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7 - 20, 2013 www.SanTanSun.com

Local baseball players strive for a career in the big leagues

BY PAT MARRUJO

Chandler high school graduates made their mark on the 2013 Major League Baseball amateur draft earlier this summer. More than 30 Arizona athletes were taken in the draft; five of them attended high school in Chandler.

The son of former MLB player Clay Bellinger, Hamilton High School first baseman Cody Bellinger, was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth round of the MLB amateur draft. Basha High School shortstop Jamie Westbrook was claimed in the fifth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The two teens were covered extensively in the SanTan

Sun News in the Aug. 3 issue. Now the SanTan Sun News looks at Hamilton star Patrick Murphy, the first Arizona high school pitcher taken when he was selected in the third round by the Toronto Blue Jays; and a pair of Seton Catholic Sentinels who were drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers—pitcher M.J. Villegas in the 23rd round and outfielder Matt Haggerty in the 40th round.

Patrick Murphy

Patrick Murphy hasn’t pitched an inning since April 2012 when he tore his ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that

Two-time cancer survivor named Hero of Hope

BY MEGHAN MCCOY

Diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, Alan Zaben was not expected to live more than three months.

That was in September 1988.

Now, the Chandler resident has been named the American Cancer Society 2013 Relay for Life Hero of Hope for Arizona for his efforts in raising money to fight the dreaded disease and for supporting others who have gone through a similar ordeal.

“Alan is a dedicated volunteer, who by sharing his story, inspires others that there is hope against cancer,” American Cancer Society District Executive Director Brandi Hunt says. “The Hero of Hope award recognizes Alan for his dedication to Relay for Life and his passion to make a difference.”

The Hero of Hope is one of the highest honors that the American Cancer Society presents to an individual.

Woman heads to Cambodia to volunteer

BY MEGHAN MCCOY

The dream of traveling and volunteering abroad will finally become a reality for Chandler resident Melanie Sassano when she heads to Cambodia on Sat., Sept. 14, for two weeks.

Ex-NFL player opens spa—with a twist

BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON

Opening a salon and day spa may not be the first business that comes to mind when you think of a former NFL player, but for ex-Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets cornerback, David “Antonio” Barrett, it was a natural choice. Chandler is the home to D. Antonio’s Signature Day Spa & Ink.

“When I played, I did get pampered,” Barrett explains. “I got massages, I got pedicures, manicures—I got things that made me feel good.”

Catering to men and women, Barrett, with the help of his fiancée Kristi Thames and his longtime barber, Jessica Herndon, has included a menu of beauty and pampering services that are reasonably priced, but carried out in an upscale setting.

“We sat down, we brainstormed and

we came up with the idea of opening a barbershop, then a day spa, then it went to adding tattoo and we finally came up

“I always wanted to go abroad and volunteer,” she says. “I do a lot of reading about different cultures and countries and I always wanted to help.”

The 30-year-old was determined to set her plan into motion after her husband was in a serious motorcycle accident two months ago. Although he will recover fully, the accident reminded her that life is unpredictable.

“Even though we all know that we can be driving to work and not make it, it’s a reminder that there isn’t anything stopping me from going,” says Sassano, who adds that there is “never a perfect time to do something like this.”

Before she decided where she wanted to volunteer, Sassano spent a lot of time researching International Volunteer HQ, an organization that calmed her nerves.

“It’s a bit nerve-wracking to go to a country you have never been before,” she explains.

The international volunteer

organization, which was established in 2007, sends more than 4,000 volunteers abroad every year to 18 different countries. To date, it has sent more than 15,000 volunteers to such places as

• Hormone Replacement Therapy

• Medical Weight Loss: HCG & Rx Programs

• B12 / B6 / Fat Burner Injections

• General Medicine

• Physical Medicine

• Natural Medicine

• Anti-Aging: Botox®

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forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery.

However, Murphy’s injury didn’t stop the Toronto Blue Jays from drafting the 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-hander. Murphy admits that being taken so early was “definitely a surprise.”

“Going into the draft, I wasn’t expecting anything too early, like maybe the sixth to the 10th round, or even later,” Murphy says. “But I got a call at the beginning of day two saying that I was going to go, I was shocked.”

Murphy has been rehabbing for 13 months, but he says he has started throwing off the mound and should get back in a game soon.

“You just have to be patient,” Murphy says. “You have to realize that it takes the whole year to rehab, you can’t rush anything or it is not going to be ready. It was tough to watch my senior year, and now I have had to watch from the bench so the main thing is patience.”

Before signing with the Blue Jays for $500,000, Murphy was committed to play at the University of Oregon.

