SanTan Sun News - 1.2.2022 by Times Media Group

January 2, 2022 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022

Out with the old, and in with the new year

2021 in Chandler: Hope, 2022 promises election intrigue in Chandler joy and tragedy BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler saw both tragedy and reasons to celebrate in 2021. Here is a countdown of 12 top events in Chandler in 2021.

12. Field of Honor veterans memorial. Chandler officially opened its

new memorial to military service members on Veterans Day. The large space at Veterans Oasis Park uses the U.S. flag as inspiration, with light boxes taking the place of stars and stripes.

Hundreds turned out for the opening and most were impressed. In addition to the light boxes, there are 13 stations that pay tribute to Chandler-area veterans and their stories. Also, the Korean War-era Sabre Dog plane that has been part of the city’s history since 1961 was moved to be an anchor at the park.

11. Voters approve bond, override requests. In November, voters again backed the city’s bond request See

REVIEW on page 6

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

The new year will include a city election and it’s likely one of the hot topics will be if Chandler should pass a non-discrimination ordinance or not. The mayor and three council seats will be up for grabs in August’s primary election – as are two seats on the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board, where incumbent Lindsay Love has announced she will not seek reelection. Two council seats will be open as incumbents Rene Lopez and Terry Roe

are termed out. As of mid-December, nine people have announced their intention to run for those three council seats. One of them is incumbent Matt Orlando. And three already have filed for the nonpartisan school board races, where there is no primary election. The actual number of council candidates won’t be known until April, when they must file petitions with enough qualified signatures. More candidates can enter the race and some of those See

PREVIEW on page 8

Educator cites CUSD ‘blind spots’ in threat prevention BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

A Chandler educator and advocate for improving mental health services for young people told Chandler Unified Superintendent Frank Narducci that the district has no unified plan for preventing or handling school-shooting threats. In a detailed letter, Katey McPherson urged Narducci to work with his aides to develop a multi-layered strategy that includes educating students and expanding mental health services for them, developing a cohesive plan that all schools would follow in the event of a threat and training staff on how to implement that training in the event of an emergency. Stating that the district follows “the Chandler Way” in which “each site sort of does its own thing and there is not much cross-collaboration between elementary and secondary or within your internal teams,” McPherson told Narducci that district colleagues and Chandler Police and other outside experts confirmed that “on this important subject, we have no true ongoing and pervasive tiered training in place.” A mother of four Chandler Unified students, McPherson said she was motivated to examine what the district has in place for a personal reason: “my family has become victimized by the recent events in Michigan.” She was referring what happened to a school complex 25 miles away from

Oxford High School in Michigan, where on Nov. 30 a 15-year-old student fatally shot four students and wounded seven other people. A few weeks after that shooting, McPherson wrote Narducci, “my sister received a phone call that no parent every wants to receive….A student was reported to have brought a gun to campus and was not able to be located. Over 7 county and local police agencies responded including a SWAT team with several helicopters.” The entire complex of three high schools was locked down for six hours and parents were receiving texts for five to six hours, McPherson explained, stating: “I can’t imagine being my sister and receiving texts for 5-6 hours about the situation and it is one conversation that I never want to have here in CUSD. Their executive leadership team and board are receiving quite the backlash for their lack of preparation.” She also noted that widespread anguish and chaos among parents erupted as 60 districts around Oxford shut down due to copycat threats and reports of guns on campus “largely due to anxiety and no awareness of this being a crime to fake a threat.” She also suggested that a strong education and training program could easily be funded with about $150,000 of the district’s third round of federally-fuSee

CUSD on page 16

At age 10, Cal Shropshire is already doing his part to protect Mother Earth and make sure that Chandler residents follow the city rules on recycling. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Mother Earth, city have an ally in Chandler boy BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler resident Robert Nark walked out to collect his trash and recycling bins after the collection truck came. He found a handwritten note

stuck on a bin. “Good job!” There’s no mystery who wrote it. Ten-year-old neighbor Cal Shropshire has earned the nickname “Recy-CAL”

F E AT U R E D STO R I E S Chandler Library may ditch late fees . . . . . . . . . . . .NEWS . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Houses coming to iconic EV farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BUSINESS . . . . . . . Page 26 Chandler students in for Flinn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . . Page 31 New guide to hiking South Mountain . . . . . . . . . . .GETOUT . . . . . . . Page 37

See

RECYCLE on page 2

More News . . . . . . . . . 1-25 Business . . . . . 26-29 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 30 Neighbors . . . .31-36 GetOut. . . . . . .37-39 Faith . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Directory . . . . 41-42

NEWS

RECYCLE

from page 1

in the San Marcos County Club Estates neighborhood because of his passion for recycling. Nark said Cal rides his scooter through the neighborhood on collection days, checking everyone’s bins. He makes sure there are no recyclable materials in the trash bins – and the other way around. If he finds something that doesn’t belong, he has no problem knocking on a door to point it out in a friendly manner or to leave a pleasant reminder. “I don’t do it regularly but a couple of times I’ve done it when there’s a lot of stuff that doesn’t belong in the can,” said Cal, who is a fourth grader at Knox Gifted Academy. Cal’s mother, Christine Shropshire, said most neighbors have been very supportive of her son’s passion for recycling and only a couple have objected. “They told him, or have told us, 'please don’t let him touch our cans,'” Christine said. “For the most part everyone is super supportive and doesn’t mind him checking their cans.” Once a neighbor objects, then Cal steers clear of their trash bins. The boy’s passion started just as schools were shut down by the pandemic in spring 2020. Cal said he was stuck at home and decided he needed a hobby. “I decided I had to do something, like get a hobby because it was boring to just sit around and like play games all day,” Cal said. He heard a trash collecting truck and got curious. He decided to follow it around, watching how they collect trash. That led to his interest in recycling and how they separate the two. Now, the workers who collect trash and recycling in his neighborhood know him so well they gave him a gift: a Waste Management hat, sun screen, lip balm, and safety vest. Christine appreciated the vest, which helps keep him safe when he’s checking bins after sunset. He’s also made up hand-drawn flyers to help educate his neighbors on what can be recycled and what cannot. Cal said he’s not intimidated to knock on a neighbor’s door and talk to them about their recycling because he’s received so much support. “I’m able to go and do that because I know I’m doing the right thing,” Cal said. Cal said recycling became a passion

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Steve T. Strickbine One of his neighbors created a T-shirt with a photo of Cal on his scooter and the words, “Reduce, Reuse & Recy-CAL.” (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

as he learned about the threat climate change represents to the planet and the need for everyone to do what they could to save it. It led him to research how other communities around the world do their recycling. Germany leads the world with more than 56% of its waste being recycled. The Germans are followed by Austria (53.8%), South Korea (53.7%), Wales (52.2%) and Switzerland (49.7%). The Environmental Protection Agency says the U.S. recycles about 32% of its waste. Chandler recycles less than that at about 20%, according to Traci Conaway, the city’s recycling coordinator. Cal hopes to improve on that. His efforts have not gone unnoticed. One of his neighbors created a T-shirt with a photo of Cal on his scooter and the words, “Reduce, Reuse & Recy-CAL.” Conaway said one of the biggest issues the city faces now is people are putting a lot of non-recyclable items in the recycling bin. She said those items end up at the landfill and cost the city more since they get processed twice. So, a big part of their program is to educate people about what can be recycled, and what cannot – similar to what Cal is doing.

Nark, the neighbor who earned the sticky note with the words "good job," said he was so impressed he knocked on Cal’s door and gave him $20 for his efforts. Cal said he’s not doing this for money. “It’s really nice of them,” Cal said. “I’ve never asked for money before … that’s a way I know that they encourage me.” Cal said discovering his passion for recycling has influenced where he wants to go as a career. “When I grow up, I definitely want to be someone who does something about the way our planet is heading,” Cal said. “Help it go in a better direction instead of going like global warming, deforestation stuff, I want it to be able to go in a better direction that has a healthy, happy planet and good environment.”

Recycling myths

The City of Chandler has a myth vs. fact webpage to help residents recycle. Visit chandleraz.gov/residents/recycling-and-trash/recycling/common-recycling-myths.

Coldwell Banker exec sees home sales staying strong BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Looking back at 2021, Realtors might be tempted to paraphrase from Charles Dickens: It was the best of times and the craziest of times. Just ask Greg Hollman, the Scottsdale-based president of Coldwell Banker Realty Arizona, a position he has held the last seven of his 25 years in home sales for one of the nation’s largest and oldest full-service residential and commercial real estate brokerage services. As he looks back not just at this year

but the Age of COVID, he marvels at how the economic uncertainty of the first couple months gave way to one of the hottest housing markets ever – and one that defies most conventional real estate wisdom by showing no end in sight. “It definitely has been an interesting year,” Hollman said. “When you go back to COVID originally coming on to the news media and not knowing the effects that it would have and how it actually ended up in many ways outliving predictions of doom and gloom and has actually

excelled ever since, I think that is a very interesting fact.” And surprising, he added. “I think it took most of us by surprise – not knowing how people would react to a situation during a pandemic,” Hollman said. “But if you think about it in hindsight, it makes sense. “I mean, we’ve had an historically low interest rate. And you had a situation where people were seeking homes that worked better in their current situation – homes where they could work See

COLDWELL on page 18

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

Sunset Library working toward full reopening BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Four months ago today, a gas explosion at a Chandler strip mall forced the Sunset Branch Library to close. It has yet to fully reopen. Library Manager Rachelle Kuzyk says it should be open soon, most likely in January and by no later than February. “There was an entire wall in the building that had to be taken down,” Kuzyk said. “A water main broke in the building because of the explosion directly next door, so we lost, $20-to-$30,000 worth of material because it was just completely saturated from the one wall that abutted against that shared driving space of the building that blew up.” The wall has been rebuilt and painted. Library employees still had to put the shelving back up and then put all the materials back in place as of Dec. 15. In addition to the wall, Kuzyk said a lot of work had to be done on the building’s roof. The impact of the explosion caused the suspended lights inside the building to become twisted. The t-bar ceiling also had to be replaced. That’s the false ceiling found in many office buildings that hides pipes and ducts that run under the roof. Crews also needed to dry out the carpet after the pipe burst and had to replace some areas that were damaged. “It’s just kind of a little bit of a lot of work over the last few weeks,” Kuzyk said. The Sunset Library was damaged

Chandler Public Library Sunset Branch Manager Sue Van Horne shows some of the books and other items displaced within the library by an explosion in August next door. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Aug. 26 when a gas line exploded at the Platinum Printing shop in the neighboring strip mall. Four men were injured in the blast and the eastern half of the mall was destroyed. Kuzyk said Sunset was one of their busiest locations before the explosion so the closure has been a hardship for the residents who rely on that branch. “When you consider … use by square foot, Sunset is our busiest library,” she said. “It’s a much smaller building than

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[the main library], but it rivals the activity that we see here.” One regular patron of the library said she feels the staff has done an excellent job despite the hardship. “The library feels like it’s been open because I can still reserve anything that I want,” said Connie Dunham of Tempe. “They have a variety of things you can go through and check out. I found an audio book that sounds like it will be fun.” To help fill the gap because of the

closure, the library has been offering lobby service to residents since about two weeks after the blast. People can place a hold on whatever item they want to check out, then pick it up between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. six days a week. It’s the same service they offered when the pandemic forced the library to shut down. “Fingers crossed, we’re a monthish out from the library being able to reopen,” Kuzyk said.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

Chandler libraries still charging late fees BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and Maricopa County libraries all have dropped the late fee for returning overdue items but Chandler still charges tardy users. But there’s a chance that could end in 2022. “Valley libraries are starting to pick this up. I don’t think that Chandler wants to be the only library still continuing to be charging fines for any long period of time,” said Rachelle Kuzyk, the manager of the Chandler Library. She said her staff has submitted a decision packet on what the loss of revenue from the late fees would mean for the budget as city officials continue to work on spending plans for the coming fiscal year. It would be up to the City Council to decide if whether to drop the overdue fees or not and the decision could become part of its action on the 202223 budget. Kuzyk said the overdue fees bring in about $40,000 to $50,000 in revenue annually. Most library items can be checked out for three weeks in Chandler. Late fees range from 20 cents a day to a dollar a day, depending on the item (books are 20 cents, DVDs are a dollar). The maximum fine is $10, or half the cost of replacing the item, whichever is less. “Back in the very beginning of my

Rachelle Kuzyk, the manager of the Chandler Library, said it is up to City Council to decide whether late fines should be ended. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

library career, libraries used to charge for memberships,” Kuzyk said. “Libraries and communities are realizing that it’s not really an incentive for people to bring material back in time.” She said the way they serve the public has also changed. People who check out e-books online never have to worry

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about paying a late fee because the platform automatically return the item on its due date. “Fine collection has definitely decreased in general because of e-content use,” Kuzyk said. “I think it’s something that at this point it is something we can consider asking the Council to remove.”

She said the pandemic has caused many of their members to make the switch from traditional books to e-books. That’s when they noticed a steep decline in the revenue they were collecting from overdue fees. Kuzyk said if the Council does take this step, it will not eliminate all fines. “The elimination of fines is specific to overdue fines,” she said. “Any damaged materials, lost items, processing fees, inter-library loan fees, those are not going away.” The potential downside to eliminating overdues fees is that people hold on to those items longer. If it’s a popular item and others are waiting, that could be a problem. Kuzyk said she would appeal to everyone to realize there may be others waiting and to return it on time even if they don’t have to worry about the fine. She said there is also a humanitarian aspect to eliminating late fees. “During economic difficult times, like COVID or when you have the market’s bubble crashing, and people are out of work and things, libraries become more important during those periods of time than they are periods of prosperity.” “Not having fines while people are experiencing difficulty, is, I think, a way for the city to support its community.” Some of the Valley cities that killed late fees also did it for another reason: encourage people to read books.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

from page 1

and both Chandler Unified and Kyrene school districts’ requests for a budget override. Committees of dozens of citizens recommended five bond proposals totaling about $272 million. Voters approved all five with 66 percent or more voting in favor. The five areas getting the money are parks and recreation, police, fire, transit and facilities. It was the first time that city officials asked voters for money to maintain their existing buildings. One of the priorities for the fire department is rebuilding Station 2, which is the busiest in the city. The police plan to add a crime lab with their money. CUSD has been given an override to exceed the state’s spending limit by 15 percent for three decades. This year’s authorization passed with 56 percent support. Kyrene’s override passed by more than 60 percent. 10. Council considers non-discrimination ordinance. Chandler is the largest city in Arizona without a non-discrimination ordinance that protects LGBTQ people. In an early vote,

Some Chandler faces of 2021 include, from left, Frank Narducci, Chandler Unified's first new superintendent in 25 years; Officer Christopher Farrar, killed in the line of duty; and new City Manager Joshua Wright. (File photos)

month search for a replacement by naming Joshua Wright to the position in July. He was the assistant city manager and had been running the city in the interim after Reed’s resignation. He has worked in Chandler since 2017 and served previously as the town manager in Wickenburg for five years.

facts or have been addressed. Meanwhile, the city updated its master plan for the airport’s future development as officials intensified efforts to make it more of an economic engine in the region. The city also named a manager of the airport to help make that dream a reality.

8. New leadership at CUSD. Ca-

6. CUSD confronts COVID-19. The Chandler Unified School District was one of the first to reopen classrooms, starting classes on Jan. 19. It was a controversial decision as most people were still not vaccinated and many teachers showed up to protest the decision. The Governing Board voted 3-2 to reopen schools. That was the same vote that opposed a mask mandate for CUSD schools when they reopened to start this school year. Both decisions led to angry remarks at board’s meetings from both sides of the issue.

mille Casteel had led Chandler Unified

Intel CEO Patrick P. Gelsinger in March unveiled his company's $20 billion plan to expand the Ocotillo campus, bringing thousands of jobs to Chandler. (File photo)

five council members appeared to be against adopting such an ordinance and only two in favor. Chandler is resisting where other cities have already adopted one. Mesa approved one in March, Scottsdale in April, Glendale in May. Council members OD Harris and Matt Orlando signaled they were ready to do the same, but their five colleagues opposed. Instead, they wanted to back a proclamation that could not be enforced. For now, the city has commissioned a study, postponing that fight until 2022.

9. Change at City Hall. City Manager

Marsha Reed kicked off the new year by announcing she would step down only a week into 2021. By March, she was gone. She had been the top executive in Chandler since 2016 and had worked in public service for nearly four decades. City Council concluded its five-

School District for so long she even had a high school named in her honor. She was the district’s superintendent for 25 of her 50 years working at CUSD. The CUSD Governing Board announced this month it has selected Frank Narducci to replace her through at least the 2023-24 school year.

7. Chandler Airport good news, bad news. Tragedy struck when a

new father and a young flight instructor were killed when their helicopter collided with a small plane mid-air at the airport. Around that same time, a retired Chandler Fire captain and a flight controller echoed earlier concerns by a pilot about safety issues, including the department’s ability to respond quickly to emergencies. Fire Chief Tom Dwiggins said his department takes the concerns they’ve raised seriously, but contended that those concerns either do not match the

5. Housing market soars. Chandler’s housing market was in turmoil for buyers, who were frustrated by double-digit price increases while sellers stayed in the catbird seat with multiple offers on properties – many exceeding list price. Adding to buyers’ frustration was a dearth of inventory of re-sale homes while homebuilders grappled with supply-chain disruptions that made it difficult to keep up with high demand. 4. Intel $20 billion expansion.

Semiconductor giant Intel made good in September on its promise to spend $20 billion to expand its Ocotillo campus. It began work to add two more factories, which they call fabs, to their existing four as one way of addressing the worldwide chip shortage. The expansion will bring thousands more high-paying jobs to the city. It is the largest private investment in Arizona history. Officials said they would need to hire between 3,000 and 5,000 for construction. The company then plans to hire 3,000 more to join its workforce of 12,000 already working at the plant.

3. Gas explosion injures four.

Brothers Andrew and Dillon Ryan were working at their Chandler business, Platinum Printing, at Ray and Kyrene roads with their friend Parker Milldebrandt the morning of Aug. 26 when a massive gas explosion injured them.

