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June 7, 2020 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Reopening ‘roadmap” charts rocky path for schools BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman has released a 35-page “roadmap for reopening schools in August that could become a handy tool for parents in deciding whether they want to send their children to campuses – and what questions they should be asking their kids’ schools. But those guidelines are only the beginning for Chandler Unified and other school districts as they peer into a murky future that’s only about eight weeks away. Stressing the guidelines are designed

to provide districts “with parameters and options as they develop their own contingency plans,” the state Department of Education’s “Roadmap for Reopening Schools” raises a myriad of issues that could impact everyone from students to taxpayers. It also comes as Superintendent Camille Casteel is preparing to show the CUSD Governing Board June 10 what her administrators are proposing for a possible reopening of schools. The options in Hoffman’s roadmap raise the possibility of potentially significant costs for districts, like buying more buses and increasing class space; an array of daily inconveniences for parents, like staggered schedules;

headaches for teachers and staff, like daily testing and repetitive hygiene instruction; and huge disappointments for students at every grade level, such as making field trips and assemblies virtual and curbing participation in large activities such as sports. And it calls on the State Legislature – which would have to be convened for a special session – to give districts a break on regulations affecting their per-pupil reimbursement and increasing their flexibility for teaching kids. “There have been growing concerns regarding public school budget stability due to potential shifts in student enrollment and attendance and the ability to expand and offer learning opportuni-

ties in either or both a traditional brick and mortar setting or through a virtual platform,” the roadmap states. “School leaders are exploring various instructional models in which students could learn from home on a partial or full-time basis,” it continues. “However, state statute currently does not fully accommodate the need to implement new and multiple types of instructional models, including for distance learning.” CUSD and most other districts in Arizona already have been looking at options and planning different reopening alternatives that will depend heavily on the status of COVID-19 spread in See

SCHOOLS on page 2

Several Chandler police kneel with peaceful protesters BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Former Chandler Vice Mayor Nora Ellen is dropping a political career, at least for now, and embarking on a unique podcast career. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Former Chandler councilwoman launches a podcasting career BY JANELLE MOLONY Contributor

Former Chandler Vice-Mayor Nora Ellen has officially declared her retirement from politics to pursue a new career path in podcasting. Her show, titled Women Starting Over, features women who have overcome major financial setbacks and achieved success. “It’s intended to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit,” said Ellen, the mother of state Sen. J.D. Mesnard, a Republican and longtime lawmaker who represents south Chandler and a portion of western Gilbert. “I want all women to know they can be empowered when it comes to income, money and finances, no matter what their current situation is,” Ellen said. “Just turn it around.” Even before her withdrawal from the 2020 re-election – in which she initially had intended a second run at one of

two House seats in Legislative District 17 – Ellen began recording success story interviews with women from around the country in a local studio. She admits, there are several types of “starting over” that her guests touch on, including marriage and divorce, career changes, relocations, and even re-defining one’s social sphere due to a serious life change. There are women in a corporate job who want to launch their own business. For others, starting over was not by their own choice.” Some of the women interviewed found themselves asking: “How did I get here?” “What do I do to begin?” and “Why didn’t I do something sooner?” Ellen can relate to her guests because she’s been through a gamut of life changes where she’s had to learn to regroup instead of rebound. “When you’re starting over doing See

ELLEN on page 21

Dozens of protestors gathered in Chandler last Tuesday for a peaceful demonstration that ended with city police kneeling alongside activists outside City Hall. Chandler became the latest city to host protestors outraged at the recent death of George Floyd, an African-American killed on May 25 after a Minnesota police officer knelt down on his neck for several minutes. Similar to recent demonstrations seen in Phoenix and Tucson, the protestors in Chandler called for social justice, police accountability, and a basic acknowledgment of the violence committed against Floyd. Unlike some of the protests in both Phoenix and Scottsdale last weekend, however, the Chandler demonstration was peaceful. “The system is clearly flawed,” said 20-year-old Ashanti Grayer of Chandler, who stood along Arizona Avenue for hours holding a sign stating “Silence is Violence.” Local officials need to speak out more loudly on these recent incidents of police brutality, Grayer said, and not just implement curfews – referencing Gov. Doug Ducey’s recent order to restrict public protests after rioters

caused millions of dollars of damage at Scottsdale Fashion Square Saturday night and Sunday morning last weekend. Ducey did call the circumstances of Floyd’s death “tragic and abhorrent” on Sunday. But Grayer said she wants to hear more from her elected leaders on what they’ll be doing to ensure not another person unjustly dies at the hands of law enforcement. She said it was important that protests be held in communities like Chandler because local residents need to see that their neighbors care about this issue. “I think it’s important to speak out against injustices anywhere that you see them,” Grayer said. Other protestors tried getting the attention of Chandler residents with signs exhibiting slogans like “Arrest Killer Cops” and “Silence is Compliance.” Hannah Babington, a recent graduate of Horizon Honors High School, filled her sign with names like Eric Garner and Philando Castile – other black men previously killed by police officers elsewhere in the country. “There wasn’t enough room on the sign for how many black people were

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communities. CUSD spokesman Terry Locke said the district’s task force is planning for “a number of possibilities for the 20202021 school year, ranging from reopening of schools with increased safety and sanitation measures, a hybrid of online and classroom instruction, continuing distance learning and finally a plan for if we reopen and then need to close if conditions require.” The issues are staggering in their complexity and breadth. They affect how students will get to and from school, how they will sit and move around inside them, how they will eat and play. Field trips and extracurriculars activities – from sports to choral to band – also await scrutiny. Officials also must assess what Mesa Public Schools Superintendent Andi Fourlis called in a public discussion “learning loss” among students over the last three months of distance learning as well as the continuing “digital divide” between students with internet access and those without. Hoffman herself acknowledged that one of the first things teachers will have to determine if kids are back in school is what they learned during distance learning so schools can determine “which kids are needing the most support.” “There may be kids that, during this time, have jumped ahead a grade level and maybe students who are working and need a lot more review from this past academic year that have really missed a lot,” she said. Even the impact of closures on students’ mental health is an issue, given the prolonged alarm over the virus and their long separation from classmates and campus life. The roadmap itself lays out four scenarios districts should consider, depending on their level of preparation. Key to all four scenarios is districts’ ability to follow the “decision tree” laid out by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Protection. The very first guideline in that threestep self-evaluation process advises districts not to reopen campuses if it cannot screen students and employees for symptoms and exposure history and cannot protect the higher risk people. The first scenario okays reopening if there is “non-to-minimal local/community cases of COVID-19,” a school board approved contingency plan, “clearly communicated screening expectations” and a plan to address the “medically fragile.” A second scenario poses a hybrid approach with both distance learning and brick-and-mortar classes. The roadmap does not address how distance learning might work for high school lab classes or for students in vocational training such as and Technical Education program and those attending the East Valley Institute of Technology a half day each day. The third involves starting the 202021 school year the same way the 2019-20 school year ended – with all students learning from home until the district feels it can meet reopen campuses and the fourth scenario involves emergency

Districts will have to decide whdether social distancing applies to walking in school corridors, such as this scene from Hamilton High. (CUSD)

closures. “The task force is reviewing the guidelines and appreciates the direction,” Locke said. To emphasize that her department's recommendations are just that, Hoffman's roadmap contains disclaimers, advising districts it is not a legal document and is not necessarily error-free. The roadmap advises districts to identify essential functions and then address non-essential ones such as after-school activities, field trips and sporting events. The roadmap and related information also provide a thorough list of issues that parents can consider in deciding whether to send their kids back to school as soon as campuses reopen. The material is at azed.gov/communications/2020/03/10/guidance-to-schoolson-covid-19. The questions the roadmap asks the district officials to ask themselves could easily be asked of them by parents. They include questions like how prepared is everyone for a sudden shift to an all-distance learning set-up, what hardware and software is needed for disabled students and how will staff be trained in safety protocols and how will those protocols be enforced. Students also could expect a much different environment when they return if some suggestions are implemented. They include the possibility of having to wear masks on school buses, sitting at desks that all face in the same direction rather than toward each other or sitting only on one side of work tables safely distant from each other and even

being advised how to walk in corridors and maintain social distancing. Besides smaller classes, the road map also suggests that teachers and the same students remain together for most if not all the school day – a difficult, if not impossible, scenario especially for high school students, given that they all don’t take the same subjects in a semester. The roadmap also suggests that districts close common areas like cafeterias and playgrounds, letting kids eat in the classroom or otherwise “stagger use and clean and disinfect between use.” And when social distancing is not possible, it suggests districts may want to consider limiting nonessential volunteers, visitors and “activities involving external groups or organizations as possible, especially with individuals who are not from the local geographic area.” Hoffman also suggested that the underlying issue in a survey showing 18 percent of parents are unwilling to send the kids back to school could be addressed with more information. “I would encourage them to be as involved as possible and for our schools to be over-communicating with families on what types of policies and procedures they are putting into place to make schools as safe as possible,” Hoffman said. One apparent worry not confronting CUSD is whether enough teachers are willing to return to school. “We are not experiencing any concerning trend,” Locke said. “In fact, our retention is tracking to be higher than normal this year.”

Parents who might not want to send their children to school pose major financial implications to districts because the bulk of their state funding is based on enrollment. CUSD went live at the end of May with an online survey on its website, cusd80. com, to assess what’s on parents’ minds. The Arizona Board of Education acknowledge those concerns by establishing a new way for districts to expand their online learning programs to all grades so that students whose parents opt for distance learning will count in the state’s reimbursement formula. The state board contracted with Rio Solado Community College to evaluate written descriptions of online educational programs. CUSD has certification for online learning for grades 5-12 and is applying for certification for the lower grades, Locke said. Districts also are assessing how they will handle transportation. While some states have talked about staggering start times so fewer children are on a bus, there is no agreement nationally on whether this will be necessary. However, there is agreement among bus transportation professionals that additional sanitizing measures will be needed. During an April webinar last month on the subject, Mike Martin, executive director/CEO of the National Association of Pupil Transportation said that because the COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving, there is no set best practice available. His organization also asked its members to “work with their school leadership to issue a statement to parents about cleanliness on their school buses.” In that same webinar, Charlie Hood, executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation and Services, said that because buses are not designed for social distancing, school districts will have to determine how to protect both students and drivers and that in the short-run, drivers may have to be equipped with protective clothing to enhance their safety. Hoffman’s recommendations indicate that if districts can’t afford to buy more buses in order to have fewer students riding together, everyone on board may have to wear masks. Locke said Chandler Unified’s task force also is assessing everything from space to buses to how to achieve a high and frequent level of disinfecting – posing another new expense at a time when sales tax revenue, which accounts for $23 million of its annual budget, is in freefall. The plans for reopening come at a time when the CUSD Governing Board and its peers throughout Arizona are now in the process of finalizing budgets for the next school year. To help districts meet some of the new costs and revenue losses associated with the pandemic, Congress allotted $30.6 billion of its $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act for school districts. Arizona’s share is $275 million and most districts have already been advised as to what they can expect. Locke said See

SCHOOLS on page 3

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SCHOOLS

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Chandler expects about $3.3 million. But there’s a national controversy over that money after U.S. Education Secretary Betsy Devos advised that private schools – those that charge tuition – share in that money. Moreover, her department advised, private schools’ share should be based on the total number of all its students while public schools’ share must be based on the number of students who come from families at or below the poverty line. Private schools within each district must request that money from the district. Moreover, “schools must notify the private schools, but many privates have already reached out because it’s a much larger sum than in the past,” said Dr. Mark Joraanstad, executive director of the Arizona School Administrators. Chandler Unified expects to be diverting 10 percent of whatever it gets to private schools, Locke said. “Two private schools who serve our community have expressed an interest,” he said. “It is our understanding that private schools will have access to up to 10 percent potentially. We are awaiting directions – and funding.” Joraanstad has urged all Arizona superintendents to write to their congressional representatives and ask that Congress step in to blunt Devos’ advisory. “It appears the House is considering putting further guidance language on

their intent,” he told GSN. “Whether the Senate would do so is more questionable. However, some senators have expressed concern over abandoning the poverty standard that has a history going back to the mid 1960’s.” There has been a backlash against Devos’ plan, however, among both Democrats and Republicans. Indiana’s Republican state superintendent of education already has declared she state will ignore Devos’ directive. And last week Hoffman also rejected Devos’ guideline. “The Department believes this approach is consistent with both Congressional intent and the U.S. Department of Education’s longstanding interpretation” of education law referenced in the CARES Act,” an Arizona Department of Education spokesperson wrote in an email on Monday to politico.com. Michael Rice, Michigan’s state superintendent, wrote in a memo to districts that DeVos’ argument “sounds reasonable but is not” and encouraged them to set aside the additional money that would go to private school kids. Republican Sen. Alexander Lamar, chairman of the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, has publicly expressed concern about her interpretation of the CARES Act. “My sense was that the money should have been distributed in the same way we distribute Title I money,” Alexander told reporters last week. “I think that’s what most of Congress was expecting.”

With schools closed and virtual graduations, an unknown Chandler parent tied ribbons to a fence around Chandler High School with a name of a graduate on each strand. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

According to politico.com, “DeVos defended her interpretation of the law” and that she said, “It’s our interpretation that it is meant literally for all students and that includes students, no matter where they’re learning.” But The Hill subsequently reported that despite opposition from congressmen on both sides of the aisle DeVos accused state education leaders of having a “reflex to share as little as possible with students and teachers outside of their control,” and said she would draft

a rule that would make her guidance mandatory and “resolve any issses in plenty of time for the next school year.” Devos has reasserted her determination to force public schools to share that money with private schools - those charging tuition - by crafting an order that some observers said will be harder to ignore. That could send the matter into court and possibly delay the distribution of funds. (Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.)

