SanTan Sun; 1-17-15: Community

January 17 – February 6, 2015 www.SanTanSun.com

Council, mayor optimistic about Chandler’s future

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

With two new city councilmen and a vice mayor, as well as a re-elected mayor, the City of Chandler is poised to tackle challenges and celebrate its victories for the next four years.

“It’s a really exciting time starting a new term,” says Mayor Jay Tibshraeny. “We have a lot of stuff on our plate. We have a new council that was just sworn in. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

Newly elected councilmen Rene Lopez and Terry Roe join seated councilmembers Nora Ellen, Rick Heumann and Jack Sellers. Councilman Kevin Hartke was re-elected to a four-year term and named vice mayor. Leaving the council are Trinity Donovan, and Jeff Weninger, both of whom were termed out after serving eight years. Weninger was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in District 17.

To represent the city properly, Tibshraeny visits with the councilmembers and then the first week of February, they schedule a retreat where they discuss ideas and collaborate.

“We set some goals and work so that we see that we’re on the same page to make Chandler a better community,” Tibshraeny says.

Although he’s looking forward to his time as vice mayor, Hartke is excited about being re-elected by Chandler citizens. It will be a challenging term nonetheless.

“The biggest challenge this next year is going to see how we can continue to work with the legislature concerning budget issues,” he adds.

“The state is dealing with their issues. It’ll be (interesting) to see what this means to the cities.”

He sees the budget as an “ongoing

New economic development director seeks to continue City’s momentum

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Micah Miranda has only been on the job as Chandler’s economic development director since Dec. 29, but the expectations are high.

Filling the role left vacant by Christine Mackay’s departure to the City of Phoenix, Miranda has seen the future of downtown Chandler start to take shape with the unveiling of plans for Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and the debut of a New Year’s Eve event.

“I need to continue the momentum,” Miranda admits. “Chandler has had a tremendous amount of success over the past 10 years, and we want to keep that moving forward as quickly and steadily as possible. I want to continue marketing Chandler, continue the momentum around the Price Corridor, and draw additional development out by the airport. Those are our major priorities, as well as downtown development.”

The former City of Maricopa economic development director, Miranda says that Mackay’s departure left a true opportunity. Mayor Jay Tibshraeny agrees.

“We’re optimistic that he’s going to

WHAT IS YOUR HOME WORTH TODAY? SEE PAGE 18

issue” but is thrilled about the downtown development.

“I’m very excited to see what that looks like,” Hartke says. “With our new developer in place, and things that are happening on the Price Corridor that will unfold this year, it should be a very promising year for Chandler.”

Tibshraeny agrees that a big challenge is the legislature, which recently started its new session.

“That’s one of the bigger challenges facing us in the first six months of the year,” he says. “Over the last few years, they’ve continued to nick away at us and take away things that we do and we do very well. I’m very concerned about what direction they’ll head this year.”

Tibshraeny is optimistic about downtown development, but the focal point of his efforts is getting into the neighborhoods and working with citizens to strengthen the neighborhoods.

“That’s been a key part of what I’ve been doing the last few years,” he explains.

For Lopez, the swearing-in ceremony was the formal beginning of a new chapter for him. He was enthusiastic after winning the election and witnessing the support he received from Chandler voters.

He says he feels that the “good people” of Chandler and the City staff are on the same page.

“The council and the mayor and City staff—the leadership—is a reflection of the character of Chandler’s voters,” he says. “They’re a great group of people. There are a lot of great constituents out there and they expect a lot from their leadership. This leadership has

Ocotillo Plaza re-emerges with fresh look and new owner

BY CURT BLAKENEY

One of the most prominent shopping centers in the Ocotillo area is undergoing a facelift and in the process its management company is hoping for a complete revitalization.

Ocotillo Plaza, located at the northwest corner of Alma School and Queen Creek roads, is vital to the area’s economic well-being and its residents’ quality of life.

