SanTan Sun News 12.18.22

Chandler Council quietly OKs small pay raise

BY KEN SAIN

Managing Editor

Most politicians are very careful when it comes to increasing their own salaries, especially since most people can’t give themselves raises and taxpayers cast a leery eye on politicians who do.

Chandler Councilwoman Christine Ellis is not most politicians.

“If you have a problem with us getting a small little raise, sit down with me,” Ellis said after attending one of the many city events she attends weekly. “I’ll explain it to you.”

Chandler City Council quietly pushed through a change that would give members small, automatic raises to match those given around the Valley at its Dec. 8 meeting. The raises will not start until 2025, after this term ends.

The item was on a consent agenda with 40 others and none of the members chose to highlight it during the Dec. 5 study session or the regular Dec. 8 meeting.

“This restoration will either be the same as city general employees receive in a [Cost of Living Adjustment] or what

is the current [inflation rate], whatever is lower,” Mayor Kevin Hartke wrote in an email.

Council is restoring this automatic increase after taking it out when members gave themselves a raise in 2016. It is a feature that is part of the city’s contracts with police and firefighters to ensure their salaries remain competitive.

The mayor blamed inflation.

“Chandler Council compensation has fallen significantly behind peer cities that we compare to with other employee compensation packages,” Hartke

wrote.

Chandler currently pays its vice mayor and council members $33,500 a year and its mayor $55,000. Based on information from the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, that puts Chandler above the average for the top 10 Valley cities.

Tempe, Scottsdale, Surprise, Gilbert, Peoria and Goodyear all pay their council members less.

In addition to their base pay, Chandler City Council members get a number of

Zora Folley mural commemorates a Chandler icon

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Perhaps the most fitting part of the mural the City of Chandler commissioned to boxing legend Zora Folley is that it’s in Southside Village, not too far from where Folley lived.

It’s not quite a stone’s throw away, but “a good golf swing,” said Peter Bugg, the city’s visual arts coordinator.

The city dedicated the large mural on the east wall of FLO Yoga & Cycle, 71 E. Frye Road, on Dec. 6, paying tribute to the man who won a Purple Heart fighting in the Korean War, fought Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight boxing crown, and was the first Black person to serve on the Chandler City Council.

Folley’s family was on hand for the dedication.

“I really appreciate the City of Chandler for honoring my dad today for his achievements and what he did to put Chandler on the map,” said Zora Folley Jr.

Bugg said this is the first public arts project in the new historic district of Southside Village since he started working for the city five years ago.

The mural is titled “Legendary” and was done by west Phoenix artist Giovannie Dixon. It took him about a month to paint, covering the entire eastern wall of the FLO Yoga & Cycle business.

It cost $20,000. Bugg said that the

CUSD stepping up its mental health services

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Chandler Unified School District is stepping up its efforts to address mental health issues, partnering with three agencies to provide more services to students and staff.

CUSD officials are also meeting with a committee of parents, staff members and practitioners to determine future steps.

“We really wanted some practitioners

on there, because some of this isn’t in our area,” said Dr. Craig Gilbert, associate superintendent of pre-K-12. “We want to really make sure that we have intervention all the way to post-vention.”

After putting a request for proposals to mental health agencies, the district awarded contracts to the Hope Institute of America, LLC; Lighthouse Wellhealth, and Southwest Behavioral and Health

Giovannie Dixon’s mural honoring Zora Folley can be found on the east wall of FLO Yoga & Cycle, 71 E. Frye Road, Chandler. (David Minton/ Staff Photographer)

Junior defensive back DJ Jaiman and junior defensive end Jack Bleier were flying high along with the rest of the Basha Bears Dec. 11 as they held off the Saguaro Sabercats to capture the Open Division title. For details, see Sports on Page 38. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

other benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, vision.

• Employee Assistance Program membership.

• City-paid basic life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment totaling $50,000.

• Eligible to enroll in voluntary life insurance.

• Able to contribute in a 457(b) plan with no city match.

• Retirement Health Savings Plan city contributions only while serving in their elected capacity. Eligibility for years of service for City Retirement Health Savings deposit if retirement commences at end of their term.

• Paid short-term disability as well as long term disability through the Elected Official Retirement Plan administered by the state Public Safety Personnel Retirement System.

• Retirement through the Elected Official Retirement Plan administered through the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System.

The mayor gets use of a city vehicle. Council members must use their own personal vehicles. All council members receive a city-issued cell phone and laptop during their time in office but do not get a stipend for their personal cell phone.

Each council member also has a $7,500 budget they can direct for attending meetings, travel in official capacity, etc. That money is split in half in an election year, such as this one, and shared by the outgoing and incoming members.

Council members also have up to $450,000 to spend collectively on projects around the city to help improve quality of life. These items are voted on by the entire council.

Ellis argues the small increase approved this month is not enough and has urged fellow council members to consider voting for another increase.

“I put in more than 60 hours a week,” Ellis said. “Staff call us 24/7. Anything happens in the city, we get a phone call, even if it’s after midnight. My husband is saying, ‘Where are you?’ because I’m here, working.”

She said there’s much more to the job than attending two to four council meetings each month. She said council members are ambassadors for the city, many work on state or national committees, and they are always dealing with

their bosses, the citizens of Chandler.

“The other day, I had a father call me who was very much saying ‘Hey, my son is having a little bit of a hard time’ and things like that. ‘Can you talk to him?’ Boom, I have him on the phone as a council member trying to explain to him some stuff.”

Council last raised its pay at the end of 2015 and early in 2016. Current Vice Mayor Terry Roe was the only member who voted against it. It raised a council member’s salary by about $3,000 and the mayor’s by about $4,500 per year.

In 2008, the council approved making annual salary adjustments for the mayor and members based on market-based fiscal year adjustments city workers received.

The repeal of that went into effect in 2020. Hartke said they repealed it then as a concession for getting the higher salary.

Now, he wrote, that with inflation and Chandler being less competitive with other cities, they have fallen behind and putting the adjustment back in is needed to address both concerns.

No item for a bigger increase to the salaries of the mayor or council has been put on the agenda.

But Ellis says she won’t quit pushing for one.

“This is not going to be [put on] the backburner,” Ellis said. “We’re going to have to do this, because understand this, we need people who love to do this, and they want to do it, but because they have to make a living, they can’t.”

For News Tips, Editorial Articles, Opinion or Classifieds, email is preferred.

CONTACT INFORMATION

MAILING ADDRESS 1990 W. Broadway Road Tempe, AZ 85282

TELEPHONE 480-348-0343 FAX 480-898-5606

NEWS EMAIL ADDRESS news@santansun.com

ADS EMAIL ADDRESS ads@santansun.com

WEBSITE ADDRESS www.santansun.com

PUBLISHER Steve T. Strickbine

VICE PRESIDENT Michael Hiatt

PUBLISHER EMERITUS Laurie Fagen ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jane Meyer jane@timespublications.com

Half the joy of the Holidays is hearing!

Half the joy of the Holidays is hearing!

Half the joy of the Holidays is hearing!

The season is full of the sounds of joyous celebration and traditions, old and new. Whether it is the laughter of children, voices of loved ones, a familiar carol or a worship service, we want to ensure you are fully included and active in the festivities.

The season is full of the sounds of joyous celebration and traditions, old and new. Whether it is the laughter of children, voices of loved ones, a familiar carol or a worship service, we want to ensure you are fully included and active in the festivities.

Give yourself the gift of better hearing this holiday! We’d like to invite you to come in for a Complimentary Preview of the newest in rechargeable hearing aids. These tiny hearing aids feature advanced technology designed to:

• Help you hear and understand conversations better

• Make loud sounds more comfortable while boosting soft sounds

The season is full of the sounds of joyous celebration and traditions, old and new. Whether it is the laughter of children, voices of loved ones, a familiar carol or a worship service, we want to ensure you are fully included and active in the festivities. Give yourself the gift of better hearing this holiday! We’d like to invite you to come in for a Complimentary Preview of the newest in rechargeable hearing aids. These tiny hearing aids feature advanced technology designed to: • Help you hear and understand conversations better

• Hear your TV and phone calls better

Experience You Can Trust

Give yourself the gift of better hearing this holiday! We’d like to invite you to come in for a Complimentary Preview of the newest in rechargeable hearing aids. These tiny hearing aids feature advanced technology designed to:

• Make loud sounds more comfortable while boosting soft sounds

• COMPLIMENTARY Hearing Aid Consultation.

• Help you hear and understand conversations better

• Hear your TV and phone calls better

At ABC Hearing we put your hearing and well-being first. ABC Hearing has over 25 years experience in the hearing industry. We are a family owned and operated business and will treat each person like family. Appointment times are limited, so call today!

Experience You Can Trust

• Make loud sounds more comfortable while boosting soft sounds • Hear your TV and phone calls better Experience You Can Trust

Hear for the Holidays

At ABC Hearing we put your hearing and well-being first. ABC Hearing has over 25 years experience in the hearing industry. We are a family owned and operated business and will treat each person like family. Appointment times are limited, so call today!

At ABC Hearing we put your hearing and well-being first. ABC Hearing has over 25 years experience in the hearing industry. We are a family owned and operated business and will treat each person like family. Appointment times are limited, so call today!

Sanchez BC-HIS

You’re invited to join us NOW for the following Complimentary Services: • COMPLIMENTARY Hearing Screening • COMPLIMENTARY Hearing Aid Consultation.

Baywood Professional Square • 7165 E. University Dr., Building 17, Suite 167

• www.CanUHearWell.com

Financing Options Available*

Dawn

2022 brought many changes to Chandler

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

When 2022 dawned, the fate of a non-discrimination ordinance looked bleak and chickens were not allowed in most backyards in Chandler.

As the year ends, that picture has changed, along with the makeup of the Chandler Unified Governing Board and City Council and both city delegations to the Arizona Legislature.

Here’s a look back at some of Chandler’ big news stories from 2022.

Backyard chickens

City Council approved allowing most residential neighborhoods to have up to five hens in their backyards. That goes into effect, maybe, the first week of January.

However, a group of citizens has said they will collect signatures to force a referendum in a bid to overturn the Council’s decision. If that fails, they are hoping two new council members who will be sworn in on Jan. 12 will change the math and Council might revisit its decision.

Most homeowners associations ban wildlife from backyards, so the decision mostly impacts older neighborhoods. Chandler was one of a few Valley cities to ban chickens from residential homes.

It had been a long fight to overturn that. It started in 2013 where it fell one

vote short at a Council meeting. Outgoing Council member Rene Lopez made it a priority to get a change to allow backyard chickens before he left office.

Non-discrimination ordinance

Supporters of a non-discrimination ordinance were not hopeful when 2022 began. Council had mostly delayed, proposing studies and offering non-bind-

ing proclamations in the face of being the largest city in Arizona to not have a non-discrimination ordinance.

Then voters backed the council candidates who supported adopting a NDO. When the diversity, equity and inclusion study was complete, it became obvious if this Council did not support a NDO, then the next one would. That led to Council adopting a non-discrimination ordinance on a 6-1 final vote. Vice Mayor Terry Roe reversed his earlier vote to support it on the final vote.

Businesses that work with the city risk losing their contracts if they are found to discriminate against employees or clients.

Mental health crisis

The Chandler Unified School District community was rocked after three teen-age students took their own lives during a 10-day span in May. The district had already been planning to upgrade its mental health services before the deaths at Perry, Hamilton and Chandler high schools.

With the deaths came more pressure to act. A student group formed, Arizona Students for Mental Health, and became regular speakers at governing board meetings. The district put out a request for proposal and partnered with three mental health providers to improve its services.

Anthony Cano case

Newly-appointed Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell decided not to file charges in the Chandler police officer’ fatal shooting of Chandler High teen Anthony Cano.

The boy was killed after a confrontation with police at the start of 2021. He was riding his bike home from the Boys and Girls Club in the Galveston neighborhood when police officer Chase Bebak-Miller tried to pull him over.

Cano fled, running into a park. He was carrying a handgun and the officer said he fired when he saw the boy pull the

gun out of the waistband of his pants. The officer fired a second shot when the boy was face down on the ground.

“That second shot is hard to watch,” Mitchell said at a press conference announcing her decision. She said based on training, the officer thought he was in imminent danger when he fired the second shot.

New leaders

Chandler voters swept Angel Encinas and Jane Poston into City Council seats, replacing termed-out Rene Lopez and Terry Roe. They also reelected Mayor Kevin Hartke and Councilman Matt Orlando.

In the Chandler Unified School District election, voters chose Kurt Rohrs, who was endorsed by the Purple for Parents group that advocates parental rights. Patti Serrano was endorsed by liberals and progressives. Those two won a five-candidate race, defeated incumbent Lara Bruner, and challengers Charlotte Golla and Marilou Estes.

Both the Legislative District 12 and 13 delegations will see new faces next session as a result of General Election voting. In LD13, which includes Sun Lakes and south Chandler, Republican Realtor Liz Harris will join Repiublican Sen. J.D. Mesnard and Democratic Rep. Jennifer Pawlik. Longtime Rep. Jeff Weninger decided to run in the Republican primary for State Treasurer but was defeated. Pawlik was the only Democrat running for the two House seats and ended up leading all candidates in the election.

In LD 12, which represents northern and western Chandler, an all-woman Democratic ticket trounced the Republican all-male seat that included Roe’s bid to move from City Council, where he

Southside Village in Chandler became the city’s first historic neighborhood. (File photo)

was termed out, to the House of Representatives.

Rep. Mitzi Epstein moved into the Senate seat, replacing Sean Bowie, who opted not to seek another term, while Ahwatukee residents Patty Contreras and Stacey Travers – after defeating three men in the Democratic primary, hammered Roe and Chandler CPA James Chaston. Besides Bowie, Rep. Jennifer Jermaine opted to run instead for San Marcos Court justice of the peace, where she was the only candidate.

Landings project

A developer’s plan to build affordable housing apartments on Ocotillo Road ignited huge opposition.

Organizers said more than 3,000 people have signed a petition to oppose the Landings at Ocotillo project, which would be more than 500 apartments that would have the rent price controlled by the federal government

The developer is trying to build the project on a county island, unincorporated land that is inside the city’s limits. Because of that, the County Board of Supervisors have final say.

Micro-transit option

Chandler Flex gave South Chandler residents a new way to travel. The pilot program is being paid for by a grant and operates similar to an Uber or Lyft ride. Residents can call for a ride via a phone app. A van will meet them and take them to a transit center.

The service is free to students. The city offered free rides for all during a trial period, but is now charging $2 for

a ride.

Residents may have to walk a short distance to catch a ride, and they may have to share the van with others going in the same direction. But it’s an affordable way to get around an area with little bus service.

Ostrich Festival returns

The Ostrich Festival returned after its two-year suspension caused by the pandemic.

In 2022, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce expanded the festival to two weekends and had some big names appear as entertainment.

Chandler’s first historic district

The City of Chandler designated its first historic district, recognizing Southside Village. The area is where many African Americans and Latino Americans lived during the city’s early years.

Residents organized and pushed for the historic designation, which is mostly honorary. It does not limit what developers can build in the area south of Frye Road and north of Pecos and east of Arizona Avenue to the railroad tracks.

The area is home to some notable residents in the city’s history, including boxer Zora Folley.

Money rolls in

The City of Chandler was doing so well financially in 2022 it decided to make a $50 million payment to the state pension fund.

Most of that extra money was caused by the continued construction at the Intel Ocotillo plant. City officials say they usually see an increase in sales taxes during the construction, but realize those good times will end.

The city also put more money into its

budget, planning to hire additional police officers and improving other quality of life options.

Late in 2022, city officials warned the good times may be ending soon. In addi-

tion to the Intel expansion ending, inflation was increasing costs and the state legislature was threatening to take away some funding.

But that will be a problem for 2023.

The Ostrich Festival returned in 2022 after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. (File photo)

State panel urges 23 measures to help kids’ mental health

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Stating that “in Arizona, suicide is the leading cause of death for ages 10-14 and ages 15-25,” a special Arizona House task force has signed off on 23 recommendations to address the problem.

But Rep. Travis Gratham, R-Gilbert, co- chair of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Teen MentalHealth, told panel members those recommendations may not be adopted in the coming legislative session as quickly as they hope.

Telling the panel their work over the last three months ‘is not for nothing,” Grantham said:

“Everybody now is going to have to be patient and be happy with any victories we get out of these recommendations. I’m going to just tell you we’re a divided chamber here and across the yard. We have a new governor.

“There’s going to be a period of time and as we come down here in January and February, where we have to get our feet under ourselves and figure out what’s possible. And the lobbyists will come out, the special interest will come out, the representatives who have disagreements or agreements will come out and that’s my business. That’s what I volunteered for.

“And I’ll do my best to put as much of this forward as I can with other members’ help because I can’t do it all by myself. And I just want you all to know that

your work here matters and even something in here is the most important thing to you or this group doesn’t happen this year, it might very well happen next.

“These things take time,” he said, telling paneling members to “be patient, pray, watch, encourage” and speak on behalf of whatever measures do come before lawmakers.

The recommendations represent the culmination of hours of hearings by the panel, which comprised educators, a variety of medical and behavioral experts, social workers and others.

