SanTan Sun News - May 6, 2017 by Times Media Group

Man charged after near-tragic barbershop shooting

BY JIM WALSH

Michael David Hart got angry over a comment made by the owner of a Chandler tattoo parlor, angry enough to go outside to a car and retrieve a gun from the trunk.

What happened next easily could have become tragic.

Chandler police accuse Hart, who has a large tattoo of a woman on his neck, of firing into a barbershop next door, narrowly missing a 4-year-old girl who had been sitting in a chair, watching cartoons on television.

The girl was cut by broken glass in the April 10 shooting at a strip mall in the 500 block of North Alma School Road.

Chandler police worked around the clock and eventually tracked down Hart the next day at a house near Dobson High School in Mesa. A suspected accomplice was arrested at another location nearby, according to court records, but charges against him were dropped.

Detective Seth Tyler, a police spokesman, said Hart had been falling asleep in a chair as the owner of the shop tried to give him a tattoo. Hart apparently became enraged when the

shop owner suggested that he come back while sober.

A court document filed by Chandler police detectives said a surveillance video

Chandler teen becomes first female football player to sign national letter of intent

BY JASON SKODA

A Basha High School senior is burning brightly in the national spotlight now, but it all really began more than a decade ago.

showed the car in which Hart was riding back up, and then pull forward. Three shots rang out, striking the barbershop, even though the tattoo parlor next door was the intended target, the court

document said.

“Two shots pierced the glass at the head level of the girl, passing on either side of her head,’’ the report said. “The reaction of the child is immediate, as she turns and flees away from the glass.’’

The court document said Hart had been working at a cabinet company and had a history of arrests on drug and traffic charges. It said Hart attempted to flee from officers who were surrounding the house, but he was taken into custody.

Eventually, police found a gun in the room where Hart had been staying.

Police quickly identified Hart as a suspect because he was a known customer at the tattoo parlor. Detectives contacted family and friends, including his girlfriend.

“The current girlfriend stated that Michael had been involved in a shooting and that he had “popped of(f) some rounds,’’ the court document said.

Another friend reported to police that Hart told him he was trying to leave the state because he was in trouble. At the time

Chandler mom who gave birth to micro-preemie celebrates his growth

BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Mother’s Day is a special time, when women often reflect on how much their babies, whether they are infants or adults, have grown and accomplished.

But Chandler resident Mitzie Warner, 39, may be counting her blessings even more than other moms because her baby boy, Dylan, was born prematurely at 1 pound, 8 ounces a little over a year ago.

A premature birth is when the baby is born more than three weeks before it is due, according to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. A “very pre-term” baby is one born at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy, the site said.

Not only was Dylan born prematurely, with his left eye fused shut, but Warner had struggled since her early 30s to conceive.

Becca Longo became the first female football player to sign a national letter of intent for football, and the news brought national interviews with CNN, ESPN and “Good Morning America.”

None of that was the goal when she

She and her husband, Jeremy, had suffered heartbreak and spent about

FEATURE STORIES

Rafael Santos was arrested by police as an accomplice in the shooting, but prosecutors have dropped charges against him.

(Photos courtesy of Chandler Police Department)

Michael David Hart is accused of firing into a barbershop. A grand jury indicted him on a series of felony charges.

(Photo by Jeremy Warner)

Dylan Warner weighed only 1 pound, 8 ounces when he was born in April 2016. Today, he is thriving.

(Photo by Billy Hardiman)

Becca Longo of Basha High School kicks an extra point during the first half of a home game against Hamilton on Oct. 14, 2016.

Since the total loss of our

from the

we experienced on

8th

we have

Since the total loss of our building from the devastating fire we experienced on January 8th 2017, we have been making preparation for our new building to be constructed on the same site. During the planning and building process, we are moving in some temporary modular buildings to be used for the mortuary, cemetery office and chapel. In the meantime, we have been using the Chapel Mausoleum on the North end of the property for our makeshift office. We want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the community and especially the families of the people we have served for their understanding and patients during this trying process.

making preparation for our new building to be constructed on the same site. During the planning and building process, we are moving in some temporary modular buildings to be used for the mortuary, cemetery office and chapel. In the meantime, we have been using the Chapel Mausoleum on the North end of the property for our makeshift office. We want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the community and especially the families of the people we have served for their understanding and patients during this trying process.

Valley of the Sun Cemetery

10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd. Chandler, AZ 85248 480.895.9232

Valley of the Sun Cemetery

10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd. Chandler, AZ 85248 480.895.9232

www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com

Police seek mosque burglary suspect

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The Chandler Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a man suspected of burglarizing the Islamic Center of the East Valley around 11 p.m. on March 30.

The suspect, who broke into the mosque and stole an undisclosed amount of money, is described as a white male between 30 and 50 years old, between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-2, with a receding hairline. Video surveillance from the burglary shows him wearing a blue shirt under a dark jacket, khaki pants and gray shoes.

$60,000 on fertility treatments before she got pregnant. Wagner went through a few rounds of intrauterine insemination, a process where sperm are washed and put directly into a woman’s uterus or Fallopian tubes about the time the ovary releases one or more eggs to be fertilized. But the process did not result in pregnancy for her. She then did a round of in vitro fertilization (IVF), where eggs are removed from a woman’s body and combined with sperm in a laboratory dish. Then the fertilized egg or embryo is transferred to the uterus in this complex procedure.

Warner did not get pregnant after the first round of IVF, either.

“I tried a variety of things,” to get pregnant, said Warner, who had worked in public relations for a Scottsdale firm. “Nothing worked. I was devastated. I felt so defeated and so sad and so mentally drained that it was like I can’t do this anymore.”

A few years later she tried IVF again, and this time it worked.

At last, in November 2015, Warner learned she was pregnant. Everything seemed to be going well at her doctor’s appointments, but after about 25 weeks, she started bleeding.

“I’m thinking I’m miscarrying,” Warner said. “I felt so helpless. I had to get to the hospital. They did a workup; they said the baby’s fine. I had a bladder infection.”

In April 2016, she was admitted to the hospital, where she learned her baby’s membranes had ruptured, meaning the baby had an infection and had to be delivered early.

“We just were so caught off guard,” War-

Chandler/Gilbert Family YMCA reopens during Healthy Kids Day

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The Valley of the Sun YMCA is making a splash in Chandler while trying to educate youths about water safety.

round pools in Ahwatukee, Copper Basin, Desert Foothills, Lincoln Downtown and the Southwest Valley.

Earlier in the evening on March 30, the Masjid Bilal Rabah mosque in Maricopa was also burglarized. Investigators believe the same suspect is responsible for both burglaries.

Anyone with information regarding the identification of the suspect is asked to contact the Chandler Police Department at 480-782-4130, the Maricopa Police Department at 520-568-3673, or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377. Silent Witness is offering a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of this suspect.

ner said. “It was hard to even process. I ended up having the baby at exactly 26 weeks. We just had to take it a day at a time.

“I couldn’t hold him for a week,” she added. “He did not come home (from the hospital) until the end of August.”

Baby Dylan suffered from retinopathy of prematurity, a potentially blinding eye disorder that mainly affects premature infants who weigh 2¾ pounds or less.

As part of the 26th annual YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, 10 out of 14 Valley YMCA branch swimming pools are now open, with five of them having reopened for the season on April 29. One of those five that reopened is in Chandler. May is National Water Safety Month.

Healthy Kids Day was a chance to urge parents to get their kids active physically and mentally, rather than spending their summers not doing anything. More than a million participants were expected to get involved in Healthy Kids Day, making it one of the country’s biggest health days for children.

Family swim time was a feature of the pool reopenings at the YMCAs in Chandler, Christown, East Valley, Glendale and Scottsdale/Paradise Valley. Other YMCAs in the Valley have year-

But he’s made tremendous progress, and a recent doctor’s appointment revealed he is seeing normally. He is crawling and “growing at his own pace.”

“I feel so happy,” Warner said. “I feel like everything came together and it was all worth it.”

She said Dylan is thriving because of support from loving friends, family and neighbors in Chandler, as well as help from pediatric physical therapist Candy Bromley with RISE, Early Intervention Services. The company helps families meet their young children’s developmental and health-related needs. Its main office is in Mesa and therapy is offered to children around the state, with many therapists around the East Valley.

Warner said Bromley helps Dylan with his motor skills development.

“He is a super-curious and smart little guy,” Bromley said of Dylan in an email. “He makes progress between each visit. He continues to gain skills that bring him closer to his chronological age. He will take on the world!”

Warner has been sharing her story because she wants to help other women struggling with infertility. At a March of Dimes Walk in April in downtown Phoenix, she and her husband, along with their family members and friends, raised close to $1,500 for the organization, which generates funds to try to prevent premature births.

She’s not alone in her struggle, according to Dr. Drew Moffitt, a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist practicing in Gilbert. He’s also director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Banner University Medical Center in downtown Phoenix and on the faculty for the University of Arizo-

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children ages one to 14. The CDC also says it’s the fifth-leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for people of all ages in this country.

“Warm weather is on the way, which means many families will be heading to beaches, pools, lakes and waterparks during the summer,” said Jackie Morgan, executive director of leadership and risk management for the Valley of the Sun YMCA. “The Y is ‘America’s Swim Instructor’ and the most accessible community resource to prevent drowning and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming.”

The Chandler/Gilbert Family YMCA is at 1655 W. Frye Road. To learn more, visit valleyymca.org/chandler-gilbert

na College of Medicine, Phoenix campus.

About 12 percent of women ages 15 to 44 in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s statistics posted online in March.

Moffitt said it’s important for women to see a doctor early on if they have problems conceiving.

“One of the biggest challenges we have is people postponing when they try” to get pregnant, he said.

If women are not ready to have a baby yet, he recommended they consider fertility preservation, where they freeze their eggs, ideally when they are between the ages of 25 and 34, to increase their chances of getting pregnant. Their odds of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby decrease greatly after age 40.

IVF treatments are not cheap and most health insurance plans do not cover such services. These treatments typically cost $8,000 to $10,000 per cycle, Moffitt said. His practice is going to start offering the fertility preservation soon and will likely charge people either $150 a month to store their eggs or $7,000 paid upfront for an unlimited storage time and no monthly costs.

As for Wagner, she enjoyed celebrating Dylan’s one-year birthday on Easter and is grateful every day for him.

“To be able to have him home this Mother’s Day, it’s a wonderful feeling, especially the fact that I get to celebrate with him at the house,” she said.

“It’s a miracle. He’s a miracle. He was worth the wait.”

To learn more about infertility treatments, visit resolve.org.

(Courtesy of Chandler Police Department)

Video stills of the man suspected of burglarizing the Islamic Center of the East Valley

(Photo Special to SanTan Sun News)

(Photo by Jeremy Warner)

Dylan Warner’s pediatric physical therapist describes him as “a super-curious and smart little guy.”

Mother-daughter business team helps people get organized

BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Getting organized can be an emotional rollercoaster for people as they struggle to decide what longtime possessions to keep and which ones to throw away or donate.

Recruiting the help of Erika Gentner and Kerry Rehberg, co-owners of Dependable Divas, a professional organizing company with clients in Chandler, can help.

The mother-and-daughter duo spends much time in Chandler, along with Mesa, Gilbert, Ahwatukee and Tempe, tackling people’s messy closets, play rooms, garages and other areas of their homes.

“A lot of times when people call, they are in the middle of a life-changing event – if it’s death, divorce, a move, a new baby – so a lot of times people are very emotional,” Gentner, a married mother of two sons, said. “We’re probably greeted at the door once a week to someone crying. It could be tears of fear or tears of happiness. Fifty percent of our jobs is counseling; the other 50 percent of jobs is actual organizing.

“I know how busy and hectic life can be,” she added. “I know how much better and smoother my house runs when it is organized.”

A former event planner with a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Northern Arizona University, Gentner and her mother started the company 11 years ago. Gentner had also worked as a household manager for a family in California and Rehberg had worked as an assistant to a CEO.

The two women put their organizational skills together in starting the company, initially doing mostly personal assisting for people, including helping clients pay their bills and get clothes from dry cleaners.

“Once we got into homes, we thought maybe they need help with their stuff,” Gentner said. “We’d go from room to room and help them get organized.

“We mostly do the organization now,” she said. “We help people with their moves, help get them de-cluttered before they move. We’ll help them unpack.”

Customers can request a certain area or get the whole house organized. Three to five contract workers will help Gentner and Rehberg organize an entire house. Sometimes only two people are needed to organize an area.

Before starting their work, Gentner and Rehberg ask clients questions, including whether they are comfortable sending photos of the space that needs to be improved.

“We ask them questions on the phone,” Gentner said. “What areas do you need the most? If you could wave a magic wand, what would it look like? Are you willing to get rid of items? Do you have built-in storage? How long has it been since you’ve been through your closet?”

After talking for about 30 minutes, the ladies have a good idea of “what the problem areas are” and how many people it will take to do the work, she said. About 75 percent of the calls are from women, often between the ages of 30 and 60.

It costs customers $55 an hour per organizer. The clients also must reimburse Dependable Divas for any products the business buys to help them get organized, including bins, baskets or shelves.

When it comes to deciding what things the organizers will donate to charity

or throw out and what items to keep, some clients want to see every belonging first, Gentner said. Some people want to supervise the organizers and approve everything before it’s given away, while other clients don’t want to be involved.

Gentner said people often have too much stuff in their master bedroom closets and have trouble parting with clothes that hold sentimental value.

She and Rehberg ask clients when they last wore certain clothes. If it’s been a while, they suggest the clients donate them. It’s okay to keep some things for sentimental value, but the organizers urge them to display it somehow, perhaps in a frame or archivable photo box.

It’s easier for Gentner and Rehberg to be objective in deciding what clients might want to keep, as they have no emotional attachment to the belongings.

“You don’t just want it wadded up in your sock drawer,” Gentner said.

Speaking of sock drawers, she and Rehberg said one special moment was when they were helping a young single mother whose husband had died suddenly. While they were packing the husband’s clothes, they discovered he had hidden money in his dress socks, which meant his widow, who had three young daughters, received more than $3,000.

They said the woman was crying with joy.

Another perk of the job is seeing people excited about the positive changes in their homes.

“That’s probably one of the best parts about the job is at the end when you get that big smile and hug,” Gentner said.

Working with her mother is also a benefit of the job.

“It all just comes so naturally,” Gentner said. “We are able to finish one another’s sentences or act without even saying a word to each other.”

Rehberg also had praise for her daughter.

“Who do I know and adore more than anyone else in the world? My daughter. Erika was, and still is 11 years later, my

number one choice as a business partner,” she said. “She is trustworthy and honest, which are huge in our line of work.”

For anyone who wants to try and get organized on their own, Gentner offered advice. When trying to organize bedroom closets, she recommends grouping clothes by types, including all pink shirts hung near each other and all black work pants in one section.

In children’s playrooms, Gentner likes to put toys in bins with labels bearing pictures on them to help younger kids know where to put things away.

To learn more about Dependable Divas, visit dependable-divas.com.

(Photo by Allison Tyler Jones)

Kerry Rehberg and her daughter, Erika Gentner, co-own Dependable Divas, a professional organizing company.

Chandler, Queen Creek teens earn prestigious Girl Scout award

BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Three Chandler girls and one Queen Creek girl are getting recognized for giving back to the community.

Kathlene Hartle, Amanda Molina and Claire Mushet of Chandler and Justice Williams of Queen Creek recently earned prestigious Gold Awards from the Girl Scouts – Arizona-Pine Council. The Council gave this highest award in Girl Scouting to 33 girls around the state earlier this year.

Girls who try to earn the Gold Award aim to turn an idea and vision for change into a real plan with sustainable, measurable and wide-reaching results.

The process for pursuing a Gold Award often takes 18 to 24 months and involves asking for donations and consistent volunteering. Girls spend more than 80 hours working on their project to tackle a community problem important to them.

Hartle, 18, wanted to slow the decline of monarch butterflies and persuaded the Chandler Parks Department to give her a 2,100-square-foot space to hold migrating monarchs. She got donations for materials and plants and found volunteers to clear the garden, put in plants and set up irrigation.

“Receiving the Gold Award was the personal culmination of the work I had accomplished, all I had learned in the process and a wonderful end to my journey through Girl Scouts,” Hartle said. “The Gold Award was truly an honor I

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of his arrest, Hart had more than $2,600 in his possession, the court document said.

Hart’s history with the criminal justice system includes a series of drug arrests and other charges mostly related to drug use.

A grand jury subsequently indicted Hart on a series of felony charges, including aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, discharge of a weapon at a structure and misconduct involving a weapon, according to a court document.

The defendant was held without bond until his next court appearance in June. A document noted he had been released on bond in an unrelated 2016 case.

The barbershop incident drew national

will always cherish.”

Molina, 18, volunteered with Lost Our Home Pet Foundation in Tempe to create Miles for Mutts, a volunteer-driven program to give dogs more exercise in order to decrease their stress and make them more desirable for adoption. She marketed the project to area volunteer groups, set up a pledge program and got a treadmill for dogs donated.

“Receiving this award has given me a great sense of pride and accomplishment,” Molina said. “To me, it represents the dedication and hard work that I have put into Girl Scouts for the past 12 years that I have been involved.”

Mushet, 17, worked with the City of Chandler to lead hikes at Veterans

Oasis Park for elementary school-age children to help them enjoy experiencing nature and get them away from computers. She also held classes to teach the students about outdoor safety and Leave No Trace, a program that encourages conservation.

“My Gold Award experience represented three years of determined work,” Mushet said. “Also, I gained a lot of experience with children. This has helped me focus my career goals. I hope to one day work with children of all ages as a psychologist.”

Williams, 19, heard that Unified Athletes, a group of students with special needs, was trying without much success to raise money for new uniforms. She

hosted a show with her a cappella club, the Perry Pipes, to raise money for the group. Williams helped raise money so the students with special needs could buy soccer shorts and inspired the school principal to purchase matching jerseys.

“Receiving this award represented all the years of my life that I had dedicated to Girl Scouting and it was the biggest example of what is achievable when I can put hard work and dedication into a certain task,” Williams said.

The Gold Award winners were recognized March 25 at the Girl Scout High Award Ceremony at The Bob & Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women at Camp South Mountain.

attention from CNN and a syndicated tabloid television show after police released a video of the incident.

Rafael Nicholas Santos, 21, was arrested by police as an accomplice in the shooting on April 11 in the 2000 block of South Dobson Road. He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, endangerment and discharging a weapon at a non-residence.

But prosecutors subsequently decided to dismiss all charges against Santos.

Santos was released from a state prison on April 2 after serving a threeyear sentence on a misconduct involving weapons charge, according to state Department of Corrections records.

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began idolizing Heidi Garrett more than a decade ago, after Longo saw her kick for her brother’s high school team in California. Garrett holds the national record for females with a 48-yard field goal.

Nor was it the dream when Longo was in San Diego for a soccer tournament and she booted a penalty kick so high and far past the goal that people on the sidelines mockingly made the sign for a good field goal.

It’s only now that Division II Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado, saw enough in her recruiting tape she sent out and the confidence she showed in the initial visit at Basha to give her an opportunity. Reportedly, a female has never gotten a football scholarship at the Division I or II level until Longo signed her letter of intent last month.

“It’s crazy to think about it and how much it is blowing up,” Longo said. “Everyone is saying I’m the first one to do it, and that’s hard for me to believe. It’s just a title. It doesn’t change anything for me. I just want to do what I love.”

The love started for good when she saw Queen Creek playing spring ball her freshman year.

“Me and my friend said we were going to play football,” said Longo, who kicked for the Bulldogs’ JV team as a sophomore. “Only, I really did.”