The mostly vacant shopping center, originally built in 1986, is largely controlled by Phoenix-based De Rito Opportunity Investors, which purchased the property in July 2013 for $13.6 million from a California firm. At the time of sale, Ocotillo Plaza

was only 29 percent leased. De Rito executives then began rolling up their sleeves to formulate a plan for success. They hired Phoenix-based RKAA Architects to design exterior modifications, a refreshing of the façade to incorporate a Santa Barbarastyle look with antique white and black metal detailing. That cosmetic makeover is underway now and is expected to be completed within weeks.

De Rito also submitted plans for the addition of two drive-thrus, which is awaiting City approval. They are expecting to begin construction in late April or early May.

delivered in the last decade, as seen by the success of Chandler in all aspects. I feel honored and humbled to be one of them.”

Roe’s run for City Council began in 2009; he views those efforts as a positive.

“I think that over that period of time—which is significant—you get to know people and they get to know you,” Roe says. “Along the way, you’re able to gather support from people who have become familiar with you, what your thoughts are and what you stand for.”

Roe mentions that he has been “quite concerned” about government spending and finance, but adds that Chandler has a reputation around the state as exhibiting prudent fiscal practices.

“But I feel that that torch has been passed a little bit and it will be important to help that continue,” Roe adds. “I think if government does take care of its finances, a lot of other things can go right. Chandler has done such a good job of looking at the future and is reaping some of the benefits.”

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the executive editor of the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at christina@ santansun.com.

Police kill burglary suspect

BY KELSEY SEDERSTROM

Chandler police killed a 22-year-old burglary suspect after offi cers and the man exchanged gunfire on Monday, Jan. 5.

Fleeing from officers, Kenny Arnold Buck ran a red light at the intersection of Ray Road and Hamilton Street.

Buck was pronounced dead after a shootout, during which he fired shots at officers through the back window of a

black Dodge truck while driving with a fake Indiana license plate. None of the three officers involved in the shooting were injured in the incident near Knox Road and Hamilton Street.

Buck had outstanding warrants for his arrest and was considered armed and dangerous. His criminal record includes burglary charges in April 2012, when he was sentenced to three months in jail and three years of probation.

In January 2013, probation was extended for two more years because of marijuana possession. At the time of Buck’s death, there was a warrant out for his arrest as he had failed to honor the terms of probation. He had changed residence without approval, did not pay court fines, did not submit drug tests and failed to appear to the Adult Probation Department after incarceration, according to reports.

Volunteers needed for unity exhibit

Docents are wanted for an exhibit, “And Then They Came for Us,” that is being developed by educators from the Chandler Unified School District, the East Valley Jewish Community Center and the City of Chandler. In announcing the need for volunteers, the City of Chandler says that the exhibit is part of Chandler’s annual Celebration of Unity honoring the community’s heritage and diversity, along with the spirit and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement.

“And Then They Came for Us” explores three events—the Holocaust, the treatment of people of color in Eastern Europe and the domestic struggle for civil rights. The exhibit examines the three events across a timeline from the early 1910s to the

early 1950s, exploring the similarities as well as differences among them.

While the exhibit is on display in Chandler’s Downtown Library beginning in late January, volunteer docents will guide school groups and other visitors along a series of panels that tell the stories of the historic events using images and text as well as artifacts and multi-media/archival film footage. Volunteers need enthusiasm, a love of learning and the ability to commit a minimum of three hours per month as a docent and attend training. Contact the East Valley JCC at (480) 897-0588 for details.

seize on the opportunity of coming to Chandler,” Tibshraeny says. “I think he’s got some good experience in economic development. He’s coming to a city that has a very successful track record, so I look forward to working with him as he embarks on this new endeavor in his career.”

Longtime East Valley resident

Miranda calls himself an “East Valley guy,” having grown up in Mesa where he graduated from Mesa High School. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in regional development from the University of Arizona, Miranda worked in various economic development roles within the City of Mesa from 2002 to 2005.

From there he moved on to the Arizona Department of Commerce, for which he served as bioscience business attraction manager from 2005 to 2008. He earned experience as economic development specialist for the City of Tempe from 2008 to 2012. He comes to Chandler from the City of Maricopa, where he worked as economic development director since 2012.

