SanTan Sun News - Oct. 2016

October 1 - October 14, 2016 www.SanTanSun.com

Mayor’s Day of Play promotes health, wellness and fitness

BY MEGHANN FINN SEPULVEDA

To Mayor Jay Tibshraeny, “playing” means much more than hanging from monkey bars or chasing friends around a playground.

“Play is one of the primary ways kids come to understand the world around them,” he said. “It allows them to release energy, push boundaries and connect with others.”

Tibshraeny is encouraging this with the Mayor’s Day of Play from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Rd. The free event will include health-minded games, exhibits and interactive activities to encourage fun and fitness for the entire family.

The Day of Play is a Chandlerproduced event that is part of a nationwide celebration recognizing the importance of fitness, health and wellness for kids of all ages.

“Our city continues to invest in our wonderful public parks, playgrounds and affordable recreational facilities as they bring communities together and enrich lives,” Tibshraeny said.

“Not only has this commitment helped us retain the prominent ‘Playful City USA’ designation, but most importantly, it helps Chandler remain a family-friendly community that offers our residents numerous opportunities to play, live, learn and thrive.”

More than 50 vendors will be on hand

for the event, that also features Dignity Health’s Hello Humankindness FUNZone with exhilarating obstacles, temporary tattoos and cool giveaways. The Youth

Work continues on freeway despite court fight and Native American protests

BY PAUL MARYNIAK

In the shadow of a court fight and mounting anger among Native Americans, the Arizona Department of Transportation is accelerating pre-construction work for the South Mountain Freeway.

The 22-mile stretch will provide Interstate 10 motorists with a detour around downtown Phoenix, linking West Phoenix with Chandler near the Loop 202 Santan Freeway interchange.

ADOT unveiled some of its latest design plans for the freeway at a meeting Sept. 27 that drew more than 500 people, mostly Ahwatukee residents concerned about the loss of their desert views and increased noise and pollution from the 190,000 vehicles ADOT estimates will be using the

freeway by 2035.

ADOT began taking a number of steps leading to the start of major construction early next year. It has begun moving desert plants from the right-of-way from the Chandler I-10-Santan Freeway interchange and along Pecos Road to a makeshift nursery for replanting after construction is complete.

Crews have been setting up concrete barricades along a portion of the Santan Freeway near Pecos Road and I-10, and have also been digging to determine the location of utility lines.

The department issued a press release that repeated its longtime assertions about

see FREEWAY page 8

& Teen Fitness Challenge also returns this year, challenging kids ages 10-17 to race through giant inflatable courses that bounce, bump and slide participants.

Prizes will be awarded to top finishers across various age categories.

Patrons can enjoy high-flying acrobatic workshops and sporty inflatables, dance lessons, musical entertainment and local community performances. A variety of healthy food will be available throughout the day. All activities are free and encourage folks to interact with fellow community members.

“Day of Play is a celebration of Chandler’s diversity and encourages neighbors, communities and families to have fun, build relationships and be active together,” said Hermelinda Llamas, Chandler’s special events coordinator.

“It gives everyone the opportunity to rediscover each other and the city they call home through joyful interactive play.”

In its 10th year, Day of Play is a celebration of the city’s designation as a Playful City USA, organization by KABOOM!—a national nonprofit, parks and recreation advocacy organization. This is the 10th consecutive year Chandler has received this honor, an accomplishment shared by only 12 other cities since KaBOOM! initiated the program in 2007.

Chandler’s unwavering focus on the importance of play in the development of healthy families and the provision of its vast network of recreational amenities

Sun Lakes woman makes a difference with AmeriCorps

BY ALISON STANTON

About a year ago, Carey Allen left her busy job in finance.

Allen, who recently moved to Sun Lakes after residing in Chandler for 25 years, quickly realized that she had a lot of time on her hands.

“I believe it is important that when you are a member of a community you give of your time, talent and treasure,” Allen said.

To do something to positively impact the community, Allen contacted Experience Matters, an organization that matches the skills and talents of experienced adults with local nonprofits and programs.

“One of these programs is our AmeriCorps program, which places people with a lifetime of experience and desire to give back with local schools who need their time and talents,” said Lisa Rolland-Keith,

marketing and communications manager for Experience Matters.

Allen is now a member of the Arizona State Program for AmeriCorps.

“Experience Matters spent time to understand my skills and what I was looking to do with those skills, which was to help kids in the East Valley,” Allen said.

“A couple of meetings later and, voila, they created a project for me at Hamilton High School.”

Allen said the 300-hour project, which she recently completed, involved working with a social worker at the Chandler school to help raise awareness and assistance for their homeless students.

Allen said she is continuing to stay very busy through her connection with AmeriCorps.

Chandler’s Day of Play encourages fun and fitness for the entire family.

throughout the community has helped Chandler become a recognized leader in playability.

The event is hosted by the City of Chandler Community Services

“One of the great things about AmeriCorps is the variety of volunteer opportunities available to members in addition to our projects,” she said.

Members help solve community problems through direct and indirect service, in the areas of education, public safety, the environment and other human needs such as health and housing.

“Recently, I spent a day with about 15 other AmeriCorps members at Helen’s Hope Chest, a Mesa nonprofit that provides quality clothing, school supplies and more to local foster care kids and their foster parents. I also spent several days helping out with the back-to-school clothing drive.”

Allen said Experience Matters also provides AmeriCorps members with monthly free educational opportunities.

“These have included a visit to the state capitol and a half-day interactive seminar on generations in the workplace. My favorite one was on the state of education in Arizona, which is a hot topic, especially considering that a number of AmeriCorps members are working in schools.”

Allen said she also appreciates the way the AmeriCorps program and projects can be worked around her desire to travel.

“Flexibility was one of the key things that drew me to Experience Matters and to join AmeriCorps,” she said.

“My particular project allowed me to work when I wanted to and not impede

Department and brings together an array of notable partners. Volunteers are still needed to assist with event setup, field games and postevent clean up. For more information on the event, including a full list of activities, visit chandleraz.gov/dayofplay.

my personal travel schedule. Some weeks I worked three hours, other weeks I may have worked as many as 20.”

Rolland-Keith said the response from the AmeriCorps members and the organizations they are helping is positive.

“Our partner schools love the AmeriCorps program because their students are performing better and AmeriCorps members help them accomplish projects they always wanted to do but didn’t have the resources to make them happen,”

Rolland-Keith said.

Looking back about a year, Allen is very pleased with her decision to become a member of AmeriCorps.

“It’s been great to learn about the positive things that are happening in the Valley,” Allen said.

“It’s easy to become complacent with so much negativity in the news, thinking that everything is a mess and what good can one person do.”

Thanks to her time with AmeriCorps, Allen said she has been reminded of and energized by the fact that there are individuals, organizations and businesses that are making a difference.

“There are thousands of talented baby boomers and people who are younger with time on their hands. Can you imagine what an impact we would have in our community if only 10 percent of them joined AmeriCorps?”

For more information about Experience Matters and/or AmeriCorps, visit www.emaz.org.

The 5K Foam Fun Run coincides with the Mayor’s Day of Play, with participants maneuvering through soap bubbles and various obstacles. It starts at 9:30 a.m. at Tumbleweed Park.

The registration fee is $25 in advance; $30 day of event.

Registration cost includes: runners packet (race bib, race t-shirt, special participant item) and running in the 5K Foam Fun Run.

For more information, visit foamfunrun.com/.

Carey Allen of Sun Lakes became a member of the Arizona State Program for AmeriCorps because she wanted to work with kids in the East Valley. Within the past year, she has worked on a 300-hour project at Hamilton High School as well as other volunteer opportunities.

AMERICORPS from page 1

Tweens getting silly at the Day of Play.

Foam Fun Run 5K participants covered in suds on the Slip ‘N Slide.

A young girl shakes hands with the Chandler Police Department’s Explorer mascot.

Kyrene Alternative to Suspension Program that gives misbehaving students a better alternative to punishment seems to be working

BY PAUL MARYNIAK

Some have been in fights. Others have been caught with drugs. Still others have committed some kind of sexual offense, while others have bullied students or defied teachers.

None of them is older than about 13 and some are as young as maybe 9. And most of their transgressions have occurred in school.

Normally, these pupils would face suspension ranging up to 15 days for minor offenses to as much as a year for major ones.

But Kyrene School District has found a different way to handle some of these youngsters, one that in most cases turns their lives around, according to administrators who gave a presentation at a school board meeting last month.

For the last 11 years, Kyrene has been putting many of these pupils in one of two intensive programs at four segregated classrooms in Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School in Chandler.

The Kyrene Alternative to Suspension Program (KASP) is for students who had faced up to 15 days of off-campus suspension, while the Long-Term Alternative Program (LTAP) is reserved for those facing 45 days to a year.

The results are so impressive that board member Michelle Hirsch choked back tears commending administrators.

“We talk about all the time about wanting success for all the students,” Hirsch said. “This program really helps us with reaching students, helping them improve their student achievement.”

The students who qualify for one of the two programs must be recommended by their schools and have their parents’ consent.

Once in there, they are fed breakfast and lunch, given a block of time for academics, and have daily “character education” that helps them understand their actions and learn to behave better.

They have one-on-one counseling daily, and their academic and behavioral progress is reported to their parents every day.

“The great thing about the program,” said coordinator-counselor Diane Peters, “is it’s such a win-win

situation. Although they don’t want to come into the program, once they’re in it they love it. Some don’t want to leave.”

Peters went on to explain that it’s also a win for the parents as well as administrators, who have an option other than straight-out punishment.

“Rather than spending several days at home, the KASP program gives students an opportunity to reflect on their behavior and develop strategies to help them make better decisions in the future,” said Altadena Middle School Principal James Martin.

And, it’s a win for most of the students who come through it, Peters said.

Of the 1,373 students who have gone through KASP or LTAP since the 2004-5 school year, only about 14% have had to be placed there again.

“Typically, our students don’t come back,” Peters said, adding that that 14% are kids who may have gone through one of the programs several years earlier and then end up there again later in their school career at Kyrene.

“They can be referred numerous times, but we don’t try to see same student more than once in a year,” Peters said.

“Our ultimate goal is for students to be successful at school, home and the community,” Peters said.

The program, which the district started in 2004 with the help of a federal grant, supports 25 Kyrene schools. While most of the students who are placed come from middle schools, the district does accept fourth and fifth graders into the program.

About three quarters of all the students who have gone through KASP or LTAP were seventh and eighth graders and male, Peters reported. Only 8% faced the more severe punishment of 45 days to a year suspension.

The top three reasons why students were placed in the program were aggression (16%), drug, alcohol or tobacco abuse (15%) or intimidation or bullying (12%).

But 35% of the program’s participants were placed there for

other reasons.

Peters said those reasons ranged from pregnancy and a traumatic event at home like death or divorce to difficulty in adjusting to a new school or inability to do classwork.

Currently funded by Indian gaming and tax credit revenue, the program makes its primary mission as turning students into learners and citizens.

Its benefits go well beyond school walls, Peters noted, since it reduces the number of unsupervised kids in the community during school days. It also helps enhance a safe atmosphere at the school the children normally attend as well as in the community at large.

Before their return to their regular

By the numbers

Some data about the 1,373 students, from fourth through eighth grade, who have gone through either the Kyrene Alternative to Suspension Program (KASP) for those facing up to 15 days off-campus suspension of the LongTerm Alternative Program for those facing 45 days to a year suspension between 2004 and this year:

• 77% were male.

• 46%, or 597, were from eighth grade and 31%, or 387, were seventh graders.

school, KASP and LTAP “graduates” meet with school personnel and their parents.

“Those meetings can be extremely powerful,” Peters said. “They’re usually very positive.”

Peters and her staff also routinely check up on their students long after they’ve gone through the program.

Students also must write an essay after they’ve finished to discuss how the program has affected them.

Among their comments that Peters shared with the board was one from a student who said, “KASP made me realize I wanted to change and everyone at KASP helped me.”

Said another: “I learned about STAR—Stop, Think, Act, Review.”

Only 2%, or 23, were fourth graders.

• The three most common reasons for placement were aggression, 16%; substance abuse, 15%; and intimidating behavior, 12%.

• 55% were economically disadvantaged.

• Among the middle schools, Centennial in Ahwatukee and Kyrene Middle School in Tempe accounted for the most students in the program, with 351 and 319, respectively.

– Source: Kyrene School District

Information needed on robbery suspect at MidFirst Bank

Chandler police are seeking the public’s help in apprehending a man who robbed the MidFirst Bank at 1311 W. Chandler Blvd. at 7 p.m. Aug. 11. The suspect passed a note to a teller and was given an undisclosed amount of money. After the robbery, the man fled. Investigators believe the suspect is in his 30s, about 5 feet, 10 inches, and

approximately 175 pounds. He is unshaven and has a patchy beard. Anyone with information is asked to call the Chandler Police Department at 480-782-4130 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377). Silent Witness is offering a reward up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of this suspect.

Bloomington, Illinois-based Midwest Food Bank is opening a new division in Arizona, according to MFB President and CEO David Kieser.

The food bank has purchased a 26,000-square-foot building in Gilbert and intends start operating by Nov. 1.

“We have considered a presence in Arizona for several years, and now all the necessary components have come together” Kieser said. “We are very pleased to work with Eric Sheldahl, whose vision to assist the less fortunate in the Southwest meshes perfectly with the mission of Midwest Food Bank. Our assessment of the need in that area is eye-opening, but we are committed to making a difference in the communities we serve, which now includes Phoenix.”

Sheldahl of Chandler recently joined the MFB board.

Founded in 2003 by Kieser and two of his brothers on the family farm, Midwest Food Bank distributes food without cost to more than 1,000 not-for-profit pantries and social service agencies in 11 states and Africa.

In addition to Bloomington, Midwest Food Bank has facilities in Peoria and Morton, Illinois; Indianapolis; Peachtree City, Georgia; Fort Myers, Florida, and Kenya. More than 1 million people receive assistance through MFB partner agencies each month.

Last year, 13,563 volunteers helped MFB distribute food valued at $111 million to pantries and not-for-profit agencies. In addition, Midwest Food Bank provides disaster relief in partnership with The Salvation Army, distributing over 40,000 cases of food and personal care items so far in 2016, most recently in Louisiana.

VILLA 3

2-Bed, 2-Bath, features elevated, 180° views of Fulton

Chandler Police Department released these photos of a robbery suspect.

the freeway’s economic impact in both the eastern and western portions of Maricopa County.

“We are building the South Mountain Freeway as a regional transportation solution,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “The need for a high-speed, efficient transportation corridor linking the southeast Valley and the West Valley dates back to the 1980s, when regional transportation planners foresaw the tremendous growth that was projected to occur in the area.

“Connecting people with employment centers and more in the East Valley and West Valley will benefit the region’s economy and quality of life, and the recent and projected population growth in Maricopa County has really driven the need to expand our transportation network in the Valley,” he added.

All this is occurring as both the Gila River Indian Community and the Ahwatukeebased Protect Arizona’s Resources and Children continue an effort in federal court to halt construction.

They have appealed U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa’s August ruling that rejected their claims that state and federal highway agencies failed to sufficiently account for the impact of pollution on the health of Gila Community residents and children attending the 17 schools near the freeway.

They also claim that a 200-foot cut that the freeway will make into South Mountain is desecrating an area that Native Americans

the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit grants the GRIC and PARC request for an injunction pending an airing of their appeal from Humetewa’s ruling.

In addition to the court fight, Native Americans have ramped up their efforts to stop the freeway.

They set up a “peaceful resistance camp” on the Gila River Indian Community side of the mountain and dubbed it Moadag Thadiwa.

About a dozen campers staged a 10mile prayer run the afternoon of the ADOT meeting, and said they would resort to “any means necessary” to stop construction. At an Aug. 22 meeting in Ahwatukee, Native Americans vowed to lay down in front of bulldozers.

Native Americans consider the mountain, variously called Moadag or Moahdak Do’ag, sacred and contend that the freeway desecrates it.

“Moadag is one of the most sacred sites to the Four Southern Tribes of Arizona, which are the Gila River Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the Tohono O’odham Nation. There are over 20 Arizona tribes which attach cultural significance to the South Mountain Range,” camp leaders said in a prepared statement.

The camp was set up by the Akimel O’otham tribe, meaning “River People.” That tribe and the Pipaash, or Maricopa, are the two tribes that live on Gila Community land.

Noting that they are set up on “land that is used for prayer gatherings and is known to the community as a place of spiritual

consider sacred.

Appeals fight threatens work

Costing more than $1.7 billion, the South Mountain Freeway is the most expensive highway project in Arizona history.

About half of that money has gone to design work and the acquisition of hundreds of Ahwatukee and West Phoenix homes and businesses in the freeway’s path.

The design isn’t even completed, since ADOT is approaching this as a “design-build” project that allows it to simultaneously do construction and design work and conduct the public outreach required by state and federal regulations. Construction is scheduled to take place along the entire right-of-way at one time with an eye on a late 2019 or early 2020 opening.

All that work could come to a halt if

American Indian Studies program.

Community ‘sick and tired’

“That’s a huge encampment,” he said of the North Dakota protest, adding that the South Mountain camp organizers “are only doing a campaign to create more public awareness of the impact of the freeway.

“There is hope their actions will generate a movement to stop this freeway and preserve the mountain,” Riding In said.

His office at Rome 380, 250 E. Lemon St., Tempe, is one of three drop-off sites for donations to the camp, which PARC members have been encouraging in Facebook posts over the past week. The other two drop-off sites are Ash Avenue Comics, 806 S. Ash Ave., Tempe; and Firehouse Gallery, 1015 N. 1st St., Phoenix.

Riding In said the camp represents Native Americans’ frustration with state and federal highway officials.

“To quote a famous phrase,” he said, “they are sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

In court proceedings in May before Humetewa, attorneys for ADOT and the Federal Highway Administration maintained that they had taken great steps to minimize the impact of construction on South Mountain.

Lawyers said the freeway would take over less than one percent of South Mountain’s total land mass.

consultations with various Native American tribes, the freeway plan “accommodates and preserves to the fullest extent possible from the available alternatives access to the South Mountains for religious practices.”

Two Native American websites, indigenousaction.com and indiancountrytodaymedianetwork. com, have devoted lengthy stories about the freeway fight written by Amanda Blackhorse.

The Phoenix resident is one of five plaintiffs in a case against the Washington Redskins football team that stripped it of six of its seven trademarks over its refusal to change its name.

Likening the freeway fight to the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline, Blackhorse wrote about the two camp leaders, quoting Allen as saying, “indigenous people are tired of outside interests not understanding how deeply we are connected to our land and what we will do to defend it.

“In North Dakota, it’s Energy Transfer Partners and the Dakota Access Pipeline,” Allen said. “In Arizona, it’s Arizona Department of Transportation, Snowbowl, and Resolution Copper. It’s the same injustice since 1492.”

power,” leader Linda Paloma Allen told the Ahwatukee Foothills News that the camp “is a few hundred yards from the footprint of the freeway design.”

“When we say we are making our stand at camp, we mean that we are praying for the mountain, and for the animals and plants there,” she said, adding, “We have donations and campers coming in every day.”

“There will be many actions, rallies, prayer runs, gatherings and demonstrations happening around this issue of protecting Moadag,” said Allen, who broke down in tears last month addressing the Ahwatukee Foothills Village Planning Committee.

Whether the camp evolves into the equivalent of the giant settlement that for months has been protesting a four-state oil pipeline in North Dakota remains to be seen, said James Riding In, head of Arizona State University’s

In its lengthy environmental impact study, ADOT stated that the freeway cut into the mountain “would not prohibit Native Americans from continuing to practice their beliefs because only a small fraction of the mountain would be affected, replacement lands would be provided, access to the mountain would be maintained and mitigation would be implemented based on input by Native Americans.”

The freeway will take up 31.3 acres of the 16,600-acre park.

Humetewa declared that as far as tribal concerns were concerned, “the court cannot find that the agencies overlooked the harm to the community and brushed aside its concerns in approving the project.”

She also noted that the Gila Community will be getting money to preserve and expand historic and cultural sites on the mountain as part of the highway agencies’ efforts to compensate Native Americans for the freeway cut into South Mountain.

ADOT ‘showdown’ threatened

ADOT also said that after more than 100

She also quotes camp co-leader Andrew Pedro as saying, “Though it has been a time of pain, the O’odham people will not take it laying down. So if ADOT wants a showdown, they are going to get one.”

During the protest in front of the planning committee last month, Allen and several other tribe representatives said they were prepared to lie down in front of bulldozers if construction begins in earnest as scheduled early next year.

Blackhorse also has written that the Native Americans on the Gila River Indian Community also fear the freeway’s impact on their health, especially children.

“In a city where residents are no strangers to the regular warnings of hazardous air quality, why would a city support the increase of an eight-lane highway to run parallel to a natural preserve?” Blackhorse wrote.

“The road will bring more noise, trash, and congestion to the area. Not only that, there will be significant environmental impacts on the health and wellness of the tribal community as well as other nearby non-tribal communities,” she added.

CCCC celebrating 50th anniversary with gala

The Chandler Christian Community Center is holding its 50th anniversary gala 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at Noah’s Event Venue in Chandler with a formal plated dinner, stories about CCCC’s history and a vision for the future. There will also be a silent auction and entertainment by Beatles tribute band The Backbeats.

Sponsorship packages are available and donations for the silent auction are being

accepted. Info: ryan@chandlerfoodbank.org.

Founded in 1966, CCCC served 18,686 people from 5,969 households in Chandler and Gilbert last year, with services including food boxes, senior nutrition and activities, rent and utility assistance, homeless services, case management and family programming. Tickets are $100. Info: http://bit.ly/2cNpEIl.

Firefighters seek volunteers to install smoke alarms Oct. 8

Chandler firefighters will join with volunteers from the community to walk door-to-door in local neighborhoods and install free smoke alarms in homes that need them on Saturday, Oct. 8. They will also provide educational information on fire safety to residents. Volunteers are needed for the Community Smoke Alarm Installation program, which is a great team building opportunity for businesses and organizations.

The program is a collaborative effort among the Chandler Fire, Health & Medical Department, Arizona Burn Foundation, American Red Cross, and several other East Valley fire departments. Select neighborhoods in Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe and Mesa have been notified that they will be visited by teams of three people who will offer to install free smoke alarms

Volunteers are needed from 8 a.m. to noon. No experience is necessary and all training, tools and materials are provided that day. Both installers and record keepers are needed. By investing four hours of time, they will have fun and perhaps save lives by providing homes with working smoke alarms.

To make a difference in the community, register online at http://azburn.org/events/communitysmoke-alarm-installation-events/ . Select the Chandler event on Oct. 8 and sign up. Upon registration, the event details will be revealed, including the location to meet that morning. For more information, call the Arizona Burn Foundation at 602-230-2041, ext. 104. Information is also available at chandleraz.gov/fire.

City of Chandler Insider

Fall brings activity-packed event season

BY THE CITY OF CHANDLER COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

Chandler is entering one of the more activity-packed seasons of the year with an extraordinary lineup of familyfriendly events produced by the city or local organizations. Events include:

Oct. 15, Pat Blackburn Open BMX event: Back flips. Tail whips. Daredevil BMX riders do them with gusto at the Pat Blackburn Open. The free-styling action is full of thrills and makes popping wheelies look like child’s play. Spectators can enjoy bike vendors and information booths. The action begins at 9 a.m. and riders can register for the contest at psychicflyingmonkey.com or at the event site, Chandler’s Espee Park.

