Santan Sun News - 6.6.2021 by Times Media Group

June 6, 2021 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Pressure mounts on Council for discrimination ban

BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Chandler’s Democratic legislators and the Chandler Chamber of Commerce are urging City Council to pass an ordinance prohibiting discrimination. Sen. Sean Bowie and Reps. Jennifer Jermaine, Mitzi Epstein and Jennifer Pawlik wrote Mayor Kevin Hartke, asking him and Council to adopt an ordinance that would ensure equal access to employment and housing. Including for what Bowie called “our active and growing LGBTQ community.”

“We strongly believe that passing an anti-discrimination ordinance that treats everyone with dignity and respect is representative of the values and the character of the city that we love and represent,” the letter said. Noting that Chandler is now the largest Arizona municipality without such an ordinance and is home to many major employers, the letter stated: “We believe that implementing these protections in Chandler will not only protect our LGBTQ community but will also send a strong message to our business community that Chandler is a

place that values equality, diversity, and equal rights for all and is a great place for its employees to live and work.” Both Scottsdale and Mesa in recent months have passed anti-discrimination ordinances, joining Tempe, Tucson and Phoenix. The state does not have such a law. The lawmakers warned that the absence of a discrimination ban could discourage developers and businesses from coming to Chandler. “We believe the failure of Chandler to consider and adopt such an ordinance will harm the city’s ability to

compete and bring future investment and jobs to the city,” the legislators wrote. The Chandler Chamber of Commerce has expressed similar concerns about the economic harm Chandler could experience by failing to institute more protections for minorities and vulnerable populations. In its own letter to Council, the Chamber board asked to pass new policies that promote equality, diversity and inclusion. See

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Police group calls Chandler officer hiring inadequate BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Hamilton High grad Joe Jackson will be competing in the ParaOlympic Games. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

The Chandler Police Department will be hiring more officers in the coming year to make up for years of stagnation, but some police officials think the city’s plan doesn’t go far enough to meet the agency’s long-term needs. Police Chief Sean Duggan has drawn up a five-year plan that adds 67 new positions to various divisions in the de-

partment. Several of these new positions could potentially come online in the next fiscal year, followed by more positions in subsequent years. But a separate five-year plan devised by the Chandler Law Enforcement Association, which represents the interests of more than 250 local officers, goes beyond Duggan’s plan by recommending the addition of 83 officer positions.

Chandler grad to compete Sign of summer in Tokyo games in August BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

A Hamilton High School graduate will be traveling to Tokyo this summer to compete for medals in the upcoming Paralympic Games. Joe Jackson, 31, is one of 12 players who have been picked to represent the U.S. wheelchair rugby team during the international games this August. Jackson, who sustained a spinal injury while playing football back in high school, has spent the last few years training for the opportunity to compete on a global stage and is thrilled to finally be given the chance to play in Tokyo. “This will be my first time going to a paralympic tournament,” Jackson remarked. “I’m pretty happy about that.”

Jackson’s vertebrae snapped during a Hamilton High football practice 16 years ago. Even though health restrictions might prevent Jackson’s family from being able to cheer him on from the sidelines in Tokyo, the athlete said he’s eager to be playing against a group of elite opponents. The pandemic hasn’t allowed for many opportunities to travel and scrimmage against other teams, Jackson said, so players have had to find alternative ways to keep their skills sharp. “We know how to beat ourselves,” Jackson added, “but it’s time to go beat up on the world.” Wheelchair rugby can look like a brutal sport to the novice spectator. Two teams of four crash up against each See

RUGBY on page 6

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As temps settled into 100+ kids hit Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center as Chandler pools opened last week for summer-long fun. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

F E AT U R E STO R I E S City Uber-like service for Price Road?. . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . Page 9 New billiards-bowling joint in Chandler. . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . Page 29 Chandler coach's death stuns sports world. . . . . . . SPORTS . . . . . . . . Page 34 Basha science teacher rated best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . Page 36 Chandler singer releases new song. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . Page 40

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

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from page 1

Mike Collins, the association’s president, said Duggan’s hiring plan is a “good start” in correcting a system that allowed Chandler to go more than a decade without creating one new officer position. But Collins believes the city needs to invest more in strengthening Chandler’s investigatory powers in order to make the police department more comparable to other agencies throughout the Valley. “Our whole police department is pretty much reactionary,” Collins said. “We can respond after a crime happens, but we have very few units that can go out and be proactive.” While Duggan’s plan adds 67 positions to the department, Collins pointed out how some of those jobs are for civilian employees who would work as forensic technicians or records clerks. By contrast, all 83 of the positions recommended by the association are for sworn officers that would be divided up among the agency’s many units. The chief’s plan doesn’t add any new detectives in some important units, Collins noted, so the association’s plan attempts to fill in some of the gaps it’s seen throughout the agency. Collins said CLEA spent several months reviewing the department’s demands and evaluating how many more officers are needed to handle the existing workload. “There’s plenty of stuff for people to do,” Collins said. “We are asking for what we need. We weren’t shooting for the moon so we could negotiate down.” The CLEA plan recommends adding five investigators to Chandler’s gang unit, four officers to the homicide unit, four more to handle traffic enforcement and four officers to investigate property crimes. Burglaries, thefts and robberies are some of the most common crimes seen throughout the city and Collins said Chandler’s property crimes unit in particular needs help investigating cases. Although FBI data show Chandler’s property crime numbers have been declining slightly over the last few years, the city has recently begun to experience an uptick in violent crimes. In 2020, the city recorded 75 shootings – 16 more than the previous year – which resulted in 26 injured victims and nine deaths. Chandler’s sexual assault cases have more than doubled since 2014. The CLEA proposal additionally recommends hiring four new officers to investigate internet crimes, four officers dedicated to domestic violence incidents, four more narcotics officers, and two investigators specializing in human trafficking. Chandler currently has 334 sworn officers, a number that has not grown for the last 13 years. The city’s number of officers started to deplete during the Great Recession and slowly got back to pre-recession levels by 2020. The city’s police associations attempted to sound the alarm on Chandler’s staffing problems in 2018 by making a presentation in front of the city council. But their protestations were met with little reaction. The association’s current agreement with the city only gives its members the ability to address matters involving salaries and benefits. Any decisions involving staffing levels rest solely between the police chief and city management. Collins said CLEA has not yet received a response from the city after it released its fiveyear proposal to hire 83 new sworn officers. “We’ve never had a conversation with

The Chandler Law Enforcement Association presented these two charts at a Chandler Chamber virtual roundtable in May that showed the difference between its police officer hiring plan and the city’s. (Chandler Chamber)

the city -- not one,” he said. It’s important for the city’s leadership to have conversations with officers actually working out in the field, Collins said, and not just with administrators. The department is close to reaching its breaking point, he added, so CLEA has felt compelled to take a more aggressive approach in steering the city into a new direction. The untimely deaths of two Chandler officers within the last six months have further exacerbated the concerns of the agency’s officers and have emboldened them to seek out resources that can ensure their health and safety. Officers are beginning to feel exhausted, Collins said, which is prompting them to speak more publicly about their needs. “At some point this dam was going to have to burst because, at some point, it became a huge mental health problem for our officers,” Collins added. Matt Burdick, a spokesman for the city, said Chandler has excellent relationships with its police associations and expects there to be more dialogue in the future regarding staffing concerns. But he emphasized the fact that CLEA is not in a position to bargain for higher staffing levels. “We have ongoing communication with the Chandler Law Enforcement Association including about their perspective on police staffing,” Burdick said. “However, staffing levels are not a point of negotiation in the memorandum of understand-

ing with employee associations.” In the 2021-2022 budget the city council plans to adopt on June 10, Chandler has made room to incorporate 27 police positions into its payroll. Twelve of the positions are new and the remaining 15 are overfill positions, which allow individuals to be hired and trained while current officers continue serving the community. Burdick said the funding for these and any additional positions in the coming years will be addressed each year as part of the budget development process based on Chandler’s needs. In order to recruit a slew of new officers in the coming months, the city says it intends to offer stipends as an incentive to attract applicants from the state’s competitive labor pool. Lateral sworn officers can get $5,000, officer recruits can receive $3,500, and new detention officers can get $2,000. Individuals would receive half of the incentive upon being hired and the remaining half upon successful completion of a probationary period. Collins said the association’s encouraged by the steps taken thus far by the city to improve staffing conditions, but he thinks there is more that can be done to prevent Chandler from winding up back in the position it’s presently in. Police staffing is a complex topic that can’t be explained nor resolved quickly, he added, and will require more conversations in the coming months.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Police agencies are blamed in Gilbert man’s fatal shooting BY CECILIA CHAN Managing Editor

Jeffrey Shaw was an Eagle Scout with a competitive streak who as a child partook in occasional hijinks that involved water balloons and toilet paper. He met his wife, Lauren, when they were both 14 and the two wrote love letters to each other, which continued during their 18-year marriage. By all accounts, the Gilbert man also was a devoted dad to a son and three daughters – it was not unusual to see his toenails painted. Last June 6, Shaw was shot multiple times by Arizona state troopers and died three weeks later, leaving his loved ones in shock. “I don’t believe anyone has ever loved their brother as much as I loved Jeff,” said Tim Shaw at his younger brother’s funeral in July. “I feel that Jeff was part of my soul and his death has caused a large part of my soul to die.” The family has filed two claims in connection with the shooting against Gilbert totaling $65 million. Representing Shaw’s wife, Attorney Patrick McGroder also filed notices of claim for $60 million each against Mesa and Chandler. Representing Shaw’s mother, attorney Timothy Casey filed a $5 million claim. The Department of Public Safety did not respond to questions from the Gilbert Sun News about claims against it. McGroder said the estate has up to

a year after the date of death to file a lawsuit and is waiting for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to render an opinion on the legality of the shooting. A spokeswoman for the County Attorney said an investigation of the shooting was conducted by Mesa Police “and submitted it to our office on Aug. 25, 2020. It is in the queue to be reviewed.” The events leading to the death of Shaw – an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the owner of two local Bahama Bucks franchises – began on a Saturday night. At 8:30 p.m. June 6, Karen Shaw reached out to Gilbert Police for help in locating her 40-year-old son. She explained that Jeffrey had not slept for days and had just been released from St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center, where he was being treated for depression and anxiety over his recent separation from his wife, according to a $5-million claim filed against the town on her behalf. Karen Shaw did not respond to a request for an interview. A second claim against the town has been filed on behalf of Jeffrey Shaw’s wife and four children asking for $60 million. The claims were deemed denied because Gilbert took no action within 60 days after the filings, Town Attorney Chris Payne said. He added that the town’s outside counsel was investigating both claims, which blame Gilbert Police for “neg-

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ligence and gross negligence” in the events that ultimately led to Shaw’s death. The claims allege the town failed to adequately hire, fire, train and supervise its police employees and failed to train, supervise and implement policies or enforce appropriate policies and procedures to protect Shaw’s rights from excessive and unreasonable use of force. According to the claims, Gilbert officers were dispatched to meet with Karen Shaw, one of Jeffrey’s brothers, Lauren and the four children – Sydney, Jordyn, Levi and Macie. Based on the meeting, the officers “knew that Jeffrey had never been arrested, was non-violent, did not own a gun, and had no weapons in his truck,” the claims add. Gilbert Police tracked Shaw on his cell phone but when officers arrived on the scene, he was no longer there. They then issued an attempt-to-locate notification to other law-enforcement agencies. But in doing so, Gilbert failed “to accurately or fulsomely communicate the information it obtained about Jeffrey” to other police agencies, the claims state. Chandler Police spotted Jeffrey Shaw’s silver Ford F-150 and gave chase but were unsuccessful in stopping the vehicle. According to a city spokesman, Chandler Police stopped its pursuit after the state Department of Public Safety got involved.

At the intersection of Pecos and Ellsworth roads in Mesa, Shaw lost control of his truck at the intersection and crashed, the claims say. “As a result of the crash, Jeffrey was hanging outside of the truck’s driver’s side window” and two DPS troopers “fired multiple rounds at Mr. Shaw, striking him,” according to the claims. “The shooting was unjustified, excessive and objectively unreasonable, particularly because at the time of the shooting,” the claims continue. “Jeffrey was unarmed, had just crashed his truck, and was hanging out of the driver’s side window. He posed no immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury.” Shortly after the shooting, a Mesa K-9 officer deployed his police dog “to attack and apparently apprehend Jeffrey,” the claims add. “The police dog violently bit Jeffrey on the arm, ripping and chewing through Jeffrey’s bicep tendon. “The police dog then also bit into Jeffrey’s stomach before attempting to drag Jeffrey away from the truck.” The claims also alleged DPS “failed to timely call for medical care for Jeffrey, thereby contributing to his injuries.” Shaw died on June 30, three days after his 41st birthday from complications of gunshot wounds, according to a Maricopa County Medical Examiner report. Shaw also was found to have

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

from page 1

other as players attempt to get a ball to the opposite side of a basketball court. Players frantically chase after each other and will regularly slam their wheelchair into an opponent’s in an effort to cut off their path across the goal line. Jackson said it can be a fast, intense sport that combines many elements of basketball and hockey. “It’s like strategic bumper cars,” he said. “You’re going to see athletes doing some things that you probably didn’t think that we could do.” The action on the court can sometimes escalate to a dangerous level and Jackson has occasionally been on the receiving end of that peril. When Jackson was training for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil, he experienced a shoulder injury on the court that quickly dashed his hopes of joining the national team. His determination would not be stifled and he quickly got back to playing again, preparing himself for the 2020 games. In 2016, the U.S. rugby team narrowly lost the gold medal to Australia by only one point. Jackson had hoped he could help the U.S. secure a win in 2020, but the pandemic canceled those hopes. When the pandemic initially shut down public facilities last March, Jackson took some time off from training to reconfigure his plans. There were few places where he could continue training since gyms had been closed, so he was stuck at home

Joe Jackson was paralyzed for life in 2005 when he was injured playing for Hamilton High School's football team. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

trying to find ways to still stay active. An old football buddy from high school invited Jackson to come up to north Phoenix and train at a private gym while most other facilities across Arizona remained closed. He developed a new routine of waking up by 4 a.m., getting out the door by 5 a.m., reaching his friend’s gym by 6 a.m. so he could train for an hour, then rushing to get back home by 8 a.m. Jackson was eventually able to get back into his familiar stomping ground, Ability 360 in central Phoenix, and returned to training on his usual court. The pandemic has introduced some inconvenient circumstances to athletes, Jackson said, but it’s nothing they can’t handle or adapt themselves around. “I was always a positive person before,” he noted. Jackson has managed to preserve his upbeat attitude throughout the many

struggles he’s had to overcome in the past. The trajectory of his life changed dramatically in 2005 after a football injury paralyzed the young athlete and forced him to undergo weeks of intense physical therapy. Jackson had to relearn how to do basic motor functions with limited mobility and adjust to moving around in a wheelchair. He got into the habit of setting small goals for himself and gradually made his body stronger and nimbler. Jackson was able to return to Hamilton High within a few months and managed to graduate with his class in 2007. Despite his ability to quickly carry on with his life after the accident, Jackson said his injury has made him more contemplative, appreciative and aware of his own vulnerabilities. “We’re definitely not invincible,” he said. “You think you are until something crazy happens.”