It’s that kind of mentality that sealed the deal for Adams State coach and former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Timm Rosenbach.

“What I want to make clear is that

(she) is capable of doing this at this level,” Rosenbach said. “Do I see her making 54-yarders or kicking off for us? No, but I’ve seen players aged 18 to 35 miss a lot chip shots. As long as you make the kicks you are supposed to make, then you have something.

“In just talking to her, you can tell there is a mental toughness. She is the one who put herself out there. This is something she wants to do, so if she is good enough to do it, we should afford her the opportunity.”

It is one she is not taking lightly.

Longo made a 30-yard field goal and 30 of 33 field goal attempts last season after sitting out 2015. Now she is headed to Alamosa in the fall ready to do whatever it takes to succeed.

“I just want to go and kick, and play basketball,” said Longo, who hopes to play both sports. “I plan on studying sports management and focusing on my schooling. I know I am getting a chance to do something that most people don’t so I am going to do my best to make it happen.”

And if she happens to inspire some younger girls, like Garrett did for her, then she will do her best to do just that along the way.

“It is hard to put into words what all of this means,” she said. “I never expected any of this and I am speechless when it comes to the amount of support and help I’ve received to get me through this process.

“I just want to kick and get better, but if it can inspire some young girls to do something like that then I hope it works out like a dream like it has for me.”

(Photos courtesy of the Girl Scouts- Arizona – Cactus- Pine Council)

Girl Scouts Gold Award winners were (from left): Justice Williams of Queen Creek and Amanda Molina, Kathlene Hartle and Claire Mushet of Chandler.

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City of Chandler Insider

InfoMap helps residents find police stations, city parks, libraries, other facilities

BY THE CITY OF CHANDLER

Have you ever wondered where the nearest fire or police station is to your house? Or city park, pool, library or other municipal facility? How about something less apparent, such as a sewer lift station, stormwater pump station or water reclamation facility?

Since 2004, visitors to Chandler’s website, chandleraz.gov, have had access to a unique online map called InfoMap that shows where various city facilities are located, plus information about the facility, along with a phone number and web link to obtain additional information if desired.

The initial development of InfoMap grew out of the displeasure expressed by some south Chandler homeowners in 2003 when they learned of plans to expand the city’s solid waste transfer station located near their neighborhood. Although the expansion plans were on the books for more than a decade, the first many learned of the project was at a city meeting to unveil the design.

From this controversy came the decision to provide an online map showing the location of city facilities, along with a description, including any expansion plans, and a phone number to call for more information.

Over the years, InfoMap has grown to include the locations of public schools and information about neighborhoods. On April 19, a new and improved InfoMap was uploaded to the city’s website that provides greater functionality and additional content, including the location and expected duration of traffic restrictions caused by construction projects.

The map has a legend that lists the various facility types displayed on the map. Each type has a specific symbol. As you zoom into the map, additional layers of information appear and their corresponding symbol shows up in the legend. Clicking on a symbol, such as the Municipal Building symbol, activates a pop-up window with the address, phone number, website and description of the facility.

A Basemap Selector allows users to change from a line map to an aerial map and a search tool helps locate addresses and facilities. A Near Me widget allows users to type in an address to find out what facilities are located near that address.

The Neighborhoods widget is especially useful, as it shows the location

The

Chandler’s InfoMap shows road restrictions, among other information.

of neighborhoods registered with the city, of which there are more than 300, and clicking on the neighborhood opens a pop-up window showing the number of homes, establishment date, contact information and links to maps of the neighborhood that can be printed. Users not finding their neighborhood on InfoMap can contact Chandler’s Neighborhood Programs Office at 480-782-4300 to get registered.

The road restriction information is the latest addition and the restrictions appear on the map as red, green or blue lines, depending on the severity of the traffic restriction. Clicking on the location opens a pop-up window describing the restriction and expected duration. Also new to InfoMap is a layer that indicates which streets are privately owned, and therefore not maintained by the city. This

data layer appears as users zoom into the map and disappears when zooming out. Although not part of InfoMap, a link from the map is provided to an interactive planning map tool showing the location of current zoning cases. The properties are color-highlighted and clicking on the property brings up a pop-up window containing the name of the project, case number, name of the city planner assigned to the case, a phone number and, if scheduled, the dates of public hearings, along with the staff memo.

Geographic information system (GIS) technology was used to make the maps, and while the technology behind GIS can be rather complex, its use in creating these maps gives people an easy way to learn more about their surroundings.

In the words of environmentalscience. org, an advocate for science education and careers, “whether we understand and appreciate it or not, geography is vitally important in our everyday lives and understanding the geography around us and its importance is essential to our everyday lives.”

Making information about Chandler’s “geography” easily available through InfoMap and the Zoning Case map is a great way for the community to learn more about their city and advances the city’s commitment to greater transparency.

To view Chandler’s InfoMap, visit chandleraz.gov/infomap. The planning map tool can be found at chandleraz.gov/ gis/planning.

(Photos courtesy of City of Chandler)

City of

Jerry Corum works for Chandler’s Information Technology Division as a programmer analyst, providing support for the city’s geographic information system (GIS), is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking and displaying data related to positions on the Earth’s surface. GIS can show many different kinds of data on one map.

Recently, Corum updated the city’s online map called InfoMap, which displays the locations of facilities the city believes are of particular interest to the public, including fire stations, parks, aquatic centers, police substations, sewer lift stations, the city’s airport, and more.

Corum is a native Arizonan who grew up in Camp Verde with seven siblings. He has a degree in archaeology from Arizona State University and a graduate degree in geographic information science and technology from the University of Southern California. His interest in GIS was spawned while doing archaeological field work on the Caribbean island of Carriacou, where a GIS specialist was tasked with mapping the location of artifacts the students unearthed, along with areas of coastline.

The maps developed from the work of the GIS specialist showed considerable beach erosion caused by

City of Chandler Insider

Employee Profile

sand mining. When the information was presented to local authorities, the government took steps to protect the beaches. The role GIS played in identifying the problem made an impression with Corum, leading him to change his focus of study from archa eology to GIS sciences. He brings a breadth of experience to the City of Chandler, having previously worked as a computer technician for a school district in Camp Verde, in customer service for

Apple and Taser, and for the premier company involved with GIS software development, ESRI. He spent a year in Alaska working on a research vessel and was a counselor at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Corum says his varied background helps him relate to people using the technology.

“Having all this experience in different places, I know what it’s like to be the user,” he said. “When things are broken, I know how it feels.”

He also said he needed to develop

thick skin while working in customer service at Apple.

“It took a long time for me not to take things personally, like they’re yelling at me,” he said. “They’re not yelling at me; they’re just frustrated.”

There’s not a lot of yelling in his city job, as he is making a lot of employees happy with the various mapping tools and applications he is developing for their use. One of his favorite projects helps the police department determine which homes have been contacted when canvassing a neighborhood.

He says officers can enter information into their smartphones indicating a home was contacted, which then displays on a map that uses different colors to show which homes still need to be reached. Corum said this can be especially helpful in an emergency situation where a neighborhood needs to be evacuated.

When asked if having such an interest in computers and technology makes him a nerd, he laughed and said he’s more of a geek than a nerd.

“You can be a geek and not be a nerd,” Corum explained. “You can be a geek about a lot of things. Like my dad is a geek about remote control airplanes; he loves them. But nerds are like, ‘Let’s do math for fun!’”

(Photo courtesy of the City of Chandler)

Jerry Corum works as a programmer analyst.

Chandler

Don’t anticipate President Trump’s “skinny budget” becoming law, expect continued acrimony between the leadership of both major parties in Congress and hope the White House develops a strategy for dealing with rogue nations and other international security threats.

Those were the thoughts echoed by two local members of Congress on opposite ends of the political spectrum who participated in a 75-minute dialogue during the East Valley Partnership’s annual Statespersons Luncheon April 19 in Tempe.

Both second-term Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, whose district includes parts of Chandler, Mesa and Ahwatukee, and fresh-

both chambers of Congress but said that was largely driven by the party leadership and that relationships between lower-level representatives were often on friendlier terms. They also said TV focused on the bickering because that’s what producers find more interesting.

“TV prefers a train wreck, and Congress will provide one every day,” Sinema said, adding that some of the partisan moves by her party’s leaders in the Senate have left her “heartbroken” because they will continue to thwart cooperation on the big issues that Congress should resolve.

Biggs said he was one of 50 freshman members of Congress from both parties

man Republican Andy Biggs, whose district includes parts of Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek, shared a surprising number of views about what they see – and aren’t seeing – in Washington, D.C.

In some ways, it may not be surprising that the two found agreement on so many points despite their widely disparate political views, since Sinema and Biggs were both state legislators for about a decade.

who signed an agreement to maintain civil relationships, but said that among the party leadership “those divides are really big.”

Both officials also complained about the absence of communication – even within their own party – in the face of the government shutdown that eventually was averted on April 28.

Congress ended up approving a oneweek spending measure in order to avoid a government shutdown, giving lawmakers more time to finish negotiations on a longterm spending package.

Chandler Vice Mayor Kevin Hartke, who attended the luncheon, said he looked forward to talking to Sinema and Biggs while he spent time in Washington, where he flew to join talks with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council earlier this week.

“I think they are working hard to represent their districts, and it’s a very interesting time to see what anybody will be able to get done with the new president and kind of restarting of how do you get things done in D.C. I hope they both represent Arizona well,” Hartke said in a voice message April 30.

At the luncheon, Biggs and Sinema bemoaned the lack of bipartisanship in

As for the longer-term 2017-18 annual budget that Congress theoretically is supposed to approve by the end of June, Biggs and Sinema doubted one would materialize.

Biggs called Trump’s “skinny budget” – dubbed partly because it omits a lot of detail – “aspirational,” and that he doubted it would be approved despite the fact his party controls Congress.

Sinema was more blunt: “What hasn’t changed is the math,” referring to House

Republican Congressman Andy Biggs expresses his views at the East Valley Partnership’s annual Statespersons Luncheon April 19.

(Photos by Kimberly Carrillo)

Democratic Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema talks at the East Valley Partnership’s annual Statespersons Luncheon April 19 in Tempe.

Speaker Paul Ryan’s lack of enough votes.

“We’re going to have trouble getting any budget done,” Biggs added.

Biggs seemed to have been shocked by a kind of casual attitude toward spending even within his own party.

He recalled how one fellow Republican wanted to spend $30 million to create an agency that would look at the regulations promulgated by other federal agencies and then advise Congress on which regulations should be abolished.

He said he went up to one colleague and said, “That’s our job,” but that colleague ridiculed him for thinking $30 million was a lot of money.

Biggs and Sinema both expressed concern and agreement over what they called the absence of a cohesive strategy for dealing with rogue nations and other terrorist threats.

“We don’t have a true foreign strategy,” Biggs said.

On issues affecting Arizona in a more immediate way, both Sinema and Biggs said Congress has been slowly eliminating a number of regulations that hurt innovation by businesses.

improve infrastructure, Biggs said Arizona needs “a lot of shovel-ready projects” in order to grab as much money from the program, which has not been detailed yet.

ect that won’t come to pass is the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

not going to spend it on a wall,” she said

Chandler bloggers were Valley’s only nominees for James Beard awards, planning new series

BY MIKE BUTLER

Although top Valley chefs were snubbed by this year’s James Beard awards, a Chandler couple was nominated for the prestigious 2017 Media Awards.

Married couple Michelle Jacoby and Mark Lipczynski, former staffers at the Arizona Republic, publish a blog called Bite: Eat, Drink, Wander, and were finalists for Best Video Webcast, on Location, for producing “Elements.”

The 17-minute film is a series of six video shorts that explores how Arizona chefs and other local food and drink artisans incorporate elements of nature into their work.

“Air,” for example, captures the passion of Derrick Shields, the official beekeeper at The Farm at Agritopia. In “Smoke,” Chef Jeff Kraus of Crepe Bar in Tempe showcases his latest inspiration and flavors using unique smoking techniques.

“Elements” was filmed by Andrew Gooi, a nine-year resident of the Valley whirlwind and we are so humbled at the

of what’s happening in Arizona with the rest of the country.”

The winners of the Best Video Webcast were directors Joe Williams and Alex Grossman, host Andrew Knowlton and producer Meghan Scibona for “Working 24 Hours at…,” which airs on video at bonappetit.com.

Jacoby and Lipczynski approached Gooi after viewing his film “Binkley’s,” the legendary restaurant that opened in Cave Creek in 2004. He had also created a stunning video portrait of chef Nobuo Fukuda, awarded the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2007.

“He’s a very genuine and authentic person and that comes through in his work,” said Lipczynski, who handles still photography for the creative team’s projects.

The James Beard Media Awards are just as big a deal as the food/ restaurant awards. They’re a feather in the cap for cookbook authors, TV shows, magazine heavyweights such as the New Yorker and Saveur, and upand-coming bloggers.

“Us just being in that room – it’s pretty incredible,” Jacoby said. “We thought they’d never notice us. We’re just three people with a camera.”

“It still hasn’t registered,” Lipczynski added. Jacoby and Lipczynski received their first validation that Bite was on the right track last year when they were in contention for Saveur’s annual Blog Award, an international competition. They met when she became editor of the Republic’s “AZ Magazine” and he became its principal photographer. They grew intensely interested in Arizona’s food scene, and each other, and married two years ago.

Now that the James Beard awards ceremony is over, Jacoby said Bite will turn its lens on a new series called “In Food We Trust,” which celebrates immigrant restaurant owners and makers.

“Bite is about telling the stories behind the story, so we’re always looking at how we can go deeper into the trends and issues that influence our culinary and craft communities,” she said.

The two are also planning a visit to Brazil to do a feature on the Peixoto family coffee farm.

“Our mission is to tell the story behind the story,” Jacoby said.

The film “Elements” and other stories can be viewed at readbite.com and foodtalkies.com.

(Photo by Mike Butler)

Michelle Jacoby and her husband, Mark Lipczynski, were nominated for the Best Video Webcast award as part of the James Beard awards for their film, “Elements.”

DVM Associate Veterinarian

“Our mission is to provide the

Stickland, DVM Owner/Operator of AMCofC

Duregger, DVM Associate Veterinarian

Wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth are almost certain to cause problems if left in place. This is particularly true of impacted wisdom teeth, such problems may occur suddenly and often at the most inconvenient time. While the kids are out for summer vacation, there couldn’t be a better time to take care of this preventative procedure.

The average mouth does not have room for the third molars, also known as “wisdom teeth,” to come in properly. These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems such as swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. The pressure from the wisdom teeth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic of natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. It is now recommended that impacted wisdom teeth be removed early to prevent these problems. Most commonly we remove wisdom teeth between the ages of 14 and 22 years whether they are causing problems or not. The procedure is technically easier and patients recover much quicker when they are younger. What is a relatively minor procedure at 20 can become quite difficult in patients as they get older. Also, the risk of complications increases with age and the healing process is slower. We utilize the latest technologies and techniques to make your procedure go smoother and your healing process faster.

For a consultation, please call Dr. Shah at 480.814.9500. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Board Certified, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Nish Shah, D.M.D., M.D.

Andrea

Carolyn

Gabriela Durig,

Lost diamond has a happy ending for newly engaged Chandler woman

BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA

Lisa Steinbring won’t forget the weekend of April 22 anytime soon.

She only has to look at the ring on her left hand to remember a 48-hour roller coaster of emotion.

Not only did she accept Ron Riffle’s proposal of marriage April 22, but the next day was her birthday.

And that day almost cost the Chandler woman her diamond engagement ring, had it not been for the help she received from strangers at an Ahwatukee park.

Even though Steinbring had pneumonia, friends of the couple wished to celebrate her double dose of happiness by attending an outdoor performance by their favorite band, Tripwire, at the season’s last Concerts in the Park event at Desert Foothills Park.

The concert turned into a community diamond hunt when the diamond centerpiece in her ring fell off and landed somewhere in the grass.

“Ron and I met last year as part of the Singles in Gilbert Meetup (group). Many of our SIG friends were with us to celebrate my birthday, and despite the pneumonia, we wanted to share our happy news,” said Steinbring, who days later was still battling the lung infection. “The only reason I even got off my chair was when the band announced our engagement, and we went up to dance,” she recalled.

One minute the ring with multiple sparkling stones was intact, then the next the center diamond was gone – the surrounding diamonds encircling an empty, gaping setting.

The loss energized a community of about

60 concertgoers into action.

After it was announced the diamond was missing, dozens of concert attendees searched in the sparse dry grass and abundant dirt for 45 minutes, their cellphones providing illumination in the gloaming, and then the dark.

“Someone came to me and said this poor lady had lost the diamond out of her ring –the centerpiece stone. I announced it after the band stopped playing, and 50 to 60 people immediately started helping to look for it,” recalled Ahwatukee resident and Realtor Randy Fitch, who has sponsored the Concerts in the Park series of free music for 15 years.

“The poor lady was crying her eyes out and her fiance was distraught but after searching themselves, they finally gave up and left,” Fitch said.

Steinbring was devastated.

“We had lost all hope, yet all our friends were praying to Saint Anthony that it would be found,” recalled Steinbring, whose 59-year-old husband succumbed to cancer two years ago.

Others who saw the couple’s angst persevered in the night search, among them Ahwatukee attorney Brian Foster, his fiancee Alina Chu and his two daughters, Kelsey and Brittany Foster.

“I wish I’d videotaped it because it was nighttime and suddenly you see all these cellphones with lights looking on the ground,” Foster said. “All of a sudden I heard a commotion and someone yelling, ‘I found it!’”

That voice belonged to Heather Unger, wife of Tripwire drummer Karl Unger, who was at the concert with their daughters.

“I couldn’t help look for the ring when it was announced, as I was watching the girls. After the gig ended, I packed up our chairs while my husband packed up his drums and equipment and headed downhill,” Unger recalled. “I opened the flashlight on my phone and thought, ‘What the heck; it’s worth a try’ and started looking for the diamond where everyone had been dancing,” Unger said.

“I almost passed it, but went back. I picked it up, and sure enough, it was the diamond! I yelled, ‘I found it, I found it!’” she said.

The euphoria of the discovery evaporated a bit when those remaining realized they had no idea who the couple was.

“I didn’t get her contact information, so I posted on Facebook that we’d found ‘something precious’ and they could contact

me,” Fitch said.

“Just as I got home, the fiance, Ron, called me. I said I needed some kind of evidence and he sent me a photo of the diamond ring on Lisa’s hand, and then another photo of it without the stone.”

Within 40 minutes, the couple and Fitch met up at a restaurant.

“She was shaking, she was so excited,” recalled Fitch.

“We couldn’t believe it,” said Steinbring, recalling the phone call.

“We are so grateful for this happy miracle memory of this ‘diamond in the rough,’ and for the quick, energetic action by everyone – the women, men and even young children who heeded the call to help once Randy announced it on stage,” she said.

“And I thank Heather for not giving up. We have angels in heaven and Earth helping us every day.”

Steinbring’s engagement ring without the center stone.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

Lisa Steinbring and Ron Rifﬂe got engaged last month.

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Great Southwest Cajun Fest

The smell of crawfish and the sounds of rock ‘n’ roll filled the air at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park on April 22, as thousands of attendees enjoyed the Great Southwest Cajun Fest, sponsored by Abita Brewing Company.

Nothing goes better with hot Cajun food on a hot spring day than good friendship and cold beverages with Mike Ristrom, Frances Manaloto, Andres Lindaman, Monica Fennell and Brandon Jefferson.

Makaila and Byerly Wendelschafer were practically unrecognizable in their incredible face paint.

The Creole Cajun Bistro is a family affair with Eric Rachal Jr. and Sr. on the job!