Glenn Jordan was working at his shop two stores down from Platinum Printing during the explosion. He was also injured in the blast. The type of natural gas pipe used near the business was misidentified by Southwest Gas personnel, according to a spokesman for the utility. The misidentification exempted the pipe from remediation efforts made by the company to replace or abandon any pipe sections that were at risk. To date, more than $250,000 has been raised through GoFundMe to help cover the medical costs for the four men.

2. Chandler officer fatally shoots teen. Soon after the new year began a

Chandler police officer shot a 17-yearold boy who was trying to flee. The shooting came months after the summer of protests over police shootings. Anthony Cano rode his bicycle across both lanes of traffic with no headlight on Jan. 2. Police officer Chase Bebak-Miller turned on his car’s lights to make a traffic stop. Cano fled on foot running toward Gazelle Meadows Park. While running, Cano is seen on body cam footage tossing a gun away from himself. Bebak-Miller fired two shots, the second one when the teen was face down on the ground. The video footage does not show Cano turning and aiming the gun at the officer. The teen died three weeks after the shooting. The city agreed to pay Cano’s parents $1.1 million. The shooting led to community protests and calls for Bebak-Miller’s termination and prosecution. The Maricopa County Attorney’s office has not made a determination if they will pursue charges against Bebak-Miller or not.

1. Chandler officer killed by fleeing suspect. Christopher Farrar, an

18-year veteran of the Chandler Police Department, was killed after a suspect chase on April 29. The 50-year-old was the first Chandler police officer killed in the line of duty in seven years. The suspect, 25-year-old Jonathan Altland of Tolleson, led officers on a chase from Eloy to Gilbert before it ended at a car dealership. He is accused of using a vehicle to injure four officers, including Farrar. Altland has been charged with murder and prosecutors have announced they intend to seek the death penalty.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

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who have filed their intent to run may change their mind and drop out. Unlike 2018, the mayor’s race may be contested. Mayor Kevin Hartke is being challenged so far by Ruth Jones. She intends to make Hartke’s opposition to a non-discrimination ordinance a campaign issue. “I remember citizens that felt excluded and weren’t able to walk into the same place I was,” Jones said of her youth after the Civil Rights Act was adopted, but not always followed. “That’s wrong. I also remember in the ’70s, and the people who didn’t want the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] passed because it was too much of a hassle, it would cost businesses money. And that wasn’t right either.” Chandler is the largest city in Arizona that has not passed a non-discrimination ordinance after both Mesa and Scottsdale approved such laws last year. Chandler is currently conducting a study that is expected to take six months, looking at the need, or not, for a NDO. When it came before Council last year, Hartke signaled he would prefer a non-binding proclamation over an ordinance. The topic is also likely to be a key issue in the race for the three council seats. Orlando is one of two current members who support a NDO, the other being OD Harris. Of the other eight candidates to file the intention to run, one – Alex Chuang – has since said he’s changed his mind and will not run. He could, of course,

change it again before April. The others, in alphabetical order, are Joseph Curbelo, Angel Encinas, Darla Gonzalez, Craig Mears, Cody Newcomb, Jane Poston and Farhana Shifa. Any candidate who gets more than 50 percent of the votes in the primary will be elected outright. If one or two candidates fall below the 50 percent threshold, they will advance to the November election, based on a formula. Candidates have until April 4 to turn in their petitions. Primary election day is Aug. 4. Voters will also be deciding many statewide races, including a new governor since Gov. Doug Ducey is termed out. Here are some other issues likely to be in the news in 2022:

The pandemic

Even if a third new variant of COVID doesn’t materialize, the current variants coronavirus likely will continue to impact Chandler, though not nearly in the way it did in the early months of 2021, when classrooms were closed and many businesses were seriously hobbled. One of the first acts by the Legislature in the session that begins a week from tomorrow, Jan. 10, could quickly pass – in a way that doesn’t violate the state constitutional – of a ban on mask and vaccine mandates, which Ducey is almost certain to sign into law. The latest data from the county health department show COVID levels in Chandler are almost as high as they were when 2021 began, with a citywide See

PREVIEW on page 11

The I-10 Broadway Curve overhaul starts in earnest this year and will have a huge impact on Chandler commuters. (File photo)

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

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Hate crimes rose in latest year’s FBI data BY OLIVIA MUNSON Cronkite News

Hate crimes in Arizona in 2020 were the highest reported since 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, according to new FBI statistics, but advocates and experts say many more hate crimes mostly likely were unreported. According to the FBI’s voluntary Uniform Crime Report, Arizona recorded 282 hate crimes in 2020, continuing an upward trend from 2019 and registering one of the highest in the past 30 years. Nationally, hate crimes increased to 8,263 in 2020 from 7,287 in 2019, according to the data. The rise in 2020 occurred alongside spikes in political and racial divisions in the United States, with deep conflicts over such issues as immigration, police mistreatment of people of color and COVID-19 pandemic. “When we demonize groups, unfortunately, what happens then is that some people take that as permission to go out and commit a hate crime,” said Jack McDevitt, director of the Institute for Race and Justice at Northeastern

University. In another alarming trend, fewer police departments sent data on hate crimes to the FBI reporting system, or reported the number of crimes as zero, leading many to believe that the 2020 numbers are not a complete picture of the problem. Of the 125 law enforcement agencies in Arizona, only 81 sent in data to the FBI’s reporting system. The 2019 report used data from 92 agencies. In 2020, 15,138 of 18,625 law enforcement agencies across the country submitted data, compared with 15,772 of 18,674 in 2019. “The vast majority of agencies around the country … affirmatively report to the FBI that they had zero hate crimes in 2020,” said Michael Lieberman, senior policy counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center. “Only 2,389 of the 15,138 reported one or more hate crimes, so obviously the numbers are incomplete.” The FBI defines a hate crime as “a committed criminal offense which See

HATE on page 11

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

HATE

is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender’s bias(es) against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.” In Arizona, crimes motivated by race, ethnicity and ancestry made up the majority of hate crimes in 2020, accounting for 198 of the 282 incidents reported. Of the racially motivated hate crimes, Black Americans reported the most, accounting for 114 of the total 198. Crimes against Hispanics or Latinos was the second highest reported, with 31, followed by whites, with 29. Carlos Galindo-Elvira, director of community engagement and partnerships for Chicanos Por La Causa, called the data alarming and said “one hate crime is too many.” “Hate crimes are message crimes,” he said. “While there may be a victim or victims of the crime, it is a clear message to the rest of the community: ‘You are not wanted here,’ ‘We do not like your kind.’ That has to be terrifying for the individual, but also for the community at large.” Religious bias was the second most-frequent reason for hate crimes in Arizona, with 36 (13%). Marc Krell, associate regional direc-

tor of the Anti-Defamation League of Arizona, said rhetoric from state and local political levels has heightened hate. In September, state Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, likened COVID-19 vaccines to the Holocaust and tweeted an image of needles in the shape of a swastika. “This is an example of people having a platform,” Krell said. “When we see this kind of messaging coming out of elected officials, it is very troubling because it sets an example for people that this is OK.” Sexual orientation remained as the third most-frequent reason for hate crimes, with 33 in Arizona in 2020. Fourth was crimes against gay men, with 25. Nationally, hate crimes against Asians increased to 279 in 2020, up from 161 in 2019. This comes in the wake of anti-Asian rhetoric surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, including former President Donald Trump referring to the virus as “kung flu” and “Wuhan virus.” In Arizona, 4 hate crimes targeting Asians were reported in 2020, up from 1 in 2019. But these statistics show an incomplete picture of how many hate crimes occur in the country, advocates and experts say. “The extent of the undercount is hard to tell,” McDevitt said. In some cases, victims do not report.

Lieberman said there are many reasons why people do not report, including fear of police, language barriers, documentation status and LGBTQ+ individuals who have not “come out” to family or colleagues. Galindo-Elvira said some victims may not recognize that the crime committed against them was a hate crime. And in other cases, McDevitt said, hateful behavior occurs but isn’t considered a crime by law enforcement. “Sometimes we think of things that are hurtful, and we’d like to report those but they don’t qualify as crimes,” he said. Additionally, the FBI’s data collection system is voluntary, and an agency is counted even if it reports zero hate crimes. In 2020, Phoenix had the most reported hate crimes in the state, with 187, up from 151 in 2019. Glendale, Chandler and Gilbert reported several incidents each. “The safety of our community is the top priority for the Phoenix Police Department, and we have a team of detectives dedicated to investigating crimes motivated by bias,” police spokesperson Ann Justus said in an email. “We are aware of the UCR data, and we constantly evaluate crime trends in an effort to decrease the victimization of our community members.”

To decrease hate crimes nationally and in Arizona, advocates and experts said, more needs to be done to educate the public and provide support to those who have been victimized. “Fear motivates people who are committing hate crimes,” Galindo-Elvira said, “but fear also holds people back from reporting.” Galindo-Elvira said Chicanos Por La Causa seeks to help victims by speaking out against hate and supporting victims in times of need. Local leaders and government officials throughout the state should speak out against hate and insist that it is not normalized, he said, “because when you’re silent, it gives an opportunity for believed permission.” “It’s incumbent upon all of us to shine a light against hate, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric to ensure that we have a society that embraces all and embraces diversity,” he said. McDevitt echoed similar sentiments, adding that “diversity in our communities makes us stronger, it doesn’t make us weaker.” “As a society, we have to understand that hate crimes can tear us apart,” he said. “If we don’t take them seriously and we don’t react to them positively, our communities are going to fall apart.”

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Popular names for newborns have radically changed Mia are still in the Top 10. And you won’t find an Ashley in the entire Top 100 list.

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

So what makes parents who grew up with people named Jacob, Anthony and Daniel want to name their newborn boys Liam? Or choose Olivia for their baby girls even though women of child-bearing age are more likely to be familiar with Ashley, Samantha and Emma? Sometimes it’s literature or old-fashioned names, particularly for girls. The names for boys tend to be less volatile from year to year, with a perennial emphasis on those found in the Good Book. Think Old Testament prophets and figures like Daniel and Noah and New Testament disciples and saints like James and Sebastian. But why are there sudden shifts? Who knows? Consider: This year in Arizona the ninth most popular name for new boys was Ezekiel. Five years ago, it came in at 96; in 2011 it didn’t even crack the Top 100. Or, for girls, Gianna. Five years ago it placed only No. 80. This year it rose to No. 12. But the bigger shock comes when looking back to when the new parents of today were being named by their parents. Or even when their parents – the current crop of grandparents –were choosing names for them. Some names withstand the test of time. Some 45 years ago, more Arizonans chose Michael for their new baby boy

In 45 years, the names given newborns in Arizona has changed significantly, state records show. Here’s a comparison of the top 10 boys and top 10 girls names between 1976 and 2021.

1976 BOYS

than any other. And while its popularity has waxed and waned over the years, it still is in the Top 20 this year. William was in the Top 20 as were more ``traditional’’ names like David, Robert, Joseph, Mathew, Richard and Anthony. Even 20 years later, the list of the most popular names had not changed a lot, though there were some less traditional ones starting to sneaking in, like Tyler, Austin and Brandon. And they didn’t last long, with nary a Tyler, Austin or Brandon anywhere in this year’s Top 100. Instead, after Liam, we get Noah, Mateo, Oliver and Sebastian rounding out the top of the list.

For girls, however, the situation is much more subject to change. Let’s start with this year’s crop of new grandparents. Back in 1976, their parents chose names for them like Jennifer, Melissa, Amy, Michele and Heather. None of those names even cracked the Top 100 this year in Arizona. Want to talk more recent? Let’s talk about what happened when all those Jennifers, Melissas and all grew up? If they were having babies in 1996, they chose names like Ashley, Samantha, Emma, Mia and Emily for their newborn girls. And now? Of those, only Emma and

1. Michael 2. Jason 3. Christopher 4. David 5. Robert 6. James 7. Daniel 8. John 9. Brian 10. Matthew

GIRLS

1. Jennifer 2. Melissa 3. Amy 4. Michelle 5. Heather 6. Jessica 7. Lisa 8. Angela 9. Stephanie 10. Shannon

2021 Liam Noah Mateo Oliver Sebastian Elijah Benjamin Santiago Ezekiel Julian Olivia Emma Sophia Camila Isabella Mia Charlotte Amelia Ava Luna

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

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notMYkid opens oasis for troubled youth BY ALEX GALLAGHER Staff Writer

As a mental health epidemic threatens children, teens and young adults, Scottsdale nonprofit notMYkid has opened a new oasis for them – a 13,000-square-foot campus called “The Well.” And it’s a dream of mental health advocate and educator Katey McPherson of Chandler that something like it could ojne day become a reality in Chandler. The wellness center operated by notMYkids aids people ages 10-24 confronting mental, emotional and social-emotional problems through educational and mentoring programs, counseling and much more. Their families also receive support through The Well. The Well’s opening late last year comes at a time when a coalition of the nation’s leading experts in pediatric health declared that the mental health crisis among children so dire that it has become a national emergency. The declaration was penned by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children’s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, which together represent more than 77,000 physicians and 200 children’s hospitals. A recent survey by Mental Health America found 54 percent of kids 11 to 17 years old reported frequent suicidal

notMYkid’s sprawling new campus in Scottsdale is a haven for troubled Valley teens and young adults to seek help. (David Minton/ Staff Photographer)

thoughts or self-harm in the previous two weeks – the highest rate since it began screening in 2014. The pandemic has further exacerbated the problem, which already had been fueled by social media, bullying, the pressure to succeed in school and other pressures, experts say. “Some kids had already felt a sense of social disconnection and when COVID-19 shut down schools, sports and extracurricular activities, that prob-

lem became magnified,” said notMYkid spokesman Shane Watson. “The pandemic amplified all of that with the uncertainty, anxiousness and social disconnection, we took note of that need and we saw that there is a lack of these programs out there for these kids.” notMYkid has been working for over 20 years to break down the denial parents can face about their kids’ mental health challenges.

“The initial message of notMYkid is breaking down that naivety where parents are in denial that their kids are not struggling,” said Watson. “We want to flip the term notMYkid and allow parents to gain all the knowledge, tools and resources they can provide for their kids.” The Well will serve as the next major resource for troubled youth. See

MYKID on page 24

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

officer, nurse, attendance clerk, assistant principal, principal and counselors. She said the team assessed children and identified those who needed some intervention based on three different levels of anxiety, depending on what life-changing situations they were trying to deal with. “I am a bit baffled that CUSD is not utilizing this proven model with a mountain of success data behind it,” McPherson told Narducci, noting that if the district does that for academics, it should also be doing it to aid students’ mental and emotional well-being.

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eled Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money. Narducci told McPherson, “We can never take prevention lightly. We will review the information you have sent and in the process of conducting threat assessment protocols across our district. “This was something that our Safety team has been involved with coming out of last year and going into this year,” he continued. “We will review the scope of work that is in place and see where we can strengthen our threat assessment planning based on the additional information you provided.” He also said the district already has allocated some of its ESSER money “for intensive intervention work at our most vulnerable school sides” and that “we have increased our staffing to include social media review, analysis, etc.” CUSD spokesman Terry Locke told this newspaper: “We appreciated receiving information from Mrs. McPherson just before the break. We will review the information as we continue to discuss our protocols of conducting threat assessments. This includes reviewing the scope of work that she identified.” McPherson identified several “blind spots” as she urged Narducci to develop “a more comprehensive and collaborative approach and provide a district-wide plan that addresses the needs of the entire CUSD community and not just a select few. “There is a need to be proactive and not reactive,” she said. “This is an opportunity for true change and not just ‘thoughts and prayers.’” The areas she identified included:

Chandler mom and educator Katey McPherson warns CUSD.

• “Social media containment and leakage reporting.” She said children “need to be reminded on an ongoing basis on the principles of social media responsibility and how to report students that are escalating. They need to know the warning signs of classmates that are posting violent and/or self-harm material and when and how to report in anonymous ways that align with the teen brain.” Along with this, McPhekrson said, CUSD needs to increase parent awareness “around not sharing, re-sharing, and inciting more chaos during a crisis or potential lockdown.”She said Chandler Police and other experts can help the district. • Behavioral health teams/multi-disciplinary mental health teams. McPherson said when she worked at Gilbert Public Schools, there were weekly meetings of a team that included a special education lead teacher, police

• Threat assessment protocol and interventions. McPherson said the Oxford High shooting “showcases that without comprehensive threat assessment training for adults AND preparedness training for students, this could very likely happen here. The kids at Oxford HS knew exactly what to do when that shooting occurred because they had been extensively trained. The adults were scrambling and still are.” She explained, “Assessing a student for self-harm or suicide is much different than assessing someone for the pathway to violence.” The shooter in the Oxford case appeared to be suicidal to counselors, she said, “and due to lack of evidence of a concrete plan, kill list, threat, he was dismissed alongside of the graphic drawing and research of ammo as a video game designer, and the adults bought it.” “Behavioral Threat Assessment is a fact-based, systematic process designed to identify, inquire, assess, and manage potentially dangerous or violent subjects,” McPherson wrote, noting the difference between “an individual who makes a threat versus one who poses a threat.

“Threat Assessment teams and programs are designed to address any behavior or communication that raises concern that a person or situation may pose a danger to the safety of the school, campus, or workplace,” she said, noting the district needs to implement both “behavioral threat assessments and vulnerability assessments.” The latter “focuses on the facility, policies, and procedures, not individuals” and “should be scheduled and conducted on a periodic basis to examine the security of the physical plant, the daily operational practices, and to detect potential vulnerabilities or risks.” • Environmental analysis and approach to student wellness supports. McPherson asked Narducci if there are “student voices present at our tables of decisions and policy making?” “Has anyone formally surveyed their wellness or asked what students think and what impact the pandemic or the world has on them? Are there cross sections of the student body present and equitably represented on District committees about student wellness? Many neighboring districts have asked the question and used a well-being survey metric to analyze where they are doing well and what potential pitfalls or blind spots they may have.” She urged Narducci to contact several local, internationally renowned experts on student wellness and that “a comprehensive framework and evidence-based model with training that is embedded in the culture of the school” would outlast any changes in personnel and that new employees could be trained in using it. “There are many things we do well in CUSD,” she said. “This is one we cannot afford to get wrong.”

