care by Uber’s driver” as well as by the victim. He noted that the Uber car’s lidar and radar detection should have detected Herzberg. He also said Herzberg appears about two seconds before the end of the video and that an alert driver may have had time to swerve or attempt to brake. Complicating the case further is that See

UBER on page 7

Accident gives Mesa lawmaker pause over automated deliveries BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

The killing of a pedestrian by an autonomous vehicle last month has a Mesa lawmaker giving second thoughts to allowing automated motorized delivery devices on sidewalks. House Majority Whip Kelly Townsend told Capitol Media Services that her bill to allow autonomous vehicles onto sidewalks to make deliveries, something not allowed under current Arizona law, likely needs a closer look after the fatal crash. And Townsend said HB 2422 may need more restrictions. Her concerns come in the wake of an incident March 18 in which a vehicle being tested by Uber, operating in autonomous mode, struck and killed 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, who was crossing the street outside a crosswalk in Tempe. Preliminary reports say the vehicle did not brake before hitting her, suggesting it did not “see” her. In the interim, Uber has suspended all of its self-driving testing in Arizona and elsewhere. But HB 2422, pushed by Estonia-based Starship Technologies, already has cleared the House and now awaits Senate action. A company spokesman told reporters last month the plan is to have them do

File photo

House Majority Whip Kelly Townsend is concerned about giving delivery drones free reign on local sidewalks.

the kind of delivery that might otherwise be performed by a person, ranging from groceries to packages. The devices, he said, are programmed to unlock when they reach their desired destination. Townsend, who saw them in operation in Washington, D.C., liked the idea. But there was a problem: They’re not currently legal in Arizona. “I just need the bill to allow them to be on the sidewalk,” she said. The proposal is to give these devices the same rights and duties as pedestrians, with whom they will share the sidewalks

and crosswalks. That includes a mandate to follow all traffic and pedestriancontrol signals and devices. “Once it’s on the sidewalk, it has to obey the laws and it can’t be mowing people down, obviously,” Townsend said. “I want them to have to abide by our laws so that they’re not just running amok.” At the same time, Townsend said the idea is to allow the testing without a lot of up-front regulation. She said that is in line with the philosophy espoused by Gov. Doug Ducey, who first opened the door to autonomous vehicles on Arizona roads years ago by signing an executive order shortly after taking office in 2015. But Townsend said she can’t ignore what happened Sunday. “I don’t want my name attached to a fatality or injury,” she said of her legislation. “So, I want to make sure what we’re doing going forward is safe.” Townsend said she wants to be sure that what’s in the bill that makes it to the governor does that. Some of the safeguards built into her original proposal, the one she pushed through the House on a 52-7 vote, were removed when the measure went to the Senate Transportation Committee last month. Gone, for example, is that 100-pound weight limit.

Townsend said she agreed to that change because there are companies other than Starship Technologies that have their own devices weighing more than that. She said the state should not be crafting laws that favor one device or company over another. Still, she acknowledged, a heavier vehicle can cause a lot more injury if it runs into a pedestrian. And Townsend said, given what happened Sunday, she may insist that the weight limit be put back into the bill. But the version awaiting a Senate roll-call vote also removes some other provisions in the original bill, including a requirement that the devices have brakes. And it deletes a provision that would preclude the robots from transporting hazardous materials. Also gone is the requirement for $100,000 worth of liability insurance. Townsend said, given all the questions, it might be appropriate to put a “sunset” provision into her legislation, having it self-destruct at some future date unless specifically renewed by lawmakers. That would require the Legislature to review how the testing has gone and determine whether changes are needed in the law – or even whether Arizona wants to continue to allow the devices on the sidewalks.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Waymo details driverless vehicle testing records SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Within days of a Tempe woman’s death after being struck by an autonomous Uber van, Waymo released a summary of its tests of its own driverless cars. “At our Castle testing facilities, we conduct more than 20,000 ‘structured tests,’ including testing at night and with pedestrians unexpectedly entering the road. Each of these individual tests recreates a distinct driving scenario and allows us to analyze our vehicles’ response,” the company said. Castle is a self-driving car testing grounds in Atwater, California, two hours southeast of San Francisco, that is used by Waymo, an offshoot of Google that has

UBER

from page 4 Arizona is one of the few states in the country with a pure comparative negligence or pure comparative fault law – meaning anyone involved in a crash is responsible only for their own actions. The law states that “the full damages shall be reduced in proportion to the relative degree of the claimant’s fault which is a proximate cause of the injury or death, if any.” Breyer said this could steer most, if not all, fault away from the driver. “In reality, whoever is hired is not realistically going to have responsibility for all of the technology behind these vehicles,” he said. “Whatever comparative fault, if there is any, would probably be limited.” Beyond the question of fault, the tragic

made a strong presence in Chandler as it continutes on-road testing. Waymo said it “has completed thousands of individual tests analyzing vehicles’ response to the most difficult driving scenarios.” Those scenarios include “cars suddenly pulling out of driveways, large vehicles cutting across target lanes, motorcyclists weaving through traffic and pedestrians jaywalking,” the company said. The company also said it incorporates actual crash data – including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s database of fatal crashes – “to build a comprehensive database of the most common pre-crash scenarios.” It noted that the data has led to the creation of four categories of accidents

that account for 84 percent of all crashes: rear-end collisions, vehicles turning or crossing at an intersection, vehicles running off the edge of the road and vehicles changing lanes. Waymo also noted it has been conducting public road tests of its vehicles for nine years in 25 cities, logging over 5 million miles. “Our team multiplies and amplifies what we’ve seen on public roads and at Castle further,” it said, stating that it has created a virtual world in which 25,000 virtual selfdriving vehicles are taken through simulations of “hyper-detailed maps” of Chandler and surrounding areas as well as other cities. This enables technicians and engineers to develop software that continues “refining old skills and testing out new maneuvers that

help them navigate the real world safely.” “From the software’s point of view, this driving looks the same as the physical tests on real roads — and we’re able to practice a single scenario thousands of times,” the company said. “Our vehicles have driven more than 5 billion miles in simulation.” Waymo also said it has worked for years to develop better-than-average lidar (light detection and ranging) hardware. Lidar is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges between a car and other objects. “Our long-range lidar allows us to see objects up to three football fields away,” the company said, not only detects pedestrians but can tell people what direction they are facing.

crash has reignited a national debate over the safety of driverless vehicles. An Ipsos study of over 1,000 adults from across the country conducted in late 2017 found that 22 percent of Americans favor autonomous vehicles and cannot wait to use them while 24 percent will not use them at all. The study found that a majority of respondents expressed both interest and uncertainty in self-driving vehicles. Waymo launched the Let’s Talk SelfDriving campaign last year in collaboration with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, East Valley Partnership and other groups. The campaign emphasizes the safety benefits of self-driving cars, including stating that 94 percent of car crashes involve human error. While the technology does have the

potential to reduce traffic accidents, Smith wrote on The Center for Internet and Society website: “Automated driving is a challenging work in progress that may never be perfected, and I would be skeptical of anyone who claims that automated driving is a panacea – or who expresses shock that it is not. “However, this incident was uncomfortably soon in the history of automated driving. In the United States, there’s about one fatality for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and automated vehicles are nowhere close to reaching this many real-world miles.” Waymo says its vehicles have driven 5 million miles on public roads. Uber, Waymo and the automated vehicle industry have benefited from widespread

support from public officials in the state. Uber came to Arizona in 2016 after the company failed to comply with California’s law governing autonomous vehicles and the state revoked registration for its vehicles. In response, Ducey tweeted “This is what OVERregulation looks like! #ditchcalifornia.” Arizona attracted the company with its less-cumbersome regulatory environment. At the time, the only rules governing the industry came from a oneand-a-half-page executive order signed by Ducey in 2015. In response to the crash, a spokesman for Ducey’s office said, “Public safety is our top priority, and we are in communication with law enforcement, which is investigating the accident and gathering facts, as well as Uber.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

WINTER

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

from page 1

“It looks like this year could very well set the all-time low record,” said Charlie Ester, manager of surface water resources for Tempe-based Salt River Project. “2002 was the all-time low and we’ll probably come in under that.” Ester said that’s a product of extremely low rain and snowfall across the SRP’s watershed. A normal winter produces about 10 inches of precipitation across the region, Ester said. This year, the average was less than 3 inches. In the Valley itself, it was even worse. Total rainfall from November through late March at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – the area’s official measuring station – was exactly 1 inch. That’s less than a quarter the yield of a normal winter. Furthermore, the latest map from the national Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows most of Arizona in either extreme or severe drought, with no relief expected at least through midyear. As grim as all that may seem, Ester and other East Valley water experts are nowhere near panicked. There are two reasons for that: • A comparatively wet winter a year ago replenished the region’s reservoirs after the longest stretch of dry years in at least the past seven centuries. • Water management and multiple sources prevent us from needing to rely too heavily on the Salt and Verde system. “We’re actually sitting in a pretty good spot right now,” said Brian Draper, water resources adviser for the city of Mesa. He noted that in late March, the water stored in the Salt and Verde reservoir system was at

File photo

Chandler has made places like McQueen Park a lush oasis that thrives even in low-rain winters like the one we just came through.

more than 60 percent of capacity, “which is enough to meet our needs for several years.” “It’s a good-news, bad-news sort of story,” Ester said. “At SRP, we always plan for drought, so conditions are not much worse than what we plan for.” Besides, Ester said, this has been going on in Arizona for a long time, although the past decade has made some scientists sit up and take notice. SRP was worked with scientists at the University of Arizona to study tree rings, the width of which can indicate which years were wet and which were dry. “Having a series of very dry years for a prolonged period – 20, 30, even 40 years – is not unusual,” Ester said. “And what’s also very important is that these dry periods all will have wet years interspersed with them – a year like last year.”

But Ester said the severity of the drought leading up to 2017 was unusual even for Arizona. “The six previous years to last year were actually the longest period of dry years in about 700 or 800 years,” he said. “It was very unusual to get six dry years in a row.” Andrew Deemer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said wet and dry years come sporadically even as data show a steady overall rise in area temperatures. He figures this winter will come in at about the fifth- or sixth-driest since record-keeping began in Phoenix more than 120 years ago. Temperatures during the early part of the winter were well above average, Deemer said. The closest we came to a

freeze at the official weather station was 36 degrees on Dec. 22. It wasn’t until the La Niña weather pattern in the Pacific weakened in midFebruary that temperatures normalized and showers became somewhat more frequent, Deemer said. The splashes of rain that did fall kept us from setting an all-time dry record for January and February. That honor belongs to 2006, which recorded no rainfall at all during the period. “You can’t get any drier than zero,” Deemer said. But as Ester mentioned, the parched conditions do resemble those that the region saw in 2002, when one of the most devastating wildfires in Arizona history created plumes of smoke that could be seen from the East Valley. The Rodeo-Chedeski fire scorched 468,638 acres, burned more than 400 homes and turned a summer playground for many East Valley residents into a moonscape. Ester worries about a rerun. “There is no doubt that the risk of fire across the watersheds of Arizona – not just the Salt River watershed but all around the state – is going to be heightened this year,” Ester said. In the short run, that may be the most dramatic impact of a bone-dry Arizona winter. But even though the water supply seems safe for now, Mesa water expert Draper says the future may be different. “We definitely could outgrow the water supply as is,” Draper said. “I think there is going to be a turning point where we need to try to conserve more water to stretch out the supplies to meet demand. We’re just not there yet.”

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

No need to stay thirsty, Chandler, experts say BY GARY NELSON Contributor

Back in 1901, the citizens of Tempe voted 102-17 to take on $30,000 in bond debt to build a water system. The whole shebang – completed within 14 months – sprang from three wells east of downtown. The water was pumped to a cement reservoir on Hayden Butte and then delivered to homes and businesses by gravity. There’s a good reason Tempe didn’t rely on the Salt River back then. Some years the stream tore through the Valley as a raging flood, with millions of gallons spewing downstream unused. Some years, it barely flowed at all. But the same year Tempe first turned on its taps – 1902 – saw landmark legislation in Washington that funded irrigation projects in the American West and paved the way for creation of the Salt River Project. Eventually, six dams on the Salt and Verde rivers, headlined by the mighty Theodore Roosevelt Dam, would hold a series of reservoirs that could save water for dry years, and control the stream during wet ones. That irrigation system – in many places restoring canals that had been dug by the Hohokam civilization centuries ago – is a major reason the East Valley became a thriving community of more than a million people. But relying on one source for such a

vital commodity, even one as proven as SRP, could spell disaster. So for generations, East Valley water managers have sought to expand their list of water sources. The websites of the region’s four major cities – Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe – all tell the same story of a diversified portfolio. The three main sources in each city are SRP, the Colorado River and groundwater. In Mesa, for example, SRP accounts for only 26 percent of the water. Brian Draper, the city’s water resources adviser, said 55 percent comes from the Colorado River and 19 percent from groundwater. Colorado River water is delivered via the Central Arizona Project canal, a massive piece of infrastructure authorized by Congress in 1968. U.S. Sen. Carl Hayden of Tempe is regarded as the project’s legislative godfather. SRP and East Valley cities are not leaving groundwater to chance, either. They all have projects designed to replenish our aquifers – Gilbert Riparian Preserve being one example and Veterans Oasis Park in Chandler another. In the process, they create surprisingly lush oases in our otherwise harsh surroundings. In sum, the strategies combine to slake the thirst of a bustling city that otherwise could wither, or never have been born at all. “That,” said Draper, “is the reason why you have the Phoenix metropolitan area booming here in the central part of Arizona.”

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Veterans Oasis Park in Chandler is one example of ways Chandler has created projects to replenish aquifers.

Our warm, dry winter Here’s a look at the very un-winterlike conditions recorded November through March at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the official measuring station for the National Weather Service: November: H igh of 89 on Nov. 26; low of 52 on Nov. 19. Average high for the month: 82.9. Total rainfall: A trace. December: H igh of 84 on Dec. 2; low of 36 on Dec. 22. Average high: 71.0.

Total rainfall: 0.23 inches. January: H igh of 83 on Jan. 29; lows of 40 on Jan. 22 and 23. Average high: 73.9. Total rainfall: 0.21 inches. February: H igh of 84 on Feb. 8; lows of 39 on Feb. 21, 24 and 25. Average high: 71.1. Total rainfall: 0.52 inches. March: High of 92 on March 31; low of 44 on March 1. Average high: 78.8. Total rainfall: 0.04 inches. - Source: National Weather Service

COMMUNITY NEWS

LEGO Clubs a fun challenge

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20, 2018

All four Chandler libraries offer LEGO Clubs that give young children a challenging opportunity to let their imagination run wild and build things. The SanTan Sun News last month visited the club at Basha Library to see how kids responded to the challenge. The libraries supply the equipment, and the kids supply the talent. On our visit, 1) Liam Kalfus, 9, took his time building his model; 2) Jensen Dolbert, 8, carefully pieced together his parts; 3) Kayla Martin, 5, opted to make animals; 4) Tarun Dhamy was initially perplexed about his approach; 5) Colin Bouche, 8, opted to make a mobile; 6) Shaalyni Dham, 6, proudly displayed her creation; 7) and young Tarun finally seized on an idea for what he wanted to create.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Aprende honor society helps comfort hospitalized kids BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA Contributor

A trio of Kyrene Aprende Middle School National Junior Honor Society officers recently loaded four cars with colorful fleece blankets and headed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. This is the seventh year the Chandler school’s NJHS members have made and distributed the fleece blankets so that hospitalized children have a warm, cuddly reminder that they aren’t alone. “I think it’s good for the kids in the hospital to know that other kids who don’t know them care about them,” said society president and eighth-grader Alex Siebel. Added society vice president Emma Dinnan: “And I think it’s important to the kids because it makes their stay a little bit easier, and, since they’re in the hospital, it brings them a little pop of color.” Seventh-grader Eeva Hakkarainen, this year’s NJHS secretary, agreed. “A lot of kids might not think about other kids in the hospital, and I think when they get the blankets we made, it lets them know kids are thinking about them, and maybe gives them hope,” said Eeva, who made four blankets to donate. The three students – who lead one of the most respected National Junior Honor Societies in the Kyrene School District – and echoed the sentiments of most of their 125 members, who each provide a minimum of 20 service hours each. The Aprende chapter’s work on the blankets won national recognition as one of the top 10 service projects of 2012.

and the wider community. Also expected is leadership and development of character. And at Aprende Middle School, membership qualifications were upped by sponsors Amy Furman, who teaches seventh-grade English Language Arts, and Tonia Deer, a sixth-grade humanities teacher. They wanted to ensure that students really aspired to be a part of the society, and not Kyrene School District merely because their parents Aprende National Junior Society officers sitting with some were pushing them. of their blankets are, from left, secretary Eeva Hakkarainen, “Over the years, we’ve president Alex Siebel and vice president Emma Dinnan. changed out candidate Treasurer Carsyn Christel isn’t shown. process,” said Furman, who Students carefully cut the fleece was there for Aprende’s first pattern they personally selected and then AMS National Junior Honor Society – as a group on a weekend morning – tie student induction class, 2001-2002. the edges to make a pleasing, ravel-proof “One change was having the student fringed edge. write an essay – write, not type – telling “It takes about an hour to cut one us what qualities they bring as well as what blanket, and then another to tie at school,” they want to get out of it,” she explained. said Alex, who, like most of his fellow The first society induction class numbered eighth-graders, will advance to Corona de 25 members, all eighth-grade students. Sol High School next fall when, he said, he This year, the 125 members are fairly evenly hopes to be inducted into the National represented by male and female students. Honor Society for high school students. “We’ve had over 100 members ever Admission to the National Junior since,” smiled Furman, a teacher for 22 Honor Society – which, like the high years, the last 18 at Kyrene School District. school version, was founded in 1929 by the “Because of our success, the administration National Association of Secondary School allowed me to have a co-advisor.” Principals – requires more than maintaining Added Deer, who came aboard in a 3.8 G.P.A. for three consecutive quarters. 2004: “We’re a well-oiled machine now.” Students must exhibit an “enthusiasm Sonsors and experienced teachers are for academic achievement” but also quick to credit their officers, including demonstrate a desire to serve the school treasurer Carsyn Christel, a seventh-grader,

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for overseeing not only the months-long blanket project and other tasks. “Our officers work really hard,” Furman said. “They’re in charge of keeping track of members’ record service hours, their attendance, they’re required to attend all monthly meetings and keep up their grades.” “And we reward them and our members for their hard work,” said Deer, mentioning an April 25 outing to Jake’s Unlimited after school hours. Current officers also take responsibility for the annual NJHS Induction Ceremony at Aprende. On April 24, they are expecting up to 60 new inductees – most advancing sixth-graders, but a few new seventh-graders also. The Aprende members also will be honored at the eighth-grade graduation ceremony May 23, when each will be given a blue and white cord to signify their membership, They also will be listed in the graduation brochure. “We’re very proud of our NJHS. I’d say it’s the best, well-run NJHS in the district,” said Furman. “Especially at their age, to have an organization that honors hard work and doing for others, it’s really important for them. And I think it’s nice that Aprende has been a model for other NJHS starting up. What our NJHS members give to the community is pretty respected.” Deer said, “We see them grow as people, learning to do for others and making a difference in their community. It’s really amazing.” The current National Honor Society president at Corona del Sol, Lexie Baughman, is a former Aprende student who headed the NJHS.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Hiatt named Times Media Group vice president TIMES PUBLICATIONS NEWS STAFF

Times Media Group (TMG), the locally based publisher of 17 Valley publications, including the SanTan Sun News, has announced that Michael Hiatt will join the company as its vice president and chief revenue officer. Hiatt is former group publisher of Modern Luxury-Scottsdale Magazine and group publisher of Phoenix Magazine and Phoenix Home & Garden, both published by Cities West Publishing. Hiatt has worked in the publishing industry in metro Phoenix for over 30 years. He is well known in the Southwest for his publishing creativity and his ability to build revenue streams by creating unique, effective, client-focused advertising platforms and marketing solutions. Hiatt’s hiring combines his publishing experience with the more than two decades that Times Media Group founder Steve Strickbine has spent building TMG from a single eight-page community newspaper into the Valley’s leading community news source. “This is what I’d call a perfect match,” said Strickbine, who will remain TMG’s president. “I’ve always thought of Michael as a superstar in the news business for two reasons. One, he has grown some terrific publications in terms of the stories they tell, the way they serve their advertisers and the way they serve their communities. Two – and this is even more important – there’s the high level of integrity Michael

Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer

SanTan Sun News Publisher Steve Strickbine, left, welcomed Michael Hiatt after naming him vice president of Times Media Group and chief revenue officer.