Crawfish, shrimp, sausage, potatoes and cornCajun tradition at its spiciest.

Shelby Laycook of Abita Brewing Company pours some welcomed cold beer for a thirsty festivalgoer.

Jack Curry got into the Mardi Gras spirit.

Lyrik Thomas gets down to the sounds of the Hourglass Cats.

Cori Rios, frontman for the Hourglass Cats, belts out tunes for a grateful crowd.

Table manners were set aside for the watermelon-eating contest.

PHOTOS AND CAPTIONS BY TIM SEALY

Nothing shows the spirit of a good festival like strangers Venita Plazewski, left, and Raye Jones dancing together within moments of meeting.

Educational tech company expands into new space

StrongMind, a digital curriculum and technology platform developer for online secondary schools, has moved into an innovative space customdesigned to accommodate its growing staff of 175 employees.

The 27,000-square-foot building is located on the east side of Arizona Avenue between Warner and Elliot roads. The new facility even includes a state-of-theart gym for StrongMind and Primavera employees with free weights, cardio machines, a yoga studio and a regulationsize boxing ring.

“Our vision is to be the most trusted and respected digital learning organization in the country,” said StrongMind Founder and CEO Damian Creamer. “To accomplish this we must employ the brightest minds in technology and education and create an atmosphere that fosters collaboration, innovation and creativity.”

StrongMind has grown its workforce 60 percent over the past year, welcoming 65 highly skilled technology, curriculum, instructional design and creative experts. It plans to expand its staff to 200 by mid-year. To learn more, visit strongmind.com.

JLT Mobile Computers, a Swedish company with North American headquarters located in Chandler, demonstrated its flagship VERSO 15 computer at Canada’s premier mining event, the CIM 2017 Convention.

Renewed focus on mining could benefit Chandler-based computer maker

BY JIMMY MAGAHERN

With the lifting of Obama-era restrictions on coal mining and oil drilling among the few checked boxes on President Trump’s “first 100 days” list, the mining industry could be in store for a very busy year. Along with the promised effect of bringing back jobs in mining communities, all the increased drilling, blasting and excavating will almost surely require more trucks, drills, hydraulic drives — and more indestructible PCs.

That’s where JLT Mobile Computers,

Entrepreneurs turn oats into big breakfast venture, seek Chandler space

BY SHELLEY GILLESPIE

Rushing out the door without breakfast is a common approach for many. When the need for food arises, people often stop for a breakfast sandwich.

Brian Tate and Jeff Yauck tried that approach, but it didn’t offer the healthy boost they needed to start their days. Not finding something quick and healthier, they decided to make it themselves.

“I wasn’t used to eating breakfast, but I did the research and this fits in with my energy needs,” Yauck said.

In August, they opened Oats Overnight, their own manufacturing company, which they are hoping to move to a Chandler space soon. They make healthy oat breakfasts in several flavors. Bypassing the normal purchasing approaches, customers order directly from their website, oatsovernight.com. They’ve also advertised on social media.

“If you have a quality product, people

will share,” Tate said.

Yauck had already been making a similar breakfast himself, but the pair settled on flavored mixes of Green Apple Cinnamon, Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana, and Strawberries & Cream.

Customers use their preferred milk or milk equivalent to shake with the ingredients in a tightly sealed Blender Bottle, then place the mix in the refrigerator overnight.

The results, more shake than oatmeal, provide customers with 24-26 grams of protein, plus the protein from milk, with oats, powders and concentrates of apples, strawberries, bananas, maca root, flax seed and chia seeds. Sweetening is kept to a minimum with Ace K, sucralose and maple syrup powder included, depending on the flavor.

Ocotillo branch of Washington Federal to celebrate 100th anniversary May 18

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ

Washington Federal Bank’s Ocotillo location, 1010 W. Chandler Heights Road, is feting the bank’s milestone 100th anniversary in 2017 in a major way – by partnering with the Chandler Chamber of Commerce to host a “Business After Business” special event on Thursday, May 18, featuring small bites from local food trucks Superstition Farms and Udder Delights in the branch parking lot, as well as hosting a local beer and wine tasting featuring Kokopelli Wines and a slew of local brews inside their branch. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. and is free to the public, as well as local Chamber members and affiliates.

“Washington Federal’s mission has always been to invest locally – be it our neighbors, our area businesses or in local causes that mean something to our team. So what better way to celebrate our first 100 years than by bringing in similarly locally minded business like Superstition, Udder Delights and Kokopelli and making their amazing products available to our friends, customers and neighbors to enjoy,” said Charity Rice, Ocotillo branch manager.

Washington Federal operates 31 branches across Arizona, including four branches in the Southeast Valley in Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler.

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

(Photo special to SanTan Sun News)

StrongMind employs 175 people in Chandler.

(Photo by Shelley Gillespie)

Brian Tate and Jeff Yauck opened Oats Overnight, their own manufacturing company, which makes healthy oat breakfasts in several flavors.

(Photo courtesy of ANGLES Public Relations)

see OATS page 23

The starter pack, which includes the Blender Bottle and three pre-measured breakfast packs, is priced at $18.

Subscriptions are available for 12 or 24 packs. Currently, shipping is included.

When they began, the two entrepreneurs had no idea how fast the demand would grow. They rented a 1,750-square-foot space in Tempe that they outgrew within three months.

“When we took the space, we thought the space was so enormous,” Yauck said.

“It’s not enough room,” Tate said. Now they’re looking for a Chandler location to set up their business.

Originally, they used a coffee blender to grind the ingredients, but quickly grew to a 130-serving blender. Now, they’re using a 3,000-serving ribbon blender.

“We’ve been tripling our orders every month,” Tate said. “We hit 5,000 customers yesterday.”

Tate and Yauck have been hands-on in every aspect of the venture, including researching ingredients, sourcing, manufacturing and shipping. They pack the

a Sweden-based company with North American headquarters located in Chandler, stands to benefit. While mining is not a field commonly associated with computers, new efforts to improve accuracy, productivity and safety increasingly rely on miners taking along “rugged-ized” laptops and tablets, products JLT has been specializing in for the past 22 years.

“Basically what we do is design, engineer, manufacture, sell and service rugged PCs,” says Eric Miller, CEO of JLT’s

orders themselves and ship no later than the next day.

With the crush of orders, Tate and Yauck have had to hire additional employees, and they expect to grow in other ways, as well. Their plans include an expansion of their product line with several new flavors that could include stevia, a natural sweetener. A nutritionist on their staff weighs in on the ingredients.

U.S. division. “In the mining industry, we supply PCs to companies like Joy Global (a leading heavy machinery manufacturer) and our product is put on their blast hole drills, shovels and drag lines, so mining companies can use them in rough environments, from Siberia to the Amazon to the Middle East, and still get reliability and high performance. In the oil business, our PCs are on the oil pumping trucks used in the field by Schlumberger (the world’s largest oilfield services company), where they’re, again, used in rough environments.”

A LEADER IN NEUROREHABILITATION for East Valley

A LEADER IN NEUROREHABILITATION

Prior to starting Oats Overnight, Yauck had been in Hollywood building movie sets for small productions.

Tate took a six-month break from his career as a professional poker player in Los Angeles.

“Poker playing is like being a stock broker. You assess the risks and make decisions,” Tate commented.

This break from his poker playing shows

This month, JLT demonstrated its flagship VERSO 15 computer at Canada’s premier mining event, the CIM 2017 Convention, as part of Gov. Doug Ducey’s new business leadership group, called the Arizona Zanjeros, whose goal is to promote Arizona businesses on a global scale.

Ironically, the digitization of mining eventually may put more coal miners out of work than the regulations coal industry leaders have been fighting. A 2017 Deloitte report predicts that drones, wearables and automated mobile devices will enable digital mines to operate with

A LEADER IN NEUROREHABILITATION for East Valley

for East Valley

HealthSouth East Valley Rehabilitation Hospital specializes in comprehensive rehabilitation for many conditions such as neurological impairments resulting from an illness, accident or surgery. Neuro conditions we provide intensive therapy programs for using advanced technologies and expert care include:

•Brain injury

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his willingness to take a risk on Oats Overnight. They began the business after being friends for nearly 10 years, five of them in Arizona.

Originally, their marketing focused on fitness-oriented people, plus those who have no time to think about health concerns. They quickly discovered that the potential market was much broader.

“We’re producing a healthy, efficient, relatively cheap breakfast,” Tate mentioned.

“We hope to replace cereal as a quick and easy option.” Yauck added.

Tate and Yauck talk like a tag team, finishing each other’s sentences, but it is apparent that they wholeheartedly care about their product, its benefits and making their customers happy.

The results show it’s working.

Oats Overnight has been so engrossing that Yauck admits, “We don’t have a life.”

Tate said, “We both have girlfriends we don’t see much. No life, but lots of oatmeal.”

Their motto: Life is hard. Make breakfast easy.

To learn more about Oats Overnight, visit oatsovernight.com.

fewer people, who’ll need to possess different skills than today’s miners. But Miller says his company is not looking to expand into those fields.

“In mining, you can’t be on the bleeding edge of technology if you don’t also bring along the reliability,” he says. “That’s first and foremost. We want to bring the latest and greatest technology to the field, but the bottom line is, if a shovel goes down at a coal mine, you could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential revenue. You’ve got to bring reliability and ruggedness to the field first.”

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To help patients regain independence, they receive their own neurorehabilitation team and a personalized program to improve motor skills, cognition, balance, memory, daily living tasks and language skills.

Learn more about our neurorehabilitation program by calling 480 567-0350 or visiting healthsoutheastvalley.com

5652 E. Baseline Road • Mesa, AZ 85206

(Photo courtesy of oatsovernight.com)

Local man opens new Window Genie location in Chandler

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Valley resident Mike Malone opened a new franchise of Window Genie in Chandler last month. The national home service business provides window cleaning, window tinting, gutter cleaning, pressure washing and more for homes and businesses.

Becoming a Window Genie franchise owner appealed to Malone with the idea of multiple revenue streams from multiple services, its mobility as a franchise, and low overhead. Malone, who previously worked in the restaurant industry for 28 years, said he’s looking forward to serving communities of the East Valley with Window Genie of Chandler.

“I’ve lived here for over 20 years, but look forward to getting plugged into the community in a whole new way. I get to create jobs, serve the homes and businesses in my area, and work with other small business owners,” Malone said. “I look back on my previous career fondly, but being laid off was truly a blessing that pushed me towards my second act as a business owner.”

Window Genie of Chandler opened on April 24. All technicians are fully trained, insured and bonded. For a free estimate or more information, call Malone at 480-912-1695 or email mmalone@ windowgenie.com.

Firefighters add spark, promote cause with Z’Tejas charitable campaign

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill is adding some sizzle to their restaurant and helping a charity.

Local firefighters volunteered as guest bartenders and servers at the Z’Tejas in Chandler April 27 to generate awareness of the restaurant’s new partnership with the United Phoenix Firefighters Charities through Z’Tejas’ charitable campaign, Cornbread for a Cause.

Through June 30, part of cornbread sales at all five Valley Z’Tejas restaurants will be donated to the Firefighters Charities.

United Phoenix Firefighters Charities helps the community in various ways. The organization installs pool fences and smoke detectors, as well as holds food and coat drives and each summer funds sending children with neuromuscular disease to camp. The charity also helps pay for the cost of research and medical supplies for children impacted by neuromuscular dystrophy.

“Firefighters do extraordinary work as first responders and through the community support they provide,” said Gary Manley, general partner at Z’Tejas Restaurants. “We at Z’Tejas are inspired by their commitment and the work they do. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to contributing to the charity’s work.”

Local firefighters are adding some sizzle to Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill by volunteering as guest bartenders and servers to boost awareness of the restaurant’s new partnership with the United Phoenix Firefighters Charities.

Since starting Cornbread for a Cause in December 2015, Z’Tejas has donated more than $150,000 to local nonprofit organizations. Cornbread for a Cause is the company’s charitable giving program that aids local organizations in the Phoenix community.

The next time firefighters will guest bartend and serve at a Z’Tejas for the cause will be on May 18, at the Paradise Village Gateway Center at 10625 N. Tatum Blvd. in north Phoenix. The firefighters will make their last stop on June 14 at the Tempe Z’Tejas at 20 W. 6th St. in Tempe. Firefighters will be pouring drinks and serving cornbread from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. both days.

To learn more about Cornbread for a Cause or Z’Tejas, visit ztejas.com.

(Photo courtesy of evolve pr and marketing)

(Photo courtesy of Window Genie)

All technicians are fully trained, insured and bonded.

Chamber Women in Leadership lunch to feature ‘Real Women’ honorees

BY BECKY BRACKEN

Chandler is home to many fine women leaders.

This month, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce Women in Leadership luncheon will feature the “Real Women of Chandler,” as chosen by “Chandler Lifestyle Magazine,” including Chandler Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Terri Kimble.

“While it is truly an honor to be ranked among these incredible Chandler women, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to recognize that Chandler is cultivating such a diverse group of individuals contributing to our community,” Kimble said. “I’m talking about entrepreneurs of big business and the worker bees of our nonprofit sector, and public safety to education, these women make a difference every day.”

Kimble, along with her fellow honorees, will headline the May 16 Women in Leadership Luncheon at SoHo 63, located at 63 E. Boston St. A mentoring session will start at 10:30 a.m. with the luncheon and keynote speakers starting at noon.

The Real Women of Chandler include: Niomee Baker, admin, Ocotillo Friends

Tina Balsewicz, police officer, Chandler Police Department

Jennifer Bell, founding director, One Dog AZ

Lisa Cvijanovich, owner, Porsche Chandler, Subaru Superstore Chandler/

Surprise, Volvo Cars Tempe, Autobahn Collision

Trinity Donovan, CEO, Chandler Christian Community Center, and former Chandler City Council Member

Karen Gallagher, veteran; associate professor, ASU

Debbie Grammer, founder, Ocotillo Friends

Suzanne Nicholls Joyner, attorney, Maricopa County Office of the Public Advocate Terri Kimble, President/CEO, Chandler Chamber of Commerce

Jennifer Krienert, founder, Rock Your Different Lissette Lent, founder and author, Red Glasses Productions

Shannon Powell, founder/director of TotSpot Preschool Caryn Shoemaker, founder, Clothes Cabin & One Small Step Lisa Shore, principal, Frye Elementary, CUSD

Tickets to the luncheon are available at ChandlerChamber.com or by phone at 480-963-4571.

Why The Balloon Works!

A balloon can be placed into your stomach to help you lose weight. As of today, there are two FDA approved intragastric balloons available, the Orbera™ Managed Weight Loss System and the Reshape™ Integrated Dual Balloon. The balloons are made of silicone and are very safe sitting in the stomach. Both require a 15-minute sedated procedure, where the balloon is placed (non-surgically) into the stomach endoscopically. There is no cutting or stitches involved. The balloon stays in the stomach for 6 months and then needs to be removed with another quick outpatient procedure. There are no long-term side effects from the balloon sitting in the stomach for 6 months.

Studies have shown that diet and exercise alone can help someone lose on average 7 lbs of weight. If you add a gastric balloon to a diet and exercise program patients achieve over 21lbs of weight is lost instead. Some people have lost up to 60lbs of weight with the

balloon in place. A balloon adds volume to the stomach, so people cannot eat as much, and it also decreases the function of the stomach so a sense of fullness occurs after eating a small amount of food.

The balloons also help reduce many obesity related problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, arthritis, and others.

Ready to begin your weight loss journey? At the Gastrotrim Center we offer both intragastric balloons for our patients. We see the placement of a balloon as a stepping stone, or a jump start, to a healthier lifestyle. If you are having trouble losing any more weight with your current diet and exercise program, then the balloon may just be right for you. The balloon can help you lose that 20-30 lbs (or more) to put you on a different path, and then you can concentrate on maintaining that lower weight through a healthy lifestyle and behavior choices.

(Photo courtesy of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce)

More than 130 people attended a recent Women in Leadership luncheon.

Chandler Chamber events for May 6-20

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

*To register for any of these events or for more information, visit the calendar on chandlerchamber.com, call 480-963-4571, or email info@ chandlerchamber.com

May 10

Wake Up Chandler

7:30-9 a.m.

Kneaders 1090 W. Queen Creek Road Chandler, AZ 85248

Bring a door prize to promote your business!

$5 Members

$15 Non-Members

Please register

No refunds 72 hours prior to event

May 12

Public Policy Series

8-9:30 a.m.

Chandler Chamber of Commerce

25 South Arizona Place, Suite 201 Chandler, AZ 85225

Speakers include: Bob Hazlett (Maricopa Association of Governments), Theresa Gunn (Connect 202 Expansion and Maricopa Association of Governments) and Jack Sellers (State Transportation board of directors).

Free, please register

May 16

Women In Leadership Luncheon

Noon-1:30 p.m.

SoHo 63, 63 E. Boston St. Chandler, AZ 85225

Southeast corner Boston Street and Arizona Avenue

Don’t miss this power panel of 14 women from the “Real Women of Chandler” feature in “Chandler Lifestyle Magazine”

Members luncheon: $25

Non-members luncheon: $35

*no refunds 72 hours prior to event

May 18

Business After Business 5-7 p.m.

Washington Federal 1010 W. Chandler Heights Road, Chandler, AZ 85248

Enjoy food trucks!

Sponsored by Bell Mortgage and Earnhardt Ford

$5 Members

$15 General

*Cancellations must be made 72 hours in advance to receive a refund.

Chandler ranked 44th most expensive city to rent in the nation

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler ranked as the 44th most expensive city in which to rent in the nation in the May 2017 National Rent Report.

The report was released by the Zumper National Rent Index, made by website Zumper.com, which aggregates apartments and homes for rent to advertise to prospective renters. The report, covering 100 cities across the U.S., puts Chandler in the top half of the most expensive cities in which to rent. The numbers in the report are based on analysis of millions of verified listings on the Zumper site. Highlights of the report show:

• One-bedroom median rent increased by 0.5 percent, to $1,169.

• Two-bedroom median rent increased 1 percent, to $1,390.

• For the month of May, Chandler ranked as the 44th most expensive city for residential rental rates.

• Average rent for one bedroom units dropped 1.1 percent, to $940.

• Average rent for two bedroom units grew by 0.9 percent, to $1,160.

Chandler changed three positions from last month’s report, when it was the 47th most expensive city to live in.

Zumper CEO Anthemos Georgiades pointed out that late spring and early summer is peak moving season. “As we head into peak moving season, renters will be up against a higher apartment turnover rate,” he said.

Listings for Chandler rentals on Zumper.com reflect rising rent rates.

“In such a crowded market over this upcoming summer, renters can look to median price data and other tools from Zumper to make the whole renting experience easier and more transparent.”

Current rental listings for Chandler on Zumper.com range from $832 a month for a one-bedroom apartment at Greentree Place to $2,950 per

SUNDAY, MAY 14TH, 2017

month for a four-bedroom home on the lake of the Ocotillo Golf Course. The five most expensive cities to rent in are San Francisco, New York, San Jose, Boston and Los Angeles.

Chandler teen wins national investment essay competition

BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Deciding how to invest money in the stock market can be tricky for adults, but imagine doing so before even being old enough to drive a car.

Niharika Sharma, 13, an eighthgrader at Santan Junior High School in Chandler, demonstrated her investing savvy when writing and winning first place among the nation’s middle school students in the SIFMA Foundation’s Fall 2016 InvestWrite competition. The south Chandler teen also earned first place in Arizona in that grade division.

Thousands of students across the United States entered the competition. They had to consider a hypothetical investing situation and make recommendations that integrate short- and long-term investment goals.

