Holiday traditions offer joy, fun and comfort
By Alison Stanton
No matter how hectic the holiday season gets for Stephanie Jarnagan of Chandler, she can always count on one thing: her father’s delicious green chile burros.
Jarnagan says her parents Pam and Dale Johnson, who also reside in Chandler, decided they wanted to do something a little different for the holidays more than three decades ago.
“Since our family has always had an obsession for good Mexican food, my dad opted for a special green chile burro dish. He uses a really good roast and cooks the meat all day in a slow cooker,” she says.
In addition to enjoying the burros when they are finished, Jarnagan says she especially loves the anticipation of knowing her dad will make them for his family, which includes Jarnagan’s husband Tim and their three children, Kayden, 10, Connor, 7, and Kendall, 2. For Jarnagan, it’s a comforting tradition to count on when the rest of the season starts to feel busy or stressful.
“Unlike Thanksgiving when I'm always trying to Pinterest new recipes and dishes, it's nice to have our family dish to rely on every Christmas and to know that I don't have that extra stress of trying to figure out what's for dinner,” she says.
And, just like the burro tradition has been passed down from her parents, Jarnagan says she is looking forward to creating her own traditions with her family.
“Ours will likely involve volunteering in the community. Both my husband and I are scout leaders, so community service is important to us.”
What’s Inside
Gathering together for tamales
For Adelita Rosenberg of Chandler, the holiday season has always been synonymous with tamales—as many as 15 to 25 dozen every year.
“My mom had done tamales with her own mom, so this goes back many generations,” she says.
“We all come together as a family to
“If they want to bring tamales back home with them, they need to provide sweat labor,” she says.
She loves the way the tamales bring her family together. It helps to provide some stability during such a busy time of year.
“It’s just about getting time to visit with our family. Right now, everyone is spread out and so busy, but when we make the tamales we spend time together and catch up.”
The magic of a 40-year-old
Santa suit
For more than 40 years, Pat Larmer has kept a Santa suit in her home that is brought out every year on Christmas Eve.
“It all started with my husband playing a department store Santa. When they did away with it, we got to keep the suit,” she says.
Every Christmas Eve for the past fourplus decades, Larmer says a male relative or family friend will don the suit and make an appearance at an ornament exchange party for as many as 30 friends and family members.
“Santa will come, and give one present to each child. Then he will tell them they have to go to bed early, so he can come back and deliver the rest of the presents. This has worked really well,” she says, laughing.
Over the years, Larmer’s husband, brother-in-law, nephews, grandsons and friends of the family have all had a chance to dress up like Jolly Old St. Nick. No matter who is in the suit, Larmer says she loves having the opportunity to share this tradition with so many people.
without enjoying her family’s many Polish traditions.
On Christmas Eve, she says family members gather together for a delicious meal that includes Polish vegetable salad, pierogies, sauerkraut and pickled herring, which symbolizes wealth for the coming year.
“After dinner, we have pieces of flatbread that we get from a local Polish deli, and we walk around the room and go up to each other and say what our wishes are for each person,” Hunter says.
Each person will then break off a small piece of the dry bread and eat it.
“We even do this with the little kids, to help teach them about the tradition.”
Everyone opens their presents on Christmas Eve, Hunter says, and then the older relatives attend Mass while the younger people go to a midnight movie.
Hunter says she is enjoying teaching her children—3-year-old Izabela and 6-year-old Luke—about her family’s traditions and values, as well as incorporating some American traditions of her husband, Bill.
“For me, it’s more about family and spending time with them, and trying to find a balance between our cultures,” she says.
Alison Stanton is a freelance writer who lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at alison@santansun.com.
Resources
Websites:
• parentingteens.about.com/od/familylife/ a/familytradition.htm
• psychcentral.com/lib/holiday-traditions
make our traditional Christmas Eve Mexican dinner, which is always tamales and menudo at my mom’s house.”
The tamale-making production begins each year around Thanksgiving, Rosenberg says. Her brother and his wife fly in from New York for the occasion, and are put right to work.
“It’s just the fact that so many friends and family come, and that Santa has always been there for the kids. It’s such a wonderful thing, and I so look forward to having that one very special evening for the children.”
