SanTan Sun News - 12.19.2021

December 19, 2021 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Chandler opts into $10M Bartlett Dam study

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler has joined nearly two dozen communities that are beginning to look at climate change’s impact on future water availability in their backyards.

“We are on the cusp of the first-ever Colorado River shortage,” said Ron Klawitter, the principal of water system

projects for Salt River Project. “We need to look at alternative supplies.”

City Council voted to join a $10 million, four-year study looking at increasing the water capacity at Bartlett Lake, which is on the Verde River north of Phoenix. Half of the cost of the study would be paid for with federal funds while the balance will be split between 21 entities if everyone agrees to participate.

Chandler’s cost for a seat at the table is $100,000 a year.

“There’s an old saying, if you’re not at the dinner table, you’re usually dinner,” Councilmember Matt Orlando said. “So let’s make sure we’re not dinner.”

The Salt River Project, founded in 1903, operates six dams on the Salt and Verde rivers, making up the Salt and Verde Reservoir System with a combined storage capacity of about

approximately 2.3 million acre-feet of water. An acre food equals about 326 gallons of water.

One of those dams is the Horseshoe Dam on the Verde River northeast of Phoenix, an earthen structure about 58 miles northeast of Phoenix that is 202 feet high and has a reservoir capacity of 131,500 acre-feet.

See

DAM on page 6

Narducci named Chandler Unified superintendent

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Sun Lakes residents had a parade in front of their neighbor Jack Holder’s home Dec. 12 to honor the Pearl Harbor survivor on his 100th birthday. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

Pearl Harbor survivor gets 100-year salute

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Senators, congressmen and mayors were all in on the secret. Most folks in the city knew there was going to be a surprise party Dec. 11 for one of Sun Lakes’ most notable citizens’ 100th birthday.

The one person who didn’t know, right up to the start of the party, was

World War II veteran Jack Holder.

“Completely surprised,” the Navy veteran said. “I had no idea where it was going to be, what it was going to be.”

How did they keep it a secret?

“It’s been very difficult for me, because I go everywhere with him,” said Darlene Tryon, Holder’s program manager. She told Holder she would See

HOLDER on page 9

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Chandler Unified School District Superintendent Frank Narducci’s title got a little shorter this month.

A divided Governing Board on Dec. 8 voted to remove “interim” from his title and let him lead the district through at least June 2024.

The Governing Board voted 3-1 to give Narducci a contract for the next twoand-a-half years.

He has been running the district for the past year since Dr. Camille Casteel retired starting in January after being superintendent for 25 years.

Board member Lara Bruner voted no, but she made it The Chandler Unified Govenring Board in a 3-1 vote clear she supported Narcucci took the word “interim” out of Superintendent Frank and respected his work. She Narducci’s title, and gave him a contract to lead the said her objection was over district through at least June 2024. (File photo) the process used to make the decision.

“I believe we owe it to the communi“I can’t in good conscience ty to follow best practices when hiring a vote for this action item,” Bruner said. superintendent, which includes gather“Not because of who is being recoming feedback on the qualities that the mended, but rather the process that was used to arrive at the decision.

See on page 10

CUSD

F E AT U R E D STO R I E S Seton teachers succumbs to COVID. . . . . . . . . . . . .COMMUNITY . . . . . Page 3 Chandler High suffers tough loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SPORTS . . . . . . . . . Page 38 Sun Lakes author, 97, pens new novel . . . . . . . . . . . .NEIGHBORS. . . . . . Page 43 Chandler Center celebrates quilts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ARTS. . . . . . . . . . . Page 49

More

Community . . . 1-29 Real Estate . . . .30-31 Clip-It . . . . . . . .32-33 Business . . . . . 34-37 Sports . . . . . . . 38-41 Opinion . . . . . . . . 42 Neighbors . . . 43-48 Arts . . . . . . . . . 49-54 Faith . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Directory . . . . 56-57 Eat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

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COVID claims life of beloved Seton teacher, 42 her two young daughters.”

Serna said they could tell Delgado was a special person right from the start.

“After a couple of interviews, we could tell that she would not only be a great fine arts instructor for us, but also a future leader on campus. That’s why

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Life was looking up for Vanessa Lopez Delgado. She had just bought a new home for her family and landed what she called her “dream job,” teaching dance at Seton Catholic Preparatory.

The 42-year-old woman died on Dec. 9, one of more than 23,000 in Arizona to succumb to COVID-19.

“Dance was a way for her to express herself,” said Jessica Morel, Delgado’s cousin. “She had a passion for dance for many, many, many years.”

Morel said Delgado wanted to get the vaccine to protect herself, but was unable to because of a lung condition.

That condition was made worse after she moved into a new home.

After moving into the home and moving her refrigerator, she discovered mold that had not been disclosed during the purchase of the home. They checked with the previous occupants and owners and learned that they knew about the mold, but did not disclose it.

“That aggravated her health condition,” Morel said. “It makes us frustrated and angry knowing it might have been a contributing factor.”

Delgado began feeling sick a week before Thanksgiving. She checked into a hospital the Monday before Thanksgiving. She went on a ventilator on Thanksgiving Day. “That was the last time any of us talked to her,” Morel said.

Everyone’s still in shock, we’re going through the “mourning process and doing the best we can to support our students and staff. We pray for her soul and her family, especially her two young daughters. ”

– Victor Serna

Vanessa Lopez Delgado Delgado was in her first year at Seton Catholic. Before that she had taught English at Gilbert High School, where she had graduated from. Before that she worked in the Tempe Union High School District. She also taught dance at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and was a graduate of Arizona State University.

“Everyone’s still in shock,” said Victor Serna, the principal at Seton Catholic.

“We’re going through the mourning process and doing the best we can to support our students and staff. We pray for her soul and her family, especially

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daughters, ages 13 and 11. A GoFundMe page has been set up by Morel to help with the funeral costs and create a trust fund for the two children. Her daughters are now living with their father in Gilbert.

A celebration of Delgado’s life is planned for Dec. 27 in Mesa.

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we made her a department chair.

“This is going to be a tremendous loss for the community and her family,” Serna said.

Delgado had a long-lasting impact in her time at Gilbert. She founded the school’s hip-hop dancing team, The 1101. She also led the drive to change the name of the road next to the high school to Gilbert Tiger Drive.

Delgado also started her own business, a graphic design company.

Morel said they do not know how she contracted COVID, saying her cousin was always very careful.

“As the oldest of seven siblings, she made sure everyone was taking this seriously,” Morel said.

Delgado is survived by her two

Morel said Delgado loved to dance and tried to share that passion with others. She volunteered to work at senior centers, helping them get up and move. Delgado’s cousin said she was self-taught. That’s why it was important for her to make sure others had a chance to dance.

“She thought it was an ageless way to express yourself,” Morel said.

How to help

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Vanessa Lopez Delgado’s two children. Visit GoFundMe.com and search for her name.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Chandler native now explores the world’s oceans

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler native Mattie Rodrigue says she’s seen more than a few raised eyebrows when she tells them a kid from the desert is now a marine biologist.

“They say, ‘What?!’” Rodrigue said.

“More often than not I get questions from people … ‘Ah, I wanted to do that when I was a kid, and then I decided to go somewhere else. So my goal is to make sure any kid that wants to be a marine biologist, knows that it’s a possibility.”

Now, Rodrigue spends most of the year on the OceanX ship as its science program lead. OceanX is a global nonprofit ocean exploration organization.

Rodrigue returned to Chandler earlier this month to visit with family. While here, she made an appearance at the OceanX Adventure exhibit currently being displayed at the Crayola Experience in Chandler Fashion Center.

She credited her teachers while she was growing up in Chandler for helper her reach the bottom of the ocean where she has discovered new species.

Rodrigue went to Dobson High School and graduated from Arizona State University. When she’s not on the ship, which she is about 8-to-10 months a year, she calls New York home.

“Mattie actually had a couple of weeks break, and because she is local here in Chandler, OceanX had reached out to us,” said Casey Santoro, the general manager at Crayola Experience.

“We thought, what a great partnership, we already had the OceanX display going on here, so it just fit perfectly for everybody.”

Rodrigue said she loved to explore the desert when she was growing up.

“I want to know what is out there, I

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www.santansun.com Chandler native Mattie Rodrigue leads a discussion about OceanX at the Crayola Experience at Chandler Fashion Center. She’s the science program lead on board the exploration ship. (Ken Sain/Staff )

want to find new things, I want to discover and explore,” Rodrigue said. “But ultimately I’m passionate about the future of the oceans.”

Rodrigue said it was on a trip to California when she was in the fourth grade that her mother suggested she talk to a marine biologist. That’s how a kid from the desert who grew up hundreds of miles away from any ocean became interested in marine biology.

