Santan Sun News - 01.17.2021 by Times Media Group

January 17, 2021 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

$33M lab among potential Chandler bond projects BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler Police are hoping that the city will include a new $33 million forensic crime laboratory in a bond issue that officials are now working on. One of the largest projects among the many capital projects currently being vetted by a City Council committee is a standalone crime lab. Police Chief Sean Duggan said his agency has outgrown the crime lab located within the city’s main station and that it’s time for Chandler to build

a separate facility that could house new amenities like ballistics testing or toxicological work. That’s why a new lab has become the police department’s first priority, Duggan recently told a bond exploratory committee. The department said it could significantly enhance what Chandler’s forensic investigators could do without having to go outside the city. Like many other Valley cities, Chandler outsources much of its forensic testing to the Arizona Department of Public Safety for cases requiring DNA analysis. “We are 100 percent relying on their

timeline and where we are in the cue because they also provide that service to a number of agencies around the state,” Duggan said. The police department collects about 600 DNA samples annually, the chief said, yet Chandler only sends out about 4 percent of these samples to get tested by DPS. The state agency won’t test items related to property crimes like thefts and burglaries, Duggan explained, and will prioritize samples tied to cases involving violent crimes. Chandler’s current crime lab is capable of conducting fingerprint analysis, drug

identification and tests measuring the blood alcohol content of drunk drivers. The agency typically processes 1,000 cases involving intoxicated drivers each year, Duggan said, so a bigger crime lab could greatly help manage the growing workload for the city’s forensic scientists. Moreover, he said, DUI cases could potentially “skyrocket” soon in response to the recent statewide legalization of marijuana, generating an even greater need for Chandler to have an in-house toxicology testing center. See

BOND on page 8

Commission encourages city to hire ‘diversity officer’ BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

A commission of Chandler residents wants the city to create a new position dedicated to tracking diversity and inclusion across the city’s departments. After surveying hundreds of residents earlier this year, the Chandler Human Relations Commission is urging The new year opened with a car parade in Chandler Unified Jan. 4 supporting teachers the city’s leaders to recruit a consultant and closed classrooms. Among the participants was CUSD teacher Katie Nash. to assess Chandler’s diversity initiatives (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer) and decide whether it might need to make some improvements. “We want a (consultant) to sort of do a top-down review of what’s in the city and come back with some action items and recommendations,” said Tyler Conaway, a commission members. The commission believes one of a mix of joy and resentment among BY KEVIN REAGAN those recommendations could be the the community, which has been split Staff Writer inclusion of a leadership position dediover opening campuses while rates for cated specifically to the diversity of the After a tumultuous couple of weeks, COVID-19 infections remain high. As of Jan. 14, the county’s health data city’s workforce. the Chandler Unified School District “Other cities and corporations showed CUSD had a COVID-19 positivihas changed course once again by ty rate of 21.2 percent – a rise from the throughout America have designatallowing its campuses to reopen Jan. 19 ed chief diversity officers,” Conaway 17 percent the week before – and 791 and offer in-person learning. added. “The role of that officer is to cases per 100,000 people – an increase All the district’s 42 schools tempocoordinate all aspects of diversity and from 560 the previous week. rarily closed for the first two weeks of equity as they pertain to the functional All three benchmarks for virus the spring semester in response to a departments within a business.” spread in the district have been at the substantial spread of COVID-19 in the Other local government entities, like “substantial” level for a month. community that continues unabated. the Chandler Unified School District, While some students and parents But CUSD officials last week decidhave hired diversity officers in recent fear coming back to school, others are ed they can safely reopen classroom years in order to address disparities obrelieved to see CUSD move back to instruction by continuing to require served in how different demographics classroom learning. masks and social distancing. are treated. The Jan. 13 decision was met with See on page 3 Conaway, who works for Paypal’s

As COVID-19 surges, CUSD returns to in-class teaching again

diversity programs, said this type of position can help communicate to the public Chandler’s progress with diversity and can highlight the city’s successes. “They get out there, they show the diversity in the community, they coordinate media and relevant brand items,” he added. A citywide survey by the commission indicated Chandler residents has an interest in knowing what the city’s doing to ensure it promotes diversity and inclusion. “It’s time to move on from events to more quantitative action,” one survey respondent said. “The city should study the latest strategies to provide assistance to marginalized community members.” Some respondents feel the city should pay more attention to residents with disabilities, the LGBTQ community and those who celebrate non-traditional religious holidays. Another respondent thinks the city “needs more spaces to share stories so we can all connect on a human level.” The survey showed 27 percent of respondents did not feel their voice was represented in local government and 49 percent said they weren’t aware of the city’s diversity initiatives. The survey was undertaken after the city issued a proclamation in June in response to the officer-involved death of George Floyd in Minnesota that asked

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Chandler city manager retiring March 4 BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler City Manager Marsha Reed has submitted her resignation and is expected to retire from the city’s top job by March 4. Reed, who was appointed to her position in 2016, gave her notice to City Council this week and said 2021 seemed like the right time to wrap up her 30year career in public service. “When you reach a certain age and a certain point, it’s just kind of time to make a decision to retire,” she said. Reed’s imminent departure means that both top executive jobs in Chandler will need to be filled, since Chandler Unified Superintendent Dr. Camille Casteel plans to retire in June. Unlike City Council, which has developed a plan to replace Reed, the Chandler Unified Governing Board has yet to give any indication how it will go about finding a new superintendent. The board met in executive session Wednesday to discuss the process. Reed’s announcement comes in the middle of the city’s budget planning process for the next fiscal year and discussions about how the pandemic might affect the city’s spending power. Last year, the city scaled back its spending and initiated a hiring freeze as the economy plummeted during the first couple months of the pandemic. But the city has already begun to recover from the economic setbacks and started to ease some of the restrictions it put in place back in March. Tax revenues are much better than expected this year, Reed added, and are positioning the city to be in a stable place for the next fiscal year. Chandler’s revenues in November were 7 percent higher than November 2019 due to a sudden influx in local retail spending. October saw the city’s monthly sales tax revenue increase by nearly 14 percent compared to the same time in 2019. Despite these positive projections, Reed said she will be taking a “conservative” approach to the budget during the remaining time she will serve as city manager.

Chandler City Manager Marsha Reed last week submitted her resignation, effective March 4. (City of Chandler)

She said the city’s finance department should be able to provide helpful guidance to the council as the budget gets closer to being finalized in May. “It is a team process in Chandler anyway so there’s going to be a lot of people here who already have that knowledge to be able to take the budget forward,” Reed added. Councilman Matt Orlando said he’s not too worried about Reed stepping down as the city begins working on next year’s budget. Budgetary discussions have already begun, he said, and the city Finance Department has many capable staff members who can lead the process during the transition. “We’ll get through this,” Orlando said. “We’re going to press on with our budget issue.” It wasn’t much of a surprise to Orlando to receive Reed’s resignation, he said, since the city manager has been indicating for the last year she was getting close to retirement. It will be up to Orlando and the other council members to decide how they want to find Reed’s successor. Previous councils have traditionally hired a consultant to conduct a nationwide search of suitable candidates and

then invite a handful of applicants to be interviewed. Orlando estimated it may take three or four months to find a suitable replacement for Reed – meaning Council will likely have to appoint an acting city manager until the position can be permanently filled. “We want to get the right person that’s going to take us through the next four or five years,” the councilman added. A native of northern Texas, Reed came to Chandler in 2013 after she was hired as an assistant city manager. Three years later, Reed was picked from a pool of nearly 50 applicants to fill the city’s top leadership position after a 10-month search. During her tenure, Reed said she is proud of the progress Chandler has made with economic development projects, installing new technology and addressing the city’s aging infrastructure. “I feel very good with what we’ve delivered and the fact that we’ve gone above and beyond my own expectations,” she said. Navigating the pandemic this last year certainly introduced a set of new challenges for the city, Reed added, but the city’s staff has repeatedly found a way to persevere through. “It has definitely been a balancing act,” she said. “We work every day to try to stay ahead of the curve and do what we can to serve the residents here in Chandler.” Councilwoman-elect Christine Ellis said she is disappointed Reed won’t be around for long after she and OD Harris are sworn into office Jan. 14. “I wish I could have worked with her on some of my initiatives,” Ellis said. “But (Reed) reassured me that she would make sure I get some great guidance and direction on where to go.” Ellis admired Reed’s commitment to making Chandler a better city and hopes her successor will embody many of her characteristics. “I thank her for having been such a great leader here and being a strong woman who led our city to a place where we can really fill in the gaps,” Ellis added.

Price Road public meeting available online SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler residents who work on, live near or drive along the Price Corridor are invited to participate in an on-line public meeting for the Price Road Flexible Transit Study. The study by Valley Metro and the city is assessing flexible transit options to serve one of Chandler’s most important economic engines. Through Jan. 25, an online meeting will be available for public participation – with an informational video and the opportunity to ask questions or provide feedback on the study over a two-week

period – at valleymetro.org/price-road. The meeting will cover existing transportation conditions in the study area and present an overview of the potential alternative transit services including microtransit, flex routes and ride share. Price Road between Germann and Queen Creek roads currently has limited bus service and only during peak commuting hours (6-9 a.m. and 2:30-6:30 p.m.). Price Road employers north of Germann Road do not have any bus service, but many have expressed interest in having access to public transit. Flexible transit, sometimes referred to as microtransit, could be an effective

form of public transportation for the corridor. Flexible transit would utilize smaller vehicles and would travel throughout a service area, rather than following one prescribed route. Flexible transit leverages modern technology such as smart phone apps and enhanced routing software to better match vehicle routing with passenger demand. For passengers, this service is much more convenient and typically results in shorter walks to and from pick-up/ drop-off points and can result in shorter waiting times and reduced transfers to other bus lines.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

SCHOOLS

from page 1

Ella Choy, a sophomore at Casteel High, said she hoped schools would reopen because she has seen how campus closures have severely affected the mental health of her classmates. “It’s very important for us to be back in school and make those connections with our peers,” Choy said. The Governing Board’s 3-2 vote to reopen classrooms – with Lara Bruner and Lindsay Love opposing – forces Chandler’s 44,000 students to choose between two in-class instruction or the Chandler Online Academy. But several parents complained that the Online Academy had a waiting list while others complained that the online platform is ineffective and lacks advanced courses for students. District administrators say the waiting list was a temporary measure put in place over the holiday break while staff was reassigned and logistics were figured out. But some district leaders are not pleased that the online academy is the district’s only alternative to in-class instruction. Love said she was disappointed CUSD had still not come up with a viable virtual option for students who don’t want to enroll in the online academy. “The community has been asking for it and I feel like we’ve had almost a year to work through some of those barriers,” Love said. “I was hoping after a year we would have something to offer

But the district said this modality – which many parents hoped would remain in place – has made it increasingly difficult to keep track of enrollment and student engagement. Teachers have not been able to connect with at least 2,000 students over the last two weeks, according to CUSD. The school board decided on Jan. 4 to implement the two-week virtual modality after observing videos of high school students holding large gatherings over the holiday break – including a massive New Year’s Eve Iain Hamp readies his vehicle for the car parade Jan. 4 that supported teachers' demand that CUSD keep party at a Gilbert home where hundreds of young classrooms closed and require students to stay in online learning. people, mostly mask-less, (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer) had gathered. this teaching model inefficient for both families aside from these two options.” .The sudden decision parties. Bruner objected to the stress that angered many parents, but the board “We have hundreds of quarantined Chandler’s in-class learning puts on considered it a quick remedy to curb students at the high schools and it’s teachers due to all the quarantined virus spread after the holidays. unfair to the students to not have students they have to track online. “The lack of regard for other individaccess to education during those 14 The district requires students and uals is very, very concerning,” said Board days,” Bruner said earlier this month. staff to quarantine at home for two President Barbara Mozdzen on Jan. 4. “But at the same time, it’s unfair to the weeks after coming into contact with “I am very discouraged with our whole teachers to try to do a hybrid model someone infected with COVID-19. community. It makes our jobs so much when they don’t have the technology Teachers are expected to check in with more difficult.” quarantined students and include them to do it.” Mozdzen said the behavior exhibited During the two-week hiatus CUSD in classroom activities through video in the party videos could be causing took at the start of this semester, stuapplications. virus cases to rise and was forcing the But Bruner said the number of CUSD dents were instructed to learn virtudistrict to be extra cautious. students who have already quarantined ally by connecting with their teachers – which has exceeded 1,800 – has made online through Google Classrooms. on page 6 See

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

COVID-19 claims life of beloved Chandler officer BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

More than 130 of Chandler’s public safety employees have tested positive for COVID-19 over the last year and one of them last week recently succumbed to the coronavirus. Officer Tyler Britt, a 19-year veteran of the Chandler Police Department, died Jan. 11 after contracting COVID-19 a couple weeks earlier. Survived by his wife and son, Officer Britt is one of the first known casualties reported among Chandler’s personnel since the pandemic began 10 months ago. The department said its staff was deeply saddened by his passing, noting the “protracted battle” he put up against the virus. “Officer Britt loved being a police officer and cared dearly about the community he served,” it said. Friends have described Officer Britt online as an “amazing” man, an exemplary role model and an officer who genuinely loved his job. The pandemic has caused officer deaths to spike nationwide by 300 percent over the last year, making 2020 one of the deadliest years for law enforcement since 1974, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Officer Tyler Britt Though more than 140 officers from across the country have died due to COVID-related illnesses, Officer Britt is only one of a few officers in Arizona to succumb to the virus. An officer from the Navajo Police Department in June was the state’s first known COVID-related death among law enforcement. A couple weeks later, a longtime Maricopa County Sheriff ’s deputy succumbed to the disease.

Officer Britt’s death has served as a somber reminder of the risk Chandler’s employees have faced doing their jobs while the coronavirus has continued to proliferate across the Valley. As of Jan. 11, the city had 234 of its employees test positive for COVID-19 and 133 of these cases involved workers from Chandler’s police and fire departments. In order to accommodate staff suffering from COVID-19, City Council has recently extended a sick-leave policy that offers 80 hours of time off for employees who test positive for the virus. Many municipalities and businesses started offering this extra benefit after Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act back in March. The legislation forced certain employers to provide extended sick leave to workers who caught the virus or who needed to care for a quarantined family member. Congress did not renew the FFCRA policy after it expired Dec. 31 but Chandler has decided to extend the benefit for its workers until the end of March. Matt Burdick, a city spokesperson, said Chandler will be tracking how many employees need the sick leave in the coming months and may extend the policy again depending on how the pandemic plays out. “We will continue to monitor the

current situation and extend the policy beyond March 31 as needed,” he said. At least 220 Chandler employees have utilized the FFCRA sick leave since the legislation was passed. Gilbert, which has seen 129 town public safety employees contract COVID-19, also its FFCRA policy despite the federal mandate expiring last month. Gilbert officials believe the extension was necessary since more employees might catch the virus this month. Yet the town doesn’t expect it will need to extend the FFCRA benefit until the end of 2021. Some advocacy groups are hoping President-elect Joe Biden will consider renewing the FFCRA mandates in the economic recovery packages he’s expected to introduce after assuming office. PL+US, an organization that lobbies for paid-leave policies in various sectors, is pushing for the federal government to ensure paid sick leave will be available for all workers as the country continues to feel the pandemic’s repercussions. “Now is the time to seize the bipartisan momentum for paid leave to provide economic security to families and businesses, protect public health, and support our nation’s economic recovery,” PL+US recently wrote in a letter to the incoming administration.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SCHOOLS

from page 3

“I am extremely disappointed that we have large parties in the community and that our community is not mitigating the spread so we can keep our kids in school,” she added. Though Mozdzen has routinely favored keeping schools open for in-person teaching, she voted on Jan. 4 with Love and Jason Olive to trigger the two-week closure. Love, who has regularly pushes for more virtual learning options during the pandemic, said she worried the twoweek period would not be long enough

DIVERSITY

from page 1

the commission to engage Chandler residents on issues involving race and equity. Based on the survey’s results, Conaway and the other commission members came up with a list of recommendations, including the possible creation of a diversity officer position. Other recommendations include revamping the city’s diversity training, evaluating hiring practices, networking with local schools, and organizing more educational forums for the public. Mayor Kevin Hartke said he appreciated the commission’s recommendations and indicated they will likely come up during the council’s upcoming budget meetings. “I know that these items will be