Polish traditions make the holidays
Yvonne Hunter of Chandler says the holiday season just wouldn’t be the same
• artofmanliness.com/2013/ 10/09/creating-a-positive-family-culture-theimportance-of-establishing-family-traditions
Books:
• “The Joy of Family Traditions: A Season-by-Season Companion to 400 Celebrations and Activities,” by Jennifer Trainer Thompson
• “The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays and Every
Day,” by Meg Cox
A GROUP EFFORT: Members of Adelita Rosenberg’s family form an assembly line at the kitchen table to assemble their homemade tamales. Here, the masa is spread on the hojas and then filled with red chili, some of which also include black olives. Submitted photo
TIME FOR PRESENTS: After Christmas Eve dinner, members of Yvonne Hunter’s family head to the living room to open gifts. Submitted photo
7
Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony & Parade of Lights, 4:30-9 p.m. Watch the mayor and members of the City Council flip the switch to light this magnificent sight. The community festival also includes traveling performers and Santa’s House. Free pictures with Santa. Watch floats, vehicles and community groups light up the streets of Chandler with their creative display of holiday enthusiasm. Santa’s House
4:30-9 p.m., Parade of Lights, 7 p.m., Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony, 8 p.m. chandleraz.gov.
Family Book Club, 10 a.m. Fun for the whole family! Free books, snacks and games with prizes. Registration is limited to 20 families, children ages 3 to 11. Registration required. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org,
7 through 24
Santa Photos, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., Dec. 7; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun., Dec. 8 & 15; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 9-23; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue., Dec. 24. Santa will be available for photos and visits at his winter wonderland house, located outside lower level Macy’s Court. Chandler Fashion Center, 3111 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. 480-812-8488.
shopchandlerfashioncenter.com and select “Events.”
7, 12, 14, 21
Santa’s House, 4:30-8:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 7; 5-7 p.m. Thu., Dec. 12; and noon-5 p.m. Dec. 14 & 21. Visit with Santa at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, Downtown Chandler. chandleraz.gov.
7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 Arizona Railway Museum, noon-4 p.m. Visit Chandler’s Arizona Railway Museum at Tumbleweed Park. For information, call Tim at 480-833-4353 or Russell Lassuy at 480-298-2860. Arizona Railway Museum, 330 E. Ryan Rd., Chandler. azrymuseum.org.
9, 11, 16, 18
Teen Scene, 3 p.m. Teens only. Hang out with friends, play games, grab a spot to study, use a laptop or just
munch some snacks. No registration required. Sunset Library, 4930 W. Ray Rd., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
9, 11, 12
The Lounge, 2 p.m. After school fun for high school students. Snacks sold. No registration required. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
9, 16
Brain Time for Infants, 9 a.m. Ages birth to 18 months. New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development and First Things First are presenting a free three-part series of parent-child interactions. Sessions follow a classic story time format, using toys and books that help encourage brain development and prepare a child’s brain for success in school. Sessions are limited to 15 children. Registration required. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
Brain Time for Toddlers, 10 a.m. Ages 18 to 36 months. See Brain Time for Infants for program information. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
Camp Read-a-Lot, 3:30 p.m.
Readers in K-3 are invited to join in for Camp Read-a-Lot, where they will be paired with a teen reading buddy for 45 minutes of reading each week. This is not tutoring, just enjoying books with a new buddy. Registration required. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
Brain Time—Kinder Prep B
Session, noon. Kinder Prep is an interactive parent-child workshop held once a week for three weeks for parents and children ages 3-5. Sessions focus on inexpensive at-home activities that can enhance brain development and help a child’s brain be ready for success in school. Registration required. Hamilton Library, 3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
9, 16, 23, 30
Wiggle Worms, 10:30-11 a.m.
Age-appropriate stories and activities for little wigglers. Geared for children ages 18 months to 3 years, however all participating children must also be registered. Registration assures attendance only until the time story time begins; walk-in spaces will be made available in the event of “no-shows” at the start of story time. Parents must sit with their children the whole time. Maricopa County Library District’s Perry Branch Library, 1965 E. Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert, 602-652-3000. mcldaz.org.
9, 23
Lego Kit Club, 4 p.m. A variety of skill-level kits is provided for kids to put together during this hour of fun. Ages 5-12. No registration required. Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Dr., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
10, 12
Chandler Library Club
After-School STEAM, 3:30 p.m.
Become a member of the Chandler Library Club and have after-school fun every Tuesday and Thursday. Play games, dig up dinos, explore weird science, go fishing, create fun crafts, build Lego cars and more. Win prizes just for showing up. For ages 6-11. No registration required. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
10, 17
Anime Club, 3:30 p.m. Join in to explore Japanese culture, Anime and Manga. For teens age 14-18. No registration required. Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Dr., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
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Community Nights in the Courtyard, 5:30-7 p.m. Join in some free family fun with pictures with Santa ($3) and family holiday crafts at the Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave., Chandler. 480-782-2730.