Now she dives in their underway vehicles to depths of 3,000 feet below the surface. She also has sent robots down as far as 18,000 feet to explore.

That has allowed her to meet new species on a regular basis. How often?

“Pretty often,” she said. “I don’t have the exact count for you, but we have an

amazing resource in the vessel. We get a lot of eyes underwater, a lot of eyes on the surface, and a lot of eyes up in the air. … Utilizing the capacity that we have on board, helps us see in those places at the right time where we’re able to discover something great.”

Rodrigue said she enjoys a chance to tell children about OceanX’s mission.

“I haven’t done one in person in a while, obviously,” Rodrigue said. “But especially coming to my hometown, and especially getting to talk to kids who are just like me when I was little, and interested and curious but maybe not sure what the next step was. Or how to get involved in what they’re curious and excited about. Anything I can do is just incredible.”

Gilbert High alumna now official astronaut SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Dr. Christina Birch, a 2004 Gilbert High School alumna, is going to the moon.

Birch is one of 10 new astronaut candidates picked from a field of over 12,000 applicants to represent the United States and work for humanity’s benefit in space, NASA announced last week. The 2021 astronaut class is the first new class in four years.

Although the 35-year-old Birch was born in Mesa, she considers Gilbert her hometown. Birch has a younger sibling, Rebecca, who also graduated from Gilbert High.

The family moved from Tempe to Gilbert in 1993, where Birch also attended Burk Elementary and Gilbert Junior High School.

“She has always been highly curious and motivated, which was noticeable from an early age,” said dad William Birch. “And she has always wanted to do everything well.

“She had an outstanding academic background in Gilbert that helped her academic career.”

Dr. Christina Birch, a member of the Gilbert High Class of 2004, is now an astronaut, NASA announced last week. Her father said she has always been “highly curious and motivated.”

(NASA)

He said his wife, Joanne, who passed away in 2011, made sure their daughter

was exposed at an early age to successful women.

“Her mother was a teacher and later a software support engineer at Motorola,” said William, who also was a Motorola engineer.

Williams said while his daughter excelled academically at Gilbert High, she also participated in cross-country running and tennis.

“We were a family that did a lot of white water rafting on the upper Salt River over quite a few years and she learned to guide a raft safely in unpredictable situations,” William said.

He said his eldest daughter kept with her athletic pursuits by participating in inter-mural triathlons while attending University of Arizona, where she earned a degree in mathematics, biochemistry and molecular biophysics. She earned a doctorate in biological engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Massachusetts.

At MIT, she switched to cycloSee

ASTRONAUT on page 21

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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COMMUNITY NEWS

6

DAM

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

from page 1

Klawitter said there are two issues at play in considering this study.

The first is that sediment has built up behind Horseshoe Dam, robbing it of about a third of its capacity. The second is the rising threat of climate change.

“Climate change is a critical component to what we’re planning on,” he said. “Droughts and flood periods are going to increase and we have to prepare for that.”

In previous studies, SRP and the federal Bureau of Reclamation decided the best solution was to raise the height of Bartlett Dam – about 10 miles south of Horseshoe Dam – thereby increasing the capacity of that reservoir. SRP could then continue using Horseshoe Dam to manage the sediment.

Other solutions Klawitter said were looked at but dismissed included: forest restoration to keep sediment from getting into the river; building a new dam; and removing sediment from behind Horseshoe Dam. “Horseshoe Dam was built as part of the war-time effort,” Klawitter said. “It was built safely, but quickly. The goal was to keep mining copper for the war.

It’s very effective capturing water, but, unfortunately, also sediment.”

Klawitter said dredging behind Horseshoe Dam would cost $1 billion and would only be a temporary fix, calling it a band-aid.

There are two proposals for raising Bartlett Dam’s height – one by 62 feet, which would expand the capacity by 100,000 acrefeet; or raising it by 97 feet and expanding capacity by 300,000 acre-feet.

Raising it 62 feet would basically replace the lost capacity behind Horseshoe Dam. Going to 97 feet would increase total supply to deal with future water needs. Also, raising it that much would fill the canyons between Horseshoe and Bartlett dams completely, creating one giant reservoir.

The study would look at the environmental and financial implications of both options.

Asked why it will cost millions, Klawitter said the study is very detailed technically and includes engineering, detailed design, and cost estimates of each alternative, as well as an analysis of both options’ environmental effects.

He said the cost also reflects the level of detail and effort that will go into the study, including public engagement

Sediment has been steadily piling up at the Horseshoe Dam in Rio Verde, causing a domino effect that threatens water capacity on the Verde River, the source of up to 15 percent of Scottsdale’s water. (Courtesy SRP)

and input, so SRP can fully vet the options before making a recommendation to the federal government.

He said SRP and Phoenix have agreed to pay a larger share than their partners because of an existing stake in the Verde reservoir system.

Klawitter said to sediment from continuing to build, SRP could try to flush it out during floods when it needs release a lot of water. That would also increase capacity.

He said the Valley tends to go through 25-year cycles and is nearing the end of a dry cycle. He said older Valley residents will recall 100-year and 500-year floods happening often in their youth and that that cycle is coming soon.

By increasing capacity, SRP would be able to hold on to more of that water than simply releasing it it.

“We will be hotter and dryer in general,” Klawitter said. “We suspect to see under climate change … the Salt and

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Verde watershed will look similar. What we want to do is to capture those big flood events.”

Chandler officials said they want to have a role in deciding how to divide any additional water supply that may come from the project, and that’s why they agreed to be part of the study.

“This should help us manage future water shortages,” Klawitter said. “They won’t go away. We’re trying to figure out the best use of our central Arizona supply.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Chandler Council OKs 4 new housing projects

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

More new housing is coming to Chandler.

City Council approved four housing projects that will bring more than 200 new homes to the city.

The median price of a home sold in Chandler was $472,500 last month – up 25 percent year over year. Adding to the supply will be welcome news for those looking for a home, officials said.

Council approved the 36-lot Village at Hamilton Landing project, which is planned for the southwest corner of McQueen and Willis roads.

The Ashley is a planned group of 78 single family townhomes along Appleby between Arizona Avenue and the railroad tracks. The developer is Porter Kyler Partners of Scottsdale.

The third project is not as far along.

Treeland is being built by Tri Point Homes and calls for 86 single-family homes on the south side of Chandler Heights Road between McQueen and Cooper roads.

And The Marco has 16, one- and two-bedroom units south of Frye Road and East of Nebraska Street. Each unit would be two stories and originally was planned to be part of an apartment complex.

New Village Homes is building the Village at Hamilton Landing project.

Councilman Matt Orlando thanked the developer for working with the city on

The Village at Hamilton Landing project will have 36 homes near Willis and McQueen roads. (City of Chandler)

a project both sides could agree to.

“This thing that you had originally, we asked you to look at it again,” Orlando told the developer.

“It wasn’t a good fit, and you said, ‘Yeah, you’re right.’ Now you came back and made it a beautiful single-family case. I don’t think I’ve ever done this before, but I want to thank you and your openness and listening to this Council and the residents of this community in what we want to see out there.”

Reed Porter, the developer, said his original plan included some one- and two-bedroom units they planned to build with the intention of making them rentals. Now all the units will be for sale.

“These are small, single-story homes, three bedrooms, two baths, there’s 36 of them, about 10 different elevations, multiple colors and it’s taken us about a year to get to this point,” Porter said.

“We wanted this project to be intimate in scale, size, lushly landscaped and not over designed so as to be

accessible to the current residential homes surrounding it, but to also reflect an elevated and more streamlined design quality to build that bridge to the energy, youth and character the City has developed and is aspiring to in downtown Chandler,” the developer said in a presentation to the city, calling it “accessible to the existing community and aspirational to the future downtown development.”

To complete this project, the city had to annex just under four acres of land and the right of way for the road that was in unincorporated Maricopa County. That annexation still needs to be approved by the county supervisors.

Council also rezoned the property from an agricultural district to single family attached residential and entered into an agreement with the developer for improvements along Willis Road.

Council approved the final plat for The Ashley project last Thursday. It also gave preliminary approval to the development plan for the Treeland project.

The Treeland homes, which will be built between 122nd and 124th streets, would be on lots between 60-by-120 and 70-by-130 feet. Their plan includes space for a park inside the community.

Most of the floor plans are three bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom homes that come with either a den or a game room. Some of the bigger floor plans include an office as well.

Council voted to rezone The Marco’s property for medium density residential.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Above: Friends, dignitaries and other well-wishers gathered Dec. 11 to celebrate Jack Holder’s centennial birthday at a Phoenix veterans post. Right: Jack Holder’s program manager, Darlene Tryon, led him into a surprise party at a Phoenix VFW lodge on Dec. 11.

