Sibley’s West named DCCP 2015 Business of the Year
BY TRACY HOUSE
Sibley’s West, The Chandler and Arizona Gift Shop, was awarded the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership’s 2015 Business of the Year thanks to participation, contribution and engagement.
“Sibley’s West owners John and Michelle Wolfe have been very active this past year with complementing our monthly art walks,” said Jeff Kaluga, DCCP executive director. “Michelle serves on the board of directors and community foundation committee. John serves on the marketing committee. They both provide a voice for downtown merchants.”
gift baskets were reasons they were nominated and awarded,” Kaluga said.
The Wolfes opened Sibley’s West in December 2010. Michelle is the brainchild behind the store, suggesting she and her husband start a business after their children left the house.
The couple is active and frequently contributes gift baskets to the DCCP, which promotes downtown and raises money for nonprofits.
“The combination of their participation on the boards and committees, the engagement in the art walks and contributions to the
“I think if it had been the same thing that you see everywhere it wouldn’t have been a reason to come down here and find that,” Michelle said. “It needed to be a destination, something that was unusual, that you couldn’t find everywhere.”
Everything in the store is made by artists or small businesses in Arizona.
Sibley’s West opened with 55 suppliers; that number has increased to 221. The store has books, candles, clothing, wall art, food, candy, pottery and soaps and lotions, as well as many other items.
Family name
Sibley’s West derives its name from John’s family. “It goes back to Rochester, New York,” he said. “In 1868 my grandfather,
a Sibley, created a dry goods store with two friends.” The 28-year-old set out to seek his fortune and went west to Rochester.
The success of the Sibley’s Department Store grew and was in Rochester for more than 100 years. Michelle suggested bringing back the family name for the Chandler shop.
“I’m so glad we did,” John said. “We’ve probably had about 500 people from western New York that have come in and recognized the name, said something about it and shared some memory of theirs from the ‘60s or ‘70s of how they used to get dressed up to go shopping on the weekend. It’s been heartwarming to hear the positive comments about it, and if we can have a fraction of that, it would be great for us.”
An original sign from the downtown Rochester store is displayed behind the counter at Sibley’s West and John said a Chandler resident gave them her Sibley’s charge card from the ‘90s. “In Chandler, Arizona, there’s this Rochester, New York, connection,” John said.
Sense of camaraderie
Michelle said the goal of Sibley’s West is to be part of the downtown culture. The connection of the downtown Chandler stores is strong.
“It’s a place,” Michelle said. “We want to build a sense of place. That if you’re from Chandler, you think immediately downtown, and the restaurants and the people who are behind the locally owned businesses. They’re not chains, the owners are here, you see them everyday walking up and down the street, talking to each other. Talking about how things are going.
Promoting each other, supporting each other. It’s a great sense of community among the businesses, and I think that shows and draws people down.”
Sibley’s West, and other participating shops in downtown Chandler, are continuing a summer promotion through July. Visit Sibley’s West for a card good for 10 percent off at one of the participating merchants. “It’s a chance to encourage people to visit other businesses,” John said.
There is a “Shop free in July” promotion as well. Michelle explained that at the end of July, the store will find the average amount spent during the month, and on the day that has the closest dollar amount to that average, anyone who shopped on that day can bring in their receipt and get a gift certificate for the amount spent.
DCCP hosts a monthly Art Walk, which is held indoors during the summer. The next art walk is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, July 17, at the Tech Shop on Chicago Street in downtown Chandler.
“We always participate,” Michelle said. “We have extra artists that come. We rent an ad every art walk and promote. We try to draw people downtown and be part of what’s going on, and not just being impacted by what’s going on, but participate.”
Sibley’s West is located at 72 S. San Marcos Pl., downtown Chandler. Visit www.sibleyswest.com or Facebook at www.facebook.com/sibleyswest for more information.
Tracy House is a freelancer for SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@ santansun.com.
Downtown Chandler Community Partnership named Sibley’s West the 2015 Business of the Year. STSN photo by Tracy House
Sibley’s West owners John and Michelle Wolfe were given the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership’s 2015 Business of the Year award. STSN photo by Tracy House
Construction, office design begins for Chandler Viridian
Hines, an international real estate firm, has started construction on the infrastructure at Chandler Viridian and is moving forward with the design of the Class-A, six-story office building for the mixed-use property’s master plan development.
