SanTan Sun News April 24, 2022 by Times Media Group

April 24, 2022 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

City Council grapples with housing hopelessness Housing supply improves, prices won’t See page 27

the tide. Council met April 18 in a work session to look at what is being done and what more could be done to make homes in Chandler more affordable. Here are the steps Council was told they could take that would help a little. Rezone some areas of South Chandler to allow for denser populations. Many are currently zoned for no more than 18 units per acre, and with the city running out of empty lots, space is at a premium. More available homes would, in theory, lower demand and relieve some of the upward pressure on prices.

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Anyone shopping for a home in Chandler knows prices are up. So do city leaders. They met last week to discuss what they could do about it, and the takeaway is that there are steps they are already taking, more they can do – but in the end it won’t matter much. The factors driving up home prices in Chandler are too strong to change

Reduce the setback requirements for new developments. Most new developments must be set back at least 50 feet from roads. By lessening that number to, say, 25 feet, there would be more space available on lots for more homes. Working with developers on any new projects to ensure a certain percentage of the homes they are building will be affordable. Planning Administrator Kevin Mayo said if they ask early in the process, most developers are willing to commit to some affordable units. “We’re kind of a victim of our own success,” said Councilmember Rene

Lopez. “Everybody wants to be in Chandler.” Mayo told Council that it would take a while before those changes would make any kind of an impact in the housing market. That put a focus on the steps the city is already doing. They’ve built about 2,700 single family units and 4,300 multi-family units since January of 2018. They’ve partnered with Newtown Community Land Trusts for 69 affordable homes. There are two in the See

HOUSING on page 6

Free lunch may soon end for many CUSD students deficit continues to grow. They also want schools to get back to normal in the waning days of the pandemic. That’s one reason McConnell opposed including the free lunch program in the omnibus spending bill that funds the government through the end of this fiscal year. Congress approved free meals at the nation’s schools as part of its first COVID-19 stimulus bill in March 2020. It gave districts U.S. Department of Agriculture waivers to feed an addition-

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

The universal free meals that Chandler Unified and other school districts have been providing to their students could end this summer. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) apparently told fellow Republicans the program was never intended to be permanent and that many in his party object to the $11 billion annual price tag as the federal

al 10 million American students and also relaxed some regulations so they could deal with supply chain problems and staffing issues. The students, who are 18 and younger, get up to two meals a day,

including lunch and breakfast. Unless Congress takes action, the program will end July 1. However, two See

LUNCH on page 3

About those traffic jams

Low-income seniors ﬁnd welcome help from city BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

In 2019, the City of Chandler was looking for ways to help its older residents. especially those on fixed incomes. Officials looked at their neighborhood enhancement coordinator and said, “What can we do?” “I was tasked with coming up with a new program that we could introduce to our community,” said Priscilla Quintana, who is the city’s neighborhood enhancement coordinator. “In the research, I found that 6% of our population in Chandler was living on a fixed inSee

GOLDEN on page 8

Loyd and Jane Buchanan examine the household cleaning supplies and personal hygiene products beign provided for free at the Senior Store as part of Chandler’s Golden Neighbors program. (David Minton/ Staff Photographer)

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Dana Alvidrez, city transportation engineer for Chandler, references a graphic illustrating road traffic inside the Traffic Management Center. Turns out the city looked into whether artificial intelligence can help traffic ﬂow on Chandler streets. For the surprising conclusion, see page 18. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

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F E AT U R E D STO R I E S Chandler Chief: Police continually evolve . . . . . . . .News . . . . . . . . . . Page 11 Chandler mom offers new diet approach . . . . . . .Business . . . . . . Page 27

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Chandler girl a playwright at 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Neighbors . . . . . Page 31

NMLS# 9392 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). American Advisors Group (AAG) is headquartered at 18200 Von Karman Ave., Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612. AAG conducts business in AZ (BK_0911141). AAG is an equal housing lender. These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency. For full legal disclosure, please visit: www.americanadvisorsgroup.com/disclosure

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

LUNCH

from page 1

Senators introduced a bill to keep it going for at least one more year. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are the main sponsors of what they’re calling the Support Kids Not Red Tape Act. If Congress does not renew the program, then schools will revert back to the free or reduced-price meal program they used before the pandemic, where eligibility was determined by a family’s income. In the year before the pandemic began (Fiscal Year 2018-19), Chandler Unified School District provided 5,210,080 meals. Just over 2 million of those were free, with about 145,000 price-reduced. More than 3 million students paid full price that year. This year they expect that number of free meals to exceed 6.8 million. “Currently universal free meals will expire on June 30,” according to Jenny Bracamonte, director of food and nutrition operations for CUSD. “At that point we will transition back to a traditional [National School Lunch Program]. That being said, there is a new bill in Congress that allows for universal free meals to extend through September of 2023. “We have not released any guidance to our families yet because it could very well change and it’s a bit too early. Of course, we will keep the district apprised of any changes as soon as we

Thanks to Congress and the Trump and Biden administrations, free lunch distributions soared during the pandemic in Chandler Unified School District. (CUSD)

are aware.” CUSD offered curbside meal delivery during the first few months of the pandemic, from April through July of 2020. In 2021, students did not return to classrooms until September and October. That makes comparing the number of meals before the pandemic difficult. The district gave out about 4.9 million meals in FY 2019-20 and more than 5.5 million in FY 2020-21.

Fuel price hikes hurting school districts too BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

As most motor vehicle owners know, gas prices are up a lot. Those increases are hitting school districts and cities just as hard as they are families. Chandler Unified School District Governing Board approved a $250,000 increase to its fuel budget this month to get it through the end of this year. “We’re definitely spending more, with diesel going to more than $5 a gallon,” said Lana Berry, district chief financial officer. “We’re still going the same number of miles.” The district had a contract with Flyers Energy for $1.25 million for this school year. That was increased to $1.5 million last week. They’re not alone. Higley Unified School District paid about $1.93 per gallon in the first three

months of 2021. For the same three months of this year, it is paying an average $3.16, according to Teresa Joseph, the districts spokesperson. Mesa Public Schools uses propane-powered buses and approved a $250,000 increase to cover that cost in February. A Gilbert Public Schools spokesperson said her district’s officials anticipate a 17 percent increase in fuel costs this year over what they paid in 2018-19 school year. That was the last time they operated transportation for the entire school year. The City of Chandler is dipping into a reserve of $400,000 to cover the increase cost of fuel for this year. A city spokesperson said they have a reserve of $849,000 set aside for next year, which would allow them to cover an average price of $4.75 a gallon. The average price of gas in Arizona early last week was $4.57 per gallon.

Do you have an interesting story? Contact Paul Maryniak: pmaryniak@timespublications.com

The Arizona Food Bank Network said that one in six Arizonans struggles with food insecurity and that more than 311,000 children in this state face food insecurity. USDA officials say 30 million American students have benefited from the universal free meal program during the pandemic – 10 million more kids than they were serving before the pandemic began. The food bank network was criti-

cized by many school officials. Parents had to fill out a lot of paperwork to determine if they were eligible for either free and reduced-price meals. Then schools were responsible for keeping track of which students got free meals, and which ones had to pay either partial, or full price. Bracamonte said there were a number of benefits to the universal free meal program. They include: • Addressed the challenges of operating the NSLP program during a period where students were in and out of school • Districts could easily transition to curbside services should they need to close; • Allowed districts to address their supply chain and staffing issues without running into a deficit; • Reduced or eliminated stigma, as the financial barrier of paying for school meals is eliminated; • Significantly less red tape and paperwork for school nutrition staff; • More streamlined meal service operations allows the district to serve students faster and gives them more time to eat; • Students are not turned away due to inability to pay at the secondary level and elementary students do not accrue meal debt; • Allows district to reach additional students by serving in non-traditional serving areas – no cash registers, data hookups, etc.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Hartke, Orlando campaigns pile up cash BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke did not face a challenger for his office four years ago. There is a challenger on the ballot in 2022, but the mayor enjoys a huge campaign finance advantage heading into the Aug. 2 primary. All the candidates in Chandler’s election for mayor and city council had to report their finances through the first quarter by April 15. Hartke reported having more than $228,000 in campaign funds. His opponent, Ruth Jones, had about $111. “I don’t think that money makes a campaign,” Jones said. “You have to be out talking to the people, that’s my priority. Being a new candidate, it’s been slow going so far, but there’s been an increase lately. I expect to see quite an improvement the next time we report.” In the race for the three Council seats, incumbent Matt Orlando has a significant advantage. He has garnered more than $32,000 so far. There are two open seats because incumbents Rene Lopez and Terry Roe are termed out. Farhana Shifa leads the money race of the four remaining Council challenges, with more than $17,000 on hand. She’s a member of the city’s arts council and has run for state Legislature in the past. Angel Encinas, who runs an immigration consulting and real estate business, is next with more than $8,000 in the bank. Jane Poston is next with more

Chandler 2022 Campaign Reports Here's how much cash each candidate had on hand on at the end of March, according to their financial reports:

$228,911.53

Kevin Hartke Ruth Jones $110.93 Angel Encinas Darla Gonzalez Matt Orlando Jane Poston Farhana Shifa

$8,012.31 $2,504.08

Source: Candidate campaign finance reports

$4,704.92

than $4,800 and Darla Gonzalez has about $2,500. Poston runs her own video production company and Gonzalez runs a consulting company. The mayor’s largest campaign donation last quarter came from someone living outside of Arizona. Jordan Schnitzer, of Portland, Ore., donated the maximum allowed $6,550 to Hartke’s campaign. Hartke said he’s never met Schnitzer, the CEO of Harsch Investment Properties. That company owns Queen Creek Commerce Center, a 556,000-squar- foot complex with two buildings near the Chandler Municipal Airport. Harsch said in a news release it owns 109 acres of land at three separate Chandler locations.

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I don’t think that “money makes a

campaign, you have to be out talking to the people, that’s my priority. Being a new candidate, it’s been slow going so far, but there’s been an increase lately. I expect to see quite an improvement the next time we report.

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This chart shows how much candidates for mayor and city council had available after the first quarter of this year for their campaigns. (Ken Sain/SanTan Sun News)

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Hartke said the Queen Creek Commerce Center fits in with the city’s General Plan and Airpark Development Plan. The mayor also received donations of $1,500 from developer Luke Still of Lake Havasu, and eight others who contributed $1,000 each. Three of those listed Sonoran Roots as their place of work. That’s a cannabis company. The other five are either developers or lawyers for Withy Morris, a local law firm that has represented developers before the city’s Planning and Zoning Board and at council meetings. Jones list only one donor who contributed more than $50. Joanna Coles donated about $240. Jones entered the quarter with $142 raised, and added about $2170 more. However, she spend $2,200 last quarter. Orlando only had one contribution bigger than $500, and that came from Patsy and Marlene Orlando for $1,000. Shifa received two donations of $1,000, both from real estate brokers. The rest of her donations were $500 or less. Most of the donations to the Encinas campaign are under $500. The largest donation came from Dulce Encinas at $760. Poston has only one donation of $500, from Lori Collins. Gonzalez had three donations for $1,000 each, from Deana J. Layton-Hatch, Carleen Brophy, and Michael Futrell.

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NEWS

HOUSING

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

from page 1

process of being added. However, only eight have been added since 2018 because the huge increase in prices makes it harder for Newtown to purchase homes to turn into affordable housing. Newtown buys existing properties, repairs them, and then sells them to moderate-to-low income buyers. Habitat for Humanity has built 15 homes in the city. Chandler has 447 low income housing tax credit units. It has 14 affordable rental units available, with two more on the way. However, the high prices of rents available has slowed adding more units. There have only been three of these units added since 2018. Chandler currently has a couple of options for public housing. It has more than 300 units available for families, seniors and single families. The wait list to get one of these is long. The city opened it up at the end of last year0 and cut off accepting applications when they reached 2,000. The city also offers a program where residents can rent apartments, but that requires buy-in from landlords. The tenant pays 30% of their monthly income, then the federal government pays a big chunk to keep that family in their home. However, Amy Jacobson, Chandler’s housing and redevelopment director, says landlords can get more for their units than the combined 30% from the tenant and the grant from Housing and

Both housing prices and rent have significantly increased in Chandler, making it more difficult for lower-income people to find a place to live. (City of Chandler)

Urban Development. So landlords are opting out. The city is planning a landlord outreach event later this month to try to encourage more to participate in the program. Jacobson said the city is trying to build 158 more public housing units and currently working on a proposal to submit to Housing and Urban Development. She said they hope to present a

development agreement to the Council for its approval in the coming months. She said they also want to look at their existing public housing buildings to see if they can be upgraded and if it might be possible to add more units. There is no mystery why home prices are climbing as this is a classic supply and demand case. Chandler is running out of empty lots Allow us to introduce the newest addition to our team:

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HOUSING on page 7

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

HOUSING

from page 6

buying homes in the next highest category. That has a cascading effect, with more and more people buying homes in a lower category than they can afford because there are none available. Before the pandemic, on a typical day there were about 24,000 homes for sale in the Valley. Now, that number is about 5,000. In addition to people looking to buy homes, there has been an increase in the number of investors looking to purchase property. So, demand has increased as supply has fallen to about 20 percent of what it was only a few years ago. “As we studied this issue over the last year or so, we definitely learned that addressing housing is a complex issue,” said City Manager Joshua Wright. “And one that doesn’t fall on city shoulders alone. There are many market factors outside of our control effecting housing right now. While it is easy to paint this as a city issue, the reality is certainly more complicated.”

This chart shows how average rents have increased over the year across Chandler. (City of Chandler)

Diversity study in Chandler progressing, city says BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler’s study of diversity, equality and inclusion issues is progressing on schedule. Councilmember OD Harris requested an update on the diversity, equity and inclusion survey the city commissioned and was told an action plan for

Council to consider would be presented this summer. The city hired CPS HR as a consultant to put together the DEI assessment and make recommendations. They began by meeting with every member of the council to find out what diversity, equity and inclusion meant to them and what they would consider a successful outcome.

Next, Niki Tapia, the city’s DEI program manager, said they chose 25 citizens to serve on a committee. “It’s a very diverse panel that represents the different ages, faiths, races, ethnicities, and genders of our city,” Tapia said. “Individuals were selected to represent as much diversity as possible, as well as individuals who had the time to commit to this project.”

The committee broke up into smaller subcommittees that are looking at a number of DEI-related issues. They include: Understanding youth population service needs; improving opportunities for all voices to be heard/community voice coming in; LGBTQ+ outreach and resources; See

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NEWS

GOLDEN

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come or was living alone and they were facing a lot of different challenges.” Those challenges include financial instability, having to choose between paying for medication or personal hygiene products. She said that is how they came up with the Golden Neighbors program. Two weeks ago, officials set aside part of the parking garage at City Hall to display some personal hygiene items as well as other goods, such as laundry detergent. It invited residents to come pick up what they needed. Quintana said they hope to repeat the experience next month and keep it going as long as they have goods to hand out. “Not having them pick between I have to pay a bill this month, a medical bill, or buy something to keep my house going,” she said. The Salvation Army provided many of the goods handed out so far, she

NDO

from page 7

building community partnerships; and improving external communications so the city’s voice gets out to all groups. Harris wanted to know if a non-discrimination ordinance was one of the issues they are looking at as Chandler is the largest city in Arizona that has not adopted a non-discrimination ordinance. “It will be,” Tapia said. She said the topics she discussed during her presen-

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

said. Army workers purchase items in bulk from Amazon, and some of those items are not right for the people they care for. Few homeless people have need or a place to store a large bottle of laundry detergent, for example. They also get some items, such as car care products, that they can’t use. Those were the ones they donated to the city. Quintana said they’re still trying to figure out what to do with all the car care items, but they want to put everything to good use. She said they also had a discussion with Amazon, which gave them a $20,000 grant for the Golden Neighbors program. Those two sources of donations have helped launch the program with three events so far. In December, the city kicked off the program by handing out goods to people inside the public housing program. They handed out 15 baskets just before the holidays. The second event was in February when they gave 10 baskets of household goods to the Senior Center for them to

award at its Valentine’s Day dance. At this month’s event, officials handed out goods to 70 households, Quintana said. They hope to repeat it again next month. Then it will depend on if more donations come in or not. She said if anyone in the community can spare a bottle of detergent, or a roll of toilet paper, or any other household goods and they want to donate them to Golden Neighbors she would appreciate it. She said that’s the only way to keep the program going. Quintana said her hope is that helping seniors is not a once-in-a-month event. “It shouldn’t become an event for us to be able to assist someone,” Quintana said. “It should be that if somebody is in dire need of some of these items, they can reach out to us and we can connect them with those items they need.” Quintana said her office gets calls from seniors asking for help. Their air conditioning might have gone out and they don’t have the extra funds to get it repaired. They may no longer be able

to use the stairs in front of their homes and need a ramp put in. That’s where she hopes Golden Neighbors and a sister program, Let’s Pull Together, can fill the gaps. The second program is where volunteers will go to someone’s home and help with yard work or if the home is in violation of city codes, get it into compliance. “We’re always going to need to help our seniors, whether it’s with physical items or giving them that social interaction and letting them know that they do have somebody that is looking out for them, and someone who cares about our aging population,” Quintana said. “Because the truth of the matter is, we’re all going to be there.”

tation before Council this month were the ones that came up the first time the 25-person committee met to discuss what works well, and what needs to be improved in Chandler’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. She said since then they have had other conversations and a NDO has been brought up. When Council first considered passing a NDO it was rejected on a 5-2 vote. The mayor instead chose to release a non-binding proclamation.