Oh What FUN It Is To Ride!!!!!

Other East Valley residents on the panel included Chandler educator Katie McPherson, a vocal advocate of improved mental health services; former Kyrene Governing Board president Bernadette Coggins; and Mesa Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Sally Harrison, whose 17-yearold son died by suicide.

Since September, the panel heard from a wide range of experts as well as from teenagers who either attempted suicide or know teens who completed it as well as from parents who lost or nearly lost children to suicide or other self-harm.

According to the 2022 report by the Arizona Child Fatality Review Team, 44 of the 863 deaths of people under 18 in Arizona in 2021 were suicides. It said warning signs existed in 68% of those suicides and the majority involved children 15 to 17 years old.

But various experts told the panel that suicides aside, more Arizona youngsters and teens face a variety of pressures –and substance abuse dangers – that have imperiled their mental and emotional well-being.

Pandemic-driven disruptions of their school life the last two years only intensified those pressures, according to a

report issued in May by the U.S. Department of Education.

“Many children and students struggle with mental health challenges that impact their full access to and participation in learning, and these challenges are often misunderstood and can lead to behaviors that are inconsistent with school or program expectations,” it said.

“The COVID-19 global pandemic intensified these challenges, accelerating the need to provide school-based mental health support and leverage our accumulated knowledge about how to provide nurturing educational environments to meet the needs of our nation’s youth.”

The House panel was created by outgoing House Speaker Rusty Bowers of Mesa, who asked it to return in December with potential solutions and recommendations to public and private agencies that address teen mental health issues.

Some of its recommendations involve unspecified amounts of additional funding, for a state-run Teen Mental Health Grant Program that supported school districts and nonprofits “for mental health first aid training, youth resiliency training, substance misuse awareness training” for adults and kids.

It also asked the Legislature to work with the Attorney General’s office to

www.A1GolfCarts.com

State Rep. Travis Grantham,. R-Gilbert, co-chaired a special House committee on teens mental health and warned panel members it may take time its recommendations to be adopted. (YouTube)

Services.

“We’re trying to bring availability to our community by making sure that, if at all possible, that we have the practitioners to do it,” Gilbert said. “It’s not just in person, but it can also be telehealth.

“That’s a huge piece right there. I think it’s a game changer, especially with the needs that we’ve been finding within our community.”

The district earlier this fall announced plans to spend $5 million to improve address mental health issues.

That includes adding more counselors and social workers to schools in addition to hiring the three agencies. Gilbert said the district still has money to spend.

“We’re just on the front end of spending,” Gilbert said, pointing out some of the counselors the district hired were paid for with state safety grants.

He said officials hope they have enough money to pay their three partners for at least two-to-three years – if not longer.

“When you look at, for example, the Hope Institute just needs to get started,” he said. “Our belief is once it gets started, it’s going to fund itself, because the goal for the money is really to help our students have the means and the resources.

“The goal is to try and make sure there’s no barriers for families to get support.”

The district started working on improving its mental health programs after three CUSD students took their lives in a 10-day span last May. Another CUSD student died by suicide at the start of this school year.

A student group, Arizona Students for Mental Health, formed to advocate for improved care. One of their demands was for students to have a voice, asking that they be allowed to stage a town hall to address students.

There have been no suicides publicized since the one early this school year. That doesn’t mean that everything is fine, Gilbert said.

He said not all parents want how their child died publicized.

“We have to take the approach that whether we’re hearing about it or not, we have to go with the premise that it’s happening and we have to make sure that we have these things in place,” he said.

Dr. Brenda Vargas, director of counseling and social services for the district, has been meeting with the committee of parents, staff and practitioners.

She said the pandemic put a strain on many families. But she said it’s too soon to tell if that added stress has lessened.

“It’s difficult to really come to a conclusion in regards to trends without doing proper research,” Vargas said. “You know, I don’t think it’s fair for us to make a conclusion based on just this year. We’re only halfway through.”

Gilbert said district staffers are listening to students’ concerns as well.

He said Natasha Davis, CUSD prevention coordinator, has been attending

club meetings and talking directly with students.

One of the ways they are responding to students’ concerns is to focus on LGBTQ students, who studies show are much more likely to consider suicide.

“One of the things that Miss Davis is going to be doing is she’s going to be reaching out in order to engage in those groups at the schools when they’re meeting for their clubs,” Gilbert said.

He said the district is currently training staff to start more clubs – such as the Bring Change to Mind at the high school level and Hope Squad for middle schoolers.

“We’re trying to expand the reach and seeing what we can do because we know that we hear the voices of the students that are coming, which we really appreciate,” Gilbert said. “But we’re also trying to figure out what voices are we not hearing that we need to reach out to.”

Gilbert said the main issue is deciding where the district’s three partners will need offices. The Hope Institute is new to Arizona and setting up offices for the first time.

SUICIDE

ensure that the millions Arizona will be getting for settlements of opioid-related lawsuits “are utilized appropriately for these specified purposes.”

It also urged the creation of a “community hub of information and support” that would address access to care, depression and mental illness; bullying and social media; and family support and substance abuse.

Some experts who testified before the panel earlier had urged such a hub, but also warned “it is not an easy lift” because it required coordination among a number of websites and social media platforms.

Among other information, the hub would address “different types of bullying, cyberbullying, social media impact and bullying behaviors for parents and students as well as strategies for students to mitigate incidents and timely reporting to school officials.” It also would provide an array of other information related to prevention, treatment and support.

The panel also called for increased financial support for crisis and in-patient services for kids, higher reimbursement rates from insurance companies and the state Medicaid program for providers because of their specialized training and their need to have longer children’s appointments because parents have to be involved at some point.

It also called for more financial incen-

tives that would encourage more college-bound students to consider careers in mental health programs serving children’s social and mental wellness.

It said school districts should obtain or create an app that assists in threat assessments and enables students to report safety issues or reach out for help on a 24/7 anonymous basis.

It also urged tax credit deductions for impatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs “to relieve financial burden for families: and state funding for districts to have at least one staff member who would “work with local coalitions and nonprofits to coordinate youth resiliency and primary prevention lessons and training.”

Co-chair and outgoing Rep. Joanne Osborne, R-Goodyear, conceded that the problem the committee had been tasked to address “isn’t a one-size fits-all situation.”

“This is an all-hands-on-deck,” Osborne said, and that finding solutions needs the involvement of parents, medical experts and educators, law enforcement and teens themselves. She pointed to the 400-page report the committee is issuing and ticked off a variety of actions that need to be taken not just on a governmental level but in homes and schools as well as by businesses.

“Those kids need to know you’re back there,” she said, adding:

“Those are the things that we need to be doing. There’s so many great people that are doing it but we need more of them to do it.”

MURAL

from Page 1

Chandler Arts Commission paid for half of it, and the National Endowment for the Arts paid the other half.

Dixon said he had never heard of Zora Folley when he first learned of the project.

“It’s such a good story, you know, and I’m like, ‘How did I not hear about this guy before?’” Dixon said.

He said he has noticed a trend to highlight more Black Americans who have made significant contributions to communities in recent years. David, who is Black, credits the Black Lives Matter movement, which he said helped him make the decision to become a full-time artist.

“Black Lives Matters is happening,” Dixon said. “I’m not really wanting to be out marching, so I wanted to do my service by going to walls, and you know, actually putting up a lot more Black figures. And so that’s kind of was like my battle cry at the time.”

Folley was born in Dallas in 1931 and moved to Chandler in 1942. He lived in a house across the street from where Harris Park sits today. Folley Park, which is much larger, is about a quarter of a mile farther East.

He began boxing as part of the military, winning championships there. He rose to become a sergeant in the U.S. Army, earning five battle stars and the Purple Heart.

As a pro boxer he won 79, lost 11 and had six draws. He got his shot at the championship against Ali in 1967 when he was 34. Ali, a notorious trash talker to hype up his fights, complained before fighting Folley that he was such a gentleman that he was finding it hard to say anything bad about him.

Folley was appointed to City Council

in 1972 but only served for a few months. He died that summer from a head injury at a Tucson motel swimming pool. Police ruled it accidental, but there has been some speculation about the circumstances that has persisted.

The owners of FLO Yoga & Cycle said they always wanted a mural on the side of their building, but didn’t know what to

put on it. They said they are thrilled with the result.

“I’ve seen a lot of people come by taking pictures with the mural, already interacting with it,” said Eddie Davis, one of the owners of FLO. “And that’s exactly what we want … to make this whole community walkable and we’re proud that we can be a part of helping build everything.”

Exceptional care Breakthrough caring

Introducing Evernorth Care Group. Our doctors and staff are talented medical professionals who keep you healthy with best practices and clinical expertise. They also know your kids’ and your pets’ name. That’s the reason 9 out of 10 patients recommend us.

It’s how we treat you better.

Evernorth Care Group is the medical practice division of Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc. All Evernorth Care Group services are provided exclusively by or through Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc. and not by Cigna Corporation. The Evernorth name, logo and other Evernorth marks are owned by Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc. © 2022 Evernorth

The family of Zora Folley stands with artist Giovannie Dixon in front of the new mural dedicated to Folley. He was a Korean War veteran, a professional boxer and Chandler’s first Black city council member. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Chandler man’s light show helps nonprofit help others

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

As a broadcast engineer, Chandler homeowner James Chalifoux likes tinkering with electrical stuff.

And as someone who likes to give back to his neighbors and community, he has constructed huge Christmas light and sound displays around his home since 2006 with thousands of lights, vintage blow-mold figures and synchronized music.

He dubs his display “Fouxlights.”

“I usually start right after Halloween,” Chalifoux said. “I am always out front, tinkering and adding new stuff.”

He said he spends about 100 hours each season setting up the display and noted that because of his job, “running wires and programming circuits comes second nature to me.”

More than five years ago, Chalifoux got another idea for merging his two passions: He asked people who came by to enjoy his display to bring a nonperishable food item and leave it in the box he puts in his driveway.

He then donates the collected items to AZCEND Chandler, a nonprofit that provides a variety of services to needy families with the mission of “alleviating poverty in our community.”

One thing that helped last year was the publicity he received in the Chandler Arizonan, he said.

“I actually started to cry Sunday morning when I found the box filled with donations. It was a Christmas Miracle,” he said. “I know this year even more families are struggling so I’m hoping for a second Christmas miracle.”

He said last year he collected over 316 pounds and hopes to hit 500 pounds this year.

Chalifoux is a big supporter of Chandler AZCEND, which helps people move from crisis to stability to prosperity with

services including food boxes, senior nutrition and activities, rent and utility assistance, homeless services, case management and family programming.

So if you want to enjoy a Christmas light show and help an organization that does a lot for the community, head over to 1075 W. Mulberry Drive, near the intersection of Willis and Alma School roads each night from 5:30–11 p.m.

Donations are accepted until New Year’s Day.

James Chalifoux of Chandler is big on Christmas lights – and on the work of AZCEND Chandler, a nonprofit that helps needy people. So he combined those two passions into a brilliant holiday lights display, inviting spectators to bring nonperishable food items for AZCEND.

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Growth doesn’t end quality of life, EV Partnership told

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

There was one over-arching message coming from the annual PHX East Valley Partnership meeting in Chandler on Dec. 8: You can have rapid growth and still maintain a high quality of living.

The group of business and other leaders in the region met at the Chandler Center for the Arts to hear how East Valley cities and towns are managing that balance. They also honored an individual and a business with the group’s legacy awards.

Trevor Barger, founder and CEO of Espiritu Loci and a principal with Arizona Strategies, was the keynote speaker at the event, and spoke of growing up in Gilbert when it had only a few thousand residents and was mostly farms.

He said that as the city continued to grow, his personal quality of life kept improving.

“We must continue our long tradition of a high quality of life while embracing growth,” Barger said.

He argued that with more development, came more parks, outdoor recreation, more restaurants, and more entertainment options. Barger said Arizona cities and towns have done an excellent job managing the growth, which continues to come.

He said even now the state adds about the population of Flagstaff (77,000) each year.

Joining him to make the case were four officials from cities and town that are in different stages of the growth cycle.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke and Gilbert Councilmember Scott Anderson represented communities that have already had their first phase of rapid growth and are now approaching buildout.

Representing the areas going through that first phase of rapid growth were Julia Wheatley, the mayor-elect of Queen Creek, and Bryant Powell, city manager of Apache Junction.

Powell said Apache Junction recently approved the development of 4 square

miles of land near the border of nearby cities.

“And so just a year ago, we annexed about 8 miles that meets up with Queen Creek, and about seven years ago in coordination with Queen Creek and Mesa, we established, without any fight, without any type of discomfort, or any type of disorganization, our boundaries,” Powell said.

He said they worked on their general plans together, coordinating where they want their jobs corridors to go. Powell said that helped convince the state that Apache Junction is ready to expand.

Wheatley said maintaining a high quality of life helps if people remember how they started and why people initially moved to a community.

“Keep that small-town culture whether you either just moved to Queen Creek, or you’ve been there some time,” she said. “Just keeping it true to what we are out there in Queen Creek.”

For the cities approaching buildout, officials said it’s important to keep

promises.

“We work hard at developing neighborhood parks,” Hartke said. “We continue to put money into those, and we make sure that the celebrations that make a community a community happen.”

Anderson said Gilbert still has room to grow and likely won’t reach buildout for another decade.

“We’re continuing to grow in the downtown, we have a new master plan for the district, the Heritage District,” he said. “And it just so happens that the growth in the district is going to occur on the two ends.”

The PHX East Valley Partnership honored Kevin Olson, a senior partner at Lewis Roca with its individual award, crediting him with being a major player in improving transportation throughout the East Valley.

For the business award, the Partnership honored The Boeing Company for its history of contributing to the community ever since it started operating in Mesa.

Chandler Council takes stand against housing project

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

The plan to build more than 500 affordable housing apartments in South Chandler may not be dead, but it suffered a serious blow this week during a City Council meeting last week.

The Council on Dec. 5 voted unanimously to back a resolution opposing the Landings at Ocotillo project that is expected to be considered by Maricopa County officials next month. The 7-0 vote puts pressure on Supervisor Jack Sellers, who represents the Chandler area on the board.

“We’re disappointed,” said Owen Metz, the senior vice president and project partner for the Mountain West Region for Dominium, the developer hoping to build the Landings project.”

The Council Chamber was filled with a standing-room only crowd, most of them there to oppose the Landings project. Opponents claimed to have collected more than 3,000 signatures on a petition.

“We need to recalibrate,” Metz said. “We already went through the 14 sites and I feel like we’ve done our due diligence, and then ... he told me we didn’t do our due diligence, it’s frustrating. It’s too bad that they made the decision.”

Metz said about half of the 14 sites city officials suggested as alternatives were 5 acres or less. The site they want to build on is 24 acres.

A couple of council members, Matt Orlando and Christine Ellis, criticized Dominium for not doing more to communicate with neighbors and work with the city. The 14 sites are alternative locations city officials suggested instead of building the Landings project on Ocotillo, just east of the railroad tracks near Arizona Avenue.

The city planning staff is already on record opposing the project. Council member Mark Stewart requested the resolution and vote to bring added pressure and in response to overwhelming calls from neighbors to do something more to oppose the project.

With Chandler approaching buildout (currently at about 93%), there are not many areas with 24 acres of available

land left. So, Dominium has few options.

The Landings project would comprise 518 units of affordable housing, something the city has said it is in desperate need of. The price for the units would be set by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department. Metz said they were hoping it would be starting at about $1,000 a month.

Rent.com says the average price of a studio in Chandler is $1,345, a one-bedroom $1,589 and a two-bedroom $1,985. Metz said the typical residents would be teachers, firefighters and others who are being priced out of living in Chandler.

The Landings units would be split into two types, 182 for senior living and 336 family units.

The leaders of the neighborhood group opposing the project say they don’t object to affordable housing. Their main issues are that it does not comply with the city’s master plan, or its airport plan and that it will increase traffic to an area that is already dealing with traffic problems.

Because this plot of land is an unincorporated area of Maricopa County, and not part of the city, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has the final say. Still, if it is built the Landings would rely on city services for water and trash, so their opposition is expected to play a role in the final decision.

Metz admitted in an interview before the Dec. 5 meeting that their project would increase more traffic than an empty field generates. However, he

said the traffic improvements their development would bring would likely be welcomed by the neighbors.

And, he argued, at some point something will be built there.

If it’s a warehouse there might be large 18-wheelers coming in and out of that location, which would also impact traffic.

Dominium Apartments is one of the largest developers of affordable housing units in the nation. The corporate headquarters are in Minnesota, but they have been operating in Arizona for years. They have built or have plans to build other complexes in Mesa, South Phoenix, Buckeye, Surprise and Chandler.

Two former Chandler seniors said it is needed in the city.

“I was a resident of Chandler for nine years, and I had to move out of Chandler a year ago when my rent went so high I couldn’t afford it,” said Ron Yoshimura. He said he was paying $800 a month for a two-bedroom apartment and his rent doubled. He said he moved into Dominium’s senior housing in Mesa and complimented them for giving him a great place to live at an affordable price.

“Most of the people that I spoke to in our complex, they’re saying that this is the last place they’re gonna live,” Yoshimura said. “When they leave, they’re gonna leave feet first. So that’s the way I feel.”

