4 5 2014stsn p1 15 community

5 - 18, 2014 www.SanTanSun.com

Developer Pollack reveals his ‘Barry’d Treasure’

BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON

Many residents in the East Valley recognize the name “Pollack” from the popular Pollack Tempe Cinemas or the myriad of retail centers that bear the same name. Chandler resident Michael A. Pollack is the man behind that name and he has successfully melded business, philanthropy and civic involvement and perhaps even elevated it all to an art form. Recently, A&E came knocking and being the gentleman that he is, Pollack answered.

Persevering in a tough market

One of the most notable aspects of Pollack’s empire is his career as the president and founder of Michael A. Pollack Investments. With more than 40 years in the real estate development industry, he has built a healthy business that includes more than 100 properties and 10 million square feet of developed commercial space in Arizona, California and Nevada. In the 1980s, he became known as “The Renovation King of Distressed Properties” and has since been using his expertise in construction and redevelopment to orchestrate renovation as well as new construction of commercial properties. He emerged out of the 2009 real estate funk after having foreseen the credit and lending crisis that peaked that year.

“2009 was the probably one of the most difficult times I’ve seen and

Holocaust remembrance event scheduled at CCA

‘From

Memory to Hope: Our Story’

BY TRACY HOUSE

In honor of Yom Ha’Shoah, or Holocaust Remembrance, the public is invited to the Chandler Center for the Arts on Tuesday, April 8, to tour a Holocaust-era railway car and share in a naturalization ceremony. Mayor Jay Tibshraeny will make opening remarks and Samuel Harris, who survived three Nazi concentration camps, will speak to the new citizens about his appreciation for America.

Steve Tepper, CEO and executive director of East Valley Jewish Community Center, mentions the event is the result of his organization hosting the 2008 National Anne Frank exhibit SEE HOLOCAUST PAGE 9

Arts center reviews 25 years of stellar entertainment

2015 schedule announced at preview

BY TRACY HOUSE

Located in the heart of downtown Chandler, the Chandler Center for the Arts has provided quality programs and entertainment for the past 25 years and the celebration is only beginning.

More than 7 million visitors have passed through the doors of the CCA since its opening in August 1989. Through the years, CCA has hosted more than 60 sold-out shows, logged more than 300,000 of combined volunteer hours and local students have presented more than 15,000 performances.

Katrina Pappas, general manager, says the CCA has 14 full-time employees and a host of volunteers.

“We’re very unique in that the Center for the Arts is jointly owned by the city and the school district,” Pappas says. “And then we have the nonprofit arm that actually contracts with all the artists that come here.”

The center is owned by the City of Chandler and the Chandler Unified School District. The Chandler Cultural Foundation is a nonprofit corporation and was contracted in 1989 by the city as the programming and fundraising entity for

VIGILANT VOICE: Helen Handler, featured in the video

“Our Story,” will make a special appearance at the event, signing her new book, due out this month. Handler, who was transported by railcar and lost her entire family at Auschwitz, has been a vigilant voice for the Holocaust survivor community, donating her time to speak to children across the country. Submitted photo

the CCA. Pappas explains that being able to spread the costs across three entities allows for competitive ticket prices. “That’s a real advantage to having these partnerships.”

The CCA has 340 members, most of who are season ticket holders. The venue seats 1,540 people; more than 285,000 people enjoy the Chandler Center for the Arts each year.

Coming to CCA

Michelle Mac Lennan, assistant manager of programming and rentals, says the exciting part of the 25th anniversary is what the CCA is presenting.

The 2014-2015 season events lineup is out and includes: Larry the Cable Guy; Black Violin; Zoppe, An Italian Family Circus; Alpin Hong; African Children’s Choir; Women Fully Clothed; Travis Tritt; SEE ART CENTER PAGE 8

Little leaguers kick off the season

Mayor, ‘Gonzo’ aid in festivities

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

With the help of Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez, more than 1,000 Chandler National Little League players and their families kicked off the 2014 season on Saturday, March 22.

