The Chandler Arizonian - 6.13.2021 by Times Media Group

CHANDLER SETS BOND ELECTION

PROTEST DISRUPTS CUSD MEETING

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From Uptown to Downtown, covering Chandler like the sun.

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

INSIDE

This Week

BUSINESS .................... 22 Experts foresees an office glut in the Valley.

SPORTS ......................... 24 Chandler Wolves coach mourned.

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June 13, 2021

Police group calls Chandler of�icer hiring inadequate BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

he 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 department. 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. 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

see POLICE page 7

Arts Center prepares Celebrating life for big comeback BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

GETOUT ...................... 26 Chandler singer cuts new gospel-country song.

NEWS ...........................................3 COMMUNITY ........................ 19 BUSINESS ................................ 22 SPORTS ...................................24 GET OUT ..................................26 CLASSIFIEDS ...........................28

fter more than a year of barring patrons from visiting its theater, the Chandler Center for the Arts is preparing to welcome back audiences for live, in-person performances. Since March 2020, the pandemic has prohibited theatergoers from buying tickets to the center’s 1,500-seat auditorium and enjoying its season of touring musical acts. For the last year, audiences could only watch the center’s concerts online by streaming performances virtually. Much of that virtual content has also been free – a perk that’s benefited the community, but has done little to raise the center’s revenues. Starting July 23, the center will begin opening for big in-person events. “This is really our grand opening in many ways,” said Michelle

see ARTS page 6

Ayden Smith, 7, right, and his sister Peyton, 5, of Chandler joined the Super Heroes celebration that Banner Health and the Children’s Cancer Network held on June 5 at the cancer network’s Chandler headquarters for kids who have overcome cancer. Ayden was diagnosed in July 2018 with leukemia and ﬁnished treatment early this year. The Children’s Cancer Network helps families with children stricken by cancer – a disease that affects one in every 285 children in the country. Information: childrenscancernetwork.org. (Pablo Robles/Arizonan Staff Photographer)

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

Protests over race disrupt CUSD board meeting The Chandler Arizonan is published every Sunday and distributed free of charge to homes and in single-copy locations throughout Chandler. To find out where you can pick up a free copy of The Chandler Arizonan, please visit www.ChandlerNews.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION Main number 480-898-6500 | Advertising 480-898-5624 Circulation service 480-898-5641 Chandler Arizonan 1620 W. Fountainhead Parkway, Suite 219 Tempe, AZ 85282 Publisher Steve T. Strickbine Vice President Michael Hiatt

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NEWS DEPARTMENT Executive Editor Paul Maryniak | 480-898-5647 | pmaryniak@chandlernews.com Staff Writers Kevin Reagan | 480-898-5638 | kreagan@chandlernews.com Photographers Pablo Robles | Probles@chandlernews.com Design Jay Banbury | jbanbury@chandlernews.com Production Coordinator Courtney Oldham | 480-898-5617 production@chandlernews.com Circulation Director Aaron Kolodny | 480-898-5641 | customercare@chandlernews.com The Chandler Arizonan is distributed by AZ Integrated Media, a circulation service company owned by Times Media Group. The public is permitted one copy per reader. For further information regarding the circulation of this publication or others in the Times Media Group family of publications, and for subscription information, please contact AZ Integrated Media at circ@ azintegratedmedia.com or 480-898-5641. For circulation services please contact Aaron Kolodny at aaron@azintegatedmedia.com.

BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

he Chandler Unified School District has become the most recent target of an organized, statewide effort to disrupt school board meetings and accuse educators of indoctrinating students with “racist ideology.” Over the last couple of months, school districts in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson have had large groups of activists attend their board meetings to protest the suspected use of “critical race theory” in school curriculum. Some of these rowdy protests have prompted boards to prematurely end their meetings due to safety concerns or unruly attendants. Dozens of angry parents and conservative activists made CUSD the site of their latest protest on June 9 over what they perceived as a threat they consider divisive and counterproductive. The board was not scheduled to vote or discuss anything related to CRT or equity. But the crowd of visitors didn’t care. They wanted to make their opposition known. The large turnout did not intimidate CUSD board members enough to interrupt their regular business, yet the meeting didn’t end without a couple hiccups. As the board meeting was getting ready to begin, one of the conservative activists was hauled away by Chandler police officers and put in a patrol car. Videos and photos identify the activist as Steven Tyler Daniels, who has recently become a regular fixture at school board meetings across the Valley. Daniels, part of a group called the Patriot Party, often records himself attending school board meetings and confronting district officials. During the CUSD meeting, Daniels recorded himself condemning police officers and district officials for not allowing the full crowd of attendees inside the district’s office to watch the board meeting. Throughout the pandemic, CUSD has been limiting attendance inside the boardroom in order to maintain social distancing. Visitors are still given the opportunity to come inside to speak before the board or they can watch the meeting live online. Chandler Police had several offices standing guard outside the district’s office to manage the entering and exiting

Chandler Police arrested Tyler Daniels, the leader of a group of parents, mostly from outside Chandler. (Facebook) of attendees. Daniels felt the district’s accommodations were not good enough to satisfy Arizona’s open-meetings law and loudly voiced his objections outside the district’s office. In his video, Daniels called the Chandler officers “tyrannical” and described the country’s current state of affairs as being comparable to “pre-Nazi Germany.” As he was recording his video, Daniels was placed in handcuffs and was escorted off the district’s property. Chandler Police said he is being charged with one count of criminal trespassing for refusing a district employee's request to leave. Inside the boardroom, several visitors used the meeting as an opportunity to express concerns they have with “critical race theory.” Even though CUSD has repeatedly insisted it does not teach “critical race theory” to staff or students, many parents are not convinced that they’re children are not being exposed to the academic concept. Scholars coined the CRT concept in the 1970s to examine how the legacies of slavery and segregation continued to impact Black Americans through “oppressive” social structures. But some conservatives feel CRT promotes division and unfairly demonizes one race over another. The district’s promotion of equity initiatives to resolve academic disparities between students of different demographics has often become conflated with the CRT movement and some parents see no difference between the two. “It’s all the same,” said parent Christine Scanlon. “They’re just synonyms.”