Oct. 20, Sonoran Sunset Series: Chandler comes to life with live music in the park at 7 p.m. every third Thursday. Head over to Veterans Oasis Park with your blankets, chairs and coolers to enjoy a free concert under the stars from October through March. Snacks and beverages are available for a small fee. For more information, visit chandleraz. gov/veterans-oasis.

Oct. 21, Chandler Art Walk: Downtown Chandler welcomes more than 35 local artists to the historic square every third Friday of the month from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., providing a fun, family atmosphere in which to browse many types of art. The event runs through July, and also provides a great opportunity to visit the unique and varied establishments in downtown Chandler.

Oct. 22, For Our City Day: Hundreds of residents gather on National Make a Difference Day to assist with projects in the community. Volunteers join For Our City Chandler and the City’s Neighborhood Programs Division to clean yards, remove weeds and perform various cleanup efforts. To volunteer, call 480-782-4354 or email cristabel.dykstra@chandleraz.gov.

Oct. 22, Chandler Mayor’s Day of Play: Take the kiddos to Tumbleweed Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a super fun—and healthy—day of family fun. Enjoy health-minded family activities, fitness demonstrations, information booths, guest speakers, healthy food, a Kids Zone and plenty of live music and entertainment. Day of Play is a

celebration of Chandler’s diversity and encourages neighbors, communities and families to have fun, build relationships and be active together. Visit chandleraz.gov/dayofplay for details.

Oct. 28, Halloween Spooktacular: Come dressed in your best costume and enjoy a family night of frightful fun from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Downtown Library Plaza. All activities are free and include ghoulish games, haunted house, photo opportunities, arts and crafts, and costume contest prizes. Light food and refreshments will be available for purchase from the Chandler Kiwanis Club. Visit chandleraz.gov/spooktacular for more information.

Oct. 29, Pumpkin Dunk: Forget bobbing for apples; try dunking for pumpkins. Come join Chandler Aquatics staff from noon until 2 p.m. at Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center for the floating pumpkin patch. The pool will be heated, and there will be decorating stations after you’ve plucked your pumpkin from the pool. Halloween costumes are encouraged.

Nov. 5, Mayor Tibshraeny’s Safety and Veterans Expo (S.A.V.E.): Party at City Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and learn about safety and crime prevention, Veterans services and city resources while enjoying public safety demonstrations, food trucks and a free document-shredding event. Hear courageous stories of Arizona military aviators as pilots from different wars tell their stories in a panel discussion in council chambers from 10 a.m. to noon, as part of the “America in Times of Conflict” series from Cultural Affairs. For more information, visit chandleraz.gov/connect.

Nov. 5, Arizona Harvest Fest: Enjoy a cornucopia of fun with 60-plus food and craft vendors offering seasonal eats, treats, trinkets and gear from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. in downtown Chandler. Activities will include an apple pie eating contest, cake walk, bake sale, pumpkin toss, hay maze, pumpkin smash, corn hole games and a corn husking contest.

Nov. 11, Chandler Golf Challenge: Presented by Dignity Health, this event is held at Bear Creek Golf Course and benefits Chandler’s Special Olympics programs and the scholarship and stipend programs of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities. For further information or to register, call 480-782-2709 or email collette.prather@chandleraz.gov.

Nov. 11 to Nov. 12, Chandler Chuck Wagon Cook-Off: Experience a rare, upclose look at Western history during this free, family-friendly culinary event on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12. From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, join the city for the junior cookoff competition, food and an evening family campfire. The following day, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., authentic 1880s chuck wagon teams from around the West use historic cooking methods to create the best meals fit for the trail. Tickets for chuck wagon meals for $15 each; they go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, and sell out quickly! Enjoy live music, Western history, cooking demonstrations, and unique vendors on both days. More at chandleraz.gov/chuckwagon.

Nov. 19, Woofstock: Bring your leashed, well-mannered dog out to enjoy a day of tail waggin’ fun with other dog lovers and their K-9 friends from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Tumbleweed Park. Visit chandleraz. gov/woofstock for more information.

Nov. 19, Rock The Block: Bring the whole family to this free annual block party from noon to 10 p.m. in downtown Chandler featuring live entertainment on the new Downtown Stage, a Kids Zone, plus interactive games, rides, face painting, inflatables and more than 100 retail, arts and crafts vendors and a beer and wine garden.

Nov. 24, Turkey Swim: Sneak in a great swim workout before you sit down for football and your big Thanksgiving meal! Join the fun from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. at Hamilton Aquatic Center and swim in the heated pool for free by donating a can of food or $2.

Dec. 3. Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights: Join us in Downtown Chandler from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. to celebrate a unique southwestern tradition that draws visitors from far and wide during the holidays. This community festival includes the beautiful Parade of Lights and marks the 60th Tumbleweed Tree built in downtown Chandler. Details can be found at chandleraz.gov/tumbleweedtree. A complete list of upcoming special events in Chandler is available online at chandleraz.gov/special-events or call the city’s Special Event Hotline at 480-782-2735.

Each year hundreds of volunteers help make a difference during For Our City Day.

Lots of fun activities for the entire family at the Mayor’s Day of Play.

Mark your calendar for this first time event at City Hall.

While you eat, enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, Western artisans, storytelling, unique vendors and group tours.

Woofstock is the place to be to watch cute, furry friends.

City of Chandler Insider

EMPLOYEE PROFILE

Balsewicz learned compassion from officer as child

A heart-to-heart talk with a mentor put Tina Balsewicz on a positive path, one that would lead to her become a Chandler police officer.

She’s been with the department for 18 years, thanks in part to another police officer in her hometown of Youngwood, Pennsylvania, who showed her she could put an end to the cycle of domestic violence that she witnessed so often as a child.

Balsewicz was in third grade when she decided to run away from school with a friend to visit her mother in the hospital. Her mom had been beaten by her stepfather.

But officer Jerry Bianchini intercepted the two kids, returned them to school, took young Tina to the hospital and stopped to buy her an ice cream on the way home.

“He sat me up on a retaining wall and bought me a vanilla ice cream cone and said, ‘Hey look, what you’re experiencing is not OK and is not right,’” Balsewicz recalled.

“He pared it down to my level that I could understand in third grade, and what I could do to make a difference. And so I broke that cycle of domestic violence at that point. And it obviously inspired me to become a police officer.”

Balsewicz arrived in Arizona to be with her relocated mother by 1995. She’d graduated from a police academy in Pennsylvania and found that police

forces in Arizona were looking to expand.

After looking into the Mesa, Phoenix and Maricopa County departments, Balsewicz decided that Chandler was the place for her.

“The way I looked at it is I interviewed Chandler,” she said. “Chandler was the best fit. It was a growing city. To me it still had a town feel.”

A crime prevention officer, Balsewicz is a veteran of the force. She’s been a patrol officer, property crimes detective, financial crimes detective and an Explorer adviser.

“It’s kind of two-fold,” she said about her current role. “We look at crime prevention but we also look at community services. It’s a fulfilling and rewarding position because I still like to do the investigative piece,” she said.

“The investigative piece in crime prevention involves working with our crime analysts, patrol officers and the criminal investigation bureau to counter what is currently trending.”

Community service and academies for educators and parents are a large part of Balsewicz’s job.

“We do a lot of preventative education, we do a lot of safety briefings, education on current trends, neighborhood watch programs, selfdefense...our agency has more than 40 programs when it comes to community

services,” she said.

That makes for busy days at work.

“It is never ending. You’re never bored,” Balsewicz said. And if there’s a City-sponsored event, most likely you’ll see her there talking with residents and youth, with whom it’s easy for her to connect.

“I was a troublemaker growing up. I adored my mother, but I pushed the envelope,” said Balsewicz. “I also struggled with school. That’s where I turned to the Army and I’ve proudly served our country for 26 years.”

Balsewicz continues her commitment to the Army as a reservist, where she is a

sergeant major.

“All of these life experiences make me a better officer,” Balsewicz said. “Growing up in the projects, being in the military and traveling the world, protecting Chandler residents...because of those experiences, I can relate to all kinds of people, but especially with troubled youth.”

In her free time, she enjoys mountain and road cycling with her family and loves to spend time with her family.

“I’m leaving a legacy of making a difference in the lives of others,” said Balsewicz. “I’m doing all I can to one day fulfill my eulogy.”

Officer Tina Balsewicz offers service with a smile.

Colorectal cancer screening options is Sun Lakes Rotary Club topic

Dr. Kris Venkatesh will talk about colorectal cancer screening options at the Tuesday, Oct. 4, meeting of the Sun Lakes Rotary Club. He works at Chandler Regional Hospital, Mercy Gilbert Hospital, Banner Desert Hospital and the Southwest Endoscopy Clinic in Gilbert.

Native Arizonan Paula Brimhall will speak about the Assistance League of East Valley on Tuesday, Oct. 11. She is a seven-year member of the organization, which raises funds for Operation School Bell, assault survivor kits, adult day care socials, scholarships and Share Our Spare.

The Rotary Club meets for breakfast every Tuesday morning at 6:30 a.m. in the Oakwood Country Club Ballroom, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd., Sun Lakes. The meetings start at 7 a.m. and end promptly at 8 a.m. Cost of breakfast is $12. To make reservations for any meeting, contact Don Prestin at (480) 802-0439.

Fire, Health & Medical Department plans to hold open house Oct. 15

The Chandler Fire, Health & Medical (CFHM) Department is holding a free open house for the public from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 15, at Fire Station No. 7, 6200 S. Gilbert Rd. The event is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to educate residents about the services provided by Chandler Fire, Health & Medical and to share safety, fire prevention and emergency preparedness information with the public.

In addition to tours of the station there will be fire truck, ambulance and apparatus displays and demonstrations

of emergency medical services. Blood pressure checks will be available, along with drowning prevention information. In the Fire Safety House display, children will get hands-on instruction on how to get out of a smoke filled environment. Free balloons and fire helmets will be available for children. Throughout the event, CFHM staff will be available to talk about the Crisis Response volunteer program, smoke alarm program, and Fire Cadet program.

This open house will also feature instruction on Hands-Only CPR, which when performed by a bystander has been shown to be as effective as “conventional” CPR in emergencies that occur at home, work or in public. There are only two steps to remember: Call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

Fire Station No. 7 is located on the west side of Gilbert Road, just south of Riggs Road. For more information about the open house, please call 480-782-2120 or go online to chandleraz.gov/fire.

Dr. Kris Venkatesh will talk about colorectal cancer screening options 7 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Sun Lakes Rotary Club.

MATT EBERLE Chandler City Council

“I’m committed to making your voice heard in the city of Chandler. Like you, I want to play an active role in making my community more prosperous with the services that you need to raise a family, run a business, and enjoy a safe environment. If you share my vision, I urge you to connect with me and share your thoughts on our community, Chandler, Arizona. Together, we can make a meaningful difference.”

JERRY BROOKS

Former Chandler Mayor

BOYD DUNN

Former Chandler Mayor

NORA ELLEN

Chandler City Councilmember

RENE LOPEZ

Chandler City Councilmember

TERRY ROE

Chandler City Councilmember

RICK HEUMANN

Chandler City Councilmember

MICHAEL POLLACK

Pollack Investments

TOM FORESE

Arizona Corp Commission

DENNY BARNEY

County Supervisor District 1

STEVE YARBROUGH

LD 17 Arizona State Senate

JD MESNARD

LD 17 AZ House of Rep.

JEFF WENINGER

LD 17 AZ House of Rep.

JILL NORGAARD

LD 18 AZ House of Rep.

JEFF DIAL

LD 18 Arizona State Senate

EDDIE COOK

Gilbert Town Councilmember

SAL DICICCIO

Phoenix City Councilman

WALLY CAMPBELL

Goodyear City Council

Council takes action on 98 items at recent meeting

The Chandler City Council met at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, and took action on 98 agenda items, including:

• Approved annual contracts with a number of planning and engineering design consulting firms, including Dibble Engineering, Armstrong Consultants, Coffman Associates, and Mead & Hunt, Inc.

• Approved contract extensions for consulting firms providing architectural, environmental, hydrogeological, landscape and water/wastewater services.

• Approved the site layout, building architecture, rezoning and Area Plan Amendment of a 4.5-acre parcel located on the northeast corner of Gilbert and Queen Creek roads to permit the development of a Quiktrip gas station and convenience store.

• Amended the City C ode to prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes inside city-owned or occupied buildings, as well as in the exterior areas of the City Hall campus located at Arizona Avenue and Chicago Street.

• Approved the FY 2015-16 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The report measures Chandler’s success at meeting required goals and strategies for HUD-funded programs administered

by the city.

• Approved a preliminary development plan for site layout and building architecture for a new office and warehouse building planned for a 4.3-acre site located in the Stellar Business Park.

• Authorized the $50,000 annual membership fee payment to Valley Metro Rail, enabling the city to participate in the planning of the region’s light rail system.

• Awarded a $455,535 contract to Dibble & Associates Consulting Engineers to evaluate the structural condition of the city’s sewer collection system. The findings help the city prioritize the repair or replacement of wastewater sewer lines and manholes.

• Approved the fourth and final one-year extension of a purchase agreement with Municipal Emergency Services Inc., to provide Chandler firefighters with protective clothing at a cost of $539,300.

• Approved the final two-year extension of an agreement with ACT Towing LLC to provide towing services to the police department.

• Approved liquor use permits and recommended liquor licenses for Quiktrip, northeast corner of Gilbert and Queen Creek roads; Dirty Blonde Tavern, 4929 W. Chandler Blvd.; VB Lounge, 81 W. Boston St.; Mambo’s Dominican Kitchen, 1950 N. Arizona Ave., Suite

8; Element Hotel, 44 S. Chandler Village Dr.; Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort, 1 San Marcos Pl.; Twisted Cactus Brewing Co., 4080 W. Ray Rd., Suite 26; and .Rick’s Pub & Grub, 4910 W. Ray Rd., Suite 3.

• Approved Special Event Liquor Licenses for the following events: Ryan Thomas Foundation Cornhole Tournament to be held at the Chandler Center for the Arts on Saturday, Sept. 24 ; Mariachi Festival being held at the Chandler Center for the Arts on Saturday, Oct. 1 ; Casino Night at The Praise & Worship Center on Saturday, Oct. 8 ; Taste of Solera event being held at Solera, 6360 S. Mountain Blvd., on Thursday, Oct. 13 ; Chandler Christian Community Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala at Noah’s Event Venue on Friday, Oct. 14 ; Chandler Chamber of Commerce’s Chandler 100 at Quantum Helicopters on Wednesday, Oct. 26 ; and Chandler Cultural Foundation’s Center Stage event at the Chandler Center for the Arts on Saturday, Oct. 29

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Jay Tibshraeny acknowledged the opening of two new restaurants in downtown Chandler—LaBocca Wine Bar and Modern Margarita. He also encouraged residents to attend two downtown events on Saturday, Oct. 1—the ninth annual SanTan Brewing Oktoberfest and the 17th annual C.A.L.L.E. Arizona Mariachi and Folklorico Festival.

The mayor also thanked those in the community who attended his recent Listening Tour held at Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School and mentioned a recent municipal bond sale that saved the City nearly $9 million due to low interest rates resulting from Chandler’s excellent Triple-A bond rating.

Councilman René Lopez congratulated the mayor for the Silver Circle Award his State of the City video received from the CityCounty Communications & Marketing Association and invited the public to support the Chandler Symphony by attending its upcoming Classical Series beginning Sunday, Oct. 9, at the Chandler Center for the Arts. He also encouraged attendance at an Oct. 29 fundraiser at Wild Horse Pass for Streetlight USA, a nonprofit agency that assists adolescent female victims of abuse, sexual trauma and sex trafficking.

Councilman Kevin Hartke said he attended the 10th annual Prayer Breakfast Sept. 15 at the Chandler/ Gilbert Family YMCA and came away grateful to live in such a great community. He also said For Our City Day will be celebrated Oct. 22 when community volunteers gather to assist with projects in the community. Volunteers are asked to join For Our City Chandler and the City’s Neighborhood Programs Division

to clean yards, remove weeds and perform various cleanup efforts. To volunteer, call 480-782-4354.

Councilman Rick Heumann congratulated the mayor for his selection as president of the League of Arizona Cities & Towns and said the Desert Cancer Foundation of Arizona will hold its 19th annual luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 27, at the San Marcos Golf Resort. He encouraged the public to make reservations to attend by calling 480-899-4984 or by visiting desertcanceraz.org.

Councilwoman Nora Ellen congratulated Sam Huang on his successful election to the Chandler City Council beginning in 2017 and asked the public to nominate military men and women for Chandler’s Operation Welcome Home program. For information, visit chandleraz.gov/veterans.

Councilman Terry Roe said he attended the opening of two new businesses in Chandler, Hand and Stone and Chick-Fil-A, and thanked those who choose Chandler for their business location. He also expressed gratitude to public safety and military personnel and others serving the community for their service.

The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.

During a Study Session on Monday, Sept. 12, the mayor and council recognized individuals from seven city departments chosen as

Employees of the Year for their respective areas. Honored were: Janet McFaul, Management Services Department; Adan Clemente, Transportation & Development; Jeff Azevedo, Municipal Utilities; Traci Tenkely, Community & Neighborhood Services; Carlos Vargas, Fire, Health & Medical; Darrin Vigesaa, Police, and; Kristen Poe, General Government. Also recognized for their years of service were: Cynthia Castillo, Purchasing, 20 years; Patricia Carroll, Center for the Arts, 15 years; Benn Hernandez, Parks, 15 years; Angela Lorenzo-Clavell, Aquatics, 15 years; Helen Parker, Budget Office, 10 years; Traci Tenkely, Aquatics, 10 years; Richard Tonn, Transportation & Development, 10 years, and; Russell Suprak, Fire, Health & Medical, 10 years.

In addition, the mayor and council recognized the winners of two prestigious awards presented to Chandler Parks & Recreation by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. Chandler Senior Center volunteers Bert and LaVerne Johanson received the Volunteer of the Year Award and Chandler’s Therapeutic Recreation Program received the Outstanding Adaptive Program Award.

The next meeting of the City Council will be a regular meeting and a study session at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10. Council meetings are aired live, as well as replayed on The Chandler Channel, Cable Channel 11, and streamed on the Web at chandleraz. gov/video.

Chandler Library streaming TED Women Conference

The Chandler Public Library Hamilton Branch is live streaming the 2016 TED Women Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., between Queen Creek and Ocotillo roads. There will be three sessions:

• Session 1 – It’s About My Time: Personal

time in a broad sense

• Session 2 – It’s About Our Time: How different “couples” have spent their time together.

• Session 3 – It’s About Equal Time: Race, gender, economic and cultural inequality For more information, call 480-782-2800.

DEADLINES FOR SANTAN SUN NEWS: OCTOBER 15

The deadline for news and advertising is 12 p.m. Thursday, October 6 for the Saturday, October 15, issue of the SanTan Sun News. All news must be submitted to News@SanTanSun.com by that day to be considered for the next issue or by filling in the “submit a news release” form on the newspaper’s website at www.SanTanSun.com. To send an item for consideration in the SanTan Family Fun, email it directly to STFF@SanTanSun.com. Send advertising files and information to account reps or contact Ads@SanTanSun.com. For deadline information, visit SanTanSun.com and click on “About us” or call (480) 732-0250 for advertising rate details.

Gettheeyelashes

Individuallyappliedeyelashextensionslooksorealyoucanclaimthemasyourown.

Ourstylistsarelicensedcosmetologistsusingpharmaceuticalgradeadhesives.

Relaxinyourprivatesuitewhileyourextensionsareapplied.

CHANDLER(Ocotillo)- COMINGSOON 3901SArizonaAve,Suite2 PaseoLindoMall,atthecornerofSArizonaAve&OcotilloRd(nexttoTarget) Mon–Fri9am–9pm/Sat9am–6pm/Sun10am–5pm 480-630-LASH(5274)•www.amazinglashstudio.com FranchisesAvailable©2016AmazingLashStudioFranchise,LLC

Dental Implants

Permanent solution to tooth loss

People who have lost teeth might often feel too self-conscious to smile or talk in public. Additionally, early tooth loss can change eating habits and facial appearance and lead to secondary health problems.

Although you have a number of options for the replacement of missing teeth, none have proven to be as functionally effective and durable as dental implants. In many cases, dental implants are the only logical choice for the restoration of all necessary functioning of the teeth and supporting structures; dental implants provide a simple remedy with proven results.

Dental implants are stronger and more durable than bridges and dentures. Implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss and are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth.

They are proven to preserve the jaw bone, gums and the adjacent natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that their teeth appear natural and that their facial contours will be preserved. We offer state-of-theart technologies and Dr. Shah is constantly implementing the latest techniques to provide you with the best care available.

Patients who come to us can smile with confidence. 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.

Chandler hosts Family Self-Sufficiency Alliance graduation

The East Valley Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Alliance will hold their Annual Graduation and Recognition Ceremony from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. The FSS program is a voluntary program designed to assist families living in low-income housing achieve economic independence.

Every year the FSS Alliance, a group of valley city staff members who administer the program, recognizes FSS program participants and graduates. This year, the City of Chandler will host the graduation celebration. Councilwoman Nora Ellen and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Field Office Director, Barbara Gallegos, will deliver the opening remarks for the ceremony honoring more than 21 Family Self-Sufficiency graduates and five special effort award winners. Seven of the 21 graduates being honored reside in Chandler.

Rasheedah is a FSS Chandler graduate who will be recognized at this year’s graduation ceremony. When Rasheedah joined the FSS Program she was unemployed and receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance. She made it very clear when she enrolled, that one of her goals included enrolling in college to pursue a degree in nursing. She’s also a mother of three children, one being a child with disabilities. This fueled her

determination to change her financial situation and work towards economic selfsufficiency. With tenacity, determination and the belief that she would succeed, Rasheedah earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Grand Canyon University. She is employed as a nurse with the Arizona Center for Cancer Care participating in cancer research.

Families who participate in the program receive subsidized housing (Section 8 or Public Housing) and case management services. The program’s goal is to move families from public assistance and into the workforce. Many of the FSS graduates have obtained higher education, improved employment and enhanced life skills. Families also earn escrow funds as their earned income increases, and many families will use the funds for homeownership.

The FSS Alliance includes Chandler, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale and Phoenix. These cities have committed to work together and develop relationships with local community resources to maximize participants’ success. Many of the participants and graduates have overcome difficult barriers and have become selfsufficient. The graduates and special effort award winners have not allowed these barriers to stop them from obtaining their personal and professional goals. They sought assistance, worked hard and made significant sacrifices to achieve success.

Health is focus of Sun Lakes Democratic Club meeting

The Sun Lakes Democratic Club will host two guest speakers during its 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, meeting at the Navajo Room of the Sun Lakes Country Club, 25601 E. Sun Lakes Blvd. N. Linda Brown, of Adelante Health Care, will speak to the changes in Marketplace insurance due to the withdrawal of some companies from the program in Arizona.

Pat Gleeson will explain the AARP’s “2016 Take A Stand” project.

Several candidates for state, county and federal offices will speak, including Jennifer Pawlik (Arizona House), Steve Weichert (Arizona Senate) and Adrian Fontes (Maricopa County recorder).