Chandler teens study peers’ mental health SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

For more than 10 years, Chandler residents Chandan and Shamala Chickmenahalli have been working to develop “STEM belongingness” among K-12 children in the Valley. They also are creating learning opportunities for underprivileged children in the state of Assam in India, one of that country’s poorest regions, by building libraries there and already have one branch in operation. Their activities both here and in India are unified by a concern for students’ mental health. Shamala, the mother of twin teenagers and a professor of electrical engineering at Arizona State University, said she and her husband have felt a particularly strong urgency about addressing children’s and teens’ mental health ever since the pandemic began. So Shamala has undertaken a research project that involved four Chandler teens and a student in Illinois that had them examine and write about the pandemic’s impact on them, particularly their mental health. She also wanted the student participants to learn something beyond

Chandler students, from left, Saba Shakir, Sthuthi Das, Sripriya Srinivas and Karthik Srinivas worked with Chandler professor Shamala Chickamenahalli on a project that examine teens’ mental health and how it was impacted by the pandemic. Not pictured is a fifth student who is Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at in Chandler, Arizona.

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

expressing their experiences. “The focus of this work was to enable the teens understand the research process, learn the elements

of a research survey based on their topic, use clear and objective process in making up their questions, learn to discuss and implement feedback from

experts in the field, brainstorm ways to gather survey responses, learn analysis methods to study survey results and represent their results using graphical methods and tools,” she said. She also hopes the ongoing study will yield insights into teens’ mental health and develop an action plan than can “be communicated to community, city, state and national levels.” The local teens included: Sripriya Srinivas and Karthik Srinivas, students at Horizon Honors High School in Ahwatukee; Hamilton High students Sthuthi Das and Saba Shakir; and Akshay Harish, a recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. “We saw our peers struggling with declining mental health, unhealthy addictions to both substances and video games, panic attacks and anxiety, and the effect of social media on teens’ bodies and to the extent of affecting who they are as individuals – so we asked ourselves what we could do to help,” they wrote in their research paper. They developed a questionnaire that people between the ages of 14 and 19 See

STEM on page 19

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

The Arizona Board of Regents is asking that Attorney General Mark Brnovich be investigated and disciplined by the state agency that regulates lawyers. In a complaint obtained by Capitol Media Services, board Chairman Larry Penley accused Brnovich, who strictly speaking is the legal counsel for the board and the universities, of actively criticizing and actually filing lawsuits against them. Penley told the State Bar of Arizona all that violates rules governing lawyers’ ethical conduct. That starts an investigation which could result in anything from no action through a reprimand or even a suspension or revocation of his ability to practice law. And if those last options were the outcome, Brnovich would lose his job because the Arizona Constitution requires that the attorney general be a licensed attorney. Brnovich disqualified himself last month from arguing a case against the regents and Arizona State University based on the complaint. Penley said this isn’t just some isolated incident. “Over the past two years, Brnovich has mounted a litigation and media campaign against the board and Arizona’s public universities,’’ Penley wrote, particularly Arizona State University. “He has done so despite representing the Board of Regents and the universities in numerous pending lawsuits,’’ the complaint states. “And he has done so without seeking ABOR’s consent to the conflict and in fact over our repeated objections to his breach of his fundamental duty of loyalty.’’ Penley cited a failed lawsuit Brnovich filed against the university system over what he contends is illegally high tuition. “He threatened to ‘unleash the dogs of war’ ‘’ if ABOR did not succeed in getting the lawsuit thrown out, Penley said. There also were what Penley called “mocking comments’’ in emails sent to ASU president Michael Crow and

insults like calling board members “gimmicky yobs’’ and “ivory tower cake eaters.’’ “He has falsely claimed that he talked to ABOR before making these accusations,’’ Penley continued. “And he insists that ABOR is not his client with respect to COVID-19 matters, even though his office is charged by statute with representing ABOR in any pandemic-related tort, employment or other covered risk management claims.’’ A spokesman for Brnovich, who is running to be the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022, said he is precluded from responding publicly to the Bar complaint. A similar complaint was filed last year by Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. In that case, Hobbs said that the attorney general’s office had represented her agency, received confidential attorney-client communications and provided advice “and then withdrawn from representation and appeared in the same litigation on behalf of a different party asserting a position materially adverse to the secretary of state.’’ That complaint is still pending. Penley told the Bar the board did not take the action lightly. “AG Brnovich’s threats and insults are beneath the dignity of his office and are blatant violations of the standards of civility and professionalism that apply to all Arizona lawyers,’’ he wrote. “His initiation and aggressive pursuit of two major lawsuits against ABOR has been, and remains unethical.’’ Penley said the board wants the State Bar to investigate “and take appropriate disciplinary action.’’ The 22-page complaint -- 110 pages with supporting documentation -- is full of specifics of how the regents believe that Brnovich has violated his obligations to his client. “Because AG Brnovich’s statements go far beyond simply announcing the facts and theories of the litigation to attack the character and competence of ABOR and ASU, they can easily be used by plaintiffs in unrelated cases to undermine the credibility of the AG’s defense of ABOR in those cases,’’ he said.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

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from page 2

from home. And there were those who wanted to make sure that they weren’t waiting longer to achieve their dreams and just decided to pull the trigger and get it done. So, I think it’s surprised most everybody.” “I haven’t seen a market like this, certainly, at this kind of sustained clip that we have seen….Just when we think it might be cooling a little bit, the market picks up again.” Fueled by high demand, a historically low inventory and a huge migration of people to Arizona, “it’s just been a very, very strong market this past year,” Hollman said. “A lot of people are looking to move up, a lot of people are looking to move into areas that they desired for a long time but couldn’t do so because of their job location and now they’re able to. And certainly, it’s been a more difficult market for first-time buyers and people trying to get into the market because they’ve been worried about the increasing prices.” The market also has put new demands on Realtors, Hollman said. “It’s caused us to concentrate on making sure that we were representing” their clients in “the best possible way,” he said, explaining that “the hot market has increased the need for agent expertise as an advisor and that’s something that we have worked hard and definitely fulfilled.” He noted that the market has “been particularly more difficult for buyers because of the number of offers that are out there. We’ve made sure that we have the proper …continuing education for agents to make sure that they were able to get the best possible situation for their buyers.” Even so, “it’s been difficult for entry level buyers,” Hollman said. “And of course, you have situations where people need to sell in order to move up and buy a house, which can cause some difficulties. So, you have to navigate around that process and we’ve worked very diligently to make sure that that is the best possible scenario for everybody involved.” He said Coldwell Banker during much of the pandemic “also brought tech to the forefront to help with what was going on during that time period, such as remote closings and things that we had to do in order to help the transaction close and the safety of those involved in the transaction.” Turning to next year, Hollman said, “They are predicting price increases on a national basis for markets across the country and I believe that we’re going to have a lot of buyers out there.” You still have people who were sitting on the sidelines waiting in their perception for the market to slow little bit because some of them had put in multiple offers multiple times and had not won the property.” In addition, the new-home market can barely keep pace, partly because of demand and a worker shortage and also because supply chain disruptions are “delaying getting homes from breaking ground all the way to the marketplace.” And while he wouldn’t call the state recession-proof, he noted, “Arizona has had a lot of people desiring to

Greg Hollman

long term with “theI think companies that are

moving here, the jobs that come with that, and the level of livability you have here in Arizona, I think it bodes well, for the future.

”

– Greg Hollman

move here from other states. And even in relation to many places, while the prices have been increased significantly, when you compare them to some other metro areas, we’re still a good value. “I think long term with the companies that are moving here, the jobs that come with that, and the level of livability you have here in Arizona, I think it bodes well, for the future.” “I think could continue to be a tight market for the foreseeable future here,” he added. “You have people moving in from other areas, you have people who want to retire here. And the good news is that more jobs brings increased buying power for consumers. So that’s an absolute positive in this whole scenario.” But one possible no-so-positive scenario confronts first-time buyers, he suggested – at least for those who don’t want a long commute. Given rising prices in the markets close to Phoenix, they might have to look farther for an affordable home. “I tell people within my own family who are first-time buyers: start where you can,” Hollwell explained, calling it a “stepping stone process.” “I think that you need to be prepared as a first-time buyer and working with a very, very strong agent and know that you might not get the first home you want,” he said. “You’ve been on even the second or third, but be tenacious about it don’t give up and have faith in the process.” He also expects Realtors will be busy next year. “Our Coldwell Banker stats show us the first time buyers are putting other milestone situations on hold – like weddings and other things – in order to buy a home and homeownership is being prioritized with millennial buyers. So they’re kind of working on what’s important to them.”

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

STEM

from page 16

could answer anonymously that probed how the respondents’ mental health was impacted by their home life, substance abuse, technology and remote learning and the loss of family members of friends during the pandemic. To find respondents, they posted the questionnaires on social media sites and handed them out at gyms and stores. They also posted them at the Chickmenahallis’ website for their library project in India, chandanshamalalibrary. com because they sought an interna-

PREVIEW

from page 11

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. While ADOT says it will do its best to not create many rush hour disruptions, they are inevitable. And ADOT believes that many motorists will start to hit Chandler’s major east-west arterials to avoid lengthy freeway tie-ups created by traffic using the 101 to reach the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway. It’s not just daily commuters likely to feel the impact: getting to and from Sky Harbor may have some wondering if they should have just walked to or from wherever they were trying to reach by plane. ADOT has posted plenty of helpful tips – including alternative rotues – at i10broadwaycurve.com.

NDO Study

The equity and inclusion study the

tional perspective to their work. The students probed several areas. In response to questions about anxiety, those who answered cited various causes, though nearly half blamed bullying, overprotective parents or other outside influences and three-quarters “who experienced anxiety reported that they have not received help,” they wrote. They reported that a vast majority of respondents claimed that social media and technology “opened up multiple opportunities to stay connected to people and stay involved.” The five students indicated they want to continue their research but

also suggested professionals should also expand on their study and devote time to analyzing teens’ mental health and emotional well-being. They said teens should take up arts and crafts or other hobbies to relieve their mental stress and that “having a good support system can also help.” “Parents can help their kids by helping them find new hobbies and interests while helping with managing time,” they wrote. “They should ask their kids what they think would help most. Schools should teach more about mental health and how to deal with stressful situations. In most schools, psychology is

only an elective option and most people don’t learn anything about mental health unless they take this course. “There should be more resources at schools, since that is where students spend most of their time. Communities can support teenagers by advocating for changes and providing more resources for help and mental health education. We believe that the most important thing to remember is that teenagers all deal with things differently and each person wants support in a different way. Parents, schools, and communities should take teens’ opinions on what they think would help them the most.”

Council ordered to review the city’s policies is expected to take about six months, making it likely to come up for consideration this summer, possibly right around the time of council elections. Supporters say some Chandler residents don’t feel safe or welcome in a city where they can lose their job or be harassed because of their sexual orientation, race, religion or other factor. The business community has rallied in support and the Chandler Chamber of Commerce being one of the most vocal backers. Opponents are most concerned about protections for transgender people and anyone who has religious objections to people with same-sex relationships.

a ripple effect throughout the East Valley economy. The owners have locked out players and stopped all business as a collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated. That could threaten the Cactus League season. The economic impact of an estimated $644 million would hit all areas of the Valley. In 2020 the Cactus League season was cut short because of the pandemic. That early cancellation cost the region $281 million. So an extended work stoppage this year could have a similar impact. The cities hit hardest will be those with spring training facilities, such at Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa and others. Still, some of those tourism dollars are spread throughout the region and Chandler residents who work at one of those facilities could be harmed by drawn-out negotiations.

Higher home prices, rent

Baseball’s labor issues

Chandler doesn’t host a Major League Baseball team’s spring training, but the sport’s labor issues would have

Even if interest rates rise – as they are expected to – existing and new home sale prices likely will remain unaffected and, in fact, continue to rise – as will rents. Look for more homebuilders to get into the build-to-rent trend for standalone houses, as investors see a lucrative, long-term revenue stream less impacted than home sales by the ups and downs of the economy. Another big driver of home sale prices and rents is the steady influx of newcomers into Maricopa County for plenty of reasons, many starting with the word “Intel.” As construction of its two new fab plants continues, the tech giant’s $20 billion project is expected to generate 3,000 jobs within the company and at least 15,000 jobs created by businesses that want to be closer to the action.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

Arizona tax cut can go on ballot, judge rules BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Arizona voters have the legal right to review and override the $1.9 billion tax cut plan that mainly benefits the wealthy approved earlier this year by the Republican-controlled legislature, a judge ruled Wednesday. In a 12-page ruling, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper rejected arguments by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club that the constitutional right of voters to second-guess legislative decisions does not extend to matters involving funds. The judge acknowledged that there is no right to refer tax hikes to the ballot. That is because such a petition drive would deny government the ability to operate. But this case, Cooper said, is different. She said the referendum, if successful, actually would leave the state with more revenue than it needs. So, the outcome of the vote, Cooper noted, would not hamper government operations. Wednesday’s ruling is unlikely to be the last word. Referendum foes are likely to appeal. And even if they lose that legal fight, their attorneys are preparing a backup plan to quash the referendum with arguments that, despite a finding to the contrary by the secretary of state, there are not enough valid signatures on the petitions.

At the heart of the legal fight is the tax cut plan approved on a party-line vote and signed by Gov. Doug Ducey. Under current law, anyone with taxable income up to $26,500 a year pays a tax rate of 2.59%, with those figures doubled for married couples filing jointly. That rate increases in steps, to the point where taxable earnings on individuals

and $30,000 a year at $11. That increases to $96 for those in the $50,000 to $75,000 taxable income range. Bigger benefits kick in at higher income levels. Taxpayers with incomes of $250,000 to $500,000 would see an average $3,071 reduction in what they owe each year, according to the staff analysis.

is a check on the legislative process “toReferendum ensure that legislators do not simply serve the particular interests of a few people, if a majority vote in favor of a referendum, then the matter referred is nulliﬁed and can only become a law if approved by the voters.

’’

– Judge Katherine Cooper

above $159,000 are taxed at 4.5% SB 1828 would impose a single 2.5% tax rate on all incomes beginning in 2025. Legislative budget staffers peg the revenue loss at $1.9 billion a year. Ducey has repeatedly sought to portray the measure as providing a tax cut of about $300 a year for the “average Arizonan.’’ But an analysis of the package by legislative budget staffers put the savings for someone making between $25,000

That increases to more than $7,300 annually for those earning from $500,000 to $1 million. Foes gathered more than the 118,823 valid signatures needed to hold up enactment until voters get the last word. That led to the bid by the Free Enterprise Club to quash a vote as illegal. Cooper disagreed, saying the framers of the Arizona Constitution said voters have “broad authority’’ to prevent adoption of any laws.

“Referendum is a check on the legislative process to ensure that legislators do not simply serve the particular interests of a few people,’’ she wrote. “If a majority vote in favor of a referendum, then the matter referred is nullified and can only become a law if approved by the voters.’’ “It adjusts Arizona’s income tax rates, lowering them over time to a ‘flat tax,’’ the judge said. “It does not set aside any tax revenue of a certain sum for any specified purpose nor does it dictate how agencies use that revenue,’’ Cooper continued. “SB 1828 does not fall under the well-recognized definition of ‘appropriation.’ ‘’ Attorney Kory Langhofer, who represents tax cut foes, already has prepared a litany of what he contends are legal flaws with the petitions that could reduce the number of valid signatures. Among the allegations is that some paid circulators had not registered with the state as required or that they collected signatures before registering. These also are claims that some of the registration forms are missing required information like providing a full address. Any of those would disqualify all the signatures those circulators collected, possibly leaving the petition drive short of the 118,823 valid signatures necessary to force a public vote. Other claims include issues of handwriting irregularities and missing dates or addresses of those who have signed the petitions.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

Around Chandler Sun Lakes GOP will be hosting anti-abortion advocates

The Sun Lakes Republican Club will feature “Empowering Women and Protecting Life” with guest speakers Center for Arizona Policy President Cathi Herrod and Ashley Trussel of Arizona Life Coalition, at its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 in the Navajo Room of the Sun Lakes Country Club, 25601 S. Sun Lakes Blvd., Sun Lakes. The public is invited. State Sen. JD Mesnard, R-Chandler, also speak about the 2022 legislative session and his perspective on the protection of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and balancing the dual concerns of liberty and safety. Also speaking with be Republican Secretary of State candidate Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita and Arizona Corporation Commission candidates Nick Myers and Kevin Thompson Information: slgop.org.

being a leader in the community due to her commitment to her patients, families and staff,” said Kristin Shambro, vice president of the Mesquite Region for Desert Cove’s managing company, Life Care Centers of America. “I love being able to lead a strong team, and we have a strong team here at Desert Cove,” said Schmitz. “I love making a difference in the lives of our seniors and getting to be a part of their home.” Originally from Illinois, Schmitz has a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in music therapy. She currently resides in Mesa with her husband, Eric, and their daughter, Sydney. Desert Cove Nursing Center, located at 1750 W. Frye Road, is one of 10 skilled nursing and rehab facilities in Arizona managed by Life Care Centers of America. Information: lcca.com.

Scholarships for college’s law enforcement program

Corporation Commission approves SRP/Intel project

The last hurdle needed for work to begin on bringing more power to Intel’s Ocotillo campus has been cleared. The Arizona Corporation Commission approved the High-Tech Interconnection Project (HIP) with a unanimous vote on Dec. 16. That clears the way for Salt River Project to build a substation on the Ocotillo campus and connect it to two other substation. Intel needs the additional power to use after it’s done expanding its manufacturing facility. The project is expected to cost Intel $20 billion. Construction is scheduled to start this month.

Chandler nursing home gets new executive director

Desert Cove Nursing Center, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Chandler, has a new executive director. Brianne Schmitz previously was an administrator for two years at North Chandler Place and before that was executive director at Mariposa Point of Gilbert. She has 10 years of experience in senior care, starting in activities. “Brianne has served the East Valley for a number of years and is known for

Chandler-Gilbert Community College has partnered with the Jaxon Foundation to provide financial support for students entering its Law Enforcement Training Academy in January. The Jaxon Foundation was established in January 2020 to recognized the life and goals of Chandler teen Jaxon Fairchild, who died at age 18 last year. When presented with the question of what wish would he like to realize by the Arizona Make-A-Wish granters, he chose to have a scholarship for students to pursue careers in law enforcement. LETA Director Jon Terpay noted that his program is not eligible for financial aid, “so this partnership will ease the financial burden for all of our recruits. With the assistance from the Jaxon Foundation, it will not only fulfill Jaxon’s dreams, but it will carry on to each and every recruit throughout their careers. LETA is a training program for students who are seeking employment as a peace officer in Arizona. The program has partnered with police departments across the East Valley and more than 97 percent of all students who graduate from LETA are currently working as officers across Arizona.