brings to work every day.” In his new role, Hiatt will guide all operations related to revenue generation, a move designed to help TMG better capitalize on its many media brands, broad reach across the Valley and desirable demographics. Hiatt started his professional career in Arizona at the East Valley Tribune in 1985 as a staff correspondent. Times Media Group acquired the Tribune in 2015. “This is an exciting homecoming

for me, both to the Tribune and to community journalism, which is something I’m passionate about,” said Hiatt. “I’ve witnessed Steve grow Times Media Group into a formidable organization and I look forward to helping lead this talented team.” Hiatt worked as the publisher, and later group publisher, of Phoenix Magazine and Phoenix Home & Garden from 2001 to 2013, overseeing an unprecedented period of growth. Beginning in 2013, Hiatt launched

and then served as group publisher of Modern Luxury-Scottsdale, a luxury lifestyle publication and a member of the Modern Luxury family of magazines, which produces more than 80 titles across 24 major markets. “Times Media Group represents an expanding platform that is perfectly positioned for growth,” said Hiatt. “The unique blend of longevity, demographic and geographic targeting, as well as the desired reach of 17 publications in a growing and vibrant market, is truly exciting. “Further, the combination of credibility, creativity, and quality products and people is inspiring. The diversity of TMG’s printed products, sophisticated digital offering and unique events can galvanize local communities.” A digital and print media company operating in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, TMG publishes the East Valley Tribune (EastValley.com), the Ahwatukee Foothills News (Ahwatukee.com), the West Valley View, Nearby News publications, the San Tan Sun News, the Scottsdale Airpark News, the Gilbert Sun News, the College Times, Lovin’ Life After 50, The Entertainer! Magazine, North Valley Magazine, 85086 Magazine, 85085 Magazine and the travel and information website Phoenix.org. TMG also owns and operates AZ Integrated Media, a media distribution and custom publishing company. For more information on Times Media Group: timespublications.com.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Mesnard gets another legislative win for tax cut plan BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

House Speaker J.D. Mesnard has secured another victory in an effort that will give Arizonans a tax cut – with a big chunk of that going to 138 multi-millionaires. On a party line vote, the Senate Finance Committee recently voted to double the amount of capital gains that investors can deduct from their state income taxes before computing how much they owe. Legislative budget analysts say the change in HB 2528, when fully implemented by 2023, will cut state revenues by about $23 million a year. Mesnard, whose district includes part of Chandler has been pushing the plan and already has secured House approval of the measure – which now needs a vote by the full Senate. The committee vote came as dozens of teachers from the Phoenix area who had called in “sick’’ packed the committee room to object to yet another cut to tax collections. David Lujan, director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, cited their presence as he told lawmakers they need to understand that actions like this have real implications on the ability of the state to fund its needs. The presence of the teachers at the Capitol rather than in their classrooms drew a slap from Gov. Doug Ducey. Appearing Wednesday on KFYI radio, the governor said he is doing all he can to put more dollars into K-12 education and teacher salaries. And he said teachers are

“doing an excellent job,’’ citing the fact that Arizona leads the country in improvement in math and reading scores. “People are, of course, allowed to speak, allowed to make their voice heard,’’ Ducey said. “But I want to thank the 50,000-plus teachers that showed up for work today in a public school classroom and our teaching our kids.’’ And the governor said it was not necessary for them to call in sick. “If people want to come down to the Capitol and make their voice heard, I’m there pretty much all day, every day,’’ Ducey said. “You can do this after school.’’ Legislative committees, however, meet during normal school hours. And Lujan told lawmakers that teachers and others have a vested interest in what they are doing. “This is a public education bill,’’ he said. “It’s a health care bill, it’s an infrastructure bill, it’s a higher education bill,’’ Lujan said. “Any time you’re going to drain another $23 million out of our state general fund, it reduces the investments you can make in priorities many Arizonans care about.’’ But Mesnard does not see it that way. Federal tax law provides different treatment for capital gains versus ordinary income. Arizona does not. But to make up for that, the law allows investors to report just 75 percent of the profits from capital gains on investments that have been made since 2011. Mesnard’s legislation seeks to reduce that figure beginning next year to 50 percent, applicable to investments starting this year.

That would cover earnings on everything from land and buildings to stocks and bonds. The first-year impact is $6.4 million, increasing eventually to $23.2 million. Mesnard acknowledged the staff analysis. But he argued that is a “static’’ approach and does not consider how the state economy might benefit if people invest more money. Sen. Rick Gray, R-Sun City, agreed: “If people get these reductions in capital gains tax, they’re investors. They’re usually not going to just put it under their pillow.’’ That analysis drew a skeptical reaction from Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson. He said similar predictions were made back in 2011 when Republicans pushed through a massive cut in corporate income taxes. But Farley said that clearly didn’t materialize. “You are simply cutting money that the state can use to invest in ourselves,’’ he said. And there’s something else. Farley cited an analysis that he said showed just 1 percent of the tax break would go to people earning between $10,000 and $20,000 a year. At the other end of the earning spectrum, he said 12 percent of that $23.2 million would benefit those in the $200,000 to $500,000 range, 26 percent to those between $1 million and $5 million, and an identical percentage of those few Arizonans with reported state income in excess of $5 million. “There’s only 183 of those people,’’ he said, making their average tax cut in the

neighborhood of about $27,000 a year. “I do not see any benefit to the people of Arizona in taking $23 million a year that could be invested in ourselves and give it away to people who already are getting a massive handout from the recent federal tax bill,’’ Farley said. “Our teachers absolutely deserve a raise,’’ agreed Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert. But he voted for the tax cut, insisting there are dollars out there for pay hikes – if the state were not spending so much on social welfare programs. For example, he said the state spends $13 billion a year on Medicaid, including both state and federal dollars in Arizona. “That’s a ton of money,’’ Petersen said. “I have consistently voted against expansions of the welfare state.’’ And Sen. David Farnsworth, R-Mesa, said he believes more money would end up in teacher paychecks if school districts did not divert dollars to other priorities. Sen. Sean Bowie, D-Tempe, said he would not be a good lawmaker if he supported this measure. “I have yet to hear one of my constituents say, ‘We need to reduce capital gains taxes for people making over $500,000 a year,’ ‘’ he said. “What I am consistently hearing, and especially much more now than I was six months ago or a year ago, is ‘We need to be doing more to support our teachers.’ ‘’ The tax cut, which already has been approved by the House, now goes to the full Senate.

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any type of date. Many say they or their friends will go without a romantic interest on their arm, choosing instead to dance and socialize with groups of friends instead. Seton Catholic Preparatory aims to make it easy and comfortable for anyone, whether paired up with a significant other or flying solo, to enjoy prom with their friends. The private school includes a sit-down dinner prior to the dance starting at the same place prom will be held, at Sun Lakes Country Club on April 21. “You don’t have to have a date,” said Beth Pattock, Seton Catholic Preparatory activities director. “Ten kids sit at a table. Sometimes I have a table of all guys. It’s designed to be more of a community event around the dinner, around the dance, where everybody can just go as friends. “It changes the focus from being this romantic, ‘I have to be in love with this person’…because it’s a dinner and we offer the casino night and the dance. It’s very, very common for people not to have a date.” The casino night will be attached to the ballroom so students can take a break from dancing to play blackjack and poker using fake money. Raffle prizes will be given away to the teens who play the games. Senior Jacqueline Rodriguez, 18, who is on the prom planning committee, said she will go to the dance with her boyfriend and their friends, but that she knows many people who will go without

Debra Toyne

Tessa Zuluaga and her boyfriend, Mason Toyne, seniors at Seton Catholic Preparatory, plan to go to the big dance on April 21.

dates. “I do have some friends that are like, ‘I don’t know if I’m gonna get asked’… and that’s super-common, especially for juniors,” Rodriguez said. “People might enjoy it more if they don’t have a date. I think that’s the case for a lot of people. “ They get to be with their friends

more. I honestly feel our community in general, everyone is so welcoming. Even if you didn’t have a date, you’d always have your friends there with you. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you look so cute.’” Including the dinner as part of Seton’s prom also takes some pressure off students since they don’t have to decide where to eat before the dance, she said. Students at Seton choose which of their classmates they want to sit with at the pre-dance dinner at the country club. Sharing a meal at the prom venue also means students do not have to calculate restaurant bills and students will get to the dance when it starts, not hours later, Pattock said. “It takes away all the stress of, ‘I don’t know what to order; I’m not comfortable eating this,’” she said. “When kids go out to dinner, they don’t remember things like tax. It’s real tough on restaurants when a group of 12 kids come in.” Seton’s prom, which will have the theme of “Some Enchanted Evening,” costs $75 per person, including dinner, a dessert and coffee bar, the casino games and pictures from a photo booth. About 275 students are expected to attend. The students pick what they want to eat ahead of time, often a chicken dish with pasta, bread and a salad, and can tell Pattock when they buy their tickets if they need gluten-free or vegan foods. Tessa Zuluaga, 17, a senior on the school’s prom planning committee, has enjoyed planning the big gathering with Rodriguez and Pattock. The girls chose sage green and blush pink for decorations and picked centerpieces, which will be mason jars filled with spraypainted gold cones, babies’ breath and blush-colored roses

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

from Rose Garden Floral, Pattock said. Zuluaga found ideas for decorations on Pinterest. The teens also picked out tablecloths to go with the forest-type theme. Zuluaga said Pattock has a huge binder filled with information on everything needed to plan the prom. She also likes having the sit-down dinner at the prom site. Zuluaga said one reason it’s a good idea is going to dinner at a restaurant would take a lot of time and prom day will be busy already as she gets her hair and makeup done. Seton students often go to Fulton Ranch before prom in large groups to pose for photos, she said. Gathering to take photos before prom is also a tradition for students in public high schools. Perry High School junior Rylee Hanson, 16, junior class president and chairwoman of the prom planning committee, said often students who do not have a boyfriend or girlfriend will find a “picture date” to pose with in photos before the prom. The Perry High prom is on April 28 at Mesa Convention Center and the theme is “An Evening of Enchantment.” Trees and mushrooms, either fake or real or some combination of the two, will be part of the decorations for the Perry prom, Hanson said. Cucumber-mint water and chocolatecovered strawberries, along with other fruit, will be served at Perry’s prom, which will not include a dinner. Close to 1,500 students are expected to attend prom for Perry, a school in Gilbert within the See

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Local man learns lessons from ‘vacation from hell’ BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Jim Lindstrom had looked at the Caribbean cruise he and his wife, Renee, were taking last month as a chance to see another part of the world and cross off another destination on their bucket list. Instead, “We had the vacation from hell,” he said. Now, he figures the lessons they learned will serve as a cautionary tale that many people in the community might benefit from. “We did everything 99 percent right and still got screwed,” he said. “I thought if someone could just learn from what we went through, it might help. A lot of people out here take cruises. You get so excited and wrapped up in the trip, you don’t often think, ‘What if something goes wrong?’” It started to go wrong faintly on the night before they were scheduled Feb. 18 to board the Norwegian Getaway in Miami when he felt cramping in his abdomen. “The next morning, we got on board and the pain kept getting worse and worse,” Lindstrom recalled – so worse that he called the ship’s doctor. Soon he found himself stuck in the infirmary, an assortment of tubes hooked up to his body. He had sustained a punctured bowel. Any hope the Lindstroms had of seeing Belize and Honduras had given way to an emergency that nearly took his life and cost thousands of dollars.

File photo

Jim Lindstrom said the difficulties and expense he encountered after a medical emergency on a cruise serve as a cautionary tale for all travelers.

Instead of deciding what to do on their first night at sea, Lindstrom had to decide whether to get an operation stateside or in Honduras. The insurance company made the decision for him. “They said no way would they allow me to be operated on in Honduras.” That meant evacuating the ship – “but the only problem was that we were in the middle of the Caribbean,” he recalled.

So rather than bring in a helicopter, the ship’s captain decided to turn around and head back to Florida. With nearly 4,000 passengers aboard, the ship turned back and anchored about 10 miles from the Florida Keys, where a Coast Guard speedboat met it. With the two ships side by side, eight crew members had to carefully – and awkwardly – hoist Lindstrom on a stretcher over the side of the ship and into the speed boat below. The board was so small that he lay in a basket half in and half out of the cabin. It was also made for speed, not a smooth ride. “It was horrible,” Lindstrom said. “When it’s going so fast, it’s rougher than hell.” After a jarring ride over rugged waves, Lindstrom finally made land and was whisked by ambulance to the Lower Keys Regional Medical Center, the only hospital in the area. He spent nine days there. At one point, he had “a heart event.” Seven of those days were spent in intensive care. When he got out, he couldn’t sit up because of the abdominal surgery. And his problems had only just begun. Though he had a travel insurance policy that provided for emergency transport back home, the company wouldn’t provide it because a doctor on the operating team – not his surgeon – had discharged him instead of noting in the paperwork that he was still under the hospital’s care. “The ambulance they would pay for could only be allowed to go between

hospitals,” Renee said. So, there was no longer a free ride home. Worse, they were in a hotel and couldn’t get a flight out. Compounding the problem was the fact that “I couldn’t sit in a plane,” Lindstrom said, So, he called a friend who had recently retired as a senior pilot for American Airlines who used his connections to have them secure a row of three seats so he could partially lie down on the trip back to Phoenix. They had to rent a Chevy Suburban to get from Miami to Orlando, where they could catch a direct flight back home. As he recuperates, Lindstrom still is shaking his head over the expenses that mounted during his ordeal. To turn around and head back to the states, the cruise line charged $9,000 to his American Express card. It would have cost twice that amount had he not taken out a different insurance policy that covered such an occurrence. Between his wife’s stay in a hotel while he was in the hospital and their stay together while they found a way back home, lodging cost another $4,000. Had he not had a supplemental insurance policy to cover expenses Medicare doesn’t cover, his medical care would have cost thousands more. While the Lindstroms believe most of their expenses will eventually be reimbursed by various travel insurance policies they routinely take out, they also got to See

VACATION on page 19

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

VACATION

from page 18 thinking about the financial disaster that would have accompanied his physical disaster had they not been so careful. The bottom line, he said, is always have a plan B when you travel. Here are some of the lessons he learned from the ordeal: Before you travel, assemble and always bring documentation for medications, medical history, allergies, home contacts and insurance contacts. Purchase an emergency transportation insurance plan to arrange and cover hotel and other expenses for your companion, transportation costs for the injured to

PROM

from page 16

Chandler Unified School District. Also in the Chandler Unified School District, Basha High School’s prom will be held May 19 and Hamilton High School’s prom will take place April 21. Hanson is going to prom with her boyfriend and other couples but said many Perry students go with their friends and without dates to prom. “I definitely think prom has become less of a date per se,” she said. “A lot of people go with their friends or couples go together, big groups go to prom. People are renting party buses or limos. “I definitely think it’s more fun when you have your friends with you,” Hanson added. “It takes that stress off. You can just let loose and just have fun at the dance instead

another hospital or home. They had a plan available through multiple agencies, including AAA and the airlines. The price is $129 for an individual, $149 for member and family annually. Additionally, they had signed up for the Emergency Assistance Plus Global Response Center, part of a network that offers customized medical, security, and travel assistance to more than 10 million travelers round the clock. If other travel insurance is available from the cruise line or tour company to cover the air, hotel, cruise, tours, local transportation, etc., purchase it. Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish. Review your healthcare and travel insurance policies and know your rights

BEFORE you travel. Anticipate and be prepared to immediately pay local bills related to a medical emergency. When out of the country, personal or company sponsored insurance plans may not be recognized or cover local emergency transportation and medical procedures that must be paid immediately. If you are sent to a hospital, work with the hospital case manager. The doctor had not conferred with Lindstrom or, apparently, the surgeon who operated on him before signing the discharge without seeing if the patient had a plan for getting home. Lindstrom also suggests that travelers have a plan to make sure a medical expert

can see them promptly and a plan for a safe and quick evacuation if hospitalization is necessary. Be sure, he added, that you have cash to cover medical payments to keep your care going, that you have a prescription replacement assistance plan in case medications are lost and a 24-hour locator service for attorneys, doctors and other professionals whose help you might need in an emergency. Lindstrom said a travel agent can walk people through the types of insurance they might want to consider, but added, “They need to ask. Remember, the travel agent is selling fun, not a disaster insurance policy.”

of worrying about where your boyfriend is. We’re slowly getting out of that habit of thinking that we need a date for prom.” Tanner Phillips, 17, of Chandler, a Perry High junior on the prom planning committee, said she has not gone to prom with a date before and will probably go this year with a group of friends. “I’ve always gone with a big group of friends,” Phillips said. “You’re not really stuck with one person.” Perry High’s prom tickets cost $40 ahead of time per person for students who have a school activity card or $45 for those without the activity card if bought beforehand. For anyone who buys a prom ticket at the door, it’s $50 per person. The ticket prices include a prom T-shirt with a special logo designed by Lerina Johnson, teacher and student government advisor at Perry.

Phillips and Hanson said they look forward to getting glammed up for prom. “I think the idea that it’s a day where we get to get dressed up and have our hair done and our makeup done, to feel like a princess,” Phillips said. “There’s not another dance like that.” Hanson said prom is “the most dramatic event that we do.” “It’s fun to get dressed up in long dresses,” she said. “Even the guys dress really nice. They all come with their tuxes. It’s a little bit more of a classier feel than our other dances.” Today’s teens at Perry, Seton and other high schools around the country have also adopted a trend for asking someone to prom. High school guys are delivering creative, elaborate invitations to ask girls to the dance called “promposals.” Hanson said sometimes guys will give

a girl a box of doughnuts with a message on it that says “I doughnut want to go to prom without you.” She said some guys will paint girls’ driveways in the middle of the night, and a few years ago, a male student got on a table to ask the girl to prom while someone he recruited played a harp. Seton senior Zuluaga said last year her boyfriend had a ball, literally, “promposing” her. They were playing ping-pong at his house, then he held up a paddle that said “prom on it” while his sister dropped hundreds of ping-pong balls from the second floor of their house. The balls said “yes” on them in different ways. Zuluaga said she knew a student who took a girl in a hot-air balloon ride to ask her to prom. “Some guys like to top each other,” she said. “It’s definitely romantic and cute.”

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City of Chandler Insider

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Acts of Kindness program benefits those in need BY THE CITY OF CHANDLER.

Chandler is known for its strong sense of community, and time after time, its residents have proved to have a generous and giving heart. Whether it’s supporting local nonprofits, volunteering with organizations in need, adopting a deserving family during the holidays, or

Each year, the City of Chandler funds more than one million dollars to local human services agencies through its annual budget, but the need is far greater than the city can provide. “We truly appreciate the generosity shown by customers who support the Acts of Kindness program,” Leah Powell, Chandler’s Neighborhood Resources director said. “Every small donation

City of Chandler

Through the Acts of Kindness program or A-OK, residents every month when they get their city utility bills can add a few extra bucks to their payments. When they donate, it’s going directly to Chandler residents who are in a crisis situation and unable to pay their utility bills, or back into the community to fund much-needed programs that strengthen and enrich families.

purchasing school supplies for Operation Back to School – there are countless ways to give back and make a difference. But did you know there also is an easy way to give back and make a huge impact by making a small donation of $1, $2, $5 or more each month? It’s called the Acts of Kindness program or A-OK for short. Each month when you receive your city utility bill, you have the option of adding a few extra bucks to your payment. When you make a donation, it’s going directly to Chandler residents who are in a crisis situation and unable to pay their utility bills, or back into the community to fund much-needed programs that strengthen and enrich families. The A-OK program was founded 18 years ago and since then, city staff members have allocated 100 percent of donations received back into the community, for a total of $775,000. For fiscal year 2017-18, the City of Chandler granted $56,666 to four nonprofits that provide these vital programs for families in crisis, people with disabilities, adult literacy programs and support services for domestic violence victims.

adds up to make a huge difference for Chandler residents in need and helps fill in the gaps.” Making an Acts of Kindness donation is simple and are there several convenient options available: In-person payment: Residents may visit the Customer ServiceCenter at City Hall and make an A-OK donation in any amount. Pay by check: Select one of the check boxes on your utility bill remittance slip and add the corresponding donation amount to your payment. Recurring payment with donation: Contact Customer Service at 480-782-2280 and have a donation amount automatically added to your utility billing statement each month. By simply paying your current balance, which will include the donation amount, the extra will be automatically applied to the A-OK program. Online bank payment: If you pay your utility bill through an online banking system, you can add $1, $2, $5 or more, and the additional amount will be automatically applied to the A-OK program. Online one-time payment: If you pay your utility bill online at chandleraz.gov, you can add $1, $2, $5 or more and the

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Donations from the A-OK program help local kids participate in Recreation and Athletics for Individuals with Disabilities (RAD). The funds help pay the costs for registration fees, equipment and transportation associated with the city’s therapeutic program.

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a staff member in person at the Customer Service Center, inside Chandler City Hall, 171 S. Arizona Ave. More information on Chandler’s Acts of Kindness program also is available online at chandleraz.gov/AOK.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Around Chandler 3 U.S. Air Force airmen complete basic training

Three Air Force airmen with Chandler connections have graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airmen completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Airman 1st Class Easton C. Cardenas Cardenas is the son of Cipriano and Tracy Cardenas and husband of Michaela Cardenas. He is a 2012 graduate of Chandler High School. Airman Amanda J. La Rocca is a 2015 graduate of Hamilton High School.