But other parents have been supportive of equity initiatives and hope they can prevent instances of racism on campus. Jennifer Singleton is one of the district’s equity supporters and claims her biracial son has been discriminated against by his classmates at Perry High School. “This is not good. This should not happen,” Singleton said. “My son should not be afraid to go to school.” Divisions within the Chandler community over CRT and equity have been distressing for CUSD ever since it began having discussions about equity a couple years ago. But Joel Wirth, a retired CUSD administrator and one of the board’s newest members, believes the fracture has worsened and blamed a couple specific members of the community for widening the division. “I’m incredibly saddened by what’s going on,” Wirth said on June 9. “But all of a sudden, in my opinion, we’ve probably got two people that are creating a huge divide within this district.” Wirth publicly blamed fellow board member Lindsay Love and Kurt Rohrs, a parent and regular visitor of board meetings, as the primary causes for much of the equity strife. Love has long been a defender of the district’s equity initiatives and has not been timid about criticizing those who condemn equity. During the board’s May meeting, Love said the recent suicide of an AfricanAmerican student was a sign that CUSD needs to be more inclusive and blamed the tragedy in part on those who were trying to stop the district’s equity work. “They are killing our children,” Love said last month. “This child did not die because he had to wear a mask...He simply did not feel supported and he did not feel like he fit in within his community.” But Wirth believes some of Love’s comments have gone too far and have inflamed her supporters. On the other side of the spectrum, Wirth criticized Rohrs, a vocal critic of CRT and equity, for doing similar damage within the community’s conservative circles. Rohrs defended his beliefs by calling equity as nothing more than a tool to promote tribalism and identity politics. “Do not judge our kids and discriminate them about who they are, where they

see CUSD page 10

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

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

ransportation 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 ondemand 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,

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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 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 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 provid-

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Chandler slates November election on $272M bond ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

handler 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, 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, 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

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er 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

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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.

ARTS from page 1

Mac Lennan, the center’s general manager. An upcoming free summer concert series will allow up to 480 attendees to sit and watch the performance from inside the auditorium. The event will also be streamed live online. Mac Lennan said her staff intentionally reduced seating limits for the summer concerts in an effort to maintain some distance between attendees and to gradually ease the public back into fullcapacity crowds. “It’s hard to go from zero to 1,500,” she said. “So, this is part of a strategy.” A Boz Scaggs concert on Sept. 24 will be the center’s first ticketed event at full capacity. Most of the center’s following events for the rest of this year are expected to allow full audiences. The 2021-2022 season currently in-

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.

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.

cludes an evening with Amy Grant, a puppet parody of “The Golden Girls,” a Bruce Springsteen musical tribute, and a theatrical comedy about the life of Winston Churchill. Although the return to in-person events is a positive sign that the center is reverting back to its pre-pandemic routines, there’s still some uncertainty surrounding how the institution’s finances will hold up in the future. In a normal year, the center would be selling subscription packages to customers and generating a enough revenue to carry the theater through the whole season. But the touring industry has been reluctant to fully commit to booking acts. Some theaters haven’t been able to offer a complete season of events to their subscribers. It’s going to be tough season for the center, Mac Lennan said, since it will

see ARTS page 12

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

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)

POLICE from page 1

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.

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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.

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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 five-year proposal to hire 83 new sworn officers. “We’ve never had a conversation with 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.

see POLICE page 17

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

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Reconnecting to the arts, one another BY CANDY YU Arizonan Guest Writer

ver the last year, we have all experienced the arts in a very different way than we had before the pandemic. Regardless of being quarantined and unable to gather together, we found a way to let art into our lives. We enjoyed virtual concerts, outdoor dance performances, drive-by art installations and online experiences of museums all over the world. A virus could not keep us away from experiencing the arts, from feeling deeply, from connecting to our humanity. Now, museums are open and live music is returning. We will once again have the experience of singing along with abandon with our favorite artist. We will reach up into the sky with delight as we sway to the beat of “our song.” We will have the honor once again of being part of a community for one singular moment, brought together by music. Chandler Center for the Arts has missed seeing its space humming with the joy and excitement of a performance. We will do all of this with the health and safety of our patrons, volunteers and staff as our highest priority. We are following guidelines set by the CDC and local health officials so that this transition to in-person performances is comfortable for everyone. Patrons who are unvaccinated will be encouraged to continue to wear masks and maintain a distance of 6 feet from those who are not in their household. CCA staff will provide patrons with clear communication of the most upto-date policies and protocols to ticket-

CUSD from page 3

came from, or how they live,” Rohrs said. “All of your policies need to treat these kids as individuals and not as an identity.” Love disparaged Wirth for calling out herself and a private citizen during a board meeting and demanded he apologize. Wirth adamantly refused. Board President Barbara Mozdzen attempted to end the contentious meeting on a calming note by offering her reason-

holders in advance of all performances. We know everyone isn’t ready for inperson events; we want to meet you where you are. We will continue to present our virtual series CCA Anywhere, bringing online concerts from local and national artists. As a member of the Board of the organization that oversees the CCA, I am proud of the work that staff are doing to create a return for the community. The concerts for the 2021-2022 are as diverse as the community we serve. From GRAMMY winners Ledisi, Boney James, Clint Black and Amy Grant to energetic emerging artists like We Banjo 3, La Santa Cecilia, Sons of Serendip and MV Caldera, while also keeping CCA traditions like the 22nd annual Mariachi and Folklorico Festival, there is truly something for everyone. Delve into our shows and you will also find tickets priced for youth so the whole family can enjoy an evening of music together. In August, look for the Free Summer Concert Series to return, easing patrons back into being in a theatre with limited capacity and socially distanced seating, as well as a live stream option of each performance. I hope to see you at the CCA, helping us celebrate our re-opening over the next year. It is time to reconnect to the arts, each other, our community. For additional information go to chandlercenter.org. Candy Yu is a board member for the Chandler Cultural Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by the City of Chandler to oversee all programming and operations of the Chandler Center for the Arts. ing for the merits of equity. The concept of equity is to give students what they need, she said, because students from different backgrounds have different needs. The way a parent raises a toddler is different than how they raise a teenager, she explained, because they have different needs. “We are trying to bring equity to the students here so that they can get what they need to be successful in life, career, and in college,” Mozdzen said.