Children held flags announcing their teams as Sparky, the Arizona State University mascot, led the players on a parade onto the fields at Snedigar Sportsplex. There was a special appearance by the ROTC honor guard, and an airplay flyover.

“It was really nice,” says Doug Brewster, who is in his fifth year as Chandler National Little League president. “We had Luis Gonzalez, the mayor, Sparky.”

The players donned uniforms donated by the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of its D-backs Give Back Jersey Program, which provided high-quality uniforms and caps to more than 20,000 youth baseball and softball players and their coaches throughout Arizona communities. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation donated more than $500,000 to the program.

SEE LITTLE LEAGUE PAGE 5

I’ve been doing this for 40 years now,” Pollack says. “I’ve seen and made it through the ‘70s, the ‘80s. I’ve seen the trials and tribulations that occurred in the ‘90s and there was nothing like 2009-2010.”

Pollack realized in 2005 that the real estate market was going to take a downturn. When it hit, he hunkered down, focused and re-emerged stronger than ever.

“We strategically sold off some projects prior to the crash in order to develop that even stronger footing or stronghold so that we would be able to weather whatever storm they threw at us,” he says. “We made it through with our portfolio without having to renegotiate one single loan, without having to be one day late on a payment to anybody. We did it, but it wasn’t easy.”

Memorabilia brings in A&E

Pollack is also proud of his Hollywood memorabilia collection, most of which can be seen at Pollack Tempe Cinemas. It boasts everything from autographed photos to movie posters character stand-ups and wax figures.

Adorning his office are vintage wheel and reel-style slot machines, some of which are well over 100 years old. He demonstrated one of the wheel machines—a 1903 Mills—that plays music as the wheels turn. This way, the machine of its time was considered “legal” as it actually provided something

in return for the money deposited into the machine.

Pollack’s machines—which range from Western-themed models to those depicting John Wayne—and the rest of his collection caught the attention of the producers of A&E’s “Barry’d Treasure.” The show follows host Barry Weiss, formerly of “Storage Wars,” as he traverses the United States in search of rare antiques and collectibles. Pollack agreed to show his goods on for an episode of “Barry’d Treasure,” which airs on Tuesday, April 15. Check listings for the times.

The mechanically animated Baranger displays in Pollack’s collection were used in busy “Main Street” jewelry stores and were built between 1938 and 1958.

“The people and children in the displays were modeled after Baranger employees and their children,” Pollack explains.

The displays are a challenge to keep in operation, but they are a wonder of old-world artistry.

“They were never sold to anybody; never sold to the public. They were only used for jewelry stores,” notes Pollack.

A visit to Pollack’s Baranger museum, housed in his 30,000-square-foot corporate office in Mesa, is a whirring, clanking and spinning extravaganza of animated figurines, creatures and vignettes.

“The sophistication of the motion for the day that they used them for in that 20-year period was so far above anything else you can imagine,” Pollack says.

Weiss and “Barry’d Treasure” were

interested in the Baranger displays and Pollack’s extensive collection of 3-D advertising pieces that Pollack has collected throughout the years.

In all, his 3-D collection contains 8,000 pieces from all over the world— from 1950s and vintage European statues to animated character beer signs.

“We’re in the collecting world,” Pollack says. “If you have any type of rare collectibles, you’re probably going to know about my museums. We have the largest assemblage in the world second to none of 3-dimension statuary advertising.”

Giving back makes a difference

One of Pollack’s great loves is giving back to the community, although he no longer has the free time to devote to sitting on boards or committees. Some of his charities that he supports are Save the Family, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America, Special Olympics, Chandler Center for the Arts, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and other causes.

On the local level, Pollack stepped in to aid Chandler’s Copperstar Repertory Co. after its offices, scene and costume shops and the founder’s home were destroyed in a fire.

Copperstar Repertory had to literally start at ground zero and Pollack contributed funds to assist the theater in moving into the new Copperstar Studios at Pollack Plaza and Copperstar Scene Shops at Pollack Sunset Commerce Center. Additionally, Pollack continued his support by stepping up to the plate as the title sponsor of “Oliver” which

runs through April 12.