“My dream has always been to be a professional baseball player and so when I got that opportunity, (I thought) why pass up that opportunity to pursue my dream as soon as possible?” Murphy says. “I just want to get my career started.”

With a nice new income now, Murphy says he hasn’t gone on a big spending spree. However, there is one purchase he has in mind.

“When I get home I am getting a

truck,” Murphy says. “That is it. After that, the money is going away.”

A pair of Sentinels

Since its inception in 1954, Seton Catholic has only had four baseball players drafted. Two of them were this year. Matt Haggerty was the do-all man for the Sentinels last year. Not only did Haggerty bat .414 with 44 runs scored

and three home runs in his senior season, but he also dominated on the hill with a 6-0 record and a 2.12 ERA.

In case that wasn’t enough, he also led Seton Catholic to a state championship in football and was named the East Valley Tribune Male Athlete of the Year.

“Haggerty is just an athlete,” says Seton head baseball coach Marty Maier. “Very, very strong, very fast, great arm,

I mean he plays centerfield as good as anybody you are going to see.”

Haggerty, who was taken in the last round by the L.A. Dodgers, says he will attend Grand Canyon University as an outfielder next season.

“GCU has amazing coaches,” Haggerty says. “Instead of going down into rookie ball and getting smacked in the face with the huge jump (to pro ball) they can prepare me even more for the next level.”

Giving up football was a difficult decision for Haggerty, who also originally committed to play defensive back at Colorado-Mesa. However, he felt it was best for his career.

“It’s nice to be able to say my body will probably be in much better condition as life goes on, but I’m gonna miss football a lot,” Haggerty says. “Ultimately after talking with coaches, family and friends, we decided that baseball is the best opportunity for me to continue playing at the next level.”

Haggerty’s father, Jim, played for Arizona State University and won a College World Series in 1977. Haggerty says he wanted to don maroon and gold at one point.

“It’s pretty weird. I always wanted to play for ASU like he did and at the beginning of the season I was striving to possibly pull that off,” Haggerty says. “It feels great to be able to show ‘Haggerty’ on the back of a jersey at a D-1 level.”

Pitcher M.J. Villegas says he and Haggerty faced off a couple times during practice over the past few seasons.

“I got the best of Haggerty I would

say,” Villegas says. “I think it was every time, I know I struck him out once.”

But Villegas has even tougher hitters to deal with now that he signed with the

Los Angeles Dodgers for $100,000. He is playing for the organization in the Arizona Rookie League.

“M.J. is a power pitcher, big strong kid that relies on his fastball and has a very good change up,” Maier says. “His curveball is a little inconsistent at times, but he doesn’t have to worry about that because he will have plenty of time to get that stuff going.”

Villegas says he has seen a big jump since going from high school ball to the pros.

“I would say the level of play, the talent is way better,” Villegas says. “There is just so much homework I have to do before every game and all the practices. Also, way more running.”

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound power pitcher was committed to play ball at Scottsdale Community College before ultimately signing with the Dodgers.

“I felt that the opportunity to better myself was there,” Villegas says. “It was the better opportunity to get to where I want to be”

Right now, Villegas says he is working mainly on developing more pitches and improving his command.

Maier says that neither Haggerty nor Villegas is ready to play at the highest level quite yet, but he wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the show someday.

“If things go right and they progress in the right skill areas, the sky is the limit,” Maier says.

Pat Marrujo is a freelancer for the SanTan Sun News. He can be reached at news@santansun.com.

Africa, Asia and Latin America.

She explains that the company’s website provided a great deal of information about vaccinations, as well as what she could expect during her travels.

The idea of flexibility caught her attention; she could pick anywhere in the world that she wanted to go, ranging from a week to six months.

“I felt it was a good fit,” she says about her choice. “I narrowed it down to Cambodia because of recent history and suffering the last 20 years.”

Once she arrives overseas, she will be placed based on her skills and the country’s needs.

“I am pretty game at this point,” she says.

The whole trip will cost Sassano approximately $2,000. To help raise money for the trip, she set up the website www.gofundme.com/HelpCambodia.

She has to cover her own food and board, as well as the plane ticket to Cambodia. The organization also requires its volunteers to have traveler’s insurance.

While she is in Cambodia, Sassano has the option of staying with a host family or at a volunteer house provided through the organization.

“I haven’t given them a preference, I’m pretty much open to anything,” she says.

In addition, the company provided Sassano with a blog site, where she hopes to upload photographs and blogs while she is there. Sassano, who is a

professional photographer, says she is looking forward to taking pictures of things that inspire her.