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CUSD boosting tech capabilities with new laptops KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

The Chandler Unified School District is adding 2,600 extra laptops to its stockpile as it continues to prepare teachers to rely more on technology to instruct their students in a post-pandemic environment. Nearly $3.4 million in funds were authorized this month by the Governing Board for the laptops at a cost of about $1,300 each. The additional computers will be reserved exclusively for Chandler Unified teachers who have spent the last several weeks moving their classrooms online after schools across Arizona were forced to shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the school year has officially ended, the district is hastily preparing for the summer and fall semesters by equipping teachers with more tools to get their work done virtually from home. CUSD had already been trying to provide more devices for teachers before COVID-19, said Colleen Flannery, the district’s director of technology services, but then the pandemic suddenly created a bigger demand. “The school closure has accelerated our needs,” Flannery said. Analytics recently released by the district demonstrates how significantly teachers have begun relying on digital

Elisa Magee helped distribute laptops at Chandler Unified district headquarters last month to students taking summer school courses. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

services to instruct their students. Chandler’s teachers created more than 2.46 million Google Drive files in May – a substantially higher number than the 827,800 files generated by staff in March. The number of active Google Classroom accounts used by CUSD increased from 922 to 6,480 between March and May. CUSD will soon need to begin exploring how it will provide more devices for students, Flannery added, since not all pupils have the same access to tech-

nology at home. Chandler Unified is in the process of programming 2,000 new devices that students can utilize for summer school – which has moved entirely online – as well as providing free internet access at each high school campus. Not long after the schools closed in March, the district began scheduling times throughout the day when students could drive onto a school parking lot and connect to a nearby WiFi signal. Students could also elect to not use

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any technology by completing paper assignments that could be picked up at their respective campus. If remote-learning models were to continue in the coming months, Flannery said her department might open up internet access at all the district’s elementary school campuses. Internet connectivity has become a statewide problem, district officials said, so every district is brainstorming strategies to guarantee each student can work online if schools remain closed. To pay for the 2,600 new laptops, CUSD plans to utilize funding provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. In addition to supplying billions of dollars to states and municipalities, the congressional legislation has carved out some funding for school districts needing resources to counteract the pandemic’s economic repercussions. Arizona’s share of school funds is $275 million. Though the purchase has been approved by district officials, there’s still some uncertainty as to when exactly the laptops will be delivered and distributed among staff. “We can’t even get a delivery date at this time,” said Associate Superintendent Frank Fletcher during a school board meeting earlier this month. Since nearly every school district

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Survey shows strong school reopening reservations BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Gov. Doug Ducey may be ready to send kids back into the classroom as soon as this coming week. But many Arizonans do not share his views. A new survey shows just 52 percent of those questioned said they would allow children to go back to school even though the governor allowed his stay-athome order to expire earlier this month. HighGround, a political consulting firm, found that just 29.5 percent of respondents to its survey said they would definitely permit kids to go to school and 22.5 percent were in the “probably yes’’ category. More significant, nearly one out of every five people surveyed who actually have children in school said they would definitely not be putting their kids into seats. The effects on the children aside, that could have devastating effects on districts’ finances since the state aid they get depends on attendance. It was only a special provision in state law this year that kept the funds coming at the same regular rate for students who were being taught at home. The only way those who don’t attend brick-and-mortar classes could be counted for purposes of state aid would be if the students are engaged in a state-certified online instruction program. The Arizona Board of Education has established a quicker process to get that

certification, assigning Rio Salado College to evaluate the quality of districts’ online learning platforms. Districts that have certified online programs for only some grades must get certified for expanding it for others. State schools chief Kathy Hoffman, in a statement to Capitol Media Services, acknowledged that there is some hesitation among parents – putting the burden on schools. “Arizona Department of Education urges over-communication with parents and families, as well as including them in the process as schools develop their plans,’’ Hoffman said. “When parents know what the plans are and can provide input, they’re more likely to be assured regarding health and safety issues.’’ Hoffman said schools need to take the lead “with the utmost empathy and flexibility.’’ But she said that things “will look different than those of previous years.’’ Pollster Paul Bentz said the guidance that Hoffman provides and what school officials tell parents could have a huge effect. He pointed out that fully 14 percent of the 400 people surveyed said they did not know whether kids should be back in school. By contrast, Bentz said, people had more definite views, whether pro or con, about other activities. For example, fewer than 2 percent of people have no views about whether they’re willing to go to a movie. And the “don’t know’’ figure for dine-

in restaurants was just half a percent. “The clarity that they (schools) can provide on what the protocols are going to be is critically important because that’s a movable audience,’’ he said. Chuck Essigs, lobbyist for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, said he expects that attendance on the first day of school will be low. Essigs said a lot of parents are likely to take a wait-and-see attitude to decide if they feel safe about conditions. And even if parents do decide that school is safe, there are more practical concerns. He said if schools are supposed to be complying with social distance requirements, that means districts can’t put buses full of children on the road. So that, Essigs said, could mean having three times the number of bus runs just to transport the same number of children. Bentz said the feelings about sending children to school relate directly to their level of concern about the virus -- and the economy. He said there is a definite correlation between those who believe the governor is moving too fast in reopening the state and those who do not think school is a safe option. He also said that those most worried about the push to get back to normal despite the ongoing outbreak tend to be younger. “Voters in the 50-to-64 range were much more likely and much more desirous to get the state open and get the

economy moving,’’ Bentz said. He said the likely reason for that is pure economics. “Those folks are often 10 years or less away from retirement and are looking at their 401(k) and looking at their long-term economic growth and want to make sure they’ve got something to retire to,’’ And then there’s the politics of it all. Bentz said that half of Republicans questioned believe that Ducey’s efforts are proceeding at just the right pace, with nearly a third saying he is going too slow. Among Democrats, however, just a quarter find Ducey’s plans to be appropriate, with nearly 70 percent saying he’s moving too fast. “Some of these folks are not going to be satisfied with anything that’s being done to reopen, and that’s from the Left, in the same manner that, on the Right, that there’s about 30 percent of Republicans that think everything is happening way too slow,’’ Bentz said. In fact, he said, a majority of Republicans are willing to do pretty much anything now like dining out, bars and movie theaters. “But the rest of the electorate is much more cautious of those large public gatherings,’’ Bentz said. The live telephone survey using a combination of landlines and cell phone was conducted April 18-22 among likely Arizona voters – those who have a history of participating in prior elections. It has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.

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PROTEST

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

from page 1

innocently killed by cops,” the Chandler teen said. Babington said it’s time for the country to make some systematic changes because she doesn’t want the next generation to grow up in this type of environment. “We’re here to make change and it’s going to happen,” she added. Several motorists honked their horns as they drove past crowds of demonstrators huddled around the intersection of Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard. The mass gathering eventually migrated down to City Hall, where protestors took a moment to silently kneel and raise their fists into the air. At least three officers of the Chandler Police Department took part in the demonstration by kneeling alongside the protestors. The deaths of George Floyd and Dion Johnson, a Phoenix man fatally shot by a state trooper last month, have reignited demands from some community leaders for Arizona’s police agencies to be more transparent in how they operate. Chandler Police already has an oversight commission made up of 15 civilians who are tasked with reviewing and scrutinizing use-of-force incidents involving the agency’s officers. Chandler Police Chief Sean Duggan has recently described the video footage of Floyd’s death as “disgusting”

Peaceful protestors gathered at Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard, then marched down to Chandler City Hall on Tuesday. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

and promised that his officers are not taught to use that level of force on civilians. “That tactic is not something I’ve ever seen condoned or trained in,” the chief said this week in a video posted by the city. News of Chandler’s protest began circulating online Tuesday morning and by the late afternoon demonstrators had assembled outside the Chandler Center for the Arts. The protestors represented a wide

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and protested against wars and feels as if history continues to repeat itself. “I haven’t seen much change in my 71 years,” Daniels said. The public has begun to slowly realize that issues raised by the African-American community are not petty, he said, and have been part of a systematic institution of oppression. “There’s not a chip on our shoulders – there’s a foot on our necks,” he added. “Those feet have been there for decades.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Controversial Kyrene board hopeful drops out BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

An announced candidate for Kyrene School District Governing Board who has appeared at numerous Chandler Unified Governing Board meetings and has had a long-running social media battle with a member has announced he won’t run after all. Scott Weinberg – who also has engaged in a long-running Twitter war with Governing Board member Lindsay Love – announced on May 25 that he won’t be on the Nov. 3 ballot. “I have decided to withdraw from the Kyrene school board race,” Weinberg said. “I know my aggressive social media presence has been disappointing to some of you and I hope you know that it came from a good place and wanting to make a difference. “Unfortunately, I allowed myself to lose sight of my original goal and get dragged down to the level of those I was fighting against,” Weinberg wrote. “Clearly I was never meant for a life in politics and need to refocus on the things that matter most.” Love reacted immediately. “Bye Scott! Congrats to @KyreneSchools,” she tweeted within hours of the announcement. “The race has been narrowed down to some wonderful candidates.” Although he lives in Ahwatukee

and his children are enrolled in Kyrene schools, Weinberg also has been a frequent speaker during the “call to the public” sessions of both Chandler and Kyrene governing board meetings. He and fellow members of the Purple for Parents groups have lobbied both districts to end their equity programs, which are aimed at narrowing the disciplinary and achievement gaps between white students and students of color. In Chandler, the group also has lobbied against the district’s sex education curriculum. During a Kyrene board meeting in October, he was ejected after calling the board “cowards.” Weinberg’s withdrawal from the race came after he sparked outrage among some community members with postings on Twitter – one in which he used the word “retarded” and another in which he falsely identified an Arizona State University student as the gunman in a multiple shooting at the Westgate Entertainment District. Those tweets also prompted Wanda Kolomyjec, an Ahwatukee Democratic activist running for the Kyrene board and an Arizona State University faculty associate, rapped the LD 18 Republican Committee for supporting Weinberg after he posted the two controversial tweets. The day after the May 20 shooting in which three people were injured, Weinberg misidentified the suspect, posting that he was a “left-wing #LGBTQ stu-

dent and Youth Ambassador.” He later removed the tweet and apologized, posting: “Several people reached out to vouch for the individual who is close in age and has the same name as the #Westgate shooter. I apologize for my mistake. I should have properly vetted the information before tweeting it. My intent was criticize the #AZMedia and not to cause any harm.” Despite the apology, Equality Arizona released a statement that read: “Mr. Weinberg took to social media to falsely accuse and baselessly attack a young man who is a member of the LGBTQ community.” Weinberg stirred more anger with his use of the word “retarded” in two separate posts. When one person wrote, “Please stop using an outdated slur that targets people with disabilities” on May 20, Weinberg wrote, “Please stop being offended by the word ‘retarded.’” In another exchange, someone posted a video about Special Olympics, telling Weinberg to watch it and ”u will rethink ur post.” Weinberg wrote back, “Relax, Mike. It’s just a word. It can’t hurt you.” But “Mike” replied, “I am in the Special Olympics words hurt that hurt a lot.” But his posts pulled the LD 18 Republican Committee –which covers northern Chandler as well Ahwatukee and a portion of Tempe – into the fray.

Several Republicans have privately criticized the committee for allegedly supporting Weinberg. During an appearance before that committee Feb. 12 in which he outlined his positions, Weinberg showed a PowerPoint presentation that called Kyrene Superintendent Dr. Jan Vesely a “left wing superintendent” and stated “Democrats are destroying America.” Another slide called the equity program “anti-capitalist and anti-white.” His posts on Twitter last week prompted Kolomyjec to post a message to local Republicans. “The Republican Party in Legislative District 18 is supporting this person as a candidate for Kyrene School Board,” Kolomyjec posted. “Mr. Weinberg has appeared at their meetings with rousing support. My Republican friends, are you okay with this? If not, please reach out to your party and ask them to stop supporting this person. “There HAS to be a line. There HAS to be a line,” she said, noting that even if they can’t support Democrats in the nonpartisan race, there are two independent candidates “who have the best interests of our children in mind and would make excellent school board members.” Candidates for school board were required by law to file statements of interest before they can circulate petitions and so far, four other people have filed them.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Chandler modifies pension payoff plan BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

The city of Chandler has extended the amount of time it expects to fully fund its pension liabilities for police officers and firefighters. Chandler had expected to pay off its $180-million liability for the future pension benefits of its public safety personnel by 2027. But that goal no longer appears to be financially viable, according to Dawn Lang, the city’s management services director, because it could jeopardize the city’s spending capacity. “We would deplete our General Fund one-time dollars,” she explained. On May 28, the Chandler City Council approved a revision to the city’s pension plan that puts off fully funding the debt until 2036 – the same year several other cities have set as their deadline for resolving their respective pension deficits. This new plan could end up saving Chandler more than $100 million over the next couple decades, Lang said. “We feel it is a very financially-prudent plan that leads to additional savings through the years,” she added. Chandler is in the same troubling predicament as most every other Arizona municipality when it comes to ensuring the future pension benefits of its cops and firefighters.

A shortfall in the statewide pension trust fund has been raising annual contributions paid by individual cities – limiting some from being able to hire and recruit additional public safety staff. For example, Phoenix’s pension liability is estimated to have topped $4 billion.

We feel it is a very “ financially-prudent plan that leads to additional savings through the years.

”

– Dawn Lang Chandler’s contribution rate has more than doubled from the $9 million it paid in 2015 to the $20 million the city paid this year. “It’s significantly grown over that period of time,” Lang said, “and this is the area we really need to make a difference.” Arizona’s Public Safety Pension Retirement System had been fully funding benefits up until the early 2000s, but a series of unwise investment decisions made by the system’s Board resulted in cities getting saddled with a bigger

financial debt. In 2017, the Pew Charitable Trusts ranked PSPRS as the third-worst performing government trust fund in the country. PSPRS representatives have said it has taken measures to better diversify the fund’s portfolio and ensure greater returns on investments. Yet, cities like Chandler are still dealing with a pension fund that’s 60-percent funded. If a city continues to operate without fully funding its pension balance, then it risks creating intergenerational inequities among taxpayers and city employees. The pension benefits and costs could be different for a cop hired in 2020 than their predecessors because the city’s funding liability had not been paid off. As a result of this conundrum, nearly every municipality across Arizona has spent the last decade grappling with the financial demands of fully funding its pension liabilities. The state legislature passed a bill in 2018 that requires every city to come up with plan to resolve its debt. A few years ago, Chandler decided it would attempt to fully fund its pensions several years earlier than other municipalities, in part, by overpaying each year into the system. The city overpaid $2.5 million in 2017,

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$5 million in 2018, and $25 million last year. Chandler expects to make an additional payment of $15 million during the upcoming fiscal year – which could be delayed if the COVID-19 pandemic winds up hurting the city’s finances greater than expected. If the city didn’t overpay each year, Lang said Chandler could still have an unfunded liability of about $20 million by 2036. “The more you can pay now, the better we’re going to be in the long-run,” she said. Lang said a new actuary brought on by the PSPRS Board this past year has made some corrections to the system’s estimations and calculations. Because of these recent changes, Lang said the city has gotten a more accurate financial picture of what its pension liabilities will look like over the next 20 years. It quickly became obvious that Chandler wouldn’t be able to achieve 100-percent funding by 2027, she said, prompting a need to revise the city’s original plan. Chandler’s current unfunded liability is still not nearly as high as the city’s surrounding neighbors. The most current numbers show Mesa having an unfunded pension debt valued at $654 million, Tempe’s was $319 million, and Glendale’s was $272 million.

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Chandler survey reports rise in homelessness on the streets because a normal flow of services is not available,” she said. The city recently invited homeless people to get tested for the coronavirus. Forty-eight individuals were tested that day, Balch said, and some tested positive. They were offered treatment by the county’s health care provider. Many of the services offered to the homeless population must be accepted voluntarily, Balch added. Since the pandemic began, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has been allotting more funds to help cities assist communities impacted by sudden job losses. Chandler was awarded $850,000 to give out in the form of community-block grants to help residents and nonprofits negatively impacted by the pandemic. Balch said the city is directing most of those extra funds to efforts that will hopefully prevent more residents from becoming homeless. A portion of the funding was awarded to AZCEND, a local nonprofit that operates a food bank and offers rental assistance to low-income residents. The city also added another homeless navigator position who connects with individuals who might be experiencing some level of homelessness. The city gets better each year at tracking and finding residents experiencing homelessness, Balch said, raising the city’s service levels gradually over time.

BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Chandler has nearly tripled over the last three years. Results from the annual Point In Time survey conducted in January indicate at least 75 people within Chandler were living without permanent shelter, according to data released by the Maricopa Association of Governments. In 2017, that same survey counted 27. The rising numbers fit with a trend seen elsewhere in Maricopa County – where the homeless population increased by nearly 600 over the last year. Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe all counted a greater number of homeless individuals in a survey that only counts the number of people found living on the streets within a set period of time on one day. Overall, homeless numbers are likely far greater than the survey indicates. Riann Balch, Chandler’s community resources manager,noted that it's what the city can expect when housing becomes more unaffordable and wages don’t keep pace with living costs. The last couple months have been especially challenging for Balch’s department as they adapt their services to fit with restrictions put in place during the pandemic. “Our service levels didn’t change,” she said. “We just change the places that we’re finding people.”