Children’s Cancer Network slates luncheon

The Chandler-based Children’s Cancer Network will hold its fashion show and luncheon, “Inspirations 2018: Masquerade,” from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 15 at J.W. Marriott Camelback Inn, 5402 E. Lincoln Drive in Scottsdale. Children who have survived cancer, as well as their siblings, will model at the event. The nonprofit provides financial help to families affected by cancer, as well as promotes patient and family education

about cancer-related topics and offers many activities to help boost the self-esteem of childhood cancer patients and their siblings. The aim is to help families in stressful and uncertain times, starting with the first diagnosis of cancer and continuing years. Tickets/more information: inspirations2018.auction-bid.org.

Hamilton High students to present ‘Bye Bye Birdie’

The Hamilton High School Performing Arts Department will be presenting the musical “Bye Bye Birdie” on multiple occasions this month. Performances will be held in the Hamilton High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. April 12-13 and April 18-20 and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 14. Admission is $7 in advance if you purchase tickets at the school bookstore and $10 at the door. For group sales, email griffen@mcclendonmail.com or call 4802974750.

Chandler teen honored by blood donors

A recent event held by United Blood Services honored 15-year-old Mia McPoland of Chandler, who was born with Diamond Blackfan Anemia, a rare disorder that prevents her body from producing red blood cells. Every month, Mia requires lifesaving blood transfusions – a need that is expected to continue her

entire life. Since she was just 6 weeks old, Mia has relied on the generosity of more than 200 blood donors. In honor of United Blood Services 75th anniversary, 33 of her blood donors gathered in a surprise meeting with Mia.

Alamo Drafthouse presents ‘Hook’ party today

A one-night-only “Hook” Movie Party will be held today, April 7 at Alamo Drafthouse Chandler with live appearances of cast members Dante Basco and James Madio. The party celebrates the Steven Spielberg take on “Peter Pan” and each ticket comes with interactive props to use at key points in the film. Guests can even yell out all their favorite lines. Showtimes are 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the theater, 4955 S. Arizona Ave.

Primrose School opens, creates 35 news jobs

Primrose School of West Chandler owners Anita and Pramod Patel have created 35 new jobs with the opening of their school. The 12,600-square-foot school held a ribbon cutting last month that was attended by some City Council members. “Through raising three children of our own, we have witnessed the importance of education, and we are excited to bring the high-quality education and care that Primrose provides to West Chandler,” said Anita Patel. “We cannot wait to nurture

the next generation of leaders by providing children with meaningful early education experiences and helping them develop strong values that will guide them for the rest of their lives.” The school has 11 classrooms and four secure, age-appropriate playgrounds as well as a splash pad and a garden for gardening and nature study activities. Through school programs for children 6 weeks to 5 years old, the school is poised to serve more than 200 local children and their families. For children up to age 12, it offers the Primrose Explorer Program for before- and after-school care and the Primrose Summer Adventure Club for summer activities and learning. Information: 480-912–6064 or primrosewestchandler.com.

Legacy Traditional School offers preschool

Legacy Traditional School in Chandler will offer preschool and free full-day kindergarten starting this fall. The A-rated charter school currently offers free, half-day kinder sessions as well as a fee-based program that extends kindergarten curriculum to full-day. Information: preschool.legacytraditional.org. or legacy traditional.org.

City employees honored for length of service Chandler City Councul last month saSee

AROUND on page 22

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Around Chandler

AROUND

from page 21

luted several employees for their length of service. They included: Sgt. David Austin, 30 years, police; Lydia Ortiz, 25 years, public works and utilities; Maria Meli, 20 years, information technology; Firefighter Robert Guayante, 20 years; engineer Travis McBurney, 20 years; and Cathy Flores, 10 years, Development Services.

Downtown library offers a stage for musicians

Vice Mayor Nora Ellen is inviting local musicians to perform at the Downtown Chandler Library at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. The stage is located in the coffee shop area and can accommodate up to three musicians. They are seeking musicians who can play acoustic instruments for 45 minutes to an hour. A musical guest interest form is at chandlerlibrary.org. The next performance is April 11 by solo violinist Jack Mao.

Aqua-Tots Swim School to hold spring festival

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Chandler and We Fix Ugly Pools present their annual spring festival for families and children 1-4 p.m. April 14. Chandler families are invited to this free event with swimming, festive activities, music, food and more. Babies must be at least 4 months old to swim and all

children must be under parent or guardian supervision at the swim school event. Bounce houses, train rides, face painting, inflatable water slides, live DJ music and raffles will be held at the school, 4040 S. Arizona Ave. Information: 480-726-5264.

Weninger ﬁnance bill signed by governor

State Rep. Jeff Weninger, R-Chandler, is delighted that Gov. Ducey signed his financial technology bill into law at the Arizona Technology Summit in Phoenix. Weninger and state Attorney General Mark Brnovich said the law will reduce barriers for financial technology entrepreneurs to utilize emerging technologies through the establishment of a “regulatory sandbox” environment. These emerging technologies will include blockchain, digital wealth management, payment processors and a host of other concepts. A regulatory sandbox is a program that allows a person to temporarily test innovative financial products or services on a limited basis without being licensed or authorized under state law. The sandbox environment, administered by Brnovich, will help early-stage entrepreneurs who do not have access to the legal and financial resources necessary to navigate the traditional regulatory process. “With the signing of this bill into law, Arizona continues the rapid leap into becoming the new tech center of the United States,” said Weninger.

Lawyer, Chandler Boosters to offer workshops

Attorney Francisco Sirvent is partnering with Chandler School Boosters to offer workshops for busy parents of graduating seniors in April and May. The fee of $35 per student will benefit Chandler School Booster activities. Keystone Law Firm, an estate planning and probate firm in Chandler, and Sirvent, its owner, want to help parents secure two legal documents that will give provide them peace of mind in knowing they can be a part of their child’s health care decisions. What shocks many parents is learning that as soon as their child turns 18, they can no longer make legal decisions for their kids without proper legal documentation. They also no longer have any special “rights” to receiving private information, such as health care information, without the child’s permission. Prepared professionally by a law firm, these docs can cost up to $495. Those seniors and parents who attend one of the four workshops, will learn the Arizona laws around powers of attorney and HIPAA directives, and will receive executed legal documents for only $35. Keystone also will archive and file these documents with the state so they may be accessed anywhere online. To be eligible, the child must be age 17½ and an Arizona graduating senior in May 2018. Both parents and the child must attend the two-hour event. They will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the following dates: Arizona College Prep,

April 11; Hamilton High School, April 17; and Perry High School, May 3. All registrations must be paid in advance. Information: ld119.infusionsoft.com/ app/form/workshop, info@keystonelawﬁrm.com, or Sheryl Keeme at 480-209-6942.

The Cays in Ocotillo completes second phase

The $90 million second phase of construction at The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo has been completed and includes a 9,500-square-foot clubhouse and two new model homes. Already 50 percent of the 70 homes in the second phase, priced from the mid-$200Ks, are sold and owners started moving in earlier this month. Seven of the 76 homes in the first phase remain before sellout. Two additional future phases are planned to include 64 more residences, for a total of 278 homes. “The Cays is one of the only for-sale and move-in ready multifamily opportunities with the largest resort-style amenity offering in Chandler, and it’s exciting to see the continued demand as we complete the second phase,” said Alana Mann, president and owner of The Statesman Group. “We’re seeing a wide range of buyers including downsizers, second-home investors and empty nesters that are drawn to the The Cays for the lifestyle and turnkey living they can’t find anywhere else in the East Valley.” Residents have access to a clubhouse that features a gourmet community kitchSee

AROUND on page 23

COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Around Chandler

AROUND

from page 22

en, two-sided fireplace, a media center and social lounge, yoga studio, billiards and shuffleboard located at the heart of the property. Other amenities include an 1,800-square-foot fitness center with locker rooms and private steam showers, year-round heated swimming pool surrounded by private cabanas, an outdoor kitchen with gas BBQs and a bar, fireplaces and lush landscaping. Information: TheCaysatOcotillo.com or 480-248-3737.

Group offers 2 Realtors emeritus status

Bill Ryan and Paul Pastore with RE/ MAX Infinity in Chandler have been awarded Realtor Emeritus status by the National Association of Realtors. Ryan and Pastore have more than 80 years of combined real estate experience and are the newest members of the Southeast Valley Regional Association of Realtors to be recognized. A native of Chandler, Ryan entered the real estate business in 1974. He is distinguished as a certified residential specialist and a graduate of Realtor Institute. Additionally, he has a degree from Arizona State University in real estate and finance. Pastore has been a Realtor since 1977. He was previously awarded Realtor Associate of the year by the Southeast Valley Regional Association of Realtors.

Chandler Library one of 20 Chandler company only literacy grant recipients tech up for ethics award

Chandler Public Library has been selected as one of 20 public libraries nationwide to receive a $10,000 American Dream Literacy Initiative grant from the American Library Association (ALA) and Dollar General Literacy Foundation. With the funding, Chandler Public Library will expand the services of its adult literacy classes. The expansion includes new updated textbooks and teacher’s guides, as well as maps, dictionaries, flash cards and digital devices. The library offers adult education classes with its Small Group English Language Learning, Talk Time and citizenship workshop programs. Last year, 37 volunteers donated 2,853 hours to provide instruction to 694 adults at all four Chandler Library locations. “We support the basic educational needs of new residents of our community by imparting the skills and knowledge that will not only prepare them to reach their personal and professional goals, but assist them with creating their own opportunities,” said library manager Dan Lee. Chandler Library continues to receive requests on a daily basis for more sessions. The Downtown Library has recently undergone a renovation resulting in additional tutor rooms and more space to expand. Information: chandlerlibrary.org or 480-782-2800.

Chandler company BoldLeads is the only technology company up for the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Awards for Ethics. BoldLeads is up against two other Arizona companies with 51 to 150 employees. “BoldLeads was made a finalist because of its commitment to its core values, even with rapid growth from three to 50 employees and thousands of users in under four years,” said a company release. It was founded by a mother and son team, and provides marketing services and an automated follow-up software that help real estate agents in the U.S. and Canada generate and follow up with leads in their exclusive areas. The winner will be announced at May 15. Information: boldleads.com.

Relive the ’60s at arts center concert April 13

If you wax nostalgic about the days when you could understand every word to every song on the radio, head to the Chandler Center for the Arts on April 13 when some of the biggest rock and roll hits of the ’60s will reverberate within the theater. Headlining the show are Jay & the Americans, which features three original members. Also featured are Dennis Tufano, the original lead singer of the Buckinghams, and The Cyrkle, who have reunited for the first time in 50 years to

recreate their million-seller “Red Rubber Ball.” Named by John Lennon and managed by Brian Epstein, they were The Beatles’ opening act on 18 tour dates. The concert is at 7:30 p.m. at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. Tickets start at $42. Purchase: 480-782-2680, PopRockConcerts.com or chandlercenter.org.

City urges motorists’ caution near road crews

With National Work Zone Awareness Week being marked April 9-13, Chandler’s Police and Public Works and Utilities departments remind motorists to slow down in construction zones. A number of road improvement projects are underway in Chandler, including improvements to major arterials like Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road. Moreover, the city noted, crews have already begun their annual slurry seal and repaving projects on local neighborhood streets. “Driving through these and other construction zones in excess of the posted speed limit risks the lives of workers, plus motorists run the risk of injury by striking barricades or dislodging temporary steel plates that cover deep trenches,” the city said in a release. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 765 people were killed in 2016 (most recent data available) as a result of motor vehicle crashes in work zones. In Arizona, nine people died in work zone crashes.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Orbital ATK expanding footprint in Chandler BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Staff Writer

Orbital ATK, the global aerospace and defense company with multiple locations throughout the East Valley, is expanding its presence in Chandler with a new 47-acre campus in the city’s Price Corridor. The new facility will be located within the 170-acre Park Place development at Price and Willis Roads. It will be a new home for the company’s Launch Vehicles Division in Chandler, which manufactures a range of devices like rockets that launch satellites, rockets that resupply the international space station, and components for U.S. missile defense systems. The company plans to break ground on the project in the next month and move in Tom Sanfilippo/Inside Out Aerial by fall 2019. The expansion will allow Orbital ATK to Orbital ATK will be the newest addition to the sprawling Park Place II development in Chandler. consolidate several of its operations under one roof with about 40 percent of the “All of that will happen in a streamlined and a half. campus’ 617,000 square feet dedicated to assembly line (on the new campus),” he said. Of those jobs, about two-thirds will manufacturing space. Beyond streamlining the company’s be high-paying engineering jobs. The rest “For us right now, we want to better manufacturing capabilities, the new will include a mix of finance, contracting, serve our existing critical customers, and campus will also offer modern amenities to support, and manufacturing positions that we can do that through efficiencies and by Orbital ATK employees, including several “are the backbone assembling components,” streamlining our processing lines,” said Terry on-site coffee shops, a high-end cafeteria, Feehan said. Feehan, vice president of safety and mission basketball courts and a gym capable of The 250 jobs added in 2017, along with assurance at Orbital ATK. accommodating a 2,000-person workforce. 250 open and future positions, will fulfill a He added that the group’s current “These are the kinds of things we don’t requirement in the development agreement building was “designed 35 years ago for have today,” Feehan said. agreed to by the company and the City product line that was different.” Orbital ATK already employs about 1,600 of Chandler in 2016 related to the initial Feehan said that when the company people at its multiple Chandler facilities expansion in the Park Place development. is manufacturing an electronics box, for and added 250 jobs in the city in 2017. That agreement required Orbital ATK to example, “it goes through five different It has 200 open positions currently hire 500 new employees in Chandler over rooms” and is “put together in one place posted and plans to hire an additional 50 a five-year period in exchange for financial and tested in another.” employees beyond that over the next year incentives from the city.

Those incentives included the city reimbursing the company $2,000 for each position hired at a salary of at least $93,000 and up to $81,000 for electrical capacity enhancements. The Chandler City Council recently approved an amendment to that agreement that lowered the salary requirement for the reimbursement from $93,000 to $81,000. The new agreement also got rid of the $81,000 in electrical improvement reimbursement. Orbital ATK had considered establishing its new campus in other states where it had available facilities and it approached the city with the amendments in order to ensure the expansion took place in Chandler, according to a council memo on the topic. Chandler Economic Development Director Micah Miranda said that keeping a major employer like Orbital ATK in Chandler was a priority, so the city looked at the ways it could help the company achieve its goal of consolidating operations in one place. “We were focused on increasing the value to Orbital,” Miranda said. “The city was trying to be flexible and responsive to the marketplace by really showing that we are very committed to Orbital ATK.” The city commissioned an economic impact study by a third party in conjunction with the original development agreement in 2016 that found the initial 46,000-square-foot expansion would result in an economic impact of $283.2 million and city tax revenues of $1.3 million over five years. See

ORBITAL ATK on page 26

Customers unlock treasure trove at thrift store BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

A Chandler nonprofit organization’s bustling thrift shop is celebrating a decade of offering shoppers unusual riches and a chance to support struggling neighbors. Hidden Treasures Thrift Store on North Alma School Road just north of Galveston Street has seen donations quadruple over the last couple of years, store manager Laura Cervi said. Volunteers from area Lutheran churches and individuals in surrounding neighborhoods run the store, which sells clean, reusable items donated by people and businesses. The organization even took over another suite in the Waterfall Shopping Center to accommodate its donations. It now occupies four suites, though one is for just processing donated items. Hidden Treasures sells furniture, clothes, toys, antiques, kitchenware, electronics, craft supplies, jewelry, books, CDs, movies and many other items. “We needed more space,” Cervi said. “Our donations just keep growing. Our volunteer base keeps growing. We’re all headed in the right direction.”

Celisse Jones/Staff intern

Laura Cervi is the store manager at Hidden Treasures Thrift Store on North Alma School Road in Chandler.

Proceeds from sales go to many local nonprofit organizations including Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank in Chandler, Pregnancy Care Center of Chandler, Tempe Community Action Agency and The Chandler CARE Center. The organizations that Hidden

Treasures supports are located in the same areas where the four founding churches stand. Those churches are Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on West Erie Street in Chandler; Mountain View Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee; Light of Christ

Lutheran Church in Gilbert and Desert Cross Lutheran Church in Tempe. Last December alone, the thrift store processed 2,341 sales, Cervi said. About 70 volunteers work in the store, usually for four-hour shifts once a week or twice a month. “Many of them come in several times during the week,” Cervi said. “People manage departments and take an awesome amount of pride. We scrutinize all the clothing. We don’t put items (out) that are dirty or torn. They’re in good condition.” Customers can bid on silent auction items. If no one bids on an item, which is unusual, then the merchandise is moved to the floor for regular sales. Hidden Treasures also gives seniors a break. Every Wednesday is Senior Day, where people ages 55 and older get 25 percent off the original price of anything in the store. “There are customers who come here every day,” Cervi said. “We have a lot of loyal followers.” People can find a woman’s shirt for $4 in the store and buy scrapbooking sheets for 10 cents each. The combination of cleanliness, low prices and “variety of See

TREASURES on page 26

BUSINESS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Gangplank opens new space for stranded TechShop users BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Staff Writer

Over four months have passed since TechShop Chandler abruptly closed amid reports of a pending bankruptcy by its parent company, stranding East Valley hobbyists and small-business owners who relied on the shop to manufacture their wares. A lot has happened since the closure, including an attempted revival of the brand by Kansas businessman Dan Rasure that ultimately fell apart before TechShop Inc. finally filed bankruptcy on Feb. 26. Rasure eventually opened a new makerspace called TheShop.Build at the site of the old TechShop location in San Francisco. In the meantime, East Valley makers have banded together to form their own fledgling workshop with the help of Gangplank Chandler, the city-supported co-working space located less than a mile from the old TechShop site in downtown Chandler. In January, the Chandler City Council approved a resolution to continue funding Gangplank. The resolution provided Gangplank with $170,000 in funding for the year and gives the city the option to execute two additional oneyear extensions. “Gangplank provides an opportunity for Chandler residents to explore entrepreneurship in a unique co-working community,” said Kim Moyers, Chandler downtown redevelopment manager. Under the contract, Gangplank must

host weekly educational opportunities, host a conference and help the city promote Chandler as a hub for technology companies. Gangplank welcomed the former TechShop members with open arms following the closure, reserving room and workspace in the 12,000-square-foot facility specifically for a makerspace. While the new shop, called Gangplank Labs, does not come close to replacing the tools or resources that were offered at TechShop, it has been a welcome lifeline for makers. It also has the added benefit of being completely free. Rates at the old TechShop location varied and could cost as much as $150 per month. “Right now there is no cost,” said Mike Kovarik, the CEO of Attribytes who volunteers at Gangplank under the title chief operating pirate. “It is all based on social capital as you come in to utilize the space, give back as a mentor or do something to improve the space.” The new agreement with Chandler does state that Gangplank LLC, which houses 31 member companies, will work to develop a “tiered monetary model” in which members will contribute financially to Gangplank in order to make the space more self-sufficient and offset the city’s investments in the future. Kovarik said he made the decision to take over Gangplank in order to “pay it forward” because the space helped him launch his technology company

Attribytes. Much like Gangplank, Gangplank Labs relies on the contributions from members and currently features a collection of typical shop tools like grinders, circular saws, wrenches and screwdrivers. The shop also has a 75-watt laser on loan from Epilog Laser in Golden, Colorado. Epilog initially loaned the laser to Gangplank for free for three months and recently extended that term for another three to six months, Dave Kern said. Kern is a former TechShop member who spearheaded the effort to open Gangplank Labs. The laser is the heart of the makerspace. Members employ it for engraving, etching, metal cutting and similar uses. “That (laser) has brought the most attention and support,” Kovarik said. “People are using it almost 24/7. That is driving the most traffic into the back of Gangplank.” Anyone can use the laser after signing a liability waiver, reviewing training materials and passing a test administered by certified members, including some former TechShop employees and contractors. Gangplank Labs has already certified nearly 60 people to use the laser, Kern said. Members like Hunt Jessup, an adjunct faculty at Mesa Community College who teaches welding courses, regularly volunteer their time to show new

community members how to use the laser. Former TechShop member and investor Kiet Kuru recently used the machine to make personalized medals for a local youth hockey team. Kuru, an East Valley resident who is executive director of business development for Channel Master by day, sells custom-engraved and -cut items like coasters and key chains through her side business UniqKool. When TechShop shut down, she had to drive over 20 miles each way to Arizona Science Center to fulfill her orders at the CREATE Makerspace. Kern is in the process of setting up the American Makerspace Association nonprofit group to explore ways that he and other members can raise funds to purchase additional equipment. Gangplank itself will also be receiving a facelift thanks to funds provided by anchor members of the co-working space. The remodel will begin in late March or early April and include a new break room, phone booths and webinar rooms, Kovarik said. “We are focusing on creating a more inviting space while still trying to keep more of that industrial modern theme,” he said. While the East Valley makers work to build a space for themselves, TheShop. Build’s Rasure has not abandoned his plans to open up a facility in Chandler. – Reach Wayne Schutsky at 480-898-6533 or wschutsky@timespublications.com.