Judi Hahn said she was living near the Chandler Airport and was paying $1,800 a month for a one-bedroom apartment with utilities included.

“I can no longer afford to live there,” Hahn told the Council. “My income, I’m in a very fixed income. And we found [Dominium’s Mesa apartments]. They accepted me and I’ve lived there now for almost eight months. I’m one of

those that will go out feet first. I will never leave. It is the greatest thing for somebody of our age.”

Orlando admonished the developer for a poor job of communication, saying he tried to reach them to do his due diligence and was still waiting on a return phone call.

Dominium’s backers promised to hold a neighborhood meeting to address the neighbors’ concerns before Christmas, something Orlando said should have happened already.

Ellis blasted Dominium for not doing more to work with the city, including taking a look at those 14 alternative locations offered.

Kevin Mayo, the city’s planning administrator, said it was not his staff that met with Dominium. He said he thought it was someone from the City Manager’s office that offered the 14 alternatives. An email trying to confirm that and Metz’s characterization that they agreed those 14 sites would not work was accurate has not been returned.

Metz said after the meeting they would honor the promise made during the meeting to hold a neighborhood conference before Christmas so they could address the concerns head on. No time or date has been set so far for that meeting.

The next official action is expected Jan. 12, when the County Planning & Zoning Commission considers the case.

Metz tried to address many of the concerns of residents in an interview with the SanTan Sun News before the Dec. 5 meeting.

“Our typical resident is a single parent with a kid or two. They’re working and can’t afford the higher rents,” Metz said. “We have a very thorough process that we have to do to qualify anyone who shows up to rent from us. It’s arguably more difficult than qualifying for a mortgage.”

He said that all residents must sign a pledge not to be involved in drugs or crime. One violation, and they’re out. Metz said because they are getting a discounted price on rent, and it will be al-

The Landings in Ocotillo would occupy about 25 acres east of Arizona Avenue. (City of Chandler)

Marijuana sales steadily increasing in Arizona

BY RYAN KNAPPENBERGER Cronkite News

Sales of marijuana in Arizona soared to $1.6 billion in 2021, just one year after recreational pot was legalized in the state, making Arizona second only to California for retail sales that year, according to an industry research group.

But while retail sales of cannabis are strong, the crop is far from being added to the traditional “5 C’s” of Arizona’s economy, experts say, as production still trails far behind other states.

They say cannabis could become a strong part of the state’s economy in the next few years, but the industry will first have to overcome barriers to growth nationwide that include limited trade and restrictions on financing for a crop that is still illegal on the federal level.

“We don’t see SWAT teams busting in the doors of dispensaries,” said Aaron Smith, CEO of the National Cannabis Industry Association. “But we do have problems with not being able to take tax deductions like a normal industry, or being able to have interstate commerce, which really creates a barrier to entry for a lot of folks.”

But for now, at least, the industry appears to be growing in Arizona.

Marijuana sales brought in $221.3 million in taxes in 2021, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue, and sales in 2022 were on pace to eclipse that number, with $196.4 million in taxes in the first nine months of the year. That’s an average of just under $22 million in excise taxes a month for 2022.

Cultivation and production of cannabis as a crop, however, are not about to rival the 5 C’s: cattle, cotton, copper, citrus and climate.

Alexis Villacis Aveiga, an assistant professor at the Morrison School of Agribusiness at Arizona State University, said that in order for cannabis to rival the rest of the 5 C’s, the state would need to see a much larger expansion of agricultural production.

But Arizona’s climate makes it difficult to grow cannabis, he said, and while greenhouses can help address that issue, Arizona has a lot of catching up to do with other states.

“For example, we have 35,000 square feet of indoors cannabis and hemp,” Aveiga said. “In California there are over 4 million square feet, Colorado has over 2 million and Kentucky has around 200,000.

“So Arizona is pretty small compared

to other states,” he said.

Dave DeWalt, the Arizona statistician for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said in an email that the state had about 129,000 acres of cotton in production in 2021, worth about $156 million, and that cattle brought in $754 million that year. There were 10,031 acres of citrus in the state in 2017, the most recent year for which USDA has data available.

Acreage for cannabis production was not readily available, but the Arizona Department of Agriculture measures the production of hemp – a type of cannabis plant that contains 0.3% or less of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive component of the plant that gives users a high.

Hemp cannot be used to get high, but

can be used to create things like rope, paper, paint, beer, medicine and more.

The department said Arizona had 155.5 acres of industrial hemp growing in fields at the end of 2021, and 11,558 square feet planted indoors.

Aveiga said current state regulations make hemp less attractive as a crop, since farmers can only sell their harvest if it is below the 0.3% limit for THC. Otherwise, it counts as marijuana, which requires a separate license to grow and sell.

Smith, of the NCIA, said it’s not just farmers: Businesses trying to sell medical and recreational marijuana face legal hurdles that other businesses don’t.

He said regulations for cannabis make it difficult for small businesses to deduct expenses and find banks to work with. That means some operators cannot take credit cards for purchases and in some cases cannot place cash in checking accounts.

“It just serves nobody’s interest to have the industry operate in cash or you do not have access to these services,” Smith said.

Despite all the current hurdles, Smith said Arizona has been a pioneering purple state in terms of cannabis regulation and has shown just how popular legalization can be.

“Cannabis is used across demographics, boomers and millennials and Gen Z, people over 21 are using responsibly and we’re glad to see that,” Smith said. “Arizona law is by and large working well.”

GOT NEWS?

Contact Paul Maryniak at 480-898-5631 or pmaryniak@timeslocalmedia.com

Chandler mulls relaxing some marijuana sales regs

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

City Council will soon consider relaxing some of its regulations that have made Chandler the most restrictive city when it comes to medical marijuana.

“Chandler has been the most restrictive and will continue to be one of the most restrictive in the state,” said Lindsay Schube, an attorney at Gammage & Burnham, which represented the clients requesting the change.

The change is being asked for by citizen initiative, meaning it is not being requested by city officials. That’s rare. Kevin Mayo, the city’s planning administrator, said it’s only the second time a citizen initiative has come through in the past decade.

The other case was in 2013 to change the city’s ordinances on backyard chickens, which ultimately failed back then by one council vote.

Council ended up changing those ordinances to allow backyard chickens earlier this month.

“It was a citizen initiative because

staff was just slammed,” Schube said. “We get to take the legwork away from them and help with the drafting and putting everything in legislative edits and all that. It was a very close working [relationship] with the Planning Department for a great application.”

In the medical marijuana case, Planning & Zoning commissioners unanimously agreed with the requests being made to slightly increase the square footage of facilities and to allow for some mixing of the types of businesses.

For example, one facility would be allowed to grow medical marijuana, sell the product and infuse it into edibles. If they did all three, they face a maximum square footage limit of 12,500.

Individually, those three different types of facilities would have up to 5,000 square feet if the change is adopted. Mayo said the current code limits dispensaries to 2,500 square feet, cultivation facilities to 3,000 and the city did not address infusion food establishments.

“I don’t believe that it was a conscious decision to not include a limita-

tion on that. I think it just got kind of tripped up in the language,” Mayo told commissioners.

Under current regulations, operators can’t do more than one of those three different phases of the business.

The other major change is the hours of operation. The city would allow them to open at 7 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. They would still have to close by 10 p.m.

Those requests for changes now go to the council for consideration.

One of the reasons for the change is that there is only one medical marijuana dispensary on city land, but there are four others that are on county islands, which are unincorporated areas inside the city’s borders.

Those four dispensaries face far fewer regulations than the one on city land. For example, Maricopa County does not limit hours of operation.

Schube said if the council adopts these changes, it will not lead to a large influx of new medical marijuana businesses in the city.

Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Rick Heumann agreed, saying the

original restrictions remain in place and make it almost impossible for new businesses to open up because they have to be a certain distance away from schools, day care centers and other such facilities.

He said there just aren’t any of those spaces available.

What the change will do is allow existing facilities to increase their size to better serve their current customers.

In addition to the one dispensary on city land, Schube said there is one infusion and cultivation facility in Chandler.

Schube said that because the businesses are so small, customers sometimes have to wait outside to be served. This will allow them to expand so clients no longer have to wait under a summer sun.

“Medical marijuana has proven to be a very, very safe business in the State of Arizona and (Department of Health Services) does a fabulous job regulating it, and all the cities have done a great job with land use,” Schube said. “So to me, it’s one of the safest businesses you can have.”

A vendor makes change for cannabis sale at a Los Angeles marketplace in this photo from 2020, when Arizona voters legalized recreational use of marijuana. Since then, cannabis sales in Arizona have surged to an estimated $1.6 billion, second only to California, but production in the state still lags. (Richard Vogel/AP/Shutterstock)

CUSD looking to rebuild, repurpose schools

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Chandler Unified School District is looking to rebuild two of its older elementary schools instead of trying to renovate them.

“We've got schools that were built in the ’50s and ’60s, and as we look at older schools we've got to look at … is the cost of the renovations greater than, or not a smart investment of dollars, when we could rebuild sites as they get older,” said Tom Dunn, the district’s executive director of support services.

The two elementary schools are Galveston and Hartford Sylvia Encinas. Hartford opened in 1957 and Galveston followed in 1963.

The district took the first step toward rebuilding Galveston as the Governing Board on Dec. 14 approved hiring Orcutt Winslow for $1,275,750 to design a 67,500-square foot building that would house up to 750 students. Construction would start in the summer and the new building would be ready for the 2024-2025 school year. Current students would continue to attend classes in the older buildings during construction.

The estimated cost of the new building is more than $23.6 million. The district still needs to figure out funding, which will likely come in a bond election.

Dunn on Nov. 30 outline the district’s plans for nine schools because of an ex-

pected drop in enrollment in the future.

The list includes Conley Elementary, Bologna, Hull, Frye, Galveston, Navarette, San Marcos, Sanborn, and Shumway Leadership Academy.

A committee will look at the schools and decide how best to prepare for a future with declining enrollments. It may mean turning the schools into a gifted academy, or adding a language immersion program.

Five of the schools are at less than 50% of capacity. The high price of housing in the Chandler and Gilbert areas is making it harder for young families to live here.

Because of that, fewer students are enrolling at the earliest grades, a trend the district expects to continue.

To combat that, they plan to be more

aggressive in convincing parents to send their students to CUSD schools. The governing board increased the marketing budget an hopes hope the success of their gifted academies and other specialized schools will draw students.

“With those sites we’d go through a reimagine with the community,” Dunn said. “Not just rebuild the school as is, but looking ... at what are your needs, what is it that you could be or that you want it to be, and then designing a school that will meet those needs.”

Lana Berry is the chief financial officer and assistant superintendent for business services for the district.

“We need to make sure that we are continuously repurposing and reimagining our schools,” Berry said. “If you’re

old and it costs more to replace things, we want to make sure that then we’re replacing those schools if it costs more to remodel than to construct. We also want to make sure that we’re reimagining schools to meet the academic needs of that school.”

Berry said it’s important for the district to listen to what parents want and make sure they are addressing those needs if they want to continue to be a premier district of choice.

“We know that we need to be ready for the future and our parents want choices and opportunities,” she said.

Dunn also discussed the cost savigns of installng artifical turf on all high school ballfields. The governing board is expected to vote on that in early 2023.

Galveston Elementary could be rebuilt under the school's review of older campuses. (Sopecial to SanTan Sun News)

Millions at stake for schools in special session stalemate

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Lame duck Gov. Doug Ducey said last week that he won’t call a special legislative session to deal with problems with school funding before his term ends this month until he gets a promise that lawmakers will deal with some issues on his own agenda.

And that could scuttle any chance of giving schools an immediate assurance they won’t have to cut more than a billion dollars from their spending plans by July 1.

Hanging in the balance is tens of millions of dollars that East Valley school districts won’t be able to spend in the last quarter of the current school year even though they have the money – including an estimated $14.4 million for Queen Creek Unified School District.

The governor acknowledged on Dec. 5 that he had agreed to bring lawmakers back to the Capitol to waive the “aggregate expenditure limit’’ if he could be shown that the votes were there. Such a move requires 20 of the 30 senators and 40 of the 60 representatives.

Lawmakers from both parties who support the waiver said last week they have the votes.

But Ducey, whose term is up at the end of the month, said that’s not enough.

“There are things in addition to the AEL that I’d like to see get done,’’ he said. The governor would not elaborate.

But Daniel Ruiz, his chief of staff, said providing even more state funds in vouchers for students to pay for private and parochial schools is “certainly a priority that’s been discussed.’’ So, too, he said, are issues ranging from border security to changes in election laws.

And that could scuttle any chance of quick resolution of the issue.

That would leave other East Valley districts in the lurch come spring, including Higley with $16 million it can’t spend, Gilbert Public Schools with $39.9 million, Chandler Unified with $54.4 million and Mesa Public Schools with $73.8 million in funds they have but can’t touch.

The problem is a constitutional cap, approved by voters in 1980, of how much can be spent each year on K-12 education. Adjusted for inflation and student growth, that limit now is $6.4 billion.

Lawmakers approved a major infusion of new funds for the current school

year. Based on that, schools prepared budgets totaling nearly $7.8 billion.

Without a waiver by March 1, schools would have to reduce their annual spending by nearly 18%. More to the point, they would have to make those cuts in just a three-month period, a move that several school officials said would lead to layoffs and school closures.

Rep. Michelle Udall, R-Mesa, who chairs the House Education Committee, said lawmakers who voted for the budget were assured that Ducey would support a special session by the end of this year. That would end the uncertainty, especially with a new crop of lawmakers taking office in January who had nothing to do with the approved budget and nothing to do with the bipartisan deal that made it possible.

Ducey, who has repeatedly touted his role in increasing K-12 funding, said Monday that bringing lawmakers to the Capitol between now and the end of the year is not that simple.

“We’re not going to do a special session unless we can get it done,’’ he said. And Ruiz said that means adding things to the agenda that the governor and Republican lawmakers want.

“That’s not the deal,’’ said Sen. Sean Bowie, D-Phoenix, one of the bipartisan group of lawmakers who hammered out the budget deal.

“The deal was we would pass this budget which he signed and celebrated after we passed it and we would get the special session on the AEL,’’ he said.

What changed, Bowie said, is that the November election didn’t turn out the way that Ducey wanted.

“I’m sure he would like to do other things, too, especially since he’s going to have a Democratic successor,’’ he said.

Ducey, constitutionally precluded from seeking a third term, had backed fellow Republican Kari Lake. In fact, he said she was a better choice to continue his priorities like vouchers and tax cuts. Lake, however, lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs who will have the ability to veto the priorities of the Legislature which remains narrowly in Republican hands. But Bowie said that’s irrelevant to what Ducey offered Democrats last spring.

“The deal was we pass the budget, we provided the votes for the budget that it needed to get across the finish line,’’ Bowie said. Ducey needed those Democratic votes as several GOP lawmakers refused to support the $15.6 billion state

spending plan.

At least part of the reason schools are up against the spending cap is that budget immediately added $526 million to base education funding for K-12 schools, an 8.8% increase. And it provides a $50 million infusion in “opportunity’’’ funds, dollars earmarked to help students who come from low-income households.

Complicating matters is the cap is based on prior year enrollment. And that dropped due to COVID.

Ruiz said it’s not just his boss who wants to discuss more than school spending. He said some members of the Republican-controlled Legislature say they want other items added to the agenda if there’s going to be a special session.

It’s not just election and border issues.

There also are lawmakers who want the governor to reconsider his veto earlier this year of a measure which would have allowed Maricopa County residents to decide whether to extend the half-cent sales tax which funds transportation projects. Absent legislative authorization for a vote, the levy ends in 2025.

And then there are vouchers. Formally known as “empowerment scholarship accounts,’’ they provide state dollars for private and parochial school tuition and costs.

Originally started more than a decade ago to help students with special needs, GOP lawmakers voted this year to make them available to any of the 1.1 million students in public schools.

Now, however, some supporters say the vouchers, which average around $7,000, are insufficient to entice parents to put their children in private schools because they often don’t cover the cost. So they want to pursue an increase now, one that long-time voucher supporter Ducey likely would sign -- but one that could easily meet a different fate under Gov. Hobbs.

Bowie said the push now by GOP lawmakers for something that wasn’t on the table when the deal was cut is no surprise.

“They kind of view it as their last opportunity to get some policy goals of theirs passed that they haven’t been able to,’’ he said. “They intentionally want to hold the AEL hostage in exchange for that.’’

State Rep. Michelle Udall, R-Mesa, said that Gov. Doug Ducey has so far failed to call a special legislative session to prevent big cuts in school spending despite a promise by his staff to do so. (Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services)

Arizona taking steps to curb infant mortality

BY NATALIE SKOWLUND Cronkite News

Leah Goldmann lounges on a sofa with her legs crisscrossed and a pillow cradled on her lap. She listens as Latisa Ratliff goes over birth plans, prenatal dietary considerations and how to know when it’s time to head to the hospital for labor.

Goldmann is pregnant with a girl, with an expected due date in January. It’s an exciting – and anxious – time for Goldmann, who at 33 years old will become a first-time mom.