Although she has volunteered near her Chandler home, she has never done anything of this magnitude. Sassano predicts it will be something she will want to do again, but for a longer time.

“I am just very interested to see how this works ... go and help a place that is needed,” she explains.

To prepare for her trip, she decided to collect 20 letters and pictures from children of all ages throughout the United States. She will show them to Cambodian students.

“I think it is important to let kids know there are kids across the world that are different and similar with their wants and needs,” she explains.

The project received a lot of positive feedback from the American children’s parents. Sassano will ask Cambodian children to do the same for U.S. students.

She hopes her trip will bring a little bit of awareness to individuals in her life, showing that maybe they can also volunteer abroad. Sassano says if everyone gives a little bit of their time it would be beneficial to those who need it the most.

Once her two weeks of volunteering concludes, she says she will travel around Asia with her sister.

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

“Hero of Hope is a person who has demonstrated to the American Cancer Society that they have the drive to help others,” Zaben says. “The desire to help others and they do in fact help others. I was the only hero named this year in the state of Arizona.”

Zaben’s journey began in July 1988 when he began feeling pain on his right side. It then progressed to his back and left side. Doctors suspected the pain was a gastrointestinal disorder. Eventually, a full body bone and lung scan was performed, showing damage to his spine and lymph nodes in his chest.

“It took about two and a half months to determine the cause,” Zaben says.

It was determined to be stage four diffuse large cell metastatic nonHodgkins Lymphoma in September 1988.

The tumor, which started in his spinal canal, was a little over an inch long and pressed against his spinal cord due to its growth over a nine-month period before it was detected.

“I underwent chemotherapy for two and a half months and 12 days of radiation therapy to my spine,” Zaben says.

Unfortunately the cancer did its damage and Zaben was absent from work for a little more than a year. The cancer fractured two vertebrae in his spine, destroyed the disk between them, and spread into his lymph nodes.

“Twenty-three hours a day I was flat on my back in bed to allow my spine to heal,” he says.

Once his spine healed, he learned how to walk using two canes.

SURVIVORS: Cancer survivor Alan Zaben, far right, is surrounded by his family—nephew, Kevin Bateshansky, son, Jeff Zaben, sister, Judy Bateshansky, his wife, Marion Zaben, and his sister, Eileen Armour. Both of his sisters are also cancer survivors. Submitted photo

“As a result of cancer, I became an insulin-dependent diabetic,” says Zaben, adding that he also had nerve damage in his feet.

He has been in remission since February 1989. However, in February 2012, he was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, otherwise known as bone marrow cancer.

“The ironic thing is one of the chemo drugs I received 25 years ago is a known cause of bone marrow cancer,” Zaben says. He has been undergoing chemotherapy monthly since August 2012.

“I will continue to receive five treatments (a month) for the rest of my life,” Zaben says. “The cancer will most likely become leukemia.”

So far, the cancer has not progressed.

“I’m doing pretty good,” Zaben says. “I feel good and feel strong.”

Despite the battle, he continues to give back to others who are going through the same thing. He has been involved with the American Cancer Society for the better part of 20 years, four of which has been in the Valley.

The Relay for Life event in Chandler is one of the ways he gives back every year. He is a member of its planning

committee. This past year the event raised more than $200,000. There were more than 1,400 participants, 136 teams and more than 80 survivors who registered for the relay.

“We are a group of individuals that came together for a common cause, raise money to defeat cancer,” he says.

“I am going to live my life to the fullest and enjoy every day of it,” he says.

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

Chateau St. Michelle Estates Wine Dinner

Tuesday, Sept. 17

Cocktails 6 p.m. | Dinner 6:30 p.m. $75 per person

— 1st Course —

Eroica Riesling, 2012

Charcuterie

— 2nd Course —

Mimi Chardonnay, 2012

Mesquite Grilled Salmon

— 3rd Course —

Canoe Ridge Merlot, 2010

Beef Carpaccio

— 4th Course —

Cold Creek Cabernet, 2010

Prime Rib

— 5th Course —

Dessert at The Living Room

UPCOMING EVENT

Pride Mountain Vineyards Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m.

with this idea here,” Barrett says as he motioned around his salon and spa. As a departure from every other day spa and salon, D. Antonio’s includes the services of two talented tattoo artists. “It’s a one-stop shop.”

The tattoo service within a spa is the first of its kind in Arizona. This appointment-only atelier is ideal for clients who want their ink done by top artistic talent in chic and private surroundings. With body art becoming increasingly popular, an upscale art gallery-type studio is a desirable setting in which to “get inked.”