During his recovery process, Jackson discovered wheelchair rugby after watching “Murderball,” a documentary profiling athletes with dreams of competing in the 2004 Paralympic Games. Jackson said the film inspired him to explore athletics for individuals living with disabilities and began to immerse himself in the world of rugby. The camaraderie he found on the rugby court among his new teammates was reminiscent of how Jackson felt on Hamilton’s football fields – it felt again like he was contributing to singular goal among a group of equals. “It’s bigger than yourself,” Jackson said. “You’re a team. It’s not really about one person.” But the sport is not just about scoring points and medals. Jackson said there’s a therapeutic effect to being around a group of players who have felt the challenges of living with a disability. His rugby team almost serves as a support group, Jackson said, that can offer helpful advice when the athlete is in need of it. In between his rugby training, Jackson has found time to start a local foundation that awards sporting equipment and scuba diving lessons to young people recovering from spinal cord injuries. Jackson said he hopes his journey can inspire anyone struggling through a setback in their lives. Even when it feels like there’s no point in having hope, he said, there’s always a reason to imagine the impossible. “I started from the bottom and finally got right to the top,” Jackson added. “We’ll find out in Tokyo how far we can go.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

from page 1

“For the Chamber, which represents the interests of more than 170,000 people employed by businesses operating in Chandler, instituting an anti-discrimination statute is essential to the continued vitality and competitiveness of our city,” the letter stated. The public pressure on Council for an anti-discrimination ordinance comes as many members have appeared reluctant to do much to combat discrimination. During a special meeting in April, Council discussed the practicality of enforcing an anti-discrimination ordinance. Some members balked at the idea of citations and fines for proven acts of discrimination as well as how complaints would be vetted. The April meeting ended with Council directing city staff to start drafting an anti-discrimination resolution rather than an ordinance. Resolutions are considered watered down versions of ordinances that normally don’t institute any sort of accountability or penalties. Some council members have said they’re wary about making the city responsible for deciding who’s guilty of discriminatory behavior. The ordinances passed in other cities ban residents from discriminating others on the basis of sex, gender, race or ethnicity. State and federal laws already guarantee some protections from discrim-

OD Harris

Matt Orlando

inatory practices, but cities have been passing ordinances that try to fill in the gaps where existing laws fall short. The ordinances passed in nearby municipalities at times generated pushback from residents. Residents in Mesa attempted to reverse the city’s non-discrimination ordinance earlier this year by petitioning for a referendum, but the group failed to get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. A reconstituted council in Scottsdale up-ended previous councils’ refusal to adopt an anti-discrimination ban and there was no citizen efforts to oppose the move. Councilman OD Harris, one of the few Chandler Council members who has publicly supported an ordinance, said he’s grateful to see other Chandler leaders start to signal their support for stronger

measures to prevent discrimination. The letters the Chandler Chamber and local legislators are an important first step to bringing systemic change to Chandler, he said. “This is the type of bold and ethically-sound leadership our country and our city are capable of when we work together to protect our citizens and I cannot praise and thank them enough,” Harris added. On May 24, the council held a closed-door meeting to discuss the legalities of instituting new non-discrimination policies. Councilman Matt Orlando said he believes he and his colleagues will be holding more meetings in the future to discuss how Chandler will address discrimination. Like Harris, Orlando has expressed interest in adopting ordinances simi-

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lar to the those passed by Chandler’s neighbors. “I think it’s important for Chandler to be there with the other cities – from a competitive edge,” Orlando said. “It’s the right thing to do.” Some Chandler residents are hopeful more members will be swayed toward Harris’ and Orlando’s viewpoint. Eduarda Schroder, a community leader and mother of a transgender child, said it’s important for Chandler to pass a policy that can have some “backbone” to it. A resolution probably feels like the safer option, she said, but an ordinance can bring greater peace of mind to some residents. “As a parent of a trans child, I am pretty adamant about having protections codified,” Schroder said. “I want my child to be able to have an opportunity to thrive.” Schroder is a member of Chandler Pride, a new organization that strives to make the local LGBTQ community more visible and engaged. The group has spent the last couple months producing educational videos and hosting open discussions where community members can feel safe to express themselves. Chandler Pride has additionally been trying to reach out to local leaders and educate them on social issues, hoping they see the value of passing a non-discrimination ordinance. “The reason that we’re asking for this is because it is very, very important,” Schroder added. “It’s really about making sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

City mulls Uber-like service for Price Corridor BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Transportation planners are recommending Chandler consider creating a ride-share service for residents living around Price Road. Valley Metro and the city have spent the last few months studying transit options for the southern section of Price Road – an area known for its high employment density – and coming up with innovative ideas for daily commuters. One recommendation they have made involves creating a small fleet of taxi-like vehicles that would exclusively serve the region surrounding Price Road between Chandler Boulevard and Chandler Heights Road. The service would operate similarly to those offered by ride-share companies like Uber or Lyft. Residents and workers located around Price Road could request a ride through a digital application and be transported anywhere within the 18-square-mile service territory. Riders could potentially request trips to high-traffic destinations like Chandler Fashion Center, the Intel campus, Snedigar Sports Complex or downtown. Transportation planners believe a fleet of five cars servicing the Price Corridor could offer rides at a cheaper rate than what private, ride-share companies currently charge.

The service would potentially be comparable to a pilot program Glendale launched last year that offers on-demand rides in a specific region of that city. Ryan Peters, Chandler’s government relations director, said the city regularly receives inquiries from residents living around Price Road who are interested in having more public transit options. Although Valley Metro currently has one bus route through the Price Corridor, the city thinks an on-demand transportation service would offer more convenience for residents needing to get to specific destinations. “We thought this was a more efficient, technology-friendly way to provide that service,” Peters said. Chandler already has up to 3,100 bus boardings across the city each weekday and the city expects more people will want to rely more on public transit in the coming years. A recent survey by the city indicated that more than 44 percent of Chandler residents want the city to prioritize investing funds in public transit and at least 18 percent expect to depend on transit as their primary mode of transportation in the near future. Chandler, like most other cities in the Valley, has spent the last couple years examining how it could provide See

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Transportation planners think Chandler would do well to offer a ride-share service to workers and residents in the shaded area around the Price Corridor. (City of Chandler)

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Chandler slates November bond election

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler voters will be asked in November to approve $272 million in new bond authorization for a package of new public projects across the city. City Council unanimously voted last month to hold a special election on Nov. 2 as it addresses Chandler’s infrastructure needs. The requested bond money would be broken into five spending categories: $73 million for parks, $55 million for police, $25 million for fire safety, $86 million for streets and $33 million for public facilities. Some of the most expensive items in the bond package could include a $38-million forensic lab for the Chandler Police Department, $11 million for reconstructing the Ray and Dobson roads intersection, a $40-million renovation of Mesquite Groves Park and $15 million for rebuilding two fire stations. The city spent the last year evaluating Chandler’s needs and determining which projects would require bond financing and which ones could be funded through grants or existing funds. A citizen-led committee reviewed more than 80 infrastructure projects,

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valued at $851 million, and gradually whittled down the list to about 50 items. Other projects recommended by the committee include a $16-million renovation of Folley Park, a $12-million revamp of A.J. Chandler Park, $4.5 million for new fire emergency vehicles,

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and $2 million for improving Price Road. According to the city’s calculations, a bond package valued at $272 million would not result in an increase in either primary or secondary property taxes. The city could have sought a bond valued up to $426 million without raising taxes, but unused bond financing in

the city’s reserves enabled officials to seek a vote on a smaller bond package. Chandler relies on bond funding to finance up to 52 percent of its capital expenses across the city and has been used to bankroll some of the city’s biggest expenditures over the years. City officials said bond elections are necessary for Chandler to borrow enough funds to manage the upkeep of public buildings and streets. “Without them, our ability to add new capital or maintain existing capital would be extremely limited,” said Dawn Lang, the city’s management services director. The most prominent project to be financed by the proposed bond is a standalone crime lab that would allow Chandler Police to conduct more of its forensic testing locally. The department currently depends on the Arizona Department of Public Safety to analyze evidence from complex cases, which Chief Sean Duggan said can result in Chandler having to wait longer to get back test results for murder and other serious crime investigations. “We are 100 percent relying on their timeline and where we are in the cue because (DPS) also provides that service

to a number of agencies around the state,” said Duggan earlier this year. November’s special election will be the first in 14 years since Chandler has asked voters to approve a bond authorization. It would be an all-mail ballot. In 2007, the voters approved a $451-million package for projects that improved parks, libraries, public safety facilities, and wastewater systems. The 2007 bond passed just as the city was beginning to feel the economic repercussions of the Great Recession. The pandemic thwarted many of the economic forecasts Chandler had been projecting up until 2020 and forced city officials to reevaluate the stability of its revenue base. Even though the pandemic’s impact has not been as disastrous as originally anticipated, the city is still taking a cautious approach to its budgeting and spending. Despite the lingering financial uncertainty, Chandler’s leaders seem confident that local residents will support the forthcoming bond package. “I’m confident that we can bring this to the voters and with our community, come out on the other side successfully,” said Mayor Kevin Hartke.

Contact Paul C Contact Paul P l Maryniak Maryniak M y i k at at 480-898-5647 or pmaryniak@timespublications.com p pmaryniak@timespublications.com pmaryniak@timespublications y i k@ i p bli i com 480 898 5647 or

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Major national sports store fills Fashion Center hole BY GARY NELSON Contributor

One of the two vacant big-box stores at Chandler Fashion Center is getting a new tenant in 2023. Scheel’s, a sporting-goods chain based in Fargo, N.D., plans to open a 220,000-square-foot store in the space formerly occupied by a Nordstrom department store. Nordstrom’s, on the north end of the mall, closed in 2020, blaming the COVID pandemic for a lack of customers. It was the second anchor store to leave the 20-year-old mall; the first was Sears, an iconic retailer still dealing with fallout from its 2018 bankruptcy. In Nordstrom’s place, Scheel’s will encompass 75 separate shops with merchandise for virtually every kind of team and individual sport. A typical Scheel’s store is something of a tourist attraction and the one in Chandler will come with a 16,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, a “wildlife mountain,” arcade games and a restaurant. Scheel’s operates 29 stores, with another opening this fall in Montana. The Chandler outlet is its first in Arizona. “Scheel’s’ entrance into the Chandler market speaks volumes about the dynamic retail environment and vibrant quality of life in Chandler,” Mayor Kevin Hartke said in a press release. “Chandler Fashion Center continues … to cement

Nordstrom's departure from Chandler Fashion Center left a noticeable gap in the mall's anchor establishments, but a major sports brand will soon be filling it. (Gary Nelson/Contributor)

itself as a premier shopping, culinary and entertainment destination.” Scheel’s CEO Steve M. Scheel said the company studied the Phoenix market for several years before deciding to locate here. Its closest Valley competitor in terms of scale and style is likely to be Bass Pro Shops in Mesa’s Riverview shopping

area. Bass, however, focuses on outdoor sports such as fishing, hunting and boating. The arrival of Bass in Mesa about 15 years ago was accompanied by major controversy. To lure Bass and other retailers, Mesa agreed to forego about $80 million in city taxes and fees, in hopes that overall

revenue from Riverview would eventually bolster the city’s economy. Opponents of the deal forced a referendum; Mesa voters approved the incentive package in May 2005 by a 5644 percent margin. In contrast, Chandler spokeswoman Stephanie Romero said, the city offered no tax breaks to Scheel’s. Edyie McCall, Chandler’s economic development manager, said the arrival of Scheel’s speaks to the overall strength of the city’s economy. “Chandler has pro-actively attracted high wage jobs, which allows for disposable income to be spent in our retail venues, making Chandler an attractive location for Scheel's,” McCall said. “Scheel's is a premier destination retailer, which will draw visitors to Chandler Fashion Center, strengthening the mall and surrounding retail environment.” Chandler Fashion Center is owned by Macerich Co., whose president, Ed Coppola, said the store “will be a great amenity for this family-friendly market.” Scheel’s expects to employ about 400 people in Chandler. The first Scheel’s store opened in 1902 in Sabin, Minn., financed by $300 that German immigrant Frederick A. Scheel had earned from harvesting three acres of potatoes. Eventually, sporting goods replaced hardware as the company’s primary line of business.

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Chandler ponders move to cryptocurrency BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

The City of Chandler is researching how feasible it may be for residents to use cryptocurrency to pay their utility bills or traffic tickets. As digital currencies become increasingly prevalent in the modern economy, Chandler is attempting to get ahead of the trend by figuring out whether Bitcoin or Dogecoin could be used some day to pay for public services. Earlier this month, City Council authorized spending $5,000 for Chandler’s finance department to research the possibility of adding cryptocurrency to the city’s payment methods. Vice Mayor Mark Stewart spearheaded the research project after he got some inquiries from residents interested in paying their bills with cryptocurrency. “We just want to look for options for the city,” Stewart said. “I think it could be valuable in the future.” Chandler will spend the next couple months researching how other cities are handling cryptocurrency, Stewart added, and determining whether it’s a viable venture for the city. As a city that markets itself as a “community of innovation,” Stewart said it’s time for Chandler to find out how it might enter the crypto marketplace. If Chandler’s research project were to result in the acceptance of crypto

payments, it would not be the first municipality to adopt the digital currency. A city in North Dakota announced last month it would start accepting cryptocurrency as payment for utility bills. Employees working for the city of Miami have recently been given the option of getting paid in Bitcoin. Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill earlier this month that allows the Legislature to establish a special committee to research whether new laws are needed to regulate or support the exchange of cryptocurrency in the state. Cryptocurrency is often defined as some sort of exchange that is digital, encrypted and decentralized. Unlike banking systems, the value of digital currencies is not maintained nor managed by a single institution.