But for Ratliff, the work is her bread and butter. As a birth doula, Ratliff’s job is to bring comfort and education to couples as they navigate the process of bringing a new life into the world – from the prenatal period to postpartum.

“One of our primary goals is to inform our clients and educate them with evidence-based information, so that they have the tools that they need in order to advocate for themselves in the hospital,” Ratliff said.

Doulas don’t deliver babies, but these nonmedical labor assistants can make a difference in maternal health outcomes. One recent study found that in three states with Medicaid-funded doula programs, women who received doula support were less likely to deliver via cesarean section or experience postpartum depression or anxiety than those who did not.

Latisa Ratliff holds her daughter in her living room in Tempe, Arizona, on Nov. 16, 2022. As a birth doula and a mother of three, Ratliff encourages her clients to find a health care provider who listens to their individual needs. “Listen to that mother’s intuition,” Ratliff says. (Laura Bargfeld/Cronkite News)

The U.S. has higher rates of maternal mortality than other developed countries, and those rates only worsened during the pandemic. Of 30 states where the maternal mortality rate is known, Arizona ranked ninth for these deaths from 2018 to 2020, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Every year hundreds of people die during pregnancy or just after, and these

tragedies are more common among individuals of color. A report from the Arizona Department of Health Services shows Native American and Black women are more likely to die from pregnancy-associated causes than white women. The same is true nationally.

Arizona is among states working to address the problem. One proposal on the table: Expand access to doulas.

Florida, Oregon and a handful of other states already cover doula services under Medicaid, and several more are in the implementation process. Advocates say Medicaid coverage would make these services more available to populations that need them.

In Arizona, the Legislature approved creation of a Doula Community Advisory Committee that could be a first step toward getting these services covered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, which manages the state’s Medicaid program.

The committee first met in August with the goal of identifying culturally relevant doula training organizations and continuing education opportunities through which doulas could get certified in the state.

“Before we could even put in a reimbursement for doula services, there needs to be a license for that position,” said Ratliff, who’s a committee member. “We need to have that first before even having that conversation on whether we would be reimbursed by Medicaid.”

Ratliff, who is Black, felt it was important to serve on the committee to ensure its work includes a diverse perspective.

“It highly impacts the Black community. If more families are able to have doulas, then all the better,” she said.

Ratliff said she expects the committee to develop a list of organizations that could certify doulas, as well as appropriate continuing education programs, early next year.

Stephanie Moore, one of Ratliff’s former clients, said that as a Black woman, she’s aware of the disparities in mater-

nal mortality. During her pregnancy, she worried about facing biases from traditional health care providers and hired Ratliff to ensure she had a supporter who looked like her.

“They (the medical establishment) are making assumptions based on what they assume maybe about Black women, what they assume about their pain tolerance,” Moore said. “For me, it was really imperative that if I’m going to have someone advocate for me and I’m going to have people in the room, that they’re going to be people who are people of color.”

Doula care has proven especially useful in improving maternal health outcomes for people of color and other groups with higher birth-related risk factors, such as those who are low income, according to a report from the National Partnership for Women & Families.

Despite that, doulas aren’t always accessible to those who most need them. Studies have found that a majority of doulas are white and tend to serve a primarily white middle class clientele.

Experts say financial constraints are another limitation. Out-of-pocket costs for a doula can often hit $1,500, or even more in expensive parts of the country, according to the journal Health Affairs.

Moore acknowledged the financial planning it took for her and her husband to afford a doula.

“To pay an extra $1,000 or more can feel like a lot,” she said. “I think that definitely can get in the way.”

Dr. Michelle Ogunwole, a maternal health disparities researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, said a lack of public awareness about doula services also is a barrier.

Beyond that, Ogunwole said a sustainable and inclusive doula model must ensure doulas themselves have support, earn a livable wage and have access to training.

“There’s been a huge uptick of legislative proposals talking about how doulas can improve maternal health and all of these things without the co-commitment strategies that allow for some equity in the work that they do,” Ogunwole said. “Can’t just be like, ‘Black doulas save Black moms, but we don’t care about what happens to you.’”

Back in Goldmann’s apartment, the expectant mother said she was grateful for the comfort and information Ratliff provided her and her husband. The session felt far more personal than her other routine prenatal visits, she said.

“At the doctor, it really is like in and out,” she said. “They weigh you, they usually take your blood to test for some disease and then measure your belly, and then you leave.”

With Ratliff by her side, the birth process is that much less intimidating.

“It feels a lot less scary, and I just feel very supported,” Goldmann said. “I have people to help me with this journey that I know nothing about – that we know nothing about.”

AROUND

from Page 15

The museum will host an event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 14 where visitors can make their own campaign posters and buttons after viewing the exhibit.

Some of the posters on display are about 170 years old. They also have more recent ones, including from former President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign.

Devorah Hadassah seeks members, slates activities

Devorah Hadassah is the local chapter of the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, a volunteer organization that inspires a passion for and commitment to the land, the people, and the future of Israel.

For more information on attending its events, contact: Eliana Bar-Shalom at 860-377-7126 or ebarshalom.eb@gmail. com

The club holds outings as well as discussions. It also sells cards for all occasions and major holidays These are ready to view at all in-person events. Contact Susan Fox at 520-705-3226.

Barro’s Pizza raises big bucks for St. Mary’s Food Bank

Barro’s Pizza hosted its 11th annual Doran Barro Holiday Hunger Fight Dec. 6 and raised nearly $415,000 for St. Mary’s Food Bank.

“We can’t thank the customers enough for their loyalty and support this year and every year for the last 11 years,” said Mike Barro, co-owner of Barro’s Pizza. “This year we blew our previous record out of the water by almost $85,000. We are so grateful to our customers.”

Barro’s Pizza has now raised more than $2.5 million, which equals almost 17,500,000.

Man killed after fi ring gun at Amazon warehouse in Chandler

Police say 29-year-old Jacob Murphy was killed and another man injured during a shooting involving a trio of men at the Amazon warehouse at McQueen and Queen Creek roads, Chandler.

The shooting followed an argument that began when Murphy, who is not an Amazon employee, arrived at the paring lot and began firing. Police did not know whether he died by his own hand or if the unijured man shot him.

-Katharine Hepburn

Page has front-row seat to the West’s water-starved future

BY ALEX HAGER Guest Writer

Tobyn Pilot took a few crunchy footsteps through the red dirt near the edge of a towering cliff. Pilot, an operator at the water plant in Page, pulled out a hefty collection of keys to unlock a tiny plywood shed just a few feet from the brink. The building is barely bigger than an outhouse, but it’s a pivotal part of keeping the taps flowing in this city of 7,500 people.

“The town’s water comes right through this shack,” Pilot said, revealing a small setup of pumps behind the creaking shed door. “Isn’t that crazy to think?”

Hundreds of feet below, the Colorado River calmly chugged along. It’s here, on the dusty precipice, that water from the river is redirected into homes, hotels and restaurants in this tourist town.

As the once-mighty Colorado shrinks in the hands of a changing climate, communities that rely on it are starting to feel the pinch. Many large cities in the Southwest are well-positioned to weather the growing crisis, but some smaller ones have a perilous front row seat as the diminished river threatens to cut off their water supply completely.

Page is one of them.

Pilot pointed down to Glen Canyon Dam, a 700-foot-tall concrete behemoth that looms large in the background.

“There’s a pipeline that’s bored through the cliff of Glen Canyon,” Pilot said. “It comes to the edge, just past us here, and goes straight up into another pipeline that goes up to our water plant.”

That pipe brings water up from the river hundreds of feet below. But the system is under threat.

Page pulls its water from Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir, which is held back by Glen Canyon Dam. Inside the dam, a pipe siphons water to Page as it passes from the reservoir to the river on the other side. Drought and steady demand have drained the reservoir to historic lows, putting Page’s drinking water system in jeopardy.

Bryan Hill, general manager of Page Utility Enterprises – the city’s water and electric provider – is tasked with keeping taps flowing in the cliffside city. He grapples with the historic missteps, both recent and decades-old, that make his job a tough one.

“They never anticipated the lake actually dropping down to a level where Page was going to struggle to get water,” he said. “That just simply wasn’t anticipated. That’s why we’re scrambling to make a design mod down there now.”

Hill is referring to an ongoing rework of the pipes inside the dam. If the reservoir drops below Page’s current intake, water would flow through a set of backup pipes known as the “river outlet works.”

Originally designed as a channel for extra water during high-flow times, those tubes, which are lower than the existing pass-through, could soon be the only way for water to make it through the dam. Without a fix, Lake Powell could have dropped low enough to cut off Page’s drinking water supply completely.

Inside the dam this fall, a team of welders has been working to put together new pipes that will connect Page to those river outlet tubes, making sure water still flows to the city even if the reservoir drops to an extremely low level. The new pipes also will help supply water to the neighboring LeChee chapter of the Navajo Nation.

This is shaping up to be a relatively easy fix. The modifications only cost $60,000 to $80,000, Hill said, and are slated to be finished in December.

But a much bigger addition may be needed to give Page lasting peace of mind.

Hill already knows what’s next on the to-do list: add redundancy. A lengthy 2004 report called for the construction of a “second straw,” another pipe upstream of the dam that would carry Colorado River water through hundreds of feet of rock and keep water flowing to Page should anything happen to the current intake within the dam.

The report, which was authored near the beginning of the two-decade-long megadrought that has thrust the Colorado River Basin into a supply-demand crisis, put a $46 million price tag on that second straw. Page won’t be able to scrape together that much through rate hikes, Hill said.

“You’re not going to get that kind of money out of 3,500 water customers,” he said. “

Page is on the map only because of the dam and Lake Powell. The city originally was a housing camp for workers building and operating the dam in the late 1950s. Now, it’s a base camp for many of the 2 million annual visitors who come to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to boat around Powell and camp on its shores.

The dam was built and is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, the same agency which published the report recommending a second straw.

Page has requested federal funding but hasn’t received it. This fall, water managers and utilities departments around the arid Southwest got a glimmer of hope that their projects might get a financial boost when $4 billion from the federal Inflation Reduction Act was designated for drought mitigation work in the Colorado River Basin.

In the months since that announcement, Reclamation has set aside some of that money to pay farmers to conserve water, but also hinted that some will be used to upgrade outdated water infrastructure.

For their part, Reclamation officials say they’re still committed to work with Page and the Navajo Nation to offer assistance where appropriate.

Hill argues that Page’s new $46 million straw would only use up a “thimble” of that $4 billion, and that Reclamation has a moral obligation to chip in.

“Without the federal government will-

ing (Page) to be here, it wouldn’t be here,” he said. “And unless the federal government continues to will it to be here, it won’t be here in the future.”

Kathryn Sorensen, director of research at Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy, said Page’s situation is a cautionary tale for small towns and big cities across the Southwest.

“Climate change means that the flows of the Colorado River will continue to diminish,” she said. “So for those communities that are dependent on the Colorado River, they need to be looking around at their infrastructure, their alternative supplies and developing means to be able to continue safe, reliable deliveries at the tap.”

Sorensen is the former director of Phoenix’s water department, a city that gets about 40% of its water directly from the Colorado River.

Cities across the basin are working harder to stretch a finite supply of water. Las Vegas, Denver and Los Angeles are among those that have been forced to invest in new water supplies or incentivize water customers to limit their demands.

Meanwhile, supplies have only gone down. About 60% of the water in the river starts as snowmelt in Colorado, and a raft of environmental indicators show the state’s dry conditions are bad and getting worse, making that snow less reliable.

Agriculture accounts for 75% to 80% of water use in the Colorado River Basin, meaning that farmers, ranchers, and growing cities are all competing to hold on to their slices of a rapidly shrinking pie.

River sharing is governed by a century-old document that water managers have been reluctant to amend. That has left the seven states that use the river in a high-stakes standoff, with growers and cities left to wait and see whether their allocations will shrink as a result of negotiations playing out among the states and the federal government.

At the same time, Sorensen said the Southwest’s urban and suburban areas

have to come to terms with another challenge. Many of the region’s cities are “middle-aged, at best” and need to start paying for repairs to aging pipes and canals.

“There are very few communities, if any, who have really kept up with the necessary investment in aging infrastructure,” Sorensen said. “So I think you’re going to see pressures from both sides, and I think that that might be really humbling for some of our communities.”

Sorensen said one-time federal bailouts won’t be enough to avert trouble, and cities will need to raise funds from within.

“Elected officials often are afraid to raise water rates because they’re afraid of reprisal at the next election,” she said. “But it is necessary to increase water rates so that you can keep up with aging infrastructure.”

Ellen Hanak, director of the Water Policy Center at the Public Policy Institute of California said a long drought in the late 1980s and early 1990s served as a wakeup call for some cities, which invested in managing their demand and stretching existing water supplies with more efficient appliances and campaigns to encourage cutting back on water use in homes.

Cities are quick to flaunt the strides they’ve made in keeping taps flowing as populations boom. Some municipal water managers have made promises that they will continue to reduce per capita use, at the same time being candid about the fact that water conservation in cities can only make a small dent in the larger picture of the 246,000-square-mile basin.

Hanak says redundancy in water supply should be near the top of the list for cities looking to steel their infrastructure against climate change. Page’s need for a second means of acquiring water is not unique, and cities that were once able to draw from an extraordinarily reliable, abundant water source are often the ones that need to scramble the fastest as temperatures rise and dry conditions persist.

Bryan Hill, general manager of Page Utility Enterprises, traces the path of water from Lake Powell to the city’s water treatment plant. He grapples with the historic missteps, both recent and decades-old, that make keeping that water flowing a difficult job. (Alex Hager/KUNC)

Survey gives Chandler residents a say in spending

BY THE CITY OF CHANDLER

How well maintained is the park near your neighborhood? Do you feel like the City is doing a good job of sharing information? Are the services provided by the City meeting your needs?

The City wants to hear from you through its annual budget survey that opened in late November, and will run through Jan. 13.

This is your opportunity to provide feedback on the future of your City, and help the Mayor and Council decide how funds should be allocated.

The City has already begun its budget cycle for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as it is nearly a year-long process to prepare it.

One of the vital steps in the process is to get input from residents through the budget survey. Depending on the amount of time you have, and the level of input that you desire to give, you can decide how much of the survey you want to complete.

It’s broken into two sections, and everyone is asked to answer the first seven general questions which should only take about two to three minutes. The remaining questions are on specific focus areas of the City.

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts on a variety of topics.

The timeline of the survey provides staff time to compile the results to share with the Mayor and Council and City leaders during the budget process.

All the survey responses are tabulated and every comment received in the survey is included in the budget survey report. The information is then reviewed to gauge public sentiment and evaluate how well we are meeting the Council goals as expressed by our residents.

Your feedback and comments are needed and will provide direction to the

Council on priorities for the upcoming year.

The budget survey is really a key way for the City to gather feedback.

“We understand that people are busy,” said Budget Manager Matt Dunbar. “The survey is geared to be short, with only seven required questions. But if you have more time to complete the rest, we really appreciate the feedback.”

The City has strong fiscal policies that have provided stability, Chandler businesses and industries are growing and

new residents are arriving, furthering the City’s positive economic outlook.

With such an optimistic outlook, people might think they don’t need to provide feedback.

“Even if you think things are going great, we still want to hear from you,” Dunbar said. “Maybe you want to comment on a specific program or project, or maybe you just want to let us know we’re moving in the right direction. Every comment matters.”

One example of a recent impact by survey respondents is described by Dunbar.

“A group of youth softball players and parents wanted some changes to the ballfields that their children played on, so they encouraged other parents to take the survey. As a result, existing parks were enhanced, and some projects in the City’s future Capital Improvement Program (CIP) were moved up on the schedule to be completed earlier.”

“It really shows how residents voices can make a difference in their community,” Dunbar added.

To complete the survey, visit chandleraz.gov/budget, or stop by one of the Chandler libraries, community centers or the lobby of City Hall to complete a paper copy.

What is important to you?

Share your feedback through the Budget Survey

Better roads, more bike lanes, improved walkability? These are just some suggestions residents might have for Chandler. The City has started its annual budget process and encourages you to provide thoughts about the community and its future.

Complete the survey at chandleraz.gov/budget before Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.

Paper copies are also available in either English, Spanish or Mandarin, and may be picked up at various City facilities, including libraries, community centers and the lobby of City Hall.

Hobbs vows to stop shipping container border wall

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

Incoming Gov. Katie Hobbs plans to halt any further work on building a wall of storage containers on the state’s southern border.

“It’s not our land to put things on,’’ she told Capitol Media Services.

Hobbs said this isn’t just a matter of the state acting illegally. She said the maneuver by lame-duck Gov. Doug Ducey in August to put a double-high wall of containers along stretches of the border after incoming President Joe Biden halted the wall being built by former President Trump makes no sense.

“It’s a political stunt,’’ she said. “It’s a visual barrier that is not actually providing effective barrier to entry. And I think it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars.’’

The governor’s office put a $6 million price tag. for filling in a 3,820-foot gap near Yuma. But a 10-mile stretch now being constructed in Cochise County will set taxpayers back another $95 million.

“I feel we could use that money much more effectively,’’ said Hobbs.

But actually taking the containers down? That, for the moment, is another question. An aide to Hobbs said there has been no decision.

