SanTan Sun News - March 15 2020 by Times Media Group

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

March 15, 2020 | www.santansun.com

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Chandler seniors seem not alarmed by virus – for now BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Fears of contracting the COVID-19 virus apparently haven’t stopped senior citizens from getting out and enjoying public events around Chandler. Though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week said that adults over 60 are a “higher risk” for catching the virus, local events catering to Chandler’s elderly population have gone on as scheduled. Dozens of senior citizens packed the

Chandler Community Center on March 11 for the city’s annual Senior Expo. Visitors could be seen circulating around the gymnasium, picking up business cards from vendors like Humana, Aetna and Dignity Health. The expo occurred hours before Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency and issued an executive order to give health officials and administrators new tools and guidance to combat the disease, which the World Health Organization the same day deSee

VIRUS on page 17

State audit details Chandler Uniﬁed classroom spending SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler Unified spent a greater proportion of its 2018-19 budget in the classroom and the second-biggest percentage among the largest districts in Arizona. But the actual dollars CUSD spent on each of its 44,660 students last school year for instruction totaled less than the statewide per-pupil average and less than the average spent by districts its size, according to the state Auditor General’s annual review of school district spending released two weeks ago. Instructional spending includes salaries

for teachers and related personnel like aides, supplies, textbooks and software and extracurricular activities such as athletics and field trips. The report shows that in terms of operational expenses – everything from instruction to transportation – Chandler Unified spent $7,837 per student – less than the average $8,518 spent by districts its size and less than the $8,905 state average. When adding nonoperational expenses such as land and building, bond interest and other expenses, Chandler

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SPENDING

These two armed men have provided protection for worshippers at Chabad of the East Valley in Chandler during services. (From the documentary "American Defense Forces)

Armed guards deployed at Chandler, other synagogues BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

After a series of attacks at synagogues across the country, Jewish communities in Chandler and neighboring communities are beefing up their security to prevent similar offenses. on page 10 Armed guards can sometimes be seen patrolling the grounds of Chandler’s Chabad of the East Valley – carrying firearms and keeping watch for any potential threats while congregants worship inside during Shabbat services. Rabbi Mendy Deitsch said his synagogue has had volunteer guards providing security for the last couple years. Almost every other Jewish community in the Valley’s taking the same measures, he added, so it made sense for his facility to do something similar. “That’s unfortunately the reality of the times we live in,” Deitsch said. He declined to disclose how often or how many volunteers provide security for his facility – citing security concerns – but said there haven’t been any prior incidents of violence at his synagogue.

The rabbi said he worried at first the presence of armed guards might intimidate congregants and discourage them from attending services. But that concern has since subsided. “We found that just the opposite is true,” Deitsch added. “In fact, more people come because of it. People are more comfortable and much more at ease.” The Chandler synagogue is one of several places of worship that’s taken extra precautions to secure its facilities after a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 left 11 people dead – making it the deadliest attack on America’s Jewish community. The 46-year-old man who carried out the crime was allegedly heard shouting “All Jews must die” before opening fire on the synagogue’s congregants. The 2018 massacre was one of 1,550 religiously-motivated offenses committed in the United States that year, according to data released by the FBI. More than 50 percent of those offenses See

F E AT U R E STO R I E S

Developer Spike Lawrence is awaiting the ribbon cutting later this month for the ﬁrst phase of his New Square complex in downtwon Chandler. What people can expect and other details appear in a story on page 24. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

Friends mourn Hamilton High freshman's death. .COMMUNITY . . . . . Page 6 Waymo rolls out sportier cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BUSINESS . . . . . . . . Page 26 Chandler athletes impress at special camp. . . . . . .SPORTS . . . . . . . . . Page 35 Chandler teacher named NASA ambassador . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . . .Page 41 2 area authors pen new novels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . Page 52

Clip It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Center Section

SYNAGOGUES on page 8 More Community . . . 1-23 Business . . . . . 24-30 Sports . . . . . . . 35-39 Opinion . . . . . . . . 40 Neighbors . . . 41-51 Arts . . . . . . . . . 52-56 Faith . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Directory . . . . 58-59 Classifieds . . . 60-61 Where to eat . . . 62

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Election 2020 revving up in Chandler where former Chandler Mayor Boyd Dunn has indicated he will seek another term. A diverse pool of political veterans and novices have filed statements of interest to represent Chandler in the Arizona Legislature, on council and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Chandler Councilman Mark Stewart has filed paperwork to seek re-election to a second term and Jeremy McClymonds, who was appointed to fill an empty council seat in 2018, plans to run for his first full term. Councilman Sam Huang has not filed papers to seek re-election, as he plans to run for the Republican nomination in Arizona’s Ninth Congressional District race. Huang could have a lot of company on the ballot, since seven other Republicans also filed statements of interest in that seat, now occupied by Democratic former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton – who could face challenges from two other party members. The newcomers intending to challenge Stewart and McClymonds include Rick Heumann, Christine Ellis, Joseph

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Election 2020 officially is officially kicking off in state, county and location elections and more than 30 candidates have expressed interest in running in Chandler for council, Legislature and school board this year. Although Democrats already are casting early ballots for the March 17 Presidential Preference Primary, the battles for legislative, county and city positions will begin shaping up now. The campaign season for county and state offices officially began March 7, while the races Chandler City Council seats began two days later. Those are the dates when candidates can start filing their petitions for a spot on the Aug. 4 Primary Election ballot. Although candidates have until April 6 to file, Republican and Democratic party faithful and political junkies can get some idea of what awaits this summer from statements of interest that candidates are now. required by law to file before they can get a single petition signature. Those statements of interest are filed with the Maricopa County Recorder for local races and with the Arizona Secretary of State for legislative and statewide contests. At the county level, Mesa voters in both parties may have some primary

Jeremy McClymonds

Mark Stewart election decisions to make, at least according to statements of interest that have been filed so far. Six Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination for county assessor. Five Democrats have filed statements of interest in the County Attorney primary. Two from each party have filed

statements for county school superintendent while two Republicans threaten to duke it out for the County Recorder nomination. As many as five Republicans could be vying for the Republican nomination for sheriff. Seats also are up for election on the Arizona Corporation Commission,

See

ELECTION on page 4

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ELECTION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

State Sen. Sean Bowie plans to run for re-election in Legislative District 18 and may be challenged by Michael Bishop for the Democratic nomination. Suzanne Sharer is the only Republican intending to run for the LD18 senate seat. LD18 Democratic Representatives Jennifer Jermaine and Mitzi Epstein both intend to keep their House seats for another term and likely will face no Primary Election challenge. The Republican primary for the House races in LD18 includes an attempted return to the Legislature by Bob Robson, a former Chandler resident who moved to Ahwatukee after he lost a bid for his seventh term in the House in 2016. Besides Robson, other Republicans who have filed statements of interest in the LD18 primary are Tracy DuCharme, Mark Kleppin, Alyssa Sheahan and Tim Taylor. Campaign finance reports indicate Bowie is going into the 2020 election with the most cash on-hand among Chandler’s legislative candidates. He

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from page 3

Curbelo, Beth Brizel, and O.D. Harris. Heumann previously sat on the council and Brizel served on the Kyrene School District Governing Board. Ellis, Curbelo and Harris have not held elected office in Chandler before. State Sen. J.D. Mesnard intends to run for another two-year term in Legislative District 17 and may be challenged by Republican Julie Willoughby in the primary election. Democrat Ajlan Kurdoglu has filed paperwork to run for the LD17 senate seat. State Rep. Jennifer Pawlik is the only Democrat to express interest for running for one of the two LD17 House seats Six Republicans have filed statements for those two seats. They include incumbent state Rep. Jeff Weninger, former Chandler City Councilwoman Nora Ellen, Liz Harris, Shamile Hirsh, Kenneth Kubert, and Jonathan Parris. Ellen, who is Mesnard’s mother, lost to Pawlik two years ago. LD17 encompasses most of central Chandler from Elliott Road to Hunt Highway and from Price to Gilbert roads. The district is considered to be a toss-up among Republicans and Democrats, having elected candidates from both parties in recent years. Farther west in Chandler, LD18 is all blue, but

43”

ended 2019 with $92,500 in his campaign reserves – a significant boost from the $2,700 he had at the end of the 2018 election. Mesnard is not far behind Bowie with an account balance of $64,600. Pawlik finished 2019 with $42,600 saved away, Epstein had $40,400, and Jermaine reported $37,300. Maricopa County Supervisor Jack Sellers, a former Chandler councilman whose district includes Chandler, is planning to seek election this year to a full term after his appointment last year to fill former Supervisor Denny Barney’s seat. Barney resigned to take over the East Valley Partnership as executive director. So far, no other Republican has filed to take on Sellers and Democrat Jevin Hodge is the only candidate who filed a statement of interest. Justice of the Peace Samuel Goodman of Chandler’s San Tan Precinct may be challenged by Republican Warde Nichols, a former state legislator, in the primary race. School board candidates don’t have a primary and can’t file petitions for the Nov. 3 General Election until June

6. Those candidates have until July 6 to qualify for the ballot. The Chandler Unified School District Governing Board so far has five potential candidates looking to fill three seats open for election this year. Incumbents Barbara Mozdzen and Karen McGee are seeking re-election and may run against Jason Olive, Sharon Tuttle or Joel Wirth. David Evans, who’s been on the CUSD school board since 2005, has not filed paperwork indicating an interest in seeking re-election, but it’s still early.

KEY DATES IN THE 2020 PRIMARY May 3: First day to request an early ballot. July 6: Voter registration deadline. July 8: Early voting begins. Aug. 4: Primary Election Day. Where to register: recorder.maricopa.gov/earlyvotingballot/voterregistrationlookup.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Classmates mourn Hamilton High freshman A few days after McNamee’s death, his friends started a GoFundMe.com page to raise money for a special memorial service. “Zach was always an optimistic person and kept a smile on no matter how dull the days were,” the GoFundMe page stated. His friends went on to describe McNamee as “outgoing” and expressed a

Governor expands mental health services for teens. Page 20. SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Friends of a Hamilton High School freshman who took his life March 5 are raising funds to memorialize him. Zachary McNamee, 14, is the latest East Valley student to die by suicide, which has claimed the lives of more than 40 teens in Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, Mesa and Tempe since July 2017. The Chandler Unified School District notified students and parents of Zach’s passing March 6 in a letter that listed local resources for grief counseling. “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the McNamee family during this difficult time,” the district’s letter states. “As a community, we are grieving this tremendous loss.” News of McNamee’s death came the day before Hamilton’s students were about to depart for a two-week spring break. Yet, the district still dispatched a crisis team to the campus and provided counseling for any students needing help. “We want to offer the Hamilton community numerous resources that will be available during spring intersession,” the letter added, before listing guidelines for how parents can help

100,000, according to the United Health Foundation. Local lawmakers have responded to the statistics by passing legislation to expand access to mental health resources and Chandler Unified formed a new department dedicated exclusively to counseling services. As of last school year, however, a new state Auditor General’s report said

closest friends have let him down and failed to be there “Weforashimhiswhen he needed it the most, like when he was always there for us – when we needed it. ” – Zachary's GoFundMe Page

Zachary McNamee, a 14-year-old Hamilton High freshman who died March 5, is being mourned by friends and classmates. (GoFundMe.com)

youth overcome grief. Some of those tips include establishing daily routines, spotting changes in a child’s physical appearance, and allowing youth a chance to discuss their fears.

hint of guilt for his sudden death. “We as his closest friends have let him down and failed to be there for him when he needed it the most,” the page states, “like when he was always there for us – when we needed it.” As earlier this week, the page had collected more than $3,000 in donations. Mental health has become a growing concern in Chandler schools since a series of teen suicides have been reported in recent years around the region. On a statewide level, Arizona reported 12.4 teens per 100,000 suicide deaths in 2018 – a much higher rate than the national average of 8.9 teens per every

last week, the district’s per-pupil spending for counseling and related services was well below the statewide average and the per-pupil spending by districts that are of comparable size. All high school students now have numbers to crisis hotlines on the backs of their identification badges. Stickers advertising suicide prevention have been posted inside Chandler’s school buses. As part of this ongoing push to improve mental health, Hamilton High recently created a “mindfulness” room on its campus for students needing to See

DEATH on page 22

COMMUNITY NEWS

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

from page 1

were motivated by feelings of anti-Semitism. Arizona has had its fair share of troubling incidents targeting the Valley’s Jewish community. In 2009, someone spray-painted a red swastika on a sign posted outside the Chabad Center in Chandler. Most recently, a Queen Creek man was arrested for conspiring with alleged neo-Nazis to harass a journalist from a Jewish-affiliated publication. Though Rabbi Laibel Blotner has not felt discriminated or targeted since relocating to Mesa several years ago, he’s still concerned by the number of hate crimes he reads about in the news. Violence touched Blotner’s family last year after his daughter’s fatherin-law survived a deadly attack at a California synagogue. Since then, Blotner has had surveillance cameras installed at the Chabad Jewish Center of Mesa and assembled a team of community members to provide armed security during services. The rabbi said the 150 families attending his synagogue have, so far, not minded the presence of armed guards. “I think the community has been very encouraging,” Blotner said. “I think they understand that we need to take measures.” Arizona law classifies churches, syna-

Men practice their shooting skills as they prepare to guard various synagogues in the U.S., including several in Chandler and other East Valley Communities. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

gogues, and mosques as private property, so faith leaders like Blotner and Deitsch get to decide whether to allow armed individuals onto the premises. Jewish communities are not the only ones taking advantage of this discretion afforded to them under the law. After a mass shooting at a New Zealand mosque last March, some of the Valley’s Islamic communities reacted by hiring off-duty police officers to watch over local mosques during religious celebrations.

The Secure Community Network, a Jewish-focused nonprofit, released a report in January highlighting the “urgency” that exists for faith communities to devise security plans. The report recommended synagogues having uniformed police officers stand guard during services, yet this may not always be a realistic option in every community. Arming a group of volunteers could present more problems than solutions, the report states, if they’re not given

any training to handle high-stress situations. Yonatan Stern is helping to fill the training gap in Arizona by providing specialized firearms instruction. The Pennsylvania resident is the founder of Cherev Gidon Israeli Tactical Training Academy and spends his winters in the desert, teaching local Jews how to defend themselves. “There is a lot of demand,” Stern said, noting how he spent last month conducting training sessions for Jewish communities in Scottsdale, Chandler, and Phoenix. After the Pittsburgh massacre, Stern said he redirected his efforts to focus on boosting security at synagogues. No one inside the Pittsburgh synagogue was armed, Stern noted, which he thinks might have changed the outcome. Some of Stern’s training includes active-shooter simulations inside synagogues and allowing his students to “dry fire” their weapons – meaning they’re not loaded with ammunition. This picture may sound dramatic to some, but Stern believes this type of training is necessary for the times. “We don’t live in the 1950s anymore,” Stern said. “We live in a very dangerous time. It’s a matter of life or death.” For Rabbi Blotner of Mesa, he hopes his synagogue’s armed guards will remain only a precaution and won’t ever be needed for an actual emergency.

Senate votes to change key I-10 exit in Chandler BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

A bill allotting funds for redesigning one of the Interstate 10 exits leading into Chandler is advancing through the Legislature. In a 26-3 vote, the Senate passed legislation on March 2 that appropriates funding for improving the freeway’s Queen Creek Road interchange. The bill would give $15 million to the Arizona Department of Transportation to create a diverging diamond interchange, a relatively new type of design

The road geometry, signs, and “pavement markings all work together to make this very simple. In cities where (diamond interchanges) have been built, drivers say they don’t even notice the crossover intersections. – FHA Report

”

that has multiple lanes of opposing traffic crossing over the freeway. Three Republican senators voted not to advance send the bill to the State House for a vote. One of them was Sen. Eddie Farnsworth of District 12, which includes most of Gilbert and Queen Creek. The two senators representing Chandler’s legislative districts, Sean Bowie and J.D. Mesnard, voted in favor of the

This diverging diamond interchange would be built at at I-10 and Queemn Creek Road if the Legislature passes a measure now winding its way through the State House and Senate. (ADOT)

bill. State Sen. David Livingston, R-Peoria, introduced the bill as part of a package of infrastructure projects he’s been trying to move through the Legislature this session. He considers the Queen Creek interchange one of Arizona’s “highest priorities” for freeway improvements. “The need is definitely there,” Livingston said during a legislative hearing.

“There needs to be a lot of work done at that exchange.” If enough funding is allotted, the interchange redesign could start as early as 2021. Queen Creek Road is one of the main gateways to southern Chandler from the west and sees a fair amount of daily traffic. According to the Maricopa Association of Governments, Queen Creek

Road had about 12,800 cars coming to and from the freeway on a daily basis. The interchange also moves east of the freeway and connects to State Route 347, which sees more than double the traffic than Queen Creek Road. SR 347 has a notorious reputation for having backed-up traffic and several deadly accidents. A Mesa resident was See

FREEWAYon page 11

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

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Unified’s per pupil spending of $9,786 was below the $10,057 average for its peers and the $10,928 state average. Among the state’s biggest school districts, Chandler Unified spent less per pupil than Mesa Unified, Tucson Unified, and Paradise Valley Unified. Those districts have higher rates of poverty than Chandler, which could qualify them for extra federal funding and boost their spending capabilities. In terms of the percent of its budget devoted to the classroom, however, Chandler’s 60.9 percent spent was second only to Gilbert Public Schools’ 61.2 percent and well ahead of the 57.4 percent average for the districts in its class. Those districts also include: Deer Valley, with 59.5 percent of its budget going to instruction; Paradise Valley (58.6 percent), Peoria (57.5), Dysart (57.2), Mesa (56.2), Scottsdale 56), Phoenix (54.3) and Tucson (52.1) The Auditor General’s report noted how Chandler Unified was spending less on administration than its peers, but some of the district’s operational expenses were categorized as slightly higher. Chandler Unified’s average cost per mile for transportation was $5.02 in 2019 while its peers spent $4.60. The average cost for one meal in the district was $3.08 – 16 cents more than its peers. The higher transportation costs are an indication of how often Chandler Unified’s students regularly get to travel for competitions and tournaments, district spokesman Terry Locke said, adding, "This reflects that our students notably are very successful in academics and athletics.” Some of CUSD’s plant operation costs were described by auditors as “very high” at $7.75 per square foot against the state average of $6.49. Overall, Chandler Unified’s total plant operational costs were still lower than

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

state averages. Locke noted the district has over 40 campuses to maintain on 900 acres of land and has managed to obtain voter-approved bond funding to help pay for renovations and construction. In 2019, Chandler voters approved a $292-million bond sought by Chandler Unified – the biggest bond in the district’s history – which will be spent on capital projects around the district. A breakdown of Chandler Unified’s expenditures shows the district spending 73 percent of funding in classrooms, 8.5 percent on administration, 10 percent on plant operations, 4 percent on food services, and 4.5 percent on transportation. This breakdown has been consistent for the last few years. Compared to other East Valley districts, Chandler’s administrative costs had smaller shares than the budgets of Tempe Elementary, Higley Unified and Scottsdale Unified. And while many other large districts across the state have experienced declining enrollment over the last five years, Chandler Unified reported a 12-percent spike in student attendance. While the average $311 per-pupil cost of food service was up from the previous year, Chandler spent fewer dollars per pupil than the average $341 spent by districts its size and the $438 state average. Auditor General Lindsey Perry said some districts cited the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 which took effect in 2013. She said that established more stringent nutritional requirements that include an increase in fruits, vegetables and whole grains in meals – and hence, more money. Perry said statewide data overall reflect a 7.1 percent increase in the average teacher salary between the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years, bringing the figure to $52,441. Chandler Unified’s average teacher salary was about $5,000 more than the state average.