Teachers and industry professionals judged the students’ essays, evaluating how well they understood long-term investing, diversification, capital markets and other issues that drive investments. How well they expressed investment ideas in an essay form was also part of the judging.

“I’m just really excited because I get to go to New York, and that’s a pretty cool experience,” Sharma said. “I never really won a writing competition. I didn’t really expect this.”

She and her language arts teacher, Rhea Steyer, were honored at the Chandler Unified School District’s Awards Night April 19 at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Sharma also won a trip to New York City in June, where

she will visit the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and attend the opening bell ceremony at Nasdaq in Times Square.

InvestWrite is the finishing activity for 600,000 students in grades four through 12 around the country who compete every year in the SIFMA Foundation’s Stock Market Game. The stock market game is a simulation of international capital markets online designed to teach students STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), economics, personal finance and investing.

In her essay, Sharma wrote about how she would invest in Google, which she said is “a really cool company” that perhaps she could work for someday.

She started her essay writing, “Have you ever heard of the science-fiction novel ‘Pygmalion’s Spectacles’? The book was written in the 1930s by author Stanley Weinbaum, and talked about the idea of a pair of goggles that, once put on, allowed a person to experience a fictional world as if it were real.”

Sharma said that “fictional idea” is a reality today because virtual reality (VR) was created. She explained that the “cousin of VR is augmented reality,” writing, “Augmented reality layers computer-generated enhancements on top of our existing reality.”

The Chandler teen said augmented reality is “used in apps and mobile devices to blend digital reality into the real world so that it enhances it but doesn’t completely recreate it.” Sharma

said Google has “made great strides” in augmented and virtual reality and analysts predict that within the next year, “Google’s stock will increase by a median of around 27 percent.”

Her teacher, Steyer, said she

assigned all her language arts students to write the essays and chose several of them to enter the competition.

“I am just thrilled because Niharika is such a unique young lady,” she said. “She is very, very quiet. Underneath, she has got such wisdom and knowledge and power. It’s so exciting to see all her hard effort she put into this paid off.”

Melanie Mortimer, president of the SIFMA Foundation, a nonprofit organization with members in the financial and banking industry, said it’s a huge accomplishment for Sharma to win the competition.

“Niharika’s work has been vetted at the academic level,” Mortimer said. “It’s also been vetted at the industry level by people who do this for a business. It’s phenomenal for a student to come out top in the nation after going through that process.”

The SIFMA Foundation aims to boost knowledge and understanding of the financial markets for people of all backgrounds, with an emphasis on youths. It provides financial education programs and tools to try to enhance economic opportunities across communities and increase people’s access to the global marketplace’s benefits.

In Arizona, the Stock Market Game and InvestWrite are provided through the Arizona Council on Economic Education, a nonprofit organization that tries to improve personal financial and economic literacy in the state.

Kyrene School District features Chandler students’ artwork

BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Chandler schools were well-represented in the Kyrene District Art Show.

Artwork from students at all seven Chandler schools in the Kyrene School District was shown at the exhibit last month at the district office in Tempe. Families and the general public had a chance to mingle with the budding artists, see their pieces, eat food from several vendors and hear District Superintendent Jan Vesely speak at a special event on April 5 at the district office.

“We got a very positive response from the public, families, and staff,” said

Kyrene de la Paloma Elementary School art teacher Jennifer Pooler, who helped organize the art show with Cassidy Parker-Anders, a visual arts teacher on special assignment. “Our district office was filled with people there to view artwork. There was a wide variety of artwork on display, both 2D and 3D. We had many tables filled with ceramic artwork, as well as display boards filled with drawings, paintings, prints, photographs.

“I believe that Kyrene is a strong supporter of arts in the schools,” Pool-

er added. “Our new superintendent is a passionate supporter of the arts and I am excited about that.”

The art show displayed artwork from about 1,000 students in grades kindergarten through eighth who attend the district’s 25 schools. Anyone in the public could stroll through the district office to check out the artwork during regular office hours last month.

Paintings, drawings, prints, photos, mimbres or painted gourds, plaster masks and ceramics are among the many different forms

of art the show featured, Parker-Anders said. Kyrene district students in grades K-5 take art class once a week all school year. Students in the district’s middle schools can take various elective classes including visual arts, a semester-long class that meets Monday through Friday. Parker-Anders, who is also an art teacher at Kyrene de la Estrella and Kyrene de la Sierra elementary schools, said art teachers chose the artwork for the show based on the students’ skill, behavior and participation in art classes.

(Photo by Kaitlynn Grady)

Niharika Sharma, 13, an eighth-grader at Santan Junior High School in Chandler, won first place in the country among middle school students in the SIFMA Foundation’s Fall 2016 InvestWrite competition.

(Photos by Nancy Dudenhoefer/Kyrene School District)

Left: Kyrene Aprende Middle School student Braedon Frasher shows his artwork with his mother, Jennifer Frasher, and Kyrene art teacher Laura Motush (far left). Center: Allison Chelus, a third-grader at Kyrene de la Mirada Elementary School in Chandler, poses by her artwork. Right: Kyrene de la Paloma Elementary School art teacher Jennifer Pooler helps first-grader Nicholas Duenas show off his artwork at the district’s art show.

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Three Chandler high school seniors earn Flinn Scholarship

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Three Chandler high school seniors are recipients of the prestigious 2017 Flinn Scholarship.

Ashley Dussault and Anitha Ramadoss of Hamilton High School and Shivam Sadachar of BASIS Chandler were among the 20 seniors in the state who earned the competitive, meritbased honor for undergraduate work at one of Arizona’s public universities.

The Flinn Scholarship, supported by the Flinn Foundation and the three state public universities, offers money for tuition and room and board at one of Arizona’s three public universities, as well as provides funding for at least two study-abroad excursions and an off-campus internship, among other benefits. The scholarship is worth more than $115,000.

The 32nd class of Flinn Scholars represents 17 high schools in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas, as well as small towns in central, northern, southern and

western Arizona. The Flinn Foundation is based in Phoenix.

“The foundation is once again inspired by the dynamic student leaders who make up the new class of Flinn Scholars,” said Jack B. Jewett, Flinn Foundation president and CEO. “These talented and successful students, a diverse group from rural and urban areas of Arizona, are ready for an extraordinary education and college experience at our state’s universities.”

The scholars have many diverse interests and majors they plan to pursue starting in the fall including astrophysics, biomedical engineering, journalism, mathematics and economics. More than 500 scholars have graduated from the universities since the Flinn Scholarship program started more than 30 years ago.

To learn more about the Flinn Scholars Program, visit ﬂinnscholars.org.

A teacher at a Chandler school is getting a boost

after a surprise visit from an area attorney

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Breyer Law Offices, known as “The Husband & Wife Law Team,” gave a check of $250 to Mary Ortiz, a teacher at Chandler Traditional Academy. Attorney Mark Breyer surprised Ortiz when he came into her classroom recently with a giant check.

She was a recent monthly award recipient and received a customized teacher appreciation plaque, along with a featured spot on “The Husband and Wife” billboards for a day, and a pizza party for her classroom. Chandler Traditional Academy Principal Frank Hendricsen helped surprise Ortiz.

Ortiz has worked as a highly effective and outstanding teacher at the school,

where she’s been instructing students for almost 10 years. She shows her love of learning and a contagious enthusiasm while providing a positive, safe learning environment.

The Husband and Wife Law Team’s Teaching Appreciation Award highlights teachers as they are hard-working, selﬂess people. Mark and Alexis Breyer, who have been practicing personal injury law in Arizona for more than 20 years, have eight children, and recognize the value of excellent teachers.

“I grew up seeing the importance of teachers in communities and saw firsthand how they give so much, so their students can grow,” Breyer said.

From Dr. Chamberlain’s Desktop

Orthodontic treatment can be a daunting task and choosing an orthodontist can leave some people with “analysis paralysis”. Today I want to discuss three different items that will help you in your search to find the right fit for you and your treatment goals. Each person is unique and has different values that propel them to seek orthodontic treatment. Some may find that their greatest value is cost and it doesn’t matter what treatment entails, just as long as it’s the cheapest. These folks are of the mind that orthodontics is just a commodity like a car or bag of groceries. Others might value speed and look for accelerated orthodontics while others might be looking for convenience and easy scheduling hours or on-time scheduling.

Whatever you value, it is best to find a good fit with the practice that most accommodates your primary concern. If tooth movement or quality of end result is at or near the top of the list of your priorities then you may need to know these three items. First, teeth move best with light forces. When too heavy of a force is placed on a tooth, this constricts the blood flow to the tooth which slows the bone building and removing

process to move the tooth into the desired position. A system using passive self-ligation in the bracket applies light, continuous forces that will move teeth more effectively and quickly than a traditional orthodontic system. Second, traditional brackets are set up with a prescription in the bracket. Thus, each bracket has a certain tip, torque and step in the bracket to place the tooth in the most ideal position possible. These prescriptions are taken from generic norms. They can work except that no one completely fits the norm. Each individual is unique. This can create extra appointments of detailing the teeth to get them into their best position. Extra appointments leads to increased treatment time. A new system called Insignia creates a custom bracket and wire sequence that moves your teeth into their specific position reliably and efficiently. Thus, saving months off your treatment. Insignia is my system of choice for a majority of our patients. Lastly, when looking at tooth movement, you will likely want to choose a system that aligns the teeth in the mouth, while also balancing the smile and teeth in the face. Some teeth may be straight but look too flared or too flat in the face. Some may be too narrow causing too much space between the teeth and cheeks.

Make sure you choose an orthodontist that regards where your teeth fit in your smile and with your unique face. A whole face examination and 3 dimensional imaging system gives the orthodontist the tools that best do this. Make sure the orthodontist you choose is making this a priority, because I know it will be for you in the long term. If proper, efficient tooth movement is a priority with an added emphasis on quality care and on-time scheduling, please contact our office at 480.899.9423.

Dr. Thomas Chamberlain

(Photo by Olivia Eldridge)

From left, attorney Mark Breyer and Chandler Traditional Academy Principal Frank Hendricsen present a check for $250 from Breyer Law Offices to Mary Ortiz, a teacher at the school.

(Photo Special to SanTan Sun News)

Kyrene, other school leaders express alarm over funding to Chandler committee

BY PAUL MARYNIAK

Arizona’s three universities no longer form a pipeline of teachers to the state’s public schools. Half the freshmen in the state’s university system come from only 11 percent of Arizona’s high schools. And Arizona’s expanded school voucher system did not include expanded oversight.

Those disclosures came in remarks by three educators to the Chandler Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee and area business owners and executives April 28.

The presentations by Kyrene School District Superintendent Jan Vesely, state Board of Regents President Eileen Klein and state school Superintendent Diane Douglas came on the eve of a big week for the state Legislature and education in Arizona.

Lawmakers hoped to wrap up their session last week by completing budget negotiations with the chief topic being education – particularly more money for K-12 teachers and a $1 billion bond issue for research and infrastructure for the three universities.

“Much of the focus will center on our K-12 schools, particularly raising salaries for our teachers,” Ahwatukee Sen. Sean Bowie said in a letter to constituents. “This is shaping up to be the most important policy discussion of the week – Governor Ducey’s original proposal called for a 0.4

percent increase for the upcoming year.” “We are losing some of our best

teachers we have because they simply can’t afford to keep teaching – many can make more money in different professions, and that’s a huge problem

(Photo special to SanTan Sun News)

A crowd listens to school-funding concerns expressed to the Chandler Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee and area business owners and executives April 28.

moving forward for our students and for our state,” Bowie added.

“Expect a lengthy floor debate in both the House and the Senate around this topic, and expect plenty of parents and teachers to visit us at the capitol,” he said, calling education funding “a huge, huge problem that has been impacting our local public school districts for years.”

Though Bowie wrote his letter independent of the speakers, all three made remarks that in one way or the other were related to funding and other education matters in Arizona.

While all three officials gave progress reports on what they and their respective officers were doing to improve education, they also sounded various alarms about the state of education in Arizona.

Vesely briefly discussed some of the changes she and the board are implementing to make the Kyrene School District more competitive as school districts scramble for new students from outside their boundaries.

But she then disclosed that Arizona’s three state universities no longer feed new teachers into the state’s public school systems.

“The universities are telling us, ‘We do not have a pipeline of teachers for you anymore,’” she said. “You don’t know how scary that is for we educators to hear.”

While education students from

other states still flock to Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University for the weather as well as the academics, they return home after graduation because of the dismal salaries for teachers, she said.

But Kyrene’s problems go deeper, Vesely said, noting the district is now projected to suffer a continuing enrollment decline for the next five or six years.

District enrollment has declined by 600 in the past decade, she said.

That represents a loss of millions in

Arizona’s school voucher program “may be very impactful for a district like Kyrene because it threatens to siphon more students.”

Klein discussed how the Board of Regents is working with K-12 school systems to improve students’ readiness for college.

She stated that while there has been a slight increase in the number of high school students from Arizona who are going to college, “fewer than half can do work at a college level.”

But Klein also pointed to an equally significant problem the board is trying

“Much of the focus will center on our K-12 schools, particularly raising salaries for our teachers.”

– Ahwatukee Sen. Sean Bowie

She also insisted that teacher pay had to be improved in order to improve college- and work-readiness among K-12 students.

“We have to address what happens in the classroom and compensation for teachers,” she said.

Douglas sounded the same refrain in her presentation, noting that she has proposed a voter referendum next year for a full-cent sales tax devoted exclusively to education. Currently, a half-cent tax is due to expire next year.

A full cent would generate $400 million in new revenue – and could fund a $5,000-a-year, across-theboard pay increase for K-12 teachers.

“If we pay them, they will teach,” Douglas said, adding that in her frequent “listening tours” around the state, “overwhelmingly I hear from people that they want our teachers to be paid better.”

state funding, which is based on the number of pupils enrolled in a district.

“The problem is that our neighborhoods haven’t turned over,” Vesely said, referring to the relatively stable housing market in Ahwatukee and those parts of Chandler and Tempe that are within district boundaries.

Even many empty-nest households aren’t moving, shutting out an influx of young families with children who could replenish the enrollment rolls.

And Vesely said the expansion of

to address – the number of Arizonans who obtain no skill training or higher education after graduating from high school.

She said 35 to 40 percent of adults in Arizona have only a high school diploma, meaning that more than a million residents “need meaningful credentials” for today’s jobs.

Klein outlined the board’s Achieve60AZ program, which is trying to ensure that 60 percent of all Arizona adults have a college degree or a professional certificate by 2030.

Douglas also said that while “I absolutely support parental choice in education,” she was critical of the Legislature’s expansion of vouchers, noting they originally were implemented in Arizona so that parents of special-needs children could find the most effective educational programs available.

“One of the big problems is that the oversight for this program never grows,” she said. “There needs to be better checks and balances.”

Douglas also declared, “I support our public education system” and said “we have to tread very carefully” on expanding school voucher programs.

AZSC TRYOUTS

Week One: May 1st, 3rd, and 4th (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) Week Two: May 8th, 10th, and 11th (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday)

May 1st, 4th, & 10th

5:45 PM - 7:15 PM: 07 & 00/99 age groups

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: 05 & 04 age groups

May 3rd, 8th, & 11th

5:45 PM - 7:15 PM: 06 & 02 age groups 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM: 03 & 01 age groups

Academy Evaluation Dates May 2nd and 9th (Both Tuesdays): 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: 2011, 2010, 2009 & 2008 age groups

SPRING 2017

Arizona Sangria Festival will pour (and raise) spirits at Rawhide

BY NIKI D’ANDREA

Mimosas may be the mother of all Mother’s Day cocktails, but the sangria is a close second. On Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, the Arizona Sangria Festival celebrates this popular pour – and the mothers who enjoy it – at Rawhide Western Town and Event Center.

In addition to copious amounts of the refreshing, fruit-infused wine drink, adult attendees can imbibe with craft cocktails and craft beer, courtesy of local vendors like Tempe-based Copper Creek Cocktails, Sun Orchard Juicery (also based in Tempe), THAT Brewery (Pine and Cottonwood, Ariz.), and Ahwatukee mainstay Uncle Bear’s Brewery. Times Media Group, Yellow Cab Arizona, Sleep Number, and zTrip taxi service are among the sponsors of the event, which will entertain audiences with Flamenco guitar and dance performances.

But the fun isn’t just for the 21-andolder crowd, and it isn’t limited to alcohol consumption. Non-drinkers and kids are admitted free of charge, and can enjoy the amenities and activities at Rawhide, including the Deadman’s Drop Rock Climbing Wall, hay wagon rides, the petting zoo, two trains, a saw ride, a mechanical bull, the Miner Mike Roller Coaster, gold panning, and a shooting gallery. Rawhide will also be hosting a Mother’s Day Sunday buffet in the Rawhide Steakhouse from 10 a.m. until

5 p.m. ($23.95, adults; $9.95, children), which includes a salad bar, a kids’ station (complete with mini corn dogs and mac and cheese), a hot breakfast spread, entrées such as top sirloin and Atlantic salmon filet, and a dessert station proffering delights like pies and brownies.

Tickets for the Arizona Sangria

Recipe for non-alcoholic sangria

If the kids want to feel like the “grownups,” this recipe for non-alcoholic sangria will provide them with a drink that looks just like their parents’ drinks, but plus more fruit and minus the potentially intoxicating effects of a “real” sangria. And it only takes 15 minutes to make.

Ingredients:

concentrate, thawed 1 orange, sliced 1 lime, sliced 1 apple, cored and diced

1 cup strawberries, sliced 3 cups club soda

Directions: Combine the grape, lemon and lime juices with the thawed apple juice concentrate in a large pitcher. Stir. Add the fruit pieces and let them soak in the juice. Add the club soda just before serving.

Festival cost $40 in advance, $45 at the gate, and include a souvenir tasting glass, 15 sangria tastings, and five craft beer tastings. Proceeds from the event benefit the Calling All Angels Foundation, which assists single parents who are battling cancer. For more information, visit arizonasangriafestival.com.

(Photos courtesy of Entertainment Advisors Agency)

Guests at the Arizona Sangria Festival enjoy entertainment and spirits.

Proceeds from the Arizona Sangria Festival beneﬁt the Calling All Angels Foundation.

May 2017

CinePark brings outdoor movie series to Tumbleweed Park

BY MEGHANN FINN SEPULVEDA

Grab your blanket, chairs, family members and friends and enjoy an evening under the stars at CinePark, the City of Chandler’s outdoor movie series, taking place the first three Fridays in May at Tumbleweed Park. This free, familyfriendly event, being held from 6 to 10 p.m., also includes themed arts and crafts and other fun activities that children and adults of all ages will enjoy.

Friday, May 5

“The Secret Life of Pets” will kick off the three-week movie series, which is expected to draw approximately 200 to 300 people each night.

Prior to the 8 p.m. showing, various pet-themed activities will be available such as coloring and crafts. Kids can make their own animal ears and bring their favorite character of the movie to life.

“The Arizona Humane Society will also be on hand to provide educational information to those who have pets or are considering getting a pet about various topics such as ways to keep pets cool in the hot summer months,” said Hermelinda Llamas, special events coordinator for the City of Chandler. There will also be an agility course where kids will have the opportunity to run through several obstacles and test their hula hoop skills.

Friday, May 12

Travel to the islands of Polynesia as

Friday, May 19

“We’ll

Newly released and musically inspired “Sing” will keep children and adults entertained. Before the movie starts, guests are encouraged to sing their hearts out with

“Children can also make and decorate their own microphone and use it to sing along with the songs throughout the movie,”

Disney’s “Moana” hits the screen. The theme of this event will be centered on water and the beautiful tropics.

have a mechanical surf board for people to try and catch a (make-believe)

wave,” Llamas said. “We’ll also be giving out colorful Hawaiian leis to each guest.”

