November 2 - 15, 2013
www.SanTanSun.com
Fulton Ranch resident keeps Phoenix Suns players healthy BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
As a high school student in Manning, Iowa, Aaron Nelson didn’t exactly know what an athletic trainer did. But by the time he was in his early 20s, he was so engrained in sports that he was already
AWARD-WINNING TRAINER: Aaron Nelson was named Joe O’Toole NBA Athletic Trainer of the Year and the Trainer of the Year by the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association for 2009. Photo by Barry Gossage
working for the Phoenix Suns as a trainer. Now the Fulton Ranch resident serves as the team’s vice president of athlete care and head athletic trainer. Whether it’s a major injury or a stiff neck, the 43-year-old Nelson loves the challenges his position brings. “You never know what to expect,” Nelson says. “It’s not like a regular 9-to-5 job. Everything’s different every day.” Nelson, the brother-in-law of former Suns guard and current head coach Jeff Hornacek, is in his 21st year with the Suns. He spent seven years under the tutelage of Suns’ Ring of Honor member Joe Proski, before embarking on a 14-year-and-counting career as the head trainer. He says he appreciates the relationships that he has forged with Suns personnel. “I really enjoy all the people—the coaches, athletes, my staff,” Nelson says. “I have a really close relationship with my staff. Being able to interact with the players, the coaches and even management daily is probably the most fun part because it’s always different.” Included in his role are the SEE TRAINER PAGE 4
Joan Rivers helms Nov. 15 ‘Pain’ benefit at CCA BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Calling Joan Rivers in her Cleveland hotel room is like being thrown to the wolves—in a good way. “It depends on who’s calling,” Rivers says with a laugh, when the reporter asks for her. “No, I don’t think you can speak to me.” That is met with a hearty laugh from the legendary 80-year-old comedienne/actress. Rivers is set to entertain the crowd at the “Comic Pain Relief” benefit at 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 15, at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Rivers says it’s a cause that’s close to her heart. “Every time I look in the mirror I have pain, so I know exactly what these people are going through,” she says laughing. Seriously, though, she says she feels that the benefit for the Power SEE JOAN RIVERS PAGE 8
RELATABLE: Joan Rivers jokes she can relate to those in pain, “Every time I look in the mirror, I have pain, so I know exactly what these people are going through.” Submitted photo
Veteran shares time in Pacific BY TRACY HOUSE
Walk into Stan Fagerstrom’s office of his Sun Lakes home and the first thing you notice is the numerous books and trophies he has on the shelves. The walls are covered with articles and pictures and his desk in covered in papers. Take a closer look and you’ll see that some of those books are about fishing, and some of the articles are his commendations from World War II. He’s laid out a wellpreserved knapsack, a tiny Bible with a metal cover and two blue boxes on his desk. Fagerstrom is 90 years old; one of just over 1 million surviving WWII veterans. He’s welcoming and soft spoken, willing to talk about his experience as an army corporal stationed in New Guinea, in the Pacific Theater. A journalist and “Master Caster” fisherman, Fagerstrom has traveled the world demonstrating his angling magic. He began writing in high school and went on to college in Longview, WA. One year after Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1942, he enlisted in the army. “I took my basic training in Camp
Corp. Stan Fagerstrom, 1943. Submitted photo
Roberts, CA, and then they sent me to Fort Ord, CA. I was an instructor on the hand grenade range—which was a SEE WWII VETERAN PAGE 6
Fitness Challenge raises money for Children’s Cancer Network BY MEGHAN MCCOY
For the first time since the PITT Fitness Challenge’s inception, the “Saturday After Thanksgiving Workout” will feature vendors in the hopes of attracting more participants, as well as increasing donations for the Children’s Cancer Network. Brian Clark, a 22-year cancer survivor who was diagnosed with Leukemia ALL at age 11, started the PITT Fitness Challenge eight years ago as a way of raising money and giving back to the Children’s Cancer Network. “I do this out of the kindness of my heart because this is what people did when I was sick,” explains Clark, who owns PITT, located at 2150 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. “It’s something we like to do and continue every year.” To celebrate the challenge’s conclusion, the “Saturday After Thanksgiving Workout” on Nov. 30 is also held for participants and their friends and family to work out. “They can come and donate a $1 for a workout for an hour,” Clark says.
EXERCISE: The PITT owner, Brian Clark, left, shows client Tom Peck an exercise at the Chandler facility. Submitted photo
The get together will feature representatives from the Nike store, mascots from professional Arizona
F E AT U R E STO R I E S Meet and greet set for police chief finalists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5 Desert Roots Farm grows and delivers fresh veggies . . . . . . .BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 21 Rock The Block! celebrates the community on Nov. 9. . . . . .YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 32 Music bar and eats are bringing Nabers back. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . . . .Page 53 Song and stage reflect the season. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 65
SanTan Family Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Center Section
SEE FITNESS CHALLENGE PAGE 5
More Community . . . . . . 1-20 Business . . . . . . . . 21-31 Youth. . . . . . . . . . .32-38 Opinion. . . . . . . . . 51-52 Neighbors. . . . . . 53-64 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . 65-74 Spirituality . . . . . 75-78 Directory . . . . . . 79-80 Classifieds. . . . . . .81-82 Where to eat . . . 83-86