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BUSINESS 26

ORBITAL ATK

from page 24 Employers in Chandler’s Technology Corridor like Orbital also have a significant impact on the local housing market, said

Sheryl Willis, a real estate agent with North & Co. She said employees moving to the Valley for work are attracted to Chandler because it has “great schools, access to freeways and a vibrant downtown.”

Miranda stressed that the company’s impact on Chandler goes beyond financial implications as Orbital ATK has a history of giving back to the community, particularly in the realm of STEM education. The company is a major sponsor

of the Chandler SciTech Festival and provided the funds to offer prizes students that participated in the event’s science competition. The company and its employees also volunteer time and resources at local schools.

Debra Hosfield of Chandler, a volunteer at Hidden Treasures Thrift Store, organizes merchandise.

on high school and Chandler-Gilbert Community College campuses where students can get food during the week. A summer backpacks Meals to Grow program offers food to help students get enough to eat over summer break. Terhune said Hidden Treasures typically donates about $6,000 a year to Matthew’s Crossing. It’s a big help given it costs about $3.80 to fill a backpack with food, she said. The thrift store is a great way to encourage people to help their neighbors, Terhune said. “I think it’s a brilliant business model,” she said. “It’s an example of how you provide innovative alternatives to providing resources to the community.” Another recipient of Hidden Treasures’ support, The Chandler Children’s Assistance, Resources & Education Center also targets youths in need. The Chandler Unified School District program was created in 1995 to address the needs of low-income students, said CARE Center director Katie Kahle. The program offers no-cost medical and dental care to uninsured Chandler youth as well as a food bank and Family Resource Center programs that focus on language and literacy and parenting support. The also gives them access to behavioral health services, tax assistance, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and holiday needs.

“Hidden Treasures has provided funding to the CARE Center for many years by donating a portion of their proceeds to our programs,” Kahle said. “The funding provided is intended to go directly into service provision to help children and families in need.” She added the CARE Center’s dental services are “provided in partnership with Chandler Regional Medical Center and St. Vincent de Paul, and cover everything from an exam and cleaning to restoration for dental diseases and decay.” “We love the concept of Hidden Treasures for so many reasons!” she said. “One, they provide an avenue for households to dispose of unwanted items that are in reusable condition by donating the items rather the items ending up in the trash. “Many families love thrift shopping because they can find unique items and sometimes even items from a specific time period or a certain decorating aesthetic. Thrifted items are less expensive than new, and often make great ‘project’ pieces, such as furniture items that can be refinished or clothing that can become a child’s Halloween costume.” The Chandler CARE Center serves about 30,000 people a year. Hidden Treasures Thrift Store is located at 610 N. Alma School Road. It is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Information: treasuresthrift.com.

TREASURES

from page 24 items” attract shoppers, Cervi said. “I was a previous customer,” she said. “I started donating and buying here.” Cervi had worked in supply chain management for manufacturing companies for 40 years but said her job at Hidden Treasures is “fulfilling.” “All of our donations stay in our communities,” she said. “When you go home at the end of the day, you’re not working for Japan or Germany. What you do stays here.” Hidden Treasures generates about $285,000 a year, after discounts. The nonprofit gives checks to other organizations twice a year. Recently it donated $35,000 and in the fall it also usually provides about another $35,000 for nonprofits. Jan Terhune, executive director of Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank, is thrilled and grateful for the support she gets from Hidden Treasures. “They give us a sizeable check twice a year,” Terhune said. “They also support us with books. The greatest partnerships are those that have longevity and/or are consistent and they’ve certainly been a partner that has recognized our neighbors in need are valuable to our community. “The fact that they hang in there with us is important to us. We also share

volunteers; many of our volunteers also volunteer there.” Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank provides emergency food boxes once a month to people struggling. The boxes on average provide enough food to relieve hunger for six to eight days, Terhune said. Because of Matthew’s Crossing’s Meals to Grow programs, students in elementary, junior and high schools receive backpacks on Fridays filled with food to eat for two breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners, as well as snacks for them to consume over the weekend. Meals to Grow also has food closets

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BUSINESS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Planet Fitness donates equipment to youth club BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

Planet Fitness, a quickly growing franchisor and operator of fitness centers, has donated exercise equipment to the Chandler-Compadre Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley. Planet Fitness staff members recently helped set up the three Arc trainers, six ellipticals and two stationary bikes in the fitness center at the club on East Chandler Boulevard. The new gym duplicates the supportive, welcoming environment Planet Fitness aims to provide to all members, regardless of their exercise levels. Similar to Planet Fitness, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley offers after-school and school break programs to help youths lead and succeed. Health and fitness are also important goals the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley. The national organization’s “Formula for Impact” guides clubs in ways to help youths reach positive outcomes in healthy lifestyles, academic success, and good character and citizenship. Planet Fitness employees painted the club’s fitness center, said Cindy Zak, vice president of operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley. “We have a nice, fresh look in there,” Zak said. “The goal is they will have some of their trainers come in and coach our members on how to use the equipment properly and other things they can do.”

Zak said Samantha Dircks, marketing manager for Arizona Planet Fitness, contacted the club about making a donation. Planet Fitness has a national partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Kevin Kelly, owner of Planet Fitness’ 17 locations in the Phoenix area, said his company is Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer “thrilled to have had Josh Kohnhorst, program director at the Chandler-Compadre Branch of the the opportunity” to Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley, stands in the club’s fitness center. build the miniature judgment-free area “This donation kind of revives the entire for the Compadre facility and specifically our teens; it’s a place branch. where they can go and run off their stresses, “We hope that the youth will enjoy their work out a little bit,” she added, noting new fitness space, where they can work that its two gyms “play into just the overall out at their own pace and encourage one health of an athlete.” another,” Kelly said. Any of the 2,100 members of the The donation came from a Planet Fitness Compadre Branch can use the fitness center. location in Chandler that is getting new On average, about 150 to 200 youths ages equipment, Dircks said. 5 to 19 come to the Chandler club per day, The gift is part of Planet Fitness’ national Zak said. philanthropic campaign to spread kindness The fitness center at the Compadre and stop bullying. As part of that antibranch primarily will be used by club bullying initiative, Planet Fitness has paid members only, but facility rentals are for trainings to over 7,600 staff members available, Zak said. She added membership from 700 Boys & Girls Clubs around the to the teen program is $30 a year. country with the Yale Center for Emotional

Intelligence. The new exercise equipment at the Compadre branch will help youths handle anxiety and stress and give them “another outlet” to express themselves and get fit, Zak said. “There’s a lot of different ways to get physically fit,” she said. “We want to provide all opportunities for them; and it’s also just through any of our programs we do we want them to be engaged in a safe environment and by having our little physical fitness room it allows for them to come in and feel they’re not judged.” The donation is Planet Fitness’ first mini judgment-free zone in Arizona, according to the company. Planet Fitness and its franchisees keep building more gyms in Boys & Girls Clubs around the country. Planet Fitness was founded in Dover, New Hampshire, in 1992. As of September, it had about 10.5 million members and more than 1,400 gyms in 49 states and abroad. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley serves about 36,000 youths ever year with educational, healthy and fun programs at its 11 branches and its charter school, Mesa Arts Academy. The youths take part in after-school and summer activities, as well as learn computer skills, get homework help and interact staff members and volunteers who serve as mentors and role models. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley is getting ready to offer its summer programs for youths May 29. Information: clubzona.org.

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Professional photos important in selling your home BY CARY GILILLAND Guest Writer

You have worked hard to get your house ready to sell, you hired your agent and it’s time for pictures. Your agent brings their latest smart phone with the amazing camera and snaps a few shots. Is that enough? Does it really matter? The answer is no, that is not enough and yes, it does matter. In today’s real estate market there is no excuse for unprofessional photos. You are paying good money to hire a professional and the pictures should be no less. After all this is how potential buyers are going to create their first impression of your home. Did you know that over 92 percent of home buyers start their search online? This step is crucial and your listing photos are a critical factor. You’ve all seen them, the shots of the person in the bathroom mirror, the toilet seat up in the bathroom, the picture of a messy bed, the family dog on the couch and the list goes on and on. These are shake-my-head moments that make the true pros in the industry cringe. Here are a few do’s and don’ts for great real estate listing pictures: • Do hire a professional photographer • Do stage your rooms to sell • Do have all the lights on and blinds open

• Do make sure all the beds are made •D o focus on the selling points of the house • Do show off the view •D on’t have any people or pets in your pictures • Don’t capture a dark room • Don’t leave the toilet seat up •D on’t take unnecessary shots of the ceiling fans, or door knobs or silly stuff like that • Don’t catch yourself in the bathroom mirror •D on’t forget a great front shot and backyard shot •D on’t overlook the importance of great photos •D on’t accept unprofessional photos from your agent! Here is your Chandler real estate update. Simple data that even the least analytic person can appreciate. No spreadsheet needed, no sophisticated computer algorithm… Real numbers! This information comes directly from Arizona Regional Multiple Listing System. Information based on sales between 1/1/18- 3/26/18, single-family homes only. Chandler 85224 Number of homes sold: 128 Average sales price: $367,108 Average days on market: 61 Number of active listings: 41 Number of pending/under contract: 65 Chandler 85225 Number of homes sold: 177 Average sales price: $279,818

Average days on market: 49 Number of active listings: 60 Number of pending/under contract: 115 Chandler 85226 Number of homes sold: 116 Average sales price: $324,603 Average days on market: 53 Number of active listings: 52 Number of pending/under contract: 71 Chandler 85248 Number of homes sold: 96 Average sales price: $491,832 Average days on market: 61 Number of active listings: 79 Number of pending/under contract: 57

Chandler 85249 Number of homes sold: 232 Average sales price: $359,992 Average days on market: 53 Number of active listings: 133 Number of pending/under contract: 164 Chandler 85286 Number of homes sold: 136 Average sales price: $370,466 Average days on market: 51 Number of active listings: 74 Number of pending/under contract: 77 For real estate questions or suggestions on future real estate tips, contact Cari Gililland, a Realtor since 2009, at Cari@ CariSellsHomes.com 480-390-9247. Visit Facebook.com/CariSellsHomes.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Ocotillo Spa offering youth basketball, back pain programs SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa in Chandler has started a youth basketball program and also plans to offer a workshop on how to prevent lower back pain. The basketball-training program will be open to boys and girls ages 6 to 14 from April 10 through June 2. The program emphasizes individual player development, structured coaching

to help kids who have a desire to play basketball on a team or in a competitive environment, to become better, stronger and able to compete at a higher level,” he said. Avoiding stress on the body while working out is an important factor of fitness. The two biggest causes of low back pain are tight hamstrings and weak abdominal muscles, and Ocotillo Village aims to help members prevent this. The workshops run on Mondays and

These families are excited to have a health club “ where children are not just welcome, but encouraged to be part of the many programs available to them.”

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and in-house games. Team practices will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m., with competitive games each Saturday. Registration is $75 for Village members and $125 for non-members. With this addition to its basketball program, Ocotillo Village also brought on an additional coach. Coach Elijah Knox said his new program will give families and their kids the opportunity to learn the sport from a more competitive angle. “My vision includes focusing on the importance of skill development

Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. through May 23. The cost is $400, which can be prorated for those who sign up after the start date or $25 per session. Each session will emphasize stretching the glutes, hamstrings, and calves and strengthening the abs, glutes and hamstrings. Information: email Ric Moreno at rmoreno@dmbclubs.com. The Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa brings luxury amenities and health to families in the Southwest Chandler Community. “Every day our members enjoy our family-friendly, state-of-the-art facility

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which include many local parents and their busy families,” said program director Rodney Kinney. “These families are excited to have a health club where children are not just welcome, but encouraged to be part of the many

programs available to them.” Information: rkinney@dmbclubs.com. The Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa is at 4200 S. Alma School Road in Chandler. More information: villageclubs. com or 480-656-0045.

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Sports & Recreation

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler players look to impact ASU spring football BY BRIAN BENESCH Sports Editor

Spring practices for ASU football are officially underway on the school’s Tempe campus. And without a doubt, first-year head coach Herman Edwards has been the star of the show. Edwards, former coach of the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, knows that he is inheriting a team coming off a winning season and Sun Bowl appearance. But the former NFL head man is quick to push attention to his talented roster of players – including many former Chandler high school players poised to make an impact under Edwards’ watch. Here is a look at a few players who could help the program attain its first double-digit win season since 2014. N’Keal Harry (WR, Chandler High) Harry is one of those rare prospects who entered college with a massive amount of hype and actually exceeded expectations. After a strong freshman season, Harry officially emerged as one of the best wide receivers in the country last year. The junior led ASU in receptions, yards and touchdowns in 2017. His 82 receptions ranked 12th in the FBS last season. His breakout year even included tossing a 14yard touchdown pass of his own. QB Manny Wilkins’ return for his junior

Chase Lucas (DB, Chandler High) Harry’s teammate at Chandler High School made a big impact on the defensive side of the ball last season. In his first full campaign on the field in 2017, Lucas tied for the team lead with two interceptions and finished fifth on the Sun Devils with 59 total tackles. ESPN ranked the redshirt sophomore as the No. 4 prospect in the state coming out of high school. So far in spring practices, Lucas has shined in the defensive backfield. Edwards, a former NFL defensive back, expects Special to SanTan Sun News Lucas to play an even bigger Chandler High alumnus N’Keal Harry is a rare prospect. role in the defense this year. The 175-pounder began practices by taking reps with season is terrific news for Harry. The dualthe fi rst team. He hopes to improve a unit threat QB leaned heavily on Harry last season that struggled for much of the 2017 season. in crucial situations, earning the wideout a Casey Tucker (OL, Hamilton) reputation as a big-moment player. Tucker starred on the offensive line. With another strong performance, the He was recruited heavily as a senior and 6-foot-4, 216-pound receiver will certainly eventually chose to attend Stanford. be on the NFL’s radar when the draft rolls There, the tackle paved the way for around next April. RB Christian McCaffery, who became a

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Heisman Trophy finalist thanks to Tucker’s work up front. He committed to ASU this January and hopes to create another star in the backfield, like McCaffery, this season as a grad student. The Sun Devils will play their annual spring game on April 13. The team opens the regular season by hosting UTSA on September 1.

SANTAN SUN NEWS5| -APRIL 7–20, 2018 November 18, 2016

“An award winning publication”

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SAN TAN FAMILY FUN

APRIL

2018

What’s inside Page 2,3 Santan Family Fun Calendar

Photos by Daniella Rodriguez/City of Chandler

The Desert Rivers Audubon Society engages with participants at a previous Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration in Chandler. The chapter of the National Audubon Society provides free family bird walks at Veterans Oasis Park on the first Saturday of the month from November to April.

Families can explore ‘green’ activities at celebration the free plants and things like that in and other things they collect at the event. honor of Arbor Day.” Kids can also “fish” for magnets with Naturally, at the People of all ages can get up close center, “the environment to reptiles, explore desert-friendly is big; it’s part of what landscaping and engage in other “green” we do and the education activities in honor of Earth and Arbor material that we offer,” days at a free event in Chandler. Rodriguez added. “It’s The Earth Day and Arbor Day close to our hearts. celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to We just want to share noon on April 21 at Veterans Oasis Park our resources and and the Environmental Education Center our knowledge to the (EEC) at 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road. people.” The free event will feature educational Earth Day is April 22 displays and demonstrations, as well as and Arbor Day is April 27. craft-making and other activities. On average, about 500 “We’re celebrating the 10th anniversary people attend the city’s this year,” said Daniella Rodriguez, annual Earth Day and recreation coordinator 1 for the City Arbor Day gathering. Last of Chandler. “There will be tons of year about 600 people giveaways, fun stuff for kids to take home. came to check out the “We’ll give away cactus pens, colorparty for Mother Earth. changing cups. It’s technically an Earth The nonprofit Diego Ortiz, a volunteer with the Arizona Herpetological Day and Arbor Day celebration because Association (AHA), shows a non-venomous gopher snake to youths Arizona Herpetological they’re so close in dates. We try to offer Association at the Earth and Arbor Day event in Chandler in 2016. will set up a table with venomous pictures of creatures on them in an and non-venomous reptiles invasive species activity where they will including snakes and learn what animals do and don’t belong in Gila monsters inside the the fishing lake at the park. education center. Visitors The public can get their hands dirty will be able to hold the non- mixing together soil and seeds or “seed venomous animals. bombs” at the celebration. Then they can The city’s Water bring the plants home to plant in their Conservation Office will yards. provide information on Visitors to the Earth and Arbor Day classes they offer including party also will be able to try their luck ones on how to make at winning a pollinator or smaller plant landscapes more desertbeing raffled off through the city’s friendly and how to use partnership with APS. water wisely, Rodriguez said. The city aims to give away plants that Children will be able will survive after the event and “promote to express their creativity pollination from bees and plants,” and help the environment Rodriguez said. by decorating 100 percent Different vendors will set up displays cotton tote bags they can at the celebration including Savers Thrift take home in an activity the Stores, which sells gently used clothes Kids will be able to “fish” for magnets with pictures of creatures city leads. and other items. People can learn about on them in an invasive species activity where they will learn They can use stencils and how Savers recycles the donations if they what animals do and don’t belong in the fishing lake at the park are not sold. at Chandler’s Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration on April 21. fabric markers to put their Information: chandleraz.gov. Antonia Francis, pictured here, fishes, at Chandler’s Fall Fishing stamp on the bags and use the bags to hold pamphlets Clinic in 2015.

BY COLLEEN SPARKS STAFF

SANTAN SUN NEWS November 5 - 18,| APRIL 20167–20, 2018

2018

APRIL

Always call to verify information as some events change or cancel after the calendar is printed. Send family events and activities to STFF@SanTanSun.com

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

• Read & Play Group

• Toddlertime • Lapsit Babytime • Lego Club • STEAM Club • Family Storytime

• Ready, Set • Lapsit Babytime

• Ready, Set, Preschool! • Lapsit Babytime

• Toddlertime • Ready, Set • Lego Club • Chandler Farmers Market • STEAM Club

• Toddlertime • Ready, Set, Preschool! • Lego Club • Chandler Farmers Market • STEAM Club

• Toddlertime • Ready, Set, Preschool! • Lego Club • Chandler Farmers Market • STEAM Club • Dinosaurs in the Desert

• Read to a Dog • Monthly Family Bird Walks • Preschool Science: Bubble-ology • Chandler Jazz Festival • Arizona Railway Museum • ImprovMANIA

• Arizona Railway Museum

• ImprovMANIA

• ImprovMANIA • Chandler Art Walk • Rhythm and Rhyme

• ImprovMANIA

• ImprovMANIA • STEM Saturday: Electricity: May the Spark be With You • Just Craftin’ Around

• Arizona Railway Museum • ImprovMANIA • Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration

• Arizona Railway Museum • ImprovMANIA • Cinderella

• Arizona Railway Museum

• Arizona Railway Museum • Cinderella

• Read & Play Group

SEE

CALENDAR PAGE 3

Disney on Ice enchants with ‘Frozen’ BY CATHERINE HATHAWAY Contributor

Logan Weaver discovered skating in a “pretty weird way.” Weird, but it worked. The Gilbert resident now appears as a citizen of Arendelle in “Disney on Ice Presents Frozen,” which comes to Talking Stick Resort Arena from Thursday, April 12, to Sunday, April 15. “When I was 13, I went to a public skating session,” Weaver says. “It was really fun. It was just a cool feeling to be out there on the ice, so I asked (my parents) if, as a Christmas present, I could take skating lessons.” The next day, he hit the ice and has been doing for about 10 years. That was in Washington state, where he graduated early from high school. He moved to Arizona to train with Olympic silver medalist Ben Agosto. “Most of my career, I was competing all over the country,” Weaver said. “I always liked performing more than skating. It always would bring me more joy to perform for people than being judged on a performance.” Performing with Disney is a dream come true. He pursued employment by submitting audition tapes before he was 18. On Agosto’s recommendation, Weaver auditioned for Disney in Phoenix on his 20th birthday with his current cast.