At all club meetings, nonperishable

food items are collected for the Matthew’s Crossing Food Bank in the west parking lot 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. There is also a collection box at the north entrance of the Sun Lakes Sunset Grill lobby. In 2015 the total amount collected for Matthew’s Crossing was 2,310.5 lbs. of food and $686.

With the amount collected in August (95 pounds of food and $20) the totals so far for 2016 are 2,170 pounds of food and $206.

Everyone is welcome at Sun Lakes Democratic Club meetings which are always on the second Monday of each month. Refreshments are served. For more information, call Tom Amrhein 480-895-1162.

MEN’S & WOMEN’S COMFORT SHOES, COME SEE THE NEW SPRING & SUMMER STYLES!

We are a family owned-business that specializes in Euro-comfort shoes with a flair for fashion. Most assume that comfort can’t be cute, but that’s just not the case! Come visit our new unique comfort boutique so you can understand why, “Nothing is as thrilling as a shoe that looks and feels good!”

see you soon!

Taos, Gabor, Ahnu and Big Buddha.

Keen, Dansko, Josef Seibel, Olukai, Romika, Fly London, Birkenstock, Merrell, Antelope, Reiker, Miz Mooz, Clarks, Klog, Arcopedico, Alegria, Baggallini, Taos, Gabor, Ahnu and Big Buddha.

These two East Valley luxury home communities offer easy living and close access to shopping, dining, and entertainment. Nestled at the base of the majestic San Tan Mountains, residents will enjoy sweeping views of the colorful Arizonan desert and awe inspiring mountain ranges. Adora Trails is rich with amenities, offering a 10-acre neighborhood park, 12 miles of walking trails and a central community clubhouse where residents can entertain family, friends or just enjoy their neighbors. Montaverde offers four spacious floor plans to choose from available on ¼ acre + homesites.

from 2,700 - 3,500 sq. ft. |

Priced from the upper $300’s Sales Center: 2840 E. La Costa Drive Gilbert, AZ 85298

Tex Earnhardt’s folksy charm has sold cars for 65 years

BY DAWSON FEARNOW

Exactly 65 years ago this month, the East Valley changed forever with a simple twopart question.

Or as Tex Earnhardt tells it in his smooth South Texas drawl, “In September 1951, I opened a little gas station in Chandler. Ford sent me out here, I never even heard of the place. It was a single pump that you had to manually pump, and a gravel lot. So I’ve only been for here two or three days, and a customer asked me, ‘Is that a new Ford truck, how much is it?’ And I was so new to this I told him that I’d better check.

“Now this was a basic black truck with no radio or anything, but it was $800. And he says, ‘$800? Well, I’d never pay that much for a truck. I’m going to buy a Chevy.’ That night I called my mom and said, ‘I

Of course, everyone who grew up in the East Valley remembers Tex’s sons, Hal and Jim Babe, who appeared in countless commercials alongside their father. But now there’s a whole new generation of Earnhardts working at the family’s 22 dealerships across Arizona and Nevada.

“Dodge, Derby, Bull, Nature, Ace and Wynn are just a few of Tex’s grandkids that all have a major role at the company,” says his longtime marketing director/press wrangler, Vicky Van Dyke. “Tex’s secret is he treat’s everyone like family,” she says. And she should know.

“Vicky’s been working for me for 26 years,” Tex says.

“Growing up in the Rio Grande Valley, right on the Mexican border, all we knew was ranching and rodeo. Tú hablas español? Porque tú necesitas hablar un

“ I still feel the same need to go to work every day, still have bills to pay. I’ve been blessed to get up every day and still be able to get around. ”

Tex Earnhardt

don’t think I’m going to like this.’ What’s really amazing is that the same pickup is now $65,000. Of course, you can’t get it without a radio now.”

Tex (he insists on everyone calling him Tex) is sitting just off the lobby of his flagship Ford dealership, instantly recognizable in his signature outfit: checkered Western shirt, blue jeans, boots and a hubcap-sized belt buckle, all in the shadows of a towering cowboy hat. His lean, tanned frame shows little signs of his 85 years of age, fidgeting as if he’d rather be riding his horse, or flying his plane, or chatting with some of these fine folk milling around the showroom, anything other than talking to a reporter about something so boring as his amazing success story.

But still, his smile is warm and genuine, and his swimming-hole-blue eyes sparkle mischievously every time he interrupts his own interview to rope in some unsuspecting soul. “Hey, how are you doing? Come on over here and say hello,” Tex shouts to anyone in earshot, waving over members of his extended Earnhardt family to shoot the breeze, several of whom introduce themselves as decadeslong employees, or actual family members.

poquito español, down there. But mom used to send me to church. Now, I didn’t like it because it was 12 miles round trip. But what did stick with me was you gotta be nice to people and treat ’em right.

“Cars are all the same. Wheels are all round. We make mistakes. And frankly sometimes people can be not nice. They will buy a used car and come back the next day and say it’s got scratches on the paint. So my sales guy will say to me, ‘Tex, it already had those scratches when we sold it.’ And I’ll say, ‘What does it cost fifty, a hundred dollars? Just go ahead and fix it.’ What’s that cost compared to our reputation?”

Over the past 65 years that reputation for straight shooting, plus a lifelong competitive streak—“I still ride horses every day I can, still rope with my son, Hal. Just rope a little slower than I used to,”

Tex says—helped this struggling former professional rodeo rider grow Earnhardt Auto Centers into one of the nation’s most successful family-owned and operated car dealers. While still based in Chandler, Tex and company have gone from selling a car or two per month—“we had to sell one truck so we could buy the next one,” he says—to selling nearly 50,000 vehicles

Above:

Tex Earnhardt says “That’s no bull,” and he’s right. That’s a Texas longhorn he’s astride. Tex and his family have 22 dealerships across Arizona and Nevada.

Right:

Tex Earnhardt opened his first dealership 65 years ago this month in Chandler.

a year.

Not that Tex is ready to hang up his spurs anytime soon.

“I still feel the same need to go to work every day, still have bills to pay. I’ve been blessed to get up every day and still be able to get around,” he said.

As for Tex’s famously folksy slogan— “And that ain’t no bull!”—that’s been slapped across billboards, and repeated by Tex himself in every TV and radio ad for decades? It all started as a little inside joke, Tex says.

“I was out on the ranch, joking around with some cowboy friends, and one said, ‘Hey Tex, when are gonna stop fooling around on that bull?’ I said, ‘This ain’t no bull, I know because I removed his things not 30 minutes ago.’ And everybody laughed, but it stuck.

“I remember doing live TV ads in the 1960s down at Channel 5 in Phoenix—you had to do it live then, sitting on a real steer right there at the station. I’m sure with the lawyers now you can’t do that no more.”

By now, Tex is getting antsy, but still he

continues to humor his interviewer with a mix of aw-shucks responses and charming quips.

“Growing from that little tiny store to now, what, 22? I don’t even know how we got ’em,” Tex says. “I didn’t know anything, then or now. Except that nice guys finish first.”

At that moment, Tex spots his son Hal strolling into the dealership while talking on a massive smartphone. Taller and thicker than his father, Hal holsters the phone in an embossed leather pouch clipped to his belt and flashes that famous Earnhardt smile. Seeing his chance to escape the table he’s been hogtied to for far too long, Tex hops to his feet with the quick, graceful movements of a lifetime rodeo roper, and shouts to his now grayhaired son.

Beckoning Hal over, Tex slaps his back and plants a smooch on his son’s check.

“Hal thinks he’s too old for me to kiss him. Heck, I kiss everybody,” he says, before he spots another familiar face and moseys out into the showroom, slapping backs and

Cure All Plumbing offers immediate response times and 24/7 service

BY ALISON STANTON

About 15 years ago, Cure All Plumbing was meagerly founded in a home’s basement.

Since then, owner Jayson Harrison has helped grow the company to a one-stop shop that repairs and services everything to do with plumbing.

“The plumbing trade started out as just a way to earn my way through college. But I soon realized that it was something that I really enjoyed,” Harrison said.

From large and small jobs to residential and commercial clients, Harrison said Cure All Plumbing can do it all.

“The most common jobs include service, repair, replacement and warranty work for all brands of water heaters, disposals, toilets, water softeners, reverse osmosis systems, faucets and sprinklers,” he said.

“We perform reroutes, re-pipes, and slab leak repairs. We also specialize in drain cleaning, which includes camera and video documentation, jetting, and snaking. Our services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Too, Harrison said it’s not unusual for his team to end up going the extra mile during

their appointments.

“When our technicians are called to repair plumbing problems, many times you find them doing extra things like taking out the trash or helping bring in groceries,” he said.

“Also, our fully stocked trucks and uniformed technicians, provide a free written estimate to properly communicate what is needed to fix the issue the first time. Our per-job rates are fair and reasonable for the level of quality and professionalism of our services.”

All of these traits result in the company becoming the go-to plumbing professionals. In fact, repeat customers and referrals make up 93% of the company’s business, he added.

Harrison enjoys his work and interacting with his staff and customers.

“I love the constant challenges that the plumbing industry presents on a daily basis and the satisfaction of being the solution to someone’s problem,” he said.

Cure All Plumbing is located at 1835 E. Sixth St., Suite 23, in Tempe. For more information, call 480-895-5858 or visit cureallplumbing.com/home.

About Care celebrating 10 years of empowering independent living

About Care has been encouraging independent living for 10 years throughout Chandler and Gilbert.

For the last decade, its volunteers have provided more than 65,000 services, volunteered over 150,000 hours and driven 1 million miles. The organization is hosting a fundraising drive for its anniversary—$10 for 10 years. Visit gofundme.com/aboutcare and donate $10 to make a difference in someone’s life.

About Care allowed one client to die peacefully in her home. She was one of About Care’s initial clients and was able to remain in her home until her death by utilizing our free support services.

LUXURY INTERIORS

The Chandler based organization strives to deliver caring, compassionate support services using trained volunteers with special concern for the elderly and disabled homebound residents of Chandler and Gilbert.

About Care was created because of the need to assist the elderly and disabled

residents with services that enable them to remain in their homes, live with self respect and dignity while encouraging independence. About Care’s program also postpones the expense of long-term care. About Care is looking for volunteers. For more information or to obtain a volunteer application, visit www.aboutcare.org.

Jayson Harrison, left, owner of Cure All Plumbing, said he and his team pride themselves on offering outstanding plumbing services combined with top-notch customer service.

d’Vine Gourmet celebrates 13 years serving the greater Southeast Valley

d’Vine Gourmet, which sells specialty food, wine and gift baskets, will celebrate 13 years in business Thursday, Oct. 13, with an open house from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The retail showroom is in The Promenade at Fulton Ranch, 4955 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 4. The celebration will include a complimentary mimosa bar, product samplings and giveaways throughout the day. Wine tastings and live music take over from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce is at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s an honor to conduct business in Chandler,” said Denise McCreery, owner. “We live, work and play here and understand how fortunate we are to receive such positive support from our community.

“Our company has grown from a small wine jelly and mustard business in Tucson, to where we are today. We wouldn’t be here without our amazing customers, community and friends by our side.”

McCreery founded the company in

2003, when she offered a line of allnatural wine and spirits, jams and jellies. The same year, they opened a commercial kitchen and retail location in Tucson.

The line of products grew based on the demand of locally made gourmet products to include a full range of mustards, sweets and snacks. During this time, they also began offering standard and corporate gifts and amenities.

In 2009, McCreery opened a retail location and wine shop at Riggs and McQueen roads, and the Tucson location became solely a full-time kitchen.

In 2014, the retail location expanded once again to include an onsite candy kitchen with its move to The Promenade at Fulton Ranch. It features a locally made candy buffet, as well as Arizona wines and other area gourmet treats.

d’Vine Gourmet offers special savings to its email subscribers, wine club members and hosts special events and monthly wine tastings with its sommelier. They also provide complimentary corporate branding and ship worldwide.

Home2 Suites by Hilton ‘Lights the Night’ at its grand opening

Arizona’s first Home2 Suites by Hilton in Chandler lit up the sky with its grand opening event.

The Light the Night Grand Opening brought more than 300 guests and it included a raffle with all proceeds benefiting Sunshine Acres, a nonprofit organization that focuses on underprivileged children.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Sunshine Acres and look forward to a continued partnership. We strongly believe in their efforts and vision focusing on underprivileged children,” said Kekoa Morton, general manager.

Grand opening attendees enjoyed complimentary overnight accommodations, food, beverage and live entertainment such as Hula dancers. Local entities that participated in the Light the Night Grand Opening event were the Polynesian Club and NÐ Leo KÐpono Productions, HÐlau Ho’okahi I Ka Hula, and Mesa Community College APIC club. Sponsors for the event included CHoP, Living Room, Rock Lobster and Porter Brothers.

“Our Light the Night event is a great

opportunity for the community to experience the newest Hilton concept and the first in the state of Arizona. Home2 Suites is truly a new and fresh way to think about extended stay travel,” said Afsaneh Torres, regional director of sales.

The Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel offers guests all-suite accommodations featuring fully equipped kitchens and modular furniture allowing for guests to personalize their room. The hotel also features easy access to technology with complimentary Internet, inviting community spaces, and trademark Home2 Suites amenities such Spin2 Cycle, a combined laundry and fitness area and Home2 MKT for grab-and-go items. Guests can enjoy the Inspired Table, a complimentary breakfast that includes more than 400 potential combinations. The hotel also has an outdoor pool and patio with a grill area. This Home2 Suites property, like many within the brand, is also pet-friendly.

To make reservations, call 480-659-2090. Read more about Home2 Suites by Hilton at home2suites.com and news.home2suites.com.

EAST VALLEY

NEW LEADS • NEW CUSTOMERS • NEW SALES

Location:

Date/Time

Showcase

Coffee house goes back to the source for beans: the family farm in Brazil

BY JIM WALSH

Growing up in a small town in southeastern Brazil, Julia Peixoto Peters never imagined that she would quit her job as an attorney, convince her husband to quit his dream job as an aerospace engineer, and return to her roots.

Peixoto Peters never liked going to the family’s coffee farm, which dates back to her great-grandfather planting the trees in the late 1800s. She grew up in Batatais, Brazil, a short distance from the farm. She wanted to go to the beach and to more glamorous big cities that were hours away.

But when Nelson Peixoto, her grandfather, passed away in 2012 at age 91, Peixoto Peters started to think about her family’s legacy. Her grandfather and her father, Jose Augusto Peixoto, had labored on the farm for decades. Her father, a retired physician, is now 70 and has suffered two heart attacks.

So Peixoto Peters, 37, and her husband, Jeff, 38, quit their jobs, dipped into their savings and opened Peixoto, a trendy downtown Chandler coffee shop not far from the San Marcos Hotel and Chandler City Hall, 18 months ago.

Their Arabica coffee beans come straight from the family farm. They also sell the beans as part of a wholesale business to

delis, restaurants, even high-tech companies that want to treat their employees to top quality specialty coffee.

No, it’s not a catchy name, Peixtoto, but in this case, it says it all. With such a rich family history, any other name would not do. Jeff Peters thought he was being clever when he spelled out the name phonetically on the company’s logo, “Pay” “Sho” “Tow.”

“It’s a big deal,” Peixoto Peters said, when asked about her family’s legacy. “It’s something I never thought I would be responsible for. For the longest time, I was not involved in the family business.

“Eventually, our family legacy would have disappeared if I didn’t do something about it. It’s our family name. That’s what I am carrying forward.”

The farm covers 600 acres, a modest size for Brazil, one of the world’s top coffee producing countries. In a good year, it produces about 2,000, 132-pound burlap bags of coffee beans. Her father tells stories of planting trees when he was 5 years old and taking the beans to market on a mule. The farm, known as Sao Jose da Boa Vista, sits on a 4,000-foot high plateau with a view of the Rio Grande River.

“I didn’t see the beauty in it until I was here,” Peixoto Peters said. “You don’t know what you have until you don’t have

it anymore.”

But there have been a lot of bad years, either due to sagging wholesale coffee prices or poor weather and disappointing crops. That was why Peixoto Peters said her family encouraged her when she was younger to get an education and to go into some other line of work.

She studied law in Brazil and eventually graduated from the University of Arizona’s law school. She went to work for DHL, a German-owned delivery company, while her husband, Jeff, who grew up in Michigan wanting to become a rocket engineer, actually achieved his goal by working for Orbital Science in Chandler.

Jeff Peters said he always loved his job, but Julia, also the mother of their 5- and 6-year-old children, did not love her job and sort of knew something was missing.

“I did law for awhile but it was not my passion,” Peixoto Peters said. “I had this drive, this compelling thing inside me,” to open a unique, locally-owned coffee shop.

“My dad had this product but could not make ends meet,” she said. “I always knew there might be a better way for him to sell his coffee. We plowed all of our time, savings and energy into this.”

That’s why Julia and Jeff turned down an offer to move their business or start another

shop in north Scottsdale. They don’t want to turn into another Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, with a standard taste and menu.

“We have no interest in outside investments,” Jeff Peters said. “We want to make specialty coffees available to everyone.”

As part of his transformation from rock engineer to coffee entrepreneur, Jeff Peters bought a giant coffee roaster and customized it, using his knowledge of electronics to create a series of flavor profiles designed to enhance the natural taste of the beans.

Their coffee typically is described as having notes of chocolate, peanut or hazelnut. It doesn’t taste like an average cup of coffee, and that’s the point, Jeff Peters said. He is trying to separate Peixoto from hundreds of other coffee houses.

Jeff Peters said coffee should never be acidic, and his roast is light to medium in texture. Each latte served at Peixoto comes with a design on the top that resembles a work of art. It usually resembles a tulip. It turns out tulips are popular in southern Brazil.

The tulip is more than something cute to impress customers, he said.

“It’s a quality control step. If the barista hasn’t pulled the shot of espresso correctly or steamed the milk properly, you can’t do the art,” Peters said.

Learning Grants by SRP awarded to 6 Southeast Valley schools

Students across Arizona will explore the wonders of electricity, learn about math and science by growing plants in greenhouses built on their campuses and much more thanks to Learning Grants by SRP.

The grant program, which awarded more than $117,000 to 25 schools, six of them in the region, provides a unique opportunity for schools and teachers to develop projects and programs that improve student performance objectives in math and science.

SRP annually contributes more than $1.3 million to education initiatives, grants and partnerships and provides free training and resources to educators throughout the state.

Educators in metropolitan Phoenix, Pinal County, Gila County, Yavapai County, Page, St. Johns and Page are invited to apply for SRP Learning Grants and SRP Social Studies grants for the 2017-18 school year at srpnet.com/ education/grants.

Below are the schools from the area that won SRP Learning Grants for 2016-17:

Weinberg Elementary (Chandler) $4,671: Third-graders will create a garden to learn how to work collaboratively to create opportunities for experiential learning. Grant funds will be used to purchase tools, equipment, and supplies to enable students to learn about plants, the technology that enhances their growing, where our food comes from, and what happens below the ground. Moving kids outside to learn, practice, measure, experiment, reflect, harvest, and eat is a perfect method to teach great STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills while incorporating scientific and creative writing during communication and presentation activities.

Arete Preparatory Middle School (Gilbert) $5,000: Funds will be used to purchase a new Fume Hood and other science-based materials that will enable seventh- through 10th-grade students to experience hands-on chemistry. Working with some chemicals and metals is impossible without the use of this specialized equipment, and therefore, students must simply learn about these processes through a book or lecture. This will give students more hands-on activities, allowing them to experience science from a real world perspective.

Eduprize Gilbert (Gilbert) $4,980: The grant will facilitate the purchase of six computer systems meeting AutoDesk Inventor 3-D modeling software specifications. EDUPRIZE will match funds to bring the total number of purchased computers to 12 as necessitated for the first year of the curriculum rollout. Students will use 3-D modeling and prototyping exercises that reinforce engineering principles.

Settler’s Point Elementary (Gilbert)

$5,000: The grant will be used to purchase hands-on manipulative and interactive resources that will allow students to explore their interest in math, science, and technology and develop a basic foundation that can be built upon throughout their life. These resources will help teachers provide math, science, and technology enrichment for their students that will reinforce key concepts, promote mastery learning, and improve their students’ overall test score results on the AzMERIT in science and math.

Red Mountain High School (Mesa)

$4,090: Beyond the Surface of the Earth is a hands-on project-based learning experience deeply embedding the content and processes of science, technology, engineering, and math allowing students to explore the atmosphere without ever leaving the surface of the Earth. Students develop questions about the atmosphere, determine methods for testing, collect and interpret data, and communicate results. Students will be involved in planning and executing the high altitude balloon (HAB) design, launch, recovery and data analysis.

Zaharis Elementary (Mesa) $5,000: Funds will be used to purchase science curricula that will cover electricity and flight. Students will utilize the Design Process (Ask-Imagine-Build-EvaluateShare) to create a functional circuit and use a computer-aided design (CAD) program to create circuit stickers that will connect an LED light to a coin cell. Students will use the CAD program to fashion a circuit sticker for a Night Flyer. In addition, students will collect data to drive their decision-making through iterations of building a plane that flies the farthest possible distance.

Rep. Mesnard visits Hamilton High

Hamilton High School staff and students hosted Arizona State Rep.J.D. Mesnard (R-District 17) for a half-day visit on Sept. 20 as part of the annual Take Your Legislator to Work Program.

Organized by Principal Ken James and English teacher Phyllis Carr, Mesnard visited classes, met with representatives of the school’s student government and officials of the student Democratic and Republic clubs and toured the school. He participated in a “Jeopardy” game with seniors in Mike Spears’ U.S. government class and taught students about the Electoral College in Jake Harvey’s We The People class. The school’s Culinary 3 class prepared and served a special meal of

chicken Kiev, mashed potatoes, broccoli florets and tiramisu for nearly a dozen students and staff who were meeting with the representative.

During Take Your Legislator To Work, teachers invite local state legislators to spend a full day at their school to facilitate meaningful conversation between policy makers and educators and give state legislators an intimate look at the day-to-day realities of public schools in Arizona. The program is spearheaded by the Arizona Educational Foundation and supported by the Arizona Education Association, Arizona K12 Center and the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.

ICAN hosts free parenting classes

ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth will host two parenting classes this October. Classes are free and open to the public.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, parents can learn about “How to Raise Healthy Children in Today’s Toxic Culture” at ICAN (650 E. Morelos St.) from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Later in the month, on Thursday, Oct. 20, “Developing Trust and Good Character” is the topic of the talk at Chandler/Gilbert Family YMCA (1655 W. Frye Rd.) from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

For more information on these programs contact Alicia Perez, ICAN family programs manager, at 480-8747593 or alicia@icanaz.org.

ICAN is a free youth center in the East Valley that offers programming for youth, teens, families and the community. ICAN’s nationally recognized prevention

programming teaches disadvantaged youth real-life skills including goal setting, positive decision making and how to avoid the risky behaviors that are prevalent in the community ICAN serves. ICAN’s evidence-based programming equips youth to achieve personal and academic success. Parenting classes and substance abuse education complete ICAN’s programming, impacting the entire community. ICAN is accredited by the National Council on Accreditation, was recently named “Outstanding Afterschool Program” by the Arizona Center for After School Excellence and is a three-time winner of “Best Places to Work.” ICAN is celebrating its 25th anniversary. For more information about ICAN, call 480-821-4207 or visit icanaz.org.

Chronically ill boy headed to Disney, thanks to local real estate agent

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Andrew and Kellie Burkhart are doing everything they can to make their 9-year-old son, who suffers from cerebral palsy, comfortable and happy. The couple pays $900 monthly for little Andrew’s medical care, and up to $20,000 each summer for intensive treatments in California. To say money is tight is an understatement.