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The concept can be difficult to understand, but each system of cryptocurrency contains a balance of ledgers that are tracked by a community of parties known as “miners,” who digitally timestamp transactions added to the ledger’s blockchain. Despite frequent endorsements from prominent billionaires like Elon Musk, cryptocurrencies have often attracted criticisms for their unstable currencies and fluctuating values. In late April, the price of Dogecoin rose and fell multiple times over the course of a couple weeks, stirring investors into a frenzy over the value of their investment. Cryptocurrency has additionally drawn negative attention for its harmful environmental impact due to the significant amount of electricity needed to mine crypto coins. The system’s many flaws have resulted in several countries deciding to legally prohibit or discourage the exchange of digital currencies by its citizens. American regulators appear to be no-

ticing the increasing popularity of cryptocurrency and are trying to figure out how the emerging technology can operate alongside a traditional banking system. Later this summer, the Federal Reserve plans to publish a discussion paper that will explore the implications of digital payments, with a particular focus on the possibility of establishing a U.S. central bank digital currency, or CBDC, that could exchange crypto-like currencies. On May 20, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said his agency will be studying how a CBDC could be utilized to improve and stabilize the country’s existing financial system. “We think it is important that any potential CBDC could serve as a complement to, and not a replacement of, cash and current private-sector digital forms of the dollar, such as deposits at commercial banks,” Powell said. Though Powell still finds decentralized cryptocurrencies to be unstable and inconvenient, the chairman believes emerging technological advancements may soon open up new possibilities for how central banks do business. “Irrespective of the conclusion we ultimately reach, we expect to play a leading role in developing international standards for CBDCs,” Powell added, “engaging actively with central banks in other jurisdictions as well as regulators and supervisors here in the United States throughout that process.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Ducey gets tough with lawmakers on budget BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Senate President Karen Fann said the decision by Gov. Doug Ducey to veto bills because he hasn’t seen a budget will only make it harder to reach that goal. Fann told Capitol Media Services it’s bad enough that the governor seems to be ignoring the fact that Republicans do not have a lot of wiggle room to line up the votes. That’s because it will take all 16 Senate Republicans and 31 in the House to approve any spending and tax-cut package. And that, in turn, empowers each GOP legislator to hold out for his or her priorities. But what’s worse, she said, is that many of the 22 bills he vetoed on Friday were crafted and sponsored by lawmakers who were the most supportive of the $12.8 billion spending plan and $1.9 billion in tax cuts. And all Ducey and his aides managed to do is annoy their friends. "I don’t know what they were thinking," she said. Fann isn’t alone in her thinking. "I don’t think the governor’s move helped us especially" said House Speaker Rusty Bowers. But Bowers told Capitol Media Services he remains confident that a deal can be cobbled together that will get the necessary votes even if they’re not

Gov Doug Ducey last week was one of about a dozen Republican governors who appeared on commentator Sean Hannity's show during a GOP governors convention. (Special to STSN)

happy with everything in the package. "We ask people to hold their nose," Bowers continued. "There are things that everybody doesn’t like." Bowers had an interesting take on how Ducey’s veto of the 22 bills – all but three sponsored by Republicans – actually could help bring about some consensus at least within the GOP caucus, if not with Ducey. "It kind of unifies people in one way,"’ he said. "It makes them uniformly mad." Upset with what he sees as lack of progress, Gov. Doug Ducey vowed Friday to veto any other legislation that reaches his desk until he gets a budget. “This weekend marks one month

until the end of the fiscal year and Arizonans are counting on us to work together and pass a budget that provides certainty to taxpayers and citizens," the governor said in a prepared statement. The list of now-dead items ranges from the use of public dollars for “critical race theory’’ and changes in election laws to registration of sex offenders and ensuring that women at state prisons get free access to feminine hygiene products. Less clear is what has to be in the spending and tax-cut plan to get Ducey to relent. Press aide C.J. Karamargin told Capitol Media Services that the governor’s threat is not tied to adoption of his

specific $12.8 billion spending plan and $1.9 billion in permanent tax cuts. But Ducey suggested that’s pretty much what he wants. "On the table is a budget agreement that makes responsible and significant investments in K-12 education, higher education, infrastructure and local communities, all while delivering historic tax relief to working families and small businesses," he wrote. He told Fann and Bowers in a letter he looks forward to partnering with them “to focus on what matters and pass a budget.’’ Legislative leaders were working earlier last week to line up the votes among Republican lawmakers. But when a consensus could not be reached, they decided to send everyone home until June 10. That allowed lawmakers, who had presumed the session would be over in late April as scheduled, to pursue their travel and vacation plans. Those decisions did not sit well with Ducey. “The governor believes the Arizona Legislature should do its job," Karamargin said. “There is no more important job at this time and the budget,’’ he continued. “And the next fiscal year is a month away. The governor, in a separate Twitter See

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VETO

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post, said his vetoes should not be seen as commenting on the merits of any bill. “Some are good policy, but with one month left until the end of the fiscal year, we need to focus on passing a budget,’’ he wrote. “That should be Priority One. The other stuff can wait.’’ Nothing keeps lawmakers from sending the same proposals back to Ducey later this year – assuming they do it after there is a budget and he dissolves his veto threat.

But there is no procedure in the Arizona Constitution to “un-veto’’ a bill. That means having to start over again from scratch, either with entirely new bills and public hearings or find ways to insert their provisions into the budget package. Ducey’s move, while unusual, is not without precedent. In 2013, Republican Jan Brewer announced she would not sign any measures until there was resolution of a new state budget. And in that case, the then-governor also wanted the Republican-controlled legislature to include

her plan to expand Medicaid. Lawmakers were not happy then, with Andy Biggs, then the Senate president, calling it “extortion or blackmail.’’ But Brewer eventually got what she wanted. And Ducey himself took a page from Brewer’s playbook in 2018 when he vetoed 10 bills on his desk because lawmakers had yet to give him a budget with his proposed 20 percent raise for teachers. He relented after he got what he wanted. One particular sticking point this time is that $1.9 billion reduction in revenue would occur if Arizona enacts

a flat income tax structure and alters other income tax laws to shield wealthier residents from a voter-approved income tax surcharge to help fund K-12 education. Several legislators, citing the cyclical nature of the Arizona economy, question the wisdom of a permanent tax cut. That’s because while it takes only a simple majority to reduce tax rates, it would take a two-thirds vote to raise them if the need arose. The situation is complicated by the fact that Arizona cities get 15 percent of what the state collects in income taxes.

Gone with the wind in state budget tussle BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Here are the bills that Gov. Doug Ducey vetoed because he does not yet have a budget. • SB 1022 - Renames references in law from "product of human conception" to "unborn child." • SB 1030 - Makes various changes to the practices and procedures of the Psychiatric Security Review Board which has jurisdiction of people found "guilty except insane." • SB 1074 - Bans requiring public employees to participate in "critical race theory" training. • SB 1119 - Requires the attorney general to review the constitutionality of any executive orders by the president of

the United States. • SB 1121 - Imposes new requirements for security, packaging and labeling of marijuana. • SB 1127 - Allows motorists to travel faster on some state highways without criminal charges. • SB 1135 - Increases the deduction available on individual income taxes for putting money into 529 college savings programs. • SB 1176 - Creates "produce incentive program" to encourage purchase of Arizona-grown crops by people using food stamps. • SB 1215 - Exempts some liquor sales from certain labeling requirements. • SB 1408 - Mandates research on correlation between marijuana use and mental illness. • SB 1514 - Requires emergency shelter

beds in western Maricopa County for homeless seniors who are at least 55. • SB 1526 - Allows a prisoner to receive a certificate after successfully completing a training program to work in a field or trade and ensures female prisoners get feminine hygiene products without being charged. • SB 1635 - Makes numerous technical corrections to laws already enacted. • SB 1716 - Establishes the Joint Legislative Psychiatric Hospital Review Council and requires a surveillance system at the Arizona State Hospital. • HB 2001 - Creates a retroactive income tax credit for part of the value of land donated for a site for a traditional public or charter school. • HB 2070 - Provides for the release of original birth certificates that were

sealed due to an adoption. • HB 2296 - Suspends rather than revokes driving privileges after a second conviction of reckless driving, aggressive driving or racing. • HB 2303 - Mandates proficiency testing of independent laboratories that test marijuana. • HB 2414 - Authorizes the health department to inspect any medical marijuana dispensary during normal business hours. • HB 2554 - Requires that those chosen by parties to represent them at polling places be registered to vote in Arizona. • HB 2674 - Permits some people who were convicted of sex offenses to eliminate the need for them to register. • HB 2792 - Prohibits delivery of early ballots to anyone who has not specifically requested one.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Key regional water resource back on line Southeast Valley cities are expected to receive their share of Colorado River water for at least the next several years. But as Western states’ populations continue to boom amid a megadrought that shows no signs of easing, that could change. Under agreements reached with the six other states that draw water from the Colorado, Arizona is first in line to suffer cutbacks as needed. In such a case, the water now being saved at GRUSP and SRP’s other underground storage facilities could prove vital to the Southeast Valley.

BY GARY NELSON Contributor

One of the Southeast Valley’s priceless water-storage facilities is up and running again after more than a year. Reactivation of the Granite Reef Underground Storage Project (GRUSP) comes just as Arizona braces for cutbacks in its supply of Colorado River water – the first time in history that such restrictions will have been imposed. GRUSP is owned by Salt River Project, which has supplied water and electricity to the region for more than a century, and by several cities – Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe among them. The facility sits in the Salt River bed about four miles downstream from the Granite Reef Diversion dam. It is designed to channel water – mostly from the Colorado River via the Central Arizona Project – to large surface ponds. From there, the water trickles through porous materials to an aquifer for storage. The ponds went dry more than a year ago. Ironically, it was water that caused the problem when storms washed out the GRUSP delivery channel. With repairs complete, water began flowing to them again this month. GRUSP is one of the biggest water-recharging projects of its kind in the country. Completed in 1994, it has stored more than 1 million acre-feet of water from the CAP and SRP systems. That, according to an SRP press release, is 17 times the water that typically is stored in Saguaro Lake. The project was designed for just such an eventuality as now appears imminent in the Colorado River basin – a prolonged drought leading to reduced

SRP's Granite Reef Underground Storage Project helps ensure Chandler's share of Colorado River water will continue at least for the next few years. (SRP)

water allocations. The situation has been building for years. Although there have been occasional wet winters, climatologists say the West has been in a drought since around 2000. If anything, the situation has worsened over the past year. The hottest summer in Arizona history was followed by an anemic winter that brought little rain or snow. Almost all of Arizona, as well as portions of neighboring states, is currently listed as experiencing extreme or “exceptional” drought. As of late May, the Salt and Verde river reservoirs operated by SRP were 72 percent full, compared with 97 percent at the same time a year ago. Even so, that number represents more than 1.6 million acre-feet of water, which means the Valley is in no danger of going dry anytime soon. The bigger picture, encompassing

the vast Colorado River system, is far grimmer. Lake Mead, the biggest reservoir on the Colorado, has been receding for 20plus years. In in late May it contained only 37 percent of the water it was designed for. Mead is nearing the level at which Arizona would be forced to accept less Colorado River water than in the past. If the cuts come in 2022 as expected, the first to be affected would be agricultural customers, many of them in Pinal County. The anticipated cuts would see farmers lose half their CAP water in 2022, and all of it in 2023 and thereafter, if the Colorado River does not recover. Arizona water officials plan to deal with that by pumping groundwater. But because needed infrastructure is not in place, there’s a good chance that 20 to 30 percent of Pinal County farmland will go dry, according to some estimates.

GRUSP facts Construction: Original four basins completed in 1994; additional basins completed in 1999, 2000 and 2005. Partners: Operated by SRP; owned by Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, SRP, Chandler, Gilbert, Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe. Water sources: Water from the Salt and Verde rivers, Central Arizona Project water via the South Canal, and reclaimed water via pipeline from Mesa water reclamation facility. Number of basins: Seven Surface area (approximate): 197 acres Storage capacity: 93,000 acre-feet per year permitted Location: On Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land, in the Salt River bed just west of SRP’s Granite Reef Diversion Dam Distinction: First major recharge facility in the state. -Source: SRP

Drought in Arizona worst in 126 years BY ALYSSA MARKSZ Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Arizona and other Western states just lived through the driest year in more than a century, with no drought relief in sight in the near future, experts told a House panel last week. The period from April 2020 to March 2021 was the driest in the last 126 years for Arizona and other Western states, witnesses said. It capped a two-decade stretch that was the driest in more than 100 years that records have been kept – and one of the driest in the past 1,200 years based on paleohydrology evidence, one official said. “We have never seen drought at the scale and intensity that we see right now, and it is possible that this may be the baseline for the future,” said Elizabeth Klein, a senior counselor to the secretary of Interior. More than half of Arizona is currently experiencing “exceptional” drought conditions, the most severe level of drought, according to the National In-

More than half of Arizona shown in dark red was in the “exceptional” drought category, the most severe, on May 20, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. (Map courtesy U.S. Drought Monitor)

tegrated Drought Information System. The Arizona Department of Water Resources said most of the state got less than 25 percent of average precipitation for April.

The water shortage can affect everything from the amount of power generated by hydroelectric dams on the Colorado River to the risk of wildfire. Tiffany Davila, spokeswoman for

the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, said this year’s drought is much more severe than what Arizona saw at this time last year. “Vegetation is stricken across the state; there isn’t one area that isn’t impacted by the drought,” Davila said. “It’s pretty much kindling at this point.” Low water levels are also likely to trigger reductions in water agreements with agencies like the Central Arizona Project and the Salt River Project. But SRP officials said they have long been taking steps to mitigate the immediate impact of those reductions. “It’s important to understand this is not a crisis but a drought that is expected when you live in the desert,” said SRP spokesperson Patty Garcia-Likens. “Salt River Project, Arizona cities and Central Arizona Project have planned for times like this.” Charlie Ester, SRP’s manager of watershed management, said that from the agency’s perspective, Arizona has been in drought conditions since 1995. “One of the things that we do at SRP See

DROUGHT on page 17

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

DROUGHT

from page 16

is we always plan for drought conditions,” Ester said, adding that areas of the state not served by SRP or CAP could be hit hardest. “They don’t have an abundant surface water supply that they can rely on, many areas are dependent upon groundwater,” he said. “As the water levels decline, it becomes harder and harder to pump their water supplies, and sometimes wells will even dry up.” Ester said there is no obvious precipitation trend in Arizona, but higher temperatures contribute to more severe drought conditions due to increased levels of evaporation. While he believes that droughts are

PRICE

from page 9

more “microtransit” – a term applied to new transportation modes that range in between personal vehicles and city buses. One form of microtransit could be a small shuttle bus that transports a group of riders to specific locations within a predetermined service territory. An analysis by the city indicates Chandler could see ridership increase by 14 percent if it incorporated more microtransit and ride-share services in the future. Chandler has already begun to take steps to shift toward microtransit after

“I think even if humans were not here, the Southwest would be in a drought right now, but I think it has become worse because of anthropogenic causes,” Ester said. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., and chairman of the Subcommittee for Wa-

response needs, and to help connect those in need with available resources to get them through a crippling drought.” Possible solutions cited at the hearing included tools to monitor and predict droughts while collecting data on water resources, programs to increase

funding for infrastructure improvements and programs to recycle water and restore aquatic ecosystems. In Arizona, preparations for drought include reducing water waste by maintaining systems to run at peak efficiency, and introducing a two-way connection between SRP and CAP that Ester says will allow the two agencies to “share water supplies with each other.” The state has also been “banking” water in its groundwater reserve. “SRP has … put nearly 3 million acrefeet of water into the groundwater reserve to use during severe drought conditions,” Ester said. “It’s roughly four years worth of water that we have banked for future use. Conditions have not gotten bad enough yet to use that water.”

the city partnered with Lyft last year to offer cheaper rides for residents living in south Chandler. The Lyft partnership has resulted in more than 1,600 trips, generating a cost for the city that exceeds $7,700. The proposed ride-share service around Price Road could essentially operate similarly to the Lyft program, but without as much dependence on a private contractor. Jason Crampton, the city’s transportation planner, said Chandler could still call upon Lyft or Uber to offer rides during peak hours in the Price Road service territory. Rather than dispatch more city

vehicles to circulate around Price Road, he said, the city might be able to have a private provider supplement some of the demand during certain times of the day. The geographical layout surrounding Price Road makes providing public transit services a challenge, yet the city still sees a need for people to get around that region. A Valley Metro survey shows that 64 percent of the people working in this region live outside the Price Corridor. About 30 percent live inside the area and must commute to work someplace else. The city estimates an on-demand taxi service around Price Road would annually cost Chandler about $650,000

to operate. The city could simultaneously save about $200,000 by cutting down bus routes. In the last fiscal year, Chandler spent about $1.8 million on transit services – a significantly smaller amount than what other cities spend on transportation. Scottsdale has spent more than $4 million of its general fund dollars on transit, Glendale has spent nearly $8 million, and Mesa spent more than $12 million on transit in the 2018-19 fiscal year. Valley Metro is still accepting public feedback for the microtransit options being recommended along Price Road and comments can be submitted by visiting the agency’s website.

a natural occurrence, he also said that factors such as greenhouse gases have significantly aggravated the situation.