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

to prevent a spike in new cases. That New Year’s Eve party was a “slap in the face” to all of the district’s teachers, Love said, and it was “disgusting” behavior that could have major impacts on the district’s operations. “I don’t really think our community is taking this seriously,” she added. The two-week closure was a disappointment to local parents like Armando Spataro, who worried over how virtual learning would be harmful to his children and questioned the board’s decision considering the low infection rates seen across Arizona’s schools. “I feel the districts will look back and see a trail of collateral damage created by denying our children their place in

school,” Spataro said. As of Jan. 14, CUSD reported 29 active cases of the virus among its 49,800 staff and students. The district has had another 858 cases get resolved after the infected individual was deemed safe to return to campus. CUSD has had an additional 760 cases of students contracting the virus while off campus – data previously not reported until this month. The board on Jan. 4 also revised its thresholds that would initiate a temporary school closure. The board has lowered the thresholds to 1.5 percent of an elementary campus’ population, 1 percent for junior high schools, and .75 percent for high

schools. Some district teachers still have concerns about returning to in-person instruction. Christine Diaz, a Willis Junior High teacher, said the in-person experience has been chaotic because so many of her school’s students have had to self-quarantine. “On any given day, upwards to 50 students were quarantined,” she said. “I personally had three students who were quarantined two or three times.” Katie Nash, another CUSD teacher, believes students are safest at home

reviewed and we’ll look forward to working with our staff to see what we can do,” the mayor said. Since its inception, the Human Relations Commission has been tasked with trying to celebrate the many cultures and communities that exist throughout the city. The commission’s 11 appointed members are often responsible for networking with Chandler’s organizations, hosting cultural events, and informing city officials of needs they see in the community. The commission was created during the fallout of a turbulent chapter in the city’s recent history which left many of Chandler’s Hispanic residents feeling targeted and discriminated against. In the summer of 1997, hundreds of undocumented residents were rounded up across Chandler during a five-day

raid of various Hispanic neighborhoods. Many U.S.-born residents were detained and questioned during the roundup due to racial-profiling tactics used by law enforcement. The incident sparked public outrage across the state and resulted in an investigation into the Chandler Police Department’s partnership with the U.S. Border Patrol to carry out the operation. Former Police Chief Bobby Joe Harris was reprimanded for how he conducted the raid and Hispanic activists attempted to oust some members of City Council. The city later paid a $400,000 settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed by some residents who felt their civil rights had been violated during the raids. “It’s going to take 10, 15 years for people to feel comfortable in Chandler

again,” said local activist Ed Delci, a few months after the roundup. The creation of a citizen-led commission devoted to discouraging discriminatory practices in Chandler was perceived as the city extending an olive branch to a community that had felt betrayed. But the commission’s roles have evolved since the 1997 roundup, Conaway said, and include representing the interests of citizens from every demographic and social class. The commission thinks Chandler has a prime opportunity to review how its addressed diversity in recent years, he added, and potentially avoid discovering any blindspots. “Our hope, ultimately, is for the city to continue to grow in its strengths in this area,” Conaway said.

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SCHOOLS on page 9

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

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BOND

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“It’s important that we have that capability instead of relying on DPS to do our analysis for drugs,” Duggan said. A standalone crime lab would not only benefit Chandler, Duggan added, since it could process evidence from smaller agencies in Pinal County that also depend on DPS for their forensic needs. “We could also use that as a regional asset and invite other cities to use that,” the chief said. Chandler Police already identified some land near its evidence storage facility on Pecos Road to build the new lab. Whether or not the project comes to fruition could depend on how the Bond Exploratory Committee makes its recommendations to the City Council later this year. More than 50 percent of the city’s capital projects are paid with bond funds that have allowed Chandler to invest in expensive ventures without draining its general fund. Chandler’s last bond election in 2007 saw when voters authorized a $451-million package for projects that improved parks, libraries, public safety facilities and wastewater systems. The city formed the exploratory committee last year to study Chandler’s infrastructure needs and determine whether the city should call for another bond election to fund projects that have been accumulating over the last decade. One of the committee’s main priorities has been looking for a bond package that could be passed by voters and not raise Chandler’s property taxes.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Dawn Lang, the city’s management services director, said the city could attempt to seek up to $426 million in new bond funding and still not raise taxes on local residents. The bond committee has identified up to 70 projects that could be funded through new bond money and has begun assessing which would likely

quire the creation of 26 new positions. For years, Chandler’s officers have had to transport suspects to the County Jail in Phoenix and spend much of their shift waiting to complete the booking process. Chandler attempted to make the process more efficient a few years ago by forming a partnership

We have to make sure we can afford the “operations and maintenance, we can’t build something and not be able to actually hire people to bring that building on line. ”

– Dawn Lang

gain the favor of Chandler’s voters. The committee’s additionally been evaluating when projects should be executed over a 10-year period. Some projects, like the forensic crime lab, have been categorized as needing to be completed sooner than others because their long-term operational costs might be lower and less burdensome on the city’s budget. “We have to make sure we can afford the operations and maintenance,” Lang said. “We can’t build something and not be able to actually hire people to bring that building on line.” The lab is estimated to cost the city $2 million annually to operate, which is slightly cheaper than another public safety project under review with the bond committee – a $12 million detention facility that would generate about $3 million in operational costs and re-

with Gilbert to utilize a section of that town’s detention center. Duggan said the Gilbert partnership was only intended to last a few years and will eventually become unviable once Gilbert starts needing to use more of the facility for its own inmates. When that day comes, Duggan said Chandler won’t have a place to locally book its defendants. “We don’t have a Plan B,” the chief said. “Because the town of Gilbert, things are certainly growing.” The detention facility project is presently positioned on the bond committee’s list of projects that could be delayed by a few years. The Chandler Fire Department has a number of projects its hoping will be prioritized by the committee before final recommendations are made before the council.

The most important one being a $6-million expansion of a fire station located near Alma School and Warner roads. Fire Chief Tom Dwiggins said this station is one of Chandler’s busiest and urgently needs more space to house extra firefighters. The station gets about 4,700 calls each year, he said, and can currently only respond to about 65 percent of them. “1,600 times, they’re not available,” Dwiggins said. “They’re probably on another call or they’re coming back from another call and they’re too far out.” When the northern station is unavailable, then one of the city’s other stations or a nearby agency in Mesa or Gilbert might have to respond. Dwiggins said this present arrangement is creating some inequity among the fire stations in the surrounding area and could be fixed by revamping the Alma School facility. A redesign of the station has already begun, but completing the project will be more complicated than getting voters to pass a bond. Because the station is so busy, Chandler can’t afford to temporarily shut it down while the renovations commence. Dwiggins said the city will have to gradually build around the station in phases so that it never closes. “It’s a big project,” he noted. “It’s very complex.” Other bond projects under review with the committee include a $10-million renovation of A.J. Chandler Park, $32 million for improvements to Mesquite Grove Park and $4 million for various improvements to Alma School Road.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Sellers chairs top county board

(Special to the SanTan Sun News)

ly access to vaccines. “My office will look to expand our efforts to educate on facts, especially when it comes to the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. The critics are loud; we will be louder,” Sellers stated. “We will continue to lead based on science and common sense.” The next step is restoring trust in elections to the average voter, he said. “The Board of Supervisors welcomes good-faith efforts to make our elections the best they can be. That is why my colleagues and I support a full forensic audit of our election tabulation equipment once all litigation related to the 2020 General Election is over,” Sellers said. “I have full faith in our team and the integrity of our elections.” He noted that previous audits and hand counts have shown the 2020 elections were safe, secure, and accurate. Another top priority is crafting and getting voter approval for a regional

transportation and infrastructure plan to replace Prop 400. As the nation’s fastest-growing county, Sellers said a comprehensive transportation plan is essential to ensure that we continue to be an attractive destination for families and businesses. Sellers was on the State Transportation Board. “We cannot lose sight of planning for our future,” Sellers said. “As hard as it is to remember, the current crises are temporary. What we must focus on is how to sustain and improve quality of life in our region for the next 20 years. Extensive expansion of smart infrastructure will be the key to our future success.” “I truly hope that we, along with our cities/towns and the Maricopa County Association of Governments can put in the work and make the tough decisions necessary to assure the next generation has an opportunity to enjoy the quality of life available to our citizens today.”

are afraid.” Gov. Doug Ducey last week weighed into the long-running, statewide feud over open campuses in his annual State of the State address, saying he will not provide any additional cash to public schools with fewer children in classrooms due to the pandemic. Instead, the governor said he wants to get students “back where they belong.’’ “With every public health profes-

sional, from Dr. Fauci and the CDC on down, saying that the safest place for kids to be is in schools, we will not be funding empty seats or allowing schools to remain in a perpetual state of closure,’’ he said. “Children still need to learn, even in a pandemic.’’ After the speech, press aide C.J. Karamargin said his boss is not considering cutting off funds to schools that instruct students either in whole or in

part online. He said Ducey supports virtual options for parents who want them. “When he references not funding ‘empty seats,’ he simply means that for parents who have chosen a new option for their kids, the money will follow that will follow that student to their new public school,’’ Karamargin said, options that include other traditional districts as well as charter schools.

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Former Chandler City Council member Jack Sellers is now chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Sellers, who won election to his first full term last November, was unanimously picked as supervisor by his four fellow members. Sellers, who was first appointed to the board in 2019 and whose district includes Chandler, Gilbert and part of Ahwatukee, says he’s focused on building a brighter future for Maricopa County. “Over the last year, I have watched as our whole nation has been shaken to its core,” said Sellers. “The faster we as a county, a state and a nation can beat this virus, the faster we can secure a brighter future for all Americans.” Sellers said the first step is ending the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring residents have accurate information about the spread of the virus and time-

SCHOOLS

from page 6

and highlighted how many of the district’s employees have already lost family members to the coronavirus. “Numerous staff members are not even able to attend funeral services for loved ones who have passed away from COVID-19,” Nash said. “Simply put: staff

Jack Sellers began his first full four-year term on the county Board of Supervisors.

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East Valley marks MLK Day in various ways BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorations tomorrow, Jan. 18, likely will be different, with many community service projects normally held that day either canceled or curtailed because of the need to maintain social distance. But that doesn’t mean the day will be ignored in Chandler and the rest of the East Valley. Dr. Neal Lester, foundation professor of English at Arizona State University, will be playing a big role in an Arizona PBS special being coordinated with East Valley cities. The Tempe Human Relations Commission on Jan 15 gave one of its MLK Diversity Awards to ASU’s Project Humanities program, which Dr. Lester founded 10 years ago to be “a leader in local, national, international conversations about the breadth, depth and value of humanities study and humanist practice and understanding across disciplines and communities.” “Project Humanities offers a virtual and real toolbox that promotes and celebrates compassion, integrity, forgiveness, kindness, empathy and self-reflection,” it said, noting the program “is dedicated to showing the interconnectedness of humanity, justice and equality.” AZPBS’ Arizona Horizon will present on TV and azpbs.org at 5 p.m. Jan. 18

cial impact on the Civil Rights movement. The second segment will present the different perspectives of individuals who represent three different generations as they describe how MLK and his speech has impacted their lives. It also will explore changes within their communities that are helping to achieve racial equality. “Our hope is through this program, we continue to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and encourage all people to actively work towards achieving the promise of freedom and justice for all,” said Ebonye Delaney, Arizona PBS digital director and executive producer of the presentation. This project will be part of a broader MLK Day observance and is a joint effort with Mesa, Dr. Neal Lester, Foundation Professor of English at Arizona State University, will discuss Dr. Martin Luther Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, King Jr. in two different programs on Monday, Jan. 18. Phoenix and Gilbert and the (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer) East Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee. Lester also is co-facilitasegments on past, present and future tor of a webcast 6-8 p.m. Monday on aspects of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” “The King We Don’t Know,” a 2018 NPR speech. Lester will be a featured guest. interview assessing the King’s legacy led “How the Dream Came to Be” will by Dr. Charles McKinney, professor of examine the speech’s content and history at Rhodes College in Memphis. historical context in the 1960s, as well as King’s inspiration for writing it and its so- People can register for it at projecthu-

manities.asu.edu/events. Lester explained he orchestrated that webcast because “I decided that we could do something a little more critically productive” on a day commemorating the late civil rights leader. “Service is fine,” he said, but since those events are conducted in the daytime, Lester felt some critical discussion on King and his seminal speeches like “I Have a Dream” would deepen people’s understanding of King’s beliefs and mission. Since George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police last May, Lester said, people have been “pulling out King quotes and I’m always kind of amazed at the way in which we want to romanticize King and see him as being sort of ‘We Are the World or “Let’s Sing the Coke Song.’” Lester said that in the “Dream” speech and 1967 “The Other America” speech, King “calls out police brutality, where he calls out injustices and talks very specifically about a divided America, the haves and the have nots.” He said the latter program on Monday “won’t be a lecture, won’t be a panel discussion” but a series of “vital voices” represented by various individuals who share poems, parts of speeches or other observations moderated by him and McKinney. McKinney is an expert on King, Lester explained, and “his take is that we have too often – and this is across the raSee

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COVID-19 clips Ostrich Festival’s wings again nix Open will go on as scheduled at the end of the month, crowds will be kept to a minimum. Scottsdale’s annual Parada del Sol was moved from February to March, as was the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, but it’s unclear if the continuing COVID-19 surge will force both events to be delayed again. The Ostrich Festival began in 1988 and was based on Chandler’s colorful early history of ostrich ranching. The event has grown into one of the premier festivals in the southwest. The Ostrich Festival is a family-friendly event featuring ostrich-themed activities, national and regional entertainment, carnival midway, food and arts and crafts.

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

For the second consecutive year, the Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival has been postponed from its usual March engagement because of the pandemic. The Chandler Chamber, in partnership with Steve LeVine Entertainment and Public Relations, said it is postponing the event until the fall, though it is still working on dates with the city. “It was determined that this decision would be in the best interest of the community due to the continued health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the state orders prohibiting mass gatherings over 50 people, as well as the current hold put on special event licenses,” the Chamber said in its announcement. The Chamber was forced to cancel last year’s show after the pandemic broke in March. It had scheduled it tentatively for October until COVID-19 trends made it clear crowd restrictions had to be continued. “It is a difficult time but the safety and well-being of our community is our top priority,” added Chamber CEO/ President Terri Kimble. “Based on the state and federal executive orders on large gatherings still in effect, the Ostrich Festival will unfortunately be postponed. We hope to share more information on new fall dates soon.” This isn’t the only high season event to run afoul of COVID-19.

The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival was postponed last year, then ultimately canceled. This year's edition has been put off to the fall. (Chandler Chamber)

The Friends of Horseshoe Park board of directors canceled this year’s Roots N’ Boots Queen Creek which was scheduled for March 2021, stating “it cannot confidently overcome the difficulties of staging a large event with the uncertainties and ever-evolving rules and guidelines associated with Covid-19. “The board felt it had an obligation to the contestants, stock contractor, sponsors, vendors, and contract personnel to make a decision now rather than wait until the last minute,” the board said, adding that it will just work on its March 16-20, 2022, show. It added it will be exploring alterna-

tives to continuing its presence in the community, in person and over social media. The Rodeo Royalty will continue to represent the town at various virtual, community and state events and the board “will continue to partner with Arizona Farm Bureau’s Ag In The Classroom program to bring virtual rodeo presentations to local schools.” Roots n’ Boots will be releasing its second issue of the AgTivity Book in March and asked that suggestions on partnering with other organizations or community involvement be sent to info@friendsofhorseshoepark.org. While the Waste Management Phoe-

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Chandler Girl Scout Cookie sales start this week SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The Girl Scout Cookie season in the East Valley will start tomorrow, Jan. 18, and continue through Feb. 28, helping local troops raise funds for various activities. The lineup includes Lemon-Ups, Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Samoas, Trefoils Do-sidos for $5 a box and Girl Scout S’mores and gluten-free Toffee-tastics for $6. “Given COVID-19, GSACPC has developed new and different scenarios and ways for girls to sell cookies safely,” said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of GSACPC. “We are extremely proud to be able to offer our girls both a sense of normalcy in a near-year that has been anything but normal, and a means to help girls grow their entrepreneurial, public speaking, financial and other skills through this modified take on our cookie program.” A Digital Cookie app enables girls to take pre-orders from previous customers, friends and family online. Through this digital selling platform, girls build a custom website and then they invite friends and family they know to purchase cookies via email marketing, with the option of having cookies delivered via contactless pick-up and drop-off or shipped directly to their home. Girls can also use the Digital Cookie Mobile App to accept credit card payment

from customers on-the-go. “Digital Cookie introduces lessons about online marketing, application use, and eCommerce to Girl Scouts, through building their cookie website and managing their virtual sales,” said Woodbury. Local Girl Scout troops will also be coordinating drive-thru booths with cashless transactions. The drive-thru booths will be in parking lots that allow for space for the girls and their parents. Cars will have the chance to pull to the front of the line, make their orders (masks required to make an order) and have the contactless or near contactless ability to pick up their cookies as they would from a traditional booth. Parents will be stationed at booths with sanitizing products to help the girls ensure maximum safety and monitor cookie transfer to cars. “The girls will not only be selling at these locations but helping market them via signage and other promotions, enabling the girls to flex their creative and communication muscles in a new way,” said Woodbury. Girl Scouts and Homie, a real estate brokerage, have partnered to build a “castle” made of Girl Scout Cookie boxes. People can tour the 13-foot by 13-foot by 9-foot castle every Sunday in February at The Shops at Norterra, 2450 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix. Girls will be setting up a temporary

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“shop” in front of local businesses providing socially distanced options for customers to purchase cookies. Booth locations this year include longtime supporters Fry’s Food Stores, Bashas’ Family of Stores, Walmart, and other retailers and small businesses. Last year, 25 of the Valley’s top business leaders and CEOs, including Diane Veres, Lisa Urias, and Ray Roberts, joined more than 100 local girls for the first Cookie Fast Pitch. GSACPC is bringing the event back in a virtual format this year Jan. 23. Participating girls will make their cookie sales pitch to one of the local CEOs or corporate executives in attendance, then get feedback on their pitch and one-on-one coaching sessions. The girls will apply the strategies they’ve learned and give their best pitch to the mentors. All attending CEO mentors plan to support the cookie bosses with a $500 cookie purchase. Given COVID-19, the beloved Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge will not be held this year. “We know our Arizona restaurant community has been impacted during the pandemic and wish them well. We are grateful for their partnership and support and look forward to returning to the Dessert Challenge in 2022,” said Woodbury.