“A lot of people are not aware that Copperstar Repertory is a nonprofit community theater and every performance is put on by hard working volunteers,” Pollack explains. “The show must go on as we like to say and I’m just honored to play a part in making sure these young actors have the support they need for one of their best performances yet.”

Artistic producing director for Copperstar Repertory Mary-Jo Okawa states, “Being a nonprofit born during an economic downturn has been challenging. Last year we connected with Michael after we lost nearly everything in a fire and he has been an amazing supporter of ours ever since. We could not have done what we have with Copperstar over the past year without the support of Michael Pollack.”

For the show schedule or tickets at Copperstar Repertory, visit www. CopperstarRep.org.

Whether he is developing properties, assisting various organizations or maintaining his many collections, Pollack is devoted to the task at hand, with a natural ability to see the whole picture of any situation with which he is involved. In wearing so many hats, he has demands on his time, but has no plans on slowing down or retiring.

“I enjoy what I do,” Pollack finishes. “It’s all about making a difference.”

Lynette Carrington is a freelancer for the San Tan Sun News. She can be reached at lynette@santansun.com

More than 30 leagues took advantage of this opportunity, including Chandler National Little League and Chandler Youth Baseball. There are more than 75 color combinations which include the traditional Sedona red, white, black and gray as well as throwback colors purple and teal and unique options like camouflage and gold.

Gonzalez says the initiative is important to the D-backs.

“The big part of it is trying to win a championship and things like that,” he says. “An even bigger picture for us is trying to get all these young kids involved in athletics and sports and exercise. What better way than to do it out here in the little leagues? Putting them all in Diamondbacks uniforms is exciting for us. It’s exciting for the organization. We take a lot of pride in the community and doing positive things.”

Chandler National Little League appreciates the gesture by the Diamondbacks.

“One of the big things was with the D-backs stepping up and giving us uniforms,” Brewster says. “We put the money back into the league, the players and the coaches to offset the funds.”

Brewster figures the league saved about $18,000 to $20,000. In return, it put new pitchers’ mounds on all four fields as well as pavers. Every player in the league received a practice shirt, and coaches were given two dozen balls.

“The $18,000 to $20,000 went fast,” Brewster says. “We didn’t park it. We put it all back into the players, coaches and

fields.”

The Chandler National Little League will begin registration for its fall season at the end of May. For more information, visit www.chandlernational.com.

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

See page 58 for more photos from this event.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for Chandler residents

As tax season nears deadline, Chandler residents can take advantage of free assistance preparing their taxes through the City’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Those earning less than $52,000 last year are eligible to take advantage of the VITA program by visiting one of the seven locations across Chandler.

Volunteer tax preparers, translators and screeners make Chandler’s VITA program possible each year. All volunteer tax preparers go through a training program and are certified by the IRS.

“Much thanks goes to everyone who has contributed to the success of this program,” Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny says in a news release. “It has far exceeded our expectations thanks to those who have graciously volunteered their time and experience over the past decade.”

In the 10 years of Chandler’s VITA

program, it has helped families collect more than $9 million in tax returns, including more than $2.7 million in returns from the EITC.

Free tax return services are available on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis at seven locations including the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Chandler CARE Center, Chandler Christian Community Center, Chandler Downtown Library, ChandlerGilbert Community College, First Credit Union and the Sun Lakes Country Club.

Those seeking tax services should bring W-2 forms, photo identification and social security cards for all household members, a copy of last year’s tax return as well as information for all deductions and credits, and form 1099 if applicable.

For more information about Chandler’s VITA program, locations and times, visit www.chandleraz.gov/VITA.

Office Park hosts Shred-A-Thon

Aquila Ocotillo Office park will host its fourth annual Shred-A-Thon, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, April 18. Residents who would like to dispose of sensitive or otherwise unwanted documents permanently can do so free of charge at this event.

Aquila Office Park is located on the southeast corner of Queen Creek and Dobson roads in front of 3125 and 3115 S. Price Rd., Chandler.