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

11 CITY NEWS

ImprovMania expands with new space downtown BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

mprovMania, Chandler’s long-running comedy theater, has found a new home that is more centrally located to downtown after buying a building from the city. A city-owned building on the east side of Boston Street will soon be occupied by ImprovMania’s team of comedians as the space is transformed into a new entertainment venue between SoHo63 and Inchin’s Bamboo Garden. Last month, City Council authorized a purchase agreement, selling the empty building to ImprovMania for an appraised value of $460,000. The city put out a request for interested parties in 2020 and received five proposals from various organizations. An evaluation committee vetted the applicants and made ImprovMania an offer to move into the space by the end of 2021. ImprovMania owners Dave and Colleen Specht said they have long wanted to find

ImprovMania owners Dave and Colleen Specht, accompanied by their children Keegan, 11, and Molly, 8, are thrilled with the comedy theater's new venue in downtown Chandler. (Pablo Robles/Arizonan Staff Photographer)

a permanent home for their theater and the city’s proposal seemed like the perfect match for that goal. “We’ve always liked downtown Chandler,” said Dave Specht. “We just didn’t think it’d ever be possible to actually own anything down there.” The property was originally acquired by the city years ago as part of its plan to redevelop and revitalize downtown. Starting in the early 2010s, the opening of a new City Hall attracted new development and the city saw vacancy rates starting to decline. The relocation of ImprovMania to a position situated within walking distance of restaurants could help the city fulfill its goal in turning the entire downtown area into a regional entertainment destination. The city wanted to give pedestrians more incentives to cross Arizona Avenue, Specht said, so ImprovMania could potentially become the impetus to get

see IMPROV page 17

Vacation Watch Program If you are planning a vacation, don’t forget to let the Chandler Police Department in on your plans. When a resident of Chandler goes on vacation, the Police Department can offer extra patrols to check on your property. Submit your request at least a week prior to your absence. Complete and submit the Vacation Watch form at ChandlerPD.com/vacation-watch.

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

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Michelle Mac Lennon, general manager of the Chandler Center for the Arts, is looking forward to seeing its 1,500-seat auditorium packed after the long audience drought created by the pandemic. (Pablo Robles/Ari-

zonan Staff Photographer)

ARTS from page 6

have to mostly depend on single-ticket sales for its current lineup of fall shows. The center will be seeking out some grants to help cushion any shortfall, she added, but competition will be high for any relief funds distributed by the federal government. Earlier this year, new legislation passed by Congress allotted $16 billion to a grant program that would specifically aid theaters and musical venues impacted by the pandemic. To qualify for the program’s first tier of grant allocations, a theater needs to have lost at least 90 percent of its gross revenue during the pandemic. Theaters with smaller revenue losses must wait two weeks or longer before applying for grant funding. Even though Chandler’s theater lost the majority of its revenue last year, Mac Lennan said it’s still not enough to satisfy the government’s initial eligibility requirements. “We lost 85 percent of our revenues last year,” she said. “It’s just devastating.” The center had been in a comfortable financial position before the pandemic, which Mac Lennan believes will help the organiza-

see ARTS page 13

Let the show begin

The celebratory concert series will begin July 23 and features bands of Motown, classic rock, jazz, blues and modern-day pop on the main stage at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250. N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. Bands include Notes From Neptune (July 23), Kim Weston Jazz Quartet (Aug. 6), Sandra Basset Motown Review (Aug. 13), Big Pete Pearson (Aug. 20) and Marmalade Skies (Aug. 27). The Summer Concerts will have limited capacity so the public is encouraged to RSVP at chandlercenter. org/summer2021. All seats are free of charge with general seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open one hour prior to show time. For those who wish to have a front-row experience from home, each concert will be live-streamed. RSVP for the fun at chandlercenter. org/summer2021. Each summer concert will feature exclusive flash ticket sales for upcoming performances and attendees can explore The Gallery at CCA to view Take a Hike, an exhibition inspired by Arizona’s incredible parks, trails and public lands. Exhibition runs through Aug. 14.

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

ARTS from page 12

tion endure the unstable months ahead. Regular patrons have remained loyal to the center throughout the pandemic by making generous donations and quickly purchasing tickets to upcoming events once they became available. “The sales look encouraging,” Mac Lennan said. “I think people are really excited about coming back.” Located in the heart of downtown Chandler, the center has long been considered one of the city’s crown jewels. The theater was built about 30 years ago through a partnership between the city and the Chandler Unified School District. The facility was built large enough to be utilized by both students and adults. Programming is managed by a separate nonprofit entity led by Mac Lennan, but the city is still responsible for keeping up with the facility’s maintenance and capital expenses. Mac Lennan said this unique partnership has proved to be beneficial to the center during the pandemic, since her nonprofit didn’t need to worry about a

substantial amount of operational costs. The center has earned a reputation as an institution that has almost always operated in the black and kept its doors open for the community. During the darkest days of the Great Recession, the center still found a way to weather through the economic downturn and continue offering programming. Mac Lennan said her staff has learned during the pandemic what the center’s vulnerabilities are and will begin to rethink how they can be more adaptive to a business model that doesn’t rely solely on in-person programming. This year could be the beginning of a “hybrid” era for the performing arts, she said, that might include continued dependence on virtual platforms to deliver events to homebound patrons. There will always be a demand for live entertainment, Mac Lennan added, but the method in how theaters deliver entertainment may begin to look different in the future. “I don’t think anyone knows the longterm impact,” she said. “No one’s ever done this before.”

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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)

Must be 21 years old and over. Must not be barred or excluded to participate. Must be present to win. Management reserves the right to alter or cancel this promotion at any time. See Apache Legends Players Club for more details and rules. Same-day base points required.

CITY NEWS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

Fed funds offer extra help to local nonpro�its BY KEVIN REAGAN Arizonan Staff Writer

handler’s nonprofits can expect to receive an extra $738,000 from the city this year thanks to federal funds allocated by Congress to help municipalities recover from the pandemic. The American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joseph Biden earlier this year provided Chandler with $36 million to spend on reversing the pandemic’s negative impacts and the city has set aside some of the stimulus funds for local nonprofits. Each year, Chandler’s nonprofits apply for a chunk of money out of the city’s General Fund to serve vulnerable populations and the ARP allotment is being utilized to boost the available funds to support elderly residents, low-income children or individuals experiencing homelessness. Riann Balch, the city’s community resources manager, said Chandler annually receives requests for funds that are double the amount of money available.

A committee vets every nonprofit applying for assistance, she said, and the city will prioritize applicants that can satisfy Chandler’s most pressing needs. Last year, the city allocated $1.1 million to local nonprofits. The ARP allocation will enable it to award more than $1.8 million to 36 nonprofits for the fiscal year beginning July 1. “This year, we’re really fortunate to have some additional opportunities as well because of the way (City Council) has approved our expenditure of the American Rescue Plan Act,” Balch said. AZCEND, the Chandler-based organization that offers rental assistance and food boxes, will receive the biggest share – about $144,000. During the height of the pandemic, AZCEND doled out millions of federal relief funds to hundreds of Chandler residents in need of help paying their rent. AZCEND plans to use the extra ARP money to support programming that provides meals for seniors and helping low-income residents avoid homeless-

ness. “The goal is to provide short-term assistance to alleviate the immediate crisis and long-term support to help Chandler residents reach a higher level of stability,” AZCEND wrote in a statement about its programs. The Dignity Health Foundation will receive $63,000 to provide affordable dental care for low-income families. Another ARP fund recipient will be the Si Se Puede Foundation, which plans to spend $40,000 on mentoring students interested in pursuing careers in scientific fields. The ARP assistance will additionally be used to aid some nonprofits that have previously missed out on grant funding from the city or failed to receive the full amount of their request. Last year, the East Valley Jewish Community Center only got $18,000 from the city to support programming that services low-income children from singleparent households. The ARP funds have allowed EVJCC to get $75,000 this year for the program, as