Chandler also provides the diversity he seeks in an ideal position.

“I like redevelopment and I like new development,” explains Miranda, who lives in Gilbert with his wife and three children. “Being able to do those two things simultaneously was very attractive to me. Also, Chandler’s leadership is probably one of the most respected nationally. How they approach managing the City and the policies they put forward are amazing.”

He says his collective experiences are varied, so he’s the perfect fit for Chandler.

“Being able to merge all those different experiences into one community is an asset,” he says. “I’ve done a little bit of everything in economic development and now I’m able to bring it all to one location.”

Future of Chandler

Miranda says he believes that development on the southwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard— referred to as sites one, two and three— that includes Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, The Vig, Modern Margarita and La Bocca is “really going to transform downtown.”

“Having Alamo Cinema downtown

is really going to bring nightlife to downtown,” he says.

Additional space will be designated for more restaurants, retail and offices in an initial phase, with the possible addition of residential units, a fitness center and parking garage.

“We want to bring external wealth into our community that supports police, fire, parks—all the quality of life amenities that our residents and businesses enjoy and that make Chandler such a desirable location to live and work.”

He says entrepreneurs are going to lead the future of downtown. The ASU Chandler Innovation Center and Gangplank have the synergy to allow the entrepreneurial

climate to thrive in Chandler.

“I think the world of entrepreneurs,” he says. “From a City perspective, anything we can do to help and encourage new business formation is something that really gets me energized.

“A lot of small startup businesses want that walkability. As downtown grows, it’ll become a more attractive destination for those businesses.”

In West Chandler, the freeway frontage between the Loop 202 and Interstate 10 allows maximum visibility for businesses.

“I think that area will attract a lot of jobs,” Miranda says. “That’s going to be a major employment sector of the city. Being right on two major arterials is only going to make that area more viable. We’ll continue to see a lot of large corporate users move into the area, as well as retail opportunity for the residents.”

Miranda says that Tibshraeny, the council and staff have done a “tremendous job” setting the table for Chandler’s future.

“The vision they’ve had in maintaining the Price Corridor is notable,” he says. “During the downturn, there were a lot of people wanting to get their hands on that land, but council was steadfast in saying, ‘We’re going to protect this for employment purposes.’ Council understands the need for large parcels and the importance of jobs. That makes my job a lot easier.”

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the executive editor of the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at christina@santansun. com.

New Real Estate Trend: Condos

EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FEATURES:

• Heated resort pool / spa, full clubhouse and fitness center

• Underground, gated parking with designated space

• Located adjacent to an established and performing retail center in the award-winning Downtown Ocotillo

• Builder incentive with preferred lender

DISTINCTIVE CONDO FEATURES:

• Smart technology (state-of-the-art technology)

• Granite countertops with under-mount sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms

• 42-inch upper and 36-inch lower maple cabinetry and choice of finishes

• Option for soft water

It’s three weeks into the New Year; how are your resolutions going? Did you pledge to spend more time with your family? Maybe you want to travel or perhaps lose those last 5 pounds?

More than one-third of all New Year’s resolutions involve weight loss, healthy eating and/or exercise. With 250,000 Chandler residents, that means roughly 83,000 Chandler resolutions revolve around these topics.

Chandler Parks and Recreation wants to help you achieve your health and wellness goals in 2015 and has dozens of opportunities waiting for you. Below are 15 ideas to keep you on track for maintaining your health and wellness resolutions.

1. Are you looking for personal attention to meet your fitness goals? Sign up for personal training at the Tumbleweed Recreation Center (TRC), 745 E. Germann Rd. The TRC has three outstanding trainers—profiled in the accompanying story—who have the knowledge and skills to help you meet your goals, no matter your age or fitness level. Half hour, hour and two-person training are available; prices vary. Visit www.chandleraz.gov/personal-training for more information.

2. Whatever your skill level, participating in the Early Bird or Night Owl Year-Round Lap Swimming programs at the Hamilton and Mesquite Groves aquatic centers will help you swim your way to fitness. The water is heated, and annual passes are available for Chandler residents.