Harris and Matt Orlando were the two councilmembers in favor of a NDO. The Chandler Chamber of Commerce and a number of the city’s top businesses have expressed support for a NDO. Harris said he wanted to see a scientific poll to measure support for a NDO and was concerned the consultant hired by the city was relying instead on a survey. Tapia pointed out the first survey was done by the Human Rights Commission, a gay rights organization. She

said that gives them a solid base to consider recommendations. Tapia said the committee expects to wrap up its work in May. While it is doing its work, the city will also survey its employees and also break up into committees that will meet in May and June. Members of the public can also comment through the city’s website. The final report with recommendations is expected to be presented to Council in July.

How to Help

If you would like to donate goods to Golden Neighbors, or volunteer to help seniors in Let’s Pull Together, call 480-782-4362 or text “Golden Neighbors” to 44-321.

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As you can see in Figure 2, as the blood vessels that surround the nerves become diseased they shrivel up which causes the nerves to not get the nutrients to continue to survive. When these nerves begin to “die” they cause you to have balance problems, pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and many additional symptoms. The main problem is that your doctor has told you to just live with the problem or try the drugs which you don’t like taking because they make you feel uncomfortable. There is now a facility right here in Mesa that offers you hope without taking those endless drugs with serious side effects. (See the special neuropathy severity examination at the end of this article) In order to effectively

The treatment to increase blood flow, stimulate small nerve fibers and get you back to health is our new $50,000.00 SANEXAS UNIT! In addition, we use a stateof-the-art diagnostics like the TM Flow diagnostic unit to accurately determine the increase in blood flow and a small skin biopsy to accurately determine the increase in small nerve fibers! The Sanexas electric cell signaling system delivers energy to the affected area of your body at varying wavelengths, including both low-frequency and middlefrequency signals. It also uses amplitude modulated (AM) and frequency modulated (FM) signaling. During a treatment session, the Sanexas system automatically changes to simultaneously deliver AM and FM electric cell signal energy. THE GREAT NEWS IS THAT SANEXAS IS COVERED BY MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCE! Depending

Aspen Medical will be offering this chronic pain and neuropathy severity examination from now until May 31, 2022. Call 480-274-3157 to make an appointment to determine if your chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated. Due to our very busy office schedule, we are limiting this FREE consultation offer to the first 15 callers. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUFFER ANOTHER MINUTE, CALL Call 480-274-3157 … NOW! We are extremely busy and if your call goes to our voicemail, please leave a message and we will get back to you asap.

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NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

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Symphony II

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city, and during public comments before Council, that SF-10/PAD SF-10/PAD It was about 15 minutes after Chanthey are worried Chandler Chandler Heights Heights dler City Council had already reached that an entrance AG-1 Estates III Estates School Santan Elementary its decision last week and the battle on 124th Street will PAD Symphony III was over. Still, members of the Chanbring more traffic dler Planning Department continued at greater speeds to AG-1 to meet with neighbors who live near their private road. Chandler Heights Rd. 124th Street and are upset about the The city took new Hazelwood development. steps to try to prePAD Orchard Heights It grew heated at times. Planning Advent that, including PAD ministrator Kevin Mayo told the upset a road design that Project Site neighbors his staff has never worked so would encourage AG-1 hard to address concerns on any projdrivers to enter the PAD ect during his tenure. Hazelwood develRockwood Estates The issue is a private road on county opment instead of PAD land that serves a couple dozen homes continuing down County PAD south of Chandler Heights. The Hazel124th Street, traffic Anatolian County Country wood development is a plan to put 22 Estates calming measures new homes at the southeast corner of including a speed Chandler Heights and 124th Street. hump, and narrowPAD Paseo The city traffic engineer decided ing the dirt road Crossing that the best place to put the entrance with hard-to-miss PLH21-0077/PLT21-0048 Hazelwood by Keystone Homes ´ ‘private drive’ signs. to the development was off 124th Proposed Project Details Street. Most of its neighbors want the Council voted entrance off Chandler Heights. unanimously on Traffic Engineer Dana Alvidrez said April 14 to approve they decided 124th Street would be the Hazelwood ^ better, in part, because SanTan Elemenproject as submittary and Junior High schools are across ted and to change This map shows the location of the housing project that upset the street and have a bus entrance the zoning so it some south Chandler homeownes. (City of Chandler) located at the same intersection an could be built. entrance to the development would be. “I think the vote at 124th Street and they’d be too close She said adding another traffic went horrible,” said homeowner Mark together. COLOR: Right click swatch, and find and replace withoutcorrect control light to that location would not Monje. “They’re not looking for the The neighbors said in emails to the be wise because there is already a light welfare of the residents in the neigh-

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

S 122ND ST

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E TAURUS PL

S 120TH PL

E BIRCHWOOD PL

E VIA DE PALMAS

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S 124TH ST

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AR DR

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COUNTY

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borhood, and also the safety of the kids that go to SanTan Elementary and Junior High.” Even after the City Council meeting ended, the neighbors, city staff, and the Hazelwood developer continued to talk. According to one of the neighbors, they agreed to another meeting in about a week. In other action on April 18, Council approved a vendor to run its new Flex Transit service. That will be a van service for to city residents starting in July. The city received a grant to run the program for two years. The Flex Transit would act similar to a ride-sharing company. Users can request a ride through an app. They will be directed where to go that is within walking distance to be picked up, and then taken to their destination. There may be a nominal charge for the service to keep it from being overrun with requests. River North Transit won the bid to provide the service. The city hopes to use state transportation funds to keep the program going past two years if it is successful. The Council also approved a non-governmental agreement with the Kyrene Elementary School District so the city can continue to use four lighted ball fields at Kyrene Aprende Middle School. It also expands the agreement color to allow the city to use other district facilities, such as gyms.

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NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Chandler PD has a history of ‘evolving,’ chief says BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Other police departments around the country are now looking to reform their departments because of the fallout of the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Chandler’s police chief says his department is well ahead of its peers. “The term ‘reform’ is not alien to the Chandler Police Department,” Chief Sean Duggan told a Chamber of Commerce audience during a panel discussion on police reform held at Chandler-Gilbert Community College on April 8. “In fact, reform – or as I like to call it ‘evolution’ – … that is part of the fabric of our organization and has been for years.” Duggan said his department is constantly learning and evolving. He pointed out they were among one of the first to fully embrace the use of body cameras, which they’ve been using for nine years. “This is not something that we were compelled to do, a court didn’t order us to do this,” Duggan said. “Nine years ago, we recognized the technology of body-worn cameras and how it collects compelling evidence, how it my help deescalate a situation, how it holds people accountable.” He said it also helps the department to prosecute cases faster. Duggan said there have been other changes. After the Michael Brown death in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, this department made it an official policy that any police officer who uses deadly force must do all they can to provide aid. An-

Chandler Police Chief Sean Duggan said reform, or evolution, “is part of the fabric” of his department. (YouTube)

other change is duty to intervene. “If you see an officer next to you doing something inappropriately, it is your expectation policy to intervene and stop that action,” Duggan said. “This is five years before George Floyd was murdered.” City Council is currently considering its next fiscal budget and one of the proposals being discussed for the Police Department is the addition of five mental health professionals. “It’s still in its infancy stages, but what we want to do is to take some of the burden away from our officers on the street and train up a highly-skilled, dedicated unit to help respond to some

of those mental health calls,” Duggan said after the meeting. Anthony Cano, 17, was killed on Jan. 2, 2021 after being pulled over for having a broken light on his bicycle. The teen decided to flee and a chase began through a park. During the chase a gun Cano was carrying fell to the ground. Officer Chase Bebak-Miller ordered Cano to drop to the ground at that point. He fired the first of two shots a second later. Cano died after three weeks in the hospital. The Maricopa County Attorney Office said the case is still under review and no decision has been reached to charge Bebak-Miller or not.

Duggan said they did make a change in how they report use of deadly force cases after the Cano shooting. He said that was the only change they made because of that case. Chandler settled a lawsuit with Cano’s family for $1.125 million. Michael Collins, the president of the Chandler Law Enforcement Association, agreed with Duggan that Chandler PD has been ahead of other departments around the nation. “We’re constantly reforming what we do, and always have been,” Collins said. “I think our department has been at the forefront of trying to identify issues ahead of time and to mitigate them.” Duggan and the other panelists were asked what did they think would be the biggest issue for police departments in the coming years. He said recruitment will be an issue every department in the nation will be struggling with. Duggan said attacks on officers are up around the nation. Also, officers’ reputations have been tarnished because of a few cases. That makes filling positions vacated by retirements very difficult. “How many people out there are willing to be police officers today, and of those people, how many people out there are talented and qualified to be police officers today?” Duggan asked. “The pool is small and we’re competing with every chief in this Valley, every chief regionally for that very, very tiny pool of candidates.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

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Chandler resident Jeanine Nesvik with her dog Bentley, who was the first canine she saw after returning home from work and discovering 11 dogs she either owns or was caring for had been stolen. (Ken Sain/SanTan Sun News)

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Jeanine Nesvik says she’s not the type of person who makes enemies. As a speech pathologist who works with children with special needs, the Chandler woman spends most of her other waking hours caring for her six dogs and up to 14 other canines that she fosters. So when someone broke into her home while she was at work and stole 11 dogs, she said it’s hard not to take it personally. “It does seem really targeted, and personal, and out to hurt me,” said Nesvik, who posted on social media April 15 that four of the dogs were found in a Mesa Park. Police said someone broke into Nesvik’s home on March 23 and released a bunch of dogs from their kennels. Witnesses said a white van was seen in the alley behind Nesvik’s home that day. The police report says the intruder or intruders gained entry to the home through an unlocked door that had been broken at the time but has since been fixed. To get inside, Nesvik said, they would have had to scale an 8-foot block fence, then open a gate with a dead bolt that could only be open from the yard. The police report says nothing other than the dogs appear to have been stolen. Nesvik said the thieves did not open the kennels with three dogs inside, saying she believes those were the most aggressive at the time and opening the kennels could have led to the intruder being attacked. The crates for five dogs were opened, but those dogs were not taken. The intruder, or intruders, also went into the basement to get a mother and some puppies that were receiving medical treatment. They were not crated,

but were behind a closed door. A neighbor donated a couple of security cameras to film the front and back yards. Thanks to donations from friends and family and others, Nesvik is offing a reward of $22,000 to anyone who helps her recover the 11 dogs. She said that’s a lot more than anyone could get trying to sell them because many of those 11 dogs are older or have medical issues. Nesvik said for the most part she operates quietly. She doesn’t advertise her caring for dogs online. She says she is friendly with her neighbors and goes out of the way to work with them when they have complaints. “I was at a country concert, and they were in an uproar,” Nesvik said. “They wouldn’t stop barking. It happened to be that one of the dogs was having a seizure. So she called me and was like, ‘Can you do something?’ I left the concert to come back home. “I don’t want to be a complete nuisance.” She said many of the children in the neighborhood like to visit her house to pet the puppies in her front yard when she lets them out. Nesvik said despite the large number of dogs she cares for, she develops a connection with each. “Every single one of them, I know their personalities,” she said. “I work with kids with special needs that can’t talk, and I work with the dogs that are kind of broken. I develop this connection." “I don’t understand this.”

Reward

If you have information about the theft of the 11 dogs, contact Chandler Police at 480-782-4001. A $22,000 reward is being offered.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

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NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Golf tourney helping Chandler dad beset by poor health SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

An Ahwatukee Realtor and her team are sponsoring a golf tournament to help the Chandler brother of a coworker who has struggled to care for his two daughters despite a life beset by a series of health issues Realtor Lisa Wunder was moved by the plight of Raphael “Raffy” Torre, whose health issues began at birth in 1985 and have included two kidney transplants and two corneal transplants. She is sponsoring a golf tournament that begins at 7:30 a.m. May 14 at Foothills Golf Club in Ahwatukee to raise money for the single father of Layla, 10, and Milania, 8, and is seeking both players and sponsors. Information about the tournament is at rallyforraffy.com. Torre’s mother wrote a heartfelt plea for her son, recalling that on the day he was born, “It was supposed to be a joyous day, getting a son to hold in my arms, but instead code blue happened and for that, he was rushed to another room. All I saw was a baby boy all blue and limp.” His shoulders got stuck in the birth canal and because he was pulled out, his lungs collapsed and he suffered brachial plexus in his right arm, forcing him to stay one month in intensive care and undergo physical therapy until he was 9 months old. “In no time at all, Raffaele starts school and he gets diagnosed with ADD

– which meant struggles in school,” his mother continued. “Later he gets a full-time job, works hard and gets his own apartment and buys a car. He is responsible in all he does.” Then, at age 19, Torre's kidneys shut down. He received a kidney from his sister after six months of dialysis three times a week. Ten years later, however, he lost the use of that kidney when he was stricken with double pneumonia. Placed on a waiting list for a new kidney, he finally got a new organ last year. But his medical problems didn’t end there: He has undergone three corneal transplant operations in his right eye. “We all hope and pray this one works out,” said Wunder, adding that “being in and out of the hospital these last 17 years has taken a toll on Raffy physically, emotionally, and financially.” “In our world of real estate, we often are exposed Raphael “Raffy” Torre of Chandler lives for his daughters to the deepest levels of our people’s personal lives,” Layla, 10, left, and Milania, 8, and but a series of health issues have made it difficult for him to give them the life she said. “After all, what is more personal than walking he wants to for them. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

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into some one’s home - let alone their finances?” “His history is filled with hope for the future, a testament to the love of a family, a tale of personal sacrifice by so many,” she said, describing Torre as “gracious, gregarious, and grateful.” “Raffi’s story is an inspiration for all,” Wunder said. “A young man plagued by kidney failure before he was out of high school. The family gathered round with faith, action and hope. Each member willing was tested for an organ match.” “I am compelled to do something, anything in an effort to rebalance the scales of life for Raffi,” she said. She recalled the adage “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. To teach a man to fish, he eats for the rest of his days.”. Wunder added: “How many other ponds, lakes and rivers could Raffi have fished from if he was not tethered to dialysis?” Torre’s mother said her granddaughters keep her son going. “No matter how sick he was, he always took care of his girls,” she said. “There were so many times where Raffaele was wanting to give up, but the enormous love that he had for those two girls pushed him to continue.” “He lives for his daughters and he wishes he could do more,” his mother added. “Anyone that knows Raffaele will say that he has the cleanest heart and soul and would give you the shirt off his back. If anyone deserves help, it is him.”