“We are doing this on the sole salary of my husband, a Chandler public school teacher who has three teaching jobs—one full-time job at Hamilton, and two part-time jobs at Bogle and CGCC,” she said.

“Andrew has at least four—or more—doctor, therapy, and physical improvement appointments every week. I can’t go back to the workforce yet.”

The family has prayed to have the strength and the financial means to help their only child. Recently, Kellie asked the 15,000 members of Living Chandler’s Facebook page if there were local nonprofits that help grant wishes to sick children. Kellie and Andrew were hoping to take their son to Disneyland for his 10th birthday on Oct. 8.

That dream is coming true, thanks to Darlin Gutteridge of RE/MAX Renaissance Realty in Gilbert. Her son is recovering from a serious illness and, coincidentally, shares the same birthday as Andrew.

“I saw that post and immediately responded with I would take care of it,” said Gutteridge, a Chandler resident.

“I reached out to some of my co-workers—a bunch of ladies who are awesome—and they said they were in. I think

that snowballed with other people, who wanted to give gift cards. I told my husband, whom I hadn’t told, and he said, ‘I’m so proud of you.’ My friends said they’re proud to call me their friend.”

This isn’t the first “miracle” that the Burkharts have witnessed. Each summer, Andrew travels to California for stem cell treatment and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which can run upward of $12,000—out of pocket.

To help defray the cost, Kellie sent 100 letters to family-owned businesses last year looking for companies to sponsor his treatments.

“I prayed over each pile of 30,” Kellie

said. “I said, ‘Please, Lord, let one of these letters matter.’”

One organization answered her letter. Precision Air and Heating in Chandler covered one of the rounds of treatment—or close to $13,000.

Previously, a student unknown to the elder Andrew, handed him a teacher appreciation gift—with a check for $9,600 to pay for that year’s treatment.

“It’s been amazing,” Kellie said. ‘This community has really, really stepped up for us. The Lord’s definitely watching over us.”

How to help

The local charity, The Cerebral Palsy Hope Foundation, accepts donations specifically for Andrew Burkhart’s medical care. All donations made through it are tax deductible. For more information, visit https://prayforandrew.wordpress.com/ how-to-help/ or email kelwar@ymail.com.

Businesses making donations can be considered a “Business Sponsor for Andrew’s Healing” and they will be given free advertising on the family’s blog and on Andrew’s community Facebook page, which has over 11,600 followers. It is facebook. com/AndrewsAngels123

More information on Andrew’s journey to wellness can be found at prayforandrew. wordpress.com/our-story/

Chandler dentist collecting Halloween candy—for cash

Chandler dentist J. Philipp is continuing his Halloween tradition of paying $2 per pound (up to 5 pounds per child) for candy between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1. The candy will be shipped to American troops as part of Operation Gratitude. Sending candy to troops provides a “taste of home” and lets them know that children appreciate their service. Parents

can bring their children to Dr. Philipp’s office at 3230 S. Gilbert Rd., Suite 4, Chandler.

J. Philipp Centers for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry was founded by Justin Philipp, DMD. The successful practice has won numerous awards and offers a wide variety of quality dental services. Visit www.jphilipp.com to learn

Doodle 4 Google contests launches; students can win big

Google has once again launched the Doodle4Google competition with the theme “What I see for the future.”

For the contest, kindergarten through 12th-grade students are invited to show their creativity and a chance to see their own doodle on Google’s homepage.

From crayons to clay, graphic design, or even food, young artists can utilize any materials to bring their creation to life. Like all Google Doodles, each doodle must incorporate the letters G-o-o-g-l-e.

One national winner will also receive a $30,000 college scholarship. The contest is open for entries through Dec. 2.

As in past years, Google will announce a winner in each state in early February. The public will then have a chance to vote on their favorites. The national

finalists and national winner will be named by March 31, 2017. Last year, Madison Gonsalves, a third grader from Santan Elementary School in Chandler, was one of the 53 state and territory winners.

Winning Doodle 4 Google comes with some great perks: in addition to seeing their doodle displayed on the homepage after the competition closes, the winner will also receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 Google for Education Technology award for his/her school. Plus, the winner and four other national finalists will visit the doodle team in Mountain View, California. More information, including all contest rules, is available at https:// doodles.google.com/d4g/.

Story Monsters Ink book reviews

In an effort to get kids interested in reading and writing, Five Star Publishing asks them to send reviews of their favorite books and the magazine will publish them in Story Monsters Ink magazine each month. They could be newly released titles or older books, whichever they prefer. And authors love seeing their books reviewed by their target audience. Who better to review them than the children they write for? To submit a book review, email cristy@ fivestarpublications.com.

“Three Little Words”

BY AMY NOVESKY

REVIEWER:

MADDIE YEAGER, AGE

10

“Three Little Words” is a cute picture book inspired by Disney Pixar’s movie, “Finding Dory.” This book was written by Amy Novesky and illustrated by Grace Lee. I have to say great job to both of them. It has a motivational storyline that tells you to just keep swimming. The drawings and cover art are full of color and very detailed. It also has great illustrations of characters that are in Finding Dory, a few of which were also in the original, Finding Nemo. I think it would be a perfect book for ages 4-6. Kids would love this book because it has repetition, but also has a few new words that may be a bit more challenging. The thing that I like most about this book is that it’s relatable. Getting lost and running into unfriendly people are definitely problems that anyone can relate to.

“Doodle Adventures: The Pursuit of the Pesky Pizza Pirate”

BY MIKE LOWERY

REVIEWER: MADDIE YEAGER, AGE 10

“The Pursuit of the Pesky Pizza Pirate” is a great book written by Mike Lowery. It has an easy-to-follow story, and is also interactive. It will ask you to draw something to escape something or climb something or even just draw warm-up doodles. It is one of the very few comic books where the point is to draw in it. It is perfect for lots of ages because younger kids might like the drawing and the characters, and older readers would be more likely to appreciate the science and/or imagination behind each page. It has something for every personality, and is perfect for boys or girls. It is fun to read because of the thought, humor, and creativity. It has plenty of plays on words, twists, turns, and lots of other things that make a great book great.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

BY J.K. ROWLING, JACK THORNE AND JOHN TIFFANY

REVIEWER: MADDIE YEAGER, AGE 10

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is an awesome book. I would not recommend reading it if you haven’t read the first seven books. It was written by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. Harry, Hermione and Ron have gotten out of Hogwarts and have kids of their own. When Harry’s son, Albus, meets Draco’s son, Scorpius, things get a little out of control. When Albus hears Harry speaking to Amos Diggory about Cedric’s death, he and Scorpius set off to go back in time to save Cedric. There’s only one problem: time. They

have to be careful. They can only go back for five minutes at a time. Not to mention the darkness that awaits if they make the slightest mistake. When everybody has to find a time-turner to go back to Godric’s Hollow to help the boys, the battle begins. They meet Voldemort again for the first time in 19 years, and it reminds them of the battle of Hogwarts. One thing that’s interesting is that it was based off of a play, so the book is actually a script. Probably not as good as the original series, but still great.

“The Beat on Ruby’s

Street”

BY JENNA ZARK

REVIEWER: MADDIE YEAGER, AGE 10

“The Beat on Ruby’s Street” is a great novel written by Jenna Zark. Ruby Tabeata is a determined tween who lives at home with her brother, cat and mother. As she walks to The Scene, a local meeting place, to see her favorite poet and idol, Jack Kerouac, she is falsely accused of stealing from a produce stand.

An innocent trip to town turns into a day filled with police interrogations. Ruby tries to escape an officer to Blue Skies, a local shop that also happens to be Ruby’s school. When the police begin to suspect that Ruby is not being raised efficiently, they pull her away from her family, Blue Skies, and everything she loved. She has to confront her new fate; which child services have so carefully chosen for her. After she loses everything, will Ruby be able to get it back? This book is an amazing insight on the Beat Generation. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good read.

Fall Landscaping Spruce-Ups

Featuring Great Ideas for Low Water Use Landscapes

Rebates

▪ $200-InstallXeriscape(desertadapted landscape) at anew home

▪ Up to $3,000- Convert grass areas into an attractivelow water use landscape (Xeriscape)

▪ Up to $250-Switchto a newweather-based ‘smart’ irrigationcontroller plus save about 30%on your waterbill

Programs

▪ Retrofit kits - for homes built prior to 1992. (Includes a water efficient showerhead, faucet aerataors, leak detection tablets and a toilet displacement bag.)

▪ Home Water Efficiency Audits - if you have unexplained high water use and can’t find a leak. Contact our office to help you save money and water.

“Train:

A Journey Through the Pages Book”

BY MIKE VAGO, ILLUSTRATED

BY

MATTHEW ROCKEFELLER

REVIEWER: MADDIE YEAGER, AGE 10

Train is a board book created by Mike Vago and illustrated by Matt Rockefeller. I would recommend it for ages 2-4. It is simple to understand, and also helps little ones learn their basic colors. Going from red to purple, it shows colors in real-life scenes such as prairies, mountains, cities, and deserts. And while it is easy to comprehend most of the time, it contains sight words, words that the ingoing kindergartner is expected to be familiar with. The pictures are detailed, vivid, and solely focus on the color which is being described on that certain page. If you look closely at the pictures, you can point out smaller details like billboards, stoplights, and even street signs. In this book, the tracks are right in the pages. There is a tiny train in the back that is attached to the book that can “drive” through the pages. All aboard!

“Sherlock Sam and the Ghostly Moans in Fort Canning”

BY A.J. LOW

REVIEWER: OLIVIA AMIRI, AGE 9

“Sherlock Sam and the Ghostly Moans in Fort Canning” is a fun and entertaining book that has two stories in one! These stories are about a boy who has a knack for solving mysteries along with his trustful robot, Watson. Often Watson acts like a grumpy old man. In this book you learn about new places, history, and food.

Free Workshops

▪ Pruning & Maintaining Your LandscapeTuesday, 10/4

A Certified Arborist will teach you proper pruning techniques for trees & shrubs to keep your green investments healthy, functional and looking great.

▪ Rainwater Harvesting - Wednesday, 10/12

Learn how to design an earth-friendly yard to collect and utilize rainwater from roofs, driveways, patios & sidewalks.

▪ Eco-Friendly Water Gardens -Thursday,10/20

This workshop will show you how to add a small, low maintenance, organic water feature to your landscape using native plants and good Xeriscape design principles to attract birds and other wildlife.

Location ChandlerTechShop 249E.ChicagoSt.

Location ChandlerTechShop 249 E. chicago St.

Classes are free but you MUST register visit www.chandleraz.gov/water for detailed class descriptions and online registration email conserve@chandleraz.gov orcall480-782-3580

Classes are free but you MUST register visit www.chandleraz.gov/water for detailed class descriptions and online registration email conserve@chandleraz.gov or call 480-782-3580 Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and Chandler City Council City of Chandler Water Conservation www.chandleraz.gov/water 480-782-3580 conserve@chandleraz.gov

Rock the Block returns to downtown Chandler Nov. 19

The seventh annual Achen-Gardner Construction Rock the Block! returns to downtown Chandler Saturday, Nov. 19. The block party-style event will run from noon to 10 p.m. at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.

Achen-Gardner Construction is the title sponsor of this year’s event. Rock the Block! is an annual free, family-friendly block party that celebrates the fun, dynamic lifestyle that Chandler has to offer. The event has garnered more than 18,000 attendees in the past and is expecting to attract even more in 2016. The annual block party, which is organized by the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership and Steve LeVine Entertainment & Public Relations, will feature:

• Live entertainment on multiple stages, including the annual Chandler’s Got Talent competition.

• A Kids Zone including interactive games and rides, face painting and inflatables.

• More than 100 retail, arts and crafts vendors.

• Top local restaurants and food trucks

• Family-friendly beer garden. For information regarding the event, vendor applications or sponsorship opportunities, visit rocktheblockaz.com. For updates, follow Rock the Block! on Facebook at facebook.com/rtbchandler, Twitter at twitter.com/rtbchandler and Instagram at instagram.com/rtbchandler.

Morning of Miracles

From Dr. Chamberlain’s Desktop

This past month I was privileged to attend the 10th annual YMCA morning of prayer breakfast. I was one of over 300 diverse people in our community to attend. The theme of the breakfast was “Miracles.” Several speakers were asked to share a miracle that they had experienced. I particularly connected with Dr. Scott Lee, a great general dentist in south Chandler. He told of his experience in Iraq and the events that led to his purple heart in serving our country. He is a hero among us and one who has been witness to a miracle at that trying time in his life. Another speaker was a former patient and friend of mine, Aaron Smith. Aaron is an amazing individual, a high contributor in our community.

I am honored to know him and his family. He spoke of his miracle with his children who were born severely premature. So many miracles were mentioned in his story it truly needs to be told by him. He has a wonderful video of the miraculous birth of his now 9 year old son. I was touched by this loving and gifted father.

The breakfast made me reflect on the many miracles I have witnessed in my life. From my wife saying “Yes” to me almost 25 years ago, to my four children, to my blessing to be involved in a wonderful and challenging profession. To me these are not only

blessings but miracles and I am grateful for them.

The final speaker was Bishop Tyrone Stowe. He is a local pastor with a dynamic personality. He mentioned the fact that each of us is the miracle. I take that to mean that we can all be a miracle in someone else’s life. We can reach out and uplift someone. Whether by a smile or helping hand. It is such an honor to do that each day in our office. We value each of our patients and hope that we can be a miracle in their lives not only straighten their teeth, but to improve their self-esteem, inspire hope and improve their lives.

Dr. Thomas Chamberlain

Entertainment is just part of the fun at the Achen-Gardner Construction Rock the Block!The Kids Zone includes games, rides, face painting and inflatables.

Youngsters enjoy the rides at the annual Chandler event.

Chandler Unified School District news

BASHA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

3535 S. Basha Rd. 480-883-4400

Three Basha teachers get free braces

Three teachers at Basha Elementary are receiving free braces this year, courtesy of Chamberlain Orthodontics in Chandler.

Dr. Mark Chamberlain offered 25 teachers the opportunity to get free braces. Cynthia Contreras, Virginia Guerrero and Kevin Adey all received braces through the program. The program was offered to teachers in Chandler, Gilbert and surrounding areas.

Chamberlain has offered the program for several years. Dr. Chamberlain has also visited Costa Rica and Ethiopia to give children free dental services in those countries and holds yearly essay contests at local high schools for free braces for kids in need.

“Dr. Chamberlain loves to give back to the community and he really wanted to do something for the teachers in Chandler and thank them for all they do,” said Ruchi Kalra the marketing director for Chamberlain Orthodontics.

Basha Elementary PTO raises nearly $16K Basha Elementary PTO raised nearly $16,000 during its second annual CheckA-Thon. For this fundraiser, parents and

community members wrotes checks to donate to the school. Unlike other types of fundraisers, the school gets to keep 100% of the proceeds from the donations. In a typical fundraiser, up to 50% of the monies raised might be used to compensate the coordinating company.

The PTO has already spent some of the money for recess equipment, xylophones and updated P.E. supplies. They are considering purchasing COWs (Computers on Wheels) for the school as well.

—Kevin Adey

HALEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

3401 S. Layton Lakes Blvd. W 480-224-3500

Sixth-grade Tigers make a difference

Each year, Haley welcomes Jay Burke as a guest presenter around Sept. 11. A teacher in the Higley Unified School District, Burke is a former New York detective who served as a first responder on 9/11. During his presentation he highlights his experience helping at Ground Zero. Each year, our students leave with a newfound understanding and respect for what happened on that tragic day. To commemorate 9/11, sixth-grade students were encouraged to perform an act of kindness or service

Gateway Pediatrics

205 S. Dobson Rd, Suite 1, Chandler AZ 85224 (480) 963-6668

Our distinctive services:

• Comprehensive Pediatric care from Birth to 18 Years

• In-house Lactation (Breastfeeding) consultation

• In-house consultation in Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics

• Medical home for children with Special Health Care Needs

• Complimentary Meet the Doctor visit for expecting parents

• Evening hours Monday-Thursday until 8pm by appt only

• Saturday hours from 8am-12pm by appointment only

• Bilingual office staff and providers NOW

★ Dr. Sudha Chandrasekhar, MD, FAAP, IBCLC

★ Dr. Mariah Scott, DO, FAAP

★ Dr. Cristina Tamez, MD, FAAP

★ Sandra Sexton, CPNP, IBCLC

★ Dorothy Rzewnicki, CPNP, PMHS

★ Paulie Gatchell, RN, IBCLC

for the community. Many students took cookies and cupcakes to local fire departments and police stations, to their teachers, and even to the janitors at Haley. Some students even helped around the house.

—Stephanie Palomarez

TARWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

2300 S. Gardner Dr. 480-883-4300

Creating ‘Masterpieces’

Anne Jones’ kindergarten enjoyed its first Art Masterpiece class. The lesson covered the study of “Four Ice Cream Cones,” by Wayne Thiebaud. The kindergarteners explored several art concepts including the proper use of materials, how to paint shapes, the difference between primary and secondary colors, how to mix colors, and how to create a pastel color. Tarwater is thankful for our parents who help make the Art Masterpiece program possible.

‘Super’ cool fieldtrip

The Super Second Graders embarked on their first field trip to the Childsplay’s production of “Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook” on Sept. 29. The teachers read the story to the students in their classrooms, and they were able to compare the book to the play.

Upcoming dates Oct. 3 to Oct. 18: Fall break Oct. 19: Students return

—JoAnne Cawley

Students from Tarwater Elementary School explored their inner artist during their first Art Masterpiece class.

Community Commentaries

What’s happening at Maricopa County

BY DENNY BARNEY

Animal Care & Control

It’s that time of the year when the weather is cooling down, students are back in school and election season is in full swing. As we transition to fall, I’d like to share with you some changes happening at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control.

This month, we welcome Mary Martin, our new director of Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC). Mary has been involved with animal welfare for more than 30 years. Since 2009, she served as the executive director for the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she took the shelter from a 65% live-release rate to a stable 94%. She oversaw a system that included a stationary and a mobile spay/ neuter service, a full-service veterinary hospital and a behavior center.

From 2007 to 2009, she was the executive director of the Spay Neuter Project of Los Angeles. She was the medical director of MCACC from 1999 to 2003. Maricopa County has experienced challenges at MCACC and I look forward to bringing Mary back onboard to work on concerns the public has brought to my attention. We expect great things from Mary and imagine she will hit the ground running to share new ideas and practices. We receive many emails and comments on the topic of MCACC and I appreciate the public’s input and feedback. Last month, after receiving requests from citizens and volunteers to extend the time an animal remains at the shelter, MCACC instructed staff that animals must be held for at least 24-hours after their mandatory stray hold period has expired before euthanasia becomes an option. As you can imagine, this change resulted in our shelters quickly reaching capacity, and we continue to reach out to the community for your help to place these pets in new homes.

In the spirit of national Adopt-aShelter Dog month, we are offering $20 dog adoption fees to those who are ready to open up their lives and homes to these animals and help with our capacity issue. We have all types of breeds at both our East Valley location at 2630 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Mesa, 85201, and our West Valley center located at 2500 S. 27th Ave., Phoenix, 85009. This is a great opportunity as it includes spay/neuter surgery, and dogs over 3 months in age receive rabies vaccination and a county dog license. Another way you can help is by volunteering your time to one of the MCACC centers. For more information on any of these programs, please contact 602506-PETS (7357) or email MCVolunteer@ mail.maricopa.gov.

In response to feedback received, and to better address concerns regarding transparency, MCACC is also updating and posting its policies on its website. I encourage you to check out the “News, Subscriptions & Resources” tab at maricopa.gov/pets to access these policies as they become available.

As you can see, we have a lot of changes in the works at MCACC. In fiscal year 2016, we adopted out 11,107 dogs— that’s nearly 10% more dogs than we adopted in 2015 and we hope to increase these numbers with your help. If you happen to be in the Sun Lakes area on Saturday, Oct. 29, stop by the Ed Robson Branch Library located 9330 E. Riggs Rd., from 10 a.m. to noon for our Dia de los Doggies adoption event. We will have our mobile adoption bus onsite with some great dogs looking for a home, or scratch behind the ear. Enjoy our fall weather and please continue to send me feedback on issues you care about!

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

Classical music: A multidimensional, multigenerational art for all

BY COUNCILMAN RENÉ LOPEZ

Composition of classical music originated roughly in the 11th century and continues to enrich the lives of many. Our city is blessed to have its very own symphony orchestra that not only takes audiences by surprise, but encourages community involvement. Maestro Jack Herriman has conducted the symphony since its beginnings at Mesa Community College in 1989. Funding was cut in 1991, and two years later, a majority of the musicians joined together forming the San Marcos Symphony. In 2006, the orchestra was renamed Chandler Symphony Orchestra due in part to the support received from mayor and council at that time.

There are approximately 90 professionally trained musicians who volunteer their time and dedicate countless hours for rehearsals in preparation for performances that bring classical music to life. Chandler Center for the Arts is home to many of the group’s performances. All events are free; however, a donation at the door always is appreciated.

Community involvement is very important to the orchestra’s success. No matter how small or large, it relies on donations to purchase or rent music, provide refreshments for the musicians at each concert and for some administrative needs. Volunteers also are needed and appreciated in making the orchestra a success. Assistance involves setup behind the scenes, serving on the board and providing hospitality at the concert venues. For more information on how to become involved, visit chandlersymphony.com.

Orchestra members believe in the positive impact of bringing music to the ears and hearts of our youth. Classical

music has a rich history. It encompasses various styles of music that influence all cultures. As part of its awareness and preservation efforts, youth competitions are held every year in the East Valley for students in grades seven through 12. These competitions are open to all students, not just those in the Chandler Unified School District. Another opportunity for students is to attend the last open rehearsal before each concert series. They experience a professional rehearsal atmosphere, while learning how the conductor relates to the orchestra, and have an opportunity to meet the musicians.

The Chandler Symphony Orchestra has been performing for 24 years. It is in the planning stages of its 25th anniversary celebration season. As a member of its jubilee committee, I am excited for some of the performances and special guests planned for the 2017-18 season. I cannot share them yet, but details are forthcoming. In the meantime, plan to attend one of the upcoming classical series performances. The winter performances are scheduled through mid-December. “Fall Fanfare” is scheduled on Oct. 9 and “Celebration of Youth” on Nov. 6. Don’t miss the holiday event performances in December. Audiences will enjoy a variety of sounds performed through such instruments as brass, trumpets, violins, woodwinds, strings, piano and, even, the harp. For ticket information, visit chandlercenter.org.

The city continues to support the efforts to develop awareness, appreciation and preservation of classical music in the community. Visit chandleraz.gov to learn more and watch my recent “Chandler in Focus” show, with Pam Hahn, executive director, and Jack Herriman, music conductor.

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.

Share your opinion with SanTan Sun News!

We know you have an opinion! Share it with the SanTan Sun News. Please keep your Letters to the Editor around 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.

