Danielle Jass speaks slowly and succinctly. An active soccer and volleyball player, the 15-year-old Perry High School freshman is taking honors English, biology and geometry to prepare herself for a future in medicine.
With the exception of a square “pod” attached to her arm, it’s hard to tell she’s diabetic. Two years ago, Danielle was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that causes a person’s pancreas to stop producing insulin. It will be two years this month that she began using the OmniPod System, a discreet, tubeless insulin pump.
“It was hard to really grasp,” she says about her diagnosis. “It’s such a big change, but you can’t let it get to you. You just have to embrace it. There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s not something you can cure.”
Danielle says she feels comfortable with her diagnosis thanks to JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research.
To raise money to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes patients like Danielle, JDRF is hosting its annual gala, this year dubbed “One Night—License to Cure,” on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Montelucia Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley. Tickets are $500 for the James Bond-themed event and can be purchased at dsw.jdrf.org/ events/promise-ball-gala/.
The evening will feature live and silent auctions, casino gaming, a martini bar and
performances by Scott Keo, a Michael Buble tribute performer, and Frank Caliendo, comedian and impressionist. Guests will enter the venue on a “live” red carpet.
“You walk on a red carpet and once you’re inside the big doors at the end of the ‘red carpet’ there’s a live model,” says Tammy Crawford, gala co-chairwoman and member of the Southwest Board of Directors for JDRF.
“It’s like you’re walking in on a live model’s dress. It’s just a cool effect.”
Crawford, too, is an advocate for the cause. Her 25-year-old son, Spencer, was
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 9.
“I’ve been involved with JDRF on a million levels—nationally on the research side; locally on the board,” Crawford says. “This is the second time I’ve chaired the gala.”
Danielle, who moved to Gilbert in June from Tucson with her dad, Ron, and brother, James, is hoping to work with JDRF and a partnering organization, Scottsdale-based Camp Soaring Eagle. Her experience with the camp made her diagnosis a bit easier to handle.
“I go to the camps all the time,” she
says. “When I was there, I was greeted by people who have been diabetic their whole life, but they’re my age. They came up to me and they were pretty much going through the same thing I was going through. Everyone there was so warm and inviting. They all wanted to be friends and talk to you. I want other kids to feel the same way.”
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski is the executive editor of the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at christina@ santansun.com.
SUPER FAN: Danielle Jass and her father, Ron, are big sports fans. STSN photo by Tim Sealy
STUDENT: Danielle Jass is a student at Perry High School. STSN photo by Tim Sealy
Halloween Spooktacular returns for 33rd year
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
The City of Chandler is offering a safe alternative to trick-or-treating with the 33rd annual Halloween Spooktacular from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the Downtown Library Plaza, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave.
More than 1,200 are expected to converge on the plaza, which will also host a costume contest, according to City of Chandler Recreation Coordinator for Special Events Stephanie Feldaverd.
The contest will be split into different age categories—0 to 4-yearsold, 5 to 7 years old, 8 to 10 years old and 11 and older. There is also a category for the best overall family costumes.
“Last year we had a group come out as ‘Hook,’” she says of the different characters from the movie “Hook.”
A first- and second-place prize will be given to the best boy and girl costumes for 0 to 4 years old; best superhero, cartoon character, best princess and scariest costumes in age groups 5 to 7 and 8 to 10. The best overall costume will be given for participants 11 years old and older.
The evening will be filled with different events, which are free or available for a nominal charge. For haunted house fans, there will be an attraction organized and designed
by Teens Actively Serving Chandler.
Five City departments will provide trunk-or-treat for the youngsters. A souvenir photo opportunity and frame to capture this year’s memories will be offered for $3. Face painting will be $1. Feldaverd says the money raised will go to the Mayor’s Youth Commission.
A pumpkin patch with 250 pumpkins will be part of this year’s Halloween Spooktacular, with families allowed one pumpkin. Kids will have the opportunity to paint their pumpkins and leave them to dry before heading home.
An array of eight carnival games will
fill the plaza, as well as an assortment of other interactive games and arts and crafts.
A new game offered this year is the Witch’s Broom Race. Feldaverd says participants will use a broom to push a pumpkin down a designated path around a witch’s broom and back to the starting line. She says only five participants will compete at one time in different age groups.