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CITY OF CHANDLER INSIDER

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Help Chandler make water conservation a priority CITY OF CHANDLER

April is Water Awareness Month and now more than ever, it’s imperative for Chandler residents to focus on ways to save water, making conservation not just a habit, but a lifestyle. Chandler has carefully planned its water usage for decades, and our water comes from multiple sources. The Colorado River represents a portion of our water supply. Even though the City can still meet the water needs of residents and businesses, everyone is urged to continue, and even step up, their conservation efforts. Because of continuing conservation efforts, the average household in Chandler is using 10% less water today than 15 years ago. That is a trend that we want to continue, knowing how precious water is in the desert. To do your part, follow @cityofchandler on Instagram and Facebook and visit chandleraz.gov/ water for water-saving tips and updates. Also check out Voices of Chandler, The Podcast wherever you stream audio to hear the “H2whOa” episode about water conservation. Conservation begins at home Did you know that up to 70% of water usage in a Chandler residence is outside? Think of the amount of water it takes to keep your lawn green, water flowers and shrubs, and maintain a pool. There are lots of ways to reduce consumption at home and save money

Left: Samuel Esquivias and is exercising a valve. Right: Aaron Mower, an industrial waste inspector for pretreatment in the Chandler Water Department, inspects a sample. (City of Chandler)

at the same time. The City of Chandler offers rebates for replacing grass lawns with xeriscape (low water use) landscape, installing a new xeriscape (low water use) landscape at a newly constructed home, or installing a smart irrigation controller that adjusts the watering schedule with weather conditions. Visit chandleraz. gov/water to learn how to apply for these rebates. Spring and fall are great times to replace plants in your yard with desert adapted plants. Visit chandleraz.gov/ water to find lots of landscaping ideas, including poolside plants, groundcovers, desert adapted trees, and desert

plants. Think beyond cacti. Many of these low-water-use plants also will add a pop of color such as the Mexican gold poppy, red hesperaloe, paper flowers and octopus agave. Did you know that one of the best ways to conserve water in your landscape is to water longer, but less frequently? This allows you to water more deeply, promoting stronger roots. However, watering longer with sprinklers can cause runoff. To prevent runoff, water your lawn in two to three short cycles rather than one long cycle? By splitting your watering times and repeating them about one hour apart, you will reduce

water runoff and achieve the desired deep watering. Free Water-Wise site visits You can also lean on the water professionals at the City of Chandler for expert conservation advice. Schedule a free Water-Wise Site Visit to evaluate your home’s water use efficiency. The Water-Wise Site Visit includes an assessment of your indoor and outdoor water use. Chandler’s friendly team will offer practical tips and answer any questions that you may have. Residents can save about 40% on their water use after following the waSee

INSIDER on page 18

Don’t let yard clean up stress you out The City has a free tool lending program offering basic yard tools that residents may borrow to clean up their property. To learn more about Tools on the Go, visit chandleraz.gov/tools

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

AI not much help for traffic, pilot study ﬁnds BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

The City of Chandler was part of a pilot program to look at how artificial intelligence might improve traffic flow. Their conclusion: There was a slight benefit to using AI, but not enough to justify the cost. “We are lucky in Chandler in that we have a good staff,” said the city’s traffic engineer, Dana Alvidrez. “We do have the capability that we get to retime our signals frequently, and we have the expertise to do that. Not all jurisdictions have that.” She said there was some benefits in the adaptive signal pilot program the city was part of. “It came back that there might be slight improvements that we could make, here and there, in the 2-5% range as far as delays, but as far as the cost of the system vs. the improvements that it got, we decided it was not necessarily for us.” Alvidrez said, however, it would be ideal for other jurisdictions that don’t have the staff or expertise to adjust their signals on a regular basis. She added that this technology is still new and improving, and this is something they may want to revisit in the future after improvements are made. She said currently they change the timing on lights in one section of the city every year and that they are currently able to retime lights to optimize

Dana Alvidrez, city transportation engineer, said she and motorists are lucky to have a staff that can re-time traffic signals to improve traffic ﬂow. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

traffic flow at least every three years. Another new program that Alvidrez said the city is starting to look at is V2I, or vehicle-to-infrastructure. This is where a car can communicate directly with traffic infrastructure, such as at an intersection. Alvidrez says it is limited now, only a

few luxury brand cars have the capabilities to use it. And most of the information being transmitted is from the infrastructure to the car. For example, using a predictive algorithm, it could tell the driver how fast they could travel to stay within the speed limit and also make the next five lights. If there was an accident or heavy traffic ahead, they could alert a driver so

INSIDER

from page 18

ter conservation advice. And, when the city tracks water use before and after a site visit, on average, the water use is reduced by 60,000 gallons a year! There are also lots of free water conservation classes offered by the city throughout the year. You’ll get expert advice on everything from smart controllers to detecting leaks to xeriscaping tips. While you can do your part to conserve, the City of Chandler continues to manage our water supply in a responsible way. For example, did you know

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that Chandler uses every drop of water twice? Our city has water reclamation facilities that process wastewater and make it usable for irrigation. The beautiful lakes you see around south Chandler serve as reclaimed water storage. These lakes allow reclaimed customers to pump water directly from them, helping the city better manage shifts in demand. We are all in it together when it comes to water conservation. Thank you for doing your part, because every drop counts.

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they could take a detour and avoid that. “Basically, they take our data from the signal system and then they do some sort of prediction algorithm to figure out what they think the signal will be and when it will change, based on some history. It’s a learning process for their system.” Right now, the city’s traffic department is focused on how the area next to the SanTan Mountain Casino is expected to change when it opens in two years. “It’s something we’re actively looking at,” Alvidrez said. “It’s something we’re getting a lot of questions about right now.” The city has been upgrading its cameras at intersections. The new cameras can identify not only cars, but also bicycles. She said hopefully they will be able to identify pedestrians in the future, but that we’re not there yet. In the past, glare would make it hard to know if there was a bicycle or pedestrian crossing the street. If they do know they are there, they can extend the time a light is red to allow them to get across safely without them having to get off their bike to push the button, Alvidrez said. Technology is also changing quickly. In the future, they may be planning traffic for a world where autonomous cars dominate the roads. “As soon as you think you got it figured out, something else changes and we get to do it all over again,” Alvidrez said. “It’s definitely an ongoing process.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Around Chandler Chandler Fire Department seeks volunteers

The Chandler Fire Department is looking for volunteers to participate in a neighborhood water safety walk on May 7. This is the seventh year that firefighters have set out to educate residents of the dangers of backyard pools for both children and adults. Chandler Fire Department responded to 20 water-related calls last year and 10 died. This year they will target central Chandler, visiting about 2,000 homes east of Arizona Avenue, south of Ray Road, and north of Chandler Boulevard. Volunteers will hand water safety information along a pre-determined route. It should take between two to three hours to complete the task. To volunteer, call 480-782-2120 or email chandlerfire@chandleraz.gov.

City invites landlords to partnership meeting

In celebration of Fair Housing Month, the City of Chandler is hosting an inaugural partnership event for landlords and property managers renting to city housing program participants 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, in the second-floor training room at City Hall. Attendees will learn about the benefits and incentives offered by the City of Chandler as well as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-

ment (HUD) rental assistance programs. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the City’s Housing Team of housing locators, housing specialists and its housing inspector, as well as participate in a question-and-answer session. Existing landlords are encouraged to attend as City staff will preview the new landlord portal launching soon. During the event, staff also will present an Outstanding Landlord Achievement Award to a current participating landlord. RSVP: chandleraz.gov/LandlordEvent. Information: 480-782-3200, or email chandler.housing@chandleraz.gov.

Outdoor movie night will be returning to Chandler

Chandler is returning its outdoor movie night, CinePark, to Tumbleweed Park in May. Residents can bring a blanket, a picnic meal, or purchase food and beverages from vendors. Admission is free to the family-friendly shows. The lawn opens up for seating at 6:30 p.m. and the movie starts at 8 p.m. Here’s the films being shown this year: May 6: “Raya and the Last Dragon;” May 13: “Luca; “May 20: “Sing 2.” CinePark is sponsored by Arizona Public Service.

Deep dish pizza franchise opens in Chandler

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria new Chandler

location is open, bringing a Chicago deep dish pizza to Chandler. It’s located at 2815 S. Alma School Road, which is the corner of Queen Creek Road. Lou Malnati’s opened its first Valley location in 2016 and now has franchises in six other locations: Arcadia, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, and Scottsdale. The company expects to hire 50 people to work at the Chandler location.

is one of the first in the Valley to offer this as an option. Cryptocurrencies are funds that exist entirely online. They are considered secure because they use blockchain technology. Councilmember Mark Stewart has been the driving force behind efforts to explore ways to use blockchain technology to provide city services.

City accepting ballot arguments for and against home rule

Hadassah chapter seeks new members, plans activities

The City of Chandler is accepting arguments both for and against Prop. 470, also known as the Home Rule option. Deadline to get the arguments in is May 4. Arguments must be 300 words or less and there is a $150 fee to have it included on the ballot information packet. Home Rule allows a local government to exceed Constitutional spending restrictions for four years. Chandler voters have granted this exemption to the City Council every time.

Chandler now accepting cryptocurrency for bills

Chandler residents can now pay their utility bills with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. To do so, they must have their cryptocurrency tied to their PayPal account. The city said in its news release that it

Devorah Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, is the Southeast Valley chapter of a volunteer organization that inspires a passion for and commitment to the land, the people, and the future of Israel. Get-togethers include Out to Lunch the first Monday of the month; the Literary Ladies book group via Zoom on the second Wednesday of the month; collecting food on the third Wednesday for the Jewish Family & Children’s Services agency; and a general meeting the fourth Wednesday. At the 10:30 a.m. April 27 General Meeting, Rabbi Julie Kozlow, founder of the community in Prescott, will talk about the future of Judaism, female rabbis and educating youth. For more information: Eliana Bar-Shalom at 860-377-7126 or email at ebarshalom.eb@gmail.com.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

State Legislature passes parental rights bill BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

State senators voted last week to allow parents to sue teachers and other government officials if the “usurp’’ their “fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, health care and mental health of their children.’’ The 16-12 vote came over the objections of several Democrats who worried what kind of legal troubles could result. “The language is not clear at all,’’ said Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, who also is a teacher, quoting from HB 2161. “That entire quotation is so incredibly vague that anything could potentially qualify for it, meaning that we might have a whole bunch of teachers going to court over this,’’ she said. And Marsh pointed out that this new restriction comes even as the state faces a teacher shortage, with about 2,000 classrooms across the state headed by someone who is not a certified educator. No one spoke in favor of the measure which was crafted by Rep. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix and approved by the House. But Kaiser, to get that prior House approval, had removed one provision that had given some lawmakers heartburn. It would have required teachers to share with parents a student’s

purported gender identity or requested transition’’ if the child identifies in a way that is “incongruous with the student’s biological sex.’’ Kaiser, in proposing the measure, told members of the House Education Committee that what is in HB 2161 simply underlines and gives teeth to existing requirements that ensure that parents have access to various records, grades and test scores. The bigger problem, he said, is when students are given various assessments and surveys. The legislation spells out that these would first need to be sent to parents at least seven days ahead. Kaiser said some of these get into personal areas, like whether there are firearms at home and whether their parents get along. By that same 16-12 party-line vote, the Republican-controlled Senate also approved HB 2439. It spells out that beginning in 2023 that school boards must adopt procedures for parents to access the school’s library collection of available books and materials. And the same measure spells out that parents are entitled to get a list of all books and materials that their child borrows from the library. See

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State jobless rate hit historic low in March BY EMILY SACIA Cronkite News

Arizona’s unemployment rate fell to 3.3% in March, the lowest rate in almost a half-century, according to numbers released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The White House said Arizona was one of 17 states whose jobless rates hit “historic lows” in March, as the U.S. economy claws its way back from the pandemic. Arizona beat the national unemployment rate of 3.6% for the month. BLS data that was available last week for states only went back to 1976, but March’s unemployment in Arizona was the lowest for those 46 years. National data going back to 1948, however, shows several months in the 1950s when U.S. unemployment fell below 3%. Economists said the new numbers still show the strength of the recovery both nationally and in Arizona, where the unemployment rate hit 13.9% just two years ago at the height of the pandemic. “It’s a really encouraging sign about the strength of the economic recovery that we’re having in Arizona and nationally,” said Andrew Sugrue, the assistant director of policy and advocacy at the

Arizona Center for Economic Progress. But Sugrue and others said the lower unemployment rate might also reflect a pandemic-driven drop in the labor force that has left some businesses hard-pressed to fill the job openings they have. That, in turn, can feed inflation, as employers are forced to raise wages to compete for fewer workers. Jim Rounds, president of Rounds Consulting Group Inc., said he sees “both positive things and negative things” in the latest BLS report. “On the positive side, this is reflecting the fact that Arizona is still one of the stronger states in terms of economic growth compared to everybody else across the country,” he said, calling employment data “one of the best economic indicators.” “Now on the negative side, one of the reasons that the unemployment rate is so low is that we’ve been experiencing labor shortages in a lot of different areas,” Rounds said. “When you have labor shortages, it tends to push wages up which adds to inflation, but it’s not the good kind of upward pressure on wages.” BLS numbers show that the labor force – the share of the working-age See

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Chandler school offers ‘high-def driving’ in Formula 4 cars BY ALEX GOULD Cronkite News

Engines roar, tires squeal and rubber burns at the Radford Racing School, where drivers learn to handle a range of cars used in professional and junior racing categories. Students can drive such cars as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, Lotus Evora GT and Ligier JS F4, the exclusive model for the Formula 4 U.S. Championship. The Formula 4 category helps drivers take the first step from go-karts to single-seat race cars. But the skills taught at Radford aren’t reserved for would-be racers – they’re invaluable for daily driving, instructors say. Brett Barnard, who attended the four-day school with his son over spring break, said the most exciting thing about driving the F4 cars is how strikingly different they are from commuter cars. Radford’s F4 cars have a carbon composite monocoque and are powered by a 2-liter Honda engine, which can produce about 160 brake horsepower. “There’s no windscreen in front of you; you can see the tires in front of you lock up, how they’re moving,” Barnard said. “When you get in the Formula 4, you feel everything, you’re feeling

Cole Barnard, left, and CJ Enns watch as Brett Barnard drives an F4 car around the Maricopa Oval at Radford Racing School on the Gila River Indian Community land near Chandler. (Alex Gould/Cronkite News)

every gearshift you do, every breaking you do and how you turn, and if you’re doing it wrong, you know.” His son, Cole Barnard, said the F4 driving experience was unlike any he’s ever had.

“It’s open-wheel, you’re down just sitting 2 inches off the ground,” he said. “It’s like high-def driving, there’s nothing in front of you besides the road.” The only thing shielding the drivers from the wind is their helmet and race suit.

The Barnards and a third student, CJ Enns of Canada, spent the morning of their final day at the school learning about the differences between the Ligiers and the Dodge Challengers they drove on the first three days. They drove F4 cars that afternoon, following an instructor on the track. BJ Zacharias, a Radford instructor, said the skills students learn at the racetrack – from how to regain control of a spinning car to focusing on safety at all times behind the wheel – can be used on the freeway. “Everything that we teach here at Radford Racing School applies to whether you’re going to get a carton of milk at the grocery store or you’re qualifying at Le Mans,” said Zacharias, who was a student at the school in 1993, when it was Bondurant High Performance Driving School. The school was sold In 2019 and renamed in 2021. Radford is now the test track for Radford Motors, a car builder co-owned by Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button and Motor Trend TV star Ant Anstead. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is closing next year because of Interstate 10 construction; however, Radford Racing won’t be affected by the closure.

ACP junior is becoming a national science whiz BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

The first hint that Arizona College Prep High School junior Dean Brasen might be headed for a career in theoretical physics came while he was watching the hit TV comedy, Big Bang Theory. If someone mentioned string theory, he said he’d go look it up. Chaos theory, the same. He might have even considered adopting Schrödinger’s cat. “I tried to look up some of those, but I don’t have a deep understanding of it,” Dean said. There’s not much in the science field that Dean doesn’t have a deep understanding of, at least for his age. The Chandler resident is currently waiting to find out if he’s a finalist for the USA Biolympiad. He was one of 424 students nationally to make it to the semifinal round. Only 10 percent of them advance to be finalists. They will be announced at the end of this month. But he’s not done. He plans to

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population that is employed or actively looking for work – was smaller in March than it was before the pandemic, both nationally and in Arizona. Labor force participation in the U.S. fell from 62.7% in March 2020 to 62.4% last month, while in Arizona the numbers fell from 61.8% to 60.7% in the same period.