Customers can find cookies nearest them at girlscoutsaz.org/cookiefinder. On Feb. 1, GSUSA will release a national cookie link where customers nationwide can purchase cookies directly from local troops by entering their zip code. Cookie orders placed from this direct-ship troop link will be shipped directly to the customer and cookie proceeds will go directly to that troop. All sale proceeds fund local Girl Scouts’ Take Action projects for the community and girl-led adventures for troops. The Fund High Award projects that impact the community, like hosting a camp for youth, donating to those in need and improving community parks. In 2020, many Girl Scouts sewed masks and made care packages to donate to essential workers, including physicians and hospital staff, grocery store staff and first responders. Proceeds also help GSACPC provide Girl Scout programs in STEM, the outdoors, life skills, entrepreneurship, camps, and leadership training, to all girls regardless of financial situation and go toward maintaining four local camp properties. The council said there are two commercial bakers licensed by Girl Scouts of the USA to produce Girl Scout Cookies. The bakery for GSACPC is Little Brownie Bakers.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Legislature eyes election, emergency powers changes BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

The 2021 legislative session is being brought to you by the letter E – as in emergency powers, election legislation and education funding. The session got off to a quick start last week as one of the first act of lawmakers will be to determine whether it’s time to pull the plug on the state of emergency that Gov. Doug Ducey declared 10 months ago – an action, if it gets a majority vote, the governor cannot veto. Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, already has the language crafted. Her measure, SCR 1001, seeks to take advantage of a provision in the law that gave Ducey the power to unilaterally declare an emergency in the first place. It says the emergency ends when the governor says it does or when a majority of legislators vote to say it’s over. But there is no clear law about whether the governor can simply turn around and declare a new one and reinstate all the provisions, such as what businesses can be open and under what conditions. That possibility has Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, asking Attorney General Mark Brnovich whether that would require the legislature to have yet another vote to swat down the governor. And he wants to know whether that would automatically terminate any

reinstated actions “or would a court have to issue an order?’’ Then there’s the question of whether lawmakers have other options. For example, Kavanagh wants to know whether the legislature could impose some sort of self-destruct measure into an existing emergency, like saying it has to end when hospital or infection levels drop below a certain level. The governor, in an interview with Capitol Media Services, said pulling the plug on his declaration would be a bad idea. “We’re still in that public health emergency,’’ he said. “That’s why state law and the constitution provide for executive emergency authorities in situations like that.’’ State election laws present a different set of problems. Arizona already has statutes designed to prevent fraud and determine the accuracy of vote counts. For example, unlike some states, early ballots are mailed only to those who request them, whether on an election-by-election basis or signing up for the permanent early voter list. And the law requires a hand count of the votes from 2 percent of precincts or vote centers, comparing what the machines tallied with what humans have determined are the votes. “I do think we do elections well,’’ Ducey said. Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, wants

that hand count increased to 5 percent along with provisions allowing the attorney general, the secretary of state or the legislative council to demand more. Potentially more sweeping, he also wants to allow anyone with enough money to cover the costs to demand a full recount of any election. Now, the only way that happens is if the margin of victory falls within certain margins, like 200 votes for a statewide race. There is some discussion about tightening up that permanent early voter list, requiring names be purged if people don’t vote in two election cycles and don’t respond to a postcard. During a webcast sponsored by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, south Chandler’s delegation to the Legislature outlined their priorities and Mesnard said another election was his concern as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee – namely, passage of Prop 208, which puts an income surcharge on the wealthiest wage earners in the state to finance education at all levels. “Obviously this gives us one of the higher income tax rates in the country and we’re already starting to hear about businesses from other states that are not going to be relocating here any longer or businesses here that are going to be migrating out of the state – which is not good,” Mesnard said. “So we’re going to be looking at how we can make sure Arizona remains competitive.” He cited several platform items on

the Chamber’s legislative wish list and said that tax reform, including “the disproportionate share of the property tax businesses face” are big priorities. Rep. Jeff Weninger said one of his priorities will be security immunity for businesses from most lawsuits filed by employees who contract COVID-19 in the workplace – a measure that passed the House but stalled last year when the session was abruptly canceled because of the pandemic. He also said he wants to make it easier for to-go sales of alcoholic beverages for restaurants. Rep. Jennifer Pawlik said various education-related issues are her primary concern. She wants to stabilize education funding for schools, and improve funding for special education and early childhood education. She also is supporting more funding for higher education and workforce development, stating, “We want to make sure the students who are leaving our high schools are ready to go right into jobs.” The issue of education funding goes to what Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix, believes is a broken promise. When the pandemic hit, schools went to online learning. But the state funding formula provides fewer dollars for each child who is not sitting in a classroom. See

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LEGISLATURE

from page 14

On top of that, some students didn’t come back, leaving districts with fixed costs but less state aid which is based on the number of students.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Ducey announced in June he was setting aside $370 million to guarantee that schools this academic year would have at least 98 percent of the funding they were getting last year. But that money ran out, leaving many districts with less. “I really think we need to make sure we deliver on our promises,’’ said Boyer

who chairs the Senate Education Committee. But the governor said not to look for him to supplement that $370 million appropriation. “That’s been sent to schools,’’ Ducey said. “Unfortunately, districts saw much higher declines in enrollment than they originally antici-

pated.’’ Boyer said he is still trying to figure out how much more schools need, either because of the lower reimbursement for online learning or declining enrollment. “The principle for me is holding schools harmless,’’ he said.

Other legislative issues on the horizon • Curbing the power of the Arizona Corporation Commission to set energy policy, including requirements for renewable energy. •D eciding whether sex education classes, which already are optional, should not be available for anyone younger than the fifth grade. •C onsidering whether Arizona should have a lieutenant governor who would be elected on the same ticket with the governor, like the president and vice president. •R estoring the right of local governments to impose restrictions on vacation rentals. • E liminating requirements for stu-

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• Debating whether to reduce prison sentences for certain nonviolent offenses.

• S etting new restrictions on drone operators.

•A llowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees as a less-expensive alternative to state universities. Similar plans have been beaten back in prior years by the Arizona Board of Regents.

•R equiring that any new or renovated school buildings have windows that open.

•R equiring that doctors seeking to perform breast enhancement surgery on women provide more complete disclosure of the side effects. • Raising the tax on gasoline or finding other revenue sources for road construction and maintenance, as the

•B anning the sale of eggs that do not come from cage-free chickens. • Repealing a constitutional amendment that excuses lawmakers from arrest in all cases except treason, felony crimes and breach of the peace. It also allows legislators to avoid civil process during legislative sessions and for 15 days prior to each session.

• Levying fees on internet platforms that act as “publishers,’’ meaning they edit and remove certain content versus simply allowing anyone to post. • Making it more difficult for police and prosecutors to use civil procedures to seize cars, money and other property if there is no underlying criminal conviction. • Mandating that police and prosecutors put officers who have been judged to be dishonest on a publicly available “Brady list.’’ • Restricting access to weapons by people determined to be a danger to self or others.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

City plans numerous projects in Chandler this year 6 P.M. JANBY THE CITY OF CHANDLER

For the past 11 months, many people have learned to adapt, learn and grow through the ongoing disruptions, distractions, social isolation, uncertainty and fear. Sadly, many have had to cope with loss – of loved ones, jobs, friendships and more. However, a new year holds the promise of positive change and the possibility that something better lies ahead for us. Whatever surprises 2021 holds for our community, Chandler residents can count on city leaders and employees working to build a better community by pursuing the strategic policy goals and areas of focus established by the City Council. That means attracting a range of private sector businesses, maintaining fiscal sustainability, being a leader in trust and transparency, being the most connected City, being safe and beautiful, and fostering a contemporary culture that embraces unity. What follows is a preview of what you can expect in the first half of 2021 and beyond. COVID-19. It is most likely that COVID-19 will continue to adversely affect Chandler residents and businesses this year in varying degrees. However, as they’ve done for the past year, City of Chandler employees in all departments will continue to work

After swearing in one returning and two new members on Jan. 14, the City Council is now comprised of (from left to right) Councilmembers Matt Orlando, René Lopez and Mark Stewart, Mayor Kevin Hartke, and Councilmembers OD Harris, Christine Ellis and Terry Roe.

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INSIDER on page 19

CITY OF CHANDLER INSIDER

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

INSIDER

The Chandler Center for the Arts partnered recently with the duo, Black Violin, for a virtual presentation that reached more than 3,000 Chandler students in virtual and in-person classrooms. The performance was provided for free to educators at Title I schools and nonprofit organizations. If so, they will choose the categories of improvements they deem most important, set a funding limit and select the date of the special ballot-by-mail election. The public can follow the bond election process at chandleraz. gov/BondElection. Transportation infrastructure. Chandler, in partnership with Valley Metro, is evaluating transit service alternatives beyond traditional fixed route bus service within the Price Road corridor. A virtual Price Road Flexible Transit Study Online Public Meeting is currently underway for the public to share feedback on alternative transit services, including micro-transit, bus flex routes

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and ride share services. You can provide questions or comments now through Jan. 25, by taking our survey at valleymetro.org/priceroad. Public safety. The Chandler Fire Department will continue to support the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare providers, essential government workers, at-risk populations and the general public. Chandler Fire also will host a public safety forum (date to be determined) to engage community stakeholders in dialogue about the service provided by the department, the needs of the community and expectations moving forward.

See

INSIDER on page 20

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Chandler Police Department will continue to leverage technology to help police perform smarter and more effectively. The public can expect to see police employees embedded throughout the community, working alongside our residents as we work together to keep our community safe. Arts and culture. Chandler’s entertainment, arts and culture scene will continue to be nurtured through this challenging period by the city’s Cultural Development Department, which includes the Center for the Arts, Vision Gallery Chandler Museum, and the Special Events and Downtown Redevelopment teams. While these facilities had to shut their doors for in-person events and cancel or postpone many programs to help prevent the spread, they’ve still been able to find creative ways to continue to serve the community. The show has gone on, with small group outdoor concerts and performing arts presentations through social media and using streaming technology. And thanks to physical distancing measures, the public still can safely visit the Museum and the galleries at the Center for the Arts and City Hall. Once it is safe to resume live indoor performances, the Center for the Arts will be ready to host a variety of in-person performances (details at chandlercenter.org) One of the programs that has successfully adapted to the limitations

from page 18

til a large percentage of the population has been vaccinated against the virus. City Council. New members Christine Ellis and OD Harris join re-elected Mark Stewart on the reconstituted City Council. At 6 p.m. Feb. 18, Mayor Hartke will give his annual State of the City Address, streamed live online. In the first half of the year, Council will debate and vote on several issues of critical importance to the community. Each year, the City Council adopts a structurally balanced and financially stable operating budget and capital improvement program that aligns City services with council priorities. The ongoing 2021-2022 budget planning process is transparent and provides multiple opportunities for the public to weigh in on their priorities prior to tentative adoption on May 27 and final adoption on June 10. For the latest details Council budget workshops and briefings visit chandleraz.gov/budget. Citizen Bond Exploratory Committee. Council last year created this committee to provide a recommendation for the amount of bond authorization needed to maintain and enhance the public infrastructure that will keep Chandler moving forward as the Community of Innovation. The committee will soon present its recommendations to the Council, which will decide if a bond election is in the city’s best interest.

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imposed by the pandemic is Vision Kids, a series of art classes taught by professional artists for kids ages 6 to 16 and offered free of charge. Thanks to the dedication and resourcefulness of Chandler’s visual arts staff, the arts classes are now conducted online, which has enabled class sizes to expand and given more children in Chandler access to the arts. Virtual learning has also expanded the list of possible teachers and the type of art instruction that can be offered. Vision Kids class registration is now underway at visiongallery.org. Economic development. Because Chandler has maintained a strong and diversified economy for so many years, the negative financial impacts of the pandemic so far have not been as severe as those experienced by other communities. In 2021, the Economic Development Division will continue to look for programs and financial resources to assist local businesses through this challenging time. Recruitment of new businesses and supporting the growth of existing Chandler businesses also will remain high priorities for City staff. Look for more good news coming from the City’s #iChooseChandler campaign, as well. Public works. The Public Works & Utilities Department continues to play a large role in making Chandler a safe and beautiful city through our exceptional streets and landscape maintenance programs. Several major road construction projects in south Chandler will continue in 2021, including along Alma School

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Road, Cooper Road, Gilbert Road and Chandler Heights Road. In west Chandler, projects to add bike lanes along Kyrene Road, McClintock Road and West Chandler Boulevard should be completed by the end of the year. Neighborhoods. Raising and maintaining the quality of Chandler neighborhoods will continue to be a priority for the Neighborhood Resources Department. The quality and quantity of code enforcement inspections is anticipated to increase with the implementation of a new code. Enforcement case management system. Neighborhoods will also be able to ask for improvement grants through an online application process. Parks. The Parks division will begin construction on the Homestead North Park site and four new softball fields at Tumbleweed Park, finish the renovation of Vida Park (formerly East Mini Park) and complete Phase 1 of the Lantana Ranch Park site. The division also is committed to increasing the quality of park maintenance and improving the condition of all City athletic fields in an effort to provide a safer, more enjoyable experience for all park users. Public records. Chandler’s commitment to transparency continues in 2021 with the implementation by the City Clerk’s Office of a new online Public Records Portal that residents can use to access public records such as ordinances, resolutions, and meeting minutes from the 1920’s to present. A new digital public meeting posting board will allow for the electronic

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

posting of all public meeting notices replacing the manual process that is currently performed. Chandler will host a Veterans Day event on Nov. 11 at Veterans Oasis Park in southeast Chandler and celebrate the completion of Phase II of the City’s inspiring Veterans Memorial. Events. Anything could happen in 2021, but if we all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and as vaccination rates increase, we also might be able to look forward to the following: The reopening of all public facilities to full capacity and resumption of all in-person City services, programs, classes and public meetings. The return of many of the exciting festivals and special events our community is known for, including the Family

Easter Celebration, Jazz Festival, July 4th Fireworks Spectacular, holiday Parade of Lights and Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony. The safe return to full-time in-person learning at all schools that serve Chandler, and the full resumption of all extracurricular activities and sports for students of all ages. Finally, the City of Chandler also encourages everyone to continue to support local restaurants, shops and nonprofits that may be struggling in this challenging business climate. Whether shopping online, ordering take-out, visiting your favorite establishments in person or donating to local causes, your purchases and support will help these local businesses and nonprofits stay afloat while we wait for a return to normalcy.