“The winner will receive candy,” she says.
A cupcake walk and pumpkin bowling are other games the youngsters
can participate in this year. Participants will receive a Halloween cupcake when they end up on a certain number when the music stops.
The Chandler Lions Club will have refreshments, drinks and snacks for sale at the event.
For more information, call the Chandler Special Events Hotline at (480) 782-2735 or visit www.chandleraz. gov/default.aspx?pageid=605.
Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@santansun.com.
Carebear Preschool At Fulton Ranch and Riggs
PUMPKIN CRAZE: Last year, costumed children painted pumpkins they picked from the pumpkin patch during the annual Halloween Spooktacular. Submitted photo
KIDS ACTIVITIES: A young boy has his face painted during last year’s Halloween Spooktacular. Submitted photo
Chandler teen logs 500 hours of community service
BY SCOTT SHUMAKER
When 15-year-old Nicole Gehret received her certificate of completion for 80 hours of volunteer work at Chandler Regional Medical Center this summer, she brought her total middle and high school service hours to more than 500.
This would make a busy schedule for anyone, but the Seton Catholic Prep sophomore also manages a 4.0 grade point average, plays on Seton’s golf team, serves on the student council and works as a student mentor at her school.
Gehret is one of the few students who were accepted into the Dignity Health East Valley Summer Volunteen Program. It gives outstanding high school students a rare behind-thescenes look at Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert medical centers while they serve the community.
“We give them meaningful work,” says Barb Farmer, volunteer coordinator for Dignity Health.
Farmer says student volunteers serve in almost all areas of the hospital, including the intensivecare unit. They are also mentored by hospital staff, including top doctors involved with cutting-edge procedures.
Gehret says she has always been interested in a medical career, but the experience at Chandler Regional
this summer sparked her interest in surgery.
“You’ve really got to go see for yourself what it’s like in a lot of different perspectives,” she says. “You got to see what it’s like as a patient, or the patient’s family visiting and the health professionals that work there. So you really got to view it in a unique way. I learned a lot.”
Recognized as an innovative program for youth, Dignity Health’s program received plenty of attention this summer—as did Gehret. She was featured on TV news programs, but Gehret’s mother, Laura, says this was no problem for her daughter, who is part of Seton Catholic Prep’s Toastmasters Club, in which members speak in front of large audiences.
Her communication skills came in handy while delivering flowers to Chandler Regional’s patients.
“(The patients) are really going through probably some of the hardest experiences of their entire lives, so they’re really in a vulnerable state,” she says.
“And so you have to have good people skills and you have to understand that you want to be something that they look forward to and something that brightens their day.”
Gehret says she would like to return to the Dignity Health volunteer
program for the next three summers.
“Well, in the next year, of course, I’m going to keep my academics up, keep my grades great, and I plan on being a part of this program next year as well,” she says.
“But I really just want to continue my community service.”
Scott Shumaker is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at news@santansun.com.
COMMUNITY SERVICE: Nicole Gehret, a sophomore at Seton Catholic Prep, recently completed a prestigious summer volunteer program at Chandler Regional Medical Center, adding 80 hours of community service to her total of over 500. Submitted photo
SPORT SUPPORT
THINK PINK: San Tan Legacy Girls Soccer shows support for breast cancer awareness during the month of October by wearing pink during training all month. Most of the girls, who range in age from 9 to 14, have known a friend or family member who has dealt with cancer. Submitted photo
Valley Christian wins top ranking
Chandler’s Valley Christian High School was recently ranked among the top 50 Christian high schools in the U.S. by The Best Schools (TBS), based on its measurements of academic excellence, extracurricular richness, geographic and demographic diversity and purposeful Christian faith. VCHS is the only Arizona school to be named to TBS’ annual ranking of top Christian high schools and one of only 12 schools in the western United States. VCHS was also the 2014 recipient of the AIA’s Overall Excellence Award for its successful
athletic and extracurricular programs, the seventh year it has received the award.
“This is a testament to the diligence of our entire community and their continued commitment to and pursuit of excellence,” says VCHS Principal Dan Kulper.
VCHS opened in 1982 and serves students in grades nine through 12. More than 80 percent of families received financial aid last year to attend VCHS.