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Perry grad’s video wins $5K for his school BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE Staff Writer

A Gilbert teen who just graduated from Perry High School earned his alma mater $5,000 with his video contest entry. Britton Platt won the grand prize in cybersecurity leader Trend Micro’s Internet Safety for Kids and Families program. It had sponsored a contest titled “What’s Your Story?” and posed the question “How did the internet help you get through this past year?” Britton’s entry, which he titled “Locked In,” explores the daily life of a man in quarantine at his wits’ end online shopping for essential items, including toilet paper. “Britton’s video was a parody of life as we knew it over the past year which the judges’ panel truly appreciated,” said Lynette Owens, founder and global director of Trend Micro’s safety program. “He introduced us to a character that we can all see reflected in ourselves in some way, as we all needed the internet to stay home, stay safe, and get

Britton Platt

through such a difficult time.” Now in its 11th year, the “What’s Your Story?” video contest encourages students and schools across Canada and the U.S. to submit videos that are a minimum of 30 seconds and a maximum of two minutes long that answer questions that explore issues related to safe, responsible and successful technology use, according to its website. Students aged 13 and up can either compete in the individual student category or school category. Britton did the latter. Along a video, participants had to demonstrate that they could be an advocate for their own message, according to the “What’s Your Story?” website. Contestants were asked to encourage their friends, family and community to view and rate their entries as evidence of this advocacy. Views and hearts from each of their fans were used to determine the finalists. Britton said he noticed not only how hard this last year was for most people, but also how divided they were over COVID-19 mandates. He wanted his

video to unite people. “Everyone found the toilet paper shortage funny, so I thought that it would be something funny to turn into a video so that people would have something to laugh about and enjoy no matter what side they’re on,” said the 17-year-old. Britton learned about Trend Micro’s video competition through a film class, but said this wasn’t the first film he’s ever made. He has been making small videos since he was 8. “Means to make videos have changed over time,” he said. “I used to have to film on little point-and-shoot cameras but now I can use my phone.” While Britton is not going to school for film, he says that he does want to pursue film as a career. He plans to go into business and law at Chandler Gilbert Community College and later major in entertainment law at an affordable university. To watch “Locked In” or see a complete list of the 2021 winners and finalists, past winners, or learn more about the contest, go to whatsyourstory.trendmicro.com.

30 new Chandler grads named Merit Scholars SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The National Merit Scholarship Foundation last week announced that 30 newly graduated high school seniors in Chandler were among the 3,100 winners of scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities. An additional group of scholars will be announced in July, bringing the total number of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship recipients in the 2021 competition to about 4,000. Winners, the school they graduated from, and where and what they intend to study are: • Jayashree Adivarahan, Hamilton High, electrical engineering at Arizona State University;

• Sabah Ashfeen, Hamilton, computer science at ASU; • Shibi R. Ayyanar, BASIS Chandler, computer science at ASU; • Ella O. Barnum, Perry High, neurosurgery at Texas A&M University; • Michael S. Chen, Hamilton, engineering at Vanderbilt University; • Rachel L. Cox, Hamilton, law at ASU; • Dylan E. Crespo, Hamilton, aerospace engineering at ASU; • Nikhil R. Dave, Arizona College Preparatory- Erie, computer engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; • Owin A. Dieterle, BASIS Chandler, information technology, at ASU; • Sara El Imrani, BASIS Chandler, pre-med at ASU: • Rylee R. Engelken, Perry High, pre-med at ASU;

• Katarina V. Fenner, Chandler High, education at ASU; • Amanda J. Gong, Hamilton, biology at ASU; • Rishabh V. Guttal, Hamilton, biology at ASU; • Kylie I. Hartana, BASIS Chandler, premed at ASU; • Suhan Kacholia, BASIS Chandler, economics at Georgia University; • Shankar M. Kailas, BASIS Chandler, computer science at ASU; • Davis Lu, McClintock High, chemical engineering at Texas &AM; • Adrian J. Palumbo, BASIS Chandler, academia at Case Western Reserve University; • Shravan Pejavar, Hamilton, economics at Southern California University;

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• Aishwarya S. Potturu, Hamilton, pediatrics at ASU; • Niharika Sharma, Hamilton, healthcare at ASU; • Jasmeen K. Sidhu, BASIS Chandler, pre-med at ASU; • Nicole K. Smith, Perry, environmental science at Michigan State University; • Jake S. Summers, Basha High, astrophysics at ASU; • Kaitlyn S. Tam, Hamilton, biology at ASU; • Eric P. Tran, Chandler Preparatory Academy, biomedicine at ASU; • Amy Wang, Hamilton, finance at ASU; • Angela J. Wang, Hamilton, marketing at ASU; • Ethan A. Xiong, Hamilton, biology at University of Texas at Dallas.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Weed ad control bill goes up in smoke BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

State lawmakers last month refused to place restrictions on advertising marijuana that don’t exist for liquor and, to a great extent, for tobacco products. HB 2809 sought an absolute ban on billboards advertising the product, now legal for adult use since approval of Proposition 207, within 1,000 feet if in the line of sight of any child care center, church, public park or public or private school. And any billboard already up would have to come down within 30 days of the law taking effect. But what upset several Democratic lawmakers was a proposed outright ban on marijuana retailers sponsoring any athletic, musical, artistic or “other social or cultural event.’’ Also forbidden would have been underwriting or sponsoring any entry fee or team in any event. Put simply, it was designed to hide the visibility of one legal drug while allowing wholesale promotion of another, notably alcohol. It did not escape foes that this came as people can attend rock concerts sponsored by Miller Light and Busch as the official beer of NASCAR. The legislation cleared the House in February with only two dissenting votes. And on Monday, Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, said she agrees.

“The school teacher in me absolutely has to vote ‘yes,’’’ she told colleagues. “We need to protect our kids.’’ Sen. Lisa Otondo, D-Yuma, said the teacher in her agrees, but added, “However, the business woman in me also feels that it’s very unfair of this legislature to pick winner and losers.” Otondo said she has no problem with requirements for signage and labeling, such as warning that the drug should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and making it clear that anyone younger than 21 cannot purchase marijuana. “We all want to protect our children,’’ she said. “But the minute we begin to say an industry cannot do sponsorships then we are picking winners and losers.’’ Rep. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, had her own problems with the verbiage. She said the language against selling marijuana to anyone who is “obviously intoxicated’’ could end up discriminating against those with disabilities. HB 2190 would have made it illegal to actually show a picture of a marijuana leaf or bud. “That’s regulating commercial speech,’’ Engel said. “And I’m not sure I see the rational relationship between the purposes of this bill and that kind of restriction.’’ The measure actually got 18 votes in support. But the Arizona Constitution says

that anything approved by voters, as was recreational use of marijuana last year, can be amended only if it furthers the purpose of the original law – and

only with a three-fourths vote. So it would have needed 23 votes in the 30-member Senate.

Helping the homeless

Linzey Volm helps Arthur Rico fill out paperwork for a COVID-19 vaccine during an outreach for homeless people May 28 at the Salvation Army Chandler Corps Community Center in Chandler. The Salvation Army offered a host of services besides vaccines, including with free showers, laundry services, haircuts and clothing. The vaccines were administered by Commerce Medical. “For a homeless person, a shower, a fresh haircut, and an opportunity to wash clothes can all bring a sense of dignity and a renewed spirit,” said Captain Regeina Williams. “It is in The Salvation Army’s DNA to give our struggling neighbors a hand up.” Information Chandler.SalvationArmy.org. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

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pneumonia related to COVID-19. The over 200-pages of documents released by Mesa Police to the Gilbert Sun News through a public records request paint a different picture of what occurred that night, although investigators’ interviews with the two DPS troopers involved in the shooting were not included. According to police reports, Karen Shaw called Gilbert Police to report her son “was suicidal” and Chris, one of Jeffrey Shaw’s brothers, “indicated Jeffrey was about to do something ‘drastic.’” After Chandler Police failed to stop Shaw, who ran red lights and failed to yield, DPS attempted to stop him at the 202 Freeway, including using a spike strip. A Mesa air unit also participated in the pursuit. DPS continued the pursuit in unmarked vehicles as Shaw transitioned from the 202 to State Route 24, traveling at 100 mph. Several witnesses confirmed that Shaw’s truck was traveling at a high rate of speed in a southbound lane on Ellsworth Road. The vehicle was cutting in and out of traffic before crashing at about 8:51 p.m. on the southwest corner of Pecos and Ellsworth roads, surrounded by farmland. According to police investigators, Shaw was driving 88.9 mph at impact and intentionally went off the road, striking a traffic signal pole while at or

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

near full throttle. There were no DPS vehicles seen behind the truck when it crashed, according to traffic safety cameras. The truck rolled over going through several trees and came to a rest on its wheels, incurring significant damage. According to DPS troopers at the crash scene, Shaw was exiting the driver’s side window and they yelled for him to show them his hands. The shooting was not captured on camera. “The driver yelled back, ‘I’m going to kill you,’” several times, the reports said. “At this time, the driver’s left hand was visible, but his right hand was holding something under his shirt” and “despite repeated commands the driver would not show his right hand and repeatedly yelled he was going to kill them.” A DPS trooper attempted to de-escalate the situation by saying, “we are here for you, “what can we do to help you,” “work with us,” and “how can we help you,” according to the reports. The same trooper, who was about 30 feet from the driver, told investigators that Shaw’s “right hand came out from under his shirt, he was holding a long, black object about 6 to 8 inches long, he was holding the object at the base like someone holds a firearm.” The trooper then said he heard two other troopers fire their weapons at Shaw. He later told Mesa investigators he believed Shaw had a gun under his shirt. Another trooper on the scene gave a

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located on the driver’s side floorboard. Eight days after Shaw died, his funeral service was held at the Greenfield Stake on Lindsay Road, where family members, including his two oldest daughters, shared their memories. Tim Shaw said his brother’s entrepreneurial drive began early in junior high school where he persuaded their mother to buy candy in bulk, which Jeffrey than separated into bags and sold to other students from his school locker. After college, Jeffrey was hired by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and later when he found he had more time on his hands he took on Bahama Buck’s, which specializes in shaved ice and other frozen non-alcoholic beverages. “Jeff was a people person and if you were to ask him what he loved most about Bahama Buck’s it was the relationships he saw employees have together – employees becoming best friends (and) our relationships with the employees,” said Lauren Shaw at the funeral. She also praised him as a “great father.” “Any spare moment was with the kids even when I knew he was exhausted from a long day,” Lauren Shaw said. “It was let’s play a game, let’s go swimming, let’s do this and anything was with the kids.” A college fund for the four children has been set up on GoFundMe with a goal of raising $50,000. To donate, go to gofundme.com and search “jeff shaw family.”

similar account stating Shaw refused to show his right hand and that “the driver’s actions were making him nervous and he feared the driver was going to start shooting at them.” Once shot, Shaw fell out of the driver’s side window and onto the ground, landing on his back. He ended up partially in a nearby ravine, his body positioned so officers couldn’t see his hands. Investigators found a total of 15 fired cartridge cases at the scene. Shaw’s gunshot injuries included a wound to the right upper back, the left bicep and the right upper leg. Shaw was given multiple commands that he didn’t respond to, prompting an arriving Mesa K-9 officer to use his police dog “Ringo” to effect an arrest. A trooper tended to Shaw’s wounds until a fire crew arrived, which then transported Shaw to Chandler Regional Medical Center. Two Mesa police officers arrived at the hospital with a search warrant for a blood draw from Shaw for a DUI investigation. But because Shaw was in surgery and was given over 38 pints of blood, there was no blood valid for testing, according to the officers. The object Shaw was seen holding when shot was the handle of a fishing rod with an attached reel. A search warrant of the F-150 found a knife with a red substance on the blade located in the front passenger’s side door storage compartment and a kitchen knife with a red substance on it

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GRADUATION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

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GRADUATION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Ottawa gave him a passion for learning “The strangest thing happened, I enrolled yet again!” Daniels said. “This time, I am pursuing a second master’s in human resources. I’m currently in my last two classes which I will complete at the end of April 2021 at the age of 46.

BY SCOTT ALBRIGHT Ottawa University

Floyd Daniels lost his job unexpectedly in 2013, when his employer closed its Phoenix office. He was 39, had worked his way up to management level with only a high-school education and was now at a crossroads. He realized that education needed to be his priority, so he decided to pursue an associate’s degree in business administration and enrolled in Everest College. Nearly two years later, with only two courses left to complete his degree, Everest filed for bankruptcy in 2015 and closed all its campuses nationwide. “Needless to say, I was devastated and discouraged – I just felt hopeless,” Daniels said “This is when I was introduced to Ottawa University’s Arizona campuses. I remember meeting with an Ottawa admissions representative, who encouraged me by saying: ‘It’s not over. Let me help you complete your degree.’ “I was defeated at the time, thinking maybe I wasn’t meant for school, so that’s exactly what I needed to hear.” Daniels took the information shared with him about Ottawa’s flexible, online adult education offerings, which included an opportunity to finish his two outstanding associate’s degree courses and a transfer opportunity to get his bachelor’s degree from Ottawa. Though he thought of taking a break, he received a call from the admissions department at Ottawa University-Arizona asking if he was ready to finish his education. “Even though I wasn’t yet convinced about my plan of action, something

I won’t say this “ time that I’m done

because, obviously, I have developed a passion for continuing my education. Ottawa instilled that passion in me, and really changed my life.

”

– Floyd Daniels

Ottawa University has instilled Floyd Albright with a passion for education. (Courtesy Ottawa University)

this was not about the money. It was something I needed to do for myself. Not having a degree and working around many that did make me feel inadequate. This frame of mind really motivated me to push forward.” In 2017, Daniels experienced what he says was “one of the proudest moments of my life:” He walked the commencement stage after completing his bachelor’s degree. “I can remember saying, ‘God, please let me get through this,’ and with his grace I did,” Daniels said. There was something inspiring about the accomplishment and his experience at Ottawa: he wanted more. “I never would have thought I’d consider pursuing another degree after what it took to get my bachelor’s,” Daniels said. “But that’s exactly what I did. In 2018, at the age of 44, I decided to take the leap once more and get my master’s in leadership from Ottawa.” Daniels completed his masters in 2019. He could have just move on to the next chapter in his life. Ottawa University’s Surprise campus has grown to more than 800 students since it opened in August But he wasn’t quite fin2017. (Special to STSN) ished yet. made me say, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ By the summer of 2015, I was enrolled and taking my first class at OUAZ’s Phoenix campus.” Now 41, Daniels was on his way to earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was also working again full-time, putting in a minimum 55 hours per week. “There were many times I wanted to quit,” Daniels said. “I figured I made good money, so why did I need to continue? I came to the realization that

“I won’t say this time that I’m done because, obviously, I have developed a passion for continuing my education. Ottawa instilled that passion in me, and really changed my life.” Daniels is the first and only member of his immediate family of eight to have completed any type of degree. He said he will be forever grateful that “Ottawa took a chance on me and allowed me to live up to my potential.” “It has truly been an honor, and I sing Ottawa’s praises every opportunity I get,” Daniels said. Founded in 1865, Ottawa University has grown from a single building in Ottawa, Kansas, into a comprehensive educational institution serving more than 5,000 students through its residential and adult campuses in Kansas and Arizona, an adult campus in Wisconsin and online. Ottawa-University-Arizona (OUAZ) in Surprise opened in August 2017 and has grown to more than 800 students. With its adult campus in Phoenix, Ottawa University has had a footprint in Metro Phoenix since 1977 with more than 8,000 alumni. Nationwide, the university has more than 22,000 graduates. To learn more about Ottawa University’s Arizona campuses in Phoenix and Surprise, visit ottawa.edu/ouaz or contact an enrollment advisor at 855546-1342 or ouazadmiss@ottawa.edu to set-up an advisory session.

GRADUATION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Casteel CLASS OF 2021 HIGH SCHOOL

CASTEEL HIGH SUMMA CUM LAUDE GRADS

Alyssa Le

Alyssa Muccillo

Breelyn Cocke

Bryce Askew

Carson McDaniels

Jennifer Joy

Lilia Bowers

Lily Steenhard

Mason Salonic

Myka Williams

Natalie Nguyen

Rylee Dockery

Sasha Kroman

Shrey Dolwani

a h s a B CLASS OF 2021 HIGH SCHOOL

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Brielle Edwards

Jake Summers

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Parents: Jennifer Summers and Brent Summers

GPA: 4.944

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Major: Astrophysics and mathematics Extracurriculars: Math Club co-president, Academic Decathlon team captain, Science is Fun. Off campus: Soccer referee, junior coach at the Fulton Elementary Robotics Club last year.