11, 18
Baby Time, 10:30-11:15 a.m. This program is for babies ages birth to 20 months, accompanied by a caregiver. Have fun sharing books,
lap-sit songs and rhymes, puppets, music and shakers, and the parachute. Learn tips to build a foundation for reading. Playtime follows program. No registration needed, but please arrive on time. Please Note: Older siblings may not attend due to safety issues. Maricopa County Library District’s Perry Branch Library, 1965 E. Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert. 602-652-3000, mcldaz.org.
12
Caroling in the Library, 4:30-6:45 p.m. Usher in the holiday season with Perry Branch Library & Perry High School! Join us for cookies, hot chocolate and coffee while you enjoy the festivities! 4:30 p.m. Gingerbread cookie decorating while supplies last (Meeting Room); 4:30-6:30 p.m. Visit the elves (Newsstand Room); 4:45-5:45 p.m. Caroling (Main Library); 6:00-6:45 p.m. Story time with Mrs. Claus (Main Library). Maricopa County Library District’s Perry Branch Library, 1965 E. Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert. 602-652-3000, mcldaz.org.
12, 19
Pre-K Story Time, 10:30-11 a.m.
Children ages 3 to 5 years will develop a love of literacy and preschool skills through age-appropriate books, learning letter sounds, flannel board rhymes, songs and music, games, and lots of movement activities. No registration needed, but please arrive on time. Maricopa County Library District’s Perry Branch Library, 1965 E. Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert. 602-652-3000, mcldaz.org.
13
Game Hall, 2:15 p.m. Join in the fun playing board games, card games and video games. For teens 12-18. No registration required. Basha Library, 5990 S. Val Vista Dr., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
13, 20
Baby Brain Time, 10 a.m. Ages birth to 18 months. New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development and First Things First are presenting a free threepart series of parent-child interactions. Sessions follow a classic story time format, using toys and books that help encourage brain development and
prepare a child’s brain for success in school. Sessions are limited to 15 children. Registration required. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
Toddler Brain Time, 11 a.m. Ages 18 to 36 months. New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development and First Things First are presenting a free threepart series of parent-child interactions. Sessions follow a classic story time format, using toys and books that help encourage brain development and prepare a child’s brain for success in school. Sessions are limited to 15 children. Registration required. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
Kinder Prep, 1 p.m. Ages 3 to 5. Prep is an interactive parent-child workshop held once a week for parents and children. Sessions focus on inexpensive at-home activities that can enhance brain development and help a child’s brain be ready for success in school. Registration required. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
14
Science Saturdays, 10 a.m-2 p.m. Bring the whole family to do a science experiment at Tumbleweed Ranch. The ranch features animals, farm equipment and historic houses from Chandler’s agricultural past. Located south of Tumbleweed Recreation Center on Pioneer Parkway, at McQueen and Germann roads. Free. 480-782-2900, chandleraz.gov/tumbleweed.
The Birds and the Bugs in Clay, 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Join Sylvia FugmannBrongo and get your hands dirty working with clay to create the cutest birds and bugs you’ve ever seen. Be sure to wear something old because it will be messy. Registration required. Vision Kidz at Vision Gallery, 10 E. Chicago St., Chandler. 480-782-2695, visiongallery.org. See Calendar, Page 4
14
Holiday Princess Tea Party, 11 a.m. Connect5 Family Centers
Chandler will host A Holiday Princess Tea Party benefiting Cardon Children’s Hospital Asthma program and services. Belle and Cinderella are the guests of honor sponsored by Fairy Tale Events. Enjoy lunch, tea, games, arts and crafts, raffles and prizes. Girls can even wear their favorite princess attire. $35 for mother and daughter and $10 for each additional guest. Connect5 Family Centers, 222 E. Warner Rd., Chandler. 480-699-2122, Connect5FC.com, facebook.com/Connect5Family CentersOfChandler
17
C-Town Suitcase Club, 10-11 a.m.
Travel though time and explore everyday objects, designed for 3-5 year olds and their caregivers. This winter’s theme is Keys, Fees and Knees. Chandler Museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Dr., Chandler. Free. 480-782-2717, chandlermuseum.org.
18
Lego Club, 6 p.m. Youth ages 6-12 are invited to come meet new friends and have fun building with Legos. The toys are supplied, you supply the imagination. No registration required. Hamilton Library,
3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
Family Night at TRC, 5:30-7 p.m.
