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Sept. 16 – Oct. 6, 2017 | www.SanTanSun.com

Chandler drug firm facing mounting legal woes BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Staff

Insys Therapeutics is in hot water over business practices related to its fentanyl-based Subsys pain reliever as the state of Arizona, health insurer Anthem and even a U.S. senator accuse the Chandler-based pharmaceutical company of misconduct. In a consumer fraud lawsuit filed in Superior Court, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office alleges that Insys engaged in a plot to defraud insurers and increase prescriptions and reimbursements for

Subsys by bribing doctors and providing misinformation to insurers regarding patient diagnoses. The allegations made by the state of Arizona mirror those presented in a lawsuit brought by Anthem and a report released recently by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. Subsys is an opioid pain reliever approved by the FDA for a narrow patient group. It is approved to treat breakthrough pain in cancer patients 18 years and older who have become tolerant to other opioid treatments and is a Schedule II

substance under the Controlled Substances Act. The Arizona lawsuit alleges that Insys misled healthcare providers in order to convince them that Subsys had additional FDA approvals in order to drive off-label use of the drug. Off-label refers to using an FDA-approved drug for an unapproved use. Off-label use of prescription drugs is not uncommon. According to the Food and Drug Administration, “Once the FDA approves a drug, health care providers generally may prescribe the drug for an unapproved use when they judge that it is

medically appropriate for their patient.” Because of its highly addictive properties, Subsys, along with other transmucosal immediate release fentanyl (TIRF) medications on the market, are highly regulated by the federal government. The state also claims Insys bribed doctors to increase Subsys prescriptions and disguised these bribes as “speaker fees” it paid to medical professionals to participate in educational events. According to the state, Insys sold nearly $52 million worth of Subsys between see

INSYS page 8

Furry victims of hurricane get aid from local woman

Mesa plans for light rail line to Chandler BY JIM WALSH Staff

BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

It won’t happen tomorrow, or probably even five years from now, but Mesa is looking into its long-term options for a second light rail line that would run through the Fiesta District and might even head to downtown Chandler someday. Mesa and Chandler caution that the possibility of any such line eventually opening depends on a lot of factors that are difficult to predict, such as the availability of financing and how Chandler develops in the future. A 2012 study identified a potential corridor for high-capacity transit, which could include anything from light rail to express bus service or even a streetcar, such as the streetcar project planned in downtown Tempe. A potential second light rail line would run south along Dobson Road from the Sycamore Valley Metro light rail station, turn east on Southern Avenue near Mesa Community College, pass Fiesta Mall and turn south on Country Club Drive. Phase 1 of such a project would likely see

Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer

Trolling in Chandler Lulu Bervin, 2, above, and Sky Damato, also 2, were among the dozens of children who came with their parents to family night at Tumbleweed Recreation Center Sept. 6 for an evening built around the animated film “Trolls.” They made troll hair headbands, crazy hair troll pencils, troll lollipops and other crafts related to the movie’s characters. While Lulu enjoys a non-troll lollipop, Sky watches how her mom cuts paper. For more photos, see page 44.

A Chandler woman is mobilizing volunteers as she embarks on a mission to save animals affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Becca Morgan hit Facebook late last month to ask for donations to help dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, cows and other critters stranded, injured and in need of help after the destructive hurricane slammed the Texas coast and part of Louisiana. People Morgan had never even met were quick to respond to her pleas to help and U-Haul provided a free storage unit in which she could store hay, equine feed, medical supplies and other goods for the animals in need. She said many Pet Club stores in the East Valley also made donations. Through her Facebook page, Morgan raised more than $5,000 to aid the animals, and a GoFundMe account she set up had taken in $770, as of September 11. She has been asking people to donate money or supplies to help animals. In order to support her efforts, people could drop off their donations at Shoppers Supply stores on South Alma School Road in Chandler and West Apache Trail in Apache

LIGHT RAIL page 7

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F E AT U R E STO R I E S Controversy mars taco street festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . community . . . . . . Page 10 Veterinarian takes over, renames Sun Lakes clinic . . . . . . . . . . business . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Chandler high school quarterbaks shine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sports . . . . . . . . . . . Page 27 CUSD helping homeless students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . neighbors . . . . . . . . Page 39 Greek Festival is all about food, dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eat . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 66

CLIP-IT ............................................................... Center Section

HURRICANE page 15 More Community . . . . . . 01-15 Business . . . . . . . . 16-26 Sport ......................27-34 Opinion . . . . . . . . 39-42 Neighbors . . . . . . 43-52 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . 53-56 Spirituality . . . . . 57-60 Classifieds . . . . . . 61-64 Where to Eat . . . 65-70

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LIGHT RAIL from page 1 end at Country Club and Baseline roads in Mesa. Phase II would potentially run down Arizona Avenue to downtown Chandler. The Alternatives Analysis study would consider several forms of transit. The Mesa City Council recently authorized $900,000 for the study, but Chandler officials have not decided whether they want to participate, at a cost of about $600,000. In 2019, Valley Metro would make a recommendation, including a route and the type of transit. No one has ever said light rail is cheap, although advocates cite its impact in curbing highway congestion and pollution and its role in encouraging high-density urban development. A Mesa council report estimated the city’s share of the cost for light rail operations during the 2017-18 fiscal year at $3.6 million. Jodi Sorrell, Mesa’s transit services director, said such major projects can take up to 15 years of planning. She noted that planning for the extension of light rail from Sycamore to Mesa Drive started in 2004 and the extension eventually opened in 2015. “We’re doing the preliminary work to see if it is feasible,’’ she said, so that Mesa has a potential project ready to go years from now if funding becomes available. With the presence of Banner Desert Medical Center, Mesa Community College and the Fiesta District, “we have

(Valley Metro)

Light rail expansion plans are shown in green for Phase 1 and purple for Phase 2. If completed, light rail or some other form of public transportation will reach Germann Road in Chandler.

more density, we have more bus ridership’’ that would make light rain a better

option sometime in the future. Sorrell is currently most concerned with the extension of light rail on the original corridor along Main Street, from Mesa Drive to Gilbert Road, a project now under construction and expected to open in spring 2019. Light rail would be a more startling development in suburban Chandler, which is taking a cautious approach toward mass transit. Buses will start running at 15-minute intervals along Arizona Avenue starting in October for most of the day, rather than just during the rush hours, said Dan Cook, city engineer. It might not sound like much, but at least that’s better than the current halfhour wait for a bus in Chandler during off-peak hours. More likely than not, mass transit would become more available in Chandler in stages, with the addition of more frequent buses or express buses before progressing to light rail, the most intense and expensive option, Cook said. He said the issue of participating in Mesa’s light rail alternatives study is still under discussion internally among Chandler officials and has not come before the Chandler City Council. “We don’t know if Chandler will ever meet the criteria in ridership to have light rail transit. We don’t know if we will every get there,’’ Cook said, noting the city’s lack of high-density development. “The concept of staging through it is probably the way to do it.’’ – Reach Jim Walsh at 480-898-5639 or at jwalsh@timespublications.com.

Police arrest Chandler man for child porn SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

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INSYS from page 1 March 2012 and April 2017. Sixty-four percent of those prescriptions came from three doctors – also named in the lawsuit – who received speaker fees from Insys. Those doctors – Sheldon Gingerich, Nikesh Seth and Steve Fanto – each wrote about 1,000 Subsys prescriptions each during that time. The number of Subsys prescriptions written by the doctors increased during the time they received payments from Insys, the state claims. The Anthem lawsuit contains many of the same allegations as the litigation brought by the state of Arizona, including that Anthem bribed doctors and deceived Anthem representatives in order to increase Subsys prescriptions and pre-authorizations. Anthem is attempting to recoup over $19 million in insurance payments that it claims paid for Subsys prescriptions that should not have been covered. The insurance company claims that Insys committed multiple unlawful acts – including bribery and fraud – in order to receive those payments, according to a criminal complaint filed by multiple Anthem subsidiaries in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. According to Anthem’s complaint, Insys engaged in a large-scale bribery effort to increase Subsys prescriptions. While Insys does admit it paid speaker fees to certain prescribers, it denies allegations that these payments were criminal or drove up off-label prescriptions. It also contends that many different types of physicians can treat breakthrough pain in cancer patients. The second major allegation levied by Anthem relates to the reimbursement unit mentioned in the state’s lawsuit. According to Anthem’s complaint, Insys used this reimbursement unit from 2013 to 2016 to lie or misrepresent facts to Anthem representatives about patient conditions and receive approvals for prescriptions that otherwise would not have been covered. Anthem prohibits anyone other than a member or a prescriber from making a pre-authorization request. Additionally, Anthem accused the reimbursement unit employees of making false statements, such as saying patient had a cancer diagnosis even if that wasn’t true, in order to gain pre-approvals. In its response, Insys confirms that it did have a reimbursement unit, which it called Patient Services Center. However, it claims that this unit was necessary because Anthem and other insurers created an intentionally arduous pre-authoriza-

tion process. The McCaskill report contains similar allegations that Insys employees participated in an illicit scheme to defraud insurance companies and increase Subsys prescriptions. The report stems from an investigation into the nationwide opioid crisis by McCaskill’s office that included wide-ranging document requests to Insys and other opioid producers related to marketing and sales practices. Fentanyl is a key contributor to the opioid epidemic with deaths involving fentanyl doubling between 2015 and 2016, according to McCaskill’s report. McCaskill’s report cites allegations that employees in Insys Reimbursement Center – charged by higher-ups with increasing pre-authorizations for Subsys by insurance providers – deceived insurers and their representatives through a variety of means, including lying about patient diagnoses. In lawsuits filed by Arizona and Oregon against Insys, both states contend that a large portion of pre-authorizations

Insys Therapeutics is in hot water with Congress, the state and a private insurer over business practices related to its fentanyl-based Subsys pain reliever.

against this company.” The report links those deceptive practices to the death of Sarah A. Fuller, a New Jersey woman who suffered from fibromyalgia and back pain and ultimately died due to reactions to prescription medications she was taking. Transcripts included in the McCaskill report show an Insys employee misrepresenting himself to an insurance company representative and following a script used

Special to SanTan Sun News

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., linked Insys’ business practices to the overdose death of a New Jersey woman.

sought for Subsys in those states – 67 percent in Arizona – were for patients without breakthrough cancer pain who were suffering from other issues like back pain. The report further alleges that Insys was aware of the problems in its pre-authorization unit and failed to take proper actions to correct them. “We thought that it was important to get this information out there,” McCaskill said in a press conference. “We’ll be sharing this information with law enforcement authorities and with anyone that we’re aware of that has current action

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

by Insys employees to mislead representatives about patients like Fuller who did not have a cancer diagnosis. In addition to OxyContin and Percocet, Fuller had been prescribed Subsys by Dr. Vivienne Matalon. Matalon continued to prescribe Subsys to Fuller despite directions to stop doing so after the patient was hospitalized on a previous occasion for health issues related to opiate use, according to medical records referenced in the report “During the 14-month period in which Ms. Fuller received Subsys treatment, Medicare paid as much as $24,000 per month

for the prescriptions,” the report reads. Neither Matalon nor an Insys representative informed Fuller that the drug was approved for breakthrough pain only in cancer patients. Matalon received $600 in payments from Subsys in 2015. “Although this amount pales in comparison to other payments physicians have received from the company, a clear link exists between even minimal manufacturer payments and physician prescribing practices,” the report states. Several former Insys executives, including former president and CEO Michael Babich, were indicted in 2016 on charges related to bribery and the actions of the reimbursement unit. That case is ongoing. The former head of Insys’ reimbursement unit, Elizabeth Gurrieri, pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge related to her role in fraudulent schemes used to gain authorizations from insurance companies. In response to McCaskill’s inquiry, current Insys CEO Saeed Motahari stated that the company has taken steps to impose ethical business standards and ensure compliance among its employees. He also stated that the company has turned over a large portion of its staff, including key management positions. McCaskill left the door open as to how the government could use the information her report uncovered. “As I indicated, I think this is the first thorough examination that has been done on sales and marketing techniques as it relates to opioid products, and I would prefer to wait and see what the rest of the investigation uncovers before making any determination if in fact there are any legislative fixes that would be appropriate,” she said. McCaskill also stated that the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veterans Affairs and the market itself could potentially play a role in preventing the continued use of deceptive sales and marketing practices by opioid producers.

Chandler group offers help for opiate addicts and their loved ones BY SRIANTHI PERERA Staff

Arizona lost 790 lives to opiate overdoses last year, so where do families in Chandler turn to for help? A grassroots pilot named Chandler IAM Project was launched by the community to help opiate addicts in need of counseling and treatment to find hope, support and resources. Every Tuesday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Chandler Presbyterian Church, 1900 S. Arrowhead Drive, volunteers from Chandler IAM will be available to

assess those who seek treatment and refer them to the program’s partners. Medical insurance, although helpful, isn’t mandatory to receive help. Among the treatment partners on a burgeoning list are Addiction Haven of Chandler; Valley Hope, based in Chandler and Tempe; Awakening Recovery Center of Tempe and Calvary Healing Center of Phoenix. “It’s neat to have the different components of the community involved,” said the Reverend Mike Japenga of the Chandler Presbyterian Church, himself a recovering addict and a licensed

substance abuse counselor with 15 years of experience. Japenga, Mariah Hile, business development manager of Aurora Behavioral Health Systems and Jason Hutchings, executive director of Awakening Recovery Center, will provide free assessments, give treatment recommendations and other appropriate help to begin a path to recovery. “The intent and hope for Chandler IAM project is to provide a safe, nonjudgmental place where community members, despite their background and financial status, they will be treated

with compassion and respect, and they’ll receive an evaluation and proper placement into appropriate treatment for opiates and opioids,” said Ted Huntington, community programs manager of Chandler Coalition Against Youth Substance Abuse. Huntington was speaking during the program’s ribbon cutting at the church recently, which was followed by a candlelight vigil organized by Addiction Haven in honor of those lost to overdoses. If the nonprofit program is successful, organizers said they plan to offer the see

OVERDOSES page 9

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

OVERDOSES from page 8 model to other communities in the East Valley. The Chandler IAM Project is named for 25-year-old Adam Melle of Gilbert, who died of an overdose in February 2016. Melle’s father, Randy, learned of the program after his son’s death and joined the cause after attending many of its meetings. “Through Adam’s drug addiction and through all the problems that our family faced, another door was open and it was a chance for me and my family to help other people who experience the same problems and nightmares that we went through,” said Melle, who is the designated treasurer and involved in fundraising. Dale Walters, assistant chief of Chandler Police Department said that he met with families on almost a weekly basis: “Desperate parents that were out of options on how to deal with their children. “They didn’t know what else to do,” he said. “They wanted to get them help. They didn’t have insurance; the kids were out of control. The kids wanted help but they didn’t know where to go. “Seeing that day-in and day-out is overwhelmingly depressing for any law enforcement officer because we are an organization of fixers – we try to fix stuff,” he added. Walters said the Chandler Police Department often partners with the community to overcome its challenges, and this is one such opportunity. “I realized early on this is not a problem we are going to be able to arrest our way out of,” he said. “We have to find a solution. The most holistic approach is a

Srianthi Perera/Staff

Above: Ted Huntington, community programs manager of Chandler Coalition Against Youth Substance Abuse, cuts the ribbon during the opening of the Chandler IAM project at Chandler Presbyterian Church. Right: Randy Melle, whose son Adam died of a drug overdose last year, gave an emotional speech about the loss of his son.

grassroots buildup where everybody gets involved.” The project began when Chandler Police Chief Sean Duggan, Ed Upshaw, Chandler Heights Substation commander, and CCYSA officials met a year and a half ago and began identifying ways to deal

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COMMUNITY NEWS

COMMUNITY NEWS 10

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Controversy follows wrestling troupe to Chandler street fest BY JIM WALSH Staff

An event organizer had no idea it was being offensive, or creating a controversy, when it advertised a performance by a Texas touring troupe called Extreme Midget Wrestling as part of the upcoming Rockin’ Taco Street Fest in downtown Chandler. The troupe’s name earned the Sept. 16 event the wrong kind of notoriety when the Phoenix Chapter of the Little People of America wrote a letter of protest to Warren White, Chandler’s Americans With Disabilities Act coordinator, saying it considers midget a derogatory term and asked that word be dropped from all advertising promoting the event. The letter also objected to the nature of the wrestling event, saying it stereotypes and demeans little people – also known medically as dwarfs, who suffer from genetic disorders – turning them into a spectacle. The little people are generally about 2 feet, 8 inches to 4 feet, 8 inches tall. “As officers of the Little People of America organization at local, district and national levels, we condemn the use of the ‘M word,’ as it is denigrating, dehumanizing and humiliating to little people everywhere,” the letter said. “We are committed to stop the use of the ‘M word’ wherever possible, and to raise awareness to prevent events that objectify, humiliate and denigrate Little

People.” The event organizer, HDE Agency of Phoenix, decided to drop the M-word from all advertising and promotional material after the city notified the Downtown Chandler Association, the event’s sponsor, that it had received a complaint. “We understand there are terms that can be offensive and we don’t want to be insensitive to that,” said Matt Burdick, a city spokesman. Although Chandler issued a permit for the event, the sponsor and organizer are ultimately responsible for the types of entertainment offered, he said. Jen Pruett, a spokeswoman for HDE, said her company had no idea that it would offend anybody by repeating the troupe’s name in advertising. She said the troupe was a substitute for another wrestling show that was popular last year but unavailable this year. “We have been promoting it like it’s a band that is performing,” Pruett said. “We didn’t mean to offend anyone with the wording.”’ “We’re not jerks, we get it. We are doing everything we can to correct it,” she said. Pruett said her company has already paid the wrestling group in advance and has decided not to cancel the performance. A contact person for Center Stage Entertainment, which operates the troupe, gave a brief statement before he disconnected a telephone call from a

reporter. “There’s no controversy. We’re just people trying to do a job,” the company spokesman said, adding that the little people who work as touring wrestlers are not on welfare and that the shows are fun and entertaining. The troupe’s website said they also are performing in Page and Globe during their tour of Arizona. The wrestlers have provocative names, such as “Baby Jesus” and “Red Neck Brawler.” Edward Myers, president of the Valley of the Sun chapter of Little People of America, said he was pleased to see the M-word dropped from the advertising, even if he still considers the event distasteful. “I see it as a derogatory term. It offends me,” Myers said. “I’ve found it creates an environment that is very hostile.” – Reach Jim Walsh at Extreme Midget Wrestling 480-898-5639 or at The Phoenix Chapter of the Little People of America is protesting jwalsh@timespublications. the Extreme Midget Wrestling show at the Rockin' Taco Street com. Fest, saying it's derogatory.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Uber, Gateway Airport at odds, leaving drivers out of the mix BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY

Staff

Uber drivers operating in Mesa will need to steer clear of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport for the foreseeable future or risk receiving a citation from Mesa police officers. The issue stems from airport ground-transportation rule changes adopted by the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority board of directors late last year. These rules allowed ride-sharing services to operate at the airport but required companies like Uber and Lyft to first agree to an operating agreement. Uber has not agreed to an operating agreement with Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, but drivers with the ride-sharing service continue to operate on airport grounds. Because of that steady activity, the airport made the decision to ask Mesa police to issue trespassing citations to Uber drivers operating at the airport beginning on Sept. 1. “We want to make sure we know who is picking up and dropping off passengers at our airport,” said Ryan Smith, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway director of communications and government relations. “It is a safety issue.” The FAA and federal statutes require businesses operating at airports to have written permission from the facility’s executive director, Smith said. Airport operating agreements are normal. Uber has operating agreements in place at 300 airports across the country,

Special to SanTan Sun News

Lyft signed an agreement with Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, but Uber has failed to follow suit.

including Phoenix Sky Harbor. Among other rules, the agreement allows Sky Harbor to charge a $3.25 fee for Uber pickups at the airport. Lyft signed an agreement with Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport shortly after the new rules went into effect there. The agreement includes insurance requirements and levies a $2 fee on all rides, Smith said. It also requires Lyft to maintain cer-

tain licensing requirements and operate background checks while ensuring drivers maintain cleanliness and abide by airport rules and regulations. “Lyft agreed almost immediately after the board passed (the new rules) and has done very well. (Lyft) drivers are doing thousands of rides a month,” Smith said. The trespassing citations will be issued to drivers, not Uber. “(Citations) will go to the driver, which

is unfortunate because they are stuck in the middle of this,” Smith said. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Uber have remained engaged in ongoing conversations about both entering into an agreement and communicating to drivers that they are not permitted to operate at the airport. It is unlikely the two sides will reach an agreement in the near future, Smith said.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Around Chandler Family upset at plea deal in Chandler police ofﬁcer’s 2010 slaying

A man charged in the killing of a Chandler police officer during a 2010 undercover drug bust has been sentenced to prison, and the officer’s family is upset with the plea deal. Doarnell Jackson was sentenced to a 30year term for second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit possession of marijuana for sale. He also was sentenced to four years of probation for aggravated assault and misconduct involving weapons. Chandler police Detective Carlos Ledesma was part of a team involved in an undercover drug operation gone wrong in south Phoenix. The Ledesma family and members of the Chandler Police Department were unhappy with the deal, saying Jackson should have faced a stiffer sentence. Ledesma’s widow, Sherry, told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Brad Astrowski, “30 years is not enough.”

Alamo giving free admission to military, ﬁrst responders, EMTs

Members of the military as well as local firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service technicians can enjoy free movies at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 4955 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, throughout September. The company called it “a token of enormous gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our military members and local first responder we want to give back with the gift of free movies.” One ticket per visit is allowed and a valid professional ID or badge is required to claim the free ticket. The offer is valid for any first-run film

any day, any time but does not include new Disney films or special event programming.

Chandler Mayor Tibshraeny slates listening tour at Galveston

Residents can join Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny during his Listening Tour 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Galveston Elementary School, 661 E. Galveston St., Building B, off north Hamilton Street. The mayor’s remarks will begin at 7 p.m. Residents will have the opportunity to meet the mayor, council members, Neighborhood Advisory Committee members and staff from all city departments, including Chandler Police and Fire, Health and Medical. Tables will be set up to feature a variety of topics including: what you love about Chandler; building community and how to get involved; trash, recycling and alleys; neighborhood code and pet issues; public safety and crime; and street and sidewalk repairs. Residents are encouraged to visit each table to discuss any concerns they have and staff will be available to share answers. Also, the city’s new graffiti removal vehicle, Eli (the mascot) and the tool trailer will be on display. The tool trailer is available for residents to use during a neighborhood cleanup event. Information on how to check it out will be provided by Neighborhood Resources staff. Information: 480-782-4348.