The district’s average salary of $57,940 in 2019 made Chandler one of the highest paying districts in the East Valley – outranking teacher salaries offered in Mesa, Gilbert and Tempe Elementary. Tempe Union High School District’s average salary of $63,305 made it one of best paying districts in Arizona. Perry said the percentage of total dollars spent in the classroom statewide is still 3.9 percentage points less than it was in 2003-04. However, unlike many districts, Chandler Unified has consistently spent at least 60 percent of its annual budget in the classroom in each of the last 15 school years, according to the auditor general’s report. Overall in Arizona, the report states, “After controlling for inflation, total per pupil operational spending increased $256 per pupil, or 3 percent, between fiscal years 2004 and 2019 while spending on instruction decreased $197 per pupil, or 3.9 percent. At the same time, the percentage of available operating dollars spent on most other operational areas has increased, meaning that districts shifted spending from instruction to other areas.” The report also found that Arizona schools overall spend less per pupil than the national average by a wide margin. Perry pegged total per pupil spending at $10,928 in Arizona, compared with $14,009 for the rest of the nation. The national figure is two years old. “Many factors may account for Arizona’s lower percentage of instructional spending, one of which is average teacher salary,’’ Perry wrote. Using the most recent national data available, she found teacher salaries here averaging about $11,500 less than nationally. “Another factor that may account for Arizona’s lower percentage of instructional spending is class size,’’ she reported. In Arizona, there are an average of 18.4 students per teacher, compared with 16 in the rest of the country.

According to the auditor’s report, Chandler Unified’s student-to-teacher ratio dropped from 19.3 to 18.7 over the last two years. Perry also found Arizona schools spend a higher percentage than their national counterparts on student support – a category that includes counselors, audiologists, nurses, social workers and speech pathologists. That wasn’t the case in Chandler Unified, however, where the $576 spent per pupil on such support was lower than the $754 statewide average and the $773 spent by districts its size. Student support was the lone area where Arizona schools, on average, spend more in actual dollars on support than the national average. Perry said that some of this may be a direct relation to needs in certain districts. “For example, increases in a district’s poverty rate or the percentage of students with special needs could increase student support costs because many of these services are directed toward these student populations,” she said. The audit Graduation rates dipped slightly from 94 percent in 2016 to 92 percent in 2018. But Chandler still had a higher graduation rate than the Mesa, Gilbert, and Tempe Union districts. The district’s quite proud of the auditor’s findings, Locke added, noting Chandler’s ability to perform better than its peers and state averages in several categories. Unlike many districts in Arizona, Chandler Unified is continuing to see an increase in its student population and is building a new elementary and high school campus to accommodate that growth. Of its total student population last year, the audit reported, 10 percent were in special education and 8 percent were below the federal poverty line. A total 23 percent of Chandler Unified students qualified for free and reduced price lunches because of their low household income.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

FREEWAY

from page 8

killed on March 1 by a wrong-way driver traveling south on SR 347. Pinal County residents have been repeatedly demanding for changes to make SR 347 a safer route to I-10, but little action has been done in recent years. Livingston said redesigning the interchange is the first step to making the route better for motorists. Transportation planners in France came up with the diverging diamond design during the 1970s, but the interchanges did not start proliferating in the United States until the 2010s. As of 2019, there are more than 100 diverging diamond interchanges throughout the country and another 30 are under construction. The state Department of Transportation began implementing the diamond design a couple years ago at freeway interchanges in northern Phoenix. It also built two half-diamond interchanges along the new South Mountain Freeway, including the 17th Avenue interchange in Ahwatukee. ADOT claims this design is supposed to be more cost effective and “has been shown to enhance traffic flow while improving safety at busy interchanges.” “They also provide an excellent opportunity to integrate multimodal facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and transit into the interchange,” ADOT wrote in a statement.

This rendering shows how a diverging diamont interchange, which ADOT wants to install at the I-10-Queen Creek Road crossing, works. Proponents say it improves traffic flow and safety. Two half-divering diamond interchanges are part of the recently opened South Mountain Freeway. (ADOT)

The Federal Highway Administration has recommended the design as an “innovative” alternative that allows drivers to maker fewer turns in front of opposing traffic. “The road geometry, signs, and pavement markings all work together to make this very simple,” the FHA wrote in a report. “In cities where (diamond interchanges) have been built, drivers say they don’t even notice the cross-

over intersections.” The design could potentially allow commuters coming from Maricopa to get to Chandler more easily since there would potentially be more room to cross over the freeway. This stretch of I-10 has been receiving much attention from state leaders this year. In addition to Gov. Doug Ducey calling for the acceleration of I-10

improvements in his proposed budget, there’s another bill progressing through the Legislature that would replace and expand the I-10 bridge crossing over the Gila River. Livingston introduced another bill this session to reserve funds for changing the Wild Horse Pass interchange into the same diamond configuration as Queen Creek’s. That bill has yet to be voted on by the Senate.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Chandler Airport sees more activity over 20 years BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Preliminary projections indicate the Chandler Municipal Airport can expect to have up to 200 more airplanes based out of its facilities over the next 20 years. The city’s spending the next year updating its airport master plan and has already turned up some data suggesting it will need more hangar space to accommodate the extra aircraft. By 2040, the plan anticipates the Chandler Airport needing another 290,000 square-feet in storage space if it wants to attract more pilots. The airport “will likely not see significant based-aircraft growth unless new hangar facilities are constructed,” a draft of the master plan states. The number of single-engine planes and jets housed in Chandler is expected to grow from 441 to 640 and the number of annual operations may increase by 54,000 over the next two decades. “There’s going to be more demand,” said Chandler Airport Administrator Chris Andres, “a large portion of that will be here.” The facility will certainly get busier in the near future, Andres added, so the airport needs to prepare for the demand that’s coming to Arizona. Nearly 12 percent of Maricopa County’s registered aircraft is based out of Chandler Airport – a market share that’s been increasing incrementally since 2005. Despite the projected growth, plan-

Chandler Airport will see signiﬁcant growth in the next 20 years, according to a consultant's analysis. (City of Chandler)

ners don’t expect the future activity to completely max out Chandler’s airfield capacity. Current operations take up about 43 percent of airfield capacity – a rate that’s projected to climb up to 56 percent by 2040. According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s guidelines, capacity improvements are not considered a “high priority” until an airport exceeds 80 percent of its capacity. “While no significant capacity improvement will be necessary, options to improve airfield efficiency will still be considered as part of this master plan,” a draft of the plan states.

The city has recently finished its first phase of updating the master plan and will next begin drafting recommendations for future improvements. Any improvements that the airport may want could be dependent on the availability of grant funding from the state or federal governments, which is sought after by all the other airports in the Valley. It will require a lot of analysis to determine what types of improvements will eventually be recommended, Andres added. One of the recommendations could be to extend the airport’s runways beyond their current length of about 4,800 feet. The airport’s last master

plan highlighted how extending the runway to 5,700 feet would be more favorable to corporate pilots looking to land business jets. The city previously tried to pay for a runway extension through bond money, but voters rejected that idea in 2000 and 2007. Opponents have repeatedly argued a longer runway would bring more noise, traffic and potentially jeopardize the safety of nearby residents. “There is no such thing as a quiet airport,” Andres said, adding that improvements to the airport are a balancing act of appeasing multiple interests. Though Chandler’s airport will always be a general aviation facility, Andres expects the city to attract more corporate clients in the future as more businesses set up headquarters around Chandler. Tapping into the business aviation market could have a great positive impact on the city, he said, and bring in more economic activity. “The economic impacts of what happens here spills out into the community – jobs, additional spending, tourism,” Andres said. “This is a wealth generator for Chandler.” A 2016 study conducted by the city found that the airport’s operations generated an economic footprint valued at $109 million. The master plan should be completely updated by early 2021. The city will be periodically posting updates of the process at chandler.airportstudy.com.

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Around Chandler Sun Lakes golf tournament will help veterans group

East Valley Marines Detachment 1296 will hold its seventh annual golf tournament next month to help Arizona veterans. The Marines Helping Veterans tournament will be held at 7 a.m. April 3 at Oakwood Country Club in Sun Lakes. Among the new additions to the tournament are a helicopter ball drop, a chance to tee off at one hole by shooting a ball from a launcher and hole-in-one competitions at two holes. The luncheon will include cash prizes and a raffle. All proceeds will go to Marines Helping Veterans, which provides assistance ranging from transportation and food to power chairs and financial aid. Sponsors as well as players are needed and registration/information is at eastvalleymarinesgolf.org.

Chandler Saving One Life cat rescue hits 1K milestone Chandler-based, Saving One Life Animal Rescue and Sanctuary has hit a milestone with 1,000 felines adopted out to homes. The foster-based, never-kill feline rescue, run entirely by volunteers, began in 2009 to save cats from being euthanized and in 2009 partnered with its first PetSmart location in Gilbert for adoptions.

The organizations’ major expansion began nearly five years ago when Carrie Neidorf took the helm as executive director and in 2016 added five additional PetSmart locations, which accelerated the rescues’ growth helping Saving One Life to reach the 1,000 adoption mark. Information: savingonelife.org.

Chandler voters approve charter change for elections

Chandler voters overwhelmingly approved a City Charter change governing when to hold future elections. Preliminary results from the March 10 mail-only vote showed 92 percent favored Proposition 426, which brings the charter in conforimty with a 2019 change in state law requiring primary elections to be held the first Tuesday in August. The vote is a technicality of sorts since Chandler already aligned its primary in accordance with the law, but the charter had required primaries to be held on the tenth Tuesday before the date of the general election. However, had the change not been made, it could have prompted the state to not recognize the legitimacy of Chandler's primary results.

Corvettes in the Park Charity Car Show downtown The Corvette Club of Arizona will host its 10th annual Corvettes in the

Park Charity Car Show 9:30 a.m.02:30 p.m. March 29 at A. J. Chandler Park downtown. Last year, owners brought 100 Corvettes from all years to the show, which is free to the public. The club will donate $10 from every car registration to the “Packages from Home” program. The Corvette Club of Arizona has donated over $25,000 from their past shows. “Packages from Home” provides personal care and support items to U.S. Military personnel stationed abroad. Representatives from” Packages from Home” will be present to answer questions about their mission. There will a station for children and adults to decorate the outside of the boxes that will be used to send to the troops and they can also write personal notes to be included in the packages. The show also will have a D.J., 50/50 drawing and prize raffles. “Corvettes in the Park” is a “Participant’s Choice” judged show with awards for each generation of Corvette. Presentation of awards will begin at 1:45pm. Pre-registration for the show is $35 and the form must be received by March 20. Day of the show registration is $40 8:30-9:30 a.m., based on space availability. Registration forms and additional information: corvetteclubofarizona. com or Lylla Alejandro at 480-895-2238.

Dumplings from around the world featured at downtown park The Arizona Bao and Dumpling Festival, featuring dumplings from around the world and unique versions of bao and bobo will be 12:30-5 p.m. March 21 at AJ Chandler Park in downtown Chandler. Other Asian foods also will be on sale and pop culture artists and various games will also be on hand. Tickets: arizonabaoanddumplingfestival/r/asian. General admission is $8 before tax and fees. Early admission tickets are $13 before tax and fees, with limited quantities available. Children 7 to 12 are $4 before tax and fees. Children ages 6 are free with a paid adult. Food and beverages are sold separately. Information: facebook.com/azbaodumpling Event link: facebook.com/ events/409316430021245.

Mahnah Club of East Valley slates fundraising luncheon

The Mahnah Club of the East Valley will hold its annual luncheon with a fashion show and concert April 18 to raise money for its support of a diverse array of charities, including Child Crisis Center of the East Valley, Soldier’s Best See

AROUND on page 15

Why Walking Faster Is Important To Your Health & Your Mortality & What You Can Do About It! By Leading Balance Expert, Dr. Lianne Rogers

Have you noticed that you don’t walk as fast as you use to these days? Or maybe you’ve noticed that you are having difficulty keeping up with your spouse, children, or friends when you are out with them? Do you notice friends or family waiting on you to catch up with them or telling you to take your time? Many people think walking slower is a normal part of aging. However, this is untrue. Walking slower is a sign that your legs are weak or you are unsteady on your feet. People who tend to walk slowly do so because they are afraid to take a bigger/longer stride. Taking a longer stride requires you to balance on one leg for a split second longer. This can be scary and difficulty if you don’t have good balance or the confidence that you won’t fall. Determining your walking speed or gait speed has now been called the 6th vital sign in the healthcare field. Walking speed has the potential to predict your health status, functional decline and mortality. Yes, it is that important to improve your walking speed! Furthermore, if you are attempting to cross an intersection, you only have a limited amount of time before the light changes green!

If you find yourself nodding your head and agreeing that you have begun to walk slower ask yourself why? Is it due to feeling unsteady on your feet, lack of exercise, not feeling confident in yourself? Have you accepted that walking slower is what your life has come to? Can you imagine what it would feel like to be able to not have others wait for you and go out and walk with confidence? Being able to walk faster takes more than just practice. It involves adding resistive and balance exercises to your exercise routine or maybe for some of you it is starting an exercise routine. If you have found yourself walking slower these days and want to find out more information on what can be done to help you give us a call for a free consultation. I would love to speak with you on how we can help you walk faster and live longer! Author: Dr. Lianne Rogers is the owner of Balance By Li At Home Physical Therapy and Wellness and specializes in helping people regain their mobility and independence to get back to a full and active life! Visit: www.Balancebyli.com E-mail: Lianne@balancebyli.com

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Around Chandler

AROUND

from page 14

Friend, the American Legion’s Girls State program and others. The luncheon, at Las Sendas Vista Pavillion in Mesa, will include raffle baskets, silent auctions and door prizes as well as a concert by the Uptown Angels. Details/Registration: mahnahclub.org.

Backyards, patios are focus of new museum exhibit

“Patios, Pools, & the Invention of the American Backyard,” a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition is now at the Chandler Museum until May 24. The exhibit looks at the postwar phenomenon of the development of the suburban backyard and how it was impacted by the dramatic rise in home ownership. Using the collections and research of the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens, the exhibition features rare photographs, historic drawings and period advertisements. An evening reception will be held 6-7:30 p.m. March 26 and people are encouraged to come dressed in ‘50s attire, enjoy food and a mocktail, catch an “I Love Lucy” episode and play an outdoor patio game. Chandler Museum is located at 300

S. Chandler Village Drive. Hours are: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.; closed Monday. Information: chandlermuseum.org, or by calling

Compadres golf tournament will aid families in need

The Chandler Compadres are taking reservations and offering sponsorships for an April 17 golf tournament to raise money for disadvantaged children in the East Valley. The 20th annual Chandler Compadres Golf Classic, hosted at Talking Stick Golf Club, will feature a full day of golf, food and awards for those participating. Guests also get an unlimited bloody Mary bar, premier golf concept shopping, driving range and putting green practice. Breakfast and lunch will be catered by Talking Stick and dinner by Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Tickets: chandlercompadres.org/golf.

The class take place in the center of the New Square property at 52 W. Chicago St. A ribbon cutting for the new complex is slated March 25.

Fundraiser to help Chandler boy get a special bike

A fundraiser to help a Chandler boy with special needs get an adaptive bicycle will be held by the Armr Foundation For Kids 7-10 a.m. March 21 at Kneader's Coffee and Cars event, 1090 W. Queen

Join us April 25th for Giving Saturday! 5% of all sales will benefit Pregnancy Center of Chandler & Gilbert!

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VIRUS

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clared a pandemic. Mike Ordaz was one of the event’s attendees and said he wasn’t too concerned about catching COVID-19. The 83-year-old rarely gets sick and doesn’t see a reason to stay home or cancel any of his activities. “I’ve lived this long so I’m going to enjoy some of the fun that comes with it,” Ordaz said. Ordaz said he regularly carries around disinfectant wipes and sanitizer gel to use while in public. These precautions seem safe enough, he said, because Ordaz and his wife have been lucky to avoid the flu for several years. “We’re thankful – every day is a gift,” he added. COVID-19 is a respiratory infection with symptoms including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Only a handful of Arizona residents have caught the virus, but at least a dozen elderly people in Washington State have died from it. The CDC said most people with the disease have mild symptoms and won’t require medical intervention. But people with chronic health conditions like diabetes or heart disease will suffer harsher symptoms if they contract the virus, according to the CDC. Fay Sampson, 79, has been living with diabetes for the last few years, yet isn’t too worried about COVID-19. The Chandler resident came out to Wednesday’s Senior Expo and said the

measures and best practices recommended by the CDC and Arizona public health officials - most of which are already a critical part of day-to-day operations,” a city spokesperson wrote in a statement. The city has increased its cleaning efforts at the Tumbleweed Recreation Center by wiping down equipment and surfaces at least twice each day. Assisted-living homes around Chandler are Gov. Doug Ducey and state Health Director Cara Christ urged Arizonans enhancing their cleaning at a press copnference not to panic over COVID-19 and that the state was prepared to deal with the spreading virus. (Capitol Media Services) protocols and limiting large gatherings in order to keep outbreak hasn’t really changed or inter- older residents safe from exposure to rupted any of her daily plans. COVID-19. “I’m not worried about it,” Sampson Ducey's executive order requires said. “If it happens, it happens.” workers and visitors at skilled nursing, The city of Chandler said it’s taken nursing homes and assisted living facilisome measures to keep public places ties to be checked for symptoms of the extra clean, but has not resorted to deadly virus. canceling any scheduled events. Even efore the order was issued,, SunIts recreation department still plans rise Senior Living, which has facilities across to host its annual Spice of Life Senior the East Valley, said its ramped up screenVariety Show 2-4 p.m. March 18 at ing protocols by questioning every visitor the Chandler Center for the Arts. The if they’ve recently had any symptoms of popular event typically attracts a large the virus. audience to watch older residents sing Brookdale Senior Living said it’s canand dance in a cabaret-style show. celed some recreational outings for the Chandler’s Senior Center has not seen residents of its many facilities, including any dramatic changes in attendance or two in Chandler. programming, according to the city, and “We are acting with an abundance staff is regularly cleaning the facility’s of caution, reinforcing our policies and door handles and countertops. procedures for contagious illnesses “We continue to implement the such as influenza with staff,” Brookdale