C on W gr ol a ve ts, s

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Hamilton CLASS OF 2021 HIGH SCHOOL

HAMILTON HIGH SCHOLARS • Jayashree Adivarahan

• Rachel Cox

• Jillian Kahn

• Dravid Navale

• Kaitlyn Tam

• Abigail Alevizon

• Dylan Crespo

• Shrika Kantala

• Ngoc Nguyen

• Brandon Tang

• Paige Allen

• John Curcio

• Gabrielle Kay

• Ramya Nishtala

• Jingran Tang

• Mayra Anthony

• Candice Decuna

• Juhi Khandelwal

• Liane Ozoemelam

• Lily Tantillo

• Sabah Ashfeen

• Anika Desai

• Esther Kong

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y r r e P

HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2021

TOP SCHOLARS

Camden King

Peyton Idleman

Parents: Brian and Traci King

Parents: Bryan and Kristin Idleman

QPA: 4.95455 Weighted

GPA: Weighted- 4.95

University: Arizona State University

University: ASU, Barrett, The Honors College

Major: Finance

Major: Aerospace engineering (astronautics)

Extracurriculars: President of Leo Club, vice president of National Honors Society, Leader of Hype Squad, Reach Higher/Better Make Room, Spanish National Honors Society, Key Club, Stem Scholar, varsity track, JV soccer, football, volleyball. Off campus: Back server to server at Culinary Dropout, golf, mentoring/internship with Attorney Garrick L. Gallagher, reselling shoes and designer clothing, 130+ hours of volunteer work.

Extracurriculars: Varsity cross country, varsity track, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society, STEM Scholar, AP Scholar, Link Crew, Operation Smile secretary, She’s the First treasurer, Women in STEM, English Language Learners Assistants, German Club, Math Club, Biology Club, Ukulele Club. Off campus: Math tutor, volunteering, INTEL National Science Fair Qualifier (2019), Project Boom member (graduate project designing supersonic drone), piano.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

CONGRATULATIONS

2021

f o s s la

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

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*Average tuition after scholarships is approximately $8,600. Scholarships may be awarded based on 6th semester transcripts. At the time in which final, official transcripts are received, GCU reserves the right to rescind or modify the scholarship if it is determined that eligibility was not achieved. GCU reserves the right to decline scholarship awards for any reason. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. GCU reserves the right to change scholarship awards at any time without notice. If a student does not meet the minimum renewal criteria, their scholarship will be forfeited. Prices based on 2019-20 rate and are subject to change. **GCU students graduate with less debt on average ($18,750 according to College Scorecard) than the average at public and private nonprofit universities ($28,650 according to 2017 data from the Institute for College Access and Success). Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (800-621-7440; http://hlcommission.org/). Pre-licensure nursing students who begin or resume attendance in Fall 2020 and beyond will be ineligible to utilize most GCU institutional aid/scholarships for tuition and fees once accepted into the clinical portion of the program. Important policy information is available in the University Policy Handbook at https://www.gcu.edu/academics/ academic-policies.php. The information printed in this material is accurate as of FEBRUARY 2021. For the most up-to-date information about admission requirements, tuition, scholarships and more, visit gcu.edu. ©2021 Grand Canyon University 21GTR0041

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Toy Barn puts high-end spin on garages BY LAURA LATZKO Contributor

Toy Barn Luxury Garage Ownership doesn’t just offer storage for cars, boats, RVs, racecars, motorcycles and off-road vehicles. It’s a community for vehicle enthusiasts. Units come with amenities such as prewired internet and TV access, plumbing, insulated walls and ceilings, RV outlets, electric garage doors, community restrooms and access to clubhouses. The father-and-son team behind Toy Barn, Paul and Jason Wesley, have expanded its business since opening its first location in 2010 at Cave Creek and Peak View roads. Originally from Ohio, the two were residential land subdividers before they became involved in the luxury garage business in 2008. After opening a location near Chandler Airport last year, Jason said the company continues to expand. “We were really trying to accommodate people who lived in the North Scottsdale communities who didn’t have any additional storage options. It’s real-estate ownership, so it’s an investment versus just paying rent on a storage facility,” he said. “A lot of them have been around 10 years. They have double-lot equity. They get the tax benefits that come

Jason Wesley said that he and his dad Paul Wesley seized on Toy Barn as a real estate investment opportunity and opened one in Chandler last year. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

with real-estate ownership.” Because businesses like this were few, they had to figure it out on their own. “It’s extremely niche,” Jason said. “There was no roadmap for getting into the garage/condominium business when we did.” Their time in the luxury garage busi-

ness has been a learning process. They have continued to adapt, especially with delays in new constructions during the pandemic. “We have learned quite a bit about the construction process, the challenges associated with it, how to manage those challenges, managing schedules

and people’s expectations, what works and doesn’t work,” Jason said. “We try to incorporate the lessons learned from every community into the new one.” The two men have their own “toys” that they enjoy in their spare time. Paul See

TOY BARN on page 30

Billiards-bowling venue opening in Chandler 810 Billiards & Bowling is family-friendly entertainment “with an upscale twist,” Poonam said. The Chandler location has 12 bowling lanes – eight regular and four reserved for private parties – as well as an arcade, shuffleboard, table games, cornhole, darts and five billiards tables. The entertainment center stands out because it offers a full-service restaurant and bar with the option to bowl, Poonam said. It is not a bowling alley with the option to eat. 810’s restaurant specializes in American comfort food, Poonam said. All pizza is made from scratch, and the menu has options like burgers, fries, salads, wings and specialty cocktails. “We want to give you that elevated feeling without elevating prices,” Poonam said. Because their motto is “be social,” 810 Billiards & Bowling will emphasize social aspects and service. “Every single person who walks out of here needs to walk out with a smile on their face,” Poonam said. Originally, the Maneks had no interest in 810 Billiards & Bowling. Before moving to Arizona, Ronak and Poonam lived in Chicago, where

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE Staff Writer

Ready to socialize again? Chandler’s entertainment scene is growing as a new billiards and bowling joint with a “be social” motto plans to open soon near Chandler Fashion Center. 810 Billiards & Bowling, a South Carolina-based entertainment concept, is opening its first two Arizona locations in Phoenix and Chandler within the next few weeks. Husband and wife Ronak and Poonam Manek are the franchise owners of the Chandler location at 3455 W. Frye Road. “We feel as though people are ready to get out and start having a social life again,” Poonam said. “Meeting with friends and getting out with the family or doing whatever is up their alley, pun intended.” Mike Siniscalchi founded 810 Billiards & Bowling in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 2015. Now, Siniscalchi is expanding the franchise beyond its three existing locations in South Carolina to the Arizona market. “We’re excited to be a part of post-COVID as Phoenix returns to life,” Siniscalchi said.

810 Billiards & Bowling General Manager Michael Cleveland shows off one of the venue's balls. (Pablo Robles/Arizonan Staff Photographer)

See

BILLIARDS on page 33

BUSINESS

TOY BARN

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

from page 29

owns vintage Indian motorcycles, and Jason is an aviation enthusiast with a Cirrus plane. Jason said he’s also interested in Porsches, and his father enjoys ’60s-era Corvettes. One of the biggest perks of owning a luxury garage business is occasionally clients allow the team to try out vehicles. “It’s always nice when they say, ‘Just take the Porsche for the day,’” Jason said. Jason and Paul have five locations, including their new one near the Chandler Municipal Airport. The two are planning a location in Scottsdale at 73rd Street and Helm Drive, which is projected to open in 2023. They are taking reservations for it. This will be their second Scottsdale location, the first being the Greenway Road and 78th Street that opened in 2019. The first location has been sold out since the spring of 2020, and they wanted to offer additional options for those needing storage in Scottsdale. The first location in Scottsdale is 24,000 feet, with 18 units. The new location will be 52,000 square feet with 52 units. Owners will be able to purchase one or multiple units of 1,200 to 6,000 square feet of space. “The other one was just too small,” Jason said. “We didn’t have anything to accommodate people who needed a larger space. This time

Toy Barn’s location near Chandler Airport, which opened last year, provides a safe and secure “garage” for local owners of luxury vehicles and boats. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

around, we will be able to accommodate significant-sized garages. The first one was designed for cars only. This new one will accommodate larger motorcoaches, larger boats, larger car collections.” Jason expects that the new location will serve residents of Old Town, North Scottsdale, the Gainey and McCormick Ranch areas and Paradise Valley. Jason said there has been little turnover in units, and some owners have spaces in different facilities. He said building a garage can be expensive, and many communities have CC&R regulations prohibiting additions. The Toy Barns offer a luxury garage experience for those who are downsizing or needing space for their vehicles,

family heirlooms or automobilia such as neon signs or vintage gas pumps. They are gated with 24-hour access. Adjacent clubhouses come with amenities such as high-end finishes, plush seating, flat-screen TVs, full kitchens and bathrooms. Jason said he and his father wanted to create not just storage facilities but close-knit communities. “I think what separates us from a regular storage facility or an industrial park is the fact that we are trying to cultivate a community of like-minded individuals. The facility functions more like a private club than it does a warehouse,” Jason said. Unit owners can customize the units with touches such as Epoxy flooring and

half baths. They are expected to adhere to CC&R guidelines, such as not operating businesses out of their units. Many of the unit owners spend time at the facilities, working on their own vehicles or getting time to themselves. “Some of the retired guys who don’t golf, that’s where they spend all their time. That’s what they do. They tinker in the garage,” Jason said.

The Toy Barn 8585 E. Hartford Drive, Suite 114, Scottsdale 480-419-0101, toybarnstorage.com

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BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Veterans still need help finding civilian jobs BY ALYSSA MARKSZ Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – An employment program for veterans that began in the days after 9/11 paid off last year when the COVID-19 pandemic rattled employment for vets in the state and across the country, an advocate told House lawmakers Wednesday. “Communities in Arizona are no different than communities across the United States. We have seen the significant impact of the pandemic on service members, veterans and their families,” said Thomas Winkel, director of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families. What is different in Arizona, Winkel said, is that public and private organizations have been working together for years now to establish “a robust and sustainable effort to assist veterans with securing meaningful employment.” There are still challenges. While national veteran unemployment went from 3.1 percent in 2019 to 6.5 percent in 2020, the veteran jobless rate in Arizona for the same period went from 4.9 percent to 9.6 percent. Winkel was part of a panel testifying at a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on veteran employment during the pandemic. Like all other sectors, veteran unemployment rose sharply in 2020 – although it continued to be lower than jobless for the general population

nationally. But witnesses said there is still room for improvement in government programs that are supposed to help soldiers transition from military to civilian life. Chris Thorne, co-chair of the Military Affairs Advisory Council in San Diego, said employers are eager to hire vets, but that too often the transition process “does not adequately prepare transitioning service members for what comes next.” “To put it quite simply, transitioning service members are walking into a foreign culture that speaks different languages, acts different ways and values different outcomes,” Thorne said, adding that it is not enough to identify a job that requires a skill-set learned in the military. The unemployment rate for veterans nationally jumped from an average of 3.1 percent in 2019 to 6.5 percent over

the course of 2020. Witnesses said the national veteran jobless rate got as high as 11.7 percent at the height of the pandemic. Still, veterans did better than the overall workforce in those years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said average unemployment rose from 3.6 percent for the general labor force in 2019 to 8 percent last year. But better national averages did not mean some vets were not suffering, Winkel said. “Unemployment, underemployment and reduced hours have resulted in increases in food insecurity, as well as requests for assistance with housing, utilities, transportation and other essential needs,” he said. The pandemic also forced the cancellation of in-person job fairs, requiring veterans and sponsoring agencies to quickly adapt to virtual events. Jeremy Villanueva, the assistant national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, said his group last year “hosted 92 job fairs, with 63 held entirely online – an increase of the 12-15 virtual job fairs that DAV had hosted annually prior to the pandemic.” “The total attendees for these events in 2020 was 32,438, with 5,290 job offers extended to participants. So far in 2021, DAV has held another 30 job fairs, all of them virtual,” Villanueva

said. Winkel said the challenge of virtual job-hunting has had an upside for some vets, opening up opportunities for networking and career preparation that were not there before. It has also introduced employers to the benefits of remote work, which is ideally suited to many military spouses, he said. “Some veterans have become more proactive in seeking out educational opportunities like certifications and credentialing to improve, or upskill, their career potential,” Winkel said. Amy Bolton of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families said the coalition views the issue of veteran unemployment in Arizona as well-managed, but added that, “We don’t reach every veteran, so we’re not going to stop until we do.” Winkel said it helps that the coalition has been working at it for more than a decade, growing to “serve all military members, veterans and family members, with a network of over 200 Arizona veteran-supportive employers and over 450 partner organizations, that provide over 3,000 resources.” The state and federal initiatives, services, programs and resources offered to Arizona veterans are compiled in one network called Be Connected, which Winkel said provides “a data-driven and human-centered approach to advancing economic opportunity.”

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Real estate investment trusts have pitfalls BY DR. HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

My column last month on the importance of knowing Social Security rules included a case study of how a long-term federal employee could have $75,680 total Social Security (SS) and federal pension income by knowing the rules instead of $47,760, or $27,920 less. You can read this by going to drharoldwong.com and clicking the “Articles” link at the top of the home page. Ever since the 2008 financial panic and stock market collapse, normal investment alternatives for retirement income are terrible. Here are the yields as of 5/24/2021: .10 percent to .50 percent for bank interest; 1.60 percent yield for US 10-year Treasury Bonds; 2.30 percent yield for US 30-year Treasury Bonds; and 2.02 percent average dividends for S&P 500 companies since Jan. 1, 2000. Because of ridiculously low levels of interest rates, most people are taking way too much risk in the stock market. When I see folks that qualify for their free strategy session, it’s not unusual that they have 80-95 percent of their life savings exposed to stock market risk. If the stock market has another major crash, they may never recover. Note that during the 2000-2002 DotCom Crash and the 2008-2009 financial panic and real estate crash, the stock market dropped by about 50 percent.