“The program is emotionally, academically and physically challenging and includes instruction in physical criminal law, traffic law, search and seizure, rules of evidence, patrol and observation, domestic violence, cultural awareness, crime scene investigation, crowd control and death investigations,” the college said in a release. The 800+ hour program meets Tuesday and Wednesday nights and all-day Saturday for 11 months. Information: 480-988-8756 or jonathan.terpay@cgc.edu.

Phoenix man charged in Chandler cop’s aerosol assault

A Phoenix man has been accused to spraying a Chandler police officer during a traffic stop that left the patrolman temporarily blind and gasping for air. Frank Zamora was accused of spraying the unidentified officer after he was stopped around noon Dec. 3 near Gilbert and Riggs road. Chandler police said that when the officer asked Zamora for his license and registration, he reached over to the passenger seat and “sprayed him in the face with a substance similar to pepper spray. The officer was temporarily blinded, had difficulty breathing and a burning sensation on his face.” Zamora fled but later was arrested with a passenger at the time. Police learned that when the assaulted officer had stopped Zamora, he was unaware that the suspect had just stolen a case of beer from a nearby supermarket. Zamora, who has a history of shoplifting was charged with a number of felonies and misdemeanors.

New preschool opens in south Chandler, seeks students

Crème de la Crème, a national operator of early education and child care centers has opened a new center in Chandler at 2105 W. Germann Road and is enrolling children. The 21,000-square-foot state-of-theart facility opens next month and will serve children ages 6 weeks-12 years and be open Monday through Friday. Crème de la Crème offers all-inclusive programs for its age groups, flexible

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Alleged career burglar caught by Chandler police

Charles Payne has been arrested by Chandler Police on multiple counts of commercial burglary for the second time in a month, leading the department to accuse him of being “career burglar.” On Nov. 10, Payne was arrested for five burglary counts but was released on his own recognizance the next day. “Within 15 days, he began victimizing businesses in Chandler again,” police said. Chandler Police began looking into a spree of commercial burglaries off Arizona Avenue from Pecos Road to Ocotillo Road between Nov. 26 and Dec. 1. Detectives positively identified Payne as the suspect in all the break-ins through video surveillance and evidence left at the scene. On Nov. 26, police said, Payne entered a restaurant, in the early morning hours, at Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo, damaging cash registers and stealing currency. Four days later at night, he allegedly broke the front window of a restaurant at Arizona Avenue and Pecos, entering the business and damaging cash registers and stealing currency. On Dec. 1, Payne allegedly broke the front window of a coffee shop at Arizona Avenue and Willis, entering the business. Payne located no currency and he left the business. Within minutes of that burglary, he allegedly broke the front window of a small grocery store in the same complex, entering the business, damaging cash registers, and stealing currency. On Dec. 8 Chandler detectives arrested Payne. He was later booked into the Maricopa County Jail on four new burglary counts and held on no-bond status.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

虎年新春晚宴晚会 Chinese New Year Celebration

Tri-City Baptist Church (TBC) and Greater Phoenix Chinese Christian Church (GPCCC) of Chandler, Arizona invite you to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Tiger, on February 4, 2022. 亚利桑那州钱德勒的三城浸信会 (TBC) 和大凤凰城华人基督教会 (GPCCC) 诚邀您于 2022 年 2 月 4 日庆祝中国虎年春节，庆祝活动将在Tri-City Baptist Church 举行 Date: 庆祝活动时间: Time: 门将向公众开放: Location: 庆祝活动地址:

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February 4, 2022.

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NEWS

MYKID

from page 14

“Our board of directors and our CEO recognized the need and the opportunity when this complex became available,” said Watson. “This facility is going to allow us to better serve the community than we ever have before.” The largest way it will do so is by shifting the focus away from prevention to wellness. “While we have been providing prevention, mental health and behavioral health treatment for quite a while, we’re expanding the wellness programs,” said Watson. “Wellness is the focal point now. We’re no longer addressing just the challenges that someone is having, we’re helping them as a whole individual in offering healthy coping skills.” Some of the ways notMYkid is offering kids healthy coping skills is through yoga, meditation, mindfulness and music and art therapy. While notMYkid recognizes that every kid is unique and is going to have a unique circumstance, Watson believes that two programs will resonate well with most kids. “I can see the yoga and meditation beginning to pick up,” he said. “A lot of the kids that we meet that are self-injuring or using drugs and alcohol are trying to quiet their minds down. When you commit yourself to yoga and meditation, it is surprising how much it can

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

help with those issues.” One of the things that makes notMYkid unique is that most of its staff, like Watson, has their own story of how they got sober, which is a major reason Watson believes the peer support program will be a success with kids. “There’s no other program like it in Arizona and not many like it across the country,” Watson said. “There is plenty

people through treatment or education plans. “We are going to customize someone’s treatment specifically for them,” said Watson. “We consider who they are as a human being, what their situation is and what their needs are and giving these kids a voice in their treatment plan is huge.” “We’re trying to help every kid out

We’re trying to help every kid out there reach “ their full potential,” Watson said. “In order to reach their full potential, we’re making sure they’re not being derailed by so many of the challenges that are out there for pre-teens and teens whether it’s substance use, suicide or unsafe online behavior.

”

– Shane Watson

of adult peer support but not among teens. It’s a unique thing that we have that I think is going to change lives.” Watson also feels that the staff’s ability to empathize with the kids and families will help with breaking down any stereotypes. “A lot of our staff has a personal recovery story and knows what it’s like to live with that,” he said. “Not only does it inspire them to want to help other people but it creates that instant rapport and breaks down the walls.” notMYkid also aims to guide young

Chandler Gilbert Arc has been serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the East Valley since 1975, providing community living, community based employment and day services and training. We help people with varying support needs to achieve their fullest potential while improving their quality of life.

When you make a donation to Chandler Gilbert Arc, it will come back to you, dollar for dollar on your Arizona State Taxes. Up to $800/family and $400/individual. www.cgarc.org/donation

Chandler Gilbert Arc 3250 N. San Marcos Pl, Chandler, AZ 85225 (480) 892-9422 Chandler Gilbert Arc is an IRS Section 501 (c)(3) non profit corporation, and is a Qualifying Charitable Tax Organization registered with the Arizona Department of Revenue. Our QCO code is 20245. Contact the Arizona DOR at (602) 255-3381, or visit www.revenue.state.az.us for more information

there reach their full potential,” Watson said. “In order to reach their full potential, we’re making sure they’re not being derailed by so many of the challenges that are out there for pre-teens and teens whether it’s substance use, suicide or unsafe online behavior.” In addition to helping younger individuals, notMYkid will also have resources for parents, such as support groups and mindfulness classes. “When we treat a child and when we help a child, we want to ideally help the entire family,” said Watson. “If we

help that individual change in a healthy way but if their environment does not change, we’re taking that person who has begun healing and putting them back in an environment where there are issues that have not been addressed.” While the end goal for the staff at notMYkid is to equip individuals with healthy coping skills for when they feel overwhelmed by life, the staff considers their jobs well done when they can keep someone alive. “A job well done for us is when we keep someone alive,” said Watson. “We’re watching kids lose their lives to fentanyl overdoses and suicides but it doesn’t just end there. It’s about allowing these kids to thrive and giving them a quality of life.” Even if parents do not fear that their children may have any mental health woes or feel that it is not their kid who would ever feel anxious or depressed or possibly engage in drug and alcohol usage, Watson encourages everyone to investigate the programs that notMYkid has to offer. “Even if families don’t think that they need any of our programs, there doesn’t have to be a crisis that you’re going through to benefit from our programs and is why I encourage everyone to check us out,” he said. “If you can bring your child here before they deal with a challenge and get them connected to these programs, which sets you up for greater success going forward into those teen and adult years.”

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

ANNOUNCING THE SRP ELECTIONS ON APRIL 5 • ANUNCIO DE LAS ELECCIONES DE SRP EL 5 DE ABRIL

• SOLO UBICACIONES DE DEVOLUCIÓN DE BOLETA DE SRP (sin votación, solo entrega de boleta): SRP West Valley Service Center, 221 N. 79th Ave., Tolleson, AZ, 85353, y SRP Southside Water Service Center, 3160 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ, 85210 Abierto solo el día de las elecciones, 5 de abril, 6 a.m.–7 p.m.

You may also vote in person at the SRP Voting Center located at the SRP Administration Building, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 9 through April 4, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, April 5. Positions up for election are President; Vice President; one position on the Board of Governors in each of voting districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 and three positions on the Council in each of voting districts 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. All Association positions have four-year terms. The map above shows the voting boundaries of the Association. In determining eligibility to vote, ownership of qualified land is determined as of Dec. 26, 2021. Lands held in certain trusts may be voted if an individual voter is appointed by the trustee(s) of the trust in accordance with trust voting requirements that can be viewed by visiting the SRP website at srp.net/elections or by calling the SRP Election Information Line at (602) 236-3048. Voters must also be at least 18 years of age. Votes for all positions are cast on an acreage basis. For additional information regarding the 2022 election or how to be added to the Permanent Early Voting List for future elections, visit the SRP website at srp.net/elections. This notice is published by order of the Board of Governors and in accordance with the Association By-Laws.

ELECCIÓN DE ASOCIACIONES PARA USUARIOS DE AGUA DEL VALLE DE SALT RIVER El voto de su asociación le brinda la oportunidad de elegir a los funcionarios que toman decisiones que tienen impacto en la calidad y el costo del agua. El 6 de abril de 2009, la Junta de Gobernadores de la Asociación, eligió instituir el proceso de elección alternativa descrito en el Artículo X, Sección 20 de los Estatutos de la Asociación. Como resultado, las boletas solo se pueden obtener por correo o en el Centro de Votación SRP. Las solicitudes de boletas de votación anticipada se aceptarán a partir del 2 del enero del 2022. Antes de esa fecha, las solicitudes que se colocarán en la Lista Permanente de Votantes Tempranos pueden presentarse y estar en vigor para las elecciones del 5 de abril. Para solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada, visite el sitio web de SRP en srp.net/boletatemprana o llame al (602) 236-3048 de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m. Además, se puede solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada en persona en la Oficina del Secretario Corporativo ubicada en el Edificio Administrativo SRP, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m. Las boletas de votación anticipada se enviarán por correo a partir del 9 de marzo. El último día para solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada es el 25 de marzo a las 5 p.m. Las boletas de votación anticipada pueden devolverse por correo en el sobre sellado con su dirección que se proporciona o en persona en el Centro de Votación de SRP ubicado en el Edificio de Administración de SRP, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, de lunes a viernes, 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m., del 9 de marzo al 4 de abril, y de 6 a.m. a 7 p.m. el día de las elecciones, el 5 de abril. Solo el día de las elecciones, las boletas de votación anticipada también pueden devolverse a cualquiera de los siguientes dos lugares de entrega de boletas fuera del sitio, que estarán abiertos de 6 a.m. a 7 p.m. (sin votación, solo entrega de boletas de

7TH ST.

3RD ST. 5TH ST.

10TH ST.

12TH ST. LONGVIEW AVE. 13TH PL. 14TH ST.

17TH AVE.

4TH AVE.

CENTRAL AVE.

14TH ST. 15TH ST. 16TH ST.

VIRGINIA AVE. OAK ST.

3RD AVE.

19TH AVE.

11TH AVE.

15TH AVE.

ALLEY SOUTH OF CULVER

MC DOWELL RD. PAPAGO FWY.

ROOSEVELT ST.

FILMORE ST.

GARFIELD ST.

20TH ST.

SHERMAN ST.

RIV

PIMA ST.

16TH ST.

PIMA ST.

WATKINS ST.

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LINCOLN ST.

BUCKEYE RD.

DURANGO ST.

APACHE BLVD.

VAN BUREN ST. WASHINGTON ST. 22ND ST.

HARRISON ST.

Phoenix/Scottsdale

OSBORN RD.

24TH ST.

74TH ST.

CANAL

12TH ST.

56TH ST.

62ND ST.

WEBER DR. CURRY RD. GILBERT DR.

MC DOWELL RD.

7TH ST.

SOL CAN IDATED AL

GERMANN RD.

OCOTILLO RD.

CON

QUEEN CREEK RD.

HUNT HWY.

VAN BUREN ST. SUSAN LN.

CURRY RD.

THOMAS RD.

12TH ST.

PRICE RD.

RESERVATION GILA RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION

INDIAN

ALM SCHOOL RD.

N RIVER

Due to small scale, boundaries shown are approximate.

GR CA AN NA D L

ROOSEVELT ST. PAPAGO DR.

7TH AVE.

IO AT RV SE

H UT

Lista 1: Identificación con foto, que incluya nombre y dirección (una es requerida) • Licencia de conducir válida de Arizona • Licencia válida de identificación no operativa de Arizona • Tarjeta de inscripción tribal u otra forma de identificación tribal • Identificación válida emitida por el gobierno federal, estatal o local de los Estados Unidos Una identificación es “válida” a menos que se determine que ha sido expirada.

EARLL DR.

CAMBRIDGE AVE. VIRGINIA AVE.

11TH AVE.

WASHINGTON ST.

CATALINA DR.

MULBERRY ST.

BLACK CANYON FREEWAY

MONTEREY WAY

7 ROOSEVELT ST. VAN BUREN ST.

INDIAN SCHOOL RD. FAIRMONT AVE. CLARENDON AVE.

INDIANOLA AVE. COLUMBUS AVE. OSBORN RD.

T. LA

CAMPBELL AVE.

TURNEY AVE. GLENROSA AVE. DEVONSHIRE AVE.

INDIAN SCHOOL RD. 2ND ST.

2-1

15TH AVE.

SUPERSTITION FWY.

AZ OLD .CANA BURG L/ LAT. ESS

FLOWER ST.

GRANITE REEF RD.

IDENTIFICACIÓN EN EL CENTRO DE VOTACIÓN Cuando llegue a votar al Centro de Votación el día de las elecciones, debe anunciar su nombre y lugar de residencia al funcionario electoral y presentar una forma de identificación de la Lista 1 o dos formas diferentes de identificación de la Lista 2 o la Lista 3.

2ND AVE. CENTRAL AVE.

El gris indica tierras no votables. Llame al (602) 236-3048 para ver si es elegible para votar.

SCUT

TAI

PRICE FWY.

HIGHLIN

E CA N AL

FWY.

Early voting ballots may be returned by mail in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided or in person at the SRP Voting Center located at the SRP Administration Building, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 9 through April 4, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, April 5. On Election Day only, early voting ballots may also be returned to either of the following two off-site ballot drop-off locations which will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (no voting, just early voting ballot dropoff): the SRP West Valley Service Center, 221 N. 79th Ave., Tolleson, AZ, 85353, and the SRP Southside Water Service Center, 3160 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ, 85210. Early voting ballots must be received no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.

LÍMITES DE VOTACIÓN « UBICACIÓN DEL CENTRO DE VOTACIÓN SRP: SRP Administration Building, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281 del 9 de marzo al 4 de abril, de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m. Día de elecciones, 5 de abril, de 6 a.m. a 7 p.m.

COLLEGE AVE.

9 BASELINE RD.

NCH

AN DI

To request an early voting ballot, visit the SRP website at srp.net/ earlyballot or call (602) 236-3048 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. In addition, an early voting ballot may be requested in person from the Corporate Secretary’s Office located at the SRP Administration Building, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Early voting ballots will be mailed beginning March 9. The last day to request an early voting ballot by mail is March 25 at 5 p.m.

Los electores también deben ser votantes calificados y registrados de Arizona a partir del 7 de marzo del 2022. Los electores pueden emitir un voto por cada puesto general, escaños 12 y 14, en la Junta de Directores. Los votos para todas las demás posiciones se emiten en función de la superficie.

Este aviso se publica por orden de la Junta Directiva y de conformidad con A.R.S. §48-2384.01.

CROS

GILBERT RD.

PIMA FWY. MO

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On April 6, 2009, the Association Board of Governors elected to institute the alternative election process described in Article X, Section 20 of the Association By-Laws. As a result, ballots may only be obtained by mail or at the SRP Voting Center. Requests for early voting ballots will be accepted beginning Jan. 2, 2022. Prior to that date, applications to be placed on the Permanent Early Voter List can be submitted and be in effect for the April 5 election.

Al determinar la elegibilidad para votar, la propiedad de la tierra calificada se determina a partir del 26 de diciembre del 2021. Las tierras en ciertos fideicomisos se pueden votar si el fideicomisario del fideicomiso designa a un elector individual de acuerdo con los requisitos de votación del fideicomiso, puede verse visitando el sitio web de SRP en srp.net/elecciones o llamando a la Línea de información de elecciones de SRP al (602) 236-3048.

Habrá una prueba de lógica y precisión del procesamiento electrónico de votos y el equipo de conteo que se utilizará en la elección. La prueba estará abierta a los electores elegibles y se llevará a cabo en el Edificio Administrativo SRP, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, a las 4 p.m. el martes 29 de marzo. Para obtener información adicional sobre las elecciones del 2022 o cómo agregarse a la lista permanente de votación anticipada para futuras elecciones, visite el sitio web de SRP en srp.net/elecciones.

54TH ST.

RURAL RD.

HOHOKAM EXPWY.

GILA RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION

SALT RIVER VALLEY WATER USERS’ ASSOCIATION ELECTION Your Association vote gives you an opportunity to elect the officials who make decisions that have an impact on the quality and cost of water.

Los puestos que se eligen son Presidente; Vicepresidente; un puesto en la Junta Directiva en cada una de las divisiones de voto 2, 4, 6, 8 y 10; dos puestos en el Consejo de Administración general, 12 y 14; y tres puestos en el Consejo en cada una de las divisiones de voto 2, 4, 6, 8 y 10. Todos los cargos del Distrito tienen un mandato de cuatro años.

MARICOPA

CAN

R VE

40TH ST.

PECOS RD. GILA

R VE

. FWY

RED APACHE BLVD.

CANAL

SOUTH MOUNTAIN

T SAL

HIGHLINE

CARVER RD.

AGUA



MARICOPA FWY.

LA GI

SO. MTN. AVE.