A pineapple ring toss and a photo wall featuring character cutouts will add to the fun.

karaoke.

Llamas said.

(Photo courtesy of City of Chandler)

CinePark, the City of Chandler’s outdoor movie series, offers family-friendly movies at Tumbleweed Park.

Arizona Railway Museum ImprovMANIA Arizona Railway Museum

Tumbleweed Tots

Museum

Tumbleweed

Arizona Railway Museum ImprovMANIA

6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28

Arizona Railway Museum, noon to 4 p.m. Visit Chandler’s railway museum at Tumbleweed Park. The Arizona Railway Museum was founded and incorporated in 1983 as a nonprofit, educational and historical organization. The museum is dedicated to the railways of Arizona and the Southwest. The interest and fascination of railways and trains has no boundaries and so railways of all kinds are included in the scope of the museum.

Arizona Railway Museum, 330 E. Ryan Road, Chandler. Display yard and building free; display cars $2 per person or $5 per family/ group, 480-833-4353 or 480-831-6520, azrymuseum.org.

6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27

ImprovMANIA, 7 p.m. Join ImprovMANIA every Friday and Saturday night for a familyfriendly comedy show. ImprovMANIA’s improv shows are fast-paced, live comedy shows made up on the spot based on audience suggestions like 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.

8, 15, 22, 29

Parent Tot Tumbling, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.

Children will work one-on-one with their parents in this class to learn basic tumbling skills. Some equipment such as a trampoline, springboard and balance board will be used. Parents must remain with their child for the duration of the class.

Community Center Multipurpose Room, Room 111, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. $9. active.com/chandler-az.

9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30

Tumbleweed Tots, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. This indoor play area is designed for children 5 years of age and younger to play under parental/guardian supervision. This fun, safe and clean area will have plenty of toys, equipment and activities that are sure to keep the kids entertained. There is a maximum of four children per adult. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Road, Chandler. $2 to $3. 480-782-2900, chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

9, 16, 23, 30

Lego Club, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Come meet new friends and have fun building with Lego. Legos are supplied; imagination required. No registration necessary. Lego Club is a Vertex program, where Chandler Public Library intersects with STEAM and maker space. Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Road, Chandler. Free. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

9, 16, 23, 30

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. Play games, dig up dinos, weird science, fun crafts, Lego cars and more. Win prizes just for showing up! Ages 6-11. STEAM Club is a VERTEX program, where Chandler Public Library intersects with STEAM and maker space.

Downtown Library Copper Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26

Kids Mixed-Media Art, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Instructor Lori Silva will be teaching kids about the different mediums of art and

providing hands-on activities for them to do. Some of the types of art include molding, drawing, painting and more. There is a $30 supply fee due at the beginning of the class in addition to the class fee. Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. $22. active.com/chandler-az.

11, 18

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 maker space.

Sunset Library Monsoon Room, 4930 W. Ray Road, Chandler. Free. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

11, 18, 25

Lego Club, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Come meet new friends and have fun building with Lego. Legos are supplied; imagination required. No registration necesssary. Lego Club is a Vertex program, where Chandler Public Library intersects with STEAM and maker space. Downtown Library Copper Room North, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. 480-7822800, chandlerlibrary.org.

12, 19

CinePark Movies, 6 to 10 p.m. Watch some of this year’s most popular animated movies at Tumbleweed Park. “Moana” screens on May 12, followed by “Sing” on May 19. There will be free activities before the movie begins at 8 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks, and are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Road, Chandler. Free. chandleraz.gov.

Fields of Gold, 7 p.m. Experience an evening of music by the Chandler Children’s Choir. An acoustic guitar and string quartet will accompany the children to enhance the warm, soft tones of the pieces. Songs include “Cherry Blossoms,” “Homeland” and “Fields of Gold.”

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. $18 to $25. chandlerchildrenschoir.org.

Chandler Art Walk, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Look at some of Chandler’s finest art at the monthly Chandler Art Walk. Artisans will sell various pieces such as jewelry and paintings. Many of the items cost less than $50. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free. downtownchandler.org.

Lunch Brunch Kids, 11 a.m. Children are welcome to eat lunch together at the Snedigar Recreation Center. There will be games and music followed by story time. Snedigar Recreation Center Room 502, 4500 S. Basha Road, Chandler. $6. active.com/chandler-az.

Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure, 10 a.m. Teams adventure around Phoenix looking for some of the city’s hidden treasures. Teams use their smartphones to solve riddles and compete with others to win.

Downtown Phoenix. $44 per team. eventbrite.com.

(Photo courtesy of City of Chandler) A child creates a fun craft at CinePark.

Secret Life of Pets”

Chandler Parks & Recreation offers hundreds of unique ways to dive into the City’s summer scene. From daily camps, to leisure classes and epic events there is fun for everyone! For a complete listing of upcoming activities or for more information on programs highlighted below pick up Break Time magazine at Chandler facilities, visit

Give them a break! Chandler Parks & Recreation offers students, ages 5 to 13, an opportunity to break away and enjoy well-deserved vacation activities over summer. From art and sports to nature and science, you’re sure to find something exciting for every child in your family. For more information, please visit chandleraz.gov/camps

every

MOVIES IN THE PARK

TUMBLEWEED PARK

Exciting news movie lovers; enjoy a series of flicks al fresco with the return of CinePark movies in the park this May! Free, family-friendly films will start at dusk (8 p.m.) and beginning at 6 p.m. guests can enjoy snacks, thematic games and fun times in the park. For the complete summer viewing schedule please, visit chandleraz.gov/cinepark

WACKY BUGS

WED., MAY 17 5:30–7 p.m. TUMBLEWEED RECREATION CENTER

Bug out with the Tumbleweed Recreation Center Wednesday, May 17 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Enjoy arts and crafts and games inspired by bugs. For more information, visit chanderaz.gov/trc

PADDLE BOARD YOGA

Has downward facing dog become too easy for you? If you’re looking for a new challenge, why not try yoga while balancing on a paddle board? Find your balance on the water with Chandler Aquatics new Paddle Board Yoga class. A yoga-fitness fusion, Paddle Board Yoga involves practicing classic yoga poses while floating on a paddle board in the middle of the water. Lessons are taught at Chandler’s Hamilton Aquatic Center. For more information and class schedule, visit chandleraz.gov/aquatics or call 480-782-2750.

FREE SWIM FOR MOM SUN., MAY 14 CHANDLER AQUATIC CENTERS Celebrate Mother’s Day with Chandler Aquatics. Moms Swim Free all day on Sunday, May 14! chandleraz.gov/aquatics or call 480-782-2720 for

DROP-IN: BIKES, BOUNCE & BOOGIE

FRI., MAY 12 | 9–11 a.m. TUMBLEWEED RECREATION CENTER

Get your preschoolers moving with a fun-filled morning of bikes, pedal cars, trikes and bounce house. Bikes, Bounce and Boogie is a creative movement play area and dance party designed to help little ones play with, discover and express themselves using movement and improvisational games. Parental / guardian supervision is required – four children per adult. Play area is open to children 5 years or younger. Event will be cancelled in the event inclement weather. For more information, visit chandleraz.gov/trc

Community Commentaries

The electronic f iling world is now open to county residents

BY DENNY BARNEY

It takes a leap of faith to create something new. Maybe you want to start a business or build an addition to your home. Maybe your company builds the roads that help us get home, or the computer chips that connect us across time and space. If the dream is big enough, you’ll probably sketch it on a piece of paper. And guess what? That paper might just end up in our hands.

As supervisors, we strive to better serve the builders and land owners who create spaces of opportunity in Maricopa County. That’s why we’re funding a brand new system that allows them to submit permit applications and building plans, check the status of their projects, and schedule any necessary inspections… all from the comfort of their home or office.

Think about this: a single permit set for one of our recent capital projects weighed about 200 pounds! It took four carts to deliver it. We’re talking about a lot of trees –and a cost of thousands of dollars.

Our Electronic Document Review (EDR) system is designed for anyone who is tired of that – tired of spending money on copies, tired of driving between their office and ours. We know it can be a hassle. You’re thinking, how long will I be away? Is the Plans Examiner going to be available? Did I bring enough sets?

With EDR, you can log onto our Citizen Access portal anywhere, anytime to upload the documents you need us to see. When we’ve reviewed them, you’ll get an e-document back with red-lined comments so it’s easier for you to make revisions. Corrections can be agreed upon digitally. You can also

electronically submit for changes even after we’ve approved your permit.

We’ve only begun to dip our toe in the electronic filing world. Right now, we only accept residential permits online and 10-15 percent of submittals are done that way. With this new EDR system, which will be phased in over the next few months, we will be accepting commercial, industrial and tenant permits as well.

There are plenty of good reasons to expand our use of electronic documents. For customers, it’ll be faster, cheaper and more convenient. The new system also benefits our staff. Instead of swimming in a sea of paper, they will be one click away from perusing your plans, sharing them with colleagues and providing timely feedback.

This is part of a broader effort. For example, the Flood Control District is accepting online applications and payments for rightof-way use permits. Environmental Services fast-tracks commercial swimming pool variances to allow construction to start earlier. Our Planning and Zoning Department offers a number of time-saving resources, including fast-track, same-day service for small residential construction projects. It’s all part of the same story: We are streamlining our regulatory agencies so they work better for you.

We understand some of you like things the way they are. You like the certainty of printing off plans and handing them to an actual person. You can keep doing it that way if you prefer. EDR is simply another option. Our goal, as always, is smarter government and better service.

In short, if you take a leap of faith and draw up a plan on a sheet of paper that will make Maricopa County better, we want to make your life easier. EDR is the latest example of that, and it won’t be the last.

Denny Barney is a Gilbert resident and Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

Relay for Life offers inspiration

I invite the Chandler community to gather on May 12 at 6 p.m. at Basha High School to honor loved ones touched by cancer. In a united fashion that transcends pain and heartache, we will walk, talk, laugh and cry together until 6 a.m. the next day, to remember people we have lost to the disease, celebrate caregivers and survivors and raise funds for cancer research.

Chandler Relay for Life is dear to my heart in the way we collectively make a stand against cancer. It is an opportunity to express our grief and proclaim a universal message of healing, love and hope.

According to the American Cancer Society, one in every three women and one in every two men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. In 2017, an estimated 1.6 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed and 600,000 cancer deaths will occur in our country. Needless to say, each one of us will be faced with cancer directly or indirectly.

My family was hit hard when my wife, Lynne, and all four of our parents were diagnosed with cancer. The challenges of dealing with multiple situations at once were daunting, to say the least. Our faith and the support we received from the American Cancer Society Helpline (800-

227-2345), as well as doctors, friends and family, gave us courage and hope when we needed it the most.

Over the years, Lynne has become increasingly involved with Chandler Relay for Life; first as a survivor and recently as the event lead. Through our involvement, we have both been blessed with meeting inspiring people from all walks of life.

The theme for this year’s event is “A Cure Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” influenced by the Disney song from “Cinderella.” We encourage participants to come dressed as their favorite Disney characters and walk laps in their costumes. Many activities will revolve around the Disney theme but there also will be other entertainment and various food trucks available. Chandler firefighters have committed to walking laps in full gear. The Chandler Police Department will organize an obstacle course and there will be plenty of activities for children. In my opinion, the most touching parts of the night are the survivor laps and the luminarias ceremony. When the sun goes down, we symbolically light up luminarias to shine brightly as a way to honor our loved ones.

Relay for Life is truly a one-of-a-kind fundraising event that reminds us that we are not alone in the fight against cancer. Come and join us to experience firsthand this movement of solidarity. Basha High School is located at 5990 S. Val Vista Drive. For more information on becoming involved, visit relayforlife.org/ chandleraz.

We know you have an opinion! Share it with the SanTan Sun News. Please limit your Letters to the Editor to 200-300 words, or they may be edited for length. Include your first and last name, community or development name in Southern

Chandler (Cooper Commons, Ocotillo, Sun Groves, etc.) or ZIP code and daytime phone number for verification. Anonymous letters are not typically accepted. Email is the preferred submission method, to Letters@SanTanSun.com.

All submitted Letters to the Editor and Community Commentaries become the property of the SanTan Sun News and may be reprinted in part, quoting the letters’ authors, or in their entirety. Your submission to the SanTan Sun

News is considered your permission to print your written opinion. Opinions expressed in Community Commentaries, Letters to the Editor or cartoons are those of the author, and not that of the SanTan Sun News.

Have a story idea or news tip? Know of an interesting photo opportunity? How about positive feedback or constructive comments? We’d like to hear from you. Email us at News@SanTanSun.com.

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Editorial and Advertising

Noon Thursday, May 11, for the Saturday, May 20, issue

35,000

Total Circulation

27,250+ Driveways

Fifty square mile coverage area

from Price/101 to Greenfield and from Frye to Hunt Highway.

Steve T. Strickbine

(Photo special to STSN) Kevin Hartke

(Photo special to STSN)

Denny Barney

(Photo special to SanTan Sun News)

Neighbors

Corvette show draws fans of

BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Car lovers were revved up over classic and modern Corvettes and helping a cause at a recent Chandler event.

At Corvettes in the Park on April 8, more than 100 Corvettes made from 1953 to 2017 were displayed at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park on South Arizona Avenue. The fee to register a Corvette to show at the event was $30 and all proceeds

sporty car, raises money for cause

went to Packages From Home, a nonprofit organization that supports military members overseas.

Vehicles from Chandler, Gilbert, Sun Lakes, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria and Glendale drew attention from a crowd of at least 300 people, said Jim Enriquez, cochairman of The Corvette Club, a Chandlerbased group that puts on the event.

Former ‘SanTan Sun News’

BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Chandler resident Laurie Fagan, former owner and publisher emeritus of “SanTan Sun News,” is taking the stage with four other experienced actresses in a musical about their friendship, which has spanned four decades

“Boa Babes” makes its world premiere May 18-21 at Mesa Encore Black Box Theatre, 933 E. Main St. Fagen, who has performed in many local theater productions including “Dames at Sea” and “Jerry’s Girls,” wrote the musical about love, loss, children, spouses, deep friendships and other universal themes for women and men.

The women who inspired her script and are performing in what Fagen calls a “dramedy with music” are Mary Nelle Brown, Pam Cannedy, Sherri Hildebrand, Sandy Densford Vernon and Fagen herself. Deborah Lee Hall (whose directing credits include “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “Wait Until Dark”) is directing the musical, while the stage manager is Cat Dragon of Mesa (whose managing credits include “Lonely Planet” and the 1992 Academy Awards).

“People love the thrill,” Enriquez said. “It’s a true American sports car. There’s just a mystique that people are attracted to them. Corvette owners are like a community. They love to share the experience of their car with the community.”

He added the park in downtown Chandler was a great location for the car show as the public could dine at the

many restaurants nearby. Enriquez said some people showing off their Corvettes spent a lot of time customizing them with professional paint jobs. He has two Corvettes of his own. Children enjoyed taking pictures and “eyeing the cars,” too, Enriquez said. To learn more about The Corvette Club, visit corvetteclubofarizona.com.

owner to hit stage with friends in ‘Boa

Arizona Women’s Theatre Company and Cannedy Performing Arts Centre are producing the show.

“There are so many universal themes about friendship, love, aging parents, kids, pets – mostly cats – and then growing old and having a bucket list and checking things off a bucket list,” Fagen said of the musical. “These are all stories from our 40-year friendship. I think other people will say, ‘Oh, yeah, I remember when we did something like that.’”

She wrote the script last summer before showing it to the other women in the musical, who helped her edit it. Fagen said she and the other “gals” in the show are “all in our 60s.”

Fagen earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Arizona State University and has worked extensively for television and radio stations. She also worked as a writer/producer/director of corporate videos for 12 years.

“Boa Babes” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. May 18, 19 and 20 and at 2 p.m. May 21. For tickets and information, visit azwtc.org.

Andy DiMino loves his role as Dean Martin page 67

(Photos courtesy of The Corvette Club)

Corvettes from many different decades drew fans at the Corvettes in the Park show at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. The event raised money for Packages from Home.

Babes’

(Photo by Mary Nelle Brown)

From left: Pam Cannedy, Sandy Vernon, Mary Nelle Brown, Sherri Hildebrand and Laurie Fagen perform in “Boa Babes.”

Chandler appoints new city clerk with background in city work

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A new city clerk is going to start working for the City of Chandler.

The Chandler City Council at its April 27 meeting approved an employment contract for Dana DeLong as city clerk.

DeLong, who will start her new job on June 5, will take the place of Marla Paddock, who will retire later this summer after having worked in the position since 2002.

“This is a critical hire for the city and its residents, and Dana will be a tremendous asset for us as she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position,” Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny said.

DeLong is coming to Chandler from the City of Prescott, where she has worked as City Clerk for the last four years. Before that, she worked at the City of Tucson for almost 20 years as city records manager and management assistant, along with other positions encompassing all aspects of the City Clerk’s Offi ce. She’s a certifi ed municipal clerk, as well as a certified municipal election official and a notary public.

The City Clerk is the information source pertaining to the City Charter, City Code and City Council meetings and actions. The clerk runs city elections, coordinates statutory legal publications and public meeting notifi cations and acts as the records cus-

todian for the city. The clerk’s offi ce also offers the public notary services, election help and passport processing.

Chandler Police Department honors fallen officers at annual event

BY NIKI D’ANDREA

The Chandler Police Department conducted its Annual Fallen Officers Memorial Ceremony on Monday, May 1. The event honored six police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, and included remarks from Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and Chandler Chief of Police Sean Duggan.

Among the audience were many coworkers, friends and family members of the fallen officers: Jim Snedigar, Rob Nielsen, Carlos Ledesma, David Payne, Richard Felix, and Bryant Holmes.

Snedigar died during a SWAT operation on April 16, 1999, while entering an apartment in pursuit of multiple armed robbery suspects that were hiding in a large apartment complex. He was the

first Chandler Police Officer killed in the line of duty. Nielsen perished in a fiery automobile collision while responding to another traffic accident on June 12, 2002. He was 25 years old. Detective Ledesma lost his life July 28, 2010, after gunfight broke out during an undercover narcotics operation. Eight men were charged in connection with his murder.

Payne perished sitting at a red light on October 31, 2014, after his police motorcycle was struck by a vehicle. Holmes was also killed in an accident on his motorcycle while sitting at a red light, four days before Payne. Felix was the first Chandler Police Officer to die while on duty, when he had heart failure on September 9, 1995.

(Photo courtesy of City of Chandler)

Dana DeLong has been appointed as the new city clerk for the City of Chandler.

Celebrate Mom at Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you are looking for the perfect gift to pamper Mom this year, head over to The Spa at Ocotillo Village. With services ranging from massages to facials, manicures and pedicures to hair care, The Spa has something for everyone. Plus, with any spa service, Mom can enjoy full-use of the award-winning health club.

In honor of Mother’s Day, The Spa at

Ocotillo Village is offering an extra $10 card with the purchase of a Village Spa Gift Card (card is good through August 2017). Gift cards can be purchased for any amount.

Let Mom choose from the Village Signature Massage or one of their specialty massages, including hot stone massage, deep tissue or aromatherapy massage. Seasonal body scrubs and body treatments are

another great treat, as are the variety of facials offered: Village Signature facial, Eminence organic facial, organic enzymatic peel, refresher facial, PCA professional peel, advanced corrective, microneedling, dermaplane or microdermabrasion or NuFace reatment.

Mom will love the Village Experience package, which includes three spa services, a breakfast or

lunch entrée, and a glass of wine or beer for $240 (regularly $295 for nonmembers). Mom can choose three services, including 60 minute massage, 60 minute facial, 60 minute seasonal body treatment, haircut and blow dry, and Village Signature manicure and pedicure.