In order to double or triple these terrible returns listed above, one has no choice but to explore alternative investments. These would include real estate investment formulas, private pensions, and solar business equipment leasing. One could consider Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which often specialize in different types of real estate. To maintain favorable tax status, they have to distribute 90 percent of earnings via a dividend to the securities owners. Typically, investors purchase REITs for their dividends, which currently average more than double the dividends on S&P 500 companies and the 30-year Treasury bond. Warning: The purchase of REITS is a security, much like owning a stock or mutual fund and you can lose principal. On April 15, 2020, vs. one year previous, there were major losses in the REIT property indices due to the coronavirus pandemic. The sectors that declined were -15 percent for multifamily; -17 percent for office; -25 percent for health care; -48 percent for retail; and -53 percent for hotel. In contrast, it was +34 percent for data centers; +31 percent for cell towers; and +14 percent for industrial. Source: Nareit.com. Note that one can often obtain higher and more stable returns by owning private real estate directly and not through a REIT. Private pension funds operate like Social Security or any other pension. The longer you wait to trigger your retirement income, the more you get. A nurse was age 62 in 2014 and deposited $270,000 in a private pension. When she triggers her retirement income at age 70, she will receive $27,000 per year guaranteed for life. That’s a 10 percent rate of cash flow. Solar business equipment leasing, allows investors to be part of the massive push by government for “The New Green Deal” and a cleaner environment. Cash flows can average 5-7 percent annually. However, one must also add the tax savings. If one buys $100,000 of solar equipment that is leased to businesses, there’s a 26 percent tax credit and a potential $87,000 immediate deduction by using Section 179 of the tax code. It’s not unusual that high-income taxpayers will save $50,000 in tax, which doubles the tax-adjusted rate of return and reduces their total personal tax bill. Free live seminars and lunch: 10:45 a.m. June 12 at The Old Spaghetti Factory, 3155 W. Chandler Blvd. #9, Chandler; and 10: 30 a.m. June 13 at The Hyatt Place 3535 W. Chandler Blvd. Topic is “Double Your Social Security & Other Retirement Income and Pay No Tax!” To RSVP, please contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. His website is drharoldwong.com. Dr. Harold Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/ Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

BILLIARDS

from page 29

Poonam was a nurse and Ronak was a pharmacist. They previously owned pharmacies in Chicago and ran them for years until an opportunity came to sell them. Since they had always wanted to move to Arizona, they took the opportunity. After selling their businesses, Ronak and Poonam took time to catch up on life and spent time with their two children. “After about a year, we kind of got a little stir crazy and knew we needed to do something,” Poonam said. “We are both entrepreneurial and have that spirit of wanting to get out and try new things. That’s when we started to look at things outside of healthcare and explore different franchises.” The Maneks were actually going to run a preschool franchise, Poonam said. However, on the day they were going to sign off on it, Ronak spoke with Siniscalchi about 810 Billiards and Bowling and told Poonam to call him. At first, Poonam was hesitant about 810 as she already envisioned herself in the preschool scenario. But after her conversation with Siniscalchi, the rest was history. “The way Mike explained everything changed my perspective,” Poonam said. “We are his first franchises, his first venture outside of his corporate locations, so the amount of attention and hand-holding we would get from Mike in the process of working in the entertainment industry was reassuring.”

Co-owner Poonam Manek stands amid the arcade games she and husband Ronak Manek have included in their entertainment lineup.

The Maneks started their process over a year and a half ago and were faced with derailed construction and other setbacks due to COVID-19 restrictions, scheduling and availability. They say that things are taking a turn for the better now. “There is value in getting social life

back up and running, but doing it safely,” Poonam said. 810 Billiards & Bowling will take every safety precaution necessary and follow COVID-19 guidelines, which includes having extensive sanitization and mask requirements. The opening date and official operat-

ing hours for 810 Billiards & Bowling are not yet finalized. It is predicted that they will open in a few weeks and that their doors will open at 2 p.m. on weekdays and at 11 a.m. to midnight on weekends. To keep an eye on an opening announcement: check out 810bowling. com.

Get your student back on track.

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480-963-2313 newvistasaz.com

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Chandler football reeling after coach’s death BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Chris Chick was more than just an offensive line coach for the Chandler Wolves. He was a beloved friend and mentor to all that came into contact with him over the course of his career. Chandler head football coach Rick Garretson said Chick had been dealing with some health-related issues that stemmed from last football season. But in the last month he had started to struggle. Garretson spoke with Chick on May 26 and that he wasn’t feeling well. On May 27, Chick’s father told Garretson he had passed away. He was 42. “When you get that type of news, it’s obviously knee-dropping,” Garretson said. “It’s a sad situation. He’s a really loved guy in our program but he’s really well-loved in the Arizona high school football community, too.” Chick graduated from Saguaro High School in 1998, where he received all-city and all-state honors as a senior. As a junior, he helped lead the Sabercats to the 1995 state football and basketball championships. He went on to play at Mesa Community College before transferring to Cal-Berkeley to continue his career. He returned to the Valley after college and began coaching at Saguaro in 2006. He served as the strength and conditioning coach and run-game coordinator for the Sabercats until 2011, winning five state titles during that six-year span. Chick joined Chandler’s coaching staff as the strength and conditioning coach and run-game coordinator in 2012 under then-head coach Shaun Aguano.

The death of Chandler run-game coordinator and offensive line coach Chris Chick, pictured with Sione Hingano and Tevai Neher, sent shockwaves throughout the Arizona high school football community May 26. (Corey Cross Photography)

Garretson agreed. “He is the best in-game run coordinator I have ever been around,” Garretson said. “He’s a guy who really knows how to dissect a run-game while in a game, which isn’t easy to do. Shaun’s comments were spot on. We don’t win those championships without Chick. He

I’m so heartbroken to hear of your passing, so “many great memories together. Such an impact

you made when it came to the things you were passionate about,” he added. “Thank you for always being on the other end of a conversation even if it seemed like it would never end. Love you brother.

”

– Kyle Caldwell

Over the course of his nine seasons with the Wolves, he helped lead them to six state titles – five of which in the last five years. Aguano, who is now the running backs coach at Arizona State, said on Twitter, Chandler wouldn’t have won championships if it weren’t for Chick.

was a big part of those six titles.” Chick’s legacy will undoubtedly involve more than just his accolades on the football field as both a player and coach. He went out of his way to make everyone – including members of the media – feel welcome. A simple, ‘hello,’ would often turn into a long, heartfelt

Have an interesting sports story? Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

conversation about whatever was on his mind that day. Often times, he would gush over the improvement of one of his players or the offensive line as a whole. Or he would rave about one of Chandler’s skill players or defensive linemen they had trouble blocking in practice. But there were times, however, where he simply wanted to learn more about whoever he was speaking to. He always took the time to get to know those he came into contact with on a personal level, which is one of the main reasons he was beloved by his players, coaches, parents and even at times, opponents. “I’m so heartbroken to hear of your passing,” Saguaro defensive line coach Kyle Caldwell wrote. Caldwell coached the Sabercats alongside Chick. The two grew close during their time together. “So many great memories together. Such an impact you made when it came to the things you were passionate about,” he added. “Thank you for always being on the other end of a conversation even if it seemed like it would never end. Love you brother.” Garretson informed the players of Chick’s passing on Thursday. As expected, the news wasn’t taken lightly.

Several current and former Chandler players have since taken to social media to reflect on Chick’s unexpected death. Tevai Neher, who played his last season on the Chandler offensive line under Chick in 2020, recalled some of the long phone conversations he and his coach would have. “We spent hours on the phone talking about schemes, technique, (and) how we can better ourselves as a team,” Neher said. “No one will understand how much you did for us. RIP to THE greatest (offensive line) coach in AZ.” Kyion Grayes, a soon-to-be senior for the Wolves, thanked Chick for all he had done for the team. “This one hurt,” Grayes said. “Rest easy coach Chick you will be missed thank you for everything.” Garretson said he and the rest of the Chandler football community will mourn the loss of Chick together and move forward with his legacy forever on their minds and in their hearts. “He will be missed, there’s no question,” Garretson said. “Our hearts are broken, and we are going to support each other as a community and try to move ourselves forward.” Chick is survived by his father, Bill. Funeral arrangements are still underway.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

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Basha High science teacher Arizona’s best BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

A Basha High School teacher has recently been recognized as one of Arizona’s best biology educators. Katherine Nall, who’s been teaching biology and environmental science in Chandler for 15 years, was recently selected by the National Association of Biology Teachers as the state’s top science teacher in 2021. Nall, who was nominated by a colleague, will represent Arizona among the organization’s class of national recipients. She will be recognized later this year at the association’s national conference in Georgia, where she’ll receive a gift certificate to purchase science supplies and a complimentary one-year membership to NABT. Nall said it was especially rewarding to be recognized at the end of a difficult year, which forced teachers to figure out how to continue teaching during a global pandemic. “It’s been a rough year,” Nall said. “So, to get good news like this at the end, kind of lets you know you’re doing it all right.” As a teacher who enjoys having her students learn through hands-on activities, Nall has struggled this past year deciphering how to safely continue teaching while maintaining social distancing. The first quarter of this school year was the most challenging, Nall recalled,

Katherine Nall since teachers were forced to teach virtually. The ordeal ended up being a valuable learning experience for Nall, who has already begun to evaluate how she can adapt her teaching style to conform to a digital-friendly format. “If I had to do virtual again,” she noted, “I would do it completely different than how I did first quarter.” Nall is often asking questions, analyzing her actions and making logical adjustments – a habit she strives to pass on to her students each year. Her inquiry-based approach to teaching attempts to get students curi-

ous about the natural world and thinking about how to solve real problems. “My hope is that I can teach them skills that they can carry on into whatever they do,” Nall said. A transplant from Michigan, Nall originally had ambitions to attend medical school and become a pediatrician. But once she realized that chemistry was not her best subject, Nall discovered she could focus exclusively on biology by becoming a teacher. After she immersed herself in education, Nall said everything seemed to click and her career pathway suddenly looked clearer. Her favorite aspect of teaching is getting to see students make discoveries as they conduct experiments. There’s not much engagement happening outside the laboratory, Nall said, so her classroom time tends to prioritize hands-on work. “I personally get bored when I have to lecture and give notes,” Nall added. “I prefer to teach by doing.” Nall’s students have the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics that range from agriculture to water pollution. A popular topic has always been Nall’s unit on antibiotics and the classroom lab that allows students to experiment with bacteria. Nall teaches the class how E. coli grows and lets them expose strains of the bacteria to different antibiotics to see how the bacteria become resistant

against the medicine. Nall said her students always enjoy observing how the bacteria react to the antibiotics and learning how the process relates to the development of modern pharmaceuticals. “It’s one of their favorite labs that they do throughout the year because it’s so real,” she said. “I’m not afraid to let them work with bacteria.” When Nall isn’t in the classroom, she’s taking on extra duties by coaching sports, spearheading Basha’s environmental club and overseeing the school’s science fair. NABT has been singling out remarkable science teachers across the country since 1961 by selecting candidates who embody innovative, collaborative qualities in the classroom. Nall’s dedication to molding analytical, inquisitive minds stood out to NABT as an attribute that helped her nomination rise above the association’s other applicants. Daryn Stover, the association’s Arizona representative, noted how Nall was the right candidate for demonstrating the values of an impactful science educator. “Nall’s engagement with students through inquiry-based learning is impressive, as is her commitment to staying at the forefront of advances in science pedagogy,” said Stover. “We are pleased to recognize her years of service to biology education and student success with this award.”

Chandler girl gets to flex her ‘CEO’ muscles BY SYDNEY MACKIE Staff Writer

Not every kid may dream of becoming a CEO some day, but 11-year-old Indigo Chai of Chandler actually won the opportunity to do so at the Crayola Experience last month. Indigo won the title of “chief experience officer” last year with a convincing video resume and was invited to tour the Crayola store near the Chandler Fashion Center when the mall reopened last year to provide kid-expert feedback to the company. Indigo’s father found the application in a Chandler magazine and her family encouraged her to apply. He noted his daughter has always been drawn to creative endeavors and had many captivating ideas for the Crayola brand. “It was definitely a whirlwind of emotions. It was just me and my parents at the house and it was kind of coincidental because they are an arts and crafts brand and we were just settling down to do a craft together, we didn’t expect the call to come,” Indigo said. “It was a lot of happiness for sure. It was overwhelming and it kind of felt unreal.” Indigo’s day at the Crayola Experience began with a store-wide welcome

Indigo Chai of Chandler got a big kick out of her role as chief experience officer at the Crayola Experience store near Chandler Fashion Center. (Courtesy of Crayola)

at 9 a.m. followed by a staff briefing. Then she officially opened the store for the day before listening to presentations about the company’s attractions and merchandise development process. Finally, she toured and assessed the facility and storefront before an audience

of about 300 people. Chai had visited the store twice before the event and said she “really loved the idea of a place that was centered all-around creativity.” She also got to present her own idea for a Crayola Experience attrac-

tion: how to take the popular Scribble Scribbles attraction to the next level with activities and layouts that would bring awareness to animal rescue and conservation. She also selected her favorite offerings, which will be labeled as “Kid CEO approved items” until July 31. “Personally, the plushies I really like because they were really cute and they had a wide spectrum and Wrap it Up!, which is a crayon exhibit where you get to customize your own crayon label,” Indigo said. “It was really cool because you get to add emotion. Another one of my favorite parts is the Model Magic exhibit where you get to pick clay from vending machines and they have a whole bunch of different colors.” Indigo also renamed the crayon color aquamarine to “Clean Marine,” which will also be available for purchase until the end of July, and selected the store’s July craft theme before going on a $250 shopping spree awarded alongside her Kid CEO title. “I think that I made an impact on the brand pretty well and I definitely want to do more with them. I think they’re a really awesome brand that’s doing really well and I’m proud to be a part of it,” Indigo said.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Tarwater students to chat with astronauts in space BY SYDNEY MACKIE Staff Writer

Tarwater Elementary students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this October to converse with astronauts currently in orbit. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program picked Tarwater as one of only seven schools in the nation – and the only one in Arizona – to ask questions of the crew aboard the International Space Station in a 20-minute broadcast. Tarwater Principal, Diane Hale said each grade will utilize their knowledge in scientific questioning to determine the most worthwhile inquiries for the astronauts. Then the school will select one question per grade level. “We’ve been talking a lot about good questions and learning a lot about what questions maybe we could find out by researching versus the questions we really need to ask,” Hale said. The broadcast is made possible with the use of ham radio equipment as well as a passionate team of parents and staff. The program itself was brought to Hale’s attention in 2019 by a parent with an interest in such technology. “Being part of the ham radio community, he was aware of this, so he

“We had no idea if we would be in session. We knew many families were choosing online, some were choosing to homeschool at that point and there Astronauts aboard the International Space Station will chat with Tarwa- was so much ter Elementary students via amateur radio in October. else to (Special to SanTan Sun News) worry about that we just approached me to see if this would be canceled,” something we would be interested in Hale said. doing,” Hale explained. She said the parent “encouraged us “He saw that the proposal was postto apply again and so we did.” ed and that applications were due soon, Tarwater got picked again, this time so we worked with him to learn a little scheduling the transmission for the last bit more about it, then we jumped on week of October. the opportunity.” The school has made it a priority to In December, the school submitted integrate the program into each grade’s its first application and was approved in curriculum and instruction. January 2020 to have contact with the “Tarwater students will learn about Space Station in August or September space communications including satelof last year. lite communication, wireless technoloBut the pandemic forced Tarwater to gy, and radio science through explorashut down its campus at that time, so tion of amateur radio,” according to a the school pulled its application. release from the program.

Amateur radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using amateur radio. “The goal of the program is to teach students more about radio science and increase the student interest in STEM careers and one of our goals as a school is to promote global citizenship and the idea that we are all a part of the big world,” Hale said. “With this being an international space station, the idea and symbolism that all these countries are coming together to do science just fit so perfectly.” Tarwater Elementary is also hoping to plan a night beneath the stars for the excited parents, students and teachers in October prior to the broadcast. The local community will be encouraged to attend with a telescope and discuss space and science. “I think anytime you can give kids a real-life experience, they start to see careers, they start to see possibilities,” Hale said.