Enjoy a variety of different recreational activities at Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. Youth fee $2 residents, $3 nonresidents; teen fee $3 residents, $5 nonresidents; free for TRC pass holders. 480-782-2908.
19
Family Story Time, 6 p.m.
Check out the evening Family Story Time! This weekly program is designed for children ages 2-7, but family members of all ages are welcome. The more families that come, the more fun we have. Miss Tara uses lots of music, puppets and props to bring stories to life and often has interactive, hands-on activities to get children involved. You can see some of her themes on her blog: storytimewithmisstara.blogspot.com. No registration needed. Maricopa County Library District’s Perry Branch Library, 1965 E. Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert. 602-652-3000. www.mcldaz.org.
Kids Love to Sign, 10:15 a.m. This story time teaches American Sign Language for children birth to 5 years old through the use of books, songs, musical instruments and more. Join
Jenny Hodges. No registration required. Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. 480-782-2800, chandlerlibrary.org.
Sonoran Desert Series, 6-7 p.m. Visit the Environmental Education Center at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd., for this free entertainment series for the whole family. Patrons are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and food. Snacks, beverages and dinner items will be available for a small fee. 480-782-2890, chandleraz.gov/ veterans-oasis.
19, 20
Polar Express, 6-8 p.m. Enjoy a night of storytelling, crafts and hot cocoa as the Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 745 E. Germann Rd., Chandler, recreates the North Pole for a night of magic. Join excited children, ages 6-8, and parents in their pajamas as they wait for Santa Claus to present each child with the first gift of Christmas. Registration accepted for children only. Maximum of four children per TRC family pass. Resident fee $6, nonresident fee $9. 480-782-2912.
21
Paws 2 Read, 10:30-noon. Children ages 5 and older are invited to read their favorite book to the special registered therapy dog. Maricopa County
Library District’s Perry Branch Library, 1965 E. Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert. 602-652-3000, mcldaz.org.
23, 24, 26, 27
East Valley Baseball and Softball Holiday Vacation Clinics, 8:30 a.m.-noon. These camps focus on the FUNdamentals of baseball and softball including hitting, fielding, pitching, throwing and base running. Players are separated into age groups and rotated through skill stations taught by professional instructors in their individual areas of expertise. For ages 7 to 13. Extra Innings East Valley, 3530 E. Southern Ave., Mesa. Cost is $125. extrainnings-eastvalley.com
25
Happy Holidays from SanTan Sun News
26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Zoppé Family Circus, 7 p.m. Thu., Dec. 26 and Fri., Dec. 27; noon and 4 p.m. Sat. Dec. 28 and Sun. Dec. 29; 7 p.m. Mon., Dec. 30; and 7:30 p.m. Tues., Dec. 31. The circus is coming to town! Zoppé welcomes guests into its intimate 500-seat tent for a one-ring circus that honors the best history of the Old-World Italian tradition: where you come as strangers but leave as family. Chandler Center for the Arts, West lawn,
Dental First Aid
filling material (typically consisting of zinc oxide with or without Eugenol) and/or toothache remedy (typically Eugenol/clove oil) can be applied with a cotton swab to ease the pain.
KNOCKED OUT: Time is critical! Do not scrape to clean the tooth! Rinse the tooth in clean water and place back in the socket if possible. If you can’t, store it in Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution, milk, or saliva (in your cheek), or saline solution (8 oz. water with 1 tsp. salt) in that order. Get to your dentist within one hour for best results! Failed restorations are broken or loose fillings, crowns/caps, or (partial) dentures.
A general knowledge of First Aid is an essential life skill. It is the first listed of the 12 required merit badges for Eagle Scout! Since the first time your mom put a band-aid on a boo-boo, you’ve been creating your own knowledge base of First Aid. Dental emergencies are common occurrences, but few people are prepared with the knowledge to address them before they happen. There are three main types of dental emergencies: Trauma, Failure of a restoration, and Toothaches. After applying First Aid, get to your dentist ASAP so they can check for any damage beyond what you can see and provide a permanent care solution.
Trauma typically refers to a sudden impact. Falls are common as well as “ballistic missiles” like Frisbees, softballs, or remote controls (We’ve seen it all). When your trampoline back flip turns into YouTube material, you may notice your tooth is loose, moved, broken, or knocked out entirely. The general rule to remember is that the best place for your tooth is where God put it originally, but don’t hurt yourself putting it there.
LOOSE: This is the most common and usually has a good prognosis. Try to hold it where it should be and leave it alone. Get to your dentist ASAP!