Golf tournament in Sun Lakes to beneﬁt Feed My Starving Children

Wouldn’t it be great to help feed starving children around the world simply by playing golf with friends and family? You can, by joining the seventh annual Light of Christ Feed My Starving Children Golf

Day Sept. 30 at Cottonwood Country Club in Sun Lakes. The four-person scramble starts at 7:30 a.m. The cost is $99 per person, which includes golf/cart, range balls, luncheon and the opportunity to win door prizes and silent auction items. Deadline to enter is Sept. 20 and is limited to 120 golfers. Information: 480-899-1400.

Robson Library offering stories, history, computer instruction

Several educational and entertaining programs are going on this month at Ed Robson Library in Sun Lakes. “Battle of Britain: July 1940” will take place at 1 p.m. Sept. 21. Seemingly invincible, Adolf Hitler’s Luftwaffe paved the way for Germany’s conquest of Poland, Denmark, Norway, the Low Countries and France in just eight months is until it met the Royal Air Force in the skies over Britain. Herb Zinn presents a look at this pivotal battle of World War II. People can start taking their seats 15 minutes before the program begins and the audience is limited to 100 attendees. “It’s a Mystery to Me: Storytime for Grownups” is at 1 p.m. Sept. 25. If you love to know “whodunit,” then you might want to check out this grownup story time featuring a short story or two. Participants can bring a lunch or snack to eat while they listen to someone read to them. “Computer Basics: the Internet” will be offered at 10 a.m. Sept. 28. Attendees can learn the basic skills needed to navigate the Internet. The program is for beginners, but it’s recommended students have keyboard and mouse skills. Registration in advance is

required. The class is limited to 10 people. Storytime Saturday! takes place at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30. Youths will engage in fun activities with books, action-rhymes, songs, ﬂannel boards, crafts and more tools. The event is developmentally appropriate for those ages 3-6 but people of all ages are welcome. No registration is required. Ed Robson Library is at 9330 E. Riggs Road. Information: 602-652-3000 or visit mcldaz.org.

Ladies Community Chit and Chat Group to meet in Sun Lakes

The Ladies Community Chit and Chat Group will meet for breakfast at Oakwood Country Club in the alcove of the Stone and Barrel Restaurant at 25379 E. Robson Blvd., Sun Lakes at 9 a.m. Oct. 4. All women in the greater Chandler area and other communities are invited to attend. “We want to learn about you and you learn about us.” the club said in a release. “Share your ideas and talents with new friends and old friends. Talk about memories, accomplishments family or a loss. Find solutions to everyday problems, frustrations and maybe even conquer updates on computer and technology usage and answers to trusts, health issues, and everyday difficulties and investment knowledge and home safety.” Attendees will order off the menu and it is set up so that each person will be able to pay for their own breakfast. For reservations, information or questions: Rose Pachura at480802-0775 or email sandyyokobosky@gmail. com. RSVP is needed by Oct. 1 or call 480see

AROUND CHANDLER page 14

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Around Chandler AROUND CHANDLER from page 13

Neighborhoods will be honored with People’s, Mayor’s Choice awards

802-0775 for needed time for RSVP.

Chandler restaurants offering chance to ﬁght cancer

People can go out to lunch and dinner at several diverse restaurants in Chandler this month and help a campaign aiming to end childhood cancer. Throughout the rest of September, many restaurants will participate in Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Time to Shine campaign. As it is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, money collected through Time to Shine will provide health, treatment and hope at the hospital’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Jason’s Deli is selling Time to Shine bracelets and giving customers a chance to donate to the cause at 7230 W. Ray Road. Papa John’s customers can use the code “PCH” and get 40 percent off their online order and the restaurant will contribute 10 percent of proceeds to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Chandler has Papa John’s restaurants at 1100 N. Alma School Road and 4980 W. Ray Road. Sauce Pizza & Wine will donate all money from kids meals sold through Sept. 17 to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Also, customers can add donations at the register if they like. A Sauce Pizza & Wine in Chandler is at 2551 W. Queen Creek Road. Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt has launched its Time to Shine ﬂavor of the month, cake batter. It’s also selling Time to Shine bracelets and icons, as well as allowing customers to donate to the cause at the register. A Zoyo in Chandler is at 5055 W. Ray Road, Suite 7. Information: phoenixchildrensfoundation. org/critical-needs/time-to-shine.

Neighborhoods that go above and beyond trying to boost public safety are going to be recognized at an event in Chandler. During the kick-off event for 2017 G.A.I.N. (Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods), the winners of the City of Chandler’s Neighborhood Excellence Awards will be announced. The public will have voted online for the neighborhood it wants to honor for the People’s Choice Award while Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny will have picked the neighborhood for the Mayor’s Choice Award. These neighborhoods were nominated for awards: Cooper Commons HOA; Fox Crossing HOA; Fulton Homes HOA; Hamilton Park HOA; Lagos Vistoso HOA; Mission Valley neighborhood; Sun Groves HOA; The Springs HOA; and Willis Ranch Unit 1 HOA. The awards salute neighborhoods for their commitment to building community by getting involved in the annual G.A.I.N. events, which unite neighbors and support public safety. The gatherings heighten neighborhood involvement and develop future leaders. The People’s Choice and the Mayor’s Choice awards winners will be announced at the beginning of the G.A.I.N. event at 10 a.m. Sept. 23 in the community room at the Chandler Police Department, 250 E. Chicago St. Information: 480-782-4348.

QC, Chandler mayors on state board advocating for cities Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney was elected to the executive committee of the

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Italian dinner will raise money for the National Ataxia Foundation

People can dine on pizza, pasta and other Italian food while helping people with a neurological disease at an event Oct. 7. Italian Night For A Cure, a fundraiser dinner for ataxia awareness, will take place at Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta at 590 N. Alma School Road. A meet-and-greet starts at 5 p.m. and dinner begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for pasta, bread, salad and a drink. Diners can purchase rafﬂe tickets for a chance to win prizes including Disney Park Hopper passes and a one-night stay at The Phoenician Resort, with proceeds going to the National Ataxia Foundation. Ataxia is a degenerative disease of the nervous system, where people have a lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements including walking and picking up objects. Reservations for the dinner are recommended and can be made by calling Mary Fuchs at 480-212-6425

or by visiting ataxia.donorpages. com/2017ItalianNightForACure.

St. Andrew’s The Apostle Catholic Church holding boutique

St. Andrew’s The Apostle Catholic Church in Chandler is having its 27th Annual Unique Boutique Nov. 9-12. The event kicks off with a preview dinner night that Carrabba’s Italian Grill will cater at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the church, 3450 W. Ray Road. Tickets cost $10 each and are being sold after Mass on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning Oct. 14 and through Nov. 5. Tickets for the dinner must be purchased ahead of time. The boutique will be open from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11 and from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 12. More than 50 vendors will be selling handmade crafts, along with foods and rafﬂe baskets. Rafﬂe tickets cost $1 each or six can be bought for $5. Information: standrew-cfc.org.

Secretary of State Reagan to speak about voter registration

Secretary of State Michele Reagan will speak on voter registration and voter outreach at the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, 25 S. Arizona Place, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Sept. 22. Reagan’s efforts to digitize the state bureaucracy have earned her a leading role on the National Election Cybersecurity Task Force as a member of the Association of Secretaries of State as well as the Executive Board of the Lieutenant Governor’s Association. Guests should register at chandlerchamber.com/calendar.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

HURRICANE from page 1 Junction. The collection deadline for that drop-off spot has passed, but people can still make donations through Facebook and GoFundMe. Morgan has organized at least 25 volunteers to drive to areas that she said “don’t have help coming to them,” including places outside Houston. “I’m finding people that are like, ‘Nobody’s coming to me. I have this friend down the road; they rescued this horse. They don’t know what to do with it,’” she said. “I get someone to pick the horse up who can get supplies to them.” “There’s so many animals that really need it,” added Morgan, a full-time student at Phoenix College and mother of two very young boys. “Not only do they need feed; they sit in water for so long they develop river rot. You can see their skin falling off. A lot of the animals are dealing with shock.” Her efforts have helped get about 3,000 pounds in dog and cat food, and about 5,000 in equine feed donated to animals, but she said “that’s only a dent in what they need.” People close to her Chandler home and around the Valley have offered to take supplies to Texas, using their own money for gas and travel expenses. Any leftover money collected after the animals’ needs are met will go to reimburse the volunteers, Morgan said. “Seeing horses and animals underwater, rescue missions, obviously all their feed is gone, everything is gone,” she said. “That was my motivation. I get calls; they’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, thank you;’ they’re super-ecstatic. It keeps me going.” What also keeps her motivated is the tremendous support from strangers. When a truck headed to drop off donations in

Texas broke down and got stranded in San Antonio, a woman donated money to pay for repairs. The auto mechanic shop also lowered the cost to help the volunteer get the vehicle fixed and get back on the road. A lover of furry friends, Morgan has rescued many animals on her own over the years and has two horses and three dogs as pets. Studying to become a certified medical billing and coding assistant while raising a 2-and-a-half-year-old boy, Gavin; and six-month-old boy, Lathan, with her husband is hectic. But having support from her husband, Anthony Pasceri, allows her to take time to communicate with volunteers and organize the outreach. “My husband has been the most patient man that has ever existed,” Morgan said. “He is definitely my partner and my rock. I could not make any of this happen without him, especially with the kids.” While Morgan is showing her love for animals, many other people in the East Valley are jumping on the bandwagon to help humans hurt by the hurricane. The Event Team, a corporate team building company with offices in Chandler and Austin, Texas, sent one truck to Katy, Texas, and two to Dickinson, Texas, with supplies for those in crisis. Various resorts in the Valley donated towels, shampoo, soap and other toiletries. WAXIE Sanitary Supply in Mesa contributed cleaning supplies and individual donors gave toiletries, clothes, shoes and animal supplies. All the donations were taken straight to neighborhoods where people needed the items, said Rowan Pickering, owner of The Event Team. Pickering of Queen Creek drove with his 15-year-old son, Landon, to Texas, as did Gilbert resident Amber Syfu, who Rowan said came up with the plan to help those

Special to SanTan Sun News

The Event Team in Chandler sent trucks full of donations to help people recover from Hurricane Harvey in Texas. The company’s owner, as well as several volunteers, drove the donations to Katy and Dickinson, Texas. Pictured here are (from left): Landon Pickering of Queen Creek (son of The Event Team owner Rowan Pickering), volunteer K.C., Rowan Pickering, Amber Syfu of Gilbert, Tina and Arnold of Dickinson; and, in back, Dale DeGrand of Gilbert.

impacted by the hurricane. Three trucks, provided by Enterprise Truck Rental, that were 26-feet-long carried 10,000 towels, 5,000 soaps and 5,000 shampoos, among other items to Texans, Rowan said. The recipients of the donations were “just extremely grateful,” he said. “They were so positive in helping unload everything,” Rowan said. “We had these teenagers that were absolutely amazing and inspiring. It was great.” The Event Team also teamed up with a Two Men and a Truck office in Mesa to collect diapers, feminine hygiene products, cleaning supplies and other items collected at The Event Team’s warehouse on September 6 on North San Marcos Place. A 26-foot box truck with supplies headed to Dickinson to drop off

supplies at a relief center. Jennifer Merkel, marketing coordinator for Two Men and a Truck in Mesa, North Phoenix and Tucson, said the company’s tagline is “movers who care.” “We truly believe in giving back to the community,” Merkel said. “Whenever we can help the community, we are more than happy to.” The Two Men and a Truck at 1916 S. Gilbert Road is also working with its affiliates in the areas affected by the hurricane to help them recover. To make donations to help animals in need affected by the hurricane, visit facebook.com/donate/1885827485001035/ or the GoFundMe account at gofundme. com/hurricaneharveyanimals.

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Business

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler’s OnTrac expands with second Valley facility BY DAVID M. BROWN Contributor

The future of delivery is on track with this Chandler-based firm. OnTrac has opened its second Valley facility – its third statewide. A specialist in small-parcel delivery services, OnTrac serves more than 60 million consumers through 29 facilities in seven Western states (in addition to Arizona): California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, and Idaho. The new West Valley location more than doubles the size of the first in Phoenix. “Our new facility will allow OnTrac to continue to service the needs of the West Valley and grow with the community,” said Matthew Fagnano, general manager. “Altogether, we now have more than 200,000 square feet overall and are planning additional expansions with an eye always toward the future.” The company also has a Tucson site. OnTrac comprises three divisions based on service offerings; overnight, messenger and international. More than 3,000 employees work in operations and administrative positions, and 4,000-plus service providers contract as independent owner operators, independent delivery companies or independent contractors for the deliveries. “We have become a top choice for e-commerce and companies looking to speed up parcel distribution without the cost of express shipping,” explained Rob Humphrey, president. His administrative team includes Tom Fischer, chief financial officer, and Rick

Photos special to SanTan Sun News

Ontrac executives cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the Chandler company’s second facility in the county.

Chase, chief administrative officer. “Some large customers ship truckloads of packages to OnTrac sort centers, and shippers with less than truckload volumes have their packages picked up by various service providers who bring the packages to an OnTrac facility,” Humphrey said. “Once these packages arrive at an OnTrac facility, they are sorted according to

destination and the shipper’s desired service level or delivery date. When the packages arrive at the destination OnTrac sort center, the packages are delivered in priority service order by local service providers.” Companies such as OnTrac are constantly challenged to reduce delivery transit times, especially in this era of enhanced home-delivery services, led by

e-commerce companies. “OnTrac has a same-day delivery service, but for now most of OnTrac’s volume is set for delivery the next day or overnight,” Humphrey said. OnTrac was founded in California in 1991 as California Overnight. Operations see

ONTRAC page 17

Veterinarian opens Sun Lakes Chandler Animal Clinic SANTAN NEWS STAFF

Dr. Ashley Greenway was only 8 years old when she decided what she wanted to be when she grew up. “I always loved animals growing up,” she said. “I got my first cat Smokie at the age of 8, and always knew this is what I wanted to do since then.” “This” was becoming a veterinarian. And now, the Nebraska native owns bought Sun Lakes Animal Clinic, which she from the estate of Dr. Randy Walker, the late veterinarian with whom she worked. She has now renamed the business the Sun Lakes Chandler Animal Clinic. After graduating from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009, Greenway moved to Arizona in search of warmer weather and outdoor activities. She practiced in Chandler before she made her way to the Sun Lakes clinic in 2014, working there for last three years as an associate at the clinic. An Ahwatukee resident who lives with her husband, Jeff, three dogs and two cats, Greenway looked at Sun Lakes as an ideal place for her practice. “I love my clients and people in this area, so decided I didn’t want to leave the

area, so we bought the practice,” she said. “The practice is actually a lot closer to Chandler than people realize. “A lot of our Ocotillo clients comment how close the clinic is to them. So, we changed the name from Sun Lakes Animal Clinic, to Sun Lakes Chandler Animal Clinic to reflect the areas we serve. “ She has already made several improvements, including incorporating new technology into the clinic, such as digital radiography, laser therapy and inhouse lab work. Also, the clinic is working on its Cat Friendly Certification and has already incorporated separate entrances, waiting room areas, exam rooms and treatment areas to minimize stress for cats during visits. “We provide many aspects of care from puppy/kittenhood through senior pets from wellness exams and vaccines, pets with allergies or other skin conditions, to dentistry, surgery (spay and neuter, mass removals, and many other soft tissue and abdominal surgeries), and laser therapy for management of many painful or inflammatory conditions,” she said. Greenway has received extensive continuing education and training in the field of dentistry and safe anesthesia.

Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer

Dr. Ashley Greenway and her husband, Jeff, had a zoo of their own at home that consists of three dogs and two cats.

She also had to surmount a learning curve setting up shop, including “the endless paperwork and signing away your

life on every document you sign.” “With any change in ownership, it is see

VET page 17

BUSINESS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

VET FROM page 16 difficult to make any changes,” she said. “On one hand, you know that what you are doing will benefit your patients and clients, but some people don’t like to see change and refuse to see it for the betterment of their pets.” Her practice is limited solely to dogs

Left: President Rob Humphrey, Center: Tom Fischer, chief financial officer and Right: Rick Chase, chief administrative officer.

ONTRAC FROM page 16 began that February in South San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles. In 1999, the corporate headquarters relocated to Phoenix, and in 2008, with the company expanding beyond California, the name became OnTrac to promote the company’s “On Time Delivery for Less.” The headquarters moved to Chandler in September 2013. OnTrac continues to expand and hone its services. In 2014, it debuted DirectPost, becoming the first regional logistics company to offer a USPS Package Consolidation Service. Combining the speed of OnTrac Ground with the last-mile delivery network of the U.S. Postal Service, the program allows shipments to bypass steps in the USPS mailstream; instead, the packages are injected directly into local destination USPS facilities. “OnTrac picks up the package from customers, and the post office delivers it, giving our customers faster access and guaranteed delivery through the USPS

without the additional cost of ground delivery,” Humphrey said. “Plus, our end-toend tracking capabilities means you know exactly when your shipment will arrive.” In addition, OnTrac and American Barcode & RFID are partnering to transition to the touch-friendly Android devices for use in their facilities. “This means less reading errors and faster sortation, an important factor when speed and efficiency are the main components for generating and increasing revenue,” Humphrey said. As with many service companies, the future is automation at OnTrac. Next year, for example, OnTrac plans to fully automate its Fontana, California, facility, opened this June. When implemented, the site will be able to move 35,000 packages an hour, that is, a package will move through the almost 600,000-square-foot facility, from unload to load, in about three and a half minutes. “Automation reduces human error and allows faster processing,” Humphrey said, “so OnTrac will continue to become even more efficient in the future.”

I always loved animals “growing up. I got my ﬁrst cat Smokie at the age of 8, and always knew this is what I wanted to do since then.

”

– Dr. Ashley Greenway and cats and believes her technological improvements and bedside manner will give her an edge in a competitive industry. “It has gotten more so,” she said of the competitive field in which she works. “We just focus on why we are here: because we love what we do, we love our patients and clients, and we hope that people can see the passion we have for every pet we see,” she said, adding: “We also focus on what we are best at: dentisty/surgery and anesthetic safety, pain management, and treating each pet like it was our own. We do a great job taking care of each pet and hope that people will see that.”

Dr. Ashley Greenway owns Sun Lakes Chandler Animal Clinic, which she bought in July from her former associate’s estate.

When she is not busy treating cats and dogs, Greenway enjoys hiking with her husband and dogs, traveling, swimming, and watching football. The clinic is at 9607 E. Riggs Road on the corner of Riggs and Dobson roads in Sun Lakes. Information: 480-895-7633, slcac.com.

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Wisdom teeth are almost certain to cause problems if left in place. This is particularly true of impacted wisdom teeth, such problems may occur suddenly and often at the most inconvenient time. While the kids are out for summer vacation, there couldn’t be a better time to take care of this preventative procedure. The average mouth does not have room for the third molars, also known as “wisdom teeth,” to come in properly. These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems such as swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. The pressure from the wisdom teeth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic of natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. It is now recommended that impacted wisdom teeth be removed early to prevent these problems. Most commonly we remove wisdom teeth between the ages of 14 and 22 years whether they are causing problems or not. The procedure is technically easier and patients recover much quicker when they are younger. What is a relatively minor procedure at 20 can become quite difficult in patients as they get older. Also, the risk of complications increases with age and the healing process is slower. We utilize the latest technologies and techniques to make your procedure go smoother and your healing process faster. For a consultation, please call Dr. Shah or Dr. Nguyen at 480.814.9500. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Board Certified, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

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* Average tuition after scholarships is approximately $8,600. Scholarships may be awarded based on 6th semester transcripts. At the time in which final, official transcripts are received, GCU reserves the right to rescind or modify the scholarship if it is determined that eligibility was not achieved. GCU reserves the right to decline scholarship awards for any reason. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. GCU reserves the right to change scholarship awards at any time without notice. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. Prices based on 2016-17 rate and are subject to change. ** Housing and meal plan rate includes triple occupancy, suite-style residence hall and $1,350 Dining Dollars, plus applicable sales tax as required by state law. Prices reflect 2016-17 and are subject to change. The information printed in this material is accurate as of May 2017. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www. gcu.edu/academics/academic-policies.php For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who complete the program, and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission.org/). GCU, while reserving its lawful rights in light of its Christian mission, is committed to maintaining an academic environment that is free from unlawful discrimination. Further detail on GCU’s Non-Discrimination policies can be found at gcu.edu/titleIX. ©2017 Grand Canyon University 17GTR0279

BUSINESS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Chandler craftsman encourages youth to learn trade BY MELODY BIRKETT Contributor

Walking into a museum, it’s easy to be mesmerized with the art, artifacts and other items of historic and scientific significance. What’s easy to ignore are the displays. The man behind many of these displays at Valley museums is Chris Valenti, owner and CEO of CK Valenti Designs. He started his business in 2004 and runs it with his wife, Kate. Nestled in the heart of Chandler, near Arizona Avenue and Warner Road, the company employs six people. In addition to museum displays, Valenti and his staff produce custom cabinetry, furniture for residential and commercial offices, coffee tables, sofa tables, kitchens and built-in entertainment centers. For almost 14 years, Valenti has been using his engineering background to make creative custom designs. “I grew up in Queens, New York,” said Valenti. “My father was a union carpenter so that’s how I got into residential construction. I went to college at New York Institute of Technology in Manhattan.” From there, Valenti received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He moved to Arizona in 2000 and worked for a semiconductor company for five years. Valenti said it was a great job and position but he got bored at a desk job. That’s when he decided to go into business for himself. “Our focus now is in the commercial world and museums,” said Valenti. “We got into the museum world via Scottsdale Museum of the West. That was our first major

project over three years ago.” Valenti said he provided “pedestals, modular walls, enclosures, all different types of displays, acrylic displays. Basically, almost every piece in that museum is something we did that’s holding artwork.” “From there we moved into the River of Time Museum working for them. That’s in Fountain Hills. It’s a small museum that’s actually in the city library. We’ve done some interactives for them.” Interactives are usually geared for kids. It’s a display where buttons are pushed and something happens, such as a motor turning. “That museum is focused around on how water gets to the Valley,” said Valenti. “So, we did water interactives for them to kind of show where it starts and how it pumps.” “We actually did a mini-me version of the fountain where they push a button and it shoots a water stream up. It’s a scaled down version of their fountain,” Valenti said, referring to the fountain in the center of Fountain Hills that can shoot water up to 560 feet. “We did work for Ziegler Fiesta Bowl Museum which is up in Scottsdale by the waterfront,” added Valenti. “So they have about 130 college football helmets, and we put them on floating shelves and then we set them up with a kiosk that holds a tablet so you can go and pick your college team and it’ll play a fight song and light up the helmet with an LED. So that’s pretty cool.” Valenti also did the display for the Heard Museum “Beauty Speaks to Us” ex-

Melody Birkett/Contributor

Chandler business owner Chris Valenti hopes a contest he is starting for school children will inspire some to learn a trade.

hibition in Phoenix. “And that was focused on pottery, jewelry, rugs.” For the Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera exhibit at the Heard Museum, Valenti provided a few runway platforms for mannequins and fake planters for flowers. “This exhibit we did for them was kind of new because each pedestal had four pieces of glass that have no glue in the seams…So it’s kind of new to the art world somewhat and it was new to the Heard,” Valenti said. “They have never done something like this

before. So there was some engineering behind it.” That engineering involves microchip technology. Valenti uses microchips to build a prototype for a museum or a company. “We will give them a proposal, based on what they told us and then we will start the drafting phase where we’ll do renderings, 3D renderings, to show what it looks like,” Valenti said. “We don’t build anything without approved renderings and samples.” Once that process is complete and stored on a microchip, the company can show the renderings to the client. “It’s a plug-and-play display where they’re up and running in less than a minute and they can showcase what their products do,” explained Valenti. Eventually, Valenti hopes he can employ a crew to go on location in other states. For now, he ships products, including microchips. One of the biggest challenges Valenti faces is finding skilled craftsmen. Many high school students are college bound and aren’t learning the trade, according to Valenti. In an effort to encourage middle school students to get into his trade, his company is hosting its first annual “Break Out of the Box” Challenge starting Oct. 20. In this free design/build challenge, registered students in grades 6-8 will be given a set of instructions along with a box of materials. They’ll have two weeks to complete the challenge and will be awarded prizes based on craftsmanship, creativity and execution. More info is at ckvalentidesigns.com/breakout2017/ Photos of Valenti’s work can be viewed at ckvalentidesigns.com.