Chandler Viridian, located at the northwest corner of the Loop 101/Loop 202 interchange in the heart of the Price Corridor, will include a central plaza with 240,000 square feet of Class-A office space, a luxury multifamily complex, a modern brand hotel and retail options along with a pedestrian promenade to the Chandler Fashion Center.
Hines awarded the infrastructure project to Markham Contracting Co. of Phoenix which will be installing the necessary utilities and roads over the next six months to prepare the various uses for vertical construction.
Hines also has hired Trademark Visual of Phoenix to design and install new Chandler Viridian monument signs, and the McGough Group of Phoenix partnered with Service Direct Landscape of Phoenix to design and install the phased programming of site and landscaping improvements.
The Phase One infrastructure is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
Hines is working with RSP Architects of Tempe to design the 240,000-squarefoot office building named the Offices at Chandler Viridian. The building will feature 41,000-square-foot floor plates,
high ceilings with energy efficient glass to allow for plenty of natural light, and access to a three-story parking garage. CBRE is now leasing the office space for delivery in early 2017.
“We are thrilled to commence construction on the first phase of Chandler Viridian,” said Chris Anderson, managing director and city leader for Hines. “Installing the infrastructure is the first step while we design the office, hotel, and retail components of the project. The location offers unparalleled exposure with access to Chandler’s robust technology and bio and life sciences industry clusters.”
“CBRE is excited to commence leasing of the office space,” said Jerry Roberts, executive vice president at CBRE. “We believe the high-quality location along with the large, flexible floor plates and robust amenities within walking distance will be attractive to a large variety of tenants considering the Southeast Valley.”
Details about the project can be found at www.chandlerviridian.com.
Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with locations in 185 cities in 19 countries.
The firm has 104 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired more than 1,000 properties, totaling over 339 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset management portfolio includes 511 properties, representing over 176 million square feet.
Customer service rep joins Western
Jacob King recently joined Western State Bank as a customer service representative. His duties include processing bank transactions, identifying customer needs and connecting customers to internal partners who can assist in meeting those needs.
Prior to joining Western, King served as a cashier at Target in Chandler and was a math tutor at Maricopa Community College in Tempe. King is actively involved in the community, having volunteered for the Feed My Starving Children organization.
King earned his associate degree in science from Maricopa Community College and is working toward an associate degree in business. Originally from Chandler, King resides in Tempe.
Western State Bank is a 113-year-old, employee-owned community bank with assets totaling approximately $755 million. The bank offers full-banking services,
investments, mortgage financing to personal and business customers, as well as nationwide equipment financing services. Western State Bank’s bank locations are located in Chandler, Casa Grande, Scottsdale and Sun City, as well as in the North Dakota communities of West Fargo, Fargo, Devils Lake and Towner.
Attorney recognized by Chambers USA
James A. Ryan, a Chandler resident and partner in the Quarles & Brady law firm’s Phoenix office, has been ranked in the 2015 edition of the Chambers USA directory.
Chambers USA ranks attorneys and law firms based on reputation. Researchers spend six months speaking with clients and lawyers and conduct thousands of in-depth telephone interviews. Law firms and individual attorneys are then ranked based on the interviews. Ranking criteria includes technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness and astuteness, diligence, commitment and other
qualities most valued by clients. Inclusion in the guide is based solely on the research team’s findings.
Quarles & Brady is a full-service law firm with more than 475 attorneys offering an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients that range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies, with practice focuses in health care and life sciences, business law, data privacy and security, and complex litigation. The firm has offices in Chicago; Indianapolis; Madison; Milwaukee; Naples, Florida; Phoenix; Scottsdale; Tampa; Tucson; and Washington, D.C.
Career Connectors hosts July event
Are you in career transition? Come and discover Career Connectors, a nonprofit organization connecting professionals to high quality resources and hiring companies.
Events are held three times a month, which are free and scheduled at facilities in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Gilbert. Each event includes professional career speakers with presentations on relevant job search topics, three to four featured hiring companies, networking, resume help, career coaches, LinkedIn coaches and business portraits.