VCHS is at 6900 W. Galveston St., Chandler. For more information, visit www. vchsaz.org or call (480) 705-8888.
Youth golfers shine at Pinehurst
BY TIM J. RANDALL
Two Chandler youngsters—5-year-old Ethan “E.” Butters and 10-year-old Mahanth Chirravuri—took on children from around the globe and placed highly at the recent U.S. Kids Golf World Championships.
Mahanth finished sixth in the world in the age-10 bracket, while E. tagged ninth in the 6-and-younger bracket.
Held in historic Pinehurst, North Carolina, the kids were among more than 2,000 players who participated in what is dubbed the largest and most prestigious event for kids ages 12 and younger.
At the three-day tournament, each of the youngsters made handfuls of pars and birdies. Playing 18 holes a day at Little River Golf Resort over a 5,000-yard track, Mahanth scored rounds of even par, even par and three under par. E., who played nine holes per day over 1,200 yards at Midland Country Club, scored a seven-over-par opening round, followed by brilliant second and third rounds of one under par and three under par, respectively. That final round was also E.’s personal best.
E. and Mahanth qualified to play by winning the Player of the Year awards in their respective age groups during the local U.S. Kids Golf Phoenix tour.
The two golfers share a love of the game. The Golf Channel or a golf tournament is a staple on television in both households. They each like the same players: Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. They both have swing coaches, and they play out of Ocotillo Golf Resort. The
similarities don’t stop there.
These two golfers can thank supportive parents and families for their successes.
Lisa Butters’ three brothers have been E.’s golfing companions since he began swinging a club at 18 months old. Her middle brother, Dave, is E.’s caddy. For Mahanth, his mother and father and siblings attend tournaments with him and love to watch him play.
Dale Balvin, who works with both kids through U.S. Kids Golf, says, “Sometimes, I don’t think they know how good they really are, and I think that’s good. It is really fun to watch them play every week and watch how they improve.”
Tim J. Randall is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at news@santansun.com.
E. MAKES AN EAGLE: Ethan “E.” Butters plays at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships. Photo courtesy of Lisa Butters
Moderation governs rules of teen use of social media
BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
Parents of teenagers may find themselves questioning how much social media usage by their child is appropriate.
Chandler mother of three, Stasy Click, admits to being a little more cautious than some parents when it comes to social media. The lawyer says each of her teens— Brandon, Alyssa and Lauren—uses social media a bit differently, and she has been paying attention.
“Probably within the last two or three years I noticed they were looking at it constantly,” explains Click, a lawyer who is a former prosecutor and ex-child-crimes prosecutor. “It was a source of distraction everywhere.”
She was concerned, but also understands it is a part of this generation and considers how her teens are different with their social media usage.
According to www. commonsensemedia.org, nine out of 10 teens use social media daily. Although Facebook and Twitter remain popular among teens, Instagram and Snapchat are gaining a large share of teens, too. Teens are using social media on mobile devices, giving them access at almost any time.
A clinical therapist with Bayless Healthcare Group, Hannah Carr works with teens and their families. She offers guidelines to help parents establish boundaries when it comes to teens and social media.
“I think it starts with a conversation between the parents and the teen,” Carr says. “The teen has to be following through
with their responsibilities at school and at home, and making sure the time they are on social media is a time that’s been agreed upon with the parents. I don’t think there’s necessarily an appropriate amount of time on social media.”
Carr also suggests that parents keep an open line of communication with their teens so they can discuss various social media issues as they arise.
“On average, parents spend 20 minutes a week, if that, talking with their kids, just in general about whatever—only 20 minutes a week,” she notes.
“In regard to social media, the more that they have open communication with their kids, the more they will likely be able to trust them to be safe on social media.”
Understanding children’s maturity level is important for parents so they can properly gauge if their kids will act appropriately on various social media platforms. Discussing what is appropriate can be tough.
“Conversations need to start before parents even allow their teens to have social media accounts. Saying, ‘This is why I think it’s important for you to not post pictures of yourself this way. Or just being able to talk about how you value yourself and what are you going to be putting out there for other people to see,’” Carr explains.
Parents should also have access to teens’ accounts to ensure safety.
“Parents need to be able to tell their teen, ‘I do have a right to see who you are
talking with so I know you’re being safe.’”