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VIRUS

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leave their homes in Chandler and Gilbert because of age or disabilities, said neither the group’s clients nor volunteers have expressed much concern about the virus. “Surprisingly we haven’t heard from our volunteers or clients about any concerns regarding the virus,” she said. “Appointments are still being scheduled and picked up by our volunteers,” she said. “Things may change in the future, but for right now, it is business as usual, which we are happy about. Our services help our neighbors meet their basic needs, reduce isolation and remain in their homes. I would be so worried about them if we couldn’t provide these services. “Obviously, we can help in other ways if isolation becomes part of the scheme, such as get their groceries or medications, or call to make sure they are okay,” said McArthur, adding she desperately needs additional volunteers, who can register at aboutcare. org. Mary Lynn Kasunic, president/CEO of the Area Agency on the Aging Region 1, expressed the same observations. Her agency contracts with 42 subcontractors to provide a range of services to senior citizens. Among those subcontractors are Chandler, Mesa and Gilbert. “We don’t seem to be hearing much in the way of any concerns,” she said, adding senior centers like Chandler's have not reported any decrease in attendance. She said her agency has been sharing communications from the CDC and other government health agencies about the latest news on the coronavirus with agency contractors. She also expressed surprise that the CDC was advising seniors to stock up on vital necessities, including prescription medications. Health plans usually don’t allow people to obtain more than a 30-day supply of prescription drugs, Kasunic said. Ducey's order did waive copays, coinsurance and deductibles for virus tests and prohibits price-gouging for virus tests and treatment. Kasunic also said seniors can call the agency’s 24-hour hotline at 602264-HELP (4357) if they have questions related to the coronavirus, but so far, no such calls have been reported by the workers who take them. Elsewhere in Chandler, some businesses have begun prohibiting employees from visiting countries severely impacted by COVID-19. Microchip Technology and Intel recently announced they were discouraging workers from traveling to China, Italy, Korea, and Iran. These countries have collectively had more than 106,000 confirmed cases of the virus. Intel, which is Chandler’s biggest employer, disclosed last week one of its workers tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting the company’s Chandler campus. “The health and wellbeing of our workers and visitors are our top prior-

ities,” an Intel spokesperson wrote in a statement. “We will cooperate with local health authorities as needed and we’re working to ensure that all our personnel have the resources and information they need to say safe.” Intel did not reveal when the infected employee was in Chandler or where they were tested for COVID-19. Fears of a growing outbreak were enough to cancel big events down in Tucson, but one of Chandler’s most popular events is continuing as scheduled. The Ostrich Festival, which draws in thousands of visitors to Tumbleweed Park every March, did not have any vendors or entertainers pull out of the event. But the festival’s organizers implemented some extra precautions by installing more hand-washing stations. “The Ostrich Festival takes the increasing health concerns seriously and is carefully following the guidelines set in place by the CDC,” said Kwyn Johnson, spokesperson for the event’s organizers. The CDC encourages at-risk populations to avoid large gatherings and non-essential travel on planes or cruise ships. Chandler Unified School District is updating virus-related information on its website at cusd80.com/COVID19. While Tempe Union and Kyrene school districts have said they are exploring online classes if the pandemic worsens and schools are closed, CUSD has not indicated it whether its administrators have been exploring similar plans. Chandler Unified has said it will follow the county’s lead when it comes to deciding whether or not to close any schools. The district’s 44,000 students will be leaving school for a two-week spring break and there’s currently no expectation to not let them return on March 24. Chandler Unified officials said they’re not planning to screen students and staff for anyone who may travel abroad over spring break. In a letter sent out on Feb. 28, the county predicted the probability of any school closures being “very low” and “highly unlikely.” “MCDPH staff are working day and night to monitor this evolving situation and will continue to provide new information to the community as things change,” the county’s letter stated. Officials with the Arizona Department of Health and Human Services said they could not comment on whether school closures are imminent – it will depend how COVID-19 evolves over the next few days and weeks, they said. Furthermore, a child catching COVID-19 may not result in the closure of their school. State officials said if the child didn’t contract the virus at school, then the district may not be given the details of the child’s illness. In its own letter to parents, Chandler Unified emphasized exercising basic hygiene practices like hand-washing and keeping sick kids home. “Chandler Unified staff take these See

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Couple achieves goal: a new mental health law BY JIM WALSH Staff Writer

The grassroots movement that sprung from the East Valley in the wake of a long string of teen suicides that started three years ago culminated last week in the unanimous passage of a sweeping law intended to prevent suicide and expand mental health treatment. Gov. Doug Ducey immediately signed Jake’s Law with a flourish, while Denise and Ben Denslow – the Gilbert couple who campaign for the law for three years – held a picture of their 15-yearold son, Jacob Edward Machovsky, who took his life in January 2016. Jacob died three months after an insurance company decided that in-patient treatment was no longer a “medical necessity.’’ The overriding goal of Jake’s law is parity, forcing insurance companies to comply with a federal law and to treat mental illness no differently than physical illness. But the wide-ranging legislation also has other important goals. It creates an $8 million fund to expand behavioral health treatment in the schools, and a Suicide Mortality Review Team to investigate the root causes behind each suicide. Jake’s Law represents a significant next step from the Mitch Warnock Act,

Chandler and other suicide-prevention advocates joined Ben and Denise Denslow, far right, as they applauded Gov. Doug Ducey for signing Jakes Law. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

passed last year to require training of teachers and other school employees to recognize the early warning signs of suicide. “We all admire your resolve and determination to help prevent this tragedy from happening to other families,’’ Ducey said, praising the Denslows and

Angela Gamboa, another East Valley resident who lost her son to suicide under similar circumstances. “In honor of everyone in Arizona lost to suicide, this bill is for you,’’ Ducey said. The law becomes effective 91 days from the last day of this year’s legisla-

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COMMUNITY NEWS

SUICIDE

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from page 20

address teens’ emotional and mental health. The Denslows were political novices overcome by grief. They were inspired by Timothy’s Law, a parity bill in New York named after a 12-year-old boy who completed suicide, and decided to pour their time and resources into the Jem Foundation to accomplish their mission. That mission was accomplished with a stroke of a pen, seemingly with lightning speed on Tuesday, but only after months of meetings and politicking skillfully orchestrated by Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix, the bill’s sponsor. “It’s mostly an overwhelming sense of gratitude,’’ Denise Denslow, Jake’s mother, said. “It brings a sense of peace

DEATH

from page 6

take a timeout from the stresses of the school day. Chandler Unified has additionally tried increasing its staff by adding more social workers at each campus so guidance counselors have more time and resources dedicated to mental health needs. Mental health experts often describe teen suicides as a complex phenomenon that’s not prompted by one singular reason. Some common warning signs can be extreme social withdrawals, slowed thinking and a decreased

to the tragedy we faced. In a lot of ways, this is Jake’s legacy.’’ Ben Denslow noted that his stepson wanted to be a fighter pilot and knew what it was like to be bullied, so he would always stand up for other marginalized kids. But Jake was always burdened by mental health problems that eventually were diagnosed as bipolar disorder. “This whole thing is so him. He had a kind heart,’’ Ben Denslow said. Brophy McGee said she feels fortunate to have met the Denslows and that her ultimate goal throughout was to save children’s lives. “I am so grateful for the Denslows’ dedication and commitment,’’ she said. “We put politics aside, for really good policy for kids. I am honored to sponsor Jake’s Law.’’ The grassroots movement dates back to a forum organized by Katie McPherson, a longtime Chandler educator and

former principal who used her extensive contacts in education to chronicle a growing number of teen suicides in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe and Queen Creek. McPherson has compiled an unofficial list of at least 38 suicides, mostly involving teenaged boys, in mostly affluent neighborhoods that have occurred since July 2017. The shocking numbers mobilized the community, raising awareness about the warning signs of teen suicide, the need for meaningful conversations between parents and children, and the dangers of social isolation created by over-reliance on cell phones and obsessive use of video games. The annual Arizona Child Safety Review Program report found that in 2018, suicide among young people increased by 28 percent, from 50 to 64, with

males 15-17 years old at the highest risk. Firearms were the second most popular means used, prompting a recommendation to remove firearms from the homes of anyone suffering from any form of mental illness. “The number of suicide deaths in 2018 is the highest ever reported by our teams,’’ wrote Dr. Mary Ellen Rimsza, who directs the program, which has issued 26 yearly reports. Rimsza concluded that all suicide deaths are preventable with proper intervention, and they were among the 327 preventable deaths of children, with 843 children dying from a variety of causes. “We’ve suffered and we have been able to turn our suffering into something that will help others,’’ said Christie Lee Kinchen, a Scottsdale realtor who father completed suicide when she was a little girl, and who later attempted suicide.

interest in school, according to the Mayo Clinic. In appearances before the Chandler Unified and other East Valley school boards early last year and late 2018, students talked of the pressures that are driving classmates to consider or complete suicide. To a large extent, those pressures are driven by social media, which has intensified a feeling of isolation. But those pressures also include a drive to succeed academically and/or socially as well as bullying and substance abuse. Last year, the valedictorian of Chan-

dler High School’s 2018 graduation class took his life. Around the same time, a 13-year-old Mesa girl died by suicide. Zach’s obituary describes the 14-yearold as a “bright” student who enjoyed socializing with his friends every day. “He brought smiles, laughter and love to all his family and friends,” his obituary stated. “He will be missed and will forever be in the hearts of his family and friends.” Chandler education and suicide-prevention advocate Katey McPherson posted on social media that Zach’s death should be a wake-up call. “For all of us, this should signal the

long runway of silent struggle that continues to plague our community youth,” she wrote. “It’s the corner of hopelessness and overwhelmed. A corner all of us have stood upon. “This isn’t solely a school issue, a parent issue, a so and so issue. It’s a local and national health crisis and a desperate cry for help. A systemic failure.” McPherson also encouraged people to contribute “to these children who are seeking to give their friend a proper memorial.” She also urged people who wanted to join her effort to message her on Facebook.

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precautions in order to ensure a healthy learning environment for your children,” Superintendent Camille Casteel wrote. If Chandler schools were to close, the district may have to obtain permission from the Arizona Department of Education to not extend the school calendar into summer break. Districts must obtain waivers from ADE if they don’t provide at least 180 days of schooling. It would not be the first time CUSD has had to obtain such a waiver, since the district has not been afraid to close schools during previous flu outbreaks. Dignity Health, which operates Chandler Regional Medical Center, said doctors are deploying screening tools to quickly identify patients with the virus. “Dignity Health has the supplies and equipment needed to effectively manage the care of any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients and we are continuously assessing the volume of supplies at our hospital,” Dignity wrote in a statement. Even churches are not immune from the fears of contagion, as priests at Chandler’s St. Mary’s Parish have been given guidelines to limit hand-to-hand contact with congregants. “We have suspended our sharing of the communion under the species of wine to avoid any chance of spreading any viruses,” said Father Daniel McBride. “We are also being more intentional about those who give out communion – using anti-bacterial gel before giving out communion.”

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Chandler man sued for $2.2M delivery scheme BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

State authorities are suing a Chandler businessman for allegedly tricking Valley residents into giving away their personal information and then selling it to third-party telemarketers by faking deliveries to their doors. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is accusing Matthew Willes of deceiving consumers through a nonexistent package-delivery service that reportedly generated millions in revenue. Willes formed Valley Delivery LLC in Chandler three years ago and authorities claim he used the business to accumulate up to 150,000 personal phone numbers of Valley residents, then selling them to companies that sell products over the phone. According to court records, Valley Delivery compiled lists of new homeowners in Maricopa County through public records and dispatched drivers to post fake “delivery slips” on the doors of these addresses. These slips were made to appear like the resident had missed a delivery and instructed them to call a number to receive their package. After calling the number, homeowners were connected with sales representatives who gathered personal

information from the caller. The representatives would sometimes try to offer gift cards for services provided by Valley Delivery’s affiliates. Valley Delivery would then pass the resident’s number and information to My Home Services, another company started by Willes. Authorities claim these phone numbers would be shared among a collection of other business ventures formed by Willes in Chandler that purportedly sold security systems, water softeners and solar panels. Phone numbers were also distributed and sold to at least two more companies: Rescue One Air and Pristine Water Solutions. Some Valley residents weren’t fooled by the suspicious delivery slips and began reporting them to law enforcement and the news media as early as 2017. The fake slips included a disclaimer on the back that warned residents any information they gave Valley Delivery could be used “for marketing of relevant home services and product offers.” State investigators don’t believe this disclaimer was sufficient enough to properly advise callers how their information could be used. “Many homeowners did not see the less conspicuous language on the back of the delivery slip because there is no indication on the front of the slip that there is

any information on the back,” the Attorney General’s Office wrote in its lawsuit. In 2018, Willes formed Next Day Delivery LLC in Tempe and allegedly used it to carry out the same type of operation as Valley Delivery. These two entities are believed to have each collected at least 77,000 phone numbers. It’s alleged that the defendant’s parent company, My Home Services, generated $2.2 million in revenue during a one-year span. State authorities further faulted Willes for deceiving consumers by displaying a number of falsehoods on his company’s website. Valley Delivery’s website claimed to have 250 drivers delivering packages in more than 100 cities across the country. But state investigators claim the company admitted to only having eight drivers who were all based in Arizona. The website also included stock images of models that were photo-shopped to be dressed in uniforms featuring Valley Delivery’s logo. “This company went to great lengths to disguise its true intentions and obtain personal information from unsuspecting consumers,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich in a statement. “It’s amazing how far some con artists will go to deceive people. This company must be held accountable for its actions.” This is not the first time the state

has accused Willes of deploying bad business practices. In 2012, the Attorney General’s Office investigated Willes for distributing misleading delivery slips through another Chandler-based business, Metro Delivery LLC. Court records show Willes entered into a consent agreement where he promised to engage in truthful advertising, not try to portray his company as a delivery service, and pay a civil a penalty of $10,000. When investigators confronted the defendant with this prior agreement, he allegedly argued to still be abiding by it, showing the Attorney General’s Office delivery slips with disclaimers stating, “this is not an attempt to make a delivery.” But photographs of the actual slips given to residents did not contain that additional disclaimer – suggesting Valley Delivery was trying to cover its tracks. “This deliberate attempt to deceive the state further demonstrates defendants’ knowledge that their conduct was unlawful,” the state’s lawsuit reads. Brnovich’s office is demanding the court restrain Willes from deceiving more residents and to order the forfeit of any profits earned from this alleged scheme. An attempt to contact Valley Delivery was unsuccessful since the phone number listed on its website has been disconnected.

Hamilton hazing case ends in probation SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A former Hamilton High School football player has pleaded guilty to charges related to a hazing scandal that rocked the Chandler Unified School District three years ago. Nathaniel Thomas, 19, was the only student to be charged as an adult in 2017 after a lengthy investigation into rumors of hazing rituals taking place inside Hamilton’s locker room. He was scheduled to go trial later this year and was facing several years in prison if found guilty of sexual assault, kidnapping, and child molestation. But the defendant pleaded guilty on Feb. 28 to a reduced charge of aggra-

vated assault and was sentenced to six months of probation. Thomas agreed to pay $5,000 in restitution and to not make contact with any of his victims. His conviction brings an end to an ongoing scandal that brought to light troubling behavior, which some claim, was ignored by Hamilton’s staff. The Chandler Police Department recommended criminal charges against Hamilton’s former principal, athletic director and football coach for failing to report the hazing. But all three evaded prosecution after the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to file charges due to a lack of admissible evidence. The coach later resigned and the oth-

er two staff members were reassigned to new positions within the district. Police reports detailed disturbing locker room incidents involving players holding younger teammates down and sexually violating them. Players told investigators the hazing was common knowledge among everyone associated with the football team. The assailants allegedly called themselves the “The Tune Squad” and would sometimes document their hazing through Snapchat videos, police reports show. Thomas allegedly recorded videos on his phone of physical fights taking place in the locker room. In previous interviews with the press, Thomas has disputed how these hazing incidents were portrayed by law enforce-

ment – calling the activity nothing more than “horseplay” and not sexual in nature. Aside from Thomas, two other Hamilton players were charged as juveniles and quickly pleaded their cases out. Five unnamed Hamilton students filed a lawsuit against the school district shortly after Thomas’s arrest and accused administrators of negligently allowing the hazing to happen. Attorneys for the school district claim Hamilton administrators didn’t know about the hazing until early 2017. When they did find out, the district claims Hamilton responded by immediately assigning security guards to preside over the locker room. Chandler Unified settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount last year.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

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First phase of New Square project completed BY KEVIN REAGAN staff writer

The first phase of Chandler’s New Square development is nearing completion and aims to bring a mix of retail and entertainment to the city’s downtown region. Built upon a 4.7-acre lot near Arizona Avenue and Chicago Street, the New Square project features a collection of modern buildings capable of housing several new businesses. A steakhouse, honky-tonk bar, and Hilton Hotel are some of the tenants already committed to occupy sections of New Square and more are still in negotiations with developers. Spike Lawrence, one of the project’s developers, said he wants New Square to have a fun, festive vibe further enhancing the growing vibrancy of downtown Chandler. “I want it to be a gathering place, just another reason to come to downtown Chandler – to shop, to work, to play,” Lawrence said. Aside from retail, the new project will offer a courtyard area to host live entertainment throughout the year. Downtown Chandler has already become a magnet for local musicians and artists, Lawrence said, so the developers wanted to provide another venue

Ths rendering shows the vision of developer Spike Lawrence for New Square once the project is jully built. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

where visitors can be entertained. The completion of New Square marks another addition to the regional redevelopment taking place in downtown Chandler over the last few years. At the start of this century, downtown Chandler was known more for its vacant lots and empty buildings before city planners tried sprucing it up by redeveloping the region as an entertain-

ment district. When the Overstreet Chandler project broke ground in 2017 on the corner of Chandler Boulevard and Arizona Avenue, city officials described it as a “game-changer” for re-energizing this area of Chandler. Overstreet’s attracted a movie theatre, several upscale restaurants, and plenty of office tenants. Now the arrival

of New Square further expands this multi-use concept by offering a hospitality component. The inclusion of a 110-room Hilton Garden Inn within the New Square site provides one of the few large-scale hotels in this part of Chandler. It’s believed a new hotel hasn’t been constructed in the downtown region since the historic San Marcos Resort first opened more than a century ago. Job growth is off the charts in Chandler, Lawrence said, so there’s going to be demand for more hotels to accommodate all the business travelers coming to the city. HCW, a real estate development company, helped Lawrence to bring the Hilton Inn to downtown Chandler. “When we were approached by Spike Lawrence ventures to develop the Downtown Chandler Hilton Garden and New Square office park and retail buildings,” said HCW President Rick Huffman, “we recognized the tremendous growth and the redevelopment of downtown made a great location for new rooms in the area.” Some of New Square’s other confirmed tenants include Great Western Bank, WellSky, DC Steak House and The Stillery. In 2017, the city put out a request for See

SQUARE on page 25

Couple offers PTSD therapy in Chandler BY SRIANTHI PERERA Contributor

A luxurious house in south Chandler is offering treatment to people suffering from post-traumatic shock disorder. Exhale PTSD Recovery Center, owned by Jason and Tammy Nelson and founded last year, offers trauma recovery in a pleasant, home-away-from-home atmosphere. “There isn’t a place like this in the Valley,” said Jason Nelson, a recovered burn victim who was scarred mentally and physically from his ordeal six years ago and established the center as a way of giving back. Though commonly associated with soldiers who suffer trauma in armed conflict, PTSD can happen to anyone, anywhere. Jason lit a cigarette inside his home garage, not knowing about the gas leak inside. He was engulfed in a fireball suffered burns to 80 percent of his body from the knees to his ankles and waist to face. His life was saved, but he said he received “zero mental health help” in the Arizona Burn Center, where he spent seven months. “They didn’t support the PTSD; they didn’t address it at all,” he