(Cassandra Tomei/Contributor)

HOLDER

from page 1

have dinner with him and some friends as the ruse to get him to the party.

But that was just one secret. There was also the parade through his Sun Lakes community on Sunday and other events planned to mark his 100th year.

Most residents know Holder’s story as he has been featured many times.

He was at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and survived the surprise bombing by Japanese planes by jumping into a ditch with a shipmate.

They clung to each other during the

bombing and while one plane tried to kill them with its machine gun. When it was over they stood up and saw what was left of their base.

“When I came out, I saw devastation I’ll never forget,” he said during a 2020 interview.

Holder returned to Hawaii earlier this month for the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“At 10 a.m. that morning, about the same time as the attack ended, we got Jack to walk back to his hangar,” said Dennis Gardner, who has researched See

HOLDER on page 14

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CUSD

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

ment to education.”

She said the decision was not made in a vacuum. Mozdzen said board members heard from all the stakeholders and there was strong support for Narducci, who has worked in the district for 25 years.

“I have never been one that hasn’t

from page 1

community, parents, staff, community organizations and all the other stakeholders want to see in the superintendent.

There should be a posting and there should be a public forum of the finalists.”

Board member Jason Olive did not attend the meeting.

Narducci’s contract calls for an annual base salary of $215,000 a year. He also gets a monthly $850 automobile allowance for the first year. The Governing Board can increase that amount in the second and third years, but cannot decrease it.

Narducci is also eligible for additional pay bonuses and the District will contribute $16,200 each year to a tax-deferred annuity. Also, the District will pay up to $5,000 for his membership in professional development organizations.

Two of Narducci’s top assistants praised the selection.

“If you look back at the history of hiring superintendents in the East Valley, there’s been a lot of ‘let’s go out and find someone that’s not in-house,’ and then sometimes that person doesn’t work out, and then they go back in-house,” said Dr. Craig Gilbert, the assistant superintendent for secondary education.

“And what you end up finding is there’s a lot lost because you’ve had to pause, because you thought you were going to get something else that was nice and green across the street, and you found out there was a lot of weeds.”

He was not alone.

Mr. Naducci has “strong connections

within our Chandler community, we’re confident he’ll be able to lead the district with his innovation and commitment to education.

”

– Barb Mozdzen

Governing Board member Lara Bruner explained that she voted against the move not because she opposed Narducci but because she felt the process for picking the district’s next superintendent did not involve the community. (CUSD)

“As you know my tenure with this district, is coming to a close,” said Frank Fletcher, the district’s associate superintendent for support services. “So I don’t really have anything to lose. But the Governing Board absolutely made the correct decision.

“We have seen it, the history of the East Valley, outside superintendents

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come in, blow up districts and that’s not what Chandler is about.”

Under state law, the district cannot offer a contract of more than three years.

“Mr. Naducci has strong connections within our Chandler community,” said board President Barb Mozdzen. “We’re confident he’ll be able to lead the district with his innovation and commit-

accepted a challenge,” Narducci said.

“These are tough times to lead, and we know that. I think our district deserves tough leaders in tough times.

“I appreciate the confidence you have bestowed on me, and know it’s a great responsibility. … It isn’t a solo act, it never has been. Those of us that have been around a long time know it takes all of us, and even members sitting in this room, to engage and help our district become better.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

11

Ocotillo opens its heart to Zzeeks’ pet food drive SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Two weeks ago, Zzeeks Pizza & Wings co-owner Mark Pectol said he hoped to double the 10,000 pounds of food his drive reaped last year for two pet food banks.

Over the weekend, his wife Jody announced they had not only accomplished that goal – but collected a total 23,000 pounds of food by the time the drive ended last Friday.

“Ahwatukee, Ocotillo, Chandler & Tempe you did it,” Jody announced on her Facebook page. “We can’t thank the community enough for your generous donations. It was so awesome to see the food banks swamped with food.”

Ocotillo’s heart was especially wide open, as Pectol said their pizzeria at 4050 S. Arizona Ave. there collected the second-greatest amount of pet food, after their Ahwatukee store.

The Pectols also had been collecting bags of food at their other Chandler and their Tempe pizzerias. Donors who didn’t have a chance to drop off food are now asked to call 480-824-8482 to find out how they can help.

The Pectols began collecting donations for pet food banks earlier this month to ensure four-legged critters don’t go hungry when their families are struggling.

“We just wanted to create awareness and hopefully people will continue to

Zzeeks Pizza & Wings owners Mark and Jody Pectol displayed some of the 23,000 pounds of pet food their drive for pet food banks collected in two weeks. (Facebook)

donate to their local food banks,” Jody said Sunday.

The drive’s overwhelming success drew kudos from Tim Berry, a director at Help for the Homeless AZ, who thanked the Pectols for taking the lead.

“I love when the community comes together to help all of God’s creatures in need,” he posted on social media.

Even before they kicked off the official pet food drive two weeks ago, Mark Pectol said they had thousands of

pounds of dog and cat food brought to their stores.

He credited his and his wife’s long history of community involvement with the drive’s success.

Tia Hoyes, who runs the Chandler Pet Food Bank on behalf of the Salvation Army, said the need for donations is dire.

“We did not have any [pet food] coming in,” Hoyes said. “There’s been a dry spell since the pandemic has calmed down a little bit and people are

starting to feel comfortable with going out and doing things. So, people are forgetting about the need.”

She said they’ve seen an increase in the number of people driving their pets to a secluded area and releasing them and suspects many are families that can no longer afford to keep feeing them.

That’s where her organization comes in.

It provides families free pet food so they can keep the pets in their homes.

She said she first noticed a problem during the 2008 financial crisis, when a lot of people were forced to abandon their pets. She suggested it may be worse now because of the pandemic.

“I think it’s pretty bad, things are really ramping up,” Hoyes said. “A lot more people are aware of problems now, … so we have a lot more groups that we’re able to network with.”

While grateful to the community, however, Jody offered a sobering fact: “Sadly, this food won’t last that long.

In one day they handed out 80 bags this week.

We need to remember to donate to the food banks and the shelters all year long. We will do another drive in the spring. People think this food will last a year and sadly it will probably be out in a couple of months. But I think a lot of people really felt good knowing that many families were able to keep their pets with them with the help of this food.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

GOP lawmakers taking aim at school boards in 2 ways

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

A Phoenix GOP lawmaker is looking for a new and quicker way to penalize school boards that ignore state laws while a veteran Scottsdale senator wants to make school board candidates run on party lines.

Rep. Steve Kaiser wants to allow lawmakers to file complaints when they believe a school district or charter school is doing something that is illegal.

HB 2009 would then require the attorney general to investigate. And if the lawyers there agreed that the statute was being broken, it could order that some state aid be withheld if the district didn’t repeal the policy or practice.

If all that sounds familiar, it should.

What Kaiser wants is based on an existing 2016 statute that empowers the Attorney General to investigate actions by cities and counties, complete with the same ability to cut off state dollars.

And it is a power that has been used since its enactment to force several Arizona cities to alter or repeal some ordinances, ranging from a Sedona tax on vacation rentals to a Pima County moratorium on evictions.

Kaiser said what made him decide to seek expansion of that law was the vote in late June by legislators to prohibit any requirement that students and staff wear masks while on campus.

“I was shocked to see how many school districts and how many schools decided they were just going to snub their nose at state law,’’ he said.

Only thing is, that law was not set to take effect until Sept. 29. But Kaiser said schools should have obeyed it anyway once it was approved.

As it turned out, a judge declared on Sept. 28 that the law was illegally enacted, prohibiting its enforcement.

Kaiser said, though, that doesn’t change the fact that some districts intended to keep the mask-up policy in place with

t? o G ws Ne

or without that court ruling.

Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita wants to scrap the current system where people interested in the unpaid position submit nominating papers and then run against each other in a general election. Instead, all the registered candidates from each party would compete in an August primary, with the winners then facing off in November.

It would be a massive change for the process now used in the more than 200 school districts across the state. And it also would put Arizona in the minority

additional transparency to the voter.’’

Ugenti-Rita said no one thing is behind the move.

But it comes after more than a year of some high-profile battles, often between board members and parents, about things like whether schools should be open for in-person instruction and whether student and faculty should be required to wear face coverings while on campus.

Kaiser acknowledged that the majority of those classroom site funds that districts would lose are earmarked for

This is helping voters understand where someone “stands ideologically and politically so they have a better sense of how they’re going to govern and how they’re going to vote. ’’

– Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita

of states with a similar system, following only Louisiana and Pennsylvania.

SB 1010 is drawing a chilly reception from Chris Kotterman, lobbyist for the Arizona School Boards Association.

He said adding partisan labels would detract from the ability of board members to focus on what are issues of how to educate children in the community.