well as an additional $35,000 to service homebound seniors and at-risk youth. A New Leaf, which operates a domestic violence shelter in the East Valley, will receive more than twice the amount of money it received from the city in 2020. About $10,000 of the ARP funds will be specifically given for A New Leaf to access a 24/7 hotline available to domestic violence victims. The free after-school programs provided by ICAN will be partially supplemented by Chandler’s ARP funds, allowing the nonprofit to get nearly $40,000 more than what the organization received last year. Junior Achievement of Arizona will be getting an additional $20,000 to teach financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills to Chandler’s students. notMYkid, a Scottsdale nonprofit offering mental health resources for local families, is expected to get an extra $10,000. FANS Across America has been award-

see NONPROFIT page 17

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

9 Chandler Scouts celebrate Eagle rank ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

oy Scouts Troop 283 of Chandler recently held a ceremony for nine of 13 Scouts who have earned their Eagle rank in the last 17 months Scoutmaster Ross Lemire said the boys achieved Scouting’s highest rank but celebrating their achievement individually was difficult because of the pandemic. While the troop met online or outside in person, Lemire said, it “had a difficult time being able to celebrate the greatest personal achievement in scouting.” On June 6, nine of the 13 Scouts gathered for a joint celebration at Chandler United Methodist Church, the troop’s charter organization, which only recently had opened its doors for inside services. Those whose achievement were celebrated June 6 were Scouts Ryan Lemire, Louis Stewart, Ethan Merritt, Xavier Dion, Dominic Cangemi, Austin Harris, Josh Morris, Liam Nance and Cody Kuring. The four other boys who earned the

Eagle Scouts in Troop 283 of Chandler, led by Scoutmaster Ross Lemire, were honored at a recent ceremony include, from left: top row: Ryan Lemire, Louis Stewart, Ethan Merritt, Xavier Dion and Dominic Cangemi; bottom: Austin Harris, Josh Morris, Liam Nance and Cody Kuring. Not pictured are four other troop members who also earned Eagle rank in the last 17 months: Joey Vullo, Jake Black, Nathaniel Miles and Suhan Kachiola. (Special to the Arizonan)

Eagle rank were Joey Vullo, Jake Black, Nathaniel Miles and Suhan Kachiola.

“Many of these Scouts have been in Scouting since they were 5-year-old Cub

Scouts,” Lemire said. “In addition to the skills, merit badges, and leadership positions each Scout had to complete for their previous six ranks, for the Rank of Eagle, the thing that truly sets this apart is the requirement for that Scout to plan, organize and lead a service project in their community. “Community service is a core value of Scouting and those from Chandler have likely viewed this Troop’s handy work at Veteran’s Oasis Park repairing erosion, removing reeds from the streams, building sections of the community garden and building trails.” Lemire said COVID-19 forced the boys to get creative. One organized volunteers to make thousands of masks “while another started collecting technology hardware for recycling, but ended up rebuilding a few hundred laptops that were given to students who need laptops to support required online classes.” “If you happen to visit the Chandler

see SCOUTS page 17

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SCOUTS from page 16

Railway Museum,” Lemire added, “you will see at least four different Eagle projects that Scouts planned and led to earn their Eagle rank. In all, the service projects led by these Eagle Scouts resulted in over 1,600 hours of community service from over 150 volunteers.” Here’s a look at what the nine who were honored this month did to learn Eagle rank. Ryan Lemire, the son of Ross and Kelly Lemire and on his way to start his freshman year at Chandler Gilbert Community College, collected 1,001 pounds of computer and electronic parts for AZStRUT (Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology) for proper recycling and re-

POLICE from page 8

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 understanding with employee associations.”

NONPROFIT from page 14

ed $20,000 more this year to stock up its charitable bank of clothing, school supplies and hygiene products. Some of the city’s new grant recipients

IMPROV from page 11

downtown’s patrons to explore more of the area. “One of the things Chandler wanted to do was get the public across the street,” he said. “We’re basically expanding the footprint that visitors to downtown Chandler walk.” ImprovMania first opened at its present location near Arizona Avenue and Frye Road in 2014 and gradually built up a loyal following of patrons. Every Friday and Saturday night, the Spechts and their squad of improvisers could be seen making up characters on the spot, encouraging audiences to laugh with unscripted vignettes.

furbishing and fixing up 100 laptops for student use. “Giving students access to the internet is crucial now more than ever seeing as almost all schools have switched to an online format during the pandemic and my project helped these children continue their education,” Ryan explained. Xavier Dion, son of Misty and Matthew Dion, made cloth masks for Banner Health at a time when masks were hard to get. He collected materials for the masks at various collection points, provided instructions for making them and then packaged them for delivery to the hospital. Noting he hopes to attend medical school in the future, Dion said he undertook the project “because I saw a great

17 CITY NEWS

need in the community” and wanted to help frontline workers. Josh Morris, the son of Nikki and Shawn Morris and a Seton Catholic junior, planted 27 trees and made three park benches at Mountain View Park after collecting $2,000 in donations for materials. “I really like trees and the environment,” he said. Austin Harris, son of Scott and Michelle Harris, made a custom mailbox for Chandler United Methodist Church, where he and the rest of the troop meet. Dominic Cangemi, a Casteel High ninth grader and the son of Anthony and Jessica Cangemi, also worked on the church, building an ADA-compliant pathway. Cody Kuring built five doghouses for the Pinal County Animal Shelter.

Ethan Merritt, son of Chip and Ginga Merritt and an incoming Arizona State University freshman, sanded, washed and painted a sugar beet train car at the Arizona Railway Museum. Liam Nance, the son of Kim and Chris Nance, also worked on a project for the museum, making informational signs because “the railway system that covers Arizona has very interesting history” and “I wanted to cover a small portion of it.” Louis Stewart, son of Michael and Deidy Stewart and starting his freshman year at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, also made signs for the signals at the museum. Boys interested in joining Troop 283 can write to join@aztroop283.trooptrack.email.

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 re-

maining 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.

ImprovMania slowly built up a brand in Chandler, Specht said, as a go-to spot for all types of comedy and performing arts. As their brand became more prominent around the Valley, the Specht’s theater started branching out to new projects and opportunities. But the pandemic forced a slew of challenges the Spechts had never encountered. Once their theatre was closed by a statewide shutdown order, the Spechts transitioned to comedy shows online and asking their local fanbase for donations. Money generated by those fundraisers helped ImprovMania make its lease payments on its current space throughout the pandemic.