MOVED: A tooth can be traumatically pushed up, down, back, or sideways by a well-aimed Wii remote. Rinse the tooth with clean water and try to push the tooth back into its original position. Get to your dentist ASAP!
FILLINGS: A temporary filling can fill the gap created by a broken, loose, or missing filling. Over-thecounter temporary filling materials like Dentemp OS can work adequately. Form the putty into a small rocket shape and tap it into the gap. Tap and grind your teeth to get the bite right and use a wet cotton swab to remove the excess.
CROWNS AND TEMPORARY CROWNS: These can fracture or fall off. My experience is that they usually fail on Friday’s around 4:45 p.m. If however, you find yourself with a crown in your hand on a camping trip or space station, or other inopportune location, you may be able to recement it yourself. First try to clean out any residual cement inside the crown and on your tooth if possible using a tooth brush, wooden tooth pick or similar safe, non-metallic instrument. Try it on to make sure you can achieve correct placement. If not, try to remove more cement or give up and cover the tooth with over-the-counter dental wax to prevent sensitivity. If it will seat, remove it, dry it, and you are free to recement it. Over-the-counter temporary cements work well, as do denture adhesives or even toothpaste. Apply to the inside of the crown and replace.
DENTURES/PARTIAL DENTURES: These are more difficult to repair at home, but off-the-shelf acrylic denture-repair kits are available. Whatever adhesive you try, only use it on the outside of the denture, do not use any on the inside that contacts your gums.
Toothaches are frequently indicative of bacterial infection that needs to be resolved with a permanent treatment by your dentist.
BROKEN: The severity of a broken tooth depends on how much tooth structure is lost and whether or not the nerve is exposed. If the fracture is deep and opens to reveal the bleeding inner pulp of the tooth, the nerve is exposed. The nerve can be covered with an over-the-counter temporary
TOOTHACHE: Clean the tooth and remove any plaque or debris, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, and/or apply a topical antiseptic with benzocaine (like Orajel) or oil of cloves (Eugenol) to help with pain.
GUM PAIN: Clean the gums to remove any trapped particles, rinse with warm salt water (8 oz. water/1 tsp. salt), take an over-the-counter pain reliever and/or apply a topical antiseptic with benzocaine (like Orajel).
Always remember to see your dentist ASAP for a definitive diagnosis and treatment!
Sponsored by: Dr. David Rush, DDS and Dr. Kyle Rush, DMD
For four of the five high schools in the SanTan Sun area November meant more than just cold weather, it meant playoff football and that means important football games. The season saw rival matches as teams came together in titan fashion. For some, the end of the season came too soon, but for others, post season games were a time of redemption. By Seth Cox
Chandler Wolves
Chandler High School
350 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 85225 chandlerwolvesfootball.com
2013 Record: 10-3
(Lost in semifinals to Hamilton)
When the calendar turned to November for the Chandler Wolves, it did so with them ranked as the second best team in the state.
The Wolves would end the regular season with a 21-14 win over the Highland Hawks.
The Wolves offense struggled. Bryce Perkins still threw for 267 yards, but also threw three interceptions to only one touchdown. The Wolves’ rushing attack only came up with a combined 117 yards in the game.
Game one of the playoffs saw the Wolves get back to their normal, high octane offensive attack, pummeling Mesa Skyline High School 55-16.
Perkins flipped his numbers, still throwing for 240 yards, but this time throwing for three touchdowns and only one interception. The Wolves’ balanced rushing attack produced 170 yards and
four touchdowns, two apiece for Perkins and sophomore Chase Lucas.
Senior receiver Mitch McCulley had his best game of the year, catching five passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.
The defense was the story of the night though for the Wolves. They forced four Skyline turnovers, setting their offense up for short and quick touchdown opportunities that Perkins and Co. cashed in on.
The Wolves had an astounding six players register touchdowns, as seniors Elijah and Dionte Sykes and junior Jaray Mills all got in on the action with Perkins, Lucas and McCulley as the Wolves got back on track offensively in the start of the playoffs.
The second round saw the Wolves offense continue on their raucous pace, as Perkins threw for two touchdowns and ran for four more as the Wolves rolled through Chandler rival Basha High School 49-21.
Perkins was outstanding, throwing for 203 yards and rushing for another 143 and Lucas ran for 98 yards on only five carries.
Dionte Sykes caught five passes for 108 yards and a touchdown and McCulley’s
one catch was good for 51 yards and a touchdown.