D. Antonio’s has only been open a few weeks, but every facet of the business is jumping.

“I have something to offer that can help them and they can help me,” explains Barrett of his new clients and friends. “They can get a fresh cut or a relaxing massage, they can come in and be themselves and they don’t have to worry about anything else.”

As an added benefit, D. Antonio’s is not too far from the Cardinals’ training facility, so he hopes to turn the team into clients.

The path to opening the business was a busy one.

“I was nervous,” he says. “It’s a good thing I had my fiancée on my side. She knows how to transition into and open businesses.”

It was Thames’ idea to design the salon with free-standing salon mirrors, a vision that came from a salon in China. They are as functional

as they are conversation pieces and Barrett was able to enlist a friend to construct them. The salon and spa are completed in black and pewter with elegant chandeliers and splashes of color throughout via consigned art that graces the walls. Every few months, the art will rotate.

D. Antonio’s features a full-scale hair salon offering cuts, color, highlights, hair extensions, perms, deep conditioning, Brazilian Blowouts and relaxing scalp massages, courtesy of four talented professional stylists that Barrett and Thames brought in for the salon. There are also two barbers at the shop who will do haircuts, clipper cuts and color for men. Part of D. Antonio’s signature services includes scalp massage therapy using luxurious hair oils blended with aromatic herbs

and florals custom-blended for the salon.

Pedicures and manicures are also done at the salon in addition to various modalities of massage, including sports, hot stone, pregnancy and traditional Swedish massage. There is also a dedicated room for the licensed esthetician whose services include facials, peels, microdermabrasion and custom makeup. D. Antonio’s carries a full line of Redken hair products and will introduce some new product lines over the next few months.

Bridal parties are welcome at the salon, and stylists will work on or off site. Soon, the spa will start hosting events and is looking to pair with various charities and nonprofits in an effort to give back to the community.

DESIGNED:

Barrett is excited to embark on his new business venture and looks forward to meeting his new clientele. “I plan on being here as much as possible,” Barrett notes. D. Antonio’s is located at 2040 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 22 (at Germann Road). Call 480-878-4860 or visit d-antoniosdayspa.com for more information. The spa is closed on Mondays.

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

Gangplank expansion to be completed in early 2014

BY MEGHAN MCCOY

The Chandler Gangplank facility is undergoing an expansion that is tentatively set for completion at the beginning of 2014.

Founded in 2008, Gangplank will expand into the historic building located directly next door at 260 S. Arizona Ave.

“It will have an updated façade, making it the farthest south property to be updated in Chandler’s redevelopment zone,” says Trish Gillam, Gangplank executive director. “It will have a mezzanine that looks out onto Arizona Avenue.”

Gangplank is used as a collaborative work space with conference rooms that welcome visitors.

“The space is free from fi nancial barriers to entry,” she says. “However, we do ask that if people fi nd the community and space meaningful that they give back in a way that is meaningful to them.”

Those individuals, referred to as Gangplankers, are actively involved in their community.

“Gangplankers do everything from collaborating with the person at the desk next to them to running events and programs that support education and vibrancy in Chandler,” Gillam explains.

The conferences and events all have a common theme of educational and business support. She says they are all

unique to the person organizing them.

“We have had large technology conferences, small art classes, concerts, entrepreneurship conferences, and events teaching technology to youth,” Gillam explains. “We try to be as fl exible as possible with the space we have.”

The space of Gangplank is typically used for businesses to work during the day and rearranged into an event space during evening and weekend hours.

“The additional space will provide many of the same types of events and programs,” she says. “However, it gives us greater capacity for larger events and the ability to expand all we do.”

Gangplank enhances the community by taking a systemic approach to the economic development of Chandler. Some of those accomplishments include partnerships to bring energy and talent to the downtown redevelopment area, as well as providing mentoring, education, support and infrastructure to business owners. In addition, Gangplank has also provided a tech hub to connect and support creative talent, organize and teach youth programs related to technology, science and art.

“Additionally, we allow a variety of other nonprofi ts and local schools to use our space for meetings and events,” Gillam says.

Gangplank is more than space, she explains. It is a community that is

RENDERING: Gangplank, which is located at 260 S. Arizona Ave. in Chandler, is undergoing an expansion. It is slated for completion in early 2014. Submitted photo

passionate and engaged in the city of Chandler.

“We are glad to be in the city of Chandler and look forward to continuing to partner with the city of Chandler in making Chandler an amazing place to live, work and play,” Gillam says.

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

Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park opens for racing

Located within the Gila River Indian Community, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, formerly known as Firebird International Raceway, is set to open Sept. 13 with the Fall Classic, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series. The event runs through Sept. 15.