The theatre’s youth program also transitioned to a digital format and continued producing online shows for its dozens of young acting students. After seven months of closure, ImprovMania reopened last October for smallscale, in-person shows and cautiously began to return to normal operations. Specht said the Boston Street location could offer some new opportunities by providing a space with a different layout and open floor plan. The theater’s current space has a small lobby that doesn’t allow for much mingling between performers and patrons. Specht said the new venue has a more inviting atmosphere that has space for serving drinks and a small menu.

The new location also allows for spectators to wander in off the street and get a taste of what ImprovMania has to offer, he said. “We’re going to have it a little more open during the evening and maybe the afternoon,” Specht added. The Spechts will be spending the next few weeks planning a robust performance schedule that will make room for visiting acts to utilize ImprovMania’s new stage. The couple still intends to continue using their current space as a rehearsal space for their youth theatre or hosting its many improvisational classes. “We have plenty to keep both spaces busy and occupied,” Specht said.

include Desert Sounds Performing Arts, Read On Chandler, and Cece’s Hope Center. Balch said the city wants to use a portion of the ARP funding to support nonprofits that have traditionally not been able to receive financial assistance from

the city in previous years. The city plans to offer up to $10,000 to organizations that are relatively new or offer a unique service that have gotten overlooked by the city, Balch said. “Our goal is to help them serve the

best that they can,” she added. The city plans to spend the rest of its ARP allocation on improving staffing levels for the Chandler Police Department, new public infrastructure and upgrading street lights.

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

19 COMMUNITY

Teen volunteer group offers summer camps ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

new volunteer organization for high school and middle school that recently descended on Desert Breeze Park in Chandler to spruce up the site also is offering an array of virtual summer camps. The young students belong to iReach, which aims “to provide a flexible platform for volunteers to develop responsibility, confidence, leadership, and communication skills through a variety of community services programs,” spokeswoman Sherry Xiao said. “We are a group of students who want to serve our community,” said iReach President Frank Liu, a 10th grader at BASIS Mesa. “We provide a platform to children and teens who have the same ambition – to serve the community and

Core members of iReach include, from left: front row: Joanna Dong, Elizabeth Ovelil, Sophia Lin, Daniel Yang; Back: Frank Liu, Edward Zhang, Aidan Lin, Wing Wang. (Courtesy of iReach)

improve ourselves while doing that.” Liu said the group welcomes any student who wants to dedicate time to volunteer and make an impact in their community. iReach team chose Chandler Adopt-APark program as one of its first activities by committing to spend time at Desert Breeze once a month. During their inaugural clean-up last month, 20 students and several parents teamed up to pick up trash, clean tables and do other tidying up work at the park. This will be a monthly activity for iReach and Xiao said she is hoping more volunteers are going to join them in the future at the park. iReach also has volunteers offering one-on-one tutoring programs.

see CORE page 21

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

ot every kid may dream of becoming a CEO some day, but 11-yearold 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

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)

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 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 allaround creativity.”

see CEO page 21

COMMUNITY

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

30 new Chandler grads named Merit Scholars ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

he 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;

• 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.

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 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,” 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 brothers. 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, 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 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.

Tempe Union salutes Chandler teen for her work ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

n 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, slat-

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 the Arizonan)

ing 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 Mountain 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

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21 COMMUNITY

Left: Weston Thomas titled this picture, which got honorable mention in the contest, “Bird Attack Bird.” middle: Arnav Ved took this picture of three avocets at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve. (Arnav Ved) Right: Arnav Ved won $1,000 for his third-place finish in the nature contest.

2 teen photogs have winning contest entries “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. “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 DSLR for the winning shot. 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 behind some great partnerships.”

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academics, in turn helping their parents to focus on their jobs and raising the family, and this enables our community to thrive.” iReach also has rolled out free online summer camps with sessions on investment and finance, science, civics, Spanish, music, dance, tennis, physical education and other subjects. Science tutors are the students who have participated in national level com-

petitions in the field. The tutors will have games, videos and interactive lessons in any area of science-related subjects ranging from astronomy and genetics to immunology and anatomy. Elizabeth Ovelil is a ninth grader with a passion and interest in civics, Xiao said, who is leading a team of three students to run a civics camp for young students this summer. “Everyone in our community should learn civics to understand our commu-

nity better and become a better citizen,” Elizabeth said. For those who are in sixth grade and up, iReach will have a summer camp on public speaking that will focus on skills like vocal variety and body language with the goal of making participants more confident as speakers. To learn more about other camps, or get involved in the group’s volunteer work, see ireachus.org.

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ings, 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.

ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

wo Chandler photographers had winning entries in an Arizonawide 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.

“If a student faces challenges on any subject, iReach will be able to help find a tutor to work directly with the student,” Xiao said. “The tutoring sessions can be customized according to the tutor and tutee’s availability and needs. “iReach team members believe that they can help every student in need in our community to gain confidence in

She also got to present her own idea for a Crayola Experience attraction: 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 offer-

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

BUSINESS

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

Valley could be heading for post-pandemic office glut BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

s the pandemic appears to be giving way to a semblance of normality, the world of commercial office space is anything but normal. Just ask Jay S. Kramer, an experienced real estate and finance attorney. As Fennemore’s commercial transactions section director, Kramer has counseled numerous commercial and industrial developers, national and local homebuilders, planned community developers as well as financial institutions. These days, as companies recall workers from their home offices or look at what post-pandemic work sites might look like, Kramer sees many employers asking themselves, “What now?” Owners of big office complexes also are wondering the same thing. “What now?” is only the beginning of a cascade of questions reflecting the uncertainty of post-pandemic office life. “I think we’re all kind of focused on the same type of issues,” Kramer said: “How do you return to the office? Are we ever going to have 100 percent work from home? 100 percent at the office? Or some type of a hybrid approach. How do we retain and recruit employees in either a hybrid or work-from-home environment? How do we develop a sense of community, camaraderie or whatever kind of firm togetherness? “Those are the kind of large issues that everybody is grappling with,” he said. The pandemic brought a new sensibility to office workers that can’t be undone with a simple directive, Kramer suggested. Thanks to the virtual office environment, qualified employees often have more options since they can seek jobs at companies hundreds of miles away without ever thinking of moving. Kramer sees no one-size-fits-all an-