Career Connectors, named as one of
the top five networking organizations in Phoenix, will meet from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at Central Christian Church, 965 E. Germann Rd. The next event scheduled in Gilbert is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25. Events in Gilbert are often scheduled on the fourth Tuesday of the month, but sometimes the schedule varies, so check the Career Connectors website to confirm locations and times. For more information on the speakers, hiring companies and events, visit www.careerconnectors.org or call (480) 442-5806.
Waypoint Cabinets
Jacob King. Submitted photo
Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa installs massive bronze sculpture
The Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa, located at 4200 S. Alma School Rd., recently installed a monumental bronze sculpture depicting a rower and scull, reflecting the facility’s commitment to athletic achievement and its scenic location overlooking the Ocotillo Lakes.
“The Rower” joins the existing collection of oversized, athleticinspired bronze sculptures outside of each Village Club location, including Phoenix, Scottsdale and North Scottsdale.
“What started with one sculpture at our first location, the Camelback Village Health Club & Spa, has turned into a tradition at all of our clubs,” said Village Health Club & Spa President Carol Nalevanko.
“These sculptures have really become our mascots at each location. They are the first greeting that you get when you arrive. And each sculpture reflects a certain piece of that individual club.”
Nalevanko said she wanted her members to view the clubs as more than a place to work out.
“We value the entire environment from the artwork on the walls to the architecture,” she said. “We understand how important that is to the whole experience of the members and we believe that is what differentiates the Village Health Clubs and Spas.”
On the morning of June 24, the sculpture was lifted by crane onto a truck for transportation to the Ocotillo Village Club. The sculpture was then followed by the crane along with artisans from Metalphysic foundry, who came to oversee and install the artwork on a concrete pad prepared at the site. It involved laying a template over the pad to drill for bolts that secured the sculpture in
place.
“The Rower” was commissioned by the Valley-based Village Health Clubs & Spas in collaboration with Mitchell Brown Fine Art of Paradise Valley, and was sculpted by Tucson artist Lauri Slenning. It was hand-cast at Tucson’s Metalphysic foundry to create a massive metal artwork that is 21 feet long, 11 feet wide, 5 feet high and 1,800 pounds.
Slenning is an artist whose well-crafted, contemporary work includes use of materials including bronze, steel, wood, fiberglass and resins. A 22-year Tucson resident, her work has been exhibited in numerous shows throughout Arizona, including the Northern Arizona University Art Museum in Flagstaff, the Tempe Center for the Arts, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and the Arizona Biennial at the Tucson Museum of Art. Commission highlights for Slenning include seven large bronze relief panels featured at the Hoover Dam Visitors Center in Boulder City, Nevada, and a transit stop for the City of Tucson at the corner of Broadway and Fourth Avenue.
Repeatedly dipped and coated in silica sand and then kiln baked to melt away the wax and fuse the sand, a shell was formed into which the bronze was poured.
“This is a unique site-specific sculpture, designed exclusively for the Ocotillo Village Health Club and Spa,” Slenning said. “In no other fine art expression does the artist rely so heavily on other craftsmen to realize the artist’s vision, essentially handing
over the artwork to others.”
Once cast, the mold’s supports and any excess bronze was cut away and the individual pieces were then carefully welded back together to recreate the original form. Reactive chemicals were then applied to the bronze to permanently color its surface.
For more information about the Village Health Clubs & Spas, visit, www. villageclubs.com.
According to Slenning, a local female former college rower posed with a sleek racing scull as part of the artist’s process to accurately create a 1.5-times life-sized sculpture. The original clay sculpture was then cut apart and turned into a series of molds, into which a thin hollow wax was poured to create a wax mold.
Rawhide names new general manager
Rawhide Western Town and Event Center announces the promotion of Cindi Carver as general manager. Carver’s efforts will focus on all aspects of operations strategy to generate revenue for the destination.
With extensive experience in the entertainment, event and hospitality industry, Carver brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Rawhide.
Most recently serving as the controller at Rawhide, Carver has taken the lead on much more than just accounting and finance and has delved in to learn the ins and outs of the business as a whole.
Carver joined Rawhide as the controller in 2011, later took on a director role and most recently has been promoted to general manager. Over her four years with the property, she played a key role in the development and implementation of strategic business plans that led to substantial profit growth. Prior to her time at Rawhide, she had 20 years’ experience with hospitality destinations.