Tempe Union salutes Chandler teen for her work tain Pointe.” She said she is especially proud of a short film she made this year with the help her classmate and friend Zoe McCollum. That film won the best screenplay award. “I’m most proud of this because it helped me prove to myself that I have the potential to be a great writer and

SANTAN SUN NEWS

On the night before she graduated from Mountain Pointe High School May 20, Shayla Mackenzie of Chandler was saluted by Superintendent Dr. Kevin Mendivil at the Tempe Union Governing Board meeting. Shayla received the CTE Film and TV Student of the Year award and also won best screenplay at this year’s Tempe Union High School District Film Festival. Mendivil said that while interning in Tempe Union’s district community relations department, Shayla “played a vital role in the filming of Marcos and Mountain Pointe promotional videos and streaming governing board meetings, all city award ceremonies and school performances.” Bound for the Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of Journalism, Shayla worked with Warren Cole, the district’s multimedia specialist and videographer. The daughter of Samantha Cunningham and Sean McKenzie, she helped edit and live-stream various events for all seven district high schools while helping to develop promotional films for Mountain Pointe and Marcos de Niza high schools. “As the semester progressed and we were able to go back to school in person again, I acted as production assistant for Mr. Cole,” she said. “This included setting up lights, slating a scene, and working audio at times. I then was able to move into directing and helped him with the promotion videos for Marcos De Niza and Moun-

semester progressed, we both got more of an idea of how things were going to go especially when shooting the promotional videos.” At the Cronkite School she is aiming for bachelor’s degrees in both broadcast journalism and TV/film production. “I’d eventually like to get my masters in both fields as well – but baby steps,”

When I got into high school and was able to “ start taking film and TV classes, we worked on a

journalism unit and I fell in love with that as well. I guess production, whether it be for a school broadcast or a short film, has always been a part of me and they always say turn what you love into your career.

”

– Shayla Mackenzie

Chandler resident Shayla Mackenzie got a special salute at a Tempe Union Governing board meeting for her work as a district intern in film-making.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

could give an audience something to enjoy,” she said. That also bolstered her long-term career hopes of becoming a director and screenwriter. “I know it’s a tough business to get into and there’s a lot of competition, so winning the award gave me a much-needed confidence boost in my writing capabilities,” Shayla said. The internship averaged two to five hours of work a week. Since hers was a new position, she said Cole and she “were not really sure what to start with,” although “as the

she said. Her dream job “has always been Marvel Studios or a big streaming company like Netflix.” But, she added, “It’s always good to have a backup plan though, so if the whole Hollywood thing doesn’t work out, I’d love to be a producer for a news station in New York or Seattle.” “Movies and entertainment have always been a passion of mine since I was little,” she explained. “My mom would take me to the theater to see one of the new Marvel movies with my brothSee

SHAYLA on page 38

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Sun Lakes’ Mary Ernst saluted by mayor BY JENNIFER GUSTAFSON Guest Writer

Sun Lakes resident Mary Ernst was recently honored by Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke for her service to local seniors as a volunteer with Neighbors Who Care. Hartke personally selected her for the Mayor’s Choice Award as part of the city’s annual Volunteer Recognition Program. Mary was presented with the award in a surprise visit from Victor Hardy, executive director of For Our City Chandler, an organization that works in conjunction with the City of Chandler to serve our community through collaboration and compassion. Mary has been volunteering with Sun Lakes-based Neighbors Who Care since 2017. She offers her services as a volunteer driver several times a month and has given nearly 400 hours of her time. Mary is always eager to help our clients who are predominantly homebound seniors in Sun Lakes/South Chandler. These clients often have no one else nearby to help them, so volun-

SHAYLA

from page 37

ers. I knew I wanted to be on set and see how the behind the scenes worked.” Turns out her internship did just that. “When I got into high school and was able to start taking film and TV classes,

long-distance driving assignments because she knows that not every volunteer is able to drive to locations like Downtown Phoenix or the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. She said she also enjoys the time she gets to spend with Neighbors Who Care clients and helping to bring some joy to their lives. One such client, a 95-yearold Chandler resident, said she was feeling anxious about an upcoming medical appointment but that “my funky mood was turned around by Mary when she was taking me to see the doctor. “She was extremely friendly Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke praised Sun Lakes’ and positive. She listened to me Mary Ernst. (Special to SanTan Sun News) and helped me feel so much better about my situation. teers like Mary are essential to helping And, it turns out that she was right…I had them stay in their own homes for as nothing to worry about,” the client said. long as feasibly possible. Neighbors Who Care AdministraOf the many services that volunteers provide, Mary says she prefers taking on tive Director Verna Mahnke said, “You

can tell that Mary enjoys visiting with clients during their drives together. She just loves being with people!” On behalf of all of us at Neighbors Who Care, we would like to thank Mary Ernst for her dedication and for being a shining light in our community. We would also like to thank our friends at the City of Chandler, including Mayor Hartke and Councilmember Christine Ellis for continuing to support our mission to serve seniors in our area. Volunteers are needed now more than ever as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate any time you can give, whether it’s once a week or once a month. We work around your schedule and there are a variety of services to choose from, all of which can be done with safety in mind. See our website at neighborswhocare.com/volunteer or contact Jennifer at jennifer@neighborswhocarecom or 480-895-7133. Jennifer Gustafson is community engagement manager for Neighbors Who Care.

something goes wrong is a crucial part of pursuing a career in any type of production field,” Shayla explained. “Learning early on that when the pressure is applied and deadlines are approaching faster and faster, finding a way to make it work out is key – especially with all the stress that comes with it. “But it’s honestly a thrill,” she said.

“I think better on my feet and under pressure. So, thanks to Mr. Cole and having taken Mrs. Idler’s film/TV classes, I’ve learned to handle stress well and, again, adapt.” Shayla in the past has played junior varsity soccer for fun and was a member of Mountain Pointe’s Key Club and the Rho Kappa Honors Society for social studies.

we worked on a journalism unit and I fell in love with that as well. I guess production, whether it be for a school broadcast or a short film, has always been a part of me and they always say turn what you love into your career.” The internship also taught her “the ability to adapt,” she said. “Being able to think on the fly when

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Left: Hamilton High student Aris Zhu is ﬂanked by Hamilton Principal Mike De La Torre, left, and Sun Lakes Rotary Club President Jon Lyons as she receives one of the club’s scholarships. Right: Galveston Elementary teacher Rose Marie Bogue is ﬂanked by Sun Lakes Rotary Education Chair Don Robins, left, and club President Jon Lyons as she shows off her Teacher of the Month recognition. (Courtesy of the Sun Lakes Rotary Club)

Sun Lakes Rotary honors teacher, students SANTAN SUN NEWS

Sun Lakes Rotary Club has been busy lately, awarding scholarships and honoring a Galveston Elementary Teacher. The club’s May Teacher of the Month Award went to Rose Marie Bogue, who teaches third grade at Galveston. “Rose Marie has been a teacher for over 37 years, 13 of which have been at Galveston Elementary,” said club publicist Dr. Honora A. Norton. “Additionally, she is an English language development program specialist. Rose Marie earned her bachelor’s degree in 1984 at California’s Azusa Pacific University; and, in 1987 her master’s degree from California’s Cal State San Bernardino.” The award selection is based on a number of factors, including a teacher’s total years of service in education; examples of how the teacher goes above the normal requirements and enhances education; the respect shown for the teacher by peers, students and parents; and the teacher’s involvement in extracurricular activities and service in the community. A $500 check is awarded to the honored teacher – $200 from the Sun Lakes Rotary Club, $200 from Earnhardt Automotive Center and $100 from Trust Bank. Meanwhile, the club also awarded scholarships to three newly minted high school graduates. Hamilton High School’s Aris Ahu and Casteel High student Lily Grace won the Sun Lakes Rotary’s 2021 Service Above Self Scholarships. Lily is considering political science studies and Aris has his eye on a career in information technology studies. The club’s 2021 Vocational Scholarship was awarded to Adrianna Camacho, Chandler High School, who is considering nursing studies. The $2,000 scholarships will be sent directly to the school that the winners will be attending this fall, Norton said. A panel of judges reviewed and scored applications from area high school seniors.

Each application included a 300word essay, which provided the student’s beliefs and understanding of what “service above self” means; teacher recommendations; and, student academic standing data. Also factoring in are each student’s exhibiting exemplary acts of service and character. Sun Lakes Rotary Club, chartered in 1986 with Rotary International, is a

community leadership organization made up of men and women from local businesses, professional, education, civic and emerging leaders. Rotary International has over 35,000 member clubs worldwide, with a membership of 1.2 million individuals, known as Rotarians. Sun Lakes Rotary holds Tuesday weekly hybrid (Zoom and Palo Verde Country Club) Tuesdays for its more

than 80 members. Among the projects supported by Sun Lakes Rotary are education through schools in the Chandler Unified School District literacy through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and water access and sustainability through the Navajo Nation Water Project. Information: sunlakesrotary.com or facebook.com/groups/SunLakesRotaryClub.

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Chandler thespians go before live audiences BY KATY SPRINGER Contributor

It’s not often that “revolting” children get a standing ovation – but that’s exactly what will happen next week when nearly 40 Chandler and other East Valley kids charge the stage in “Matilda The Musical.” The Tony Award-winning show inspired by Roald Dahl that has captivated audiences of all ages worldwide is being presented by Gilbert’s Actor’s Youth Theatre and the Zao Theatre in Apache Junction. The show will run June 10-26 with evening shows on Thursdays through Saturdays as well as matinees on Saturdays. “Matilda” tells the story of a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the lovable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey develop a powerful bond, but school life isn’t completely smooth sailing: headmistress Miss Trunchbull hates children and loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. While the story does have sad moments, Matilda proves triumphant in the end. With an outsize share of courage and cleverness, she saves her classmates and beloved teacher from the monstrous Miss Trunchbull while

The entire proscenium for “Matilda the Musical” is covered in Scrabble tiles that look like they’re falling right out of the bag. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor)

creating a new and happier world for herself. “I think Matilda is a role model because it’s really important to stand up for what you believe in and to stand up for other people,” added 11-year-old

Belle Elle, who plays Matilda. It’s a theme that director Lucy Garner hopes to drive home. “I think the relevance of ‘Matilda’ in today’s society is especially poignant,” said Garner. “My goal is for the audi-

ence to feel the opposition between good vs. evil, acceptance vs. rejection, youth vs. age, and intelligence vs. ignorance. “Through the eyes of a gifted and See

MATILDA on page 41

Chandler singer combines country, gospel paper, so he got into a phone booth and called his home, singing it to his answering machine. Flash forward nearly four decades and Rhonda describes “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” as her “resurrection song” that pulled her and Hayes out of tough times. “I initially recorded the track more than seven years ago and then everything in my personal life fell apart,” she said. “It was a very hurtful, emotional, sad and isolating time in my life. “Today is a different day! This track is my resurrection song. It is the promise of my Heavenly Father…that he would bring me back to my true love, and that is to perform and sing for Him. I learned to trust in Him, completely and totally, during the process of my healing while walking in HIS wonderful light. …and I’m ready to share the new music and my heart once again.” Towns said she originally recorded “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” in 2012, tried to release it in 2014, then stepped away from the music industry in 2015 when her 22-year marriage ended in divorce. Rhonda was in such a depressing place that she told a radio promoter in

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE Staff Writer

Chandler country music artist, Rhonda Towns, has released her first inspirational Christian country gospel single after a 12-year-hiatus. Towns said the single, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” on Dawn Records, shares a message of hope through experiencing life with the Lord by your side. Written by Teddy Hayes and produced by Billy Sherrill in collaboration with Towns, this single serves as a preview to her forthcoming six-track EP, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light.” “I hope that the song will help someone, that it will touch somebody’s spirit, their heart,” Rhonda said. Hayes wrote “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” 39 years ago, but the song seemed to be made for her, Towns said. At the time, Hayes was living in New York. He told Rhonda that he had reached his ultimate low with only $2 in his pocket. During Hayes’ depression, the lyrics for “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” suddenly emerged in his mind. He told himself, “If I don’t write this song down then I’m going to lose it.” Hayes didn’t have a pen or piece of

Rhonda Towns said her recently released song, “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” will be followed by a six-song EP. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

See

SINGER on page 41

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

MATILDA

SINGER

– Telly and Book – that will take turns performing over the three-week run. Not only does this provide stage opportunities for more kids, double-casting is a special accommodation amid COVID-19. As for the kids, they’re thrilled to be back on stage after a long hiatus, which, for many, put an abrupt stop to the thing they loved most. “This is my first show with AYT in over a year and I’m so glad to be performing again on stage,” said Hailey.

The kids’ hard work hasn’t dampened their energy: It’s time spent doing what they love most – with friends who have become more like family – to bring to life a show that resonates deeply with audiences worldwide. Indeed, “Matilda” has won 99 international awards – including 24 for Best Musical. “I think the reason this show has been so successful since its inception is that there’s a bit of Matilda in all of us,” said Hohendorf. “She represents anyone who doesn’t quite fit in, whether that’s in your family, at school, or in society. With determination and a little love and encouragement from Miss Honey, she realizes that she just needs to be herself for amazing things to happen.” “Matilda” is directed by Lucy Garner with artistic direction from Stephen Hohendorf, choreography by Jessi Rodriguez, music direction by Michael Snyder, set design by Mickey Bryce and Tanja Bauerle, costume design by Laura Wanstreet, stage management by Stephanie Coffelt. The show will be performed at Zao Theatre, 550 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays with an additional 2 p.m. show on Saturdays. Tickets are $20 in advance/$22 dayof and are available at aytaz.org/tickets or by calling 480-907-7050. Group discounts are available. Performances are expected to sell out quickly.

regular talent, but her family declined the offer, saying she was too young to begin her music career. In college, she was a valued member of the university gospel choir, according to her website. She made her television debut as a country music artist on Ed McMahon’s “Star Search.” Shortly after, Rhonda sent in a demo of cover tunes to the A&R Department of Mercury Records and gained the attention of producer Norro Wilson, who has worked with stars like Kenny Chesney, Reba, Sara Evans, and Shania Rhonda Towns has performed on an inspirational TV show Twain. that was produced by a Pennsylvania businessman named Wilson produced her Lance Heft. (YouTube) first four songs. She then had severhead, we can accomplish anything,” she al more television appearances and was said. the first Black female country recording He wants her music to help people artist to appear on the “Live From L.A. in their struggles and remind them to Show” on the BET Network. “keep on walking” with God. Two other major country western The daughter of a pastor, Towns producers worked on five more songs grew up in Alabama and was already with her. They were, Jim Cotton, who singing in her father’s church at age 4. has produced songs by Billy Ray Cyrus, She heard and sang old southern Alabama, Montgomery Gentry, and hymns and upbeat contemporary counHarold Shedd, who produced for Alatry Baptist songs, realizing how country bama, Toby Keith, Billy Ray Cyrus and and gospel music were intertwined. Shania Twain. Eventually, a local country music Despite accolades and her renowned television show invited her to become a

producers, Towns said she struggled to get signed. So, Towns formed her own independent label, Dawn Records, in 2006 from her home in Arizona and released her debut album, “I Wanna Be Loved By You.” She followed with a series of single releases to radio including “I Wanna Be Loved By You,” “Something Better” and “Slow Rain.” “I’m a Black female country music artist and there’s been no other woman of color since Ruby Falls to come out and get radio airplay on country music radio stations,” Rhonda said. “I thought, if they’re not going to sign me to a major label then I’m going to start my own.” Towns’ professional history includes working as a model and appearing in television commercials. Community has always been an important aspect of Rhonda’s life, she said. Her mother would make meals for their elderly neighbors and Rhonda and her brother would help deliver those meals. Now, Towns continues to help others by supporting the nonprofit organizations Make-A-Wish Arizona, MakeA-Wish Foundation, Save the Family Foundation of Arizona, and Military Assistance Mission, according to her website. Towns expects to re-launch her radio show and podcast, “Rhonda Towns‘Plenty More Love’” in the coming months, which is anticipated to release later this year. Her newly released song is available now via all digital retail outlets and streaming platforms.