The city Neighborhood Resources Department has a special intake room where individuals can seek some temporary relief from the desert heat. That room had to abruptly close once the city started shutting down public offices, Balch said, forcing her staff to partner with nearby nonprofits and churches to offer some sanctuary to those in need of it. Chandler has recently partnered with other East Valley cities to rent hotel rooms in Mesa to individuals most at risk of COVID-19 exposure. There are up to 25 beds available for temporary housing through this partnership, Balch said. This past year, Chandler was among

several nearby municipalities to sign a joint resolution that vowed to explore new strategies for fighting homelessness. Balch said that resolution has resulted in a productive coalition that’s allowed the cities to share their resources. With sharp increases in unemployment, the pandemic has not only created greater economic instability among Chandler’s residents, Balch said, but also disrupted how social workers have help the homeless. Shelters are now requiring new residents to undergo a COVID-19 test before they can be admitted, which is delaying access to services. “We’re starting to see more people

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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Police Academy Association’s raffle basket a win-win we do to assist the Chandler Police Department,” said Aaron The Citizens Police Academy AssoTippetts, CPAAC president and ciation of Chandler made a local man a member of CPAAC since its happy and helped raise money for a inception. worthy cause recently. “We appreciate all the vendors It presented a basket with $1,200 who donated to the gift basket.” worth of coupons for a Sedona getaway CPAAC is a volunteer organizato Nathan Zdilla of Chandler. tion that supports the mission of CPAAC comprises alumni from the the Chandler Police Department Chandler Police Department’s Citizens and the Citizens Police Academy Police Academy class who want to give class sponsored by CPD. back to the Chandler Police DepartCPAAC members remain ment and act as goodwill ambassadors engaged and receive ongoing to the community. informational updates, spread “I’d just like to say thank you very the word about Chandler Police much,” Zdilla says. “All the time and Department’s community serdedication you give to the police devices, participate in community partment is very much appreciated.” activities, provide occasional Zdilla purchased the winning ticket volunteer support to Chandler at a recent annual Chandler Public SafePolice Department and more. ty Fair, a partnership between Chandler CPAAC normally meets police and fire departments. monthly at the Main Police StaA former Chandler police cadet tion with guest speakers related studying for an emergency manageLorraine Bacuita, left, and Linda Goth of Spyglass Bay, present Nathan Zdilla, 19, with a Sedona weekend gift basket. to law enforcement, future ser(Special to SanTan Sun News) ment degree through Northern Arizovice projects, fundraising opporna University online, Zdilla is working tunities and networking. Dues are fee press, coffee donated by Starbucks full-time for Chandler Police as a police ed items for three nights of lodging at $20 annually. at Queen Creek and Alma School in Elements Hotel, food and activities in investigative specialist. Membership in CPAAC requires Chandler and other goodies. Sedona. “I’ll be investigating incidents where completing Chandler Police DepartThe basket was a fundraiser for The items included gift certifino suspect is on scene, such as burglarment’s Citizens Police Academy, which CPAAC to support the nonprofit’s cates to Renee’s, Secret Garden, Mesa ies, fender-bender accidents without is offered twice yearly at no cost to activities. Grill and more. There was a donated injuries, whenever there is a police attendees. Full details are available by “We are pleased with the fundraiser, round of golf from Oak Creek Golf, a report requested,” Zdilla explained. visiting cpaac.org/members. and I believe the community learned glass-blowing tour and flower-making CPAAC members Linda Goth and Information: cpaac.org or email more about who we are and what session from The Melting Point, a cofLorraine Bacuita gathered the donatinfo@cpaac.org. EV Tribune half pg horiz • June 2020.pdf 6/2/2020 7:31:09 PM

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

EV Tribune half pg horiz • June 2020.pdf 6/2/2020 7:31:09 PM

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Council approves tentative spending plan BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler City Council has tentatively passed a $931-million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that accounts for reductions the city may have to make due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a 5-2 vote, the council chose to initially adopt a budget that added an extra $30 million to its spending capacity at the last minute thanks to some assistance from the federal government. Going into Thursday night’s meeting, the budget totaled $901 million – nearly 3-percent smaller than the city’s current budget – but then the council voted to infuse some financial aid it’s expected to receive through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. Up until last Wednesday, it had been unclear whether Chandler would get any CARES Act funding through the state since the Ducey administration had been silent on the matter. But then the governor rolled out a distribution plan for local governments and small counties. Council members will discuss in the coming weeks how to spend that money but some have already expressed interest in using the $30 million to help out small businesses hurt by the pandemic. Council members Mark Stewart and Terry Roe voted against the tentative budget, citing concerns they had about how COVID-19 was impacting the local

Tax revenue from Chandler’s hotel transactions shrunk by more than 50 percent in April 2020 and restaurant tax revenue decreased by about 28 percent, according to financial records. Retail taxes grew by about 5 percent compared to April 2019 and taxes from property Councilman Matt Orlando discussed the city budget during its meeting last Thursday. rentals increased by (Special to the San Tan Sun News) 3.6 percent. Mayor Kevin economy. Hartke emphasized Roe said he objected to how the that Chandler’s budget only sets a limit budget still allowed for the opportunity for what the city can spend in the next to grant merit-based salary raises to fiscal year. some personnel. The council can still make adjustments It’s “bad optics” to be handing out and decide not to make certain expendiraises, he said, during a time when so tures after the budget is adopted, he said. many have recently lost their jobs. At Matt Dunbar, the city’s budget least 20,000 Chandler residents have manager, said the 2020-2021 budget is filed claims for unemployment comdesigned to flexibly react to the unexpensation as of May 15 and that number pected nature of the ongoing pandemic. likely has grown. It accounts for nearly $30.5 million in Stewart said he wanted to review expenditure reductions that were made more data on Chandler’s tax revenue as a result of the health crisis, he said. before making a final decision on the Shortly after business closures and city’s finances. stay-at-home orders wreaked havoc The city of Chandler collected about on Arizona’s economy, Chandler an$11.3 million in sales tax revenue last nounced it would be holding several job month – 5-percent less than what it openings from getting filled and would collected in April 2019. limit travel expenses among staff.

Covering their safety takes more than a mask. Even in times like these, your child’s healthcare needs don’t stop. At Phoenix Children’s, we’re making it safer for you to see us, with telehealth appointments and enhanced precautions for in-person visits. Whether your child requires vaccines, an appointment with a specialist or a scheduled surgery, don’t let being careful stop you from getting your kids the care they need.

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Over the last several weeks, city staff have had to re-evaluate all the spending requests submitted by the city departments and decide whether to remove them from the upcoming budget. Dawn Lang, the city’s management services director, said several spending requests had to be removed from the pending budget because staff felt there was too much uncertainty about the city’s financial future. The tentative budget does allow for a slight reduction in the city’s property tax rate from 1.128 to 1.120 per $100 of assessed value. The 2020-2021 budget includes $386 million for departmental operating expenses, $59 million for debt service, $7 million for equipment and car replacements, and $102 million held as reserves and contingencies for various funds. The budget further appropriates $345 million for the city’s capital projects fund. Chandler has decided to invest a considerable amount of capital next year in order to address the city’s aging infrastructure. Chandler is planning to take a “phased” approach with how it schedules out certain capital projects. Because the full effects of COVID-19 are not yet known, the city has picked out some improvement projects that can be delayed by a few months until the city’s economic forecast looks clearer. Council will reconvene on June 11 for a final vote on the city’s new budget.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

AG suing Google for 'defrauding' Arizonans BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Attorney General Mark Brnovich is suing Google, claiming the internet giant is defrauding Arizona consumers by collecting private information. “Google willfully misleads and deceives users into enabling collecting of their location data and using and storing their location data in ways users do not know or understand,’’ the state argues in the lawsuit filed in Maricopa County Superior Court. All that information, Brnovich charges, has a purpose. “Google’s advertising revenues are driven by the company’s collection of detailed information about its users, including information about where those users are located,’’ he said. That data, Brnovich said, allows Google to enable advertisers – companies that paid Google $135 billion in 2019 – to target users in specific geographic locations. “Hundreds of millions of dollars of these advertising revenues were generated from ads presented to millions of users in the state of Arizona,’’ he said. The problem, Brnovich charges, is that the tactics the company uses to “surveil’’ users’ locations are “willfully deceptive and unfair’’ – violating the state’s Consumer Fraud Act. Brnovich wants a judge to order Google to surrender any profits it has made “by means of any unlawful practice.’’ He also wants “full restitution’’ to Arizona customers and for the company to pay a fine of up to $10,000 for each willful violation of Arizona law. Finally, he wants a court order barring Google from engaging in similar practices in the future. That would cover notjust Google devices but also its Android operating system and its popular search engine. A call to a Google spokesperson was not immediately returned. But when Capitol Media Services first inquired about the practice two years ago when Brnovich awarded a contract to a private law firm to investigate the company’s activities, a spokesman said the information the company gathers “helps us provide useful services when people interact with our products, like

he charged. He told Capitol Media Services that users should be concerned. “This includes physical location, everything about where you’re going, your doctor’s office,’’ he said. And what’s worse, Brnovich said, is that the company effectively is lying to people about how they can stop that from happening. “Even if a consumer or customer turns off their location, they’ve got their location history off, Google surreptitiously is collecting information through other settings, other apps, other web Attorney General Mark Brnovich is taking on Google for allegedly defrauding users activity,’’ he said. of the mammoth tech giant. (ﬁle photo) In the lawsuit, Brnovich details locally relevant search results.’’ various settings, all He also said there are ways for users of which provide information on a user’s to delete location history and web location. activity. Some are specific and simple, like the

Google’s advertising revenues are driven by the “ company’s collection of detailed information about its users, including information about where those users are located.

’’

– Attorney General Mark Brnovich But Brnovich said it’s not a simple act. He said the company makes it “exceedingly hard for users to understand what is going on with their location information, let alone opt-out of this morass.’’ “Google makes it impractical if not impossible for users to meaningfully optout of Google’s collection of location information, should users seek to do so,’’

device’s main setting which allows the use of GPS to determine an individual’s location. Then there is scanning for WiFi, Bluetooth, location history, location sharing and the company’s own ad personalization. “The array of location-related settings described above misleads and deceives users of Google’s products into believing

that they are not sharing location information when they actually are,’’ Brnovich said. All that, he said, is complicated by a “complex web of setting and purported ‘consents’ ... that misleads users into handling over their location data to Google.’’ Some of the problems, Brnovich conceded, have been fixed since an initial Associated Press story in 2018 explained how Google records the movements of users even when they believe they have set the parameters of their devices to specifically block that. Only after the story was published, he said, did Google acknowledge that it was tracking even those who had turned off their “location history.’’ “In other words, Google attempted to ‘fix’ this particular deception only when it was caught,’’ Brnovich wrote. But even then, he said, Google still made it difficult to understand how to turn off any location history. On top of all that, Brnovich said, is that Google has set up its devices to undermine the choices made. “Presumably, the entire point of including various toggles and consents on devices and accounts is to give the user control over the state of their device and/or account,’’ he said. “However, Google has pushed a variety of updates that automatically change a user’s location settings and defaults without informing the user, much less seeking or obtaining consent,’’ he added. The way Brnovich sees is, the default setting for location sharing on devices should be "off.’’ He said consumers should have to opt in as opposed to opting out. What gives Brnovich some power over the international company is the state’s extensive Consumer Fraud Act. That’s the same law that he used to get refunds for Arizonans who purchased what they thought were clean-burning diesel-powered vehicles from Volkswagen. Brnovich even got a court to rule that the allegations of misleading Arizonans were enough to give him jurisdiction over that multinational firm. He said, Google is making representations to Arizona consumers that once they turn off location services that the practice stops. That, he said is not true.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Gilbert death tied to missing kids ruled natural BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner has ruled that a Gilbert man whose death was suspected of being linked to a bizarre missing children case in Idaho died of natural causes but town police are still investigating the death. Alexander Cox’s death last Dec. 12 was one of several peculiar events that preceded a criminal investigation into Lori Vallow, Cox’s sister, and the whereabouts of her two children. Vallow was arrested in February on felony charges of child desertion and remains in police custody. Her 17-yearold daughter and 7-year-old son have not been seen since last September. Vallow’s case has attracted national media attention, in part because of several suspicious deaths that occurred in the months leading up to her arrest. Her estranged husband Charles was shot and killed by Cox last summer during a domestic dispute inside the family’s Chandler residence. Authorities initially determined Cox had acted in self-defense and and not immediately

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sin the country has switched to remote-learning models during the pandemic, there’s now a major demand for technology and supply chains aren’t moving as quickly as before.

pursue criminal charges against him. According to public records, Cox told Chandler Police he shot his brother-inlaw after Vallow grabbed a baseball bat and threatened to harm the family. Vallow told investigators an argument erupted between them after she confronted her husband about “plotting something” against her. About six months after Charles Vallow’s death, Cox was found unresponsive by Gilbert Police at his home and died shortly after he was taken to the hospital. The autopsy reports released this week conclude Cox died from a blood clot in his lungs. The Medical Examiner’s report suggests Cox had been suffering from cardiovascular disease, which may have been a contributing factor in his death. Cox’s wife allegedly told authorities he had complained of chest pains about a week before his death, according to autopsy reports. A toxicology report indicates Cox had ingested naloxone, a medication used to quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, shortly before his death. No other substances were found in his

system. Despite the recent rulings by medical examiners, local law enforcement agencies have not yet officially closed their investigations into the deaths surrounding Lori Vallow. Gilbert Police said detectives are reviewing Cox’s autopsy reports and the investigation into his death remains active. Chandler Police said its investigation into the death of Charles Vallow is also open and ongoing. Vallow moved out of her Chandler home shortly after her husband was killed and relocated to Rexburg, Idaho – the last known place Vallow’s children were seen alive. Cox’s connection to the case didn’t end with the death of his brother-in-law. Surveillance footage recovered from a storage center in Idaho suggests Cox may have helped his sister drop some items off at the family’s unit last October. Rexburg Police later searched Vallow’s unit and recovered several items belonging to her two children. The investigations into Vallow’s missing children have sparked infighting with-

in her own family, with some relatives accusing others of practicing cult-like behavior. A Gilbert man who had been married to Vallow’s niece has repeatedly claimed that some members of the family belong to a radical doomsday cult. Melani Pawlowski, Vallow’s niece, has denied any assertions made by her ex-husband, according to statements from her attorneys. Authorities in Idaho have additionally been investigating the untimely death of a woman who had been married previously to Vallow’s latest husband. Tammy Daybell’s death in October had initially appeared to be the result of natural causes, but local law enforcement later exhumed her body on suspicion she may have been the victim of foul play. Daybell’s husband, Chad, married Vallow within weeks of her death. He has not been charged with any crimes related to Vallow’s missing kids. The Idaho Attorney General’s Office claims it has not yet received the final results of Tammy Daybell’s autopsy, according to local media reports.