Stay connected in 2021 The City of Chandler offers a variety of communications channels that you can tap into for the latest alerts, announcements, public meetings, special events and more. Follow and like the Chandler social media accounts that appeal to you. The most recent City social media posts can be found on the City’s Social Hub, along with a list of all official City of Chandler accounts at chandleraz.gov/socialhub. Chandler’s YouTube channel is loaded with videos about City

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from page 10

cial-ethnic-cultural spectrum – looked at Dr. King as a kind of black Santa Claus and then we sort of sugarcoat the image of him when it comes to his sort of radical perspective on change and addressing militarism but also economic injustice.” Lester pointed to King’s own words in his 1967 address at Stanford University to explain the romanticized image of King. “He says large segments of the population are content with tranquility and the status quo and he says the only way to make change is to disrupt that and recognize that humanity, justice and equality are interconnected. I don’t think we’ve moved to that point yet. We want to see King as being this kneeldown-and-pray, non-violent Gandhi because that also suits us.” He suggested people read the “I Have A Dream” speech “because it is not particularly sugarcoated in terms of the circumstances of America” and that “in fact, it talks with a certain kind of urgency about that injustice and discrimination, specifically racial and economic issues that have persisted for way too long.” Meanwhile, Lester said the pandemic has not thwarted his mission to extend the dialogue about society through Project Humanities’ lens of “empathy, compassion, respect, integrity, forgiveness, kindness and self-reflection.” He had to go virtual last fall with his annual Hackathon for Humanity – in which a diverse array of volunteers of all ages and from all segments of society

programs and events, plus livestreamed and previously recorded public meetings. Subscribe to youtube.com/cityofchandler. Chandler’s award winning website – chandleraz.gov – is a valuable resource for anyone living in, working in or visiting our community. Visit the website’s News Center (follow the News link at the top of the site) for access to the latest blog posts, press releases, the CityScope newsletter and more.

work on one of several specific efforts to address a social issue. Because it was virtual, the three-day event drew people from around the world and the group’s prize-winning effort was an app to help victims of domestic violence. Called “Whole Heart,” the app helps victims determine if their relationship is abusive, connects them to services, provides ongoing support and helps record incidents of abuse in a digital journal. The app also has built-in “camouflaging” features that make it appear as a yoga or cooking app, should the abuser snatch the victim’s phone. The pandemic also inspired Lester to start regular podcasts that cover a broad range of topics. Last year’s topics ranged from untested rape kits to “whupping and African-American parenting.” Project Humanities also has slated a series of web-based discussions on topics such as “rhetorical listening.” That session “invites listeners to move from a dysfunctional silence to an open stance wherein people willingly position themselves to recognize that a problem exists for someone.” Also planned are film screenings on a movement in the early 1970s by a group of Boston secretaries for better pay and working conditions, a public television host called Mr. Soul and his celebration of Black literature and music, and another on “coded bias.” There also are digital workshops slated on topics such as anti-racist parenting, “toxic positivity” and “religion and rape culture.” Details are at projecthumanities.asu. edu.

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Valley housing prices broke a slew of records in 2020 the number of completed sales contracts relative to the supply of active listings,” it has said, explaining that “the higher the number, the greater the buying activity relative to supply.” If this number rises, it is a sign of growing contract activity and a positive signal for sellers. But may not come as a big surprise for homebuyers in the Metro Phoenix market who have seen prices rise and the inventory of affordable homes continuing to shrink over the past year. Cromford said that even though the contract ratio fell on Christmas to 171.6, it called it “still a freakish number for the last week of December, noting the contract ration for the last week of 2019 was only 63. For smaller parts of the Valley market, moreover, Cromford said, “the contract ratio has become outlandish, confirming just how unbalanced this market is. “Selling a home is easier than falling off a log, but buying one can be a very difficult and discouraging task,” it said, echoing the frustration many homebuyers have been feeling. How outlandish was demonstrated

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

The Phoenix Metro housing market broke a load of records in 2020, according to a web service that closely watches home sales in Pinal and Maricopa County. The Valley market broke records for highest listing success rate, highest average price for monthly and annual sales and highest square foot price for listings as well as monthly and annual sales – among others – according to the Cromford Report. Those price records also are reflected in new data from Standard & Poor’s Case Shiller Home Price Index for June-October – the latest data available, Cromford noted. Of the 19 largest metro markets in the country, it said, Phoenix exceeded the national average increase for home prices, though it fell to third place behind New York and San Diego, respectively. Cromford also reported that on Dec. 15, the contract ratio in the Phoenix market hit an all-time high of 180. Contract ratio “specifically measures

Apartments appear to be much less sought-after “thanks to the pandemic. This is a pattern that is being repeated around the world. Working from home increases the desire for more space and a yard.

”

in Cromford’s contract ratios for several Valley communities. El Mirage posted a staggering 589 while Gilbert and Maricopa had contract ratios of 326 and 364, respectively. Chandler was at 345 while Tolleson 450. To get a better idea of what those numbers mean, Cromford explains, “Higher priced locations tend to have consistently lower contract ratios, so a very hot reading for Paradise Valley would be anything over 25. For Scottsdale anything over 50 would be considered very hot, while for most of the market, values over 100 would indicate similar strength.” “The areas that are primarily focused on the 55+ market are relatively cool,” it added. “Sun Lakes is at 112 while Sun City is at 116 and Sun City West is reporting 106. Normally these would be considered hot readings, as normal would be around 40, but relative to the rest of the market right now, they are rather unimpressive.” In what was its most dire description all year, Cromford also said the Valley’s housing supply “is collapsing in so many areas.” “Not only do we have fewer homes for sale, the ones that remain available are at a very high average price,” it continued, noting that in two weeks last month, “the supply of single-family homes in the city of Phoenix has See Page 26 to view some of our Valley wide Homes for Sale See Page 32 to view some of See Page 32 to view some of dropped 12 percent while the average See Page 32 to view some of our Valley wide Homes for Sale our Valley wide Homes for Sale list price has risen 2.2 percent.” our Valley wide Homes for Sale Compared with this time last year, the supply of single-family homes in Phoenix is down 54 percent while the average price is up 22 percent.

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“And Phoenix is not even an extreme example. For that we recommend Gilbert, where supply is down 66 percent since last year and the average price is up 27 percent. We should also remember that supply was 53 percent below normal in December 2019, so we thought that was a very tight supply at the time.” For frustrated buyers who are still renting and may be inclined to wait until the market cools – a prospect no one is predicting in the short term – Cromford had equally dismal news. “The rental market in Greater Phoenix is just as crazy as the re-sale market,” it said. “We see that the average lease price per square foot per month is up 15 percent from this time last year, rising from $1.01 to $1.16. This is across all dwelling types. If we focus exclusively on single-family rentals then the average lease price per square foot per month has risen from 94 cents to $1.11. This is an 18 percent increase, so it seems clear that the rent for single-family homes is rising faster than for attached properties. “Townhomes are up from $1.20 to $1.30, a rise of 8 percent, while apartments are down from $1.43 to $1.42,” it added. Cromford said there’s a reason why apartment rental costs increased only 4 percent while the cost of renting townhomes and single-family homes soared: ”Apartments appear to be much less sought-after thanks to the pandemic. This is a pattern that is being repeated around the world. Working from home increases the desire for more space and a yard.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

How COVID changed housing market SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The pandemic has accelerated a shift to technological tools that make life easier for everyone involved in real estate transactions while home buyers have found that a lot of features have gone from the “nice to have” to the “essential” column. Here are all the changes that came to real estate in 2020 that are likely here to stay. Big-city living loses its cool This year completely changed the way we viewed our homes and what we wanted from them. It turns out that sheltering in place is a great way to find out if you really, really love your home and being able to work remotely means there are more options if you don’t. The biggest wake-up call this year was for city dwellers who had long justified the high expense of tiny apartments with the many perks of urban life – until those suddenly became unavailable. Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale said people now “are looking for space and affordability” and the

suburbs are where they can find it.” As the transplants settle in to their new surroundings, they’re likely to make their mark on the suburbs, as well. After all, why can’t they have their single-family home with a yard and more options for dining and entertainment? If employers continue allowing eligible employees to work remotely, this suburban shift is here to stay. Technology and house hunting House hunting in the time of the coronavirus means relying on technology more than ever. Cruising for home listings on sites such as realtor.com has been a basic first step for years. But this year, with orders declaring real estate work essential in some areas, and inessential for others for weeks at a time, folks were forced to move their home searches primarily online. Some folks ended up buying a home they’d never even seen in person. There are some things that are harder to perceive in a video tour – so you need to know what signs to look for. Other aspects of the home-buying process are now commonly facilitated by technology. There’s no need to sit

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in a mortgage broker’s office to discuss loan options, or sign piles of paperwork in a room at a title company. Remote mortgage pre-approvals, inspections, appraisals, and even closings are becoming the norm. Buyers expect more from homes Hopefully, we’ll all soon be able to go back to our gyms, send kids to school, and even, if we want, do our work on an ergonomic desk. But the lesson of 2020 is that you need to be prepared if those things aren’t possible. And that means buyers are paying close attention to homes with plenty of space for work, school, exercise and enjoying the fresh air. Millennials, many with young children, are now the largest group of home buyers and their preferences will shape home buying for years to come. That means savvy home sellers will have to get their homes in shape for a new generation’s expectations. These days, homes with a home office sell faster and for more money, than homes without one. Sanitary features have come into focus lately, too. Smart, touchless options

for faucets, lights and locks are not only convenient, they also cut down on the transfer of germs. Homeowners getting self-reliant DIY projects used to seem like something fun to do in your free time, but when you want to reduce exposure to additional people, making simple upgrades and performing basic home maintenance yourself is a necessity. And once you’ve developed those skills, you’re less likely to reach for the phone when you have something that needs fixing. Plus, homeowners have always known that doing things yourself is great for the bottom line, especially when you target projects that offer a good return on investment. “Self-reliant” doesn’t just mean keeping everything running, either. Many people discovered tending victory gardens this year as a way to enjoy fresh air and manage stress while ensuring a supply of fresh produce. As everyone knows, homegrown just tastes better – and once you’ve had it, it’s hard to go back. Realtor.com provided this report.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

As housing needs change, homes adapting BY CAROL ROYSE Guest Writer

The COVID-19 Era has changed how families look at their living spaces. With parents having to work from home and kids attending school online, the need for adequate, dedicated space has never been greater. The home now must be dynamic enough to sustain each family mem-

ber’s needs in the living, entertaining, working, and educational categories. Before COVID, a family of four could be happy in a three-bedroom home, but today might need a den and even additional “flex” space. Instead of that three-bedroom home, they’re expanding their search to include additional bonus rooms, some now potentially looking at a five-bedroom home to accommodate their working and schooling needs. An expert Realtor can position your

home for optimal buyer demand, illustrating to prospective buyers how to best use your living space. Additionally, with the disappearance of organized youth sports, school gyms, parks, and other outdoor amenities, more and more families want the accommodating backyard paradise, especially those featuring pools, spas, outdoor kitchens, pizza ovens, fire pits and space. Families need an escape, and their backyards are quickly becoming the

designation as travel and entertainment remain less conventional. If you have a home to sell, your home may be just what these buyers are looking for. If you’re a homebuyer, you need an expert Realtor to unlock inventory you won’t find elsewhere. Knowing the needs of both today’s buyers and sellers are Carol Royse’s specialty. For more information on home values in the area, call her at 480776-5231 and ask about her “Trade-Up” program.

Don’t freak over a bad home inspection BY JENNIFER BILLOCK Guest Writer

When I was buying my first house, everything seemed too good to be true – at least at the start of the process. But it turned out too good to be true. My smooth path to homeownership suddenly became rocky when the inspection report came back with a big fat failure. I immediately panicked. What did it mean? Was I still able to buy the house? And if I did, was it going to fall apart? After a few calls with my real estate agent – who, at that point, had become more of a home-buying therapist – I learned that a bad inspection isn’t that rare. During the process, though, I learned a lot more than I ever expected about home inspections.

Houses don’t really pass or fail

Though my home inspection appeared a failure, homes aren’t actually graded

on a pass/fail system. “There is no such thing as a failed inspection,” said Karen Kostiw, an agent. “The inspection just points out small and potentially larger issues that you may not be aware of.” Sure, some houses can sail through the process and others may fare poorly, but it’s not a “You can never buy this” situation if there are problems with the property. For me, my mortgage hinged on a solid inspection, so the initial results meant I wouldn’t get the loan unless things were fixed. If I had enough cash on hand or wanted to try a different mortgage lender, I could have continued with the purchase even with a negative inspection report. So, if the house you’re set on buying ends up having issues, you still have options.

Most inspection issues are small

It’s important to remember every home

inspection report will come back with something, according to Broker Kate Ziegler. The inspector’s job is to call out any trouble spot. Also, all issues noted in the report aren’t equal: Some problems flagged by an inspector can wait. “The inspector will find defects – sometimes many defects – but that does not mean buyers are not purchasing a good home,” Kostiw says.

Red flags do exist

Ziegler and Kostiw agree that though most repairs are easy fixes, some items should give you pause if you see them on your report. Structural problems, antique electrical systems, old windows, unexplained water damage, evidence of termites or wood rot, a bad roof, asbestos, mold, radon, and lead paint are all red flags that can show up during a home inspection. If fixing these problems is impossible or beyond the means in your budget, you may want to reconsider your purchase.

Don’t try to fix things yourself

Unless a repair is something truly minor like caulking a bathroom tub or putting a cabinet door back on its hinges, don’t try to fix anything on your own. You could make things worse or even injure yourself. Hire licensed contractors that you’ve vetted to handle any problems. And try not to leave it all up to the seller. They’re not going to be living in the home. You will be.

Work the costs into the sale

At first, I worried I would have to pay to fix everything that was wrong with my house. But it’s important to know you can work the cost of repairs and how long it should take to make them into the sale. Say you can’t afford to fix the busted water heater but the seller can. You can raise the offer price by that cost, or you can trade off: The seller fixes one thing, and you fix another. Realtor.com provided this report.

City woos landlords for more low-income tenants BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

The city of Chandler is trying to incentivize landlords to accept housing vouchers from low-income families that are increasingly struggling to find anyone willing to accept them. Local landlords can now receive a $400 sign-up bonus for renting to a Chandler resident with a Section 8 voucher from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The new incentive is intended to help fill a housing deficit among voucher recipients who are struggling to find homes or apartments in Chandler. “We just don’t have landlords that are accepting the vouchers at this time,” said Amy Jacobson, city housing and redevelopment manager. Chandler currently has about 100 families unable to find a landlord willing to take a voucher, she said, and the city’s supply of affordable housing continues to shrink. Rents have been rising across the Valley for the last couple years and more low-income residents are getting squeezed out of the housing market. The city is only given 486 vouchers at a time to accommodate a waitlist of 4,000 applicants determined through a

lottery system. Chandler’s waitlist opens up once every few years and the city must process all of the waitlist’s applicants before it can accept new applications. Vouchers are dispersed based on an applicant’s income level and the recipient can have between 60 and 70 percent of their housing costs subsidized through federal funds. Section 8 vouchers provide a stable source of income for landlords, Jacobson said, because the government disburses funds directly to the property owner rather than through the tenant. The disbursements adjust whenever the tenant’s income changes, she added, so the landlord can still expect to get paid the same amount each month. Despite these benefits, fewer vouchers have been used in Chandler this past year and many families are at risk of losing their benefits. “Our utilization is down and we’re wanting landlords to lease to our families to find affordable housing,” Jacobson said. Even before the pandemic, local officials were straining to find enough affordable housing that could satisfy the demand. Chandler and the greater Valley’s housing crisis has been in the making since the market crashed during the Great

Recession, according to Dennis Hoffman, director of Arizona State University’s L. William Seidman Research Institute. After the real estate bubble burst in 2008, Hoffman said developers suddenly stopped building new houses in Arizona. On top of that, the state passed legislation that shunned undocumented residents from wanting to work and live in Arizona. “This is a recipe for a shortage of housing,” Hoffman said during a recent virtual forum of local economists. “The value of housing has increased some 18 percent over the last year and the median home is about $330,000 today.” Chandler, which has long been considered one of the Valley’s more affluent suburbs, appears to have a smaller supply of affordable housing than its surrounding communities. GoSection8, an online database that lists affordable housing units across Arizona, shows only three units available in Chandler. By contrast, Mesa has 53 units listed on the database and Phoenix has more than 70 available rentals. Families that get a Section 8 voucher have about 60 days to find a landlord who will accept it. An extension can be given to those who can’t find one, but the voucher eventually expires and the applicant then loses their chance of using it.

“That’s why it’s really important once a family is issued a voucher, that they’re able to find housing fairly quickly,” Jacobson added. “Once it does expire, unfortunately, they’re not able to go beyond what the extension deadline would be.” The incentive program is being paid with funds Chandler received through the Coronavirus Aid Relief Economic Security Act passed by Congress last March. The federal government allotted $30 million for Chandler and the city has spent most of the funds assisting local businesses. About $6 million has been spent on helping local residents avoid eviction, pay utility bills or find affordable housing. Though Chandler hasn’t previously offered monetary incentives to prospective landlords, it’s not the first Valley city to use CARES Act funds to get property owners to accept Section 8 vouchers. Phoenix started offering $500 bonuses in August and the city hoped the incentive would result in 300 new leases getting signed each month. Landlords in Chandler must fill out an application and have their property undergo a safety inspection before redeeming the city’s bonus money. More information on the city’s Section 8 program can be found at chandleraz.gov.