Tammy and Jason Nelson’s Exhale PTSD Recovery Center is gaining ground in Chandler. (Srianthi Perera/Contributor)

said. Jason underwent 45 surgeries, most after leaving hospital. He didn’t return to his job as a manager at a telecommunications company. The normal life of earlier days was shattered and he was suicidal. “There are things done to burn survivors that are medically necessary to save their lives – dressing changes often, scrub downs, re-bandaging. They’re

very traumatic. My PTSD was a lot from that. It wasn’t from the explosion so much,” Jason said. His family arranged a therapist and after intensive sessions, he made progress. “This is my sixth year of recovery and finally, I’m to the point of back-to-normal. It took that long, that much counseling, that much therapy to get back to being who I was before,” Jason said. “I’m

still not that same person.” But he wasn’t the only person in the family who suffered PTSD after his ordeal. Tammy, too, began having extreme panic attacks. “I actually had more PTSD than he had because I saw it all, I heard it all. He was in a coma and he didn’t remember what happened to him, but I was there,” she said. “I didn’t even know it was PTSD. I had anxiety, I was short-tempered and crying all the time.” She looked for an out-patient facility to receive treatment, but didn’t find one. The Valley offers rehabilitation centers for drugs, alcohol, eating disorders and other conditions, but not for PTSD. It’s when they decided to create a facility to cure others like themselves, and in the process, help the community that helped them. The Nelsons first operated Exhale on an outpatient level. Realizing its success, they opened the Chandler facility in 2018. They are licensed to treat eight individuals at a time, and have so far treated more than 30 – all of whom left them glowing reviews. Word of mouth is spreading and sometimes they have a See

EXHALE on page 25

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

SQUARE

EXHALE

retail aesthetic. His firm was responsible for completing the Downtown Ocotillo development near Queen Creek and Dobson roads in 2015, which is home to several trendy restaurants and salons. Phase two of the New Square project will include constructing a six-story building at the southwest corner of Chicago Street and Arizona Avenue. Lawrence said the building will be home to a variety of tenants and construction should start later this year. There’s so much energy pulsating around downtown Chandler, Lawrence added and New Square will hopefully enhance this energy. The public’s invited to attend a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 25 to mark the completion of New Square’s first phase.

from page 24

proposals to develop a piece of vacant land down the street from City Hall. Lawrence and his partners had their proposal picked from a pool of at least three submissions. The entertainment aspect of their proposal likely made it more appealing to the city, Lawrence said, since everybody’s looking for innovative ways to get people out of their homes and into businesses. “You’ve got to be creative and create a destination for people,” Lawrence said. The city and Lawrence entered into an agreement in 2018, allowing him to buy the property for $6.50 per square foot. As part of the deal, the city agreed to build a new parking garage along Oregon Street. The city spent up to $1.5 million designing and building the 293,000-square-foot, five-level garage and finished the project last October. Lawrence, a Chandler resident, has a long history of developing projects

from page 24

waiting list. Exhale offers 24-hour nursing care, a behavioral health technician, three therapists, psychiatrist, medical doctor and compliance manager. There’s trauma massage, trauma yoga, art and equine therapies, among others, with all treatments customized to the individual. “We have the cream of the crop working here. Most of the employees who work here have had their own trauma or PTSD,” Tammy said. “It wasn’t a requirement, but they really do understand more.” One of the most powerful treatments for PTSD is a psychotherapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); it involves eye movement, tapping or sound and enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress as a result from disturbing experiences. Jason and Tammy have both undergone the therapy and attest to its success.

This map shows the layout of New Square, the massive project that will have a grand opening of its first building later this month. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

around the East Valley. He’s been buying up properties since graduating from

Arizona State University and has played a part in designing Chandler’s modern

During her sessions, Tammy was shown a photograph of Jason during his early days in the hospital when he was covered in bandages from top to toe. It was a trigger. “I start crying, sweating and responding. Then we did EMDR. I followed the light, listened to the buzzy,” she said. Afterward, she was shown the photo again and asked how it felt. “I feel O.K. It doesn’t bother me. That picture doesn’t bother me to think about that moment,” Tammy said. PTSD can be a result of experiencing a terrifying event such as the loss of a child, accident, divorce or firing from employment. It can occur in first responders, who frequently encounter and witness disturbing events in the course of their work. The disorder can manifest itself as fear, panic attacks, stress, tremors and hyper-ventilation. After EMDR, those memories are still present, but it doesn’t affect you, Tammy said. Exhale’s patients’ average length of stay is three weeks and after leaving,

they are placed into out-patient care with a reputed therapist. They also have opportunities to attend alumni events at the Chandler center. “Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better because you’re unpacking so much in there,” Tammy said. “There are times when it gets worse for them periodically and there’s days when I come to visit when there are patients who want to hug me and have a smile on their faces and sometimes when I come in they don’t want to be touched because they’re processing their grief and going through what they did not want to think about and go through,” she said. “They’re forced to because it’s the only way to get it out.” Tammy calls it “methods to the madness.” “It seems crazy but it works. We did it ourselves,” she said. After his EMDR therapy sessions, Jason came home with a “life-changing” difference, according to Tammy. In addition to the mental agony, a burn patient is also physically disfigured and

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the therapy has to help him get past it. “Once you get past all that and they start loving themselves, he started making jokes about his burns. He went from hanging in the closet all the time in the dark depressed to happy,” she said, adding: “And it didn’t take long, it didn’t take many sessions to get to that. So it’s how I knew there was something to this.” “It’s a process but it’s working,” said Jason, who serves on the board of the Arizona Burn Foundation. Tammy, a former chiropractic assistant, is involved in running Exhale. Her son changed his degree from engineering to psychology because he developed an interest in the topic. Jason’s son is studying psychiatry. “The tragedy was really tough for us, for our family and our friends, but at the same time, we’re better for it,” Tammy said. “We have more empathy, we understand and recognize people’s traumas. We always say, we don’t regret what happened because it catapulted us into something.” Details: exhalerecovery.com.

SanTan Sun publisher buys New River newspaper SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Times Media Group, a Valley-based company with community weekly newspapers and websites throughout Arizona and California, has acquired The Foothills Focus, a community news weekly based in New River. In addition to New River, the publication covers several other North Valley communities, including Anthem, Black Canyon City, Cave Creek and Carefree. According to Times Media officials, the acquisition brings its weekly Valleywide circulation to 285,000 printed copies, information it says is supported by its most recent AMA independent circulation audit. The company, which publishes the SanTan Sun News, also operates several community news websites in the Valley,

including EastValley.com, WestValleyView. com, Phoenix.org, Scottsdale.org, Ahwatukee.com, ChandlerNews.com and others with a cumulative monthly unique visitor count in the Valley of more than 500,000. The company said its online audience numbers are also supported by its most recent independent audit by AMA. At a time when many newspaper-centric media companies are curtailing circulation and managing declining operations, Times Media Group has famously continued to expand its reach and footprint, mostly through the acquisition of other similar media groups. “What we have found is a model for success in difficult times, and that model relies heavily on highly motivated media professionals, adherence to practical cost structures and a value-based community news engine at its core,” said Steve

Strickbine, Times Media Group’s founder and president. Last year, Times Media Group acquired several high-profile and storied news titles in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, which included the Downtown Los Angeles News, the Pasadena Weekly, the Argonaut, and the Ventura County Reporter among others. John Alexander, the founder and publisher of The Foothills Focus, said his decision to sell his publication to Times Media wasn’t a difficult one. “I have watched what they’re doing for a long time, and after some consideration, really believe this to be a great path for us,” he said. “It allows us to grow and allows me more time to meaningfully reconnect with the community and to build even stronger relationships with our advertisers.” Alexander, who founded the paper in

2002, will continue to act as the Focus’s Associate Publisher, and work out of the publication’s main office in New River as he has for nearly 20 years. Asked where he thought the community news industry is headed in the ever-changing digital age, Strickbine said: “The bottom line is that where there are crises, there also often exist out-ofdate ways of thinking, or paradigms. Our approach, our people and our commitment to giving communities the news they need, and that they can increasingly find in few other places, adds up to a pretty simple value proposition, one I believe readers and advertisers understand inherently and that they’ve come to trust. “At TMG we hold the responsibility of being good stewards of that trust at the very center of our mission. In other words, our future is bright,” he said.

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

New Waymo vehicles hitting the road with tech upgrades SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

People who are accustomed to seeing Waymo’s autonomous vans rolling around Chandler and the East Valley are due for a surprise. The company is rolling out a new fleet of sportier-looking vehicles. And they’ll be equipped with a new generation of hardware that the company says will make their vehicles even safer. “While these vehicles will not be providing rides as part of its Waymo One fleet right away, local residents will see them driving around the East Valley,” company spokeswoman Amanda Ventura Zink said. The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles are equipped with a new suite of cameras, lidar and radar also is less expensive, Ventura Zink said – the benefit of “over 20 million miles of on-road experience and a deep understanding of the edge cases self-driving technology needs to handle to safely take people and things where they are going.” The new “visions system” comprises 29 cameras that give the Waymo Driver different perspectives of the road with overlapping fields of view. They’re powerful enough to see a stop sign or pedestrian over 540 yards away and “capture more detail and provide sharper images in the toughest driving environments,” Ventura Zink said. In a blog detailing the new technology, Waymo said custom lenses and optomechanical engineering “enable much higher performance levels than cameras on cars today.” Lidar, or Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges. Waymo said its lidar “paints a 3D picture of its surroundings, allowing us to measure the size and distance of objects around our vehicle, whether they’re up close or over 300 meters away.” That technology enables the vehicles “to identify objects driving into the sun

A sporty Jaguar comprises the new fleet of Waymo vehicles, which will be using a fifth generation of high-tech hardware whose functions are illustrated above. (Waymo)

on the brightest days as well as on moonless nights” and “provides a bird’s-eye view of what surrounds a vehicle with incredible long-distance accuracy – seeing cars, cyclists, pedestrians or an opening car door,” Ventura Zink said. The company said its 360-degree lidar system “provides a bird’s-eye view of the cars, cyclists and pedestrians surrounding the vehicle.” “It also gives our trucks the ability to spot road debris hundreds of meters ahead on the highway, so there’s enough time for a Waymo driven truck to stop or make a lane change,” the company added. The Jags also are equipped with perimeter lidar that helps them “to navigate tight gaps in city traffic and cover potential blind spots on hilly terrain.” It said that overall, the system enhances the vehicles’ ability to “scale our fleet to more challenging places.”

The vehicles’ new radar complements the camera and lidar systems and makes them able to “instantaneously see and measure an object’s velocity (or lack thereof) even in tough weather conditions such as rain, fog and snow,” the company blog said. “Performance is further improved by overlapping the coverage between radars, and with the cameras and lidars as well,” it noted, saying the radar’s higher resolution and signal processing “allow it to better detect and track objects that are

moving, barely moving or stopped.” The longer-distance detection means the vehicles have a longer reaction time to obstacles farther ahead. The company said that despite the advancements in the technology, engineers have cut its production costs in half. Waymo developed the new hardware suite because no single type of sensor can provide the detail that a combination of the three provides so that its vehicles “can safely navigate complex environments,” the company said.

There are some steps to protecting your retirement BY HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

I’m submitting this article on March 6 and the last two weeks have seen the U.S. stock market gyrate up and down with extreme volatility due to fear about the impact of the coronavirus. At the close of the March 5 stock market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 969.24 points, or 3.58 percent, to close at 26,121.62. Compared to the all-time highs of 29,551.42 at the close of Feb. 12, the DowJones dropped 11.61 percent. The S&P500 and the Nasdaq Composite also closed in correction territory, down more than 10 percent from their recent highs on Feb. 19. At 7:50 a.m., March 6, the 10-year Treasury note fell to an all-time low of 0.660 percent due to the coronavirus fears causing huge demand for “safe” U.S. Treasury bonds.

This will impact the famous “4 percent withdrawal rule,” which states if one has $1 million of financial assets, one can withdraw only $40,000 the first year one retires and still have a 90 percent chance that you will not run out of money while retired. Each year, one can increase the withdrawal amount by the rate of inflation. However, years ago, T. Rowe Price lowered the number to the “2.8 percent rule.” If these new historically low-interest rates continue, I’m sure it will be the “2 percent” rule. No one ever thought saving $1 million meant they could only safely withdraw $20,000 their first year of retirement. There are ways to substantially increase your retirement income without the risk of Wall Street stocks or ridiculously low-interest rates: Maximize Social Security: Last year, I met an Ahwatukee couple who became a new client. They learned that there are only two factors that determine one’s Social Security Retirement Benefit income: the top 35 years one paid into SS and

when one starts SS benefits. They both have high incomes and by waiting until age 70 to take SS, they will have a combined $72,000/year of SS income. Note that only 3 percent wait until age 70 to take SS. Create a private pension: I met an engineer, age 56, last year that became a new client. He looked at the research and for the last 20 years, starting on Jan. 1, 2000, the average S&P 500 stock dividends were 2.02 percent and the compound average growth rate (CAGR) of these stocks was 3.99 percent. If one added the two items together, it’s a total of 6.01 percent. However, if one adjusts by inflation, it becomes a CAGR of 3.79 percent. Source: MoneyChimp.com. When one subtracts the typical 3 percent annual fee that all full-service brokerage firms want to earn on your account, you are left with very little. Instead, he was willing to deposit $200,000 into a private pension. By waiting until 70, he would receive $21,688, or a 10.63 percent rate of cash flow, every year that he’s alive. In comparison, a $200,000,

10-year Treasury bond purchased early March 6, 2020, would only generate $1,320 of annual income – a 0.660 percent interest rate. Be open to alternative (to Wall Street) investments: There are options to earn a 7-9 percent tax-adjusted rate of return from lending to real estate fix and flippers or doing equipment leasing. In contrast, the three largest banks in Phoenix will pay 0.01 percent, 0.05 percent, or 0.15 percent on a 1-year CD. This means that $100,000 deposited will pay you $10, $50, or $150 of annual interest, instead of $7,000-9,000 in alternative investments. Free Seminar: “Maximize Your Social Security & Other Retirement Income” will be held 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 6:158:15 p.m. March 31 at the Golden Corral, 1318 N. Cooper Road, Gilbert. After each presentation will be a free buffet meal. Contact me at 480-706-0177 or harold_ wong@hotmail.com to RSVP. - 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 | MARCH 15, 2020

Olive Mill squeezing the most from agritourism BY GLENN SWAIN Contributor

Peter Rea, wearing a flannel shirt, vest, jeans, and boots, enjoys greeting visitors at his Queen Creek Olive Mill. “Really, we’re farmers,” he said as he welcomed customers near an aisle full of bottles of extra-virgin olive oil and vinegar. Rea’s Queen Creek Olive Mill is Arizona’s only working olive farm and mill. Family-owned and operated; the 100acre farm has more than 7,000 olive trees on 40 acres. Rea also harvests olives from 100 acres of trees near Yuma and 368 acres in Sacaton. Rea said 650,000 people visit Olive Mill annually to purchase the company’s extra-virgin olive oil, Rea’s own unique bottled vinegar recipes. The Olive Mill restaurant prepares fresh from scratch sandwiches, salads pizzas for visitors to eat indoors and outside on picnic tables under the shade of trees. Also for sale are bath and body products created on-site, and other Arizona-made products like honey made from bees on the premises. Visitors also take daily tours and learn the craft of olive oil making from several classes. Since buying the 100-acre property in 2003, Rea and other family members have now turned the Olive Mill into what he calls an “agritourism destination.” “Getting into the agritourism business is interesting since it’s so comprehensive,”

The Queen Creek Olive Mill draws customers from East Mesa and throughout the Valley with its award-winning olive oil and a restaurant serving novel dishes. (Glenn Swain/Contributor)

he explained. “We have a hundred people working for us. We have a farm operation where we harvest and process olives, we bottle and sell it, and we have a restaurant. “It’s comprehensive, and it’s a challenge, but it’s what makes us unique from everyone else. Between us and Schnepf Farms, we are agritainment, a fancy word for a farm delivering a variety of experiences to people.” The idea to enter into the olive oil business started with a flippant comment from his Italian father when visiting Arizona in the late 1990s. At the time, Rea was in the automotive industry in Detroit but yearned to do

something different. He and his wife, Brenda, at the time, had four children and one on the way. “My father mentioned the number of olive trees growing in Arizona,” Rea said. “After returning from Arizona, Brenda and I were in an Irish pub in Bloomfield, Michigan one night when she looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t we do olive oil in Arizona?’ “I had a business background. I started researching the olive business and who grew olives. I traveled to Italy to learn how to make olive oil.” It was slow going at first. Olive Mill produced only small amounts of olive oil. “When we started fifteen years ago,

Queen Creek Olive Mill owner Peter Rea has turned the site into an “agritourism destination” through a lot of hard work over the 17 years he has owned the site. (Glenn Swain/Contributor)

we were doing about 150 pounds of olives an hour,” he said. Olive Mill’s processing facility, where 160,000 liters of olive oil is stored, is located near the restaurant, herb gardens and eating areas. Its extra-virgin olive oil is now known worldwide. Three years ago, Olive Mills won a gold award at the International Olive Oil Competition in New York. See

OLIVEMILL on page 28

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Businesses detail woes with online sales taxes BY JESSICA MYERS Cronkite News

WASHINGTON. D.C. – Small business owners told Congress last week a Supreme Court ruling intended to help them compete against online retailers is instead threatening to drive small firms out of business. “Nothing has shaken us like Wayfair,” said Prescott businessman Brad Scott, adding he and his wife have thought about closing Halstead Bead Inc., their 27-employee business. Scott was one of several small business officials testifying to a House subcommittee on the impact of South Dakota v. Wayfair, a court ruling stating states could collect sales tax on goods sold in their states from online retailers. But while one witness compared the ruling to “taxation without representation,” others said it merely makes online retailers pay the same sales taxes brickand-mortar stores have always had to pay. The old system was also costing states sales tax revenue, with South Dakota alone estimating it lost $48 million to $58

OLIVEMILL

from page 27

Last year Olive Mill took home a silver award out of more than 1,000 entries. The annual competition is the largest and most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

million a year. “We’re very happy the Supreme Court has finally leveled the playing field,” said Craig Shearman, a spokesman for the National Retail Federation, said of the court’s June 2018 ruling. “This court ruling came about partly because the small businesses were concerned about unfair competition from large national online sellers who were, basically able to undercut them on pricing because they didn’t have to collect sales tax on their online sales,” Shearman said. Arizona approved a law last year to levy sales taxes on “remote sellers and marketplace facilitators” doing more than $200,000 in sales in the state in 2019, with the threshold dropping to $150,000 this year and $100,000 next year and beyond. Kevin Mahoney, founder of the online site FindTape, told a House Small Business subcommittee: “It’s incredibly stressful to open up your mail and see a stack of letters from a state you have no real presence in.” Currently, 45 states and the District of Columbia levy sales taxes. Tax rates differ by state, many of which have local sales taxes to further complicate the situation.