Once the purchase has been solidified, CUSD estimates it could take another eight weeks before the laptops arrive at the district’s warehouse. After the technology is delivered, the district still needs time to program each device before they can be given to teachers. The district will need to devise a

“Plan B” strategy in case the laptops don’t arrive before the next school year starts, Flannery said, which would likely include reshuffling existing resources. CUSD has assembled a task force of administrators to begin figuring out how the district’s post-pandemic learning environment will take shape and

whether technology will continue to play a crucial role in the coming school year. Regardless of whether schools reopen back to their full capacity, CUSD is expecting technology to have an important presence in how curriculum is taught and presented.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Judges debate lawsuit against Chandler senator BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Attorneys for the state and a Chandler lawmaker told a federal court last Tuesday that the legislature is free to remove members for any reason at all – including political affiliation and race – as long as they can muster a two-thirds vote. Attorney Steve Tully said there was nothing wrong with the procedures used by Chandler Sen. J.D. Mesnard, who was the House Speaker in 2018, to investigate then-Rep. Don Shooter and eventually have a vote that resulted in his ouster. Tully, himself a former lawmaker, did not specifically dispute Shooter’s claim that Mesnard ignored decades of precedent that normally allow an accused lawmaker a formal hearing before the Ethics Committee, where evidence can be presented and witnesses can be questioned. Nor did he address Shooter’s allegations that he was being charged with violating a sexual harassment policy that did not yet exist or that Mesnard removed certain information from an investigative report that was given to his fellow lawmakers. Instead, he told the three-judge panel that lawmakers were free to vote to eject Shooter anyway. “The right to expel members is granted to the House by the Arizona Constitution,’’ Tully said, with the only requirement being able to get at least 40

of the 60 members to go along. That claim drew a skeptical response from Judge Marsha Berzon, who asked if the Democrats controlled most of the seats, could simply decide to remove all Republicans.

My answer is, yes, If “ they’re at 90 percent (of

the House) and they filed a motion to expel a member for being what they thought was disruptive, and they got the votes.

’’

– Attorney Steve Tully “My answer is, yes,’’ Tully responded. “If they’re at 90 percent (of the House) and they filed a motion to expel a member for being what they thought was disruptive, and they got the votes.’’ Berzon said that opens the door to the majority deciding that the minority is being disruptive “because they get up and are making speeches’’ about why the majority is wrong. But Tully stuck to his position, asserting that House members cannot be sued for damages by the expelled member. Attorney Jeremy Horn, representing the state, said the House can discipline

anyone who violates “whatever the House decides its rules are.’’ Berzon questioned that logic. “If you just let the body expel whoever it wants, with absolutely no oversight by anybody, you could completely undermine democracy?’’ she asked. Horn said there is no way for courts to intercede and decide what is proper. That drew questions from Judge Lawrence VanDyke about whether lawmakers could decide to remove all Black legislators simply because they didn’t want them there. “It very well may be,’’ Horn conceded. What the appellate court ultimately rules will affect more than Shooter’s rights. Reinstatement is not an option but damages are. It could set a federal court precedent that gives legislators carte blanche to oust members for whatever reason they want if they can get that two-thirds vote. The House voted 56-3 in early 2018 to oust Shooter after a report cited “credible evidence’’ that he had sexually harassed other lawmakers, lobbyists and others. Shooter has been trying to get courts to conclude that his rights were violated and that Mesnard and Kirk Adams, then an aide to Gov. Doug Ducey, had defamed him. Shooter won a small victory last week in Maricopa County Superior Court as Judge Theodore Campagnolo ruled that Shooter is entitled to sue Mesnard over

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alleged defamatory comments. The judge acknowledged that elected officials generally have absolute immunity for comments they make during formal sessions. But Campagnolo said the issues in this case involve claims that Mesnard altered a report about Shooter’s conduct prepared by an outside law firm. Shooter also contends that the press release Mesnard issued contained untrue and defamatory statements. That, Campagnolo said, requires him to reject a bid by Mesnard to simply throw out the case. Campagnolo reaffirmed an earlier decision that the Yuma Republican cannot claim in state courts that he was denied due process in the way he was removed from the House in early 2018. The judge said courts cannot second-guess the procedures used to oust Shooter. But that claim lives on at the 9th Circuit, which led to Tuesday’s hearing. Philip Byler, Shooter’s attorney, told a three-judge panel of the court that the normal procedure used in the House to discipline or oust a lawmaker involves a hearing before the Ethics Committee. On top of that, Byler said Shooter’s rights were violated because he was charged with violating a “zero tolerance’’ standard for sexual harassment policy that did not exist at the time. The appellate judges did not indicate when they will rule.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Good Samaritans rally for one of their own BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

The Chandler dance community has come together to support one of its teachers after he fell victim to a clever carjacker. Michael McBain, a long-time professional dancer and Air Force veteran, has been teaching Arizona’s aspiring dancers for years and recently found himself in a troubling predicament. The 73-year-old was driving near McDowell Road and 51st Avenue on the morning of April 29 when a limping man approached his vehicle. The man asked McBain for $11 so he could rent out a hotel room for his family. The dance teacher gave the stranger some cash and offered to give him a quick ride. They drove over to American Inn and the man asked McBain to go inside and check to see if the room rates had changed. The man claimed he had twisted his ankle and it was too painful for him to walk inside himself. McBain parked the car and exited it to walk over to the hotel’s lobby. A few moments later, the man sped off in McBain’s vehicle. “I was shocked,” McBain recalled. “It was certainly unexpected. I was trying to do the guy a favor.” Phoenix Police filed a report and McBain had to take a taxi to journey the 25 miles back to his Ahwatukee home. Once he returned, McBain realized his dance bag containing his tap shoes and music had been inside the car at the moment it was stolen. McBain teaches weekly classes for Classic Image Dance, located near Kyrene Road and Chandler Boulevard In Chandler, and would have to find a way to replace his materials before his next scheduled class. He notified Shannon Wilson, the dance studio’s owner, of his unfortunate situation. “My heart broke for him,” Wilson recalled. She knew McBain had already been having a difficult time before the carjacking and worried how this latest misfortune would impact him. McBain additionally drives for Lyft, the ride-sharing company, in his spare time and had been earning up to $700 per week. But then COVID-19 pandemic hit and Lyft’s customers were suddenly staying home and no longer requesting rides. During the first week of March, McBain only made about $40 from his Lyft rides. It didn’t make sense to keep driving, he said, since he was spending more money on gasoline than what he was earning. So McBain has had to forgo that supplemental income for the last two months. After hearing the news of the car theft, Wilson got to work figuring out how her dance community could help McBain. He’s brought so much talent and

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Michael Bain stands by his car after it was recovered a few days after it had been stolen. He is overwhelmed by the generosity of the Chandler dance community. (Pablo Robles/Arizonan Staff Photographer)

expertise to Classic Image Dance, Wilson noted, so it seemed fitting that the studio should attempt to give him something during a perilous time. “We just wanted to see what we could do to help given that he didn’t really have any income coming in and was just a little bit down on his luck,” she said. Wilson started circulating McBain’s story among the studio’s dancers and parents. Within a few days, she had collected more than $5,000 from nearly 80 donors. Several of McBain’s former students -some of which were taught by him back in the 1970s -- contributed to Wilson’s fundraiser. “I’m grateful that the community came together at this time for someone who has touched so many lives,” Wilson said. The fundraiser came as a surprise to McBain, who was unaware of what the dance studio had been orchestrating these last couple weeks. “I was completely caught off guard,” he said. McBain, who worked on television shows in Hollywood before relocating to Arizona, said he hasn’t missed a dance lesson since the car theft and plans to continue teaching for the foreseeable future. “I hope to die and still be teaching,” he joked. On May 6, McBain was notified his stolen car had been recovered and was sitting in an impound lot. The car had some damage to it and the license plate was missing, McBain noted, so he’s still not able to drive it yet. The car’s trunk had some stolen stereo equipment found inside, which McBain handed over to authorities. Phoenix Police said the case is still open and no arrests have been made. Though the incident brought McBain some temporary misery, he said he’s not trying to let the theft bring down his spirits too much. “It hasn’t changed my outlook or changed my willingness to help others,” he said. “I still will do that. I’m just going to be more cautious.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Around Chandler Man pleads guilty to 1997 killing of Chandler teen

A 45-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing a Chandler teenager in 1997. On May 20, Venancio Miramontes pleaded guilty in Superior Court to one count of manslaughter for causing the death of 15-year-old Luis Andrea Parra. The teen was shot inside a Chandler residence in the 400 block of Delaware Street on May 17, 1997. Miramontes, who was 21 at the time, fled from the home shortly before Chandler Police arrived at the scene. Prosecutors waited until 2006 to charge Miramontes with manslaughter, but he fled the country before the defendant could be taken to trial. Last year, a Chandler detective got a tip on the fugitive’s possible whereabouts and teamed up with the U.S. Marshals Service to conduct a surveillance operation. Investigators found Miramontes living in a rural part of Virginia. He was arrested on May 17, 2019 – exactly 22 years after Parra’s death – and extradited back to Maricopa County. The defendant’s manslaughter charge carries a presumptive prison sentence of 5 years under Arizona law. Miramontes will be sentenced in Superior Court on July 8. As part of his plea deal, prosecutors agreed to let Miramontes plea to a “non-dangerous” felony – meaning he would be subject to a lighter prison sentence.

Ex-Hamilton High teacher stripped of certification

A former Hamilton High School science teacher has surrendered his state certification after making inappropriate comments around his students. Uvince Lopez, who resigned from the Chandler Unified School District last December, has voluntarily forfeited his teaching credentials after reports were made of unprofessional behavior. According to the Arizona Board of Education, Lopez’s students accused him of making flirty comments about their physical appearance – claiming he’d call them pretty or ugly or compliment their clothing. One student claimed Lopez tried inviting himself to her birthday party. Students told investigators they purposefully avoided any interactions with Lopez due to how uncomfortable they felt around him. Chandler Unified notified the state Board of Education in November of Lopez’s alleged behavior. He resigned from the district soon after and the Board began investigating whether to revoke Lopez’s teaching certification. Lopez elected not to challenge the Board’s investigation and surrendered his teaching certification.

Chandler hosting virtual hiring event for summer A virtual hiring event will be

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launched June 23 by the City of Chandler, in partnership with ARIZONA@ WORK Maricopa County, Career Connectors, Pipeline AZ and BestCompaniesAZ. Mayor Kevin Hartke said, “We hope to provide residents relief through jobs and continue to work through the challenges brought on by the public health emergency. We are especially proud to connect Chandler companies with job seekers through this event.” During the kickoff, employers will share information on their company, culture and career opportunities. Job seekers will be able to speak with the hiring managers and recruiters directly online and have access to some of Chandler’s top employers with hundreds of available positions. Participants will also be able to leverage skills-mapping technology to match their skills to employer’s opportunities and make it easy to connect for online interviews. The job fair will continue through July 10. To find out more on how to participate, visit chandleraz.gov/jobfair to fill out the quick and easy registration. Employers that have committed to the event include Zovio, Voya Financial, Loan Care, State of Arizona, Z-Modular, Liberty Mutual, PayPal and Pilgrim Aerospace Fasteners so far. “When we think about the changes COVID-19 has caused, there’s been destruction but also acceleration toward

wider adoption of digital tools that will enable the workforce of the future. Virtual hiring events actually provide a better experience than traditional job fairs for both employers and job seekers, so we’re excited to partner with the community to create an innovative event for Chandler,” said Dean Duncan, executive director for Pipeline AZ and Partnership for Economic Innovation. Information: chandleraz.gov/jobfair.

Chandler libraries start summer challenge

Chandler libraries are participating in the annual Summer Reading Challenge for children ages 4-12, that rewards young students with prizes. The “Imagine Your Story” campaign is aimed at encouraging students to starting reading daily at an early age for at least 20 minutes. Readers will earn a point per minute for reading physical or electronic books, including graphic novels, or listening to audiobooks. Additional points are earned for attending virtual programs and completing online challenges. Participants need to register at Read20az.com (English) or leepor20az.com (Spanish). Anyone who logs 1,000 points can choose a free book from an online marketplace, while supplies last. Prizes See

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Around Chandler

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include a free personal pizza from Peter Piper Pizza, free lemonade from Raising Cane’s, and an Arizona State Park pass. Grand Prize drawings will also take place at each participating library for a chance to win family passes to Legoland Discovery Center/Sea Life Aquarium. Readers who achieve 1,000 points can choose a free book for their use or to donate to a local Head Start classroom. Last year, Head Start classrooms in Maricopa County received more than 1,500 books. Information: chandlerlibrary.org/ src or call 480-782-2800.

Hamilton High grad is National Merit Scholar

Hamilton High School Class of 2020 graduate Emily Abraham is a National Merit Scholar in May. Emily was among 7,600 finalists nationwide out of more than 1.6 million students in some 22,000 high schools who entered the National Merit Scholarship competition. Emily was also awarded the National Scholar Award, the Blue Chip Scholarship, and the CEF Impact Scholarship. She will be attending the University of Arizona and majoring in physiology.

City seeks input on Chandler’s park master plan

Chandler is currently developing a master plan for its parks system to ensure parks are accessible, sustainable and innovative. A new website for public input is at planchandlersparks.com. Chandler has 67 developed parks totaling 1,281 acres and is nearing completion of its remaining undeveloped parkland and prioritizing the maintenance and refurbishment of existing facilities, As COVID-19 restrictions ease in the coming months, parks staff plans to reschedule meetings on the plan and also will include a virtual public forum.

Chase’s Diner revs up its summer pies of the month

Chase’s Diner is celebrating the onset of summer with the release of its summer “Pie of the Month” specials. Each month, a new pie flavor is featured by the slice or by the pie. June is key lime pie month while July will feature Cream Cheese Lemonade Pie and August will spotlight banana cream. Cost is $4.49 per slice or $13 for the whole pie. Chase’s is at 2040 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Information: chasesdiner.com.

ELLEN

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something else, you have to become someone else. It’s uncomfortable!” she explained. “If not, you’ll end up in the same place you were before.” Her first episode launched on Apple Podcasts in March with a warm welcome to her inaugural audience. The stories shared are positive and uplifting, but have nothing to do with her political past. This venture is yet another example of how the award-winning Realtor-turned-councilwoman has “started over” herself. Wishing she had a show like Women Starting Over when she went through a divorce, she said she would have appreciated a guide to affirm her strengths and encourage her to develop them into a financial asset. Ellen said her biggest learning curve as a new podcaster in her sixties has been to navigate the technology required to record, edit and process the audio files. “It’s easy for me to connect with women and give them hope, encouragement, and inspiration. I want them to hear ‘If she can do it, so can I.’” But to reach a broad audience, she’ll need to become more savvier to Twitter and Instagram. Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the closure of studios, Ellen had to outfit a quiet space in her home to continue recording.