Proud member of the

mailing

telephone:

fax:

©2016

For News Tips, Editorial Articles, Opinion or Classifieds, email is preferred.

news email address: news@santansun.com

ads email address: ads@santansun.com

website address: www.santansun.com

Deadline

Editorial and Advertising

Noon Thursday, Oct. 6, for the Saturday, Oct. 15, issue

35,000

Total Circulation

27,250+ Driveways

Fifty square-mile coverage area from Price/101 to Greenfield and from Frye to Hunt Highway.

publisher Steve T. Strickbine

publisher emeritus

Laurie Fagen

account executives

Jane Meyer

Tracey Wilson

website maintained by

Susan Kovacs, n-ergizing

editor-in-chief

Robbie Peterson

executive editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

managing editor

Lee Shappell

associate editor

Srianthi Perera

Councilman René Lopez Submitted photo

Chandler’s community response to domestic violence Community Commentary

BY K. CAIN

CHANDLER POLICE DEPARTMENT

Looking from outside of abusive relationships, some say, “Why do they stay with their abusers?” Victims say, “Why do I love someone who hurts me?” It can be very confusing.

Abuse and controlling behaviors in a relationship, known as domestic violence, tend to escalate over time. This typically does not happen on the first date or overnight. Domestic violence is a pattern of emotional and physical behaviors that includes the use or threat of violence and intimidation for the purpose of gaining power and control over another person. It can involve verbal abuse, isolation from family and friends, economic abuse, the threat of bodily harm, pushing, hitting, stalking, sex assault and sometimes murder. These behaviors are all criminal behaviors. Domestic violence knows no boundaries and crosses all socioeconomic classes. No one is excluded due to ethnicity, gender or religious beliefs. It includes the young and the elderly; the wealthy, the underprivileged and those in between; individuals with substance use issues and those who do not imbibe alcohol or use drugs; and heterosexual couples and same-sex couples. Domestic violence affects women, men and children in our family, in our workplace and in our community.

Statistics across the country are alarming. In Arizona, they are no different. According to the Arizona governor’s office, the following occurs in

our neighborhoods:

• every 5 minutes a law enforcement officer responds to a domestic violence call;

• every 19 minutes an arrest is made by law enforcement as a result of a domestic violence incident;

• every 39 minutes one or more children witness a domestic violence incident

• every 3 days someone dies in a domestic violence related incident.

In the United States, more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced one or more forms of physical violence, sexual assault or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

October is National Domestic Violence

Awareness Month. Throughout the month, the City of Chandler promotes awareness and supports proclamations and events as a means to end domestic violence.

On Sept. 28, the Chandler Domestic Violence Commission hosted its eighth annual domestic violence awareness event, “Teens Talk: The Truth About Teen Dating.” Dignitaries, community members and students gathered to remember the lives of women, children, men and entire families lost to domestic violence, while honoring the survivors who live with the reality of abuse daily.

In past years, the Domestic Violence Commission has invited adults to speak about how domestic violence affected their lives. This year, two teenagers captivated the audience’s attention and touched their hearts as they shared their personal experience of teen dating

violence. The participants also enjoyed the melodic singing voice of a courageous teen who survived years of abuse and a dance piece presented by her and her peers from the ASU Herberger Institute of Dance, Theater and Film.

Along with Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and the members of the Chandler City Council, everyone who with the Chandler Domestic Violence Commission is committed to taking a stand against abuse. Everyone deserves to be safe and respected at all times. If you know of someone who may be in an abusive relationship, there is assistance and support in our community.

The following resources are important if you or someone you know is a victim

of domestic violence, you can remain anonymous when requesting assistance:

The National Domestic Violence Hotline 24-hour hotline/ 7 days a week thehotline.org 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence acesdv.org 602-279-2900

Chandler Police Victim Services Unit chandlerpd.com/about/victim-services 480-782-4535

Planting a seed Years of loving nature at Boyce Thompson Arboretum cherished

BY KIMBERLY HOSEY

Like any sentimental mother who can’t believe her little cherub is already a surly teenager, I’ve taken (and frequently look back on) my share of snapshots. Happily, with one destination that’s become a family tradition, I have a ready-made excuse, as well as a lovely background for those photos.

FALL 2016

My son and I have regularly visited Boyce Thompson Arboretum, which houses more than 3,000 different desert plants as well as the animals that call the plants and environment home, since shortly after he learned to walk. In those days, it was the best local spot I knew to take long walks and expose him to the natural world. As time went by and we got to know the trails well, we found favorite spots: the main trail as it winds around a canyon rim, flowers alive with hummingbirds and butterflies and many more. We’ve visited at all seasons, become members and even volunteered there.

On this particular trip we enjoyed the fresh feeling that comes from a recent rain, looked for queen butterfly chrysalises on milkweed plants, and learned more about our local desert lizards—greater earless lizards, tree lizards, the big spiny lizards and even a tiger whiptail—and got to study a few in detail as they were safely caught and then released by our guide. We’ve been on most of the interpretive tours the arboretum offers; exploring plants, lizards, butterflies, dragonflies and more. The groups often, but not always, include other children. This time, he was the youngest participant. It didn’t matter; everyone turns into kids as we have upclose encounters with nature. We’re all learning here.

After our tour, we checked out the Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden as a family with several kids joined us. Two kids paused in the path to watch birds in the water fountain, bringing us to a stop. The father apologized, but I told him he needn’t worry. We were stopping to watch too.

Everyone here wants to slow down and take it in. My son, who I assure you is at the height of teenage harrumphing, turns back into a giggly and engaged student of the natural world here. That alone makes the visits more than worthwhile.

The opportunities at the arboretum are limited only by your and your kids’ interests. One highlight not to miss is the Children’s Garden, a well-designed collection of mazes, flowers, mosaics and more. Kids can navigate the maze and pretend to be javelinas, excavate “fossils,” watch butterflies dance among the flowers, become a human sundial and more. It’s all about interacting with the natural world.

The arboretum has many events and interpretive walks coming up in the next few months, great for all members of the family:

Saturday, Sept. 24—September brings the autumnal equinox, observed by cultures from the ancient Greeks to Aboriginal Australians. The Arboretum has a day filled with events starting just after sunrise with the annual Bye Bye Buzzards seasonal send-off. View and learn about the resident flock on the cliffs before they start their daily soaring. Vulture viewing is from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., with a guided bird walk to follow from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24—Geology Walking Tour: Geology rocks—literally— as the minerals and volcanic formations along the Main Trail take center stage as guests cover almost 2 billion years of geologic history with professional geologist Rich Leveille.

9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24—Butterfly Walk: Queens, Empress Leilia, spring azures and more: The fancy names and their flashy owners delight during leisurely walk through the HummingbirdButterfly Garden, Demonstration Garden and Children’s Garden collections, led by local butterfly researchers and experts.

8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1—Dragonfly Walk: Blue-eyed and common green darners, flame and roseate skimmers, Mexican amberwings, blue dashers: Even the names are colorful. ASU professor Pierre Deviche guides this walk around the arboretum’s pond and water features to find and study these brilliant insects, and learn more about their life cycle and how they hunt.

A northern cardinal seen during one of Boyce Thompson Arboretum's guided bird walks.

OCTOBER 2016

Guided dragonfly walks show guests where to spot the colorful insect predators around the arboretum's pond and water features.

ARBORETUM FROM PAGE 1

8:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays:

1, 2, 9, 15, 29 and Nov. 13 and 19

Bird

Discover how to spot (and listen for) warblers, cardinals and many more birds during this interpretive walk led by local bird experts. The arboretum also offers history walks, photography workshops, home school day tours and more. These days, we follow the arboretum on social media as well as in person, and my son is as likely to swipe my camera as

he is to pose in front of it—but it’s nice to see this family tradition has continued at Boyce Thompson Arboretum. The arboretum is open daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. through September, and changes to its fall and winter hours in October, when it is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 5-12, and children younger than 5 are free.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

37615 E. U.S. Highway 60, Superior 520-689-2811 arboretum.ag.arizona.edu

David Hosey, now 14, has been going to Boyce Thompson Arboretum for over a decade.

1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30

Arizona Railway Museum, noon to 4 p.m. 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 Rd., Chandler. Display yard and building free; display cars $2 per person or $5 per family/group. For information, call Tim at 480-833-4353 or Bart Barton at 480-831-6520, azrymuseum.org.

1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29

ImprovMANIA, 7 p.m. Join ImprovMANIA every Friday and Saturday night for a familyfriendly comedy show. ImprovMANIA’s improv comedy 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 per person. 480-699-4598, improvmania.net.

3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31

Tumbleweed Tots, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. This indoor play area is designed for children 5 years of age and under 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 Rd., Chandler. $2 to $3 fee. 480-782-2900, chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

4, 11, 18

Fall Break Fun: Two O’Clock Movies, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Take a break and enjoy a family movie at the library. Join for free movies at 2 p.m. Tuesdays during fall break. Downtown Library Copper Room South, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

4, 11, 18, 25

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

4, 11, 18, 25

STEAM Club, 4 p.m. 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 makerspace. Downtown Library Copper Room, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. Free. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.

4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27

Tumbleweed Tumble Tots, 9 a.m. to 11 a.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 Rd., Chandler. $2 to $3 registration fee. 480-782-2900, chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

5, 19

Family Night at the TRC, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The first and third Wednesdays of the month enjoy a variety of different recreational activities and entertainment. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $2 to $5 registration fee. For more information, contact Michael Fenzel, 480-782-2908. chandleraz.gov/registration.

6, 13, 20, 27

Chandler Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The market offers fresh local produce, prepared goods, desserts and some crafts

on select days. All items are grown in Arizona or are home-made from local vendors. 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Free. chandlerfarmersmarket.com.

8, 9

Chandler Indian Art Market, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The two-day Indian Art Market provides a wonderful opportunity for the general public to share in the Indian cultural values and way of life that have been handed down from generation to generation. The festival features Native American art from artists all over the Southwest. Authentic art displayed at the market includes jewelry, photography, pottery, paintings, Katsina carvings, sculptures, and tribal arts and crafts. Dr. AJ Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. chandleraz.gov/indianaz

12

Discovering Fossils Pt. 1, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

More than 300 million years ago, most of Arizona was covered by a shallow inland sea that left behind thousands of marine fossils. Learn about the basic properties of how fossils form and what types are common to Arizona. Children must be accompanied by an adult and everyone must register. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $8 to $11 fee. Ages 8 and up. 480-782-2890, chandleraz.gov/eec.

13 Halloween Crafty Workshops, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Enjoy some time doing arts and crafts with a Halloween theme. Come to one or pick a few of these fun-filled workshops. Workshops include clay pot crafts spooky canvas painting and washi tape creations, $7 to $10 per activity. Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. 480-782-2727, chandleraz.gov/registration.

13

Vermiculture: Composting for Kids, 10 a.m. to noon. Vermiculture is nature’s way of recycling by using earthworms. Learn basic compost techniques but most importantly how to start, maintain, and use to full benefit a proper worm bin. See how to feed the worms, harvest the castings and even make a fabulous worm tea for use as fertilizer. Each student will get to take a worm bin home, complete with starter worms. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $9 to $13 fee. 480-782-2890, chandleraz.gov/eec.

14

Bubble Blast, 9-11 a.m. Come enjoy a day in the midst of bubbles with Bubble Blast! This play area is intended for children 5 years of age and younger to play under parental/ guardian supervision. There will be bubble wands, bubble machines and bubbles for kids to enjoy in a fun and safe atmosphere. Event will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. There is a maximum of four children per adult. Fee included in all TRC family passes. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $2 to $3 fee. 480-782-2900, chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

15

Full Moon Nature Hike, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Come and join us for a moon-lit hike of Veterans Oasis Park. Along the way we will look and listen for the creatures that come out only after sunset as temperatures begin to drop. For added fun, bring a UV flashlight and discover how scorpions can glow in the dark. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $3 to $5 fee. 480-782-2890, chandleraz.gov/eec.

16

City Lights Movie Night – “Ghostbusters,” 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Join for some familyfriendly Halloween fun at City Lights Movie Nights featuring the original Ghostbusters! Admission is free with three canned goods benefiting St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance. Moviegoers are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Ghostbuster character and take part in more Ghostbusters-themed fun. Visit early to participate in the many giveaways. Central Avenue at CityScape. CityScape Phoenix, 1 E. Washington St., Phoenix. Free. cityscapephoenix.com/events.

16

The Not So Scary Desert, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The word is that desert is just a wasteland or that everything is out there to poke, bite and/or sting. But don’t be fooled! The Sonoran Desert is truly a remarkable place in which to live and/or explore. Join Nikki on this 1-mile hike. Everything you ever wanted to know will be covered and then you will realize the desert is not so scary after all. Meet at the flag pole. San Tan Mountain Regional Park, 6533 W. Phillips Rd., Queen Creek. $6 park entry fee per vehicle. maricopa.gov/parks/santan.

17

Ghastly Good Halloween Crafts, 4-5:30 p.m. Do not be afraid to come and create creepy and crazy crafts. Make some super fun Halloween projects in this fun and creative class. Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $8 to $11 fee. 480-782-2900, chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.

21

Chandler Art Walk, 6-10 p.m. The Art Walk provides a fun, family atmosphere where you can browse the many different types of art available from our talented artists. It is a monthly event featuring local artists and musicians, and is a great opportunity to visit all of the unique establishments in downtown Chandler. Every third Friday, Downtown Chandler welcomes more than 50 local artists to the historic square. All artists must go through a jury process to be accepted in the Art Walk. Only fine art and fine craft submissions will be considered. TechShop Chandler, 249 E. Chicago St., Chandler. Free. chandlerartwalk.com.

21 Friday Feeding Frenzy, 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ever wondered what the live animals at the EEC eat for dinner? Ever seen a snake stalk its prey? Join the EEC staff on the third Friday of each month for a live animal feeding. Meet the animals in the nature center and learn about their diets. Stick around and watch the animals being fed. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. Free. 480-782-2890, chandleraz.gov/eec.

21 Halloween Crafts, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Come enjoy some spooky painting, card decorating and a few other fun crafts. All 2- to 3-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult. Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. $7 to $10 fee. 480-782-2727, chandleraz.gov/registration.

22

Chandler Mayor’s Day of Play, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Day of Play is a City of Chandlerproduced event that is part of a nationwide celebration recognizing the importance of fitness, health and wellness for kids of all ages. Families are provided an opportunity to learn about a healthy lifestyle. Come spend the morning at Tumbleweed Park and learn about health, wellness and fitness. Free activities will get the kids playing and their minds active, while parents can explore the various booths on health, wellness and fitness. Day of Play will feature a variety of fun activities organized by many of the nonprofit organizations, businesses and municipal divisions serving the community. Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. Free. 480-782-2900, chandleraz. gov/dayofplay.

22

Food Foraging – Native Plants, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Since people have been on Earth, there has been a relationship between humans and plants. Take a guided walk through Veterans Oasis Park and learn about the importance of native plants to culture, food, medicine, tradition, crafts and music. The terrain is easy and will teach you the study of ethnobotany. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $9 to $13 fee. 480-782-2890, chandleraz.gov/eec.

22

Meditation for Everyone, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Learn practical techniques of meditation that will help enhance quality of life. Learn to meditate in nature, in the middle of a busy day, at anytime, anywhere. Improve your

concentration, health and peace of mind. No mat required. Only prerequisite is an open mind. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $3 to $5 fee. Ages 15 and up. 480-782-2890, chandleraz.gov/eec.

22

Teen Fitness Challenge, 9 a.m. to noon. Kids ages 10 to 12 and teens ages 13 to 17. Do you have what it takes to finish our inflatable obstacle course like a champion? Join at the Chandler Mayor’s Day of Play event for the third annual Teen Fitness Challenge. Prizes will be given out to the top finishers in the different age brackets and gender categories. Come on out and test yourself and others at the champions’ challenge! Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. $3 to $5 fee. 480-782-2908. chandleraz.gov/registration.

24

Food Foraging: Native Plants, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Since people have been on Earth, there has been a relationship between humans and plants. Take a guided walk through Veterans Oasis Park and learn about the importance of native plants to culture, food, medicine, tradition, arts and crafts, and music. The terrain is easy and will introduce the study of ethnobotany. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $9 to $13. 480-782-2890, chandleraz.gov/eec.

26

Ghost Talk, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Get ready for the Halloween season by participating in a fun and informative discussion on ghosts and the paranormal. Visit the lighter side of the supernatural with these tales of ghosts and other weird things. Bring an open mind and stories to share. Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. $7 to $10. chandleraz.gov/registration.

28

Halloween Spooktacular, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Come in costume for a familyfriendly, safe alternative to trick-or-treating. There will be a costume contest, haunted house, souvenir photos, games and arts & crafts. Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. Free. chandleraz.gov/spooktacular.

29

Halloween Fright Hike, 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. A family-friendly hike where having too much fun is the scariest part of the night. Bring your black lights and glow sticks and come dressed as your favorite superhero, or as a lab coat-wearing mad scientist, or maybe something homemade and a bit of mystery to this one-of-a-kind evening. We’ll get tangled up in spider webs while looking and listening for creepy crawlies and spooky night sounds. Along the way, we’ll stop to let everyone strike a frightful pose for photo opportunities. Please, no masks that interfere with vision. Wear closed-toed shoes, bring plenty of water, and dress comfortable. Meet at the main trailhead. 1-mile. 1-hour. San Tan Mountain Regional Park, 6533 W. Phillips Rd., Queen Creek. $6 park entry fee per vehicle. maricopa. gov/parks/santan.

29

Pumpkins and Potions, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Come celebrate Halloween at the EEC! They will be taking a close look at pumpkins by dissecting them and learning more about this delicious fruit. Students will also create their own spooky potions with household items and make their own special Halloween craft. Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler. $6 to $9 fee. 480-782-2890, chandleraz.gov/eec.

29

Pumpkin Dunk, noon to 2 p.m. Join the lifeguard staff as the pool is transformed into a floating pumpkin patch. Come take a swim and join in the fun of getting your jack-olantern. Show off Halloween costumes, play in-water and on deck games and decorate pumpkins! The event is held during public swim hours. Come to swim or hang out on land. The water will be heated. Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center, 5901 S Hillcrest Dr., Chandler. $1 to $2.25 fee. 480-782-2635.

Bring

•

•

•

•

• Pet Halloween Costume Contest

• Meet a few of our recommended pet professionals...

Andrea Stickland, DVM

Carolyn Duregger, DVM

Gabriela Durig, DVM

We offer hundreds of opportunities for you and your family to discover hidden talents, develop new skills and have fun through our classes, programs and events. For a complete listing of upcoming activities or for more information on programs highlighted below pick up Break Time magazine at Chandler facilities, visit www.chandleraz.gov/breaktime or call 480-782-2727.

Fall INTERSESSION YOUTH CAMPS • OCT. 3-14

When school is out, Chandler Parks & Recreation is in! Spark imagination and embrace creativity this season with our fall break camps. Qualified staff will engage kids in sports, games, arts & crafts, skits, youth development activities and special events. Morning, afternoon, or full-day sessions are available at the Community Center, Tumbleweed Recreation Center, Snedigar Recreation Center and the Environmental Education Center.

COMMUNITY NIGHTS IN THE COURTYARD -

THURSDAY, OCTOBER. 20 • 5:30 - 7 p.m.

It’s the perfect way to kick off Halloween festivities. Come and create masks and funny, movable decorations that capture the spirit of the season. Be the coolest ghoul in the courtyard and come in costume!

FREE FREE GRAVEYARD

Chandler SCOUT JAMBOREE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 • 8 A.M. - NOON

Live the scouting adventure by joining Chandler Parks & Recreation for the 3rd Annual Scout Jamboree at Veterans Oasis Park. This year’s celebration features hands-on activities, presentations, and teambuilding exercises from local exhibitors. Attendees can also enjoy an array of special outdoor games and prize giveaways!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER. 15 • 8 A.M. - 6 p.m.

at Tumbleweed Park

SATURDAY, OCT 20 • 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

The day to play your way! Enjoy health-minded family activities, fitness demonstrations, information booths, healthy food, a Kids Zone and plenty of live music and entertainment. Day of Play is a celebration of Chandler’s diversity and encourages neighbors, communities and families to have fun, build relationships and be active together. The Foam Fun Run returns this fall with new obstacles and requires paid registration.

Back flips. Tail whips. Daredevil BMX riders do them with gusto at the “Pat Blackburn Open.” The free-styling action is full of thrills and makes popping wheelies look like child’s play. Riders can register for the contest online or in person at the event. Spectators can enjoy bike vendors, information booths and more.

SONORAN

SUNSET SERIES

AT VETERANS OASIS PARK

THURSDAY , OCT. 20 • 6-7 p.m.

Dusk Jockey, anyone? Chandler comes to life with live music in the park as the the Sonoran Sunset Series returns. Head over to Veterans Oasis Park with your blankets, chairs and coolers to enjoy a free concert under the stars. Exit 40 kicks off the concert series, delivering an exhilarating live performance that pulls from an extensive repertoire, including Country music and Rock & Roll classics from the 60s and 70s.

Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and the Chandler City Council

MEGA MONSTER MADNESS FEATURING ROBOSAURUS

Neighbors

Black Bear Diner serves old-fashioned favorites

BY MEGHANN FINN SEPULVEDA

Black Bear Diner strives to take patrons back in time by serving classic comfort foods like chicken fried steak, meatloaf and pot roast. The goal, said regional director for operations Kurt Riske, is to make diners feel comfortable.

“You can expect large portions and a family-friendly atmosphere,” he added.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served all day at every Black Bear Diner, including the newest location at 2805 S. Alma School Rd., at the Las Tiendas Village shopping center.

Classic breakfast combinations include New York steak and eggs, featuring 10 oz. USDA choice meat, corned beef hash, and a sausage patty, which is made on premises. All dishes come with strip-cut hash browns, country red potatoes or fresh fruit and a biscuit. Other options are sweet cream waffles, buttermilk pancakes, cinnamon roll French toast, two-egg scrambles and omelets. Lighter dishes that are less than 500 calories each are also available.

Lunch serves up specialty burgers on a brioche roll that are accompanied with French fries, house made potato salad, fresh coleslaw, a green salad or a cup of soup. Sandwiches like The Gobbler come piled high with roasted turkey, avocado, tomato, mayonnaise and cranberry sauce,

which is then toasted to perfection. Fresh salads such as the Asian chicken cabbage and Fit & Focused Tuna Chef Salad are great for those looking for healthy options or diners in a hurry.

All homestyle dinners are served with a cup of soup or salad, a freshly baked

corn bread muffin and seasonal vegetables or Italian green beans. Patrons also receive a choice of French fries, garlic mashed potatoes with country gravy, onion rings or a baked potato (available after 4 p.m.).

Guests are encouraged to order des-

Perry student explores creativity through sewing

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Olivia Brown’s classmates use art or music to express their creative sides. But 14-year-old Olivia is taking it one stitch at a time: She sews.

The Gilbert girl is one of three young ladies from the Valley who have entered and won sewing competitions at the Arizona State Fair. Collectively, Olivia, 12-year-old Grace Hensel of Peoria, and Stephanie Rudolfo, a 16-yearold who lives in Waddell, have been entering for more than 10 years. They have won 50 ribbons.

They will compete once again this year at the Arizona State Fair, which features a 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, fashion show. For more information, visit https://azstatefair.com/participate/ compete.

“I’m not athletic at all,” Olivia said with a laugh. “I’m more of an artistic, creative person. Then sewing came along and I found that it was really fun.

“I enjoy designing clothes and making my own things. I’ve learned a lot.”

Olivia has been competing since she was 9, according to her mom, Carole. She learned how to sew through group

lessons and quickly showed an interest in it. A ninth-grade student at Perry High School, Olivia then moved over to private lessons with a former Chandler Unified School District teacher.