Attention Back Pain and Sciatica Sufferers: Back by Request...

Back Pain and Sciatica Workshop Reveals How to Naturally Heal Back Pain and Sciatica For Good... To the person suffering with low back pain, If you or a loved one suffer from chronic low back pain or sciatica, so bad that it can even stop you from walking - then attending this exclusive workshop may be the most important thing you do this year. It may unlock the agonizing mystery of your pain and show you a way to get back to the life you deserve... • A life where you can sleep at night without tossing and turning, hoping to find a position where the pain stops. • Wake up in the morning and not take 20 minutes to get out of bed...free from a back so stiff and tight. • Pick up and play with your kids without worrying if your back is going to “go out” and leave you on the floor in pain. • And best of all...a life WITHOUT the curse of low back pain, taking pills or visiting the doctor! If you’ve been let down by the advice you’ve so far received, even skeptical about what can be done to help you, then read on because I have a better option that you might have overlooked... My name is Shaheen Siddiqui, low back pain specialist, and I have been helping people live with much less back pain for more than a decade now...that’s why I decided to host a FREE Lower Back Pain and Sciatica Workshop here at Crossroads Orthopedic Physical Therapy (inside of Smart Fit Studio in Chandler) on Saturday, September 23, from 1:00-2:00p.m.

• Do you suffer with back pain or leg pain when you stand or walk? • Do you have pain when you sit for long periods or drive? • Do you experience pain, numbness or tingling into your butt, groin, or down your leg? • Are you afraid the pain will get worse if you don’t do anything about it? If you have answered YES to any of the above questions (or have a stubborn spouse who is in denial) - the Lower Back and Sciatica Workshop may be a life changing event for you...

FREE Lower Back Pain & Sciatica Workshop Saturday, September 23, 1:00-2:00p.m.

If you’re confused about what to do and looking for answers, here’s some of what you’ll learn: • The Single Biggest #1 Mistake back pain and sciatica sufferers make which actually stops them from healing • The 3 most common causes of Lower Back Pain and Sciatica • A sure fire way to pick the right treatment for the cause of your pain (and save you a ton of time and money) How Do I Register for the Lower Back Pain and Sciatica Workshop? Call our office to register at 480772-7532. When you register, we will mail you the Lower Back Pain and Sciatica Worksheet which you will bring with you to the event. We only have 18 seats available for the event...so be sure to register now..call 480-772-7532. How Much Is It to Attend? Nothing...the event is FREE! All attendees of the Lower Back Pain and Sciatica Workshop will receive a Special Report: “The Top 10 Burning Questions for Sciatica.”

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

BUSINESS

2 Chandler firms nominated for Carey School honors algorithms to identify emerging trends in online fraud and identify email addresses Two Chandler companies are among that fall into those trends. the 16 finalists for the 21st annual Spirit of The business currently works with Enterprise Awards, a program from Arizona Fortune 500 companies and has offices in State University’s W. P. Carey School of the U.K. and Brazil. Business that recognizes excelling businesses “(Emailage) is unique, innovative and and individuals from across Arizona. not something that is currently out there,” Both Chandler businesses — Print.Save. said Tara Montoya, program manager of Repeat and Emailage — are nominated the Center for Entrepreneurship at the W. for The BBVA Compass Innovation in P. Carey School of Business. “It has grown Entrepreneurship Award that recognizes tremendously as a business.” innovation in products, services, or business The company is currently eyeing operations. expansion and just closed a recent round of Emailage is a fraud-prevention company equity funding. that allows businesses to avoid risky online Print.Save.Repeat sells remanufactured transactions by assigning risk scores to email toner cartridges for a variety of computer addresses participating in those exchanges. printers using recycled OEM cores. In The company uses machine learning and order to encourage recycling, the company includes a shipping label with each cartridge. It also sends customers a $10 Amazon gift card for recycling eligible items. The Spirit of Enterprise Awards began as an extracurricular activity for students at ASU that encouraged them to invent products and pursue entrepreneurship. Since that time, the Special to SanTan Sun News awards have expanded Print.Save.Repeat sells remanufactured toner cartridges for a variety of to recognize local computer printers using recycled OEM cores. BY WAYNE SCHUTSKY Staff

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The staff of Emailage in Chandler is excited about its nomination for a prestigious award from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.

businesses throughout the state. The program includes awards for outstanding minority-owned businesses, community service and a demonstration of innovation and growth. Nominations can come from the business community or the companies themselves. A panel of nine judges takes a look at the initial applicants and narrows the list down to down to 20-25 remaining teams. Those

teams are then vetted again by a panel of judges to determine the award winners. Judges include a range of individuals from the entrepreneurship community, including former award winners, business owners, and program donors. “The part I really love is tying in the (Spirit of Enterprise Awards) alumni,” Montoya said. “It is nice to have them as part of the process.”

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

BUSINESS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Hamstra Square retail center in Chandler sold for $7.1 million SANTAN NEWS STAFF

Hamstra Square has been sold for $7.1 million. The retail-anchored center at Pecos and McQueen roads in Chandler recently was sold to the Weil Ernst Trust and the Schneider Living Trust, represented by Tim Ernst of Terra Marketing. The NAI Horizon investment sales team of senior vice presidents Lane Neville and Barbara Lloyd represented

the seller, Hamstra Square Investor. “Over the past couple of years our owner built value through re-tenanting the anchor space, adding new retail shop tenants, and committing to new capital expenditures for improvements,” Neville said. “Our owner stabilized the net operating income and created additional value with new NOI.” The 81,148-square-foot retail center is 89 percent occupied. The property was built in 2003.

The anchor tenant is KTR Family Action Sports. Other retail tenants include Panda Express, Subway, Buon Padre, Mai Thi Ha, and Academy Day School. Established in 1992, NAI Horizon is a fullservice commercial real estate company with offices located in Phoenix and Tucson. NAI Horizon is a member of the NAI Global commercial real estate network, which has more than 400 offices in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific. Its 7,000 local market professionals

manage in excess of 425 million square feet of property and completes more than $20 billion in commercial real estate transactions throughout the world. NAI Global provides a full range of corporate real estate services, including brokerage and leasing, property and facilities management, real estate investment and capital market services, due diligence, global supply chain and logistics consulting and related advisory services. Information: naiglobal.com.

Builder plans new gated community in south Chandler BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

A developer is moving forward with plans to build homes it says will help residents go “green” and save some green in Chandler’s quickly growing south side. Maracay Homes has bought 26 home sites on the west side of McQueen Road, less than a mile south of Riggs Road, near the Price Road employment corridor. The home builder closed on the $3.1 million land purchase and plans to develop a community known as Mission Estates on 10.66 acres of land. Nathan & Associates brokered the deal between Maracay and the property seller, YEG Developments, an entity that Canadian investor Art Valerio owns. The average size of each home site is about 12,325 square feet, and each floor plan will include energy-saving features

to help homeowners ease their burden on the environment and save money, according to the developer. All the homes will be Energy Star certified and feature Maracay’s proprietary LivingSmart program to allow for the most energy efficiency. Pre-sales for the Mission Estates homes are expected to start in June. Interested buyers can visit an existing model in the neighboring Hawthorn Manor community at Chandler Heights and Cooper roads. “Business is booming in Chandler,” said Craig Tucker, Maracay Homes designated broker. “Major employers ranging from Intel to Waymo have announced plans to increase their investment in Chandler, and with new jobs comes an increased need for places for people to live. Chandler is well-known as a familycentric community, and the larger home

sizes (anticipated to range from 3,200 to 3,839 square feet) at Mission Estates are intended to accommodate families looking for a little extra elbow room.” Mission Estates will be in the enrollment boundaries for Hamilton High School, a news release said. “Maracay Homes has a reputation for building in the best locations in metro Phoenix and Tucson, and this site further reinforces our commitment to the East Valley,” Tucker said. “Chandler is known as a place where people want to live, work and play and for good reason. It has awardwinning restaurants, high-performing schools, regional malls, competitive golf courses, luxurious spas and is a major technology hub that has attracted some of the most innovative companies in the world, including Intel, Microchip, PayPal, Avnet and many others.” Maracay Homes’ LivingSmart program

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BUSINESS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

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Impressions Dental and Aspen Orthodontics of Chandler, is partnering again with Operation Gratitude to host the Halloween Candy Buyback 3-7 p.m. Nov. 1. People can bring their Halloween candy to Impressions Dental, on the northwest corner of Cooper and Riggs roads. Children will receive $1 for each pound of candy they donate and 50 cents per pound will be given to the child’s school of choice. All candy will be donated to Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude is a nonprofit organization that annually sends over 200,000 care packages to U.S. service members deployed overseas, as well as veterans, first responders, new recruits, wounded heroes, their care givers and family members. Each package is filled with food, entertainment, hygiene and hand-made items, as well as personal letters of support. “This is the tenth year that we have the opportunity to do something for the Chandler community by hosting an afternoon of fun, festivities and food for a good cause. I really love being able to support the troops and show them appreciation for everything they do for our country,” said Dr. Brigham D. Baker of Impressions Dental.

AT&T upgrades cell towers in Chandler, East Valley

AT&T has upgraded 37 cell towers on its 4G LTE network in the East Valley – including eight in Chandler – “to give customers faster, more reliable wireless

service,” the company said in a release. AT&T also upgraded six towers in Gilbert, 17 in Mesa, two in Queen Creek and four in Tempe. “Customers will experience better network connectivity while streaming videos, sharing on social media or texting family and friends,” the company said. “We constantly invest in our network because we know how important it is for our customers to stay connected,” said Jerry Fuentes, president of AT&T Arizona and New Mexico. “This helps East Valley residents get the best possible mobile experience, whether at home, work or on the go.” AT&T said it has invested nearly $425 million in its Phoenix area wireless and wired networks during 2014-2016.

Spinato’s Pizza joins effort to feed the homeless

With September being Hunger Action Month, Spinato’s is taking action to feed the needy. The pizza chain, which has a Chandler location, fed 150 homeless women and children at the Changing Lives Center for Women & Children earlier this month. On Sept. 25, Spinato’s will shut down its Central Phoenix location to feed another 150 homeless guests. “We wanted to take the opportunity to give those who are struggling a night out that so many of us take for granted,” says Anthony Spinato, vice president of the company. “Being of service to our local community is an integral part of Spinato’s culture.” “Phoenix Rescue Mission is grateful to Spinato’s Pizzeria and its staff for bringing

their family style atmosphere to our dining hall at the Changing Lives Center. …Both events highlight Spinato’s commitment to the community and how much they support our mission,” said Jay A. Cory, president and CEO of Phoenix Rescue Mission. Phoenix Rescue Mission provides Christcentered, life-transforming solutions to persons facing hunger and homelessness.

Animal Medical Center of Chandler slates open house

The Animal Medical Center of Chandler, 270 W. Chandler Heights Road. Suite 3, has scheduled an open house 4-7 p.m. Nov. 3. Families can enjoy food, fun and education with a tour of the hospital, meeting the doctors and staff, food trucks, a bouncy house, face painting, balloon twisting and exhibits. They also can meet local pet vendors involved with boarding, training, pet waste pick up and other local chandler businesses. Every attendee will receive a free raffle ticket and additional tickets will be available for purchase with all proceeds benefiting local pet-based charities.

New owner planning upgrade of Radisson Hotel in Chandler

A new owner is planning a multi-milliondollar upgrade of a Radisson Hotel in Chandler. CBRE Hotels said it has arranged for the sale of the hotel at 7475 W. Chandler Blvd. to a private partnership based in California for an undisclosed price. Granite Hospitality of see

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BUSINESS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

BIZ BRIEFS FROM page 24 Phoenix is in charge of hotel operations now. Jennifer Bergamo, vice president of CBRE Hotels in Phoenix; along with Mark Darrington and Larry Kaplan, senior vice presidents of CBRE Hotels, represented the seller in this deal. “The national marketing process for the Radisson was extremely robust as the hotel offered multiple value levers and provided investors the opportunity to enter the Phoenix market at a price below replacement cost,” Bergamo said. The new owner is expected to start the multi-million-dollar hotel renovations in the next year. CBRE Hotels is a specialized group within CBRE offering capital markets, investment sales, advisory, research and valuation services to companies in the hotel industry. Its parent company has over 70,000 employees in over 400 offices around the world.

New Chandler business helps sick cars get back on road A new business in Chandler helps

drivers get back on the road after their vehicles suffer damage. Autobahn Collision is a 30,000-squarefoot modern automotive collision and cosmetic restoration company using novel repair methods, equipment and waterborne paint technology. The factory-certified collision and cosmetic repair business offers the technology to fix all vehicle makes and models produced by any manufacturer. Autobahn uses computerized, laser-guided welding equipment, customized aluminum repair stations and modern frame straightening machines, along with seven climate-controlled Ameri-Cure down draft paint booths. Autobahn has also been chosen to become a Porsche Classic restoration facility focusing on cosmetic upgrades of antique and upscale Porsche models. “Developing a state-of-the-art vehicle collision repair facility within Chandler’s 202 Auto Park was absolutely the right decision for two reasons,” Autobahn Collision owner Richard Cvijanovich said. “First, the local market was grossly underserved considering the population and economic development happening in

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Autobahn Collision at 2555 E. Willis Road.

the East Valley. And second, the facility is centrally located off of the SanTan 202 Freeway and Gilbert Road in the heart of Phoenix’s East Valley communities, making it easily accessible,” he said. “Additionally, being a certified repair facility for many manufacturers plus, a preferred vendor for a host of insurance companies, allows us to offer a depth and breadth of services convenient to the local market,” Cvijanovich added. Autobahn Collision is at 2555 E. Willis Road. Information: autobahncollision.com.

Chandler Viridian ofﬁces ready to begin construction this year The commercial portion of a masterplanned development next to Chandler Fashion Center, Offices at Chandler Viridian, are a go now that a joint venture agreement has been signed. Hines has joined with New York Life Real Estate Investors as its equity partner to develop the property. The Offices at Chandler Viridian will be a 250,000-square-foot office building at the intersection of Loop 101 and Loop 202. The building will feature 41,000-squarefoot floor plates, energy-efficient glass to allow for natural light and access to a three-story parking garage. Construction will start later this year and be completed in late 2018. Free speakers bureau opens to groups, organizations in EV A new resource for groups and organizations that need speakers is available in East Valley. FreeSpeakers.org has more than 20 local speakers with more than 25 different topics available. “All speakers present programs at no cost,” according

to Andy Richardson, director of FreeSpeakers.org. Since 1996 FreeSpeakers.org has been providing speakers to area groups in Chicago as a community service project. Information: phoenix.freespeakers. org. To become a speaker: phoenix. freespeakers.org/become-a-speaker.

Chandler Chamber women discuss inclusion, diversity

The Chandler Chamber Women in Leadership will meet at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at SoHo 63, 63 E. Boston, Chandler. Keynote speaker is Angela Hughey, co-founder and president of ONE Community, a coalition for socially responsible businesses, organizations and individuals who support diversity, inclusion and equality for all Arizonans. Registration: bit.ly/2fKYqUm.

Chandler medical group ﬁles for Chapter 11 protection again

Phoenician Medical Center of Chandler has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a second time. The medical group includes East Valley Family Medical and 21st Century Family Medicine, which have locations in Gilbert, Tempe, Chandler and Mesa. In documents filed on Aug. 24, PMC listed its assets between $1 million and $10 million and its liabilities in the same range. The medical group said it had fewer than 50 creditors. This is the second time PMC has sought bankruptcy protection. The medical group previously filed for Chapter 11 in April 2012, and that case was closed Feb. 25, 2014.

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BUSINESS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Chandler High video earns local firm honors SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A local company is being recognized for its video capturing the Chandler High School football team. J2 Media has received the bronze People’s Telly Award and the Videographer Award of Excellence for its work on the video.

champions.” Directed by Heinkel, the promotional video premiered at the Wolves’ Homecoming game last season and focused on the soon-to-be 2016 state champions and their emphasis on teamwork and dedication. The video also looked at what it

We wanted a video that gets the crowd up and “energized so the football team feels it when they enter the stadium.”

– Jason Heinkel, J2 Media president and co-owner

The awards recognize creative and quality work compared to other videos around the world, a press release said. The online community voted for the People’s Telly award recipients and the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals judged the entries for the Videographer Awards. “We wanted a video that gets the crowd up and energized so the football team feels it when they enter the stadium,” said Jason Heinkel, J2 Media president and co-owner. “We just caught the players in action, and had a lot of fun putting together something to show off everything that made them state

means to be a part of the “pack.” It was created for the scoreboard to get the crowd on its feet, and ends with a wolf howl as the Chandler team takes the field. The CHS football team’s pregame ritual is highlighted when the team performs a Hawaiian chant in front of the crowd. Head coach Shaun Aguano, a Hawaiian native who implements his state pride and idea of “ohana” in the varsity team, set this tradition. This gives the Wolves a sense of pride and devotion to the team and to protect them like family, which has shown to be instrumental to their

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Jason Heinkel, president and co-owner of J2 Media, holds the People’s Telly Award and Videographer Award of Excellence he earned for directing and shooting the Chandler High School pregame football promo.

success. J2 Media is a professional, award-winning production company, in downtown Chandler, co-owned by Heinkel and his wife, Jane Poston. Besides video production, J2 Media

also provides social media, public relations, web development and graphic design communications services. To see the video: youtube.com/ watch?v=UwAUTCaqvBA. To learn more about J2 Media, visit j2media.tv.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Sports & Recreation

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Casteel players making a name for themselves BY GREG MACAFEE Staff

Over the past two years, the Casteel High School football team has started to get some notice. As a freshman program in 2015, the Colts finished 8-1. Last year, their first as a varsity program, they outscored opponents 50197, finished 9-2 and earned a berth in the Class 3A state playoffs for the first time in school history. Now, after an early exit from last year’s playoffs, the Colts have set out to prove that they belong among the best. Through three games, the Colts have scored a total of 203 points and have yet to give up a single point. They have beaten all three teams by 60-plus points, utilizing a fast-paced, high-tempo offense that carries over from their daily practice routine. “Our goal is really to get off as many plays as we can,” junior quarterback Gunner Cruz said. “Our philosophy is the faster we go – especially with a lot of teams in 3A having a lot of people going both ways – that helps our defense out because it tires out some of their players and then

Greg Macafee/SanTan Sun News

Casteel coach Spencer Stowers works with his defense during practice.

it just opens things up for us as the game goes on.”