from page 40

spunky 5-year-old, we learn that with a little moral courage, good can triumph over evil, and we can be the authors of our own life stories.” “Matilda” delivers these lessons through high-energy dance numbers and more than a dozen songs including beloved favorites like “Revolting Children,” “When I Grow Up” and “Quiet.” But along with the life lessons is a healthy dose of fun – and this is especially true in the set design, which came together over the course of six weeks and hundreds of production hours. “The show is written from the perspective of the children, so a lot of the elements are larger than life,” said Stephen Hohendorf, artistic director of Actor’s Youth Theatre. “Matilda’s world consists of oversized books that seamlessly open and close to reveal different settings. “The entire proscenium is covered in Scrabble tiles that look like they’re falling right out of the bag.” “‘Matilda’ is one of my favorite musicals,” said 12-year-old Hailey Klatt of Chandler. “I saw it at Gammage a few years ago and loved the set! Our set is so cool and I’m excited to perform on it.” Since the first rehearsal on April 27, the cast has worked diligently to bring their characters to life – whether they’re funny, loud, fierce or crazy. “It was imperative that we found

from page 40

2017 that she didn’t think she could go back to singing. After she had talked to the radio promoter, Rhonda wanted to try listening to music again, so she popped her CD player open and “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” was somehow still there after all those years. In part, she heard, “All of my hope was gone/but then you came and turned my world around/Then You came and helped me put my feet back on the ground.” Hearing that, Towns said, “the cleansing tears came.” Towns called her publicist, re-recorded the track with the accompaniment of Jim “Moose” Brown on keyboards at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville. “I told Teddy, ‘You wrote this song for me even though we didn’t know each other 39 years ago,” Rhonda said. Towns got COVID-19 in January, but wouldn’t let that stop her. She said she promised God that she would spread inspirational messages through her music and that all of her future songs would be about Him. Towns’ “Walking In Your Wonderful Light” cover displays “Matthew 14: 25-33.” In that segment of the Bible, Jesus asks Peter to walk out to Him on water. Only after doubting Jesus, did he begin to sink. Like Peter, people sometimes let distractions get in the way, Towns said. “As long as we keep walking with Him and don’t get distracted and don’t let fear, doubt and unbelief get into our

Hailey Klatt of Chandler is among the cast for Matilda. (Zac BonDurant/Contributor)

actors who could bring these over-thetop characters to life, and we’ve done just that,” said Hohendorf. “I often forget these are youth performers because their dedication to and delivery of their roles is unmatched. It’s so joyful to see them having so much fun up on that stage.” Hailey Klatt, 12, of Chandler, plays dual roles as a nurse and an older school pupil. “I’m a snarky big kid and I’m having fun with my character,” she said. AYT’s production features two casts

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

Horror flick revels in Arizona settings BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE Staff Writer

A new Phoenix production company hopes its debut horror anthology sheds light on all that the Arizona film community has to offer. After securing a distribution deal with Virgil Films & Entertainment, Falling Flame Pictures released “Scare Us,” on virtual cinema last month with an upcoming VOD and DVD release June 29. “We wanted to make a feature film that was very community driven and community based to showcase the talents that Arizona can bring to the table,” said Ryan Henry Johnston, “Scare Us” producer, co-writer, and co-director. The synopsis: “A chilling horror anthology comprising five short stories, penned by an unlikely group of aspiring writers, in Sugarton – a small town plagued by the apparent return of an infamous serial killer, dubbed ‘Cutthroat.’ “They’ve come to share their scary stories (with each other and the bookstore owner, Peter, who leads the group), but soon discover they’ve become the stars of a sick killer’s own twisted tale.” “Scare Us” was produced by Jason Wiechert, of Glendale, Robyn Sturgis, of Scottsdale, and Ryan Henry Johnston, former Phoenix resident. Johnston additionally directed and wrote segments of “Scare Us,” with directors Charlotte Lilt, of Glendale, Carl Jensen IV, of Flagstaff, Tom J. McCoy, of Mesa, and Ryan Kjolberg and Jordan Pillar, of Phoenix. Lilt also stars in the fright flick alongside Tom Sandoval, of Los Angeles, Ethan Drew, of Scottsdale, Michael Alvarez, of Glendale, and Michelle Palermo, of Gilbert. “Scare Us is a testament to what the Phoenix film industry family can do,” Palermo said. With the exception of Jeff Hare, Falling Flame Pictures chief marketing officer, all other company lead executives are from the Phoenix area. Wiechert and Lilt are co-founders with Wiechert serving as CEO and Lilt as chief creative officer. Ed Riccio, of Chandler, is executive vice president. Shaun Clark, of Mesa, is chief financial officer. “We want to not only bolster Arizona film narratives, but also bring Hollywood to Arizona through our connections in Los Angeles,” Wiechert said. Wiechert and Lilt met on the set of one of Johnston’s short films in 2015 and eventually married in 2019. They say they created Falling Flame Pictures together to have more creative control over the stories they told. They want their films to bring more depth to the motion picture world while building upon the film community in Arizona. “Magic happens when you really believe in things,” Wiechert said. “The cast and crew really believed in this and it shows in the end product.” The concept of making a horror anthology was born around 2016 and evolved over time, Johnston said. Johnston and Wiechert say they had talked at length about wanting to do

Ryan Henry Johnston an anthology so that they could give opportunities to different small Arizona filmmakers to work together to make one movie that would increase storytelling in Arizona. Originally, the film revolved around stories being told around a campfire, Johnston said. However, the producers wanted to make stories that were more adult-driven. Each director brought three pitches to the table for different horror style films, the best ideas were chosen, then the short films were written around July and August of 2019, Johnston said. “We thought that we could take six up-and-coming directors who may not have had an opportunity to be a part of a larger full feature film and allow each of them to focus on a specific segment of the overall anthology story,” Wiechert said, adding: “Each director wrote and directed their own segments within the overall story and the main story cohesively ties everything together nicely.” Principal photography began in early October 2019, Wiechert said. Luckily, filming wrapped in mid-December before the pandemic hit so that January through June of 2020 was dedicated to post production. The decision to go with horror specifically was inspired by the universal love of horror movies, its marketability and success with independent films, Johnston said. Johnston noted the success of “It Follows,” “Paranormal Activity,” and “The Blair Witch Project” as low-budget independent horror films with little starpower. He said they were successful because they focused on good storytelling, which is exactly what “Scare Us” aims to do. “Myself and Falling Flame wanted to make something that didn’t feel low-budget and looked at it as a challenge,” Johnston said. “We wanted an opportunity to showcase what Arizona could do and we knew that we had the team and the talent to make that happen.’’ “Scare Us” was filmed entirely in Arizona. The producers say they used actual locations rather than building sets

main characters reading their stories also play their fictional characters. This was the first time any of the actors had to play two different characters within the same film. Drew experienced a lot of fun and goofiness on set and says that everyone in Falling Flame Pictures was so passionate because they were all brought from a smaller market to make something bigger that they all believed in. “There was a huge sense of community and we all became a family by the time filming was done,” Drew said. “I remember having so many laughs with everyone.” In “The Resting” segment, Lilt was actually able to act with Wiechert because he played a supporting character. Lilt says that working with her husband was This new horror movie anthology is largely the work of her favorite part. Valley creatives, including Ryan Johnston of Chandler. The cast all observed high levels of professionalism and say they because they wanted to keep Arizona’s were fortunate to have worked with authenticity and utilize the state’s vereveryone in Falling Flame Pictures. They satile beauty. “There’s a massive amount of beauty also loved the way they bounced off one another on set and say that their in Arizona and I don’t think a lot of filmmakers take full advantage of all the bond translates on camera. “We all just kind of mesh organicalamazing things Arizona has to offer,” ly,” Lilt said. “Nothing had to be forced Johnston said. and you can feel it. When you watch it, “Scare Us” primarily takes place in you’ll see.” a bookstore, so finding the perfect The final segment of “Scare Us” is location for it was crucial. The moment “After Hours,” which is told by SandoJohnston and Wiechert stepped into Books on 7th Ave, they knew that it was val’s character, Peter. Peter is the owner of the bookstore and leader of the the one. writers’ group who assigned the scary This mom-and-pop used bookstore stories. has been in business for over 30 years Wiechert hopes that fans of Sanand has over 200,000 titles in stock, doval from “Vanderpump Rules” will according to its website. Located in watch “Scare Us” to see Sandoval do Phoenix’s Sunnyslope area at 9201 N. something very different from his preSeventh Ave, the bookstore has been vious work. family operated since 1990. Everyone from “Scare Us” still keeps Another noteworthy location is in touch with one another as a family, Parks in the Pines General Store. Lilt said. Built in 1906, Parks in the Pines GenWhen it was safe, Hare said they eral Store is over 100 years old and prerented out the Harkins Theatres at dates Route 66, according to its webTempe Marketplace to have a cast and site. It is located on Old Route 66 and crew screening so that everyone could N. Spring Valley Rd in Parks, Arizona. Because it is nestled among the larg- watch the film together. Riccio wants to do a sequel to “Scare est Ponderosa Pine forest in the U.S., Us,” but says they have to see how audithe store creates a very secluded, eerie ences respond to this film first. feeling at night, Johnston said. This “I’m hoping that this helps the govmade it an ideal location to use as a gas ernment in Arizona realize the potential station for the “Dead Ringer” segment and benefits there are to having films of the film. here in the Valley and in the state and Each lead character in “Scare Us” what it can bring to the economy,” wrote a scary story to share with their writers’ group, which each became sep- Palermo said. To watch the trailer or buy tickets arate segments of the film. for “Scare Us” or for more informaThe five segments of “Scare Us” are as tion about Falling Flame Pictures and follows: “Night Haul,” “Untethered,” “Dead their future films, go to fallingflameRinger,” “The Resting,” and “After Hours.” Hare thought of the idea to have the pictures.com.

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

2 teen photogs have winning contest entries SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Two Chandler photographers had winning entries in an Arizona-wide nature photo competition. A Chandler teen won third place in an Arizona-wide nature conservancy photo contest with his picture of three avocets standing in water that mirrored their images. Arnav Ved, 16, who is entering his junior year at Hamilton High School took the photo at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert and won $1,000 for his winning entry in the Nature Conservancy’s eighth annual Adventures in Nature contest. “I stumbled on this photo while I was looking for shots to take for my photography class,” said Arnav, the son of Payal and Parthiv Ved.

This challenge is a “great way to inspire

younger generations to spend more time outside and to look at nature in different and creative ways.

”

– Tana Kappel

“It was in the fall, so the swamp colors were really nice and bright, giving the picture that colorful look. These three birds were in the middle of the lake, moving around, and they stopped for a second in an amazing position, so I got the shot while I was laying down.” Arnav has been taking pictures for about a year and used a Nikon D7100 Above: Arnav Ved took this picture of three avocets at the DSLR for the winning shot. Gilbert Riparian Preserve. (Arnav Ved) Right: Arnav Ved won $1,000 for his third-place finish in the nature contest. Winning honorable mention was Weston Thomas of Chandler for a photo titled “Bird Attack Bird.” Avocets are a common sight at the Riparian Preserve in the fall and spring. Cox Communications and Arizona Highways partner with the Conservancy in the contest. This year, more than 3,742 photos were entered by 500 Arizona teens in the creative contest. In 2019, there were 1,665 entries. “This challenge is a great way to inspire younger generations to spend more time outside and to look at nature in different and creative ways,” said Tana Kappel, marketing manager for The Nature Conservancy in Arizona. “This competition is also the driving force Weston Thomas titled this picture, which got honorable mention in the contest, “Bird behind some great partnerships.” Attack Bird.”

Is your heart trying to tell you something? Those odd sensations, a fluttering feeling in your chest, erratic heartbeats? The fact is, irregular or abnormal heartbeats, known as arrhythmia, aren’t normal at all, and they definitely aren’t to be ignored. It could be atrial fibrillation or other heart rhythm disorders—conditions that may cause the electrical impulses of the heart to happen too fast, too slowly, or erratically, when left undiagnosed and untreated. The first step in protecting yourself is a heart health checkup with one of our heart rhythm experts at the Dignity Health Heart Arrhythmia Center – Chandler Regional Medical Center. Now’s the time to schedule a consultation with our experts. Call 480-728-5500 or visit LearnAboutArrhythmia.org.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 6, 2021

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Prayer brings man comfort amid the world’s strife RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Guest Writer

There have been many natural disasters in the world. In our lifetime we have witnessed earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, fires – on and on the list is endless. And we have heard of priests and ministers and even rabbis explain these catastrophes as some punishment from God for all the evil that has occurred. Human beings, then as now, are compelled to make sense of the universe. We look for patterns, we search for meaning, and we dread the very idea of randomness. We find it difficult to understand how a God who created the universe with such a grand design, a Supreme Being who cares about each one of us, a God who makes the world intelligible, would also create such havoc and destruction. We question the very idea of religious faith. Voltaire laughed at the idea that we live in the best of all possible worlds, in which everything that happens is a reflection of God’s beneficent will. Others ridiculed the idea that natural

disasters were divine retributions; instead, these enlightened people suggested that we investigate the natural causes of these occurrences and then take steps to counter them through inventions and creativity. I am saddened by the loss of faith and with it all sense of hope for the future. And here in the throes of the 22nd century recent writings pronounce that they consider holding science’s so-called victory over religion as a cause for celebration. We have heard them all: Religion preaches lies. Religion is stupid and stands in the way of human progress. And while I am fascinated by science, I also have a deep sense of religious identity. I have a great feeling of respect for intellect. And I need to know what to honestly believe. This is the ultimate question for me, as I am sure it is for you as well, maybe not right this moment but certainly over the course of time. This question boggles the mind that there are times we sit in intense prayer to a being we call King and Judge: What exactly are we doing here and why are we doing it – pray that is? Is it no more than an ancient ritual, or as Freud would tell us a collective exercise in fantasy, an

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expression of our longing for a perfect father? We read prayers but do we really understand what they say? Can we truly believe in the religious values expressed? Or do we chalk it up to some humanistic experience, a chance to sit quietly and think about whatever we like, a chance to get together with friends and enjoy beautiful music – possibly an interesting sermon and have a sense of community? So much can be said that makes religion seem irrelevant. Wars have been fought because of religion. People have been persecuted because of religion. We have, humanity that is, in the name of religion displayed bigotry and exclusiveness. Does religion do more harm than good? Well truth be told I see no evidence that religion is the cause of all evil in the world. We have seen evil through the eyes and actions of so-called humanistic societies such as Nazism, Fascism, totalitarian regimes such as communist Russia, China and North Korea. So, I would venture a thought that if no religion existed, people would find ways to hurt and maim and kill, regardless, as they have done since time immemorial. Man, against man, perpetrates evil acts and in so doing is a direct denouncement of the original purpose of creation, which is to be connected to one another and through that connection to be in sync with the understanding of God.

Prayers are designed to help us live the experience of life with all its struggles and joys. They affirm the sanctity of life, teaching that preserving and protecting life is our sacred obligation. For example: Our forbearers found the universe amazing, wondrous, stunning and elegant in its order. There is the natural rhythm of time and the seasons, the passage of heavenly bodies in their orbits. So, what they attempted to do by introducing prayer was to try to bring that orderliness and comforting rhythm into their own lives and into ours through the marvel of prayer, the customs and celebrations that mark the passage of life. Our ancestors responded to this call with gratitude, and they were fully aware of the price they paid every day for continuing to believe. They regarded with love their Scriptures, their teachings, with gratitude for its guidance and wisdom, inspired by its continual challenge to be more and better and higher with the passing of time. We know that religion does not give us absolute certainty, and it does not always give us peace. It gives, more than anything else a sense of challenge and hope in what people can do, guided and instructed by the highest truths we know. Try it, prayer that is. Perhaps you will find that you will like it because of the comfort it brings. This is the essence of faith. Rabbi Irwin Wiener, DD, is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.

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