REAL ESTATE

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Trespassers can acquire title to another’s land The adverse possessor must prove in court that he or she occupied land, without permission of the original owner, for a period of at least 10 years. An adverse possessor may assert an adverse possession claim over land, even if he or she possessed the property under the mistaken belief that it was their own. This type of situation often arises in boundary line disputes. Arizona also recognizes the “tacking” rule. This means if an adverse possessor occupies a portion of his or her neighbor’s land, without permission from the neighbor for five years, and then sells the property to someone who continues to occupy the neighbor’s land for another five years, the adverse possessor could go to court and provide evidence to satisfy the 10-year requirement. While the doctrine of adverse possession has historical roots dating back to English law, its applicability remains relevant to this day. If you have any concerns or questions over your property boundaries or whether you might need to assert your property rights, you should act sooner than later. Chandler resident Ben Gottlieb is a partner and co-founder of MacQueen and Gottlieb PLC, the state’s top real estate law firm. Reach him at 602-5332840 or email him at ben@mandglawgroup.com.

BY BEN GOTTLIEB Guest Writer

Arizona recognizes the legal doctrine of adverse possession. The doctrine is counterintuitive and seems to run counter to the values we were all taught in elementary school. It goes something like this: if a person utilizes someone else’s land – land that is not owned by the trespasser, land that the trespasser did not purchase or contribute funds towards and land of which the rightful owner did not provide permission for the trespasser to occupy – after a certain period of time, the trespasser becomes the true owner of the land. The original owner loses all rights in the property occupied by the trespasser. So not only is the original owner prevented from evicting the trespasser, but the trespasser has the ability to formally get title to the property through the court system. That’s right: the law in Arizona, as in many other states, actually rewards someone for trespassing on someone else’s property. It punishes the actual title owner by taking away the owner’s rights to the land without compensation. How can this be legal and constitutional, and what is the rationale for

having law like this? In a nutshell, the reasons for the law can be boiled down to policy that favors productive use of land and stability in property rights, and disfavors sleeping on legal rights. Adverse possession has historical roots going back hundreds of years to England, where statutes of limitations were put in place. If the true title owner did not assert rights in the property within the appropriate period of time, the occupier would become the lawful owner of the land. This law addressed concerns arose

over people losing land that they occupied for many years, only to have the true title owner assert rights in the property many years later. This rule of law also afforded property-occupiers with a certain degree of confidence that after making productive use of land for many years, but lacking evidence of title which might be difficult to obtain, that no one could eventually rob them of their investment in the land. Today, in Arizona, lawsuits are filed each month by a trespasser (often termed an “adverse possessor”).

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Steelyard filling up fast with retail, food tenants BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

The Steelyard, a $12 million commercial center in southeast Chandler, has recently opened its doors to a variety of new tenants in a region of the city notably lacking in retail options. Named after the steel yard business that had existed on the property before it was sold to Capital Asset Management a couple years ago, The Steelyard consists of 26,000 square feet of new retail space within a complex of three freestanding, multi-tenant buildings. Pita Jungle, Jersey’s Mikes, and Someburros have recently moved into the retail space and many more are planning to open their doors soon. Jason Hersker, executive vice president of Capital Asset Management, said only about 1,000 square feet are left to lease out before the Steelyard is completely occupied. Other tenants who have committed to spaces at Steelyard include High Tide Seafood, Heartland Dental, Tan Max, GOAT Haircuts and Nail Logic. Hersker said CAM purposefully looked for a balanced mix of tenants that would appeal to residents in southeast Chandler. The area between Chandler Heights and Riggs roads has long been underserved for retail, he added, and residents of this region deserved to have a diverse range of restaurants and shops. “We were searching for uses that would cater to the exceptional demographics in this trade area,” Hersker said.

The Steelyard is south Chandler’s latest retail-restaurant hub and sits on the site of an old steel plant. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

“The household income is higher in a 5-mile radius than most of Scottsdale by comparison. Yet, they didn’t have very many options for food and services nearby.” Demographic projections have indicated that the neighborhoods surrounding The Steelyard will grow in population by 9 percent over the next few years. The average annual household income of residents near the retail center is $163,000, which is more than double Chandler’s overall median income. The one-mile radius surrounding The Steelyard’s property currently only has 24 retail businesses and 23 food service shops. Demand for more retail will grow in the near future, Hersker said, as more houses get built in the surrounding area. “This is an area where there were

over 700 single-family lots are in various stages of development and sell offs,” Hersker said. “These homeowners need their amenities and this was a retail trade area that was significantly underserved with retail options.” Residents living in south Chandler have been waiting for more retail options since the area started to boom in population more than a decade ago. Last month, many residents living near Gilbert and Riggs roads unsuccessfully attempted to thwart a multi-family housing development, known as The Villages at Chandler, from getting built near their neighborhood. A recurring complaint made by the 700 single-family lots in various stages of development,” Hesker said. “These homeowners need their amenities.” Added Cristie Brown, a resident,

who asked the city not to rezone land in south Chandler from commercial to residentia: “Once this is approved, we’ll never have the opportunity for retail.” Capital Assets, which is based in Phoenix and has been developing commercial properties since the 1990s, planned to have its newest Chandler project reflect the city’s history by having The Steelyard’s aesthetics intentionally embrace the region’s rural roots. In addition to preserving the property’s old water tower, the complex is constructed with several steel beams to fit with the project’s agrarian, simplified style. Before south Chandler was filled up with subdivisions, it was mainly home to large patches of agricultural land owned and operated by the Riggs family. The family for whom Riggs Road is named, Lyle and Willetta Riggs, owned up to 400 acres of desert land in south Chandler and farmed it for several generations. The family’s farm dwindled in size as more houses were built in the 1980s and the Riggs family eventually sold Steelyard’s property to CAM. Stephen Herman, vice president of development for CAM, said the company hopes Steelyard will represent the character and atmosphere of this region of Chandler and serve as an important asset to the community. “The Steelyard is going to be a special place for the growing neighborhood,” Herman said last year. “We have gone to great lengths to bring amenities to the area through a unique blend of retail uses and an emphasis on a modern-industrial agrarian design.”

Couple opens food truck bakery after job loss BY MELODY BIRKETT Contributor

Loss of work due to COVID-19 prompted Amber and Eric Leediker to start a new career and open a & e b.a.k.e.d at the Premium Outlets in Chandler. “Eric and I both have strong roots in the kitchen,” said Amber. “It was just a natural progression. Like so many families, we had to learn to readjust and reinvent ourselves during COVID. So, it was a natural progression for us to come up with the bakery. Eric made up the name.” “We’ve been in-and-out of the restaurant industry,” said Eric, who was laid-off as a car salesman. “We managed a couple of restaurants together. We’ve spent so much time developing our recipes together it just felt natural to apply that to a retail setting and see if we could find work for ourselves.” Amber is also a respite habilitation provider and homeschools their four children.

how we spawned the bakery together.” Added Amber: “We were like, ‘How can we rub our pennies together?’ We did not apply for a small business loan. Every paycheck that came in, we allocated funds to get creative and do this.” Eric said he and Amber “did all of the construction ourselves.” “Amber did all of the graphic design, all of the photography, all of the food you see in our photos,” he exAmber and Eric Leediker have opened a & e b.a.k.e.d at the plained. “That’s actually Premium Outlets on the Gila River Indian Community. (Cour- our food. None of that tesy of Amber Leediker) is stock footage. That’s from our home kitch“With COVID and the loss of work en.” from the dealership…it was a hardship “Even when I worked full-time, we on us,” explained Eric. “I ended up being always tried to collaborate and find home full-time with Amber and that’s something to mesh our talents togeth-

er,” Eric said. “We love it.” Amber describes herself and Eric as “entrepreneurs at heart.” “So, we always have something up our sleeve,” she said. Married 10 years, the couple also has the Mad Dog Happy Salads food cart but that business is on hold due to COVID. Nothing is produced in the a and e b.a.k.e.d. food truck. Everything is baked and packaged for consumption offsite. Amber said people like “our very high-quality products.” “We’re an organic bakery and we cater to a lot of people who have dietary needs. We offer plant-based, gluten-free and keto.” It’s also a joint effort. “We do everything as a team,” Eric said. “We’re connected at the hip.” The bakery also offers traditional baked goods without dietary restrictions. See

BAKED on page 31

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

BAKED

from page 30

“We source the finest organic ingredients,” said Eric. “There’s never a preservative. No GMOs. No additives.” Asked why, Amber replied, “We wanted to put our lifestyles into the food that we offer others.” Eric explained, “If you take one of our traditional cakes in our standard form or one of our plant-based cakes and you eat them side-by-side, the consistency is so close that nobody is missing out on this. And that’s one of the beautiful things about using high-quality, simple ingredients is you can create such beautiful, enjoyable things.” Some of the more popular menu items are olive oil cakes that come in all sizes and flavors, cinnamon rolls, brownies plus bread and bagels. A variety of cookies includes gluten-free chocolate chip, regular sugar cookies, oatmeal cookies with bing cherries, chocolate and organic coconut. “Half of our recipes we have written on our own,” said Amber. “We’ve done this ever since we’ve been together. Some of our recipes are inherited. We have a cookie recipe that’s over 100 years old. The olive oil cake recipe is from my grandfather who’s from Italy. They’re very traditional but our own at the same time.” Eric said he and Amber try to “put a nice flare on it.” “We use the traditional processes but we do our own flare on flavors and how we deliver them and package them,” he said. “We do everything in small batches and it just produces a higher quality at the endof-the-day,” explained Amber, who said the couple does the baking overnight. “We haven’t outsourced anything yet,” said Amber. So, it’s been manageable for us to do every aspect, so far.”

The Leedikers’ nicely appointed bakery serves a variety of baked goods, including cookies, cinnamon rolls, brownies, bread and bagels. The couple cater gatherings and also make cakes on special order. (Courtesy of Eric and Amber Leediker)

In addition to the food truck, Eric said, “We do weddings. We have a special event cake. We do up to a three-tier cake. We do special offers. We would love to cater to offices. We’re available to do anything.” Although the couple doesn’t sell pies in the bakery, they can make them or just about any kind of baked good on special order.

“We always have been the entertainers of our entire family - both sides,” Amber said. “We’re known for having these huge dinner parties and doing the cooking and baking for all of it. It’s just been one of our passions in life to share that with others. So this we can do on a larger scale. We’re optimistic, right now. We’re really enthusiastic and super

excited for the future.” “We feel blessed that even though the world is turned upside down, right now, we’re able to work together as a husband and wife team and still be able to provide for our four kids,” Eric added. “And we get to be together. So, it’s the best of both worlds.” Information: icravebaked.com

Financial lessons learned from 2020 and the pandemic BY HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

We’ve just lived through an amazingly turbulent 2020, where the coronavirus pandemic has upended the lives of tens of millions of Americans. There have been mass layoffs and huge government shutdowns of the economy in various states. Most of us are hopeful that the recent approval of coronavirus vaccines will allow us to get back to normal by the end of 2021. What are the lessons we can learn from what happened in 2020? Almost no traditional Wall Street investment is safe. Earlier in 2020, it took only 5 weeks for a major stock market index to drop by 35 percent. The stock market has since not only rebounded, but reached record levels. However, these elevated stock market levels do not match the real economy, where millions are unemployed and major industries are on life support. Many companies are losing money and won’t be able to pay bond interest or stock dividends.

Real estate investments are much more unstable than normal. The Cheesecake Factory was the first national restaurant chain to declare “We just won’t pay our rent!” Hotel occupancy declined to 20-30 percent during the pandemic and it takes at least 60 percent occupancy for most hotels to break even. If you own an apartment building catering to the working class, you are getting much less rent and many states have passed moratoriums where you are not allowed to evict the tenants. Yet, your mortgage lender and the utility companies expect you to pay. We can’t rely on government to solve our personal financial problems. Earlier in the year, the massive CARES Act was passed. However, if your income reported on previous tax returns was too high, you did not receive the $1,200 per adult one-time stimulus check. So, what are the crucial financial resolutions and lessons for 2021? Do everything you can to protect your current job. This may mean doing things that most of your fellow workers don’t want to do,

such as: working the weekend or evening shift or taking on projects that most won’t do. Develop new skills so that you become invaluable. Virtually every business needs a website and social media marketing. If you are the one who handles this area, you have job security. Start a side business in addition to your full-time job. Every household in your neighborhood needs a mobile car mechanic or handy man for simple jobs. Every business needs a website and social media marketing. Delivering the morning newspaper can create an extra $1,200 per month. Save 30 percent of your gross income at least for the next years. The typical savings rate is normally 7-8 percent of after-tax income. You need to save 30 percent of gross income to create an emergency cash reserve that can cover one to two years of living expenses. The pandemic and government shutdowns have shown many Americans that there’s a big difference between what’s

essential vs. optional in our lives. Savings rates will increase substantially when one doesn’t go to malls, restaurants, bars, sports and entertainment events, or travel for vacations. Save income tax. By having side-business deductions, many can save at least $5-8,000 of income taxes each year. If you have high income, powerful tax planning can save $10,000 to $30,000 of annual income taxes. If you annually save $20,000 taxes and average an 8 percent return, in 20 years you’ll have an extra $988,458 in your retirement fund. Free information on tax savings, retirement planning, and solar business investments can be found at drharoldwong.com or solarbusinessinvestments. com. To schedule your free consultation, contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-7060177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. Dr. Harold Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/ Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Rudy’s Bar-B-Cue keeps expanding in East Valley SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Cue, which made its first foray in Arizona by opening a restaurant in Chandler, is growing. In the 1800’s, Max Aue developed the small community of Leon Springs, in the Texas Hill Country outside of San Antonio. In 1929, Max’s son, Rudolph, opened a gas station, garage and grocery store. In 1989, Barbecue was added to the Country Store and Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q was founded. Today, Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q, has expanded throughout the southwest with the same original recipes that made Rudy’s Leon Springs famous. Rudy’s brought their Real Texas BarB-Q to Arizona in 2012, settling first in Chandler at 7300 W. Chandler Blvd. and eventually opening a second eatery in Goodyear. Now it also has opened a third establishment at 1733 N. Higley Road in Gilbert. Rudy’s features a broad menu of Bar-B-Q favorites such as brisket, turkey and ribs. The meat is wood-fired with oak, a slower burning wood as opposed to mesquite. Rudy’s opens daily at 7 p.m. and serves made-to-order and grab-and-go breakfast tacos. The Rudy’s model is very similar to a meat market, so customers order as much or as little as they want, satisfying the individual or even the largest group. Family and group meal plans are

Rudy’s meal packs are ideal for family dinners, office parties and, of course, game day gatherings. The Chandler restaurant opened in 2012 and since then two new restaurants have opened in Gilbert and Goodyear. (Courtesy of Rudy’s)

also available for a family dinner, office lunch or game day party. Catering is offered for groups of 100 or more. “We have really enjoyed sharing our

southern hospitality and oak smoked Bar-B-Q to the folks of Arizona”, said Area Director Andy Jenne, “And we hope to keep expanding into other

Serving Chandler, Gilbert & Goodyear

areas over the next few year.” The store also sells Rudy’s signature “Sause” and Rub. Information: Rudys.com.

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BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Chandler relaunches business assistance program ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

Chandler is relaunching its program to help small businesses retain workers. Only $4 million of the $9.5 million that City Council allocated to the “I Choose Chandler Business Hiring and Retention Program” was spent, so the city wants to help other businesses keep workers on the payroll. The program was created last summer from the city’s approximate $30 million in federal pandemic relief funds. Mayor Kevin Hartke said the money spent last year helped 540 businesses and that he was “glad to see this

successful program continue to support our local businesses through the pandemic to ensure a brighter 2021 for all.” Businesses can apply based on employee retention/hiring or use of 1099-eligible independent contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline to apply is Feb. 25. For employee retention/hiring, the program provides $1,300 per full-time equivalent employee retained or hired since Sept. 30 up to a maximum of $10,000. This part of the program is being administered by the Arizona Community Foundation and businesses must apply at azfoundation.org/icc.