For more information about The Spa at Ocotillo Village, visit villageclubs. com or call 480-579-2940.

5/19/17.

(Photos courtesy of Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa)

Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa offers specials for Mother’s Day.

Chandler author releases new book about clean eating

BY ALISON STANTON

When Sudesh Abrol teaches one of her popular cooking classes at the Snedigar Recreation Center or Senior Center in Chandler, she is often asked about her diet and regimen.

Abrol, a Chandler resident who also teaches classes in yoga, breathing exercises, meditation and awareness, said she typically answers these questions by talking about the importance of clean eating and buying and consuming fresh and healthy foods.

“I educate people to respect their bodies by not consuming prepackaged foods, consuming what is fresh and important for the immune system and helping them identify foods which can diminish mental and physical disorders,” she said.

Eventually, Abrol was asked so many times about her eating habits, she decided to write a book that is devoted to clean eating and how to embrace both healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle.

Titled “Clean Eating – 40 Power Foods,” Abrol’s book was published last December and is now available on Amazon.

In addition to focusing on power foods and the properties these foods contain, Abrol’s new book also shares pointers to help people stay young, vibrant, less stressed and disease-free.

“This book is my gift for those who

becoming increasingly popular, Abrol said she has eaten this way most of her life.

“My mom used to prepare the same food 60 years ago, and we hardly got sick. The same Sanskar, or teaching, I have also passed on to my three daughters: Shivani and twins Simi and Seema,” Abrol said.

As it turns out, Abrol’s mom was the one who inspired her love of cooking.

When Abrol was 9 years old, her

“ This book is my gift for those who want to know about clean eating. ”

– Sudesh Abrol

mom became ill with asthma.

“Power foods energize you in a way that pre-packaged and preservativepacked foods could never do. Good eating habits can help with weight loss and with sustaining a healthy lifestyle. ‘Clean Eating’ is about living and enjoying a healthy lifestyle by adding power foods to your daily recipes,” Dallas said.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, Abrol said she encourages all moms to motivate their kids to try cooking and other activities.

you do, be it cooking, cleaning, or playing, and give them time, importance, and respect so that they listen to you,” Abrol said, adding that the best advice she can give to busy moms is to make the time to prepare home-cooked meals.

“It is so important to avoid heavy restaurant food. Clean eating is habitual and with practice, it will become incredibly easy.”

To learn more about Abrol, visit sudesh.info. To contact her, call 480-

want to know about clean eating,” she said. “There is no secret about what I consume. The discipline lies within the daily choices I make. The readers can benefit by reading this book, bringing these foods into their homes and lives.”

This is not the first book that Abrol has written and published; she is also the author of “Peaceful Mind, Skinny Body,” and “Scrumptious Meals From India”— volumes 1 and 2.

While the concept of clean eating is

While her mom focused on getting better, Abrol took over the family’s cooking chores; as Abrol’s mom recovered, she gave her daughter tips on cooking while sitting in bed.

Some years later, her mom became ill again, and the now-teenage Abrol once again took over in the kitchen. She enjoyed learning to make new dishes and from then on, has been interested in cooking.

Shivani Dallas said she has fond memories of her mom’s cooking, as well as learning about the foods that she, her sisters and parents were eating.

“Mom always cooked from scratch and encouraged us to do the same,” Dallas said, adding that one of the best things about food is the memories that are made as people sit and enjoy meals together as a family.

Even though Dallas is now a mom of three adult children and has a grandson, she said family dinners are still very important and they have enjoyed Sunday dinners together for years.

Dallas is also proud of her mom for tackling such an important subject in her new book.

“This is a crucial topic as food and health awareness are so important to the consumer. For many years it was all about dieting and we know that statistically diets just don’t work in the long run,” Dallas said, adding that she too focuses on clean eating every day.

and welcoming family fitness center offering group classes for both children and adults in Yoga, Barre, POP Pilates, Mat Pilates, LIFT and Boxing. Over 30 classes to choose from each week! Also offering unique and fun parties for both children and adults and special monthly events like “Mom’s Yoga and Wine Night”, Canvas Painting Parties and much, much more.

Sudesh Abrol (center) is surrounded by her husband, Shiv Abrol, and their daughters (from left): Simi Sekhon, Seema Lopez and Shivani Dallas.

(Photos courtesy of the Abrol family)

Sudesh Abrol writes about clean eating.

Shivani Dallas is the daughter of Sudesh Abrol.

Quality vinyl windows don’t have to be white. Customize the look of your home with Decorum exterior colors by Simonton. Call Lasting Impressions Windows & Doors today for a free in-home consultation to see all the possibilities. Plus get the energy savings, beauty and durability of new Simonton windows. Hurry, offer ends June 15, 2017.

Available on all DaylightMax windows, Madeira windows and doors only.

Chandler recognized as top city to build a ‘forever home’

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Personal finance website GoodCall has released its 2017 list of the “best cities to build a forever home,” ranking Chandler number 70, based on a number of factors.

According to GoodCall, a total of 468 cities in the U.S. were evaluated based on seven criteria: cost to build a custom home; affordability; net migration; unemployment; home value recession recovery; crime rate; and educational values, defined by GoodCall as “the percentage of residents age 25 or older with a bachelor’s degree or higher and/or high school diploma or higher.”

In addition to Chandler, Gilbert also made the list, coming in at number 43.

Texas cities were the standouts on the list, making up 50 percent of the top ten including: Frisco, Texas (2), Flower Mound, Texas (3), Round Rock, Texas (4), Midland,

Texas (6) and Sugar Land, Texas (8). Edmund, Oklahoma ranked number one.

“Building your own home is a great way to get exactly what you want, but it’s a huge investment of money and time. Potential homebuilders want to know that their investment will pay off and get a custom home without spending too much,” said Claire Etheridge, data analyst for GoodCall.com. “The best places to build a potential home have strong housing markets and growing economies, plus good educational values and low crime that make them attractive longterm. Most of the locations are in the Midwest and South, since the low costs of living in these areas make building a dream home more affordable.”

The full report can be found at goodcall.com.

Chandler celebrates Earth Day with new sensory garden

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

On Saturday, April 22, Chandler held its 9th Annual Earth and Arbor Day Celebration at the Environmental Education Center (EEC) at Veterans Oasis Park with a special opening ceremony for the new Community Sensory Garden.

Mayor Jay Tibshraeny led the official ribboncutting of the new Community Sensory Garden, where visitors made take-home planters and participated in garden crafts.

nutritious food, and create opportunities for exercise, education and fun.”

The unique garden invites both children and adults to interact with plants and nature. Budding botanists will discover new sights, sounds and textures as they help care for the planet and learn the interconnectedness we all share.

“The garden is a shared vision of the community’s residents and educators,” said Danielle Rodriguez, recreation coordinator at the EEC. “It will serve as a catalyst for social interaction, encourage self-reliance, produce

Attendees also had a chance to exercise their green thumb by entering to win Go Greenery Plants donated by community partner Arizona Public Service Company.

“Come explore your garden senses as you learn easy and simple ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle,” Rodriguez said. For more information, call 480-7822894 or visit chandleraz.gov.eec

(Photo special to SanTan Sun News)

The garden invites guests to interact with nature.

DREAM KITCHEN & BATH EVENT

Sun Lakes Women’s Association donates money for Fire District’s portable radios

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Sun Lakes Fire District is getting a boost to enhance safety and communications, thanks to the Sun Lakes Women’s Association.

Fire District volunteer public information officer Brian Curry said the SLWA’s President Judy Caniglia and Vice President Marjorie Shipe recently visited the district’s fire station to donate a check for $39,000. The check, which they presented to Fire District Chief Troy Maloney and Deputy Chief Rob Helie, was used to buy modern portable radios for firefighters and paramedics.

district since 1974 to more than $275,000.

The Women’s Association began as the Ladies Auxiliary to the then-volunteer fire district in 1974. The organization later changed its name to the Sun Lakes Women’s Association in 1978 but kept with its mission of offering firefighters and paramedics tools and resources needed to help do their jobs.

Sun Lakes Fire District Chief Maloney is grateful for the Women’s Association’s assistance.

Ed Robson Library offers diverse programs this month

Join us for the following great programs in early to mid-May!

Tuesday, May 9th at 1 p.m.: Artist on the Fly – Sketching Birds

Join Neil Rizos to learn new ways to see the beauty and behavior of birds while learning essential techniques needed to draw birds quickly and accurately, in the classroom and in the field. Limited to 15 attendees. Registration required.

Monday, May 15th at 1 p.m.: Pinterest Party – Origami Flowers

Join us for our monthly adult craft club from 1 to 2 p.m. on the third Monday of every month. This month we are celebrating Mother’s Day and making origami flowers. Come chat, craft, and get creative! Registration required. Must be at least 18.

Tuesday, May 16th at 1 p.m.: Felix Sainz –Bossa Nova Guitar***

Art Museum Docents. In May, docent Michael Smith presents a look at Chinese landscape art, from its earliest beginnings to the Ming Dynasty. Sponsored by the Sun Lakes Friends of the Library.

***On the day of the program, please come by the library customer service desk for a free ticket – limit two per person. Park in the church lot next to the library.

The Ed Robson Library is located at 9330 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes. 602-6523000, mcldaz.org for info.

In the past, the Women’s Association has donated money for the fire district to buy three other radios. The high-tech radios have many safety and communication features to make the fire district’s work easier and safer.

The $39,000 donation is the single biggest individual donation in the Women’s Association’s history. Adding that up brings the total amount given to the fire

“These women are the very heart and soul of Sun Lakes,” Maloney said. “When we make a request to them, it’s sometimes not for flashy or dramatic, large firematic items, but everything that they have helped us purchase through the years you can rest assured helps in our fire suppression or emergency medical care in increasingly unstable economic times for fire districts.”

Accomplished guitarist Felix Sainz presents an incredible performance of Bossa Nova-inspired music. A must for guitar enthusiasts! Sponsored by the Sun Lakes Friends of the Library.

Thursday, May 18th at 1 p.m.: PHX ART presents – Chinese Landscape Art***

Be inspired by great art by joining us for a lecture series presented by Phoenix

(Photo courtesy of Sun Lakes Fire District)

Sun Lakes Fire District Deputy Chief Rob Helie and Chief Troy Maloney are given a “check” for $39,000 to buy emergency band radios by Sun Lakes Women’s Association President Judy Caniglia and Vice President Marjorie Shipe.

(Photo special to SanTan Sun News)

Felix Sainz will be appearing Tuesday, May 16th at 1 p.m. at the Ed Robson Library.

Don’t let your kids graduate into financial ruin

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ

Summer break is here. For parents of the recently graduated class of 2017 –at every age level – this time might be bittersweet.

But even though class might be over, there is one more lesson parents must ensure their kids learn before the new school year starts: financial literacy. But like the birds and the bees talk, the money talk can be about as comfortable as a root canal.

In an effort to help ease this anxietyridden discussion, below are some key areas that should be discussed as we enter this new school year – and some

clever ways to address them with kids.

Money neither grows on trees nor out of parents’ wallets. And not all money is meant to be for “fun,” such as spending it at the movies, with a new girlfriend or on new iPod songs. But how do you get a kid to understand this?

Why not focus on a “money in, money out” budget with them?

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“Simply put, so far in their lives, children have most likely focused on money going out. But where does it go? And when? And why? A budget, reviewed with and by a parent each month, can be an easy way to show the value of money

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on a regular basis,” said Mike Brown of Washington Federal, a bank with 30 local branches.

For example, if a child gets a $20 allowance each month, have them develop a budget to make that money last for an entire month. This means saying ‘no’ to spending all the fun money at once. It also helps children understand how to prioritize.

The lesson: Sometimes a lifestyle adjustment is required in order to ensure one does not exceed money going out versus money coming in.

Professionals like Brown recommend working with children on building credit at a young age, but only if they can do so without maxing out on their available balance, straining to make payments or, worse, defaulting. This is an especially important lesson to instill before college.

“Credit card companies generally offer low limits to young adults entering college. This typically allows for more freshmen to apply and get approved as soon as possible. Some offer incentives to apply,” said Matt Dana, a wealth preservation attorney at Quarles & Brady.

In fact, many companies simply place applications on college desks and in dorms – and freshmen apply by the thousands, not realizing that every penny spent on that credit card is owed back, with interest.

“By working with them on credit starting from a young age, they will grow to understand the impact of good or bad credit on one’s life. In addition, just as bad spending is habit-forming, so are good spending and saving,” Dana said.

Though parents are the first figures to talk about money with their children and teens, there are resources to help reinforce your messages and lessons.

“One of the most valuable is available to over 93,000 school-age kids in Arizona – Junior Achievement, which

has been educating K-12 students about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy since 1957,” Dana said. Brown also points out that Washington Federal offers the Washington Federal Financial Scholars Program, a financial education curriculum designed to provide students with the critical skills needed to make sound financial decisions. The program provides schools with Everfi’s interactive, web-based financial management education tool at no cost to either the school itself or taxpayers.

“The web-based platform uses the latest in new media technology – simulations, avatars, gaming and adaptive-pathing – to bring complex financial concepts to life for today’s digital generation. The high school course offers nine units in a variety of financial topics including credit scores, insurance, credit cards, student loans, mortgages, taxes, stocks, savings, 401ks and other critical concepts that map to national financial literacy standards,” Brown said.

To learn more about Junior Achievement of Arizona, visit jaaz. org. For more information about getting Washington Federal’s free financial literacy program in your child’s school, visit washingtonfederal.com.

Alison Bailin Batz is a Senior Account Executive at HMA Public Relations.

“Thank you Amada Senior Care for helping my mother and family understand our long term care policy. We are extremely grateful for Amada’s services and I highly recommend them.”

Leslie D, - daughter

BASIS Chandler senior earns American Red Cross volunteer award

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A BASIS Chandler teen is among the East Valley residents recently honored for their outstanding volunteer work for the American Red Cross Greater Phoenix Chapter.

Anna Cheng, 18, a senior at BASIS Chandler, was recognized April 29 at the Red Cross annual volunteer awards ceremony at the Phoenix Zoo. She earned the International Humanitarian Service Award.

Cheng has donated about 300 hours as a Red Cross volunteer over four years. She’s been president of BASIS Chandler’s Red Cross Club for two years, and recruited 80 volunteers, boosting the membership to 180 people. Cheng headed her club in raising $1,300 for the Measles and Rubella Campaign and helped coordinate blood drives, as well as promoted CPR education. She also formed dozens of community collaborations.

Cheng helped organize International Humanitarian Law workshops and led efforts to educate her peers about International Humanitarian Law via simulations in Arizona and California. She has also assisted with Veterans Day parades and volunteered as a summer intern for the past two years.

Nearby, Shannon Durham of Ahwatukee received the Clara Barton Volunteer Leadership Award and Marcia

Servis of Mesa earned the Bill Bombeck Disaster Volunteer of the Year Award. Cheng, Durham and Servis were among ten Valley residents recognized at the April 29 ceremony.

Chandler nonprofit that helps youths play sports gets donation

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A Chandler nonprofit organization is on a roll thanks to a donation from PHX3on3.

PHX3on3, presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community, as well as The NABI Foundation, gave two $1,000 checks to the tournaments’ two nonprofit partners this year, Chandler-based Subway Kids & Sports of Arizona and Ability360 of Phoenix, on April 29 at Ak-Chin Center Court.

Every year PHX3on3 teams up with two Valley nonprofits to help generate more awareness of good deeds in Arizona’s communities, a press release said.

“Working with the Ak-Chin Indian Community to provide funding for area nonprofits is an important part of the PHX3on3,” said Rick Steltenpohl, tournament manager. “Our goal is to increase this support in the future.”

Subway Kids & Sports of Arizona’s mission is to offer sports equipment, uniforms, registration fees and access to major sporting events for children, who might not otherwise be able to participate in such sports. Subway Restaurants of Arizona supports kids in sports as it believes teamwork, commitment and accountability help youths.

Ability360 is a nonprofit dedicated to helping and inspiring individuals with disabilities and addressing the disability concerns of their family members,

colleagues and employers. It provides and promotes programs designed to empower people with disabilities to take personal responsibility so that they may live independently or continue to live independent lifestyles in the community. Ability360 is one of five Centers for Independent Living in Arizona, and the biggest center in the state.

(Photo by the American Red Cross)

Anna Cheng, a BASIS Chandler senior, earned the American Red Cross International Humanitarian Service Award last month in Phoenix.

(Photo by Sara Goodwin/HMA Public Relations)

Mark Roden, Subway Kids & Sports of Arizona executive director and founder; Tom Chambers, PHX3on3 slam dunk competition judge; Bria Janelle, PHX3on3 emcee; and Steven Hunter, PHX3on3 slam dunk competition judge, handle the big check as PHX3on3 gave a donation to the nonprofit Subway Kids & Sports of Arizona.

Homeschoolers can explore science of water at event in Chandler

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Children who are homeschooled can participate in an event to learn about the science of water while connecting with other kids in Chandler.

Dive into Hydrology at Homeschool Day, held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 11 at the Environmental Education Center (EEC) at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road.

It’s part of the EEC’s Environmental Explorations program, which offers field trips to students and other groups.

At the event May 11, children who are homeschooled will do a science project while their parents can also talk to other like-minded parents.

“Students will create and study their own watershed to demonstrate how rainfall is channeled and collected,” said Ariane Francis, a Recreation

Coordinator at the EEC. “Once the water is collected, students will assess potential pollution sources, test the water and discuss current water conservation habits.”

The programs are created for youths ages 5 to 17 and provide grade-specific activities giving students the chance to experience the adventure of learning via inquirybased activities, technology and investigations. The cost to participate in the event is $6 per homeschooled child living in Chandler and $9 for non-resident homeschooled child. It’s free for the parents, chaperones and spectators attending the event.

To request a reservation for your group, school or homeschooled child, contact Ariane Francis at ariane.francis@ chandleraz.gov or 480-782-2886.

Silver Sneakers celebrates 25th anniversary in Chandler

SANTAN

Silver Sneakers, a national community fitness program for active adults with more than 13,000 participating gyms, will celebrate its 25th year in Chandler this month.

Classes are taught by certified instructors, and designed specifically for retirees and Medicare-eligible adults. They include activities to enhance muscle strength and range of movement. Handheld weights, balls, and resistance bands are used, but Silver Sneakers also offers specialized classes in things like Latin dance, yoga, and tai chi.

Chandler Silver Sneakers classes take place at several locations, including Anytime Fitness, 1072 W. Chandler Boulevard; Planet Fitness, 1420 S. Arizona Avenue; Chandler/Gilbert Family YMCA, 1655 W. Frye Road; Fitness Works, 2130 W. Chandler Boulevard; and Tumbleweed

Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Road.

“I’ve had the privilege to meet with many of our members across the country, and I’m always moved by the stories they share about how Silver Sneakers has changed their lives,” says Donato Tramuto, CEO of Tivity Health, parent company of Silver Sneakers.

“We are excited to celebrate Silver Sneakers’ silver anniversary and the positive difference the program makes for members, their families and the community.”

Some people are eligible for Silver Sneakers at no additional cost through more than 60 health plans, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement carriers and group retiree plans. For more information about Silver Sneakers and anniversary events, visit silversneakers25.com.

SUN NEWS STAFF

Neighbors

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKS

Call ahead to confirm information, as details occasionally change after they’ve been published. If you have a recurring monthly meeting you would like to see listed in Neighborhood Networks, email complete details to News@SanTanSun.com. Note: SanTan Sun News has a Spiritual Connections column in the Spirituality section for ongoing religion-related events.