City of Chandler Insider

resolutions

Check www.chandleraz.gov/aquatics for dates and times.

3. Chandler Parks and Recreation operates, maintains, protects and conserves more than 1,200 acres of land in more than 60 park facilities. This includes plentiful open space and 46 walking trails that give you year-round opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, stay active, and connect with family, friends and neighbors.

4. Working on your rhythm this year? Sign up for one or two dance classes. Each quarter, dance classes are offered for all ages in hip hop, jazz, ballet, Irish and more.

5. Stop by the Tumbleweed Recreation Center (TRC) for a tour, and sign up for a one-week free trial with full access to this amazing 62,000-square-foot facility. The TRC also features a fitness center, locker rooms, indoor track, gymnasium, two racquetball courts, 50-plus weekly group exercise classes, and a dance studio, as well as supervised child watch throughout the day for children, ages 1 through 7.

6. Harness your chi through aikido, karate, taekwondo and other martial arts classes offered monthly at several recreation facilities.

7. The City’s Adult Sports Leagues offer residents a great way to exercise, have fun with family and friends, and meet new people. Last year, more than 6,000 people played in men’s softball, co-rec softball, men’s basketball, men’s flag football, and co-rec indoor volleyball leagues. Each sport is offered three times a year, and teams can choose to play in a competitive

Chandler Parks and Recreation

or recreational division.

8. Deciding what to make for dinner each night can be a struggle, especially when focusing on healthy eating. Chandler Parks and Recreation’s cooking classes— Inspired Cuisine 101, Intro to Vegetarian Cooking and others—will provide you with the skills and recipes to make delicious and healthy meals.

9. If you are an active adult, ages 55 or older, the Chandler Senior Center offers 24 weekly activities—arts, crafts, cards, games and more—in addition to basic medical screenings, day excursions and three free weekly arthritis exercise classes.

10. You will love playing at the Chandler Tennis Center in Tumbleweed Park. The facility is known for its beautiful grounds and quality programs, and it was recently rededicated with 15 new post-tensioned concrete lighted courts. The center offers leagues, adult and junior lessons, tournaments, social events, drop-in play, private instruction, ball machine rental and racquet restringing. Reserve a court today.

11. Maybe exploring the great outdoors is more your speed. Each quarter, Chandler Parks and Recreation offers six guided hikes to scenic spots throughout the Southeast Valley, including Lost Goldmine Trail, Papago Park and Colossal Cave Mountain. You can also bring your wellbehaved, leashed dog on the hikes, which depart from the Community Center and the Environmental Education Center.

12. Is tackling a triathlon on your todo list for 2015? Sign up for the Hamilton

Aquatic Center’s Adult Group Practice swim classes focused on endurance or refinement to build confidence, increase stamina and improve technique in choppy water conditions you might find in a crowded pool, lake or ocean.

13. Looking for a safe, low-impact activity that is great for the entire family? Consider Family Yoga held at the Environmental Education Center. These classes are designed for parents and children to experience the benefits of yoga while spending time together.

14. Group Cycling is an awesome way to burn fat, increase strength and improve cardio fitness, and it’s offered at the Tennis Center at various times Monday through Saturday.

15. Take your weight loss and fitness management to a new level with the “InBody” body composition test at the TRC. By simply standing on the footplates and holding the handgrips of the multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer, you will learn your percentage of body fat and muscle and receive printed results of your body composition, metabolic rate and more to help you reach your fitness goal.

As you can see, no matter what your health and wellness goals are, Chandler Parks and Recreation can help you achieve them in 2015.

For more information on the many classes and facilities mentioned in this article, call (480) 782-2727 or visit www. chandleraz.gov/parksandrecreation.

City of Chandler Insider

Reach fitness goals with trainers at Tumbleweed Recreation Center

We all need a little help sometimes. Sticking to an exercise routine is hard enough, and it’s even more difficult if you don’t know the best way to stretch, correct exercise techniques, or proper nutrition for getting the positive results you need to stay motivated.