“It was amazing,” Weaver said. “It was so fun. I had a great time. It was hard, but it was an experience I won’t forget.” He was hired, and he’s been gliding along since then. His favorite scene is “In Summer,” a song by the quirky and loveable Olaf the snowman. He is accompanied by bees that buzz and dandelion fuzz. He also enjoys his moments skating with Arendelle citizens. Weaver said one of the biggest job perks isn’t a “perk” at all. It’s hearing children sing, cheer and light up when they see their favorite characters or hear a familiar tune. “That’s something that continues to drive the job for me,” Weaver said. “That’s one of the main reasons I come in to work. I love the job and seeing the kids really makes up for anything that is not amazing.” This is not Weaver’s first time performing with Feld Entertainment. He also spent time with Ringing Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He melds his warm-up routine with his circus talents. “Well, before a lot of shows, I like to juggle,” Weaver said. “You’ve got to put on your make-up. You’ve got to do a 15-minute warm up. That is just part of my routine before every show. Most of the time I just like to relax and get myself in the mindset of, you know, being the best character I can be.”

Special to SanTan Sun News

“Anna” and “Elsa” will help bring Arendelle to life as Disney on Ice presents “Frozen” next week.

IF YOU GO

What: “Disney on Ice Presents Frozen” Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St.

When: Thursday, April 12, to Sunday, April 15 Cost: Tickets start at $10 Information: 602-379-2000, talkingstickresort.com

SANTAN SUN NEWS5| -APRIL 7–20, 2018 November 18, 2016

CALENDAR FROM PAGE 2

7 Read to a Dog, 10 to 11 a.m. Children of all ages are welcome to practice their reading skills with a certified therapy dog. Downtown Library Copper Room, 22 S. Delaware Street, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org. 7 Monthly Family Bird Walks, 8 a.m. to noon. Desert Rivers Audubon leads free guided birdwatching tours through Veterans Oasis Park the first Saturday of every month from November to April. One-hour walks begin every 30 minutes. Sunscreen, closed-toe shoes, and plenty of water are recommended. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road, Chandler, free, 480-782-2889, chandleraz.gov/eec. 7 Preschool Science: Bubble-ology, 10:15 a.m. Children interested in science will have a blast learning about bubbles at this hands-on event. Kids will learn about the different types of bubbles and be able to test out a variety of bubble wands. The instructors will also make bubbles large enough to fit a child. Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, $15 to $20, 602-716-2000, azscience.org. 7 Chandler Jazz Festival, 5 to 10 p.m. Listen as jazz fills the air in Downtown Chandler at the 19th Annual Chandler Jazz Festival. The headline performer for Saturday is Francine Reed-Lewis Nash All Star Band. Throughout the evening, guests are encouraged to stroll around downtown and discover the many local shops and restaurants. Dr. AJ Chandler Park, Stage Plaza, 178 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Chandler, free, chandleraz.gov. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 Arizona Railway Museum, noon to 4 p.m. Visit Chandler’s railway museum at Tumbleweed Park. The Arizona Railway Museum was founded in 1983 as a nonprofit organization and is dedicated to the railways of Arizona and the Southwest. All types of railroad memorabilia and cars are represented in the museum. Arizona Railway Museum, 330 E. Ryan Road, Chandler, Display yard and building free; display cars $5 per person or $15 per family/ group. For information, call Tim at 480833-4353 or Bart Barton at 480-831-6520, azrymuseum.org. 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 ImprovMANIA, 7 p.m. Join ImprovMANIA on Fridays and Saturdays for family-friendly comedy shows. ImprovMANIA’s improv performances are fast-paced, like on the show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Prepare for a night of laughter in downtown Chandler. ImprovMANIA, 250 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, $10, 480-699-4598, improvmania.net. 9, 16, 23, 30 Read & Play Group, 11:30 to 11:55 a.m. Network with other parents while children read and play

games. Different child development experts may visit on certain days. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

parent for each child is highly recommended. Downtown Library Copper Room North, 22 S. Delaware Street, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

welcome to interact with the many exhibits on-hand. Tumbleweed Ranch, 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler, free, 602-633-5707, chandleraz.gov.

10, 17, 24 Toddlertime, 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. Toddlertime features singing and puppets to engage the children. The storytime is approximately 30 minutes. Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Road, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

12, 19, 26 Toddlertime, 9:15 and 9:45 a.m. Toddlertime features singing and puppets to engage the children. The storytime is approximately 30 minutes. Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Drive, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

14 Just Craftin’ Around, 2 p.m. Come visit the library to participate in a holiday-themed craft. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware Street, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

10, 17, 24 Lapsit Babytime, 11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Read books, listen to music and interact with fun puppets at play time. All activities are designed for newborns to 18-month-old children. One parent for each child is highly recommended. Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Drive, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

12, 19, 26 Ready, Set, Preschool!, 10:15 to 11 a.m. Children ages 3 to 5 prepare for kindergarten through songs and activities. This is a 45 minute program. Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Drive, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

10, 17, 24 Lego Club, 4 p.m. Meet new friends and have fun building with Lego. Lego are supplied, imagination required. No registration required. Lego Club is a Vertex program, where Chandler Public Library intersects with STEAM and makerspace. Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Road, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org. 10, 17, 24 STEAM Club, 4 to 5 p.m. Visit the Chandler Library STEAM Club and have fun every Tuesday with science, technology, engineering, art and math. Win prizes just for showing up. Ages 6-11. STEAM Club is a Vertex program, where Chandler Public Library intersects with STEAM and makerspace. Downtown Library Copper Room, 22 S. Delaware Street, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org. 10, 17, 24 Family Storytime, 6:30 p.m. Read books, sing songs and play with puppets at Family Storytime. This week, families will build forts, select books and read. Materials to build the forts will be provided. Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Road, Chandler, free. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org. 11, 18, 25 Ready, Set, Preschool!, 9:15 and 11 a.m. Preschool-age children prepare for kindergarten through singing and activities. This program requires active participation by both the child and the caregiver to be able to learn how to apply these skills at home. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org. 11, 18, 25 Lapsit Babytime, 10 and 11 a.m. Read books, listen to music and interact with fun puppets at play time. All activities are designed for newborns to 18-month-old children. One

12, 19, 26 Toddlertime, 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. Songs and puppets engage toddlers during this 30-minute event. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware Street, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary. org. 12, 19, 26 Lego Club, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Meet new friends and have fun building with Lego. Lego are supplied, imagination required. No registration required. Lego Club is a Vertex program, where Chandler Public Library intersects with STEAM and makerspace. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware Street, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary. org. 12, 19, 26 Chandler Farmers Market, 3 to 7 p.m. The market offers fresh local produce, prepared goods, desserts and some crafts on select days. All items are grown in Arizona or are homemade from local vendors. 3 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, Free, Downtownchandler.org/farmersmarket. 12, 19, 26 STEAM Club, 4 to 5 p.m. Come to the Chandler Library STEAM Club and have fun every Tuesday with science, technology, engineering, art and math. Win prizes just for showing up. Ages 6-11. STEAM Club is a Vertex program, where Chandler Public Library intersects with STEAM and makerspace. Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Road, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org. 14 STEM Saturday: Electricity: May the Spark be With You, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn about the electron and how to make circuits that create light and motors at the Museum of Science and Sustainability. Children can make some sparks and play with magnets to discover the secrets of electricity. The entire family is

20 Chandler Art Walk, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Visit Downtown the third Friday of the month to view art from local vendors and enjoy live music. Different types of art on sale include, paintings, jewelry, woodworking and more. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Chandler, free, 480-855-3539, downtownchandler.org. 20 Rhythm and Rhyme, 11 to 11:30 a.m. Young children are welcome to join in a musical celebration at the library. During the event, they can sing, dance and play instruments. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, free, 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org. 21 Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration, 9 a.m. to noon. Learn how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle by participating in a morning full of fun activities celebrating the earth. Children can see live animal presentation and make crafts and parents can learn about different “green” products from businesses in the area. At the end of the event, families can watch the Arbor Day tree planting dedication. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road, Chandler, free, chandleraz.gov/eec. 26 Dinosaurs in the Desert, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Travel back to prehistoric times and encounter dinosaurs of all sizes at the Phoenix Zoo. Some of the animals in the exhibit include the Brachiosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex. Children can dig for fossils and attend meet and greet with a baby Triceratops and T-Rex. Families can take special pictures with the prehistoric creatures along with listening to Keepers talks about dinosaur artifacts. Throughout the month the zoo will be offering special dino-themed events like Donuts with Dinos. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, $5 in addition to regular admission, 602-286-3800 28, 29 Cinderella, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m Sunday. Little princes and princesses will delight in seeing Cinderella on the big stage. Ballet Etudes, a ballet company, will perform the classic fairy tale accompanied by Prokefiev’s musical score. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, $16 to $22, 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS5| -APRIL 7–20, 2018 November 18, 2016

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SANTAN SUN NEWS5| -APRIL 7–20, 2018 November 18, 2016

Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and the Chandler City Council

This month KID

AROUND with

CHANDLER PARKS & RECREATION! We’re not fooling around when it comes to having fun. This month, trade in your traditional downtime for an anything-but-ordinary time with Chandler Parks & Recreation. From diving into recreational swimming, to getting a head start on your career, to celebrating Mother Nature, we’ve got hundreds of activities that will have pranksters of all ages kidding around. Pick up your copy of summer edition of Break Time at City facilities, hitting newsstands April 2O, or visit chandleraz.gov/breaktime for more information on programs highlighted below.

ble 0 Availa APRIL 2

FRIDAY,

Community

RECREATION

SWIM TEAM RESIDENT REGISTRATION OPENS APRIL 9 (APRIL 16 FOR NON-RESIDENTS) Dive into competitive swimming. Join a Chandler Aquatics Recreation Swim Team this summer. Register online at chanderaz.gov/registration or in person at the Aquatics Administration Office (650 E Ryan Rd).

SAT., APRIL 14 | 6–9 p.m. SAT CHANDLER TENNIS CENTER

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Nights

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FR E

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SAT., APRIL 21 | 9 a.m.-noon VETERANS OASIS PARK

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SANTAN SUN NEWS November 5 - 18,| APRIL 20167–20, 2018

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Opinion

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

High court could curb power of public employee unions BY THOMAS PATTERSON Guest Writer

Mark Janus, a state government employee in Illinois, is getting his day in court – the U.S. Supreme Court. His case

affects us all. Janus’ issue is that a government employee union, AFSCME, is allowed to extract fees from his paycheck without his permission. Janus believes his union has more than a little to do with plunging Illinois into fearsome debt, including $521 billion in unfunded pension liability. Janus v. AFSCME is a good illustration of the problem with “stare decisis” – the judicial principle that court rulings, once made, shouldn’t generally be overturned by subsequent courts. “Stare decisis” is necessary to prevent the body of case law from becoming an incoherent jumble that confounds rather than enlightens. But the unavoidable consequence is that a badly decided case causes a lot of trouble. That bad case for Janus was the 1977 Abood decision that upheld the legality of forcing government workers to pay

union fees. Yet, even the Abood majority wrote that “because public employee unions attempt to influence public policy making, their activities…may be properly termed political” and that “the ultimate objective of a union in the public sector, like that of a political party, is to influence public decision-making.” Subsequent court opinions have also spelled trouble for Abood. A 1983 decision held that “speech on public issues occupies the highest rung in the hierarchy of First Amendment values.” Other opinions have driven home the point that the Constitution clearly prohibits compelled subsidization of political speech. Unions have argued that nonmembers are being charged only for costs of collective-bargaining, not lobbying or politics. But all of a government union’s activities are inherently political. What’s the difference between a union lobbyist advocating for a bill versus engaging in collective bargaining? In each case, he’s using the union’s influence to persuade a public official to benefit the union in the deployment of public resources. Nothing exactly wrong with that, but Janus shouldn’t be compelled to join in if he believes the unions are driving the state into

bankruptcy just to protect his pension benefits, which he may never get anyway. The legal case for Janus seems pretty solid. We’ll see. Whether Janus prevails or not, we need somehow to curb the power of public unions to push state and local governments into reckless fiscal behavior. President Franklin Roosevelt saw the problem clearly. “All public employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into public service,” he wrote. “It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management.” FDR was saying that unionized collective bargaining pits the servants of the people against the people in a format inherently unfair to the public interest. Private sector unions negotiate with management teams in a process meant to resolve real differences in economic goals. Government unions, by contrast, negotiate with political entities they helped to elect and whose political interests are served by making the union members happy. Taxpayers have no representation. Negotiators on both sides of the table are unopposed in seeking to extract the most funding possible from taxpayers.

The consequences of decades of these one-sided negotiations have been predictable. Government workers receive benefit packages, including lavish defined benefit retirement plans, that far exceeded those available to the taxpayers who support them. In Phoenix, for example, public safety workers average $63,900 in pension payments. Phoenix also currently supports 30 retirees with pensions over $130,000 annually, most of whom retired in their 50s and received substantial cash payouts. That’s great for the lucky few, of course, but governments everywhere are choking on the costs. In Arizona, public pensions are about 70 percent funded, but even maintaining that dropping level is proving a strain for pension plans burdened with excessive costs. Phoenix today pays $207 million for police and fire pensions compared to $56 million in 2007. The town of Bisbee is paying 134 percent of each officer’s salary in pension costs. Will a favorable ruling in Janus help solve the pension crisis? It’s more likely to only avoid further damage. But it will help the Constitution to be interpreted more faithfully and that’s a good thing too. -Thomas Patterson is a former East Valley legislator.

Helping aging parents combat loneliness and social isolation BY DAVID INNS Guest Writer

In a recent study examining risks to seniors’ well-being, AARP found that nearly half of adults age 62-91 experience occasional or relatively frequent loneliness. For seniors unable to spend time with their families because of health limitations or geographic distance, the risk of depression and cognitive decline can increase as a result of these loneliness triggers. Additionally, researchers believe that social isolation may be linked to higher risks of stroke, heart disease, dementia, hospital readmission and falls. It’s important to regularly check in with aging seniors to monitor for signs of social isolation and depression and intervene early. If older adults are retired, they may experience fewer daily interactions with others. Additionally, friends may move away to be near their grandchildren, dodge chilly

weather, live in a senior community or have a new adventure. Older adults also may experience different types of challenges, including mobility, hearing loss or cognitive decline. Loneliness is also heightened if spouses become physically sick or no longer have a soulmate. Housing and living arrangements can play a role. One out of three older adults enter old age widowed, divorced or never married. As you monitor for warning signs of depression, try to determine if your parents are experiencing loneliness. If they are, the good news is that loneliness does not have to be permanent. Do your part to help them make social activities a priority. If you detect your parents are suffering from these depressors, encourage the following: Make plans, create opportunities. Does your parent’s community have special programs or offer ways to stay connected?

Front Porch, for instance, uses technology in its senior communities called It’s Never 2 Late, so older adults can receive support, including engagement and learning online. Participate in intergenerational activities, whether it’s improving kids’ reading skills, being part of a multi-age chorus or sharing a personal story. The national organization Generations United has a directory of intergenerational programs that can leave seniors having a sense of purpose, sharing their knowledge, providing love, support and attention and receiving it in return. Rethink housing. Can a friend move in to split the bills and share a meal? Besides shared housing, many older adults find co-housing appealing. They have their own place but also share common space where they can enjoy meals and activities together, and have daily informal interaction. Communities can be all older adults or multigenerational. Other alternatives include living in a naturally occurring retirement community,

where there are enough seniors to offer services (medical help, transportation) and social programs. Use technology to stay connected. Virtual senior centers allow homebound elders to participate in classes, events and activities with others even if they can’t be there in person. Free online classes teach new subjects and can be stimulating for older adults. Additionally, Facetime, Skype, email and photo sharing can keep your parent connected to family and old friends. And, that old favorite – the phone. Be sure to take advantage of time spent with your older parents to scan for warning signs of social isolation and depression. If you feel they could be experiencing the symptoms discussed, you’ll be prepared to help them find solutions. -David Inns is CEO of GreatCall, which has developed products and services that enable independent aging.

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Kyrene middle schools make book on reading competition BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA Contributor

Every Thursday at 7:30 a.m., six students gather in Melissa Wicks’ Language Arts classroom at Akimel A-al Middle School. The early birds are there to talk books for one hour before school begins. The sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students are enrolled in the Kyrene School District’s Battle of the Books, a 10-week program sponsored by the Community Education Department that encourages reading and then pits middle school teams against one another in a final Battle of the Books (BOB) competition scheduled for April 11. Five of the six Kyrene Middle Schools are competing. The program requires a minimum enrollment of 12, and a $116 fee, though scholarships were available, according to Kyrene Community Education program coordinator Marisa Dickerson. Ten books are assigned for reading. But besides creating a multi-school reading club of sorts, BOB also prompts a competition that over time has become

Amy Furman/Kyrene School District

Battle of the Books participants at Aprende Middle School include, standing from left, Ariel Heinrich, Pablo Frausto and Merilyn Li and, seated from left, Andre Martinez-Jackson and Kaian Utrera.

rich interscholastic rivalry. “It’s kind of like ‘Jeopardy’ meets your spelling bee,” chuckled teacher Amy

Furman, who coaches her 17-member group at Kyrene Aprende Middle School. BOB is a nationwide program that

began in the 1930s as a radio quiz show on a Chicago radio station, and is now a reading incentive program for elementary, middle and high schools. The books are selected by Battle of the Books. There are two organizations with the same name. Kyrene uses BattleoftheBooks.com, owned by Christine House, a former librarian and educator with 30 years of experience, and one of the company’s creators. The 10 books are pre-selected by the company, and this year’s middle school list includes both fiction and nonfiction such as “No Summit Out of Sight: the True Story of the Youngest Person to Climb the Seven Summits” by Jordan Romero with Linda LeBlanc; and “The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle” by Avi. “Really, it’s a way to promote reading, and to have it competitive as well is hilarious,” said Furman, who has taught 23 years, the last 18 at Kyrene. “It’s a way to have kids who love reading get together with other kids who are also superexcited about it.” See

BOOKS on page 44

Chandler woman proves herself a global pinball wizard BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

A Chandler woman has proved herself a pinball wizard, joining the ranks of the game’s top female players in the world. Tracy Lindbergh tied with three other women for fifth place in the third annual IFPA Women’s World Pinball Championship in Las Vegas last month. Lindbergh, competed against women from around the world, is founder of the female-only Belles & Chimes Phoenix pinball league, said she was “super, super grateful” to have scored among the top eight female pinball players. “One of my goals was to try to make it at least to round three,” she said. “I made it to round three. Some of these women are extremely highly ranked in the world. “You play one player each round. We were all trying to play our best, but everybody was just happy for each other. It was just a wonderful, friendly crowd. We can be competitive but play.” About 20 women from Chandler, Mesa, the West Valley and Tucson meet once a month in the Valley to play in the league. The local chapter, which formed a little over a year ago, plays tournaments at various locations, including Tilt Studio in Arizona Mills mall in Tempe. Lindbergh, 39, who works at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, also runs a Tuesday night pinball league for men and women at Tilt. She said players had 14 pinball machines available at the world tournament in Las Vegas. She likes older machines and played “Abra Ca Dabra” from 1975 and “Sorcerer” from 1985.

Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer

Belles & Chimes Phoenix founder and leader Tracy Lindbergh, of Chandler, plays pinball at Tilt Studio in Arizona Mills mall in Tempe.

“One of the things I enjoy is being really targeted in what I’m trying to shoot for,” Lindbergh said. “I was there almost 10 hours. I was starting to feel fatigued by the time I was knocked out. “The main thing I was trying to do in this year, I was trying to stay calm and not let one bad ball mess with my head. Often times in pinball, one good ball is all you need. Each game has its own strategy.” While in Las Vegas, Lindbergh also played in the 2018 IFPA Pin-Masters:

World Pin-Golf Championship, where she placed 48th among 75 players. “It was a great time,” she said. “I got to know more of the players from around the world.” Though the women from the local chapter were not at the tournaments in Las Vegas, “they were all texting me and wishing me luck,” Lindbergh said. Kathy Lovato, a chapter member, is excited about Lindbergh’s performance in the IFPA Women’s World Pinball Championship.