Arizona College Prep High School junior Dean Brasen is one of about 400 students nationwide to advance to the semifinals of the USA Biolympiad. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

compete in the U.S. National Chemistry

But the numbers were still hailed by President Joe Biden, who noted that more than 20 states posted jobless rates below 3% last month. “Over the last year, the unemployment rate dropped in every state and many states have reached historic lows,” Biden said. “These aren’t just numbers on a page: These are millions of Americans back at work and able to support themselves and their families

Olympiad later this year. Oh, and he was in the USA Mathematical Olympiad earlier this year. “He has won multiple awards at the city level, the district level, the state level … he is a math genius,” said Rachna Nath, who is Dean’s honors STEM research teacher at ACP. “And apparently a biology genius too.” Dean said the semifinalist biology test covered pretty much every aspect of the field, from molecules and cells to animals, plants and organ systems. It was about 120 questions and he had only two hours to answer them. “A lot of it is like AP biology type stuff, but a lot more advanced than that,” Dean said. He said it was really difficult because they are trying to separate the best students in the nation. A key to doing well, Dean said, is having good test-taking skills, where if you’re not sure of an answer, being able to figure out which of the multiple-choice answers to eliminate as possibilities to improve your chances of getting it right.

Dean did not reach the finals of the Mathematical Olympiad. He said you have to go four rounds to qualify for the international math Olympiad. Dean said he took the first step to competing in the chemistry Olympiad at the end of March. He is currently preparing for the national test. If he advances from that he’ll attend a camp with other finalists. “I had a lot of interest in STEM, because my goal in high school was to learn as much as I could, because I know in college … there are not a lot of science fields that I’m going to focus on, because I’m going to narrow it down,” he said. “These competitions are an incentive to learn more about these types of things.” It’s all so he could build the base so he can pursue theoretical physics as a career. “For me, theoretical physics is like a way to understand how all of this stuff works pretty well,” Deann said. “That’s really something I want to do, investigate a lot more in the future.”

with good-paying jobs and enjoy the dignity a job provides.” Nebraska and Utah experienced the lowest jobless rates at 2.0% in March, while New Mexico’s 5.3% was highest among states. The worst rates were in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico at 6% and 6.5%, respectively. But low unemployment has left many industries struggling to find workers. That is particularly true in Arizona

for the tourism and construction industries, experts said. “Some industries are still growing because they’re recovering the jobs that had been lost,” said Doug Walls, the labor market information director for the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. “While others maybe have fully recovered all of the jobs that were lost and now are seeing new growth above the jobs lost.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

DC trip for 5 Council members cost $12.5K BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

There were grumblings even before a majority of the City Council attended the National League of Cities meeting in Washington, D.C., in March. People were wondering why so many council members were attending the same meeting across the country, suggesting the trip was a waste of taxpayer funds. Councilmen Matt Orlando and Mark Stewart serve in leadership positions with NLC and would be expected to attend the meetings that took place March 14-16. Joining them at the meeting were members Christine Ellis, OD Harris and Rene Lopez. Mayor Kevin Hartke and Vice Mayor Terry Roe did not attend the conference. Not all expenses had been submitted as of the end of last week, but it appears the entire trip cost Chandler taxpayers about $12,500. Ellis saved the city about $1,000 by staying with family instead of in a hotel. President Biden spoke at the conference, as did other federal officials. The five members of the Council met with members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation while they were in Washington, DC. “We speak with our Senators, members of congress, and their respective staff often – in DC and Arizona,” said Ryan Peters, the city’s strategic initiatives director, who coordinates all lobbying efforts for the city with state and federal officials. “This conference gave us exposure to senior levels of the administration and other national leaders. During this conference we had multiple meetings to discuss our federal agenda. It

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Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale, said there’s a simpler way to deal with this other than passing another law which could penalize school staff. “The best way to find out what your kid is reading in school or what they’re checking out from the library is just to talk to them,’’ he said. “If you can’t establish that relationship with your own child and they don’t want to tell you what they’re reading, then that’s emblematic of a bigger problem, not the fact that the school isn’t telling you,’’ Quezada said. “That’s a problem between you and your child.’’ And Sen. Raquel Teran, D-Phoenix, said the measure is overkill and will just create additional work. She pointed out that there already are various laws protecting the rights of parents to access information about their children. That same concern resulted in the defeat of a related measure Monday in the House. SB 1211 sought to mandate that each school district and charter school post on its website a list of learning materials and

“The cities that most actively participate tend to be better positioned to set the agenda,” Peters said. “Chandler is a leader in many areas, and it is important for the city to be represented.” Here is how much of their $7,000 expense fund each member of Council has spent in the current fiscal year: • Christine Ellis, $5,068.92 • Rene Lopez, $4,830.87 • OD Harris, $4,380.49 • Matt Orlando, $3,501.68 • Mark Stewart $3,076.60 • Kevin Hartke, $2,779.50 • Terry Roe, $585.22 Most of the Mayor Kevin Hartke’s expenses are for an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., in May. He expensed $2,500 for a Greater Phoenix Economic Council meeting. Here’s what Hartke’s colleagues spent their money on this fiscal year: Christine Ellis: Included among her expenses includes $14.33 each month for an upgraded city cell phone. She also spent more than $100 for a ticket Here’s a breakdown of what each Chandler City Council member who went to Washing- to Diaspora Showcase Africa Koras & ton, D.C., spent on their trip last month. (Ken Sains/Chandler Arizonan) Guitars next month in Mesa. Rene Lopez: Spent $1,000 to buy a table for CeCe’s Hope Center Night of they didn’t use it for that trip, they should be noted that Chandler does Light. Lopez is co-founder and chairwould likely have used it for another not currently have a federal lobbyist/ man of the board for the nonprofit that trip or purpose. consultant, so our presence in Washhelps victims of sex trafficking. There were other reasons why so ington, D.C., is limited to these types of OD Harris: Spent $500 to hire a many members of council decided to opportunities.” violist for the Martin Luther King Jr. attend, officials pointed out. The salary for Chandler’s mayor is ceremony. It was the first in-person meeting $56,758 annually while the vice mayor Mark Stewart spend $500 for a table and other members earn $33,236 a year of the NLC since the pandemic beat the East Valley Chamber of Comgan. Another, Peters said, is that new in compensation from the city. All sevmerce Alliances breakfast. members often attend these meetings en members also get $7,000 each fiscal Matt Orlando limited his expenses to get a feel for the organization before year to cover their travel and other mostly to attending the Arizona League deciding if they wish to pursue leadercosts related to their positions. of Cities and the National League of ship opportunities in it. That was the money used to cover Cities events. Ellis and Harris were first elected in the trip to Washington for the five Terry Roe spendt very little of his funds, 2020 and had not previously attended a members who attended. So, even if mostly on registration for events. national NLC meeting.

activities used for student instruction. Several Democrats spoke against the measure, including Rep. Jennifer Pawlik, D-Chandler, who spoke about the burden. “You need to understand that this bill will require the teachers to post every single item that they use in every single item that they use in every single lesson every single day,’’ she told colleagues. But what resulted in its defeat was the decision of Rep. Joel John, R-Arlington, to part way with all other House Republicans who voted in support. “I’ve got a laundry list of statutes’’ on the rights that parents already have,’’ he said, ranging from the ability to publicly review courses of studies and textbooks to public access to school policies and curriculum. “I think this bill frankly goes too far and puts too many extra burdens’’ on teachers, said John who has been a teacher. “Teaching already is a low-paying, thankless job, lots of work, lots of worry. How do I know? I’ve been there.’’ Other Republicans, however, didn’t see it that way. “It does take extra work,’’ conceded Rep. Michelle Udall, D-Mesa, who also is a teacher. And she suggested that lawmak-

ers might want to consider an additional stipend for educators to do the posting. But Udall said she does not consider what’s in the measure “overly burdensome.’’ Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, argued that the disclosure is necessary. She said students are presented with lesson plans and questions about whether they believe they are “normal’’ if they have sexual fantasies or even whether they masturbate. “I do not require these schools in the state of Arizona to teach sexuality

to my child,’’ Martinez said. “I need them to teach reading, writing, science and history,’’ she continued. “Children belong to their parents and their parents are responsible for the morality that they choose for their child.’’ After the measure fell one vote short of the majority -- that of John -- another lawmaker made a procedural motion to allow it to be reconsidered at a future date. But that would require John to change his mind unless one of the House Democrats agrees to go along.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

HOAs may lose control over short-term rentals BY BEN GOTTLIEB Guest Writer

Most homeowner associations are governed by what is called the covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs), which govern the rights and obligations of the properties encumbered by it. Most CC&Rs have general-amendment provisions that allow for amendment of the declaration if a sufficient number of votes from the community are garnered – usually a majority, twothirds, or three-fourths vote is required. For the past several years, this procedure has been used by HOAs to pass amendments that prohibit shortterm rentals. In doing so, HOAs have been able to – without much difficultly or legal challenge – exploit the law in Arizona that prevents towns and cities from passing local laws to prohibit short-term rentals. All of that could potentially change going forward.

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In March 2022, the Arizona Supreme Court issued an opinion, Kalway v. Calabria Ranch HOA, LLC, which decided the validity of a legal amendment to the CC&Rs that encumbered properties within an HOA in Pinal County. The Kalway Court ultimately found several provisions of the amended CC&Rs invalid as a matter of law. Although not a short-term rental case, Kalway is likely to be used as legal precedent supporting future challenges to the validity of amendments by those who oppose short-term rentals. The Kalway Court held that an HOA cannot create new affirmative obligations where the original declaration did not provide notice to the homeowners that they might be subject to such obligations. Kalway reinforced that a court should construe the notice requirement narrowly. The key takeaway: the opinion lends support to more successful challenges in the future by homeowners who opposed a passed amendment because there was not specific enough notice in the original declaration. And that includes a challenge to a passed amend-

ment prohibiting short-term rentals. But how does one determine if the original declaration provided adequate notice of a future amendment? Kalway provides guidance. While the original declaration need not anticipate or state the precise future amendment, Kalway states that an objective inquiry must be applied to determine whether a restriction gave notice of the amendments at issue. In other words, the original declaration must give notice that a covenant can be amended to refine it, correct an error, fill in a gap, or change it in a particular way. Future amendments cannot be entire new and different. This new legal precedent might leave real estate investors scratching their heads. Should investors move forward with purchasing rental real estate with the intent to operate it as a short-term rental? Or should investors back out for fear of a future amendment that would render their short-term rental inoperable, denting the extra rental income that justified paying a premium for the home? Before purchasing a rental proper-

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ty in an HOA, a careful reading of the CC&Rs is a must. If the original declaration regulates rentals in the community, including the permitted timeframes of rentals, then it is probable a court will uphold an amendment prohibiting short-term rentals. An objective inquiry would likely show that the original declaration provided notice to the homeowners of a future amendment prohibiting shortterm rentals. To the extent the original declaration does not regulate rentals or has minimal regulations, future homeowners are likely to lodge challenges to the validity of the amendment prohibiting shortterm rentals. Of course, Kalway is not limited to just short-term rentals. Ben Gottlieb and Patrick MacQueen are founders and partners of MacQueen & Gottlieb PLC, one of Arizona’s most honored real estate law firms. You can contact Ben Gottlieb at ben@ mandglawgroup.com or 602-533-2840 with any questions regarding real estate legal concerns.

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Housing supply tilting upward – but so are prices BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

The supply of homes for sale across the valley is starting to increase significantly but that may not be something to cheer about for either sellers or buyers, the Cromford Report said earlier this month. In several reports of the last few weeks, the Cromford Report, a daily analyst of the Valley’s housing market, offered little encouraging news for buyers. It noted that fewer listed homes are going under contact and warned, “Ordinary owner-occupier home buyers are hitting real trouble.” Blame spiraling home prices and increasing mortgage rates, it said. “The very significant rise in mortgage interest rates over the past few months is keeping many sellers out of the market - they do not want to let go of their cheap fixed rate loans,” it said. “However, it is also taking the wind from the sails of the normal owner occupiers, especially the first-time home buyer. “Not only are they suffering sticker-shock from the asking prices of the homes they would like to buy, and crazy competition from cash buyers, the higher interest rates mean their month-

This home on East Cedar Waxwing Drive in Sun Lakes recently sold for $749,000. The 1,937-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath home was built in 2005 and boasted a complete remodel with 24-inch Italian matte marble tile floors, a spacious great room with custyom-built Marantz theater system and a master suite with bay windows capturing stunning views. (Special to SanTan Sun News

ly mortgage payment has increased alarmingly. In some cases, it has increased so much it is no longer deemed to be affordable by their lender and their loan application is denied. Comparing April 1 of this year with the same date last year, Cromford said active listings are up 23.6%, excluding those that are under contract but still taking offers and those sales contingent on the seller finding a new home. That percentage shrinks to less than 1% year-over-year when those two categories are included, it said, though

they dropped 4.3% between March 1 and April 1. Moreover, under-contract listings that include those two categories and pending sales are down 7.6% year-overyear and down 3.6% from what they were on March 1. Sales for March were down 2.6% year-over-year on April 1 but up 26.6% from February, according to the report. Meanwhile, Cromford reported that in March, the median square-foot price soared 25.5% from what it was in March 2021 and 2.3% from February 2022.

At the same time, the median home sale price in March was $456 – up 27.3% from the $358,250 median price in March 2021 and up 2.5% from the February 2022 median of $445,000. Last month also saw the highest monthly dollar volume in sales ever recorded, it said, with $5.8 billion. “This might lead you to think that demand remains very strong, but you would be wrong,” Cromford said. “The falling number of listings under contract show a negative story –down almost 8% from this time last year and even down 3.6% compared to the beginning of March. As we said - fewer active listings are going under contract.” Cromford also said investors – not homebuyers look for a place to live in – continue to drive home prices upward. “In this way an expensive market reduces demand and prices start to climb less steeply – at least they would if it were not for the investor demand,” it said. “Many investors are flush with cash and to them, residential real-estate looks like a safe haven. A hedge against inflation, revenue producing (unlike many stocks, cryptocurrency, commodities and gold) and very tangible – it looks extremely attractive when See

MARKET on page 28

Chandler mom sees opportunity in ‘macro counting’ BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler resident Shannon Dougherty says it’s easy to see why people don’t always stick to diets. “When I started down my own personal path of macro tracking, I realized all the things that I was depriving myself of in the past, and struggling with those restrictive diet plans that most of us, women especially, feel like excess cardio, under eating and restrict ourselves, a whole new world opened up.” In macro counting, people count carbohydrates, proteins and fats instead of calories. Dougherty said that helped her finally keep off the same 10 or so pounds she would gain, then lose, then gain, then lose. She said what she likes about counting macros, is there are no good or bad foods. You can eat what you want, you just have to limit it to the macro daily goals. Dougherty has always been interested in health. She’s been a fitness trainer for years but after having success with macro counting in her own life, decided to make the switch and become a macro counting coach. “It’s a really hard concept for a lot of people to grasp,” Dougherty said. “They think, shoot, I’m going to add more food, and the panic sets in, ‘I’m going to gain weight, I’m adding more

Chandler resident Shannon Dougherty runs Fit Mom Living and has clients from Europe to Canada. (Photo by Stephanie Slezak)

food.’ There’s no magic pill, everyone’s searching for the quick fix, and they want results yesterday.” Dougherty said the best way to think about macro counting is like a race car. If there’s no fuel in the tank, it’s not going anywhere. She said denying the body nutrition leads to binge eating. By instead of counting calories and

instead counting how macros, you’re not denying the body the fuel it needs and you can stick to the types of food that will allow you to still lose weight. Dougherty started her online coaching in 2019 and currently has clients as far away as Europe and Canada. Because she’s online, the pandemic hasn’t hurt her business.

“It used to be that they wanted to lose their baby weight, now they want to lose their COVID weight,” Dougherty said. Dougherty said she studied sports medicine at San Diego State University before starting work as a personal trainer. She said with her experience as a mom, and a business owner and a person who tries to stay fit herself, she can help other busy moms find the balance they need to care for their families and still find time to invest in themselves. Dougherty said first her clients have to make the decision to buy in. Then, she starts by setting small goals to make the changes sustainable. While exercise will definitely help with that journey, it’s not the priority. “I always like to say you can’t outtrain a bad diet,” Dougherty said. “Nutrition is 85 percent of the equation, I like to say exercising is the icing on the cake.” She said she limits the number of one-on-one clients she takes so that she can maintain a high level of service. She also offers group classes. “I just want women and moms to know that they’re not alone in struggling, and there is a way that they can feel good about themselves and see results and not give up on their goals.” Information: Sign up for service at FitMomLiving.com. Learn more on Instagram at FitMomLiving.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

MARKET

from page 27

coupled with rapidly rising rents.” Looking at the first quarter of this year, Cromford said, “home prices are still rising at amazing speed” and said the per-foot increase for the first three months of 2022 rose 8.9% “and is likely to continue rising until June at least.” “ The third quarter is always a slower period and it is likely we will get some respite from the rising prices between June and September,” it added. “What happens in the fourth quarter will largely depend on how long investors retain their current euphoria in the face of increasing risks. “ Cromford developed an index that measures whether home prices in sub-markets involving 17 Valley munic-

ipalities are trending more in favor of sellers or buyers. It said last week that “over the last month, two of the 17 cities have improved for sellers while 15 have deteriorated. The market strongly favors sellers, but the trend is now moving slowly towards a more balanced market. But “deteriorated” does not necessarily hold much hope for Valley buyers in the short-term, since the lowest number on the chart was Buckeye with 239. Chandler had an index of 453 – more than four times the threshold for a “balanced” market in Cromford Report’s eyes. “The cooling of the market continues to accelerate, but it will take several months before reaching normal at the current rate of change,” it added.