But Ugenti-Rita told Capitol Media Services that is denying the reality that much of what falls within the purview of board members is partisan. She said these range from issues of taxes and budget to curriculum, parental control and even whether schools should remain open during a pandemic.

“This is helping voters understand where someone stands ideologically and politically so they have a better sense of how they’re going to govern and how they’re going to vote,’’ Ugenti-Rita said.

“This holds elected officials accountable,’’ she continued. “And this provides

teacher pay.

“I don’t want to have to enact this,’’ he said.

“I certainly don’t want to hurt teachers’ pay ... because this isn’t about a teacher doing something wrong,’’ Kaiser continued. “This is about a district or a charter enterprise deciding through policy or deciding through voting of the board, or a prescription from their superintendent or their CEO, that we’re going to do this policy that’s in direct opposition to state law.’’

In fact, HB 2009 has language which specifically prohibits a school district or charter school from reducing the pay of anyone during the same school year that a penalty is imposed.

So if salaries can’t be cut, how do schools handle the financial penalty?

“A lot of districts have balances,’’ he said.

And those that do not?

“This is a tough subject,’’ Kaiser said.

“I have three kids in public schools, I

love public schools.’’

But Kotterman said, “Its main purpose is to intimidate districts into doing what certain legislators want them to do, rather than what the law allows or requires them to do.’’

Ugenti-Rita charged, “I think that those who operate in the school board and in the education arena have gotten a little too cocky and taken advantage of the nice position they’ve been in.”

“And, yet, they’ve acted very political,’’ she said. “And so I think we should align the system with how these boards have been acting for decades, which is political.’’

She said that party labels will help voters understand “where candidates are.’’

What Ugenti-Rita is seeking to impose in some ways runs counter to what fellow Republicans tried to do more than a decade ago.

In 2009 Jonathan Paton, then a state senator from Tucson, convinced the Republican-controlled legislature to forbid candidates for local office from running with party labels. Paton argued that issues important to local voters, like fixing potholes and picking up trash, are not partisan.

But there also was a partisan reason behind the measure: Paton conceded he believed that more Republicans would get elected in Tucson, a city with a Democratic majority, if they didn’t have to run with the party label.

As it turned out, the Arizona Supreme Court voided the law, declaring that the legislature has no right to tell charter cities like Tucson how to conduct their elections.

Ugenti-Rita said there’s no comparison between what Paton tried to do then with cities and what she’s proposing now for school boards.

“This is already very political,’’ she said.

“Let’s just get real and deal with reality,’’ Ugenti-Rita continued. “And school boards are political.’’

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

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Chandler expects piece of $549M opioid settlement appealing that decision.

The other companies are three distributors, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health, which agreed to pay $21 billion, and drug maker Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen, which will pay $5 billion.

The five companies have agreed to pay the combined $30.5 billion to settle opioid claims. The $549 million Arizona plans to split up does not include any money from the Purdue settlement.

Council member OD Harris praised former Attorney General Grant Woods for leading the effort in this state to hold opioid companies accountable.

Woods died in October.

“Grant Woods was very involved in this litigation, and actually was one of the advocates for making sure that all the cities had the opportunity to participate throughout the state of Arizona,” Schwab said.

Councilman Matt Orlando thanked Vice Mayor Mark Stewart for his leadership on the issue and Councilwoman Christine Ellis, who added her expertise as a former nurse.

“Hopefully, we can figure out not only from the legal side, but also from the victims side how we can help these individuals recover, and their families, quite frankly.”

“You deserve to be celebrated, you the Navy issued 2,000 Distinguished Crossare an Arizona treasure,” Sinema wrote es,” Gardner said. “Jack has two of them.” to Holder. Her veterans and military The Distinguished Flying Cross is Holder’s life. “This man, 80 years later, awarded to individuals who achieve acts outreach coordinator, Kelly Mills, read we said, ‘Jack, where were you standthe letter at the party. of heroism or extraordinary achieveing?’ He goes, ‘Right there,’ and walked “Few have enjoyed such a milestone, ment while in aerial flight. straight to the spot and stood there.”

After the war he became a commercial and fewer still have lived such a distinThe hangar is now used by the SEAL guished and remarkable life,” Biggs said. pilot while living in California. He moved Team19.11 security forces.

Gardner said “Youx have Arizona in 1991- to start his retirement.

MIS79170 PRM TaxtoCredit AD SanTan Sun News 10 6. 6always stood apart.” when he walked into his old hangar, “We look forward to seeing you Gardner said Holder has spoken they stopped and stared in awe. again and again, as you remind us of our to more than 30,000 school children That was just the start of his service about his life, inspiring new generations. values of what’s true in our nation, and in World War II. He went on to sink two what’s honorable,” Hartke said.

And that is why Mayor Kevin Hartke, enemy submarines and participated in A group of motorcycle riders esCongressman Andy Biggs and a member the Battle of Midway. corted Holder’s car into the Phoenix of Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s staff were PRM AD - at SanTan Sun News 10 x 6. 6 “As19.11 far as weMIS79170 can tell, in World War IITax Credit Veterans of Foreign Wars post for the all present the Dec. 11 birthday party.

surprise party. All the guests were waiting for him outside and greeted him with American flags, a color guard and both Boy and Girl scouts.

Guests lined up for photos with Holder, others asked for him to sign his autobiography, and some just wanted to shake his hand. The Sun City Poms performed.

The party was just the start of events marking 100 years. One of the others is a relatively new tradition, one he started a few years ago. Each year on his birthday he returns to the air, taking flight from Mesa’s Falcon Field.

Holder said he enjoys the flight.

And that’s no secret.

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Chandler will get some of the $549 million Arizona expects from settlements with major pharmaceutical companies because of the opioid epidemic.

And that is about all city officials know right now.

“It’s kind of hard to pre-spend money if we don’t even know what we can do, or how much we got,” Mayor Kevin Hartke said at City Council’s Dec. 6 study session.

The money will be split among the state, counties and cities. There will be restrictions on how it can be spent. It is in-

HOLDER

tended to be spent on opioid abatement.

Council’s action this week was to authorize City Attorney Kelly Schwab to enter into the settlement agreements. A final vote was expected Thursday night.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports nearly 500,000 people have died from opioid overdoses in this country between 1999 and 2019.

States filed lawsuits accusing opioid makers of deceptive marketing of the drug. This summer, four companies offered to pay a $26 billion global settlement. A fifth company, Purdue, had its $4.5 billion bankruptcy settlement plan approved by a court. Some states are

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

EV minister leads religious response to climate change

BY SAMANTHA MORRIS Contributor

Rev. Doug Bland wants everyone to fall in love with the earth.

“There are enough sunrises, enough cactus wrens, distant planets, flowers and butterflies to fall in love at least three times a day between now and eternity,” said Bland.

Bland is the executive director of Arizona Interfaith Power & Light, an organization committed to bringing people of all faiths together to take action on climate change. AZIPL has deemed themselves as “a spiritual response to the climate crisis.”

“People protect what they love and if we can encourage people to fall in love then they become defenders of what they love,” said Bland.

Bland grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho and always enjoyed spending time in nature. He graduated from College of Idaho with a degree in Zoology and earned his masters in Divinity from Duke Divinity School. He recently retired after serving twenty-three years as a pastor at Community Christian Church in Tempe.

His journey to environmental activism was reinforced through his time studying Christianity.

“Caring for the environment was very much a part of what I did as a minister. The scriptures from Genesis and other places call us to be stewards

faith traditions have an emphasis on caring for creation,” said Bland.

In addition to environmental activism through AZIPL, Bland also has a passion for storytelling and is a part of adjunct faculty in the storytelling institute at South Mountain Community College.

“One of the things we say is that the shortest distance between two people is always a story.”

“You can’t hate someone whose story you know,” said Bland.

Bland recalled an event he led called Sacred Earth Common Ground where a Unitarian Universalist congregation, an Evangelical church, and a Jewish synagogue all got together and were all told to respond to a story prompt: “Tell a story Rev. Doug Bland likes to get playful, but his mission is dead se- about a time when you rious: bring people together to take action on climate change. found yourself standing (Courtesy of Rev. Doug Bland) on holy ground.”

“As the evening of creation. So I think it’s very central began everyone was suspicious of the to us as Christians, but also all the other group, there’s not trust built up,”

explained Bland.

He deliberately avoided an explicitly religious conversation, as it could become divisive.

“If we just shared our doctrinal point of view, there would be all kinds of divisions and misunderstandings, but if we just tell a story about an experience we’ve had, we can connect that bridge,” said Bland.

Everyone shared stories about their lives and considered what it means to stand on holy ground.