“That just drives us to do better,” Lovato, 50, said. She said Lindbergh sets the bar high during their Belles & Chimes gatherings. “The trick is you have to beat Tracy,” Lovato said. “You know you have a good night if you can beat Tracy. It makes you feel good. She is so passionate. She’s just excited all the time about pinball. It’s just a fun environment.” Lovato co-owns Starfighters Arcade in Mesa with her husband, Michael, and Steve Thomas. The arcade has pinball machines from the 1970s’, ’80s and ’90s and about 120 upright arcade games. She said she was not really interested in pinball, though, until Lindbergh invited her to join the local chapter. “I think women are getting together in a less-competitive nature, but it’s in an environment where we can learn and enjoy and have a good time,” Lovato said. “I play in the big tournaments as well.” “It’s good, clean fun,” she added. “I think anyone who plays pinball who’s over the age of 30 can remember the time as a kid that they were in an arcade, when you listen to the ’80s music and playing (a) game; that’s where it takes people.” A physical therapist, Lovato also likes playing pinball with her sons, 16 and 13. Belles & Chimes allows her to connect with adult friends, who share a common interest, too. “It’s just more like adult friends,” Lovato said. “Usually you’re meeting other women at kids’ baseball games. When you enjoy it together, it’s different.” Belles & Chimes began in Oakland, California, in 2013. Like its parent, the Phoenix area chapter’s goal is to bring See

PINBALL on page 44

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

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PRIVATE. CHRISTIAN. AFFORDABLE. Visit gcu.edu/GoGCU for more info! For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission.org/). Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu. edu/academics/academic-policies.php GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/ titleIX The information printed in this material is accurate as of February 2018. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu ©2018 Grand Canyon University 18GTR0070

NEIGHBORS 44

BOOKS

from page 21

Besides reading the books, the students work on sample competition questions. All questions begin with “In which book,” and students must answer with book title and author. The history of BOB in the Kyrene School District is a rich one, and one that almost ended with state funding cuts three years ago. Kyrene del Pueblo teacher Kate Munn, one of the originators of Battle of the Books in Kyrene middle schools recalled its near demise – and the continuing popularity among middle school bookworms. “In 2012, when I was a librarian at Pueblo Middle School, I joined a group of middle school librarians who ran the competition – Jennifer Leopardi of Kyrene Middle School, Rhonda Brewer of Akimel A-al, Jacque Moorefield of Centennial and Linda Todd, at that time her CMS technician. We each led a group at our schools, and took turns hosting and running the Final Battle,” said Munn, who is in her fourth year as a coach. “In 2015, cuts in state funding meant that the middle school libraries would be

PINBALL

from page 42

together women of all pinball skill levels in a supportive, fun environment where they can learn from each other, make friends and participate in competitions.

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

run by technicians instead of librarians. Middle school librarians moved into other certified teaching or elementary librarian positions,” said Munn, who now teaches seventh-grade social studies. “I was concerned because the Battle of the Books program in Kyrene Middle Schools looked like it was going to end, and I knew how much it meant to our middle school readers. So, I made a proposal to Community Education with the help of Kelly Alexander, my principal at Pueblo, that we continue the program through Kyrene Community Education.” And that is what saved BOB. Community Education head Teresa Rodriquez helped initiate the Battle of the Books under her department’s auspices, with Marisa Dickerson now facilitating the popular competition. BOB coaches say their club is made up of students who enjoy reading, and others who are more into the competition. As the “Final Battle” looms, five students and one alternate will be selected to make up each school team. “The entire group attends the Final Battle to support the team, even if they’re not one of the five, said Munn, adding: “They all dress in our BOB shirts, and the battles have a great audience turnout,

with family and friends cheering on each school’s team.” For sixth-grade student Makayla BogartGetner, the BOB group has increased her school social circle. “Battle of the books isn’t like an ordinary book club, it’s a place where I don’t feel alone. I’m basically what you would call a picture-perfect, non-social nerd, and it gives me a chance to talk eyeto-eye with some of the kids that I never would I have imagined hanging out with,” she said. The one exception to the minimum enrollment caveat is the club headed by Melissa Wicks at Akimel A-al. This in her first year at the Ahwatukee middle school, having transferred from Centennial Middle School, where she led her team to last year’s Battle of the Books championship. Wicks said, “Community Education allowed me to still work with a small group after I spoke to them about needing a year to get the program off the ground. Last year, Akimel A-al was not a participant in the battle. Since we’ve been up and running, there’s been a lot of (student) interest in joining, but those students will have to wait until next year.” One student who was in the tie-breaker

with Centennial last year is Kira Caspers, an eighth-grader at Aprende, coached by Furman. “Last year our team went into the tiebreaker with Centennial. It was stressful, but still fun,” said Caspers, 13, who is representing her school for the third year. “I think our chances are pretty good for the Final Battle; everybody’s really enthusiastic about it this year.” The Final Battle contest questions are a well-kept secret, ensconced in three sealed envelopes, each containing 20 questions and five tie-breaker questions. In answer to the questions that always begin with ‘In which book is,” the team members confer before the team captain hoists the binder with that book title. If judges rule against their answer, students have a short time period in which to find the exact spot in the book that provides proof their answer was correct. Teachers Tara Camarano of Alta Dena Middle School and Nicole Schutkowsik at Centennial Middle School are also coaching their respective Battle of the Books teams. The 2018 Battle of the Books final is scheduled for April 11 at 6 p.m. at the Kyrene Schools District Office.

Lindbergh started playing pinball at age 13 and said she believes there is no reason why women can’t be as good at the game as men. “My hope would be that because I think some of the women are really developing their skills and

getting better, I’d like to see another member qualifying for the world championships,” Lindbergh said. “I’d love to see at least one other Phoenix (area) member in the championship.” Male and female pinball lovers, including children, can test their

skills in modern and classic pinball tournaments at ZapCon 6 on April 21 and 22 at Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St. Information: zapcon.com. To learn more about Belles & Chimes: playmorepinball.wordpress.com.

Chandler students train like astronauts at camp BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

Several Chandler teens are over the moon after participating in a camp where they trained like astronauts and learned how to launch into leadership roles. The local students were among 325 youths from 35 countries and 25 U.S. states and territories that took part in the annual Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Students took simulated shuttle missions, tested rockets, engaged in coding and did other hands-on, teamoriented projects. The camps give students the chance to develop leadership skills by diving into real-world challenges in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Deborah Barnhart, CEO and executive director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, said students learn “teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills and get a glimpse of the possibilities for their lives and careers in the 21st century.” Colyn O’Brien, 16, a junior at Arizona College Prep-Erie Campus in Chandler, said he already wanted to “pursue mechanical engineering in college” and the camp got him “even more excited to head into the field of engineering.” “The best part was being able to do all of the cool things, such as rocket building, running shuttle missions in a simulator

Olivia Mulloy, a student at Chandler Preparatory Academy, makes sure the orbiter is ready for docking in a simulated space mission.

and other activities all while building friendships with new people from all over the world,” Colyn said.

“I learned that it requires a lot of teamwork and a lot of trial and error in order to get results, which in the end

may not be the results you wanted. For See

SPACECAMP on page 48

NEIGHBORS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Chandler school plans STEM summer camps SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Kids ages 3-12 will be able to explore STEM careers and have fun doing it this summer at the New World Learning Academy in Chandler. Besides learning about engineering in all its fields – electrical, civil, mechanical and structural – they also will be introduced to advanced computer coding and Morse Code, participate in LEGO competitions and engage in other science-related activities. The school, 900 E. Pecos Road, considers its summer camps, robotics club and First LEGO League ways to help kids avoid the “summertime brain drain.” It will share more details with parents at an open house 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 14, fielding questions, offering campus tours and even providing discounts on camps as well as its yearround programs. “Kids often forget much of what they learned in school during the summer,” said school founder Tracie Younce, adding: “These camps and clubs are designed to help them stay engaged by giving them something new and different to explore every day. From working in teams to solve an engineering problem to programming robots, our goal is to get kids excited and curious about how things work.” Campers will learn how to make homemade propeller cars, examine the flow of electrical currents, build a LEGO Maze and engage in other “fun science projects,” she said.

New World Learning Academy

Cameron Polite and Rhea Mehta, both 4, work robots.

The school’s weekly KidsQuest camps start June 4 for Tykes (ages 3-5), Juniors (ages 6-9) and Seniors (ages 10-12), with a special afternoon Robotics Club from 3 to 5 p.m. for ages 6-12 Half and full-day camps are available with prices starting at $150 per week, as well as before- and after-school care for an additional charge. “KidsQuest is about teaching children ways to solve complex problems and how to gather and evaluate information using STEM principles in inventive and

interactive ways,” Younce said. Camp themes for younger students include “Outer Space, “Geology Rocks” and “Dragons and Fairies.” Junior camps will discuss robotics, computer coding, chemistry/lab time, engineering and feature math and spelling competitions while the oldest students also will be introduced to advanced coding and even Morse Code. The robotics club will explore advanced programming, automated robotics and include First Lego League robotic competitions. The New World Learning Academy campus opened to the public last June with science and computer labs, enhanced security features and an outdoor play area. Younce said parents have been supportive. Chandler mom Sejal Amin said, “At first I was feeling guilty for sending my daughter to summer camp, but my daughter loved it so much she would get sad at pickup time because she didn’t want to leave.” Debi Noji, whose 3-year-old daughter Maile attends the school, praised the “custom curriculum based on my daughter’s needs, which is important because every child has different knowledge and skills set. “Not only do they cover kindergarten fundamentals but they also bring in guests, like doctors or firemen, to speak to students,” Noji added.

New World’s regular school year for ages 3-6 will begin Aug. 21 with full- and half-day programs. Its curriculum emphasizes individualized reading programs, language arts, daily writing, global studies, music, art and character education to teach social skills. Younce, a teacher and mother of two, believes it’s never too early to introduce children to the principles of science and math. “Waiting to introduce these concepts in the middle of elementary school is really too late,” she said. “Many children, especially girls and minorities, will have lost interest or may become intimidated by math or science by that time.” Noting statistics showing Arizona with 9,667 open computing jobs and only 484 computer science graduates, she added, “Starting early is the key to giving boys and girls the opportunity to go on to highly paid technology positions later in life.” Younce is also working on bringing a Girls Who Code Club to the school, which will be free to girls in grades 6 through 12. “We really don’t give young children enough credit as to all they can do, learn and achieve,” she said. “By introducing these higher concepts early on, while kids are fascinated by everything around them, instills a curiosity and respect of learning that stays with them throughout their lives.” Information: 480-248-6125, admin@ nwlacademy.com or www.nwlacademy.com.

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Stormy’s Corner

Mayor’s teen academy inspires local students BY STORMY LIGHT Contributor

Bright and early, with granola bars in hand, students from around the East Valley participated in workshops and discussions with city government officials at the 2018 Teen Leadership Academy with Mayor Jay Tibshraeny March 12 through March 16. Guest speaker Taylor Piñeda shared a powerful and inspirational story that helped her develop her own leadership skills. Her dedication to community service helped her find her purpose within the Si Se Puede Foundation. She now empowers young people to discover their purpose. In addition, students who attended the academy learned the importance of budgeting within the city to provide services for the community. They were able to practice a budgeting exercise with Dawn Lang, city management services director. A talented panel spoke about the challenges and rewarding aspects of working for local government. Topics from public safety, the arts, and environmental projects were explored during these discussions and students experienced an interactive approach to city issues. Hanna Nkulu, a sophomore at Mountain Pointe High School said, “I liked talking to the city leaders and hearing their paths into their jobs because it helped me visualize my own future.”

City of Chandler

Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and several City Council members pose with the 2018 Teen Leadership Academy, which provides students with workshops and discussions to better their understanding of the challenges that confront local officials.

Students also learned about innovative techniques used by the public safety services in Chandler. Ellen Napolitano, a junior at Hamilton High school, said, “I really enjoyed going to the Police Department Headquarters and getting the chance to see and observe the robots the SWAT team uses.” Students also engaged in a mock council meeting and were given scripts associated with their city official. This unique opportunity allowed students to practice public speaking

while voicing their opinion about an issue that would have different effects on people in the community. I was fortunate enough to be selected for this Teen Leadership Academy and had the opportunity to act as the mayor. This taught me the complex issues that the mayor and council face while supporting their constituents. Other students like Nolan Murphy, a junior at ACP Erie, and Michael De La Rosa, a senior at Chandler High school, appreciated being able to influence the

IN-HOME CAREGIVERS

discussion. When asked about the Teen Leadership Academy, Mayor Tibshraeny stated, “It’s wonderful to see these young people take an interest in their city government. These are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are leading through their actions even today. I could not be more proud of their investment in the community.” Stormy Light is a 15-year-old Hamilton High school student who writes a column for the “SanTan Sun News.”

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Chandler Service Club has a ball for a cause SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A night of glitz and glamour will lead to more meals, clothes and other support for families in need in Chandler. The Chandler Service Club raised $46,000 from its 84th Charity Ball, which drew 420 people to the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix recently. The all-women service club is a nonprofit organization that works with partners Arizona Brainfood, the Chandler Compadres and Bashas’ Grocery stores to feed over 600 children every week. The Chandler club through its Weekenders Program provides and fills boxes with nutritious, child-friendly food that is delivered to students in 25 schools in the Chandler Unified School District every Friday. Besides service club members, 40 high school seniors attended as part of the club’s Flower Girls program. The girls’ parents and escorts honored them as they unveiled their “Hands of Service” projects as well as future career and educational plans. The teens in the nine-month Flower Girl Program participate in community service projects, social events and self-improvement seminars, including learning about etiquette and Internet safety. Some ways the Flower Girls give back are by helping veterans, homeless people, cancer survivors and others. A father-daughter waltz also took place with music by The Hamptons.

Lamar Studios Photography

The women in the Chandler Service Club pose at their recent 84th Charity Ball, which raised $46,000. The event drew 420 people to the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass.

Attendees also had a chance to pose for pictures in a selfie station and indulge in sweets at a candy station. In addition to the Weekenders Program, the Chandler Service Club also does other activities to help feed, clothe, educate and mentor the community’s families and children who are struggling financially. Around the Christmas holidays,

the club donates toothpaste and toothbrushes to youths in need in Chandler. The Chandler Service Club also sponsors the Warm Feet Warm Hearts program, through which every child in need gets a new pair of shoes and socks. It also delivers warm coats to schoolchildren. The Chandler Service Club is holding

its Fiesta Fundraiser from 6-10 p.m. on April 27 at Lone Tree Golf Club, 6262 S. Mountain Blvd., Chandler. The Walkens, a band, will perform and guests can take part in a tequila tasting and silent auction. Crab racing will also take place. Tickets are $75 each and include dinner and drinks. For tickets and information: chandlerserviceclub.org.

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NEIGHBORS 48

Brooke Johnson of Chandler takes on the role of a jet fighter pilot during a simulated mission at the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

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from page 44

example, my group worked for three days on our rocket, yet it still ended up crashing. It was still fun all the same,” the Chandler teen added. Colyn said he and the other students had to design and build a rocket “that would launch with a payload, which was a computer” and get the payload to safely return to the ground. “Part of this project was also coding part of a program to measure the velocity, altitude and other measurements,” he said. The students used a little computer

called a Raspberry Pi, hooking it up to sensors that were then “put into the rocket that we launched,” he said. “My favorite activity we did was doing a Space Shuttle simulation,” Colyn said. “Our team was divided into three groups. One group piloted the space shuttle, one group manned the ISS and the other group was ground control. It required a lot of team work from everybody for the simulation to go well.” He said he enjoyed working with “students from all over the world” and hearing “some different opinions and such about world problems from people in another country.” Ella Ai, 16, a sophomore at Hamilton High School in Chandler, also liked the

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

social aspect of the space camp. “We were in a room with six other students we’ve never talked (to) before,” Ella said. “We have different accents. We started talking to each other. I talk a lot. We did make a lot of friends. For the rest of the week, it just goes amazing. We actually communicate.” She knows what it’s like to be surrounded by people from other countries because she moved to the United States from China three years ago. The Chandler teen said she loved learning about how to fly a plane, including how to take off, utilizing landing gear and how to turn on weapons. “You actually feel like you’re in the airplane and you feel like a real pilot,” she said. Ella said while most of the students she encountered at the camp want to become engineers, she wants to work in medical research but she still enjoyed the experience. She said she used to think Ted Williams of Chandler, 17, a junior at Hamilton High coding was hard, but after School, trains for a moonwalk by experiencing how learning the basics of it she believes it is not that difficult. movement is different when gravity is one sixth of what it is on Earth. As the “station commander” in a simulated different countries was also a highlight of mission, Ella had to help other students the camp for Ted Williams, III, 17, a junior figure out how to close a door and take at Hamilton High School. other action. “The camp was really great,” the “We all have to work together,” she Chandler youth said. “I was definitely glad said. “You do have to communicate with that Honeywell gave me the opportunity each other. I learned a lot.” See on page 49 Interacting with students from

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Devin Berube, a Hamilton High School student, experiences the disorientation that would come from a capsule when it is tumbling in space.

Ella Ai, 16, a sophomore at Hamilton High School in Chandler, participates in the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

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possibly getting into Student Council or other school clubs chool where he could take on a leadership role. “I was really thankful that Honeywell had chosen me throughout all the applicants, that it wasn’t just a space thing, but leadership,” he said. Other Chandler students who attended the camp were Devin Berube, Brooke Johnson and Olivia Mulloy. They could not be reached for comment. Since the program blasted off in 2010, Honeywell, in partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, has given 2,091 scholarships to children of Honeywell employees to attend the academy. Students are chosen to participate in

from page 48

to interact with all the different cultures from the world. That was probably my favorite part was talking to people from Europe and China and learning about their cultures and learning to work with other cultures.” Besides engaging with teens from other countries, he also liked learning more about being a pilot and boosting his leadership skills. Ted said his favorite experiment was an aviation challenge, where students manipulated fighter plane simulators. “We had a task and delegated

different targets and positions,” he said. “You have a screen and you’re in the mini cockpit thing so it gives you that real feel. It was a lot of fun.” Ted found it interesting to learn about “space and scientific areas” at the camp. He said he and the other students also “learned about time management and communication skills” needed to be leaders. “You had to split up assignments or they gave you too many tasks and you had to delegate it, work with other people under pressure,” he said. “It was a little difficult. We got along pretty well.” He said after gaining new skills at the space camp, he would like to explore

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Fulton robotics team needs help to get to championship category. This placement qualifies us to compete in the VEX IQ Robotics World Championship at the end of April. This tournament hosts 400 elementary school teams from around the world. Because our club is offered through CUSD Community Education, there is no funding available to cover any costs associated with competing in this exciting adventure. We need help covering expenses. Anyone who would like to help these smart, talented kids compete can contribute in three ways: 1. for a $500 company sponsorship, we will print your company logo on our team t-shirts to be worn at the world

BY LORI RUFF Contributor

The robotics team at Fulton Elementary School is competing in the VEX IQ Robotics World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the first year our group of talented students has ever competed, much less qualified to compete in an international competition. Let me share how we got there. Being an engineer for 28 years, there is nothing that has ever compared to the joy I feel when I’m teaching these students. The competitive class is made up of fourth- through sixth-graders. Because this is the first year offering this class, some of the students have progressed from the intro class and some are brand new to robotics. Along with the elementary school students, we have five high school junior coaches, who not only are positive role models and mentors to the students, but they volunteer their time to do so. To provide the students the most competition experience, we joined the East Valley VEX IQ League. The league is made up of over 40 elementary and middle school teams. At the end of the second league tournament, we knew we were on to something. The teams won the Design and the Excellence Award, which is the highest award given at a VEX tournament. We were so excited that they took home two of the three awards given at that tournament. By the time we competed in the fifth

Photo Courtesy of Lori Ruff

Students on the Fulton Elementary School robotics team, the Phantom Phoenix, include, from left, front row, Timothy Mathew, Daniel Kim and Matthew Ziska; second row, Shiliah Yeomans, Cody Stimson and Jager Hawkins; third row, Alex Kelsey, Andrew Johnston and Cayden Thompson.

tournament, our two teams were ranked 16th and 29th for all elementary schools in the state of Arizona. We knew we had a great chance that at least one of our teams would receive an invitation to compete at the Arizona VEX IQ Elementary School State Championship.” In February, team #4750A, the Phantom Phoenix, received an invitation. We were elated! At the state championship, our team placed third in the teamwork challenge

competition. 2. M ake a tax-deductible monetary donation that will be accepted by the Fulton Elementary PTO. The link to the PTO is available on our Facebook page at facebook.com/PhantomPhoenix or through email at FultonFire.Robotics@ gmail.com and a reply will be sent to those emailing with a direct link. 3. The Fulton Elementary Spring Carnival will be April 20. People can visit Phantom Phoenix at our table, meet the kids and drop a few bucks in our donation jar. Lori Ruff is the robotics instructor for the Fulton Elementary Robotics Club at Fulton Elementary School in Chandler.

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NEIGHBORS 52

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Sun Sounds helps visually impaired ‘read’ BY BRIAN CURRY Contributor

When Andrea Pasquale, the director of Sun Sounds of Arizona, came to speak at the monthly meeting of the Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions Club, it would be fair to say that none of the members knew of her program. It is a radio reading and information service for people who cannot read. “Lions Clubs internationally were charged by no less than Helen Keller to become ‘Knights of the blind, in the crusade against darkness’ so we were very happy to hear about Sun Sounds,” Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions Club President Brian Curry said. Founded in 1979, Sun Sounds offers free programs for the blind or visually impaired 24/7 serving 49,000 listeners with over 10,000 hours of programs produced every year from the daily newspaper to the weekly supermarket ads. Served by 400 volunteers who read over 200 publications, it opens the world to those without sight or struggling with

sight because of medical issues. Sun Sound listeners can use special radios at no charge to listen to programs, and those in assisted living facilities and hospitals listen to broadcasts on bedside televisions. Other ways it can be accessed are on the website, which features a live feed and downloadable shows on demand. Therer also is an app for smartphone users. SLBLC members were impressed with Pasquale’s presentation and made a donations on the spot in honor of a members who has stroke-related vision problems. They also promised to get the word out about the great work Sun Sounds of Arizona does. Want to learn more about them and the free programs they offer? Look for them on the net at sunsounds.org, on Facebook at facebook.com/sunsounds or call them at their nearest office in Tempe at 480-7748300. For more information about Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions Club, visit e-clubhouse.org/ sites/slbreakfast.