The Wolves got out to a fast start, putting up all 49 points in the first half, and the defense was stifling, holding the Bears scoreless through the first three quarters of the game before letting the backups in for the fourth quarter, where the Bears scored all three of their touchdowns.
The win for the Wolves led to their rematch with rival Hamilton in the state semifinals and despite a 21-17 loss for the Wolves, the game didn’t disappoint.
Perkins and the Wolves offense was held in check by a combination of a stout Hamilton defense and soggy field conditions, but the junior signal caller still managed a rushing touchdown.
The Wolves looked to have again stolen the game from Hamilton, as Dionte Sykes plunged in from 1 yard out with 3:40 left in the game, but the score, and resultant jubilation, led to an unsportsmanlike foul penalty giving the Huskies great field position, and enough time to go down and win the game with a one yard touchdown run on fourth down with only 30 seconds left in the game.
Perry Pumas
Perry High School
1919 E Queen Creek Rd., Gilbert, 85297 www.phsfb.com
2013 Record: 2-8
Perry High School played only one game in November, as it fell short of the playoffs, finishing the season on an unfortunate seven-game losing streak. The streak concluded with a shut out by perennial powerhouse Hamilton High School with a score of 31-0.
The Pumas were limited to only 166 yards of total offense and their offensive struggles continued.
The Pumas finished off the season 2-8.
Seton High School
Seton Catholic Preparatory High School 1150 N Dobson Rd., Chandler, 85224 setoncatholic.org/athletics/football.cfm
2013 Record: 11-2
(Lost in semifinals to River Valley)
The Seton Catholic Sentinels ended the regular season, rolling to a 68-21 victory over Rio Rico.
In the quarterfinals, the Sentinels were challenged for the first time since their September loss to Snowflake in a 27-20 win over Winslow.
In a battle of attrition, the Sentinels were able to hang on despite giving up a season-high 347 yards rushing to Winslow.
Kyle Johnson was outstanding, throwing for 253 yards and six touchdowns on only 15 passing attempts and George Wolter caught three of those touchdown passes in the Sentinels route.
Antonio Campanella did a great job on the ground, rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns as well as catching another as the Sentinels put up 47 points in the first two quarters of play.
In round one of the playoffs Seton faced Combs High School, and rolled to a victory 55-17.
The Sentinels eschewed passing the ball in favor of a dominating running attack, rushing for 295 yards and seven touchdowns, spearheaded by Campanella’s 138-yard, four-touchdown performance.
Sophomore Matt Bresnahan chipped in nine carries for 89 yards and one touchdown, and both quarterbacks, Johnson and backup Zach Wade, pitched in with touchdown runs as well.
Johnson also threw a touchdown pass, only one of three completions of the night for the senior signal caller, but it was more than enough to get the Sentinels to the state quarterfinals.
In a stark contrast from their first round victory over Combs, the Sentinels leaned heavily on the arm of Johnson for this win as the senior threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
“We pretty much focus on what the defense is doing, and if they’re doing some things that we think we can throw the ball against that’s what we’ll do,” Coach Rex Bowser says.
“As you advance through the playoffs you expect to find better teams in the playoffs, they had a good game plan and they just came at us. We certainly did not play our best game of the year, but we played maybe our grittiest game of the year and we were able to come through and get it done.”
In an unfortunate turn of events for the Sentinels, Johnson was hospitalized and missed the semifinals loss to River Valley ending their season.
Seton was gashed on the ground for a staggering 406 yards rushing while the Sentinels struggled to get anything going on the ground or in the air with Wade in for Johnson.
Campanella ran for 93 yards and a touchdown and Wade threw for 128 yards and a touchdown, but also was intercepted three times on the day.
Defensively it was a long day for the Sentinels, and a bitter end to what had the makings of a great season.
Basha Bears
Basha High School 5990 S. Val Vista Dr., Chandler, 85249 bashabearsfootball.com/ 2013 Record: 6-6
(Lost in quarterfinals to Chandler)
The Basha Bears fought hard to earn their 2013 playoff berth, and did so with a resounding 40-14 victory over the Gilbert Tigers.
Led by Rajhan Meriwether’s 166-yard four touchdown rushing performance, the Bears jumped out early and never looked back.
Zach Werlinger threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns and Doc O’Connor had 156 receiving yards and caught the two touchdowns from Werlinger, helping propel them into the playoffs.
In round one of the playoffs the Bears upset the seventh seeded Horizon Huskies in a 43-42 thriller.
The Bears put up an astonishing 740 yards of offense, as Meriwether ran for 168 yards and also had 125 yards receiving as well as four touchdowns.