The 450-acre park offers racers and fans the excitement of a multifaceted experience. Spectator events, club racers, corporate outings and experiential marketing can take advantage of the worldclass facility that includes three road course circuits, acres of pavement for Autocross & Skidpad use, 120 acre watersports lake, a quarter mile NHRA drag strip, drag boat racing and off-road truck racing.

Home to the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is located at 20000 S. Maricopa Rd., Chandler. For information about events call 480-639-1921 or visit racewildhorse. com

Wastewater, reclaimed water rates to increase

BY TRACY HOUSE

Chandler homeowners can expect to see an increase in their water bill in October. The recent Chandler City Council vote to increase wastewater and reclaimed water rates for single-family dwellings is projected to take effect Oct. 1. This is not an increase to water user rates, however.

Prior to putting the change in place, the city will put a notice on utility bills and in the city’s newsletter, says Dawn Lang, management services director for the City of Chandler. Along the way, Lang mentions the city has done numerous postings to get to this point to allow input and has done social media notifications.

The approval increases wastewater rates 9% and reclaimed water rates 18%. The average monthly wastewater bill for the typical Chandler household would increase $2 per month as a result of the proposed rate increase. Reclaimed water rates primarily affect golf courses and homeowner associations (HOAs) that use the effluent for water features and irrigation. The proposed reclaimed water rate increase would equate to an annual increase per home of $1.54 per month, based on Chandler’s average of 278 homes per HOA, assuming the HOA passes the proposed increase on to homeowners.

“Because wastewater for residents is a flat fee, it’s actually exactly a $2 increase for single family residential (homes),” Lang says. She clarifies that residents will not

see the reclaimed fee on their bill, but that it could be a cost passed on from the HOA through the fees paid if the HOA does not absorb the rate increase.

Per city financial policy, utility rates are reviewed every year to determine if rate increases are required to meet operating, capital or debt service costs. According to a city of Chandler public hearing notice, “These increases will cover additional debt service costs and related operating cost due to expanded infrastructure needs. They will also maintain the financial integrity of the water/wastewater enterprise, including debt service coverage and cash reserve policy requirements over the next fiscal year.”

Lang notes, “Even with the increase in our wastewater rate, Chandler has the lowest wastewater rate in the Valley, even after the increase. That’s comparing us against Gilbert, Tempe, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Maricopa, Goodyear, a whole bunch of different cities. We are the lowest even after the increase. It just shows that we are really trying to keep our rates low and only when absolutely necessary for our infrastructure needs do we look at an increase.”

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.

Police seek help identifying armed robbery suspect

Detectives from the Chandler Police Department’s Robbery/ Homicide Unit are asking for the public’s help in identifying a white male who allegedly robbed the Bank of America branch at 2998 N. Alma School Rd. around 11 a.m. on Thu., Aug 15. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the unknown suspect fled on foot.

Anyone with information relating to the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Chandler Police Department at 480-782-4130 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377). Silent Witness is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the suspect’s arrest or indictment.

For more information, call Det. Seth Tyler at 480-782-4105.

Back to School Box Off

Stone Hard Boxing is holding a Back to School Box Off Sat., Sept. 21. Weigh-ins will be held from 8 to 10 a.m., a coaches meeting will follow from 10 a.m. to noon. The boxing event will be held from 1 to 5 p.m.

The event will be held at 590 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler. Coaches are asked to send a list of their fighters to Damien Stone at stonehard27@ aol.com or by calling 602-751-0030.

Community

Gilbert Road construction continues

For the Ocotillo to Riggs Project, traffic continues to be shifted to the west side of Gilbert Road, one lane in each direction, from approximately Mead Drive to just south of the Gilbert Road/Chandler Heights Road intersection.

Crews continue work related to the Roosevelt Water Conservation District improvements as part of this project. This work is taking place near the RWCD canal, as crews dig bore bits to be able to install casings and pipe for the water pipelines under the canal. Once the bore pits are completed, crews will begin installing casings and water pipeline.

Crews are also scheduled to begin work to build the grade, or subsurface, of the curb and gutter on the east side of Gilbert Road, from south of Chandler Heights at Wood Drive to Mead Drive. Crews are tentatively scheduled to begin pouring concrete curb and gutter.

Electrical crews are nearing completion installing electrical conduit for undergrounding of the SRP overhead lines on the east side of Gilbert Road, from Wood Drive to Powell Place, and on the south side of Chandler Heights Road, from

Gilbert Road to Four Peaks, east of Gilbert Road. Motorists are advised to be cautious when driving through the construction zone, and are encouraged to patronize local businesses during construction.

Construction schedules sometimes need to be adjusted due to weather, materials scheduling, utility coordination, or various other factors.