Attorney Jay Kramer of the Fennemore law firm said employers are asking a lot of questions as they ponder future office rental needs. (Courtesy of Fennemore) swer to the myriad of issues that the pandemic has raised for employers who inhabit large swaths of office space in many parts of the Valley – and the country. For some employers, he said, the questions include: “How do you make offices places where people want to come?” and “How do we make the office more enticing?” Others are grappling with how they can provide a comfortable environment for workers who want to alternate work time between home and office. “One thing that we’ve been talking about for a long time is hoteling, where you have offices that you reserve,” Kramer explained. “But I think a lot of people feel their office is almost like a second home. They want to make it more personal. They’ve got papers all over the place and pictures of their family and what-have-you. “So the idea that every day you’ve got to pack up your stuff and either take it

home with you or put it into a locker … that’s kind of disruptive.” Kramer said the fact that many employers discovered employees often are more productive working at home complicates the issue. Some workers might actually yearn to shed the sweat pants and head into an office at least a few days a week. “It’s really the younger people who crave having that office experience, where they can be mentored and trained and have those interactions,” he explained, “while lot of the older people who already have their connections and relationships may never come back to the office.” To some degree, employers may find themselves caught between a rock and a harder place. On the one hand, some employers may find it beneficial for team spirit to have all their workers in one place. Yet, team spirit may have to defer to other considerations, Kramer said. “You spend a lot of money training them and getting them familiar with your systems and so you’ve got to retain them. It seems to be just extremely difficult to do and not just because it is an employee market,” Kramer said. “It’s a challenge and it’s going to be a challenge for quite some time,” he said. Kramer also said many employers that carried empty office space on their books realized some benefits of a home-based workforce at least for a while since they could cut as much as 20 percent of other expenses, obtained increased productivity form workers and wound up with higher profits as a result. “I think short term is going to be a positive to the bottom line,” he said, noting that office expenses for supplies, food and even taking clients to lunch declined dramatically during the pandemic. But to lure employees back, Kramer said, employers and landlords may have some unexpected costs – like major remodeling.

“I think everybody’s looking for flexibility. One of the issues with flexibility is what a company is to do about office space,” he said. “Do you assume that you’re going to have 50 percent occupancy from where you are today? “And then there’s one school of thought that even though they’re going to let people in the office, the type of space that they have might have to be different. “Instead of people being in cubicles or in small offices, they’re going to want a lot more open spaces, more immersive – what I call Zoom rooms.” Landlords also may face some tough bargaining positions from their office tenants over “the typical legal issues in terms of lease negotiations,” Kramer said, noting employers likely will seek to cut lease expenses for parking and maintenance if they have fewer employees on site. “We spend a ton of money on parking but when there’s no reason to have a parking space for every employee, maybe you ask to take 50 percent or 40 percent of your spaces and save a lot of money,” he said. Overall, Kramer said, “companies are not going to want to give back some of those savings they saw in the pandemic.” What all this means for the Valley’s pre-pandemic office building boom depends somewhat on geography and the tenant, Kramer said, though he predicted, “There’s going to be a glut over some period of time.” While more companies move to the Valley and those that are already here continue to grow, that will hopefully reduce the inventory of available office space, he said. But absent the large employers like State Farm and Nationwide that are moving hundreds and even thousands of employees into a large complex, Kramer said, “I think you’re going to see a lot of problem office development.”

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COMMERCIAL from page 22

“I think maybe real estate brokers and commercial real estate people want to tell you that everything is going to be rosy and what have you, but it just seems that short term, everything I’m seeing is – all the discussion is about – how much space do we really need?” he said. “I don’t think there are going to be a lot of new projects that are going to start in the planning stage – ones that aren’t really saying they’re kind of ready to go. … We’re absolutely going to see a slowdown in office development.” He said Gilbert and Chandler may see modest office development as Intel ramps up its $20 billion Ocotillo campus expansion. “If you’re just looking at kind of speculative office construction for office workers – I don’t think you’re going to see much of that,” Kramer said. “But now, Scottsdale’s a good market, Tempe is a good market.” “I think the Camelback Corridor is still

23 BUSINESS

an area where people want to be, but even there, I think the rents are going to start dropping – the vacancy rates are going to go up there.” The bottom line, Kramer said: “When their leases are up, companies are going to downsize space and so that means we’ll have a lot of space available.” And downtown Phoenix, especially as a 4-year major overhaul of the Broadway Curve is looming in the near future? “I don’t know if people still want to be downtown,” Kramer replied. Information: fennemorelaw.com/ people/attorneys/k-n/ Intel’s massive $20 billion expansion of its Ocotillo campus likely will keep many existing office complexes in kramer-jay-s the area busy, Kramer said. (Arizonan file photo)

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

y 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.

SPORTS

Sports

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

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

hris 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 allcity 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. 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,

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 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 com- schemes, technique, (and) munity May 26. (Corey Cross Photography) how we can better ourselves as a team,” Neher said. “No one will understand how much Chandler wouldn’t have won champion- improvement of one of his players or the ships if it weren’t for Chick. Garretson offensive line as a whole. Or he would you did for us. RIP to THE greatest (ofagreed. rave about one of Chandler’s skill play- fensive line) coach in AZ.” Kyion Grayes, a soon-to-be senior for “He is the best in-game run coordina- ers or defensive linemen they had troutor I have ever been around,” Garretson ble blocking in practice. But there were the Wolves, thanked Chick for all he had said. “He’s a guy who really knows how times, however, where he simply wanted done for the team. “This one hurt,” Grayes said. “Rest easy to dissect a run-game while in a game, to learn more about whoever he was coach Chick you will be missed thank which isn’t easy to do. Shaun’s com- speaking to. ments were spot on. We don’t win those He always took the time to get to know you for everything.” Garretson said he and the rest of championships without Chick. He was a those he came into contact with on a big part of those six titles.” personal level, which is one of the main the Chandler football community will Chick’s legacy will undoubtedly in- reasons he was beloved by his players, mourn the loss of Chick together and volve more than just his accolades on coaches, parents and even at times, op- move forward with his legacy forever on their minds and in their hearts. the football field as both a player and ponents. “He will be missed, there’s no quescoach. He went out of his way to make “I’m so heartbroken to hear of your everyone – including members of the passing,” Saguaro defensive line coach tion,” Garretson said. “Our hearts are media – feel welcome. A simple, ‘hello,’ Kyle Caldwell wrote. Caldwell coached broken, and we are going to support would often turn into a long, heartfelt the Sabercats alongside Chick. The two each other as a community and try to move ourselves forward.” conversation about whatever was on his grew close during their time together. Chick is survived by his father, Bill. Fumind that day. “So many great memories together. Often times, he would gush over the Such an impact you made when it came neral arrangements are still underway.

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15th

IT IS UP TO ALL OF US TO PREVENT ELDER ABUSE

aaaphx.org 24-Hour Senior HELP LINE

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GET OUT

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Chandler singer combines country, gospel BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE Staff Writer

handler 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.