“In the last few years, I have had
the pleasure of watching our staff and Rawhide continue to morph into a premiere entertainment destination for the East Valley and Central Arizona,” Carver said. “My team and I are excited to introduce Arizona to the New West, the new Rawhide Western Town & Event Center.”
Carver graduated with a degree in accounting with honors. Carver has lived in Arizona most of her life and resides in Phoenix with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.
The Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse, located on the Gila River Indian Community, is Arizona’s largest 1880s western-themed family entertainment venue and steak house. Rawhide Western Town is located just south of Phoenix, is 20 minutes from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 5700 W. North Loop Rd., in Chandler. Admission & Parking is free, excluding special events. For more information visit www.rawhide.com or call (480) 502-5600.
• Open to the Public, Holiday Inn Ocotillo Invites you to Enjoy your Neighborhood Holiday Inn!
• Breakfast: Sun - Thurs: 6 -11 am and 5 - 9 pm Friday - Sat: 6-12 pm and 5-10 pm Happy Hour: 5-7pm 2 for 1 Drink Specials!
this ad and receive a FREE Appetizer! Limit one per table restrictions apply. Expires 08/21/15.
“The Rower,” sculpted by Tucson artist Lauri Slenning, was recently installed outside the Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa located at 4200 S. Alma School Rd. The 21-foot long bronze stature reflects the facilities commitment to athleticism and health. Submitted photo
Pottery studio builds creative memories
BY KEN ABRAMCZYK
For Lori Neff, As You Wish Pottery isn’t about painting pottery.
The company she owns with her husband, Scott, is about creating memories with loved ones and friends.
“We really like the connection between people,” Lori Neff said. “They can reconnect and build memories with each other.”
The studio with eight locations throughout the Phoenix area, including Chandler and Mesa, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in September as the state’s first “paint your own pottery studio.”
Patrons can create a piece of pottery, a plate, mug or dish, with loved ones, and that piece is part of the memory of that loved one. The process is simple: choose a piece of pottery, design and decorate it, then the piece is fired and glazed, and within a few days, it can be picked up.
date nights are popular for family members, Neff said. The pottery “creates special memories for those who mean so much to you,” Neff said. While the studio specializes in “paint your own” pottery, a canvas is available for special events.
The studio is a great place for social gatherings, Neff said.
“We offer birthday parties and team building for companies to come in, too,” Neff said. Scout troops, bridal showers and field trips are also welcome. Young and old can let their creative juices flow and strengthen connections, whether those connections are personal or professional.
She said she believes the company has grown because of word of mouth from patrons. “People will move and they will see a new location and say, ‘I remember going there,’ and ‘I want to come back.’”
Neff said the studio has “created a name for ourselves.”
It isn’t just parents and grandparents with children or other adults who participate in classes, though the daughter
As You Wish Pottery was founded 20 years ago with a location in Scottsdale. The Neffs purchased the company eight years ago when four Arizona locations were open and now, the Neffs have nearly doubled that number. “We now have seven,” Neff said. “We have a fantastic staff which has allowed us to expand.” As You Wish Pottery employs 85 workers.
Customers are drawn to the pottery piece itself when they make it with a loved one. “They are drawn by their emotions and excited because it will be with someone who they care about,” Neff said.
As a local business, As You Wish is involved in community causes and donated more than $100,000 in funds, goods and services to enhance the lives of children and their families in 2014, regularly raising money for the Arizona branch of the Make a Wish Foundation and involved with the Girl Scout community.
As You Wish will offer special deals and discounts to celebrate the 20th anniversary
from Sept. 18 to Sept. 20, including $20 Gift Card raffles and discounted studio times. It is also offering special deals for $25 on summer classes that begin up until July 24.
For companies, the activity “creates a camaraderie with co-workers,” Neff said. Neff said time with loved ones is limited, so it is important to enjoy good times with them.
“We don’t have much quantity time, so quality time is a must,” Neff said.
As You Wish Pottery is located at 2970 E. Germann Rd., Suite 4, in Crossroads Towne Center, Loop 202 and Gilbert Road, Chandler. For more information, call (480) 889-1231 or visit www.asyouwishpottery. com.
Ken Abramczyk is an associate editor with the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at ken@santansun.com.