Werlinger threw for 476 yards and three touchdowns as the Bears had three players with more than 100 yards receiving on the night, Meriwether, O’Connor and Ryan Robertson, as well as 90 yards from junior Joe Storm.
With so much offense going on, it was poetic that the win came down to kicker Cade Thompson, who had missed an extra point earlier in the night, as the junior nailed a 29-yard field goal with 19 seconds left to send Basha to the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals, unfortunately for the Bears, were where rival and powerhouse Chandler was waiting for them. The Bears couldn’t figure out the Wolves as they fell 49-21, ending their season at 6-6.
The Bears struggled to get much going on offense, as Werlinger was held to only 123 yards passing and 41 yards rushing and Meriwether could only muster 62 yards rushing.
Hamilton Huskies
Hamilton High School
3700 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 85248 hamiltonhuskiesfootball.com
2013 Record: 11-2
For Hamilton, the end of the season was really just what the doctor ordered, as the Huskies amped up their defense and offense to a new level.
They shut out Perry 31-0, without their starting running back or quarterback.
Junior running back David DeSilva ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns, and the Hamilton defense punished the Pumas’ offense all night in the blowout.
It would be a foreshadowing of what was to come for the Huskies’ opponents, as Hamilton rolled through the visiting Millennium Tigers in week one of the playoffs with a bizarre 35-9 win in which the
Huskies recorded three safeties.
The Huskies and Tigers exchanged safeties to start the scoring, and with the score tied 2-2 the Huskies would go up 9-2 on a 65-yard punt return by Morris Kroma.
Qualen Cunningham had four sacks and the Huskies punishing defense held the Tigers in check all night before surrendering a late touchdown.
Offensively, the Huskies’ Elijah Williams had 108 yards and a touchdown and running back Tyrell Smith added a 1yard touchdown run as the Huskies dominated both sides of the ball, accumulating 436 yards of offense.
Another round, another opponent, but
the same results, as the Huskies dominated the Pinnacle Pioneers 40-14.
Behind another stellar performance from Smith, the Huskies wore down the Pioneers, as Smith rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns.
Sam Sasso was not to be outdone by Smith, as the senior quarterback threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns, and the Huskies rolled in the second half scoring 27 of their 40 points.
Many thought Hamilton would have revenge on their mind in their penultimate match up with Chandler High School in the state semifinals, but Coach Steve Belles says the opponent didn’t make a difference at this point. “More important than that it’s about winning the game and getting a chance to play in the state championship,”
Belles says.
Hamilton and Chandler didn’t produce the firepower one would have expected coming into their rematch, but the soggy conditions from a weekend of rain wasn’t the only reason.
The Hamilton defense again was stout, holding the Chandler offense to only 158 yards of total offense, and getting another dominant performance from Smith, who rushed 33 times for 130 yards and all three of Hamilton’s touchdowns in the Huskies 21-17 win to propel them to another state championship game. They had the chance to avenge their other loss of the season to the Mountain Pointe Pride. See Page 1 for complete coverage on the HamiltonMountain Pointe championship game.
HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
HAMILTON:
8/31/13:Eastlake (28-17 won)
9/6/13:Brophy (26-9 won)
9/12/13:Pinnacle (24-20 won)
9/20/13:Liberty (14-10 won)
9/27/13:Mountain Pointe (37-27 lost)
10/4/13:Chandler, (26-16 lost)
10/11/13:Basha, (32-31 won)
10/18/13:Gilbert (42-0 won)
10/25/13:Highland (14-7 won) ★
11/1/13:Perry (31-0 won)
CHANDLER:
8/29/13: Centennial (41-21 won)
9/6/13: Buena (65-13 won)
9/14/13: St. John Bosco (52-31 lost)
9/20/13:Mountain Pointe (38-14 lost) ★
9/27/13:Chavez (41-21 won)
10/4/13:Hamilton (26-16 won)
10/11/13:Gilbert (76-6 won)
10/18/13:Perry (56-10 won)
10/25/13:Basha (49-7 won)
11/1/13:Highland (21-14 won)
BASHA:
8/30/13:Green Valley (41-17 won)
9/6/13:Centennial (32-17 lost)
9/12/13:Cesar Chavez (54-28 won)
9/20/13:Pinnacle (35-21 won)
9/27/13:Westview (38-28 lost)
10/4/13:Perry (49-0 win)
10/11/13:Hamilton (32-31 lost)
10/18/13:Highland (24-21 lost) ★
10/25/13:Chandler (49-7 lost)
11/1/13:Gilbert (40-14 won)
PERRY:
8/30/13:Sunnyside (20-17 lost)
9/6/13:O’Connor (21-7 won)
9/13/13:Gila Ridge (27-7 won)
9/20/13:Mountain View (51-16 lost)
9/26/13:Mountain Ridge (45-26 lost)
10/4/13:Basha (49-0 lost)
10/11/13:Highland (38-10 lost)
10/18/13:Chandler (56-10 lost)
10/25/13:Gilbert (9-0 lost) ★
11/1/13:Hamilton (31-0 lost)
SETON:
8/30/13: Estrella Foothills (38-20 won)
9/6/13: Maricopa (34-23 won)
9/13/13: Snowflake (28-23 lost)
9/20/13: Cortez (47-13 won) 9/27/13: Coronado (34-0 won) ★
10/4/13: Florence (60-20 won)
10/11/13: Coolidge, (43-28 won)
10/18/13: Combs (56-21 won)
10/25/13: Chino Valley (47-0 won) 11/1/13: Rio Rico (68-21 won) Homecoming = ★ Seth Cox is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at news@santansun.com.