“Of Legends and Lovers: Doc and Kate;” Cesar Millan Live!; and David Garibaldi. As part of the 2015 Classic Entertainment Series performers such as The Midtown Men, An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin, Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway, Michael Londra’s Celtic Fire and Paul Williams will be center stage to entertain.

Mac Lennan says she’s excited about Black Violin coming to the CCA.

“Black Violin brings classical music to contemporary hip hop. They were just named one of the top artists of SXSW (South by Southwest)...They’ve worked with Mariah Carey. They’ve worked on the Super Bowl, just amazing artists that bring classical music to a different level. We’re going to bring them in and have them work with the students so they’re going to do a school performance.”

Zoppe, An Italian Family Circus will be returning for a sixth season. “They are amazing,” she says.

Alpin Hong will be appearing for the third time at CCA, Mac Lennan continues.

“He is an enormously talented person.

“He loves kids and he loves to come in and work with them...We’re going to make it a week of Alpin Hong because he’s extraordinary. When you get around him you get very inspired about what’s possible for kids and music and art.”

“Of Legends and Lovers: Doc and Kate” is another show of note.

“This is our third year working with ‘the’ Wyatt Earp, this is actually the great nephew of Wyatt Earp and his wife is a playwright,” Mac Lennan says.

“She writes all the plays and now she’s acting in this.”

The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will hit the stage once again at CCA. Mac Lennan explains the center is on a national routing where every other year it performs in Chandler.

“That’s always a sold-out show,” Mac Lennan says.

Millan will be on stage with his dogs.

“He is an incredible show...An inspiring story of how he came to the country and his love for what he does and his personal story. He has a really great message,” Mac Lennan says.

Garibaldi is a performance artist who creates 6-foot portraits of pop icons to music on stage.

Mac Lennan says “He was on ‘America’s Got Talent.’ His work’s amazing. He’s going to come in and do some work with our students. We’re going to put a piece of his art up in the Vision Gallery to promote the show. He’s going to do a live piece that’s going to be auctioned off that night.”

Mac Lennan anticipates adding one to three more shows for the season. As the artists come in, the CCA will be working on how to engage the community.

While there is a focus on main stage productions, Mac Lennan says they are only a portion of what is done at the center.

“Primarily our work is so we can reach our young students. Our youth programs

are really at the heart of what we do and this is how we fund those programs.”

Facility facts

Unique to the CCA is the turntable divisible auditorium system allowing two sections of the seating in the rear of the main auditorium to rotate 180 degrees to face two more intimate stages. One theater seats 240 guests the other 330, according to Jimmie Byrd, senior production coordinator, creating three performance spaces under one roof.

Byrd says “One of the beauties of this is you have three performance spaces under one roof. But you can also have four different sizes of performance spaces.”

No seat in the auditorium is farther than 100 feet away from the stage, offering live entertainment and an intimate theater experience.

Originally built for $10.2 million, including the land, CCA completed a major $6.7 million renovation project in 2010 which included new carpeting, refurbishing of the chairs, replacement of the center’s rigging system, Americans with Disabilities Act improvements, air conditioning upgrades, installation of handrails in the auditorium, new signage, terrace improvements and other facilityrelated refurbishments.

25th anniversary celebration

Officially the 25th anniversary is in August. A weekend of free community events is planned for Friday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 24. The summer

that attracted more than 23,000 people in 19 days. In turn, the Center for Holocaust Education and Human Dignity was created to provide a museum and programming, resulting in artifact acquisitions that includes an 11-ton, 33-foot-long rail car like Nazi Germany used to transport Holocaust victims to labor and death camps.

Tepper says they can confirm the railway car was in existence during WWII, but cannot verify it was actually used in the transportation of prisoners during the Holocaust.

“Everyone who comes out to see the car, it has an impact on them,” Tepper says. “It has a deep emotional impact on them, for lots of different reasons.”

Admission to the railway car and naturalization ceremony are free and start at 4 p.m. Tepper says that last year there were approximately 2,500 people who came to the event.