CAN

R RIVE

ARIZONA AVE.

24TH ST.

ROOSEVELT

An identification is “valid” unless it can be determined on its face that it has expired.

AZ. CANAL/ OLD BURGESS LAT.

VAN BUREN ST.

SALT

PIMA RD.

ARIZO

PAPAGO FWY.

SOUTHERN

También puede votar en persona en el Centro de Votación de SRP ubicado en el Edificio de Administración de SRP, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m., del 9 de marzo al 4 de abril, y 6 a.m. a 7 p.m. el día de las elecciones, el 5 de abril.

Una identificación es “válida” a menos que pueda determinarse que ha expirado. A cualquier elector que no proporcione identificación suficiente no se le emitirá una boleta electoral regular, pero recibirá una boleta provisional y tendrá tres (3) días hábiles después de la elección (antes de las 5 p.m. del viernes 8 de abril) para proporcionar una identificación suficiente al SRP Secretario Corporativo, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, para que se cuente su boleta provisional.

MC DOWELL RD.

Las boletas de votación anticipada pueden devolverse por correo en el sobre sellado con su dirección que se proporciona o en persona en el Centro de Votación de SRP ubicado en el Edificio de Administración de SRP, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, de lunes a viernes, 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m., del 9 de marzo al 4 de abril, y de 6 a.m. a 7 p.m. el Día de Elecciones, el 5 de abril. Solo el Día de Elecciones, las boletas de votación anticipada también pueden devolverse a cualquiera de los siguientes dos lugares de entrega de boletas fuera del sitio, que estarán abiertos de 6 a.m. a 7 p.m. (sin votación, solo entrega de boletas de votación anticipada): el Centro de Servicio SRP West Valley, 221 N. 79th Ave., Tolleson, AZ, 85353, y el Centro de Servicio de Agua SRP Southside, 3160 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ, 85210. Las boletas de votación anticipada deben recibirse a más tardar a las 7 p.m. el Día de Elecciones.

Lista 3: Puede escoger una opción entre las listas 1 y 2 (se requieren dos) • Cualquier identificación válida con fotografía de la Lista 1 en la que la dirección no coincida razonablemente con el registro electoral acompañada de una identificación sin fotografía de la Lista 2 en la que la dirección coincide razonablemente con el registro electoral • Pasaporte estadounidense y un artículo de la Lista 2 • Identificación militar de EE. UU. Y un artículo válido de la Lista 2

ROOSEVELT ST.

NEW

RIV

FRIA

Para solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada, visite el sitio web de SRP en srp.net/boletatemprana o llame al (602) 236-3048 de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m. Además, se puede solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada en persona, en la Oficina del Secretario Corporativo ubicada en el Edificio Administrativo SRP, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m. Las boletas de votación anticipada, se enviarán por correo a partir del 9 de marzo. El último día para solicitar una boleta de votación anticipada es el 25 de marzo a las 5 p.m.

Una identificación es “válida” a menos que pueda determinarse que ha expirado. Todos los artículos de la Lista 2 pueden presentarse a los trabajadores electorales en formato electrónico, incluso en un teléfono inteligente o tableta.

GOLDWATER BLVD.

ON IZ CANA

NORTHERN AVE. GLENDALE AVE.

Las solicitudes de boletas de votación anticipada se aceptarán a partir del 2 de enero de 2022. Antes de esta fecha, las solicitudes que se colocarán en la Lista Permanente de Votantes Tempranos pueden presentarse y entrar en vigencia para las elecciones del 5 de abril.

MILLER RD.

El 6 de abril de 2009, la Junta Directiva del Distrito eligió instituir el proceso de elección alternativa descrito en A.R.S. §48-2384.01. Como resultado, las boletas solo se pueden obtener por correo o en un Centro de Votación SRP.

78TH ST. HAYDEN RD.

VE R

IDENTIFICATION AT THE VOTING CENTER When you arrive to vote at the Voting Center on Election Day, you must announce your name and place of residence to the election official and present one form of identification from List 1 or two different forms of identification from List 2 or List 3. List 1: Sufficient photo ID, including name and address (one required) • Valid Arizona driver license • Valid Arizona non-operating identification license • Tribal enrollment card or other form of Tribal ID • Valid United States federal, state or local government-issued ID

ELECCIONES DE SALT RIVER PROJECT AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT Y POWER DISTRICT El voto de su distrito le brinda la oportunidad de elegir a los funcionarios que toman decisiones que tendrá un impacto en la calidad y el costo de la electricidad.

Lista 2: Identificación suficiente sin una fotografía que lleve el nombre y la dirección (se requieren dos) • Factura de servicios públicos del votante con fecha dentro de los 90 días de la fecha de la elección. Una factura de servicios públicos puede ser de electricidad, gas, agua, desechos sólidos, alcantarillado, teléfono, teléfono celular o televisión por cable. • Declaración del banco o cooperativa de crédito con fecha dentro de los 90 días de la fecha de la elección • Registro válido de vehículo en Arizona • Tarjeta de censo indio • Declaración de impuestos de propiedad • Tarjeta de inscripción tribal válida u otra forma de identificación tribal • Tarjeta de seguro de vehículo de Arizona • Certificado del registrador • Identificación válida emitida por el gobierno federal, estatal o local de los Estados Unidos • Tarjeta de registro de votante • Cualquier envío al elector etiquetado como “Material Electoral Oficial”

HAROLD ST.

Grey indicates non-votable lands. Call (602) 236-3048 to see if you are eligible to vote.

El martes 5 de abril de 2022 (“Día de las elecciones”), los propietarios de tierras calificadas o individuos que hayan sido designados por el administrador fiduciario para votar en tierras de un fideicomiso calificado tendrán la oportunidad de votar por los miembros del gobierno organismos de Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association (la “Asociación”), y el Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (el “Distrito”), colectivamente “SRP”.

RURAL RD.

VOTING BOUNDARIES « SRP VOTING CENTER LOCATION: SRP Administration Building, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281 March 9 through April 4, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Election Day, April 5, 6 a.m.–7 p.m. • SRP BALLOT DROP-OFF ONLY LOCATIONS (no voting, just ballot drop-off): SRP West Valley Service Center, 221 N. 79th Ave., Tolleson, AZ, 85353, and SRP Southside Water Service Center, 3160 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ, 85210 Open only on Election Day, April 5, 6 a.m.–7 p.m.

BRA

Electors must also be qualified, registered Arizona voters as of March 7, 2022. Electors may cast one vote for each at-large position, seats 12 and 14, on the Board of Directors. Votes for all other positions are cast on an acreage basis.

This notice is published by order of the Board of Directors and in accordance with A.R.S. §48-2384.01.

27TH AVE.

In determining eligibility to vote, ownership of qualified land is determined as of Dec. 26, 2021. Lands held in certain trusts may be voted if an individual elector is appointed by the trustee(s) of the trust in accordance with trust voting requirements that can be viewed by visiting the SRP website at srp.net/elections or by calling the SRP Election Information Line at (602) 236-3048.

For additional information regarding the 2022 election or how to be added to the permanent early voting list for future elections, visit the SRP website at srp.net/elections.

PIESTAWA FWY.

Positions up for election are President; Vice President; one position on the Board of Directors in each of voting divisions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10; two at-large Board of Directors positions, 12 and 14; and three positions on the Council in each of voting divisions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. All District positions have four-year terms.

There will be a logic and accuracy test of the electronic vote processing and tallying equipment to be used in the election. The test will be open to eligible electors and will take place at the SRP Administration Building, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29.

BLACK CANYON FREEWAY

An identification is “valid” unless it can be determined on its face that it has expired. Any elector who does not provide sufficient identification shall not be issued a regular ballot, but shall receive a provisional ballot and will have three (3) business days after the election (by 5 p.m. Friday, April 8) to provide sufficient ID to the SRP Corporate Secretary, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, in order for their provisional ballot to be counted.

47TH AVE.

Early voting ballots may be returned by mail in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided or in person at the SRP Voting Center located at the SRP Administration Building, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 9 through April 4, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, April 5. On Election Day only, early voting ballots may also be returned to either of the following two off-site ballot drop-off locations which will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (no voting, just early voting ballot drop-off): the SRP West Valley Service Center, 221 N. 79th Ave., Tolleson, AZ, 85353, and the SRP Southside Water Service Center, 3160 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ, 85210. Early voting ballots must be received no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.

49TH AVE.

An identification is “valid” unless it can be determined on its face that it has expired. All items from List 2 may be presented to the poll workers in electronic format, including on a smartphone or tablet. List 3: Mix and match from lists 1 and 2 (two required) • Any valid photo ID from List 1 in which the address does not reasonably match the election register accompanied by a non-photo ID from List 2 in which the address does reasonably match the election register • U.S. passport and one item from List 2 • U.S. military ID and one valid item from List 2

51ST AVE.

Requests for early voting ballots will be accepted beginning Jan. 2, 2022. Prior to that date, applications to be placed on the Permanent Early Voter List can be submitted and be in effect for the April 5 election.

FRIA

On April 6, 2009, the District Board of Directors elected to institute the alternative election process described at A.R.S. §48-2384.01. As a result, ballots may only be obtained by mail or at the SRP Voting Center.

67TH AVE.

SALT RIVER PROJECT AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT AND POWER DISTRICT ELECTION Your District vote gives you an opportunity to elect the officials who make decisions that have an impact on the quality and cost of electricity.

List 2: Sufficient ID without a photograph that bears the name and address (two required) • Utility bill of the voter that is dated within 90 days of the date of the election. A utility bill may be for electric, gas, water, solid waste, sewer, telephone, cellular phone or cable television. • Bank or credit union statement that is dated within 90 days of the date of the election • Valid Arizona vehicle registration • Indian census card • Property tax statement • Valid Tribal enrollment card or other form of Tribal ID • Arizona vehicle insurance card • Recorder’s certificate • Valid United States federal, state or local government-issued ID • Voter registration card • Any mailing to the elector labeled as “Official Election Material”

AGUA

On Tuesday, April 5, 2022 (“Election Day”), owners of qualified land or individuals who have been appointed by the trustee(s) to vote qualified land held in a qualifying trust will have an opportunity to vote for members of the governing bodies of the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (the “District”) and the Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association (the “Association”), collectively “SRP.”

Phoenix

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votación anticipada): el Centro de Servicio SRP West Valley, 221 N. 79th Ave., Tolleson, AZ, 85353, y el SRP Southside Water Service Center, 3160 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ, 85210. Las boletas de votación anticipada deben recibirse a más tardar a las 7 p.m. el día de las elecciones. También puede votar en persona en el Centro de Votación de SRP ubicado en el Edificio de Administración de SRP, 1500 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ, 85281, de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m., del 9 de marzo al 4 de abril y de 6 a.m. a 7 p.m. el día de las elecciones, el 5 de abril. Las posiciones para la elección, son Presidente; Vicepresidente; una posición en la Junta de Gobernadores en cada uno de los distritos electorales 2, 4, 6, 8 y 10 y tres posiciones en el Consejo en cada uno de los distritos electorales 2, 4, 6, 8 y 10. Todos los puestos de la Asociación tienen períodos de cuatro años. El mapa de arriba muestra los límites de votación de la Asociación. Al determinar la elegibilidad para votar, la propiedad de la tierra calificada se determina a partir del 26 de diciembre del 2021. Las tierras en ciertos fideicomisos se pueden votar si el fideicomisario del fideicomiso designa a un votante individual de acuerdo con los requisitos de votación del fideicomiso puede verse visitando el sitio web de SRP en srp.net/elecciones o llamando a la línea de información de elecciones de SRP al (602) 236-3048. Los votantes también deben tener al menos 18 años de edad. Los votos para todas las posiciones se emiten en función de la superficie. Para obtener información adicional sobre las elecciones del 2022 o sobre cómo agregarse a la Lista permanente de votación anticipada para futuras elecciones, visite el sitio web de SRP en srp.net/elecciones. Este aviso se publica por orden de la Junta de Gobernadores y de conformidad con los Estatutos de la Asociación.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

144 rental homes coming to historic EV farm SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A piece of the East Valley’s most famous farm is being set aside for homes. The Empire Group of Companies of Scottsdale announced last week that it is developing 13 acres of Schnepf Farm in Queen Creek for a gated community of 144 rental homes that will be ready for leasing by late next year. The community, called The Village at Schnepf Farms, will be located on the northwest corner of Rittenhouse and Cloud roads. Owners of the farm since the 1960s, Mark and Carrie Schnepf were early pioneers in the “agro-tainment” sector, hosting the celebrated Pumpkin and Chili Park in October, a Peach Festival in May as well as weddings. Empire said it worked with the Schnepfs “to develop the vision for a build-for-rent community that incorporates the farm’s attributes and history.” The Scottsdale-based developer is a leader in mixed-use high-rise and build-for-rent projects in Arizona and a leader in a growing trend in new-home construction. As of 2021, build-to-rent properties make up only 5% of properties, but they are currently on the rise, according to Real Estate Magazine. It reported that 50,000 build-to-rent homes were constructed from Septem-

The Village at Schnepf Farms, a build-to-rent community of 144 homes, will be located at Rittenhouse and Cloud roads in Queen Creek. (Special to the SanTan Sun News)

ber 2019 to September 2020 in contrast to a 40-year average of 31,000 annually. The website PropertyShark called build-to-rent a “turbocharged” trend, noting large institutional investors in the next 18 months are lining up to shell out $40 billion on constructing such homes. Empire itself has invested $1.9 billion in the build-to-rent market, according to published reports. “Build-to-rent homes are created specifically to be professionally managed communities, often providing a residential experience with upscale amenities, much like a typical apartment complex that’s targeted at young professionals in urban areas,” PropertyShark said. Since the market crash of 2008, when the government provided big incentives for investors to buy up thousands of foreclosed properties, the return on rental homes has become an increasingly attractive investment that the pandemic has fueled because of its “speed and scale,” Property Shark said. “Since the onset of COVID, working from home has become normalized,” it noted. “As a result, millions of city-dwellers have relocated to suburban areas, and coupled with record price growth, demand for single family See

SCHNEPF on page 28

Area massage therapist’s business booms

said. Her hard work paid off. Six months after graduating from massage school in 2007, she circled back with the relationships she had made – including a contact who worked for a large corporation in Phoenix. That relationship led to her hire as the onsite massage therapist for the firm’s employees. But she continued to build her personal clientele and opened her own business: Nurtured Touch Bodywork. She also focused on expanding her knowledge and skillset. Shortly after receiving her massage therapy license, she jumped right back into student mode to earn certifications in prenatal, postpartum and infant massage. “I have been in such discomfort this entire pregnancy,” said Lea Villagran, a prenatal client of Tidwell’s. “I have been to other massage therapists and it didn’t help at all, but Maryann was able to relieve so much and had great advice and knowledge for prevention and reducing a majority of the discomfort going forward. She knows what she is doing.” When the recession pummeled companies nationwide in 2008, Tidwell’s business remained strong – despite the fact she did no advertising and had no

BY KATY SPRINGER Contributor

Maryann Tidwell does not shy away from hard work – or a challenge. The Gilbert mother and business owner decided to become a massage therapist, juggling her full-time job and 2-year-old son during the day and attending massage school at night. “It was a long year, and I didn’t get much sleep, but I felt so strongly that I was doing exactly what I was meant to do,” said Tidwell. “Massage therapy is so much more than a career for me – it’s a calling.” During her 50-week training, Tidwell’s instructors advised against opening her own business – at least not until she had a few years’ experience under the belt. “The more they discouraged me, the more motivated I became,” she said. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy.” Tidwell also spent the year polishing her networking skills. And when she completed her program, she doubled down, going to naturopaths’ offices, medical clinics and even local markets to set up her chair and provide no-cost massages to passersby. “At that point, it was about giving people a feel for what I could do,” she

Gilbert mom Maryann Tidwell has worked hard to build up her massage business, Nurtured Touch Bodywork. (Special to the SanTan Sun News)

See

MASSAGE on page 27

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

MASSAGE

ing and affirming.” She also used that time to prepare a new office at Crossroads Towne Center at Gilbert and Germann roads on the border of Chandler and Gilbert. Her schedule filled up immediately when she opened her new location in summer 2020. Then, Tidwell took a major step forward as a businesswoman and hired her first employee, massage therapist Sidney Campbell, who attended massage school with her. “Sydney is so passionate,” Tidwell said. “She is so skilled in helping people feel better, both physically and mentally. She also has a lot of extra training in a variety of modalities, so she can treat clients with a huge spectrum of needs.” The two of them had more clients than they could handle, so Tidwell hired another therapist, Clara Brown, in August. She added a second massage studio, also located at Crossroads Towne Center. “Clara is passionate about her work,

from page 26

online presence. “I feel so incredibly lucky that my fledging business survived and thrived during such a difficult time,” she said. “I do believe the networking paid off, and as I began to see more and more clients, my business grew with referrals. As a small business owner, word of mouth truly is everything to me.” But COVID-19 presented a whole new set of challenges. When the massage industry was shut down in spring 2020, she was forced to close her studio. It was four months before she started treating her regular clients again. “The worst part was that I couldn’t help my chronic pain clients,” she said. “I worked hard to stay connected with clients during that time, providing them with tips and suggestions to keep up on their self-care and keep their bodies healthy. The response was overwhelm-

especially in the areas of PTSD, pediatric, oncology, lymphatic and relaxation,” Tidwell said. “Her clients absolutely love her.” “I am beyond blessed with amazing clients who not only partner with me in their wellness and entrust me with their bodywork, but refer me to their family and friends, too,” she said. “I just feel so lucky.” For her clients, it’s less about luck and more about Tidwell’s skill. “She was such a good listener and so genuinely interested in making me feel better,” said Scott Springer. “In addition to giving me the best massage ever, she was very knowledgeable about the body. It was clear she really cared.” Tidwell has completed hundreds of hours in additional training, including medically focused bodywork like ACE MediCupping and lymphatic massage. In recent years, she has seen a steady uptick in referrals for lymphatic massage – especially from healthcare providers. “The lymphatic system is the most

under-talked-about and under-prioritized system of the entire body, but that is starting to change,” she said. “This specialized massage is gaining a lot of interest among medical providers. For example, plastic surgeons now recommend lymphatic massage pre- and post-surgery to help the body bounce back.” Her son, Austin, is a high school senior who is taking flying lessons and aspires to be an airline pilot. Twelveyear-old Lexi loves musical theater and spends all of her spare time on stage. Tidwell and her husband, Justin, juggle working parenthood together and also seek out opportunities to spend time as a couple. “My family is my world,” she said. “They are the reason I wanted to own my own business in the first place. The flexibility it provides means everything to me as a wife and a mother.” Information: massagebook.com/ NurturedTouchBodywork and on Instagram @nurturedtouch.