“By the end of the evening you could not tell one tribe from another tribe, everyone was mixed together and they would hear a story from someone else about a time where they were in a similar situation and by the end of the evening people didn’t want to leave because they just felt that connection,” said Bland.

Connection is a major theme in Bland’s sermons. He tells stories considering how to achieve it in an increasingly polarized world. For Bland, people’s inability to form connections is a key problem that leads to inaction on climate change.

“The climate crisis today is just a symptom of the problem we face. The real problem is broken relationships between us and the rest of nature.

Between one human and another. And storytelling is a way to sort of bridge that difference between us and understand each other better,” said Bland.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Lockboxes can help Chandler seniors in emergencies She said police have come to her house twice since she got a lockbox installed. The first time when her daughter called, and the second time when a friend couldn’t reach her.

“At first I apologized to them for having to come out when there was

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Mary Poindexter’s daughter was getting worried. She was in Detroit and had tried calling her mother in Chandler multiple times, but was not getting an answer or a return call.

And that was definitely not like her mother, she thought.

She called Chandler Police and asked them to do a wellness check.

“They came out and let me know my daughter had been trying to get in touch with me,” Poindexter said.

She said she had recently changed her phone number and her daughter had forgotten that.

Chandler Police officers were able to gain access to Poindexter’s home because she is one of 300 seniors who have signed up for the city’s lockbox program.

“We have had numerous life-saving events and emergency medical care for residents over the past 16 years,” said Chandler Police spokesman Sgt. Jason McClimans. “With the lockbox, it allows us quick entry into a home by both us and fire, and with of course no forced entry damage.”

McClimans said that police have installed more than 1,000 lockboxes at the homes of Chandler seniors since they started the program 16 years ago. There is no charge for the service. Some of the lockboxes have been donated by the West & Southeast Realtors of the Valley.

Poindexter said she learned of the

nothing wrong,” Poindexter said. “But I appreciated the fact that the system does work. If it had been an emergency someone would have been alerted and given aid.” To sign up for the senior lockbox program, visit the police department’s safety page at chandler.gov/safety.

Arrest made in accident that killed would-be mom

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Mary Poindexter has a lockbox on the front door of her Chandler home to make it easier for first responders to get in in case of an emergency.

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

program a few years ago while serving on a commission for the city.

“I think about safety a lot, and anything I can do to maintain my family’s safety … it’s just another layer,” she said.

Having a lockbox would allow police or fire personnel to enter your home during an emergency, like if someone was unconscious or could not move on their own.

If there is no lockbox, they would break down the door if needed.

Poindexter said she tells all her friends about the program and how valuable she thinks it is.

M ad i s o n aven u e

Chandler Police have accused a motorist of manslaughter and DUI in connection with an early-morning traffic accident that claimed the life of a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

Ronald Enos, 33, was arrested after his jeep allegedly rear-ended a sedan at a high rate of speed at 2:21 a.m. Dec. 5 in the southbound lanes of Arizona Avenue at Ocotillo Road.

The unidentified victim, 22, who was one of four people in the sedan, was pronounced dead at the scene and “as a result she lost her unborn baby,” police said. The three other occupants and Enos who sustained minor injuries.

Enos had a blood-alcohol level of .245 – more than three times the legal limit, police said.

He was booked into the Maricopa

Ronald Enos County Jail on two counts of manslaughter, one count of aggravated assault, recklessly causing the death of another person and two counts of endangerment.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Skate team, moving firm team up to help Hopi tribe

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Figure skating is not an inexpensive sport. Most young people who participate come from families that can afford it.

“They have a lot of stuff, they’re very fortunate,” said Jaime Kalnicky, the coach of the Ice Denettes Synchronized Skating Team based in Chandler. “Sometimes it’s easy to overlook that when you haven’t seen true need.”

Kalnicky decided to lead a toy drive to help members of the Hopi tribe.

“I had already like made contact with the elders, … and really kind of felt passionate about it, because … they are non-gaming tribe, so they don’t have income like most of the tribes do from gaming.”

The Hopi tribe was the last in Arizona to sign on to gambling, doing so in late 2017. Its members had twice rejected allowing gambling before that. They finally agreed after a coal mine on their lands was shut down. Hopi land is far from main population centers and tourist attractions, being near Tuba City.

Kalnicky chose a group of six villages, many of which do not have running water or electricity. Kalnicky said the unemployment rate is 60 percent or higher. She asked her 60-member team if they were willing to help, and the answer was a resounding yes.

“We just thought it would be a good

also put the word out on his mailing list to ask for donations, and he provided storage space for all the toys that came in.

After five days, the skaters and the moving company had collected more than 7,000 pounds of goods. Kalnicky said she suspects they will be over 12,000 pounds by the time they drive them up to the reservation.

The donations include cash, toys, clothing and other goods.

Kalnicky said she recently spoke with one of the elders to coordinate deThe Ice Denettes Synchronized Skating Team helped children in the Hopi have a happier Christmas by livery, and they teared up, collecting toys. (David Minton/Staff Photographer) saying “It’s been a really, really sad winter.” realized she would need some help getidea to do something for other peoIn addition to dealing ting all the toys to the reservation. She ple, because we have a lot of stuff that with COVID and losing many jobs with contacted Chad Olsen of Camelback we don’t really use anymore,” Katelyn the coal plant closing, many tribe memMoving and was surprised by how much bers used to rely on that coal to heat Brotherton of Scottsdale said. help he was willing to offer.

The members of the team are from their homes. Now, they have to pur“When Jaime reached out to us last all parts of the East Valley and as far chase it for $40 for a four-day supply. week about the toy drive, it was perfect away as Casa Grande to train at ChanAnd many can’t afford that, so they timing,” Olsen said. “The time between dler’s Ice Den. have turned to wood for heat. However, Thanksgiving and Christmas is pretty “As figure skaters, we come from the nearest forest is 75 miles away. slow in the moving industry. It allows us families who can afford a sport like “It’s heartbreaking, which I didn’t to devote resources to a good cause. this, so it feels good to give,” said Emily really know,” Kalnicky said. “This kind of It’s our favorite time of the year.”

Christian of Tempe. happened, and I’m really glad it did. It’s Olsen offered trucks to take the toys probably the thing I felt best about in a Kalnicky said she had never tried to organize something like this before, and and other goods to the reservation. He long time.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

ASTRONAUT

from page 4

cross and eventually track cycling, winning a Division 2 national championship in cyclocross, William said. Cyclocross is described as a cross between road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase.

“She trained from time to time in Gilbert and surrounding areas while she pursued her cycling career,” William recalled.

Birch also attended Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires for a year and is fluent in Spanish.

Her career path included teaching bioengineering at the University of California, Riverside, and scientific writing and communication at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena.

She subsequently left Caltech to become a track cyclist on the U.S. National Team and qualify for the Olympics, based out of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, according to her NASA bio.

With her teammates, she earned three World Cup medals in the team pursuit and Madison races, and twice participated in the World Championships. She supported her teammates up until final race selection for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Besides cycling and white water rafting, Birch enjoys backpacking and visiting her family’s cattle ranch in Montana.

Birch is in the middle of two years of initial astronaut training at NASA

Johnson Space Center.

Astronaut candidate training falls into five major categories: operating and maintaining the International Space Station’s complex systems, training for spacewalks, developing complex robotics skills, safely operating a T-38 training jet, and Russian language skills.

Upon completion, they could be assigned to missions that involve performing research aboard the space station, launching from American soil on spacecraft built by commercial companies, as well as deep-space missions to destinations, including the moon on NASA’s Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket.

For the first time ever, NASA required candidates to hold a master’s degree in a STEM field and used an online assessment tool. The women and men selected for the new astronaut class represent the diversity of America and the career paths that can lead to a place in America’s astronaut corps, according to the release.

NASA now has selected 360 astronauts since the original Mercury Seven in 1959.

“We’ve made many giant leaps throughout the last 60 years, fulfilling President Kennedy’s goal of landing a man on the moon,” said Johnson center Director Vanessa Wyche in a released statement. “Today we reach further into the stars as we push forward to the Moon once again and on to Mars with NASA’s newest astronaut candidate class.”

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COMMUNITY NEWS

CITY OF CHANDLER INSIDER

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

City looks back on achievements in past year

BY THE CITY OF CHANDLER

Back in 2020, we were hoping 2021 would bring an end to the worldwide pandemic. But to our surprise, it’s proving to be resilient and continues to evolve. The same can be said of our residents, nonprofits and businesses.

As a City, we haven’t slowed down. In fact, it’s gotten busier with new projects and initiatives. Our amenities have reopened to the public, bringing a sense of normalcy. Staff also continues to serve residents through virtual programming and online appointments, but more out of convenience than necessity.