At 6:30 p.m. the conversation with two liberators will begin. Tickets are required for this portion of the event. Tepper says the liberators, who were part of two different efforts, will be interviewed on stage at the CCA.

“Leo Hymas is from the Seattle area,” Tepper explains. “Leo was a machine gunner who was assigned to take down the barbed-wire fence at Buchenwald (concentration camp). And then we have Fletcher Thorne-Thompson. Fletcher was a photographer who was among

the first people inside of Dachau (concentration camp).”

Hymas and Thorne-Thompson will speak about their experiences with the audience. Following the interviews will be the documentary, “Our Story,” and a book signing with Helen Handler, 85, a survivor of the Holocaust who is featured in the video. Handler lost her entire family at Auschwitz concentration camp.

“Our Story” was produced as a donation by director Jason Heinkel of J2 Media, a multimedia production agency based in Chandler, as a way to further the mission of the EVJCC to teach lessons about human dignity, using the stories of the Holocaust. To view a trailer of “Our Story,” visit www. evjcc.org.

Bringing the Holocaust museum to life is still a goal of the East Valley JCC. “The wonderful thing for us is we’ve really had a wonderful slate of programming in the last couple of years,” Tepper says. “A slate that many other museums that have physical structures would be jealous of, and the last thing for us is raising the money and building the physical structure, but the programming has been amazing to be part of.”

There are other events occurring around the Valley during April and Tepper says he encourages people to attend.

“The mantra of the Holocaust is ‘Never forget. Never again’ and I think that we have done a pretty good job with ‘Never forget,’ but I think if you

LIBERATOR: Leo Hymas is one of the guest speakers at the Chandler Center for the Arts for the Holocaust Remembrance event. Submitted photo

look at society and the world since the Holocaust we’ve done a really poor job of ‘Never again,’” Tepper mentions. “Events like this, we try to leverage the past to create a better future.

“Helen Handler, when I met with her a few weeks ago, shared a wonderful quote with me, she said, ‘I don’t speak to students so that they can tell me how sorry they are for what I went through. I speak not so they can hear about my past. I speak to students so they can learn about their future.’

“That’s really what events like this are about. It’s trying to create a better future for our community and partnering up with agencies and people and attendees to create that better place. And there are so many lessons to be learned from the Holocaust and the stories therein, that

can help us today. That’s really in large part why we’re doing this,” Tepper explains.

All the events through the East Valley JCC are taped and will be available in the library when the museum opens.

“Helen Handler and her generation, both those who were in the camps and hidden children and liberators, they are all old and not going to be with us much longer and how their story gets told and how those lessons get transcended is important to us and it’s important to these events. This is the last opportunity to hear these stories.”

The events schedule includes:

4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Holocaust-era railcar on display

5 p.m. Naturalization ceremony

6:30 p.m. Conversation with liberators

7:15 p.m. “Our Story” documentary 8:20 p.m. Questions and Answers with “Our Story” director Jason Heinkel

The railcar and naturalization ceremony are free to the public. Tickets are required for the remaining events and can be purchased at www. evjcc.org or by calling (480) 897-0588. Tickets are $10 for the general public and $7 for veterans and active military. Chandler Center for the Arts is located at 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler.

Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.

Level I Trauma Center opens in Chandler Regional

BY MEGHAN MCCOY

After planning for more than a year, Chandler Regional Medical Center received provisional status as a Level I Trauma Center from the Arizona Department of Health Services. It began taking patients on Monday, March 24.

“We can do anything that all the Level I Trauma Centers can do in the state,” says Chandler Regional Medical Center Trauma Program Manager Lori Wass, who began working at the center on April 1, 2013.

Although there are only three designated rooms in the emergency department for trauma patients, the center has the ability to see more of the injured because once they are stabilized, they can be moved out of those rooms. The center will provide service for Pinal and Maricopa counties.

The center had to obtain funds for equipment, special stretchers and cabinets to help organize supplies for neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons.

More than $10 million has already been invested in the center. According to Director of Public Relations and Marketing Julie Graham, the Dignity Health Foundation of the East Valley has provided $1,150,000 in funding for the center from donations.