Banner Gateway tower work reaches landmark SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Workers building the new Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert hit a milestone recently, affixing the final girder to its steel skeleton on Higley Road. McCarthy Building Companies topped the $243-million tower expansion project by placing the last beam on the five-story structure. We Offer Federal Travel Identifications • Vehicle Registration • Title Transfer / Bond Title • Duplicate registration / iitle • Replacement Plate Or TAB • Permit 3, 30, 90 day • Level One Inspection: Abandoned title inspection • Mobile home • Handicap placard / plate • MVR / Driver license record • Fleet registration

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that will initially bring 109 new patient beds to the facility. It will also add 190 total beds once the shelled space is built. The project also includes a three-level, 112,000-square-foot expansion of the diagnostics and treatment building, adding more space for the emergency, surgery, imaging, cardiopulmonary and endoscopy departments. “Our commitment to serving the

health care needs of our community is unwavering and we are pleased to be expanding to meet community growth and the increased demand as a destination center for women and infant services, cancer care and high-quality medical care,” said Lamont Yoder, CEO of Banner Gateway Medical Center and See

BANNER on page 28

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rentals is skyrocketing.” Empire said the Village at Schnepf Farms will comprise one-, two- and three-story homes with smart technology and private landscaped backyards. “Interior design and architecture will incorporate modern farmhouse elements to honor the history of the farm and its surrounding area,” it said. “For more than 50 years, Schnepf Farms has been hosting visitors almost daily for produce picking and its famous annual peach harvest. Residents of the Village at Schnepf farms will enjoy picking their own fresh produce, living within walking distance from the garden and the farm’s many other amenities and entertainment,” stated Shelby Duplessis, president of land development for Empire Group. In addition to walking paths and a neighborhood dog park, the community will feature a resort-style pool

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Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. “This topping-out ceremony marks an important milestone, as the project continues to move forward on time and on budget thanks to the entire McCarthy team.” Jarnagan said the expansion “addresses the capacity need for women and infant care, including labor, delivery, postpartum and a new neonatal intensive care unit for babies who need extra care.” It also provides more space for inpatient cancer care by Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, as well as for surgical, emergency, endoscopy and imaging services. Also included is shelled space for future growth. Two new surface parking lots will be constructed, adding approximately 492 new parking spaces for visitor and staff use, and approximately 40,000 squarefeet of additional renovation work is also planned within the existing medical center. “Our project team is very focused on keeping the expansion project on budget and on target with its aggressive schedule while effectively navigating the many hurdles created by the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues and escalation,” said Kurt Radtke, project director for McCarthy who is overseeing the Banner Gateway tower expansion project. “Through collaboration, our integrated project team, which includes Banner, SmithGroup and our trade partners, have developed innovations and risk mitigation strategies resulting in over $9 million of value to the project. Our team continues to look at innovations, options and ideas to mitigate risk to the project during these challenging times.” Construction on the tower expansion began in February 2021 and will be completed in first quarter of 2023 with the campus renovation work completing in 2024. Banner expects to add more than 600 new jobs once the facility is opened. The project is being managed using a modified Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) with the owner, design team, general contractor and trade partners all

and clubhouse with a fully equipped fitness center. Other amenities include covered parking, electric car charging stations, a dog wash salon and barbecue and lawn game area. “Queen Creek is a rapidly growing area with limited options for renters. We expect the Village at Schnepf farms to appeal to employees of Schnepf Farms and people looking to move to the area. It’s situated in a beautiful setting and includes incredible community amenities,” added Richard Felker, founding partner of Empire Group. Village at Schnepf Farms marks the developer's seventh build-for-rent community in Maricopa County in the past 18 months. Felker founded the Scottsdale-based company in the early 1970s. Under his direction, the company has built its reputation as a leading developer of Class A mixed-use high-rise projects and luxury build-for-rent communities throughout Arizona.

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co-locating in a virtual “big room.” Jarnagan said that allows for “design and construction strategies to be developed and enhanced through a robust system of collaboration, solution innovations and coordination strategies being brought to the project to ensure operational excellence and end-user efficiency.” Those cost- and time-saving measures on the Banner Gateway project include: Prefabrication of construction elements, including exterior skin, bathroom pods and mechanical and plumbing components; five separate design packages, allowing construction to start prior to design-phase completing; and simultaneously building expansions on three sides of the hospital. The architect on the project is SmithGroup with civil engineering led by Dibble Engineering and structural engineering led by PK Associates. Field Verified is serving as an exterior skin consultant. Major trade partners include AmFab Steel, MKB, AROK, Buesing Excavation, Delta Electric, Foothills Fire, KT Fab, Otis Elevators, Stafford Crane, SwissLog, TD Industries and Walters & Wolf. McCarthy Building Companies completed the initial Banner Gateway Medical Center campus in 20 months in 2007.

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

Family trio acquires EV event center at the right time BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Timing can be everything in business and for Charles Cotter and his two children, buying Superstition Manor in Mesa was about as good as any can be. While it caters to a variety of gatherings, its specialty is weddings and Cotter, his son Taylor and daughter Sharley Leavitt, acquired the 10-yearold property on the northwest corner of Signal Butter and Brown roads from the founding Burns family just as the pandemic loosened its grip on couples eager to tie the knot. “Weddings have not only come back in full force. It is a force to be reckoned with,” Taylor said. “You had a lot of people that rescheduled or postponed their wedding for a year and then you still had the busy season on top of that. And right now, the industry is projected to have more weddings in 2022 than there has ever been in the last several years. “So, 2022 is supposed to be crazy,” he continued. “We already have over 160 events booked for 2022 and we are projected to break 200.” They got a taste of that level of business in October, which Taylor called “literally insane” because “it was something like 19 events in eight days….That was our welcome to the new business moment.” Fortunately, neither Taylor nor his sister are complete strangers to the wedding industry. And even more fortunate for them, the sprawling Superstition Manor grounds and mammoth reception center came equipped with three halls that can accommodate between 100 and 250 people, two fully equipped commercial kitchens and a half-kitchen and a staff of some 40 to 50 experienced servers, cooks and other personnel. Beyond that, however, two features have made Superstition Manor a high-demand wedding venue, Taylor said: first, it’s a kind of one-stop-shop for weddings and second, its pristine desert grounds with an unobstructed view of the majestic Superstition Mountains. Taylor has been in the wedding industry for years as a photographer and videographer and his sister also is a long-time wedding photographer. For them and their father, buying Superstition Manor was almost a no-brainer, since they were inheriting an experienced staff and a location that most couples likely will find an ideal venue for exchanging vows. “What’s really unique is where the property is situated,” Taylor said. “Across the street is actually a part of Usery Park Preserve and so from a couple of our ceremony yards where people get married, the backdrop is literally raw desert and Superstition Mountains. That’s one of the really unique things about the property: the view is unmatched. If look out across the street, you don’t see houses. You don’t see development. You don’t see anything except just straight desert and Superstition Mountain.” “Then there are lots of places on site

Above: The news owners of Superstition Manor in Mesa are, from left, Charles Cotter and his children, Taylor Cotter and Sharley Leavitt. Right Top: Taylor Cotter said the Superstition Mountains form a romantic backdrop to the grounds at Superstition Manor. Right Bottom: Superstition Manor has three ballrooms that can each accommodate different sizes of wedding and other kinds of parties. (David

Minton/SanTan Sun News Staff Photographer)

as well,” he continued. “The previous owner did an amazing job of landscaping. And even without that view, you could stay just on the property and there is a ridiculous amount of places that you can go and couples can go to take gorgeous photos in a very well-maintained, landscaped area.” While Arizona is between the state’s two biggest wedding seasons of October-November and March-April, this is no time for the Cotter family to relax – and only partly because Superstition manor also caters to charity events, sports banquets for schools and other celebrations. They are heading into another busy period after more than one man posed the big question with a holiday-wrapped engagement ring in hand. And that means, Taylor said, the next big busy period will be January and February, when those couples will hunt down venues. “So all those engagement rings given at Christmas time, people better move fast if they don’t want to lose out,” he said. “We will have more people come and do tours of the venue in January-February in those two months alone than we’ll probably have in any other six to eight-month segment of the year.” “It is very, very busy. Everyone gets engaged over the holidays and then there’s a big Wedding Expo that happens in the Phoenix Convention every year at the beginning of January. So we’re at that. I mean, there’s literally thousands of couples. We’re already booking for 2023.”

As almost a one-stop shop, the venue offers everything except wedding cakes and flowers and the Cotters have a list of recommended bakers and florists. Video and photography can be added on to the venue’s package. Those packages include with all-day access to bride and groom suites, a DJ, a

pro wedding coordinator a wide variety of décor, chairs, linens, tableware and centerpieces. From Italian to BBQ and beer and wines to top shelf alcohol. As the Cotters say on their website, “All that’s left for you and your guests to do is party.” Information: superstitionmanor.com

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Ability 360 helping former, current para-athletes thrive BY EMERIL GORDON Contributor

Feeling fulfilled in her Paralympic career, four-time Paralympian Kaitlyn Verfuerth continues to give back to the adaptive athletics community through her roles as program specialist and wheelchair tennis coach at Ability 360’s Sports and Fitness Center. While Verfuerth’s accomplishments speak for themselves, it is the journey she took to get there and the things she’s learned along the way that keeps her involved and wanting to give back to the adaptive sports community. At 7 years old, Verfuerth was involved in a bad car accident. She was in the middle seat only wearing a seatbelt across her lap and due to impact, she was ejected from her seat and sustained severe damage to her spinal cord. She was paralyzed from the waist down as a result. “When I woke up (from being knocked unconscious) in the car my mom was covered in blood and my brother was unconscious. I knew I was close to God,” she said. Soon after getting into rehabilitation from her injury, one of Verfuerth’s therapists told her about the nearby University of Wisconsin Whitewater’s wheelchair basketball program. It is one of the top programs in the country. She attended a camp hosted by the university where she was able to try multiple adaptive sports. While she loved wheelchair basketball, she wanted to play a sport where she didn’t need a whole group of disabled people to play, so she turned to tennis. She rose to the top of the wheelchair tennis world rather quickly. From

Left: Four-time Paralympian Kaitlyn Verfuerth joined the Ability360 team while preparing to compete in the Tokyo Paralympics. She said she is exactly where she wants to be helping fellow para-athletes train. (Courtesy Kaitlyn Verfuerth) Right: Desert Vista alum Joe Underwood, “right,” alongside athletes he coaches at Ability 360, has taken it upon himself to help empower para-athletes and show them they are capable of competing in their respective sport at a high level. (Courtesy Joe Underwood)

ment and opportunity to lead an active and meaningful lifestyle. Nickolas Pryor, Ability 360’s athletics program manager and athlete on the amputee basketball team, is at the helm of making that environment and opportunity possible. Pryor lost his leg in an accident when he was younger and joined Arizona State’s wheelchair basketball team when he moved to the state for school. He landed an internship at Ability 360 and has remained ever since. He hopes

know that I can’t tell the parents how to parent “Itheir children, but I do what I can to drop the hints that will hopefully lead them to believing their child can do things ” .

– Robert Reed

the age of 17 on, for about 10 years, she was the top female wheelchair tennis player in the U.S. and top 8 in the world. In 2004, she made her first Paralympic appearance in Athens, finishing fourth in doubles and making it to the round of 16 in singles. She made two more Paralympic appearances in tennis in 2008 and 2016 with her best finish being fourth place in 2008 in the double’s competition. After 2016, Verfuerth and her husband moved from Flagstaff to the Phoenix metro area where she continued to pursue becoming a recreational therapist. She started working at Ability 360 while training for the Tokyo Games in paracanoe. Verfuerth and others in the disability community are the type of people that Ability 360 strives to create an environ-

to use his role at Ability 360 to reinstate ASU’s wheelchair basketball team “I am in the process of making an agreement between ASU and Ability 360,” he said. “There is no reason why students (especially those with disabilities) should go their entire college career not knowing about us. It’s unacceptable.’’ The agreement that he is trying to make with ASU would be one in which the students who already pay ASU’s fitness and wellness fee would be able to use Ability 360’s facility at no extra cost. In addition to working on this partnership with ASU, Pryor also helped to launch a wheelchair football team in partnership with the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals, Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks’ willingness to sponsor the facility is what helps keep membership costs low.

“We need to get children (with disabilities) into adaptive sports much earlier than we do,” he said. “Research shows that the earlier they get involved they have a better quality of life. There should really be a pipeline between hospitals and rehabilitation centers to adaptive sports.” Joe Underwood, Ability 360’s youth swim coach and athlete on the adult wheelchair basketball team, knows well the opportunities that early exposure to adaptive sports can bring. The Phoenix native was born with Spina Bifida and began swimming in third grade and shortly after playing wheelchair basketball with the Phoenix Wheelchair Suns. He went on to swim for Desert Vista High School and the U.S. Paralympic National Team at a world championship in the summer of 2014. He stopped swimming shortly after to take a scholarship to play wheelchair basketball collegiately at the University of Missouri. In 2018, after graduating, he moved back to the Phoenix area and began coaching the youth swim team and playing basketball at Ability 360. One of his motivators for returning was simply to give back. He knows that he was fortunate enough to be introduced to adaptive sports early in life and wants to continue to be a part of the growth of adaptive sports and the Paralympic movement. He hopes to see the day here in the U.S. where para-athletes are paid to play their sport just like the other pros are. This is something that countries like Germany have already begun doing. “It’s going to take taking a chance,” Underwood said of the future of para-athletes receiving sponsorship money and other pay. He noted that he doesn’t believe the notion that para-athletes aren’t market-

able, and Toyota’s recent sponsorship campaign of Paralympians has shown that it is not true. He thinks there is even a possibility that para-athletes could be more marketable but admitted a huge perspective shift would need to happen here in the U.S. While most people struggle with finding their identity at some point in their life, having a disability can make the struggle weigh heavier on a person. Robert Reed, coach of Ability360s youth wheelchair basketball team and player on the adult team, remembers his struggle with Muscular Dystrophy during his preteen and early teen years that caused him not to be in a great mental space dealing with a lot of depression and feeling alone in his situation. When he got involved with adaptive sports his mental state improved as he saw he was not the only one dealing with a disability and saw people with disabilities driving, working, and getting married. Those are all things he thought he couldn’t do before. His own experience made him realize kids are capable of much more than their parents believe. “I know that I can’t tell the parents how to parent their children,” Reed said. “But I do what I can to drop the hints that will hopefully lead them to believing their child can do things.” Ability 360 is changing the lives of para-athletes, empowering them to achieve more than they or their family members would have ever thought to be possible. Verfuerth hopes she can help carrying out Ability 360’s mission. “This is all I have ever dreamed of doing. I love waking up knowing I am touching the lives of many every day,” Verfuerth said. “There’s no better place to work than here (Ability 360).”

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler residents in running for Flinn Scholarship BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler was well represented in the competition for the prestigious Flinn Scholarship when the top candidates for 2022 were recently announced. Nine students who live in Chandler qualified among 80 semifinalists and five advanced to the 39 finalists. A Flinn Scholarship is valued at more than $120,000 and covers tuition, fees, housing and meals at one of the state’s three public universities. It also includes two stints studying abroad and connects scholars to a wide number of experts in a number of fields fo study. About half of the finalists, 20 of the 39, will be awarded the Flinn Scholarship, which was started in 1986 by the Flinn Foundation. The nine Chandler residents who earned semifinalist recognition are Anokh Ambadipudi of Basha High School; Loralei Cook of Arizona Connections Academy; Isaac Kan of Desert Vista High School; Kayla King of Chandler High School; Simone Cawthorne King of Chandler High School; Moira MacCatherine of Perry High School; Sebastian Pastrana of Chandler Preparatory Academy; Shruti Ramkuma of Hamilton High School; and Audrey Ann Wood of Seton Catholic High School. Some of the semifinalists removed

Kayla King

Loralei Cook

themselves from consideration because they were awarded other scholarships. The Flinn Scholarships are only good at Arizona’s three state universities. The five from Chandler on the list include Basha High’s Ambadipudi; Arizona Connections’ Cook; Desert Vista’s Kan; Chandler High’s Kayla King; and Perry High’s MacCatherine. The Flinn Foundation says it plans to announce its Class of 2022 scholars April. Here’s some more information on some of the Chandler finalists: Loralei Cook, Arizona Connections Academy: Loralei says she knows what the keys were to her becoming a Flinn finalist. “I believe a combination of my in-

Isaac Kan

volvement within the community and my personal character was key to becoming a finalist,” she wrote in an email. “Throughout high school, I advocated for a community-based approach to progress and innovation through open communication, organizing, and networking — something that I think helped me in the Flinn Scholarship process.” Loralei is a member of numerous social and political advocacy groups (most recently named a U.S. Senate Youth Program Delegate for Arizona). She has assisted with social sciences research at Arizona State University and the Arizona Advocacy Foundation Representative of Student Council at her school.

Moira Mccatherine Isaac Kan, Desert Vista High School: Isaac is a member of the Arizona Governor’s Youth Commission and sits on the Student Advisory Council for the Arizona Department of Education. Isaac says he plans to become a biomedical engineer. He’s applied to attend Stanford and Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College. He has taken 11 advance placement courses. He plays piano and chess and is also building his own computer. “I was super excited when I got the news, as can be expected,” he wrote. “I remember the first thing I did was tell See

FLINN on page 33

Book recounts a love story amid disability BY COTY DOLORES MIRANDA Contributor

Above all, love. William “Bill” Reed lives by that advice, which he imparts in his first book, “Lessons from a Disabled Caregiver: Thriving Together and Maintaining Independence with Physical Disability and Dementia.” Immobilized for nearly a decade by progressive and untreatable nerve and muscle diseases, Reed writes of how he has tended his wife of nearly 55 years, Jodie, as she weaves her way through the cognitive decline of dementia. “It takes a positive attitude – as difficult as that is at times – perseverance, and ingenuity to overcome the many problems you need to solve. When it comes to caregiving, you need all those attributes; but love is the most important,” he said. “Love is what keeps you going. You want to help. You want to make them happy,” he writes. “You want to make them feel safe. Most of all, you want them to feel loved. That is the key not only for their satisfaction and behavior but for your success as a caregiver. The love comes back to you and helps you maintain your health, happiness, and sanity.” Reed’s book, available on Amazon, is a testament to love as well as a primer for others facing challenging caregiving responsibilities. It is also a resource for

Confined to a wheelchair by a progressively debilitating disease, William Reed still cares for his wife of 55 years, who is stricken with dementia. (Courtesy of William Reed)

those with physical challenges. It covers topics from handling grief, financing, safety and end-of-life planning. It is also a tribute to a loving relationship that began in Boston in fall 1964 when a fraternity brother introduced him to her. They married July 16, 1966, near Jodie’s parent’s home in Granby, Massachusetts.