The Colts’ philosophy has proved successful. After a sophomore year in which

Cruz threw for 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback already has passed for 778 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2017. Head coach Spencer Stowers said his goal from the very beginning of the program was to install a two-platoon system. It’s something that he adopted from former Chandler Hamilton coach John Wrenn while at a coaching clinic. “It was our belief right away to be a two-platoon team, where guys are not playing both ways,” Stowers said. “We do the best we can as coaches to maximize our potential on both sides and try to input players into specific positions that suits them and suits the team.” Cruz has been one of the major standouts of the program, earning scholarship offers from Arizona State, Northern Arizona and South Dakota State. But others have been a crucial part of the Colts’ success as well. Running back Mack Johnson ran for 939 yards and 17 touchdowns last year, and receivers Brandt Goodwin and Zach Nelson see

CASTEEL page 28

Family’s dynasty stretches to Chandler with new martial arts school BY JIMMY MAGAHERN Contributor

When Stephanie Larson talks about the martial art of Tang Soo Do being a great activity for the whole family, she speaks from fascinating personal experience. “I actually started when I was 5 years old,” said Larson, who, with her husband Ian, runs The Martial Arts Academy of Tang Soo Do Arizona in Chandler. “My dad started when he was in high school and he got my mom into it, and they started their own martial arts school in Minnesota. So, I grew up in it.” As Larson’s dad, Robert Grissom Jr., a grandmaster in the Korean-based martial

he says in an interview published on the World Tang Soo Do Association’s website. “She breathed a heavy sigh and I dropped my guard, thinking that I might have hurt her, and asked her if she was all right. She responded by kicking me upside the head. I knew right then that I had to marry this girl.” The British-bred airport systems specialist and his Walla Walla, Washington-born wife would go on to fully immerse their children in the art of Tang Soo Do, a counterpart to the more competitive sport of Tae Kwon Do that teaches self-defense skills. They also impart a heavy dose of character development — the “do,” or “way of life” part of the discipline’s name. The “do”

Special to SanTan Sun News

Stephanie Larson, left, with her son, Matthew, and Katie Bloodworth, with her son, Hero, show off some martial arts moves at The Martial Arts Academy of Tang Soo Do Arizona in Chandler. Stephanie and her husband, Ian Larson, run the school.

arts discipline, tells the story, his initial classes with wife-to-be Teresa turned out to be love at first kick. “The two of us were sparring in class and I accidentally punched her in the stomach,”

emphasizes five virtues: humanity, righteousness, etiquette, wisdom and trust. Together, the family has built a kind of martial arts dynasty. Besides Stephanie, who earned her first

Special to SanTan Sun News

Ian Larson owns The Martial Arts Academy of Tang Soo Do Arizona in Chandler.

black belt at age 13, the rest of the Grissom lineage – daughter Renee, along with her husband Jeremy Stewart and their daughter Jasmine; son Robert and youngest daughter Aubrey – includes Tang Soo Do practitioners and teachers. “What drew me to Tang Soo Do was the confidence it gave me, and the ability to be able to defend myself – who it made me as a person,” Larson said. “In our movements, Tang Soo Do is very similar to Tae Kwon Do. It’s a stand-up style of martial arts, with a very strong kicking style. But whereas a lot of Tae Kwon Do schools tend to focus on tournaments, what we focus on more is the character development, the self-defense and personal protection. “Those things in particular are what really appealed to me, especially as a woman, giving myself the confidence as a teenage girl and as a young woman to know that I could defend myself if necessary,” she added. “And just having the integrity and character as a young person to know that I could stand up and do what’s right when I need to do it.” Larson said a lot of their focus with the school’s kids’ classes (the academy offers programs for tots as young as 2 through instruction tailored to teens and adults) concerns bullying prevention. “There’s a lot of bullying going on in

schools these days, and we want help kids in that area,” she said. “ A lot of it has to do with the child’s confidence, simply having the confidence not to surrender to peer pressure, and knowing how to walk away and laugh off an insult instead of letting it bother them, because they have that confidence in themselves.” Of course, the school does also teach them some powerful kicks and punches, just in case all that ancient wisdom doesn’t quite work. “We always teach them that that’s a last resort, but, yes, we do teach them how to defend themselves,” Larson said. The Larsons picked Chandler for their business because of its family dynamics. “Where we are is very child-friendly,” Stephanie said. “We’re right by (family fun center) Makutu’s Island and Gold Medal Swim School, and we’re also right in the middle of a good school district (Kyrene).” Larson’s goal is to build a school with the staying power of her parents’ franchise, to serve new generations of Tang Soo Do enthusiasts from youth through adulthood. “It truly is an art that you can continue your whole life,” she said. The Martial Arts Academy of Tang Soo Do Arizona is at 6909 W. Ray Road, Suite 29. Information: maatsdaz.com.

SPORTS & RECREATION 28

CASTEEL from page 27 combined for 1,638 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2016. While their offense has been high-scoring, the defense has been impenetrable in 2017. Stowers believes it comes from the bond they share. “Defensively, we just have a unit that loves one another and trusts one another and have been together, this is their third year now and that’s unique to see,” Stowers said. The entire Casteel football team is

unique to watch because most of the players have been with the program since their first year. They have shared a bond for three years, and Cruz believes that’s what has contributed to their success the most. “It’s a unique opportunity here, especially because we’ve had these coaches ever since we were freshmen, and that’s not something you get at a lot of other high schools,” Cruz said. “So, it’s been cool to watch our whole team grow as a group because we’ve had a core that’s been together since freshman year. Just to be able to

experience the success, we’re lucky.” The Colts opened their season with matchups against Globe, Payson and Empire, three teams that hold a combined record of 2-6. Next week, the Colts will take a trip to California to take on Monte Vista (1-1), following in the footsteps of the bigger Chandler Unified School District Schools that have played on the national stage. “I am excited to see what our kids do and how they handle the natural adversity that comes with traveling out of state,” Stow-

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

ers said. “Also, the competition with the players they have. They [Monte Vista] are a talented football team and they are big up front, so I am very excited to see what we do on the road against a team like that.” Following their trip to California, the Colts will take on Show Low (1-1) on Sept. 22. Then, on Sept. 29, Casteel will have the opportunity to get some revenge on the team that handed them their only two losses last season, Yuma Catholic. – Contact Greg Macafee at gmacafee@timespublications.com or at 480-898-5630.

Special QBs are taking snaps in the East Valley BY GREG MACAFEE Staff

Year after year, special talent comes through the East Valley. Players make their mark on the football scene and then move on to the collegiate level. This year, the quarterback position has a group of special players in the East Valley. It’s one of the most important positions on the football field. Quarterbacks manage the offense, are involved in every play and act as an extension of the head coach. Most of the time, quarterbacks are also one of the leaders. So, when a team has a special talent, they may find themselves in a good position. It was reflected in last year’s state championship results on both the 5A and 6A level. While he was surrounded by talent, Williams Field quarterback Zack Shepherd led the Blackhawks to an undefeated season and a 5A state championship. Sophomore Jacob Conover also

led the Chandler Wolves to a 6A state championship and finished with the most passing yards in the state of Arizona. These are only two of the top quarterbacks who represent the East Valley. Brock Purdy missed the first three games of the season in 2016 and still led Perry to the class 6A semifinals, throwing for 3,333 yards and 42 touchdowns. He also affected games with his feet, running for 842 yards and six touchdowns. He’s kept up with that pace so far through his senior year, passing for 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns in four games. Before the season even started, Perry head coach Preston Jones expected Purdy to be even better in his senior year. “He missed those first three games last year and then came back after (mononucleosis) pretty weak,” Jones said before their zero-week matchup against one of the best defenses in the state, Desert

Vista. “So, he’s starting this season twice as strong as he was last year and twice as experienced.” The 6-foot-1, 200-pound, quarterback is just one of the top senior quarterbacks in the East Valley. Hamilton’s Tyler Shough and Gilbert’s Jack Plummer both join Purdy as some of the top gun-slingers in the 2018 class. Both Shough and Plummer made commitments to Division I schools this summer, Shough to the University of North Carolina and Plummer to the University of Purdue. While the two quarterbacks didn’t light up the stat sheet like Purdy did in his junior season, they both have the body frame that Division I colleges look for. Shough stands at 6-foot-5, 195 pounds, and threw for 2,079 yards and 27 touchdowns leading the Hamilton Huskies to the 6A state quarterfinals, before they fell to Perry.

But, as most quarterbacks are, Shough has been a leader for the Huskies both on the field and off, and Hamilton coach Dick Baniszewski said that’s what makes the future Tarheel so special. “He’s really a leader and a mature individual, so he’s important in a myriad of ways, probably the least being his athletic ability,” Baniszewski said. “He’s that kind of kid you want on your team.” Plummer shares the same stature as Shough, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame allows him to stand tall in the pocket and see receivers over his line. As a junior, Plummer threw for 2,475 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has performed well since the beginning of his junior year, throwing for multiple touchdowns in six of 10 games. In the first game of his senior year, see

QUARTERBACKS page 29

Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and the Chandler City Council

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visit chandleraz.gov/breaktime or call 480-782-2727.

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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER It’s time to stretch your wings at the Environmental Education Center’s annual Dragonfly & Butterfly Bash. Be a social butterfly and flutter over to the EEC Saturday, September 23 from 9 a.m. to noon for a fun-filled morning amongst hundreds of free-flying insects. Enjoy guided nature walks, hands-on crafts, presentations and more. Walks are approximately 20-mintues in duration over easy terrain. For more information, visit chandleraz.gov/eec.

Green Teens Corps provides eco-conscious greenagers with outside jobs, inside community. Corps members volunteer at various times throughout the year alongside environmental stewards, assisting with:

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SPORTS & RECREATION

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

QUARTERBACKS from page 28 Plummer through for 351 yards and five touchdowns against Mesquite. The win captured Gilbert its first victory since Sept. 16 of last year, a game in which Plummer threw for 390 yards and five touchdowns. While, Purdy, Shough and Plummer have had time to establish themselves, four signal-callers in the 2019 class have already made a mark before their senior seasons. Chandler high quarterback and 6A state champion Jacob Conover leads that bunch. He started with a special sophomore season, leading the state of Arizona in passing with 3,715 yards and added 32 touchdowns as well. He followed it up with a big summer, receiving offers from numerous colleges including BYU, Memphis and Alabama. Early in the 2017 season, he has already thrown for 431 yards and three touchdowns. But, after throwing for 75 yards and a touchdown in the first half against No. 2-ranked IMG, he suffered a shoulder injury that could affect his junior year campaign. He did open the season with a 356 yard, two touchdown performance against Mesa Red Mountain. Williams Field Zack Shepherd joins Conover atop the list of quarterbacks in the East Valley. He’s a year removed from quarterbacking the Blackhawks to an undefeated season and a 5A state championship, where he had 1,000-plus yard receivers Max Fine and Justis Stokes on the outside. Since both Stokes and Fine graduated, Shepherd has had to find new targets for his junior season and has done so. He has connected with juniors Noa Pola-Gates

Special to SanTan Sun News

Perry High School quarterback Brock Purdy missed the ﬁrst three games of the 2016 season and still led his team to the semiﬁnals.

and Jaden Carrol for a combined 268 yards and four touchdowns through two games. Showing that he will do whatever is asked of him and then some. “All he says is, ‘Coach, just put the ball in my hands and I will make plays,’” Williams Field head coach Steve Campbell said. “Quarterbacks on good teams are going

to win games, but what I am saying is he wins the battles that allows us to win the game. When it is the most important time, is when he plays the biggest.” Last season on the way to his first state championship, Shepherd faced off with another sophomore quarterback that has started to make a name for himself in the East Valley. Shepherd and Queen Creek’s Devin Larsen dueled in the semifinals with the Blackhawks pulling away, 37-12. In that game, Larsen threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns in that disappointing state playoffs loss. Since then, Larsen has solidified himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the East Valley with a blowout win over the Hamilton Huskies at Jerry Loper field. He threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns in the win and managed the game while staying composed against a hard-hitting Hamilton defense. “We know we have a pretty good quarterback in Devin Larsen and I’ll tell anyone that wants to hear me say that,” Queen Creek coach Travis Schureman said after their victory over Hamilton. “He was poised, he was relaxed tonight and didn’t ever get rattled. I mean he got hit pretty hard a couple times and he got right back in and threw dimes. Were sure glad he’s with us.” The last quarterback that has been on the rise in the East Valley is another out of the Queen Creek area. In the second year of Casteel’s football program, Gunner Cruz led the Colts to their first state playoff appearance. He threw for 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns as the Colts went 9-2 in the 3A class. He had an even better summer,

Special to SanTan Sun News

Hamilton High quarterback Tyler Shough is already a hot prospect among college and university coaches.

making a name for himself on the 7-on7 scene with a big win over Hamilton at the Nike 7’s. Then came the offers from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and South Dakota State. Cruz has taken the 3A class by storm so far through the 2017 season, throwing for 550 yards and eight touchdowns, without throwing an interception, in two games. There are many other quarterbacks that could make a name for themselves in the 2017 season. Some of them include Desert Vista’s Derek Kline, Higley’s – Contact Greg Macafee at gmacafee@ timespublications.com or at 480-898-5630 or follow @greg_macafee on Twitter.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Chandler MMA fighter enjoys grueling sport BY MELODY BIRKETT Contributor

Dan “the Man” Charles loves being in a cage – at least the kind he fights in. The Chandler man has been a fulltime mixed martial arts fighter for about seven years. “I’m just an Irish boy. I grew up boxing and wrestling as a kid, playing sports,” said Charles. “My dad had me in that at an early age. I was just always interested in competition and at the time I just didn’t want to follow through with college. I just felt it wasn’t for me sco I stepped away from it for a little bit.” His interest in MMA started in his 20s when Charles followed his younger brother Nate to a training session at a gym. “One thing lead to another and I was down there training,” Charles said. “The next thing you know I had a couple of amateur fights that I started winning. I turned to pro. And then here I am now, 16 professional fights later.” Charles turned pro in the first year. He hopes to go global after a few more wins. He’s now 31 and takes his career very seriously. “I’ve been training about three times a day and every training session is about 11/2 to 2 hours a day,” said Charles. “That’s Monday through Saturday. I give myself Sunday to hang out with my daughter” who’s 21/2 years old. In between matches comes recovery time. “It really depends on how hard the fight

it was, how many rounds it was, damage taken to your body,” said Charles. “Anywhere between a month or two before you usually get back in there and start going hard. But as far as if you have a good fight, a good quick finish, you don’t sustain any damage, you can get back in the gym the next week.” Sometimes that has been the case for Charles but other times, he has had to take time to recover from his injuries. “I’ve been fairly fortunate. I’ve taken some pretty hard shots. I’ve broken my right hand, had it reconstructed with eight rods. I’ve banged my knees up. Just the natural wear and tear of a combat sport.” MMA is a grueling sport that uses boxing and wrestling techniques but also martial arts maneuvers such as judo, kickboxing, and karate. Charles compares it to skydiving, cliff jumping or other extreme sports. “It’s just the love of the sport. The adrenaline I get, the pureness of the actual sport. Because there’s nothing like getting inside a ring or cage. You really get to see the honest side of yourself, your competitor and that’s what I really enjoy.” The sport has three five-minute rounds. In a championship, it can be up to five fiveminute rounds. It might not seem like a long time, but Charles said when you factor in “stress, excitement, nerves, etc., it can sometimes feel like an eternity in there.” While Charles says there’s plenty of money to be made, most fighters aren’t

making major league baseball salaries. “But for a guy like myself who has really come from nothing and had to work and practice and really hone my skills and get everything that I have now, it can be a very good living,” explained Charles. “But it’s a tough living. You start out making no money. Obviously, in the amateur rings, you have to pay to fight since you have to pay for your medical bills, your blood work and your physical.” Not all fighters make enough money off of MMA to make it a full-time job. Charles said fighters must “have good sponsorships, good people around them.” Charles said he didn’t make much money in his first six professional fights. “A couple grand here, a couple grand there. Then I saw my way up and started getting bigger fights and bigger names and then, of course, the fights go into the tens of thousands of dollars and into the hundreds of thousands and of course the top fighters get millions of dollars every fight.” Charles makes $12,000-$18,000 a fight. He has about five sponsors. “It’s a very lucrative thing when you have millions of people watching your fight on Spike TV, which is one of the biggest platforms for media out there,” Charles said. “Sponsors pay from a couple of grand to six figures depending on the fighter, the company and on the quality of sponsorships they’re receiving from their fighter.”

Many times, there’s a win bonus. Charles said some high-profile fighters receive a flat rate to fight but then get a win bonus. Fighters who are more exciting and attract a lot of fans get bigger win bonuses. He added that fighters are getting everything they deserve because they’re working hard and putting everything on the line. In the spring, Charles was in a huge competition called the Bellator MMA “which is a big promotion owned by Viacom,” explained Charles. “It’s on Spike TV. So, it would be the UFC’s biggest competition as far as MMA is concerned. They are the two big, most popular well-known organizations in the world. I was blessed enough to have quite a few fights professionally with Bellator.” Charles loves the competitive aspect of MMA as well as the ability to travel. He hopes to fight at least another four years. “When my body starts shutting down and telling me I can’t compete with these young guys and I just don’t have it anymore. … At 35, 36, 37 I’ll probably exit the sport.” What’s next? “I have a small sales company on the side,” said Charles. “I can do anything such as coach kids.” Charles’ next match will be at the RUF MMA event at 5 p.m. Sept. 23 at Ultra Star Mutli-tainment Center-Amphitheatre, 16000 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa. Information: ultrastarakchin.com.

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SPORTS & RECREATION

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Mexican Baseball Fiesta coming to Cubs’ Sloan Park BY JOSE ESPARZA Cronkite News

The Chicago Cubs are looking to bring more of a “fiesta” atmosphere to Sloan Park. The sixth annual Mexican Baseball Fiesta, featuring three teams from the popular Mexican Baseball League, returns to Mesa in the fall after stops in Tucson and Hohokam Stadium. “That’s so meaningful to us,” said Mike Feder, president of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta. “To show that our brand is worthy of playing in a Chicago Cubs stadium. I think that’s a big statement.”

Jose Esparza/Cronkite News

Three teams from the Liga Mexicana del Paciﬁco will participate in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta: Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Åguilas de Mexicali and the Cañeros de Los Mochis.

A Mexican Baseball Fiesta game and a traditional major league one are night and day. The “Liga Mexicana del Pacifico” maintains a strong Mexican culture with live bands playing on the concourse and fans dancing during the game. “It has a little bit more energy and a

little more pizzazz as you go through the game,” said Justin Piper, general manager of Sloan Park. “I think it’s great to see the mascots on the field and the music playing. After the final out, 1,000-plus people stay and listen to the band.” Three of the top teams from the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico will participate: Los Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Águilas de Mexicali and the Cañeros de Los Mochis. In last year’s event, more than 3,000 fans attended at Hohokam. The Cubs are one year removed from winning the World Series and have a large national fan base. Although the move won’t spark every Cubs fan in Arizona to attend, the organization hopes to lure some. “It’s the logo. I’m looking around the room right now and the Chicago Cubs press box says 1938. That’s special,” Feder said. “Not even just the name association but the quality of the stadium, the video board, the parking and everything is first class.” Sloan Park is more commonly known as the spring training venue for the Cubs, but it is used for other events. “We look for a wide variety of events, and the unique nature of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta makes it a perfect fit for the ballpark,” Piper said Last year, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Hermosillo agreed to a major partnership deal that remains in place. According to Francisco Gamez, the founder and LLC partner of Mexican Baseball Fiesta, the fan base for Hermosillo is huge in the Valley and they even televise some of the games in Phoenix. Feder believes it is vital to keep the Mexican Baseball Fiesta in Mesa for the

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Mike Feder, president of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, is excited to be back at Sloan Park.

time being. “If the Phoenix area is 5 million people,” Feder said, “What percent of that is Hispanic? I guess 30 percent, maybe greater.” It is greater. In the latest U.S. census, Phoenix’s Hispanic population is 41 percent. Hispanics make up about 17 percent of the U.S. population. Last year, the league held games in California and Texas and are scheduled to do the same in Las Vegas. “The Vegas deal just closed out a couple of days ago,” Gamez said. “I told the owners it was a possibility and they were pretty excited when they got the news.” The Mesa HoHoKams volunteers will partner with the Mexican Baseball Fiesta by ushering fans to their seats and assisting in ticket check-in. They will charge $5 for

parking and use those proceeds to give back to the community. “Giving it primarily to East Valleybased sporting organizations,” HoHoKam volunteer Tim Baughman said. “All sports related and all youth related. We give up to $500,000 back to the community.” Visit Mesa, a sponsor for the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, believes playing host in Mesa is important as well. “We’re so excited to have them back here,” said Suzanne Keller, Visit Mesa director of sports. “This is the third event they have had here (Mesa). It’s an out ofthe-box kind of event and I want to make sure that they keep it here.” The first game of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Sloan Park will be Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. between Hermosillo and Los Mochis.

SPORTS & RECREATION

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Experts to athletes: keep hydrated in heat help with electrolyte replacement. In 2014, 12,743 Arizonans who visited emergency rooms were diagnosed with dehydration, according to a study by the Center for Population Health and Discovery at the University of Arizona. Preparation and education are keys to prevention, experts say. “Hydration and dehydration refer to the amount of water that is in the body,” said Suzie Squires, an outreach athletic trainer at Dignity Health in Mesa. “Dehydration is excessive fluid loss and specifically to athletes in their participation,” Squires added. “Dehydration is excess sweat rate in relation to the amount of fluids they are in-taking.” Staying hydrated in a hot and dry climate is challenging. Guidelines are available “that allow you to look at a heat index and give you recommendations on the activities on what you can and can’t do,” Squires said, adding: “How many water breaks you should have, the duration, etc. Arizona is consistently off the heat index charts.” Approximately 60 percent of the human body is made up of water. For the brain and heart, it’s 73 percent. Dehydration can cause dizziness, headaches, difficulty quenching thirst, weakness and worse. “The first stage is that they are thirsty,” said Matt Lucht, a head athletic trainer at

BY JOSE ESPARZA Cronkite News

Weak muscles. Fuzzy vision. Increased thirst. Decreased sweat. All are symptoms of dehydration, a common and often dangerous physiological occurrence frequently experienced by those who train in the Arizona heat. “Once you start becoming dehydrated, your mind is altered,” said Randon Hall, a Phoenix pediatrician and specialist in sports medicine. “You don’t know where you are, you’re not sure how to get help, you don’t know what to do and that’s how people die.” Banner Health offers many resources in Chandler to help patients who might be concerned about dehydration or a heat-related illness. Primary care physicians can talk about preventing dehydration and heat-related sickness and treat mild cases of these issues at the Banner Health Center, 1435 S. Alma School Road, Chandler. Patients can get treated for mild to moderate dehydration and get advice on how to stay healthy at four Urgent Care Centers in Chandler. They are located at 1979 W. Ray Road, 2950 S. Alma School Road, Suite 1; 3000 N. Arizona Ave. and 3200 S. Gilbert Road. “Dehydration and overheating in the summer can lead to a spectrum of illnesses that includes heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke — which is

Special to SanTan Sun News

when your temperature rises and the body is not able to effectively regulate its temperature,” said Dr. Devin Minior, chief medical officer for Banner Urgent Care Services and Retail. “To avoid these illnesses, it is advised that anyone outside in the heat dress appropriately for the environment, preferably with loose fit clothing, and keeping one’s head exposed to allow for evaporative cooling,” he continued, adding: “Athletes should drink fluids, not just when they’re thirsty, but drink fluids

routinely throughout the day. Individuals should not get to a point of thirst, but instead take frequent and routine breaks from exercise to replenish any lost fluids. “In addition, frequent breaks to return indoors to cool off should occur as much as possible.” Minior said if people are exercising short-term, they should drink water every five to 15 minutes but if their exercising will cause a lot of sweating they should drink fluids that have sodium and potassium, including Gatorade and PowerAde, to

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SPORTS & RECREATION 34

HYDRATED from page 33 Glendale Community College. “They take a drink of water and it still doesn’t quench their thirst,” he said. “The second sign is during a workout their sweat rate will decrease. They begin to stop sweating because they have run out of fluids and your body is trying to conserve fluid. “That’s how dehydration plays into heat-related illnesses because if you’re not sweating, your body can’t cool. Then after that, you start to get light-headed, dizzy and headaches.” Lucht encourages his athletes to drink their body weight in ounces throughout the day but does warn, too, about taking in an excessive amount. “Drinking too much water can dilute the minerals within your body,” Lucht said. “It actually promotes dehydration or heat-related illnesses, because our body doesn’t have that proper electrolyte balance.” Another mistake that trainers see is athletes underestimating Arizona’s extreme heat. “When they get out here they realize that it’s dry heat and humidity is not much of a factor,” said Marty Parel, head athletic trainer at Mesa Community College. “They will think that, ‘OK, well, it’s hot, but I’m not sweating.’” MCC makes it a point to practice during early mornings or in evenings on days when temperatures hit triple digits, even in September and October. The school has taken other precautions with its football team, too. “We no longer do two-a-day practices,” Parel said. “That’s helped us out as far as preventing any sort of heat illness or

Jose Esparza/Cronkite News

Suzie Squire, athletic trainer with Dignity Health in Mesa, believes education is the key to staying hydrated.

heat stroke type of injuries. I don’t know of any other teams in Maricopa that are doing two-a-day practices.” A growing problem with athletes, trainers say, is the decision to chug an energy drink before practice. This can be detrimental to their health and performance. “Caffeine could make your dehydration worse,” Parel said. “I would highly suggest that athletes not consume energy drinks or caffeine beverages before practice because caffeine does draw water

out and make athletes more prone to dehydration.” MCC does not allow energy drinks in its locker rooms. Athletes aren’t the only ones that have to make smarter decisions. One of the bigger issues in Arizona involving dehydration is individuals hiking and not taking hot temperatures seriously. “Common mistakes we see is biting off more than you chew,” said Rob McDade of the Phoenix Fire Department.