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

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 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

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Chandler thespians go before live audiences BY KATY SPRINGER Contributor

t’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 1726 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

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) 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 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,”

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

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SINGER from page 26

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 head, we can accomplish anything,” she said. He wants her music to help people in their struggles and remind them to “keep on walking” with God. The daughter of a pastor, Towns grew up in Alabama and was already singing in her father’s church at age 4. She heard and sang old southern hymns and upbeat contemporary country Baptist songs, realizing how country and gospel music were intertwined. Eventually, a local country music television show invited her to become a 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 Twain. Wilson produced her first four songs. She then had several more television appearances and was the first Black female country recording artist to appear on the “Live From L.A. Show” on the BET Network. Two other major country western producers worked on five more songs with her. They were, Jim Cotton, who has produced songs by Billy Ray Cyrus, Alabama, Montgomery Gentry, and Harold Shedd, who produced for Alabama, Toby Keith, Billy Ray Cyrus and Shania Twain. Despite accolades and her renowned 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.

MATILDA from page 26

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 actors who could bring these over-the-top 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 – 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.

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 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

said Garner. “My goal is for the audience 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 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

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Deloitte Consulting LLP seeks a Senior Solution Specialist, Customer & Marketing, Human Services Transformation in Gilbert, AZ & various unanticipated Deloitte office locations & client sites nationally to drive software development and implementation services to help companies unlock the value of big technology investments, ranging from requirements to architecture, design to development, testing to deployment, and beyond as discrete services or comprehensive solutions. 15% travel required nationally. Telecommuting permitted. To apply visit https://jobs2.deloitte.com/us/en. Enter XBAL21FC0521GIL3839 in “Search jobs” field. EOE, including disability/veterans.

Employment General

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN - FT HIRING NOW Exp'd general Maintenace, multi-task, responsible, flexible. Bckgrnd check Req'd Viewpoint RV & Golf Resort 8700 E. University DR - E. Mesa Apply within, fax 480-373-5757 or email viewpoint@equitylifestyle.com

HUMAC, Inc has openings for the following positions in Phoenix, AZ and/or client sites throughout the US. Must be willing to travel/relocate. IT Engineer reqs US Masters/equiv or bachelors + 5 yrs exp to design/dev/test systems/apps using Java/J2EE/HTML/CSS/Unix/Windows. IT Analyst reqs US Bachelors/equiv (3 or 4 yr degree) to test/maintain/monitor systems/programs using SQL/Oracle/Java/Hadoop/Unix. Send resume to jobs@humacinc.com with ref # 2021-19 for IT Eng; 2021-21 for IT Analyst & ref this ad

Community Care Health Network, Inc. d/b/a Matrix Medical Network seeks Sr. Developers, for Scottsdale, AZ to design & develop complex sw apps. Master’s in Comp Sci/Comp Eng/relevant Eng field+2yrs exp OR Bachelor’s in Comp Sci/SComp Eng/relevant Eng field+5yrs exp req’d. Req’d skills: Java; J2EE; PL/SQL; Windows; Spring; Spring Boot; Jboss; SOAP UI; XML; Jenkins; UNIX; SPLUNK; Weblogic; App Dynamics; Apache; Tomcat; Websphere; JSP; SVN. Background check & drug test req’d. Send resume to J. Meland REF:RM 9201 E. Mountain View Road, Suite 220, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Renesas Electronics America, in Tempe, AZ is in need of: Anlg Engr (job#VJ0409) Perf des, sim, & lyt of indus-leadng hi-perf timng prdcts. Refer to job#. Apply: us-hr-staffing@dm.renesas.com

Employment General

IPL/Leaktite West a leading North American manufacturer of injection-molded plastic products. Come and Join our Production Team as a Machine Assembler. 12 Hr. Shifts, $14.94/Hr. No Experience Necessary! Must have the ability to assemble product parts, follow directions and work as a team! If you are reliable, have good attendance and the ability to work in a fast paced manufacturing environment then Apply Today in person at 105 S. 41st Avenue Suite # 200, Phoenix AZ 85009 or you may also apply by calling 480-524-0975.

OUR JOB BOARD HAS THE TALENT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR. FIND THE BEST TALENT. EASILY POST JOBS. COMPETITIVE PRICING AND EXPOSURE More info: 480-898-6465 or email jobposting@evtrib.com

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IMMEDIATE OPENINGS MAAX Spas is hiring

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Pets/Services/ Livestock

Air Conditioning/Heating

Adorable Playful Kittens For Sale.

Repairs Installations Tune-ups

Motorhomes/ RVs 1 BR Park Model. 55+ Community In Mesa Spirit Space M34. Laundry Mat. Swimming Pools. Activities. Large Driveway. Unfurnished. Year Round Rental. $1100 / Month. Call 805-312-1991

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Classifieds 480-898-6465

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480-671-0833

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Real Estate

For Rent Apartments 2 Bedroom 1 Bath Apt by Gilbert & Main in Mesa Laundry, covered parking & patio $1050 Nick 480-707-1538

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Real Estate for Sale Manufactured Homes

THE LINKS ESTATES Why Rent The Lot When

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Appliance Repairs

Drywall

Appliance Repair Now

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

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Concrete & Masonry

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480.266.4589 josedominguez0224@gmail.com Not a licensed contractor.

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• Panel Changes and Repairs • Installation of Ceiling Fans • Switches/Outlets • Home Remodel

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480-405-7588

www.ChandlerNews.com

Air Conditioning/Heating

• Serving Arizona Since 2005 •

ALL RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL Call Jim Endres 480.282.7932 Over 28 Years Experience • ROC #246019 Bonded/Insured

Fire/Water Damage/Restoration

ACTION CONTRACTING INC. SPECIALIZING IN

FROM THE UPPER 100’S

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CLASSIFIEDS Home Improvement

Garage/Doors GARAGE DOOR SERVICE East Valley/ Ahwatukee

Broken Springs Replaced Nights/Weekends Bonded/Insured 480-251-8610

Not a licensed contractor

Glass/Mirror

GLASS, MIRRORS, SHOWER DOORS

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

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THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

HOME REMODELING REPAIRS & CUSTOM INTERIOR PAINTING Move a wall; turn a door into a window. From small jobs and repairs to room additions, I do it all. Precision interior painting, carpentry, drywall, tile, windows, doors, skylights, electrical, fans, plumbing and more. All trades done by hands-on General Contractor. Friendly, artistic, intelligent, honest and affordable. 40 years' experience. Call Ron Wolfgang Pleas text or leave message Cell 602-628-9653 Wolfgang Construction Inc. Licensed & Bonded ROC 124934

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Handyman LLC

• Drywall Repair • Bathroom Remodeling • Home Renovations

• Electrical Repair • Plumbing Repair • Dry rot and termite damage repair

GENERAL CONTRACTOR / HANDYMAN SERVICES SERVING THE ENTIRE VALLEY

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All Estimates arethe Free Call: Marks Spot• for ALL Your Handyman Needs! Painting • Flooring • Electrical www.husbands2go.com

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Since 1999 dable, Quality Work BSMALLMAN@Q.COM 9 Quality Work Since 199

uce at 602.670.7038 t 602.670.7038

Ahwatukee Resident/ References/ Insured/ Not a Licensed Contractor

Hauling

Juan Hernandez

SPRINKLER

TREE

Drip/Install/Repair & Tune ups!