Businesses applying based on use of independent contractors must apply at chandleraz.gov/icc because the city is administering this part of the program. Qualifying applicants will receive $1,300 for every $40,000 in compensation paid to 1099-eligible independent contractors last year up to a maximum of $10,000. Qualifying businesses can apply for funding support for both employee retention/hiring and use of independent contractors. However, the maximum amount of funding a business can receive is capped at $10,000. In addition, businesses that were

funded through the program in 2020 can submit a new application and receive up to the $10,000 maximum. To qualify, businesses must be a Chandler-based for-profit entity, employ no more than 100 employees, submit required documents, have no affiliation with another business under common ownership/management that has applied for the program. Home-based businesses are not eligible and applicants must own or lease non-residential property and commit to staying in Chandler through Dec. 31. Awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Area travel agent sees post-pandemic opportunity BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

COVID-19 has decimated the travel industry both here and abroad. The U.S. Travel Association said travel in the U.S. alone lost more than $10 billion last year while the World Tourism Organization recently estimated that international travel took a staggering hit of $935 billion. So with travel having plummeted by more than 75 percent across the globe, you might wonder why JoAnne Michaud in November purchased a Dream Vacations franchise to start a full-service travel agency out of her home. “I’ve had a lot of people say ‘why do you want to do travel?’” said Michaud, who left the corporate world of healthcare operations to set off on her own in an industry ravaged by a virus that is still wreaking havoc on most countries and many industry sectors, particularly travel and entertainment. But Michaud thinks this is an ideal time to start her travel agency – and not just because she has started a business in something she is passionate about. “I really think that people are really wanting to travel,” she explained. “Just about anyone I know is saying ‘I can’t wait back to get back to traveling.’ People are tired of being homebound.” And between the arrival of vaccines and the adoption of numerous safety protocols by every facet of the travel industry – from resorts and hotels to airlines and cruise ships – Michaud foresees a pent-up demand exploding by summer or fall. “I think people now will start planning their vacations for summer and I really do think that we’re going to see probably a fairly significant increase in travel, I’m estimating, by late spring early summer.” “Whether people believe in vaccines or not, I think making travel safe is happening on multiple fronts – the protocols being put in place by airlines and resorts and cruise ships to the vaccines being available. I think there’s a lot of pent-up demand,” Michaud explained. And she said she’s “not waiting until that demand just hits the front lines” and instead is “getting everything set up” to meet that travel tsunami she foresees later this year. “I’m doing a series of classes to become a specialist in different resorts, in different cruise lines and the classes are

Left: JoAnne Michaud is preparing to meet what she believes will be a pent-up demand for travel later this year. She is now the owner of a Dream Vacations franchise. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer) Right: JoAnne Michaud lists her hike up Peru’s Inca Trail to the famed Machu Picchu citadel as one of many memorable trips she’s taken in her lifetime. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

pretty lengthy for each group. Doing all of that now, I think, will position me to be really ready to address the demand.” “This is a perfect time to be setting up the business,” she said, explaining those classes have consumed at least 150 hours of studying a seemingly endless array of subjects and resources to make sure her clients get the best prices and best experiences for their money. Her research has been eye-opening – made even more astonishing by the fact that she’s no rookie when it comes to traveling. “Travel has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember and I’ve been very blessed over the years to have seen so much of this wonderful world,” she said. Ask Michaud about her own most memorable trips and she ticks off a list that includes “exploring islands throughout French Polynesia, hiking the Inca Trail in Peru, learning about history in different parts of Europe, traveling through Australia, taking a cruise from Hawaii to China and exploring South Pacific islands and Japan along the way, walking on the Great Wall of China and seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian.” She even owns a home in Panama, which she visits several times a year and about which she waxes enthusiastically for its climate, people and low cost of living. Her preparation involves a lot more than knowing the major tourist attractions – “everything from working with different vendors and working with dif-

ferent systems, how to do the research to get the value for the client,” she said. “And it’s learning a lot about the suppliers. It touches everything from the business aspect through how to book a client through whether it’s a cruise, whether it’s a resort, whether it’s just putting together a customized trip.” It’s all part of what she feels she needs to accomplish her mission with a client: “My goal is to share my passion for travel with customers and provide them with exceptional value, customized service, and an overall excellent experience.” While people can browse her website, jmichaud.dreamvacations.com – complete with a live search engine and booking capabilities – they also can work with her for personalized guidance. “I walk clients step-by-step through the entire booking and planning process, from selecting destinations and excursions based on clients’ interests to enhancing special occasions,” she said, noting she is now part of the World Travel Holdings family of brands, one of the top travel retail networks in the world that she says offers “incredible buying power with every major cruise line and many tour operators, resulting in exceptional value and exclusive offers.” Michaud also stressed that she’s just not a booking expert who can find better deals faster than people likely will experience if they try to map out their own trip through popular travel search engines. “Working through a travel advisor,

they become your liaison and it makes it a lot easier for customers,” Michaud said. “Data also show that from a time perspective, a travel agent can on average save 15 to 20 hours of planning” and an average $400 on a trip through a combination of cheaper prices and perks that an agent’s vendors tack on. Besides that, should a client encounter a problem, Michaud is at their beck and call to resolve it, whether it’s a canceled flight, a reservation mix-up or some other snafu that could ruin a trip for someone who’s going it alone. Beyond that, Michaud said she’s prepared to customize trips to meet any age group, any group size, marital status or special occasion like an anniversary or honeymoon. Indeed, ask her what happens if someone comes to her and doesn’t know where they want to go, Michaud has a list of questions to help develop some suggestions they might not have even thought about on their own. Michaud has had so many memorable trips that she had trouble singling out one place she liked above all others. But she had no problem replying when asked the trip she wants to take above all others. “I absolutely want to go to Africa and I’ve always wanted to do a big game safari and see the big animals in the wild,” she said. “That’s always been something that’s fascinated me.” Information: jmichaud.dreamvacations.com, 919-452-0227.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

AIA board reverses course, allows winter sports BY ZACH ALVIRA

Sports Editor

Just days after the Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board voted to cancel the winter sports season amid the surge in COVID-19, the board reversed its decisions Jan. 12. The 5-4 re-vote in favor of winter sports beginning on Jan. 18 followed an identical margin to cancel them. Jim Love, who represents the Flowing Wells Unified Arizona School Boards Association, changed his vote and joined proponents of the Jan. 18 start date. Love said his change of heart was largely due to his desire to give schools the choice whether to have sports on campus. “This has been a very difficult decision for the Executive Board,” AIA Executive Director David Hines said in a press release. “They have been weighing the concerns of the medical community, including the AIA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, and the requests by our member schools. We all want winter sports to happen, but it must be done safely.” The AIA board’s initial decision to cancel winter sports was met with backlash from players, parents and

As the AIA Executive Board met to vote again on winter sports Tuesday, a crowd gathered outside its offices to protest the initial ruling Friday, Jan. 8 to cancel the season. (Pablo Robles/Staff)

coaches across the state. A small protest of athletes formed outside AIA offices shortly after the initial Jan. 8 announcement to cancel

winter sports. A group of athletes and parents returned Jan. 12. A petition calling for a re-vote was created by a North Canyon student and

shared across several social media platforms. The petition was signed by over See

AIA on page 36

Chandler athletes take in Ed Doherty experience BY ZACH ALVIRA

Sports Editor

The 2020 football season faced an adversity unlike any other as teams were forced to navigate through rigorous mitigation protocols as the coronavirus pandemic raged on in the state. Players were quarantined. Games were canceled and at times, seasons came to an unfortunate end. But champions were crowned and on Saturday, Jan. 9 at Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, the 2020 Ed Doherty Award winner was named. Mesquite quarterback Ty Thompson, who led the Wildcats to two straight state championships to end his high school career, received was named the recipient this year after throwing for 3,431 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2020. The Oregon-bound five-star quarterback was among the 53 total players nominated for the award, and one of five finalists. “It means the world to me, it’s a huge blessing, a huge honor,” Thompson said. “It’s a testament to everything my coaches and teammates have put in and the hard work they’ve done supporting me. I’m just really thankful.” Several other East Valley and Scottsdale athletes were among those in attendance for the ceremony. Each nominee wore a medallion around his neck, given out by the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club throughout the course of the season.

Eli Sanders

Demond Williams Jr

Cole Martin

While only one winner can be named, every athlete in attendance felt a sense of accomplishment just for being recognized during a difficult season. “It’s a blessing just to be here,” Chandler senior running back Eli Sanders said. “Just everything we’ve been through, not knowing if we were going to have a season. We all just kept working and pushing through those hard days. We all came together as one unit, all of Arizona football, and it feels amazing to be at this point.” Sanders was among the other four

finalists for the award. His teammate, Chandler quarterback Mikey Keene, was also a finalist but was an early enrollee at the University of Central Florida and was unable to attend. The 6-foot, 190-pound running back made the most of his first and only season as the lead-back for the state champion Wolves after transferring before his junior season. He rushed for 1,377 yards and 23 touchdowns, helping Chandler capture its fifth straight championship and second Open Division title.

His recruitment recently picked up as a result of his breakout senior season, with recent offers from Iowa, Iowa State and Hawaii. “Going through recruiting, it’s stressful but fun,” Sanders said. “I’m just blessed to be in this position. I’ll be able to make the best decision for myself soon.” Hamilton defensive back Cole Martin, a sophomore, was also among those nominated for the Ed Doherty Award. Martin has long established himself See

DOHERTY on page 36

SPORTS & RECREATION

AIA

from page 35

30,000 people in just a few hours. Additionally, administrators and coaches immediately began brainstorming basketball, soccer and wrestling leagues independent of the Arizona Interscholastic Association. Several schools said they would explore options to give athletes an opportunity to compete at some capacity. “I don’t think the AIA had a winwin situation, but I do think for the students and the coaches who put in all the work, it’s awesome,” Chandler girls’ basketball coach Glenda Skalitzky said. “I do believe if schools don’t want to participate, they should have that option. If we are following protocols, it should be safe. It doesn’t mean we are immune to it, but I think we can make it safe. I think it was a great decision.” In approving the winter sports season, new recommendations were also adopted. The board voted unanimously to allow two parents or guardians per player to attend. Each school will be required to complete the AIA COVID-19 Athlete and Coach Monitoring Form on the day of athletic events. Those forms must be exchanged with opposing teams and will be monitored by officials. If the forms are not exchanged, officials will be pulled from the contest. Additionally, masks must be worn at all times by coaches, officials and athletes, even those actively participating. Hines said any school that violates the guidelines will lose access to officials. Skalitzky said the mask requirement is concerning, especially for athletes with asthma. “My biggest concern, to be honest, I have a lot of asthmatics,” Skalitzky said. “We’ve been practicing partially with masks in leu of possibly having to play with them. Half my kids do wear them on sprints, but my question is how strict will officials be? What if it falls below the nose? If they are having trouble

DOHERTY

from page 35

as one of the top defensive backs in the state and country, regardless of class. He was named a varsity starter as a freshman and has become a lockdown corner with exceptional return abilities on special teams. His skill has helped him earn double-digit offers from Power 5 schools in just his first two seasons at the varsity level. Now, he can add Ed Doherty nominee to his already long list of accomplishments. “It’s crazy. I was just talking to Bijan (Robinson) and seeing guys like Demond (Williams Jr.), Eli Sanders, Bram (Walden), it’s an honor and humbling,” Martin

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Chandler girls’ basketball coach Glenda Skalitzky said she was please for both her and the boys’ team to have a season after the AIA Executive Board voted Tuesday to move forward with winter sports. (Courtesy Chandler Basketball)

breathing, can they pull it away to catch their breath? “I have one girl who, if she runs a bunch of sprints, you can hear her from across the gym trying to catch her breath. It’s just having to manage that now but in light of everything, as a coach, I can do.” The AIA Executive Board emphasized throughout Tuesday’s zoom meeting the need for schools, players, coaches and parents to abide by the new guidelines to ensure the safest possible envi-

ronment for winter sports to continue. Overall, they acknowledged the possible risk to the already strained healthcare system across Arizona due to COVID-19 and emphasized it will take action from all of those involved to make the season a success. “This has been a very challenging situation. While we all desire to have our high school students in school and participate in interscholastic sports and activities, we feel it is imperative to consider the recommendations of

medical professionals based on their expertise,” the board said in a joint statement. “Reinstating the winter season poses a risk to the healthcare system, which could impact students who may be injured. We believe that these additional modifications will serve to mitigate this risk as much as possible. Our member schools and families must understand how critical it is to adhere completely to all modifications.”

said. “It’s a crazy experience and I feel blessed to be part of it.” Martin was key in Hamilton’s run to the Open Division semifinals in 2019 and the state championship this past season, where the Huskies lost to rival Chandler after a missed game-winning field goal. Junior quarterback Nicco Marchiol also played a key role and was nominated for the Ed Doherty Award. Holding up the Ed Doherty Award before he leaves high school is one of several goals Martin said he has for himself. Most importantly, he wants to continue to help bring Hamilton back to its standard of being a powerhouse in the state and country. “I try to push myself to be the best version of myself I can be,” Martin said.

“That’s going to keep going as I get older. I’m going to keep working behind the scenes and keep working toward being a leader for my teammates.” Attending the Ed Doherty Award ceremony was a surreal moment for Basha freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. He became the first-ever freshman quarterback to be nominated for the award after leading the Bears to a win six straight at the end of the regular season and finish with a 6-3 overall record. “This is a really good experience,” Williams said. “To be the first-ever freshman quarterback to do it, it feels good.” Game-by-game, Williams was able to adjust to the speed at the varsity level. At times, he was able to show off his dual-threat ability. His skill set

complimented the talent level of other Basha offensive players, including senior running back Caleb Jones, who was also a nominee for the Ed Doherty Award. In his first varsity season, he threw for 1,814 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns. Like Martin, Williams aims to hold up the trophy in the future, perhaps more than once. For now, he remains focused on helping build the Basha program into a state title contender, which may happen sooner rather than later. “I want to bring Basha its first state championship,” Williams said. “Whether it’s in the Open or 6A, I just want to win it. Hopefully, I can bring home one of these trophies, too.”

Have an interesting sports story? Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

2 Chandler students on $1M-winning ASU project team BY HERMINIA RINCON Guest Writer

Two Chandler residents were on a five-member team at Arizona State University that recently won the million-dollar XPRIZE Next-Gen Mask Challenge to redesign the face masks used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by making them more comfortable, functional and affordable. The contest drew nearly 1,000 entries from young innovators in more than 70 countries around the world. Katie Pascavius and Tarun Suresh, both of Chandler, were on the team. “It hasn’t been about money or even recognition for this team,” said team leader Nikhil Dave of Ahwatukee. “It’s been about doing what we can to impact our communities and to solve pressing challenges as they arise.” The contest invited young adults ages 15 to 24 from around the world to shift the cultural perspective around mask-wearing behavior by developing the next generation of surgical-grade consumer masks.

leave hot air on the face is not an easy task for sure,” Dave said. “But I think the other thing is to ensure that whatever we’re creating also has to be breathable, but also maintain the filtration efficiency needed to be an effective mask and preventing any sort of contagious pathogen.” The mask was also designed to lift up easily for eating and drinking. See it in action in the team’s Members of the ASU team that won $1 million are, clockwise from top left: Katie Pascavis of Chansubmission video. dler, an undergraduate mechanical engineering student; John Patterson of Tempe, a graduate electrical XPRIZE is a nonprofit engineering student; Jerina Gabriel of Kingman, an undergraduate graphic design student; Tarun Suresh organization that uses of Chandler, a graduate industrial engineering student; and team leader Nikhil Dave of Ahwatuklee, an global competitions to undergraduate double-majoring in neuroscience and innovation in society. (Courtesy of Luminosity Lab) crowdsource solutions to some of the world’s face stays cooler, the air you breathe is The biggest problem the ASU team biggest challenges. The fresher, and the flow of air stays away cracked was masks fogging up eyeglasscontest is sponsored by Marc Benioff, from glasses where it would otherwise es. CEO and co-founder of Salesforce, and cause fogging. Their Floemask features a bifurcated Jim Cramer, the host of “Mad Money” “We went through several design itchamber design in which air exhaled on CNBC. erations, trying to create something that from the nose is kept in a separate chamber from the face and mouth. Your doesn’t fog your glasses but doesn’t See on page 39