Rich Iovino/Contributor

Andrea Pasquale, director of Sun Sounds of Arizona, hands a brochure explaining Sun Sounds offerings to Sun Lakes Breakfast Lions Club President Brian Curry.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler couple open city’s first escape room BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Turns out Lewis and Kate Obermiller of Chandler do have a clue. In fact, the couple have so many that they’re using them to make the city’s first escape room, Chandler Escape. Kate, who has put aside her accounting and finance career to run the new business full time, and Lewis, a microbiology and genetics professor at Arizona State University and Mesa Community College who also is keeping an active hand in the business, recently opened Chandler Escape at 312 N. Alma School Road. The 13-year Chandler residents have long been fans of escape rooms, which challenge patrons to uncover clues and solve puzzles to find a way out of a locked room in 60 minutes. What they didn’t like was driving far to get to them “We are huge puzzle/clue/mystery fans, and we’re always looking for new things to do as a family,” said Kate. “We started doing escape rooms, and we loved trying all the other games in the valley. We’re lucky to have some really terrific ones around because we got hooked. We got tired of driving so far from home, and thought it wasn’t right that Chandler didn’t have an escape room of its own, so we decided to do something about it.”

about escape rooms and exclude the things we didn’t,” Lewis explained. “We wouldn’t have that same freedom with a franchise.” Kate added, “We have played so many rooms across the Valley, and we see that sometimes themes are repeated. We wanted unique games not offered elsewhere in the Valley, and we wanted them to be as familyfriendly as possible.” Besides, younger kids “surprisingly told us that they want scarier themes,” she added. So, they offer “E-rated” games for everyone as well as separate adventures for kids over 10 and teenagers. “We will allow all ages in all games. We just ask parents to use Celisse Jones/Photo Intern discretion when booking,” Kate said. Lewis and Kate Obermiller have opened Chandler Escape, the city’s first escape room. Right now, Chandler Escape has one game open, an E-rated one called Pawn Shop. Added Lewis: “Our family went to a “It is funny to recall, but Kate and I “The general idea is that an Uber driver local escape room on a whim. We didn’t actually thought escape rooms might be escape, but we had a blast! Over the next outlawed by the City of Chandler,” he added. pawned a laptop he found left behind in his backseat, and the real owners came few weeks we did about a half-dozen The couple, who have a daughter who calling. They told him that there are different rooms. It didn’t take us long is a freshman at Hamilton and a son who $2 million in stolen diamonds hidden in to get hooked, but were frustrated with is a third grader at Knox Gifted Academy, that laptop, and players have 60 minutes having to drive so far to go to one. We shunned buying a franchise in favor of an to get it back... or else,” wished there was one closer to our home, independent operation. and were curious why there wasn’t one in “We wanted the freedom to See on page 55 Chandler. incorporate all of the things we liked

ESCAPE

Lively dancers to showcase Irish stepdancing BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

The thunderous sound of feet tapping intricate steps and springing from a dance floor has been shaking a local studio. Students at the Bracken School of Irish Dance in Chandler have been gearing up for an energetic display of this distinctive art form at their big show, “Step Into Spring,” on April 21 at Higley Center for the Performing Arts in Gilbert. About 50 dancers, beginning to advanced, will perform Irish dances set to ballads and fast songs in a cultural and athletic display reminiscent of “Riverdance,” the popular international theatrical show with traditional Irish music and dance, said Thomas Bracken, owner of the Chandler school. Bracken, who began Irish dancing at age 4 in his native Tullamore in County Offaly, Ireland, has owned the Bracken School of Irish Dance for 22 years. Dancers ages 5 to 22 take classes, perform at diverse venues and compete in international, national and local competitions. The Bracken studio is frequently buzzing with activity at its home inside Jeanne’s School of Dance on North Arizona Avenue. “The magic of ‘Riverdance’ is the coordination and the straight lines,” Bracken said. “The technical skills required for that and what we do are the same. This

Bracken, a graduate of University College Dublin, has focused his career in education and the arts for the last 32 years. The three-time Irish national champion has conducted master classes and workshops for schools throughout North America. Bracken has the TCRG certification, The Bracken School of Irish Dance includes, from left, lead instructor which means he has Kieran Noe, instructor Bailee Delci-Welniak, students Kate Rafford and passed a stringent MacKenzie Moore-Kosslow, instructor and former student Colleen exam given by the Kelahan-Pierson, student Isobel Brady and studio owner Thomas Bracken. governing body of Irish dancing around school here is my heart. There’s a tradition. the world and is The Bracken school kind of belongs here.” qualified to teach Irish dance. He is also Though he travels often to his other Irish certified to judge Irish dance competitions dance school in Salisbury, Massachusetts, around the world and assess Irish dance Bracken spends much of his time teaching school students anywhere in the world. and helping dancers in Chandler hone their Bracken students in the Gilbert performances and prepare for competitions. show do mainly Irish stepdance, a style Bracken also is a founding member of requiring fast, precise footwork. the Chandler-Tullamore Sister Cities, a Bracken said step dance has “evolved nonprofit organization created to bring over the years to become a lot more of a to life the first Sister Cityrelationship to fusion.” Chandler. “You have the basic Irish techniques

and rhythms but incorporating that ballet, tap, modern and jazz,” he said. “It’s alive. You need to bring that life into it. The Irish dance essence remains but it does draw from other genres of dance.” Bracken students from the Chandler studio have performed around the United States and in Canada and competed in Irish dance competitions around the world. His students have performed with the San Diego Symphony, Phoenix Symphony and Tucson Symphony Orchestra, getting standing ovations. Former Bracken students have performed in “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance,” both of which were created by Michael Flatley, popularizing Irish dance around the world. Marie Duffy, former dance director and associate choreographer for “Lord of the Dance,” was Bracken’s teacher in Dublin many years ago. The Bracken school dancers perform Ceili, a popular folk dance in Ireland. They also do figure dancing, where teachers improvise their own choreography. “It’s an amazing cardio workout,” he said. ‘I have such a passion. It’s my life. I think it helps keep me young. It’s a wonderful environment to work in and be responsible. There’s always a new challenge with new kids. There is so much of the unexpected. These kids are bright; See

IRISH on page 58

ARTS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

ESCAPE

from page 55 To find out what “else” is, you’ll have to play the game. They are currently building two more games – a 10+ rated one called Tony’s Bistro and a T-rated one named The Cabin – that will open in May and June, respectively. “Tony’s Bistro and The Cabin have quite a few more electronic and specialty props so construction will take a little bit longer,” Lewis said. But their imaginations are running wild. “I am also working on the puzzles and layout for a pirate-themed room – which will probably be called Blackbeard or Queen Anne’s Revenge – and a tomb raider room called The Lost Incan City of Gold, which I plan on making very high tech,” he said, adding: “That’s one thing we really love about this business. If you can dream it, you can probably make it happen. I saw a video of an $80,000 room that has a simulated cornfield and tornado inside of it.” In some ways, starting the business had all the challenges for the Obermillers as an escape room. “We spent more time trying to find a location than any other step so far, but we had faith that we were on the right path, and that we would find what we needed when the timing was right,” Kate said. That was partly because they had to find a landlord in Chandler “who knew what an escape room was all about and was willing to allow us to do what we’re doing,” Lewis said. “A lot of times they asked what we wanted to do with the space and they

would never call us back,” he added. Once they found a spot, Kate said, they discovered that “we grossly underestimated the amount of physical work needed to get the room set up. “The technology and props were way more complicated than we anticipated, but even that aspect of it pales in comparison to puzzle design,” she continued. “We have a lot of game/ puzzle testing, and have gotten some great feedback on our games and how to improve them to get our success rate right where we want it to be. We have had to make some parts easier, some parts more difficult... stuff like that.” Lewis added, “We spent so much time making sure everything looked and felt like you were in an actual pawn shop. We put in all the flooring and set up the rooms all on our own. It was back breaking work, but it also gave us a sense of accomplishment.” Don’t expect the game to be a snap. “The puzzles require a lot of mental and physical thought,” said Lewis. On the other hand, he added, the couple conducted a lot of testing. “Sometimes puzzles are just too hard, or maybe they are too easy,” he said. “It takes a lot of tweaking to make sure everything is perfect.” The Obermillers are getting into a craze that Kate thinks stems from people’s desire to connect with each other in real life. “Escape rooms fill that need by providing an environment that rewards cooperation, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and requires you to put your phones down and truly have an immersive experience together for an hour,”

she surmised. “Escape rooms can fill a need to compete, a need to engage or even a need to laugh and forget about the outside world for a bit.” Lewis added: “They are super-fun, and not only that, it allows co-workers, friends, family and even strangers to interact with one another on a whole other level in order to be successful at the game. There isn’t much else out there that does what escape rooms do. “There is no doubt about it, to get out in time takes problem-solving skills and a lot of team work,” he said. It’s also a great topic of conversation.” He does think the term is “off-putting,” noting most cities in the nation don’t even allow players to be locked in a room because of fire code concerns “In reality, you don’t really have to escape,” he said. “It’s just the thought of it that makes it all the more exciting.” Though they have a fair amount of competition in the Valley, the Obermillers think Chandler Escape will rise above the pack. For one thing, they decided not to crowd a lot of rooms in one place. And they wanted to make sure their rooms are neither too big nor too small, settling on a size in which eight to 10 people can play comfortably. Most of all, they said, they are aiming to make their venue family-friendly, though an adult must be in a room if anyone playing is under 16. “Not all escape rooms in the Valley allow all ages,” Kate said. “We just ask customers to use their best judgment when booking with younger kiddos: they know their kids better than anyone else.” “We are focusing our business on

customer service and connecting with our customer,” she added. “We have intentionally designed our business to avoid some of the shortcomings of competitors…So, no time penalties for extra clues/nudges; you can ask for a clue whenever you want one. Someone is always dedicated to watching and listening to you during your game, and we have spacious rooms for people to spread out and work on puzzles.” And naturally, they’re using their kids as test subjects – and for a good reason. “When our kids aren’t with us, we do worse, it seems,” Kate said. Added Lewis: “Our third-grader has solved puzzles that a pair of electrical engineers from Intel couldn’t figure out. Sometimes the approach kids take to solving puzzles is simpler than adults, which is often the better way.”

IF YOU GO

Chandler Escape for now is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, although the Obermillers may adjust those hours as time goes on. Cost is $28 per person, though discounts are announced on their Facebook page and website. Currently, there’s a $5 discount through April patrons used the code 5OFFPAWNSHOP. Discounts currently are available for students and teachers, first responders, and Scouts. Check for details: escapechandler. com, Facebook.com/chandlerescape.

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ARTS 56

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Fair Play

Animals, demo cross and Colton Dixon headlining county fair and Marshall will meet and greet fans on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night, Colton Dixon, a top 10 finalist from American Idol Season 11, will perform. Dixon will also meet with fans after his show. Four other stages will feature additional musical acts including one stage dedicated to local Christian artists. All shows are free with admission. Vendors will entice visitors with their wares. Items such as Sleep Number beds, jewelry, licorice, fudge and steel buildings will be available for purchase. Food is always a draw at any fair, and the Maricopa County Fair won’t disappoint. In addition to corn dogs, curly fries and deep-fried candy bars, a chocolate chip cookie vendor will provide hot-out-of-theoven cookies. Don’t miss a fair favorite – a Flamin’ Hot Turkey Leg – a combination of hot wings and turkey legs. The fair draws more than 55,000 visitors each year and has a long history, Searle says. “In its current structure, we were incorporated in the ’70s. Before that, we existed as a 4-H fair and the Maricopa County and Citrus Fair back in the ’50s.” Maricopa County Fair, AZ Exposition and State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix, maricopacountyfair. org, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, Thursday, April 12, and Sunday, April 15; and 10 a.m. to midnight Friday, April 13, and Saturday, April 14; $9. Various discounts available; see website.

BY SHERRY JACKSON The Entertainer!

Pigs, monster trucks and Flamin’ Hot Turkey Legs are just a few of the attractions at this year’s Maricopa County Fair from Wednesday, April 11, to Sunday, April 15, at the AZ Exposition & State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road in Phoenix. The county fair is geared more toward families in a more intimate setting than the state fair, says Karen Searle, executive director. “We have literally hours of exhibits, entertainment and activities for kids and families. That’s before we even talk about the carnival.” The Arizona Ag & Ewe exhibit, as well as The SRP Safety Zone are both awesome areas for families to walk through, Searle says. But the animals are the biggest draw, she says. “We have the largest youth livestock show and auction in the state.” More than 400 pigs, plus another 400 to 600 animals, including sheep, cattle, goats, rabbits and poultry, will be available for visitors to see. All are raised by Maricopa County youth. “People love to walk through the barns.” Motor sports, specifically monster trucks, are also a crowd favorite. Friday evening and Sunday afternoon will feature monster trucks in the arena with a freestyle motocross show on Sunday. Also, throughout the weekend will be demo

Special to SanTan Sun News

While the Maricopa County Fair offers lots of rides, the animals are the big attraction.

cross, which combines demolition derby and figure 8 racing. Juggler Greg Frisbee and Balloon Man Skip Banks are returning with new skits and bits. Characters from Nickelodeon’s Paw Patrol will visit. First responders Chase

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20, 2018

ARTS 58

IRISH

from page 54

you have to be bright to do this.” The physical exertion required to perform Irish dances was evident during a recent rehearsal. Several female dancers and one male dancer wearing hard shoes stood in two lines, quickly lifting their feet up and down, striking the floor and twisting their feet into different positions. They jumped off the floor and kicked their legs high into the air. Bracken carefully watched them, reminding them, “You cannot be on the wrong foot.” While he said he is strict when he needs to be, Bracken also smiled, joked around and told the dancers they had made progress. He was a senior administrator and dean of discipline at a high school in England and a high school teacher for 17 years. “I run a tight ship,” Bracken said. “As a former world champion dancer, I know what it is to be a team player. All my kids cheer for one another. There’s so many learning experiences. There’s a special bond with these girls.” Many of Bracken’s dancers study with him for a long time, and sometimes become teachers themselves at his school. Colleen Kelahan-Pierson, 22, of Phoenix, started taking dance classes from Bracken 18 years ago. She now teaches new and advanced beginners at the school. While Kelahan-Pierson said another Irish dance school is closer to where she lives, she makes the longer commute because she loves Bracken’s style. “He’s great,” Kelahan-Pierson said. “He keeps it traditional with a little bit of flair.”

A senior at Arizona State University, Kelahan-Pierson and the other dancers spend long hours together practicing for shows and competitions and form close friendships, as do their parents. Bracken said he has attended many weddings of his students’ and is proud to have been part of the “best moments” of their lives. Verlee Richey, 17, of Chandler, a junior at Chandler Preparatory Academy, has been dancing at the Bracken school since she was 11. “My favorite thing about Irish dancing is all the different rhythms you get to try out and do everything in unison with your friends,” Richey said. “My best friends are here.” Molly Ruley, 13, of Mesa, an eighthgrader at Arete Preparatory Academy in Gilbert, who also takes dance classes at Bracken, said “everyone here is super friendly.” “I like all of the culture,” Ruley said. “I was the 2018 Irish Lass,” she added, referring to the title she earned as part of the Arizona Colleen and Rose of Tralee Program. The Arizona Irish Lass program chooses girls of Irish descent ages 13-17 for the honor. Linda Ruley, Molly’s mother, said her family likes the “friendly teachers” at Bracken. “They work hard to prepare the dancers for competitions and performances,” Linda said. “The teachers help new parents with what to expect with their child’s first feis (competition). “The experienced parents always help out new parents with tips and helpful advice to the new families as well. It truly is a community experience. The best part

is being able to watch your child get their first first place win, and their second first, and their third first, and so on and so on. The dancers all support each other even though they compete with each other.” One of the youngest dancers, Sofia Allen, 10, of Gilbert, enjoys the challenges of Irish dancing. She has been dancing at the studio for five years and competed at the Open Championship, the highest level of competitive Irish dancing. “I like dancing with the older girls and I like doing harder stuff that it takes a while to get good at,” Allen said. Sofia’s sister, Emilia, 7, has been dancing for two years at the school. Their mother, Tina Allen, said their family loves the school. Tina said Emilia was “incredibly shy” when she began dance classes and “dancing has helped to build her confidence and has allowed her to feel empowered to get out on stage.” “Both my girls enjoy dancing and learning about their ancestral tie to the Irish culture; dancing has provided that connection,” Tina added. “They also really enjoy the friendships they’ve made through dance and enjoy traveling with each other and participating in the team aspect of dancing.” She added that the teachers have dancers’ “best interest in mind and always show patience while focusing on getting them prepared for what is needed to achieve their goals.” “Tina is also the chairwoman for social media for Damhsa, the nonprofit organization within Bracken School of Irish Dance that helps raise money to fund dancers’ trips, costumes and other needs.

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Linda Moore, another parent of a Bracken student, also praised the studio and Bracken. Her daughter, MacKenzie Moore-Kosslow, 16, a junior at BASIS Chandler, has been studying with Bracken since just before she turned 8 years old. She started taking Irish dance at age 3 from a private teacher who was friends with Bracken. “It’s always been a passion of hers,” Moore said. “From the first time she took a class, she just seemed to love it… There are so many other activities and choices that children and school students can pick, but this is something that she’s dedicated to for many years. We’re very lucky to be at the Bracken studio because Thomas shares that same passion.” MacKenzie has qualified seven times for the Irish dancing world championships. She has gone to the world competitions three times: in Belfast, Ireland the first time, then Glasgow, Scotland and last year in Dublin. “It’s a grueling sport,” Moore added. “There are so many big injuries. It requires a lot of dedication and hard work and she’s super dedicated. I love to watch her dance. She’s a beautiful dancer. She’s learning to overcome adversity.” Parents, dancers and Bracken said they believe anyone in the audience, even if they are not familiar with Irish dance, will enjoy “Step Into Spring.” Ciara Archer, who was the 2016 Arizona Colleen & Rose, will sing at the Step into Spring performance. Archer is now chair/center director of the Arizona Colleen and Rose of Tralee program. The Irish band Stilicho will also play at the show. Tickets and information: higleycenter.org.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Clint Black’s shows trace the country singer’s career BY ALAN SCULLEY Contributor

To Clint Black, having a distinctive sound has always been an overriding goal for his music. It’s one reason he doesn’t listen to much current country music, particularly when he is writing for a new album. “The target, aside from all of the other obvious ones, is to be original,” Black said. “Unless you want to listen to every ounce of everything that’s out there so you’ll know you’re not like anything else, you’re better off, I think, to stay away.” Originality was also a big factor in Black starting to play electric guitar on his albums, beginning with the 1997 release “Nothin’ but the Taillights.” He was no virtuoso, but that wasn’t the point. Black’s playing helped him sound different from other country artists. And originality had a lot to do with why 10 years passed before Black followed up his 2005 release, “Drinkin’ Songs and Other Logic,” and the release in fall 2015 of his 10th studio album, “On Purpose.” Black stayed busy during those years, touring regularly, writing music for film and television and doing some acting. But a big reason a new album wasn’t coming was he was sorting through offers from major Nashville labels that wanted him to record outside songs in hopes of having a hit single. As an artist who had written or cowritten virtually every song on his albums, that was no small issue and went right to the core of perhaps the biggest ingredient in Black’s originality – his songwriting. And the

every song on “Killin’ Time,” whenever it was time for a new album, RCA would pressure him to record outside songs – and Black would refuse. Finally, Black went to the head of RCA and asked why the label kept pushing him to record outside songs. “I will never forget what he said to me because it was a crushing blow,” Black said. “He said, ‘They just want a little taste.’ So, all of that Special to SanTan Sun News pressure to record outside songs had nothing to do with the quality Clint Black will bring his laid-back country music to of my songs. And all it had to do Chandler Center for the Arts on April 15. was some political relationships and bargaining, like they’re collecting labels were told about Black’s songwriting delegates for award shows. history. “I thought, ‘That is absolutely the “I think what they wanted to do was last thing I wanted to hear. I’m trying listen to everything I’d been working on and to be authentic here, and you’re asking be all kind and thoughtful in the process. me to throw away my life’s work so you Then, ultimately, they would say, ‘If you will can get me nominated for an award or just let us find you a hit, we’ll go and work something? Is that what this is about?’” it,’” Black said. Black left RCA after launched his own It wasn’t the first time, by a longshot, that label, Equity Records. He made three Black had encountered pressure to record albums on Equity – 1999’s “D’lectrified,” outside songs. In fact, it was pretty much a constant occurrence with his first label, RCA 2004’s “Drinkin’ Songs and Other Logic” – before the label was closed in 2006. Records. Then began the search for a new label His 1989 debut album, “Killin’ Time,” deal, which didn’t end until Black rejected became a blockbuster, spawning five No. 1 three major labels, instead turning toward singles. indie labels and signing with Thirty Tigers. By the time the album finished its The album that emerged, “On run, Black was being hailed as a leader of Purpose,” sounds like prototypical Clint country’s new traditionalist movement that Black, rooted in classic country but with a was pushing country back toward its rustic touch of pop and a bit more edge. roots. There are a few easygoing rockers Despite having co-written or written

(“Still Call It News,” “Beer” and “Making You Smile”) and several ballads, including “Right on Time,” “Summertime Song” and “One Way to Live.” Songs like “Time for That” and “Better and Worse” find a middle ground, generating a relaxed energy and a nice mix between acoustic and electric instrumentation. There’s also a jaunty bluesy duet between Black and his wife of 25 years, actress Lisa Hartman Black, in “You Still Get to Me.” On his current tour, Black is playing songs from across his career. “I’m doing a lot of hits,” he said. “I’m doing at least a few songs off of the new CD, and then a couple of songs that are album cuts.” And Black has no plans to ease up any time soon with his career. “I want to keep touring,” he said. “I love doing the shows and I love having a band. And if you want to have a band, you’ve got to tour. But then I’m looking ahead to recording more, not any time soon, but sooner than ‘On Purpose’ happened.” I’m also working on some film and television projects. “I don’t intend to slow down.”