“We’ve had over 55 years of a nearly perfect marriage. We remain extremely happy despite our challenges,” said Reed. From the beginning, Reed recalls, he was attracted to Jodie by her beauty, her youthful spirit and sunshine smile. He said she retains those attributes. “Even now when she walks down the hallway, everyone talks about her beautiful smile,” he said, smiling. “And she’s

two years older than I am but people think she’s the younger one.” The Reeds moved to Arizona from northern California in November 2019 and shortly after, they began noticing signs of dementia. “Jodie started showing signs of memory loss 15 or 20 years ago. We had a psychologist evaluate her in 2007. He thought her memory was normal for her age; neither of us believed him,” said Reed. “She was re-evaluated in 2013 and 2016. I stopped her from driving in 2017 as she got lost, even in the small town we lived in for 30 years. At that point, neither of us could drive. However, after not driving for almost two years, I learned to drive a modified van with hand controls.” “We never wanted to leave our home of over 30 years in California,” he said, explaining they wanted to move closer to their son “because if anything happened to me, she would need immediate support.” “In July of 2019, I realized that our situation was untenable. Neither of us could drive, and I couldn’t leave Jodie alone even for lunch with my friends once a week, so I decided to implement the long-range plan.” As incapacitated as he was, the wheelchair-bound Reed performed all See

REED on page 33

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

Sun Lakes Rotary honors teachers, works with kids SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes has had a busy few weeks, naming teachers of the month for November and December and working with kids in two different programs. Paige Green, a special education teacher at Haley Elementary, received the Education Program Teacher Award for the Month of November and Kelly Baker, a fifth grade teacher at Conley Elementary, received the same award for December. The monthly teacher awards are sponsored jointly by the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes, TrustBank and Earnhardt Auto Centers. Rotary education Chair Don Robins said members pick a teacher based on total years in education, examples of how the teacher goes above the normal requirements, how a teacher enhances the education of students, their reputation and their involvement in extracurricular activities and in the community. Green grew up in Chandler and attended school in both Kyrene and Tempe Union school districts. She graduated from Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College in 2016. Haley Principal Nicole McMillian and fellow teacher Amy Miller called Green an energetic and positive team member who “teaches from her heart with passion, patience and persistence.” For the past 5 years, Green has supported the school drama club’s annual produc-

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Above: Finalist race teams from 5th grade classes at Carlson Elementary JetToy races gathered with their JetToys and Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Rotarians. Right: Celebrating the teacher of the month are, from left, Nicole McMillian, Haley Elementary Principal; Paige Green, the honored special education teacher who works at Haley; Gregory Furseth, chief fiduciary officer and vice president at TrustBan; and teacher Amy Miller. Right lower: Also celebrating another teacher of the moth are, from left, Sun Lakes Rotary President Jon Lyons; honored teacher Conley Elementary teacher Kelly Baker, Gregory Furseth of TrustBank; and Conley teacher Rebecca Marty and Principal Lisa Shore. (Courtesy Honora Horton)

tions, especially with choreography. Baker has been teaching since 2005 and has a bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University and masters from Northern Arizona University. Conley Principal Lisa Shore and fellow teacher Rebecca Marty called Baker “an amazing and kind teacher and a patient supportive co-worker. “Mrs. Baker believes as a professional, she is entrusted with the education of young minds and must facilitate learning and growth academically, personally, and ethically - in order to equip children with the tools necessary for success in life,” Rotary spokeswoman Honora Horton said. The club, A World in Motion program created by the Society of Automotive Engineers Foundation formed to get elementary students excited about math and science in support of STEM. Five fifth grade classes at Carlson Elementary School worked in design teams to build, test and race model balloon-powered JetToy cars. The toy cars were required to meet specific criteria to travel far and go fast. Jet propulsion, friction, air resistance and design were the core scientific concepts students explored in this challenge. Carlson held Toy races with the classes and the top three teams won awards. Medals were presented by Rotary President Jon Lyons, Don Robins, Fred DePrez, Stephen Phair and several other Rotarian volunteers who helped the kids. The CO2 Dragster STEM program

for high schools started in Rotary year 2018-2019. The program replaced the F1 In School program that was sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers and supported by the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL). This year 13 Perry High School student teams competed by using 3D computer-assisted design and manufacturing software to build dragsters that were in a competition sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes. “The competition required each team to present readable renderings/ drawings containing views and dimensions of the dragster,” Horton said. “Each team was interviewed by the

competition judges. Each team provided an overview of their team dragster’s design, operations, construction, speeds, build experiences, CAD/CAM and final drawings, research, simulations and finishing techniques. “The teams were required to follow specific technical regulations in body construction and wheel definition.” The 15 judges represented Rotary Club of Sun Lakes, Chandler Unified teachers and retired members of the Society of Automotive Engineers and General Motors. Clint Beauer, Perry assistant principal, helped arrange the competition. Sun Lakes Rotary Club: sunlakesrotary.com.

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

FLINN

from page 31

my parents, then feeling both excited and a little scared of the interview process moving onwards.” Kayla King, Chandler High School: King has a 4.79 grade point average. In addition to her studies, she is involved in theater, dance, piano, and likes to play golf.

REED

from page 31

household duties, including cooking their meals. “We looked at several houses, but all would require significant, expensive modifications, and it was unclear how long they would be suitable for us,” said Reed. “Moving here would provide family life and support. The senior living facility would reduce my workload, even though we’re in independent living.” Since the book was completed in June 2020, there have been even more changes in the Reeds’ lives. “During the period covered in the book, I was her sole caregiver. In July, 2020, I broke my leg and had to turn her over to memory care. Within one week she fell and broke her wrist, and then her hip.” He said he was determined never to be without her again. With his disease and her dementia, changes became part of the future.

She said her passion is theater, and she is helping to mentor children in that field. She is a candidate for an International Baccalaureate diploma. “I volunteer whenever I can, and some of my favorite opportunities have been teen court (a jury of peers aimed at restorative justice) and Access News, where I record myself reading news or magazines for people who are visually

impaired,” Kayla wrote. Moira MacCatherine, Perry High School: The Perry High senior wants to be a nurse and is already gaining experience in that field. She volunteers at Banner Desert Medical Center and Shea Scottsdale Medical Center. Moira is president of the National Honor Society and Perry Women in STEM club. She said she believes her leadership

experience and service to the community helped her be selected at a Flinn finalist. “As an aspiring nurse, I impact my community by assisting patients and visitors during their stays in the hospital,” Moira said. “It can be a very scary time for both the patient and the loved ones, so having a volunteer to help them or listen to their worries makes the process a little easier.”

But being separated was not one of them. A battle with melanoma further tested his resolve. “One of my keys to successfully overcoming one’s challenges is ‘be your own advocate,’” Reed said. The Mayo Clinic recommended two immunotherapies followed by surgery. “As my muscle-related diseases are autoimmune, those treatments, like the COVID vaccine, would accelerate my loss of strength and risk my ability to be independent.” “There was no hesitation to take the vaccine, or to accept Mayo’s treatment plan, because my main goal right now is to survive Jodie. Putting her in the care of others after I broke my leg was a disaster. I don’t want that to ever happen again.” Their future remains a study in adaptation. “Because our diseases are progressive, no solution is permanent,” he said. “What works now will not work later,

requiring new solutions again and again. Thus, I gained considerable practical experience on numerous subjects related to dealing with medical challenges and caregiving that would be helpful to many others with different challenges, not just those like ours. “Recognizing that, several people strongly encouraged me to write a book to help others. That is the sole reason for the book and the class I will teach to a senior living community early next year.” Reed was referring to a Zoom class on Feb. 17, 2022, offered through the Grand Learning program at Sun City Grand. “The intent is to prepare seniors, average age 55 to 70, for unexpected medical challenges and provide them with keys for success in overcoming them,” said Reed. “In addition, they’ll receive information about the contents of the book, ‘Lessons from a Disabled Caregiver’ on which the class is based so they’ll know

where to get the information they may need in the future.” Pre-registration is necessary, said Reed, and can be made at grandlearning@scgcam.com. A $19 fee is charged by Grand Learning and the class size is limited. Reed’s book also has a foreword written by Dr. Marwan Noel Sabbagh, a board-certified neurologist and a leading expert in Alzheimer’s and dementia. “The story of Bill and Jodie Reed is a case study of physical and psychological resilience,” Sabbagh wrote. “The story itself is both inspiring and informative and practical. Often there is no ‘how-to’ manual on caregiving in dementia. This is a very good version of a ‘how-to’ manual.” Still, Reed reminds readers that there are many bumps along the path. “An Alzheimer’s caregiver watching a loved one morph from what was once a capable, intelligent, wonderful person into someone entirely different, generates many intense, unfamiliar emotions,” he said.

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

After 50 years, A New Leaf continues to serve BY TOM SCANLON Contributor

It was 1971. In football, the Cardinals season was off to a promising start – in St. Louis. The team wouldn’t move to Arizona for another 16 years. In baseball, Jason Giambi and Hall of Famers Pedro Martinez and Ivan Rodriguez were born, but the Arizona Diamondbacks wouldn’t be for another 17 years. Other than being a Cactus League hub for a few months, the East Valley was best known for its miles and miles of orange groves and dairy farms, with smells ranging from sweet to offensive, depending on the neighborhood. But, with more people drifting out of the City of Phoenix, U.S. Census figures announced in 1971 that Mesa’s population alone had nearly doubled over the previous decade. And with urban growth came urban problems: people struggling to pay rent, victims of domestic violence, drug abuse, broken families. Enter an agency that took its name from second chances: A New Leaf. Mike Hughes – who has come to be the face of the social services provider that now employs hundreds and provides assistance to thousands – wasn’t there for A New Leaf’s first day in 1971. “Oh, no! I was just a year out of high school,” the Long Island native said with a laugh, a touch of a New York accent

A New Leaf is celebrating a half century of providing social services. Mike Hughes has been CEO of the East Valley nonprofit for more than 40 of its 50 years. (David Minton/SanTan Sun News photographer)

still audible after all these years. By the early 1970s he went west to study education at ASU. “My first

couple years after graduation, I was a school teacher at Mesa Public Schools in a special population, working with

troubled kids,” Hughes said. See

LEAF on page 35

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

LEAF

from page 34

He loved the work and the city, settling here to raise a family. Then, in 1978, A New Leaf’s board of directors made Hughes an offer he couldn’t refuse. It wasn’t just, “Come work for us.” It was, “Come and be our leader.” He took the challenge. And he stuck. For more than four decades of its 50year run, A New Leaf’s chief executive officer has been Mike Hughes as the agency grew in service to the entire region. This is a rarity in any field, let alone social services, where low-level workers and high-end managers alike hopscotch from agency to agency. When A New Leaf came calling, the offer certainly got Hughes’ attention. “I thought it was an extension of what I was doing with kids working at Mesa Schools, helping troubled teenaged kids. A New Leaf had treatment facilities,” Hughes recalled. “I was offered a great opportunity. But I struggled on it. I loved my job at Mesa Public Schools.” The clincher was what A New Leaf’s board of directors promised: You can help us get bigger and better. They were good to the promise, Hughes said. “I’ve loved the career,” he said. “I love the board of directors. They’ve always allowed the agency to grow. We’ve been able to grow over the years to where we are today.” A New Leaf is nearly a $50 million operation. The agency’s operating budget is now around $45 million, with 500 employees. “We’ve grown remarkably over all these years,” Hughes said. And it’s not just an East Valley thing, anymore. “We have programs throughout metropolitan Phoenix,” Hughes said from his Mesa office. Indeed, A New Leaf sponsors the likes of Glendale’s Faith House, a shelter for domestic violence victims, Riverboat, a sprawling facility in Surprise, where bingo nights raise funds for the nonprofit’s operations. Even so, A New Leaf’s history and soul are intertwined with Mesa, where it operates homeless and domestic violence shelters service people from across the East Valley. Mesa Vice Mayor Jenn Duff calls it “a

beacon of hope” for the region “for so many individuals and families to overcome challenges, and in many cases, crises in their lives. It has evolved over the years with so many programs to offer help and hope to those who need it.” “Since 1971, A New Leaf has provided assistance to those most in need in our community, helping families, children, and adults overcome the challenges they face,” the nonprofit states on its website. “These challenges are often unexpected, and can be devastating. Whether it be the loss of a job, a medical crisis, domestic violence, homelessness, or another heartbreaking crisis, A New Leaf is here to help households recover and thrive.” In the last year, according to its website, A New Leaf provided shelter to 2,247 people. In addition to shelters, A New Leaf provides “comprehensive services to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness become self-reliant and find safe, stable housing.” Another 7,776 people received “health and wellness” help from A New Leaf, including treatment for addictions and mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic created a surge of people desperate for help; to keep its own staff working, A New Leaf received $4.7 million in Paycheck Protection Plan federal assistance. The leader of 500 or so receiving A New Leaf paychecks remains Mike Hughes, who has no plans to slow down. “I’m the longest-standing employee – I’m still ticking!” he said with a big laugh. “It’s a great challenge,” he continued, with a shift in tone. “I’m very fortunate. You know people who say they hate what they do? I love my job. “I always wanted to work helping people.” Even so, it’s a tough job: Trying to use limited resources to help a seemingly endless number of people needing food, treatment and shelter. Hughes said he leaves his work at the office, with a positive focus when he walks in his home. “I know this sounds silly, but I have always been able to do my job and work hard and at the end of day feel good about what I have accomplished rather than feeling bad about what I haven’t. I think that’s been my mantra,” Hughes said. Asked about A New Leaf’s plans for

2022, the agency’s leader replied, “Right now we’re really concentrating on how we can become not necessarily bigger, but better. We’re anchoring down on the services we provide.” Chief among the services is helping people find and maintain stable hous-

ing; “It’s such a need,” Hughes said. Again, he shifts to the positive, the good A New Leaf has done in 50 years. “It’s a great agency,” Hughes said. “We help a lot of people. “We helped more than 30,000 people last year.”

New Leaf’s services

La Mesita After School Program Offers free child care for students K-8 after school and during the summer.

Phoenix Day

Educates children 6 weeks to 5 years of age from primarily low-income, single parent households.

Autumn House

Domestic violence shelter providing security and shelter to women, children and men ﬂeeing abuse.

DV Court Advocacy

Provides survivors of domestic violence with the tools needed to secure court protection.

to transitioning service members, veterans and spouses.

Sexual Violence Survivor Advocacy and Support

Offers services for teens and adults that have survived sexual violence.

Financial Wellness

Assists individuals with learning how to have a healthy relationship with money.

Dorothy B. Mitchell Counseling Center

Offers counseling, case management, medication management and support services.

East Valley After School Program

DV Safe Temporary Overﬂow Program

Provides short-term emergency placement to domestic violence victims when shelters are full.

Faith House

Provides shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence, sex crimes and homelessness.

MesaCAN

Provides low-income households with utility assistance, financial literacy and college savings.

Economic Development

Provides business loans, place-making and educational support for small business owners.

Workforce Services

Provides individuals with employment resources, training, mentoring and interview preparation.

Veterans Business Outreach Center

Engages children in activities to promote progress for behavioral goals in the East Valley.

La Mesita Family Care

Offers community-based behavioral health and medical services for children and adults.

East Valley Men’s Center

Provides shelter to homeless men and helps them achieve long-term housing stability.

La Mesita Community

Family shelter and affordable housing that provides diverse services to help homeless families.

Rapid Rehousing

Provides rental assistance and case management to individuals and families in shelters or who are homeless. A New Leaf is at 868 East University Drive, Mesa. Information: call 480969-4024 or turnanewleaf.org.

Provides entrepreneurial resources

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For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

East Valley man pens a loving guide to S. Mountain Community College, Lenartz plumbs the South Mountain Park and Preserve in every conceivable way, writing about its history and geology as well as its biology and recreational opportunities. “This incredible local treasure is the largest municipal park in the United States, a stunning example of the Sonoran Desert environment located right in our backyard,” said Lenartz said, who includes familiar spots and new discoveries in his book. The mountain has been an endless magnet for Lenartz and his family, who spend several days a week sampling its treasures. “We spend several days a week at the park either hiking, biking, having a picnic, or taking some time to reflect on what is meaningful in life,” he said. “I enjoy spending time volunteering there as a Park Steward. And I was even able to write portions of the book at the park.” Lenartz started the book out of another passion, noting that “encouraging people to get outdoors was a significant motivator for me.” “I have seen clearly – both in research and my own personal experience – the transformative effect that time

GETOUT STAFF

Moadag – or South Mountain – is one of the most sacred sites for Arizona’s four southern tribes. While 20 Arizona tribes attach some cultural significance to the mountain, it has strong religious significance for the Gila River Indian Community, the AkChin Indian Community, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the Tohono O’odham Nation. Andy Lenartz can understand that attachment. He, wife Tracy and their two daughters, Cicily and Ruby, have pretty much the same attachment. Now, Lenartz has poured that love into a book devoted exclusively to South Mountain. “South Mountain Park and Preserve” – part of the Southwest Adventure Series published by the University of New Mexico Press – is as much an homage to the mountain as it is a detailed 125-page guide to its trails, plants and animals. “Spending time at South Mountain is one of our favorite things to do as a family,” said the Minnesota native, who has lived in Ahwatukee since 2008. A psychology professor at Gateway

Community college professor Andy Lenartz recently published a comprehensive guide to South Mountain. (File photo)

See

LENARTZ on page 39

New app makes hiking fun for everyone BY ANNIKA TOMLIN GetOut Staff Writer

With mountain views in every direction, Arizona is a hiker’s dream. However, navigating the trails is not always easy when it’s a family affair. WishTrip is a hiking app that injects fun in the activity. “The app was conceived by our founder and still CEO Yakov Slushtz and what happened was he was hiking with his wife,” said Sarah Heim, WishTrip marketing director. “They were looking for a landmark and they were searching and searching. They said, ‘You know we have wonderful GPS for our cars. How come we don’t have the same thing for the great outdoors?’ That’s where the idea of WishTrip was born.” In 2017, WishTrip began as a “navigation app,” according to Hein, and but evolved into an “adventure creation app.” “One of our core functionalities is that our app provides very accurate and easy to follow point by point instructions,” Hein said. “Whether you are following someone else’s trail that they created or whether you are following one of our games, or whether you are in a WishTrip destination following a trail that they created.” The following year, WishTrip added games and activities the following year. Papago Park is the only hiking range featured on WishTrip. “The reason we chose Phoenix, Arizona, to unveil the games, and why we created them in Papago Park for free is because Phoenix has nice weather

The app helps walkers and hikers get the most out of one of the region’s most scenic parks. (File photo)

all year round,” Hein said. “Phoenix is a tech-savvy metropolitan area because we want a population who will be able to easily adapt to the app. “Papago Park in particular has very rich history and very rich wildlife, so we were able to create very interesting games with really interesting content in a relatively small area.” The Papago Park games and activities are split into four age groups. “We have a game for 3- to 7-yearolds called Desert Explorers,” Hein explains. “This is a game that teaches kids about the Sonoran Desert and it’s very interactive because kids this age learn by doing and by action.