Scott and Lori Neff have opened three more studios since purchasing As You Wish Pottery eight years ago. Submitted photo
A family enjoys painting pottery at one of the studios. Submitted photo
Throughout the year
the Chandler Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of luncheons and meetings for its members and the community.
Events are held at the Chandler Chamber of Commerce office, 25 S. Arizona Pl., Suite 201, Chandler, unless otherwise noted.
To register, call (480) 963-4571, visit www.chandlerchamber.com or email info@chandlerchamber.com. No refunds are available within 72 hours of an event.
Chandler Chamber Monday Morning Leads Group
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 6, 13 (every Monday)
The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. A leads group is a business referral network that helps businesses interact and network. As a member of the Chamber’s leads groups business owners have the opportunity to develop sources and contacts that can help generate sales. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits. Brunchies, 17 E. Boston St., Chandler
Chandler Chamber Tuesday Morning Leads Group
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, 14 (every Tuesday)
The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits. BLD, 1920 W. Germann Rd., Chandler
Chandler Chamber
Wednesday Morning Leads Group
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 15 (Every Wednesday, except when Wake Up Chandler is scheduled on July 8)
The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more.
Allowed two free visits.
Ocotillo Village Health Club & Spa, 4200 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler
Chandler Chamber Wednesday Lunch Leads Group
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 15 (Every Wednesday)
The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits.
Stone & Vine Urban Italian,1035 W. Queen Creek Rd., Suite 103, Chandler (SW corner of Alma School and Queen Creek roads)
Chandler Chamber Thursday Morning Leads Group
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Thursday, July 9, 16 (Every Thursday)
The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits.
Rudy’s West Country Store & Barbecue, 7300 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler
Chandler Chamber Thursday Lunch Leads Group (West)
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 16 (Every Thursday)
The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits.
Nabers Music Bar & Eats, 825 N. 54th St., Chandler
Chandler Chamber Thursday Lunch Leads Group (East)
11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 16 (Every Thursday)
The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits.
Social Box Neighborhood Eatery, 1371 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler
Chandler Chamber Friday Morning Leads Group
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 10, 17 (Every Friday)
The Chandler Chamber Leads groups help business members to network and grow their businesses. Members are given the opportunity to give the group information on their company, upcoming events and more. Allowed two free visits.
A Leads Group is a business referral network that helps businesses interact and network. As a member of one of our Leads Groups you will have the opportunity to develop sources and contacts that can help generate sales for your business. Allowed two free visits.
Chompie’s Delicatessen Restaurant, 3481 W. Frye Rd., Chandler
Small Business Counseling
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, July 10, 17 (Every Friday)
Experienced business counselors provide advice, knowledge and insight to help start or grow a business. Small Business Counseling is available Mondays and Tuesdays at the chamber office by appointment only through the Maricopa Community Colleges’ Arizona Small Business Development Center network. Contact the Chandler Chamber of Commerce to schedule an appointment. Chandler Chamber of Commerce, 25 S. Arizona Pl., Ste. 201, Chandler
Wake Up Chandler
7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 8
Wake-Up Chandler is a great way to start off the morning by networking with other businesses. Bring business cards and brochures, and be prepared to give a 30-second commercial about your business. Door prizes are welcome. Catering provided by Effortless Bistro. The Hungry Monk, 1760 W. Chandler Blvd., Ste. 2, Chandler
Ribbon cutting and refreshments. Ribbon sponsor is Laser Creations. 2225 W. Frye Rd., Chandler
Business Golf
6:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 15
Join chamber members the first and third Wednesdays of every month until August for the Chandler Chamber of Commerce Business Golf Outing. You will play nine holes on various Chamber member golf courses. The event includes breakfast and networking opportunities. Sponsored by Air Products.
$35 per person. Lonetree Golf Club, 6262 S. Mountain Blvd. Chandler
Business After Business
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16
Come join the chamber for its monthly evening mixer—meet new chamber members, make business contacts, and get a chance to win the “Chamber Cash Pot,” sponsored by Thorobred Chevrolet. Sponsored by Arizona Pest Prevention. Cost is $5 for members and $15 for public.
San Marcos, One San Marcos Place, Chandler
Latte
is now a full-time advocate. Hess said Callery helped to save her life when she left her abusive husband.