About Care

Monthly volunteer training, by individual appointment. A nonprofit serving homebound Chandler and Gilbert residents; provides transportation, shopping and errands, friendly visits, reassurance phone calls, and minor home repairs. Info: 480-802-2331, aboutcare.org

Absolute Business Builders: Business Networking International 8 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays Chompie’s

3841 W. Frye Rd., Chandler Info: Nikki Janulewicz, 480-570-1835, Nikki@azbestmove.com

Action Networkers: Business Networking International

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays Chompie’s 3841 W. Frye Rd., Chandler Info: Marty Recht, 602-315-2056, Marty@AZMarty.com

Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter, Chandler 5:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month Support group for caregivers of people with dementia. Free and no preregistration required.

Chandler Regional Medical Center, Mor-

rison Building, Learning Resource Room 1875 W. Frye Rd., Chandler Info: Mindy, 602-528-0545, ext. 201

American Legion James O. Schroeder Post 55

7 p.m. third Tuesday of the month Sun Lakes Country Club, Navajo Room 25601 N. Sun Lakes Blvd., Sun Lakes Info: Commander Byron Weston, 480-802-6623

Arizona Special Education Network, Chandler area

Provides disability-related education, advocacy and resources to help parents navigate the complex special education system. Info: 602-531-0230

Breast Cancer Support Group

2 to 4 p.m. second Monday of each month Free, no preregistration required

Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers 685 S. Dobson Rd., Chandler Info: Kelly, 480-340-4013, ironwoodcrc.com

Build Your Own Business: Chandler

8 a.m. ﬁrst and third Thursday of each month

East Valley networking and referral organization, meets in Ahwatukee at a private location; address will be provided upon

contact.

Info: Lisa, lisa@lisamatusak.com, facebook.com/BYOBAZ

Cancer Caregiver Support Group-Chandler 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. third Saturday of each month

Support group for caregivers of people with cancer. Free and no preregistration required. Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers 685 S. Dobson Rd., Chandler Info: Kelly, 480-340-4013, ironwoodcrc.com

Caregiver Support Group 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. third Saturday of each month

Ironwood Cancer & Research Center

685 S. Dobson Dr., Chandler Info: Kelly Huey, 480-340-4013, ironwoodcrc.com

Chair Yoga Class-Chandler 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays Free, no preregistration required

Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers

685 S. Dobson Rd., Chandler Info: Kelly, 480-340-4013, ironwoodcrc. com

Chandler Airport Commission

7 p.m. second Wednesday of each month

The commission makes recommendations to the Chandler City Council regarding airport operations, physical growth, economic development and proposed land use.

Chandler Municipal Airport terminal 2380 S. Stinson Way, Chandler Info: 480-782-3540

Chandler Business Alliance 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays

Professional business coalition dedicated to the economic and social development of its members and the Chandler community as a whole.

BLD 1920 W. Germann Rd., Chandler Info: chandleralliance@gmail.com, chandleralliance.com

Chandler Chamber Business Golf

7 a.m. tee time, ﬁrst and third Wednesdays of each month Includes nine holes of golf, continental breakfast and networking opportunities. Preregistration required online. Golf venue varies. Info: chandlerchamber.com

Chandler Farmers’ Market 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays Weekly market with more than 30 vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, gourmet food and handmade crafts. Free admission.

Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, on the east side of Arizona Avenue, Chandler Info: 480-855-3539, downtownchandler.org

Chandler Lions Club 6:30 p.m. ﬁrst and third Tuesdays of each month Area residents are invited to come join like-minded volunteers and make new friends.

Atria Chandler Villas, Community Room 101 S. Yucca St., Chandler Info: RuthJon Wick, 480-895-3569, az1ruthjon@q.com

Chandler PD Victim Services Unit receives award from attorney general

BY BECKY BRACKEN

If you’re a victim of a crime in Chandler, it’s the shoulders of Veronica Vierra and Denise Allen that might be the first you lean on for support. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Earlier this month, Vierra, Allen, their boss Katie Cain and the rest of the Chandler Police Department’s Victim Services Unit were honored by Attorney General Mark Brnovich with a service award for their advocacy.

According to a video introducing the award recipients, Cain said the Victim Services Unit in Chandler had provided assistance to more than 1,000 people in the past year alone. The Unit was awarded the “Advocacy & Direct Service Award” which, according to the AG’s office, recognizes “Where an individual or group of individuals has evidenced passion and perseverance in facilitating victim justice and healing by both promoting and ensuring victims’ legal rights as well as crucial services to meet victims’ needs for recovery from the shattering effects of crime.”

Each year, the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week sets one week aside to honor and acknowledge the work individuals, law enforcement, nonprofits and other organizations across the country do to advocate for crime victims.

“Being an advocate, working for the police department, is something that I don’t think is just a job,” Vierra, a victim specialist with the Chandler Police Department, said. “You have to have that as a calling.”

This year, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week began on April 2 with the theme, “Strength. Resilience. Justice.,” reflecting the attributes crime victims often must rely on, along with the help of victim advocates, to start the process of healing and recovery.

“My role would be to comfort them (crime victims), provide them that emotional support, and if I’m able to assist someone and let them know they have a voice, that makes me feel like I’m helping in their recovery,” victim specialist Allen said in the video shown at the awards ceremony honoring her department’s work.

Attorney General Brnovich said taking care of the victims of crimes is just as important to justice as punishing criminals.

“As Arizona’s Attorney General, I am committed to a system of justice that ensures that those who do harm to others are held responsible,” Brnovich said. “I am equally dedicated to a system of justice that remembers, respects, and protects victims of all crime”

The following were honored in April with an award:

Advocacy & Direct Service Award: Chandler Police Department’s Victim Services Unit

Advocacy & Direct Service Award: Noemi Elizalde, patient advocate at Mariposa Community Health Center

Service Coordination Award: Arizona Department of Corrections Office of Victim Services

Attorney who has office in East Valley receives recognition

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Local attorney Mark Breyer is getting another honor. He’s been named as a “Top 100” attorney by The American Society of Legal Advocates. The society, known as ASLA, is a national, invitation-only organization of esteemed lawyers practicing today. ASLA gets its membership from attorneys who combine excellent legal credentials with a demonstrated commitment to community engagement and the highest standards of the profession.

Mark and his wife, Alexis Breyer, are known as “The Husband & Wife Law Team”

Innovative Practices Award: El Mirage Police Department Victim Assistance Unit

Leadership Award: Randall Udelman, principle/founder of Arizona Crime Victim Rights Law Group

and the pair has been protecting the seriously injured since 1996. They have offices in several locations including Mesa and Ahwatukee.

ASLA limits its membership to less than 1.5 percent of all licensed attorneys in the United States. The organization chooses outstanding lawyers in all states (except New Jersey and Texas), featuring no more than 100 lawyers per state. ASLA tries to serve as the go-to source of exceptional legal advocacy, and to boost professional relationships and best practices among member lawyers.

According to Ryan Anderson, communications director for the Office of the Attorney General, award recipients were nominated by their peers. This year the AG’s Office received more than 25 nominations, including individuals, support teams and law enforcement task forces.

Help celebrate Kyrene teachers

BY JAN VESELY

This week, school communities across the country will be celebrating “Teacher Appreciation Week.”

At the April 25 meeting, the Kyrene Governing Board adopted a proclamation that acknowledged the contribution of teachers, saying:

“Teachers make public schools great; teachers work to open students’ minds to ideas, knowledge and dreams, they fill many roles as listeners, explorers, role models, motivators and mentors.”

But as I enter my 40th year in education, I am concerned for the future of teaching. As we spend this week honoring our teachers, the Arizona legislature is grappling with how to address teacher compensation as part of the state budget.

We don’t know what the final figure will be, but from the stories I hear from teachers in Kyrene, it is very clear that we need to do a better job of compensating them for their work.

In my conversations with our teachers, one message rings clear. They are having to choose between pursuing their passion for education and being able to provide for their basic needs.

One teacher wrote, “It’s grown harder every year. Some years are better than others (less challenging students, fewer difficult parents, stronger administrators), but expectations placed on teachers continue to rise…friends leave the profession for jobs that are ‘easier’ and better paying.”

Another wrote of the struggle of having to work two jobs her entire career as a Special Education teacher to make ends meet. Her teacher’s salary alone does not cover all of her day to day costs.

One teacher shared that she and her husband are both public school educators, with three master’s degrees and a doctorate among them, and after their bills are paid – health care premiums, mortgage, car payments, and utility bills – they have a combined $125 a week to pay for groceries, gas, and other expenses.

I believe in our public schools and in the teachers who serve in them. Last week, I made a statement at our Governing Board meeting expressing my support of public education.

Our public schools were established to make education universally available to all children, free of charge.

And in those schools, our teachers go above and beyond to create safe and vibrant learning environments for all students. I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who fight to protect the good work that we do, because in spite of our many challenges, in the end, we have great teachers who continue to work tirelessly to keep the hope of public education alive. Join me in celebrating our Kyrene teachers.

In commemoration of “Teacher Appreciation Week,” I am asking you to go to kyrene.org/AmazingTeachers and nominate a deserving teacher. They will be entered into a drawing and 10 will be selected for a special recognition at the May 9 Governing Board meeting.

As the governing board proclamation states, “teachers continue to influence us long after our school days are only memories.”

And for that, we are eternally grateful. -Dr. Jan Vesely is the Kyrene School District superintendent.

(Photo courtesy of Attorney General’s Office)

The Chandler Police Department Victim Services Unit accepts its award.

Chandler men help win wheelchair-rugby championship

BY DAVID M. BROWN

Two Chandler men and two others from the East Valley put their four wheels to the floor and their rugby balls over the goal line to help the 360 Phoenix Heat win a national wheelchair rugby tournament.

Chandler residents Joe Delagrave and Scott Hogsett, along with Joe Jackson of Mesa and Jack Zunich of Tempe, joined eight other team members in winning their third U.S. Quad Rugby Association Division (USQRA) I national championship.

The team defeated the Minnesota Steelheads 55−51, at the Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center, 5025 E. Washington Street in Phoenix, in an event sponsored by Vantage Mobility International.

Formerly Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), Ability360 offers and promotes programs for people with disabilities, empowering them to continue or achieve independent lifestyles, explained Gus LaZear, vice president and general manager.

“The tournament was a big moment for the Valley and our team,” said Hogsett, who began working with the team about 20 years ago. “It’s the first time in 20 years that the national title was contested here in Phoenix.”

Jackson, a Chandler native and Hamilton High School graduate, added, “The annual tournament is the granddaddy of them all in club ball. All teams bring their A game.”

Each 90-minute game comprises four eight-minute quarters and a half time. Goals are scored by carrying the volleyball-sized ball over the goal line, which is vigorously guarded by defensive players.

To qualify, players must have a limitation in all four limbs.

“We have players at many different levels, but you must have the ability to move the chair to compete,” said Hogsett, who won a gold medal at the Paralympic Games, the Olympics for disabled athletes, which is organized and sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Delagrave has won a bronze.

The USQRA traveling-circuit schedule begins in October and ends in April with games throughout the country, including San Diego; Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; Tucson; and Canada.

To enter the final tournament in Phoenix, 45 teams of the nation’s elite-level disabled athletes in eight divisions competed in regional and sectional tournaments.

The 360 Phoenix Heat entered as favorites and finished the tournament 5-0 to complete a perfect 32-0 season. This was the team’s third national title in four years.

But, said Hogsett, with a smile, “The hardest thing to do is to win a game you’re supposed to. But we’ve got a great system and really smart players, and when it comes to a championship game, training and conditioning are the key.

“Their commitment is proven in the way they train,” added Hogsett, who plans to coach more and play less next season. “We practice three days a week during the season. Like with any other sport, you have to work at what you do.”

Each player has met and beat adversity most people cannot understand, the four

East Valley men said. Jackson attended Hamilton from 2003−2007 and was a member of its varsity football team in 2005. During practice that fall, he was paralyzed while preparing for a semifinal game against Mesa’s Westwood High School. He missed a quarter of his junior year but was able to return for the fourth quarter and graduate with his class in 2007. He is now attending ASU, studying industrial engineering. His parents still live

in Chandler.

As a teenager, Hogsett was injured at a party in Idaho. “I had to learn that there was life after a major accident, just like the other guys on the team,” he said.

The two men met when Hogsett was mentoring new patients at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. He saw the potential in Jackson, both for acute physical and mental skills to win at the arduous game of wheelchair rugby. Jackson has been playing with the team for nine years.

“Joe is very physical, which is absolutely necessary, and he’s also a smart player,” Hogsett said. “You have to play with your brain, too.”

In addition to schooling, Jackson oversees his Joe Jackson Foundation, which provides adaptive sports equipment to young adults and children 26 and younger with spinal cord injuries, encouraging them to continue to live a healthy, active lifestyle.

“We offer assistance with lessons for scuba diving and lessons for driving modified vehicles as well,” he said. With teammates Delagrave and Ernie Chunn, he is playing this month in Japan as a member of the USA National Team.

Wheelchair rugby is therapeutic and relationship-building while also being highoctane and hard-hitting.

“You don’t need to play at the highest level,” Hogsett said. “It’s a way to feel normal again, and the league has done that for a lot of these guys.”

For more information, visit usqra.org and ability360.org.

(Photo by Loren Worthington)

Scott Hogsett of Chandler plays with the 360 Phoenix Heat, which he helped to win a national wheelchair rugby tournament.

May Chandler Art Walk is the last of the season

BY BECKY BRACKEN

Don’t miss the season’s last Art Walk before summer on May 19 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park with more than 30 artists and live music by Loser’s Way Home.

This month’s Summer Kick-Off Art Walk will also feature dogs available for adoption from the nonprofit Angel for Paws, courtesy of Team Revolution Real Estate.

“The artists bring new items each month so each Art Walk is a new experience,” said Karli Ragan, who organizes the Art Walk for the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership. “So each art walk is a new experience. The artists bring affordable items – especially compared to other art walks in the area. Many offer items at just $50 or less, making owning a unique masterpiece affordable for all.”

Ragan said this month’s Art Walk will also include an exhibit of bubble art created by junior artists and then compiled into a “quilt.” The exhibit is sponsored by Mom Nation AZ and Team Evolution Real Estate.

For more information, visit downtownchandler.org.

Angel for Paws will have dogs available for adoption at the Art Walk.

(Photos special to SanTan Sun News)

The last Art Walk before summer takes place May 19.

Chandler Art Walk features more than 30 artists.

The event includes an exhibit of bubble art created by junior artists.

Harmony and vino: 4 Chandler wine bars with live music

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The Wild Vine Uncorked, 4920 S. Gilbert Road, hosts live music three nights a week, mostly in the genres of rock and country, with a splash of jazz and some singer-songwriters, as well. May’s shows include cover-playing local favorite Kristy Dee on May 6, 15, and 29; Duane Moore, founding member of popular Arizona rock-country jam band Mogollon, on May 13, 20 and 27; and solo acoustic performer Ian Eric on May 21. Visit thewildvineuncorked.com for a full performance schedule.

Music and wine make a fine pairing of flavor and ambiance at D’vine Bistro & Wine Bar, 3990 S. Alma School Road. The vino lounge’s regularly scheduled performers are: Latin-jam man Freddie Duran on Tuesdays, the Selwyn/Aebi Jazz Duo on Wednesdays, Kristy Dee on Fridays, and blues rocker Paris James on

Getting older doesn’t mean

Saturdays. For more information, visit dvinebistrochandler.com.

Va Bene Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, 4647 E. Chandler Boulevard, serves its classic cuisine and Old World vino with a side of music. Performers vary, but previous tunesmiths included American rockabilly band Cadillac Angels and dance-jam band Swain’s World. Visit vabeneaz.com for more information. Want to unleash your inner performer? Hit the stage during Open Mic Night at Talebu Coffee and Wine Café at 7 p.m. May 12. Sign up to perform is on a first-come, first-served basis, and the signup sheet will be available at the restaurant starting at 6:30 p.m. Singers, musicians and spoken word poets can perform. Talebu is located at 2095 N.Alma School Road in Chandler. For more information, visit talebucoffee.com/talebu-presents.

Joe Costello Project plays cool jazz at Gila River Casino

BY NIKI D’ANDREA

Many jokes have been made about the rhythm sections of rock bands, one of the most notable being: “Why did the bass player break the car window?”

Answer: “To get the drummer out.” But while dumb-drummer jokes might apply to rock ‘n’ roll, it’s certainly not applicable when it comes to jazz – a musical medium that can be like mathematics in motion, with tricky timing changing tangoing with sexy swagger and free-spirited flows. The right jazz drummer can make a band, set a tone, and keep the groove going throughout the night.

Valley resident Joe Costello is one of those jazz drummers. His band, the Joe Costello Project, has played around metro Phoenix for years, sharing the stage with such notable musicians as Grammy Award-winning bassist Mel Brown, renowned organist Papa John DeFrancesco, and smooth crooner Dennis Rowland. Costello will perform at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino starting at 9 p.m. on two Saturday nights this month (May 13 and May 27) with the current iteration of his band – guitarist Barrett Rehm Gerdes, keyboardist Raul Yanez, and vocalist Kaufee Johnson.

Before moving to Phoenix in 2004, Costello, a New York native, performed around the Big Apple with some of the best-known jazz musicians in the genre,

including saxophonist Jerry Weldon, pianist Joel Weiskopf, and superstar Harry Connick Jr. Costello’s skill and spirit for his craft is evident in his live shows, and in an instructional video from one of the drum clinics Costello conducted for Scottsdale M usic Academy.

“Today’s tip has to do with this Latin sort of tom groove that I do, only it mainly stays on the snare the whole time,” Costello explained in the video, sitting behind his drum kit. “You turn the snare trainer off so you get that tom sound,” he says, thumping on the tinny drum three times. “You use a cross stick, and instead of having your hand… over on a cymbal or doing something else, you keep it down here on the snare, and you just groove with it.”

He then played a slow, steady, hipswaying polyrhythm punctuated by the tom-snare, invoking images of a beautiful woman in an exotic, colorful dress dancing on a sunset-splashed balcony somewhere in South America.

That’s the sort of subtle sonic, visionary magic the Joe Costello Project will bring to Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. Audiences should be satisfied with standards, variations on traditional tunes, and originals. Visit drummerjoecostello.com or wingilariver. com for more information.

(Photo special to SanTan Sun News)

Drummer Joe Costello’s skill and spirit for his craft is evident in live shows.

That’s Amore! Andy DiMino loves his role as Dean Martin in A Toast to the Rat Pack

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Andy DiMino has been called “the quintessential crooner.”

After a varied career that took him to Hollywood clubs and Colorado ski lodges, the Southern California native moved to Las Vegas, where he discovered his inner Dean Martin.

For the last 14 years, he has been onethird of A Toast to the Rat Pack, a tribute act that comes to Chandler Center for the Arts Sunday, May 21. DiMino stars as Martin, while Sebastian Anzaldo and Lambus Dean perform as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., respectively.

“It’s a really fun show,” says DiMino, via telephone from his Las Vegas home.

“In theaters, we break it up into two sets. During the first set, we focus on the individual performers. Dean Martin usually opens the show with three songs, then he turns it over to Sammy for three songs and Frank for three songs. That way, each performer gets to do the solo numbers from the catalog.”

Before the intermission, the trio comes together for a handful of songs. They return to the stage as The Rat Pack, with the three tuxedoed performers interacting and closing with “big-finish numbers.” The six-piece band features a three-piece horn section that harks back to the Big Band era.

Longtime inspiration

DiMino grew up watching “The Dean Martin Show” from 1965 to 1974, but he was a self-professed “child of the 1960s,” during which time he was raised on The Beatles.