And there’s another complication: money.

The funds that Ducey is using on the project comes from a $335 million appropriation approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The wording of the restrictions on that account, known as the Arizona Border Security Fund, allows the cash to be used solely to erect a barrier. That means removing the containers would require the Legislature – which still will be in the hands of Republicans next year – to approve a new appropriation or reword the old law.

Meanwhile, Ducey is asking a federal judge to declare that the 60-foot strip of land along the border where the shipping containers are being erected actually belongs to Arizona.

He contends President Theodore Roosevelt lacked the legal authority to

issue the 1907 edict. And that, according to lawyers Ducey hired at taxpayer expense, voids any claim by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation that placing the containers along the border “is a trespass against the United States.’’

Hobbs’ comments put her on the same side of the legal fight as the federal government. And at that point, the state’s legal fight should go away.

U.S. District Court Judge David Campbell has not yet set a hearing on the case.

Ducey has gotten praise for the ersatz wall from Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot, a Republican like the governor, who says it has helped keep Yuma safe and “helps put a stop to the revolving door for cartels that has been the southern border.’’ Fellow Republican Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels also has been supportive.

But those feelings are not shared by David Hathaway, the Democratic sheriff of Santa Cruz County, who contends that the claims about the number of people entering the county illegally amounts to “a lot of fuzzy math,’’ with the numbers inflated by counting the same people who come and go over and over again.

Hathaway said he also agrees with

both Hobbs and federal agencies that Ducey’s storage containers are trespassing on what is clearly federal land. But the sheriff told Capitol Media Services he is disappointed that the federal agencies have until now only sent warning letters and not intervened to actually block further construction or remove the existing containers.

But Hathaway said he doesn’t intend to sit idle when the construction crews, building the barrier from east to west, reaches his county line.

“What they’re doing is illegal,’’ he said.

“That would be my intent to charge them with illegal dumping,’’ Hathaway explained. He said it’s no different than if anyone else left something on federal land.

In fact, Hathaway said, it’s worse than littering, what with heavy equipment tearing up the ground to create flat spaces to erect the storage containers.

The sheriff said there are criminal laws that are being violated. But he said it may not be necessary to actually physically arrest anyone.

Instead, Hathaway said, existing laws give him the power to seize everything from the earth-moving equipment to the flat-bed trailers because they are

being used in a crime.

“All of that is facilitating the public dumping,’’ he said.

“That would kind of be the easiest way,’’ Hathaway explained. “You hit people in the pocketbook. You cost them money.’’

Ducey press aide C.J. Karamargin brushed off Hathaway’s comments. He said there are no plans now to extend the container barrier into Santa Cruz County.

But enforcement action by the sheriff may not be necessary to bring the project to a halt.

Hathaway said the firm doing the contract recognizes it has only until Ducey leaves office to finish the project that Hobbs will halt. And that, said Hathaway, has led to a rush.

What has stymied that, he said, is protesters have stalled construction by standing in the path of construction.

Hathaway said the workers sought to get around that this past Wednesday by shifting to night work. He said it fared no better.

“It was like a Tiananmen Square-type situation where the protesters ran in front of the earth-moving equipment, stopped them,’’ he said.

A sheriff said crews are working feverishly to complete stacking of shipping containers along the border before Gov. Doug Ducey’s term ends, which also would end the project’s funding. (Special to STSN)

BY TRISTAN RICHARDS Cronkite News

Pentagon spending in Arizona fell sharply in fi scal 2021, part of an overall decline in expenditures nationally that bumped the state from seventh place among states to 13th, according to Defense Department data released this fall.

Military spending overall in the state fell from $20.2 billion in fi scal 2020 to $14.6 billion in fi scal 2021. That was a sharper drop than the 5.6% decline in spending nationwide during the same period, when combined spending on contracts and military personnel fell from $593.9 billion to $559 billion.

But analysts said that while Arizona may have slipped in its standing among states, the drop is not cause for concern. The defense industry remains a pillar of the state’s economy, they said, and will likely continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

“In terms of a good environment and a welcoming environment, Arizona is positioned very well to continue that growth in this industry,” said Todd Sanders, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Pentagon spent $398.7 billion nationally on contracts in fi scal 2021 – a drop from $439.4 billion a year before

– but that was partially offset by an increase in spending on personnel employed by the Defense Department, which went from $154.6 billion to $160.3 billion in the same period.

Pima County, home to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson, saw spending on military salaries and benefits grow from $746 million in fi scal 2020 to $764.6 million a year later. Michael Guymon, president and CEO of the Tucson Chamber of Commerce, said that personnel spending “demonstrates that the Department of Defense is still very committed to Davis-Monthan and the missions that come out of Davis-Monthan.”

Guymon also praised the “great talent” that comes out of the University of Arizona’s engineering department, which he said helps contribute to Tucson’s robust defense economy.

Military contracts have long been a staple of the Arizona economy, which includes multinational defense manu-

facturers such as Boeing, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman, among others. But contract spending took a hit in fi scal 2021 both nationally and in Arizona, with contracts in the state falling from $15.7 billion to $12.3 billion, according to the Pentagon report for 2021.

Boeing saw its contracts in Arizona fall from $2.2 billion to $1.2 billion over the year. But Kathleen Jolivette, vice president of Boeing Mesa’s attack helicopter program, said in a prepared statement that she looks forward to the future, noting the “solid and stable defense demand” in the U.S.

Jolivette said Boeing in Arizona has been focused on delivering a continued supply of Apache helicopters, working to deliver “the best capability to the warfighter today while innovating for the future.” Despite the Army lowering its orders for Apache helicopters from 49 in fi scal 2021 to 30 in fi scal 2022, Jolivette said that “strong international sales make up the gaps.”

“Our portfolio is well positioned and our future franchise programs have a long runway ahead,” Jolivette said.

The fi scal 2021 numbers nationwide do not reflect billions in spending this year on military assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia. The state rankings were also skewed by “large contracts to Pfizer, Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in New York” and to “Moderna, Inc.

in Massachusetts” to acquire COVID-19 vaccines, the Pentagon report said.

“The contracts in New York and Massachusetts were related to COVID-19 vaccine and treatment purchases by DoD, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” the report read.

The Pentagon also said that while eight of the 10 companies on its list of the top 10 contractors had been there before, Pfizer and Moderna “were both new to the list and are anomalies for traditional defense spending.”

Over the past decade, Arizona has been as low as 13th among states for defense spending – in fi scal years 2016, 2017 and now 2021 – and as high as seventh place in fi scal 2020.

“Clearly, this spending is important for Arizona,” Sanders said. “We looked at the stats for 2021 and as you look at the rest of the economy, you saw a similar drop in revenues or spending with the rest of the economy as a result of COVID.”

Sanders said the slowdown in defense spending was a “delayed effect of the economic slowdown from COVID.”

But he expects the slowdown is just temporary and reiterated the importance of defense to Arizona, where the Arizona Commerce Authority says 56,500 workers are employed in aerospace or defense jobs.

Similarly, Guymon said the defense industry in Tucson is a good one to bet on. And, he said, it’s not just the heavy-hitters like “Raytheon and Davis-Monthan.”

“It’s also the 200-plus other companies in the aerospace and defense industry here in southern Arizona,” Guymon said. “From a purely economic development standpoint, Tucson and southern Arizona have the fifth-highest concentration of aerospace and defense employees in the country.”

Valley housing data show listings, demand decline

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Significant declines in both demand and supply are marking the Valley’s housing market as the roller-coaster year winds down.

The Cromford Report, the Valley’s leading analyst of the local housing market, recently reported both trends make it hard to predict what the new year will initially see.

“Total supply is dropping quickly even though demand is at an extremely low level,” it said, citing a 45% decline in listings year-over-year.

“This is something we have not seen before. There are remarkably few buyers and even fewer new sellers. We are likely to see more of both once 2023 gets underway, but the mystery is which will grow fastest?” it continued, adding that “it would be reasonable to expect that the recent downward trend in mortgage interest rates is likely to cause both supply and demand to slowly recover.”

The Cromford Report noted that “the overall deterioration for sellers is starting to decelerate.”

Moreover, it reported, building permits issued for new single-family homes

in Maricopa and Pinal counties have plummeted – setting up a return next year to the same dearth in inventory that helped propel the soaring home prices of the last two years.

“The single-family building permit counts have collapsed, with only 1,149 being issued in October 2022 for Maricopa and Pinal counties,” it said. “This is the lowest monthly total since February 2015. It is also down 53% from October 2021.”

This 3,500-square-foot house on W. Azalea Drive in Ocotillo recently sold for$1.1 million. The four-bedroom, four-bath house boasted a private corner lot in Santorini Shores with expansive water views. a split floor plan with 12’ ceilings and infinity pebble tec pool and spa, among other amenities. (Submitted)

Noting that “the single-family permit count year-to-date is 24,442 which is lower than all years from 1996 to 2006,” it warned:

“With such a drop in building plans, we are setting ourselves up for a shortage of supply next year should interest rates drop and demand for purchased single-family homes recover.”

That doesn’t mean building has slowed – it’s just not in the single-family home arena.

“The situation is completely different with multifamily permits in Maricopa and Pinal,” the Cromford Report said. “The construction of multifamily units is accelerating and we now have 15,925 units year-to-date as of October 2022. This is up more than 30% over this time

last year. 2022 will be by far the strongest year ever for multi-family unit permits.

While square foot price continues a downward drift, the report said, it has not occurred “at any alarming rate,” the report stated, adding that the current price is $274 compared to $279 in Sep-

Businesses can take steps for rent concerns

BY BENJAMIN GOTTLIEB Guest Writer

Looking back, 2022 will be remembered as the year of high inflation, among other things. Inflation affects people and businesses differently.

For those that drive electric vehicles, the spike in gas prices is inconsequential and perhaps not even noticed. For the Ford F250 driver who has a long commute to work, the higher gas prices are likely a painful expense. For the farmer or businessperson who relies on heavy fuel consumption to produce its end-product, even more painful.

While some businesses can pass along the rise in raw materials costs to their end-users, others may struggle to do so.

Since inflation decreases the purchasing power of consumers, businesses that are dependent on consumer spending may experience a decline in revenue.

In the present economy, with uncertainties about the future, many small businesses are struggling financially and are concerned about the implications the rise in costs might have on their ability to meet ongoing expenses.

In particular, the reduction in prof-

it some businesses are experiencing is threatening their ability to continue to pay rent.

Business owners might be wondering what options they have:

1. Commercial tenants should read their leases carefully to examine whether the landlord is in breach of the lease. As an example, many commercial leases require the landlord to be responsible for structural defects.

If there is a foundation issue at the premises that is compromising the structural integrity of the building, the issue persists after notice from the tenant, the landlord could be in default of the lease.

2. While not common, some commercial leases have early termination clauses or allow tenants to terminate a lease under certain circumstances. If so, the tenant should carefully review this clause and determine if it is feasible and advantageous to exercise it.

3. Assess whether the lease contains an option to extend the lease period. And, if so, whether the new lease terms contain “locked-in” rental rates that are not in line with the current level of rent inflation.

While some commercial leases tie

Pros, cons of buying without your spouse

Though it might seem like a weird and highly unromantic question, there are plenty of reasons to ponder buying a house without one’s spouse as part of the deal.

Basically, this means that although you two might live in the home together, only you would technically “take title” to the property—a fancy way to say that you own it and have your name on the deed. It’s legal—and more common than you might think.

“This is always an option,” says Zachary D. Schorr, a Los Angeles real estate attorney. “People are free to take title to property however they want.”

Plus, however it might look at first glance, keeping your spouse off the deed isn’t necessarily a vote of no confidence in the marriage. Particularly for couples entering second or late-in-life marriages, it can make a whole lot of sense.

Benefits

Having only one name on a property’s deed can be a good move for several

reasons.

You’re buying a house with pre-marriage money. If you buy a home using money you earned or inherited before the marriage, it can make sense to keep your spouse off the deed, title, and mortgage.

That way, the property clearly is in your name and can be sold or mortgaged at your sole discretion. You own it. Case closed.

You might get a better deal from a lender. If you have a great credit score and a lot of assets, and your spouse has crummy credit and few assets, you might have an easier time getting a mortgage at a better rate if only your name is on the deed and loan, says Schorr.

It’s easier after you die. If the property is in your name alone, you can bequeath it to whomever you want in your will, including children from a previous marriage.

You want to keep the property from creditors. Let’s say your spouse has defaulted on student loans taken out before you two met. By keeping your partner’s name off the deed, creditors can’t

go after property that is in your name only.

Life happens, unions split, people die. In such cases, you can maintain more control over a property by having your name on the deed alone.

Downsides

There are some downsides to this arrangement as well that extend beyond any potential hurt feelings.

Besides the “for richer and poorer” motivation, there are a few more good reasons to put your spouse on a deed even if you pay for the property.

To deal with your HOA/condo board: Some homeowners associations and condo managers will talk only with the person whose name is on the deed.

This means that all communications must go through you, which can be a hassle if you’d like your spouse to occasionally speak on your behalf when contacting the HOA/condo board or attending meetings.

To build assets as a couple: If you plan on growing your financial future as a couple (by, say, buying more property or

starting a business), it could be a good idea to own substantial assets together, which will make you both more creditworthy when looking for funding.

If you decide to keep your spouse’s name off a deed, you should know that you will likely need your spouse’s consent. Many lenders will require your partner to sign a quitclaim deed, a document that “disclaims” any interest in the property.

This is a way for the lender to help protect themselves and the borrower from future title disputes.

As such, you won’t be able to secretly buy a home behind your spouse’s back. Your spouse will be aware of this purchase, and will have to agree to remain on the financial sidelines.

If you’re worried broaching this arrangement might offend your spouse, be sure to point out that this doesn’t reflect any distrust on your part.

Emphasize why it makes financial sense, and is important to you, and most spouses will understand where you’re coming from.

Realtor.com provided this report.

DATAfrom Page 30

tember – a 1% decline but still above the square foot price of 2021.

“Although the lack of demand causes concern,” it noted, “the shortage of supply goes a long way to counter-balance this and downward pressure on prices is fairly light.”

At the same time, the Valley’s 17 housing submarkets are showing encouraging trends for sellers.

“There are numerous signs that the situation is starting to improve gradually over the last two weeks,” it said, counting Phoenix and all East Valley communities among those where inventory is falling – thus counteracting any impact a decline in demand might have on prices.

“Only 6,713 new listings were added in the past four weeks,” it said in mid-November. “This is down 27% from last year and down 25% from 2020. What is most amazing is that these unusually low numbers of new listings come less than five months after the record high of 12,246 was set on June 28.

“Those who think the housing market is a bursting bubble are obviously wrong,” the Cromford Report said. “In a bubble we have a stampede of sellers

from Page 30

renewal rates to the Consumer Price Index, not all do. A landlord might be relieved to terminate a lease in this instance since they will likely be able to negotiate higher rental rates with a new tenant that conform with the current market.

4. Work out an agreement with the landlord to pay a sum of money to

trying to get out. You could be forgiven for thinking a bubble was bursting in June, but there is no evidence to support that conclusion today. We have a tired and low-volume market, but supply and demand are both very weak.

“If new supply stays as low as it is now,

terminate the lease, or to reduce rent temporarily to accommodate the challenges the current inflationary environment is posing.

5. Seek out a suitable tenant that would be interested in leasing the space.

Under Arizona law, a landlord has a duty to mitigate its damages upon a tenant abandoning the premises, which requires the landlord to exercise reasonable efforts to re-let the space at fair rental value and credit the tenant

it would not take a large increase in demand to go back to a balanced market.”

It also predicted supply would continue to drop into next year.

As for demand, the report added. “With mortgage rates stabilizing for a while at a rate around 6.6% to 6.7% for

accordingly.

Conversely, commercial landlords who have adjustable-rate mortgages or who have entered into gross leases and have experienced a hike in common area maintenance expenses may desire to evaluate options to either terminate or not renew the lease with the tenant under the lease’s renewal terms.

Landlords should likewise carefully review the lease to determine if the tenant is in violation of any provision.

a 30-year fixed loan, demand for homes has also stabilized, though at a very low level.”

“Even so, we have fewer than 7,000 listings under contract across all areas and types and we really should be well over 9,000 in a normal market,” it cautioned. “We almost achieved 9,000 in late August but the Federal Reserve took an ax to chop that down.”

Still, it said, “there has been relatively little discussion about the weakness of housing supply.

“When we look at new listings arriving into the ARMLS database, we see a startling drop off in all the numbers.”

Earlier this month, the Cromford Report added, “this lack of demand is far worse for re-sale homes than it is for brand new homes, which are experiencing relatively brisk closings and little downward pressure in gross contract prices.

“However, we have no doubt that seller concessions to buyers are much higher now than they were during the first quarter. For the majority of new home closings, these concessions are not visible. Re-sale concessions will often appear in the MLS listings and we know these concessions have increased dramatically.”

Also, landlords should determine if the tenant properly exercised any options to extend the lease in accordance with the lease provisions.

Benjamin L. Gottlieb is the founding partner of Gottlieb Law and an Arizona Department of Real Estate-approved instructor who teaches continuing education courses on real estate law to Realtors. Reach him at 602-899-8188 or benjamin@gottlieblawaz.com.