ASU

East Valley man suits up in Clemson flick BY ZACH ALVIRA Staff Writer

Alex A.J. Gardner sought a new path when he graduated from Gilbert High School in 2017. With an outgoing personality, he decided to try his hand at acting. He had never done it before but soon after found himself chasing a role in the movie, “Safety,” which released Friday, Dec. 11 on Disney Plus. The movie depicts the true story a former Clemson football player. Gardner played the role of one of the Clemson football players, appearing in practice and game scenes. It was special to him for a variety of reasons. But most importantly, it allowed the South Carolina native to fulfill a childhood dream. “Growing up in South Carolina, you’re either a (Clemson) Tiger or a (South Carolina) Gamecock,” Gardner said. “Putting on the jersey, it kind of left me speechless. I don’t think I was able to really grasp how big of a moment it was.” Gardner traveled to Clemson, South Carolina for the movie role. He spent several weeks there filming the various practice and game scenes. He was outfitted with official Clemson gear — from the helmet to the jersey, pants and even cleats Tiger players wear on game days. One scene was filmed during halftime of one of Clemson’s games in 2019. Gardner and the rest of the cast of players even replicated part of the team’s entrance. When Clemson enters Memorial Stadium for home games, it often brings chills to spectators both in person and

the movie.” Gardner and his family moved from South Carolina to Gilbert in 2015. He attended Gilbert High School where he played football and soccer for the Tigers. After a season of soccer, he decided to stick to football only. But his career was quickly shortened after an injury that led to his hamstring muscle separating from the bone. He remained with the team despite his inability to play and began thinking about his next step after high school. He was never involved in the school’s drama department or had interest in acting until after high school, but when he saw the role of being a Clemson football player, he knew it was one he had to go for. “I wanted to do something new and get out of my comfort zone,” Gardner said. Gilbert High School alum Alex A.J. Gardner, a South Carolina native, fulfilled his dream of putting “I didn’t really have an interest on a Clemson uniform during his role in the Disney movie, “Safety,” which was released on Disney until this movie came about Plus. (Courtesy Alex A.J. Gardner) and it was about Clemson. I thought I would try it and I leading to the field surrounded by fans. watching on national TV. In 2013, when just ended up loving it.” Brent Musberger, part of the national eighth-ranked Clemson hosted fifthGardner was called several weeks broadcast for ESPN that game, called it ranked Georgia in prime time, the ESPN later for casting, and soon after that was cameras captured every moment of one the “most exciting 25 seconds in college on a plane back home to South Carofootball.” of college football’s greatest traditions. lina to film. The scenes he is in took a Gardner agrees, stating “It felt like The players were bussed from one couple of weeks to film. The movie as a the real thing. Running down the hill was whole took a few months. end of the stadium up the hill to the a dream. We did it in front of all the fans other. One by one players filed out and “Safety” depicts the true-life events at half time, so it was pretty cool. We entered the gates of the stadium to of former Clemson player Ray-Ray touch Howard’s Rock — Clemson’s good did a couple of football scenes like a on page 39 See luck charm. Then, they storm down a hill kickoff. All of the fans got to be part of

CLEMSON

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

ASU

from page 38

The Sun Devils won $500,000 of the purse; two additional teams will split the remainder. They will be connected to rapid manufacturing opportunities in the U.S. to accelerate production of their new mask designs. The ASU team has CAD files and fabric templates ready for mass-scale creation. The team comes from ASU’s Luminosity Lab, an interdisciplinary research and development lab driven by a hand-selected team of high-performing students. “I am incredibly proud of our students,” said the lab’s executive director, Mark Naufel. “These remarkable students competed against thousands of other teams internationally, knowing that they could contribute novel ideas for a unique mask, designed to resolve issues that they had personally experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Four years ago, Luminosity was created with an aspiration to impact society and a belief that our students are capable of achieving anything. By enabling our students with the agency to lead their own research and development efforts, they have continued to demonstrate their ability to innovate through the development of this prize-winning, next-generation mask that has the potential to impact countless lives. “It is an honor to work with the students of ASU’s Luminosity lab, and I

NEIGHBORS

have no doubt that these students will go on to be the leaders and innovators of this generation.” Dave credited ASU’s approach to innovation for their success. “If it wasn’t for ASU, frankly, we wouldn’t think the way that we do,” he said. “And I don’t think we would even be in a situation where we could apply for something like this. And so we’re grateful to ASU as well, and we’re happy to show off the fact that we are No. 1 in innovation.” Dave is a student regent on the Arizona Board of Regents and an undergraduate earning a double major in neuroscience and innovation in society. Katie is an undergraduate mechanical engineering student and Tarun is a graduate industrial engineering student. The Luminosity Lab team also includes John Patterson of Tempe, a graduate electrical engineering student, and Jerina Gabriel of Kingman, an undergraduate graphic design student. Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

Gardner played the role of a football player at Clemson and wore the No. 7 jersey in practice and game scenes, one of which was filmed at halftime of a Tigers’ game at Clemson Memorial Stadium in South Carolina. (Courtesy Alex A.J. Gardner)

CLEMSON

from page 38

McElrathbey, who came to Clemson on a football scholarship in 2006. While there as a freshman, he received a call from his younger brother, Fahmarr, who was in a difficult situation due to their mother relapsing and father not at home. McElrathbey took Fahmarr in and had him stay with him at Clemson, ultimately putting his scholarship on the line. He was forced to move to off-campus housing but received support from the Clemson community. The movie is on Disney Plus.

“I still haven’t really grasped the fact that I’m in a movie about Clemson,” Gardner said. “I think when I watch it, it’ll really hit. Who would’ve thought I would start my acting career in a Clemson movie? It’s kind of surreal.” Gardner said he has a few potential roles in upcoming productions lined up but doesn’t know when or if they will be finalized. For now, he plans to enjoy his first movie and see where his career leads him in the future. “The pandemic has made it hard, but I have a few things lined up,” he said. “But I’m not really trying to force it. If opportunities come to me then they come.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Chandler man authors book on his escape from diabetes think diabetes can be treated with both nutrition and medical advice. “I wrote the book for people to know my story and the information that was not given to my brother, or me. When I asked the VA about this,

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler resident Larry Kuhlman wants people with diabetes to have hope. So, he has written a book, titled “Lose Weight and Get Rid of Your Type 2 Diabetes, like I Did.” The title may be a mouthful but it pretty much sums up his own experience. “The VA has been treating me for diabetes for about 17 years,” Kuhlman said. “They have been treating me about the same way as my two brothers who both died from complication of diabetes, and I wanted to do something different.” Kuhlman, 73, was a high school teacher, mostly in government and social studies, in Page for 27 years before he moved to Chandler, where he taught for another 13 years. Diagnosed in 2002 with Type 2 diabetes, he writes about his struggle with the disease and his frustrations with doctors who described different drugs that only added weight and some who advised that only exercise would help him. In both instances, he said, neither drugs alone nor exercise alone did anything to reduce his blood sugar level. Stressing throughout the book that readers should consult their physician, Kuhlman discusses in length how he discovered the Keto Diet after reading Dr. Jason Fung’s book, “The Diabetic Code” and discovering a website called dietdoctor.com. That and some recommendations

and lifestyle. “I do not use the word ‘cure’ but say that my diabetes is in remission, as probably if I went back to my old way of eating, the diabetes would probably return,” he said.

“

I wrote the book for people to know my story and the information that was not given to my brother, or me. When I asked the VA about this, they said it is hard for people to follow this way of eating and that I should have asked for a low carbohydrate nutritionist. How was I supposed to know this ahead of time?

”

Larry Kuhlman

– Larry Kuhlman

through acquaintances led him to still more doctors. Three months after following the advice he gleaned, his condition improved to the point where his blood sugar improved and he now has his diabetes under control – as long as he watches what he eats. While diabetes is what he calls “the crown jewel of his book,” Kuhlman also provides information on nutritional approaches to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and obesity. “The only reason I wrote the book is to let people know they have a choice in the treatment of diabetes,” he said. “There are a lot of medical people that

they said it is hard for people to follow this way of eating and that I should have asked for a low carbohydrate nutritionist. How was I supposed to know this ahead of time?” He believes many physicians “do not share this information with their patients. This book is a starting point with information on how to get started and what resources are available to them. Most of the diabetes books out do not mention the nutritional way of helping with one’s diabetes.” Kuhlman packs his book with a range of sources, reminding readers that it is only a starting point to a healthier life

He said reaction to the book “has been pretty favorable.” “The people who read it say it was a good read, the information is very valuable for them and they are willing to share it with friends and family members,” he said. “I want you to know that in Canada, England, South Africa, Australia and other parts of the world, people are claiming to halt and even cure their diabetes by eating the keto way,” he writes, adding his book “is a guide to get you started in the right direction.” The book is available at Amazon. com for $9.99.

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For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler film fest expects growth amid pandemic BY KEVIN REAGAN

Staff Writer

The pandemic has not been kind to the film industry this past year, yet Chandler International Film Festival organizers are refusing to let the health crisis prevent its attendees from celebrating the art of cinema. Starting Jan. 21, the four-day festival returns to Chandler’s theaters for the fifth consecutive year and will offer a slate of diverse films for local moviegoers to enjoy – albeit with a few changes. Pandemic guidelines will require theater capacity to be reduced to 30 percent and attendees will be expected to wear masks and socially distance. In response to the lack of theater space, the festival has expanded its services by allowing patrons to watch the festival’s 120 films in one of three locations: a theater, from home or from their car. Some films will be available to temporarily stream online and a couple movies will be screened in the parking lot of Chandler High School, where up to 100 cars can be in attendance. “It will be disconnected, yet connected,” said Dave Waltzer, the festival’s treasurer and board member. While audiences won’t be together under one roof, Waltzer said festival organizers are anticipating a boost in participation due to the added viewing options. “It’s different this year,” he noted. “It’s odd a little bit, but we’re actually getting more of the community involved in the festival.” Some local high school students will be showcasing their short films this year and participating in a symposium with professionals from the film industry. ICAN and AZCEND, two local nonprofits serving students and

Among the Chandler Film Festival offerings is a thriller about nine people struggling with a pandemic. (Special SanTan Sun News)

low-income families, will be receiving a portion of the profits from the festival’s ticket sales. It was not immediately obvious whether the festival would return this year since most entertainment venues have mostly sat empty for the last 10 months. While some theaters have reopened during the pandemic, Hollywood has not been releasing an abundant supply of films and studios have shifted toward

relying more on streaming platforms. Box office receipts have nationally been on the decline and 2020 was the first year in more than a decade that didn’t have a film gross more than $1 billion. Chandler’s organizers had discussed cancelling this year’s festival or going completely online, Waltzer said, but they felt confident their event could be staged safely and responsibly. The red carpet and afterparty events during the festival will be scaled down, he added, and audience numbers will be regularly monitored to ensure compliance. Waltzer said it was important to prove organizers could still put on the festival amid the current circumstances and changes made this year may become a permanent fixture for

future festivals. “It’s always good to think outside of the box,” he added “I think going forward, we may extend that virtual option due to the response it’s getting. It may make sense to continue that.” Chandler’s lineup of films include a wide variety of documentaries, thrillers, dramas, and familiar favorites. The movies are made by filmmakers from more than 30 countries and some

were shot locally around Arizona. Mitesh Patel, the festival’s president, said he wanted this year’s lineup to be stronger than in previous years and he hopes they will have a broader reach with local audiences. “Our goal is to showcase diversity, innovation, and uniqueness through the works of filmmakers from across the world in a local setting,” said Patel. “Our drive-in events and online options this year give us the ability to reach more people.” “The Unhealer,” a sci-fi film shot in Apache Junction, will be one of the festival’s first features screened on Jan. 21 at Harkins Theater and some of the film’s actors plan to be in attendance. “Danni and the Vampire,” scheduled to be screened Jan. 23, is a comedic take on old horror tropes about a madcap drifter and her undead friend. Other films are a timely reflection of the turmoil experienced collectively this past year and delve into subjects recognizable to most audiences. On Jan. 24, the festival will screen “House of Quarantine,” a thriller about nine people struggling to cope with the pandemic and fear getting sick after one of them contracts the coronavirus. A deadly contagion has ravaged the world in “The Cove,” a survival tale about two characters seeking sanctuary amidst a pandemic, and will be screened Jan. 22 at Harkins. “COVID-19 vs. Arizona” is a documentary that will be screened Jan. 24 and features stories from local leaders on how they have navigated the pandemic. The subject of climate change is examined in “Kiss the Ground,” a documentary screening Jan. 23 that reveals how the world’s ecosystems can be salvaged after decades of damage. More information on the festival can be found at chandlerfilmfestival.com.

Art helps annual Unity Walk get around pandemic BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Contributor

In keeping with the pandemic’s restrictions, this year’s Regional Unity Walk has been revamped. Instead of gathering at Temple Beach Park on a day in January to promote mutual respect and understanding of diverse groups, residents are directed to a showcasing of cultural arts, a Visual Journey of Diversity, Culture and Equity, in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale and Guadalupe. “This year we definitely knew that most likely we won’t be able to be together, so we wanted to be able to plan something that would be really just as meaningful and symbolic of a regional effort,” said Andrea Alicoate, diversity administrator for City of Mesa. “More importantly, this is even more

Artist Ariana Enriquez painted a mural titled “Hum of the Desert” on the exterior wall of the Crowne Plaza Phoenix Chandler Golf Resort at the San Marcos Resort in Chandler. (Courtesy of Regional Unity Walk)

of an important time to celebrate the culture and equity among the different communities.” The cities have also worked to create an arts map to highlight sculptures, murals and other art spots that are easily accessible outdoors. In addition, each city chose to highlight things that are special to their own communities, Alicoate said. For example, Mesa has organized an art exhibition at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and the Tempe Instagrammys photo competition, which will unveil winners on Jan. 28, created a category for photos that represent unity in the city. With the arts, the idea is to encourage people to do a visual – either driving, biking or walking – tour through the difSee

KING on page 42

ARTS

KING

from page 41

ferent cities, cross city boundaries and give attention to some of the cultural art or artists in each of the cities, said Niki Tapia, community resources and diversity supervisor for the City of Chandler. “A lot of people are stuck at home. So, this is a way they can go for a drive with their family, go take some selfies, have some fun,” Tapia said. “Also, we’re trying to support businesses, restaurants run by people of color and we’re wanting to encourage people to go get some takeout and have a picnic. “It’s a way for people to get out of their house for a while and have an experience. People are really needing that right now, something safe, something that is not too complicated, something educational and fun,” she added. The Unity Walk began 18 years ago as a way for these cities to come together to celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday falling on the third Monday of January. Participants from the cities wore a different colored shirt and met in separate spots, and then walked a mile throughout the Tempe Bridge and ended the walk at Tempe Beach Park. The intermingling would result in a combining of the various splashes of color. “It was a really beautiful, symbolic visual of all of us coming together,” Tapia said. “Obviously, in the time of COVID, we cannot and wouldn’t want to have

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

in society during his time. It also shows how the artists convey that message and what they have observed. Curator Tiffany Fairall said that it’s a commentary on how, though we may seem dissimilar on the surface, we have commonalities and similar struggles. “They are really topics that are discussed in mainstream nowadays. You are talking about people who are marginalized in society’s mainstreams and trying to have a conversation about being seen,” she said. The museum has two other shows in its gallery spaces that also fall within the topic of unity. Ann Morton responds to the Hugo Medina painted mural “Friends Helping Friends” in the Department of Employment Sercurrent societal ills such as homevices Building at 120 W. 1st Ave., Mesa. (Courtesy of Regional Unity Walk) lessness and the border issue with “History Repeats” using “But we felt that this was a different so many people together.” fiber work, mixed media and community and more deeper connection by being Also, rather than select just one day, engagement programming. able to have some more thought-prothe organizers stretched the celebraMeanwhile, Harold Lohner hosts voking education into viewing an expetion over a few weeks, until Jan. 31, to “Forbidden Colors” and takes on male rience in art,” Alicoate said. enable more time to enjoy the art in identity and male love, and the beauty The Mesa Contemporary Arts Musevarious cities. of the male body with bright colored, um has done just that. It invited a guest “We’re hoping to stretch them to striking monoprints. cross their boundary lines if they’re not curator, Clottee Hammons of EmanFor a full state of events, visit mecipation Arts, who organized a special used to but also more importantly the saaz.gov/government/diversity-office/ pop-up titled “Human Contrasts” connection comes with knowing that regional-unity-artwalk. folks are enjoying the same piece of art through Jan. 31. For an interactive map of the Hammons used the “I Have a Dream” that you are,” Alicoate said. Regional Unity Art Walk, visit storyspeech as her launching point and to The cities concede it’s difficult to maps.arcgis.com/stories/06a7d7600bhave a conversation about Dr. King’s make a connection when people are 1747f7a80d7bc248d7c89c vision and the things that he witnessed not physically at the same location.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

Ex-cop collars laughter at his local club BY CECILIA CHAN

Managing Editor

At the Village of Alsip Police Department in Illinois, Jim Perry served in a number of roles: law enforcement trainer, DARE officer, media relations officer, crime prevention officer and hostage negotiator. Nowadays, the Gilbert resident serves up a belly full of laughter with JP’s Comedy Club, which he opened in September on Warner Road. “I had about 10 years on and unfortunately I got hurt,” the former cop said. “I messed up my shoulder very bad and it ended my career.” Perry, who was the top graduate in his class at the police academy, was injured after he volunteered to be tased during a training exercise. That set him on his new career path. “I’ve always been a big fan of comedy all my life,” Perry said. “I was the guy who would listen to George Carlin and Richard Pryor in the basement of the house.” He’s had people throughout in his life tell him he should do comedy, especially his mother because of his smart-aleck comments. Perry, who was a bit of a jokester in school and would pull pranks on his fellow officers, said transitioning to his stand-up gig was easy. The 2004 Officer of the Year had also performed countless fundraising