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

“So you haven’t hiked this mountain ever in your life and you are going to try to go to the top.” McDade and his team have rescued many hikers who don’t have enough water to reach the top and return down. He has a message for visitors. “Do not underestimate this heat,” McDade said. “You have never lived in this climate and you are not prepared for it.” Besides fluids that can assist in hydration, food and nutrition choices are important, too. “I tell people pretzels are a good option,” Hall said. “Some people like beef jerky. It’s a high-salt food and it’s got some protein in it. Any kind of little snack that has a little bit more sodium than the average may be helpful.” Hall also suggests using carbohydrates to one’s advantage, approximately 60 carbohydrates in one hour. “Carbohydrates is your main fuel source during a workout or competition,” Hall said. “Taking a big protein shake is not going to be that helpful for you.” How is one’s hydration level measured? One of the simplest ways is, well, the “pee test.” Many sports teams have a poster in their locker rooms to help athletes judge the color of their urine. A darker yellow suggests poor hydration. More accurate ways of testing hydration including measuring sweat rate and the density of the urine, and tracking weight loss before and after a workout. Staying hydrated in an extreme heat state like Arizona can be challenging. But for the health of athletes, it’s necessary. Colleen Sparks contributed to this story

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SAN TAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Opinion

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler Symphony Orchestra opens doors to diversity BY RENÉ LOPEZ Guest Writer

Happy 25th birthday, Chandler Symphony Orchestra! Since 1993, Chandler has been blessed with the musical sounds of its very own orchestra. Maestro Jack Herriman founded and Special to SanTan Sun News has conducted the René Lopez orchestra since the very beginning. He had a vision to create opportunities for all ages to enjoy classical music through free concerts. After all these years, the growth of this organization is a true testament to Herriman’s dedication to the arts and the members of the community. Chandler Center for the Arts is home to several of the group’s performances. In addition to the city of Chandler’s partnership, community involvement is very important to the orchestra’s success.

Every concert is free; however, a donation at the door always is appreciated. There are several opportunities to be involved, including volunteering at performances, sponsoring a musician or concert, making corporate or individual donations and advertising in the orchestra’s annual program. All donations are used to help buy and rent music, venues, refreshments for the musicians and minimal administrative needs. The orchestra comprises 90 professionally trained musicians who dedicate countless hours volunteering their time to rehearsals and performances. Several of them have been involved for many years, including a violinist who is 90 years old and substitutes as a music teacher. Music really is timeless! Although the musicians are volunteers, quality is very important. Anyone who is interested in becoming a member is encouraged to audition. Music and art open the doors to diversity and cultural experiences. They are very enjoyable and allow the mind to be creative. Studies show a direct impact between those exposed to the arts and their developmental growth, both in the

Special to SanTan Sun News

Chandler Symphony Orchestra classroom and in life. The Chandler Center for the Arts provides wonderful programs for the youth. Programs offered include musical theater camps and workshops. For more information, visit chandlercenter.org. The fall concert series began on Sept. 8 and runs through Jan. 28. This season is special because the orchestra is celebrating 25 years of providing quality symphon-

ic and orchestral music to the community. The orchestra will be providing audiences an even more personal experience. Two of the musicians volunteered to compose pieces for this season. Charles Liu composed “Chandler Festival Overture,” which will be performed at the Nov. 12 See

ORCHESTRA page 40

City partnering on regional angel investing initiative BY NORA ELLEN Guest Writer

The city of Chandler is working with a number of East Valley partners to bring more angel investment dollars to the region. Our goal is to build on Chandler’s reputation as the Innovation and Special to SanTan Sun News Technology Hub of Nora Ellen the Southwest by making our city the perfect spot for start-

up growth. Many of the key elements are already in place. Chandler has a thriving high-tech sector, dynamic maker movement cluster, multiple co-working spaces and a business incubator that provides valuable entrepreneurial programming and services. This new regional initiative seeks to provide start-ups with one more key resource – access to early-stage funding. There is no shortage of great business ideas in our region. East Valley businesses hold their own when it comes to securing patents and competitive research dollars. What we lack is the robust funding ecosystem for startups that can be found

in capital formation hotspots like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston. As a result, our tech start-ups often have a harder time getting the capital they need to grow. We believe that angel investing is an opportunity to change this. Angel investing is when individuals commit their own money to start-ups in exchange for an equity share of the businesses. In addition to capital, angels often mentor companies in their investment portfolio to help them grow. While return on investment is the ultimate measure of success, many angels are also motivated by a desire to give back to their local community by supporting

budding entrepreneurs. Over the coming months, we will work with our partners to raise awareness of the importance of angel investing and to start building a network of East Valley angel investors. Additional details about angel investing and opportunities for education on the topic are forth coming so stay tuned. Visit chandleraz.gov/angelinvesting for more information. – Chandler Councilmember Nora Ellen has been a resident since 2002 and has lived in the Southeast Valley since 1990. She began her tenure on the City Council in January 2013.

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OPINION

ORCHESTRA from page 39 performance. David McConaughey composed “Marche Militaire” and that will be featured at the Jan. 28 performance. Two extraordinary events are planned this season. The First Annual Star Wars Fan Fest is taking place 2:30-8 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the Downtown Stage in Chandler. It is a free family-friendly event that focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM)

SAN TAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

and will provide families with hands-on opportunities to learn about science, literacy, arts and music. Orbital ATK will launch a scaled model of its Antares rocket and the orchestra will perform various John Williams selections from “Star Wars” at 6:30 p.m. Attendees also are encouraged to come in costumes and participate in the “Star Wars” costume contest. The event will conclude with a fireworks show. For more information on the event, and to learn how to be involved, visit

starwarsfanfest.com. On Feb. 17, the Gala Silver Anniversary Celebration Dinner will be hosted at the Oakwood Golf Club in Sun Lakes at 5 p.m. Tickets are $80, which covers the price of dinner and includes an opportunity to be seated with one of the conductors or musicians. A silent auction fundraiser also will take place, and many nice items have already been donated. For more information on the dinner and to learn how to get involved, visit chandlersymphony.com.

I encourage everyone to experience the Chandler Symphony Orchestra. Hearing music played live is life changing. It can create an emotional connection or bring back childhood memories. There are several opportunities to learn and become a part of the arts and culture community. This year is definitely a time to celebrate the music. Grab your family and friends and come out and play! – René Lopez is a Chandler City Councilmember.

Slow down, avoid distractions to keep Chandler safe BY TERRY ROE Guest Writer

On any given day, more than 50,000 cars pass through each of the approximately 60 major intersections in our city. This adds up to a whopping 3 million vehicles per day at Special to SanTan Sun News these crossings. Terry Roe Needless to say, maintaining optimal traffic flow and maximizing safety for drivers, pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists is a complex endeavor. Chandler is fortunate to have a highly skilled team of dedicated city engineers and traffic analysts to monitor our intersections and coordinate more than 200 signaled intersections to ensure that you

and I travel as safely and efficiently as possible around the community. Of course, we all play an important role when it comes to being safe on the road. I encourage every resident and visitor to take a pledge for road safety. Join me in practicing safe driving habits while raising awareness about the need to: Slow down, especially in school zones and construction areas. Never text while driving. Also eliminate any other types of distractions. Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Call a taxi or arrange to have a designated driver. Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of yours. Share the road with motorcycles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Assume all drivers on the road will do something unexpected and be ready to avoid it. We should all know that operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can have a devastating impact

on families. That’s why it’s so important that folks make a special effort to avoid any and all impaired driving. I recently interviewed Jason Frazier, the executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving for Arizona. We discussed MADD’s partnership with the Chandler Police Department and the services they offer to victims of drunk driving. The discussion will soon be available for viewing at youtube.com/cityofchandler. On Oct. 21, MADD is sponsoring a Walk Like MADD event at the Phoenix Zoo to support drunk driving prevention efforts across Arizona. The public is invited to join Chandler’s team, led by our Police Department. Our local team was initially formed to celebrate the life of Chandler Police Officer David Payne, a motorcycle officer who was killed by a drunk driver while on duty on Oct. 31, 2014. Any individual or family affected by impaired driving or interested in promoting road safety is encouraged to participate in the event.

To register, visit walklikemadd.org/ team/chandlerpd. If you are interested in learning more about local traffic, the city of Chandler posts important information about traffic restrictions, road construction projects and traffic management news at chandleraz.gov/restrictions. There is also valuable information related to traffic signal timing, as well as pedestrian countdowns at crossings and flashing yellow arrows. In addition, residents can subscribe to email notifications at chandleraz.gov/subscriptions or reach staff in the Traffic Division by calling 480-782-3454. As our community continues to grow and accommodate more people on the road, we need to remind each other to stay alert and free of distractions to prevent tragedies. For the sake of our families, friends and others, let’s all make a concerted effort to make road safety a priority. – Terry Roe is a Chandler City Council member.

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SAN TAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Vote ‘yes’ to renew Chandler Uniﬁed override BY JIM BISHOP Guest Writer

Chandler voters will have the chance to renew and support a reinvestment of critical funding into Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) classrooms, keep and attract Special to SanTan Sun News great teachers and Jim Bishop ensure the success of district students by approving a budget override through

an all-mail ballot this fall. Ballots will be mailed beginning Oct. 11 for return to the county elections office before Nov. 7. The override will allow the district to maintain its current 15 percent maintenance and operations override without any new taxes for operational and maintenance expenses for one of the state’s highest-rated school districts. Students and staff are routinely recognized at the state and national levels for excellence in academics, fine arts and athletics. The 2017 graduating class earned a combined 30,096 hours of college credit and committed to 112,993 hours of community service. The Chandler Unified School District

is consistently among the state’s leaders in academic achievement. In 2017 alone, CUSD had a record 30 National Merit Scholars and five schools were rated A+ Schools of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation. That alone speaks volumes to the commitment of our teachers. We must do all we can to ensure that we attract and retain teachers of this exceptional quality in a district which proved its financial efficiency by managing through the drastic education cuts from 2007 to 2012 and allocated more dollars to classrooms than any other district in the state. At the same time, CUSD has the lowest administrative costs in Arizona.

Tia Coates, co-founder of Living Chandler, was spot-on when she said, “This override will go directly into the classrooms, reaching the students for whom we want to ensure a bright future. Voting ‘Yes” will greatly impact kids every day between now and 2025. Be passionate, stand behind the children of CUSD and vote to continue the education budget override.” Look for the mail-in ballots in midOctober, sign them and send them back right away. Your “yes” vote is a vote for our children. Information: YESforChandlerStudents.com. -Jim Bishop is co-chairman of Yes for Chandler Students.

Routines help children adjust to school BY MARY CANNON Guest Writer

Some parents dread the back-toschool season while others rejoice that it has finally arrived. Regardless of which parent you are, many changes occur in the daily routine when kids go back to school. For some families, everyone may fall back into routine easily, but for many, it is a struggle. Here are some tips for families to survive the switch. Help your children choose an outfit and lay it out the night before each school day.

Pack lunches the night before. Give everyone specific tasks for the morning. For older children, that can be feeding their pets or helping to put breakfast on the table. Younger children can focus on their own tasks of eating and dressing themselves. Younger children may benefit from a picture chart to help them know which tasks they must do each morning. Put the pictures in the order that the child should complete them. They can check the tasks off as they go. If younger children are having anxiety

about going to school, there are a few approaches you can take with them. Try playing school with your child. Young children process their world through pretend play. They work out what has happened to them by re-enacting it during play. They may try out scenarios that have happened to them or try out new potential solutions that they would have liked. Help your child by creating potential scenarios that they may encounter, and help them work through it. Your child will feel more confident at school when they know what to expect.

You may also want to try reading some books about school with your child. Here are some great choices: “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn; “Llama Llama Misses Mama” by Anna Dewdney; “The Night Before Kindergarten” by Natasha Wing; and “First Day of School” by Mercer Mayer. Remember, your attitude about school will be obvious to your child. Help them to be excited by portraying that excitement yourself. -The author is with Parents As Teachers, a program sponsored by Catholic Charities and the Arizona Partnership for Children.

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OPINION

SAN TAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Current Chase Field deal is good for Maricopa County taxpayers BY DENNY BARNEY Guest Writer

As the legal process plays out in the lawsuit the Arizona Diamondbacks have filed against the Maricopa County Stadium District, I’d like to take a minute to address Special to SanTan Sun News some of the facts of Denny Barney the case, which can get muddied by well-intending people on both sides. Let’s start with the oft-cited “$180 million” number from the 2013 facility assessment study. In many respects, this is a wish list of possible improvements at Chase Field over the life of the contract. As a wish list, it includes both necessary capital repairs as well as discretionary upgrades. Under the contracts, the team is not just entitled to anything it wants. Many things on that list are just suggestions to be done at the end of the current term, on the assumption the stadium remains a ball field. For example, one of the items on the wish list is a new Jumbotron in 2027. I’ve heard some talk that because the study is over four years old, the list of needed repairs has probably grown.

Actually, the opposite is true, because capital repairs are made every year. The Stadium District has spent nearly $50 million on capital repairs and additional amenities requested specifically by the team. The reserve fund will have enough money to cover all capital repair projects, so long as the Diamondbacks keep paying the same rent. Another issue involves money from non-baseball events. The team has argued that the Stadium District does not make enough money from those events and, therefore, does not have enough money to pay for needed repairs. This is not true. Revenue from outside events was never intended to be the primary source of funding for capital repairs. The Diamondbacks were originally the booking agent of non-baseball events at Chase Field but had limited success and turned over booking management rights to the county. The county has done far better. Recently, it has been suggested that supervisors allow the team to explore other stadium options as long as those options are within Maricopa County. Here is the reality: There are no public funds going into the stadium today, nor is there authority to collect additional taxes. The current deal protects taxpayers. The Diamondbacks signed a 30-year agreement which runs until 2028.

Special to SanTan Sun News

Inside Chase Field in Phoenix.

In 2024, the team could begin looking for another place to play. If the team left early, we would have an empty stadium. Leaving a hole in the ground in the middle of downtown Phoenix is not good for anyone. The bottom line is: Taxpayers do not spend anything to maintain Chase Field right now, and it is and will continue to be well maintained. New stadiums are extremely expensive.

The new one in Arlington, Texas, is expected to cost more than $1 billion – and public appetite for the bonds that fund them may be lower than Congress’ approval rating. The current arrangement was designed to protect taxpayers, and your board members will continue to be good stewards of Chase Field. -Denny Barney is chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

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Homeless students in Chandler to receive free tutoring BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

Homeless students in the Chandler Unified School District dealing with the stress and chaos of not having a permanent place to sleep at night will get a boost because of a grant. The district is one of 32 districts and schools in Arizona receiving grants for Homeless Education Services. More than $1 million in grants will benefit about 30,000 homeless students in urban and rural districts. The federal money for the program comes from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001. The Arizona Department of Education executes the program, as well as the grant application process, while the Arizona State Board of Education approves the grants. Homeless students in the Chandler district will receive tutoring from certified teachers after school, as well as over spring and summer breaks, said Monica Romero, district director of federal programs and state initiatives. These include homeless high school students who do not live with either a mother or father and elementary school children who are homeless. The Chandler district has 180 homeless students now but expects it will have identified more than 300 homeless students by December, Romero said. The homeless students will get help in any other subjects in which they need assistance, in groups of no more than five pupils per teacher, she added. Sometimes

Special to SanTan Sun News

Over 5,500 pair of socks and underwear were donated to homeless Chandler Unified students by FANS Across America, Intel, Chandler Rotary Club and The Clothes Cabin. they will get one-on-one tutoring. “The students have gaps based on lack of a stable home due to stress, lack of focus and concentration during the difficult times outside of school,” Romero said. She said many of the homeless students are “couch surfing,” moving around to stay with different people without their own permanent place to stay overnight. “It may be from many different issues,” Romero said. “Some parents might lose employment. We have students who just get in a bad family situation. There’s so many different scenarios. Some of our kids find amazing Chandler residents who

take them under their wing.” The federal grant is not the only way the Chandler district is able to help homeless students, Romero said. A volunteer group called Chandler Youth in Transition works with the Chandler district to help support district students who qualify as being either homeless or living on their own. The program provides the students a monthly stipend and guidance to try to end the cycle of poverty and improve their future. CYIT is a program of the nonprofit organization Homeward Bound and the

Chandler school district administers it while a guidance committee steers it. Romero said she is also grateful to Fans Across America Charitable Foundation, which operates the FANS Locker Room, through which homeless students can get toiletries, clothes, hygiene products and household items. Eligible students in need in the Chandler district can get help with medical and dental care through the CARE Center, run by the district and supported by Dignity Health’s Chandler Regional Medical Center Children’s Dental Clinic, the City of Chandler and St. Vincent de Paul. Romero also said the Pappas Kids Schoolhouse Foundation teams up with schools to help disadvantaged youths. Data the Arizona Department of Education Homeless Education Office released identified more than 29,500 children in grades pre-kindergarten through 12th who were homeless and enrolled in public schools in the state during state fiscal year 2015. “It is important to me that the needs of all of our students are met,” Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas said. “We know that these children are an especially vulnerable population. Not only have we been able to meet the needs of those currently on the program, we have also increased our aid to additional children.” To learn more about the state’s Office of Homeless Education and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001, visit azed.gov/homeless.

Nutcracker producer delivers good news to Chandler cast members SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Dance studio owner Kimberly Lewis treats her ballerinas like royalty. And that starts right after she has made her selections of aspirants for her “Ahwatukee Nutcracker,” which will be staged for the 18th consecutive year this December. Recently, Lewis traveled through Ahwatukee and Chandler to complete an unusual ritual she follows to notify the ballerinas she has selected for key roles. “She drives around the night before and posts signs in their front yards of what they are going to be in the ‘Nutcracker,’” said spokesman Sarah Woods. “These girls go through grueling auditions, and on Facebook I’ve seen videos of how they wake up – sort of feeling like a Christmas morning.” The recipients awake and walk out their front doors to see a nutcracker and a sign announcing their selection. Lewis said she makes her announcements on the Sunday morning following the Saturday afternoon auditions. “Every year, I and my friend Alexis Allen meet up at my home around midnight and we set out to go out to each soloist’s home and place yard signs in each and every yard,” she continued, adding: “We have the funniest stories to tell of our night adventure. I have been drenched

in the middle of night when the sprinkler system comes on. I have had dogs chase me away. I have been attacked by big scary bugs. I have been pulled over by the police asking me why I am in someone’s yard at 3 a.m.” One time, the brother of a dancer was on the phone in the backyard, so Lewis “just hung out in the bushes for an hour.” “The hardest part is that most people have a desert landscape, so we spend so much time trying to dig a hole in the rocks to make the signs stand up.” Additionally, the girls who held roles last year gather with new cast members to officially pass them their crowns. For example, the 2016 Sugarplum Fairy Bella Gregg passed the crown to 2017 Sugarplum Fairy Jordan Torgerson while Sara Allen, who played Clara last year, passed hers to Natalie Sterling. Lewis, owner of Dance Studio 111, also throws a dinner for the girls who play key roles a few weeks before the production. Renowned for its rich costuming – most of it handmade – and staging, it has become a Valley tradition with its cast of area children and a few adults. “The ballet is joyful and happy, and the dancers bring the characters to life with excellent technique and artistry,” Lewis says on her website. “The expert choreography as well as the gorgeous costumes and sets make this a spectacular event.

Special to SanTan Sun News

Victoria Taugner, 14, of Chandler, was one of the ballerinas whom Kimberly Lewis picked for the 18th production of the “Ahwatukee Nutcracker.”

Anna Albert of Chandler was notified via a sign that she had been selected to play the China Queen in this year’s “Ahwatukee Nutcracker.”

There are always new surprises and lots of excitement in each performance.” The show itself will be presented at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at Desert Vista High School Theatre. Tickets go on sale soon and are for assigned seating. Lewis encourages patrons

to buy tickets in person in order to pick their seats. Those who purchase by calling 480706-6040 or emailing afnutcracker@ gmail.com will have seats selected based on the price range. Tickets this year are $15 to $35.