Click’s daughter, Lauren, a Corona del Sol High School senior, knows how much she uses her Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram accounts.
“It’s definitely on and off, and I don’t scroll through it for hours,” Lauren says. “I probably go through it five minutes every two hours.”
Lauren uses Twitter to connect with friends, Instagram to get a look at what is going on in the world and Tumblr for poetry, writing and artwork.
“I think sometimes social media can be seen as a waste of time or a way to hurt others, but it depends how you use it,” Lauren says.
She has even turned her social media use into a job.
“I work as a social media coordinator for the Phoenix Film Festival,” she says.
With the inspiration she is getting from Instagram and Tumblr, she will soon be launching an online vintageinspired trinket store called West Coast Assortment.
“For Lauren, it’s fine...Her interest is in marketing and specifically social media marketing,” explains Click of Lauren’s social media usage. “I think because it’s her business focus and what her business interests are, I’m fine with it. If it was my other kids, I’d probably be a little more concerned.”
Lynette Carrington is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. She can be contacted at lynette@santansun.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Lawyer Stasy Click finds her daughter Lauren’s use of social media acceptable. Submitted photo
Author hopes to ease struggle with food allergies
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
Since he was 10 months old, 10-year-old Daniel Hutchison has grappled with severe food allergies. His mom took notice and, in an effort to ease his pain a bit, wrote a book in his honor.
“Daniel and his good little friend both have food allergies,” says Jennifer Hutchison, a former reporter for the SanTan Sun News. “I wanted to write something that kind of made them feel a little special.”
“The Adventures of Captain Allergy and Allergy Man” was born. The 26-page book is geared toward third- and fourth-grade students. Its content is pretty simple, she says, allowing kindergarten and first-grade students to enjoy it as well.
“The Adventures of Captain Allergy and Allergy Man” shares how the two characters became superheroes.
“It started with a minor emergency with a neighbor,” she explains. “The two boys jumped into action and knew how to handle things. They helped another little boy having an emergency.”
That aspect of the book mirrors Daniel’s behavior.
“I found that kids dealing with these issues know more about it,” Hutchison says. “They are able to handle so much.”
The story also touches on bullying because, with food allergies, kids tend to become excluded from certain activities.
“They all just deal with it. They don’t complain. They don’t feel sorry for
themselves. They deal with it and move on,” she says of her son and his friends. “They are like little heroes.”
In an effort to teach youngsters about food allergies, Hutchison sent copies to Chandler schools and waiting rooms at allergy clinics.
“Everyone knows someone with a food allergy,” she says. “I hope it is a fun teaching tool.”
Hutchison is writing her second book, which takes the superheroes on another adventure at a school bake sale.
The book is available on www.amazon. com and Barnes and Noble.
Hutchison says she plans to donate a portion of the book proceeds to FARE, Food Allergy Research and Education.
BOOK: Chandler resident Jennifer Hutchison recently published her first children’s book, “The Adventures of Captain Allergy and Allergy Man,” which educates youngsters about food allergies. Submitted photo
Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@ santansun.com.
Kids’ engineering classes set to resume
Engineering classes for boys and girls begin Monday, Dec. 1, at Primavera Blended Learning Center, 2451 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. The popular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) courses for kids ages 7 to 14 are offered by East Valley Engineering for Kids as a continuum of its weekly summer-camp program launched earlier this year. The monthly, three-day-per-week afterschool program feature classes that teach the basic concepts of engineering, including a Core Engineering Club on Monday, a mechanical engineering class, a Video Game Design Club and an EV3 Lego Robotics Club with different monthly themes.
Classes are offered from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in two formats: the new EFK Club membership program, which offers unlimited access to all programs and additional discounts off special events, parties and summer-camp programs; and an “a la carte” program which allows parents to purchase classes individually for one or two days per week. Monthly rates range from $125 to $260 per child. Additional savings are offered for a new carpooling program and for families using the automatic-payment program. For more information, call (480) 779-8184 or email eastvalley@ engineeringforkids.net.
AUTHOR: Chandler resident and children’s author Jennifer Hutchison. Submitted photo
Young dancers take on ‘The Nutcracker’
BY MEGHAN MCCOY
The story of a little girl’s magical journey will grace the Chandler Center for the Arts’ stage during Ballet Etudes’ production of “The Nutcracker.”