It will cost between $8 million and $10 million annually to maintain it, says Chandler Regional Trauma Medical Director Dr. Forrest (Dell) Moore.

There are Level I Trauma Centers in downtown Phoenix and Scottsdale, but, due to growth, this one was needed, Moore says.

“There isn’t a close enough trauma center for patients in the Southeast Valley and Pinal (County),” he says.

He also chalks up the decision to the vital “golden hour,” that important time period in which those suffering traumatic injuries must be seen.

Wass says recent data shows that in Maricopa County 42 percent of patients reached a trauma facility within

“Rich, healthy and colorful foods from Thailand, Vietnam and China—Aromatic in flavor and excellent in Taste.”

the golden hour. Of those injured in Pinal County, only 10 percent of them received treatment within the first 60 minutes.

“Fifty-eight percent in Maricopa County and 90 percent in Pinal County did not get to a Level I Trauma in 60 minutes,” Moore says.

“We can increase those odds significantly. The closer you are to a Level I Trauma Center, the better the outcome. It is in the perfect location to treat patients in Southeast Valley and Pinal County.”

In addition to providing trauma patients with faster care, the center, Moore explains, will also keep families closer to home because they no longer have to travel to downtown Phoenix or Scottsdale. EMS travel time is also cut in half.

Moore says the center in Chandler will affect Maricopa and Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn medical centers, but it’s more important to serve the needs of the community and decrease the risk of death and complications due to prolonged transportation times.

An expected 1,500 to 2,000 trauma patients a year will be admitted to the hospital from minor to severe injuries. Moore says some of those include complex hand injuries, chest and abdominal injuries, pelvic fractures from a blunt mechanism, car accident or fall, or stab or gunshot wounds.

“We have all the specialists onboard to be able to care for any traumatic injury,” he says.

There are approximately 15 specialty groups at the center with multiple physicians within each specialty. Moore says they have six surgeons in trauma care, multiple orthopedic trauma surgeons, four neurosurgeons, as well as many hand surgeons, plastic surgeons and vascular surgeons. Others include anesthesiologists, nurses and ancillary services.

Wass says trauma surgeons are at the center 24 hours a day, seven days a week and the other surgeons are always on call.

Overall, there are up to 70 physicians caring for trauma patients.

“We are very excited to be a Level I Trauma facility and we are looking forward to giving the care to individuals in the community and their families,” Wass says.

The Level I Trauma Center’s designation is in conjunction with the hospital’s expansion project that is scheduled to open later this year. The expansion at Tower C will add 96 beds, expand the emergency department and increase the operating room capacity.

Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@santansun.com.

schedule will include free concerts, gatherings and celebrations that showcase talented young artists to commemorate the 25 years.

In addition to the free public events in August, CCA is planning a largescale recognition event in October commemorating all the various individuals, organizations and businesses that have contributed into cultivating support for the various arts programs in Chandler.

Vision Arts Gallery is also participating in the 25th anniversary celebrations with several events planned in conjunction with the Arts Commission. This includes Silver: 25 Years of Art featuring 25 artists who have exhibited at the center during the last 25 years; Chandler Center Community Photography Exhibit with photographs submitted from local photographers of iconic images of the building; and Silver Anniversary Chandler Center for the Arts, Digital Media Project: A reflection of students and adults who have experienced, learned about and encountered the arts at the CCA since its opening.

Chandler Center for the Arts is located at 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. To become a member or to purchase tickets with no per-ticket fee, a listing of upcoming shows and other venue information, visit www.chandlercenter.org.

Tracy House is the news editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.

Community

Police seek public’s help in suspicious circumstances case

The Chandler Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a van involved in suspicious activity at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, near Arizona Avenue and Palomino Drive. Witnesses observed four men in a white minivan apparently force an unknown man into the vehicle. The van left the area at a high rate of speed and

was last seen traveling south on Arizona Avenue. Initially, the van was parked in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Palomino Drive.