You need someone in your corner who you can trust; someone who shares your goals and has the necessary knowledge to help you set up an exercise and nutrition program tailored to your unique body type. If you really want to raise your fitness level in 2015, make an affordable investment in your health and well-being and hire a personal trainer.

In addition to a fitness center, indoor track, gymnasium, exercise and dance studios, and locker rooms, the City’s Tumbleweed Recreation Center offers personalized training sessions at affordable rates. Half hour, hour and twoperson training sessions are available from three outstanding personal trainers: Julie Johnson, Gael Tambe-Ebot and Erin Reed.

Julia Johnson

American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Certified Personal Trainer National Exercise Training Association (NETA)

Certified

Johnson has more than 13 years of personal training experience and has been a group exercise instructor for more than 25 years. In addition to ACE and NETA, she is certified by the Aerobics and

Fitness Association of America (AFAA). With her extensive experience in the fitness field, Johnson has been successful in developing strength and conditioning programs for individuals and groups, in a variety of ages—from pre-teens to senior adults—and all fitness levels. She has also taught strength training, cycling, fitball, hi/lo aerobics, kickboxing, step and strength/cardio circuit classes. In addition, she has been the strength and conditioning coach for men’s and women’s tennis teams at the NCAA Division II level.

Gael Tambe-Ebot

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Certified Personal Trainer

Tambe-Ebot is an ACSM certified trainer and earned a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in exercise and wellness. When it comes to physical activity routines, he is incredibly creative and is constantly experimenting and finding new and exciting ways for individuals to accomplish their fitness goals. His extensive training empowers him with the skill set to inspire and tailor workouts for all ages. TambeEbot specializes in circuit training, the perfect style of exercise for people with hectic schedules. He also believes in the importance of living a healthy lifestyle while maintaining a life of adequate physical activity.

Erin Reed

National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer

Upon receiving NASM certification in 2006, Reed eagerly looked forward to helping others experience the transforming impact of a personal trainer and daily fitness routine. As a mother of three busy teenagers, she knows the importance of having energy and balance. Reed believes wholeheartedly that adding a fun, safe, encouraging and successful fitness routine to your life can make all the difference. Her passion for personal training has led her to successfully work with many groups of people with various goals, including weight loss, strength gains, and overall health and fitness improvement. Reed’s background is mainly focused

in private, small group and bootcamp programs ranging in all fitness levels and experience. Functional training is the key component in her tailored programs to maximize success. Form and flexibility are also incorporated to prevent injuries, assist all the systems in the body to work efficiently, and maximum productivity and success during workouts. She specializes in designing programs that are enjoyable and leave you looking and feeling great.

Call (480) 782-2900 or visit www. chandleraz.gov/personal-training to learn more about personal training at the Tumbleweed Recreation Center.

Information provided by the City of Chandler Communications and Public Affairs Department.

Join us for a special event on January 24th

About “Overcoming Challenges” given by 6-time Olympic Gold Medalist and StudioFIT member Amy Van Dyken; a recent T-12 paraplegic. Attendance to this inspirational presentation will be in exchange for a donation amount of your choice to 100% benefit Amy’s newly founded non-profit: The Amy Van Dyken Foundation and Amy's Army. See amyvandyken.org for more details. This will be a

Guidelines.

Enrollment for BTC starts January 5th! The sooner you sign-up, the more time you will receive at StudioFIT as all BTC participants will receive UNLIMITED membership access until February 28th! You will also get your statistics taken at time of enrollment and get a jump-start on the competition. Last day to enroll in BTC is January 31st!

“Our vision for this property is similar to what we’ve done with our other assets,” says Matt Morrell, executive vice president of leasing for De Rito Opportunity Investors, a separate division of De Rito Partners formed to invest in distressed and underperforming real estate.

“We buy the distressed asset, work with existing tenants to keep them on board, and then work on getting national retailers to lease the remaining space.”

Ocotillo Plaza’s sudden and dramatic fall from grace shows how volatile the real state market can be.