NEIGHBORS 44

Chandler kids get into trolls Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer

The animated movie “Trolls” calls them “the happiest creatures on Earth,” and on Sept. 6, that’s how children of all ages could be described at Tumbleweed Recreation Center as they gathered for an evening of crafts on Family Night with a theme built around the film. Among the participants were (right) Caydon Wieler, 10, who chose a coloring book; first row from left: replicas of the trolls were available so that youngsters like Katelyn Bowen, 7, and Zahlaiya Salinas, 1, could use them as models; next row: Hunter Calloway, 5, and Lulu Bervin, 2, contemplated some paper models; bottom row: Clairelin Wieler, 3, wore a troll hairpiece while Italia Sosa, also 3, enjoyed using her troll pencil and Connor Calloway, 7, began gluing together his art work.

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

NEIGHBORS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

First Things First can help families find quality day care BY MARIE REDMOND Guest Writer

For working families, finding a quality child-care center or preschool for their infant, toddler or preschooler is an important decision. In Arizona, 60 percent of children live in families where all of the adults work. So, most children spend all or part of

First Things First (FTF) offers resources to help families as they search for quality child care. Quality First, an FTF signature program, partners with child-care providers and preschools in Arizona to improve the quality of early learning for children birth to age 5. Through QualityFirstAZ.com, Quality First also provides families with information about the importance of quality in

“As parents, we intuitively know when a child has a safe, trusting and loving relationship with a caregiver.”

– Andrea Benkel, assistant head of school of Ahwatukee

their day learning from other adults. Research shows 90 percent of a child’s brain develops before age 5. The positive, nurturing relationships young kids have with adults, from parents to child care and early learning professionals, shape their learning now and throughout their lives. Quality child care and preschool settings help children develop skills, like motivation, self-control, focus and self-esteem, that are crucial to their success now and once they enter school. So how can families know what a quality early learning setting looks like?

child care and early education; what quality looks like in order to promote learning; and tools to help families find quality child care or preschool programs in their area. “I always tell parents to look for strong relationships,” said Andrea Benkel, assistant head of school at Summit School of Ahwatukee. “As parents, we intuitively know when a child has a safe, trusting and loving relationship with a caregiver.” “Does the teacher show delight in the ideas, words and actions of the children?” she continued. “If that powerful and positive connection exists, children feel safe

in exploring their world, trusting their ideas and making a positive impact in their world. They just bloom.” FTF offers families the following tips on what look for when searching for quality child care and preschool settings: First, visit the program in person and take the Quality Child Care checklist with you to help. The checklist includes questions such as asking what the teachers’ qualifications are and what is the ratio of teachers to students? There are also things to observe at the visit, such as how to spot positive, nurturing teacher/child interactions, such as does the teacher make eye contact with the children, smile and listen without interrupting? Look for places that that build on basic health and safety to include: • teachers and caregivers who know how to work with infants, toddlers and preschoolers. • positive, nurturing relationships that give young kids the individual attention they need. • learning environments that encourage creativity and imaginative play. • hands-on activities that stimulate and encourage positive brain connections in children. • caregivers who provide regular feedback to parents on the development of their child. First Things First created Quality First

to improve, assess and communicate the level of quality in child care and preschool programs. Since it began, the Quality First program has significantly improved the quality of early learning options available to Arizona’s families. In fact, since 2013, the percentage of participating programs statewide that meet or exceed quality standards has increased from 25 percent to 71 percent. In the FTF East Maricopa region, the same figures increased from 29 percent to 76 percent. In addition, Quality First recently underwent a two-year independent study which found that participating child-care and preschool providers improved the quality of their programs between each assessment. It also determined that Quality First’s 5-star rating scale does reflect five distinct and increasing levels of quality. No matter their current rating level, families can be assured that child-care providers participating in Quality First are committed to improving the quality of child care. -Marie Redmond is chairs the First Things First East Maricopa Regional Council, which includes Ahwatukee, Tempe and Chandler. First Things First is a voter-created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs. Information: FirstThingsFirst.org.

Queen Creek celebrates new neighborhood fire station SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Queen Creek officially opened Fire Station 3, a new neighborhood fire station in the northwest area of town. “We feel so honored to be able to meet the men and women who work so diligently to keep our town safe. I wanted my kids to experience this important milestone, and be part of the community,” said resident Candice Putzig, one of about 300 people who attended the event with her family. Located on Queen Creek Road west of Sossaman Road, Fire Station 3 “is strategically located to reduce response times and enhance the safety of firefighters,” the town said in a release. “Back in 2008, when our fire department formed, the population was less than 26,000. Today, we have a population of more than 41,000 – making this new fire station very needed,” said Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney, adding: “We enjoy exceptional emergency services in Queen Creek, and today we celebrate a new station that will help our firefighters continue to keep our community safe.” Not only is public safety a priority for the town, it is also a priority for the community. “Today is important to me as a resident,” said Lynn Schmidt, who lives in a neighborhood across from Fire Station 3. She added: “I moved here in 2004. I love seeing how Queen Creek is growing, and I love seeing all the families celebrating this new fire station! It’s so important for kids to know they can approach their first responders.” Fire Station 3 is a step toward ensuring a safe community, identified as one of

Special to SanTan Sun News

The Town of Queen Creek officially opened Fire Station 3 on Queen Creek Road, just west of Sossaman Road. About 300 community members turned out for a ribbon cutting.

five goals in the Town’s Queen Creek Corporate Strategic Plan. Additionally, the need for a third fire station in the northwest portion of Town was identified in the 2015 updated Fire and Emergency Services Master Plan. The area has the second highest call volume, and has the longest response time from the current stations. “This design was adapted from Fire Station 1, and includes features that will enhance the safety of our community,

and our firefighters – our two main priorities,” said Queen Creek Fire and Medical Chief Ron Knight, adding: “Having a third station in Queen Creek increases our capacity to respond to calls, with the addition of engine 413 and increased staff. The location of the new station will also help reduce response times.” Important features adapted from Fire Station 1 include: bi-fold doors, which open faster than standard rollup doors; sealed, ground concrete floors

that reduce exposure to biohazards; isolated storage for protective equipment to reduce contamination from the turnouts to other materials, and reduce exposure to exhaust; and built-in exhaust ventilation in the bays. Fire Station 3 was designed to complement the surrounding area. It will serve as a template for future neighborhood stations, which will save money and time as more neighborhood stations are built.

NEIGHBORS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Chandler businessman donates $50K to Hospice of the Valley generosity, we are able to provide the highest-quality and most compassionate care for our patients and their families, including those with no insurance or financial means,” said Debbie Shumway, executive director. “This gift also will support ‘extras’ not covered by insurance such as music, pet visits, honors for military veterans and children’s grief support,” she added. Hospice of the Valley, founded 40 years ago, cared for 18,000 people in central Arizona over the past year. Pollack, who is best known for bringing life back to rundown neighborhoods by redeveloping shopping centers across Arizona, Nevada and California, is also one of the Valley’s biggest philanthropists. Pollack has been in the real estate business for more than 44 years. He has been involved in more than 11 million square feet of real estate projects, with a

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler businessman Michael Pollack has donated $50,000 to Hospice of the Valley, a not-for-profit that cares for people nearing the end of life. Pollack, president and founder of Pollack Investments, called the donation money well spent because he has seen firsthand Hospice of the Valley’s good work and the special way it takes care of patients and families. “Hospice of the Valley is a fantastic organization and really does incredible things for people who are in the last stages of life. If my contribution is able to ease the burden of patients and families who are suffering, even just a little, then I am happy to do my part,” he said. Hospice of the Valley was elated with the gift. “Because of Michael’s extraordinary

total value well in excess of $1 billion. He has been an institution in the Phoenix commercial real estate market for more than 25 years, specializing in refurbishing commercial and industrial properties. He and his affiliated entities are one of Arizona’s largest privately held shopping center owners and operators. Pollack’s desire to build and instill pride back into run-down communities is a catalyst for many of his real estate ventures, with the goal of making Arizona cities better one project at a time. Over the years, Pollack has donated millions of dollars to Valley nonprofits. He also has provided discounted rent space to the organization and says he plans on continuing to do so. Hospice of the Valley serves all people, regardless of insurance or financial means. Information: hov.org/donate/.

Special to SanTan Sun News

Chandler businessman Michael Pollack.

Cancer silencing longtime DJ/traffic reporter John McCain was recently diagnosed with. Christopher started showing symptoms on June 16, when he and his wife, Kelli Tillwach, were DJs at a wedding through their business, Muscleman Music. She said Christopher ended up hurting his shoulder, or so they thought, and was fatigued and overheated.

BY MELODY BIRKETT Contributor

Cancer has silenced traffic reporter and on-air personality Jason Christopher. The 46-year-old Gilbert man’s voice has not been heard on Valley airwaves since July 5, when Christopher was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer known as glioblastoma – the same type Sen.

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brought him to the emergency room at Mercy hospital.” Again, Christopher was diagnosed with a pulled nerve in his shoulder. Tillwach wasn’t convinced. Although her husband’s speech was fine, the left side of his body, including his left leg, started losing function. She asked for a

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Days later, Christopher’s shoulder continued to bother him so he went to a doctor who figured he pulled a nerve and ordered a foot X-ray. After that, his condition worsened. “But he didn’t seem as concerned about it as I did and that’s not normal for him,” Tillwach said. “And then he started sleeping a lot, taking a lot of naps. So then, finally, I

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Since the total loss of our building from the devastating fire we Since the total loss of our building from the devastating fire we experienced on January 8th 2017, we have been making preparation for Since the total loss of8th our2017, building from themaking devastating fire we experienced on January we have been preparation for our new building to be of constructed on thefrom samethe site.devastating During the planning Since the total loss our building fire we experienced on January 8th 2017, we have been making preparation for our new building to be constructed on the same site. During the planning and building process, we are moving in some temporary modular Since the total loss of our building from the devastating fire we experienced onprocess, January 8th are 2017,moving we been making preparation for our new building to be constructed onhave the in same site. During the planning and building we some temporary modular buildings tototal be used forof the mortuary, cemetery office and chapel. In the Since the loss our building from the devastating fire we experienced on January 8th 2017, we have been making preparation for our new building to be constructed on the same site. During the planning and building process, we are moving in some temporary modular buildings to be used for the mortuary, cemetery office and chapel. In the meantime, we have been using the Chapel Mausoleum on the North end experienced on January 8th 2017, we have been making preparation for our new building to be constructed on the same site. During the planning and building process, arethe moving inMausoleum some temporary modular buildings towe behave usedbeen for we the mortuary, cemetery office and chapel. Inend the meantime, using Chapel on the North of the property for our makeshift office. We want to take this opportunity our new building to be constructed on the same site. During the planning and process, we arethe moving some temporary modular buildings towe behave used formakeshift the mortuary, cemetery office and chapel. Inend the meantime, been using Chapel on the North of thebuilding property for our office. WeinMausoleum want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the community and especially the families of and building process, we are moving in some temporary modular buildings to be used for the mortuary, cemetery office and chapel. In the meantime, wemembers have been the Chapel Mausoleum theopportunity North end of the property for our makeshift office. Weand want to takeon this to thank the ofusing the community especially the families of the people we have served for their understanding and patients during buildings to be used for the mortuary, cemetery office and chapel. In the meantime, we have been using the Chapel Mausoleum on the North end of the property for our makeshift office. We want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the community and especially the families of the people we have served for their understanding and patients during this trying process. meantime, we have been using the Chapel Mausoleum on the North end of the property for our makeshift office. We want to take this opportunity to thank members of the and especially the families of the people we have served forcommunity their understanding and patients during this tryingthe process. of property for our makeshift office. Weand want to take to the thank the members of the especially theopportunity families of the people we have served forcommunity their understanding and this patients during this trying process. to thank the members of the community and especially the families of the people we have served for their understanding and patients during this trying process. the people we have served for their understanding and patients during this trying process. 10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd. this trying process. 10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd.

Valley Valley of of the the Sun Sun Cemetery Cemetery Valley of the Sun Cemetery AZ 85248 Valley ofChandler the Sun Cemetery 10940Chandler, E. Heights Rd. Chandler, AZ 85248 Valley of the Sun Cemetery 10940Chandler, E. Chandler Heights Rd. 480.895.9232 AZ 85248 Valley of the Sun Cemetery 480.895.9232 10940 E. Chandler Heights Chandler, AZ 85248 Rd. www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com 480.895.9232 10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd. www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com Chandler, AZ 85248 480.895.9232 www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com Chandler, AZ 85248 480.895.9232 www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com 480.895.9232 www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com

NEIGHBORS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Young people in Chandler discover the power of positivity BY SHELBY PEDERSEN Guest Writer

Positivity can be a very powerful tool with youth. Positive reinforcements are a great way to instill encouraging, optimistic feelings. At ICAN, we work with youth who deal with many struggles in Special to SanTan Sun News their daily lives. Shelby Pedersen This can lead to sizable behavioral issues, and the natural tendency for most adults is to “penalize” children for poor behavior. This may show up as yelling, lecturing or other negative reactions. We take a different approach with these youth – with all of our youth. Our staff

uses purposeful, positive statements with youth every day that appreciate them for their unique skills and abilities and provide praise when they’ve followed directions, met a goal or been kind to one another. These tactics are something that every parent, teacher or youth care worker can utilize. All our programming at ICAN is evidence-based, which means it’s based on scientific research and typically endorsed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. One of those curricula is called PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies). The PATHS program is grounded in the science of children’s brain development, which has determined that children experience and react to strong emotions before developing the cognitive abilities to verbalize them. One of the main education objectives of PATHS is to enhance children’s selfesteem, self-confidence and ability to give and receive compliments. Research

has shown that youth learn best and show higher motivation within the context of positive attachments. Much of this ties in with the Golden Rule, something that threads through most of the PATHS activities that we teach. For example, in one activity, we break the kids into groups and give them a series of scenarios to discuss. These scenarios include: “You said something mean to your mom and hurt her feelings” and “You have to do your homework, but you don’t want to. Your parents remind you to do it now!” Youth discuss how they would feel in that situation, how does their parent feel, what they could do if they were the parent and what they could do themselves, using the Golden Rule. Our staff uses many different types of positive reinforcements with our youth. If a staff member sees a group of youth misbehaving and not staying on task, they don’t scold that group; they find a group nearby who is working well

and compliment them so that everyone can hear. If they see youth running down the hall instead of walking, they say, “Why don’t you come back and try that again?” instead of yelling, “Stop! You can’t be running.” It takes a great deal of effort and forethought – rephrasing what we are so quick to yell out. Our staff understands that character building takes time and commitment, it doesn’t happen overnight. So many of these tools are great for parenting in the home as well. I hope everyone will take a second to think through how much positivity they are sharing in the world today. If you need some help, here are few suggestions from creativewithkids.com: • You make me smile. I will do my best to keep you safe. • I think about you when I’m not with you. • I see you working and learning every day. • Sometimes I will say no. I have faith in you. I know you can handle it.

DEADLINES FOR SANTAN SUN NEWS: SEPTEMBER 28 The deadline for news and advertising is 12 p.m. Thursday, September 28, for the Saturday, October 7, 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.

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NEIGHBORS 48

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Chandler Realtor named among 2017’s most influential women SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A Chandler Realtor has been named one of this year’s most influential women by AZRE magazine. Mary Nollenberger, director of retail leasing and sales investments at SVN|Desert Commercial Advisors, a commercial real estate services firm, was honored. “While the retail market may have taken a decrease in the second quarter, the East Valley submarket has the largest concentration of retail space in the Greater Phoenix area,” SVN said in a release. “Mary Nollenberger proves just how large it is.” Over the last month, Nollenberger has closed over $6.2 million in sales and lease transactions with over 95 percent in Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa. Her philosophy is making a difference in the same economic growth and development where she lives and can enjoy as well, a company spokeswoman said. “To me, the most important detail is the relationship behind every project, location, and the journey that we engage in,” said Nollenberger. She said she prides herself in the com-

mercial real estate industry in not only building relationships with her clients, but with everyone involved with the projects. A few months ago, one of her retail developments, Crismon Gateway Village, ground on the upscale retail development in east Mesa. The news of her AZRE honor came on the celebration of the groundbreaking ceremony that morning. “This brought me to tears,” said Nollenberger. “In a time when you are tired, trying to be many places at one time, and being challenged every day, the news from AZ Big Media reminded me on why I love doing what I do, even through the challenging times.” Many other retail developments, such as Chandler Crossings, Greenway Marketplace, and all the preleasing for the Gilbert & Ocotillo retail development are all underway and nearly all leased and preleased, SVN said. Chandler Crossings has recently added tenant East Coast Bagels to join Alamo Drafthouse, Blue 32 and East Valley School of Music. Gilbert & Ocotillo retail development

is led by Rommie Mojahed and is co-brokered with Beau Flahart and Nollenberger. Over the last month, new tenants have leased space at the new development, including Advanced Ortho, Barre 3, Marcos Pizza and Tryst Café for over $3 million is lease transactions alone. “The most significant transaction this year is the one that is always around the corner, the ones we fight to achieve,” said Nollenberger. “They are the ones that seem like an unimaginable victory, until I have realized I have celebrated many of them already this year.” “Nollenberger has been in the industry over a decade and continues to prove why she is one of the top commercial real estate advisors in Arizona,” SVN said. For any new advisor coming into this crazy world of real estate, Nollenberger offered some advice: “Be engaged and be excited. Gain the trust from your clients because they will become your friends.” SVN provides comprehensive expertise in investment brokerage, leasing, landlord/tenant representation, analysis/ valuation and market research.

Special to SanTan Sun News

Mary Nollenberger, director of retail leasing and sales investments at SVN|Desert Commercial Advisors.

It specializes in multifamily, retail, office, medical/dental, and restaurant property types. Information: SVNDesertCommercial.com.

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NEIGHBORS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Chandler Recreation’s teen leadership program honored SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A Chandler program that provides teen’s with real-world work experience and leadership training has won the Outstanding Education Program Award from the Arizona Parks & Recreation Association. The award, presented at APRA’s 67th annual conference earlier this month in Phoenix, honored Chandler’s Leaders In Training. Administered by Chandler’s Recreation Division and led by longtime recreation coordinators Shawn Peoples and Tony Baumann, the program since 2001 helps prepare young adults for the professional world by getting them to turn summer downtime into leadership opportunities. Over six weeks, participants attend a series of leadership-development workshops and volunteer in a variety of areas within Chandler City government, including accounting, recreation, aquatics, economic development, public safety, public housing and several areas involving the private sector. “The program was very helpful in gaining knowledge in the areas of customer service, networking and accountability,” said 2015 L.I.T. participant Heba Shiban. “The workshops provided me with real-life experiences in the workforce.” This year’s class included 63 students. The workweek began each Monday with professional development workshops

presented by members of the local business and government community. On Tuesday through Friday, teens were assigned to work four-hour shifts for a minimum of 12 hours per week. Teens also had the opportunity to attend field trips, including college tours. “Our L.I.T. program is teaching our future leaders basic skills that they can use for the rest of their lives,” said Baumann. “It is getting our next generation to first think about their future and what they need to be successful.” APRA has nearly 1,000 members from

Above: This year’s LIT participants experienced a variety of professional and leadership opportunities. Right: LIT program coordinators Shawn Peoples, left, and Tony Baumann accepted the award from APRA.

local, county, state, and national agencies and organizations. Each year, the awards committee receives hundreds of nominations and each is carefully reviewed by a panel of APRA professionals from around the state.

NEIGHBORS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

First Things First can help families find quality day care BY MARIE REDMOND Guest Writer

For working families, finding a quality child care center or preschool for their infant, toddler or preschooler is an important decision. In Arizona, 60 percent of Special to SanTan Sun News children live in Marie Redmond families where all the adults work. So, most children spend all or part of their day learning from other adults. Research shows 90 percent of a child’s brain develops before age 5. The positive, nurturing relationships young kids have with adults, from parents to child care and early learning professionals, shape their learning now and throughout their lives. Quality child care and preschool settings help children develop skills like motivation, self-control, focus and self-esteem that are crucial to their success now and once they enter school. So how can families know what a quality early learning setting looks like?

First Things First (FTF) offers resources to help families as they search for quality child care. Quality First, an FTF signature program, partners with child care providers and preschools in Arizona to improve the quality of early learning for children birth to age 5. Through QualityFirstAZ.com, Quality First also provides families with information about the importance of quality in child care and early education, what quality looks like in order to promote learning and tools to help families find quality child care or preschool programs in their area. “I always tell parents to look for strong relationships,” said Andrea Benkel, assistant head of school at Summit School of Ahwatukee. “As parents, we intuitively know when a child has a safe, trusting and loving relationship with a caregiver. “Does the teacher show delight in the ideas, words and actions of the children?” she continued. “If that powerful and positive connection exists, children feel safe in exploring their world, trusting their ideas and making a positive impact in their world. They just bloom.” FTF offers families the following tips on what look for when searching for quality child care and preschool settings:

First, visit the program in person and take the Quality Child Care checklist with you to help. The checklist includes questions such as asking what the teachers’ qualifications are and what is the ratio of teachers to students? There also are things to observe at the visit, such as how to spot positive, nurturing teacher/child interactions, such as does the teacher make eye contact with the children, smile and listen without interrupting? Look for places that that build on basic health and safety to include: • teachers and caregivers who know how to work with infants, toddlers and preschoolers, • positive, nurturing relationships that give young kids the individual attention they need, • learning environments that encourage creativity and imaginative play, • hands-on activities that stimulate and encourage positive brain connections in children, • caregivers who provide regular feedback to parents on the development of their child. First Things First created Quality First to improve, assess and communicate the level of quality in child care and

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preschool programs. Since it began, the Quality First program has significantly improved the quality of early learning options available to Arizona’s families. In fact, since 2013, the percentage of participating programs statewide that meet or exceed quality standards has increased from 25 percent to 71 percent. In the FTF East Maricopa region, the same figures increased from 29 percent to 76 percent. In addition, Quality First recently underwent a two-year independent study which found that participating child care and preschool providers improved the quality of their programs between each assessment. It also determined that Quality First’s 5-star rating scale does reflect five distinct and increasing levels of quality. No matter their current rating level, families can be assured that child care providers participating in Quality First are committed to improving the quality of child care. – Marie Redmond chairs the First Things First East Maricopa Regional Council, which includes Chandler, Tempe and Ahwatukee. First Things First is a voter-created statewide organization that funds early education and health programs. Information: FirstThingsFirst.org.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

EVENTS

Utility rates change Oct. 1

The Chandler City Council adopted rate increases on June 22, 2017, for Water, Wastewater, Reclaimed Water, and Solid Waste Services and the new rates will become effective Oct. 1, 2017. The rate changes are needed to fund debt service costs related to new and expanded water and wastewater facilities, as well as their expanded ongoing operating costs, which include chemicals and electricity. Other drivers are costs for capital system maintenance needed as infrastructure ages to ensure quality and safe systems, and increased operating costs for the solid waste utility. The water and wastewater rates incorporate a recent Cost of Service Study that identified necessary shifts in the rate structure to ensure each customer class is paying their fair share for the services provided. This will impact single-family, multi-family, non-residential, landscape, and industrial customer classes for water; and single-family, multi-family, and non-residential for wastewater; reclaimed water users; and solid waste service customers. Complete details on the rate changes can be found at chandleraz.gov/utilityrates.