The van is described as a 1990s style minivan, such as a Windstar, with no hubcaps. The unknown man forced into the van is described as a white male, aged 17 to 20 years. He was wearing a black

Help honor Chandler veterans at Operation Welcome Home

The City of Chandler is accepting nominations and sponsorships for its second Operation Welcome Home Chandler ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday, April 21.

Operation Welcome Home Chandler is an opportunity for Chandler residents to honor and show appreciation for military men and women who are returning from active duty or leaving for service.

Nominated veterans should be Chandler residents and should have been on active duty within the last three years or leaving soon.

Residents and businesses may also participate through sponsorship or inkind donations.

As part of the ceremony, the Arizona Patriot Guard will escort veterans into

the Chandler City Council Chambers where the governing body will recognize and thank each individual. During the ceremony, the honorees will be presented with a gift basket with donations from the community. After the public event, the veterans and their families will be treated to dinner at a local restaurant.

Operation Welcome Home Chandler ceremonies will be scheduled several times a year, based on the number of nominees. Residents are encouraged to attend the events, and donations are being accepted through the Chandler Chamber Community Foundation.

To nominate a veteran or sponsor the program, visit www.chandleraz.gov/ patriotism.

and green striped shirt and blue jeans and he has short hair.

If you have any information relating to the whereabouts of the suspicious van or the unknown man, contact the Chandler Police Department at (480) 782-4105. Reference police report No. 2014-33373. For more information contact Sgt. Joe Favazzo at (480) 782-4108.

HONORING OUR OWN: Chandler residents have an opportunity to show their support for military men and women returning from active duty or leaving for service. Submitted photo

Steel cacti adorn Cooper median

Traffic on Cooper Road, north of Ray Road, in Chandler is being slowed due to work in the median, but the short delays are providing observant motorists the time to view an interesting array of artistic steel cacti being placed among the new pavers and desert landscaping.

A contractor for the City’s Transportation and Development Department is installing 42 cactus made of steel. Many of the pieces resemble real barrel and prickly pear cacti. They are manufactured by a company called Desert Steel out of Newton, Kansas.

The stretch of Cooper Road receiving the upgraded landscape is a gateway into Chandler from south Gilbert that has declined in appearance. The $155,700 project is introducing new trees and shrubs along with the artistic cactus. In addition, new brick pavers are replacing aging, cracked painted concrete.

To accommodate the work, the inside lanes nearest the center medians along Cooper Road are closed to traffic, leaving a single travel lane in each direction north of Ray Road to the City limits. Motorists are asked to use caution when driving through the construction zone.

The work is being performed by Goldstein and Luera Construction of Phoenix.

ICAN Chandler receives $60,000 grant from DPR Foundation

The DPR Foundation, a companywide initiative of DPR Construction to help disadvantaged kids, has awarded East Valley youth program ICAN, with a $60,000 grant. The money was awarded to support ICAN’s youth development programs, which build necessary skills in youth to avoid substance abuse, gang activity and juvenile delinquency in high-risk communities. The investment by DPR Foundation helps ensure that ICAN is able to continue providing these critical programs entirely free of charge for hundreds of youth in low-income neighborhoods on a daily basis.

“One of the founding objectives of DPR Construction was to become an integral part of the communities in which we work, which is why we formed the DPR Foundation as a companywide, focused outreach to help children who fall short of their potential due to socio-economic challenges,” says Derek Kirkland, project executive for DPR Construction and ICAN board member.

“DPR has supported ICAN for a number of years now, and their continued support is making a direct impact on the youth that we serve, creating tremendous opportunities for our organization to do more work for the kids who need it most,” says ICAN’s CEO Becky Jackson.

Help ICAN spread the word about Arizona Gives Day 2014. Arizona

SHOES

Gives Day is a statewide initiative for individuals to show their support to Arizona nonprofits through small, but meaningful, financial contributions. Donors give through the Arizona Gives Day website and select which nonprofit will receive their donation.

ICAN Chandler is partnering with First Credit Union for this year’s Arizona Gives Day. From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 9, First Credit Union will match all donations up to $1,500. In addition, if ICAN receives the most individual donors during that hour, ICAN will receive another $1,000 bonus from Arizona Gives Day. Even a $10 donation can make an impact, as it provides a nutritious snack for one ICAN child for an entire week.