This 2,559-square-foot house on South Tanglewood Drive, Sun Lakes, recently sold for $706,000. Built in 1996, the three-bedroom, three-bath house includes a $40,000 addition that provided the opportunity to create a casita with separate entrance. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Biotech helped setting up shop in Price Corridor SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A Massachusetts company that provides procurement and some financial services for emerging biotech companies has picked Chandler for the start of its western footprint. BioProcure was expected to be in operation this month in Workpliciti, a flexible office space on the Price Corridor, and initially employ 35 people with the hope of adding 150 more works over the next three years, according to the city. The Chandler location will include procurement, operations, and administrative positions. Saying Chandler’s selection “is the result

of a great team of managers, supervisors, and executives traveling and researching for months to pinpoint the best possible city and state for our expansion,” BioProcure Ceo/co-founder Vincent Bologna explained his company’s expansion. “Our goal was to establish a presence in the Southwest to better serve our clients in the Western time zones, but equally important to us was that our new office be located in a vibrant, up-and-coming city with a thriving science and technology sector,” he said. Chandler, Arizona, was the perfect fit.” Founded in Massachusetts in 2007, BioProcure officials also said they want

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to be closç “BioProcure’s expansion highlights Arizona’s reputation as a national bioscience leader,” said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “The company’s Chandler office will bring dozens of skilled jobs to Arizona, contributing to Chandler’s vibrant technology and innovation landscape. “We are grateful to BioProcure for their commitment to Arizona, and we look forward to supporting their operations now and in the future when they establish their permanent office.” Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said, ““Chandler’s business-friendly environment and well-protected employment corridors continue to put us on the short list for companies looking to expand their headcount. It is exciting to see a company supporting the country’s entire biosciences industry select Price Corridor. BioProcure’s expansion highlights Arizona’s growing presence in the bio-

science industry. According to a recent CBRE study, metro Phoenix was first in the nation for growth in life sciences employment between 2019 and 2020, growing 8.5%, the highest of all markets studied. BioProcure was founded by a former Biogen purchasing manager to address the growing pains of startup and emerging biotech companies. He saw “a need for outsourced procurement in situations where space, staff, and funding are limited, stakes are high, and timing is everything,” the city said in a release, saying its services “proved to be a valuable service for researchers, finance departments, and venture capital firms alike.” The company described BioProcure as “the best relief for many of the pain points in the frenetic biotech world” and said its “new software and an old-school approach to customer service” has contributed to its reputation and growth.

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New Casteel girls basketball coach upbeat BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Basketball was the way of life for Ryan Whitehorse growing up in Page, a small northern Arizona town near Lake Powell and the Utah border. He grew up playing in youth leagues before enrolling at Page High School where he excelled on the court. He would routinely play in front of thousands, as high school basketball in northern Arizona and its reservations draw large crowds for just about every game. He grew up with a winning culture and carried that on when he began coaching the girls team at Page once his playing career was over. Whitehorse found success in that position, too. But now, after five years leading the Lady Sand Devils and a year away to work toward a degree in nursing while living in the Valley, he’s ready to share that culture with Casteel High School as the new girls’ basketball coach. “Going into Page, the program’s success and culture was already built,” Whitehorse said. “My job was to continue it. Casteel is a newer school. I want to be able to build that same culture we had from Page. “It’s starting already with the coaching staff. We want to expose the girls to that style of basketball by incorporating the fundamentals.”

Left: Ryan Whitehorse, who led the Page girls’ basketball team to three state championships and five total appearances in the big game, has been hired to lead the Casteel girls’ basketball program. Right: Whitehorse grew up in Page, a small town near Lake Powell and the Utah border. He coached there for five seasons before moving to the Valley to finish his degree in nursing. Now after a year, he aims to get back into it at Casteel, a school two conferences higher than where he used to coach. (Courtesy Ryan Ridenour)

Whitehorse has been living in Phoenix for a year while attending the University of Arizona. While his primary focus was his education, he quickly began to miss coaching. He thought about routes he could take to get back in the game but wasn’t sure which was best for him. Then the job at Casteel opened.

He admits it was a “let’s go for it” moment. He didn’t expect much but hoped to at least land an interview to get a chance at impressing school Athletic Director Ryan Ridenour and the rest of the hiring committee. He did that, and more. He was publicly named head coach April 4. “We started this process two

months ago. I’ve met with multiple candidates and each of them multiple times,” Ridenour said. “Each time, he’s shown why he has been successful, and I think it is going to translate. It’s a different culture, here versus there, but at the same time, the things he speaks See

WHITEHORSE on page 30

Catarina ‘CC’ Maccagnano preparing for Elite 11 showcase BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Football has become a way of life for Hamilton sophomore Catarina “CC” Maccagnano. She grew up listening to her father, Mike, share stories of his time at Glendale Community College. She’s been there as he continued his football career in a semi-professional setting with the Phoenix Phantoms, an adult team currently playing in the Arizona Cactus Football League held at Bell Bank Park in Mesa. She’s become part of the team herself and has absorbed the terminology and everything else that comes with the game. “With me playing and her being around me and my family, it helps her out and she learned a lot about the game,” Mike said. “It’s a part of our family. It’s something that she has sort of grown up naturally with. “She works extremely hard. I’m proud of her.” While football has always been there, so has softball. It was her first love as she played on various club teams in the East Valley and now plays junior varsity at Hamilton. There was a time where she thought

Hamilton sophomore Catarina “CC” Maccagnano will be the only girl representing Arizona at Elite 11 in Las Vegas, a showcase for high school quarterbacks that has added girls’ flag football to the mix as the sport continues to grow across the country. (Dave

Minton/Staff)

softball would be her future. But an opportunity in football presented itself last year with the Chandler Unified School District launching girls’ flag football programs at all of its schools.

CC was skeptical at first and didn’t join until this season. Her throwing mechanics were so in tune with softball that she struggled with a football. But she continued to work not only with

her father but her younger brother, Mike III, who is a freshman at Hamilton. She also worked with head flag football coach Matt Stone. It took some convincing from Stone, but CC eventually gave in and went out for the team. It’s now opened a new realm of possibilities as the sport continues to grow. “It took a little convincing but now I’m here and I love it,” CC said. “Even though I’m going back and forth (with softball), I love playing football. There’s so much competition in softball and in football I feel that I’m different from everyone else. “Here, I feel like I can shine a little bit. Then with the Elite 11 opportunity, I knew I had to focus on this a little bit.” CC was one of two girls from Arizona invited to compete in the Elite 11 regionals in Las Vegas. On May 1, she will join other girls from around the Western region in a showcase for female high school flag football players. They will go through various footwork and throwing drills while competing for accolades from the camp’s staff. It’s also likely that college coaches will be in attendance as more and more schools are beginning to offer scholarSee

ELITE11 on page 30

SPORTS & RECREATION

WHITEHORSE

from page 29

about all translate to our kids.” Whitehorse’s time at Page was filled with triumph and continuing to build a culture that thrives off community involvement and fast-paced play. “Rez ball,” as it’s referred to often, involves pushing the ball up the court at a fast pace and most importantly, wearing down an opponent with a high-scoring affair. It’s something Page and other schools in northern Arizona have mastered as they routinely win or compete for state titles in the small-school conferences. While leading his former high school,

ELITE11

from page 29

ships for startup flag football teams at the next level. Casteel quarterback Cameron Anderson was also invited. But, as one of the top soccer players in the state, she is unable to attend due to a tournament. That leaves CC as the lone participant from Arizona. She admits there’s some pressure from that, but she enjoys it. Stone believes she has nothing to worry about. “CC is a microcosm of what is happening with flag football in this state,” Stone said. “I was watching the development of Elite 11 in Orlando a little over a year ago and I had a goal that in two to three years there would be one on the

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Whitehorse coached the Lady Sand Devils to a 117-23 record in five seasons. He was named Region Coach of the Year four times during his tenure and 3A Conference Coach of the Year three times. Under his direction, Page made the state title game all five years, winning three times. The most recent title came in his final season in 2020. Ridenour believes Whitehorse can find similar success at Casteel. Just four years ago, the Colts made a run to the semifinals. Two years ago, they were the No. 1 seed in the 5A tournament but were forced to forfeit their opening round game after a self-reported violation involving the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s prior contact rule.

“We’ve heard ‘family,’ we’ve heard ‘commitment,’ all the words that mean, ‘I’m all in,’” Ridenour said. “He is all in. There’s no doubt. One big thing I’ve always known in coaches is that winners win. It’s a different style of basketball but he will find a way. I think the brand of ball will be a change, but it will be a change for everyone that sees us. “There’re some exciting times ahead. I think he is the guy that takes us to another level.” While just recently announced as the new head coach, Whitehorse already has plans for Casteel. He aims to establish a similar culture and style of play with the Lady Colts. He said he is bringing down a few of his assistants from Page to join him at the

school. Summer games, including tournaments, are already being planned. Whitehorse said he will try to take Casteel take a tournament in the four-corners region of the state. He also hopes to take them to Page’s annual holiday tournament in the winter. He knows making the jump from 3A to the 5A Conference will be a learning curve with a slew of talented teams in the field every season. But it’s a challenge he feels he is ready for and one that he wants to face head on. “There was some success in the beginning with Casteel,” Whitehorse said. “I want to build on that. I want to have that same type of success and culture we had at Page now at Casteel.”

West coast that invites Arizona girls. “Some of the coaches I’m friends with in Orlando called me up and I told them I had a girl with natural arm talent. (CC) doesn’t have the knowledge of some of those other quarterbacks, but she’s got better arm talent. All they have to do is see her and they’ll see her potential.” CC credits her the support from her family for much of her success. She and her brother often workout with Mike at a local gym. Her mother, Stefanie Aguirre, shuttles her to and from various practices and games while cheering her on. They’ve become the type of support system one would expect for a high school-aged athlete finding her way as she experiments with sports. CC knows she couldn’t do it without them. “They’ve been so much help,” CC

said. “My dad pushes me and pushes me and told me Elite 11 could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. My mom, too, she’s taking me everywhere. It shows me they’re there for me and it shows me I need to make something happen for them.” Flag football has continued to grow on her with the success this season. Hamilton is currently undefeated and the top-ranked team heading into the CUSD flag football playoffs. This year, for the first time ever, a trophy will be handed out at the end of the tournament. That has opened the eyes of other girls, most of which multi-sport athletes, as well as the state as more schools plan to create flag football teams for next year. Stone is currently pushing for it to become a sanctioned sport by the AIA.

So far, it seems to be going well. The growth of the sport is what excites CC the most. That’s part of the reason why she has started to lean more toward football than softball for her future. But she hasn’t quite made that a final decision. For now, she aims to use Elite 11 to not only further make a name for herself but to improve her craft. She knows she has the ability to be something special in the next two years, and she’s motivated to become the best version of herself she can be for next-level opportunities. “This is my first year playing the sport and it’s like … wow,” CC said. “This is just my first year so what can I do next year and the following? It’s crazy to think I was given an opportunity.”

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Chandler student, 12, a published playwright BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Aditi Ganash, a 12-year-old Chandler resident, wanted to see the world. The problem for the Knox Gifted Academy student was the same as it was everyone else on the planet: a global pandemic limited travel. She didn’t let that stop her and her solution for getting around that problem led to her being published in a book. Aditi was one of two Chandler youth chosen to have their original play published in “I Have a Story.” The book’s publisher chose 31 works written by young people during and about the pandemic. They paired each student with a professional playwright to put the finishing touches on the work. “My story is about traveling the world in Google Maps, because I was unable to go anywhere,” Aditi said. “A bunch of friends and I decided, let’s travel the world in Google Maps. So we were creating vacations, and it was a lot of fun.” Aditi wrote up a short story about a girl named Tara who sees the world

Aditi Ganash, 12, a student at Knox Gifted Academy, is one of two Chandler youngsters chosen to have their original play published in a special book put out by the Valley theater group Childsplay. (David. Minton/Staff Photographer)

through the app. “She has the same problem as me,

and she has the same solution, except one difference, she gets stuck in Google Maps.” She submitted it to Childsplay, a nonprofit that introduces children to theater, and it was chosen to be part of a book titled “I Have a Story.” Childsplay paired Aditi with playwright Dr. Suzan Zeder. Together, they wrote “Whoosh.” Aditi was actually able to see a Maryland school perform her play by video recording. She found out writing a play is a lot different from writing a story. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever written before,” Aditi said. “Because you have to think about the format, the scenery, the plausibility of it – that it can like actually be done, you have to think about all these little elements. “And when it got picked up by the Lucy School I learned about a bunch of things that I didn’t even think about.” That performing arts school near Frederick, Maryland, was looking for a play to put on and Zeder suggested “Whoosh.” After reading it, they agreed to do it. They sent Aditi a recording of her play being performed by students who are in the fifth and sixth grades.

“It was so cool,” Aditi said. “They made the anaconda 24 feet long. It wouldn’t fit on the screen.” When Aditi was doing her own trip around the world via an app, she visited the planet’s most expensive hotel, a lot of theme parks, many beaches and even a ghost town. Childsplay chose seven Arizona students to showcase their works in “I Have a Story.” The other Chandler resident chosen was Samantha Chuck, a freshman at Perry High School. Her story was titled “Tap Dance.” The 229-page collection offers emotional, searing, eye-opening plays by kids in 19 states and Washington, D.C., aged 7 to 18, including eight from Arizona, whose personal stories have come to life in diverse and creative fashion. Aditi says she plans to keep writing and is currently working on a book with a friend that she hopes to get published. “It means so much,” Aditi said about getting her story published. “This thing that I wrote, this idea, the feeling that I had, has been turned into this play and people have performed it and people are going to be able to read my play.”