Winter lawn overseeding tips

19 19 20 21 21 23 26 28 30 30

3 4 5 7 10 12 12 14 14 16 16 19 19 19 20 21 24 26 27 28 28

SEPTEMBER

Mayor’s Listening Tour, Galveston Elementary School, 782-4354 Neighborhood College: Conflicts of interest in HOAs and how to avoid them, Environmental Education Center, 782-4348 Family Night at the TRC, “Cupcake Craziness,” Tumbleweed Rec Center, 782-2900 Easy Irrigation Troubleshooting and Repair Workshop, TechShop, 782-3580 Neighborhood College: An explanation of the statutes that govern HOAs, Environmental Education Center, 782-4348 Dragonfly and Butterfly Bash, Environmental Education Center, 782-2890 Neighborhood College: Community Association Finances 101, Downtown Library, 782-4348 Neighborhood College: Code Enforcement 101, Police Main Station, 782-4348 Mariachi & Folklorico Festival, Center for the Arts, 782-2680 San Tan Brewing OktoberFest, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 602-276-2499

OCTOBER

Neighborhood College: HOA Jeopardy!, Downtown Library, 782-4348 Angel Investing Workshop: #PHXEastValley Successful Startups, ASU Chandler Innovation Center, 782-3034 Chandler Farmers Market, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 855-3539 Our Stories Speaker Series: Adrenaline, Excitement and Fear, Downtown Library, 782-2800 Neighborhood College: Everything about pets!, Downtown Library, 782-4348 Chandler Farmers Market, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park West, 855-3539 Rainwater Harvesting Workshop, Dr. A. J. Chandler Park, 782-3580 Trashion Fashion Show, Chandler Fashion Center, 782-3525 Fire, Health & Medical Open House, Fire Station No. 6, 782-2120 Boots to Business Reboot, Downtown Library, 782-2800 City Council Meeting & Study Session, Council Chambers, 782-2180 Chandler Farmers Market, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 855-3539 City Council Meeting, Council Chambers, 782-2180 Sonoran Sunset Series, Back to the Fifties Band, Veterans Oasis Park, 782-2890 Chandler Art Walk, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 855-3539 Mayor’s Day of Play, Tumbleweed Park, 782-2665 Eco-Friendly Water Gardens Workshop, TechShop, 782-3580 Chandler Farmers Market, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 855-3539 Halloween Spooktacular, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park Stage Plaza, 782-2665 Our Stories Speaker Series: From Chandler to the Vietnam War, Downtown Library, 782-2800 Pumpkin Dunk, Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center, 782-2750

For event details, visit

chandleraz.gov

or call the Chandler Special Events Hotline at

782-2735

The option of having a green lawn through our winter by planting ryegrass is popular with many homeowners. But, because we live in a desert environment, it is important to use our water as efficiently as possible. Limiting, or forgoing, overseeding is one of many ways to conserve water. There are significant benefits to not overseeding, such as reduced water costs and lower costs associated with preparing and maintaining the winter lawn. Chandler’s Water Conservation Office has tips on “Things to do if you don’t overseed” and “Things to do if you do overseed” on their web page at chandleraz.gov/water or call 782-3580.

Chandler seeks ‘angels’ who support innovation

The City of Chandler, East Valley Partnership, Arizona Tech Investors and other area partners have embarked on a new initiative in hopes of better serving our regional business community. Chandler is seeking individuals who meet accredited investor criteria and are interested in becoming angel investors, an individual who invests his or her own money in startup companies in exchange for an equity share of the businesses. A free workshop series will be held to introduce the skills needed to start investing. The first workshop is scheduled for 5-6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the ASU Chandler Innovation Center, 249 E. Chicago St. in downtown Chandler. Visit chandleraz.gov/angelinvesting for more information.

Free workshop for Veterans: Boots to Business Reboot

Veterans have the character, discipline and skills needed to succeed as small business owners and entrepreneurs. Are you a veteran wondering what it takes and how you can prepare? Enroll in the “Boots to Business Reboot” workshop from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 16, at the Chandler Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St. Lunch will be provided by Alliance Bank of Arizona. This two-step training program provides participants an overview of business ownership as a career vocation, an outline and knowledge on the components of a business plan, a practical exercise in opportunity recognition and an introduction to available public and private sector resources. For more information and to register, contact James Pipper at james.pipper@sba.gov or 602-745-7230.

September is National Preparedness Month

Disasters don’t plan ahead. You can. Make an emergency plan today. Preparing the family for an emergency is as simple as a conversation over dinner. Don’t Wait. Communicate. Get started with tips from ready.gov/make-a-plan.

What a card!

September is Library Card Sign-up Month and Chandler’s four public libraries are ready to welcome you into the “best card in the world” club. With a free library card you can access resources and programs that can open your mind and open doors to a greater future. Get connected online at chandlerlibrary.org/faqs.html#getcard or at any Chandler Library.

Chandler Farmers Market returns in October

Every Thursday, October through April, the Farmers Market returns to Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, in downtown Chandler from 3-7 p.m. The market features more than 30 local vendors to shop, and enjoy live music. Jeff Scott Farms and One Windmill Farms (main produce suppliers) are local Arizona farmers who deliver some of the best fruits and vegetables around. For details, visit downtownchandler.org/farmersmarket.

Tell us why you #LoveChandler!

Visit Chandler’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/chandlerarizona to see the latest #LoveChandler videos and images from others in love with Chandler. If you love your community, let the world know! Take a video, photo or graphic of what you love about Chandler, upload it on your personal Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account and include the #LoveChandler hashtag in your post.

NEIGHBORS

CANCER FROM PAGE 46 CT scan, but doctors never prescribed one. “They refused,” she said. “They sent him home and a couple days later he was in a minor car accident because he had a seizure.” A police officer called and asked whether Christopher was under the influence. “I told the officer to put him in an ambulance and not let him drive home because strange things are happening,” Tillwach said. Doctors at the hospital also asked whether Christopher was under the influence and also asked whether he might have hit his head in the crash due to having a seizure. “And I said, ‘He needs a scan because something is going on,’” Tillwach said. “And as soon as they put him in for a CT scan, they found the tumor.” “So, they operated and got about 85 percent of the tumor on July 7,” she said. “And by the 12th, they told us it was stage 4 of glioblastoma.” Tillwach said her initial thoughts were that “it was just a bad dream. He’s such a health nut, works out four or five days a week, took a lot of vitamin supplements, likes preventative measures for anything.” “He always worried about foods on the dirty list. Always tried to do things to prevent any kind of cancer because he had friends who have had different issues with cancer so he never wanted to be that person,” she added. More inoperable cancer cells were found in the brain tissue, so Christopher started chemotherapy and radiation treatment on Aug. 21. “Unfortunately, he has lost his voice so he can only whisper right now,” Tillwach

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

said. “He’s alert and he knows what he’s going through. He’s showing signs of short-term memory loss but he recognizes everybody. When he’s awake, we have conversations but he does sleep a lot.” Christopher has been a Valley fixture for more than 20 years after working for radio stations in Flagstaff and Roswell, New Mexico. In Phoenix, Christopher started as an evening disc jockey at Valley country radio station 102.5 KNIX. He later moved to mornings as a producer and sidekick for the same station. After that, he transitioned into giving traffic reports for a cluster of iHeartMedia stations, helping Valley drivers get to and from work. Christopher also has done numerous commercials, interviewed celebrities at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2010 Special to SanTan Sun News and also worked a fight night event Jason Christopher and his wife, Kerri Tillwach, celebrated their wedding anniversary on the West Coast with featuring Evander Holyfield. “A lot of people knew his name. son Jake and daughter Kenzi. I knew his name before I personmarried over 13 years. ally met and started dating him,” “He’s just that guy everyone loves to Tillwach said. be around,” Tillwach said. “He loves his Vicki Fiorelli, former KNIX director of kids. Everything we worked for in our lives marketing and promotions, said Chriswas for our kids. It took a long time to get topher “regularly volunteered his time our kids here. We were both in our 30s and always put the KNIX listener first, when we got married, so family was first interacting with fans. “He was one of the first on-air person- and foremost for us. Every waking minute we spent with the kids and us as a family.” alities who teamed up with the teacher The couple have a son Jake, 11, and a of the week promotion, visiting Valley daughter Kenzi, 9. Tillwach has tried to schools, recognizing teachers for their explain to them what’s going on. hard work and dedication,” she added. “I’ve explained to them what cancer is. Christopher and Tillwach have been

I’ve explained that it’s in his brain and that he’s been sick and there are going be good days and bad days. Right now, we’re seeing a lot of the bad days and we just have to have faith and be hopeful for good things to come.” Traffic anchor Bill Henderson, who worked alongside Christopher for many years, said, “Jason is what guys would say is a great dude. He’s a family man, committed to his wife, committed to his kids.” Traffic anchor Steve Trella, who has known Christopher for almost 15 years, echoed Henderson’s description. And he feels helpless. “When something like this happens, it shakes you to your personal core because you start asking ‘How could this happen to this person?’” Trella said. “It’s really heartbreaking and hurtful. The best thing myself and all of his friends can do is pray for him and support he and his family as best we can.” The family has set up an account on gofundme.com account in the name of Jason Christopher. “The biggest struggle with this type of cancer that he has is that he can’t work,” said Henderson. “He’s lost a tremendous amount of income.” The family is living off their savings and donations. “This is such a heinous disease and it can be just all consuming, not just emotionally but financially,” Trella said. “To cure this thing, it isn’t cheap. Health insurance of any kind doesn’t cover all the cost to try and fight this disease.” Trella said even $5 or $10 will help, adding, “Even if you don’t know him personally when he comes through the radio, he’s like that helpful friend. These are very sweet and beautiful people.”

Sunday, October 1, 2017 · 7:00 p.m.

Charles Phoenix

Disney Retro Slide Show Friday, October 6, 2017 · 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 12, 2017 · 7:30 p.m. Full season listing

ChandlerCenter.org 480.782.2680

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Arts

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

All ages perform vibrant mariachi music, folklorico dance at festival BY COLLEEN SPARKS Staff

Mexican culture will come to life in a colorful display of dynamic dance and music at a festival that merges budding child performers with professional adult artists. Musicians will strum guitars, blow trumpets and bow violins in passionate melodies while dancers will perform intricate footwork in colorful skirts at the 18th Annual Mariachi and Folklorico Festival, presented by the Chandler Center for the Arts. The lively traditional music and dances of Mexico will come to the stage at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at the arts center, 250 N. Arizona Ave. Nonprofit organization C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona produces the annual event marking Hispanic Heritage Month. Festival director Vanessa Ramirez hopes the show will draw 1,500 people. Dance is also a big part of the mariachi festival. About 60 child and adult dancers from four folklorico dance groups in Chandler, Queen Creek and other parts of the Valley will perform together accompanied by the mariachi groups. “It’s a unique thing that we’re doing in the Valley,” Ramirez of Chandler said. “Each group has their own style to what they do. Every director has their own style. It definitely is a bit of a challenge, but a fun one to get all these dancers on stage and have them look as if they are one company.” Ramirez is also owner and director of Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli-AZ, a nonprofit

Special to SanTan Sun News

Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar, a premier mariachi ensemble based in Los Angeles headed by Grammy Award winner Jimmy “El Pollo” Cuéllar, will perform again at Chandler Center for the Arts Sept. 30.

organization in Chandler with dancers as young as 2 years old and as old as 68. For the festival, dancers performing will range from 11 to 23 years old, she said. Usually only the teenage and adult dancers perform at the festival, but this year Ramirez is allowing the younger dancers to participate. “They’ve been working really hard to be up to par with the more advanced dancers,” she said. The young dancers are excited to be part of the huge performance, and

Ramirez is thrilled to work with the other dance troupes at the festival. Primavera Folkorico Dance Company of Phoenix, Institute of Folklorico Mexicano of Queen Creek and Tradiciones Dance Company of Phoenix will perform with Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli-AZ at the festival. Since July, the four dance groups have been rehearsing four to six hours every weekend. The joint performance has “created just an awesome unity,” Ramirez said.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “Every year it’s just growing and growing; the dancers get really excited about coming back to work on this project. With everything going on in the world right now, it’s wonderful to escape all the negativity and come see all the positive activities that our youth are doing, the way they’re all collaborating, communicating. It’s another way to be proud of their culture and share the world.” Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar, a premier mariachi ensemble based in Los see

MARIACHI page 54

Group seeks input on Chandler Center for the Arts’ future BY TOBIN ERNST Guest Writer

East Valley residents are being asked to share their opinions on what types of shows and programs they would like to see at Chandler Center for the Arts. The Chandler Cultural Foundation, which facilitates programming as well as funds development for the arts center, is getting ready to start marketing research to build a comprehensive plan. As part of the process, the foundation’s leadership is asking the East Valley community for input on what it believes the vision for the Chandler Center for the Arts should be. Residents can answer a 16-question survey at chandlercenter.org/survey. The survey what types of performances people are interested in, what obstacles they face in going to the theater and how they find out about cultural events. “This process will allow us to better understand the challenges and opportunities while listening to feedback from the community,” said Jeanne Forbis, chair of Chandler Cultural Foundation. “Chandler Center for the Arts’ vision embodies the belief that the arts hold transformative potential and that the center elevates the social culture of our community, empowering citizens to bridge borders through participation, intellectual exploration and leadership development

Special to SanTan Sun News

The Chandler Center for the Arts is looking for a broad range of respondents to a survey on its shows and programs.

of the arts.” Chandler Center for the Arts was one of more than 200 nonprofit arts organizations, schools and cultural agencies to receive financial support from the Arizona Commission on the Arts to keep the arts alive in the state. The commission, which has been around for 50 years,

supports and develops the Arizona arts sector through programming, research and grant making. The Chandler Center for the Arts received a grant of $22,000 from the commission in July. In addition, the Cultural Foundation and arts center are using a $106,000 grant from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust to

test and identify specific opportunities for audience identification and increase non-paid and paid attendance to the arts center. The Chandler Center for the Arts attracts more than 300,000 visitors a year. The grant will also support a comprehensive marketing plan, using audience see

ARTS page 54

ARTS 54

MARIACHI from page 53 Angeles headed by Grammy Award winner Jimmy “El Pollo” Cuéllar, will perform again this year. Also featured at the festival will be Mariachi Sonido de Mexico from Tucson. Youths who participate in the 2017 C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona Mariachi Music Workshops Sept. 27-29 at Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School in Chandler will also perform. Ticket sales for the festival go toward scholarships for students. C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona said it is committed to promoting the beauty, characteristics and qualities of the Mexican/Hispanic culture through various art forms. Ramirez described folklorico as a traditional folk dance from all the states of Mexico. Mariachi songs express various themes including love, loss and patriotism. Children, teens and adults in Chandler, Mesa and Tempe through nonprofit organizations,

after-school programs and Arizona State University take classes and perform throughout the year. Chris Nguyen, a general music teacher at Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School, is looking forward to the festival. He runs an after-school mariachi club for children at the Chandler school through the nonprofit Desert Sounds Performing Arts organization in Mesa. “I feel like listening to live professional mariachi is just so beneficial,” Nguyen, of Chandler, said. “I think the more I know as a teacher the better I am as an instructor. Music is a language of the soul. Anyone can just listen to the mariachi music and as long as it’s played well, it will reach out to you. “If a person is appreciative of other cultures and just listening to great, quality music, they’re going to get a lot out of the festival,” he added. To learn more about the 18th Annual Mariachi and Folklorico Festival and to buy tickets, visit chandlercenter.org.

Special to SanTan Sun News

ARTS from page 53

Special to SanTan Sun News

research and feedback, to enhance the communication of the Center’s programs in a way that resonates with new visitors, attendees and supporters as the arts center approaches its 30th year as a presenter in the Valley. “Since the Center’s inception, the residents of (the) East Valley have been instrumental in supporting the programming and the funding for the Chandler Center for the Arts,” said Michelle Mac Lennan, general manager of Chandler Center for the Arts. “It is of most importance that

member to

llot and re a b n -i il a m e th r fo h tc a W

! It il a M d n a S E Y t Open It, Mark. VoIte YES and return by November 3. er 11 Ballots will be sent Octob

Maintenance & Operations Budget Analysis (2017-18)

Where does the money go? .3% 60

• Training • Library • Counselors • Speech • Nurses • Security • Custodians

 Classroom Instruction  School Personnel  School Principals and Staff  Utilities, Insurance, Property Liability  District Administration

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

their voices are included in this survey.” Located on the northwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard, the Chandler Center for the Arts boasts an impressive architectural design that allows for multiple simultaneous performances with three theaters and an art gallery. Its 1,500-seat Mainstage is the signature performance hall where no seat is further than 100 feet from the stage. To learn more about Chandler Center for the Arts, visit chandlercenter.org. – Tobin Ernst is with ANGLES Public Relations.

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ARTS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Roger Clyne’s heart is in the Grand Canyon State

Starting at

$750 EACH!

STSN photo by Kimberly Carrillo

Drummer P.H. Naffah, left, and Roger Clyne will perform with the rest of the band at the SanTan Brewing Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 30. “We connect to people person to person. We stay touring, even though it’s energy intensive. The Peacemakers’ voice becomes their voice. We speak with one heart – one ‘native heart,’ so to speak, to go back to that.” The Peacemakers will perform during the 10th annual SanTan Brewing Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chandler. “This is our fourth time playing,” Clyne said. “We opened for Matisyahu one year, and Reel Big Fish another. I think they’re playing with us this time. “They offered us the chance to headline, but I want to do my work and

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away. I work on my music quickly and spontaneously. I scrutinize my songs. I don’t want to put too much glaze on the songs, though.” Clyne, who penned the D-backs postgame song “D-backs Swing,” has something to say about the passion he still carries for his job. “I’m so lucky to be able to do what I do, with whom I do it, and for whom I do it,” he said. “It’s a blessing every time I get to go on stage, or start writing a song. I can share them if I wish. It’s an honor.” Sometimes he doesn’t care to share his tracks; other songs he’ll suck up and release. “I might feel that I’m exposing too much of myself,” he said. “I understand that people come to cope with life and celebrate life and that’s an honor. It’s not an obligation but a privilege that I have a bunch of people asking me how I’m doing all the time. I get to share it in song.” Clyne hasn’t started writing new material yet, as he’s reveling in the newness of “Native Heart.” “It’s pretty atypical that I write immediately after a release,” he said. “That’s typically what I do. I’ll sing these songs as often and as loud and passionately as I can. Then I’ll walk back to my guitar, start strumming and see what’s next.” Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers SanTan Brewing Oktoberfest, 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, Dr. AJ Chandler Park 178 E.Commonwealth Ave., Chandler $12-$100, santanoktoberfest.com.

BUSINESS

2017

Roger Clyne and P.H. Naffah of the Peacemakers walk into the all-white room in Phoenix’s Parkwood Studios, prepared for a cover shoot. Clyne adjusts his trademark ﬂoppy hat in a nearby mirror, while Naffah twirls his drumsticks between his fingers. “Let’s do this,” Clyne said. That statement represents go-get-‘em attitude of Clyne and his Peacemakers. If it wasn’t for that, Clyne wouldn’t have been able to maintain his 20-some-oddyear career playing music to the masses. His latest missive is “Native Heart,” a 10-track project that was produced by Grammy winner/Los Lobos musician Steve Berlin and mixed by Michael Brauer at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Word got around even before the album was released on June 30, creating a buzz. “I saw people out there wearing preorder T-shirts,” Clyne said. “We saw some in Atlanta. There were people singing (the first single) ‘Flowerin’’ and ‘Every Kind of Lucky.’ Fans were getting familiar with it before it hits the shelves, so to speak.” Although the records fare well, live shows are the Peacemakers’ bread and butter, Clyne explained. “I think it just goes back to no matter how the record gets disseminated – i.e., radio, internet, record store shelves or if somebody burned it on a mixtape – our band is a live band,” he said, adding:

go and enjoy the beer.” Seriously, though, Arizona is where Clyne’s heart is. “Any show in Arizona is great,” he said. “First, I love Arizona. Two, I love the Peacemakers and three, I love rock ‘n’ roll. It all comes to a conﬂuence.” That belief creates a bond between the Peacemakers and their fans. “The line between band and fan is really blurred and we’re just a community of friends,” Clyne said. “I hang out with our fans because we’re all Peacemakers. We’re lucky that our music resonates with so many.” Clyne took a chance with the writing of “Native Heart” deciding to improvise instead of sitting down and creating a “statement of intent.” “For example, (2004’s) ‘Americano’ was largely an exploration into the price of the course of empire for a nation and an individual human heart,” he said. “For ‘Native Heart,’ I was approaching my 10th studio record, which is a hallmark for any artist, 20 years-plus in the business. I wanted the music to ﬂow more spontaneously and explore what I would say without a statement of intent. ‘Native Heart’ is what came about. It’s a summation. It’s a compilation of free expression without following a path.” Clyne admits to being a perfectionist, something that’s clear when he describes his music. “I create a lot of things, a lot of music and I don’t use most of it,” he said. “At the same time, I never throw anything

E BEV

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Staff

NEW LEADS • NEW CUSTOMERS • NEW SALES

EXPO

As the largest annual event of its kind in the East Valley, the expo provides a dynamic setting for both business-to-business and business-to-customer outreach Location: Mesa Convention Center 263 N. Center Street, Mesa, AZ 85201 Date/Time Information: Wednesday, October 4, 2017 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Showcase Your Business: Limited Exhibitor Booths are Available starting as low as $440

Admission is free with a business card and attendees have their chance at winning gift cards, door prizes, rafﬂes and giveaways. The expo is a joint production of the Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa Chambers of Commerce and draws exhibitors, attendees and talent from these powerful organizations.