Perry tries to perform twice a week, them in a disparaging way – cops like opening up for the main act. The former doughnuts,” Perry said. “Nothing bad.” Desert Storm veteran said the shows at One of his stand-up cop jokes goes the club are for 21 and older with “clean” like this: comedy offered once or twice a month. “Some have asked why I wanted to The club follows health protocols become a police officer. The truth is such as masks, limiting the 100-seat discounted food. Yeah, you show your capacity to half and social distancing. badge and ID at a Chipotle, 50 percent off. You show your gun, 100 percent off.” Ticket prices start at $15. So far, people are giving the venue a Taking his show on the road was hard thumbs up with one man on social mework and his wife wanted him to stay dia writing, “Recently attended a show local. So, when the opportunity presented itself, he opened up the comedy here. I had a great time and got to see some very funny comics.” club, the first in Gilbert. With the COVID-19 pandemic still The club showcases local comedic talent and national touring entertainers. raging in the country since early this year and many businesses hit hard in The club also includes a school for the wallet, Perry, nonetheless, went and those who want to learn how to make Gilbert resident Jim Perry had to leave his people laugh. The teacher is well-known opened his business. job on an Illinois police force for medical Perry said he’s always gone against comic Tony Vicich, owner of comedyreasons and so he became a comic and the grain. schools.com. the owner of Gilbert’s only comedy club. “I believe in doing the opposite of what Year-round classes include stand up, (Special to SanTan Sun News) the masses are doing,” he said. “In ’08 sketch, improv, writing labs, comedy when the housing market was crashing, my workshops and camps for kids. shows when off-duty for groups like CLIPPER MARTHAlist NEESE S Area:a 02763-01-21 wifeHANSON and I bought bunch of Chandler-West/Gilbert houses as an “It’sMAGAZINE on a lot of people’s bucket to FOR VON Mail Week: 02/01/2021 Proof Release SPIRIT American Legion, The 100 Club and investment and when things went back to take comedy classes and doMEATS stand up,” Account #: CL112232 Approve By: 01/15/21 cancer organizations. Ad #: CL-4803270.INDD normal we flipped those houses. said Perry, who grew up in Chicago and your Account Service Coordinator: Martha “I was the DARE officer and the PR Contact “I had the same mindset when COVID entered the Navy right out of highNeeds school. Team 4 phone: 480-917-2525 guy, always the talker,” he said. “And I Team: 4JMondays, Tuesdays and email: happened with businesses shutting Wednesdays Marthaneese@aol.com phone: 717-509-9497 fax: 480-917-2995 was the hostage negotiator guy who down. I got a good lease and good rent. are4J@cmag.com reserved for classes while Thursemail: fax: days, 717-358-2615 made things lighter.” “When I see things as bad I look at Fridays and Saturdays are for the Sales Rep: Gary Millslagle He now taps into his police backit as an opportunity. I think it will end stand-up shows. ground for his routines, poking willYOUR get better. This is like a Sundays are for private APPROVE YOUR AD OR reserved SUBMIT CHANGES BY CLICKING THE APPROPRIATE and BUTTONthings ABOVE OR SIGN PROOF & FAX TO THE NUMBER ABOVE. light-hearted fun at his former brothers in events❑where Ad is approved is approved with changes dream for me, approved makeproject. changes indicated ❑ Ad ❑ Ad isanotpassion It’s fun an entertainer can book blue and is known as “The Cop Comic.” and may turn into something and may the space for a fee and keep 100 per“It’s silly stuff, not like making fun of pay the rent.” cent of the door and ticket revenues.

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ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

East Valley writer seeks teens who lost a parent SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Time may heal some wounds but Michelle Shreeve knows their pain never fully goes away. She still remembers her mother’s death in December 1993 – when Shreeve was only 9. The Gilbert writer – who wrote columns for teens for several years in AFN while she lived in Ahwatukee – has channeled her lingering loss into helping children whose lives have been torn apart by the loss of a parent or other beloved adult. Several years ago, she published “Parental Death: The Ultimate Teen Guide.” It is based on her interviews with 90 people ranging in age from pre-teen to the mid-80s and is part of the “It Happened to Me Ultimate Teen Guide” series published by Rowman & Littlefield and available at Barnes & Noble bookstores and hardback and digital forms on a variety of book-sale websites. Now, Shreeves has embarked on a follow-up to that project. She is working on a book tentatively titled “Coping with Parental Death: Insights and Tips for Teenagers,” which will be a part of publishers Rowman & Littlefield “Empowering You” series. The series is aimed at helping young adults deal with important issues that they or their friends might be facing, such as coming out, having a loved one with dementia, cyberbullying, depression, grief, volunteering and other topics. Each book features stories from

Former AFN columnist Michelle Shreeve is looking for teens who lost a parent for a new book she is writing. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

teenagers themselves to provide personal perspectives to the issue. Shreeve is looking to connect with anyone 13 to 19 years old who has lost a parent. “I’m also looking for adults who lost their parents when they were between 13-19 as well who would like to share their story to help other teens navigate this difficult situation,” she said. Although the publisher only wants teens’ voices in the book, Shreeve looks for adults who can add a perspective as she is crafting the new project. Teens can email her at writtenbymikey@gmail.com, she will send them a questionnaire that she will edit and

send to her publisher while sending them a consent letter their parent or guardian can sign that allows their words to be published. There is an option for anonymity in the book. The last time Shreeve did this she received over 60 emails in 24 hours, so she advises that respondents should be patient because she will get back to them in the order their initial email is received. Her goal is to “offer support, healthy coping mechanisms, advice from other teens who have experienced parental death and from adults looking back to when they lost one or both of their

parents during their teen years.” “It will offer resources, organizations, support groups and more to help teens not feel alone who are facing a parental death situation,” Shreeve explained. “It will also list movies, books, and notable figures in society who grew up without one or both of their parents but still gave something positive back to the world.” Shreeve said her own mother’s death still pains her, especially on holidays and particularly on Mother’s Day. For a while, she said, “I would also watch comforting motherless daughter or mother-daughter movies to help make it through the day, not to mention talk to her and cry.” A 2003 graduate of Mountain Pointe High School, Shreeve holds two undergraduate degrees in psychology and two master’s degrees in English and creative writing. Between 2008-16, she wrote the Ask Mikey advice column for the Ahwatukee Foothills News and has been a freelance writer since 2008, frequently writing about the topic of parental death. “I want to make sure kids, teens, young adults and grieving families know that they’re not alone in this, and that there are many others who have gone through parental death or are currently going through it like they are,” she said. “When I was young and going through my own personal loss, I used to get scared and worried about my future,” Shreeve explained. “I would often See

AUTHOR on page 45

Improv actors entertain children in hospitals BY BRIDGETTE M. REDMAN

Contributor

In the midst of an international health crisis, one group of actors from the Phoenix Theatre Company has found its work in greater demand. “Partners that Heal” has been taking actors specializing in improvisation into hospitals since 2011, performing mostly for children who are in intensive care units or undergoing life-threatening treatments. They’ve performed in 27 different hospitals and organizations using more than 250 improvisation interventions. While most of their work is done with children and teens from age 3, they’ve even sung to infants in neo-natal units. Sometimes, when a staff member is having a tough go of it, they ask for an intervention and the team responds. Then COVID-19 lockdowns hit and the actors could no longer enter the hospital rooms to perform for their patients. However, the need for their services is still great with children facing increased isolation and stress. So, they moved to a new model, one that was digital only, according to Carlos Castaneda, the development director who started with the Phoenix Theatre this past February, just four weeks before everything shut down. “Instead of three actors in a room performing entertainment interventions with kiddos, now we’re doing it with Zoom and

off. What takes place during those 15 to 20 minutes varies depending on the patients’ needs. The partners prepare exercises— which they call “interventions”—and the patient chooses one. Sometimes they might sing a song, play a game, do a puzzle, tell a story with the patient as the hero, or even just listen when a patient wants to talk. “It’s been more challenging lately, especially for a lot of Some Phoenix Theatre Company thespians have been older patients who providing improvisation in hospitals for 10 years. have a lot of loneliness,” Castaneda said. “Their family and an iPad,” Castaneda said. “They’re more friends can’t visit as often as before safe and that’s kind of how the program COVID. They just want to vent and have has grown to what it is today.” someone to talk to who isn’t a family Each shift is four hours and they member or a nurse, so they talk to the used to spend 30 minutes per patient, partners.” taking time to say hello to the adults Sometimes the patients perform for or care specialists and then travel from the partners, such as one young man who room to room. Now they are seeing patients for 14 to 20 minutes, which has rapped for them about his journey with health care in and out of the hospital. The expanded their daily visits. As a result of the additional demand, partners provided him with an audience. The goal of the interventions is to they hired another partner at a time when most theaters were laying people empower patients to communicate

with their medical providers by breaking down communication barriers, building trust and helping contribute to better health outcomes. Castaneda explains that once patients build trust with the partners, they shift that trust to their medical providers. “Sometimes patients don’t understand what is going on and they don’t know the right questions. Providers assume patients understand and if they aren’t asking questions, it is because they know. They assume that communication is being fruitful. What we find is that patients don’t ask questions because they are intimidated or feel deference, especially vulnerable populations or those who lack education.” Castaneda said the Phoenix Theatre Company has labored to adopt the hard science around performances and learn how each intervention can be effective with patients to have better outcomes. Yamotahari develops the curriculum and trains the partners on each intervention so that they are ready to perform any of them at a moment’s notice. As an example, Castaneda said they like to do a choose-your-own adventure intervention for patients who have very little control over their situations. For example, they might not be allowed to eat and be connected to many tubes. The partners let that patient be See

HEAL on page 45

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

AUTHOR

from page 44

think my life was in trouble because I didn’t have two parents to support me like most of my peers did. “I would think to myself, there has to be someone out there who lost a mother/parent like I did but was still able to make it. I knew that I couldn’t be the only person out there.” Before reaching out to people for her first book, she researched the topic of parent death and found “many notable people – Nobel Prize Laureates, actors, athletes, musicians, philosophers and more – who grew up to give

HEAL

from page 44

in charge of their own story—as story partners create on the fly based on things they learned about the patient. “They’ll take what that patient has said to them, say their favorite animal is this. We get to know them, and the partners create a wonderful story about them,” Castaneda said. “At one point we say to the patient, you can go with Liz’s (one partner’s) story and she will give a little synopsis of where that story will lead. Or, you can go with Mike, and he’ll explain where that story will go. We let them choose what adventure they go on. We tell stories and involve their creativity. It can go on for 15 to 20 minutes and the patient is the hero of the story. We try to make it as happy as possible.”

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something positive back to the world but who also lost a parent like I did.” “I thought if they could make it through their childhood without one or both of their parents and still pursue their dreams or give something positive back to the world, then maybe I could make it too. And that gave me strength and motivation on my challenging days. I also used it as a therapeutic coping method.” She had not been prepared for the responses she received when she was seeking people for her first book. “Each and every one of the participants’ stories was heartbreaking, especially when realizing what they went through at such a young age,” Shreeve

said. “There were many times when I had to walk away from the computer as my heart broke for each participant. … Let’s just say many tears were shed and went into this book that came from both the participants and myself.” “In the book, I tell children and teens there are two ways you can handle your loss throughout the rest of your life: You can either use it as a handicap and say you don’t know how to do this or that because your parent wasn’t there to teach you, OR you can learn things on your own, be there for yourself instead of dependent on others and teach yourself the things your late parent left off teaching you.”

“Something I’ve noticed over coping with the death of my mother, helping others feels like the right thing to do.” She still thinks about her mom. “I try to act like she’s still here,” she explained. “I talk to people about her, I watch movies that I think she and I would have probably watched together, I look at old pictures and I even talk to her daily. I’ve learned a lot about myself, some things the hard way... but that is why I wanted to share this book with other kids and teens who might be struggling with parental death.” To order her first book: rowman. com/ISBN/9781442270879/ParentalDeath-The-Ultimate-Teen-Guide

Meanwhile, the moderator captures the story, recording it and jotting down notes. It is then passed to another person who within a day creates an electronic flip book with the story and images and sends it to the patients and their families. “If they need positive memory recall, if they are feeling a lot of anxiety and need some cheering up, then we’ll always tell them to go back to that story and feel empowered with that story,” Castaneda said. He said at first it was pretty challenging to go from performing with three actors in a room to doing it over Zoom. As they worked on the transition, they used Castaneda and others as test subjects. They would be a pretend patient and the partners would practice or “rehearse” the interventions on the over Zoom. While they couldn’t do their entire set of more than 250 interventions, they did play games and

puzzles and told stories. “There was a slight lag here and there at first, but now they’ve got it down to a welloiled machine,” Castaneda said. “They can still do a lot of interventions and patients are still responding to the interventions. The ones we perform are still impactful.” Castaneda said the partners absolutely prefer performing live because they can exchange energy with the patients, but they are glad that they haven’t had to completely stop the program. “They can still see the patient’s face and their emotions and emulate that,” Castaneda said. “I feel like the partners are seeing that this is just a stop-gap measure. If it is this or nothing, they’d rather do this and if this is the best we can do, then by golly, we’re going to do it and make it work.” This period has also seen the program grow beyond Phoenix.

Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic, funding from corporations, philanthropists and foundations has decreased. He said they have been invited to work in new hospitals, but right now they can’t because they are at capacity, even with the new partner. They lack the money to support he partners who do the work. “We would love to bring in more patients, not only in the Valley, but across the state, but funding is all being redirected to COVID,” Castaneda said. “It’s been hard for us to find money to support the program. But for as long as we can do it, we will.” He has high praise for the Phoenix Theatre Company and its leadership, which employs the six partners, Yamotahari and himself. He said they have remained committed to making it happen. “They created the program and spearheaded the project,” Castaneda said.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 17, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

The plight of hunger in the Valley cannot be ignored RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Guest Writer

After reading an article about hunger in our communities, I was impressed by the effort of so many people to offer assistance and aid to those suffering from the fallout of the pandemic. We are reminded constantly about homelessness, evictions from places of comfort, loss of the ability to earn a livelihood, but the stark reality of hunger seems to overshadow these difficulties. What makes this effort more prominent? I am not quite sure. After all, I know we have, over time, helped the local food banks with donations of money and food. During the period when we are able to gather in the chapel, we brought food items to each service for that

express purpose. Still, there was something about this remarkable accomplishment that just grabbed my attention. Hunger controls our desire to be who we are as we attempt to find some comfort in the shadow of despair. We cannot think, we cannot maneuver, we cannot function in a meaningful way. Eventually we wither, and in some cases, perish as we wander into an aimless venture of nothingness. The article dealt with a grassroots group Mutual Aid Phoenix, which set up a community fridge at Xanadu coffee shop on seventh street in Phoenix. It is a community effort to “address food insecurity.” So, after breakfast on Sunday morning, Sandi and I went to a supermarket, purchased food items, both perishable and non. When we finished, we looked at each other and felt as though we were accomplishing something that had meaning.

WE BLANKET THE AREA.

After all, isn’t life about survival? Our faith teaches us the moral imperative that the saving of one life is tantamount to saving the world entire. Maybe it was the time of the year. Maybe it was a culmination of all the frustrations that have been experienced this past year. After all, it was not the first time we helped others in need. Yet, it felt different. People come from all corners of our community to take what is needed. No questions asked, no requirement of proof of need. One thing is sure, more is needed both in resources as well as volunteers. This is true of all food banks throughout the city. It is also true of all charities that seek help as they endeavor to relieve the pain and suffering with a kind word or a kind gesture. The look on people’s faces as they accept the help is worth all the effort. The satisfaction one receives knowing

that we make a difference is all the payment we need or want. For us, it is the most meaningful thing we can do as we begin a New Year filled with hope in the future as we attempt to discard the past. The need will remain for some time, maybe forever. The pandemic will not soon be gone. However, each step we take in eliminating both the need and scourge will enable us to remember our value and purpose. There is so much that needs to be done, but we also understand as a great Chinese philosopher once remarked “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Perhaps the single step we can all begin with can include giving to others so that they too will be able to join in our journey, not just during a pandemic, but always. Rabbi Irwin Wiener is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Community.

What’s more comforting than having one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation nearby? Knowing Phoenix Children’s is close to where you live, blanketing the area with a network of more than 1,100 expert primary care doctors and specialists in over two dozen convenient locations. So if you’re looking for top-notch care right in your community, you can rest easy.

Visit us at phoenixchildrens.org or call 602-933-KIDS (5437)

t? o G ws Ne

Contact Paul C Contact Paul P l Maryniak Maryniak M y i k at at 480-898-5647 480 898 5647 or or pmaryniak@timespublications.com p pmaryniak@timespublications.com pmaryniak@timespublications y i k@ i p bli i com