“He had found the SEEDs house,” Hess said. “And Monalou let me stay at her home until I felt safe again. We are now great friends. I don’t know where I would be without her.”
Callery said that all the women, like Hess, are encouraged to work at Cup O’ Karma, especially if they lack job skills in order to prepare them for future jobs.
BY ALEXA D’ANGELO
Monalou Callery didn’t know she married a monster until it was too late.
The man that committed his life to her happiness instead began to abuse her to the point where she lost consciousness—to the point where she feared for her life.
She stayed with him. She was afraid to leave. He was a connected man in her hometown in Massachusetts.
She had three daughters with him and by the time she left for good, they were 7, 5 and 3 years old.
Callery could have let this destroy her life, but instead she rebuilt from the ground up, moved to Arizona and created the National Advocacy and Training Network (NATN), Support, Education, Empowerment and Directions (SEEDs) and Cup O’ Karma: Community Café for a Cause, all to support domestic violence victims and their families.
“I wanted to create some sort of advocacy for women,” Callery said. “I wanted to help them coming to terms with their abuse and educate and support them in a way that I didn’t have when I was going through it.”
Callery founded NATN in 2002 to address the health, safety, economic and social justice issues related to domestic violence. SEEDs provides housing to victims of domestic violence, with four homes in the Valley dedicated to transitional housing for domestic violence survivors.
Cup O’ Karma stemmed from SEEDs. When the women staying in one of the houses went through a 12-week business program, they got the idea to create a coffee shop where survivors who stayed in the SEEDs homes could work and get money and job experience.
“We used to meet during the 12-week program at a coffee house in Mesa, and
when the man who owned it overheard us talking about getting our own coffee shop, he sold his to us for only a dollar,” she said. “That became our first location.”
In the last year, Callery and crew have opened a new Cup O’ Karma coffee house inside the Chandler Public Library. The coffee shop serves up good karma, one cup at a time.
“Over 2,000 people walk through the library a day,” Callery said. “A lot of people walk in here and we tell them about our program and they come back and make donations.”
All of the baristas in the two coffee shop locations are survivors of abuse and are living in a SEEDs house or have already completed the educational program.
“A lot of women come back as mentors or house managers after they complete the program themselves,” she said.
One of those women is Kathy Hess, who
Z’Tejas unveils zesty summer menu items
Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill will once again offer its custom summer menu filled with slow-cooked pork ribs, craft cocktails and a banana foster beignet dessert. The menu items will be available at the five Valley locations until Sunday, Aug. 23. The menu includes:
• Appetizer: pig wings—pork shanks, chipotle prickly pear sauce and sweet and sour slaw.
• Entree: Navajo taco—crispy kale, green chile rice, black beans,
handcrafted Navajo taco shell. Choice of adding roasted shrimp or pork.
includes blackberries, Jim Beam, Chambord, lemonade and ginger beer, as well as summertime sangria with peach schnapps, Tuaca, fresh fruit and cabernet, is also available.
The Chandler location is at 7221 W. Ray Rd. For more information, visit www. ZTejas.com or call (480) 377-1170.
The public can donate via NATN’s website, www.natn-az.org, or by dropping off donations at one of the two Cup O’ Karma locations. One hundred percent of the profits made at the coffee shops go back to the victims of domestic violence.
Callery, who was at one point on welfare struggling to make ends meet, is now a successful business owner who has happily been with her boyfriend for 20 years, and has become a beacon of hope for the hopeless.
“We’ve helped over a thousand women since our inception,” Callery said. “I just can’t believe that I went from being abused to helping those who have been abused. I want to pass my message of survival onto other survivors of domestic violence and show that if I can do it, so can they.”
Cup O’Karma is located in the Chandler Main Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. For more information, call (480) 782-2770 or visit www.natn-az.org/cup-okarma.
Alexa D’Angelo is an intern for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@santansun.com.
Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill is offering a custom menu filled with items that will tempt the taste buds. Submitted photo
Monalou Callery. STSN photo by Tim Sealy
Cup O’Karma founder Monalou Callery—shown here with Kathy Hess and Hannah Rosabel—hopes to empower abused women with her business’ powerful message of hope. STSN photo by Tim Sealy
Cup O’Karma is located in the Chandler Main Library. STSN photo by Tim Sealy
Safeway installs solar parking structure
BY TRACY HOUSE
Shoppers at the Safeway on Alma School and Chandler Heights roads will be able to keep cool during the scorching, hot summer courtesy of solar shade structures.