Boasting performances by two Chandler girls, “The Nutcracker” will hit the stage Friday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 30, and Friday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Dec. 7. The performance includes matinees and evening showings. Tickets are $25 to $29.
For the first time since Ava Ownby began dancing seven years ago, the Arizona School for the Arts’ fifth-grade student will play a gingerette in the two-act ballet.
“This is my first year with the company,” Ava says of Ballet Etudes. “I’m very excited about performing in ‘The Nutcracker.’”
As the gingerette, Ava says she is a child of mother ginger and she arrives on stage via a big dress.
“We do some funny jumps and cartwheels and stuff to entertain them and it’s supposed to be really cute,” she explains of the role. “I enjoy it because it is fun and we get to do all sorts of things that aren’t always ballet.”
Decade of dance
A ninth-grade student at Hamilton High School, Sarah Diniz began dancing
when she was 4 years old. Now entering into her 10th year of performing, she dances Mondays through Saturdays.
“I really enjoy that it is a way to express yourself,” she says. “No matter how good or bad your day was, when you are dancing you can forget about everything that has happened before and really express your feelings.”
In her fourth year with “The Nutcracker,” Sarah is playing the mechanical doll, senior snow and senior flower.
“The mechanical doll wears all pink and she is blonde,” she explains. “She is very delicate and she’s kind of a present to Clara during the party.”
Ava invites the public to watch the performance because it is beautiful and adorned with decorations.
“‘The Nutcracker’ is just a fun show to come and watch,” Sarah adds. “It is great for all age levels.”
The Chandler Center for the Arts is located at 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. To purchase tickets, call (480) 782-2680 or visit http:// chandlercenter.org.
Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@santansun.com.
SCOUTS’ HONOR
is this year’s honoree for Girl Scouts’ Women and Young Women of Distinction Leadership Award. Hannah, a student in the STEM Scholar program at Perry High School, helped lead Basha High’s girls’ volleyball team to its first state championship tournament. She also led a committee to keep students and the community informed about the volleyball team’s progress, creating a website and working year-round to keep content updated. “Leadership isn’t a one-time thing,” says Hannah. “It’s a character trait that can be demonstrated anytime and anywhere.” To learn more about the award, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/wywd. Submitted photo
LEADERSHIP QUALITY: Hannah Stevenson of Chandler
OUR LEGS, THEIR HEARTS: Hamilton High senior Kelly Carroll brings the Push to the Finish program to Chandler from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Whirlwind Golf Club, 5692 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler. The Push to the Finish Miles Fore Kids 5K matches disabled children who are confined to wheelchairs with experienced runners who push the chairs through the course, giving the children the feeling of completing a race. Proceeds benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital. If interested in participating as a pusher or suggesting a child who may be interested in participating, contact Kelly at (602) 370-7092 or ourlegstheirhearts@gmail.com. Submitted photo
Local publisher joins with pet program
Little Five Star, a division of Chandler-based Five Star Publications Inc., is partnering with Pets in the Classroom and the Pet Care Trust to celebrate the upcoming release of its newest science-based children’s book, “Gator, Gator, Second Grader (Classroom Pet…Or Not?)” by awardwinning author Conrad J. Storad. Storad’s latest picture book, illustrated by Alex Lopez, offers students and teachers a clever educational resource designed to introduce animals into a learning environment, helping teach children which animals are appropriate classroom pets and how to care for them.
Established in 1990, the Pet Care Trust is a nonprofit foundation helping promote public understanding of the value and right to enjoy companion animals, to enhance knowledge of companion animals through research and education and to promote professionalism among members of the companion animal community. Through its Pets in the Classroom program, the Trust provides pre-K through eighthgrade teachers in the United States and Canada with educational grants designed to assist them in funding a classroom pet and its needed supplies.
Since 2010, the program has provided more than 50,000 classroom grants and more than 1.4 million students nationwide with access to a classroom pet.
Five Star Publications Inc. is actively seeking sponsors to gift a copy of “Gator, Gator, Second Grader” to every pre-K through fourth grade Pets in the Classroom grant recipient this school year. All sponsors will be recognized in Five Star’s promotional efforts. To help or learn more, email FiveStarPublications@gmail.com, call (480) 940-8182 or visit www. GatorGatorSecondGrader.com.
CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Nov. 11: Veterans Day holiday; no school
Nov. 27-28: Thanksgiving holiday; no school
Carlson Champions
Boo Bash: Carlson’s second annual Boo Bash will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, on the school’s south fields. Students and parents are encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes and partake in trunk-or-treat, games and crafts, among other “spooktacular” activities. A special thanks to Home Depot for donating its time and supplies for the art table, as well as Francisco’s Brick Pizza and Pitas for supplying food for the festivities.
Check-a-Thon success: Thanks to the generous support of all families at Carlson, the PTO surpassed its goal and raised more than $28,000 in its second Check-a-Thon fundraiser. Proceeds will pay for another playground shade structure and classroom resources. Ms. Ellsworth’s second graders raised the most money among the primary grades, while Ms. Yockey’s third graders won for intermediate grades. Both classes will earn a pizza party. Principal Schlueter and select teachers
were also dumped with ice to celebrate reaching the school’s goal.
—Lora Robinson
Hancock Heat
Running Club: Running Club begins Thursday, Nov. 3. It will be held before school this year, from 7:40 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays through February. Parent volunteers are needed for the success of Running Club; email Coach Gee at gee.ashley@cusd80. com if able to help.
—Andrea Dickson
Jacobson Jets
Welcome back: Welcome back from fall break, Jacobson Jets. Great job to the Jets for completing the first academic quarter of the 2014-15 school year. The Donuts for Dads event earlier this fall was awesome; it was great to see all the dads, grandpas, uncles and special men in Jacobson students’ lives. Save the date: Jacobson will host its annual Lunch on the Lawn and Book Fair at the end of October. Fundraiser fun : Jacobson’s second annual Read-a-Thon fundraiser just completed Phase 2. Phase 1 was a huge success and showed that Jacobson students earned
Youth
even more donations than last year. All donations go right back to the school, with 10 percent going to each classroom. Since Sept. 19, students have been tracking their reading on a starchart reading tracker; there are great incentives for students including bracelets, medals and shirts for every minute they read. Thanks to everyone who helped make all the incentives and special treats possible. A special mention goes to the top five classes that earned the most during the first phase: 5. Mrs. DeFrancesco, 4. Ms. Stine, 3. Mrs. Murrieta, 2. Mrs. Larchick, and 1. Mrs. Butler.
Look it up: Don’t forget to check out the newly designed CUSD website at www.cusd80.com, and “like” Jacobson’s Facebook page to get all real-time news events at www.facebook.com/jacobsonpto. —Michele Vandenbergh
Tarwater Toros
Calendar
Oct. 21-24: Book Fair
Oct. 24: Fall Festival, 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
—JoAnne Cawley
YOUTH CHRONICLES
Jonathan Heckart of Chandler recently earned a white coat at the White Coat Ceremony at Lincoln Memorial University—DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, Tennessee. The White Coat Ceremony is a special ceremony designed to mark a student’s entrance into medical school. Jonathan is a first-year osteopathic medical student at LMU-DCOM; before enrolling at LMU-DCOM, Jonathan attended Carson-Newman University.
Rajhan Meriwether of Chandler was recently welcomed to the class of 2018 at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. Rajhan is a graduate of Basha High School.
Kyle Niemtschk of Chandler is a resident assistant at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, for the 2014-15 academic year. Kyle is majoring in business administration-finance.
Navy Seaman Recruit Brian P. Thompson, son of Matthew W. Thompson of Chandler and Gale M. Ross of Ruidoso, New Mexico, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. During the eight-week program, Brian completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival and shipboard and aircraft safety, with an emphasis on physical fitness.
Rhonda Williamson of Chandler is on the summer 2014 dean’s list at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. Rhonda is a nursing major at the UIU Nursing–Mesa (AZ) Center. To be honored, full-time undergraduates must earn a minimum 3.5 grade point average for the semester.
Children ages 6 and younger eat free with paid adult during Sunday brunch. Tuesdays are family night, where all kids 12 and younger eat free with purchase of adult entrée. Ice cream scoops are $1 in Cones Café.