Scott said online small businesses like his see all of the pain and none of the benefit from the ruling. “State sales tax laws are complex, and none are identical,” Scott told a House Small Business subcommittee. “There is no single resource that instructs on all 51 departments of revenue; there are 51 playbooks we must learn. This is an impossible task.” Scott, who has to figure taxes for 32 states he sells in, said the bookkeeping is so complex it costs him $2.31 to collect every $1 of tax he sends back to the states. He testified his business struggled to keep up with the “same compliance expectations” as a company like Wayfair Inc. - he said is 1,100 times larger than Halstead Bead. But Shearman said there are resources like Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board Inc. to help make life easier for small businesses. It has helped develop software to “calculate the tax owed automatically and then periodically also submits those tax payments to the appropriate state automatically,” he said.

Scott said such software is needed, but is “far from a complete solution” and “We want uniformity and simplicity across the states.” He pointed to resolutions passed unanimously last month by the Arizona House and Senate calling on Congress to enact “uniform national legislation to simplify sales tax or similar tax collection to reduce the burden of tax compliance on remote sellers” in light of the Wayfair ruling. Other solutions could include state tax uniformity, a single tax-filing point and a break on taxes on wholesale businesses like his. “This would be tremendously beneficial to manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, not really dealing in the retail world,” he said. Scott’s business was founded by his wife’s parents in the early 1970s, and grew from selling jewelry pieces to wholesale jewelry parts – from sterling silver chains to charms. Scott’s company, with 27 employees, does 94 percent of its business online – but Scott said the burden of paying taxes to 32 states has led him and his wife to think about shutting down.

Its annual list of award winners is the authoritative guide to the world’s best olive oils and the producers who craft them. Rea grabs a cup of coffee and strolls by shelving holding bottles of extra-virgin olive oil. “We do all the blending recipes our-

selves,” he said. Like any other business owner, Rea is always looking to the future. “We’re getting ready to go through another expansion, but mainly in our processing,” he said while front-facing bottles on a shelf. “Now that those two other farms

went into production last year, we’re going to need to increase our capacity from three tons of olives an hour to probably eight tons an hour.” Information: 5062 S. Meridian Road, Queen Creek. 480-888-9290. Queencreekolivemill.com.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

How to preserve your home for later life BY BARBARA MASON Guest Writer

We want our home to be a cozy and comforting place but things such as clutter, renovations and safety hazards can make it difficult to relax. As we get older, there are certain things we should be aware of and maintain to ensure we can spend more healthy and happy years in your home. It is a good idea to conduct a yearly inspection of your home and property and plan ahead for maintenance and repairs. Here are a few areas to examine: Conduct a yearly walk of your property and home exterior and check the following: Siding or exterior paint – check for splits, cracks or gaps, Retaining walls, cinderblock fencing or chain link fencing – check for holes, loose parts or torn links. Chimney, gutters and downspouts check for debris, animals and any general dilapidation needing repairs as these structures age. Foundation - check for cracks and bulges and look at any exterior wood for signs of termite damage or rot. Roof – check for missing tiles, cracks or crumbling pieces. Sidewalks and driveways – look for overgrown tree roots interrupting the concrete and any additional cracks or

fissures that could be a tripping hazard. Outdoor landscaping – check for tree branches and roots that can damage your roof and housing foundation. This also includes yearly palm tree maintenance. Doors and windows can be very costly to replace. In a yearly inspection, you should have someone look for: Loose hinges or doorknobs. Holes, snags or interruptions in weather stripping and window screens Cracks around windowpanes and in

shutters. Peeling paint or other signs of water damage. It can be a rough wake-up call if you don’t check the following: Loose bits and popped nails in your flooring. Stains on the ceiling, which may indicate a leak. Cracks above doorways, which may be a sign your house’s foundation has shifted.

Scorches or burns in your breaker box, which may mean you have a loose or sparking wire. Maintaining your appliances can be easy to overlook, but you can follow these tips to keep everything in good working order: Drain your water heater to remove any sediment at the bottom. Wiggle around the base of your toilet to see if it rocks or sways. This may be a sign a leak caused damaged to the surrounding floor tiles. If you have a septic tank, make sure it is emptied regularly. Check around radiators for leaks or signs of damage and examine vent covers for missing screws. Turn on all your stove burners and check for functionality, sparks or flame bursts. Regularly change your air and water filters. Check your smoke and CO2 detectors every month. Batteries should be changed annually and detectors replaced if more than 10 years old. If you have a membership with a Life Care at home program such as Sun Health At Home, you have access to a vetted vendor list, which assists in hiring a reputable outside company or handyman to help. Information: SunHealthAtHome.org. - Barbara Mason is the executive director of Sun Health at Home and has over 20 years in the healthcare industry.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler players showcase skills at Under Armour Camp BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Nearly 200 of the best football players from across Arizona and six other states flocked to Williams Field High School in Gilbert Sunday morning to showcase their skills as part of invite-only camp. The Under Armour All-America Camp Series made its first and only stop in the Valley on Feb. 23, inviting athletes from Arizona, Utah, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Nevada to partake in a day of position-specific drills being filmed to send off to college coaches across the country. It was also an evaluation period for those involved with the Under Armour All-America Game which takes place every January. The East Valley was represented by 79 athletes in total, all from different schools across Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale and Ahwatukee. Chandler had 12 players from its Open Division state-championship team receive invitations to the Under Armour All-America camp. While some could not attend, including running back Eli Sanders who was sick, the Wolves still had a strong showing in nearly every position drill. Defensive end Brandon Buckner worked with Saguaro defensive end

Among the Chandler athletes who impressed at the Under Armour Campe were, from left: Brandon Buckner, Quaron Adams and Joel Diaz (Chris Mortenson/Staff Photographer)

Quintin Somerville in hand drills, where the two practiced different ways to free themselves from the grasps of offensive lineman. Next to them was the duo of Chandler defensive end opposite of Buckner, Zion Magalei, who worked with Saguaro defensive tackle Alani Ma’afu. Both groups had one of several coaches

there helping lead the drill. But in this instance, he was more than just a coach. The four were being coached by Brentson Buckner, Brandon’s father and the newly hired defensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals. “Yeah, it’s cool to have him with the Cardinals,” Brandon Buckner said ahead of the event.

Buckner was dominant during each drill, specifically in one-on-ones. He overpowered the offensive lineman in his first rep, creating separation on the tackle’s inside shoulder to get to the inside. On his second go-around, the three-star 6-foot-1, 234-pounder used See

CAMP on page 38

Seton Catholic steamrolls to 4A girls basketball title BY BRITTANY BOWYER Contributor

The Seton Catholic Sentinels girls basketball team has a long-standing history of dominance. On Saturday, Feb. 29, it showed once again why it is one of the best teams in Arizona. The top-ranked Sentinels steamrolled their way to a 70-40 victory in the 4A girls state championship game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, defeating No. 3 Sahuaro. The game got off to a close start as both teams opened with tough defense. The first basket did not come until more than two minutes in from Seton Catholic sophomore Lexi McNabb. “They played really good defense on us,” McNabb said. “We knew that we needed to do what we know how to do, and what we do best, and then we would get what we want. That’s exactly what happened.” However, things started rolling, and junior Amanda Barcello set the tone when she was able to steal a ball on the floor, dribble and get up to ensure she didn’t get a traveling violation. At the end of the first eight minutes, it was 1710 Seton Catholic on top. In the second quarter, Seton Catholic started to pull ahead, anchored by its strong defensive efforts and ability to secure offensive rebounds and second-chance points. Two minutes into

Seton Catholic girls basketball team steamrolled their way to a 4A basketball state championship after beating Sahuaro on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. (Brittany Bowyer/Contributor)

the second quarter, the Sentinels went on an 11-2 run, which resulted in Seton Catholic going into the half with a 39-16 lead. Sahuaro looked to have made some adjustments to open up the second half of the game. But they weren’t enough, as the Sentinels were putting up shots from all over the court and sinking them. Seton Catholic was able to pull away to a 59-32 lead going into the final eight minutes of play. In the fourth quarter, Seton Catholic was able to continue chopping away at Sahuaro despite Barcello fouling out with about 6 minutes left.

The final buzzer served as a moment of redemption for the Sentinels, who had a heartbreaking loss in last year’s state championship game after winning the state title in 2018. “It’s unbelievable. I had this feeling my freshman year, last year we lost, so I’ve experienced both, but back to this feeling, it’s unbelievable and I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Barcello said. “I think the feeling we had freshman year, me, Amanda, Jamie, a lot of the juniors, we knew that feeling and we knew the feeling of losing too, and we hated it,” junior Bella DiGiovanni added. “We weren’t going to let it happen

again.” Many of the players mentioned their late assistant coach Tiffany Tate, who passed away in September 2018 following a battle with lung cancer at the age of 35. Seton Catholic finished with four girls who had 10 or more points. That included sophomore Sasha Daniel who had 11, McNabb who had 10, Barcello who had 11 and junior bench player Annemarie Trojanovich. Freshman Amelie Cartagena also had an outstanding game with nine points, as did sophomore LeeLee Willis, who was tied for the most steals with three and the most rebounds with eight. While winning the championship trophy was huge for Seton Catholic, coach Karen Self said winning the AIA team sportsmanship award is an even bigger deal to her. “I think that sportsmanship award speaks volumes for us about who we are as a team, and even though we had some big wins, I had referees who would say ‘thank you for using your bench and not pressing when you’re up by more than 20,’” Self said. “Really, I’m prouder of that than anything else. I’m so proud of our kids.” The Sentinels, who had a dominating season this year, will not be losing any players on this year’s team. Seton Catholic will look to continue building in the offseason and keep growing on the court.

SPORTS & RECREATION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Skyline Gila River girls basketball celebrates 1st title BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Skyline Gila River High School’s new campus hasn’t even been for an entire school year, yet there have already been several life-long memories made in south Chandler. “I feel like everything has now finally come full circle,” said Daveda Taylor, who has been with the school for 9 years and the head girls basketball coach for 5. “Just preaching hard work, dedication, teamwork, and at the end to be able to hold the trophy, it feels really good. And to do it in a new building, it’s awesome.” The Skyline girls basketball program, which competes in Division II of the Canyon Athletic Association, won the school’s first-ever state title on Feb. 25, at Talking Stick Resort Arena, the home of the Phoenix Suns. The Mustangs dominated rival Salt River performing up to the expectations it came with clinching the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Led by senior forward Sequoia Lucero’s 17 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks, Skyline quickly built a large lead Salt River was unable to overcome. The Mustangs went on to win 63-40. Lucero was named Division II Most Valuable Player. “It felt really good,” Lucero said. “Everyone was running up to us, jumping on us, cheering with us, it just felt really good knowing we did it. We had a lot of support there and we had a good coach to coach us through it all. Leaving high

The Skyline Gila River High School girls basketball team rejoiced last month over their first state title. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

school with a championship makes it even better.” Lucero was just one of three seniors on the Skyline roster this season, which also included three players in eighth grade. She was one of the key players all season long, helping lead the Mustangs to success on a nightly basis. Her accolades throughout her career at Skyline earned her an opportunity to continue her basketball career at Benedictine University in Mesa. Her teammate, senior guard Angelica Ulate, also signed with Benedictine.

“I’m a little nervous,” Lucero said. “I don’t really think I’m that good but I’m ready to learn how to play higher ball.” Cathauli Morris was also key to Skyline’s championship win, as she scored 12 points. Taylor anticipates Morris to be one of the returning juniors to take over for the three departing seniors as leaders next season. As of right now, it’s hard for Morris to fathom the responsibilities that will be placed upon her when she’s a senior. But it’s a role she knows she will be able to thrive in while chasing back-to-

back championships. “The seniors are leaving and I know I need to step up,” Morris said. “(The seniors) mean a lot to me. They would always help me out and show me support. They were always there for me.” Skyline’s new campus was opened just ahead of the 2019-20 school year. Located on the southeast corner of Arizona Avenue and Riggs Road, athletic director Jeremy Basham said there was speculation the school wasn’t going to be done in time for its nearly 250 students to attend the first day of class. Previously located just outside of Maricopa in Bapchule, Ariz. on the reservation, Skyline charters several buses every day for students who decided to stay enrolled at the school despite its move. There were some, however, who decided to attend other schools, which dropped Skyline’s enrollment. The building is outfitted with gym capable of hosting all students and parents for athletic events and assemblies. It’s where the entire student body flocked to on Thursday, Feb. 27, two days after winning the championship. The entire team entered the gym to cheers from their peers. They were presented with a certificate from the City of Chandler during the ceremony. Additionally, the school’s first-ever state-championship banner was unveiled, followed by cheers, hugs and even some tears from Mustang players. And as is seen following both college and professional basketball title games, every player climbed a ladder to cut a piece of the net from the basket.

Arizona sports community braces for virus BY COLE BAILEY Cronkite News

As the world continues to deal with the impact of COVID-19, a novel strain of the coronavirus that has killed more than 3,000 people and infected more than 95,000 others across the world, concerns have seeped into the Arizona sports community. The 15 Cactus League teams playing spring training in Arizona received a memo from Major League Baseball recommending players don’t take baseballs and pens from fans to sign autographs. Scouts from the NHL Coyotes have been told to take precautions, and the state’s governing body for high school sports is taking its lead from the national federation. “We have to be aware it could potentially hit our area, and we want to be mindful and we want to prepare as we move forward,” said David Hines, the executive director of the Arizona Interscholastic Federation. “We don’t want to panic yet, but we want to pay attention.” On a global scale, many sports organizations have taken aggressive action in order to prevent further spread of the disease. The status of the Summer Olympics,

The Texas Rangers and the rest of the teams on the Cactus League circuit were told by Major League Baseball not to take pens and sign autographs for fans, further diminishing the spring ball experience that’s been hampered by poor weather. (Cronkite News)

which are scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, just four months from now, is in question. The IOC remains committed to holding the Games as scheduled, but talks of postponement or cancellation have come about in recent weeks. In Italy, all sporting events – including Serie A soccer, one of the biggest leagues in the entire world – will be played without spectators for at least the next month.

In Japan, preseason baseball games have already started to be played without fans in attendance. Switzerland has taken a similar stance, as all public gatherings with more than 1,000 people have been disallowed until March 15 at the earliest. Arizona sports institutions currently in season, which include spring training, professional and college basketball, and high school athletics, have not taken steps as drastic as these quite yet.

Despite this, those directly involved with these sports – like Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell – have started to take notice. “We’re certainly talking about it and formulating how we’re going to have to address it,” Counsell said. “I think it’s a little bit on everyone’s mind. If something’s there, we want to do our best to be prepared.” Major League Baseball does not have any current plans to cancel or postpone spring training games, but it did send out a memo to baseball officials recommending players don’t take baseballs and pens from fans to sign autographs. Counsell understands why but regrets this is the case. In his view, spring training is the ideal situation for young fans to connect with their favorite players. “It’s a shame this is what it has gotten to,” Counsell said. “I think spring training is probably the best time for intimate fan interactions with players and getting autographs, so it’s a shame if it was suggested otherwise.” In a sport such as baseball where players are close together in the clubhouse and are constantly sharing the same ball on the field, the need for good hygiene is paramount. See

VIRUS on page 38

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

SPORTS & RECREATION

CAMP

from page 35

his speed and ripped to the outside, sacking the quarterback. “My main goal was to come out here and dominate,” Buckner said. “I was really looking forward to the one-onones. I’m excited to go against some of the best players in the state and from all over. I’m just happy to be out here.” Magalei had similar success during the drill, as he pushed the offensive tackle back into the quarterback. About 50 yards away, Chandler athlete

VIRUS

from page36

Giants catcher Tyler Heineman recognizes this, and he has received tips from the team as well as his wife, who is in healthcare, about things he should and should not do. “I know it’s a big thing and a scare, but the best thing I can do as a person is try and take care of myself and be healthy, wash my hands and make sure I get enough sleep and nutrition,” Heineman said. “Just try and stay away from being sick. Whatever else happens, it’s out of my control.” Similarly to baseball, the NBA has also sent out a memo to teams discouraging autographs and high-fives on the court. It is difficult to monitor these types of things, Suns coach Monty Williams said, but he believes his team has started to take the necessary precautions. “I think everybody is aware and cau-

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Quaron Adams worked with other wideouts in a variety of pass-catching drills. When he and the other wideouts lined up for one-on-one drills with defensive backs, he showcased his electrifying speed, sprinting past defenders to get open. “I’m glad to be here to showcase my talent and my ability,” Adams said. “I expected to do well in the 40, vertical, just show off my agility. Then once we got to the one-on-ones, show off my ability as a receiver.” Adams, a 5-foot-8, 150-pound slot receiver and running back, already has

offers from the likes of Arizona State, Oregon, Kansas and Northern Arizona despite entering his junior season in 2020. But his future could also include track. Adams won the Division I title last spring in the 100-meter dash in 10.49 seconds, which was among the top-five fastest times ever in Arizona and the ninth-fastest in the country by a freshman. Adams was sidelined most of the football season with an injury this past fall. Now healthy, he’s ready to make an impact in Chandler’s high-powered offense. “I expect a lot of things to make up

for last season,” Adams said. “I think I can definitely be a threat in this offensive scheme under coach (Rick Garretson) and the rest of the coaching staff.” Chandler quarterback Mikey Keene, receiver Kyion Grayes, defensive tackle Anthony Hanger, running back Nicolas Nesbitt, linebacker Kyler Orr and defensive backs Travis Roberts and Kentrell Williams were also present at the camp. Joel Diaz and Kellen Gibson represented Arizona College Prep, while Brock Dieu, Kyle Pointer and others represented Casteel.

tious, just because it’s something you have to take seriously,” Williams said. “We had a presentation a couple days ago to give us an idea as to what to look for, how to take care of yourself, and where it is across the country. “I think all of our guys are cautious, but it’s about all I can say about it. I’m not watching to see if guys are fist-bumping or elbow-bumping or anything like that. You just hope everybody is trying to be as safe as they can. “I think if anything were to happen, the team would be on top of it and make decisions based on the safety of our players and the safety of everybody around,” Williams continued, adding: “The league has always been ahead of the curve in situations like this, so I’m sure they have precautions in place. I’m hopeful it doesn’t come to that, but we’ll see.” The AIA, the governing body of over 260 high school athletics programs in the state of Arizona, has already started to be

proactive in its efforts to stop the potential spread of the coronavirus at events. The AIA has already started to share information given to it by the National Federation of State High School Associations with its member schools, Hines said. “We’re not the experts, so as an association, we rely on the experts,” Hines said. “We have a sports medicine advisory committee we meet with made up of doctors and athletic trainers, and so anytime we do anything medical, we’re paying attention to the experts. “With the county health department, the state health department, the governor’s office, and all those entities, they know way more than we do. They know what we need to do, they know how we can be helpful to the people of Arizona and the people supporting high school sports.” In Hines’ view, the AIA has been fortunate from a timing perspective. Sports like basketball and wrestling,

which take place in small gymnasiums are more likely to have parents and fans within close proximity of each other, recently had their respective seasons come to an end. Spring sports, such as baseball and track and field that have recently begun their seasons, on the other hand, do not have this issue to the extent their winter counterparts do. Even so, Hines still recognizes the need to be vigilant in responding to the threat the coronavirus poses. “Most of the activities we now have for the spring are outside activities, so we have a little less of an issue with a lot of confinement,” Hines said. “But the big thing is, ‘Let’s pay attention and listen to the CDC and all the information that comes from the public health department,’ because they’re going to let us know where it is for us in Arizona and the issues that we’re having and how we can be supportive.”