Only seven years ago, Ocotillo Plaza was a thriving, vibrant neighborhood retail center powered by anchor tenants Target and homegrown grocer Bashas’. But things took a turn for the worse in October 2009 when the Bashas’ store closed, one of five in Chandler and 30 in Arizona that shut its doors after the cash-strapped company reorganized in bankruptcy court.

In July 2011, Target, in need of more space for a SuperTarget, opted to relocate to a new location less than two miles away at Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road and shut down operations at Ocotillo Plaza.

One year later, Big 5 Sporting Goods, the last anchor remaining in Ocotillo Plaza, relocated to Arizona Avenue, across from Hamilton High School. The closing of all three major players had a domino effect and several surrounding small businesses quickly toppled. With traffic significantly diminished, a few

BEFORE AND AFTER: The new color scheme of the Ocotillo Plaza—antique white with black metal accents—demonstrates a dramatic change from the previous Southwestern look (inset). STSN Photo by Curt Blakeney

tenants dug in to weather the storm, including Leslie’s Pool Supplies, Pizza Hut and Sidelines.

At near rock bottom, the plaza then began a slow recovery in June 2013 when Shoppers Ranch & Home Supply, a general retail store, moved into (and purchased) the space vacated by Target.

Months after Shoppers purchased the Target building and parking lot, De Rito took controlling interest of the remaining property. Taco Bell, Arby’s and Wells Fargo—located on pads on the east and south ends of the center— own their respective properties.

According to Morrell, De Rito is committed to spending money to make the property look better and more viable for the community.

“We hope in 2015 to have all the anchor spaces leased,” he says. “Right now, we’re talking with several national grocery store chains, fitness gyms, and soft goods and clothing retailers.”

De Rito’s ambitious plans are expected to pump life into the stagnant shopping center. Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches has already committed to the imp roved Ocotillo Plaza with an opening planned later this month.

The most pressing issue for De Rito,

though, is leasing the 53,600-squarefoot and 10,444-square-foot anchor spaces vacated by Bashas’ and Big 5.

One of the hurdles for De Rito is the c rowded intersection, a textbook example of the challenges that exist when developers build “four-corner retail.” Ocotillo Plaza shares the intersection with an Albertsonsanchored center on the southeast corner, a Sprouts-centric shopping complex on the northeast corner and the Falls at Ocotillo center on the southwest corner, kept active by a Pei Wei restaurant and Starbucks.

City officials, however, are still optimistic for Ocotillo Plaza’s long-term potential, especially given De Rito’s involvement.

“We are always happy to see developers make imp rovements to their property, and we hope this will help attract tenants to some of the vacant businesses on the site, especially the big box vacancies,” says James Smith, Chandler’s economic development specialist.

“Additionally, we understand that they have a couple new restaurants slated for the space, which we hope will bring new activity to the area. That intersection has much promise because of the area’s demographics and its proximity to the Price Corridor, so we are hopeful that these imp rovements will help ensure that this a viable center going forward.”

Curt Blakeney is the associate editor of the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at curt@santansun.com.

Smart irrigation workshop kicks off landscaping free series

Classes fill quickly so you’ll want to sign up soon for the first of nine popular workshops designed to help residents learn how to use water more efficiently and still have lush yards. The Smart Irrigation Controllers workshop is 6 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5, at Chandler City Hall, second floor, 175 S. Arizona Ave. Irrigation Specialist

Jeff Lee explains the different brands and models of a new generation of irrigation controllers that automatically adjust irrigation schedules based on actual site and weather conditions. Use knowledge from the workshop and attend a Salt River Project Water Saturday, March 7, to save 80 percent

on a smart controller. Register at www. srpnet.com/water/discount.aspx. Chandler water customers are eligible for an additional rebate.

Next in the series is a Water-Wise Edible Gardening class 6:30 to 8:45 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24, also at Chandler City Hall. Learn how to get your garden growing in Arizona’s unique desert environment. Taught by a Master Gardener, participants discover the importance and details of soil preparation and how to overcome the challenges of the desert environment.

The classes are free to Chandler utility customers, but participants must register. Visit www.chandleraz.

gov/water to register online or call the City of Chandler’s Water Conservation Office at (480) 782-3580.