Crews also continue work to build the subsurface of the future roadway south of Chandler Heights Road, on the east side of Gilbert Road, off the existing roadway.

For more information, call 480-8984100 or visit GilbertRoadImprovements. com.

Church rummage sale is Oct. 11-12

The annual Risen Savior Lutheran Church rummage sale is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fri., Oct. 11 and Sat., Oct. 12. Items to be donated may be brought to the church, located at 23914 S. Alma School Rd., just south of Chandler Heights in Sun Lakes, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 8-10.

For more information, call Linda Murray at 480-895-5641 or Jane Zehnder at 480802-5334.

Chandler’s new apartment community beckons

You’ll Liv like no other

at Liv Avenida

The first of several Liv-branded communities under development in the Valley, Liv Avenida is a 322-unit complex with a total of eight different floor plans. It is also designed to complement every lifestyle, offering 24/7 access to meticulously planned amenities such as the Hub, Liv Fit, the Grove and the Outdoor Living Room.

“The Hub is the heart of the community where residents can play pool, make a gourmet hot drink, surf the web, watch a movie or compete on one of three video gaming systems,” says Heidi Arave, property manager. “Residents gather and invite guests to enjoy an evening of billiards or a dinner at our monthly local Restaurant Review. It truly is the heart of the community.”

Liv makes reaching wellness goals and staying active part of everyday life with features including a tower vegetable garden, citrus grove, outdoor table tennis, threequarter-mile jogging trail, bark park for pets to play and interact, two heated pools, a playground, splash pad and a resident wellness partner who offers free personal training and group fitness classes.

One-, two- and three-bedroom apartments are available, as well as 14 loft units over garages. Interior features include granite countertops, plank wood flooring, stainless steel appliances, storage and twotone paint.

“Our unique design and thoughtful programming work together to make Liv Avenida an exceptional place to live. We value what our customers are passionate about: living sustainably, staying connected, being healthy, and having time for what matters most,” Arave says.

24-hour support

Liv Avenida also offers residents the latest technology, including private wireless networks, complete with 24-hour customer support in every home, USB ports in the kitchen walls for conveniently charging devices, and three choices in television service including Cox cable, Dish Network or DirecTV.

“We are most passionate about fostering a true community where our residents have such a compellingly positive experience that they invite friends and family to join them, and they never want to leave,” Arave says.

Also, Liv Avenida’s Liv, Work, Play program offers exclusive discounts to employees of Chandler’s larger employers, including Intel, the City of Chandler, Chandler Regional Medical Center, eBay and PayPal, ASU West, Williams Gateway Airport, InfusionSoft, Arizona Cardinals and General Motors.

For more information, call 480-284-8335 or visit livavenida.com.

‘Green’ plumbing is featured workshop Landscape

and irrigation classes offered

John Smith, green plumber of the year, is leading a workshop on “green” plumbing during Chandler’s fall lineup of landscaping and irrigation classes. Winner of the U.S. Green Plumber of the Year Award two years in a row and the Southwest Region Green Plumber of the Year Award in 2013, Smith will share information on green plumbing technologies and techniques that save water.

His presentation, along with the “Water Wise Edible Gardening” workshop, are among a series of classes that will teach homeowners how to install and maintain residential landscape and irrigation systems, plant colorful water-wise plants and save water inside the home.

Classes will be held at Chandler City Hall, 175 N. Arizona Ave., and Chandler’s Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St., with the exception of two Chandler “Smart” Landscaping classes to be held in Chandler’s Environmental Education Center, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd.

Workshops every week

Classes are:

“Water-Wise Edible Gardening,” 6:30 to 8:45 p.m., Tue., Sept. 10, Chandler Downtown Library. Learn how to prepare beds, choose plants and care for vegetables, herbs, fruits and citrus for a bountiful harvest.

“Chandler SMART Landscaping,” 9 a.m. to noon, Sat., Sept. 14 and Sat., Sept. 21 at Chandler’s Environmental Education Center and again Sat., Oct. 5 and Sat., Oct. 12 at Chandler City Hall. This two-class series teaches the basics of landscaping in the desert, including concepts of design, the desert plant palette, plant selection, plant combinations and how to plan for small spaces.

“Green Plumbing Solutions,” 6:30 to 8 p.m., Tue., Sept. 17, Chandler Downtown Library. Learn how to make changes that really make a difference with Smith, the green plumber of the year, as he talks about water conservation. Learn helpful hints to help save water. He will also be giving away a

TREES AND SHRUBS: A certified arborist will discuss proper plant selection, planting, staking and pruning techniques for the low desert during “Pruning and Maintaining Your Landscape,” Tue., Sept. 24 at the Chandler Main Library. Submitted photo

toilet that flushes on less than a gallon of water.