IF YOU GO

What: Clint Black Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. Chandler When: 7 p.m. April 15 Tickets: $38-$68 Info: 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Faith

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Local churches to commemorate life and decry violence BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER Guest Writer

I am amazed that after the world has endured two world wars, skirmishes that eventually developed into full-blown conflicts, hate that has and continues to permeate societies, that we still find the ability to foment bigotry on a scale thought unimaginable at this time, in this place. The headlines are filled with incidents that boggle the mind. For example: Our temples of academia are filled with the most blatant display of inhuman behavior. University professors and students use hatred as a form of learning and hide under the banner of free speech, to justify this obtrusive conduct. Political correctness has superseded logic and reality. We are so preoccupied with being sensitive to the feelings of others, we

forget that this can, and has, led to the most virulent expressions of divisiveness. Age-old distortions are prevalent. It seems that all the progress made over the last several decades is irrelevant. New efforts are being introduced to rekindle the flames of distrust reminiscent of the early part of the last century, and for that matter, centuries past. The difference now, however, is that the world is supposedly more civilized, more tolerant, more educated. It is frightening, to say the least. And yet, the so-called civilized world is promoting the very thing it was designed to eradicate – death and destruction. The advent of the United Nations was, for the most part, developed to bring order to chaos, to establish dialogue in place of war, to ensure the safety of all. Those who thought this kind of vulgarity was destroyed when Nazism and fascism were eliminated should understand that evil is capable of

resurfacing at any time, in any place. We are witnessing the full-scale annihilation of people because of the faith they follow. Extremism is the order of the day. We sit idly by and report it one day and forget it the next. Where are the people of conscience? Here in our little corner of the world we are also experiencing events that test our endurance and fortitude. We lose good friends and family members. We are recuperating from traumas that have turned our lives upside down. We have emotional ties to our fellow countrymen who are sacrificing more than we can truly imagine. Madmen murder our children. Civilized society requires, even demands, that humanity must affect a solution to death and destruction. Civilized society must not be afraid to confront evil. Civilized society needs to be reminded that to survive we need each other. This is why we stop for a moment;

recall the past so we will never forget. This we will do, as the generations past, have done on April 13. Five community churches, their pastors and congregants, will join with us to commemorate life as we remind ourselves never to forget the horrors of yesterday. You will find, on the pages of this periodical, the names of the participants. Their commitment to solidarity and the leadership they display through their belief in the sanctity of life are testaments to the goodness that can be found in each of us. They are truly a credit to their people, and a blessing given us by God. What better way is there to honor them, and keep the promise to “Never Forget,” than to participate at this service of sanctification? Join with us as we honor the past and join hands in a better tomorrow. Dr. Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D. is National Chaplain of Jewish War Veterans-USA and he is with Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.

Be still and ‘detox’ by tuning into, being still with God BY PASTOR JEAN NEWELL Guest Writer

“Detoxed!” That’s how someone recently described what happened one weekend at a spiritual retreat. “We couldn’t wear our watches or use our phones or (have) access to computers. We spent three days being detoxed from the world.” I hadn’t thought of it like that, but that’s exactly what the weekend was like. For those who were on the retreat for the first time, there were no appointments

to keep, no schedules to follow, no deadlines to meet, for we were on God’s time. No ringing phones or text messages to answer or email alerts that needed or demanded attention. Instead, there was time to spend with God. The psalmist wrote, “Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10) How hard it is to “be still” in today’s world for our senses are constantly being bombarded. We live in a world of surround sound. Surround sound is more than a movie theater design that provides patrons with the full “experience” in which you feel vibrations from a movie’s background music, a car chase, or a thundering herd of wild

animals. Surround sound is a part of our everyday life, from the microwave beeping to let you know your food is ready to the car alarm sounding when you hit the wrong button on the key fob, or the key pad at the ATM. There’s sound all around us. We live in a world seeking to gain our attention through “visual effects.” Countless billboards, overhead highway signs, and gas station pumps are digitized in order to provide the public with the latest product updates, upcoming events, and public safety. Everywhere we look, there is something to see. So, short of pulling a hat over one’s head

to shut out the sights and sounds of the world, the world is not going to discontinue beeping and buzzing and flashing lights. To “be still” is a matter of being proactive in one’s intention rather than reactive to the surrounding world. One can “be still” by setting aside that which distracts us and by focusing on being still with God. Whether that means resting in one’s favorite chair, walking under a moon-lit sky, or sitting on a beach. To “be still” is not the way of the world, but it is the way of those who chose to follow God. Pastor Jean Newell is an associate pastor at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church.

Bring it up instead of suck it up with emotional pain BY MIKE SISSEL Guest Writer

If you’ve ever watched a sporting event, you’ve likely seen an athlete in physical pain. Whether it’s a mild ankle sprain or a severe concussion, it’s fairly obvious when an athlete is hurting. Sadly, there’s another kind of pain that is rarely discussed in sports. In fact, discussing this kind of pain is a taboo topic in many athletic circles. Unlike physical pain, which is easy to see and difficult to suppress, this kind of pain is extremely difficult to see and quite easy to suppress. I’m talking about mental and emotional pain. Athlete or not, no one is immune to it. A football player has no problem asking for an ice pack to help offset the pain of a sprained ankle, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one courageous enough to ask a counselor for help in managing the intense pain of a failed relationship. A baseball player has no problem

seeking the help of trainer to treat a bruised elbow, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one vulnerable enough to ask a therapist for help in treating a bruised ego. For years, athletes (especially males) have been conditioned to believe that talking about emotions is weak or soft. It’s not surprising that many of them go to great lengths to repress their own emotional well-being in an effort to maintain a healthy level of respect and adoration from teammates. In other words, the cultural norm in athletics is to suck it up and move on (look good) instead of bring it up and move in (feel good). In recent weeks, two notable NBA players have collectively shined a light on the very real topic of mental and emotional pain. DeMar DeRozan, an All-Star and key member of the Toronto Raptors, openly discussed his tumultuous battle with depression. Kevin Love, a member of the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers, poignantly captured his frightful experience with a panic attack. As someone who works with athletes

on a daily basis, I’m well aware of the suck-it-up-and-move-on mentality and the many costs associated with it. While championship trophies continue to be the pinnacle of success, they often come at a price. In a tunnel vision, eyes on the prize quest for athletic greatness, the greatness of the human being is often overlooked. While trophies are displayed in glass cases and banners hang high above gymnasium floors, these public symbols cast a tremendous shadow on the private well-being of the athletes who play the game. Just ask Kevin Love. It took a panic attack for him to realize this. His NBA championship, a public accomplishment, did very little to ease the pain of his private life. If we’re going to make progress in this area, we must recondition the minds of athletes, young and old. The suck-it-upand-move-on mentality must be replaced with a bring-it-up-and-move-in mentality. Kevin talked about the passing of his grandma, whom he had an extremely close relationship with. When loved ones pass, grief is an obvious subsequent

emotion. However, when grief is repressed, it’s akin to putting a topical numbing agent on our skin when we feel pain. The pain doesn’t really go away, but the numbing agent makes it feel as though it’s gone. In Kevin’s case, his numbing agent was basketball. He convinced himself that basketball was his profession and that talking about the intense emotions that followed his grandma’s passing would get in the way of his profession. Instead of seeking healing in the form of bringing it up, he desperately tried to conceal the pain by sucking it up and doing his job. Unfortunately, it took a panic attack for Kevin Love to learn the importance of bringing to the surface the emotions that needed to be addressed. I call this being real with what’s real. You can’t change what you aren’t aware of. What followed were frequent meetings with a counselor. Unlike a teammate or coach who might encourage him to suck it up, his counselor will undoubtedly equip him with See

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opportunities to move in. For example, when grief or any other difficult emotion continues to show up, which it will, the best course of action is not to binge watch a Netflix series or gorge on a gallon of your favorite ice cream, but rather to look at the difficult emotion and learn to process it. The Law of Resistance says that

480-899-7386, saintmatthewschurch.org whatever you repress will eventually get expressed. I invite you to do the opposite of repressing, which is expressing. The only way to express what’s going on underneath the mask is to bring it up and move in. Mike Sissel is a former Kyrene teacher who owns and operates KaleidoEye, a youth leadership company who specializes in emotional intelligence and mental toughness training for both students and athletes. To learn more about Mike’s work: kaleidoeye.com or mike@kaleidoeye.com.

Spiritual Connections Call ahead to confirm as details occasionally change after print. If you have a recurring monthly support group or meeting to list in Spiritual Connections, email complete details to news@santansun.com.

SUNDAYS

Celebration Service 10:30 a.m. Sundays All with peaceful beliefs are welcome to this inclusive, loving, thriving UNITY Community. Join the group at 10 a.m., preceding the service, for fellowship. Youth and toddlers meet during service. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org Kids’ Sunday School 10 to 11 a.m. Sundays Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Lift Your Spirit 10 a.m. Sundays Hear inspirational messages and music. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Traditional and Contemporary Services 7:30 a.m. daybreak contemplative worship, 9 a.m. traditional worship and choral music, 11 a.m. contemporary worship with live Christian rock band. There is also a service at 12 p.m. Wednesdays. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 901 W. Erie Street, Chandler

MONDAYS

The Art of Parenting 7:30 p.m. Mondays Six-session course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and presented by Rabbi Mendy Deitsch of Chabad of the East Valley, designed to help parents at all levels of Jewish knowledge develop their own parenting philosophies and techniques. Cost is $99. Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life 875 N. McClintock Drive, Chandler 480-855-4333, rabbi@chabadcenter.com

TUESDAYS

Silva Class and Meditation 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays Learn the Silva method with Lois Britland. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Career Connectors 8:30 a.m. to noon, fourth Tuesday of month Nonprofit organization connecting professionals in career transition to high-quality resources and hiring companies; each event includes professional career speakers with presentations on relevant job search topics, three to four hiring companies, networking, resume help, career coaches, LinkedIn coaches and business portraits. Central Christian Church, Gilbert Campus/Student Center, 965 E. Germann Road, Gilbert 480-442-5806, careerconnectors.org

Christian Business Networking, Tri-City Chapter – Chandler, Tempe, Mesa 7:15 a.m. Tuesdays Offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and business referrals. Crackers and Co. Café, 535 W. Iron Avenue, Mesa Maia, 480-425-0624, christianbusinessnetworking.com Christian Business Networking, Chandler Bi-Monthly Chapter 7:45 a.m. second and fourth Tuesdays each month Offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and business referrals. Chandler Christian Church, Building B, Room 202, 1825 S. Alma School Road, Chandler Maia, 480-425-0624, christianbusinessnetworking.com HOPE—Help Overcoming Painful Experiences 7 p.m. Tuesdays Free weekly small-group sessions helping people overcome emotional pain caused by divorce, grief, addictions and more; free child care for children ages 10 and younger. Desert Springs Church 19620 S. McQueen Road, Room 106, Chandler hope4all@comcast.net, helpovercomingpainfulexperiences.org

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

Gong Meditation and Yoga Nidra 7 to 8:30 p.m. third Wednesday Presented by Will Zecco, gong master. Bring yoga mat, blanket and pillow as desired. Love offerings will be accepted. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center, 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org “A Course in Miracles” with the Rev. Julianne Lewis 1 to 2:15 p.m. Wednesdays The weekly group is an interactive time of learning and sharing, appropriate for course beginners, as well as longtime students of ACIM. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org. The Art of Parenting 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays Six-session course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and presented by Rabbi Mendy Deitsch of Chabad of the East Valley, designed to help parents at all levels of Jewish knowledge develop their own parenting philosophies and techniques. Cost is $99. Chandler Jewish Community Center 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler 480-855-4333 or rabbi@chabadcenter.com.

Shalom Chapter of Hadassah 11:30 a.m. second Tuesday of each month Iron Oaks (Oakwood) Clubhouse 24218 S. Oakwood Boulevard, Sun Lakes Cyril, 480-802-0243; Kathy, 480-895-5194; Shirley, 480-883-9159; or Joyce, 480-802-4902.

Grief Care 6:45 p.m. Wednesdays A place to come share your feelings or just listen to others as we try to navigate through our grief. You don’t have to do it alone. Epiphany Lutheran Church, South Campus, old church building, 800 W. Ray Road, Room 325, Chandler griefcareaz@gmail.com.

Monthly Women’s Fellowship 6:15 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month The monthly fellowship Bible study with the East Valley Chapter of Christian Women’s Devotional Alliance “ministers to women’s spiritual, emotional and physical needs.” Best Western-Mezona, 250 W. Main Street, Mesa 480-232-3773

Healing Prayer and Meditation Circle 7 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays Guided prayer, affirmations and visualization for those facing physical, emotional, mental or spiritual issues in their lives. Love offering requested. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800

Narcotics Anonymous (Nar-Anon), Chandler Chapter 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Twelve-step program for families and friends of addicts. Faith Community Church 1125 N. Dobson Road, Chandler, nar-anon.org

Meditation Moments 7 to 8:30 p.m. third Wednesday of the month An interactive time of learning and sharing, appropriate for beginners or longtime students of ACIM.

WEDNESDAYS

Panic Healing 7 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday Receive a 15-minute energetic tuneup. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800

Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church 12 p.m. Healing and Eucharist service

see

CONNECTIONS page 63

Come, Worship the Lord

Praise Him

Glorify His Name

SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 7–20, 2018

CONNECTIONS from page 61 St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church 901 W. Erie Street, Chandler 480-899-7386, saintmatthewschurch.org

THURSDAYS

Women’s Empowerment & Awakening 7 to 8:30 p.m. third Thursday Release negative beliefs. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 A Course in Miracles 7 p.m. first, second and fourth Thursday Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Empower Model for Men 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays The three-class series is taught by author Scott E. Clark and designed to offer practical wisdom and tools to help men shift into their higher consciousness, based on the seven-step empower model detailed in Clark’s book, “Empower Model for Men.” Cost is $85. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road,, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Real Love Support Group 6:30 p.m. Thursdays For those who have a desire to acquire more “real love” and in the process find great personal happiness and more fulfilling relationships. Love offering requested. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800

FRIDAYS

Temple Havurat Emet 7:30 p.m. first Friday of each month Lecky Center, Robson Library 9330 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, templehavuratemet.org Grief 10 to 11:30 a.m. every Friday Each session presents a 45-minute videotape of expertise of counselors, pastors and others who have coped with grief and understand its effects and the steps toward healing. Each week a different stand-alone topic is presented as part of 13 sessions. Discussion follows, but participation is entirely voluntary. Call 480-895-1088 for information. The program is offered at First Baptist Church Sun Lakes.

SATURDAYS

Spirit Night – Psychic Fair 4 to 8 p.m. third Saturday of each month The “Lightworkers” offer a wide range of services, including Reiki, facials, mediums, drumming, tarot, angel messages and more. Services range from $20 to $30. Cash only. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa interfaith-community.org heatherposey70@gmail.com. Spirit Night – A Holistic Healing Festival 1 to 6 p.m. third Saturday of the month Lightworkers offer a wide range of services including Reiki, facials, mediums, drumming, tarot, angel messages and more. Services range from $20 to $30. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa interfaith-community.org heatherposey70@gmail.com

Sun Lakes Community Holocaust Commemoration and Observance Sun Lakes Community Holocaust Commemoration Observance Hosted by the Sun Lakesand Jewish Congregation Friday, April 13th • 7pm Hosted by the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation DOORS Friday, OPEN AT 6:30PM FOR THE COMMUNITY April 13th • 7pm TO LIGHT CANDLES IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO PERISHED. DOORS OPEN AT 6:30PM FOR THE COMMUNITY Social HourINwill follow in OF the THOSE Navajo Room TO LIGHT CANDLES MEMORY WHO PERISHED.

of the Sun Lakes Country Club. entire community is invited to participate Social The Hour will follow the Navajo of Room the Sun Lakes Social Hour willinfollow in theRoom Navajo this The historic event of solidarity and worship. CountryinClub. entire community is invited to of the Sun Lakes Country Club. participate in Further information be to obtained this historic event solidarity and worship. Further information The entireofcommunity is may invited participate from the participating congregations. mayinbethis obtained from the participating congregations. historic event of solidarity and worship. Further information may be obtained Participants include: from the participating congregations. Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation, Rabbi Dr. Irwin Wiener, Cantor Ronda Polesky Sun Lakes United Methodist Church,Rev. Participants include:Dr. Marvin Arnpriester, United Church of Christ, Rev. Dr. Vernon Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation, Rabbi Dr. Irwin Wiener, Meyer Cantor Ronda Polesky Sun Lakes Community Church, Rev. McGhee Sun Lakes United Methodist Church,Rev. Dr.Jerry Marvin Arnpriester, Unity Church of Sun Lakes,Rev. Rev.Dr.Dr.Vernon DebbieMeyer Brown United Church of Christ, Sun Church, Rev. Rev. Dr. Nathan Bowman SunLakes LakesLutheran Community Church, Jerry McGhee JointUnity ChoirChurch participation under the direction of Lana Oyer of Sun Lakes, Rev. Dr. Debbie Brown Sun Lakes Lutheran Church, Rev. Dr. Nathan Bowman Joint Choir participation under the direction of Lana Oyer

FAITH

Unity Drumming and Healing Circle 6:30 to 8 p.m. fourth Saturday of each month Beginner, expert drummers and observers welcome. Bring snack, appetizer or dessert to share. Love donation accepted. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org

OTHER

Forever Marriage Ministries Marriage Restoration Support Group for Wives Offers hope to the hurting Valleywide through one-on-one Biblical marriage teaching, God-honoring wife discipleship and marriage restoration mentoring to wives seeking God’s will in the restoration of marriage. Lisa, 602-377-8847, marriage@lisacmyers.com, forevermarriageministries.com, facebook.com/forevermarriages Jewish Women International, Avodah Chapter 1581 Monthly luncheon. Social Box Eateries, 1371 N. Alma School Road, Chandler RSVP: 480-802-9304, 480-655-8812 Moms in Prayer International A group of mothers who meet one hour each week to intercede for their children and schools through prayer. Liane Wright, 480-699-7887, momsinprayer.org

Bible Study Meets twice a month Members of the Women’s Life Group study the Bible and discuss how the lessons can relate to their lives. Sun Lakes United Church of Christ, Chandler. Jan Olson: 480-802-7457, Joy King 480-588-1882 East Valley Jewish Couples Club Offers once-a-month social activities such as dining, movies and plays for Jewish couples in the 45- to 65-year-old age range. Melissa, 480-785-0744, beadlover@cox.net. Let us help you publicize your church or temple’s events in the Spirituality section by emailing details to news@santansun. com. Include a brief description of the event, times, days, dates, cost or free, if registration is required, venue, address, publishable phone number, website if applicable and contact information for verification purposes. We welcome photos, which must be 300 dpi JPEGs or taken on a digital camera on the “best” or “highest quality” setting. Information is due 10 days prior to publication date. Submission does not guarantee placement.

Chandler United Methodist Church Making and Deploying Disciples for over 100 Years.

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors. Register now for

SUNDAY WORSHIP Rolling River Rampage SUNDAY SCHOOL Worship 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Vacation Bible School coming June 18-22

For Children 9:10 a.m. & 10:40 a.m.

480-963-3360 | www.chandlermethodist.org | 450 E. Chandler Heights Rd.