Chandler Realtor slates tourney for cancer victim SANTAN SUN NEWS

The Darwin Wall Real Estate Team is rallying once again for a cancer victim, this tiem a Chandler woman. Last fall, the realty firm held a pub crawl to help a Scottsdale woman battling breast cancer as well as a spring golf tournament to support a coworker diagnosed with the dreaded disease. Now, the Darwin Wall Real Estate Team is holding a golf tournament to help Emily Valenzuela, a Chandler native who has been battling cervical cancer for three years. The Eagles for Emily tournament will begin with a 7 a.m. May 14 tee-off at Springfield Golf Resort in Chandler. Darwin Wall is seeking sponsors and auction items as well as players. The $500 foursome fee includes lunch and drinks, 18 holes of golf and awards. Sponsorship and other questions can be answered by calling Stella Youmaran at 480-726-2100 and people can register at darwinwall.com/golf-tournaments. Valenzuela, 47, is the mother of six children ranging in age from 15 to 32 as well as a grandmother of three. “Prior to my diagnosis, I lived a healthy lifestyle and made sure to get routine check-ups, including pap smear screening regularly,” she said, explaining that she was stunned by the news after her latest checkup that she had stage 2 cervical cancer. “I was shocked but ready to fight,” she said, explaining she had major surgery soon after her diagnosis in September 2018, followed by six weeks of daily radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

The Darwin Wall Realty Team has slated a golf tournament to help handler resident Emily Valenzuela’s battle against cervical cancer. (Special to SanTanSun News)

Valenzuela learned last October “my cancer was back and had metastasized to my abdominal wall. “I was told with chemotherapy I would prolong my life four to six years,” she said. “From that moment, I was on a mission. I need to be around for my kids. I still need more time.” She decided to seek a second opinion from the Cancer Treatment Centers

of America “and it’s amazing how different their outlook was. “Yes, I have cancer, but there’s a 66% percent chance that I could fight this and be okay.” she said, adding that she began a new round of chemo in January that will last until next month. “I am so thankful for the support system I have that helps me stay positive during my cancer journey,” Valenzu-

ela said. “My hope is that by sharing my story, I can spread awareness of cervical cancer and inspire others to take care of themselves . I want to encourage women to face their fears and go to the doctor if they notice something out of the ordinary." Since it began pub crawls and tournaments, Realtor Darwin Wall and his eam have raised more than $100,000.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Sun Lakes Rotary helps refugees settle in Valley BY DR. HONORA NORTON Guest Writer

ROTARIAN OF THE MONTH

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes has been very active with the East Valley’s Welcome to America Project, which shares transportation, technology, and transformational resources to help refugees not just resettle in our country, but also find community and flourish. WTAP creates impacts that last a lifetime for the refugees as well Bill Schink was named Rotarian of the Month by as the volunteers who the Sun Lakes RotaryClub. He joined the club in serve. 2010 and has chaired for numerous years the club’s In early April, Rotary charity golf tournament. A past president of the volunteers donated, club, Schink is a Rotary International Paul Harris purchased, packed, delivFellow and helps with the club’s speech contest. ered and setup items for Above: Rotary Club of Sun Lakes members start early with a meeting to plan setting up refugee family East Valley apartments. They include Victoria, Flatley, Marge Wright, Kandi He is a retired manager for the Ford Motor Comthe bathrooms in an East Skrabala, Polly Giessing, Bill Giessing (standing) Stan Klein, Roger Edmonds, Gary Magao and pany and lives in Sun Lakes with his wife Barbara. Valley apartment of a cou(Special to SanTan Sun News) Dave Anciaux. (Special to SanTan Sun News) ple and their four children. On another day, RCSL ments in the East Valley. over 20 years of creating them find community and flourish. In volunteers, including ASU Rotaract The Rotary volunteers enjoyed meaningful interactions and providing the coming year, they will assist more Rotarians, met at the WTAP warehouse opportunities to visit with the families needed resources to refugees becomthan 2,000 incoming Afghan refugees. and assisted the WTAP staff in the and welcome them to America and the ing our new Phoenix neighbors. To donate or volunteer visit wtap.org. selection, packing, loading, transport, East Valley. In that time, the organization has To join the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes delivery and setup of household items The Tempe-based Welcome to welcomed more than 15,000 refugees members by volunteering with them: and furniture at several refugee apartAmerica Project is proud to celebrate from more than 40 countries, helping sunlakesrotary.com.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Famed VA whistleblower speaking in Sun Lakes SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Paula Pedene, a public relations professional at the next meeting of the Jewish War Veterans Copper State Post 619 in Sun Lakes. She will speak at 10 a.m. May 15, at Oakwood Country Club’s poolside card room, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd., Sun Lakes. Pedene is a decorated U.S. Navy Veteran with military service during both the Cold War and Operation Desert Storm. She also is author of “A Sacred Duty,” which is based on how faith, perseverance and grit helped her win her whistleblower case against the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System. The meeting is open

to the entire community. She became an award-winning Department of Veterans Affairs but eventually was punished for her whistleblowing activities by being removed from her high-profile public relations position and banished her to the basement library as a clerk. While in the basement, Pedene became aware of the Phoenix VA waittime scandal. She worked anonymously for a year trying to expose the illegal activities. The eventual fallout from the disgraceful treatment of veterans and others eventually led to the resignation of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “Today, Phoenix veterans can breathe easier knowing that the system has been completely overhauled,” a

spokeswoman for the Jewish War Vets said. Her book will be available for meeting attendees at a discounted price of $20 and Pedene will sign it. Bagels, lox, coffee and “meet and greet” start at 9:30. A short business meeting begins at 10 a.m. followed by the speaker and book signing. There is no charge, but to partake in the food, a reservation is required by 5 p.m. May 13th by contacting Joyce Spartonos at joytoyspartonos@aol.com or 480-8024902. Llet Joyce know if you wish to reserve a book. Jewish War Veterans is the oldest active national veteran organization in continuous operation in America. JWV Post 619 members represent a

wide range of religious affiliations and participate in philanthropic activities to help Jewish and non-Jewish veterans. Money raised from its poppy drive and fundraising activities enables the Post to fund events such as dinners at the city’s Veterans organization and the VA Hospital. T heir mission to support hospitalized, homeless, and at-risk veterans is further accomplished by donating all profits to 501 (C)(3) veterans’ organizations. For more information, visit CopperstatePost619.com. Meetings feature speakers focused on supporting veterans. For additional information about JWV activities or membership, contact Jr. Vice Commander, Elliott Reiss, 480802-3281,

Exchange Club’s Field of Hope remembers lost kids SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The Field of Hope is a memorial event held by the Exchange Club of Chandler each April to recognize and honor the lives of children lost due to child abuse and neglect the previous year. This memorial event also raises awareness toward our national efforts within the Exchange Club in regards to the prevention of child abuse and neglect efforts. This year, the Chandler Exchange

Club set its Field of Hope at the A.J. The Field of Hope will be set up at A.J. Chandler Park today, April 24, and remain until Friday, April 29. (Special to

SanTanSun News)

Chandler Park and thanked Mayor Hartke, city staffers and the Chandler Domestic Violence Commission for their support in helping to secure this location for this year’s Field of Hope. A field of almost 100 flags representing the nearly 100 deaths of children in Arizona in 2021 due to child abuse and neglect will be raised today, April 24, with a candlelight ceremony dedicating the field slated at 6 p.m. The Field of Hope will remain standing night and day until April 29 so that

visitors can remember “the very critical and ongoing work we all have yet to do in order to educate ourselves and raise awareness in the important efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect in our communities and protect our precious children our future,” the club said in a release. For information about the Field of Hope and other Chandler Exchange Club service programs: Mark Whitaker at 703-447-7950 or whitakerml@msn. com.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

2 churches combine efforts to help the needy BY ROBIN FINLINSON Guest Writer

An event titled “Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself” recently brought together members of two churches – Sun Valley Community Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – as well as several members of a high school football team to serve people with various needs. The gymnasium of Legacy Traditional School in southeast Chandler provided ample room for projects benefitting numerous local nonprofits and senior centers. For five hours, the volunteers were welcome to spend as much time as they wanted on projects they chose. Donations for each project were previously collected. Many volunteers prepared long strands of grocery bags. They were then used by other volunteers to create “plarn” mats for people experiencing homelessness. Instead of yarn, plastic bags were woven together. Approximately 450 bags are required to create a single mat. The nonprofit 2Fish & 5Loaves received the finished products. Inspirational cards were created for AZCEND and are now being given to seniors living alone to brighten their day. Some volunteers flattened another assortment of grocery bags to be used in AZCEND’s food bank. Three separate projects supported

Stake President Troy Hansen, left, and Pastor Brett Humphrey observe the progress of women sewing port pillows for cancer patients ( Robin Finlinson/Guest Writer)

Cultivate Goodness. Port pillows were sewn for the comfort of chemotherapy patients. An array of pre-packaged edibles were assembled into snack bags to be given to homeless individuals. Greeting cards were made and became part of goodie bags later delivered to the Mesa Police Department, Meals on Wheels, and cancer patients at Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson. Scraps of soap, donated by a local soap company, were cut and placed into plastic bags. Many were immediately included in hygiene kits for Dsquared Homes for the Homeless;

well over 1,500 additional cut scraps are now ready to be inserted into future kits as needed. Donated clothing was sorted to help with its distribution to foster children through Helen’s Hope Chest. Fidget quilts were sewn for people suffering from Alzheimer’s, then distributed to senior centers. The event was organized by Lori Neff, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She also represents justserve.org, a website created and maintained by the Church to connect people who would like to

volunteer in some way with multiple opportunities. Ecclesiastical leaders of the two churches, Pastor Brett Humphrey of Sun Valley and Stake President Troy Hansen of the Church of Jesus Christ, were among approximately 200 volunteers. The results included: 801 complete snack bags, 470 hygiene kits, 226 inspirational cards, 154 port pillows, 20 fidget quilts, eight plarn mats and a truckload of sorted children’s clothing. Volunteers enjoyed the opportunity to serve. A father had told his two teenagers that he expected them to help for a little while. But once they got started, they didn’t want to leave, and they stayed the whole time. Several participants expressed the hope that this will become an annual event, including Dr. Lessina Cline of Sun Valley. Originally from The Republic of The Gambia in northwest Africa, she said, “If we all forget about our backgrounds and come together, the church of God would be stronger, and we would be able to do much more.” Most of the above-mentioned nonprofits (and myriad more) have projects posted at justserve.org. Everyone interested in finding volunteer opportunities—either local or remote—is welcome to visit that website. Robin Finlinson is a Chandler Area JustServe specialist.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Life Can Be Rewarding

Surrounded by his gym-mates, Phillip Matz of south Chandler holds a replica of the $10,000 check he received for being the top male weight-loss winner in the Orangetherapy Fitness Transformation Challenge sponsored by Austin Fitness Group at its south Chandler studio. (Courtesy of Austin Fitness Group)

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S. Chandler man loses 51 pounds, wins $10K SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Phillip Matz lost 25 percent of his body weight and gained $10,000 for it. The South Chandler man, who dropped 51 pounds, was the top male winner in the Orangetherapy Fitness Transformation Challenge sponsored by Austin Fitness Group. Matz was one of thousands of participants in the eight-week challenge that saw a combined loss of 4.5 tons of weight. Austin Fitness Group is an Orangetheory Fitness franchise owned by CEO Terry Blachek. Orangetheory boasts a unique approach to fitness that blends science, coaching and technology to elevate participants’ heart rates to help burn more calories. Backed by the science of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, Orangetheory workouts incorporate endurance, strength and power to generate the “Orange Effect,” whereby participants keep burning calories for up to 24 hours after a 60-minute workout. Matz, 46, describes himself as “a stay-at-home dad with two very active soccer playing teenagers by day, and am a self-employed python programmer/ stock trader by night.” “I wanted to lose the weight and kickstart 2022 with a healthy lifestyle, but to also win the challenge itself gives me a huge feeling of accomplishment and pride. Seeing how proud my children and wife are of me just makes it feel all the more special.” He credits Orangetheory with “getting me fired up and excited to

make the commitment of joining the challenge in the first place, and then made it possible for me to fend off the diet-cheat urges and stick with the 8 week-long challenge thanks to the support and encouragement from the Orangetheory coaches and staff provided every step of the way. “I never felt like I was on my own or that I was just another anonymous customer working out in a gym,” he added. He also praised the coaches and the friendly members. “My advice for anyone with health aspirations is start out by making a commitment to yourself to make some kind of a change and be realistic in accepting what sort of sacrifices this will require you to make in your otherwise daily and weekly routines,” he said. “For me, I had to recognize that I consumed a lot of needless alcohol calories and ate way too much restaurant food,” he continued. “So I knew what my commitment to the Orangetheory challenge was going to look like – it would be eight weeks of abstaining from drinking alcohol and avoiding eating at restaurants, while also increasing my physical activities by way of going to Orangetheory classes at least three times a week.” “When I started the challenge, I could do a 5k in about 30 minutes, and was wearing XL shirts and having a size 36” pant waist, I ended the challenge exactly where I wanted to be – I wear a size M shirt and my pant waist is now a size 30,” Matz said. “And I can run three miles in 20 minutes, which is a great feeling as well.”

Do you have an interesting story? Contact Paul Maryniak: pmaryniak@timespublications.com

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

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Take your words to God even amid challenges RABBI IRWIN WIENER Columnist

We certainly live in very distressing times. There is domestic violence, international terror that has taken untold lives for no reason. Our economic uncertainties vex us to shifts in attitudes that move as fast as our doubts. Everywhere we turn the news is depressing. It is now so numbing that we are amazed if a day passes that does not contain some horror. Imagine, if you will, some 4,000 years ago, a simple shepherd, Abraham, content with all that life has to offer, receives a message. The message: Take your son Isaac to Mount Moriah, there you will sacrifice him to God. No debate, no doubt, just blind obedience. Can anyone imagine receiving such a call, and answering it? The angel may have saved Isaac, but the doubt of such a request lingers. That we would even consider such a test of faith boggles the mind. Elie Wiesel wrote a cantata involving this story in which he laments:

“Do you God recall the sacrifice requested over there on Mount Moriah? Among all the men on earth it was me you claimed. In the Holocaust you made me climb, then descend Mount Moriah crushed and silent. I did not know, my Lord, I did not know I was to see my children, old and young, arrive in the flames of hate. Alas, there was no rescuing angel.” Yet, Wiesel survived this horrendous ordeal to become an author, a husband, a father, and most of all a humanitarian. We look around us and see illness and despair. We visit tragedies and look for consolation. Think about all the horrors experienced by so many, perpetrated by a few, and then ask, “for what, O Lord, for what?” When we measure our discomfort with life to the forgotten, perhaps we can determine that life, with all its difficulties, is not so bad. We may endure pain for a moment, but lifelessness seems forever. Is it a coincidence, or even ironic, that the Israelite’s Temple was built on Mount Moriah? To me it is a lesson in survival. To me it is a lesson in fortitude. To me

it is a symbol of faith. On the very spot where history almost died, a new chapter in the people’s journey began. To me it is also a clear message that our humanity’s search for understanding took a new route as we learn from the Prophet Hosea, “Take your words to God.” Everyone needs to take their words, whether they are words of praise, or of condemnation, to God. We are given, if you will, a permission slip by tradition to yell, scream and bargain with the Divine. Perhaps we even cry out, as did Elie Wiesel, “You can live with God, you can live against God, but you cannot live without God.” Words are the essential ingredient in communicating. And these words which contain all the thoughts of whatever we are thinking remind us that even as we question, and utter words of disgust and despair, we also announce that it is God’s will. The challenges we face in life contain all these doubts and fears, but they also contain the ingredients of hope and faith. We question, we doubt, we even argue-at times; we have become faithless, but here we are. Are we wondering if all that we know and yet to learn has

any meaning? The challenges we face include speaking out when we witness injustice, or the indiscriminate annihilation of innocent people for no other reason than the color of their skin, or challenge the right to worship a God; fight tyranny and hatred. All of us cannot be legions in the fight for survival, but we can, and must support the institutions designed to lead the fight and show the way. That is how we participate. We are a different kind of soldier – a soldier who proudly declares that life is worth living, and we are part of the response available to us to ensure continuation. Above all, the challenges we face each and every day involve the understanding that even though we feel helpless, at times, we still speak out in the hope that someone will hear, will listen. There will be victories, and there will be defeats, but even when we lose, we win because we can say the words, and perform the deeds that will change the world. Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D., is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.