“The solar shade structures will provide a more comfortable shopping experience for our customers and reduce Safeway’s carbon footprint by reducing our need for fossil fuel energy,” said Nancy Keane, public affairs and government relations spokeswoman.
Solar City is installing the structure that will provide approximately 120 covered parking spaces for shoppers. This is the second solar project for Safeway in Arizona.
“The first was in Fountain Hills and the next two will be in the Phoenix area,” Keane said.
“Chandler is Safeway’s 38th solar project spread across six states. We also have two MW wind turbines, two 100 KW biogas fuel cells.”
Keane explained AB Acquisition LLC, the parent company of Albertsons LLC, New Albertsons Inc., and Safeway Inc., is one of the world’s largest food and drug retailers, with more than 2,200 stores and 1,700 pharmacies in 34 states and the District of Columbia under 18 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United, Pavilions, Star Market, Market Street, Amigos, Lucky, Super Save, Albertsons Market, Pak N’ Save and Carrs. The company is privately owned by a consortium led by Cerberus Capital Management and is committed to
Safeway at Alma School and Chandler Heights roads has installed solar-covered parking structures for customers to keep cars shaded while shopping. STSN photo by Tracy House
environmental initiatives.
“We set an ambitious goal to reduce our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25 percent by 2020 compared to our 2010 baseline. We plan to achieve this through energy efficiency, investment in renewable energy and other emission reduction initiatives,” Keane said.
She said there are several reasons particular locations are chosen for solar parking construction. “There are a number of critical criteria that must be considered for solar development. Building and land ownership provisions, landlord restrictions, facility architecture and layout, solar radiance, federal and state incentives, and a host of other considerations. The facilities chosen are favorable when we consider all these provisions.”
Tracy House is a freelancer for SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at news@ santansun.com.
Bondurant celebrates 50th anniversary of championship
Bob Bondurant has a compelling reason to celebrate the Fourth of July this year. The holiday will be the 50th anniversary of a memorable victory in the 12 Hours of Reims, France. The win clinched the 1965 FIA World Manufacturers’ Championship for Bondurant and Shelby American, the first U.S. manufacturer to win an FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) title. Shelby’s Fordpowered cars won the highest class of international grand touring racing.
After a convincing GT win in the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, Bondurant and Shelby were ready for a championship in 1965. Bondurant had already earned five wins on the demanding tracks of Sebring (USA), Monza (Italy), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Nürburgring (Germany) and Rossfeld (Germany) when he arrived in France for the July 4 race. He drove a powerful finishing stint in a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe to take his sixth win of the season, boosting Shelby and Ford to the championship over the previously dominant Ferrari effort.
Bondurant later added a triumph at Enna, Italy, for seven wins in 10 races in 1965. He started from the pole position for almost every race, drove the final stint to each victory and set a lap record at the Nürburgring circuit that held for 15 years. A season to be savored, indeed.
“Coming around on that last lap at Reims, it was the Fourth of July and we got the checkered flag first, so we
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won,” he recalled. “We beat Ferrari. It was fantastic. Reims is the capital of Champagne, so we celebrated with Champagne—heartily.”
Shelby American founder Carroll Shelby later noted, “The greatest accomplishment of my life was winning the World Manufacturers’’ Championship in 1965.”
Bondurant went on to establish the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, the largest purposebuilt driving school in the world. “My life has been lived in two halves,” he said. “The first was becoming a world champion driver. The second was teaching the world to become champions.”
To mark the anniversary, the Bondurant School released a YouTube video highlighting all the drama and intrigue of the 1965 season: 1965 FIA World Manufacturers’ Championship.
Opened in 1968 by Bob Bondurant, the school provides a full range of driver training to pros and novices. The largest purpose-built driving school in the world, the Phoenix facility includes a 15-turn, 1.6-mile road course, an 8-acre asphalt pad and more than 200 raceprepared vehicles. Bondurant SuperKart School offers two karting tracks with state-of-the-art equipment and training. Bondurant is also the premier leader in hosting unique corporate and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) events. For more information, visit www. Bondurant.com or call (800) 842-7223.
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