Upcoming workshops include:

• Pruning and Maintaining Your Landscape, March 3

• Basic Yard Makeovers, March 10

• Create Your Own Oasis, March 14 and March 21

• Chandler Sustainable Living, March 24

• Sprinkler Design & Installation, April

2

• Yard Watering & timer Instruction, April 9

• Maximize Your Irrigation, April 16

Complete class descriptions are available at www.chandleraz.gov/water.

Carnegie Foundation calls campuses ‘engaged’

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized Mesa (MCC) and Chandler-Gilbert Community Colleges (CGCC) by awarding each a 2015 Community Engagement classification, a significant and competitive recognition that highlights dedication to community service.

This is the first classification for MCC and a renewal of CGCC’s initial 2006 designation. The colleges represent two of only three Arizona schools and just 361 colleges and universities nationwide that hold the designation. Between MCC and CGCC, more than 5,000 students performed upwards of 115,000 hours of community service last year.

“Mesa Community College is honored to be among a select group of colleges and universities across the country that enjoy the designation of Carnegie Community Engaged Campus,” says Dr. Shouan Pan, president, Mesa Community College.

American Cancer Society, local United Way agencies, A New Leaf, Paz de Cristo, Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley, Special Olympics as well as local senior centers and school districts.

“As guided by Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board outcomes, MCC values student learning and development through community and civic engagement on and off campus. I want to express my deep appreciation to our faculty, students, and staff for their leadership and commitment to living out our value.”

Both MCC and CGCC have long been recognized for exceptional community outreach; collectively, the colleges collaborate with more than 250 community partners, including the

Weavers and spinners featured at Our Stories

The Telaraña Weavers and Spinners Guild presents “Preserving Arizona’s Textile Traditions” at the next Our Stories Saturday, Jan. 24, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave. The discussion is about how various fiber arts reflect Arizona’s culture and heritage. Presenters focus on weaving, spinning, basketry, knitting, crocheting, lace-making, felting and more. The audience can try their hand at weaving, spinning and other arts. Children are encouraged to attend. Our Stories is presented by the Chandler Museum, Chandler Historical Society and the Chandler Public Library. Info: (480) 782-2751 or www.chandleraz.gov/ museum.

WEAVING HISTORY: Learn how fiber arts played a role in Arizona history and try your hand at weaving and spinning at the next Our Stories Saturday. Submitted photo.

“Community engagement is part of our culture,” says Linda Lujan, CGCC president. “From its early years, nearly 30 years ago, until today, CGCC has held community engagement as an enduring core value through a variety of initiatives and programs including service-learning, global and civic engagement, curricular and co-curricular linkages, community partnerships, and executive leadership’s involvement with and service to our region.”

Both colleges have received grants

to support community engagement activities from national and local organizations. Dedicated staff at each college oversee and track the multiple projects and grants and work closely with hundreds of faculty members representing every academic department who serve in coordinating roles.

“It is heartening to see this level of commitment and activity,” wrote Carnegie Foundation President Anthony S. Bryk in a notification letter to the colleges. “Clearly, higher education is making significant strides in finding ways to engage with and contribute to important community agendas.”

Residents needed for general plan advisory committee

The City of Chandler will embark on a general plan update this year with the goal of holding an election in November 2016 to adopt an updated plan.

Arizona Revised Statutes require the City’s general plan be adopted and ratified at least once every 10 years. The City’s current general plan was adopted by the City Council and approved by voters in 2008.

The City Council will soon appoint members to a citizen advisory committee for the general plan update. This group is scheduled to meet with planning staff and a consultant team several times during the next 15 to 18 months.

Residents interested in serving on the committee should send a letter of interest and a resume to david.bigos@chandleraz. gov no later than Jan. 23. Letters and

resumes may also be sent to: Chandler Mayor and Council Office, in care of Dave Bigos, 175 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ 85225.

The general plan is a strategic document that guides City growth and development. It contains maps, goals, objectives and policies that are used to coordinate and implement land use decisions, which in turn impact infrastructure, traffic, parks/recreation, open space, City services, housing supply and affordability as well as public resources.