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St. Amand Kitchen reopens after some upgrades BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

An Ocotillo landmark restaurant is open again after shutting down for a little more than a month to make some upgrades. The owners of St. Amand Kitchen and Cocktails in Ocotillo have added more shade to their outdoor dining area, and improved its private dining area. There has been a restaurant at the corner of Ocotillo and Alma School roads for 17 years. For most of its life, it was known as D’Vine Bistro & Wine Bar. Ken and Lynn Morrow joined the ownership group in 2018 and oversaw the transformation to St. Amand, who is the patron saint of beer, wine and fine food. “We shut down for a refresh for about six weeks or so,” Ken said. “We extended the patio out to what it is now, and redid the back dining room floor, and then redid the panels going around the back that way.” They also made some changes to the menu, replacing items that aren’t ordered as much with new dishes they hope will be popular. “It was changed dramatically when we first took over from D’Vine to St. Amand,” Lynn said. “We kept all the fa-

When Ken and Lynn Morrow joined the ownership group of St. Amand Kitchen & Cocktails in 2018, they oversaw its transformation from an earlier eatery. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

vorites, … so it’s relatively the same. We have a new executive chef, and that’s been wonderful.” Ken said it wasn’t an easy decision to shut down just as they were picking up steam from the pandemic. “Very difficult and not cheap,” Ken said. “We had our reasons for doing it,

and they’re paying off. The patio extension is the best thing to come out of it.” Before, the shade on the outdoor patio was limited. By adding more cover, most diners are not out of direct sunlight except for when the sun sets late in the afternoon. They’ve added some curtains to keep the sunlight out

of diners’ eyes. “Everyone who comes back here says, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so glad the patio is extended, there’s more shade, more insulation from the weather,” Lynn said. “Hopefully, that means we’ll be able to extend it through the summer a little bit longer with more shade.” It was the second time they’ve had to close down since changing the name. The first came when the government ordered a shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ken said despite that, they were able to pay their employees during the nearly two months they were shut down. St. Amand remains one of the few places in South Chandler that has live entertainment on the weekend. “Right here in Ocotillo, we’re it,” Ken said. Lynn said in the heart of Ocotillo, the choices are limited to St. Amand and The Living Room. St. Amand usually has up to three performers and The Living Room relies on just one person or a DJ, she said. Ken and Lynn said the secret to their success in the restaurant business is to hire great people, and then get out of their way. See

AMAND on page 40

Local Reiki master publishes third book SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler author and Reiki master Olivia Veloso couldn’t visit her native Philippines or engage in many of the activities she normally does during the pandemic, but COVID-19 hardly slowed her down. Veloso has just published her third book, “From a Place of Knowing,” which she started in April 2020 after opening her Instagram account an seeing a post that read: “When you know, teach.” While her first book, “On the Wings of Manifestations,” was about her guardian angel experiences and the second one, “Wherever You Take Me,” is about the law of attraction, her new book contains “interrelated stories of my guardian angel, the law of attraction and Reiki.” “I added unexpected and surprising twists to every chapter and as you read on, some of the experiences will make you cry, while others will make you laugh, and I added some of my true to life spiriti encounters - ghost stories that will make your hair rise,” she explained. “Without trying, the sequence of how I got to a powerful place began to naturally unfold, a place where I surrendered the control and let situations be. I started to respond to life from my

Chandler author and Reiki master Olivia Veloso has just published her third book. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

place of knowing. I wanted this book to be an easy read and as it turned out, my experiences will show my readers how they too can move forward and become aware of an amazing world where synchronized events unfold right before their eyes.”

There were other things Veloso discovered during the pandemic. “I started to receive phone calls, at first from close friends and my Reiki students who needed someone to talk to,” she recalled. “Before I knew it, I was spending two to three hours almost every afternoon attending to calls. It was my way of helping out when we were at the height of the pandemic. Most of the time, I didn’t have to say anything, all I did was listen, and that helped them know they weren’t alone and that they mattered.” After COVID restrictions were lifted, Veloso worked with Shaunte Fox, owner of Sozo Healing House in Tempe, to introduce Reiki to people. “Reiki calms and soothes, and uplifts our energy,” Veloso explained. “It helps speed up the recovery stage of any ailment. The benefits that we can get out of a Reiki treatment are endless. That was the beginning of our Open Reiki Share Days, when we offered half an hour Reiki treatments for a small fee. “And it is thanks to my Reiki students who volunteer to give treatments, to this day, we continue to give everyone the opportunity to improve their health and their quality of life.” A Reiki master for 30 years who supervises the treatments, Veloso believes “more people are turning to

holistic medicine and natural healing than ever before” in the wake of the pandemic. She established Gendai Reiki Ho, Oneness “ to contribute to the promotion of peace and restore wellness in our society.” It is a sponsor of the Usui Reiki 2022-2023 Osaka, Japan Convention and because she is a member of the Association of Gendai Reiki Ho Madrid, Spain, who are the main organizers of the Usui Reiki Convention, she will be there as a volunteer. For the first time in two years, she also was able to return to the Phillipines, whereshe was the first master to introduce Genai Reiki Ho to that country. “Since there are many different lineages in western Reiki, Gendai Reiki Ho is the only system recognized by the Japanese government as the one and true Reiki. In the world of Reiki, this lineage is very important.” She will be having a reading from her book at 3 p.m. May 1 at Sozo Healing House. RSVP at: 480-266-4575 because space is limited. After that she will. be returning to the Philippines for another book presentation and signing. Information on Veloso’s Reiki and other holistic practices: 480-471-5891 or 480-266-4575 or e-mail ochiong@ hotmail.com

GET OUT

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Sonoran Desert Chorale celebrates companionship BY SRIANTHI PERERA GetOut Contributor

While weathering a seemingly endless pandemic, many people became more appreciative of the value of companionship. The Sonoran Desert Chorale takes it a step further with a concert on the themes of companionship and journeys. “You Come, Too,” is the title of the Mesa-based chorale’s next performances on Saturday, April 30, at First United Methodist Church in Mesa and on Sunday, May ,1 at La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church in Scottsdale. “I just feel like I wanted to celebrate this notion of valuing companionship, of valuing that journey, of valuing important people and ideas that sojourn with us,” said Dr. Carric Smolnik, artistic director. The chorus will sing three pieces by Andrew Maxfield, a Utah-based contemporary composer; Whatever Is Foreseen in Joy, The Door, and A Gracious Sabbath Stood Here. The composer, who will be in attendance, will comment on the songs and share his musical vision on them. Other songs include O Whistle and I’ll Come To Ye, I’ll Ay Call In By Yon Town, and My Love’s in Germany – a trio of Scottish folk songs; Shaun Kirchner’s I’ll Be On My Way; Felix Mendelssohn’s For God Commanded Angels to Watch Over You; a traditional American folk hymn – The Promised Land; Aaron

Left: Sonoran Desert Chorale of Mesa is back in full swing post-pandemic and have concerts planned. (Courtesy of Sonoran Desert Chorale) Right: Brooke Stephens, the assistant headmaster and music teacher at Chandler Preparatory Academy, has been singing with the Sonoran Desert Chorale for 16 years and revels in the camaraderie. (Alan Pfohl)

Copeland’s Zion’s Walls, and songs of finding the way home in Stephen Paulus’ The Road Home and Marta Keen’s Homeward Bound. The concert’s title, You Come, Too, is from a poem called The Pasture by Robert Frost, and the choral will sing its arrangement by American composer Z. Randall Stroope. Smolnik said he also loves the poem’s 1959 version by Randall Thompson, which he studied earlier. “It illustrates how I feel about the

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people that are closest to me, that even if it’s a short activity, if it’s something trivial, I still both want and value their company,” he said. “I feel that often we talk about these greater causes, about doing things outside ourselves, but the reality of the matter is we, as individuals, have the power to affect those around us.” Chorale member and Phoenix resident Brooke Stephens, assistant headmaster and music teacher at Chandler Preparatory Academy, finds the

concert’s theme particularly poignant, when reflecting on the paucity of social interaction during the past two years. “Choir is a community and we are doing it just as much for each other as to the audience. We love singing together and inviting each other to sing,” she said. “It’s partly that reminder that we get to journey together not only with other choir members, but we are inviting our audience, too.” See

CHORALE on page 40

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• An energetic and upbeat attitude • A minimum of two years of office experience • The ability to work well on a team • An ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment • Exceptional organizational skills • A desire for hands-on professional growth experience If you are a hardworking and resourceful individual, please respond with your resume and a cover letter outlining why you believe your skill set and experience make you a good fit for this position. We are currently scheduling interviews for an immediate opening. EOE

(480) 597-7806 | 140 N. Arizona Ave #100 Chandler, AZ 85225 | trulandburgers.com

Apply today, upload your resume: TimesLocalMedia.com

GET OUT

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Chandler Museum offers exhibits, programs SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler Museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Drive, Chandler is offering a variety of free programs next month as well as a new exhibit. The museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Mondays. Information: 480-782-2717 or chandlermuseum. org.Exhibits. Most of the programming events offer a chance to reserve a seat and unless otherwise noted, are free. Go to eventbrite.com/d/az and search by “Chandler Museum.” Dust Bowl Migrants in Chandler (Through Aug. 13, 2023) In the late 1930s Chandler had an influx of Dust Bowl migrants who fled their homes in search of a better life. Government photographers Dorothea Lange and Russell Lee documented unique stories showing these migrants and their dwellings, which were often temporary. This exhibition is a history of Dust Bowl Chandler through unique black and white photographs. It examines what home looked like and makes connections between 1930s Chandler and Chandler today. It includes themes of housing, migration, agriculture, technology, self-sufficiency, and empathy.

American Farmer (Through May 25) This exhibition features 45 iconic portraits showing the geographic and cultural diversity of the American Farmer. This vivid portfolio from photographer Paul Mobley is accompanied by anecdotes and memories in the farmers’ own words. The images and words are both a testament to the farmers’ enduring hospitality and a glimpse into the hardships and joys of their way of life – one that once defined our national identity. This exhibition is a program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, and The National Endowment for the Arts. ADULT PROGRAMS History Bites, noon-12:30 p.m. May 3 Agriculture made Arizona an economic force and helped develop the water infrastructure we all enjoy today. Chandler’s farming and ranching contribution is significant in the history of our state. Arizona Farm Bureau Outreach Director Julie Murphree is from a generational farming family rooted in Chandler. She will discuss her own family farm, while also revealing the 30,000foot view of Arizona agriculture today. YOUTH PROGRAMS Play Day, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 14

Chandler Museum’s “American Farmer” exhibit features 45 fascinating portraits by photographer Paul Mobley , accompanied by anecdotes and memories in the farmers’ own words. (Special to GetOut)

Tinker with some classic building toys and make something amazing. Bring your family and toy with classic games and toys. Brush up on the classics or explore something new! Each month features a different set of games and toys. Outdoor games and activities will be available in the courtyard weather permitting.

In the Exhibits, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 21 “In the Exhibits “immerses kids in interactive activities throughout the museum’s exhibits. Kids will participate in activities throughout the exhibit and gain deeper insights into the display. See

MUSEUM on page 40

GET OUT

MUSEUM

from page 39

C-Town Suitcase Club 10:30-11:15 a.m., May 4 and 18 Phones: Miss the cord? Or the ticking sound of the dial? Bring your children for a hands-on exploration of phones before they were portable. Pack your bags and travel back in time where

AMAND

from page 37

“Our day jobs are not restaurateurs,” Ken said.

CHORALE

from page 38

The Sonoran Desert Chorale was founded in 1994 by Jeff Harris, who directed the group for 25 years. It is a sophisticated choral organization that presents musical compositions from cultures around the globe as well as pieces from the European and American music traditions. Concerts frequently include guest performances and collaborations with artists and organizations in the community. Stephens, a music teacher and the assistant principle at a Chandler school, believes that anyone can sing in a choir. To become part of the Sonoran Desert Chorale, the ability to read sheet music is a necessity, but having a solo voice is not. “Making music with others is such a fulfilling community activity,” she noted.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

dren attending as space is limited.

everyday objects look completely different. These 45-minute programs are led by our friendly educators who compare everyday items, then and now. With new themes each month, program participants will begin together with a central topic and then break off into family groups to engage in several activity stations. Geared toward ages 3-5. Please register both adults and chil-

Art Tots 10:30-11:15 a.m. May 11 and 25 , 10:30am-11:15am Photo Art. Take a peek into the world of photography as we explore how light creates images and make art using photographs. Want to make art with your little one but don’t want to clean the mess? Come for a 45-minute program led by

our friendly educators that is an age-appropriate introduction to different art styles and concepts. With new themes each month, program participants will begin together with a central topic and then break off into family groups to engage in several art-centered activity stations. Geared toward ages 3-5. Please register both adults and children attending as space is limited.

“The smaller you are, the more important your people can be,” Lynn said. “We invest in our people.” Ken owns a general contracting business and Lynn works at a biotech

company. They got interested in owning a restaurant because they live in the neighborhood and were regular patrons of D’Vine. “We don’t come here to microman-

age,” Ken said. “We let people do their jobs. We come here to relax and get away and to be with the community as well.” Information: 3990 S. Alma School Road, Chandler; stamandaz.com

A chorale member for 16 years, Stephens finds it difficult sometimes to attend Thursday’s practice nights because of a busy schedule. But it’s always invigorating. “Every time we get to Thursday, I am always wondering if I have enough energy to make it to choir,” she said. “But every time, I would find myself leaving choir with more energy than when I came in.” Smolnik, who came on board toward the end of 2019, just when Covid-19 was about to spread, had to keep the members engaged without the possibility of meeting and singing together. It was a difficult and unusual challenge. The regular rehearsal hours were maintained, but conducted online. The musical selections and instructions were uploaded in advance and breakout groups worked with leaders to sing them. Later, the singers had to practice

and record audio and video on their own. During rehearsals, just one person could sing because of the lag in time. Sometimes, experts presented online workshops. “So, there was still that community because we could see each other on Zoom,” Stephens said. “Even though we couldn’t sing together in the same way, through those workshops and through the teaching of the pieces that we were to record and submit to the virtual choir, I really did feel that that was my only social outlet during the entire year.” “It’s been great to see the emotional journey of coming back to singing. I had tears streaming down my face for the entire first rehearsal. I could not believe how beautiful the music sounded together in the same room again,” Stephens said.

Smolnik said he felt “ecstatic and excited” at the first in-person rehearsal, but the mask concealed the emotions. “The next rehearsal I basically started crying under my mask because it was such an emotional experience to be back with people that you view as your musical family and sharing your connection to the words and to the musical settings,” he said. The chorale was able to present concerts last October (about nature’s beauty), December (celebratory classical Christmas songs) and February (the many facets of love). “The director has tried to program the things that we can never take for granted again,” Stephens said. “Singing is one of those things We’ll always remember how lucky we are to get to sing sideby-side, shoulder-to-shoulder.” Details: sonorandesertchorale.org

䔀䄀匀吀䔀刀匀䄀䰀䔀

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

FREEDOM. TO BE YOU.

If you think oxygen therapy means slowing down, it’s time for a welcome breath of fresh air. Introducing the Inogen One family of portable oxygen systems. With no need for bulky tanks, each concentrator is designed to keep you active via Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology.® Hours of quiet and consistent oxygen flow on a long-lasting battery charge enabling freedom of movement, whether at home or on the road. Every Inogen One meets FAA requirements for travel ensuring the freedom to be you. • No heavy oxygen tanks • Ultra quiet operation

• Lightweight and easy to use • Safe for car and air travel

• Full range of options and accessories • FDA approved and clinically validated

Call 1-844-201-2758

for a free consultation and info guide.

MKT-P0253

DIRECTORY

MetroPhoenix

JOBS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

JOB SEEKERS

Call To Advertise 480-898-6465

How to Negotiate Your Salary

Securing a new job begins with the painstaking preparation of a résumé, then continues through an interview phase which can be nerve-wracking, followed by a winnowing process. But it’s not over, even if you are named the final candidate. You still have to negotiate a new salary — and this last stage might be the most difficult aspect of all, if you’re not prepared. Here’s a breakdown on how to complete the last leg of your hiring journey. THE PROPER MINDSET IS KEY Whether you’re negotiating for a starting salary or at the highest levels of international diplomacy, successful agreements require a sense of confidence but with a willingness to compromise. You’ll need plenty of persistence and a healthy dose of professionalism. If you don’t push hard enough, your salary may never catch up with your peers. Push too hard, however, and they may decide to go with another candidate. There’s natural back-and -orth associated with this kind of dialogue. Handle the salary negotiations with a balance of directness and aplomb, and it will only confirm their decision to hire you. COME PREPARED WITH FACTS Knowing the job’s market value before you sit down to discuss salary figures gives you leverage. You’ll need to evaluate

your pay based not just on the position, but also the cost of living where you’ll be working and your specific professional background – including education and experience. Salary.com and SalaryExpert. com are excellent resources; the U.S. Department of Labor can also provide key information from your industry.

DON’T NEGOTIATE AGAINST YOURSELF Don’t let your excitement for a new job, or your exhaustion with a lengthy process, create a situation where you rush to an unfavorable conclusion. Settling for their first offer could have salary implications for years to come. Employers and potential employees alike have a range of acceptable salary figures. Keep in mind, however, that you don’t have to immediately discuss

your bottom number – only the top. You lose negotiation power by revealing too much too early. The two sides should then begin moving toward a baseline that suits both interests. If they don’t? Remember that quality candidates are becoming rarer in today’s job market. Don’t accept too quickly. Be prepared to turn an offer down if you can’t get to a happy medium.

NOW HIRING! SERVING MARICOPA COUNTY! EXPERIENCED TECHS • INSTALLERS & ENTRY LEVEL!

To Advertise Call:

480 898 6465

UP TO $ 3000 SIGNING BONUS!