New listings in the Valley’s housing market have fallen off considerably in reaction to a sharp drop in demand. (The Cromford Report)

FREEDOM.

If you think oxygen therapy means slowing down, it’s time for a welcome breath of fresh air.

Introducing the Inogen One family of portable oxygen systems. With no need for bulky tanks, each concentrator is designed to keep you active via Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology.® Hours of quiet and consistent oxygen flow on a long-lasting battery charge enabling freedom of movement, whether at home or on the road. Every Inogen One meets FAA requirements for travel ensuring the freedom to be you.

Chandler pickleball store thrives as sport’s popularity soars

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

It’s no surprise to Cheryl Megli how quickly pickleball has become a major recreation option in the East Valley. In fact, she wonders what took so long.

“We saw it coming,” said Megli, owner of the Tennis & Pickleball Cabana, which recently moved from Ahwatukee to Chandler. “The west side of town started first, we had a store over there. And we knew it was coming to the East Valley. We just didn’t know when.”

Megli’s store off Arizona Avenue, just south of the Loop 202, offers supplies for tennis and pickleball players. It also has its own pickleball court.

She bought an existing business that started in Ahwatukee about four years after it opened.

When the lease was ending on that location, she said she wanted to move farther east to the Chandler-Gilbert areas because of how much the sport has grown there.

Besides, she said, she also needed a larger location to keep up with that growth.

“From what I hear in the pickleball world, the East Valley of Phoenix right now is the hotspot,” she said. “We are growing the fastest and building the most courts, and have the most players. It’s very exciting!”

There are an estimated 4.8 million pickleball players in the U.S., and the sport grew 14.8% from 2020 to 2021. There are 10,320 pickleball facilities nationally according to Pickleheads, a court

data provider.

Megli said the company that built the pickleball court inside her store told her it has become the hot commodity in the homebuyer’s market.

“A lot of the new, higher-end homebuilders are putting pickleball courts into their backyards, and not as an option,” Megli said. “A lot of people in Gilbert, and the SanTan area are actually putting them in their backyards.

“And if you’re building a new senior community, you must have pickleball courts. Nobody will give it a look unless it has pickleball courts.”

Pickleball is a version of tennis, but on a much smaller court so it doesn’t require as much movement. It’s played with paddles and the balls have holes in them, so

it slows the game down considerably.

It rose to prominence among seniors but Megli said that now people of all ages are playing the sport and it’s become quite popular with younger generations.

It’s become so popular that most cities and towns in the metro region have invested millions in constructing pickleball courts. And yet, pickleball fans contend there aren’t nearly enough to meet the demand.

For those who prefer the older, faster and more powerful game Megli’s store continues to sell tennis gear as well.

She said the equipment in that game has changed so much that her staff will be able to help any tennis player get the right gear for them.

One thing she stressed is that even

though pickleball and tennis can be lowkey recreation options, she said it’s important to have court shoes. Megli said there have been a lot of injuries because people wore the wrong shoes while playing those sports.

Megli offers a range of supplies – from the players just starting out to the more serious types who are competing in tournament.

She doesn’t doubt that it will continue to grow in popularity.

“It’s such a social sport, a fun sport,” Megli said. And it’s a sport you can pick up the first day. So a 4-year-old can literally go out there and play pickleball today without having years and years of lessons like tennis. And then it’s a natural transition for tennis players.”

Chandler man brings Costa Rica flavor to

BY GERI KOEPPEL Contributor

Coffee is a central part of the Costa Rican culture, and one East Valley family shares that heritage with every cup they serve.

Pura Vida Grinds coffee shop on Main Street near Val Vista Drive in Mesa only serves coffee from beans imported from Costa Rican co-ops and individual farms.

The owners, Robert Lobo and his wife, Angela Vannett, and their children—Isabella, 2, and Charlie, 3—travel from their Chandler home to the Latin American country annually to try coffees. Lobo’s father, Carlos, and his wife, Cecilia, live there full-time and facilitate the contacts.

“This year we went for the month of June,” said Robert Lobo, who’s known by his surname. “It’s really cool just to sit down and drink. They’re so proud to serve you their coffee that’s in their back yard.”

They named the shop Pura Vida Grinds because “pura vida” is a popular saying in Costa Rica. Though it translates directly as “pure life,” it indicates living your life

to the fullest, Lobo explained.

Pura Vida Grinds not only sells a wide range of specialty coffee drinks for about $3-6, it also uses “micro-lot cof-

fees” for pour-overs using a handmade, imported ceramic vandola. It resembles a large teapot with a funnel on top.

The vessel keeps the coffee warm and

helps open up the flavors “like the decanter for the wine,” Carlos explained. “It oxygenates the coffee so you get the notes out.”

The shop sells the hand-painted vandolas for $160 as well as a variety of beans, starting at about $16 for 12 ounces and up to $42 for a kilogram.

In addition to coffee, the Lobo family doles out healthy doses of hospitality.

Loyal customer Randy Walters of Mesa said service is an important part of what keeps him going back.

“You can get good coffee a lot of places, but you can’t get this experience,” Walters said. “The customer care, it’s just phenomenal. It’s genuine.”

“The first time you’re in here you feel like family,” he added. “They smile, they greet you, they don’t rush anybody out, they take their time.”

Numerous customers say they drive from other parts of the Valley just to visit them, Vannett commented.

“Especially in coffee, there’s so many options for people, so you have to set

Manning a Pura Vida Grinds coffee truck are, clockwise from top, Robert Lobo of Chandler, Charlie, his wife Angela Vannett, and his dad’s wife and dad, Cecilia and Carlos Lobo of Costa Rica. (Geri Koeppel/ Contributor)

(Above) Cheryl Megli recently moved her Tennis and Pickleball Cabana from Ahwatukee to a larger shop in Chandler. (Right) Ben Tong restrings a tennis racket. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Climbing stairs shouldn’t feel like climbing

Camelback.

Get back to the little things you love with stronger joints. Whether it is climbing Camelback Mountain or climbing your stairs without joint pain, we’re here to get you back to the life you love. Our highly specialized physician and patient care staff works with each patient to establish a personalized treatment and rehabilitation program.

Discover how we can get you back to living your life your way.

Jump rope game inspire Chandler eatery’s name

BY KEN SAIN Managing Editor

Friends and business partners Jason Key and Tom Montgomery grew up in the New York area. So did some of their fellow investors.

When they were looking for a name for their new South Chandler restaurant and bar, they had a specific concept in mind, but the actual name eluded them.

“We wanted something that kind of touched on something American, but had a fun kind of a neighborhood feel,” Key said. “We had so many options. We were like, ‘oh, that sounds good.’ And then a couple of weeks later, it didn’t sound so good. “Maybe it didn’t roll off the tongue like we liked. And then it got down to the kind of crunch time and down to the wire.”

A childhood memory proved to be the source of inspiration for the name.

“Growing up all of our sisters and friends were always doing the double-dutch jump rope game out in the streets,” he said. “And I was never really good at it.”

That’s how the Double Dutch Kitchen & Cocktails got its name.

The business partners had been operating The Kettle Black together in downtown Phoenix. After weathering the

COVID storm, they decided to expand.

They took over an existing place in early 2021 on the northeast corner of Dobson and Germann roads. What they liked about it was they didn’t feel it needed a lot of work.

“We didn’t have to put a whole lot of money into the place which was a selling aspect for us,” Key said. “But we ended up putting a lot of money to get our own touches and things and [making some repairs].”

Keeping to the theme of childhood games, Key said they offer some fun

things for visitors.

“We have a great patio out here to throw some beanbags or play Giant Jenga or things like that,” he said.

So far, Key said they’ve been a success with local residents, some of whom return multiple times a week. He said the next step is to make sure a wider area of Chandler knows about the place and will come check them out.

“They love our braised beef short ribs,” Key said. “They love our steaks and our seafood but first, they come in sometimes and have our street corn or

shrimp ceviche.

“They really like our deals that we have – like on Mondays, we’ll do a burger and a draught beer for $12. We’ll do nice gourmet burgers. We do some Taco Tuesdays, which have been pretty well received.”

In the bar area, they offer craft cocktails.

“We’re an American-style gastropub specializing in some craft cocktails and you know, great beer, craft beer. You can get anything here, from burgers and sandwiches and salads to filet mignon and salmon. We have some higher-end pasta dishes and things like that, too. So we’re trying to fit all that little market.”

On weekends, Double Dutch offers live entertainment.

“We started doing it about I’d say maybe a year ago,” Key said. “And it’s been well received. People know that you can come in here on a Friday or Saturday night and know that there’s either going to be a solo musician or a duo or maybe even a trio, maybe even a band.”

Double Dutch Kitchen & Cocktails

1890 W. Germann Road, Suite 1, Chandler 480-758-5856, thedoubledutchaz.com

Chandler school founder to head national cosmetology group

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A Chandler woman has been elected president and chair of rhe American Association of Cosmetology Schools.

Cathy Koluch, president and founder of The Studio Academy with locations in Chandler, Phoenix and Tolleson, was elected to the position at a recent gathering of the association.

Koluch has been in private post-secondary education since 1989. She was appointed to the Arizona Post-Secondary Education Commission by former Gov. Jan Brewer and has been an advocate for career trade schools as a viable

GRINDS

from Page 34

yourself apart with great coffee and great customer service,” she said.

The idea for Pura Vida Grinds began to brew when a coffee franchise owner in Costa Rica approached Carlos and told him he’d like to export to the United States. “I told him my son was here and he could be the contact here,” he said.

Lobo began making plans and got a trailer, but that deal fell through. He still wanted to pursue the business, however, so he called his dad and said, “Hey, could you find me the best coffee in Costa Rica?”

Carlos located a small supplier, Cafe Forestal, and they started with that.

Lobo and Vannett formed the business in 2016 and began selling coffee from a portable cart in Mesa and at events in 2017.

option for those who choose not to attend traditional college and universities.

AACS was founded in 1924 and has a rich history of educating and advancing students into the beauty and wellness industry. The national nonprofit is open to all privately owned schools of cosmetology arts and science.

Membership includes cosmetology, skin, nail, barbering, and massage schools. AACS currently has more than 250 school owners as members comprising over 500 schools across the nation.

Tasked with protecting and elevating education in this industry, Koluch said

They got their current space on Main Street in 2018 to serve as a prep area and for storing the cart and beans.

Also in 2018, they added a coffee truck, which was easier than wheeling around the cart and a heavy generator to serve events.

The 1963 Ford Vanette was manufactured on special order for Rainbow Bread as a delivery truck. Lobo had it wrapped with scenes of Costa Rica— including the iconic sloth, which is a national symbol of Costa Rica—by Cortez Visual in Gilbert, which also did Pura Vida Grinds’ storefront, cart and a wall mural.

Just as things were moving along, everything ground to a halt.

“When the whole pandemic hit, our calendars got wiped, and we said, ‘What do we do?’” Lobo recalled. “We decided to open this up as a pop-up shop to stay alive.”

her position requires advocacy at the state and federal level.

“It is important to recognize the beauty and wellness industry as a growing and evolving career path that offers stable careers that leads to flexibility and business ownership,” said Koluch.

The Studio Academy of Beauty was founded in 2006 and offers Cosmetology, Hairstyling and Esthetics education. TSAOB offers financial aid for those who qualify and is approved by the Veterans Administration and Workforce Development.

They turned the strip mall storefront into a cafe, parking the cart inside and serving drinks from it.

And then they got a big break: As other businesses were shuttering during the pandemic, they got a boost of publicity and started to grow.

Newscaster Elías Alvarado of Telenoticias, a major Spanish-language TV station, found Pura Vida Grinds on social media. He did a segment remotely from the studio in New York in June 2020 that was broadcast all over Latin America.

It was so successful, he flew out in November and did another segment that will air this month on Telenoticias.

Soon after the initial segment aired, artisanal coffee producers and others began to reach out.

“When the interview came out, the whole world was shut off,” Carlos said, “so all these people in Costa Rica, these souvenir producers, they called and said,

‘Please help us; we have no business.’”

The family already was selling Costa Rican-made flip flops, and began importing items like jewelry, Indigenous-made decorative masks and more. Now, they’re constantly adding new items, getting fresh beans, sourcing new contacts and filling special requests, Lobo added.

“That was always my idea was to share culture through coffee,” he said. “Now that we’re here, it’s about bringing the community together. It means a lot to us. Almost every customer that comes in, we know by name.”

Pura

Vida Grinds

3820 E. Main Street, Mesa.

7 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday 480-600-7528; pvgrinds.com

Jason Key and Tom Montgomery wanted something that said “American” and “fun” when they opened their South Chandler restaurant last year. (Courtesy of Jason Key)

CATHY KOLUCH

BY HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

As we approach the end of 2022, gas prices have doubled and we have 40-year-highs in inflation. The first six months of 2022 were the worst the stock market has had in 40 years. As of Nov. 28, the S&P 500 Index is down 17% and the Nasdaq Index is down almost 30% in 2022.

Mortgage rates for 30-year loans have more than doubled from 3% one year ago to a high of 7% recently. On a $500,000 loan the increased interest rates have raised the monthly mortgage payment from $2,103 per month to $3,307 per month, resulting in a sharp drop in home sales.

The Fed has raised interest rates sharply to fight inflation, though it may cause a bad recession. Large firms have recently announced thousands of layoffs.

Here are some goals and dreams my clients say they hope to achieve.

Losing weight and quitting smoking are the two biggest New Year’s Resolutions. In 2022, a client needed $500 a month for a weight loss program that offered her the support she needed. She wanted a healthier diet with more expensive organic foods and grass-fed beef.

Her increased retirement income strategies easily covered this extra expense. In only three months, she reached her goal of losing 25 pounds and was able to fit into clothes she had not been able to wear in years.

More travel in retirement is the top bucket list item for Americans. A client’s life-long dream was to visit Antarctica. She found that a 14-day trip will cost $15,000-$27,000.

Eight years ago, she had deposited $270,000 in a private pension account. In 2023, she will trigger her annual income of $27,000, guaranteed every year she is alive. She will easily be able to afford the

Antarctica and other future overseas trips.

A safer income that is also steadier than stock market dividends or bond interest. Two years ago, an 80-year-old client was able to achieve this by buying solar business equipment and leasing it out to huge food companies on a 10year lease with a 10-year warranty that covers all repair costs.

The annual depreciation allows her to pay no income tax on an income that is triple what stock market dividends or bond interest pays.

Substantially increasing retirement income. In 2019, a new client said that they currently spend $50,000 a year but wanted to spend $75,000 a year when they retire in seven years. They also wanted to remove 90% of their financial assets from stock market risk.

A series of strategies were implemented, that will generate a $120,000 annual retirement income in 2027. Also, a large Roth IRA Conversion was accomplished in 2020 without owing any federal in-

come tax so that much of the wife’s retirement income will be tax-free for life.

Leaving a large legacy for your child is a worthy goal. In 2022, a retired widow did a $600,000 Roth IRA Conversion and had $250,000 of additional taxable income. By using advanced tax strategies, she owes $0 federal tax in 2022 and creates $2.5 million more wealth to leave to her only child.

What dreams and goals will you take action on in 2023?

Free seminar and supper: 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at Hyatt Place, 3535 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler. The seminar is at 6:00 followed by a free catered supper. Topic is “Beat Inflation by Saving Taxes and Increasing Income!”

To RSVP for the seminar or schedule a free consultation, contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. His website is www.drharoldwong.com. Wong earned his Ph.D. in Economics at University of California/Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

Less pop. More culture.

Tuition-free, K-12 classical education offering an honors level curriculum in the tradition of the finest independent private schools, all in a tuition-free, public school setting.

Basha holds off Saguaro to win Open Division state championship

BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

Basha needed one last stop to secure the Open Division championship against Saguaro Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium.

But the Sabercats were driving with less than a minute remaining and just a one-score deficit. It was similar to the way Saguaro beat Liberty in the semifinals, one last drive followed by a touchdown and successful two-point attempt to reach the final.

Basha coach Chris McDonald said the thought crossed his mind as he watched the Sabercats move down the field behind quarterback Devon Dampier. But their final pass fell incomplete, and Basha secured the 28-21 victory in their first-ever championship appearance.

“I’m just happy for the kids,” McDonald said. “We felt we had a really good opportunity to hold up the good ball. We felt that way last year, too, we just didn’t get it done.

“They just had a belief. It wasn’t arrogance, it was business … we’ve got a lot of really good football players that are great kids and work their tails off.”

Basha relied heavily on its run game against Chandler in the semifinals. It was much of the same against Saguaro. All four of Basha’s touchdowns came on the ground. Senior running back Deshaun Buchanan opened the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

For the moment, Basha held all the momentum. But Jaedon Matthews an -

swered with a 94-yard kick return for a touchdown. It set the tone for the rest of the first half, as the two teams traded touchdowns from Buchanan and Dampier.

“Dampier has won a lot of games like this. That guy’s won more games like this than he’s lost,” McDonald said.

“He’s a heck of a competitor. New Mex-

ico is getting an absolute steal in that kid.

“The things he has, you can’t coach.”

Buchanan rushed for one more score in the fourth quarter, a 3-yard run that came on the heels of an 83-yard run down the Saguaro sideline.