For more information about the committee, contact Dave Bigos at (480) 782-2222. For general questions regarding the general plan update process, call David De la Torre, principal planner for the City of Chandler, at (480) 782-3059.

Vote for Chandler neighborhood awards by Jan. 17

Chandler residents have until Saturday, Jan. 17, to help Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and a panel of judges pick the winners of the second annual Neighborhood Excellence Awards. Ten finalists are competing in four categories: Best Neighborhood Event, Best Revitalization Story, Neighborhood Leader of the Year and Most Active/Engaged Neighborhood. David Wolff from Dobson Estates III and Karen Peyton from Andersen Springs are finalists for Neighborhood Leader of the Year. The Dobson Estates III neighborhood joins Festival Celebration,

Orangetree, Solera and Sun Groves for Best Neighborhood Event and Andersen Springs is a finalist along with Sun Groves for Most Active/Engaged Neighborhood. Orangetree is the lone finalist in the Best Revitalization Story category.

Winners will be announced at Tibshraeny’s State of the City Address Feb. 19. Vote online at www. chandleraz.gov/surveys/TakeSurvey. aspx?SurveyID=98L1ln2. Find out more about the awards or how to register as a neighborhood at (480) 782-4354.

Visit with Chandler firefighters for fun and education

Seeking a free fun activity that the whole family can enjoy? Look no further than a visit to your local Chandler fire station. The City of Chandler Fire, Health and Medical Department welcomes tours of the fire stations and trucks. Station tours last approximately 30 minutes and include viewing the fire engine, firefighter equipment, fire gear, emergency medical equipment, living quarters and a short presentation concerning fire safety. Tours may be scheduled between the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Firefighters have a busy schedule so schedule as far in

Youth group receives surprise donation from PayPal/ebay

ICAN, Positive Programs for Youth, was given a $20,000 donation from PayPal/ebay Inc. The gift was recommended by PayPal/ebay Inc.’s employee-volunteer led Chandler GIVE Team. Funds will be used to support ICAN programs that focus on juvenile delinquency, gang prevention and substance abuse prevention.

Becky Jackson, president and CEO of ICAN, says, “This donation from PayPal/ ebay came as a total surprise to us! We worked very closely with the PayPal/ ebay on our Adopt-a-Youth program this holiday and are so honored that they chose to invest in the at-risk youth that ICAN serves.”

This year PayPal/ebay Inc. is recognizing the work that employees do to support those in need at the holidays by providing additional cash support for local efforts. There are more than three dozen employee GIVE Teams around the world made up of over 300 employees who give their personal time and energy to create programs to support their local communities.

advance as possible. Groups should be no larger than 25 persons with one adult chaperone for every five children. Children younger than age 3 may be frightened by the noises so the majority of the children must be older than 4 years old. Tours may be interrupted while firefighters respond to emergencies.

Rivulon construction causes single lanes on Gilbert Road

Watch out for slow traffic as Gilbert Road in Southeast Chandler is restricted to a single lane northbound and southbound between the Loop 202 Santan Freeway and Pecos Road through Friday, Feb. 6. The work is associated with street and utility work involved with Rivulon, a large office and retail development being built on the east side of Gilbert Road, north of Loop 202.

Residents can also arrange for a visit from a fire engine at a block party or other neighborhood special event. To schedule a tour or truck appearance, call (480) 782-2175 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or email chandlerfire@chandleraz.gov.

DEADLINES FOR SANTAN SUN NEWS

The deadline for news and advertising is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, for the Saturday, Feb. 7, issue of the SanTan Sun News.

All news must be submitted to news@santansun.com by that day to be considered for the next issue or by filling in the “submit a news release” form on the newspaper’s website at SanTanSun.com. To send an item for consideration in the SanTan Family Fun, email it directly to STFF@ SanTanSun.com.

Send advertising files and information to account reps or contact ads@santansun.com. For deadline information, visit www. santansun.com and click on “About us” and call (480) 732-0250 for advertising rate details.