As for her competition in this field, Ellen said, “I haven’t found anybody who is empowering women who have had to start over, like I am.” Other shows are “usually about relationships,” she added, but hers will hinge on the financial factors involved in the individual’s stories. Women are driven both into and out of relationships due to matters of financial security and a couple’s spending or investing habits. Ellen’s desire is to shine a light on finding financial freedom whether the woman is in a relationship or not. New episodes of Women Starting Over are being released each Wednesday. Ellen is also writing a book by the same title which will expand on the conversations heard on the podcast. Each podcast guest she interviews has a different backstory or direction they have taken, but “the book is more step-by-step, instead of a sound byte, and it’ll be more geared towards the individual reading the material.” Ellen remains open on whether she will ever run again for a position in local or state government. But she added that she is quite satisfied with her current endeavor and the time it allows for her to enjoy being a grandmother. Nevertheless, she’ll still be vying for listener “votes” and ratings on her new platform. Those who are interested in participating in a guest interview can reach Nora at Nora@NoraEllen.com.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Chandler sisters donate sunglasses to healthcare workers must be particularly stressful and challenging for them. Entrepreneurship appears to run in the Krienert family, since the girls’ mother started her own business a couple years ago by selling t-shirts online. Jennifer Krienert founded Rock Your Different after a benign tumor was detected in the eye of her youngest child. The condition required Krienert’s son to wear an eye patch – motivating her to come up with a clothing line that embraced a message of diversity and inclusion. “I don’t want kids to be Chandler sisters Nicolette and Taylor Krienert have a business, We Give A Shade, that sells sunglasses. They recently ashamed because they’re differdonated 1,000 to healthcare workers in Arizona and two other states. (Special to SanTan Sun News) ent,” Jennifer said in 2017. “The mama bear came out with this. I to 1,000 pairs of sunglasses to health keeping it at home,” Nicolette said. don’t want anyone to make fun of them care workers in Arizona, Iowa, and But the intention of starting of the because they’re different. Michigan. business was not just to make some Like her daughters, Krienert gave a The medical team at the University extra money. portion of her proceeds back to the of Nebraska Medical Center reported The sisters were looking for a way community by making donations to getting a shipment of 100 pairs of sunto give back to the community during Phoenix Children’s Hospital. glasses from the Krienert sisters. a tumultuous time when the COVID-19 The Krienert sisters said their parents The ultimate goal is to sell up to pandemic had put a strain on health inspired them to pursue their own 4,000 pairs and give away 2,000 to nurscare workers. business ventures and hope We Give es, doctors and firefighters. “The concept of this business is a Shade could lead to more entrepreThe sisters said they most enjoy to give back to the front-line workers receiving pictures of nurses donning the neurial opportunities in the near future. and other people who are still working “We hope We Give a Shade will consunglasses while walking through the everyday to save lives and help others,” tinue to grow so we can give away more Nicolette said, “and give them something hallways of their hospital. sunglasses and keep putting smiles on It’s great to see some joy on their positive after their hard days at work.” people’s faces,” Nicolette said. The sisters claim to have donated up faces, the sisters said, at a moment that

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Two Chandler sisters are attempting to give away hundreds of pairs of sunglasses to nurses and doctors working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicolette Krienert, a Hamilton High School student, and her sister Taylor, a Bogle Junior High student, have spent these last few weeks forming a business that sells a variety of stylish sunglasses. After their schools closed back in March, the Krienert sisters decided to spend their spare time founding We Give a Shade, an online venture that sells a palette of sunglasses. The shades range in price from $10 to $15 and each style has its own name. The “Lucas” sunglasses have a sleek, retro design that’s reminiscent of a bygone era. The “Blair” glasses suggest a luxurious, exotic look with its leopard pattern printed around the rims. And the “Jackie” model has big, ovalshaped shades that easily hide the eyes of their wearer – similar to the glasses worn famously by Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The Krienert sisters said sunglasses seemed like the perfect product to start selling in the summer, as more Arizonans look for protection from the hot sun. “We decided to sell sunglasses instead of another product because it is something that they will be able to keep and use every day rather than just

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

City effort aims to help local businesses SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The City of Chandler is spending up to $75,000 on helping local businesses welcome back customers after the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s Economic Development Department has launched an “I Choose Chandler” marketing campaign in an attempt to remind residents of the economic benefits that come with supporting local businesses. For every $100 spent at a Chandler business, up to $43 stays in the local economy, according to Chandler Economic Development Director Micah Miranda. On the other hand, every $100 spent outside of Chandler only results in $13 coming back into the local economy, he added. Miranda said his department is spending up to $75,000 on advertising campaigns over the next few weeks that will highlight Chandler’s business community. “Without them we lose a lot our identity and this is one of the best things we can do to help catalyze our economic recovery,” he said. The city’s social media channels have already begun spotlighting local restaurants, bars and barbershops that have started serving customers in-per-

Chandler Economic Development Director Micah Miranda said his department’s “I Choose Chandler” campaign is aimed at helping local businesses and reminding residents that when they shop local, three times as much money stays in Chandler than when they shop outside the city. At right, Chandler Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Terri Kimble led a convoy May 15 to celebrate the reopening of businesses after the shutdown. (File photos)

son again. Several businesses were forced to close for weeks while the state enforced stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of COVID-19. During that time, Miranda said the city began strategizing how Chandler would start the recovery process once the restrictions were lifted. The city rolled out a digital map that identifies local businesses, produced videos about business resources and partnered with the Chandler Chamber

of Commerce on local initiatives. The “I Choose Chandler” is the latest project aimed at supporting businesses through a tumultuous period of change. Though the number of COVID-19 cases in Chandler’s zip codes has continued to rise since the governor lifted stay-at-home orders, city officials believe now is the time to begin promoting the reopening of local businesses. The campaign’s content features new ideas on different places to shop, ways to show acts of kindness by giving

to a nonprofit and opportunities for residents to share why they choose to shop in Chandler. The campaign is meant to illustrate to Chandler residents that local businesses are ready to support them during this period of transition and readjustment, Miranda added. Businesses have been adapting themselves to accommodate the health concerns of residents still worried See

CHOOSE on page 27

Remodelers build big business through relationships BY JANELLE MOLONY Contributor

The longer residents stayed in quarantine, the easier it was for them to take of notice how their living space makes them feel and whether it lends to or inhibits productivity. For the DIY-ers, Greg Christy of Ruggiero’s Ace Hardware in central Chandler remarked, “Paint and garden supplies are probably at their record highest sales.” Second place, he said, went to barbeque grills. “We’re seeing a lot of guys coming in with ‘honey-do’ lists and no excuses to avoid much needed home updates,” Christy joked. While it’s easy to refresh dull, brown cabinets with a flashy coat of Grecian white paint, making a home more functional for all-purpose living (and working, and schooling) can be more complicated. For the frustrated families, especially those trying to fanagle an extra office space out of their layout, home design expert Nicole Stipp is ready to help. Nicole and husband, Daniel Stipp, own and operate Renotight Construction. The company is going on its fourth year, unhitched, and has landed the elite status as the preferred contractor within Gilbert’s Agritopia farm-life

Nicole and Daniel Stipp own Renotight Construction, which has drawn raves from customers throughout the East Valley. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

community and major corporate projects without so much as a website or paid advertisement. Nicole credits the success to their relationship-based business model.

“We don’t come in [for a rebuild] then blast out. We build lifelong friends in the process,” she said. “When we meet with clients, we hear their stories and listen to their hearts. We see what

their needs are,” she said. “It’s a very intimate and selective process.” The Stipps want customers to feel extremely comfortable with them, considering they’ll be spending several weeks together over the course of the project. Daniel, who oversees the contracting and labor, is typically onsite daily to ensure the highest standard of excellence. When a prospective customer calls to discuss an update to their home, Nicole said most communicate their ideal end result in two parts: a function and a feeling. Examples they might hear include, “a quiet office” or “an inviting living room.” Achieving the client’s vision could mean adding or subtracting an entire wall to redirect the energy in the space. “They don’t have to have the official terms or technical specs to communicate those things,” she explained. Nicole enjoys her time consulting with families to identify what their vision looks like in practical terms. With the economy strained and families under the additional stress, she said her consultations sometimes include a touch of family therapy. “There’s the spouses to coordinate, the stress of the project mess, children being around, and work happening in the middle of everything.” See

REMODEL on page 27

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

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BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

EV group geared to female business owners BY MELODY BIRKETT Contributor

BossTalk is not a typical networking group. For starters, it’s for women only. And it’s not just an opportunity for businesswomen to exchange business cards and promote their goods and services. Author-speaker La’Vista Jones created the monthly meeting in July 2018 as a “place for us to come together to share stories about what’s going on along the entrepreneurial journey and to share vulnerabilities with one another about the struggles, issues with overwhelm that we all deal with.” “It’s a place for us to come and get needs met,” Jones said. “The hope is that a woman here in the room either has an answer to that problem or is connected with someone who is.” Jones launched a consultant company, 31Marketplace, in 2005 but returned to corporate work from 2008 to 2014. Her company helps small business owners with their operations and self-care and merging the two together. Her BossTalk group meets monthly with a focus on different topics, such as how to use “love language” in business. At a recent gathering before social-distancing guidelines were issued, the group looked at “love-building a business” through words of affirmation. “It’s about how you share the love

BossTalk owner-facilitator La’Vista Jones, carrying her son, “The Cub,” says her networking sessions are designed at helping businesswomen help each other with practical issues. (Special to the SanTan Sun News)

with your customer as you’re on-boarding them,” she explained, “how you take care of the people you do work with and also making sure you have a system in place to collect testimonials so you’re actually getting those love letters sent to you.” “If your love letter is high on words of affirmation, than that’s just going to help recharge your battery as you’re just doing the normal day-in and day-out stuff

in your business.” Jones, who currently runs the monthly sessions virtually at lavistajones. com during the widespread closure of businesses, takes the approach of sharing the journey of each person’s story by interviewing one participant. “Typically, I sit down with an entrepreneur and I interview her,” Jones said. “And I talk to her about different aspects of her journey – like what causes ‘overwhelm,’ what has been the biggest failure in the business and learning from that failure. “The hope is the story will resonate with one of the other women in the audience to let them know, ‘I’m not the only one that deals with this stuff in my business,’: she said. “I think a lot of the times we see the highlight reels from other people in the business, and it’s like, ‘She’s out there speaking or she’s got this book or this is happening or that is happening.’ “And that’s great but you don’t see the struggle behind the scenes, where she got rejected from that speaking engagement.” She aims for women to get encouragement from those stories. Over 150 business owners have come through at least one BossTalk session. Jones records every session and releases them to members, whether they attend or not. Up to 30 women attend a normal meeting at an admission of $20 per session.

For a monthly membership of $25, members get recordings, a Facebook group to network with women in between the BossTalk sessions, access to members-only events, a business directory for members and monthly guest passes. She also focuses attention on members’ personal health, both physical and mental. “Once we get the business running more smoothly and more streamlined, they’ll have some free time to focus on themselves and make them a priority in the business,” said Jones. “But it’s also building those systems with love languages incorporated in it so as you are actually working in the business, the business is recharging you instead of draining you.” By discovering a better way to run a business, Jones tells women, “you can get back to making yourself and what you love a priority.” Ilana Myerson was part of the inaugural BossTalk group. “It doesn’t feel like your typical networking group – which I love,” said Myerson. “So, with my business, this focuses me and really sets my mindset. Instead of having the pressure of making a sale, I feel like I’m finding joy in what I’m doing. The happier I am the more I attract.” See

BOSSTALK on page 27

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BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

BOSSTALK

from page 26

After attending the first BossTalk session, Myerson hired two people and gained another five customers within the month “just by being happy.”

CHOOSE

from page 23

about the COVID-19 virus, he said, so this campaign will help try to restore some consumer confidence among Chandler’s shoppers. Yet the pandemic has already left a permanent mark on how Chandler’s businesses will continue operating in the future. The pandemic has resulted in so much anxiety and confusion, Miranda said, especially when it came to applying for financial assistance from the

REMODEL

from page 23

New clients also get nervous about cutting a big check to make their living space more livable. “It’s a lot!” Nicole sympathized. A typical new client consult can take upwards of two hours while the Stipps get to know the families and the current structure of the home. “Whatever their budget is, we can be very clever with achieving the look,” Nicole said. But more important to her business is the increased enjoyment people get

“It’s a great place to connect people to what they need,” Myerson said. “Jones does a real good job of finding out what people need and everybody is like, ‘ooh, I can help with that, I know this.’” “A lot of times we don’t say what our actually company is or what we actually

do,” explained Myerson. “We say how we service the community…You’re not pressured to give an elevator pitch.” The group is not for someone unemployed but for someone who owns their own business or at least has an idea for starting one. And it’s not for women seeking an 8-5 job.

She gears her talks to “business owners who want more from life than frazzled days and sleepless nights” and urges them “to add time back to your day by streamlining processes, identifying operational gaps and outsourcing.” Information: thirtyonemarketplace. com/boss-talk

federal government. Economic turmoil that arose during the pandemic was enough for at least 30 Chandler businesses to close for good, according to numbers tracked by the Chamber of Commerce. One of the most notable departures from the local retail scene was the Nordstrom’s announcement that it would be exiting out of its space at Chandler Fashion Center. The news was received by several lamentations from local shoppers and raised concerns from city leaders that

more mall tenants would follow. Conversations about how the Chandler mall can adapt for a modern consumer base were occurring long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Miranda said, and the city continues to be in constant contact with tenants. “The evolution of the mall is bound to happen,” he told the council last month. That’s why the city is emphasizing the importance of local commerce with this new advertising campaign, he said. “There’s a lot of trickle-down effects that we benefit from as a community

when we really support our local businesses,” Miranda added. Mayor Kevin Hartke thinks the advertising campaign will be a valuable investment in rejuvenating Chandler’s local economy. “For businesses and entrepreneurs to succeed during this public health emergency, they need support from the entire community,” Hartke said. “This campaign will creatively showcase the impact residents make each time they choose to shop, dine, volunteer or donate in Chandler.”

from their new and improved home atmosphere. When asked what the hot, new look is, Nicole said people want their homes to look “effortless.” “But, we’re not trendy,” she explained. “We want people’s homes to be super sophisticated and functional for more than a season.” Renotight has a signature design style the Stipps enjoy using that’s considered “Transitional.” “It’s a mix of modern and traditional materials, which results in a classic, timeless design,” said Nicole, whose primary trade skill is in orchestrating

the final interior look. On whether there is real value in prioritizing people over profits, she said there has been an exponential return on their investment. “We are only on Facebook and Instagram,” Nicole explained. Everything else is word-of-mouth customer referrals. With this, bookings can be as far out as six months. But is the wait for this type of personalized customer service worth it? Reviews seem to indicate “yes.” Brenda V. left a Facebook review that highlighted owner Daniel as a “caring person with good character and integrity.”

Another client commented on how well respected they felt while work was being completed. The couple, who met while working at Home Depot together over 18 years ago, has proven that a quality reputation builds more business than any advertising buck can buy. For their fifth anniversary, they anticipate being able to donate a complete home remodel to a community member in need. For a complimentary consult: 480-309-7528, or you can see samples of their work at instragram.com/ renotight_construction.

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BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

Chandler foster mom grateful for company’s gift SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

When COVID-19 shuttered schools across the nation and forced students to shift to online learning, ER2 in Mesa was uniquely poised to help, as a Chandler foster mom can attest. The business, which provides new and refurbished technology to customers, donated 100 new Chromebooks to children in foster care, ensuring they would have the technology they needed to succeed in an e-learning environment during the pandemic and beyond. Robia Iggnhyte of Chandler said her foster son, a high school student, was thrilled to receive a Chromebook. “He was extremely happy, smiling from ear to ear,” said. “He was also excited to know that the laptop belongs to him and he has something to call his own.” Though primarily intended for schoolwork, the laptops offer benefits beyond academic achievement. “Currently, he’s unable to visit with family and/or peers,” said Iggnhyte. “In addition to educational needs, the laptop allows him to connect with peers during uncertain times. He said, ‘this means so much to me.’” Many children lack access to computers at home, but the issue is especially problematic for kids in the foster care system. While 90 percent of U.S. teens have access to a computer, only 20 percent of urban foster youth – and 5 percent of

ER2 employees Ric Villa, left, and Gary Romero flank Darren DaRonco of the Arizona Department of Child Safety as they load Chromebooks for delivery to Arizona foster youth. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

foster kids in rural areas – have access. “The ripple effect of this technology gap is sobering: Nationally, fewer than 70 percent of kids in foster care graduate from high school,” company spokeswom-

an Katy Springer said. “Our strategic focus for 2020 includes helping children in foster care,” said Gina Lidster, ER2’s director of human resources and team member engagement.