He and defensive back Cole Martin transferred to Basha two years ago to

continue helping build the football program. They helped elevate it into an Open Division contender in 2021 and champion in 2022.

He rushed for 199 yards and three touchdowns in the process.

“I knew when I woke up this morning,

Brock Purdy thrives, beats Tom Brady in first NFL start

BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

There isn’t a moment that ever seems too big for Brock Purdy.

When he was at Perry, he calmly led the team to the semifinals and a state championship appearance. When offers from schools didn’t surface most of his career, he stayed patient.

At Iowa State when he was thrust into action, he calmly played his best and never relinquished the job again. On Dec. 11, he showed again the type of special player he is, beating the Tom Bradyled Buccaneers 35-7, accounting for three total touchdowns in the process.

“I’m just excited that we won,” Purdy said. “Just to do what it takes to win — defense played great, offense did their thing. To come out and win in a crucial part of the season, especially going into a Thursday night game coming up, it’s very exciting.”

It was the second win Purdy managed to get under center for the 49ers, and the first one in which he was the starter throughout.

He was called into action a week pri-

or when starter Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a foot injury that will likely sideline him until late in

or for the remainder of the year. And

met Brady at midfield.

“It was surreal just standing there like, man, that’s Tom Brady talking to guys and dapping guys up,” Purdy said. “For him to have respect for what I did, it was pretty cool.”

Purdy completed 16-of-21 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns and ran in another in the win. It was one of the best rookie debuts in NFL history, and it came after he was drafted with the final pick in last year’s draft, which is dubbed “Mr. Irrelevant” by media.

But he’s irrelevant no more.

“Proud. Honored. Emotional,” Purdy’s father, Shawn, said. “It’s so new it doesn’t seem real. It’s like a dream, it’s like an out-of-body experience. That was a very emotional time.”

Purdy’s historic start sent shockwaves throughout the nation. But in Arizona, it came as no surprise.

Those who have followed Purdy’s career knew what he was capable of. Shawn said the support from Arizona has been overwhelming to them, but

Basha head coach Chris McDonald holds up the trophy as the Bears celebrate defeating Saguaro 28-21 in the AIA Open Division football state championship game, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Perry alum Brock Purdy made the most of an opportunity yet again as he led the San Francisco 49ers to a win over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his first-ever NFL start. (Terrell Lloyd/49ers.com)

the postseason

with Trey Lance lost to a season-ending knee injury, the 49ers quickly became Purdy’s team.

After beating the Buccaneers, Purdy

BASHA

I decided it would be the best game I’ve ever played in my life,” Buchanan said. “We really did it for the community. I’ve never seen this many people try to pack out a college stadium for the state game. To bring the first one to Basha, it meant a lot.

“We were playing for the people back at school.”

Basha’s Defense knew it had to corral Dampier entering the contest. His ability to extend plays with his legs makes him a true dual threat and one of the best in the state.

The Bears pass rush got to him on several occasions, led by defensive tackle Brody Jones and linebacker Jack Bleier, among others. Dampier, however, had his moments.

He scored his second rushing touchdown late in the fourth to get Saguaro within a score. He then orchestrated a drive down the field and came a fourthdown conversion away from potentially tying the game or going for a 2-point conversion to win.

He finished 10-of-23 for 72 yards and an interception but rushed for 87 yards and two scores. Saguaro coach Jason Mohns credited him and the rest of the seniors for the way they fought, espe -

cially when written off early in the season.

“There’s a lot of tears in their eyes, there’s a lot of hurt,” Mohns said. “When you care about something deeply, it hurts. A lot of teenagers protect themselves from hurt like this. I’m proud of our guys because they were clearly invested in what we were trying to do. We came up just short and there’s no shame in that.

“I’m proud of this team. I told them this is one of the best playoff runs I’ve been a part of. We didn’t win this last game, but this team sure made me proud.”

The win was monumental for a Basha team that accomplished many firsts this year.

The Bears made their first championship appearance, and it came while beating Hamilton and Chandler in the same season for the first time ever. In their first meeting with Saguaro, they emerged victorious.

Those were the goals for players like Lockhart when he enrolled at Basha as a freshman. He wanted to change the culture. He wanted to turn the program into one that was a winner. He and his teammates did that.

“I loved growing with this team, it means everything to me,” Lockhart said. “This is what I wanted. I don’t want to

grateful. We don’t take it for granted, it’s so cool.”

my own destiny. I want to leave a

everybody else. This means a lot to me.

Brock has remained calm, cool and collected throughout. Shawn and Carrie were in attendance for the game. It’s a trip they had planned for months to see Brady. But their focus quickly changed when their son was thrust into the starting role.

“The Arizona community has always been so good to Brock,” Shawn said. “Across the country there’s a lot of support as well. But your home state rallying behind you, it’s so touching and we’re so

Videos from Sunday showed Purdy greeting his parents in the tunnel as he and the rest of the 49ers walked out.

On several occasions Fox cameras panned to where the Purdys sat with other family, including younger brother and current Nebraska quarterback, Chubba.

Purdy met his family once more after the game. He said it was special to see his family staring down at him from the railing. They have supported him through all the ups and downs in his career.

“The emotions on their face,” Purdy said. “Just the way they looked down at me from up on the railing, it just means a lot cause … just throughout my whole life, the ups and downs of playing quarterback in general — high school, college — they’re the people at home who believe in you and they always see the best in you.

“They’ve always been telling me, ‘You’re good enough, we know you can do it.’ So, to see them after that performance meant a lot to me.”

Purdy earned Player of the Game honors for his performance. Most impor-

“This is everything we’ve been working toward. It feels like it all paid off and this season didn’t go to an end.”

tantly, he showed he has what it takes to be a quarterback in the NFL. As a result, fans at Levi’s Stadium broke out into a “Purdy” chant.

It was a surreal moment that solidified what became obvious throughout the game: The 49ers are Purdy’s for the immediate future.

“There might’ve been some chants,” Purdy said when asked if he had ever had that experience at Perry or Iowa State.

“But I think today, that was wild to hear the whole stadium saying it like that.”

leave

legacy for

Basha senior tight end Patrick Green, “left,” and senior running back Deshaun Buchanan celebrate in the end zone after a touchdown against Saguaro in the AIA Open Division football state championship game. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Gilb 480-613-3439: 1/2 pg, 4.9”W x 10”H

Stay Connected

with everyone that matters most to you.

Clarendale senior living keeps you in touch with everyone that matters most to you.

Clarendale senior living keeps you in touch with everyone that matters most to you.

Stay Connected

It’s the lifestyle you love—only better. Clarendale is a community focused on “connected living.” You simply can’t beat the convenient location. You’ll have a maintenance-free residence with exceptional senior living services and amenities and still stay close and connected to all your neighbors, friends and family. SCHEDULE YOUR EXPERIENCE TO LEARN MORE. CALL 480-571-2407.

Clarendale senior living keeps you in touch with everyone that matters most to you.

Stay Connected

It’s the lifestyle you love—only better. Clarendale is a community focused on “connected living.” You simply can’t beat the convenient location. You’ll have a maintenance-free residence with exceptional senior living services and amenities and still stay close and connected to all your neighbors, friends and family. SCHEDULE YOUR EXPERIENCE TO LEARN MORE. CALL 480-571-2407.

It’s the lifestyle you love—only better. Clarendale is a community focused on “connected living.” You simply can’t beat the convenient location. You’ll have a maintenance-free residence with exceptional senior living services and amenities and still stay close and connected to all your neighbors, friends and family. SCHEDULE YOUR EXPERIENCE

It’s the lifestyle you love—only better. Clarendale is a community focused on “connected living.” You simply can’t beat the convenient location. You’ll have a maintenance-free residence with exceptional senior living services and amenities and still stay close and connected to all your neighbors, friends and family. SCHEDULE YOUR EXPERIENCE TO LEARN MORE. CALL 480-571-2407.

Clarendale senior living keeps you in touch with everyone that matters most to you.

web ClarendaleOfChandler.com

TO LEARN MORE. CALL 480-571-2407. web ClarendaleOfChandler.com 5900 S. Gilbert Rd. | Chandler, AZ 85249 9-22

5900 S. Gilbert Rd. | Chandler, AZ 85249 9-22

web ClarendaleOfChandler.com 5900 S. Gilbert Rd. | Chandler, AZ 85249 9-22

100+ Women Who Care donates over $1M

BY KIM TARNOPOLSKI Guest Writer

One hundred dollars at a time is how 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun exceeded their goal of donating $1 Million to local nonprofits.

Eight years ago, Kim Tarnopolski, Jacqueline Destremps, Stephanie Millner, and Jenn Kaye launched a people-centered form of philanthropy called a giving circle in Ahwatukee and Scottsdale.

A giving circle brings a group of people with shared values together to collectively discuss and decide where to make a pooled gift. Giving circles support with their dollars, but also build awareness and educate members about the great work being done by local charities.

Individuals multiply their impact and knowledge, have fun, and connect with their local community.

“Over the last eight years, we’ve facilitated 91 giving circles in the Valley. That is 91 times our members were given the opportunity to donate $100 to a deserving nonprofit,” said Chief Charity Officer Stephanie Millner.

“When you add all those donations together, it quickly multiplies to tens of thousands of dollars each year.”

In November, the chapter’s East Valley group delivered $7,100 to the Arizona Humane Society.

Trenna Farrell, the nominating member, has a huge heart for animals. She educated the group about the emergency ani-

mal medical technicians who are on the streets of the Valley saving animals every day.

This dedicated team responds to over 9,000 animal rescues and investigations, annually.

The technicians provide in-the-field lifesaving care to sick, injured, and abused animals and transport them to their trauma hospital for veterinary care. They also investigate cases of animal cruelty within certain cities.

The most common animal cruelty investigations are for abandonment, welfare checks, and lack of water.

This team, the first of its kind in Arizona, is committed to giving our furry friends the home they deserve.

“We are so grateful and moved to get a donation of this size directed at our team. When we get direct funding to our team it goes to purchase gear and equipment that is necessary in the rescue of animals,” said Ruthie Jesus, manager of the Emergency Animal Medical Technicians team.

“Some of the funds will be used to buy a halligan for each truck,” Ruthie said. “This tool is used to open street drains. The fire department has them and often we must wait thirty plus minutes for them to get to the scene to open a 200-pound drain grate to save an animal.

With this tool, we will be able to do it ourselves, so we can rescue animals as quickly and efficiently as possible. It means so much and our team is so

excited.”

To learn more about this team at the Arizona Humane Society visit azhumane. org/stop-animal-cruelty.

To learn more, register, and attend 100+ Women Who Care’s next giving circle in the East Valley on Feb. 2, visit 100wwcvalleyofthesun.org.

Sun Lakes Rotarians had a busy month of service

BY DR. HONORA NORTON Guest Writer

Rotary Club of Sun Lakes members completed several community service projects in November.

Rotarian Debbie Bailey partnered with Sun Lakes Computer Booters for the electronics recycle event in Sun Lakes and nearly 250 vehicles dropped off goods, filling four 18-foot rigs. About 20 RCSL members and ASU Rotaractors volunteered and the club is considering making this project an annual event.

Sun Lakes Rotarians also pledged $4,000 to Rotary International’s Polio Plus Campaign, according to Peter Meade, Sun Lakes resident and club lead for this project.

Rotary International, The World Health Organization, UNICEF and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the global eradication initiative in 1988. Since Rotary started the fight against polio, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent and reached more than 2.5 billion children with the vaccine.

RCSL members and friends gathered in Sun Lakes to make cozy fleece blankets for little cancer warriors helped by

the Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels organization.

Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels is a nonprofit, support and educational organization founded in 2012 in celebration of Amanda Hope’s life.

The organization provides gifts to children diagnosed with cancer and other blood related disorders; supports healthcare professionals in person-centered care for children and their family with empathy and understanding; and

The Rotary Club also held its annual Veteran’s Day celebration and its event chair Maureen Alger facilitated the meeting in which keynote speaker RCSL Rotarian/US Navy Veteran Kiamesha Guy was keynote speaker, sharing her experiences as an aviation and damage control specialist.

She also gave an overview of Global Maternal Wellness, which she co-founded. The nonprofit provides care for veteran mothers.

RCSL members Bill McCoach led invocation; CUSD high school students Elliana Friedlund sang national anthem and Ethan O’Donnell played snare drum. Hamilton High School JRAFROTC performed color guard duties.

An endearing slide program was presented highlighting RCSL members who are veterans.

During November, RCSL Rotarians delivered dictionaries to 3rd graders in schools throughout the Chandler Unified School District.

helps families have voice and choice above the harsh protocols often present in the healthcare system.

Marking a donation to the Arizona Human Society by 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun are, from left, Trenna Farrell, Ruthie Jesus, Crissy Haidos, Kim Tarnopolski, and Piglet. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Sun Lakes Rotarians Dave Ouradnik and Bob Phillips provided members with information about the club’s 2023 golf tournament - a fundraiser that they jointly chair.

(Photo by Honora Norton)

2 CUSD educators named teachers of the month

BY SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes congratulated and presented its Chandler Unified School District Teachers of the Month awards for the last two months of 2022.

The November winner was Lisa Krietstein, a third grade teacher at Elite Performance Academy in Chandler, and the December winner was Connie Cooperrider, specialized teacher at CTA Freedom.

The award is based on a teacher’s total years in education, examples of how they go above the normal requirements and enhance student education, the respect by peers, students, and parents; and the teacher’s involvement in extracurricular activities and service in the community.

A $500 check for the honored teacher – includes $200 from the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes, $200 from Earnhardt Automotive Center and $100 from Trust Bank.

Krietstein has been with CUSD since 1989. She graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelors in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational counseling.

Lisa’s nominating colleague, Shayleigh Smith, said, “Mrs. K. is an extraordinary educator, but not only that, she’s an extraordinary colleague, person, and friend to all. There isn’t a day that Mrs. K. doesn’t go above and beyond by nurturing and educating students with care, love, and making them feel important.

“Mrs. K. has been serving as an informal mentor for me as I am a new teacher and has provided me with a wealth of knowledge, but also an example of how I wish to teach and how I wish to be with my students. I have never witnessed such high levels of creativity to keep her students not only engaged

ROTARY

The club has donated $9,360 to the National Dictionary Program, which has provided over 35 million dictionaries, of which 75,000 were sponsored by the Sun Lakes Rotary. The Rotary Dictionary Project is a nationwide effort to provide young students with their own personal dictionaries.

The club also donated $1,000 to assist with community service projects

The club named as Rotarians of the Month Bob Phillips and Dave Ouradnik, co-chairs of the club’s 29th Charity Golf Tournament March 11 at Sun Lakes Oakwood Country Club with an 11 a.m. registration, 12:15 p.m. ball drop, 12:30 p.m. shotgun start.

For early registration discounts: givsum.com/charities/sun-lakes-rotaryclub#home.

Bob, a Maricopa resident, and Dave, a Sun Lakes resident, both serve as directors on Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000, the philanthropic arm of the Sun

but loving school.

“Everything Mrs. K. does has an element of creativity whether it’s a craftivity (craft + activity), a writing activity with a purpose, or her own ideas with manipulatives in math. Mrs. K. is a leader of 3 clubs, one in which we co-operate, which requires her to be to school earlier than all and add multiple levels to her already busy plate just to ensure students have the chance to be a part of a community with a creative outlet.

“All students from her current 3rd graders to the junior high kiddos who are still in our building speak so, so highly of Mrs. K. I, too, as her colleague, feel so lucky to have her in my life for many reasons.”

Cooperrider graduated Summa Cum Laude from Grand Canyon University with a dual major and bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education.

She has worked in CUSD since 2013 and has taught in a specialized classroom since January 2020.

Christina Lucas-Sheffield, principal at CUSD CTA Freedom, said, “What’s best for kids? Quite simply, this is Mrs. Cooperrider’s guiding question, and it’s the focal point for every decision she makes as a special education teacher on our campus.

“Mrs. Cooperrider brings so much to her classroom, the school’s special education team. Mrs. Cooperrider has

Lakes Rotary Club. The mission of the foundation is to promote charitable giving and to provide support for important community-based projects and programs, as well as numerous international programs.

Bob joined RCSL in 2013 and has over the years led various club fundraisers, as well as, volunteered for community service projects.

Before joining the Sun Lakes Rotary Club in 2018, Dave was a member of the Fargo Lions Club. He brought that same community involvement and his get things done attitude to RCSL.

For more information about RCSL meetings in Sun Lakes, the club projects and membership: sunlakesrotary.com. Dr. Honora Norton is the public image director for the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes.

Sun Lakes Rotarians who made fleece blankets for Amanda Hope Rainbow Warriors included, from left, Kris Smith, Judi Edmonds, Judy Davis and Kandi Skrabala. (Photo by Honora Norton)

amazing ambition, impeccable organization and, most importantly, the kindest heart.

“She has created a definite sense of family within her classroom because she has spent the time needed to facilitate joy and meaningful relationships with her students, their families, as well as all her co-teaching professionals. Mrs. Cooperrider’s classroom vision of creating a culture of compassionate teaching and learning is delivered to students in more ways than one.