After a stint with bands, he stepped back to raise his son. In 1990, DiMino relocated to Las Vegas and started working odd jobs ranging from a strolling minstrel/guitarist at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino to singing the Italian-American songs of Martin. Then, he saw a Rat Pack tribute show at the now-shuttered Desert Inn in Paradise, Nevada.

“A light bulb went off in my head,” DiMino says. “I thought, ‘I could do this. I like this music. I like the comedy. I like the era. I’m already Italian.’ The pros outweighed the cons and it made sense.

“I studied all the music. I read everything I could. I picked up the mannerisms by watching DVDs of his TV show. I loved the attitude and the fun they were having.”

Singing and performing weren’t the hard parts. Instead, DiMino admits, he was a little leery about Martin’s comedic side.

“I had never done comedy before,” DiMino says. “Dean Martin was a natural comedian. I had done some musical theater. These were such great characters, though. Through our show, we hope to remind the audience how much they loved the characters and music of that time, and how it made them feel. If we can do that, that’s success for us. We’ve done our jobs.”

A Toast to the Rat Pack, Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 480.782.2680, chandlercenter.org, dhsproductions.com/rat-pack, 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21, $29-$44.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

Above: A Toast to the Rat Pack: Andy DiMino as Dean Martin, Lambus Dean as Sammy Davis Jr., and Sebastian Anzaldo as Frank Sinatra.

Right: The real Dean Martin, playing a town drunk named Dude in the 1959 film “Rio Bravo.”

Youths with acting bug can learn performance skills at Seton Catholic Preparatory camp

BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Budding young actors can learn how to express themselves in front of an audience at the Summer Music Theater Camp at Seton Catholic Preparatory.

Any students g oing into second through 12th grades or those who have just finished their senior year of high school can participate in the camp at Seton Catholic Preparatory, 1150 N. Dobson Road in Chandler.

They will learn to act, dance and sing and no experience is necessary.

The first session, for students going into grades second through seventh, will take place from 9 a.m. to noon June 5-16. Students who will start grades seventh through 12th, or who just finished 12th grade, can participate in the second session, from noon to 3 p.m. June 19-30.

“What I love about it is, it can kind of reach all levels of kids,” camp director Elizabeth Sobczyk of Gilbert said. “If they’ve done it for years and they’re super-confident, it’s great for them, but also for the ones that are a little bit more nervous, it’s a fun thing.”

Students must audition prior to camp starting, but that’s only for placement within the camps. All students who audition will be allowed to take part in the program. Auditions

for the group going into second through seventh grades is from 9 to 10 a.m. June 3, and the older youths must audition from 9 to 10 a.m. June 17.

All campers will perform in shows at the end of their session. The younger group will hit the stage at 6:30 p.m. June 16 and the older students will perform at 6:30 p.m. June 30.

“We’ll do musicals or songs from musicals,” said Sobczyk, a Seton Catholic graduate who used to teach theater in the Paradise Valley Unified School District. “They learn how to present themselves with confidence, how to stand. It’s hard to get on stage and perform but they learn to do it because it’s fun and so it becomes easier when maybe the situation is a little more scary and not so fun.”

The songs will be child-friendly, from Broadway shows or other musicals and movies. Past ones include “Hound Dog,” sung by Elvis Presley, and “The Bare Necessities” from “The Jungle Book.”

Sobczyk has a bachelor’s degree in theater education from Grand Canyon University and has performed at Mesa Encore Theater. Her team of directors, who will be helping her teach the students, are education or

performance majors in college, as well as professional teachers.

“I always think everybody should have at least a little taste of performance no matter what field they go into,” Sobczyk said. “You have

to kind of just put yourself out there and not be afraid to make mistakes. Sometimes mistakes end up being great.” For prices and more information about the camps, visit setoncatholic. org/fine-arts/summer-camp/

(Photo courtesy of Seton Catholic Preparatory)

Students participate in the Summer Music Theater Camp at Seton Catholic Preparatory in Chandler.

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Chandler Children’s Choir to perform ‘Fields of Gold’

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

To celebrate the beauty of spring and the power of song, Chandler Children’s Choir will perform a program titled “Fields of Gold” at Chandler Center for the Arts on May 13.

The performance will include the 140-member children’s choir singing songs such as “Cherry Blossoms,” “Homeland” and “Fields of Gold,” accompanied by acoustic

guitarist Erik Sloyka and a string quartet. Chandler Children’s Choir was founded in 2008. It consists of three choirs – Junior (ages 7-10), Encore (ages 10-14), and Cactus (ages 12-18). Tickets for “Fields of Gold,” which takes place at 7 p.m. on May 13, cost $18 to $25. Visit chandlerchildrenschoir.org or chandlercenter.org for more information.

Pottery business gives customers tools to create artwork in painting classes

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

As the temperatures heat up, folks can get their creative juices flowing indoors at As You Wish Pottery Painting Place in Chandler and other parts of the Valley.

The pottery-painting business will offer several classes in June. Classes and specials are being offered in June at the Chandler store at 2970 E. Germann Road #4 (Loop 202 and Gilbert Road) in the Crossroads Towne Center, as well as at other locations.

Several classes will be offered next month for children ages 5 and older, where they can learn how to brush, flick, splatter, sponge and paint pottery using bubbles, shaving cream and other tools.

Each class is $25 and runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Kids can learn how to paint a dot-art coaster set on June 5, how to add color to a “personal pizza plate” June 12 and how to paint a watermelon bowl on June 26, among many other designs throughout June.

Anyone who brings in their father to paint pottery on Father’s Day, June 18, can get their dad’s studio fee waived. Reservations are recommended. On Wacky Wednesday, June 21, studio use is free for all customers.

As You Wish is a paint-your-own pottery studio that first opened in Scottsdale in 1995. To learn more, visit asyouwishpottery.com.

(Photo courtesy of Chandler Children’s Choir) Chandler Children’s Choir includes 140 members.

(Photo courtesy of As You Wish Pottery Painting Place)

Customers can create intricate designs on a variety of pottery at As You Wish Pottery Painting Place in Chandler, Mesa, Tempe and other areas of the Valley.

Spiritual Reﬂections

Optimism and faith make life better

BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D.

We are often faced with issues that can boggle the mind and cause anguish and despair. We are witnesses to unimaginable horrors. People are murdered. People are exiled. People are displaced from their homes. Anyone who can muster any type of hope for the future is certainly hard pressed to do so.

Yet there are people who still cling to the belief that with an optimistic approach to life, all will be right. Not long ago I read an article listing “six little stories” in which the value of life and its blessings are depicted attending to our need for conﬁdence and assurance.

There was a village and the people gathered together to pray for rain. On that day the whole town showed up, but only one boy came with an umbrella. That is FAITH.

Have you ever noticed that when you are playing with a baby and you throw the baby in the air, they laugh because they seem to understand you will catch them? That’s TRUST.

Every day, we go to bed without any assurance that we will see the next sunrise, but still we set our alarm to wake us up. That’s HOPE.

We plan big things for the days that follow in spite of not knowing if there is a future. That is CONFIDENCE.

Read the newspapers, watch television, and what we see daily is suffering, but still we get married and have children. That is LOVE.

And then there was an old man who had written on his shirt, “I am not 80 years old. I am sweet 16 with 64 years of experience.” That is ATTITUDE.

We all have doubts and fears. Our country seems to be lost in some uncontrollable tailspin. We look at our neighbors with suspicion. Our identity is lost somewhere in the past.

Talk about gloom and doom! But we are here because we know that faith is

the unmistakable journey into a greater tomorrow. We assemble in our houses of worship because we trust that the future can and will be better.

There certainly are episodes of doubt, which lead to questions. Some of our questions have no answers, but many do. This is what faith is all about.

At this stage in our lives, here is something to dwell on: Our vibrancy may have been diminished, but not our enthusiasm. We may not be as spry as we once were, but we know that we can take that next step. We have conﬁdence in ourselves, even though we go through periods of doubt. Most of all, we are hopeful and excited about what we mean to others.

Perhaps if we open our hearts and relax our minds, we can ﬁnd opportunities because we know that there is a tomorrow. We can feel good about ourselves because our attitude tells us we are relevant – as relevant as we were yesterday, and even more relevant tomorrow.

First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes

A Church of Joy Committed to the perfect Word of God, living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and worshiping with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Dr. Marc Drake, Senior Pastor invites you to join in our traditional worship service at 9535 E. Riggs Road Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 480-895-1088 www.fbcsl.org

Sundays: Bible Study: 8:30 am | Worship: 10:00 am Wednesday: Prayer & Bible Study: 6:30 pm

Call Tracey at 480-898-5611 or email Tracey@timespublications.com for

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Where to Eat

Chandler restaurants

BY COLLEEN SPARKS

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and many Chandler restaurants and bars are offering brunch specials and other goodies for diners to treat the special women in their lives.

The holiday is May 14. Here’s a look at some of the special menus:

Cuisine & Wine Bistro will offer a Mother’s Day lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on May 14 at its Chandler and Gilbert locations.

The a la carte menu includes various main dishes, starters and desserts. Some highlights of the lunch menu are escargots, as well as scallops and asparagus in puff pastry, smoked duck breast and fried goat cheese salad, veal chop Dijonnaise and grilled Angus rib-eye.

The starters range from $12 to $15, the main courses range from $20 to $30 and desserts are $8.

Colin Barley will perform music at the Chandler restaurant, 4991 S. Alma School Road, in The Promenade at Fulton Ranch.

Cuisine & Wine Bistro in Gilbert is at 1422 W. Warner Road. To learn more, visit cuisineandwinebistro.com/chandler/

El Palacio Restaurant & Cantina is providing Mother’s Day weekend spe-

cials May 12-14. The restaurant at 2950 E. Germann Road is providing a fajita dinner for $10.99 all weekend, along with house margaritas for $4 and sangrias for $5. The specials are available all day, all three days.

All mothers will receive half off their meal price with a paid entree. They will also get a flower while supplies last.

To learn more, visit epfamilyrestaurants.com/locations/chandler/

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is offering a three-course Mother’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 14.

The brunch is $47 per person and $18.95 per child ages 12 and younger.

Some highlights of the brunch include lobster bisque, Fleming’s signature eggs Benedict, cinnamon apple brioche French toast, porcini-crusted filet mignon and New York cheesecake.

The Chandler Fleming’s is at 905 N. 54th Street. To learn more, visit flemingssteakhouse.com/locations/az/chandler/

SanTan Brewing Company will give customers a chance to spoil their mothers with a Mother’s Day brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 14.

The brunch buffet will include coffee-rubbed tri-tip, agave-glazed

ham, fresh fruit, cinnamon French toast, green bean casserole, sausage links, pork enchiladas, buttermilk-fried chicken, Mexi-Street corn, jalapeño brat hash and much more. Brunch will cost $25 per person and $15 for youths ages six to 12.

The restaurant/bar is at 8 S. San Marcos Place. To learn more, visit santanbrewing.com

VB Lounge will have a Mother’s Day brunch on May 14 served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The menu includes steak and eggs with asparagus, along with potato and sausage hash garnishes paired with cherry tomatoes and two eggs. It also includes the best-selling red chile pork skillet, which is a warm-iron skillet with shredded pork, red chile sauce, white cheddar cheese, and two eggs. Other menu highlights are a Crab Louie salad with fresh blue crab meat, arugula, toast points, romaine, cherry tomato and an eight-minute egg, tossed in homemade Thousand Island dressing.

Brunch entrees range from $12 to $20.

VB Lounge is at 81 W. Boston Street. To learn more, visit vblounge.com.

Wildhorse Pass Hotel & Casino’s Cafe 24/7 will have a Mother’s Day buffet

from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14.

The buffet will include scrambled eggs, spinach and roasted pepper quiche, seasoned potato wedges, applewood-smoked bacon, breakfast sausage, buttery biscuits with country-style gravy, waffles and spicy green chile with flour tortillas. The cost is $15 per person.

24/7 is located in the casino at 5040 Wildhorse Pass Blvd. To learn more, visit wingilariver.com/index.php/wild-horsepass-hotel-casino/dining/cafe-247

Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill is offering a special to quench mothers’ thirsts.

The restaurant will provide $15 bottomless mimosas on Mother’s Day during brunch, which is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Z’Tejas’ regular brunch menu is available every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

One item on the restaurant’s new brunch menu is the Bananas Foster French toast, for $11. Another brunch item is stuffed breakfast relleno, a fresh-roasted poblano pepper stuffed with cage-free scrambled eggs, jalapeño bacon, sausage, salsa fresca and mixed cheese, with roasted red pepper sauce on top, served with black beans and fresh fruit for $13.

Z’Tejas in Chandler is at 7221 W. Ray Road. To learn more, visit ztejas.com

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A healthy combination of plant-based foods and turkey easily turns into a quick lunch. This wrap brings together a variety of textures with crunchiness from the apples and spinach, substance from the turkey and creamy, simple dressing. Find more quick, healthy recipes at aicr.org. Turkey, Spinach and Apple Wrap (Recipe reprinted with permission from the American Institute for Cancer Research)

1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise

2 teaspoons honey mustard

2 whole-wheat lavash wraps or flour tortillas (8 inches each)

2 cups baby spinach leaves, loosely packed, washed and dried

4 thin slices turkey breast

1/4 Granny Smith apple, sliced paper-

thin

Combine mayonnaise and mustard. Lay out both wraps. Spread edges of each with mayonnaise mixture. Leaving space on one side of wraps, arrange layer of greens on top of wraps. Top each layer with two slices of turkey. Evenly divide apple slices and lay lengthwise across turkey. Fold over one end of wrap then both sides. Roll wrap as tightly as possible toward opposite side. Cover each wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate seam-side down, up to 4 hours, before serving. To serve, remove plastic wrap and cut each wrap in half at an angle.

Substitution: Two large leaves of soft, leafy green lettuce can be used in place of baby spinach leaves.

Where to Eat

WHERE KIDS EAT FREE

Chompie’s

3481 W. Frye Road, Chandler 480-398-3008

www.chompies.com

Children 10 and younger receive one free item from the kids’ meal menu with an adult meal purchase of $8 or more on Tuesdays. Dine-in only.

Copper Still Moonshine Grill

2531 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 101, Gilbert 480-656-1476

www.copperstillmoonshinegrill.com

Kids ages 10 and younger eat for free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult meal.

El Palacio Restaurant & Cantina 2950 E. Germann Road, Chandler 480-802-5770 www.epfamilyrestaurants.com

Kids 12 and younger eat free when adult meals are purchased on Wednesdays.

Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta

590 N. Alma School Road, Suite 35, Chandler 480-812-8433, www.floridinos.net

Kids eat free from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Receive one free kids’ meal per $8 adult purchase when customers dine in only.

The Hungry Monk Andersen Fiesta Shopping Center, 1760 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler 480-963-8000 www.hungrymonkaz.com

Kids eat free on Mondays with every purchase of an adult entrée.

NYPD Pizza

2580 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler

480-722-0898

www.aznypdpizza.com

Kids eat free on Wednesday and Sunday after 4 p.m. with the purchase of a small or medium pizza. Dine-in only.

Pittsburgh Willy’s

48 S. San Marcos Pl., Chandler

480-821-3197

Every day, except Sunday breakfast, one child 10 or younger eats free with each paying adult, while additional kids eat for 50 percent off, when they order from the Wee Willy menu only.

Planet Sub

1920 W. Germann Road, Chandler

480-245-6503

www.planetsub.com

Kids eat free with a paying adult on Mondays.

WHERE KIDS EAT FREE

Social Box 1371 N. Alma School Road, Chandler 480-899-6735

www.socialboxeateries.com

Kids 12 and younger eat free from the kids’ menu with the purchase of an adult entrée on Mondays.

Sidelines Grill

2980 S. Alma School Road, Chandler 480-792-6965

www.sidelinesaz.com

Kids eat free from the kids’ menu after 4 p.m. Thursdays with the purchase of an adult entrée. Dine-in only.

The SanTan Sun News now has a regular section called “Where Kids Eat Free.” Restaurant owners, please email us details such as days of the week kids can eat free at your establishment, and what conditions apply, such as purchase of an adult meal, certain hours, etc. Include your restaurant name, address, phone and website and a contact name for verification.

Readers, if you know of a location that has a kids-eat-free program, email us with the restaurant name, a phone and/or email for confirmation and details. Email information to KidsEatFree@santansun.com

We invite you to experience the taste of authentic Italian cuisine made from fresh seasonal ingredients.

HAPPY HOUR

HAPPY HOUR MENU

1/2 off all Appetizers • 1/2 off all Well Drinks, Beer and Wine by the Glass Monday-Friday except Tuesday 4-6pm,

Where to

New India Gate serves spicy delights

BY KENNETH LAFAVE

India Gate was a popular destination for Chandler’s fans of curries, naan and paneer until it closed six years ago. About a year ago, the family-run operation, now dubbed New India Gate, reopened on the southeast corner of Ray and Rural roads. Based on a recent visit, the new restaurant holds high the reputation of its earlier iteration.

Indian cuisine is long on infusing its meats, grains and vegetables with flavorful spices and herbs. Other food styles may top everything with sauces, but a good curry or korma is about the flavors integrating into the chicken, lamb, beef or fish. New India Gate does an especially good job of this, even in the breads. Take, for instance, the garlic naan ($2.25), which is mildly garlicky in every bite.

I began my meal with a glass of mango lassi ($2.99), which is like drinking liquefied mango yogurt. I admit to an

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Happy Hour Mon-Fri 2-6pm

Brunch Sat-Sun 9am-2pm

addiction to this sweet but never cloying concoction. My dinner mate opted for a Diet Coke, but I forgave her. We then ordered an appetizer called “vegetable assorted snacks” ($6.99) that got us one samosa, two mixed vegetable pakora, two onion bhaji and a pair of paneer pakora. Pakora are either vegetables or cheese (paneer) breaded with seasoned flour and deep-fried, and served with a cilantro dip and a savory red dip. Onion bhaji are nests of sliced and breaded onion, spiked with garlic and ginger and, again, deep-fried. As good as these are, the samosa – a pastry stuffed with potatoes and peas – will make you wish you’d order a plate full of just it.

We ordered saag paneer ($9.99) to share. The creamy spinach dish, flecked with cubes of Indian cheese, was the freshest I have ever tasted. “The spinach is from our backyard,” said my waiter, one

Mondays - Bourbon & Burgers. $3 off select bourbons w/purchase of a burger. 4pm-close

of four family members who cook for and run the establishment, and I didn’t know whether to take that literally or as a wellearned exaggeration.

We closed our evening with pistachio kulfi ($3.99), an Indian ice cream a little closer to what we used to call “ice milk.” As with all of New India Gate’s foods, freshness and flavor saturation were supreme.

Tuesdays - Whiskey Wednesday Tuesday

(We couldn’t wait!) $3 off all whiskey all day

Wednesday - Wine Down Wednesday. 1/2 priced wines all day (bottle and glass)

Thur-Sat - Live music on the rooftop 7-10pm

HOURS: Mon-Fri open at 11am Sat-Sun open at 9am 480.773.7688

Vindaloo is a spicy curry dish in which the meat, marinated in vinegar and ginger, is served in a sauce that marries the heat of chile peppers to a sweet edge of cinnamon and/or sugar. The chicken vindaloo ($11.99) I ordered at New India Gate balanced all this well and didn’t neglect to include plenty of cardamom along with turmeric and cumin.

The old India Gate was known for its goat curry ($12.99), so my dining mate chose to sample it. She loves lamb, but had never eaten goat before. As it turned out, goat reminded her of mutton, and was a bit gamey for her taste. I reassured her that, because the spinach had come from the owners’ backyard, we at least could be certain that the goat had not. Chicken,