“Pruning and Maintaining Your Landscape,” 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Tue., Sept. 24 at Chandler Downtown Library. Trees and shrubs are the most important living elements of a landscape. A certified arborist will discuss proper plant selection, planting, staking and pruning techniques for the low desert.

“Water-Smart Workshops.” Four classes are offered. from 6 to 8:45 p.m. at Chandler City Hall: “Sprinkler Design & Installation,” Thu., Oct. 10; “Drip Irrigation Installation,” Thu., Oct. 17; “Yard Watering & Timer Programming,” Thu., Oct. 24; and “‘Smart’ Irrigation Controllers,” Thu., Nov. 7.

Classes are free to Chandler utility customers, but participants must preregister by calling 480-782-3580 or visiting chandleraz.gov/water.

Jeep Girls appear on ‘Chandler in Focus’

Hill sisters also meet the mayor

The Hill sisters, Ashley and Brittany, appear on Chandler Councilman and Jeep Grand Cherokee driver Jeff Weninger’s “Chandler In Focus” television show. The episode can be seen on Cox Channel 11 or at chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=104.

“We had been in the Valley for less than 24 hours when Susan Moore at the City of Chandler contacted us,” says Brittany. “Timing is everything.”

Known as “The Jeep Girls,” the Hills also had the opportunity to meet Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and Nachie Marquez, the city’s director of communications and public affairs, who they note drives a Jeep Commander.

The Hills also met up with Jim Phipps, owner of a 2003 Flame Red Jeep Rubicon, who had seen “The Jeep Girls could be anywhere in the U.S.” article in The SanTan Sun News and made it a point to find them.

“Jim Phipps is such a charismatic character that really makes the Jeep brand come to life,” Ashley says. “This is why Brittany and I relate to the ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ lifestyle. It’s the people and community surrounded with the Jeep brand that make this vehicle so fun.”

This year marks the one-year anniversary that the Hills have been working on a book highlighting the American legends and pioneers who have shaped the landscape of America. Their latest article, in US Airways Magazine, is online at nxtbook.com/ nxtbooks/pace/usairways_july2013/#/178

Country Club, Sun Lakes $350,000 2,100 sq. ft., 2 BR, 2 BA & Den Stone Countertops, 2 fireplaces & more!

Ranch, Chandler $493,000, 3,082 sq. ft., 5 BR, 3BA & Loft Gorgeous! Resort-Style Diving Pool & Spa.

Ranch, Chandler

$220,000, 1,441 sq. ft., 3BR, 2BA Granite countertops, Diving Pool.

Residents see six-figure savings from prescription drug card

More than 400 are participating in the program

Chandler residents saved more than $100,000 in the last year, thanks to the prescription drug savings card offered through the Health Connect program. The program started in August 2012 with a partnership with Coast2Coast Rx, allowing all Chandler residents, regardless of income, age or health status to participate and save on the cost of medication.

To date, more than 400 residents have used the program, filling 2,925 prescriptions. The average discount has been 59% with a total savings of nearly $133,000.

“These cards have become a great relief to many of our citizens who need extra help with their health care costs,” says Mayor Jay Tibshraeny. “While these continue to be stressful and economically shaky times, the drug card component of Health Connect is bringing comfort to those who need the extra help.”

Chandler does not have any costs for the program and will receive a royalty of $1.25 per prescription, with no cost increase to card holders. In addition to the discount on prescriptions, the card provides discounts on veterinary services, dental, vision and hearing services, plus discounts on lab and imaging tests and diabetes supplies and equipment for all family members.

Residents can find distribution locations or download a card by visiting chandleraz.gov/connect.

In addition, residents are encouraged to connect with the mayor through Twitter @jaytibshraeny, to learn more about the three-pronged Health Connect initiative, which includes physical, mental and financial fitness.

Fresh Start, Goodwill partner for women Self-sustaining employment the focus

A new partnership to help East Valley women find self-sustaining employment is now underway by Fresh Start Women’s Foundation and Goodwill of Central Arizona.

Goodwill’s Career Center at 930 N. Alma School Rd. in Chandler has a Fresh Start social worker who will meet with clients one day a week and provide on-going seminars and workshops. Fresh Start clients will also have access to all of Goodwill’s employment services, free of charge.

“We’re very excited to be working with Goodwill. For many of these women, it’s the first time they’ve had access to employment services,” says Fresh Start CEO Susan Berman. “Working together, we can leverage our respective resources to create a mutually beneficial partnership and ultimately help women transform their lives and find employment.”