“For example, one of the activities is to feel the leaves of this particular type of plant. Another is pretend you are a cactus and grow very slowly.” Children ages 6 to 12 can play “Do You Have What It Takes to be a Leader?” “It takes you around different parts of Papago Park,” Hein said. “It asks the participants to either do some kind of activity or complete some kind of challenge and we connect that challenge to a famous person from Arizona.” For example, Hein said, hikers learn about Arizona native Steven Spielberg when they reach Hole in the Rock. “We also have one on the Double

Butte Loop trail, which is intended for teenagers and any sort of active adult,” Hein said. “It is an active, interactive hike where we teach you about the landmarks that are on the trail and also about some of the old fixtures.” For example, hikers can learn about the old amphitheater on the Double Butte Loop trails. The games wrap up with a “very high-level trivia” activity for all active adults. One question asks, “What was one of the things that Papago Park was not used for?” The choices are: to house prisoners of war or Native AmerSee

APP on page 38

GET OUT

LENARTZ

from page 37

ican rituals and religious ceremonies. Hein offers advice to families ready

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

to embark on a hiking adventure. “You should know that if you are going to go to Papago Park to play the games, we highly recommend that you download the app ahead of time so

that it is ready to go,” Hein said. “Most of the games start at the pond so you’ll want to park in the parking lot near the pond if you want to play games.” The app and its games are free.

“Papago Park is a public access park,” Hein said. “Everybody can come and it’s a really enjoyable hour or two with the family. We really, really encourage parents to go and play with their kids.”

Disney On Ice skates into the Phoenix Footprint Center BY JORDAN HOUSTON GetOut Staff Writer

As the world heads into its second pandemic holiday season, it’s safe to say both children and adults could benefit from a little extra Disney-filled cheer. Disney On Ice presented by Feld Entertainment is kicking off the New Year in Phoenix with seven fun-filled performances for its Dream Big tour. From Thursday, January 13, to Sunday, January 16, Disney’s best will skate into the Footprint Center, located at 201 E. Jefferson St., for showtimes ranging from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The show will feature Walt Disney favorites, including Minnie, Miguel, Moana, Elsa, Belle, Genie and more, while highlighting the magic and adventure of their tales through world-class figure skating. Disney On Ice veteran skater Frederic Allain, a Canadian native, assures that Dream Big is guaranteed fun for “the whole family.” “We have ten Disney stories all mashed up into one show, and it includes classics like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and goes all the way up to more modern stories like Moana and Frozen,” Allain, who plays Aladdin in Dream Big’s opening segment, tells Entertainer! Magazine. “There is really a little bit for everyone, whether you are the parents that have seen Disney since you were a child, or literally someone much younger that is now discovering all of these Disney stories.” “If you have a favorite character, it’s probably going to get showcased,” he adds. Audience members will have the chance to join Moana and Maui on an “action-packed voyage to restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti,” as well as explore the Land of the Dead with Miguel from Disney Pixar’s Coco for an immersive celebration of Día de los Muertos on ice. Rapunzel will captivate viewers during her “hair-raising quest to see the floating lights,” while Frozen icons Anna, Elsa and Olaf hit the rink in a dramatic retelling of the sisterly love that saved the kingdom of Arendelle. “We always try to keep things fresh,” said Allain. “We’ve added newer stories to the show to make sure we’re up-todate with today’s stuff.” Dream Big will also pay tribute to the strength, bravery and kindness of Disney’s original characters “that stole the hearts of millions” across TV screens over the last 90 years, such as Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora, Belle and Cinderella. For Aladdin aficionados, Allain said his opening segment as the “street urchin” is “super high energy” and engaging. “I get to run around the marketplace and there are guards chasing me because I’m a ‘street rat’ trying to steal food to help other people,” the former competitive ice dancer shares. “I eventually meet Princess Jasmine and go on

Above: Starring some of Disney’s all-time favorite characters from the last 90 years, ‘Dream Big’ is a fun-filled show for the whole family. Above Right: Disney On Ice will ring in the New Year with seven fun-filled performances at the Footprint Center in Phoenix from Thursday, Jan. 13, to Sunday, Jan. 16. Right: ‘Dream Big’ features Disney favorites, including Mickey, Minnie, Miguel, Moana, Elsa, Belle, Genie, and more, while highlighting the magic of their tales through world-class figure skating. (Courtesy of Feld Entertainment )

a magic carpet ride and it’s a super romantic number with high-risk elements and beautiful costumes.” Feld Entertainment, a global leader in producing and presenting live family entertainment experiences, has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents, according to its website. Aside from Disney On Ice, its properties include Monster Jam, Monster Energy Supercross, Disney Live!, Marvel Universe LIVE!, Sesame Street Live!, DreamWorks Trolls The Experience and Jurassic World Live Tour. On July 14, 2021, Disney On Ice celebrated its 40th anniversary, becoming one of Disney’s longest licensees. “We have skaters that come from so many backgrounds and so many countries,” Allain, who has been performing with Disney On Ice for 12 years, discloses. “We’re a very international cast and super diverse, but we all get together because we have this passion for skating and performing and that’s just rewarding on its own. I don’t feel like I’m working, it’s just something I love to do.” Although Disney On Ice were put on a brief pause during widespread COVID-19 lockdowns, Feld Entertainment emphasizes promoting Guest Wellness Enhancements “to help keep families safe at its live events.” Show venues, including Phoenix, will follow COVID health and safety standards in accordance with all federal, state and local guidelines, Feld Entertainment’s website reads. “After the COVID year where a lot of our shows were cancelled, we’re happy to be back and to get people outside of the house to have a moment with their family and have something special to bring home,” Allain expresses. Dream Big isn’t the first Disney gig under the ice dancer’s belt. Allain has

also participated in Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After, Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes, Disney On Ice presents The Wonderful World of Disney on Ice and Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove. A self-described Disney kid, Allain said his relationship with the entertainment giant has evolved since joining the Disney On Ice team in 2009. “I actually really did love Disney movies as a kid,” he shares. “It’s funny, touring with Disney On Ice, I kind of relearned all about the Disney movies as an adult. You see them in a totally different way – we’ll watch them to study how people move, how people act and their reactions because we want to portray all of their characters.” Allain, who competed in seven national ice dance championships and two international competitions representing Canada, recalls his passion for figure skating as a child – despite growing up in a hockey-obsessed country. At eight years old, Allain found his “ice” legs after his dad built an ice rink for him and his sister in their backyard. “(Canada) is a big hockey country and I think my dad always wanted to push me to be a hockey player,” Allain remembers. “My sister and I would skate night and day and twirl around, so I begged to go to skating lessons. I got to join a learn-to-skate figure skating class and I fell in love.” With the support from his parents, Allain went on to compete with the junior national team as an ice dancer until his early 20’s, he explains. When the skater decided to retire from competing, an opportunity with Disney On Ice presented itself roughly two years later – and he hasn’t looked back since. “What I find really enjoyable about performing for Disney On Ice is seeing

people’s faces – especially the kids,” Allain said. “A lot of them will come dressed up as their favorite character and when they see you perform, everyone feels like they’re in the story and that they’re a part of it. Any time I see somebody’s excited face, it brings joy to my performance and gives me energy.” Footprint Center guests looking to purchase Disney On Ice souvenirs can enjoy a new contactless shopping feature with touch-free payment and digital purchasing options, according to Disney On Ice. Attendees can also pre-order items prior to arriving at the venue. To purchase tickets for Disney On Ice presents Dream Big at the Phoenix Footprint Center, visit disneyonice. com/dream-big/phoenix-az-footprint-center. To learn more about Disney On Ice and its varying shows, head over to disneyonice.com.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

LENARTZ

from page 37

outdoors can have on our physical and mental well-being,” he explained. Plus, he said he “wanted to introduce people to South Mountain Park, this incredible community resource.” “I have been working to get people connected with nature in a manner that is safe and responsible. I particularly enjoy helping children and families reconnect with our natural environment. I find watching children develop a love of being outdoors to be immensely fulfilling. “South Mountain Park was a clear focus for this effort, a place that my family and I have a deep connection to.” “My intention is that this book will be a guide for users of all levels, he said, citing his specific sections for newcomers to hiking and South Mountain. “And there is extensive information on trails, plants, animals, and geology for experienced users. I am confident every reader will learn something new about the park.” The novice writer spent a year writing the book and another year going through the editing process with the university press. He said he was able to work out some of his initial ideas through various pieces he has written for the Ahwatukee Foothills News. “This provided a chance to receive feedback from readers about what worked, what didn’t, and what information they found most helpful,” he

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I can to spend time in nature.” He and his family “have hiked and biked all over the state of Arizona and beyond.” “We all love to travel and have hiked, biked, paddled, and camped in over half of the U.S. states in our explorations,” he added. “A particular favorite are national parks. We are on a quest to visit all of those in the United States. “ Yet, for all his enthusiasm at discovering new place, he’s left his heart at South Mountain. “It is a truly unique place and a spectacThe Gila River Indian Community fought the South Mountain Freeway for years because South Mountain ular outdoor playis sacred to the tribes that live there. Federal courts rejected their appeals. (File photo) ground right in our backyard,” Lenartz said. “I am appreciative to all those who exercise “more fun than a challenge.” said. “While there are bigger and more “I did hike every single trail in at shared their input.” extensive mountains, it is the biggest South Mountain Park in a one-year peStill, he admitted, “I had a big municipal park in the U.S. It is absoriod to create the trail guide portion,” learning curve with every step of the lutely incredible that so many people in process, as this was entirely new to me.” said Lenartz, who also took all but the the nation’s fifth biggest city have easy cover photo for the book. “I was fortunate to be signed by a Lenartz has been both an avid hiker and access to this sprawling natural space. publishing company with a talented “South Mountain Park was initially mountain biker for more than 15 years. team of editors and marketing staff under consideration as a national park “I had done occasional hikes growing who were willing to walk me through when it was established nearly 100 years up, but upon moving to Arizona and the process. It was a bit of a leap of ago, and we are all so very fortunate to faith never having done this before, but discovering the Sonoran Desert, these have daily access to this special place.” activities became a main focus of my the excitement of seeing my work in The book can be purchased on amalife,” he said. “I absolutely love being print was worth the time and effort.” zon.com and a number of other sites. outdoors and seek every opportunity Besides, he considered the entire

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JANUARY 2, 2022

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New year is a chance to tell God your thoughts RABBI IRWIN WIENER Columnist

Another year has begun. What kind of year just passed and what kind of a year lies ahead? These are just two of the questions we will ask ourselves as we do each year at this time. What kind of year have we said goodbye to? It was a year that will not soon be forgotten. It was a year that was filled with traumas and destruction and more importantly, the loss of so many lives because of a virus that was uncontrollable and saw many ignore the science as 800,000 of our fellow countrymen perish. It was a year that saw a building collapse with people snuggled in their beds unaware that in an instant they would be no more. It was a year in which floods and hurricanes inundated our cities and destroyed life and property. It was a year that contained heinous crimes and indiscriminate killings and murders involving not only adults, but children in the prime of their lives as they attempted to learn the purpose and value of life.

It was a year that was filled the most hate-filled rhetoric that has become uncontrollable. It was a year in which civility seemed to be a thing of the past and violent episodes prevailed even in the treasured halls of our government. It was a year in which we witnessed more of our brave men and women who wear the uniform of our country killed by terrorists while rescuing the unfortunate and those yearning to be free. It was a year that will be remembered for a long time, more than perhaps others. Some of us will never stop wondering whether we did enough to matter, and some will contemplate about things that never were and maybe will never be. Through it all, however, there is one constant theme that will resonate within us as we sit and imagine what could have been and as we imagine what will be in the new year. Perhaps it is best illustrated by the following story: A student was having a discussion with his teacher. “Someday, I too hope to become a teacher,” said the youth. “Aside from my studies is there any other all-important qualification I will need?” “Yes, the stimulus of imagination,” replied the teacher. “You will have

to imagine that somebody is paying attention to what you say.” Will we listen to the climate watchers who shout from the rooftops to stop the destruction of our planet and all life therein? Will we listen to our medical professionals who warn us that science is the answer to combating illness and disease? Will we listen to each other as we attempt to bring sanity to a chaotic environment? I believe that all of us during our lifetime have wondered whether anyone listens to us, our children, our colleagues at work, and our significant others, and even ourselves. We have a great deal to say because communicating is the most significant way of connecting. Sometimes we say things that really don’t matter and, of course, we do say things that affect our lives and those around us. Sometimes we say things that have different meanings because we are not clear and precise. Sometimes we say things we really don’t mean because we want to be sensitive to another’s feelings. And sometimes we say things that aren’t true because we are too ashamed or embarrassed as to our real intent. A new year gives us an opportunity to also say things to God we never thought we had the ability to express.

There are thoughts we have that mean so much because we are at a stage in life where minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years are precious and not to be wasted. It takes a great deal of imagination to expect that God is listening and hears our words because we believe we cannot see, or touch, or even hear an answer. But it doesn’t take imagination to realize that answers can come from experiences and happenings that remind us we do matter. We see the miracles of life daily, but we tend to ignore them. We can touch a loved one because that touch awakens the understanding of togetherness and companionship. We hear the sounds of laughter, and the tears that fall when we lose someone we love or witness illness. As we embark on another year, we all should listen to our inner voice that tells us life is to live and treasure because it is a gift that keeps on giving. Listen to a friend or relative as they reach out for understanding and compassion. And, if we are having difficulty hearing, be sure we are tuned in to what is being said. Try not to miss “I love you,” or “I care about you,” or “I wish you were here.” Rabbi Irwin Wiener D.D. is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes congregation.

Is God listening or are we just not hearing? BY PHILIP MELLA Guest Writer

One of the paradoxes of our modern age is that as our knowledge and understanding of the universe has expanded so has the number of people who profess no faith in God. Although there are many intervening and confounding variables, it reminds us that paramount among sins is that of pride, for it’s the gateway through which all other human failings enter. Against that somewhat guarded preamble, and in light of the monstrous horrors of wars, dictators, and despots in the 20th century, modern man has often questioned whether God listens to our prayers. It’s a fair question, which as we’ll see, may elicit some surprising answers. For background, we must examine how our culture has inadvertently or otherwise led to a weakening of faith. Despite its aspirations of scrupulous

objectivity, our federal judiciary has generally reflected cultural trends, responding with ever greater fidelity to society’s warp and woof. Therefore, in the past half-century we’ve witnessed the judiciary’s overreach relative to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment – the so-called “separation of church and state.” The outcome is the incremental relegation of God and Christian symbols such as the crucifix from the proverbial public square, not to mention our schools. Religious thought leaders call that the secularizing of society, which some celebrate and others see as the demonstrable cause of the moral decay that has clearly taken root. It’s been an imperceptible, slow process, which means it’s all the more insidious. But when moral certainty – which is implausible without faith – is removed, confusion and its close ally, evil, fill the vacuum. Returning to our deeper understanding of the universe, in a recent editorial on Apollo 11, columnist George

Chandler United Methodist Church Making and Deploying Disciples for over 100 Years.

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Will, wrote, “The universe, 99.9 percent of which is outside Earth’s atmosphere, is expanding at 46 miles per second per megaparsec. (One megaparsec is approximately 3.26 million light years.) This cooling cinder called Earth, spinning in the darkness is a minor speck of residue from the Big Bang, which lasted less than a billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second 13.8 billion years ago.” Will, a professed agnostic, predictably fails to consider whether the hand of God created the Big Bang. Regardless, the human imagination simply can’t comprehend this vastness, which encourages us to question whether an omniscient God is overseeing it all. Psalm 8 captures that sense of forlornness by asking, “What is man that thou art mindful of him?” Which returns us to the question of whether God listens to us when we pray? The question is complicated by the fact that we humans are forever yearning, and instinctively pray for favorable outcomes, and when we’re disappointed, we naturally question whether God

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is, in fact, with us. The problem is in the unavoidable premise, which is that we use the metrics or tools we best understand. That is, when we pray for a given outcome, we constantly check for any hint that it’s trending the way we hoped – that is to say, on our terms. Since spiritual humility suggests we often don’t know what’s best for us, it’s wise to use a different approach. A clue is that Hebrews 11 tells us, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is a kind of translator of God’s will, but its code is purposely written in the language of prayer. If God doesn’t answer us it doesn’t mean He’s not listening; it may mean we’re not hearing what He’s telling us. Or, that we think we know better than God what’s good for us. Ergo, the sin of pride. Philip Mella of Chandler is a former elected official, a retired health care executive, and a writer focusing on history, religion, and science. Reach him at pnmella@yahoo.com.

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com

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