• Furniture • Appliances • Mattresses • Televisions • Garage Clean-Out • Construction Debris

Painting

Landscape/Maintenance

• Old Paint & Chems. • Yard Waste • Concrete Slab

TRIMMING

Not a licensed contractor

25 Years exp (480) 720-3840

25 years exp. Call Now (480) 720-3840

Irrigation

• Old Tires

HOME IMPROVEMENT & PAINTING Interior/Exterior Painting 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Dunn Edwards Quality Paint Small Stucco/Drywall Repairs

• Remodeling Debris

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Home Improvement Kitchen workspace a little dull and dark? Entertainment center needs some accent lighting? Specializing in low voltage LED lighting under and above cabinets, furniture, shelves -- anywhere you need additional light or want to feature.

EAST VALLEY ACCENT LIGHTING

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daveshomerepair@yahoo.com • Se Habla Español

General Contracting, Inc.

NTY

5-YEAR WARRA

480.654.5600

Voted #1

azirrigation.com Cutting Edge LLC • ROC 281671

Landscape/Maintenance

Irrigation Repair Services Inc. Licensed • Bonded • Insured

Specializing in Controllers, Valves, Sprinklers, Landscape Lighting, P.V.C. & Poly Drip Systems

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

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Bonded/Insured • ROC#153131

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www.irsaz.com

Plumbing

ROC# 256752 Insured/Bonded Free Estimates

Licensed • Bonded • Insured • ROC118198

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

ROC#309706

East Valley PAINTERS

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NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR

ALL Pro

T R E E

S E R V I C E

L L C

Prepare for Monsoon Season! LANDSCAPING, TREES & MAINTENANCE

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PLUMBERS CHARGE TOO MUCH! FREE Service Calls + FREE Estimates Water Heaters Installed - $999 Unclog Drains - $49

10% OFF

All Water Purification Systems Voted #1 Plumber 3 Years In A Row OVER 1,000 5-STAR REVIEWS

Bonded/Insured • ROC #223709

480-405-7099

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

Plumbing

31 CLASSIFIEDS

Roofing

HYDROJETTING

480-699-2754 • info@monsoonroofinginc.com

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MonsoonRooﬁngInc.com Licensed – Bonded – Insured – ROC187561

ROC 3297740

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

Pool Service / Repair

Juan Hernandez

Pavers • Concrete • Water Features • Sprinkler Repair

PPebbleOcracking, O L Plaster R Epeeling, P ARebar IR

Tiles, shingles, flat, repairs & new work Free Estimates • Ahwatukee Resident

showing, Pool Light out? I CAN HELP!

Call Juan at

480-720-3840 Not a licensed contractor.

602-471-2346

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF ADA MAGISTRATE DIVISION Case No. CV01-21-05715 SUMMONS AMANDA LYNN EVERLY, Petitioner, vs JOSHUA CAINE BURY, Respondent. TO: JOSHUA CAINE BURY, RESPONDENT You have been sued by Amanda Lynn Everly, the Petitioner in the District Court in and for Ada County, Idaho, Case No. CV01-21-05715. The nature of the claim against you is a petition for divorce with minor children including a division of community and separate property, child custody, and child support. Any time after 21 days following the last publication of this summons, the court may enter a judgment against you without further notice, unless prior to that time you have filed a written response in proper form, including the Case No., and paid any required filing fee to the Clerk of the Court at 200 W. Front St., Boise, ID 83702, telephone (208) 287-7080, and served a copy of your response on the Petitioner’s attorney at 1902 W. Judith Ln., Ste. 100, Boise, ID 83705, telephone (208) 344-8474. A copy of the Summons and Petition can be obtained by contacting either the Clerk of the Court or the attorney for Petitioner. If you wish legal assistance, you should immediately retain an attorney to advise you in this matter. DATED ____________ ADA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT By: _______________ Deputy Clerk Published: East Valley Tribune, June 13, 20, 27, July 4, 2021 / 39152

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Over 30 yrs. Experience

FALL SPECIAL! $500 OFF COMPLETE REMODEL! 25 Years Experience • Dependable & Reliable

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Public Notices

480-706-1453

Call us to place your ad online!

Licensed/Bonded/Insured • ROC #236099

480-898-6465

MORE CLASSIFIED ADS ONLINE! www.ChandlerNews.com

SEEING DOUBLE-FIND 10 DIFFERENCES

Roofing

aOver 30 Years of Experience

aFamily Operated by 3 Generations of Roofers! Premier Tile, Shingle & Foam Roofer!

Spencer 4 HIRE ROOFING Valley Wide Service

480-446-7663 CB

ANSWERS: 1 and 2 Unicorn tail is smaller and has lost his horn; 3 and 4 Mouse costume missing tummy fur and ears are different colors. 5 and 6 Ballerina has lost her crown and is barefoot. 7. Frog eyes are crossed 8, 9 and 10 King has 4 spots on fur trim, no stripe down center, and he’s missing his glasses.

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

THE CHANDLER ARIZONAN | WWW.CHANDLERNEWS.COM | JUNE 13, 2021

Arizona’s Resort-Style Home Builder

MASTER PLANNED CELEBRATED COMMUNITIES BY BLANDFORD HOMES

Award-winning Arizona builder for over 40 years. Blandford Homes specializes in building master planned environments with a variety of amenities, parks, and charm. You’ll find the perfect community to fit your lifestyle. A Stratford in Gilbert NOW SELLING

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Vintage Collection • From the low $500’s • 480-895-2800 Craftsman Collection • From the low $600’s • 480-988-2400

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E D

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C GERMANN

E Estates at Hermosa Ranch NOW SELLING

12 single-level homes on extra large homesites in the Citrus Groves of Northeast Mesa with 5- to 6-car garages plus optional RV garages and carriage houses • From the low $1,000,000’s • 480-750-3000

F Monteluna – Brand New Gated Community

in the Foothills of Northeast Mesa COMING LATE 2021

McKellips Road just east of the Red Mountain 202 Freeway • From the $600’s

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The Chandler Arizonian - 6.13.2021

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