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ARTS

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Butterﬂy exhibit a treat for young and old alike SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Communing with nature is second nature at Chandler’s Environmental Education Center, home to nature-oriented programs and Veterans Oasis Park. The center’s annual Dragonfly & Butterfly Bash returns at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 23, with a chance to get up close and personal with butterflies and dragonflies attracted to the

Participants also will learn what types of ﬂowers and plants will attract butterﬂies in order to create an oasis in their own backyard. The event includes hands-on activities, crafts and giveaways, presentations and educational demonstrations by vendors, such as Arizona State University’s Natural History Collections and My Nature Place, a local vendor promoting the importance of

Take the opportunity to learn about our ﬂuttering “friends and explore the picturesque Veterans Oasis Park, which is always gorgeous in the late summer.”

– Daniella Rodriguez, recreation coordinator at the EEC

113-acre Sonoran Desert landscape. “Dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies flutter over the wetland habitats at Veterans Oasis Park during the late summer,” said Daniella Rodriguez, recreation coordinator at the EEC. “As a steward of native and riparian plants, the park actively promotes the appreciation, understanding and conservation of these habitats to promote the return of these magnificent insects each year,” she added. This free, high-flying festival is for both children and adults they explore the various species at all life stages. As festivalgoers take guided nature walks, they’ll discover the enchantment of dragonflies from on-site experts.

milkweed for monarchs and Butterﬂy Wonderland. The EEC, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road, will remain open normal business hours during the event so the community can experience the latest exhibits in the lobby, including Feathers and Fangs. Guests also can enjoy shopping at the Owl’s Nest Nature Store featuring eco-friendly products and nature-inspired books and toys. “Take the opportunity to learn about our ﬂuttering friends and explore the picturesque Veterans Oasis Park, which is always gorgeous in the late summer,” said Rodriguez. “Be sure to bring your camera.” Information: 480-782-2894 or chandleraz.gov.eec.

City of Chandler

Besides seeing a variety of butterfly species, kids who attend the annual Dragonfly and Butterfly Bash also can enjoy face-painting and other fun activities.

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SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

Spirituality

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

With T-square and cross, architect readies his latest work BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Steve Barduson describes the trajectory of his education as going from the T-square to the cross. In reality, both mark the career of the man called “The Pastors’ Architect.” Barduson has designed and overseen the construction of 80 churches in the Valley, including Crossroads in Chandler and Mountain Park Community Church’s soonto-open new home on 48th Street and Frye Road in Ahwatukee. That church will replace Mountain Park’s 20-year-old building on Pecos Road and 24th Street – which Barduson also designed – as it falls to the South Mountain Freeway. The last service in the old building was Sept. 10, with a grand opening of the new church scheduled Oct. 1. “It’s the culmination of the 80 churches I’ve built and all the work that I’ve been part of,” said Barduson, who holds degrees in both architecture and theology. “Yes, it’s the most ambitious.” The Minnesota native’s dual devotion to God and structure dates back to his underclassman days at Arizona State University, where his childhood religious

inclination was revitalized when he hooked up with a group, Campus Crusade for Christ. He was tempted to drop architecture and go to the seminary until a mentor advised, “If God has given you the gift of architecture and design, why don’t you at least pursue it.” It took several more years before he decided to answer God’s call, graduating from ASU at the top of his class. After an internship at an architectural firm, he got his license – then promptly enrolled in Dallas Theological Seminary. “I have more theological training than anyone at Mountain Park, he said, noting that was because the seminary required an additional degree that pastors at Mountain Park did not have to pursue when they were in school. After getting his divinity degree, he got a

and office buildings “to help pay the bills.” After working with that buyer for three years, he took a year’s sabbatical before deciding to start a small home-based architectural firm when “the phone started ringing” with calls from congregations. He now has a staff of four and hires independent contractors to do most of the heavy work “so we can control the process but not have all the overhead of a staff.” But the phone hasn’t stopped ringing, leaving Barduson “at the point where we’re so busy that it’s time to decide which way we are going.” That way still includes building churches – a process in which Barduson said, “I pastor the pastors through the process.” “One of my beefs against the seminary is that they don’t teach the pastors anything about this side of the business,” he said.

Photos by Kimberly Carrillo/Staff Photographer

Architect Steve Barduson has designed 80 churches in the Valley, including Crossroads in Chandler and the new Mountain Park Community Church in Ahwatukee.

position as pastor of a South Tempe church, but that didn’t work out. “I’d always wanted to go but didn’t necessarily want to be a corner pastor,” he said. “I wanted to be part of a movement.” So, he went to work at an architectural firm in Phoenix – and discovered what he had been seeking. “I realized this is my calling,” Barduson said. “I’m from both sides of the pulpit.” Barduson – whose wife, Maggie, has her own real estate investment company and worked with him to home-school their five children – eventually grew his firm to a staff of about 15 and eventually sold it to a national architectural group in 2007. The ceremonial entranceway to the new Mountain Park Community He worked on Church shows off a tower that has an LED light in the shape of a cross extending almost its entire length. The cross will be visible to Chandler churches but also developed commercial and Gila River Indian Community residents at night.

“They don’t teach them how to build a team, how to raise that money, how to manage it where to put it. The construction and development and financing are just brutal. They need to have a hands-on part in it.” Indeed, he has seen the tragedies that can happen when pastors don’t keep their hands on it. He has worked for three congregations where trusted church leaders ran off with the building fund, one totaling $2 million. In one case, the theft brought construction to a halt, leaving only the shell of a new complex standing in Tempe for years. Barduson, who also did the overall design of Gilbert’s famous Agritopia subdivision and is working on an office complex at the San Marcos Golf Course in downtown Chandler, said about 70 percent of his business involves churches. His portfolio contains some of the Valley’s biggest churches – among which is Mountain Park Community as well as Scottsdale Bible Church, Highland Church in Scottsdale and Cornerstone in Chandler. “My role is different now,” he said. “When I had the firm, I was the master planner and the rain maker.” That meant doing the initial

design and overseeing the “flow of the project” before handing it off. Now, he said, “I want to stay small enough so I can be involved in at least overseeing the whole project. If I can stay involved in the project, there’s a continuity.” That continuity starts with nearly a year of studying the congregation to determine its “cultural DNA” though intensive meetings with groups of congregants and their leaders that can last for several hours to several days. Anywhere from 20 to 150 people have participated in these sessions, split into manageable groups. “We’ll ask them things like, ‘When you talk to a friend at the grocery store, how do you describe your church?’” “Then we ask, ‘Tell us the God stories, the stories of your church that have endured. The story of the kid who donated his bike because you were doing a bike drive.’ That starts to fashion the culture. Are they fun, they serious? What’s unique to that church? “The theology tends to be pretty stable over decades. The culture surprisingly stays somewhat stable. There’s ebbs and flows but there’s a theme that runs through it.” His seminary training has given him the basic knowledge of whatever teachings are followed by a client congregation, from Catholic to Mormon, Episcopalian to Lutheran and beyond. “The issue for me is all about how can I take a theological depth of what that church believes and all that it is in the culture and its believe system and put it together,” Barduson explained. “They can be conservative theologically but a pop-culture church. How do you take the theological side and the culture side and put them together and have them physically represented in a building?” With both Mountain Park buildings – where he and his family have worshipped for about 18 years – Barduson started with the premise that church leaders wanted their churches to be community centers. Hence, both have see-through lobbies. see

ARCHITECT page 60

Helping the less fortunate is as important as scriptural study RABBI SUSAN SCHANERMAN Guest Writer

I occasionally volunteer with my congregation at I-Help, a local agency that feeds and provides shelter at nearby churches and synagogues for homeless folks. Groups volunteer to provide dinners and we sit and chat with the adults who are admitted to the program for counseling and resources as they struggle to get on their feet. A few weeks ago, I sat down next to a diverse group of I-Help dinner companions. The man on my left, late 30s, was nicely dressed and eager to continue polishing his resume as he searched for jobs. He expressed himself with sensitivity and self-awareness.

The woman next to him, mid-40s, told me about her recent run of bad luck and her son’s substance abuse struggles (he was with her). She was also anxious to find work, hoping that she might find holiday employment as fall approached. She had worked in libraries and offices in the past and thought retail might be a good option for her now. The woman across from me (late 40s) had been homeless for only a week. The rent on her apartment rose too high. She was one of the folks who currently had a job. She works as an instructional assistant at a Kyrene elementary school. Imagine: She gets to school each day with no car and then spends six to eight hours helping educate our

children. After work, she must find her way to that evening’s church/ synagogue for dinner and a night’s sleep on a mattress on the floor. She told me that no one at her school has any idea of her predicament and she does not want them to know. “It’s temporary,” she told me, confident in her voice and manner. Every religious tradition that I know of mandates care and comfort for those without the basic human needs of food and shelter. It is a responsibility shared by all. Whether we drive the shower truck, counsel the participants in their quest for jobs, prepare a main course for an occasional dinner or donate financially to agencies that care for those without a roof over their heads, we have a

spiritual and religious obligation to tend to the metaphorical widow and orphan in our midst. It is a religious duty that, I might argue, is every bit as important as scriptural study, service attendance and ritual observance. In our personal and communal quest to make God’s world a haven for all who walk upon this earth, we are called to balance that which honors God through religious act and that which honors God through social justice. We sway delicately but deliberately between these two spiritual endeavors and we never give up. Why? Because there is always more to do. -Rabbi Susan Schanerman is spiritual leader for Congregation NefeshSoul in Chandler. nefeshsoul.org.

SPIRITUALITY

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

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

Christian Business Networking, Chandler Bi-Monthly Chapter 7:45 a.m. second and fourth Tuesdays each month Offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and business referrals. Chandler Christian Church, Building B, Room 202 1825 S. Alma School Road, Chandler Maia, 480-425-0624, christianbusinessnetworking.com

“A Course in Miracles” with the Rev. Julianne Lewis 1 to 2:15 p.m. Wednesdays The weekly group is an interactive time of learning and sharing, appropriate for course beginners, as well as longtime students of ACIM. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org.

HOPE—Help Overcoming Painful Experiences 7 p.m. Tuesdays Free weekly small-group sessions helping people overcome emotional pain caused by divorce, grief, addictions and more; free child care for children ages 10 and younger. Desert Springs Church 19620 S. McQueen Road, Room 106, Chandler hope4all@comcast.net, helpovercomingpainfulexperiences.org

The Art of Parenting 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays Six-session course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and presented by Rabbi Mendy Deitsch of Chabad of the East Valley, designed to help parents at all levels of Jewish knowledge develop their own parenting philosophies and techniques. Cost is $99. Chandler Jewish Community Center 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler 480-855-4333 or rabbi@chabadcenter.com.

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

SUNDAYS Celebration Service 10:30 a.m. Sundays All with peaceful beliefs are welcome to this inclusive, loving, thriving UNITY Community. Join the group at 10 a.m., preceding the service, for fellowship. Youth and toddlers meet during service. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org Kids’ Sunday School 10 to 11 a.m. Sundays Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Lift Your Spirit 10 a.m. Sundays Hear inspirational messages and music. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Traditional and Contemporary Services 7:30 a.m. daybreak contemplative worship, 9 a.m. traditional worship and choral music, 11 a.m. contemporary worship with live Christian rock band. There is also a service at 12 p.m. Wednesdays. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 901 W. Erie Street, Chandler 480-899-7386, 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 Drive, Chandler 480-855-4333, rabbi@chabadcenter.com TUESDAYS Silva Class and Meditation 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays Learn the Silva method with Lois Britland. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Career Connectors 8:30 a.m. to noon, fourth Tuesday of month Nonprofit organization connecting professionals in career transition to high-quality resources and hiring companies; each event includes professional career speakers with presentations on relevant job search topics, three to four hiring companies, networking, resume help, career coaches, LinkedIn coaches and business portraits. Central Christian Church, Gilbert Campus/Student Center, 965 E. Germann Road, Gilbert 480-442-5806, careerconnectors.org Christian Business Networking, Tri-City Chapter – Chandler, Tempe, Mesa 7:15 a.m. Tuesdays Offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and business referrals. Crackers and Co. Café, 535 W. Iron Avenue, Mesa Maia, 480-425-0624, christianbusinessnetworking.com

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

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

Hurricane Relief–UMCOR Domestic Disaster Response Advance #901670. More information at www.umcor.org

SUNDAY WORSHIP

SUNDAY SCHOOL

9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

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

Worship

For Children

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:00 a.m.

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

Monthly Women’s Fellowship 6:15 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month The monthly fellowship Bible study with the East Valley Chapter of Christian Women’s Devotional Alliance “ministers to women’s spiritual, emotional and physical needs.” Best Western-Mezona, 250 W. Main Street, Mesa 480-232-3773 Narcotics Anonymous (Nar-Anon), Chandler Chapter 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Twelve-step program for families and friends of addicts. Faith Community Church 1125 N. Dobson Road, Chandler, nar-anon.org WEDNESDAYS Panic Healing 7 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday Receive a 15-minute energetic tuneup. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Gong Meditation and Yoga Nidra 7 to 8:30 p.m. third Wednesday Presented by Will Zecco, gong master. Bring yoga mat, blanket and pillow as desired. Love offerings will be accepted. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center, 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org

Grief Care 6:45 p.m. Wednesdays A place to come share your feelings or just listen to others as we try to navigate through our grief. You don’t have to do it alone. Epiphany Lutheran Church, South Campus, old church building, 800 W. Ray Road, Room 325, Chandler griefcareaz@gmail.com. Healing Prayer and Meditation Circle 7 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays Guided prayer, affirmations and visualization for those facing physical, emotional, mental or spiritual issues in their lives. Love offering requested. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Meditation Moments 7 to 8:30 p.m. third Wednesday of the month An interactive time of learning and sharing, appropriate for beginners or longtime students of ACIM. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church 12 p.m. Healing and Eucharist service St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church 901 W. Erie Street, Chandler 480-899-7386, saintmatthewschurch.org THURSDAYS Women’s Empowerment & Awakening 7 to 8:30 p.m. third Thursday Release negative beliefs. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler see

CONNECTIONS page 59

SPIRITUALITY

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

CONNECTIONS from page 58 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 A Course in Miracles 7 p.m. first, second and fourth Thursday Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Empower Model for Men 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays The three-class series is taught by author Scott E. Clark and designed to offer practical wisdom and tools to help men shift into their higher consciousness, based on the seven-step empower model detailed in Clark’s book, “Empower Model for Men.” Cost is $85. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road,, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 Real Love Support Group 6:30 p.m. Thursdays For those who have a desire to acquire more “real love” and in the process find great personal happiness and more fulfilling relationships. Love offering requested. Unity of Tempe, formerly Unity of Chandler 1222 E. Baseline Road, Suite 103, Tempe 480-792-1800 FRIDAYS Temple Havurat Emet 7:30 p.m. first Friday of each month Lecky Center, Robson Library 9330 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes templehavuratemet.org

Grief 10 to 11:30 a.m. every Friday Each session presents a 45-minute videotape of expertise of counselors, pastors and others who have coped with grief and understand its effects and the steps toward healing. Each week a different stand-alone topic is presented as part of 13 sessions. Discussion follows, but participation is entirely voluntary. Call 480-895-1088 for information. The program is offered at First Baptist Church Sun Lakes. SATURDAYS Spirit Night – Psychic Fair 4 to 8 p.m. third Saturday of each month The “Lightworkers” offer a wide range of services, including Reiki, facials, mediums, drumming, tarot, angel messages and more. Services range from $20 to $30. Cash only. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa interfaith-community.org heatherposey70@gmail.com. Spirit Night – A Holistic Healing Festival 1 to 6 p.m. third Saturday of the month Lightworkers offer a wide range of services including Reiki, facials, mediums, drumming, tarot, angel messages and more. Services range from $20 to $30. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa interfaith-community.org heatherposey70@gmail.com Unity Drumming and Healing Circle 6:30 to 8 p.m. fourth Saturday of each month

FirstFirst Baptist Church, Chandler Baptist Chandler 480-963-3439 www.fbc.net www.fbc.net 480-963-3439

COME JOIN US! facebook.com/FirstBaptistChandler facebook.com/FirstBaptistChandler

3405S. S.Arizona ArizonaAve. Ave. 3405 3405 S. Arizona Ave. SAN SANTAN TANFREEWAY FREEWAY(202) (202) QUEEN QUEENCREEK CREEKRD. RD. OCOTILLO OCOTILLORD. RD.

ARIZONA ARIZONA

Sunday Schedule Sunday Worship - 9:00Schedule a.m. / 10:30 a.m. Worship 9:00 a.m. / 10:30 a.m.a.m. Sunday School - 9:00 a.m. / 10:30 SundaySpanish School -Worship 9:00 a.m. / 10:30 - 12 Noon a.m. Spanish Worship - 12 Noon Wednesday Activities at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Students Refuge, Activities Choir Rehearsal, Activities will resume August Bible Studies (Meal atin5:30 p.m.)

APPLEBY APPLEBY

Beginner, expert drummers and observers welcome. Bring snack, appetizer or dessert to share. Love donation accepted. Interfaith CommUNITY Spiritual Center 952 E. Baseline Road, Suite 102, Mesa 480-593-8798, interfaith-community.org OTHER Forever Marriage Ministries Marriage Restoration Support Group for Wives Offers hope to the hurting Valleywide through one-on-one Biblical marriage teaching, God-honoring wife discipleship and marriage restoration mentoring to wives seeking God’s will in the restoration of marriage. Lisa, 602-377-8847, marriage@lisacmyers.com, forevermarriageministries.com, facebook.com/forevermarriages Jewish Women International, Avodah Chapter 1581 Monthly luncheon. Social Box Eateries, 1371 N. Alma School Road, Chandler RSVP: 480-802-9304, 480-655-8812 Moms in Prayer International A group of mothers who meet one hour each week to intercede for their children and schools through prayer. Liane Wright, 480-699-7887, momsinprayer.org Bible Study Meets twice a month Members of the Women’s Life Group study the Bible and discuss how the lessons can relate to their lives. Sun Lakes United Church of Christ, Chandler. Jan Olson: 480-802-7457, Joy King 480-588-1882 East Valley Jewish Couples Club Offers once-a-month social activities such as

dining, movies and plays for Jewish couples in the 45- to 65-year-old age range. Melissa, 480-785-0744, beadlover@cox.net. Let us help you publicize your church or temple’s events in the Spirituality section by emailing details to news@santansun. com. Include a brief description of the event, times, days, dates, cost or free, if registration is required, venue, address, publishable phone number, website if applicable and contact information for verification purposes. We welcome photos, which must be 300 dpi JPEGs or taken on a digital camera on the “best” or “highest quality” setting. Information is due 10 days prior to publication date. Submission does not guarantee placement.

First Baptist Church of Sun Lakes A Church of Joy Committed to the perfect Word of God, living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and worshiping with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Dr. Marc Drake, Senior Pastor invites you to join in our traditional worship service at 9535 E. Riggs Road Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248

480-895-1088 www.fbcsl.org Sundays:

Bible Study: 8:30 am | Worship: 10:00 am Wednesday: Prayer & Bible Study: 6:30 pm

SPIRITUALITY 60

ARCHITECT from pag 57 “The idea is the church wants to reach out to everyone and especially people who aren’t comfortable going to church. When they walk into the lobby, they can see through it and say, ‘OK, it’s a safe place to visit. Mountain Park is transparent. This is who we are. And the best way to depict that is glass.” With the old Mountain Park church, the congregation had a mission. “Instead of a crucifix that said, ‘unless you’re this kind of Christian, you can’t come in,’ they said, ‘Let’s make it look like a community center. We built that building intentionally without crosses or a steeple. It’s supposed to look like a community center.” Still, it carries dozens of symbols that remind people of its core mission. For example, the partially broken pavement at

the church entrance symbolizes the fact “we all come into church as broken people.” At 48,000 square feet, the new Mountain Park Community Church is among Barduson’s largest creations – but not nearly as big as congregation members had hoped for. Money became an issue, forcing Barduson to lead his clients in giving up some of the ideas they had started out with – such as a two-story slide in the main lobby that was supposed to reflect “we have fun.” While he and a few congregants toured other churches across the country, including a 250,000-square-foot complex under construction in Texas, they realized their initial plan would have required 60,000 square feet. “It was incredibly challenging because I believe in each one of those ministries so passionately that it was hard to say no to some things,” Barduson said.

SANTAN SUN NEWS | SEP 16 – OCT 6, 2017

The 48th Street side of the new Mountain Park Community Church has a second-level office area extending over the doorway.

Yet, as he hovers over the final weeks of fine-tuning his latest masterpiece, Barduson

is happy – and thinks all will be impressed with what he has wrought.

Sun Lakes United Methodist offering classes SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church is providing several courses to help people grow spiritually and emotionally and deal with difficult life experiences. Trying to comfort someone grieving the passing of a loved one is difficult unless you’ve “walked a mile in their shoes” and experienced the bereavement and heartache of a loved one’s death. On Wednesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Sun Lakes United Methodist will host GriefShare, an 11-week support group designed to help those struggling with grief. The church is at 9248 E. Riggs Road.

The GriefShare leadership team consists of four individuals who themselves have grieved the passing of a loved one and learned how to moved forward with the “new normal” in their lives. Grief can turn one’s life upside down and inside out. When that happens, it helps to talk with someone who has “walked that mile.” If you have lost a loved one recently or a while ago, and find yourself struggling to face each day, consider being part of the GriefShare class. Each class is self-contained, so if you are not able to attend every class, you are welcome to come as often as possible. The class registration fee of $15 covers

the cost of the workbook. Information/ Registration: 480-895-8766. The church is also examining the Christian faith in Alpha, a 10-week course sprinkled with humor, allowing you the chance to explore the Christian faith, ask questions, and share your point of view. It was originally designed for non-believers but it soon became apparent it was also a review for lifelong Christians. The full Alpha course will start Sept. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. People also can learn how to prevent Alzheimer’s disease at a presentation. Dr. Marnie Whitley, ND, LPC, a board-certified naturopathic physician from Neurol-

ogy Associates of the East Valley, will talk about ways to prevent this disease from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in Lindsay Hall at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church. Whitley is an adjunct faculty member at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, and she earned her ND degree from that college. She specializes in brain health. At the class, she will talk about food and lifestyle choices for optimal brain health, brain exercises for cognitive functioning and maintenance, and brain game resources. A light lunch will be served during the presentation. To see if reservations are still available: 480-895-8766, extension 109.

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