Chandler has proven once again to be a place with continued growth as a diverse population (we have the receipts from the 2020 Census). We’re also fortunate that Chandler remains a viable City where businesses are choosing to relocate and expand their operations. The major highlight was Intel’s announcement of the largest private investment (of $20 billion dollars) in state history with the expansion of two additional fabs located in Chandler, adding thousands of high-wage jobs to our City.

Let’s review some notable highlights from 2021.

JANUARY For the 18th annual Regional Unity event, Chandler and other Valley cities came together to host a “Unity ArtWalk: A Visual Journey of Diversity, Culture and Equity.” Instead of the large celebration, each city compiled an online map of signature art pieces for the public to enjoy as a safe outing.

The City hosted a City Council installation ceremony to swear-in Councilmember Mark Stewart and newly elected Councilmembers Christine Ellis and OD Harris. Councilmember Ellis became the first Black woman to serve on the Chandler City Council. Also, Councilmember Stewart was unanimously selected to serve as vice mayor.

Chandler created an incentive program for new landlords and property managers who provided rental opportunities for Housing Choice Voucher families.

The City’s Economic Development Division relaunched its COVID relief

Chandler businesswoman Christine Ellis was sworn into office, becoming the first Black female member of Chandler City Council. Also sworn in was OD Harris as council’s first Black male in a number of years. (City of Chandler)

program, I Choose Chandler Business Hiring and Retention Program, which supported businesses that kept workers on the payroll as they adjusted to revenue losses and business disruptions caused by COVID-19. More than $5 million was distribute.

Mayor Kevin Hartke kicked off the first CIVIC cohort (of 23 participants) that featured behind-the-scenes tours and department presentations on how they function.

The Community Services Department launched a new park search filter on the City’s website.

FEBRUARY State Forty Eight expanded its headquarters and retail location in Uptown Chandler. This expansion added screen printing and embroidery services to support growing business demands.

Honeywell committed to a longterm lease for more than 150,000 square feet in West Chandler to produce critically important PPE — specifically millions of N95 masks for healthcare and government use — providing a significant job infusion to Chandler.

MARCH The City kicked off its Emergency Rental Assistance Program to distribute $7.9 million from the U.S. Treasury

Department to Chandler residents who have been affected by the pandemic and are struggling to pay rent and utilities. In response to the pandemic, the City’s nonprofit partners, AZCEND and the Salvation Army Chandler Corps, have distributed a combined $4.6 million in rent/mortgage assistance and an additional $1.6 million in utility payments to more than 2,100 Chandler households. Also, another $56,000 was given towards payment of residential water utility bills bringing relief to more than 200 customers.

City Manager Marsha Reed retired after a 38-year career in public service with eight years in Chandler and a combined 30 years in Texas.

The largest private investment of any kind in Arizona history happened in Chandler with Intel Corporation’s announcement that it would invest $20 billion to expand its semiconductor manufacturing operations by building two new fabrication facilities at its Ocotillo Campus. The investment will result in 3,000 high-paying tech jobs, 3,000 construction jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs.

Northrop Grumman announced they had been awarded a contract by the Missile Defense Agency for the Next Generation Inceptor program. The contract is for the rapid development and flight test of an interceptor designed to defend the nation against the most complex long-ranged threats.

APRIL Mechanical Keyboards, one of the largest providers of mechanical keyboards in the world, expanded their business operations to Chandler.

The city opened the new memorial at Veterans Oasis Park (City of Chandler)

MAY City Council approved a resolution to call a Special Bond Election to be held on Nov. 2.

A public memorial service was held for fallen Chandler Police Officer Christopher Farrar, who was killed during a lengthy pursuit that started in Pinal County and tragically ended in the neighboring town of Gilbert.

Chandler inducted two new mem-

bers into Celebration Plaza at Tumbleweed Park. Hal “Tex” Earnhardt, Jr. and Glenn McCollum were honored at a ceremony celebrating their impact on the community.

CVS Health announced a recent $6 million investment in new tenant improvements, and an additional 50,000 square feet of space at its flagship Aetna One Advocate office along the Price Corridor. The location will have the capacity to serve more than 600,000 Aetna members. The company also will hire an additional 500 clinical and service professional positions within the next one to two years, totaling more than 700 employees for the site.

Chandler announced a hiring incentive between $2,000-$5,000 (based on the position) to bolster the recruitment of police officers, detention officers and dispatchers for Chandler Police.

JUNE The Chandler City Council appointed Alicia Skupin to the position of Presiding City Magistrate to lead the Chandler Municipal Court. Skupin has served as a Magistrate for the Court since October 2014. She’s also the first woman and Latina to serve in this role.

The Chandler City Council approved the City’s annual budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 in the amount of $1.058B and the 10-Year Capital Improvement Program budget in the amount of $1.3B. Through an annual allocations process, the City’s Neighborhood Resources Department administered $1.8 million in human services grants that were awarded to 35 nonprofits that help Chandler’s families in crisis, special populations and youth.

The City reached an agreement with the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District to under-ground a 2.65-mile segment of a 230kV transmission system in South Chandler.

Council directed City staff to include review of its draft non-discrimination resolution as part of an upcoming diversity, equity and inclusion study that will include public outreach.

JULY After a national search, Chandler announced the appointment of Joshua Wright as City Manager.

Bestway® announced that the company acquired a new building and will move its U.S. headquarters location to Chandler. The company manufactures an array of inflatable outdoor and leisure products, selling thousands of products in more than 100 countries.

Netherlands-based ASML, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chip-making equipment, has signed a seven-year, 38,000 SF office sublease at Chandler Freeways Crossing on the Price Corridor.

AUGUST The Council adopted the 2021 Parks Strategic Master Plan, which provides a roadmap for equitable future development and improvement of park facilities and opportunities.

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24

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

INSIDER

Around Chandler

Chandler promotes to fill airport manager position

Ryan Reeves is the new manager of Chandler Municipal Airport. The city announced he was being promoted from business coordinator, a position he has held since 2019.

“I am excited to welcome Ryan to his new role as airport manager,” City Manager Josh Wright said. “His knowledge of the aviation industry is second-to-none and he has proven himself an outstanding leader who can capably execute the Mayor and City Council’s bold vision for Chandler Municipal Airport.”

Before coming to Chandler Reeves was the airport coordinator in Buckeye and general manager for Lux Air Jet Centers at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport.

He is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and has a master’s degree from Illinois University.

The city will have to make a contingency appropriation transfer of $4 million between two of its accounts to supplement the existing grant appropriation for spending state allocated funds.

Councilman Orlando will lead national committee

Chandler City Councilmember Matt Orlando has been appointed to lead a committee for the National League of Cities. He will chair the Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Federal Advocacy Committee.

“Maintaining strong and balanced financial policies, ensuring equal opportunity for residents and strategically leveraging intergovernmental relations to better meet community needs has been at the forefront of my 18 years of service to the City of Chandler. I look forward to continuing this work in my new capacity as chair.”

Chandler, Arizona reach deal to share costs on water main break Chandler among nation’s best Chandler is entering into an agreement digital cities

with the state of Arizona to deal with the water main break under the SanTan Freeway that shut down traffic in 2018.

The break took place in a pipe that had been installed less than 20 years earlier by state contractors building the freeway.

“It was a considerable cost to Chandler and an expense that was not our problem to start with,” Mayor Kevin Hartke said.

The break on Feb. 7, 2018 shut down the entrance to Loop 101 from Price Road.

The Joint Project Agreement between the city and state calls for no more than $8 million from state-controlled funds to be used for project costs. The original estimate was it would take at least $4 million to fix, but that has changed.

“We approached the state, our legislators, a number of those outside, the Governor, and they came through, realizing that this was not a Chandler problem solely,” Hartke said. “Kudos to all of those who helped bring this across the table.”

The city has already spent more than $1.7 million in emergency repairs.

The state plans to use federal money from the American Rescue Plan to make the repairs. That money meant to keep the economy afloat during the pandemic includes a provision allowing for it to go toward “water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.”

The Center for Digital Government named Chandler one of its top ten Digital Cities. The group ranked Chandler fourth nationally in cities with 250,000 to 300,000 population.

The annual survey recognizes cities that use technology to tackle social challenges, enhance services, strengthen cybersecurity and more.

The group cited Chandler’s efforts during the pandemic, such as moving recreation classes, enrichment classes, and science experiments online.

Chandler kicks off diversity, equity and inclusion assessment The city is ready to kick off its diversity, equity and inclusion assessment. The deadline for submitting an application to be part of a focus group was earlier this week.

The six-month assessment will be done by a Sacramento-based consulting group that specializes in human resources. The City Council ordered the survey after some pushed for a non-discrimination ordinance for the city.