“It’s nice that she can sew,” Carole said of her daughter. “She has done projects for me. Her biggest time constraint is school. She tends to sew more over the breaks.”

During those times, Olivia has created many outfits for herself, including jackets, pairs of pants, a cape and her eighth grade formal dress. She creates outfits that’s more difficult than the last because she likes to learn.

“Like in the last dress I made, I put beads on it,” she said. “That was something I’ve never done before. I made a cape to go with it. I made the entire thing. The cape was reversible.”

Sewing is going strong among adults 30 and older, according to Darren Mulqueen of Mulqueen Sewing Centers in Mesa. However, he sees very few youngsters in his store. He and his family are trying their best to see that kids enjoy the hobby as well.

“We had a post that a girl was sewing

and she was 10,” Mulqueen said about a social media post. “We quickly posted on theirs that we have a gift card waiting for her to purchase fabric.

or chocolate

are great for sharing.

pie,

“Anytime we see something with a young sewer, we try to encourage them. We have young sewer discounts on machines. We try to encourage them.”

A frequent participant in contests sponsored by Arizona Make It with Wool, Olivia said she can’t wear everything that she makes.

“We live in Arizona,” she said. “I can only wear so much of that. I do wear most of the stuff, though. I wore my dress to my first formal. I have more casual clothes. This upcoming winter I can wear my Chanel-style jacket.”

Sewing is good for her soul, she added.

“It’s a confidence booster,” said Olivia, who plays piano and is in the STEM scholar program at Perry. “It makes me feel proud about what I’ve made. It’s fun to go on the Arizona State Fair stage and model my clothes, and show other people what I’ve made.”

The Arizona State Fair takes place from Friday, Oct. 7, to Sunday, Oct. 30, at 1826 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix. Tickets are $3-$6 in advance. Call 602-252-6771 or visit https://azstatefair.com/ for more information.

Dane Cook is ready to unleash new material on festival fans

Wiener to discuss ‘Scattered Among the Nations’

serts like the famous “blackbeary,” peach or apple crumb cobbler or the banana, coconut

cream

which

The California Bacon Benedict comes with thick-cut sliced bacon, avocado, spinach, grilled tomato slices and two poached eggs covered in Hollandaise sauce.

Olivia Brown is wearing a jacket she made and is with a dress that is in process.

Feels like home

Black Bear Diner co-founders Bob Manley and Bruce Dean introduced the dining concept more than 20 years ago in northern California’s Mount Shasta. Committed to preparing food that made diners feel at home and reflected the pair’s small-town roots, Black Bear Diner was born. Today the business has grown to 83 restaurants in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

The bear-themed restaurant is warm and inviting, featuring hand-carved bear sculptures and murals. A juke box plays oldies music in the background.

Affordable dining

Black Bear Diner draws guests from the senior population to families and business professionals.

“We offer a great value,” Riske said. “Because our prices are more affordable, our restaurant concept fits everyone’s budget.”

Diners can enjoy weekly specials including an all-you-can-eat Alaskan Pollack fish fry for only $9.99. On Saturdays, the restaurant features prime rib for $14.99.

A kid’s menu is available for children under 12.

Black Bear Diner

BLACK BEAR from page 43

The Volcano breakfast dish includes three pancakes, two link sausages, two slices of bacon and two eggs.

Bob’s Big Bear Burger and a green salad is a perfect choice for a hearty lunch.

The Fit & Focused Tuna Chef Salad features house made Albacore tuna salad and is served with Italian dressing.

Breakfast classic Chicken Fried Steak is breaded and deep-fried then smothered in country gravy.

Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa

flourishing

with fundraisers

The Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa is offering exciting events and fundraisers to get in the spirit of the upcoming fall season.

Village members looking to spice up their fitness routine can do so while helping the Susan G. Komen Arizona Foundation with the Ocotillo Village’s Pound for Pink fundraiser from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

The second annual event honors anyone affected by breast cancer. Pound is a full-body cardio jam session that combines lighter resistance training and continuous simulated drumming movements fusing together popular workout methods like Pilates, cardio and plyometric and isometric poses.

The 45- to 60-minute class will be taught by various Arizona Pound

Pro instructors. To donate, visit komenarizona.org.

To get into the holiday spirit, Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa is hosting a masquerade party from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct 28.

Families are welcome to wear costumes and enjoy delicious food, treats and games. The party will include a Ghostbusters Game and Haunt presented by Jr. Members (ages 10-14). For more information about the masquerade extravaganza, contact Marcia Leach at mleach@dmbclubs.com.

The Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa is located at 4200 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler. For more information on fitness classes or events happening this month visit villageclubs.com or call 480-656-0045.

Chick-fil-A Crossroads Towne Center honoring military with free meal

The Chick-fil-A Restaurant at Crossroads Towne Center will honor the community’s military personnel and their families with Military Appreciation Night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24.

All active military personnel and those who have honorably served are invited, along with their immediate family members, to enjoy a free meal at the restaurant.

The free Chick-fil-A meal offer is valid with a military ID or proof of service and is only available for dine-in customers. The offer includes a choice of the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich Meal, Chick-fil-A Nuggets Meal (eight-count) or Chick-n-Strips Meal (three-count).

“We would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to those who have honorably served our nation,” said Robert Ervin, franchise operator of Chick-fil-A Crossroads Towne Center. “We hope they, along with their families, will join us as we show our appreciation for all they do.”

Family-friendly activities and entertainment will also be provided for guests. Offer is limited to one meal per person. If active military personnel is deployed, immediate families are welcome and asked to bring deployment papers as identification.

The Crossroads Towne Center restaurant is located at 2900 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. For more information, call 480-812-1717

Families are welcome at Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa’s masquerade party on Friday, Oct. 28.

Saison de Abruzzo to tap end of September at SanTan Brewing

Arizona grape harvest season is in full swing and local growers know that means weeks of work ahead prepping for a bounty of winemaking. In celebration of its fifth annual collaboration, SanTan Brewing Company and Dos Cabezas WineWorks have teamed up once again for an amazing beer-wine partnership.

In early September, Anthony Canecchia and Gabe Wilson from SanTan traveled to Sonoita, Arizona, to work hand-in-hand with Todd Bostock, head vintner at Dos Cabezas to pick Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes. All together more than 500 pounds of grapes were collected and trucked back to Chandler, Arizona in preparation for brew day of the Saison d’Abruzzo.

The Montepulciano grape comes from the province of Abruzzo in east central region of Italy. The fruit is known for its tart and tannic flavor profile. The region of Abruzzo is significant because of its connection to SanTan founder, Canecchia’s, ancestry. Giuseppe Canecchia, his great-grandfather, emigrated from the Villa Santa Maria d’Abruzzo in 1905, landing firmly on the shores of New York City to begin a new life in the new world.

“I’m so excited and honored to have the chance to create a beer in my great grandfather, Giuseppe Canecchia’s honor. The Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grape comes from the same region in Italy that he was from, and having this life where I can make a living doing something that I love is all thanks to his courage and strength,” Anthony Canecchia, founder +

brewmaster, SanTan Brewing Company.

The brew will be developed in two stages, first the Saison Ale is brewed, then the 500 pounds of grapes are added after the primary fermentation to spark a secondary fermentation that will incorporate the “wild yeasts” that exist on the skins of the grapes. These wild yeast will produce a flavor profile that cannot be duplicated.

A portion of the Saison de Abruzzo brew will be stored in three huge Dos Cabezas wine barrels then aged for one year until September 2017, when SanTan Brewing Company celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The majority of the Saison de Abruzzo batch will be available at the end of September, exclusively on tap at SanTan Brewing Company in Downtown Chandler. Visit SanTanBrewing.com for more information about the tapping date.

Open since 2007 under the leadership of founder and brewmaster, Anthony Canecchia, SanTan Brewing Company has established a strong reputation as one of Arizona’s favorite craft breweries. In addition to brewing, SanTan features a friendly neighborhood brewpub in Downtown Chandler, which has quickly become one of the top local food and beer destinations in the Phoenix metro area.

All SanTan Brewing Company craft beers are Southwestern-style Ales. SanTan’s brews are fermented to completion and carbonated higher than traditional American beers for a more effervescent, crisp and refreshing hand crafted beer.

In 2009, SanTan Brewing began distributing their Southwestern Style Ales throughout the state of Arizona, operating with a mission to pair craft beer with craft food that would inspire great conversation and good times. 2014 marked the beginning of taking this journey throughout the Southwest and California. Today, SanTan distributes in Arizona, California,

New Mexico and Texas. SanTan beers have won numerous national and statewide awards including a silver award at the World Beer Cup in 2016, two medals at the US Open Beer Championship: bronze in 2013 and gold in 2011. SanTan Brewing also took home a silver medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival.

Anthony Canecchia, founder and brewmaster at SanTan Brewing, and Todd Bostock, head vintner at Dos Cabezas WineWorks, collaborated on Saison de Abruzzo.

Chandler celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Chandler and the Human Relations Commission invite the community to the 17th annual Mariachi & Folklorico Festival presented by C .A.L.L.E. de Arizona. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. The performances will start at 7 p.m.

Performances will showcase the music and traditional dances of Mexico, including the he adliner Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, a Grammy Award-winning 13-piece ensemble. Mariachi Sonido de Mexico from Tucson als o will perform. Other entertainment highlights include: dancers from Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli-AZ, Tradiciones Dance Company, Ballet Folklorico

Primavera, Institute of Folklorico Mexico and Rascapetatiando Dance Company. Pre-event activities start at 5:30 p.m. and will include an art exhibition showcasing Armandina Cruz, founder of La Casa del Rebozo in Guadalajara and nationally recognized Deshilado Artist Adela Rodriguez. There also will be a Rebozo runway show and a photography exhibition on the history of mariachi.

Ticket prices vary from $25 to $45. To purchase tickets to Mariachi Festival, call the Chandler Center for the Ar ts Box Office at 480-782-2680 or visit chandlercenter.org. Proceeds raised will suppor t the nonprofit C.A.L.L.E de Arizona, dedicated to promoting the beauty, qualities and traits of the Mexican/Hispanic culture.

Balanced Arizona’s Budget

Fought to Reduce Property Taxes

Champion of the Taxpayer & Friend of the Family Award Winners

Passed reforms to safeguard the retirement system for Arizona’s seniors and retirees

Increased Funding to K-12 Teachers and Classrooms

Supporters of Police, Fire, and Safe Neighborhoods

“Our job is to protect taxpayers, shrink government, and make it work as efficiently as possible by holding bureaucrats accountable for their actions and results. Please let us know how we can best serve you!”

Arizona Harvest Fest set for early November

Celebrate the cooler weather with the Arizona Harvest Fest scheduled for 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, in downtown Chandler.

Featuring live entertainment by Tribal Seeds, a reggae band from San Diego, Arizona Harvest Fest will offer a cornucopia of recreational fun for all ages.

“With fall around the corner, I’m excited to bring another themed community style festival to downtown Chandler,” said Landon Evans, event coordinator for HDE Agency.

“Harvest Fest will include nostalgic games, seasonal beer garden, food court and national entertainment. We’re also teaming up with United Food Bank and collecting food donations to help those in need. At HDE we focus on building signature events that offer something for everyone for all ages. We can’t wait to add an autumn touch to this seasonal celebration.”

Activities include pumpkin toss, pumpkin pageant, cornhole, pie eating contest, corn shucking, cake walk, hay maze and a kids’ zone. Food and craft vendors will offer seasonal eats, treats, trinkets and gear. Enjoy the flavors of fall in the seasonal beer garden featuring local pumpkin ales and other brews.

Performers include Good Rust (4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.); Black Moods (7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.) and Tribal Seeds (9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.).

Presale general admission is $8 online and $10 at the door. Day of admission is $8 to anyone who brings a nonperishable food item to be donated to

the United Food Bank. Kids 12 and under will be admitted for free. VIP admission is $65 and includes six alcohol beverages, catered food, private restrooms, private seating and front stage access. VIP is for guests 21 and over only. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit arizonaharvestfest.com.

A percentage of the proceeds from the Arizona Harvest Festival will benefit the Downtown Chandler Community Foundation (DCCF), a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to mobilize leadership and resources to advance the development of downtown Chandler as a regional destination for shopping, dining, living, culture, and the arts. It works on behalf of the Enhanced Municipal Services District, created in 2006, to provide funds for local nonprofit organizations and special projects that enhance downtown Chandler. For more information, visit downtownchandler.org.

The Black Moods are slated to release their debut album, “Medicine,” on a Sony-affiliated label later this month.

Pinners passionate about empowering women

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Crissi Johnson and her sister, Tami Bresniker, are taking the fear out of power tools and empowering women to grasp them themselves.

The duo owns Made by 2 Sisters in Mesa, where they teach DIY classes and sell crafty items. They’ll showcase their talents and teach courses at the Pinners Conference and Expo on Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8, at WestWorld in Scottsdale. They will have a booth and teach classes as well.

The conference features more than 90 Pinterest-based classes taught by presenters from throughout the nation. The expo boasts nearly 200 top businesses providing options in the worlds of DIY, crafts, cooking, self-improvement, photography, party planning, scrapbooking, holiday and beauty and fashion.

“We teach classes on power tools so women can build their own things,” said Johnson, who lives in Gilbert, while her sister resides in San Diego. “We do it step by step. Some women have never picked up a hammer or drill. We show them how to use them. My dad raised me and my sister not to be afraid of power tools. We just go for it.”

Johnson and Bresniker began their side careers—Johnson works as a teacher, while her sister works for FedEx— making wood signs, which Made by 2 Sisters still sells.

“It just naturally fell into how to create signs,” Johnson said about her classes. “I am super passionate about

teaching people and empowering women to use tools. So I started teaching building classes.”

The classes focus on a variety of items, for example front porch posts, TV trays, blanket and towel ladder, frames and chalkboard frames and tables.

“We have different levels,” Johnson said. “The beginning level, it’s basic.”

With her sister and parents living in California, the family meets once a month. Their father, Ron Yap, does the cutting and prepping for classes and transports the items to Arizona. Their mom, Zita, is the accountant, while

Bresniker sews.

Johnson said she is looking forward to the Pinners Conference and Expo.

“We’ve been on the east side so much and we are always asked if we do classes on the west side or up north in Scottsdale,” she said. “It’s very hard to take our classes somewhere because there is so much wood and tools.

“It will be nice to hit a whole different market and also to teach a huge number of people at one time. Our shop holds 20, while we hear the Pinners room can fit 140. That’s more than I get to hit in a month.”

Made by 2 Sisters also hosts pallet

parties, most of which are private.

“We do five to seven private parties a weekend,” she said. “Usually, we have about two open parties a week.”

Of all of their services or products, Johnson enjoys the girls’ night out events the most.

“It’s not the typical wine and painting party where everybody’s doing the same thing,” she said. “Here, we have up to 70-plus options or you can do a custom option. I don’t hold anything back. I don’t hold my secrets. It’s not about selling the signs. It’s teaching people what to do.”

Johnson finds time for Made by 2 Sisters because she job shares at Fuller Elementary School in Tempe. She teaches Wednesdays and Thursdays, when the store is closed.

Kids are welcome a well.

“It’s so gratifying,” she said. “Kids have immediate gratification. It’s not like pottery places where you have to wait to bring it home. They’re bringing it home that game. Birthday parties are great. The kids can come and have their cake, and make something from start to finish.”

The Pinners Conference and Expo runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale. Tickets are $7 to $99. For more information, visit westworldaz.com or az.pinnersconference.com/.

Made by 2 Sisters is located at 20 W. Baseline Rd., Suite 6, Mesa. For more information, visit madeby2sisters.com.

Crissi Johnson and her sister, Tami Bresniker.

Neighbors

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKS

Call ahead to confirm information, as details occasionally change after print. 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 religious-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 a.m. 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 p.m. 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 p.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 a.m. 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 a.m. 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 p.m. 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

Fast Growing Amazing Lash Studio opening new location in Paseo Lindo Mall in South Chandler in November

Amazing Lash Studio announced the opening of its newest location in South Chandler at the corner of South Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road in the Paseo Lindo Mall next to Target.

Amazing Lash Studio is one of the fastest-growing franchise concepts and the only national brand providing time-constrained women with beautiful, long-lasting, natural-looking lashes.

The studio is owned by Juan & Claire Corsillo, both of whom had long, successful careers prior to venturing into small business ownership. Juan was senior vice president of sales and marketing for United Rentals. Claire served as director of national accounts for Corporate Visions.

They have brought on Ryan Gillis as a partner and studio director. Studio Director. Gillis began her career as a hair artist 16 years ago and in 2013 she expanded her talents into lashes, growing a significant lash clientele in Scottsdale.

“We’re very excited about our new business,” Juan said.

“Lashes are all that we do. We offer an exceptionally high-quality service applied by licensed and specially trained estheticians, at an affordable cost, while giving women the lashes they have always dreamed of,” Juan said. “Over 60% of women have yet to experience lash extensions largely be -

cause they’ve either been offered at exorbitant prices in nonspecialized salons or per formed by nonlicensed individuals in their homes without the proper training, using unsterilized implements.

Amazing Lash Studio is changing the game, delivering a spa-level experience through licensed and trained estheticians, at an affordable price.”

The studio is expec ted to open the

*

first week of November and will be open seven days a week. Sign up for the grand opening guest list at amazinglashstudio.com/grand-opening/Chandler-Ocotillo.

’ Rockin’ Taco Street Fest

The fifth annual Rockin’ Taco Street Fest hit downtown Chandler on Saturday, Sept. 17, complete with food (naturally) and music. To accompany the tacos, patrons enjoyed local craft beer, fresh fruit fresca, Mexican cerveza, tequila tastings and margaritas. Entertainment was aplenty with Ballet Folklorico Dancers, salsa competition, Good Rust, The Deep Down and Lucha Libra wrestling.

The crowd at Rockin’ Taco Street Fest.

Kathy Van Holton shows off her new Sombrero.Brendon Akin and some fretting ice creme.Maggie McNair and Angelica Flora dance to the music of Good Rust.

Christian Perez gets some wrestling lessons from Alex Salyers of Party Hard Wrestling before a performance by Future Stars Wrestling.

Families enjoying the sights and sounds of ’ Rockin’ Taco Street Fest.

Kateri Parra, Andrea Lee-Cruz, Lily Guzman and Fernando Fausto. Ballet Folkloric Dancers.

R. J. Cisneros climbs the rock climbing wall.

Jose Antonio from El Palacio prepares chicken for the Chandler’ Rockin’ Taco Street Fest.

Melissa Gutierrez serves up salsa during the salsa contest.

Redfoo has the genes, willpower to succeed on his own terms

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Redfoo immerses himself in Halloween, and the “Sexy and I Know It” performer sees the holiday as a reason to, well, “get sexy.”

“Once you put the mask on, or dress up, you get to be that alter ego,” said Redfoo, the afro’d, bespectacled former member of LMFAO. “You get to be whatever you want and it’s exciting. It’s very creative. I like all the creativity and costumes.”

Redfoo and his Party Rock Crew are looking forward to eyeballing the Valley’s creativity when they host Halloween Extravaganza on Saturday, Oct. 29, at Wild Horse Pass Casino’s Ovations Live! Showroom.

A lover of Halloween, Redfoo has dressed himself as former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and Jesus.

“Choosing a costume for me is tough because of my afro,” Redfoo said. “I like to keep the presence of the afro. I’ve been a pimp, but I’ve also been God. God probably had a ‘fro. I had cotton balls on my feet so it looked like I was walking on clouds.”

Calling from a vacation at an

Stand-up guy

undisclosed location, Redfoo said he deserves a break after spending nearly a year promoting his debut studio album, “Party Rock Mansion.”

“There was a lot of touring and a lot of flying,” said Redfoo, the 41-year-old son of Berry Gordy Jr.

“I’m going to keep it rolling, though. We’re in an interesting time in music. There are all of these business wars going on with streaming and the sales. The style is changing. There are festivals now, and radio. I’m totally independent and the independents are battling the majors for airplay.

“The majors win that battle often because of the leverage they have. It’s a dog-eat-dog world.”

The music world, he contends, is also going up against the soundbites of the presidential candidates and trashy celebrity news. Plus, musicians are going about promotion all wrong.

“I’d rather read a Twitter beef from Kanye than listen to the album,” he said. “There is more entertainment in that beef. Before, in music, to hear Tupac and

Biggie beefing you would have to listen to the music. Now you just go on Twitter.

“I’m not saying beefing is even healthy, either. Hip hop is the only genre that beefs. You don’t see beefing in the jazz genre.”

With all of the challenges in the music business, Redfoo said there’s only one thing to do—overcome them.

For now, though, he’s having fun spreading the message of his Party Rock Crew.

“We just let loose,” he said. “We have drinks on stage. I just enjoy making people have a good time for that hour to two hours.

“We’re like a traveling party. We go to places and we help people party and have a good time. That’s what my music is about: Helping people have a good time.”

Redfoo and The Party Rock Crew Halloween Party begins at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino’s Ovations Live! Showroom, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. Tickets are $25 to $200. For more information, call 800-946-4452 or visit http://bit.ly/2cZ63CZ.

Dane Cook is ready to unleash new material on festival fans

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Comedian Dane Cook admits he’s shy.

He can play in front of crowds of 20,000plus fans, but when it comes to one-to-one interaction, it’s a struggle.

“I’m fortunate that I’ve never been a nervous performer,” said Cook, calling from Palm Springs, California, where he was filming an undisclosed movie.

“I’ve made a joke about this in the past: I can play for arenas full of people. I’ll be literally excited with a little nervous energy. I’m not at all trepidatious. But with the meet and greets, my shyness from way back is there.”

Cook is scheduled to play in front of thousands at Ak-Chin Pavilion on Oct. 2 as part of the Funny or Die Presents Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival Tour. Hosted by Jeff Ross, Oddball brings Cook together with Bridget Everett, Iliza Shlesinger, Jim Jefferies, Kumail Nanjiani, Matthew Broussard, Sebastian Maniscalco and Tom Segura.

“The invite came out of left field,” said Cook, who has been cast as Robbie in Starz’ “American Gods.”

“I was gearing up for my own tour. I’ve been writing new material the last couple of years. I was just about to schedule tour dates and we heard from Oddball,” he said.

“I’ve always wanted to be a part of the festival, but I’ve never been able to make that happen. All of my friends have been on it.”

Cook—who took a break from the road after a series of personal tragedies, including the deaths of his parents—said he will deliver well-crafted material. He worked out the kinks at previous shows to prepare for Oddball.

“I have a pretty good idea of how people are going to receive the new material,” he said. “At a place like the Improv on a Wednesday night in L.A., you’re getting a wide array of people in there. I don’t have to get on the road early on to feel confident about it.”

He’s also feeling confident about some of his upcoming projects, including a TV show that’s in development. Cook said he’s in talks

with networks as well as outlets like Netflix and Amazon.

“A few years ago I was frustrated that a show I was going to get going wasn’t connecting,” he said. “I’m glad it didn’t go the way I hoped.

“These days, as an artist, you have even more freedom. I want to offer a show that really, truly represents my thoughts and feelings completely, as opposed to adhering to networks or advertising.”

Cook said he feels he’s on the cutting edge of a new breed of entertainment outlets.

“I like going into things with a group of people who are enthusiastic about new technology,” he said. “It’s an exciting time. I know the guys behind Oculus Rift. They’re being approached to create film for virtual reality now.

