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St. Amand Kitchen reopens after some upgrades

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 favorites, … 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.

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)

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 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

Chandler author and Reiki master Olivia Veloso has just published her third book.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

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 Maxfi eld, 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 Copeland’s Zion’s Walls, and songs of fi nding 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 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 aff ect those around us.”

Chorale member and Phoenix resident Brooke Stephens, assistant headmaster and music teacher at Chandler Preparatory Academy, fi nds the concert’s theme particularly poignant, when refl ecting 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.”

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)

See CHORALE on page 40

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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

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 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-

AMAND from page 37

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

“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

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.

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 micromanage,” 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

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.

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

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