Tarwater to offer Mandarin immersion to kindergartners
By Tracy House
The school year isn’t close to being over, yet Tarwater Elementary School is preparing for 2014, when it will be offering a Mandarin dual language immersion program to incoming kindergartners.
“We’re excited about it,” says Principal Jeff Hensley. “It is determined that Mandarin is second in critical languages for the next 20 years. There will not be enough people in our country who speak the language for our need.”
Hensley says the district is trying to be forward-thinking by offering Mandarin at the elementary level.
“Hamilton High School has a Mandarin program,” says Hensley, who adds that it takes about 2,200 hours of instruction to be at a proficiency level to take AP tests.
Discussions with Dr. Fred DePrez, Hamilton’s principal, led to the inclusion of a Mandarin immersion program. Hensley mentions they are looking at becoming a feeder region.
In preparation for the immersion class, Hensley partnered with a coordinator from Deer Valley who has shared resources to put the program together. Hensley and Frank Narducci, CUSD assistant superintendent, attended a workshop in Utah on dual immersion programs.
“We went to a national conference up there and spent several days networking with people across the country.” He says the program crosses political lines and has
support on both sides of the political spectrum.
“Our goal is to start in kindergarten and add a grade level every year,” Hensley explains. Considerations for the program include textbook materials, curriculum goals, assessments and proficiency goals.
Qualified instructors arrive through agencies that provide teachers from China. “The challenge is that the immersion programs are really starting to explode,” Hensley explains. Throughout the country the demand for qualified teachers will be high. Finding certified teachers is a top priority. Tarwater’s model will be a 50-50 immersion classroom. Students will receive 50% of instruction in Mandarin and 50% in English, compared with other models around the country.
The kindergarten classes will be offered to Tarwater families first, with two classes and 50 to 52 students in the program. If openings remain, the classes will be opened to CUSD families and finally out-of-district families interested in the Mandarin immersion classroom model. The program is asking for a seven-year commitment from parents and the plan is to continue Mandarin immersion classes at the junior high level and on through high school at Hamilton.
Tarwater is close to the Price Road Corridor and Hensley says there is interest in the community. “Historically what I’ve heard is that first year it might be a little bit lean, and then that second year when people see that it’s working that’s when the interest really picks up.”
“This doesn’t stop at Hamilton,” Hensley says. “We’re actually working with ASU. They have a Confucius Institute.” Students from the Mandarin program will be coming in to help at Tarwater.
Hensley recently returned from a trip to China where he experienced the culture first hand. He mentions aspects of the Chinese culture will be part of the immersion program.
“I think it’s cutting edge,” states Hensley about the program. “It is very much for our district and for our state as well. There are very few schools in our state that are doing the dual immersion.” Hensley mentions that Congressman Matt Salmon and Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal are supporters of the dual immersion program.
To introduce the program, Hensley is hosting a parent meeting at Tarwater Elementary School, 2300 S. Gardner Dr., Chandler at 6:30 p.m. Tue., Dec. 17, in the multipurpose room. The meeting is open to any parents interested in learning about the Mandarin dual language immersion program and is not exclusive to Tarwater parents.
There is more information available at chandler.k12.az.us/Domain/4024. Click on “Mandarin Program” to access the program proposal and governing board study session presentation, as well as an overview and supporting articles and research.
Tracy House is the SanTan Sun News news editor. She lives in Ironwood Vistas with her husband and four children and can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.