“The way we’re receiving stories and our entertainment are changing rapidly. It’s an exciting time to be at the beginning of the new golden age of entertainment.”

Right now he’s sticking with good old-fashioned stage shows and the camaraderie of Oddball.

“I came up in ’94, ’95, ’96. There were plenty of nights when I was bumped or shuffled because of Chris Rock or my buddy Dave Chappelle—a short smorgasbord of the best of the best. That was the boot camp of it.

“The Oddball festival is a celebration of those humble beginnings. We’re not competing, but we’re rooting for each other to have stellar sets.”

IF YOU GO

What: Funny or Die Presents Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival Tour

WHEN: 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2

WHERE: Ak-Chin Pavilion, 2121

N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix

COST: $29.95-$125

INFO: 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com

Dane Cook

Comedian Poundstone riffs off her life as a single mom with 3 kids

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Paula Poundstone loves to talk about her three children, Thomas, Toshia and Allison— good or bad.

“I have a lot on my plate, considering I’m a single mom of three kids,” says Poundstone, who is playing the Mesa Arts Center on Saturday. “They’re a little older now—18, 22 and 25. It’s easier in some ways now that they’re older. But my 18-year-old will surely be the death of me.”

What makes parenting so hard these days is electronics.

“It changes how people relate to one another in a very, very negative way,” she said. “Those connections are so important. Often there are connections in the brain that aren’t being developed, like making eye contact and how to talk directly to one another.”

None of her children had a smartphone growing up, but Thomas fell victim to the electronics addiction, as she called it.

“It’s a real thing,” she said. “It’s like heroin trying to keep him away from that stuff.

“My son lived in a tent for a year and a half. He was in a program in Virginia, but the main reason he lived there was because he couldn’t plug in anything. It was helpful and major improvements were made with him. The difference is remarkable.”

Poundstone is so passionate about this cause that she did an editorial piece for a Sunday morning news program.

Poundstone’s shows, like her interviews, are intensely personal.

“The show’s about raising a houseful of kids and animals,” Poundstone said. “I also try to keep up on current events so I can cast a halfway decent vote.

“But my favorite part of the show is

talking to the audience. Little biographies emerge from those conversations. I use that to set my sails for the evening. The conversations are germane to that evening; it’s unique to that particular audience.”

Poundstone is busy these days. For seven years, she’s been writing a book that’s due to hit stores in May 2017. Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke wrote a blurb for her book.

“‘Mary Poppins’ is my all-time favorite movie,” she said. “This was a big, huge thrill.”

The book was an “incredibly slow process” for a variety of reasons; the main one was its theme.

“It’s a series of experiments in which I’m doing things that we think will make me happy,” she said. “I do the experiments, then I tell about my real life. The book is funny. The experiments are real. It’s a little bit informative but a lot fun.”

The writing dragged on, too, because she is raising three children, with whom she had an adventurous vacation in Flagstaff a few years back.

“My kids were really little and we stayed at a Days Inn or something,” she said. “For entertainment one of the nights, we had a VCR in our van and we sat in the parking lot watching the movie ‘Gus’ in the van. The kids still remember that as the greatest thing ever.

IF YOU GO

What: Paula Poundstone

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1

Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main St., Mesa Cost: $30.50-$40.50 Information: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

Paula Poundstone started doing stand-up comedy at open-mic nights in Boston in 1979.

Jazz Festival returns to downtown Chandler from March 31 to April 1

This April, Downtown Chandler will again turn the spotlight on its jazz scene with the return of the Chandler Jazz Festival, March 31 to April 1. In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, the two-day festival hosts more than 70 artists across 13 venues.

Jazz hits the Downtown Chandler Stage from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. both days, bringing an impressive lineup of performers, spanning genres ranging from traditional and fusion rhythm to smooth jazz.

In the past, notable performers included Levi Platero Band, Paul Cruize Blues Crew, South Mountain Community

College Latin Big Band, Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, Stan Sorenson Duo, and Joseph and the Jazz Brethren.

“Chandler celebrates the musical past and looks toward the future of our City’s jazz scene each April during Jazz Appreciation Month,” Mayor Jay Tibshraeny said. “Countless hours have been spent curating every detail of this year’s event to ensure the festival continues to be one of the Valley’s premier musical events.”

The complete festival entertainment schedule will soon be available online at chandleraz.gov/jazz.

Have you been diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)?

If so, you may be

Have generational fun with charming indie ‘The Pickle Recipe’

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

When the charming indie film “The Pickle Recipe” was screened for the first time, actor Eric Edelstein was pleased that the humor struck a chord with all age groups.

“We have a lot of that universal humor,” said Edelstein, whose credits include the films “Jurassic Word” and “Green Room,” and TV’s “Off the Boat.”

“You never know how the screening will go or how the audience will respond. A cross generation of people are enjoying it. It’s really a tribute to the directing and writing. It’s a pleasure and a fun thing to see.”

“The Pickle Recipe,” which opens in Phoenix theaters on Friday, Oct. 28, tells the story of Joey Miller, the “king” of Detroit party MCs. He’s a single father and deeply in debt.

To make matters worse, his sound and lighting equipment id destroyed at a wedding. His daughter Julie’s bat mitzvah is a month away and she’s hoping he’ll MC her party. Desperate, he turns to his shay Uncle Morty, who agrees to give him the money he needs to get back into business. There is one condition: Joey must steal his grandmother Rose’s topsecret dill pickle recipe, something she vowed to take to her grave.

The movie stars Jon Dore (Joey), Lynn Cohen (Rose), David Paymer (Uncle Morty) and Edelstein (Ted). Edelstein said

once he read the script, joining the cast was a no-brainer.

“I loved the script and I loved my part in the movie,” Edelstein said. “It’s nothing but fun. I could come in and just be a wacko, which I feel very comfortable with. David is a character actor and someone I look up to. He’s on my Mount Rushmore. Even when I was a kid, I would look at character actors. That’s a dream to work with him.”

“The Pickle Recipe” was penned by Sheldon Cohn and Gary Wolfson, a duo whom Edelstein, who former automobile executives in Detroit who had a dream of writing a film.

“They’ve been working for years, trying to hustle up to get financing,” Edelstein said. “It’s a beautiful and cool thing to see their dream come true, and then be able to see them beam with pride and people laugh at their screening.”

The duo was joined by director Michael Manasseri, a former child actor who, at one point, toured with Yul Brynner in “The King and I.”

“He’s a future superstar,” Edelstein said. “He really ha the touch. A lot of times, those former child actors have an unnatural touch. But this is a wonderful alchemy of writing, directing and acting that shows up on screen.”Like Cohn

and Wolfson’s hometown, “The Pickle Recipe” is set in Detroit, a city with which Edelstein fell in love.

“I loved working there,” said Edelstein, who spent three weeks filming there.

“It was so great. The people were just amazing. You can’t beat the people in Detroit. It was almost like Southern hospitality. They were so welcoming and proud to show off their city—and defy people’s expectations of it.”

He was able to explore Detroit and its suburbs because he only worked two to three days a week.

“I know why they put actors in Troy (Michigan)—to keep them out of trouble,”

Edelstein said with a laugh. “Put me at a casino in Greektown, put me where all the action is and I’ll be reasonably good. I loved going to Tiger games. Downtown it’s certainly not what you expect going into it.”

Baseball is on his mind. He admiration

travels West to Phoenix, too. He’s a frequent visitor to Spring Training.

“Scottsdale is high on my list of favorite cities as well,” he explains. “I see the Dodgers and the White Sox, who share the same facility in Glendale.

“But I like Scottsdale because I thought it would be like a bit chichi, but it has a lot of heart.”

Edelstein is hoping that “The Pickle Recipe” sets a precedent.

“There isn’t enough stuff with heart these days,” he said. “There are a lot of movies with violence and gratuitous whatever. It was fun to be a part of a movie like this. The whole family and go and enjoy it.”

‘Detour’ takes Cyndi Lauper down country path

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

When Cyndi Lauper was 4 years old, she sat with her “nana” on her easy chair and watched Patsy Cline on television. That, she said, was a pivotal time for her and it’s that memory she’s honoring with her country album “Detour.”

“The early country artists have always affected me,” she said. “I was in a rockabilly band and worse a Patsy Cline button in 1980—right next to my other button that said ‘Almost famous.’”

For the album, Lauper duets with several special guests, including country music royalty: Emmylou Harris (on the title track), Willie Nelson (“Night Life,” a song he wrote over 50 years ago), Vince Gill (Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty’s “You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly”) and Alison Krauss (Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas”). Jewel also makes an appearance on “Detour,” showcasing her yodeling skills on “I Want to Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” which was the first country song by a woman to sell 1 million copies.

Lauper said recording a country album is something she’s dreamed about for many years.

“When I was a really young kid, country music was pop music, so this is what we grew up listening to,” said Lauper, who became a New York Times Best Selling author with “Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir,” and a Tony Award-winner for “Kinky Boots.”

“These songs are part of some of my earliest memories so it has been an absolute thrill to revisit them.”

Lauper explains that this album isn’t that much of a departure from songs like

“She Bop” or “When You Were Mine.”

Many of her songs, she adds, were rooted in rockabilly.

“All of these early country singers, with their yips and yodels and stories they told, were part of the fabric of what I learned to sing early on,” she said

“I just felt like this wasn’t that far of a stretch for me. When I put it together, I started to think about it the same way I think about any album I put together: It has to have variety. Plus, all of the stories are relatable and there’s humor there.”

There were plenty of laughs when she recorded “Detour.” One of her favorite experiences was working with Gill, with whom she was acquainted through his wife Amy Grant.

“When Vince walked into the room— and I can’t believe I’m going to say this because he’ll see it—he walks in big angel wings, that guy,” Lauper explains.

“I’m not saying he’s a holy roller, but he has this wonderful vibe. He’s happy and everyone’s happy. It’s that kind of vibe you want when you’re doing a song. “

“Detour” is Lauper’s first for Sire Records and executive produced by legendary Sire founder, Seymour Stein, whom Lauper calls a music “icon.”

The two only chose songs that had a relatable story.

“I also looked for stories and things that I thought would enrich the quilt I was making,” she said. “It’s Americana music. It’s a little detour, but it’s really not. It’s the foundation of everything I ever sang in my life.”

Lauper is scheduled to play The Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort on Friday,

Oct. 7. She’ll play songs from “Detour” and her trademark songs like “Time After Time” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Lauper said she is proud of “Detour” and the memories of her family.

Because of those experiences with her grandmother and other relatives, she never saw singers like Cline or Loretta Lynn as music superstars.

“I thought of them as TV stars,” she said. “When I was really little, they were beautiful ladies in sparkly dresses or interesting clothes. They had big hair— they had big everything.”

Her good friend Boy George had something to say about that during a

recent conversation.

“The bigger the better, I always say,” Lauper recalls George saying. “I was laughing about it, but when you’re a little kid, watching TV, everything is big.”

IF YOU GO

What: Cyndi Lauper

When: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7

Where: The Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale

Cost: $48.50 to $128.50 Information: 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com

2016 29 Simply Three 7:30pm

2016 12 Letters Home 3pm & 7:30pm

New York Gypsy All Stars 7:30pm

Stormy Weather: TheStoryofLenaHorne 7:30pm April 2017

8 Recycled Percussion 7:30pm

9 ClassicAlbumsLivepresents David Bowie’s The Rise and

and

Cyndi Lauper plays Talking Stick Resort on Friday Oct. 7

ON STAGE

Bernadette Peters, Saturday, Oct. 15, MAC. The three-time Tony Award winner who can be seen in the second season of the Golden Globe Award-winning series “Mozart in the Jungle,” will perform signature songs from the multitude of iconic shows in which she has starred.

Robert Klein, Sunday, Oct. 23, MAC. He has entertained audiences for more than 40 years on Broadway, television and can be seen on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon.

Rufus Wainwright, Thursday, Nov. 10, MAC. One of the great male vocalists, composers and songwriters of his generation, he has released eight studio albums, three DVDs and three live albums, as well as collaborating with artists such as Elton John, David Byrne, Mark Ronson, Joni Mitchell and Burt Bacharach.

Bruce Hornsby, Friday, Nov. 18, SCPA. Despite early mainstream successes, he has pursued a more personal, idiosyncratic musical path, focusing on projects that sparked his creative interest, including collaborations with the Grateful Dead, Spike Lee, Ricky Skaggs, Don Henley, Ornette Coleman, Bob Dylan, Bela Fleck, Bonnie Raitt, Pat Metheny and Robbie Robertson.

John Cleese and Eric Idle, Monday, Nov. 21, MAC. The founding members of Monty Python pioneered an irreverent, absurdist sensibility that is emulated by comics around the world. As individuals, they have written, performed and produced critically acclaimed shows such as “Spamalot,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “Fawlty Towers” and “The Rutles.”

Maynard James Keenan, Friday, Nov. 25, MAC. Readings from and discussions about his authorized biography, “A Perfect Union of Contrary Things” and each attendee will receive a copy of the book and a CD.

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Sunday, Nov. 27, MAC. A genre-busting, rotating collective of musicians and vocalists who reimagine modern pop hits in the style of jazz, ragtime and swing classics of the 1920s to 1950s.

Chandler Symphony with Jim Curry, Saturday, Dec. 10, HCPA. Curry opens the show performing his John Denver holiday tribute followed by 18-time Emmy nominee Lee Holdridge conducting the symphony.

Straight No Chaser, Saturday, Dec. 31, MAC. Formed years ago while students at Indiana University, the group has reemerged as a phenomenon with a massive fan base, more than 20 million YouTube views and numerous national TV appearances.

Pink Martini, Wednesday, Jan. 11, SCPA. An international phenomenon performing a retro-hip, multilingual repertoire throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas, featuring a dozen musicians who find inspiration in virtually every musical genre, from Baroque to disco.

Storm Large, Saturday, Jan. 14, SCPA. A finalist on the CBS show “Rock Star: Supernova,” she made her debut as guest vocalist with the band Pink Martini in 2011, singing four sold-out concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The Marvelous Wonderettes, Tuesday, Jan. 17, to Tuesday, April 18, HCT. This smash off-Broadway hit takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where we meet four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts who serenade us with classic ’50s hits including “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid” and “Lipstick on Your Collar.”

Roots & Boots Tour, Friday, Jan. 27, CCA. Country music with Aaron Tippin, Sammy Kershaw and Collin Raye.

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

Neil Sedaka with The Phoenix Symphony, Friday, Feb 3, MAC. His impressive 50-year career ranges from being one of the first teen pop sensations of the ’50s, a songwriter for himself and other artists in the ’60s, and a superstar in the ’70s.

yMusic, Friday, Feb. 3, SCPA. A group of six New York City instrumentalists flourishing in the overlap between the pop and classical worlds, with virtuosic execution and unique configuration (string trio, flute, clarinet and trumpet) that has attracted the attention of high-profile collaborators and more recently inspired an expanding repertoire of original works by some of today’s foremost composers.

Glenn Miller Orchestra, Sunday, Feb. 26, CCA. With its unique jazz sound, the resilient orchestra was formed in 1956 and has been touring consistently since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year all around the world.

Art Garfunkel: In Close-Up, Saturday, March 11, CCA. Grammy Award winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honoree and Golden Globe-nominated singer and actor with a live set that encompasses his solo hits, Simon and Garfunkel songs and cuts from his favorite songwriters—Jimmy Webb, Randy Newman and A.C. Jobim.

The Doo Wop Project, Saturday, March 18, CCA. A journey from foundational tunes of groups like the Crests, Belmonts and Flamingos through their influences on the sounds of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons all

the way to Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz and Amy Winehouse.

Aida, Thursday, May 18 to Saturday, July 1, HCT. Winner of four 2000 Tony Awards, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida is an epic tale of love, loyalty and betrayal, chronicling the love triangle between Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country, Amneris, an Egyptian princess, and Radames, the soldier they both love.

ON STAGE VENUE INDEX

CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts

250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org

HCPA—Higley Center for the Performing Arts 4132 E. Pecos Rd., Gilbert Tickets: 480-279-7194, higleycenter.org

HCT—Hale Centre Theatre 50 West Page Ave., Gilbert Tickets: 480-497-1181, www. haletheatrearizona.com

MAC—Mesa Arts Center

One E. Main St., Mesa Tickets: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com

SCPA—Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale Tickets: 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Wiener to discuss ‘Scattered Among the Nations’

The Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation Sisterhood is kicking off its year with a discussion of the book “Scattered Among the Nations” led by Rabbi Irwin Wiener. The talk is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Chapel Center. New or prospective members are invited to attend a light lunch and getting acquainted gathering at 11:30 a.m. To make reservations, call Anita Kolikoff at 480895-8203.

Future events include the card party/ mahjongg fest on Feb. 7.

Sisterhood sets event schedule

The Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation Sisterhood will kick off its year with a presentation by Rabbi Irwin Wiener at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in the Chapel Center. New or prospective members are invited

Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation welcoming new members

Celebrate the high holidays with Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation. In October, it will celebrate Sukkot and Simchas Torah. Tickets for the high holidays are by calling Myra at 480-305-0533. The form for ordering tickets is available on the SLJC website at SLJC.org.

A series of adult education programs will be launched after the high holidays including a class on Hebrew reading and writing. Here are upcoming events, all of which are held at Sun Lakes Chapel, unless otherwise noted:

7:30 p.m. Oct. 2, Erev Rosh Hashana

10 a.m. Oct. 3, Rosh Hashana

10 a.m. Oct. 9, Kever Avot memorial service, Valley of the Sun Mortuary and Cemetery. Dedication of new Jewish section, burial of sacred writings and

private visitations

7:30 p.m. Oct. 11, Kol Nidre

10 a.m. Oct. 12, Yom Kippur

Afternoon of Oct. 23, Sukkot/Simchas Torah Celebration (time TBA)

7:30 p.m. Nov. 11, Shabbat service honoring veterans

7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, Shabbat service celebration of Hanukkah SLJC is an established reform congregation that meets at the Sun Lakes Chapel on the second Friday of the month from September through June. In July and August, a rabbinic-led twilight service is held in the Sun Lakes Chapel at 5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbats are held immediately following services at Sun Lakes Country Club from September through June.

Celebrate Holy Days at Tempe

Havurat Emet with Holocaust talk

to attend a light lunch at 11:30 a.m. to get acquainted. To make reservations, call Anita Kolikoff at 480-895-8203.

Plans are also in the making for the card party/mahjongg fest on Feb. 7.

A Holocaust survivor from thenCzechoslovakia and Temple Havurat Emet’s 366-year-old Czech Torah will unite in a powerful and moving story of survival during High Holy Day services at Temple Havurat Emet.

The survivor, who is a temple member, did not wish for his name to be released.

High Holy Day services begin the

evening of Oct. 2. Affordable tickets include all of the High Holy Day services. Temple Havurat Emet of the East Valley is an open reform congregation with an outreach to all who seek spirituality and renewal. Rabbi Janet Madden, PhD, and cantorial soloist Dr. Nancy Cohen will officiate. For information and tickets, call 480-988-6409.

Spiritual Connections

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

SUNDAYS

Celebration Service

10:30 a.m. Sundays

All with peaceful beliefs are welcome to this inclusive, loving, thriving UNITY Community. Join the group at 10 a.m., proceeding the service, for fellowship. Youth and toddlers meet during service. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center, 952 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 102, Mesa. Info: (480) 593-8798, www. interfaith-community.org

Kids’ Sunday School

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sundays Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler, 1222 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 103, Tempe. Info: (480) 792-1800

Lift Your Spirit

10 a.m. Sundays Hear inspirational messages and music. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler, 1222 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 103, Tempe. Info: (480) 792-1800

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

7:30 a.m. daybreak contemplative worship 9 a.m. traditional worship and choral music 11 a.m. contemporary worship with live Christian rock band. There is also a service at 12 p.m. Wednesdays.St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 901 W. Erie St., Chandler. Info: (480) 899-7386, www.saintmatthewschurch.org.

MONDAYS

The Art of Parenting

7:30 p.m. Mondays

Six-session course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and presented by Rabbi Mendy Deitsch of Chabad of the East Valley, designed to help parents at all levels of Jewish knowledge develop their own parenting philosophies and techniques. Cost is $99. Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 875 N. McClintock Dr., Chandler.

Info: (480) 855-4333, rabbi@chabadcenter.com

TUESDAYS

Silva Class and Meditation

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays

Learn the Silva method with Lois Britland. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler, 1222 E. Baseline Rd, Suite 103, Tempe. Info: (480) 792-1800.

Career Connectors

8:30 a.m. to noon, fourth Tuesday of month

Nonprofit organization connecting professionals in career transition to high-quality resources and hiring companies; each event includes professional career speakers with presentations on relevant job search topics, three to four hiring companies, networking, resume help, career coaches, LinkedIn coaches and business portraits. Central Christian Church, Gilbert Campus/Student Center, 965 E. Germann Rd., Gilbert. Info: www.careerconnectors.org, (480) 442-5806

Christian Business Networking, Tri-City Chapter—Chandler, Tempe, Mesa

7:15 a.m. Tuesdays

Offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and business referrals. Crackers and Co. Café, 535 W. Iron Ave., Mesa. Info: Maia, (480) 425-0624, www.christianbusinessnetworking.com

Christian Business Networking, Chandler Bi-Monthly Chapter

7:45 a.m. second and fourth Tuesdays each month

Offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and business referrals. Chandler Christian Church, Building B, Room 202, 1825 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler. Info: Maia, (480) 425-0624, www.christianbusinessnetworking.com

HOPE—Help Overcoming Painful Experiences

7 p.m. Tuesdays

Free weekly small group sessions helping people overcome emotional pain caused by divorce, grief, addictions and more; free child care for children ages 10 and younger. Desert Springs Church, 19620 S. McQueen Rd., Room 106, Chandler. Info: hope4all@comcast.net, www.helpovercomingpainfulexperiences.org

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

Monthly Women’s Fellowship

6:15 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month

The monthly fellowship Bible study with the East Valley Chapter of Christian Women’s Devotional Alliance “ministers to women’s spiritual, emotional and physical needs.”

Best Western-Mezona 250 W. Main St., Mesa. Info: (480) 232-3773

Narcotics Anonymous (Nar-Anon)—Chandler Chapter

7 p.m. Tuesdays and ThursdaysTwelve-step program for families and friends of addicts. Faith Community Church, 1125 N. Dobson Rd., Chandler. Info: www.nar-anon.org

WEDNESDAYS

Panic Healing

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Wednesday Receive a 15-minute energetic tune-up. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler, 1222 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 103, Tempe. Info: (480) 792-1800.

WEDNESDAY: Bible Study 12 Noon & 7 p.m. SUNDAY: WORSHIP 10 a.m.

19609 S. McQueen Rd. • Chandler, AZ 480-899-LIFE (5433) • 480-343-0022 www.gospel4life.org

Gong Meditation and Yoga Nidra

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. third Wednesday

Presented by Will Zecco, gong master. Bring yoga mat, blanket and pillow as desired. Love offerings will be accepted.

Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center, 952 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 102, Mesa.

Info: (480) 593-8798 or www.interfaith-community.org.

“A Course in Miracles” with the Rev. Julianne Lewis

1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Wednesdays

The weekly group is an interactive time of learning and sharing, appropriate for course beginners, as well as long-time students of ACIM. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center, 952 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 102, Mesa.