Chandler is the largest city in Arizona that does not have a non-discrimination ordinance. For more information on the survey visit www.chandler.gov/ DEIstudy.

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The Council approved a Shared Mobility Licensing Program, allowing rentable electric scooters and bicycles in Chandler. The program requires shared mobility companies to obtain an approved license agreement with the City prior to staging and renting devices within city right of way.

The Council authorized the purchase of the Overstreet Parking Garage, a five-story 113,100 square foot public parking garage, located at 150 N. Oregon St. in Downtown Chandler.

SEPTEMBER The City launched Voices of Chandler, The Podcast, giving listeners an inside scoop on all things Chandler, from history to the arts to downtown.

Chandler Senior Center held a grand opening event for the Center’s new outdoor garden space. The new courtyard garden contains three garden beds, one for herbs, roses and vegetables, and three portable garden beds.

OCTOBER Chandler Public Library officially opened its new makerspace, The Makery. The Makery is a state-of-the-art space where the community can turn an idea into reality, develop a product or start a business, and create something they only dared to dream up.

Council authorized staff to hire a consultant to perform a diversity, equity and inclusion assessment.

Pickleball Kingdom announced it will open the first dedicated indoor pickleball facility in Arizona and the largest in the United States.

The Chandler Airpark Area Area Plan was officially adopted and will serve as a guide for the next 20 years to the area surrounding the municipal airport. The last update was completed in 1998.

NOVEMBER In an effort to build a strong brand identity, the City installed seven, 15foot signs that read “West Chandler” near major intersections throughout the area.The installations were placed in an area that is home to more than 630 businesses which employ more than 29,000 workers and is part of an effort to strengthen West Chandler’s image.

Chandler hosted a Field of Honor Memorial ribbon cutting ceremony on Veterans Day. The Field of Honor is the first veterans memorial of its size and scope in the Southeast Valley, reflecting on the enduring sacrifices made by the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Field of Honor also is the new home for the F86d Sabre Dog Korean War-era plane that was moved from Downtown Chandler.

The City held a Special Bond Election on Nov. 2 and Chandler voters overwhelmingly supported the $272.7 million dollar bond request. The bond election approval now authorizes the City to issue bonds to fund capital projects planned in the 10year Capital Improvement Program.

Chandler became the first city in Arizona to test blockchain technology, which allowed residents to experience what voting using a mobile device could look like.

The city began a concerted effort to promote west Chandler, installing big signs at key intersections and undertaking other strategies to lure businesses to the area.

(City of Chandler)

DECEMBER City Council approved an ordinance to form a Military and Veterans Affairs Commission. The Commission will advise the Council on veteran programs, policies and practices and will act as a community forum for Chandler’s active-duty military members and veterans.

The Mayor and Council hosted a dedication ceremony of Chandler newest park, Lantana Ranch, located at the northeast corner of McQueen and Appleby roads

Accolades abound in 2021

Chandler was among the top cities on many lists this year. Special recognitions included: • WalletHub - #13 Best City to Find a Job, #16 Best Cities for People with Disabilities, #17 Best Places for Veterans to Live, #21 Best Places to Raise a Family, #28 Best Cities for Recreation, #23 Safest Cities, #49 Happiest Cities, #64 Best Cities to Start a Business, #96 Greenest Cities in America • SmartAsset - #11 Best Cities to Work from Home, #14 Best Cities for Women in Technology, #15 Where Millennials Are Moving • Storage Café - #3 Best Cities for an Active Lifestyle • Livability - #29 Best Places to Live in America • MoneyGeek - #19 Cities where Latinas are doing well financially • DrivingTests.org - #20 America’s Safest Cities for Young Drivers • Arizona Institute of Architects award for shade structure art at Public Safety Training Center • Anupa Jain - Environmental Stewardship Award – Arizona Water Association • Traci Conaway – Recycler of the Year – Arizona Recycling Coalition • Christina Pryor – Carlton P. Parker Award – National Procurement Institute • Center for Digital Government - #4 Digital Cities award population 250k – 500k

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Area restaurants struggle to find food, workers, low prices

BY SARA EDWARDS Cronkite News

Miracle Mile Deli has been proudly serving pastrami sandwiches for 72 years, but the pandemic has Josh Garcia’s restaurant in “survival mode.”

“What we’re seeing is the normal products that we’ve been able to get ahold of easily, like chicken tenders, we can’t get a hold of,” Garcia said.

Small businesses and restaurants across the region are struggling to stay afloat because of supply chain shortages and price hikes as they compete with Walmart, Amazon and other powerhouses for products to fill shelves and pantries. They also compete for workers to fill essential staffing positions.

Garcia touts Miracle Mile as one of the biggest pastrami users on the West Coast; the restaurant serves about 3,000 pounds of pastrami each month.

But the price, he said, has gone up $2 per pound since the pandemic was declared in March 2020.

Wells Fargo senior economist Mark Vitner said the $5.2 trillion in stimulus checks issued in 2020 and ’21 helped revive consumer spending more quickly than supply, which shut down when demand plummeted at the beginning of the pandemic.

“We basically drew down inventories of just about everything, and production has been trying to catch up,” Vitner said.

“We still haven’t recovered all the jobs that were lost during the pandemic, and

The Buschtetz family – from left, Clementine, Steven, Laura, Killian, Mairead and Fabrice – owns Cuisine & Wine Bistro in Chandler and Copper & Logs, B Gastrobar and Frenchie Pizza in Gilbert (Courtesy of Buschtetz family)

factories and warehouses are having a hard time attracting workers back.”

Vitner said he expects supply chain worries are at their peak, with prices going up by 7.1 percent in Phoenix from a year ago, according to October Consumer Price Index data.

“I think we have seen some modest incremental improvement in just the last few weeks,” he said. “And I think that six months from now we’ll be in a better place, but we’re not going to get completely past these supply chain issues for at least a year.”

Although restaurants aren’t as affect-

ed by supply chain problems and shipping issues as much as other industries, such as construction and homebuilding, small businesses don’t have the bargaining power when it comes to keeping restaurants open without exhausting staff, Vintner said.

“Some chains are even closing underperforming stores while some are converting to ghost kitchens that serve the delivery market,” he said. “It’s a real tough environment to operate in.”

Chip Mahoney, owner of Wicked Brews, Bites & Spirits in Ahwatukee hasn’t had enough silverware since September.

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Normally, silverware is washed and folded into cloth napkins at the end of worker shifts but, instead, he spends his days driving to shops and supply stores hoping to find silverware and other supplies for the restaurant while staff washes and folds even during busy hours.

“I’m driving around getting nowhere and wasting my day,” he said. “That’s not how I want to run my business – driving around the Valley looking for products that I need to run my business.”

Wicked Brews celebrated its first anniversary in November, first opening its doors when pandemic dining restrictions limited what the restaurant could do for the first four months. Mahoney said he and his employees worked to promote the new restaurant while adhering to COVID-19 protocols, such as reduced seating and closing a few days a week.

“It was starting to get better until the supply chain and lack of employee interest, which has really been a damper over the past four months,” Mahoney said. “That’s actually harder than when we first opened.”

Mahoney said it’s a numbers game, from trying to make sure Wicked Brews is stocked with products for the dining room while still trying to keep prices low to keep and attract customers. But even with product price increases that have led to higher menu prices, the bills are still stacking up.

The alcohol industry is also being affected by shipping and other supply chain issues, with many breweries and distilleries struggling to find supplies to bottle their booze.

Brothers Josh and Jason Duren, who co-own Cider Corps in Mesa, have been laboring to get apple juice and fruits to brew their ciders, but they also have had a hard time finding cans for said ciders.

Mahoney said another part of his day-to-day routine is finding employees to work in the restaurant. As a momand-pop operation, he said the business doesn’t have enough money to pay for the number of people needed to properly staff the restaurant.

Mairead Buschtetz and her husband, Fabrice, are also struggling to find workers for their multiple restaurants and bistros across the Valley, including Cuisine & Wine Bistro in Chandler and Copper & Logs in Gilbert.

It feels like they’re in a “vicious circle,” Mairead Buschtetz said.

“We got great federal help last year to stay open, and we were very blessed, but this year, there’s no federal help left,” she said.

Normally, Buschtetz said, five people work in the Cuisine & Wine Bistro kitchen at a time: Her husband, the executive chef of all the family’s restaurants, works with three other cooks and a dishwasher.

Right now, however, Fabrice is the only cook and there is no dishwasher.

Instead, the Buschtetzes and their three children have been filling in where they can to keep the restaurants going with Frenchie Pizza in Gilbert facing the most challenges with staffing.

Even though she needs to hire workers, Mairead said she can’t afford to See

SHORTAGE on page 29

27

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Archuleta brings holiday cheer to the Chandler Center

BY MADISON PERALES Contributor

For “American Idol” alumnus David Archuleta, Christmas means spending time with family enjoying music.