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Letters Independent voters should be allowed in presidential primary I’m not allowed to vote in Arizona’s presidential preference election (PPE) on March 17. It’s a tough pill for me to swallow. I served more than 30 years on military active duty followed by 14 years in Arizona State service. Throughout both careers, I remained apolitical. To vote in Arizona’s closed PPEs, one must be a registered Republican or Democrat. That’s a difficult ask for most of Arizona’s 1.4 million registered Independents. I chose not to change my registration. I could not add my name to the partisan divide that polarizes our democracy, even if it would have given me the opportunity to vote. Barring registered Independents from voting in PPEs has created a perception of voter disenfranchisement and voter suppression. The Legislature tacitly supports this by funding closed PPEs with public money from Republican, Democrat, and Independent taxpayers. Fortunately, closed PPEs can be remedied if there is a will to do so. Our elected officials can eliminate public finding and compel the parties to use their own money.

Or better yet, pass legislation that opens PPEs to all registered voters. Democracy matters! -Dennis Flaherty

Chandler engineer fights rigged Arizona system

If Greg Mills is not an engineer, that would be a surprise to General Dynamics. The aerospace and defense contractor hired him from Rayovac in 1996 and put him to work designing electronics for satellites and other sophisticated systems. As a “responsible design engineer,” he even supervised teams of other engineers at the Fortune 100 company. But now that Mills has gone solo as co-founder of his own electrical design shop in Chandler, industry insiders on a government board have decided to shut him down. They assert that any independent agent in Arizona who uses the “engineer” label or does any kind of engineering work must first obtain permission from the state – even when someone like Mills has more than 30 years of relevant experience. The Arizona Board of Technical Registration does not care about such accomplishments. It will not let entrepreneurs break free from existing firms and spin off potential rival firms without first accu-

mulating eight years as an apprentice to a state-licensed engineer. Mills never did that before starting his company, Southwest Engineering Concepts. Neither did the founders of Amazon, Apple, Google and HP. They just opened shop and went to work. Apparently, Arizona cannot tolerate that kind of entrepreneurial spirit. Fortunately, Mills has decided to fight back. As SanTan Sun News writer Kevin Reagan reported earlier this year, he partnered with the nonprofit Institute for Justice and filed a civil rights lawsuit to defend his free speech rights and freedom to earn a living. Among other issues, the complaint highlights a double standard that would allow Mills to work as an engineer for someone else in Arizona, but not for himself. The loophole, set up for big companies like General Dynamics, allows the vast majority of Arizona engineers to work without a license as long as their employer manufactures products. Mills does not do that at his small business because he is an engineer, not a manufacturer. But he worked for 20 years as an employee under the exemption. Even if he had stayed in the corporate world for another 20 years, he never would have met the apprenticeship requirement because Arizona manufacturers don’t keep

licensed engineers on their payrolls. The rule only applies to others, not themselves. Mills rejects this unequal protection under the law. He does not even engage in the kind of engineering that requires a license. Most licensed engineers work on construction plans—signing and stamping plans for bridges, buildings and public works. Mills does not do any of that, nor does he design anything that goes into such projects. Instead, he helps small businesses, startups and other entrepreneurs turn their ideas for new electronic products into prototypes for manufacturing. That was his dream when he took off his employee badge and hired himself in 2008. Since then, his essential job functions have not changed. But now, after more than 10 years, the state board wants to shut him down and fine him thousands of dollars. This interference is not right. Mills’ ability to earn an honest living should not depend on whether he receives a W-2 or 1099 tax form. A law based on such an arbitrary distinction cannot stand. If he is qualified to work for a manufacturer, he is qualified to work for himself. –Adam Griffin

How to help kids develop healthy eating habits BY DONNA SHOTT Guest Writer

Toddlers can be stubborn about food. At the same time, parents know it’s important for young children to eat healthily. That’s why First Things First, Arizona’s early childhood agency, works to help parents build healthy eating habits with their toddler and preschooler. March is National Nutrition Month but helping young kids develop sound eating habits is a year-round goal. “Providing nourishment to children is of the utmost importance to parents, and also one that can cause undue amounts of stress,” said FTF’s Children’s Health Program Manager Kavita Bernstein. Bernstein reminds parents that food is a brand new and intense sensory wonderland for a child’s body and brain. “I promise you that they are not trying

to make this hard,” she said. “They are doing the best they can. Patience with yourself, your child and most importantly the process is what will carry parents through.” Here are tips for parents: Let them decide. You can encourage them to eat, of course, but don’t force it. Let them decide how much of what you’ve served they want to eat. The pressure that comes with forcing your child to eat something or “clean your plate” can make mealtime an unhappy experience. Research shows that kids react negatively when pressed to eat, and in the long-run, it doesn’t help them like new foods, even when they’re offered a reward for trying them. Aim to make mealtime an enjoyable and fun experience. Think long-term. Try not to worry too much if they don’t eat well every day. Studies show young kids usually

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get enough of what they need over time, as long as they’re consistently given healthy food choices. Check with your doctor or health care provider if you’re concerned about your child’s diet or overall development. You’re not a short-order cook. Try to not provide an alternative meal if your child refuses to eat what you’ve served. This can develop into a pattern where they will only eat their three or four favorite foods and nothing else. Trust them to say when. When your child says they’re full, take their word for it. Children’s hunger levels change constantly as their bodies grow and develop. Allowing your child to listen to their own fullness cues will help them learn to not overeat. Think about their taste buds. Vegetables have a hard time competing with the taste of candy, yogurt and juice,

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but that doesn’t mean your child’s taste can’t be shaped. The more exposure your child gets to sugary, salty and fatty foods, the less they’ll enjoy naturally-flavored foods like veggies. Watch your language. Avoid referring to your child as a “picky eater” or “fussy.” Instead, use the power of your words for positive reinforcement: “Look at how you’re using your spoon to eat your soup!” “I love eating with you.” Remember to try to keep your expectations realistic, avoid the battles and do your best to support your toddler and preschooler with attention, love and understanding. That’s the healthiest diet of all. -First Things First is a voter-created, statewide agency that funds early learning, family support and children preventive health services. Information: FirstThingsFirst.org.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler nonprofit seeks help for single mom brunch BY JANELLE MOLONY Contributor

Chandler nonprofit Single Moms That Rock is gearing up for a second Mother’s Day event for women who are looking for support and connections. Last year’s event was held at the local Chandler YMCA and catered by the Olive Garden. Mothers were pampered with gifts, an encouraging message and provided respite from their children at no cost. Abrianna Colossio reviewed the event by posting on Facebook: “So blessed to have met [other] wonderful women and mamas today. Thank you for hosting!” Single Moms That Rock is an eventbased outreach program that strives to connect, motivate, and empower single mothers of all ages and backgrounds, according to founder May Dobbins. “It was in my heart for many years,” she explained, even the programs did not exist until 2017. She was young unwed mother and wished for somewhere to go where she would not be judged. Fortunately, she had strong family support, but the social stigmas in the 90s related to teen pregnancies routinely interfered with her dreams and hopes. “Even if the [mothers] are being the best person they can be, they are being told they are not,” she said.

May Dobbins, left, needs help to repeat a Mothers Day brunch she tries to hold annually for single moms. At right, she also has held in the past Christmas dinners for single mothers. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

This experience led Dobbins to create the solution she and many others sought. “I wanted to be able to help women in that way and give them resources that I found along the way,” Dobbins said. Her first gatherings were hosted by Cornerstone Church in Chandler, but have since grown beyond the community rooms. Events the organization has hosted in

the past include a Christmas dinner complete with gifts, a communal baby shower for pregnant or new mothers, and the Mother’s Day brunch. Dobbins wishes she could offer all three events on an annual basis in addition to mid-year informational workshops on job resources, navigating welfare and child support systems, and on finding assistance for housing and higher-level education. Members also dream of having a

home base to increase available programming and community partnerships. Dobbins is currently on the hunt for a facility they can rent or purchase for regular events such as workshops, pampering sessions, and other programs to bless and encourage the community. Average events are attended by upwards of fifty women plus their children, but the organizers have had See

BRUNCH on page 43

Chandler teacher named space agency ambassador BY LINDSAY LYONS Staff Writer

Rachna Nath, a science-loving mother of two, added another title to her resume after she was named the 2020 Chandler National Aeronautics and Space Administration Solar System Ambassador. “Being a NASA ambassador means a huge deal to me because I do not just get to represent NASA and talk about their work, but being able to gain resources and knowledge, for myself, my students and even my own children is incredible,” said the Chandler teacher. A native of Assam, India, who moved to Arizona in 2003, Rachna is a STEM enthusiast and a research-based teacher who believes in DRIPBL – Dream, Research, and Innovate Project Based Learning. While living in India, Nath earned her first master’s degree from Cotton College. She recently earned her second in biology from Arizona State University. Nath is currently the STEM coordinator and an honors biology teacher at Arizona College Preparatory in Chandler. She also works with her students through Arizona State University on their ongoing research with honey bees.

Chandler teacher Rachna Nath, seen at right welcoming attendees at a STEM event, has been named an ambassador for NASA. (Courtesy of Rachna Nath)

She was recently awarded the Global Innovation Award by Turnitin and received an honorable mention for a Presidential Innovation Award for Environment Educators and also Two Massachusetts Institute of Technology Excite Awards. She also was honored as an educator by Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke during

his State of the City address last month. She said she is “extremely honored and humbled” by the NASA honor because she can share the space agency’s resources not only with the Chandler community but also with her alma

mater in India. The Solar System Ambassadors program is composed of motivated volunteers across the nation who share See

NASA on page 43

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Sun Lakes Jewish Vets Post helps MANA House BY GEORGE STAHL Guest Writer

Last month, a group of volunteers from the Jewish War Veterans Post 619 of Sun Lakes served pizza and soda to 72 vets at Catholic Charities MANA House, Phoenix. Program Director Horace “Ace” Carter said, MANA House – an acronym for Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force – helps homeless and at-risk veterans “to regroup and to get back on their feet.” “We offer programs that cover subjects such as ways vets can cope with the everyday stresses of life to dealing with and living with the traumas that they may have experienced while serving in their particular branch of the military,” Carter explained. The vets who come to MANA House can live there for six months. “In that time, we help them to look for a job, and even find jobs for some,” Carter said. “We help with solutions to their housing needs and show them how to fill out all of the paperwork in dealing with the V.A., to help ensure they are getting all of the benefits they have earned. “Our job is to introduce them to a self-sustaining lifestyle.” Marine veteran Ernest Edmond and Army veteran Gilbert Medina Jr. live at MANA House.

Marine Veteran Ernest Edmond left, and Army veteran Gilbert Medina Jr. found help from MANA House. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Edmond served for seven years and three months and was deployed in the Gulf War from 1985 to 1992. He was a resident of MANA House nearly 10 years ago when life caught up to him and he found himself in need. The six months he spent there was

enough to get him what he needed to get back out into the world. “Then, about a month and a half ago, my housing situation changed, so here I am. We are working on a new place to live now, and I should be homeless for only about two months,” Edmond said.

Edmond is starting a new job working for the regional office of the Veterans Association. He is planning to return to school and earn his master’s degree in human resources management. “MANA House has been a place of safety for me,” he said. Gilbert was in the Army for two years, from 1980 to 1982, and stationed at both Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Ord, California. He has been battling depression for some time, but until recently was able to care for himself. Within the past two months, he found himself homeless and helpless. “Now, I have a bright future because of three staff members from MANA House. He also was grateful to Post 619. “This is fantastic. What they do is a shot in the arm, and the pizza was good too.” There will always be a need and Jewish War Veterans Post 619 will always do what they can to fill that need. The public is encouraged to members the third Sunday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the Mirror Room at Sun Lakes Country Club to hear an interesting speaker and learn more about how JWV helps our veterans. No obligation required and refreshments are served. Information: Commander Ron Buckner, arizonapoppa@gmail.com

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

BRUNCH

from page 41

to set a cap on participants due to the financial restrictions. Dobbins has personally contributed towards past functions in addition to seeking donations from service providers, event facilities and food vendors. They are experiencing growing pains as the demand for services exceeds the nonprofit’s current financial situation. In order to continue offering these programs, Dobbins will be searching for major contributors. The hope for 2020 and beyond is to remove limitations caused by a lack of funding. She says she is looking to raise $100,000 for this year’s Mother’s Day

NASA

from page 41

NASA science and mission discoveries through a variety of events in their communities. The competitive program only accepts applications once a year. They are vetted by NASA for the right combination of presentation, motivation and ideas for community engagement. Since the Solar System Ambassadors program was reorganized in 2000, volunteers such as Rachna Nath have conducted over 40,000 events that reached more than 9 million people through in-person events.

brunch. The mothers attend for free, but the per person cost runs up quite a bill considering the childcare and facility rental for a peak booking time. Corporations and charitable individuals are invited to sponsor a table of eight women for $1,500. Dobbins says to secure the event venue, funds must be in soon. In the strategic plan for this group is the goal to expand event invitations to the entire East Valley, and ultimately to the downtown and greater Phoenix areas. Dobbins is spending her free time studying grant writing and is looking to partner with experienced writers who can assist her on the journey. “Let’s do life together,” says Dobbins,

claiming the only thing required for membership is a desire to be connected. Each event includes a short message of faith-based encouragement, but is non-denominational and not affiliated with any church. Dobbins says the spiritual component is essential to helping women break free from the daily “survival mode” many live in while trying to be a sole provider for their children. “As a mom it’s really hard to do anything other than work and take care of your kids, so you’re not really pursuing the things you’d love to pursue,” she confided, saying it often feels like being stuck. Member Neece Jackson echoed the founder.

“If I had the SMTR programs when I was eighteen to help me navigate through the issues of identity, budgeting, parenting, planning my future and balancing it all, I would have begun fulfilling my purpose a lot sooner and without the extra distractions of being a young adult,” she said. Dobbins is authoring a book that will resonate further on the messaging she has built into this organization. Dream, Girl, Dream (pending publication) will speak to the heart of a woman who has felt at any time that her dreams have been interrupted, defeated, delayed, or otherwise blocked. For more information on the event and how to get involved, or to connect as a participant, visit SingleMomsThatRock.com.

Nath hopes to use her passion for aerospace and her presentation skills to excite and engage groups of all ages about aviation, astronomy and space exploration. She also aims to connect other fields of science to help people understand the work of NASA and its Jet Propulsion Laboratory to help them understand the interdisciplinary aspect of space science. Nath anticipates no problem arranging the four events the ambassador program requires because of her countless opportunities at Arizona College Prep and Arizona State University. “I am trying to create the mindset

that NASA is not just about physics, astronomy and math. It is so much more than that. NASA is also biochemistry and life science,” said Nath. Nath expressed her excitement over her student’s “hydro hat” invention that recently earned them a spot in the Chandler Innovations program. She described the invention as a wearable device that is able to detect heat strokes and notify the wearer that their body temperature is getting too high and they must cool down. “I want to change people’s thinking from ‘9th graders cannot think creatively’ to them saying ‘of course they can.’ All the students need a point in the

right direction and the proper access to resources,” said Nath. Nath said she enjoys getting to brainstorm, work and invent alongside her students. “Being a NASA ambassador allows me to gain more contacts, and that is where my motivation comes from. Networking is one of my biggest assets and the more contacts I have, the more contacts my students have as well,” Nath added. Nath said that she and her students venture into the “unknown” of research and ideas often and added that, “It is not all 100 percent success, but without failures, you do not know what success is.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

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Celebrating the Society of Women Engineers' recognition of the Chandler-based nonprofit Education Empowers Inc. are SWE next chapter mentor Elizabeth Neethu Simon, left, a mentor to Action Innovator Award winner Elaina Ashton. The nonprofit promotes education for children, focusing on robotics, sustainability and STEM/STEAM education "to instill passion for learning and discovery, confidence to enable scholarship and career opportunities for children, teens and young adults." Information: educationempowers.org.

THE PPE IS TUESDAY, MARCH 17. The Democratic Party is the only political party participating this year, which means only registered Democrats can vote in the PPE. Learn the rules and find out how to participate at AZCleanElections.gov/PPE, or call 877-631-8891 for more information. 21189-006_CCEC_Balloteer_PPE_Ad_V3.indd 14

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Gilbert park welcomes new group of ‘residents’ BY KATHERINE NOWICKI Contributor

Some new “residents” have moved into Zanjero Park in Gilbert. Nine burrowing owls were moved from Goodyear into Zanjero Park, a 20acre converted water retention basin that also hosts horseback riding and walking trails. The newcomers brought to 11 the total number of burrowing owls at the park, although Desert Rivers Audubon Society Conservation Director Mike Evans does not expect them all to stay there. The park has been a sanctuary for burrowing owls since 2011. Desert Rivers Audubon Society volunteers built the burrows and collaborated with several other organizations to bring the birds to the site. Those other organizations included Wild at Heart, the Town of Gilbert, the state Game and Fish Department. They were aided by a green grant from Toyota Motor Corporation. Burrowing owls live throughout North America and South America. Sometimes the owls dig their own burrows but more often they repurpose one already dug by a mammal or a tortoise. Ideally, burrowing owls prefer to live in areas with low vegetation, usually irrigated farmland. But the Valley’s continuing development has threatened their existence. Burrowing owls are considered an endangered species in Canada, threatened in Mexico and a “species of concern” in several states, including Arizona, according to Wild at Heart, an Arizona nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates injured raptors, relocates burrowing owls, and manages species recovery programs. Burrowing owls in need of new locations stay at Wild at Heart facilities in Cave Creek and are cared for there until a suitable location for them is prepared. The work in relocation habitats is done entirely by community volunteers, who build burrows and put up tents at the relocation sites for the owls to stay in for a month to help them become accustomed to the new site. The tents are taken down after a month and the owls spread out. While the number of volunteers involved in these projects can vary from 20 to 100, the, habitats are typically completed in a single day. For the first month after relocation, Desert and River Audubon Society volunteers return to Zanjero Park to give the owls frozen mice and fresh water while they adjust to their new environment and find new food sources. Burrows are four feet underground, and volunteers need permission to clear the land in order to build them in new locations. The new sites need to be similar to the place the burrowing owls came from or the birds will leave.