Info: (480) 593-8798, www.interfaith-community.org

The Art of Parenting

9:30 a.m. Wednesdays

Six-session course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and presented by Rabbi Mendy Deitsch of Chabad of the East Valley, designed to help parents at all levels of Jewish knowledge develop their own parenting philosophies and techniques. Cost is $99. Chandler Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler. Info: (480) 855-4333 or rabbi@chabadcenter.com

Grief Care

6:45 p.m. Wednesdays

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

Healing Prayer and Meditation Circle

7 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays

Guided prayer, affirmations and visualization for those facing physical, emotional, mental or spiritual issues in their lives. Love offering requested. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler, 1222 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 103, Tempe. Info: (480) 792-1800

Meditation Moments

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. third Wednesday of the month

An interactive time of learning and sharing, appropriate for course beginners, as well as long time students of ACIM. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center, 952 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 102, Mesa. Info: (480) 593-8798 or www.interfaith-community.org

St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church

12 p.m. Healing and Eucharist service

St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church, 901 W. Erie St., Chandler. Info: (480) 899-7386, www.saintmatthewschurch.org.

THURSDAYS

Spirituality

Women’s Empowerment & Awakening

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. third Thursday

Release negative beliefs. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler, 1222 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 103, Tempe. Info: (480) 792-1800.

A Course in Miracles

7 p.m. first, second and fourth Thursday Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler, 1222 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 103, Tempe. Info: (480) 792-1800.

Empower Model for Men

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays

The three-class series is taught by author Scott E. Clark and designed to offer practical wisdom and tools to help men shift into their higher consciousness, based on the seven-step empower model detailed in Clark’s book, “Empower Model for Men.” Cost is $85. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler, 1222 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 103, Tempe. Info: (480) 792-1800

Real Love Support Group

6:30 p.m. Thursdays

For those who have a desire to acquire more “real love” and in the process find great personal happiness and more fulfilling relationships. Love offering requested. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler, 1222 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 103, Tempe. Info: (480) 792-1800

FRIDAYS

Temple Havurat Emet

7:30 p.m. first Friday of each month

Lecky Center, Robson Library. 9330 E. Riggs Rd., Sun Lakes. Info: www.templehavuratemet.org

Grief

10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every Friday

Each session presents a 45-minute videotape of expertise of counselors, pastors and others who have coped with grief and understand its effects and the steps toward healing. Each week a different stand-alone topic is presented as part of 13 sessions. Discussion follows, but participation is entirely voluntary. Call (480) 895-1088 for information. The program is offered at First Baptist Church Sun Lakes.

SATURDAYS

Spirit Night—Psychic Fair

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. third Saturday of each month

The “Lightworkers” offer a wide range of services including Reiki, facials, mediums, drumming, tarot, angel messages and more. Services range from $20 to $30. Cash only. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center, 952 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 102, Mesa. Info: www.interfaith-community.org; heatherposey70@gmail.com.

Spirit Night – A Holistic Healing Festival

1 p.m. to 6 p.m. third Saturday of the month

Lightworkers offer a wide range of services including Reiki, facials, mediums, drumming, tarot, angel messages and more. Services range from $20 to $30. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center, 952 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 102, Mesa. Info: www.interfaith-community.org or heatherposey70@gmail.com

Unity Drumming and Healing Circle

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. fourth Saturday of each month

Beginner, expert drummers and observers welcome. Bring snack, appetizer or dessert to share. Love donation accepted. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center, 952 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 102, Mesa. Info: (480) 593-8798, www.interfaith-community.org.

OTHER

Forever Marriage Ministries Marriage Restoration Support Group for Wives

Offers hope to the hurting Valleywide through oneon-one Biblical marriage teaching, God-honoring wife discipleship and marriage restoration mentoring to wives seeking God’s will in the restoration of marriage. Info: Lisa (602) 377-8847, marriage@ lisacmyers.com, www.forevermarriageministries.com, www.facebook.com/forevermarriages.

Jewish Women International,

Avodah Chapter 1581

Monthly luncheon. Social Box Eateries, 1371 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler. RSVP: (480) 802-9304, (480) 655-8812

Moms in Prayer International

A group of mothers who meet one hour each week to intercede for their children and schools through prayer. Info: Liane Wright, (480) 699-7887, www.momsinprayer.org.

Bible Study

Meets twice a month

Members of the Women’s Life Group study the Bible and discuss how the lessons can relate to their lives. Sun Lakes United Church of Christ, Chandler. Info: Jan Olson at (480) 802-7457 or Joy King (480) 588-1882.

East Valley Jewish Couples Club

Offers once-a-month social activities such as dining, movies and plays for Jewish couples in the 45- to 65-year-old age range. Info: Melissa, (480) 785-0744, beadlover@cox.net

Let the SanTan Sun News help you publicize your church or temple’s events and activities in the Spirituality section by emailing details to news@ santansun.com. Include a brief description of the event, times, days, dates, cost or free, if registration is required, venue, address, publishable phone number, website if applicabwle and contact information for verification purposes. We welcome photos, which must be 300 dpi JPEGs or taken on a digital camera on the “best” or “highest quality” setting. Information is due 10 days prior to publication date. Submission does not guarantee placement.

TIP | TOP APPLIANCE REPAIR

Providing quality service and repair on all major brands of Washers, Driers, Refrigerators, Ovens, Microwaves and Dishwashers. We provide a full 1-year warranty on all repairs. Certified, Licensed, Insured. Visit us at www.gototiptop.com. For service call: 480-907-4080.

CARPET CLEANING

BIG JOHN’S CARPET CLEANING

Our truck-mounted steam cleaning system will deep clean your carpets, ridding them of unwanted dirt, bacteria, fungus and chemical residues. Upholstery cleaning also available. Tile and grout cleaning. For a clean and healthy carpet, call 480-786-6610 or 602-989-8311. John Downs, Owner/Operator, Ocotillo Resident. Call for monthly specials.

MUSTANG CARPET & TILE CLEANING

Carpet, Tile & Grout, and Upholstery Cleaning. Family owned, truck-mounted steam cleaning. We offer 1/2-hour appointment time frame, so no waiting around. We include pre-spraying, mild deodorizer and degreasers for high traffic areas at no charge. Member BBB with A rating! “We clean like it’s our own”! 480-688-3003.

CONCRETE

CONCRETE WORK

Patios, Driveways, Sidewalks, All Concrete Needs. 25 years experience. Competitive prices. FREE Estimates. Dan 480-516-8920Jason 480-243-7779.

DRYWALL

ALL-STAR DRYWALL & PAINTING

Hang, tape, room additions, outside lid repairs, match all textures, popcorn removal water damage repairs, int, ext painting & much more 30 yrs exp ROC # 262737 free est call 602-743-6209

ELECTRICAL

E. Z. ELECTRIC SERVICE

RETIRED ELECTRICIAN. SMALL JOBS WANTED. I ALSO FIX LOW VOLTAGE OUTDOOR LIGHTING. ALL WORK TO CODE. I SHOW UP! 480-406-3610

CE ELECTRIC, INC

All aspects of electrical wiring and repair. · New homes · Remodels · Christmas lighting · Panel upgrades · Surge protection · Ceiling fans · New circuits · Hot tubs · All electrical repairs No job too big or small. All work guaranteed. 20 years experience. VISA/MC License # 289217 R-11 Bonded/Insured 480-939-1937

HOME REPAIRS

ALL HONEY-DO LISTS!

General Handyman Services. One Call, We Do It All! Owner does all work. Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service. Licensed, Bonded, Insured. ROC 118198. S&I General Contracting, Inc. Steve 602-339-4766.

GARY’S HANDYMAN SERVICE

Experienced Home Repairs: Electrical - Ceiling Fans, Lights, Etc. Plumbing - Garbage Disposal Install. Painting (minor), Drywall Repair (minor). Most all repairs. All Honey-Do Lists. Reliable and Prompt. Call or Text Gary at Cell 714-412-1762

UNIVERSAL HOME REPAIR

Small projects, house maintenance and renovations, house/apartment preparation for new tenants. Air conditioning repairs. 480-213-4005 jacekwrona@cox.net

HOME SERVICES

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

Family Owned with 33 years EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures. Install new one or repair what you have, insulated units, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio door glass, table tops to protect furniture. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates. WESLEY’S GLASS & MIRROR Call 480-306-5113, wesleysglass.com.

HOMES FOR SALE

CHANDLER HOME FOR SALE: HUGE CORNER LOT WITH SPARKLING POOL, RV GATE AND NO HOA!

Just a few short blocks from downtown Chandler you will find this 2696 sq. ft. home nestled on a 28,000 sq. ft. corner lot with no HOA. The home remains just as the original owners built it back in 1975. This home is perfect for entertaining with a sunken living room, formal dining, great room plus a bonus room. Relax in the large master suite or enjoy cooking in the kitchen with the original cabinetry & appliances. Brick fireplace, RV gate and refinished pool & equipment. $350,000. MLS 5445091. Contact Louisa Ward Re/Max Excalibur 602-769-6699.

HOUSE CLEANING

CLEAN CASA CLEANING SERVICES

Reliable house cleaning done right the 1st time!! One-time, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, move-in/move-out, etc. Same 2-person crew every time at your house! We bring all our own supplies and equipment. Will customize. References. Take $10 off your first cleaning. Call today!! Amy 602-284-3579.

FINISHING TOUCH

CLEANING SERVICE...19 years in Chandler and Gilbert areas. Mother/Daughter Team with excellent long-term client references. METICULOUS w/an EYE 4 DETAIL!! Looking for Steady Clientele that want Consistent Quality Service with EVERY cleaning. Competitive rates. Exceptional Service!! We Love Pets!! Free in home estimate. Call Rita -480-250-9744.

MOTHER & DAUGHTER TEAM

Been cleaning houses for 10 years. Have great experience. We do windows. Also have move-out specials & Senior Discounts. 480-438-1757 or 480-395-4522.

PROFESSIONAL HOUSE CLEANING

35 Years Experience - 20 years in the Valley. Free estimates, local references. Move-out cleaning services available. All work done by non-smoking meticulous owner. Call Shirley 480-433-4945

SIMPLY GRAND CLEANING SERVICE

House cleaning specialists offering weekly, biweekly, monthly, or one-time cleanings. Also providing move-in/out cleaning service, windows and patios. We use GREEN environmentally friendly products. High quality services at a great price. Very dependable, insured and with excellent references. $10 off first service with mention of this ad. Call Reed for a free estimate 480-802-1992 or Email: contact@simplygrandcleaningaz.com

LANDSCAPING SERVICES

AZ LANDSCAPE & HAULING SERVICES

Complete landscape and property maintenance including clean ups, hauling, installations, sprinkler install, maintenance and repair, tree care, painting, handyman, etc. English speaking, dependable, Insured, SmartScape Certified, Free estimates. Valley wide 480-200-9598

HECTORS LAWN CARE

Owner/Operator Mowing, Edging, Trimming, Blowing, Weed Control, Fertilizer, Clean Ups, Overseeding. FREE Estimates- 480-636-0286

I FIX LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

REPAIR/ REPLACE/ TROUBLE SHOOT COMPLETE SYSTEM. NIGHT LITE MAINTENANCE. 480-406-3610

KUTTINGEDGE LANDSCAPE

A Professional and Reliable Maintenance company. Contact us to schedule your Winter Overseeding in October! Our other services include weekly and biweekly maintenance, one time clean ups, weed control, tree work and more. Call Rick for a free estimate 480-250-6608 or email Kuttingedgelandscape@cox.net and Visit www.kuttingedgelandscape.com.

LANDSCAPING SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE DESIGNER & CONTRACTOR

Get a unique design~Bella has 13 years of design experience & certs. partnered with a contractor with 30 years installation experience. Remodels, new installs, hourly idea visits, installation of plants, pavers, fire pits, irrigation etc.. Please visit:  Houzz.com/pro/bellafiorelandscapedesign/ bella-fiore-landscape-design for gallery and references. Call 623-866-2501 email bellafiorelandscapedesign@gmail.com

SPRINKLER & DRIP REPAIRS

Aqua Masters. System Checks, Troubleshooting, Repairs, Maintenance, Leak Detection, Low Pressure, Valves, Timers, Heads, System-Add-ons. Call 480-478-0073. 40+YRS EXPERIENCE. AquaMastersAz.com

MOVERS

IN OR OUT MOVERS

Professional, hardworking, excellent service. No hidden fees. Whether you are moving in or moving out LEAVE THE LIFTING TO US! Serving the East Valley. www.inoroutmoversphoenixmetro.com Call Terry at 602-653-5367.

MOVING SALE

MOVING MUST SELL!

Trestle Table with 2 extension leaves; 6 matching ladderback chairs. China Cabinet, Dry Sink, Sofa Table, Wall mirror with maple frame, Low-back sofa -cream upholstery, 2 beige club chairs, Maple coffee table & end table, TV credenza with matching narrow 5-shelf bookshelves, Daybed. Like new Fabric covered Sofa & Loveseat with ottoman - Tawny color, Large, unique office desk, Various sized wooden bookshelves, Black Leather Lazyboy. Call 480-216-0359 for more information.

PAINTING SERVICES

A CUT ABOVE PAINTING, LLC Your quality repaint specialist. Interior/Exterior. Epoxy Floors. Roof Coatings. Stained Concrete. New Construction. FREE ESTIMATES! References available. Owner will be on job. Commercial/Residential. 30 years experience. Licensed-Bonded-Insured-ROC 257167. MENTION this ad to receive 5% OFF! 480-244-9119

AZ HOME & PAINT SERVICES

Affordable interior and exterior painting for every budget. Power washing, drywall repair etc. Experienced, Dependable & Insured. Valleywide. Free Estimates. 480-200-9598

EAGLE RIDGE PAINTING, LLC

Interior repaint specialist, offering in-home color consulting for every job. Using only quality low VOC paints, brush-n-roll application, two coat coverage. Family owned and operated with over 25 years experience. ROC 296732 Bonded & Insured. Call Sue 480-825-2122

EAST VALLEY PAINTERS

Voted #1 Repaint Specialists! Clean, Friendly Crews. Interior/Exterior. Drywall Repairs. Textures. Concrete Staining. Pool Deck Coatings. Garage Floors. Free Estimates. All Credit Cards Accepted. ROC 153131. 480-688-4770

PAINTING SERVICES

SUNTECH PAINTING INC.

Gilbert/Chandler’s Trusted Painting Professionals. Residential/Commercial Painting

Since 1987. Residential Exterior and Interior, Commercial Space/Professional Offices, Tenant Improvements. “Competitive Pricing With Our Same High Level of Quality”. Family Owned. FREE Estimates. ROC#155380 602-625-0599 suntechpainting@live.com

PLUMBING

ABC PLUMBING & ROOTER

CHANDLER/GILBERT

*$50.00 OFF with this ad* *NO SERVICE CHARGE* 110% Guarantee*/ OWNER OPERATED Small & Large REPAIRS

24/7 Slab leak, water main, hot water heaters, & sewer repair specialist. Water softening specialist, water filters, and reverse osmosis. 100-year warranty on parts & labor. * BBB A+ Rating. BBB Ethics Award Winner. Chandler Chamber of Commerce Employer of Choice Award. *Call for details. 480-726-1600

CURE ALL PLUMBING

For all your plumbing needs!

Free estimates and Senior Discounts! Water heaters, faucets, toilets, pipe leaks, garbage disposals, slab leaks, repiping, drain cleaning: Clogs, jetting, Camera inspection, locating. Water softeners, Reverse Osmosis systems. Sprinkler and Backflow repairs. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. Member of BBB. Cure All Plumbing 480-895-9838

POOL SERVICES

A CLEAR CHOICE POOL

Husband/Wife Team - Owner Operator. Pool/ Spa Service, Cleaning and Repair, Equipment Installation, Certified Pool Operator, Member IPSSA. East Valley Specialists. 480-369-4540 www.aclearchoicepools.com Many references Available. Licensed/Bonded/Insured ROC#283791

DM POOL SERVICE

And Estate Maintenance. Owner Operator. Weekly Pool Service. Equipment Repair. Filter Clean (all types). Household Repairs. Landscape Lighting. Many Other Services. $25 towards 1st Service or Repair. 480-295-2617. MyGoToPoolGuy.com

HENNESSY POOLS LLC

Tile Cleaning/Acid Wash. Vacation Service. Weekly Service & Repair. Filter Clean (All Types). Salt Systems. Sand Change. Green Pool Fix. FREE Estimates. Insured. $40 OFF Service, Repair or Filter Clean with Mention of this Ad. hennessypoolcare@yahoo.com, http://www.hennessypools.net/ 480-577-2719. Member of Home Advisor.

REAL ESTATE

RENTERS

Stop Paying Your Landlord’s Mortgage. Free Report Reveals How Easy it is to Buy Your Own Home. Free recorded message 1-800-495-0386 ID# 1001 Homelight Realty

Classifieds

ROOFING

THE ROOF MEDICS

Residential/Commercial. Repairs and Reroofing. Tile, Shingles, Flat, Walk-Decks. Licensed, Bonded, Insured. ROC #256001, K-42. 480-284-7338. www.theroofmedics.com

SEWER AND DRAIN

MASTER SEWER ROOTER

480-705-7772 SERVICE NOW!! 110% Guaranteed/100 Year Warranty. OWNER Operated, (Licensed, Bonded, Insured). 20% OFF Seniors/Military. A+ Rating with BBB, Chandler, Gilbert, Phoenix, AZ award winning. If it’s plumbing, we do it! 24-hour flood restoration services. Financing approval in minutes with NO MONEY DOWN & ZERO INTEREST.

SEWING MACHINE REPAIRS

SEWING MACHINE REPAIRS

You can watch while I repair your sewing machine in your home. Vintage or computerized. All makes. In business since 1968. Price includes trip & labor. Call John McAulay 480-897-0338.

WINDOW CLEANING

FISH WINDOW CLEANING

Fall is here and the HOLIDAYS are not far away, call 480-962-4688 now for your spot on our busy fall schedule. We will make your windows sparkle. Free onsite estimate, you do not have to be home.

JOHN’S WINDOW CLEANING

1-story $125 / 2-story $145 -inside and out up to 30 panes (add’l panes $2) Screens cleaned $2.50 per pane.Power Washing and Re-Screening available Same day Service (480) 201-6471

A new take on turkey

There are more ways to enjoy turkey than as part of the traditional mashedpotatoes-and-stuffing feast you’ve grown up with. That’s why Carlos Rodriguez, executive chef of Orinoco in Boston, reinterpreted a Latin American favorite to put a new spin on the season’s favorite dish.

“It’s turkey like you’ve never had it before,” Rodriguez said. “Barbecue meets Latin fusion, meets the best turkey sandwich you’ve ever had.”

Rodriguez’s inspiration comes from El Salvador. His Slow Roasted Turkey Con Pan with Sundried Tomato and Apricot Jam is based on a tender, savory Salvadoran favorite called “Panes con Pavo.”

This turkey is perfect for a crowd and serves 12, which is why Rodriguez uses the generously sized Culinario Series 16-quart Deep Roaster from Princess House to braise four full-sized turkey breasts.

“Not every roaster works for braising,” Rodriguez said, “but this one is perfect because of its depth, even heat distribution and glass lid.”

For other holiday cooking tips and a video of the recipe, visit princesshouse.com.

Slow Roasted Turkey Con Pan

6 tablespoons olive oil

4 teaspoons black peppercorns

4 teaspoons sesame seeds

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1/2 can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

10 cloves garlic

8 dried bay leaves

8 dry guajillo peppers

4 cups water, divided

6 bottles Latin beer

Culinario Series Healthy 16-quart Roaster with rack

4 large turkey breasts (about 8 pounds each), halved lengthwise salt, to taste

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

6 medium tomatoes, cored and chopped

1 small yellow onion, chopped

2 green bell peppers, cored, seeded and chopped

12 crusty Italian bread loaves (6 inches each), ends trimmed, halved lengthwise

1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced

2 bunches watercress

Sundried Tomato and Apricot Jam (recipe below)

In blender, puree oil, peppercorns, sesame seeds, oregano, chipotle peppers, garlic, bay leaves, guajillo peppers and 1 cup water.

In roaster, combine puree and beer. Add rack and enough water so that sauce just covers the top of the rack. Bring to a boil. Season turkey with salt and pepper and add to roaster on top of rack. Reduce heat to simmer, then cover and braise until turkey is tender, about 2 hours.

In blender, puree tomatoes, chopped onion, bell peppers and 1 cup water. Transfer turkey to plate (leave sauce in pot); let cool.

Add puree to sauce in pot; simmer over medium-high heat, stirring often, until thickened, about 45 minutes.

Where to Eat

Discard skin from turkey; tear meat into thick pieces. Stir turkey into sauce, reduce heat to low and cook 5 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Divide stew between loaves; garnish with sliced onions, watercress and jam.

Sundried Tomato and Apricot Jam

3 medium onions, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

2 cups dry white wine

1 cup sherry vinegar

1/2 cup packed dried apricots, thinly sliced

1 cup drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

In medium saucepan, cook onions, butter, sugar, salt, pepper and chipotle peppers, covered, over low heat, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and pale golden, about 30 minutes.

Add wine, vinegar, apricots and tomatoes and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally until thick, 20-30 minutes. Serve with turkey.

Note: Jam can be made in advance and stored in refrigerator.

Slow Roasted Turkey Con Pan is perfect for a crowd and serves 12.

Slow Roasted Turkey Con Pan

Chompie’s recognizing Jewish High Holidays

Chompie’s, Arizona’s New York Deli, recognizes the Jewish High Holidays with a Rosh Hashana dinner on Sunday, Oct. 2, a take-away menu, and a “Break The Fast” menu on Oct. 11 for Yom Kippur.

Rosh Hashana Dinner

5 p.m. to close Sunday, Oct. 2

$29.99 / adult - $14.99 / child under 10

The four-course dine-in menu includes a starter or chopped liver or gefilte fish, soup, an entrée choice of a half roasted chicken, braised brisket, salmon, or roasted breast of turkey. The entrée comes with a choice of potato and vegetable. The meal concludes with an assortment of holiday cake for dessert. These traditional dishes and

more are also available for take away. Guests can order items a la carte or family meals that serve eight people for $249.95 or 4 people for $129.95.

Yom Kippur “Break the Fast” Menu

Tuesday, Oct. 11, to Wednesday, Oct. 12

Chompie’s offers a “Break the Fast” menu for the end of the period of fasting accompanied with the holiday.

Chompie’s Break-the-Fast Yom Kippur Take-Out Menu includes gourmet smoked fish, homemade deli salads and fresh challah. Gluten-free-friendly dessert options are also available. Visit chompies.com to view the complete Chompie’s Break-the-Fast Yom Kippur menu.

Chompie’s is located in Chandler at 3481 W. Frye Rd. For more information, call 480-398-3008.

ONly AT ChiCk-Fil-A

Where to Eat

FREE CINNAMON STIX

WHERE KIDS EAT FREE

Chompie’s

3481 W. Frye Rd., 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 Rd., 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 Rd., 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 Rd., Suite 35, Chandler (480) 812-8433, www.floridinos.net

Kids eat free from 4 p.m. 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

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 aged 10 and younger eats free with each paying adult, while additional kids eat for 50 % off, when they order from the Wee Willy menu only.

Planet Sub

1920 W. Germann Rd., 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 Rd., 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 Rd., 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, “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