“You will see her in her classroom singing and dancing with her students with special needs and bringing so much joy to their school day. You will also see Mrs. Cooperrider working with

students during times of frustration in the most compassionate way because especially in those difficult times, she wants them to know how much she loves being their teacher.

“Our school community greatly benefits from having Mrs. Cooperrider on our team. She is the most supportive colleague who is willing to help whenever asked.

“She has gone above and beyond to support new teachers on our campus as well as contributing to school-wide events to help increase staff morale and a sense of community amongst our teaching team. Mrs. Cooperrider is a bright light in the field of special education and at our school.”

RCSL Education Chair Gary Kay presented Teacher of Month Awards to Lisa Krietstein, a third grade teacher at CUSD Elite Performance Academy and Connie Cooperrider, special ed teacher at CTA Freedom with RCSL President, Stephen Phair congratulating the teachers. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

CUSD educator helps fine arts students thrive

BY MURRAY SIEGEL Guest Writer

In recent years school districts across the country have struggled to improve test scores in reading and math.

To devote more class time to these subjects meant reducing student experience in other areas, such as fine arts.

Chandler Unified School District officials believed that they could do more to support fine arts students and teachers and created a position fine arts academic coach to lead this effort.

Three years ago, to initiate this program, Angela Storey was hired to the position and she was ready to accept the challenge.

The primary focus of the position is to support curriculum, instruction and professional development in the various disciplines, which include band, orchestra, general music, choir, the visual arts, dance and theatre. The fine arts program is part of all grades in all 47 CUSD schools.

The coach also develops community partnerships, such as working with the Chandler Center for the Arts to provide opportunities for students to meet with performing and visual artists.

She manages various district events including the art show in April, where student work is judged, honor band performance for elementary students in March and honor orchestra performance for elementary and junior high

students in April.

She also supports a two-day elementary choral festival in February.

Storey has 21 years of experience in Arizona schools, starting in the Teach for America program after graduating

from the University of Washington, Seattle. She has received two graduate degrees from Arizona State University.

She taught second and third grade for six years, which was followed by various support and administrative positions, such as assistant principal. Her interest in the fine arts was initiated in fourth grade when she began playing the violin in her school’s orchestra.

Her love for the instrument grew and, today, she is a violinist with the Chandler Symphony Orchestra.

Storey is most excited about the opportunity that Arizona provides for students, a fine arts diploma seal.

Last year, 80 CUSD students earned this seal and currently there are more than 180 students who intend to pursue the seal this spring. To receive the seal, a student must take four years of fine arts classes, be involved in fine arts activities and create a capstone project.

The position of fine arts academic coach and the program that has been developed allows students to experience the various aspects of the arts. Some students will find a career in the creative industries while many others will begin a lifetime interest in music, drama and/or the visual arts.

Angela Storey is Chandler Unified’s fine arts academic coach, helping students develop an appreciation for the arts and their talent. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

Faith, determination should guide our 2022 thoughts

BY RABBI IRWIN WIENER Coumnist

Once again, as the year concludes, we gather to celebrate and commemorate milestones in our lives. So many things happen to us between one year and the next. There is sadness but there is also gladness.

However, we seem to dwell on the misery and misfortune that occurs and forget too often the beautiful happenings that make us appreciate life.

Some of us concentrate on our ailments and forget how glorious the next day can be. To do that requires a combination of faith and determination.

It is easy to become disillusioned and feel as though the world is crashing down on us. And, at times, it probably is.

But those moments soon disappear and we find that a new day dawns and we are able to move on to the next moment in our lives.

We are fond of reminiscing, talking

about yesterday, and all the yesterdays before. They are even referred to as “the good old days.”

If we stop to think about if perhaps, we would understand that we refer to them as such because they are no longer here and, even perhaps we didn’t know that there was anything better.

Most of us lived in neighborhoods that witnessed people being born, marrying, and leaving this good earth, never having moved, or seen the wider world around us.

Now that the world is so small and we are so mobile, it seems to be inconceivable to even imagine so much that we missed.

As time goes by, we tend to focus on the past because we, now cannot envision a future. Day after day the same routine and day after day we see our circle of friends vanish. It is more difficult, at this stage in our lives, to make new friends.

I recently watched a very interesting movie about a family who struggled with the nuances of life. Some of them were attempting to hold on to the past and some wanted to break out and be free. It

was sad at times, and at times it was rather humorous.

Watching the two generations struggle to ensure continuity while still trying to bring newness into their lives, brought a chuckle, but also a tear.

It reminded me of our community. There are some who want desperately to hold onto the traditions of the past and still breathe the air of modernity. There are those who want only to journey into the realm of that which is proven. And there are those who want to abandon belief and substitute it with a faithless morality.

There are even labels for these varieties of connection.

On the one hand there are those who believe in strict adherence, derived from that which is written together with how it is interpreted, and finally the customs and traditions that are thrown into the mix, are convinced of the rightness of what they believe.

However, when we stir the pot out comes a blending of a thing called faith.

On the other hand, I find that the issue is comfortability. If we are not satisfied

with our observance, to whatever extent, then it stands to reason that we will not follow through with understanding what we do or do not do to reach spiritual fulfillment. This requires experimentation.

To experiment, however, requires a commitment to spiritual growth.

Words alone, that we utter in our prayer services, do not make us pious or worthy of divine consideration. Deeds that accompany the words are the two ingredients for a successful, fruitful life. When we do for others, we in turn do for ourselves.

This is the cycle of connection and love that makes us acceptable in the eyes of God.

May we all be blessed with the beauty of life filled with satisfaction and contentment. May God continue to grant us good health and long life, but most of all, quality of life so that all that was created will bring us joy and happiness with all our memories of the past, but with an eye to our future.

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D., is the spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Community.

I am afraid God might ask me the same question

BY PASTOR MARVIN ARNPRIESTER Guest Writer

A person recently commented to me they were struggling with how to best respond to all the tragic events going on in the world: Fires in California, migrants traveling through Mexico to our border, floods, and other related weather issues around the world.

I suggested a response through our church channels.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is an agency which responds whenever there is a tragic event in the world. We provide the connections

to get donations there through our One Great Hour of Sharing offering taken during Lent.

This means every penny donated for a relief cause goes to make a difference as it was designated.

Later as I reflected on the conversation, I remembered a devotional skit by two persons which spoke to me at the time and continues to challenge me to this day. I hope it will challenge you as well.

Speaker 1: “Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and injustice when He could do something about it.”

Speaker 2: “Well....why don’t you go ahead and ask Him?”

Speaker 1: “Because I’m afraid God might ask me the same question.”

This is the time of year when we all look forward to the “Cookie Walk.” However, after much discussion, we determined it was no longer a viable way to raise money to support the many organizations who depend on our (yours and my) donations. As we move forward into the “post pandemic era,” we will be looking for new ways to raise money.

This past year we have contributed to Neighbors Who Care, Lura Turner Homes, Wesley Center, Hope Center for Women and Children, Women’s Prison

Ministry at Perryville, and many more. They cannot continue their work in the communities where we live without our support.

Won’t you please consider contributing to Sun Lakes United Methodist Church’s United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women). Together we can make a difference! Please send your contribution to: United Women in Faith, c/o Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 East Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248.

We sincerely appreciate your generosity and continued support.

Rev. Marvin Arnpriester is senior pastor of Sun Lakes United Methodist Church.

‘Faithful Heart’ study begins at Sun Lakes U.M.

BY PASTOR JUDY CLAYCOMB Guest Writer

How many of us hope to start 2023 with fresh new beginnings? The New Year is a great opportunity to put our best intentions into action.

My friend Bishop Sally Dyck offers just such an opportunity with her book, “A Faithful Heart: Daily Guide for Joyful Living.”

In her book, my son’s “favorite preach-

er,” Sally, offers eight weeks of brief, daily essays concerning ordinary life events to help readers explore how connections to God and other people throughout events in our lives give us the heart to face life’s many demands, and to find joy with a sense of God’s presence and the support of others.

Excerpts from the book: the late comedic columnist, Erma Bombeck shared some of her New Year’s Resolutions:

• I will go to no doctor whose office plants have died;

• I’m going to apply for a hardship scholarship to Weight Watchers;

• I will never loan my car to anyone I have given birth to.

I invite you to join in the daily readings, beginning Jan. 1 and to meet weekly as companions on the journey to share insights, ask questions, and explore more deeply how to cultivate joy through a

faithful heart. The class begins 10-11 a.m. Jan. 5 in Room 2 of the Education Building at 9248 E Riggs Road, just west of Robson Library.

If you are interested in participating in this group, and/or have questions, please contact Judy@sunlakesumc.org so we know how to plan and can order books.

Rev. Judy Claycomb is a pastor at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church.

Chandler club boasts creative drinks, fun times

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

When Chuck and Angela Fazio moved from a traditional real estate agency to a cloud-based international company, they were left with a beautiful building in Chandler.

So, the couple did what anyone would do. They opened a nightclub and a lounge.

TwentyThree01 Bar & Nightclub and The Forum Lounge are hidden gems in Chandler. The Instagram-worthy club marks a full-circle moment for Chuck, who worked with nightclubs in New York.

“The atmosphere is really great,” he said. “We have two patios, the bar and a dance floor. The front part of the building is The Forum Lounge. It will have live entertainment, great food and amazing ambience. It has a large event space that will also have entertainment and is available for private events.

“We want this to be a hub where people in the Valley know they can get entertainment — whatever it is.”

The music varies from Top 40 and EDM to Latin at TwentyThree01 Bar & Nightclub.

Ladies Night is every Friday in December and January, while Saturdays see the kitchen open until midnight and hookah available all night. Soon we’ll even have cigars.

On Ladies Night, women can enjoy drinks for $5 until midnight, while everyone can take advantage of happy hour starting at 4 p.m.

The menu is elevated bar food, with Korean fried chicken, popcorn shrimp, tuna tataki, chicken pot stickers, pork and vegetable rolls, barbecue pork sliders and chicken yakatori. TwentyThree01 Bar & Nightclub also boasts spicy French fries, spicy tuna roll, California roll, Philly

roll, bang bang shrimp roll and crunchy hidden spicy tuna roll.

The drinks are creative and range from a pecan old fashioned to banana espresso martini to tequila colada.

The Fazios say TwentyThree01 Bar & Nightclub and The Forum Lounge were born out of necessity, not a dream.

Chuck moved here in 1998 and met Angela through real estate. He said they were both broke and almost exited the real estate business.

“By the grace of God, we went on to be one of the top agents in the country and the top teams in 2005,” he said.

“The next logical step was opening a brokerage. We slowly built and built and built. Then I had a vision of building the coolest real estate office. So, we started to look for spaces. I had a vision in my head.”

For the real estate office, Chuck obtained a class six liquor license and LGE, a commercial custom builder, put its touch

on the building. The bar, café and kitchen were all part of the real estate office. A game room was also featured.

“We built it to be the No. 1 single-office, independent real estate brokerage in the world,” he said proudly.

“Out of this one location, we had 906 agents, and we did about $2 billion in production and sales. We are really well known in the industry, so we were approached by a cloud-based, forward-thinking company that’s international.”

eXp wanted Chuck and Angela to work there, but, at first, neither wanted to give up the office. They prayed, looked at the options and closed the brokerage.

“The industry laughed at us because they thought we lost our minds,” he said.

“It took me 16 years to go to 906 agents, and it took us three years to go to 8,000 agents worldwide. So, I have agents in India, Italy, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain and, obviously, the United States.”

“The reason why we built up such a big brokerage is we believe in the community,” he said.

“We were into entertainment and that’s the reason why everybody loved us. We like to give back, so why not do something like this?”

TwentyThree01 Bar & Nightclub

2301 S. Stearman Drive, Chandler 480-722-9800 clubtwentythree01.com 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays theforumlounge.com Opens the last week in January 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays

Zoppe Family Circus now at Bell Bank Park in Mesa

The Zoppe Family Circus has left Chandler with its annual holiday show and moved to Bell Bank Park, 1 Legacy Drive, Mesa.

The one-ring circus that honors the history of the old-world Italian circus tradition and runs through Jan. 1.

Liberta Zoppe welcomes guests into an intimate, 500-seat tent for a show that will star Nino the Clown and a circus that is propelled by a central story, as opposed to individual acts.

The circus features acrobatic feats, equestrian showmanship, canine capers, clowning and plenty of audience participation.

Tickets are on sale at BellBankPark.com, with general admission starting at $25, and VIP tickets at $45. For more information on the Zoppe Family visit www.Zoppe.net.

Show dates are: today, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., & 7 p.m.; 6 p.m. Dec. 21 and 23, 4 p.m. Dec.

24; 6 p.m. Dec. 26-30; 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 31 and 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 1.

Meanwhile, Bell Bank Park also is hosting the Pratt Brothers Christmas Spectacular 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 1.

The display features more than six million lights and unique attractions.

Previous contestants of The Great Christmas Light Fight on ABC Television, brothers Sammy and Kyle Pratt have devoted their life’s work to construct a magical Christmas Town delivering an experience for all the senses.

The immersive visit delivers attractions for all ages, with twinkling Christmas lights, three-story gingerbread house, magical snowfall and thousands of bubbles, featuring the ultimate Santa Experience, Mrs. Claus Cookie Decorating, dazzling 360-degree light show with show-stopping pyrotechnics, and a Miracle Market filled with simply merry gifts to bring home holiday cheer.

Chuck and Angela Fazio have converted a Chandler building into the new East Valley hot spot for East Valley young people. (David Minton/GetOut Staff)

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Nino the Clown is one of the stars at the Zoppe Family Circus. (Special to GetOut)

puppet show becoming holiday fare

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor

“A Christmas Story,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol” are standards for the holidays.

As the owner/artistic director of the All Puppet Players, Shaun Michael McNamara is proving that “Die Hard” belongs there, too.

For the seventh year, his troupe is presenting “Die Hard: A Christmas Story,” a profane and mischievous program starring puppets. Complete with caroling, gun fights, F-bombs and puppet anarchy, “Die Hard: A Christmas Story” tells the tale of John McClane trying to save the day from master criminal Hans Gruber during a holiday party.

“Nothing is safe and no holiday memory unsoiled while the puppets wreak havoc on Christmas and bring a mischievous holiday spirit to all good little boys and girls,” McNamara says.

The production was born out of McNamara’s hatred of “A Christmas Carol” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He respects companies that put them on, but it’s the same old, same old.

“What I did with ‘Die Hard,’ in a cheeky way, I threw Clarence (from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’) and the three spirits in, so it’s part ‘Die Hard,’ part ‘A Christmas Carol,’ part ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and part insanity.”

Seven years ago marked McNamara’s

first foray into holiday shows. He says it was fun to lampoon Christmas.

“Finding songs was fun,” he added. “I thought a new Christmas tradition could be born out of what we’re doing. It’s becoming that R-rated family tradition.

“The fact that I don’t like kids is always going to make it R-rated. I don’t like catering to them. I have no interest in it. If there are kids, people are less likely to laugh at something rude. They’ll say, ‘I can’t believe they just said that, and I can’t believe that kid heard it.’”

The former Goodyear resident who now lives in Surprise, McNamara found-

ed the All Puppet Players in Fullerton, California. He moved to the Valley with his wife for her job.

“My goal was to stay here for a year and then go back,” McNamara says. “Once I started pitching our shows to theaters around the Valley, it took off — not quickly, mind you. It took a long time to get where we are. There was enough of an interest that I didn’t need to leave.”

The All Puppet Players gives McNamara an excuse to share his love of the 1980s. He adores everything about the decade.

“I’m an ’80s kid,” he says. “Puppets have always been in my life. I love The Muppets. I worshipped ‘The Dark Crystal.’ I was hooked on ‘ALF’ and ‘Explorers.’ You name it. If it had a puppet, I loved it.

“I think there was a part of me that was angry with my career trajectory. I wanted to be the next Jim Carrey.”

That didn’t pan out, but he’s doing well with the All Puppet Players.

“I looked to puppets with despera-

tion, wanting to write my own thing and it turned into lampooning theater,” he says with a laugh. “It was a bit of a radical, throw a fit and see if anybody cares. It happened to work.”

He’s watched audiences get sucked in, not noticing the puppeteers after a while. The future sees movie nights, “tryme shows,” puppet karaoke, sketch and larger stage shows for McNamara.

“We’re going to do ‘Attack of the Video Store,’ where it’s 2010 and our puppets run a video store,” McNamara says.

“They get sucked into all of our favorite movies. I get to play with fun scenes and not have to do the whole show. Like with ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ I can do just the boulder scene — which I’ve always wanted to do.

“But this show (‘Die Hard’) is just bonkers. It’s a bonkers, bonkers show. It’s the one show that I can almost guarantee will sell out. Plus, it’s Christmastime.

‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas film. I don’t even know why there’s a debate.”

“Die Hard: A Christmas Story”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. various days through Dec. 30

WHERE: Playhouse on the Park Theater, 1850 N. Central Ave., Phoenix COST: Tickets start at $42

INFO: allpuppetplayers.com

Shaun Michael McNamara, owner/artistic director of the All Puppet Players, is proving that “Die Hard” belongs there, too, with a unique show. (Courtesy All Puppet Players)