A new recipe

Burrowing owls found a home in a Gilbert park thanks to Chandler and other members of the Desert Rivers Audubon Society. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Wild at Heart Habitat Coordinator Greg Clark is hoping to set up new relocation habitats throughout the next three months since summer heat makes it difficult to work on new habitats – and by June it is too hot for most volunteers. Wild at Heart typically relocated 60 to 70 burrowing owls each year, but 200 burrowing owls came in from 2019 into 2020. Now Clark is urgently trying to find more sites suitable for the owls. “I’m always trying to add new habitats and I have a 2-year buffer in case something goes wrong, and that happened this year. This was the first year that we bumped up above the 50, 60,70 owls that come in,” Clark said. “So, basically, this year, the development has just exploded in the Valley and I was planning on 60 to 70 owls to relocate and we got over 200. Although I was able to do it, it wiped out all of my two-year buffer for habitat, so now I’m like, desperately trying to work with getting that 2-year buffer established.” Clark hopes farmland owners will help them with this struggle by allowing Wild at Heart to place burrowing owls on their property as they are in an area that does not involve their farming operations. “It’s possible for an individual person to work with a school or community group to identify an issue for wildlife or other environmental issues and actually do something about it – especially today with social media,” he said. Visitors interested in learning more about the owls can come to Zanjero Park to attend the monthly Owl Walk and Talk on the fourth Saturday of the month an hour before sunset.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Volunteers needed for ‘aged out’ foster teens Contributor

Foster Arizona, a Mesa-based foster care resource organization, is looking for community volunteers to assist young adults who are no longer being supported by a foster family. “If we are considering kids who are over the age of seven ‘unadoptable,’ then these kids are left in foster or group homes for another 11 years with no security for their future,” said Kim Vehon, founder of Foster Arizona and program coordinator for what she simply calls “The Housing Project.” Vehon has begun her third year as the program coordinator for the East Valley philanthropic movement, which provides supports to young adults needing help transitioning to fully independent adulthood. The youth who apply to the program are former wards of the state through the foster care system. Many turn 18 without the permanency or stability of an adoptive family to guide them through the transition. Vehon estimates 800 Arizona youth who “age out” annually from foster care and are left disconnected from critical supports they had. Some who join may have become homeless after their separation from a primary caretaker. “We don’t want to duplicate [foster care] services,” Vehon explained.

ticeable need to equip at-risk adults with a strategy for overcoming setbacks and making daily progress towards life goals. “Keys to Success with Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation was a natural partner for us,” Vehon explained. All participants in the Housing Project must agree to participate in growth mindset learning offered by the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation – which includes setting realistic goals, managing expectations, and developing They’re living independently, persistence. but we are giving them a safety net The organization also offers colto learn. In other words, they can lege and career counseling as well as job-partnership opportunities to help make mistakes, but won’t fall participants gain financial independence. on their face. Expenses the adults receive assis– Kim Vehon tance with include reduced rent, essential furniture, personal hygiene items, kitchen supplies and more. Donors have contributed computers, bikes, bus Vehon secured local housing where up passes, or beds as well. to four youth could stay together and Once a month, the young adults can gradually develop their independent attend classes such as cooking, budgetliving skills. The inaugural year boasted ing, taxes, and first aid. twenty-eight participants. “What’s beautiful is we don’t have The program has remained near capacity with twenty current adults; three just one provider,” Vehon said, noting community partners donate their time who will graduate soon, and several and talent from a variety of backnew ones expected to join mid-year. grounds and corporations. Though the program is designed to ASA Now (Advocacy, Support & be one year long, some participants only stay for a few months, while others Assistance) is one East Valley not-forhave applied for an extension. See on page 47 In addition to housing, there was a noAs an adoptive parent of four children who were previously in foster care, the mission of the Housing Project is close to Vehon’s heart. Vehon founded Foster Arizona back in 2013 as a resource for locals who are connected to foster care programs in any way, but the idea for the new program came in March of 2018. Through corporate partnerships,

BY JANELLE MOLONY

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”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Chandler cancer survivors to take the stage SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Three Chandler women will be taking their stories of surviving cancer to the stage later this month to help raise money for a nonprofit that helps other women who face the same struggle. The women – Priya Kalra, Jennifer Rio Ruddle and Jessica Wells – are among eight Arizona women who will tell their respective stories as part of “S.T.A.R.S.: Survivors Take a Real Stage,” hosted by A 2nd Act. S.T.A.R.S. is a live, curated storytelling performance featuring local women who have faced a terrifying diagnosis and are using their gifts of life and experience to give back to the greater good. The event takes place March 22 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in Old Town Scottsdale. “There [are] tons of research supporting the theory that healing in helping. Our amazing storytellers are doing wonderful things in the world,” said Judy Pearson, founder of A2ndAct.org. “And the value of a 2nd Act isn’t defined by size. Giving time one-on-one is just as valuable as creating foundations and building hospital wings.” “Let me assure you, this performance is thought-provoking, humorous, and motivating as well as inspiring,” Pearson said. Wells, a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor, Jessica is a licensed master social worker with a masters degree from Arizona State University who specializes in child welfare and pediatric medicine, including hematology and oncology. “Her passion for working with

FOSTER

from page 46

profit that recently provided cooking lessons. A Wells Fargo representative has taught about finances. The organization is always open to having more talented individuals join in on the movement who can teach on specialty subjects from home maintenance to resume writing. Foster Arizona and its partners do

Jennifer Rio Ruddle

Priya Kalra

Jessica Wells

patients and families whose lives have been affected by cancer is fueled by her own personal cancer journey,” a spokeswoman said. Her second act – detailed at butfirstsomegrace.com – was born midway through grad school and her own cancer treatment. She changed direction to become an oncology social worker. Priya Kalra, who overcame breast cancer, was born in India, raised in Zambia and is now a U.S. citizen. Her mantra is “Everything happens for a reason” and she interviews survivors on her YouTube channel to give hope to others beginning their journey through cancer treatment. She discuss-

es her journey at priyakal.com. Kalra realized after cancer that selfcare was critical and her YouTube channel, “Conquering Cancer and Beyond,” aims to help other women confront the challenges she dealt with. Ruddle, who survived colorectal cancer, is a commercial and theatrical actress, an ASU graduate, a dog mom – and America’s Mrs. Arizona 2020. Her diagnosis with Stage IV colorectal cancer terrified her, but once she connected with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, she realized she had a story that could help others. Becoming Mrs. Arizona 2020 has given her the perfect stage for sharing her story, she said.

Olivia Fierro, anchor of 3TV’s Good Morning Arizona, will emcee the S.T.A.R.S. performance. This year marks A 2nd Act’s fifth annual performance – the organization’s only annual fundraiser. “Recognizing that helping is healing, the mission of A2ndAct.org is to celebrate and support women survivors of all cancers who are using their gifts of life and experience in a 2nd Act for the greater good,” the nonprofit said. Money raised by the S.T.A.R.S. performance supports the organization’s micro grants, which provide seed money for local women survivors ready to launch or grow their second acts.

not consider what they are doing a “hand out,” but more like the latter part of the adage, “If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day; if you teach a man to fish, he eats for life.” To track the effectiveness of this program, Foster Arizona partnered with Northern Arizona University to measure observables such as jobs acquired, independent housing obtained, school funding awarded, and other evidence of

sustainable living. Participants of the Housing Project are regularly visited by devoted volunteers who provide emotional and practical supports as needed. The volunteer mentors may also stand in as a long-term friend or family member who isn’t otherwise there. “Right now, we have a big need for male volunteers,” Vehon pled. She is looking for several community

members who would be willing to visit with young males and assist with their journeys. Volunteers are trained, screened and asked to commit to a year of service. They can contact Kim Vehon directly to sign up for the next quarter’s on-board training held on March 21st. She can be reached at kim@fosterAZ.com or by phone at (480) 760-5008. More information: fosterarizonahousingproject.org.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

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NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Gilbert’s visual artists offer treats for the eyes BY SRIANTHI PERERA Contributor

Each spring, the arts scene in Gilbert leaps a notch or two when Gilbert Visual Art League’s show opens. The 17th annual Juried Fine Art Show and Sale runs through April 2 at HD South, home of the Gilbert Historical Museum in downtown Gilbert. The walls of Gallery 4, a spacious room in the facility, are adorned with artwork, some brilliantly colored, others black and white – and all well executed. This year it showcases 98 pieces of art from 34 artists, chosen from an entry pool of 110. The mediums range from oil paintings, acrylic and watercolor painting to drawings in graphite, pen and ink and pastel. Alan Fitzgerald from Art Intersection juried and Joel Cohen judged the entries. Among the works is Jane Bradley Wine’s oil painting on linen titled “Booshway,” a portrait of a North Dakotan mountain man, which won the “Best of Show” award. The judge had commented favorably on the juxtaposition of a realistic face in an abstract background. A professional artist and art teacher, Bradley Wine mostly does portrait commissions of western art. Her work See

Jane Bradley Wine’s “Booshway,” an oil painting on linen, won Best of Show at the Gilbert Visual Art League show this year. (Courtesy of Gilbert Visual Art League)

ARTISTS on page 51 Rosalee Vacarro’s oil painting won first place in its category.

(Courtesy of Gilbert Visual Art League)

Jean Turner Smith’s watercolor landscape of Edinburgh, Scotland won first place in its category. (Courtesy of Gilbert Visual Art League)

George Lewis’s photo won the photography award. (Courtesy of Gilbert Visual Art League)

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Pregnancy Care Centers slate fundraising walk BY LACEY LYONS Staff Writer

With a mission to ensure every client feels loved, cared for and equipped with the right resources, the Pregnancy Care Centers of Chandler and Gilbert strive to take the fear out of unplanned pregnancies. And to increase awareness of that mission, the centers are holding their Preborn Vision Life Walk on April 4. The Pregnancy Care Centers of Chandler and Gilbert offer free pregnancy testing, counseling, level one ultrasounds and prenatal classes for mothers and fathers to be. The nonprofit helps both women and men through unplanned pregnancies. Its operation is funded by businesses, churches and two annual fundraising events. “We meet with women before, during and after pregnancy,” said Executive Director Lisa Henry. “It starts with a pregnancy test, then we meet with the women for options counseling, such as if they are choosing to carry and parent, if they are choosing to carry and adopt or if they are choosing abortion.” The centers at 894 E. Warner Road, near Lindsey Road in Gilbert and at 590 N. Alma School Road near Galveston Street in Chandler. Henry said, “Oftentimes the women just need someone to meet with and listen.”

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The Pregnancy Care Centers of Chandler and Gilbert hold a fundraising luncheon to help with their mission of providing information and resources to expectant women.(Facebook)

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so expecting mothers can grab what they need for their baby free of charge. If expecting mothers or fathers attend classes, they can then earn what the centers call “Baby Bucks” that can be exchanged for new items for their babies, Henry said. The walk will begin at 9 a.m. April 4 at Evident Life Church, 415 N. Gilbert Road, near Guadalupe Road, Gilbert. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and participants can opt for a mile-long or three-mile walk. The event is family friendly with a bounce house and face painting for children who attend. With a goal to raise $30,000 from the walk, Henry says she is confident that they will meet that goal. The center is always looking for volunteers and donations. Henry said she expects over 100 people to attend the walk. To register for the walk and donate please visit: togetherweraise.com/pccchandler

you do not have the abilities to raise a child, but there is help available to you. “With the support of caring people, parenting classes and other resources, you will find the help you need to make this choice.” The centers also help women weigh adoption as a possibility, noting “it may be the best choice for you and a loving choice for your baby.” The centers have a small paid staff, but are mostly run by experienced volunteers. Henry said that a nurse volunteers to do the level one ultrasounds, which include checking for a heartbeat and confirming a due date. A volunteer doctor instructs classes and an experienced nanny volunteers to watch the children of those men and women who already are parents but feel they need some additional parenting resources. The center also accepts donations of items such as clothes, blankets and toys

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

ARTISTS

from page 49

won Best of Show last year as well. She has been a league member for just over a year. “They are a good group of people, very talented, enthusiastic and fun to be around,” she said. “I was looking for a group to hang out with and to share art stuff with.” Whether amateur or professional, communing with others is important. “It’s just good to have some kind of communication with other artists, because, as an artist, I usually spend a lot of time alone, unlike other professions,” she added. Longtime league member Deb Randall, a retired medical illustrator who turned her skills and talent into creating visual art, offered similar thoughts. “It’s wonderful to have the feedback from all the members,” she said. “It’s great to have their encouragement and the deadlines of art shows.” Randall’s “Borderline” won first place under the mixed media category. She used paint, paper, pastel, watercolor and other objects glued on to the canvas to depict Arizona. “It’s a puzzle for me, using different kinds of art paper and matt and making them look

cohesive,” she said. The league has a spectrum of people between hobbyists and professional. “Everybody fits in somewhere,” Randall noted. League vice-president and longtime member Jean Turner Smith submitted three oil portraits and a watercolor

to put on its two annual shows. “They belong in Gilbert, and we are happy to give them a home,” said Kayla Kolar, president of HD South. “Having Gallery 4 as a permanent fine art gallery lends itself perfectly for these shows. GVAL is a good complement to our arts and culture facility.”

good to have some kind of communication with other artists, “It’s justbecause, as an artist, I usually spend a lot of time alone, unlike other professions. ” – Jane Bradley Wine landscape of Edinburgh, Scotland; all were selected to show and the watercolor won first place in its category. “The quality of this year’s entries is fantastic. We seem to have better and better artwork each year and we have many professional artists,” Turner Smith said. Most of the artwork at the show is for sale. “About 10 percent of the art is sold during the show, and many are sold after the show concludes because some buyers want time to think about it and buy later,” Turner Smith said. The league partners with HD South

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The non-profit league, currently under the leadership of Bob Mason, started in 2003 and incorporated in 2006. It has been nurturing artists in the area with a vision to promote and support the visual arts. Current membership stands at about 65 and meetings are held on the first Thursdays of each month at HD South. Among the benefits to members are professional presentations during member meetings. Earlier topics have included color theory, composition and painting methods. During the February meeting, artist

Joel Coplin spoke on figurative realism and portraits, while in March and April, guest presenters Rob Stenberg and Liz Kenyon will speak on contemporary Southwestern art and soft pastels, respectively. “Our goal in presenting the show is to put art and culture in the community,” Turner Smith said. “We also want to provide an opportunity to artists to get their art out there.” The exposure runs both ways: Another of its goals is to let Gilbert know that there are a lot of excellent, professional artists in the community. Their work becomes evident when the league receives the opportunity to participate in community projects. In the past, members have created banners for the town, designed and painted wall murals in downtown Gilbert and sidewalk murals at senior apartment complex Page Commons. Gilbert Visual Art League’s 17th annual art show and sale is hosted by HD South, Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum, at 10 S. Gilbert Road. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Admission is $6 adults, $5 seniors 60 years and older, $3 children 5-12 years, no charge for under 5 years. Details: gval.org and hdsouth.org.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

‘Boulevard’ drives the beat of India film and music CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Staff Writer

Sometimes the dreams of Bollywood stories come true. When “Bollywood Boulevard” comes to the Chandler Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 28, patrons will witness the love story of Aaliya Islam and her beau, Rohit Gijare, associate choreographer and choreographer. New Jersey-born Gijare and Chandler native Islam met through their mutual love of Bollywood dance and music. She moved to New York City in 2016 and soon thereafter auditioned for Gijare’s dance company, Exodus Artistry. Even though their paths crossed in the years prior as captains of their respective collegiate Bollywood teams, this was the first time they formally met. Gijare decided to see the Brooklyn Nets game and invited company members to join. New city, new dance company, and an outing not far from her place, Islam went and everything changed. The two bonded over their love of Bollywood and the two became inseparable.

Chandler native and Mountain Pointe High School grad Aalia Islam met her true love, Jersey-born Rohit Gijare, through their mutual love of Bollywood dance and music. They’ve now created “Bollywood Boulevard.” (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Together they created “Bollywood Boulevard,” danced across the country

and made dance videos together. There was one hurdle: persuading

Islam’s parents to allow them to marry. See, they came from different South Asian and religious backgrounds – he a Hindu Marathi and her a Bangladeshi Muslim. Eventually, her parents fell in love with Gijare, too. After a secret trip to Arizona to ask her parents for Islam’s hand, Gijare proposed to her in true Bollywood fashion with a big dance number at Exodus’ recital in 2019. Islam had no idea her family and friends were in the audience. “This past June, we had our company showcase,” Gijare said. “For six months we (the company) were planning this elaborate Bollywood proposal. “We’re very Bollywood in general. At the end of the show was our big finale dance. We had one separate rehearsal when Aaliya was not there. We had to figure out who would bring out the ring. We changed the ending (without Aaliya knowing). Luckily, she was very, very surprised. We brought in her family and friends from Arizona and all across the country. It was a very memorable program.” Up next are two Bollywood weddings, starting in late May in Arizona. See

BOLLYWOOD on page 53

2 area authors publish new novels Sun Lakes author Sandra Givens pens new Hawaiian romance

Chandler marketing exec’s debut novel looks at a thirst for fame

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Longtime Sun Lakes author Sandra Givens manages to combine two loves in her latest novel, “Maui Christmas” – a love for the Hawaiian island and a love for romance. “I love Maui – who doesn’t?” she said. “The main male character is loosely based on a man I loved – and lost. I guess I’m a hopeful romantic – always wanting a happy ending. Who doesn’t love being in love? And being loved?” “Maui Christmas,” available on Amazon, involves a woman who decides to surprise her daughter for Christmas and gets a surprise or two herself – the first being her daughter’s absence. Deciding to make the best of the trip while waiting for her daughter, she checks into a resort where soon she is pursued by an attractive but mysterious gentleman. Then one night she thinks she sees her one true love across a crowded patio. Only he was presumed dead. Throwing caution to the wind, she knows if it was him, she must find him again. And, if she finds him, then what? You’ll have to read the novel to see what happens, but “Maui,” like her previous two novels, is a contemporary romance. But Givens’ tastes in novels as a read-

Self-confessed Twitter addict and digital celebrity follower Ryan Barbera recently capped his interests with a novel. A Chandler resident of three years, he is a marketing manager for a new software platform created and has just published “The Vexing of Millie Magnus” through Austin Macauley Publishers. “I chose to write this genre because there is so much freedom in fiction,” Barbera said. “I had the ability to make this as ridiculous as possible while retaining a shred of plausibility. This book is a hyperbole of the influencers and celebrities in our own world.” “Vexing” is inspired by Barbera’s love of literary fiction and suspense in addition to pop culture. He counts among his favorite authors bestselling thriller novelist Dan Brown, Egyptian-born American memoirist/novelist Andre Acimen and mystery/thriller novelist Harlan Coben. Barbera’s story is focused on a fame-obsessed protagonist named Millie who will do whatever it takes to achieve her dream of fame and fortune. It unfolds in a series of flashbacks providing insight into why Millie is the

Contributor

Sun Lakes novelist Sandra Givens likes writing romances and likes reading mysteries. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

er tend more toward mysteries, crime and suspense. “Among my favorite authors are Stuart Woods. I’m in love with his character Stone Barrington,” she said. “I also like Michael Connelly and am in love with his character Harry Bosch.” He also likes Daniel Silva for his novels of mystery and intrigue as well as See

MAUI on page 55

Chandler first-time novelist Ryan Barbera is a marketing manager for a new software platform. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

way she is. Meanwhile, in the present, everything takes place in one afternoon. Millie’s primary target is a charming billionaire, Roger Glancey, whom she uses to climb the ranks of society. When that relationship meets a dead-end, Millie takes things into her own hands to keep the spotlight on herself. Her actions build-up to an See