TOP DOLLAR Based on your level of education and experience Medical Insurance - Your premiums fully paid with $1500 deductible from provider Truck Provided - You take the truck home You are paid from the time you turn it on until the time you get home. Vacation and Sick Leave - Earned from the day you start! LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED • ROC# 313262

TO APPLY: 623-932-1674 OR WWW.AIRNOWAC.COM

DIRECTORY

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

Ahwatukee Chandler Gilbert Glendale Mesa North Valley Ocotillo Peoria Phoenix Scottsdale Tempe West Valley

MetroPhoenix

JOBS

To Advertise Call: 480-898-6465 or email Class@TimesPublications.com

Be a part of something

BIG

CMC Steel Arizona makes the steel that builds America and we’re growing - building an innovative, state-of-the-art micro mill in Mesa! Ready for a challenge? We have current openings for our Modern Steelmaker Program, a 12-month rotational technical training program that teaches you everything you need to know about sustainable steelmaking. If you’re ready to grow in your career, you’re ready to join CMC. Visit us online to apply today!

jobs.cmc.com

DIRECTORY

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

• Experienced & Licensed • Will Have Exclusive Area • Top Commissions

Cleaning Specialists Needed Valleywide! • Full/Part time • Willing to work around your schedule • OT in some areas • Permanent positions • Pay $13.50 - $17.00

Great Company Back Up to Help Loans Go Through

• Must pass background check • Must be authorized to work in the U.S. • Must bring two forms of Identiﬁcation for E-verify purposes

Applications are being accepted Monday-Friday 9am-3:30pm

Call Jack, AZ Branch Manager • 520-458-2800

Apply at: 8930 N. 78th Ave., Peoria, AZ 85345

Call: 623-937-0000

EVERYBODY GRAB A FUTURE Team Member Full and Part Time

• Competitive benefits and rewards

EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE WANTED!

• Day, Evenings, Night positions • Flexible Management hours - go to school and work full-time • Opportunities for growth - we promote from within • Early paycheck access

McDowell and Miller Road • (480) 947-9901 Apply at: 7607 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

Located between Hayden Road and Scottsdale Road on the southwest corner of Miller Road.

WE ARE

HIRING TEAM JOIN OUR

PART-TIME FOR UP TO 30 HOURS STARTING AT $20/HR FLEXIBLE HOURS POSITIONS AVAILABLE: COUNTER SALES GENERAL LABOR APPLY WITHIN OR DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION AT VERNLEWIS.COM

OR CONTACT OUR MANAGER AT SHAYES@VERNLEWIS.COM | 602-633-7481

If you have an interest in caring for others and want to make a difference in supporting individuals with disabilities, Arizona MENTOR may be right for you!

We Are Hiring For: Behavioral Health Technicians Direct Support Professional/Caregivers Why Join Our Team? • Competitive pay, benefits and growth opportunities • The opportunity to make a difference • Comprehensive rewards & benefits • Professional development • Supportive & collaborative teams • Innovative health & wellness options • Paid Training • Employee recognition programs

To apply, visit us at jobs.sevitahealth.com or call Marc Baker at 602-529-4775 or email marc.baker@sevitahealth.com

JOBS

Peter Piper Pizza’s commitment to outstanding service starts with our employees.

Looking For A Career Opportunity In A Rewarding Field?

MetroPhoenix

MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER

To Advertise Call:

480 898 6465

DIRECTORY

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

MetroPhoenixClassifieds com To Advertise Call: 480-898-6465 or email Class@TimesPublications.com Air Duct Cleaning

Air Duct Cleaning & Dryer Vents BY JOHN

★ 30+ Years HVAC Experience ★ Disinfected & Sanitized With Every Job

(480) 912-0881 – Licensed & Insured

Concrete & Masonry

Concrete Work • Patios • Sidewalks • Driveways • 30 years experience • Free Estimates

Call Dan

Business/ Professional BUSINESS Services

Planning a new business in Chandler? Check in with the Chandler Chamber of Commerce for help.

not a licensed contractor

480-516-8920

www.miguelslandscapinginc.com

mi.landscapinginc@hotmail.com

PAVERS, WATERFEATURES, FEATURES, PAVERS, WATER FLAGSTONE, TRAVERTINE, FIREPLACE, FIREPLACE, SOD, SYNTHETICGRASS, GRASS, SOD, BBQ, BBQ, SYNTHETIC ROCK IRRIGATION ROCK AND IRRIGATION

Remodeling License ROC #183369 • Bonded, Insured

ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

josedominguez0224@gmail.com Not a licensed contractor.

Handyman

DEPENDABLE AND PROFESSIONAL HANDYMAN SERVICE

With over 20 years of experience I can repair, install or improve just about anything you can imagine. Weekday and weekend appointments available!

GIVE ME A CALL TODAY AND CONSIDER YOUR TO-DO LIST DONE!

480-395-3996

TRIM TREES ALL TYPES GRAVEL - PAVERS SPRINKLER SYSTEMS Complete Clean Ups

Jose Martinez Not a licensed contractor.

602.515.2767

www.myhandymanmatt.com

Home Improvement

Carpet Cleaning

DAVE’S PERFECT TOUCH

General Contracting, Inc.

CARPET/GROUT & TILE CLEANING

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

— SPECIALS —

One Call, We Do It All! 602-339-4766

3 Areas for $99

up to 150 sq. ft. per area (includes high traffice pre-treatment) CALL FOR APPOINTMENT

Free Estimates with Pride & Prompt Service!

Concrete & Masonry

Irrigation

Block Fence * Gates

602-789-6929 Roc #057163 Lowest Prices * 30 Yrs Exp Serving Entire Valley

• Sprinkler/Drip Repairs • New Installs Poly/PVC • Same Day Service RANTY -YEAR PART WAR

480.654.5600 azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

We Beat Competitors Prices & Quality

Free Estimates • Home of the 10 Year Warranty!

480-688-4770

www.eastvalleypainters.com

Family Owned & Operated

Now Accepting all major credit cards

Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

VALENCIA’S TOTAL YARD

CONKLIN PAINTING

➨ Planting & Removal of Trees ➨ Complete Maintenance ➨ Tree Trimming & Hauling ➨ Free Estimates

enrique 480 495-5828 * Not a licensed contractor

Landscape Design/ Installation

ARIZONA CACTUS SALES Since 1968

Five Acres of Plants

(480) 963-1061

All Remodeling, Additions, Kitchen, Bath, Patio Covers, Garage, Sheds, Windows, Doors, Drywall & Roofing Repairs, Painting, All Plumbing, Electrical, Concrete, Block, Stucco, Stack Stone, All Flooring, Wood, Tile, Carpet, Welding, Gates, Fences, All Repairs.

Commercial & Residential • Licensed & Insured • Owner Operator

10% OFF

Painting

Owner Does All Work, All Honey-Do Lists

7 Areas for $199

Paint Interior & Exterior • Drywall Repair Cabinet Painting • Light Carpentry Voted Power Washing • Textures Matched Popcorn Removal • Color Consulting Pool Deck Coatings • Garage Floor Coatings

Landscape/Maintenance

Licensed, Bonded & Insured ROC #326605

chandleralliance@gmail.com

YOU’LL LIKE US - THE BEST!

480-338-4011

High Quality Results

RESTORATION

David Cole • 480-215-4757

We Are State Licensed and Reliable!

Free Estimates • Senior Discounts

JOSE DOMINGUEZ DRYWALL & PAINTING House Painting, Drywall, Intall Doors, Baseboards, Crown Molding Reliable, Dependable, Honest!

Business/ Professional BUSINESS SERVICES Services

OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE: H Tile & Grout Cleaning H Upholstery Cleaning H Trusted Chandler Resident

Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

Painting

480.266.4589

up to 150 sq. ft. per area (includes high traffice pre-treatment) Reg. Value $175 - CALL FOR APPOINTMENT

Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Landscape/Maintenance

15 Years Experience • Free Estimates

A group of local business representatives and owners committed to development of local businesses in the Greater Chandler Area. Providing a forum for local businesses to promote themselves. We also work with and promote several non-profit organizations. Each member is required to assist or fund a non-profit organization as a show of support to our community.

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING

Drywall

QUICK RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL!

www.chandlerchamber.com

Painting

Landscape/Maintenance LANDSCAPING

1619 S. ARIZONA AVE. CHANDLER arizonacactussales.com

Landscape Design/ Installation JOSE’S LANDSCAPING

Free Estimate & Color Consultation

Interior Painting ● Pressure Washing Exterior Painting ● Drywall/Stucco Repair Complete Prep Work ● Wallpaper Removal

480-888-5895 ConklinPainting.com PLUMBING

Lic/Bond/Ins ROC# 270450

24-HOUR SERVICE Plumbing

480-892-5000 480-726-1600 24 HOUR SERVICE ABC Plumbing SAN TAN PLUMBING 480-726-1600 & DRAIN CLEANING &PLUMBING Rooter ABC & ROOTER 24/7

Best Senior Discount

20% OFF

A+

Since 1968

ROC#153202/213288

Plumbing

CURE ALL PLUMBING FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

Specializing • Synthetic Turf in for your Home Artificial • Front Yards Grass • Back Yards

• Golfing Greens

Call Today For A Quote

480-690-0081 Not a licensed contractor.

Full Service Plumbing No Job Too Small!

H Drain & Sewer Cleaning H Water Heaters H Faucets H Fixtures H Electronic Leak Locating H Slab Leaks

H Repiping H Sewer Video & Locating H Backflow Testing & Repair H Sprinkler Systems & Repairs H Water Treatment Sales & Service

480-895-9838

✔ Free Estimates ✔ Senior Discounts! RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ROC #204797

DIRECTORY

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

MetroPhoenixClassifieds com To Advertise Call: 480-898-6465 or email Class@TimesPublications.com Plumbing

Roofing

Glass/Mirror

1 HOUR RESPONSE

Over 30 Years of Experience Family Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers!

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

480-726-1600 $

Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

5000 OFF

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING

Work Completed!

ABC PLUMBING & ROOTER

SINCE 1968

FREE Estimates • Credit Cards OK www.spencer4hirerooﬁng.com ROC#244850 | Insured | Bonded

Lic. ROC153202/213278, Bonded & Insured *CALL OFFICE FOR DETAILS

www.affinityplumbingaz.com

Not a licensed contractor

10% Discount for Ahwatukee Residents 100% NO Leak Guarantee Re-Roof & Roofing Repairs Tile, Shingles & Flat Roof

MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

Roofing

PLUMBING

480-704-5422 REPAIR or INSTALL Water Heaters • Faucets • Sinks Toilets • Disposals • Rooter Services Licensed • Bonded $ Insured

35 Off

Service Call

Pool/Spa Services

A Friend In Me

Professional, hardworking, excellent service. No hidden fees. Whether you are moving in or moving out LEAVE THE LIFTING TO US! Serving the East Valley. www.inoroutmovers phoenixmetro.com Call Terry at 602-653-5367

480-898-6465

We'll Get Your Phone to Ring! We Accept:

Public Notices

Serving All Types Clean, Prompt, Friendly and Professional Service of Roofing: • • • •

FREE ESTIMATES

Tiles & Shingles sunlandroofingllc@gmail.com Installation Repair Re-Roofing

602-471-2346

Plumbing abcplumbingandrooter.com ROC 153202 Where Integrity Isn’t Watered Down. Since 1968 - 480-726-1600 1 hour response Emergency Response 24/7 A rated BBB *Free flush of water heater *Best senior discount: 20% off labor *$50.00 off with work done mention this ad Flood restoration, Water heaters, drain clogs, faucets, toilets, slab leaks, leak locating, & water main.

T-Mobile USA is proposing to modify an existing wireless telecommunications facility on an existing monopole property located at 2225 S. Price Rd., Chandler, Maricopa County, AZ. The modifications will consist of the addition of a generator on a concrete pad within a fenced-in compound (overall specifications of the CMU wall compound are approx. 14ft. 7in. x10ft. 6in. x10ft.), northeast of the existing 75-foot monopole. Any interested party wishing to submit comments regarding the potential effects the proposed facility may have on any historic property may do so by sending such comments to: Project 6122003039 - KMG EBI Consulting, 6876 Susquehanna Trail South, York, PA 17403, or via telephone at (781)265-9221.

FIND YOUR PASSION

SEWER AND DRAIN

Sewer/Drain/Septic

ABC Plumbing & Rooter Serving the East Valley

Tile cleaning, acid wash and pressure washing

480.510.2664

Before

IN OR OUT MOVERS

CALL CLASSIFIEDS

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

Plumbing

ROC #272721

Call 480-898-6465

Call Greg 480-510-2664 AFriendInMeHandyman@gmail.com

Your Ahwatukee Plumber & East Valley Neighbor

35 OFF

Handyman

Moving

Not a licensed contractor.

480-487-5541

affinityplumber@gmail.com

$ Any Service

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Place your ad online!

Honey-Do List Electrical, Plumbing, Drywall, Painting & Home Renovations.

Affinity Plumbing LLC

• Anything Plumbing • Water Heaters • Inside & Out Leaks • Toilets, Faucets, Disposals • Same Day Service • Available 24/7 • Bonded & Insured • Estimates Available

2017 Forest River Wildwood Travel Trailer Model #171RBXL 17 Ft. , Murphy bed. $18,000 OBO Call: 317-403-9130

A FRIEND IN ME HANDYMAN

Roofing

Plumbing

Family Owned with 50 years' EXPERIENCE. Shower and tub enclosures, Framed, Frameless or Custom Doors, We also install insulated glass, mirrored closet doors, window glass, mirrors, patio doors, glass table protectors. If it’s glass, we can help you. QUALITY SERVICE at Competitive Prices. FREE Estimates

WESLEY'S GLASS & MIRROR Call 480-306-5113 wesleysglass.com SERVICING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663

EMERGENCY SERVICE www.abcplumbingandrooter.com

Motorhomes/ RVs

After

Oooh, MORE ads online! Check Our Online Classifieds Too!

480-726-1600 FREE

Hotwater Heater Flush Licensed/Bonded/Insured

48 YEARS In Business Since 1968 ROC#153202/213278

% Financing 0% Financing Fast* 020% Fast* 20% for details. Senior *Call for*Calldetails. Senior Discount! Discount!

Window Cleaning

Professional service since 1995

130 - One Story $ 170 - Two Story

$ Bonded & Insured

Includes in & out up to 30 Panes

SUN SCREENS CLEANED $3 EACH

SanTanSun.com

480-584-1643

Attention to detail and tidy in your home.

Ahwatukee Chandler Gilbert Glendale Mesa North Valley Ocotillo Peoria Phoenix Scottsdale Tempe West Valley

MetroPhoenix

JOBS

To Advertise Call: 480-898-6465 or email Class@TimesPublications.com

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

SAME-DAY AIR CONDITIONING & PLUMBING SERVICE

Call us for quick, honest, reliable service 7 days a week!

Air Conditioning Tune Up & Safety Inspection Limited time offer. Restrictions may apply. Call for details. Expires 5/31/22

FREE Air Conditioning Service Call

With Purchase of part/repair. Limited time offer. Restrictions may apply. Call for details. Expires 5/31/22

480.345.COOL (2665) Water Heater Flush 3065 N. Norfolk • Mesa, AZ 85215

westernstateshomeservices.com

Limited time offer. Restrictions may apply. Call for details. Expires 5/31/22

LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED

A+

SENIOR & VETERAN DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE! AZROC #253810 / #321722

NO Weekend Charges NO Overtime Charges

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | APRIL 24, 2022

free leather upgrade *

Emily modular sofa system

Save hundreds and enjoy moving up from one grade of leather to a superior grade absolutely free on any Stressless seating on the Max, Mike or Royal $ recliners in any Paloma leather. ®

or save 300

Royal with black Paloma leather on Original base

Mike power motion recliner

save $50 on the new Stressless Dining Collection when you buy four or more. ®

Come experience the Stressless® difference when it comes to dining room seating comfort. Our new collection, with Stressless’ patented relax/recline design, features wider seats that are available with or without armrests, and in high back or low back. since

Now through May 31st

*see store for full details contemporary furniture & accessories

great prices great design

PHOENIX 1701 E. Camelback 602-266-8060 SCOTTSDALE 15804 N. Scottsdale Rd. (South of Bell) 480-367-6401 GILBERT 2000 S. Santan Village Pkwy. 480-838-3080 HOURS: PHOENIX Mon-Sat: 9am-6pm, Sundays: Noon-5pm SCOTTSDALE & GILBERT Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm, Saturdays: 10am-6pm, Sundays: Noon-5pm

SanTan Sun News April 24, 2022

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