“Donating the computers was a perfect opportunity to live our vision of serving this often-overlooked population.” “Every kid deserves to take classes without disruptions, and tech is vital to that,” added Darren DaRonco, a spokesman for the state Department of Child Safety. “These computers are theirs to keep, whether they move back home or are placed with another family. It’s a really big deal for kids who have very few things to call their own.” ER2 has partnered with DCS since 2018, when the department launched its Fostering Achievement through Computer Technology (F.A.C.T.) program, which provides technology and training to Arizona’s foster youth to boost academic achievement and level the playing field. “Our involvement with the F.A.C.T. program has provided hundreds of brand-new devices to teens,” said Derek Jackson, vice president of sales for ER2. “We plan to continue supporting the program to give these kids a boost, as our company is committed to donating 10% of our time, talent and treasure back to our community throughout the year.” Since the program’s inception, F.A.C.T. has benefited 300 youth in the Arizona foster care system. In addition to receiving laptops that are theirs to keep, teens complete online safety and responsibility training from the Phoenix Police Department, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and The Arizona State Attorney General’s Office.

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

New Waterfall Villas models opening here SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Waterfall Villa Residences is scheduled to open model units this month. Brokeridge Cambridge Properties said 20 of the complex’s 106 two- and three-bedroom residences have already been sold. Residences will range between 1,225 and 1,630 square feet and are priced in the upper $200,000. With gourmet kitchens, expansive bal-

conies or courtyards and energy-efficient design, the units are nestled amid date palms, streams and waterfalls in the area of Lakeview and Chandler boulevards. The palm-lined luxury pool will offer cabanas, firepit, ramadas and gathering areas. The single-level villas come in four different floor plans and include an attached two-car garage. Alec Zorn, a 23-year-old software engineer, chose the development for

his first home and said he was partially attracted to the community’s proximity to Chandler Airpark Business Center. “I just decided to go for it. Buying a home has always been an ambition of mine, and Waterfall is the perfect fit,” said Zorn. Cambridge Properties said in a release that it has seen a lot of interest in the villas from West Coast buyers “looking for new-build homes complete with gourmet kitchens, master retreats and easy access

to a bustling city center.” It also “expects to see an influx of clients” as travel restrictions ease. “Even with our traffic cut significantly, our sales have remained steady,” said Keith Mishkin, Cambridge president/CEO. His sales team is providing virtual and private, onsite opportunities for prospective buyers. Information: liveatwaterfall.com or 602-875-0700.

Intel volunteers generate bucks for nonprofits, schools SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

More than 300 Arizona schools and nonprofits will share $1 million in matching grants from Intel employee and retiree volunteer hours An Intel spokeswoman said the beneficiaries will be getting checks in coming weeks from the Intel Foundation as a result of the volunteer work done for them by employees and retirees in 2019. More than a third of the Arizona technology manufacturer’s 12,000 employees logged over 100,000 volunteer hours to generate the match. They read books in classrooms, refurbished computers for students in need, coached after-school robotics teams and provided helping hands in other ways, spokeswoman Lidna Qian said. “Ranging anywhere from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands,” she said, “these grants will be put to good use, es-

pecially as the coronavirus pandemic has increased needs in the community. Among the beneficiaries is AzStRUT, which refurbishes donated technology for public schools and other nonprofits and has seen a significant increase in requests for technology. “We are very grateful to Intel and their volunteers for their continued support,” said AzStRUT Executive Director Tom Mehlert. “This year, our efforts are focused on refurbishing laptops going to Title I schools and their families. These funds will be used to purchase replacement parts for these computers.” Education Empowers, a nonprofit that promotes STEM education for children through robotics and maker activities, also received a grant. Anna Prakash, a senior engineer at Intel who founded the organization, said the funding will be used to purchase robotics equipment and parts.

“We have programs at more than 50 locations, including free workshops for Girl Scouts, so students all across the Phoenix metro-area will benefit from this funding,” she said. Chandler Unified Superintendent Camille Casteel was elated with the news form Intel. “It takes the strength of the entire community to educate and empower our students. We are thrilled to have the support of many Intel employee and retiree volunteers, as well as this grant, to further our mission,” she said. Although volunteering has changed because of the pandemic, Intel employees are still finding opportunities to support the community. “From sourcing personal protective equipment, to 3D-printing face shields, virtual volunteering, and donating funds and used equipment, Intel employee volunteers are committed to Arizona,”

Qian said. Theresa Niemeyer, Intel community engagement manager, said, “It’s a win-win situation. While they’re giving back, our volunteers can use these opportunities to learn new skills or hone existing ones. It’s always a good time to get involved.” The major beneficiaries were: Education Empowers Inc., Chandler Unified, Chandler School Boosters, the Contemporary Chinese School of Arizona, Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University, the Joe Jackson Foundation, Yoga of Love, Fans Across America Charitable Foundation, Fine Arts Association of Arizona, Arizona Dragon Boat Association, The Grove, Chandler Service Club, Save a Stray Foundation, Sema Foundation, Tempe Chinese School, Si Se Puede Foundation, Muslim Outreach And Volunteer Enterprise, TriCity Christian Academy, Chandler Youth Football Association and ICAN.

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Different ways available to save on income taxes BY DR. HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

The coronavirus pandemic shutdown of most of the U.S. was devastating. However, the economic is now slowly coming out of lockdown and many predict that we will have a strong fourth quarter in 2020 and strong economic recovery in 2021. For many upper middle-class families, income taxes are one of the two highest single expenses, along with housing expenses. It’s the highest expense once your house is paid off. Let’s examine several major tax-savings options. Tax-Deferred retirement plans: Include the IRA and 401(k). IRAs allow one to deduct up to $6,000 annually (or $7,000 annually if one is age 50 or older) but are limited to employee earned income. The 401(k) has much bigger annual contribution limits. In 2020, one can contribute up to $19,500 (and up to $26,000 if one is age 50 or older).

However, one’s contribution is limited to the amount of earned income that year. If one’s 2020 earned income is $12,000, then that’s the maximum one can contribute to your 401(k). Solo 401(k): If you own your small business and have no non-family employees, you can set up a solo 401(k) and have the same employee maximum contribution limits. If you have substantial profits, you can also do an employer “match” and the total maximum contribution in 2020 is $57,000. If there are substantial profits and both spouses own and work the business, there can be a maximum $114,000 of annual tax-deductible contributions to the solo 401k(k) plan. Solar business equipment: This could involve solar panels on the roof of commercial buildings or solar refrigeration equipment (called reefers in the food industry) attached to the front of refrigerated trailers that transport frozen foods, meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables to grocery stores. In 2020 the solar tax credit is 26 percent. If one has a high income – caused

by high earnings, a Roth IRA conversion or gains from selling stock or real estate – one would also want to use Section 179. Section 179 allows one to deduct the cost of business equipment in the year it is “placed in service” instead of having to depreciate the cost over a period of years. Example: You purchased $120,000 of solar reefers in 2020. Your cost basis must deduct half of the 26 percent solar tax credit ($31,200) and this results in an $104,400 cost basis. Suppose a single taxpayer had $250,000 of taxable income in 2020 and would owe $62,295 of federal tax. After using the Section 179 deduction of $104,400, revised federal taxable income is $145,600. The federal tax is $29,023. Now apply the $31,200 tax credit and you owe no federal tax in 2020. You have $2,176.50 of excess solar tax credit, which can be used to recover federal tax paid in 2019. The total federal tax savings is $64,471.50 (the $62,295 that would have been paid plus the $2,176.50 of 2019 tax recovered. Arizona income tax savings

would be $4,698 and total tax savings would be $69,169.50. In order to take the Section 179 expensing provision, there are seven ways to qualify to be an “active” or “materially participating” investor. The easiest way is to spend at least 100 hours per year managing your investment and “it can be as much time as anyone else.” This means you should own the equipment individually. In contrast, if there are 5,000 investors in a $1 billion solar farm sold by a major Wall Street firm, the investors are deemed to be “passive.” They would get the 26 percent solar tax credit, but could not take Section 179. They would be allowed to take their prorata annual depreciation of the project equipment. Free webinar: A free webinar on solar investments will be held monthly starting this month. RSVP: 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. Harold Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/ Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

Chandler residents file 20,000 jobless claims SANTAN SUN NEWS STAF

More than 20,000 unemployment claims have been filed by Chandler residents since the COVID-19 pandemic began. According to data collected by the Maricopa Association of Governments, six ZIP codes located within Chandler’s city limits – 85224, 85225, 85226, 85248, 85284, 85286 – have had 20,067 claims filed for unemployment benefits between March 15 and May 15. The ZIP 85225 logged 6,121 claims – one of the highest in the state. Only Tempe’s 85281 had a higher claim number in the East Valley. Chandler’s remaining ZIP codes ranged vastly in their claim numbers. The southern ZIP code 85284 reported 1,204 claims while the northern region of 85224 had 4,080. Arizona had been steadily gaining jobs up until the pandemic jolted the state’s economy and upended nearly every employment sector. Now Arizona’s unemployment is hovering around 12.6 percent – a rate that has more than tripled since the start of 2020. . Nearly every ZIP code in the East Valley area logged at least 2,000 unemployment claims. “These maps can be used by employers and policymakers to understand where there are large numbers of people looking for work,” said Mesa Councilmember David Luna and vice chair of MAG’s Economic Development Committee. “We can use that knowledge to target resources to the local economies that need help the most.” Chandler’s 85225 ZIP code stretches from the Loop 202 freeway up to Elliott Road and encompasses several of Chandler’s historic neighborhoods and the city’s downtown region. This part of Chandler is additionally home to several restaurants and hotels – a business sector that was hit particu-

Chandler claims by ZIP code: 85224: 4,080 85225: 6,121 85226: 3,387 85248: 1,826

Gov. Doug Ducey lifted stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns last month. (Capitol Media Services)

larly hard by stay-at-home orders. The Chandler Chamber of Commerce says at least 30 local businesses – some belonging to the restaurant sector – have shuttered during the pandemic. It’s unclear whether these businesses were already on the verge of closing before COVID-19, said Chamber President Terri Kimble, yet nearly every Chandler business has been impacted one way or

another by the pandemic. Among the 276,300 jobs Arizona lost in April, the biggest share came from the hospitality and leisure industry. The retail trade shed 43,800 jobs -- about 13.4 percent of total employment -- as shops also were affected by the governor’s directive allowing only ``essential’’ businesses to operate. There also was the loss of 27,800

85284: 1,204 85286: 3,449 Total: 20,067

jobs in professional and business services. And even the state’s health care industry shed 16,800 jobs. MAG released its maps May 21 – the same day State House Democrats tried to use procedural maneuvers to get a vote on measures to increase benefits and allow people to get unemployment payments if they leave their jobs due to unsafe working conditions. Rep. Kelli Butler, D-Paradise Valley proposed amendments about unemployment insurance to three bills set for consideration by the House Committee on Health and Human Services. But because they were unrelated to the underlying Senate-passed bills on breast implants, pelvic exams and outpatient treatment centers for behavioral health, the amendments would have wiped out the underlying bills. Butler and Rep. Andres Cano, D-Tucson, acknowledged the importance of those bills. But they argued that, given the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant flood of people seeking unemployment benefits – 577,000 since the virus hit and the governor ordered businesses shut down – the problems of people out of work took higher priority. House Republicans made their own procedural motions to prevent the amendments from even being offered. The Legislature finally pulled the plug on its session last month, but may be convened in a special session by the governor later this year to address pandemic-related issues.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler football coach Rick Garretson will require his players to have a health check, bring a gallon of water and gloves to each summer workout when they begin June 8. (Zach Alvira/Staff)

Chandler district releases return-to-play guidelines BY ZACH ALVIRA

Sports Editor

The Chandler Unified School District has given the green light for athletic teams across the district to begin conducting phased summer workouts beginning June 8. The three-staged plan, released Friday, May 29, lays out specific steps each school is expected to follow in order to provide a safe atmosphere for students to return to campuses for the first time since mid-March. The guidelines focus on the safety of both student-athletes and coaches, who will be together in-person for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close for the remainder of the school year. Along with basic hygiene such as washing hands or using sanitizer, the district also encourages daily health and temperature checks for students and coaches. “We are going to err on the side of caution,” Chandler football coach Rick Garretson said. “With Dr. (Camille) Casteel and (Chandler district Athletic Director) Marcus Williams, I don’t think anybody is better. They want to do everything they can to have the kids get back together in the safest way possible.” Garretson said he met with coaches and players Monday regarding how workouts will be conducted beginning June 8 in order to abide by the guidelines set forth by the district. Along with requiring students to fill out the district-wide waiver and bring a gallon of water, he is also requiring the use of

their own gloves in every workout. Each stage of Chandler’s guidelines will run nine days starting June 8-17. Workouts are required to be limited to no more than 10 individuals in a group, which includes both coaches and players. Participants must also remain 6-feet apart whether inside or out. Students must come prepared to immediately begin training as the use of locker rooms is prohibited. Athletes are also not allowed to share water in any of the three phases. Should no setbacks occur in the first phase, district teams are then able to move on to phase two. “Our district did a really good job with the guidelines,” Basha football coach Chris McDonald said. “It’s now our job as coaches to abide by the protocol and communicate with our staff, parents and the players what the expectations are.” The second stage still calls for groups no larger than 10 when inside, but as many as 50 can participate outside if social distancing can be maintained. The use of locker rooms is still prohibited. One of the key differences in the second phase allows for traditional practices and competition in sports that are designated as “lower risk,” which includes individual running, throwing, golfing, swimming, cheerleading and others. The second phase also allows for modified practices in “moderate risk” sports, which includes basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, other field events and 7-on-7 football. “We will likely throw routes on air,”

McDonald said. “You can’t go out there and put an offense and defense on the field because you will run into situations where kids will be going full speed and be in close proximity.” Barring setbacks, district teams are then able to move onto the third phase from June 29 to July 9. Groups of 50 can participate in workouts both inside and out. Though when not competing, athletes should maintain 3-to-6-feet of distance from one another. Moderate risk sports may begin competitions and games in the third stage, while high risk sports such as wrestling, 11-on-11 football, lacrosse, competitive cheer and dance can begin modified practices. All three stages call for students working in groups to remain with the same individuals throughout the duration return-to-play guidelines to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. After the third stage, limitations are lifted. Garretson said he will bring in players in the morning and immediately have them go to their designated coach. McDonald is following a similar method with the varsity and junior varsity working out in the morning and incoming freshman in the evening. Hamilton football coach Mike Zdebski said he will bring in players in groups of 10 and check them in at staggered times beginning at 6 A.M. Though, with Hamilton’s parking lots being renovated, it creates another hurdle. “Some kids will have a long walk and

we have to get the message to parents about drop off and pick up,” Zdebski said. “It’s just another bump in the road. We’ve had enough bumps that we are getting pretty good at handling them.” Chandler will join other school districts who have or are in the process of announcing plans to resume summer workouts. All Gilbert Public Schools teams began training Monday. Valley Christian opened its campus to athletes on May 26. San Tan Charter football coach and former Hamilton Husky Kerry Taylor held his first team workout Monday. Scottsdale and Tempe Union schools are drafting plans to start in the next couple of weeks. Mesa Public Schools was in the process of putting a plan in place and had hoped to release it this past week. Zdebski remains hopeful for a season to still take place, though admits he doesn’t think that, or the classroom setting will resemble normalcy. “I don’t think anything is going to be normal,” Zdebski said. “This is a day-byday thing. If it gets shut down at any point as we are moving forward, I think that would be a tough deal for any fall sport. “But I don’t think any sport should supersede what is best for the whole.” Garretson believes having guidelines in place and a path toward a full season is a step in the right direction. “I think they’re doing a really good job,” Garretson said. “Guys like Marcus Williams and our athletic director, Jim Culver, they’re in those positions for a reason. They’re going to have everybody’s best interest at heart.”