BARBERA on page 55

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

BOLLYWOOD

from page 52

“In May, we’re having a traditional Bangladesh-style wedding,” she said. “Then in June, we’re doing a full, Indian-style wedding in New Jersey. Right now we’re in India doing wedding shopping.” The “Bollywood Boulevard” comes before the wedding. “It’s a super fun Bollywood show,” she said. “It’s a super fun experience of getting to know the film and cinema of India, all the way from the very, very beginning. “There was a huge transformation from what it started to what it is now. It’s great music, great fun and great dancing.” Islam was born and raised in Chandler and attended Mountain Pointe High School and University of Arizona, where she studied pre-law. It’s a dream, she says, to bring her show to the Chandler Center for the Arts. “When I heard they were reaching out to Chandler Center for the Arts, I thought, immediately, this would be a dream come true. It’s like coming full circle,” she explained, adding: “I performed at Chandler Center for the Arts with my original dance teacher in Arizona. I had my debut solo performance at the Chandler Center for the Arts. It’s what started my professional dance career. “With this big touring production coming to my hometown, I’ll be able to

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non-South Asian audiences. I never imagined I’d be touring in a Bollywood show. When I was watching Bollywood movies, I never imagined a show like this getting so much traction in the United States.” “Bollywood Boulevard” is filled with dance, live music, colorful costumes and stunning visuals so audiences can understand the spirit, artistry and history of India’s famous film industry. “The wonderful thing about the show is, overall, “Bollywood Boulevard is a fun show with plenty of colorful costumes and lively dance numbers that will be presented later this it’s very unique,” Gijare month at the Chandler Center for the Arts. said. (Special to SanTan Sun News) “It brings dancers, musicians and singers all show my community and family exactly other people like me who love Boltogether on one platform, performing what I’ve been doing in New York. It’s a lywood. I got to meet students from simultaneously, which hasn’t been done other colleges throughout the nation. huge opportunity and honor. The light“Rohit and I used to compete against too often. I think having a live band ing person at the Chandler Center for and singers while we perform to them each other, but we didn’t know each the Arts saw my photo on the program adds a different dynamic for us and the other. It’s all come full circle.” and called my dad and said, ‘Is your audience members.” Women like Nick Jonas’ wife, Priyandaughter performing at the Chandler ka Chopra Jonas, is making Bollywood Center?’” more mainstream, as she’s an Indian For Islam, Bollywood dancing was actress, singer, film producer and the her saving grace. She grew up a fan of winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant. Bollywood but, admittedly, felt “weird. What: “Bollywood Boulevard” She’s one of India’s highest-paid and Nobody knew of the industry.” When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28 most-popular celebrities. “When I was little, my friends were Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, “With the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ listening to Radio Disney or N Sync 250 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler and Priyanka Chopra Jones, people are or any of those songs happening back Tickets: $38-$68 starting to see more of Bollywood in then. As I went from high school to Info: chandlercenter.org mainstream Hollywood,” Islam said. college, I was suddenly exposed to the “We’ve been performing in front of Bollywood dance team. There were

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ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

Comedian Tracy Morgan just trying to get by

tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike. The crash killed comedy writer James McNair. Morgan sustained a broken leg, nose and ribs in the accident. He was also in a coma for two weeks afterward and has no memory of what happened. The “30 Rock” star doesn’t plan his shows too far in advance. “I’m in service to you,” he says. “We’re all just trying to get by. Nobody’s perfect. “I’m just living my life. I’m taking it one day at a time. Yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery. Today’s the present. I’m in the present. I don’t know what the deal is tomorrow.”

CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Staff Writer

Tracy Morgan’s feelings are raw. The comic best known for his “Saturday Night Live” characters Astronaut Jones, Brian Fellow and Dominican Lou is mourning the loss of his good friend

my life. I’m taking “itI’monejustdayliving at a time. Yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery. Today’s the present. I’m in the present. I don’t know what the deal is tomorrow. – Tracy Morgan

”

Kobe Bryant. “Kobe was a dear friend of mine,” Morgan says. “The last time I saw him was at the ESPYs last July. His last words to me were, ‘I love you.’ People were standing right there when he did it. It was emotional because of what happened to me. “He said, ‘Don’t worry about it. You’re good. I love you.’ He was very loving, warm and receptive. I loved that. I love his family. I just pray for them, his wife and kids. I pray for them every day.”

Tracy Morgan will be entertaining audences later this month at Wild Horsde Pass Hotel and Casino. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Morgan is touring the United States with his “Tracy Morgan: No Disrespect” jaunt. “I’m going to be so funny, they’re going to put me on the next space shuttle,” he says. “This show is going to be the same thing I gave you the last

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show—funny, funny, funny. Ain’t nothing changed. “I’m going to make them cry, too. The first ESPYs, I made people cry.” He’s referring to his recovery from a June 7, 2014, incident in which his limo bus was rear-ended by a Walmart

If you go

What: Tracy Morgan When: 8 p.m. Friday, March 27 Where: Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler Tickets: tickets start at $35 Info: playatgila.com

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

MAUI

A member of the Romance Writers of America, she said her late husband had convinced her to move to Sun Lakes because “he had lived here before and loved it. He told me I would too. “We visited in the fall and spring. He convinced me it would be great. We moved in August. It was 114 and raining,” she recalled – quickly adding, “But Arizona does have its charms.” Givens’ second book, published in 2018 was “Running Horse Ranch,” to which she’s writing a sequel. “Readers of it are asking for more, so I’m partway through a continuation of that story,” she explained. She’s been writing most of my life,

from page 52

their foreign settings. “I’ve traveled quite a bit and love to be mentally taken to foreign locations in what I read,” she said, confessing all those favorites are “very unlike what I write, but what I like to read.” This taste for mystery also may explain why Givens is now working on a story where someone is killed – though she added, “but it will still be a love story.” A native of California, Givens and her late husband moved to Sun Lakes 27 years ago. In California, she earned her degree in English from California State University at Sacramento and she is a recipient of the prestigious International Association of Business Communicators) Award of Excellence.

BARBERA

from page 52

exhilarating conclusion. Barbera, who grew up in Arkansas and Tuscan, said he has been writing since he could hold pen to paper. As he continues writing, even now, he doesn’t have a formal education in it. “I’ve always been extremely imaginative and needed an outlet for creating the characters and plots in my head,” he said. “I’ve also always been an avid reader and interested in becoming an

Sandra Givens’ “Maui Christmas” is partly rooted in the Sun Lakes novelist’s love for the Hawaiian island. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

author.” When he was younger, he mostly dabbled in science fiction. But fiction served him better for his first novel. “Writing fiction allows you to be as creative as you want, you can create characters, places and anything else that makes for an interesting story,” he said. He found when he pivoted to fiction, it also seemed to flow more naturally. “I’m addicted to Twitter and love following celebrity on-goings; so my interest in pop culture leads me to the

idea for a character who wants to live rich and famously but also be followed by unsurmountable drama and conflict,” he said. What is his writing style? “I created a basic timeline since the story reverts back and forth between past and present,” he said. “I don’t have a consistent writing style, but typically I will stream of consciousness onto the page and then clean it up later if something doesn’t make sense or I feel certain parts needed more description

starting as a child writing rhyming poems for other kids for 10 cents.” “In my career I wrote work-related things, but it was only when I stopped working I had more time to write stories,” she explained. She said she finds her inspiration for her work often come from within her. “This might sound strange, but I have stories in my head,” she said. “Ideas just come to me. I often think if I could just send it straight from my head to paper, it would be so much easier. Inspiration is everywhere.” She doesn’t have a particular regimen when it comes to writing, although she prefers early-morning sessions at the keyboard. “From years of waking up early for my job, I traveled quite a bit, so early flights meant up very early. I’m usually up early and can write without interruption for a while,” she said.

or background.” Flush with self-publishing his first novel, Barbera wants to continue his passion. The notes app in his mobile phone has more ideas, some of which he has shared with his friends. “I’m always writing something or thinking about another story,” he said. “I’ll definitely be writing another book soon.” His book is available as a paperback or e-book on Amazon.

Larry the Cable Guy talks golf and new album CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Staff Writer

Larry the Cable Guy is always “on.” He answers the phone, “Please hold for Larry the Cable Guy,” and quickly returns. “Ah, this was me all along,” he said with a hearty laugh. Born Daniel Whitney, Larry the Cable Guy is known for his line “Get-R-Done,” and his travels on the “Blue Collar Comedy Tour.” He’s coming to Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in Chandler on Friday, March 20. “I love those casinos,” he said. “They’re good places to stay. They have good golf.” He said he’s an “OK” golfer, as he got into it about 10 years ago. He’s trying to improve his scores, though. “I started out horribly, but I’ve been working hard at it. I have a 14 or 15 handicap,” he said. Larry the Cable Guy is definitely going to golf while he’s in Arizona, a state that has a special place in his heart. Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) anointed him an ambassador and sent clubs to him.

t? o G ws Ne

“Those clubs are unbelievable,” he said. “They really helped my golf game. They’re fitted really nicely, and they feel good. So, if I didn’t golf when I came to Arizona, that would be almost communist. “I’ve always been athletic, believe it or not. I love competition. I’m too old to play sports anymore. I’m fat. I got out of shape. I can’t bend down to get a ground ball. Golf still keeps me competitive and it challenges myself. Every time I get on stage, I challenge myself to be funnier, to write better jokes.” As for his show, he calls it “PG-13” and filled with one-liners, the latter of which is a rarity these days. He said he enjoys jokes—how they’re written, the setup and the timing. As for comics who focus on politics or long, drawnout stories, not so much. “I think everybody thinks they’re smarter than everybody else,” he said. “When I read Steve Martin’s book, back in the ’70s, Vietnam was going on. They were having protests and all these comics were coming up. “Everybody was political. Steve Martin said he was going to be goofy, in the

other direction—and that’s what he did. He went a completely different direction than the other guys were doing. Regardless, funny is funny. “There are comedians who I don’t like personally, but if they’re funny, I like their comedy. I’ve never not went out to see anybody because I didn’t like their politics.” The avid Atlanta Braves fan – who loves its legendary player Dale Murphy – has slowed down these days. Instead of touring incessantly, Larry the Cable Guy performs 30 dates a year. “I don’t want to miss my kids growing up,” he said of his 12- and 13-year-old children. “I lived on a tour bus 285 days a year for 10 straight years, back in my heyday. I started slowing down right after I finished my History Channel show. “I was sitting on a bus one day and I remember Jeff Foxworthy telling me he had one regret: He wished he would have been able to attend more of his kids’ school functions. He said, ‘If you can do it, if you don’t need to go out and do this, you should spend time with your kids.’ That’s what I do.” Larry the Cable Guy is touring to

promote his new stand-up comedy special, “Remain Seated,” through the Comedy Dynamics network, its hybrid distribution system composed of Comcast, Amazon Prime Video, Spectrum, Apple TV, Dish, Google Play, DirecTV, Vimeo and YouTube on April 7. The album follows on April 10 through SiriusXM, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora and SoundCloud. “Out of all the albums I’ve done— they’re all really awesome—this one is my all-time favorite,” he said. “I think the material is awesome. I guarantee it’ll make you laugh very hard every 20 seconds.”

If you go

What: Larry the Cable Guy When: 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. March 20 Where: Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, 5040 Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler Tickets: Start at $57 Info: playatgila.com

Contact Contact Paul Paul Maryniak Maryniak at at 480-898-5647 or or pmaryniak@timespublications.com pmaryniak@timespublications.com

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

FuelFest at Wild Horse Pass a sizzling combo ANNIKA TOMLIN Staff Writer

Cars are a true art form. Inspired by “The Fast Saga,” FuelFest takes that into consideration. Now in its second year, the family-friendly festival blends autos— live-action drag and drift racing—with celebrities, live music, food, drinks and art. FuelFest comes to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park on Saturday, April 4. “I created FuelFest because I absolutely love cars and I wanted to create a really cool experience for enthusiasts around the world to come on out and experience,” said co-founder/actor Cody Walker, the brother of the late Paul Walker. “I was influenced by my older brother Paul into the car scene. I’m much younger than him, so he had quite the

impact in me and my love of cars.” FuelFest offers interactive exhibits and a VIP lounge with appearances by celebrities like Walker and “Fast and Furious” star Tyrese Gibson. Walker wanted the show to pay tribute to Paul and benefit his charity, Reach Out WorldWide, which he founded in 2010 after a massive earthquake devastated Haiti. The charity’s mission is to fill the gap between the availability of skilled resources in post-disaster situations. “We’ve raised over $100,000 for ROWW since 2018,” Walker said. “I’m really proud of that.” FuelFest brings the passion of the automotive community to major cities across the globe, showcasing and eclectic collection of modified, exotic and performance cars. It also features offroad cars and trucks as well as rare cars

from various movies and franchises. “My supporters and followers and I took a look at Phoenix and agreed there’s an incredible facility at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and there’s just a big enthusiast community there,” Walker said. He adds this multifaceted event is different than a regular static car show. “You’re seeing cars. You’re smelling the tire rubber. You’re hearing the cars going fast,” Walker said. “It’s just a surreal experience.” The festival brings together the loves of art and the automotive world. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of really cool and amazing artists who are influenced by the automotive industry,” Walker said. “I thought it would be a really cool dynamic to bring both to the show.”

FuelFest has had an effect on fans who have attended, he adds. “FuelFest dominated 2018 and 2019 when we took over L.A. and the U.K. with over 25,000 fans showing up to support,” Gibson said. “2020 is coming with more energy. FuelFest Phoenix is going to be unbelievable.”

If you go

What: FuelFest When: 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. March 20 Where: Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, 20000 S. Maricopa Road, Chandler Tickets: tickets start at $20, VIP and drag/drift racing tickets are available. Info: fuelfest.com

Rob Base and Coolio will party like it’s 1988 CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Staff Writer

Rapper Rob Base didn’t think his 1988 hit with DJ E-Z Rock, “It Takes Two,” would ever be a hit, let alone a legendary smash, when they wrote it. When we were putting our records together, we were putting them together for the neighborhood we grew up in, maybe the tri-state area,” Base said with a laugh about New York, New Jersey

and Connecticut. “Then it (‘It Takes Two’) got bigger than big. We didn’t know it would be all over the world. Hip-hop was still building up. Songs like that weren’t around at that time. We just wanted to be different.” Base will perform the song with a co-headlining show. “Legends of Freestyle,” with Coolio at the Tempe Center for the Arts on at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21. “It should be fun,” he said. “We’re definitely going to bring back the old school. There’s going to be a lot of au-

dience participation and we’ll be hitting them with the classics. It’s going to be a good time. Every time I hit that stage, it feels like 1988 again.” The only thing missing is DJ E-Z Rock, who died in 2014 after a diabetic seizure at age 46. “I definitely miss him,” Base said. “We were best friends since the fourth grade. He’s not physically there with me, but it feels like he’s still with us.” “What’s so special is some of the kids weren’t even born when the re-

cords came out,” Base said. “They know the songs word for word. They know the songs from their parents playing it around the house. Like, for example, when I was growing up, my parents played James Brown and stuff like that.” He’s looking forward to visiting Arizona. “I love being in Arizona,” he said. “They always show me mad love out there. They definitely know how to party.” Information: 480-350-2822, tempecenterforthearts.com.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 15, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Goodness can be found by looking hard enough BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Guest Writer

The Scriptures are filled with anecdotes describing acts of one human being toward another to enhance their values and encourage humanity’s call

for good. There are so many ways to accomplish benevolence and consideration. Hopefully, during our journey we will encounter individuals who personify the essence of dignified human behavior. I was thinking of this as I watched a movie entitled, “St. Vincent.” I expected to laugh myself silly, but instead I left with a better understanding of the goodness of people and how they are overlooked at times. We find a grumpy old man, dissatisfied with life, unable to cope with everyday living and resentful of people

in general. The storyline is interesting because, in my experience, it could be depicting any one of us. Then, we come across someone who lights up our lives, brings meaning to our experiences and lead us into a new understanding that there is goodness in this world. We are so accustomed to hearing only the ugly side of life. This leads us to question the value of goodness. The people who make a difference in our lives epitomize another concept: deeds of kindness are equal to all the commandments. How can we exist without connection to each other? If we lived in a vacuum, our lives would be meaningless. We are all products of our environment. Some of us are trapped by them and some are able to break loose and change what is deemed unfit. We are taught that God does not

care about what our ancestors did, but what we do at this time. While Scripture may talk about the sins of the past generations carrying forward to the next, it is not a signal that all is hopeless. Rather, it is an indication that if we do not change our ways, in some respects, we are destined to repeat the bad and thereby condemn ourselves to the same pain and misery. Goodness can be found deep down if we look hard enough. We should try not to dismiss the values we are capable of. We should not discard those who epitomize these virtues. We should, instead, honor them. We may not be able to be considered saints, but the handle is not the important aspect of goodness. Actions and deeds are the passport to the feelings of saintliness. All these thoughts came to mind when I saw the movie. However, if we

stop for a moment and consider the people we meet on our journey, we would find that most are kind and generous, some to a fault. We tend to shy away from those who are hurtful because life is filled with all sorts of hurts and disappointments. Perhaps we should consider that upheaval and unfortunate incidents would give us strength rather than despair. Our endurance is measured by our ability to overcome the discouraging aspects of our experiences. Looking heavenly we can see that there is beauty in the sky. The vastness of the universe, perhaps, can teach us that our opportunities are limitless. Hope in the future can give us the ability to remain steadfast in our determination to live life, enjoy life, and share this joy with everyone we know and will meet. - Rabbi Irwin Wiener is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.

Finding God can be like catching a roadrunner BY LYNNE HARTKE Guest Writer

Beep! Beep! When I was a child, I enjoyed watching the frustration of Wile E. Coyote in his unsuccessful attempts to catch Road Runner during Saturday morning cartoons. Invariably Coyote’s attempts to capture his prey backfired and he was foiled in comic fashion, often falling off gigantic cliffs and landing in a puff of dust on the desert floor. Catching a roadrunner can be a complicated business. After two days of rain at the end of February, the moderate temperatures drew me to the desert on a cloudless afternoon. The wildlife was out in abundance, soaking up the sunshine, like school kids let out for recess after being cooped up too long. A cottontail twitched his nose beneath a flowering creosote bush while a pair of quail searched for seeds nearby. A roadrunner darted between the cholla, mesquite, and saguaro on the lookout for lizards. I determined to capture a photo, but every time I raised my camera, the

streamlined bird disappeared behind the vegetation. After a few missed shots, I gave up, and stopped to photograph a globemallow bush covered with orange blossoms. As I headed down the path, I glanced over my shoulder. The roadrunner followed behind me, his long legs stretching out in front of him. When I brought out my camera, he dashed behind a brittlebush. We repeated the scenario several times. Roadrunner behind me—camera out—roadrunner gone. Beep! Beep! For the first time in my life I understood Wile E.’s frustration. Why are roadrunners so elusive? Eventually, persistence prevailed, and I captured a photo, including the blue patch of skin behind the bird’s eye. Sometimes figuring out God’s will for my life is a bit like photographing a roadrunner. Just about the time I catch a glimpse of clarity, my certainty disappears behind a boulder. Why doesn’t God pose in front of me, so I can take a picture? I am thankful for this scripture in Isaiah 30:21, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’” Behind me. Before me. To my left. To my right. God’s showing the way.

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Maybe it’s not so complicated after - Lynne Hartke is the author of Un-

der a Desert Sky and the wife of pastor and Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. She blogs at lynnehartke.com.