During the past year, Goodwill has been assessing how to assist more women to overcome barriers to employment. In 2012 Goodwill provided job preparation and placement services to more than 21,000 women throughout Maricopa, Prescott and Yuma counties.

“The partnership is a natural fit,” says Kimberly Hall, director of career services at Goodwill of Central Arizona. “Our missions align nicely and together we’re going to be able to help women with their job search, interviewing skills, resume writing and more.”

Fresh Start Women’s Foundation empowers women to transform their lives through engagement and education. Fresh Start focuses on three core values: economic self-sufficiency, personal development and education. The Jewell McFarland Lewis Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center offers counseling, mentoring, education, career services, legal services, child watch, an e-learning center and personal development/self-esteem services that include wardrobing sessions, makeovers and empowerment classes. Fresh Start also offers services in the East Valley at the Goodwill Career Center in Chandler and has classes available for free online at freshstartwomen.org. All of Fresh Start’s services are free or low cost and are available to any woman older than age 18.

With 65 years of serving central Arizona’s communities, Goodwill of Central Arizona is one of the oldest and largest nonprofit agencies in Arizona. Its commitment is to put people to work throughout Arizona by providing job training and employment services to those with vocational disadvantages and disabilities that can include mental and emotional barriers, physical disabilities, welfare dependency, illiteracy and age. In 2012, it served more than 41,922 youth and adults on their quest toward self-sufficiency and secured more than 15,563 employment opportunities. For more information, about Goodwill of Central Arizona, visit goodwillaz.org.

Come out for RideNow Powersports’ ‘Golf for Kids’

The seventh annual “Golf for Kids,” hosted by RideNow Powersports in partnership with Ride for Kids, offers golf, lunch, silent auction, raffle drawings and guest speakers from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The tournament begins with a shotgun start, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sun., Sept. 22 at Stone Creek Golf Club, 4435 E. Paradise Village Pkwy. S., Phoenix. All proceeds benefit PBTF.

Individuals can register solo, but are encouraged to register in groups of four. Registration is $100 per player. Sponsorship packages are available to support the goals of each sponsor.

“This is going to be the fourth year we’ve held the registration and sponsorship costs,” says Matt Petrovich, director of marketing for RideNow Powersports. “In order to exceed our previous years’ contributions to the PBTF, we’re trying to get more participants and sponsors instead of raising costs.”

More than $33,000 was raised in last year’s tournament and the company hopes to go beyond that amount this year. RideNow Powersports is seeking sponsors to help exceed last year’s amount.

“We always give an extreme amount of credit to our sponsors,” Petrovich says. “Without them, this wouldn’t be as successful as it is. Last year we raised more money than expected. It’s going to be hard to beat this year, but I know we can.”

Ride for Kids and PBTF are working together to discover a cause of and a cure for childhood brain tumors by supporting medical research, aiding in the early detection and treatment of childhood brain tumors and providing educational and emotional support for children and their families.

“This is always a fun tournament,” Petrovich says. “It’s not your average golf outing. Sure, players can pay for ‘mulligans,’ which is basically an extra chance to hit if you mess up, but we’ve also got ‘hooligans,’ where we send our staff members to harass chosen teams. Each hole has a different theme or prize associated with it, so no hole is the same.”

With 25 stores nationwide, including Harley-Davidson dealerships, RideNow Powersports, the parent company of Chandler Harley-Davidson located at 56th Street and Chandler Boulevard, is the largest dealer group in the industry, selling top brands such as Polaris, Can-Am, Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and BMW. For more information about becoming a sponsor or to register, visit ridenow. com/golf or email Matt Petrovich at mpetrovich@ridenow.com.

Uninsured offered free exam and lab work through medical clinic

By appointment only at Today’s Woman’s Health Care

A free medical clinic is being offered 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat., Sept. 21 at Today’s Woman’s Health Care Specialists, 604 W. Warner Rd., Suite E201, Chandler. Limited exams for OB/GYN care and general family medicine, as well as lab work, will be available by appointment only to patients without health insurance.

“If you know of someone in need of free medical services and they are unable to pay for a doctor’s visit, then please

give us a call and make your appointment today,” says practice spokeswoman Danielle Killin. “We especially wish to target those that are newly pregnant and have received no prenatal care due to lack of insurance.”

The event is sponsored by Today’s Women’s Health Specialists and LabCorp. For OB/GYN care, call 480-963-7900 and for general family practice call 480775-4700.

DEADLINES FOR SANTAN SUN NEWS

The deadline for news and advertising is noon, Wed., Sept. 11 for the Sept. 21, 2013 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.