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Past tragedies evoked past presidents’ inspiration BY DAVID LEIBOWITZ Staff Writer

They came to the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds by the thousands, just four days after a terrorist’s bomb ripped through a federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. This was April 23, 1995 – not a pandemic with 100,000 dead, but 168 murdered – and I was there as a columnist. The Rev. Billy Graham spoke eloquently about the mysteries of God. “I’ve been asked why God allows it,” the pastor said. “I don’t know. ... I have to confess that I never fully understand, even for my own satisfaction. I have to accept that God is a God of love and mercy and compassion even in the midst of suffering.” Then President Bill Clinton rose and

spoke to grieving – and with him rose America. I never cared much for Clinton the man. But Clinton the orator spoke with humility and grace. He leaned into a profound moment of national grief, and drew us with him. He quoted Proverbs 11:29 and it fit the moment perfectly. “To all my fellow Americans beyond this hall, I say, one thing we owe those who have sacrificed is the duty to purge ourselves of the dark forces which gave rise to this evil. They are forces that threaten our common peace, our freedom, our way of life. Let us teach our children that the God of comfort is also the God of righteousness: Those who trouble their own house will inherit the wind. Justice will prevail.” Once, we called moments like this “being Presidential.” It was what Presidents did when we suffered war, attack, mass death. You might remember such

times, though now it’s a thing of the past. Here’s President Trump on the day we passed 100,000 dead from COVID-19: “The Radical Left Lamestream Media, together with their partner, the Do Nothing Democrats, are trying to spread a new narrative that President Trump was slow in reacting to Covid 19. Wrong, I was very fast, even doing the Ban on China long before anybody thought necessary!” Classy. I miss empathy and having a President who rises to the moment. Like President Reagan after the Challenger exploded in 1986. “I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen,” he told us. “It’s all part of taking a chance and expanding man’s horizons. The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave.” Like President Obama after a mass shoot-

ing in Tucson killed six and wounded 13. “If this tragedy prompts reflection and debate, as it should, let’s make sure it’s worthy of those we have lost. Let’s make sure it’s not on the usual plane of politics and point-scoring and pettiness that drifts away in the next news cycle. The loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better.” Like President George W. Bush through a bullhorn at Ground Zero after 9/11. “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you! And the people – and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!” Here’s Donald Trump, asked if he had a message for Americans, who might be worried about the pandemic: “I say that you’re a terrible reporter. That’s what I say. I think it’s a very nasty question.” Actually, in our most tragic moments, it’s exactly the question every President should answer.

Pandemic has thrown foster children a curve BY DAN SHUFELT Guest Writer

The coronavirus has shut down or slowed down many businesses throughout the United States, but the essential services provided to children in foster care by Arizona Helping Hands have continued on through the storm. Recently we delivered our 1,020th bed this year to a foster family. Our primary purpose is to provide children in foster care with a safe place to sleep. Especially during these days of COVID-19, we can’t take our foot off the pedal. We must continue to assist children who have been abused and neglected. Our small but intensely dedicated team has continued our work as the state’s largest provider of essential needs to the foster care community, but it hasn’t been easy. We have modified our processes to increase the safety of our team while serving as many families as we can. Bed pickups have been replaced by

bed deliveries; interactive client servicing has been replaced by no contact pickup outside our front door; birthday package assembly previously done by volunteers is now an added job taken on by our staff. Through It all, we continue our work, impacting the lives of hundreds of youth throughout Arizona. During the days of shelter in place, the routines and the sense of normalcy of families were torn asunder. Consider all of the additional challenges that children in foster care have thrown their way. They’ve had video conferences with biological parents and caseworkers, in lieu of in-person visitation. Birthday parties are a subdued activity at home, not held with friends at the local pizza parlor. Life has been very different during these days. That’s why it has been so important for Arizona Helping Hands to continue our work. It’s unthinkable for boys and girls to sleep on air mattresses or foam pads, for birthdays to pass without recognition, and for youngsters not to have educational activities they can do at home during these stressful days.

Our Birthday Dreams program has provided 1,075 children with a personalized gift package already this year. Through it all, we have let these boys and girls know that our community cares about them and wants to celebrate their special day. Thanks to the generosity of our friends at the Learning Journey International, children on the Navajo nation and across the Valley have been given games and puzzles to engage their minds. These products encourage learning and develop confidence as they enhance a child’s potential. With Learning Journey items, kids don’t even realize that they are learning through play, and parents can take pride knowing the benefits achieved by building a puzzle or exploring a toy set. Backpacks, home safety items, even masks have been provided by our programs throughout the pandemic. We know the challenges that boys and girls in foster care face, and we want to be a part of the solution, helping them grow and prosper in a safe and loving environ-

ment. As we all move toward a return to a sense of normalcy, I encourage you to consider the children. Arizona Helping Hands spends 93 cents of every donated dollar on our programs, and receives no governmental funding. With corporations focusing on survival, corporate projects such as backpack assemblies and diaper or school supply collection drives are not happening. It is projected that the number of children in foster care will grow over the coming months as school resumes, and pressures on family units continue to mount. Through it all, Arizona Helping Hands pledges to keep up the work, to bring hope, safety and joy to our State’s 14,000+ children in foster care. We know how critically important our services are and we will not pause in our service to the boys and girls who need us. Dan Shufelt is president & CEO of Arizona Helping Hands, the largest provider of basic needs to Arizona’s children in foster care. Information: azhelpinghands.org or dshufelt@ azhelpinghands.org.

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Goat Yoga now offering real and virtual field trips ANNIKA TOMLIN Staff Writer

Motivating kids to do homework has been a challenge during the pandemic, so Gilbert’s Arizona Goat Yoga helped by offering virtual tours for classes to meet yoga goats, alpacas and chickens. “I have three kids of my own and I see how hard it is now that school is online to get motivated to really do it,” said Arizona Goat Yoga owner April Gould. “I was trying to think of a way that we might be able to help and so we decided to do virtual field trips and that has been so much fun.” Gould takes teachers and students around the Gilbert farm to show them the animals’ daily lives. The farm has 58 goats, 19 of whom are babies, two alpacas and six chickens. Goat Yoga expects to reopen June 6 for in-person field trips, though Gould said the online versions will continue because they have become a hit in and of themselves. Her first two online sessions next month are already full – as are the first two in-person field trips. “We are so excited,” said Gould. “It’s already full, so we will be adding more and taking all precautions and recommendations from the CDC and Governor Doug Ducey. “We will also be continuing virtual goat yoga classes, Zoom field trips/ birthday parties, alpaca meetings and ‘Goat Grams’... so there is still plenty to

Now that Goat Yoga will be reopening June 6, kids and families can enjoy the many animals and their antics in person instead of just on a computer screen. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

do for those who are not ready to go out or anyone out of state who can’t attend a class.” The pandemic kept the farm from hosting goat yoga, during which baby goat parade in rainbow tutus, prance

around at guests’ feet and run across their backs. “It’s really sad right now that we’re not able to do goat yoga because we have so many babies who need lots of love and attention and human interac-

tion,” Gould said. “It’s unfortunate for them that they’re not getting a lot of human interaction from hundreds of in-person people.” See

GOAT on page 40

New manager guiding Chandler libraries in pandemic ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

Chandler has a new leader at the helm of the city’s public library system. Fresh from Canada, Rachelle Kuzyk started with the city May 20. Kuzyk since 2011 had been library services manager in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, and for the last year also took on the job as that Canadian city’s community services chief. According to a release, she revitalized that city’s library system and “implemented numerous innovative programs and was instrumental in the creation of a new outdoor library space and playground for the community.” One of those programs was the introduction of two therapy dogs, Shih Tzu-Yorkies, in 2013 to be involved in the library’s programming for children and seniors. “It’s proven that children who are hesitant readers or … are intimidated and too shy to read to adults or other people, will read to animals and it helps to improve their literacy skills,” Kuzyk told the local newspaper at the time. “It’s also proven to benefit the elderly.” “We have teens, an elusive group when it comes to library use, but they come in and ask to see the puppies and play with them or walk them,” she add-

It’s proven that children “ who are hesitant readers or … are intimidated and too shy to read to adults or other people, will read to animals and it helps to improve their literacy skills.

”

– Rachelle Kuzyk

Rachelle Kuzyk ed. “It’s bringing people together.” Earlier in her 23-year career, Kuzyk worked in larger library systems, including Calgary’s, according to a Chandler spokesman. “Public libraries impact communities in many beneficial ways, providing much needed services and value to taxpay-

ers,” said Kuzyk, who is guiding Chandler’s libraries into the second phase of the city’s reopening plan. Certified in emergency incident command systems, she was one of two emergency management directors as Wetaskiwin entered the early stages of the pandemic. “The pandemic has impacted every community, every local government and every public library,” she said. “While most people have utilized the library’s online services during this period, there are others who depend on our in-person services.” All four library branches are open 9

a.m.-7 p.m. Monday–Wednesday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thrusday and Friday. But to control virus spread, services have been modified “to be as contactless as possible,” according to the library’s website. Furniture has been arranged to promote social distancing and staff will be wearing gloves and face coverings “where appropriate,” according to the site. Plexi-shields have been installed at service desks and all programs have been canceled until at least August. The library also is encouraging patrons to consider gloves and face masks and is urging them to wash their hands. Unlike other libraries, which have adopted a “grab and go” model, Chandler’s libraries are allowing browsing shelves – although baskets are not permitted. Library officials also are limiting computer use to an hour a day and children’s computers are not available. No headphones, markers, external drives or charging cables are available to check out. Copying, faxing and scanning are self-serve and patrons who need help will have to rely on a staffer who will be standing six feet away. No meeting rooms are open and there are no toys in the children’s section. People who have questions can call 480-782-2800.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

COVID-19 put East Valley doc in the hospital 55 days BY CECILIA CHAN Staff Writer

A 46-year-old doctor last month returned home to Gilbert after nearly two months in a hospital where he almost died from COVID-19 until a last-ditch effort saved him. Dr. Karl Viddal is the second COVID-19 patient in Arizona and the 32nd in the country to be treated with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine or ECMO, which pumped and oxygenated his blood outside the body, allowing his ravaged lungs to heal. He spent 16 days on ECMO – more than any other COVID-19 patient on the lifesaving machine in Arizona – and a total 55 days in the hospital. A 53-year-old Phoenix man with underlying health issues was the first in Arizona to survive COVID-19 after being treated with ECMO in April at HonerHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center. “This is the first day for the rest of my life,” said Viddal in a May 15 virtual news conference at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, shortly before his discharge. “It’s important to see my family and kids. It’s been 55 days and I miss them.” Viddal, a family-medicine doctor with an independent practice in Chandler, came down with the coronavirus symptoms on March 21, days after a trip abroad. “It’s hard to believe this actually hap-

Gilbert physician Dr. Karl Viddal was kept away from his wife and three children while he battled COVID-19 in the hospital for 55 days. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

pened to me,” he said. “I’ve never been sick in my life really, no past medical conditions and this virus nearly killed me.” According to a medical bio, Viddal is quite active, enjoying exercising, hiking, skiing, hockey and world travel.

Viddal said he developed a cough on a Friday and was a little fatigued. The next day he experienced shortness of breath and the oxygen level in his blood had dropped when he monitored it. By Sunday, he was coughing up blood, had a fever and his blood saturation

level was in the 80s. A normal reading is typically 95 to 100 percent. “I knew what I had when I went to the ER,” Viddal said. On March 22, he was admitted to Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center’s ICU. He was tested for COVID-19 but because the virus was already so deep in his lungs and did not present in his nasal cavity for some time, he had three false-negative results. He finally tested positive on the fourth go-around through a bronchoscopy specimen from his lungs, according to the hospital. Initially at Mercy Gilbert, Viddal relied on a ventilator at maximum support to help him breathe due to severe pneumonia caused by the virus. As Viddal’s lungs continued to worsen, the medical staff reached out to experts at St. Joseph’s Norton Thoracic Institute, home to one of the largest and busiest lung transplant centers in the United States. “It was clear the ventilator was not enough to save his life,” said Dr. Ross Bremner, a thoracic surgeon and the institute’s director. By this time, Viddal had been on the ventilator for 34 days. Viddal was placed on the EMCO machine at Mercy Gilbert and transported to St. Joseph’s. Viddal arrived to St. Joseph’s with See

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

from page 37

such sever pneumonia that without ECMO, he would have been dead within 24 to 48 hours, said Dr. Raed Suyyagh, medical director of the hospital’s ECMO program. Bremner said the machine is generally used for lung-transplant patients. The FDA in early April approved ECMO to treat COVID-19 patients. “When we put someone on ECMO we know the chance of survival is not great,” he said. “Half the patients don’t survive on ECMO.” Viddal’s course of treatment was interrupted with complications – he had bleeding from his main airway, his left lung was saturated in blood and blood clots formed in his lungs. Doctors performed repeated, prolong bronchoscopies and a tracheostomy on Viddal. Suyyagh said these additional procedures are not recommended due to the higher-risk for staff exposure to the virus. “Thankfully, we had the proper PPE and re-designed intubation boxes for the team to safely perform these ultimately lifesaving tasks,” Suyyagh said. Viddal also was given two doses of a drug commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis, called tocilizumab to help treat the severe pneumonia. Bremner said the drug has been used successfully in Italy and China and that lot of the treatments for Viddal were

When ﬁnally released from the hospital after a grueling 55 days, Dr. Viddal said he was indebted to the doctors and nurses who helped him beat near-certain death. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

based on experiences of their colleagues in those two countries. “For the first week to 10 days, it was touch and go,” Bremner said. “What I learned from (treating) Karl is this is a disease with a lot of surprises for us.” What stood out the most was how some people can get deathly ill from the virus while others do not. “You don’t want to get this virus if you can help it,” he said. After Viddal began showing signs of recovery, he was weaned off the machine that he had been hooked up to for 16 days. “Three weeks ago I was literally paralyzed and couldn’t speak,” Viddal said at the news conference. “Eleven days ago. I was in patient rehab and could barely

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walk.” But thanks to his physical therapist and occupational therapist, he was playing hockey in the therapy room the day before his release, he said. Viddal said he is fortunate that there has been no damage to his heart, kidneys or liver as reported in other patients. He also was cognizant of his dire situation – except for the 28 days he was in a medically induced coma. After seeing a full resolution X-ray of the damage to his lungs, Viddal said he was optimistic for a full recovery. Shortly after Viddal was placed on the ventilator, his wife, Alyssa, also came down with the coronavirus. In her Facebook post, she said her symptoms were much milder and lasted 13 days.