Apple Dumpling Café
3076 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Suite 101, Gilbert (480) 279-3879, www.
appledumplingcafe.com
Mondays are family value night, where kids eat free with each adult meal purchase of $6.95 or more. On family fun night, kids receive free ice cream with a meal. Ice cream happy hour is 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, where kids buy one ice cream or dessert and get one free.
Chompie’s
3481 W. Frye Rd., Chandler (480) 398-3008, www.chompies.com
Children 10 and younger receive one free item from the kids’ meal menu with adult meal purchase of $8 or more on Tuesdays. Dine in only.
Connect5 Family Centers Corp.
222 E. Warner Rd., Chandler (480) 699-2122
Free kids’ meals with an adult
WHERE KIDS EAT FREE
purchase for Munchie Monday Free Lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Freebie Friday Free Dinner from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Copper Still—Moonshine Grill
2531 S. Gilbert Rd., Suite 101, Gilbert (480) 656-1476, www. CopperStillMoonshineGrill.com
Kids ages 10 and younger eat for free Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult meal.
Dilly’s Deli
2895 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 5, Chandler (480) 722-0645, www.dillysdeli.com
Get one free kids’ meal free for each adult meal purchased for $6 or more on weekends.
El Palacio Restaurant and Cantina 2950 E. Germann Rd., Chandler (480) 802-5770, www. epfamilyrestaurants.com
Kids 12 and younger eat free with paid adult on Wednesdays.
Fat Willy’s
4850 S. Gilbert Rd., Chandler (480) 883-1356, www.fatwillysaz. com/Chandler
From 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, dine in and get a free kids’ meal with every adult entrée purchased. Little Leaguers menu only, 12 and younger.
Floridino’s Pizza and Pasta 590 N. Alma School Rd., Suite 35,
Chandler (480) 812-8433, www.floridinos.net
Kids eat free from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. One free kids meal per $8 adult purchase. Dine in only.
Nabers Music Bar and Eats
825 N. 54th St., Chandler (480) 705-0288, www.nabersaz.com
Kids eat free Mondays and Tuesdays, with the purchase of an adult meal and two beverages. Dine in only.
NYPD Pizza
2580 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (480) 722-0898, www.aznypdpizza. com
Kids eat for free on Wednesday and Sunday after 4 p.m. with purchase of a small or medium pizza. Dine in only.
Pittsburgh Willy’s
48 S. San Marcos Pl., Chandler (480) 821-3197
Every day, except Sunday breakfast, a child age 10 and younger eats free with each paying adult. Additional kids eat for 50 percent off; Wee Willy menu only.
Planet Sub
1920 W. Germann Rd., Chandler (480) 245-6503, www.planetsub.com
Kids eat free with paid adult on Mondays.
Sidelines Grill
2980 S. Alma School Rd., Chandler (480) 792-6965, www.sidelinesaz.com
Kids eat free from kids’ menu after 4 p.m. Thursdays with adult entree. Dine in only.
Someburros!
3461 W. Frye Rd., Chandler (480) 726-8226
2597 S. Market St., Gilbert (480) 497-8226
1335 E. Baseline Rd., Gilbert (480) 755-8226
www.someburros.com
From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, kids 12 and younger eat free with purchase of combo or specialty meal. Dine in only.
The Cove Grill
5070 S. Gilbert Rd., Suite 400, Chandler (480) 802-9070, www.thecovegrill. com
Kids younger than 12 receive one free meal per adult entrée purchased on Tuesdays. Dine in only.
Uncle Bear’s Grill and Bar
1980 W. Germann Rd., Chandler (480) 722-1555, www. unclebearsgrillandbar.com
Kids eat free with each full price entrée purchased on Wednesdays.
Whiskey Rose Bar and Grill
135 W. Ocotillo Rd., Chandler (480) 895-ROSE (7673)
Kids eat free Tuesdays and Sundays with purchase of an adult entree.
WHERE KIDS EAT FREE
The SanTan Sun News now has a regular “Where kids eat free” section. Restaurant owners, email us details such as days of the week kids can eat free at your establishment, and what conditions apply, such as purchase of an adult meal, certain hours, etc., Include your restaurant name, address, phone and website and a contact name for verification.
Readers, if you know of a location that has a kidseat-free program, email us with the restaurant name, a phone and/or email for confirmation and details. Email information to KidsEatFree@santansun. com.