For more information on ICAN, call (480) 821-4207 or visit www.icanaz.org for a link to ICAN’s Arizona Gives Day page.

We are a family owned-business that specializes in Euro-comfort shoes with a flair for fashion. Most assume that comfort can’t be cute, but that's just not the case! Come visit our new unique comfort boutique so you can understand why, “Nothing is as

and feels good!”

Keen, Dansko, Josef Seibel, Olukai, Romika, Fly London, Birkenstock, Merrell, Antelope, Reiker, Miz Mooz, Clarks, Klog, Arcopedico, Earthies, Mjus, Alegria, Baggallini, Big Buddha.

RE/MAX

is committed to high standards, impeccable integrity and the best education and working environment for our associates, partners and our community. We have created a very unique experience for our agents and clients because of these high standards.

Being named the 2013 Brokerage of the Year for the Southwest Region of RE/MAX is a confirmation of our commitment and a honor we treasure. Thank you to every agent, partner and client because YOU are the reason we do what we do and do it so well.

Sincerely, Bill

Mayor’s Listening Tour coming to North Chandler

Mayor Jay Tibshraeny brings his popular Listening Tour to North Chandler at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at Pomeroy Elementary School, 1507 W. Shawnee Dr.

The tour takes place in conjunction with the City’s Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) community outreach meetings.

“These meetings provide an open forum for residents to speak out on challenges facing their neighborhoods,” Tibshraeny says. “After the meetings, members of NAC

and City staff develop plans to address the most pressing needs.”

As with past Listening Tours, the meeting will also provide residents an opportunity to receive information on City resources and services, including the Neighborhood Grant Program which provides grants of up to $5,000 to assist with neighborhood revitalization. For more information, contact the Neighborhood Programs Office at (480) 782-4354.

Bus service for Price Road subject of meeting

The City is seeking public feedback on a proposal to modify bus service on Route 96 (Dobson Road) to serve a portion of the Price Road corridor during peak commuting hours.

On Tuesday, April 15, there will be a Chandler public meeting at the Chandler City Council Chambers, 88 E. Chicago Street from 6 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a Valley Metro open house from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Citizens can also provide comment online at www.chandleraz.gov/transit or www.valleymetro.org or by emailing transit@chandleraz.gov or by calling (480)

782-3440. Citizens are encouraged to submit their comments by May 2.

Route 96 serves Dobson Road, south of Pecos Road, from approximately 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The modification being considered would divert the route to Price Road between Germann and Queen Creek roads, providing new bus service to major employment centers such as Wells Fargo, Continuum, Amkor and Isagenix. The route change would mean some bus stops located on Dobson Road between Germann and Queen Creek roads would no longer be served. If approved, this service change would occur in October 2014.

Fight hunger at Bashas’ gallery

Matthew’s Crossing brings together supporters, donors and local community members for its third annual Night to Fight Hunger Fundraising Event on Friday, April 25, at Bashas’ Art Gallery in Chandler. Guests will experience a memorable evening as they help to unite the community in the fight against hunger.

With one in four children in Arizona not knowing where their next meal will come from, and more than 76 percent of the client base from the City of Chandler, this fundraising event is critical to Chandler.

Night to Fight Hunger Event highlights:

•Two individuals will be recognized for their philanthropic excellence

•Have a Heart Raffle

•Silent auction

•More than 3,000 pieces of priceless artwork

•Hosted bar with beer and wine

•Delicious catered cuisine by Bashas’

•Desserts

•Festive music

No printed ticket is necessary, however, it may speed up the checkin process at the door. For more information, please email Heather Heimsoth, executive director of Matthew’s Crossing, at heather@ matthewscrossing.org or call (480) 7662625. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

DEADLINES FOR SANTAN SUN NEWS

The deadline for news and advertising is 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, for the April 19, 2014 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 SanTanSun. com and click on “About us” and call 480-732-0250 for advertising rate details.