Dr. Karl Viddar spent 34 days on a ventilator as he fought COVID-19. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

She had to take care of the couple’s three young children on her own while “living in constant fear that I, myself, would end up on a ventilator too or risk my children getting sick.” Viddal said he was indebted to the team of doctors for saving his life. “They gave me a second chance to be a father, to be a husband,” he said. “I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

East Valley group’s menagerie helps children BY KATHERINE NOWICKI Contributor

In the eyes of Pawsitive Friendships, dogs – and pigs and goats and other animals – can be a child’s best friend. The East Valley nonprofit has a menagerie at its disposal to help children with special needs achieve their therapy goals – and sometimes bring joy to hospital patients and nursing home residents. Pawsitive Friendship therapy animals have worked with more than 300 children in and schools. Tosha Tharp was inspired to start the animal assistance therapy program in 2014 after seeing how the family’s French Bulldog helped her son, who was diagnosed with high functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome when he was 4. One day when Tharp was struggling to work with her son on his home exercises, he asked if their French bulldog Zoe could participate. Tharp was shocked to discover how much more receptive he was when Zoe joined them. He started achieving his goals more quickly than before with Zoe’s involvement. She trained Zoe as a therapy dog and they eventually became a registered pet therapy team through Pet Partners. Tharp’s household currently includes four French bulldogs Zoe and Jacques as well as two pigs, Penelope and Paxton. Both dogs and Penelope, a potbel-

Pawsitive Friendships Jamie Larson says she and her dog Dos “volunteer at as many places as paws-ible.” (Pawsitive Friendships)

ly pig, are certified for therapy while 7-month-old Paxton, a Juliana Pig, is still in training. Currently 65 trained animals and their

owners work with Pawsitive Friendships and many also volunteer at hospitals and nursing homes. The therapy animals might work

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in two settings, one-on-one clinical sessions and larger group educational events. In one-on-one sessions, “the therapist runs their session as normal and then we’re kind of like the extra tool in the toolbox,” Tharp said. Before a session begins, Tharp trains with the therapists and office staff. “Once they kind of really get the idea of how these dog toys can be used to work towards the same skills they’re working on without the dog, they really embrace it. Once it clicks, you almost can’t unsee it,” said Tharp. “It’s like a never-ending cycle that you’re always finding new ways to incorporate the animals into therapy.” In addition to dogs, Pawsitive Friendships turns to other such as pigs, miniature horses and goats. Tharp says this helps children who may not get on as well with dogs. “Some kids are afraid of dogs,” said Tharp. “But if we bring the mini horses in, or a bird, they’re all over it.” Pawsitive Friendships recently enlisted an alpaca, though it only managed to visit one school before campuses in Arizona were shut down. Both clinical and educational sessions last about an hour, though in the latter the animals interact with multiple children. At schools, therapy animals will often spend 20 to 25 minutes in three See

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“During a field trip I just walk around and show the animals and talk about them and then there’s a lot of Q&A,” Gould said. “I get questions as simple as, ‘What is their name?’ to “How long do they live?’ A lot of questions are super cute.” According to Gould, some teachers asked their students to research the animals first and then they discuss what they’ve learned with the class. This makes the experience both fun and educational. “The kids were coming back with all these facts about alpacas that I didn’t even know, which is pretty neat,” Gould said. Gould said the virtual field trips, which were free for teachers, were well received. “The best thing for me is seeing the kids having fun and it being so different for them,” Gould said. “As soon as we get on, all I hear is, ‘Aww.’ I just love the excitement of the kids.” Teachers thanked Gould for breaking

PAWS

from page 39

different classrooms. Tharp says that a primary difference between Pawsitive Friendships and other therapy animal organizations is her group provides a different environment for both children and animals. While most therapy dogs used by other groups must remain on their best behavior waiting to be petted, Pawsitive Friendships’ dogs can be off their leashes and run and play with the children.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

up the monotony of their new everyday life having school online. “Since it’s virtual it’s fantastic because you can do it anywhere,” Gould said. “Kids can get to see not only the goats and alpacas and things like that, but they also get to see another place in the United States of what life is like right now in Gilbert.” Besides the teachers’ free field trips, guests can visit virtually for 10 minutes for $35; have a customizable goat gram for $35 or a 30-minute “alpacalypse” conference call for $75. The conference call brings alpacas Kip or Napoleon to virtual business meetings for 30 meetings. “I’ve been getting a lot of requests for birthday parties, which is a whole new level,” Gould said. “I’m excited for that because, apparently, virtual birthday parties are going to be kind of the thing for right now.” Gould is anxiously awaiting her first goat breakup gram customer. The goat comes online with a sign that reads, “We can still be frieeeends.” “I’m super excited for it when that day Tharp has developed an internal curriculum for Pawsitive Friendships, which includes motor skills, cognitive development and social emotional language. “Not every animal will be able to do all of those things,” says Tharp. “So, I plan the lesson based on what the animal can do, and what the kids or what that school is really needing to focus on.” While she currently works with 55 volunteers, Tharp said she is always looking for more. And not all volunteers have to have

comes,” Gould said. “Let a goat break up and do all the dirty work. It makes the let down a lot easier that way.” Aside from the fun, Gould and her

team had a tough time through the pandemic. “For us, like many small businesses, it really hurts,” Gould said. “Our whole business is based on a lot of people in close gatherings, everything that we’re not allowed to do right now. “It’s been really tough on us, but also really hard on the animals. I know that sounds funny, but the goats are getting really depressed. They’re not used to just grazing and being bored.” The animals are still playing, sleeping, eating and nursing throughout the day as if they were still doing goat yoga without an audience. As for continuing the online trips, she said, “I think it’s just become a new creative thing and maybe keeping it on going for the people out of state or out of the country. “I think it would be so neat to have a virtual tour or field trip to see somewhere different and this kind of opened up a door for new ideas in that aspect.” Information: 480-269-4144, goatyoga.com, owner@goatyoga.com.

an animal. Volunteers without them attend events with handlers and provide an extra set of hands. As with most Arizona organizations, Pawsitive Friendships has largely shut down with quarantine restrictions, but offered virtual story times so children could at least see the animals. Volunteers read books alongside them and the videos are posted on the website. Tharp says she is amazed by how far they have come since working with her son and Zoe.

“It’s always amazing to me when I go and talk to the therapists, they say how well it’s been working with the kid,” said Tharp. “I can’t even believe that what was working with my son. “Zoe is now working for 300-plus children and still growing and it’s all because of me and my son and what we were doing at home. It just baffles me that it’s done so well. I knew it could but it’s just one of those when you when you see it and you see all the differences made in the kids’ lives, it’s really amazing.”

Goat Yoga will continue its online field trips, which have proven wildly popular with kids. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Southwest Shakespeare ‘Zooms’ in on the Bard BY SRIANTHI PERERA Contributor

The future of theater, at least in the next few months, may well hinge on the video conferencing tool, Zoom. Mesa-based Southwest Shakespeare Company features some of the country’s best Shakespearean actors in an ongoing program, Virtual Classics Live, that drew a worldwide viewership of more than 4,000 last week. But when the hat was passed around – virtually, of course – they collected about $600. Executive Director Mary Way is unfazed and focuses on the novelty of the performance in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. “It will be very interesting to see this 40 years from now and see what people say,” she said. “We’ll always remember this plague and the mark it made on this art form and many art forms. We’re trending right now; we’re evolving.” Southwest Shakespeare, which has an annual budget of about $500,000, is about $161,000 behind target this year and lost about $60,000 because two of the season’s main shows, “Hudson” and “Becoming Othello: A Black Girl’s Journey,” were canceled. It also canceled in-person school and educational shows and workshops and furloughed a few of its staff members. But the show must go on. The Fall Festival of Solo Shows is expected to run from Oct. 12-Nov. 22 at Mesa Arts Center and needs an infusion of $40,000. The theater company’s mission of education must continue also. Time is nigh to device creative ways to raise funds using the actors’ bounty of talent. One such is the Sonne-t-Gram, which is a song, sonnet or poem of choice with a personal message delivered to a loved one; it can be sent anywhere in the world where there is technology. Another concept is “Sponsored Actors,” a special training for emerging artists over 18 years of age. These artists receive training with text coaches and work with professional actors during pre-recorded online performances. Since they are prere-

Cameron Knight as Gratiano, Dathan B. Williams as Salarino, Walter Kmiec as Lorenzo and Tadja Enos as Jessica appeared in “The Merchant of Venice” produced via Zoom. (Courtesy of Southwest Shakespeare Company)

corded, special effects are added to enhance the presentation. An established revenue stream is the Shakespeare-in-the-law, an Ethics for Lawyers course, that provides continu-

elements of ethics that lawyers study. It examines issues including what’s right in the eyes of the law, what’s illegal and how much can lawyers afford to consider feelings in extenuating cir-

find out if theaters can, in fact, function,” Way said. “We are one of the theater companies that can do it on a small enough scale. If we break even, we will have jobs, we’ll keep water flowing.” Meanwhile, the virtual classics shows were undoubtedly successful. Quarantined in their respective homes around the country, recent actors last week included Patrick Page and

many people have lost their “jobs,Sotheir income. We don’t want to make people feel bad, We want to make them feel good. – Executive Director Mary Way

”

ing legal education for lawyers in compliance with the State Bar of Arizona requirements for ethics. Using “The Merchant of Venice,” for example, actors examine the elements of ethos, logos and pathos, the three

When to watch

Southwest Shakespeare Company is presenting Virtual Classics Live on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. June 20: Henry IV Part 2, us02web.zoom.us/j/81098588036 June 27: Lady Balthasar, a work by Ginna Hoben, us02web.zoom us/j/83797870922 July 11: Midsummer Night’s Dream , us02web.zoom.us/j/87126872773 July 25: People’s Choice by public vote, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83115045191 Details: swshakespeare.org

cumstances within the spirit of the law as opposed to the letter of the law. “The most fascinating part is that the lawyers and judges who take the course are very forthcoming with stories from their own personal experience,” Way said. The ethics course can be delivered virtually, the company believes. Not so the fall offering of seven solo shows, which is slated with a different format aimed at season ticket holders. To maintain social distancing, only 70 tickets are to be sold for each performance. It’s still risky because there’s no guarantee patrons will fill the seats at Mesa Arts Center. To take the edge off the risk, the company is seeking an underwriter for the shows. “In many ways, by running this season, it’s our gift to the community to

Zach Appelman, both in New York City. “I was so pleased with the outcome. It moved faster because there’s no motion in it. They chase each other with the words. Some stand and move around, but others are seated,” Way said. “They wore funny hats, or clothing, to keep it visually interesting. These were some of the country’s best actors.” The program is free because the company wants to provide entertainment to those stuck at home. “So many people have lost their jobs, their income. We don’t want to make people feel bad,” Way said. “We want to make them feel good.” A corporate sponsorship may be needed, Way said. The arts sector is feeling the strain of coronavirus as much as any other industry that’s hurting. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London is facing a potential permanent closure as a result of the lockdown. “The begging bowls are out. Everyone’s in need,” she said.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 7, 2020

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Partnership with God requires sacrifice, accountability BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Guest Writer

Recently I watched a movie in which a man took 4,000 photos of the same street scene over a period of 4,000 days. At first, I thought that this was strange. But after reviewing in my mind that particular scene, I began to realize that even though the picture was of the same street scene the characters changed because different people walked in front of the camera. What does this have to do with the future? A lot! Year after year we repeat the same mistakes, look for kindness from a caring and loving God, hope that our lives will be less complicated. We so want peace and justice. And it seems that the picture remains the same. Different characters appear in each snapshot of life, but basically we are the same as our ancestors before us and if we could fast forward we probably would see the same ahead. Every time we read the Scriptures indicating the beginning of everything, we

realize that life can take strange turns and sometimes requires another look so to make sense of it all. For example, we learn that Abraham is asked to submit to the will of God and present his son Isaac as the ultimate offering of fealty. Can anyone imagine answering such a call? If we know anything about who we are as a people, we surely accept the fact that we bend over backwards to offer our children the best that we can and attempt to shield them from harm and danger. We are the first to show pictures of our children and grandchildren ad nauseam. Can anyone really believe that we would take our child and kill him or her in the name of God? Well, neither could Abraham, and for that matter, Sarah – she dies soon after this encounter, not clear in her mind as to what was happening or why or how God, who so lovingly granted her wish for a child, would want to retake that which was given. So much has been written about this chapter and the opinions vary. But the one clear message, to me, is that while God may not really require such obedience, it is evident that our mind can suggest ways for us to exonerate

ourselves from our misgivings and in so doing cast the burden on our progeny. We do it all the time. We scapegoat instead of taking responsibility. We blame others for our shortcomings. Another part of Genesis relates to the creation of existence, as all faiths would have us believe. It emphasizes God’s role in history. It sets forth our views and values on civilization. It describes God as wholly sufficient, independent of nature – the unchallenged sovereign of the universe, who is involved in human affairs. He is the God of history and He is the God of creation – the creation of the human spirit. God and the spirit of humanity are woven together to complete the event of creation. The lesson we learn from the “Beginning” is that we are born with free will, moral responsibility and accountability. There is no free ride. If, however, we want to be a partner with God in perfecting that which He put before us, then we need to accept the duty that is incumbent upon us. On the one hand, we are asked to make sacrifices. On the other, we are asked to take responsibility. They are connected.

Sometimes being responsible requires sacrifice. This involves acknowledgement and willingness, admitting that we are who we are and therefore must answer for our actions and be eager to submit to the task of saying we are sorry. God does not really want us to complete the deed – just make the attempt. Maybe then we will not be so hard on ourselves and our supplications and contrition will have meaning for us. Yes, it is the same picture year after year, but while the scenery does not change, the people in the foreground do – each new generation seeking to find the answer – each generation seeking the understanding of God. A story I once read described a teacher wishing to instruct a small boy on God’s ability to be everywhere, asked him to show every place that God can be found and he would be rewarded with a penny. The boy looked at the teacher and suggested that if he would show him a place where God is not, the teacher’s reward would be two pennies. Is there a better answer? Rabbi Irwin Wiener is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.

Lava tube trip recalls a journey into faith BY LYNNE HARTKE Guest Writer

After we purchased our cabin in northern Arizona, we began to hear the rumors. The claims. The stories. “There’s a blow hole near here. A collapsed

lava tube.” A hunt in our hiking books revealed nothing. A search on tourist websites came up empty. The blow hole seemed to be a place only locals knew about.

And not all locals. “I’ve lived here sixty years and never seen it,” one white-haired octogenarian stated. “Just a myth,” another exclaimed. So, when we were invited to be shown the location on a Saturday morning, my husband Kevin and I – along with other family members and three grandchildren – jumped at the chance. We followed the lead vehicle down a dirt road, past a spring, over several cattle guards, and under the hanging boughs of Ponderosa pines and oak trees. After an hour of twists and turns on logging roads and a nasty encounter

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with a boulder, we stopped near a sunken ravine in the otherwise flat forest floor. The collapsed lava tube!

His first time. His first time of stepping into the darkness, while clutching a single beam to light the way.

And then another. Into our own faith. For we walk by faith. -2 Corinthians 5:7

Three generations lowered themselves through a four-foot wide hole – the only entry. After scrambling over rough boulders, we entered a large chamber cooled by fifty-degree air. The more adventurous in the group explored narrow fissures, created tens of thousands of years ago when a volcano exploded from the inside out. “Have you ever been in a cave before,” Kevin asked Benjamin, age 3 ½, as he guided our talkative grandson through a narrow section. “This is my first time on my journey,” Benjamin answered.

Don’t we all have that first time? When myth becomes faith? When someone else’s story becomes our own? In a culture addicted to certainty and not faith, maybe we all need to lower ourselves underground where hot lava once flowed. Maybe we need reminding of what it was like when it was our first time on our journey, when we stumbled in the darkness with only enough light to take one more step. Lynne Hartke is the author of Under a Desert Sky and the wife of pastor and Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. She blogs at www.lynnehartke.com.

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