He’ll bring that feeling to the Chandler Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 23, with “A Christmas with David Archuleta.”

“One thing I love is with my family, music was a big part of the holidays for us,” Archuleta said.

“Not just listening to it, but we would actually perform it and my mom would dress us up with the Santa Claus hats and go around and sing Christmas carols to the neighbors.”

Archuleta’s family is so into much that his mother taught them Jackson His family is very musically inclined, so much so that Archuleta’s mother decided to teach the family a couple of the Jackson 5 Christmas songs.

“She taught us the choreography and everything,” Archuleta said. “We would perform those because there’s five of us siblings.”

Singing Christmas songs wasn’t Archuleta’s only fond memory. He recalled one of his favorite holiday traditions ­– one that’s a little unique.

“My mom carried out this tradition that my grandma started,” Archuleta said. “She would read ‘The Nativity’ with this fabric and she told little sto-

David Archuleta ries on it for kids.”

Archuleta has been in the public eye since he was 16 years old, when he appeared on season seven of “American Idol.” His angelic vocals garnered 44 million votes to make him the runner up behind David Cook.

Soon thereafter, he released his first single, “Crush,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Three months later, Archuleta’s self-titled album went gold, selling more than 750,000 copies in the United States, and more than 900,000 copies worldwide.

After the COVID-19 restrictions, Archuleta is pleased to be back on stage, helping his fans celebrate the holidays. He admitted the quarantine was hard on him.

“At first I wondered, with pandemic life, what was going to happen,” Archuleta said. “It was kind of weird being home all the time, but because I live by myself, I felt like it was needed time of introspection.

“I think I needed that time to look at myself and figure out what’s going on, particularly with all the therapy I was going through.”

Even though Archuleta now has a busy schedule, he found time to publish a children book based on one of his songs. “My Little Prayer.” It was released in October by Bushel & Peck Books.

“I always thought it would be cool to do a children’s book, I just never thought I would be able to do it,” Archuleta said. “But then my manager was like ‘Hey, why don’t you make ‘My Little Prayer’ a children’s book?’”

Excited about the prospect of it, Archuleta was ready to connect with a younger audience.

“I love reaching out to kids,” Archuleta said. “I love the way they see the world and their purity and curiosity. I thought it was a really cool opportunity to share that they can talk to God, be close with him and be able to teach them that with a visual like a book.”

Aside from that, he released the single “Beast,” which, he revealed, is about internal struggles.

“I was finding that I didn’t have a healthy way of going about relationships,” Archuleta said. “It seems like every time I went through them, and got closer to someone, it felt like this monster would come out of me.”

On top of Archuleta’s new single and children’s book, he is looking forward to 2022 and his six-week, North American “OK, All Right” tour. It supports his album “Therapy Sessions.”

Although “OK, All Right” doesn’t hit Arizona, he’s looking forward to the holiday show.

“The liveliness that Arizonans tend to have makes it a really nice experience,” Archuleta said. “Some venues are really beautiful, but in the end, what makes the show is the connection you feel and that you feel like the audience is connecting to what you’re giving them. It’s always been a really wonderful connection with the Arizona audiences.”

“A Christmas with David Archuleta” When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23 Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Cost: Tickets start at $39.90 Info: chandlercenter.org

Banner curbing surgeries amid virus spike

BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services

The state’s largest hospital network is operating over capacity at several of its facilities and is turning away surgery that is not medically necessary.

And Dr. Marjorie Bessel, the chief medical officer for Banner Health, said last week she expects things to only get worse in the next month. That, in turn, will result in even more instances of people with non life-threatening conditions having their surgeries delayed.

Bessel said that for the moment, Banner is not anticipating having to do what has occurred in some other states – where the National Guard has been called out to help set up facilities outside of hospitals. She also said the hospital is not yet using a “triage’’ system to turn away patients whose illnesses or injuries are not considered severe enough, or where their chances of survival are so low as to not merit care.

But future prospects do not look good.

“In-patient volumes are at their highest levels since the start of the pandemic, with several Banner hospitals operating above capacity,’’ Bessel said.

“If the forecasted trends continue we will soon be unable to meet the health care needs of Arizonans.

“Banner’s predictive modeling tools show no sign of letting up,’’ Bessel continued. “We expect volumes will continue to increase throughout December and into the beginning of next year before peaking around the middle

of January.’’

And even that, she said, does not account for the emergence of the Omicron variant which now is present in Arizona. Bessel said while it appears to be highly transmissible there is still a lot to learn about how severe it is and whether those who contract it will need to be hospitalized or, more problematic for hospitals, put into already overburdened intensive-care units.

But Bessel, who repeatedly emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated and wearing masks to help deal with the problem, declined to call on Gov. Doug Ducey to use his emergency powers to mandate either.

“I’m asking the community to assist us in preserving health care capacity for all of you,’’ she said. “I believe that each one of us can make a personal decision to do our part.’’

Her comments come as the state on Dec. 14 posted another 203 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 23,243.

There also were another 2,168 cases.

It’s not just a question of having beds, both in the intensive-care units as well as standard care. Bessel said it’s having the staff to provide the necessary medical care.

“We are more stretched now than we have been since the start of the pandemic,’’ she said, saying many “core team members’’ deciding to retire, seek another position within the hospital that does not involve face-to-face health care – or get out of the pro-

fession entirely. All that, Bessel said, is due to “prior surges and the enormous physical and mental impact the pandemic has had on them.’’

There is a significant difference, though, in what is causing the current overcrowding problem at hospitals.

In January, when more than 90 percent of intensive-care beds were occupied, COVID patients accounted for about two thirds of that. Now, those with COVID take up about 40 percent of all ICU beds.

But Bessel said the balance of patients are a direct result of the pandemic.

“We know that individuals throughout the pandemic have, very unfortunately, because of the scenario that we have been experiencing, (been) delaying care,’’ she said.

“Some of them delayed preventative care,’’ Bessel continued. “Some of them are presenting after having symptoms over a protracted period of time and presenting late in the course of their disease or illness.’’

The bottom line, she said, is that Banner has more patients now than it has had since the beginning of the pandemic.

All that goes to the question of whether patients will be able not only to get into the hospitals but even how quickly they will be able to get care at Banner clinics.

It starts with crowding in emergency rooms.

Bessel said that those whose injuries

and illnesses are not life threatening are instead being referred to primary care clinics. But that, in turn, means those clinics will be giving priority to established patients who are sick.

“As a result, patients may experience an increased wait for non-urgent primary care physician appointments that can safely be delayed, such as routine follow-ups, “well visits’’ and new patient visits,’’ she said.

As to surgical care, Bessel said Banner hospitals and surgery centers are continuing to offer “medically necessary’’ procedures, though each facility makes its own scheduling decisions on a dayby-day basis depending on available staffing resources and capacity.

So what’s medically necessary?

“They include things like mastectomies for breast cancer, gall bladder removal for stones, and hip replacement for those who are in pain,’’ Bessel said.

One key to deciding whether to allow a surgery, she said, is whether if it were significantly postponed, might become emergency procedures. And that, said Bessel, creates problems of their own.

“Emergency surgeries often have a longer recovery and worse outcomes, which can then require hospitalization and ICU-level of care,’’ she said.

The good news, Bessel said, is that most scheduled surgeries do not require a stay in the already overcrowded intensive-care units.

“And many can be performed on an out-patient basis,’’ she said.

COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

29

Chandler Council hears forecast for legislative session

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

Many of the same issues that came up this year at the State Capital are likely to come up again in 2022. But there will be some new wrinkles, including a flat tax and more changes to voting laws.

Those were among the highlights as Chandler City Council was briefed last week on what it can expect from the upcoming state legislative session that begins Jan. 10.

Another change is the number of new faces that have no history with Chandler officials.

“There’s been a lot of turnover,” said Ryan Peters, the city’s government relations and policy manager. “There’s a lot of legislators who are running for other offices and they’ve decided the best strategy for them is to resign their current office.”

Peters pointed out this will be Gov. Doug Ducey’s final year in office and that he continues to push for tax cuts.

He and his allies passed a tax cut they

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pay them because of increasing costs elsewhere in the business. Even with wages ranging from $13 to $23 per hour, Mairead said, the family can’t compete with companies like Amazon and Whole Foods.

“Our rent is more expensive by at least $1,000, and the case for the pay-

are calling a “flat tax” that is scheduled to start in 2022.

His plan would create a flat tax rate of 2.5 percent. However, there was a referendum drive to overturn that because of the impact it will have on public education.

If that referendum is not stopped by courts, it is scheduled to be on the November 2022 ballot.

Alexis Apodaca, government relations coordinator, said last year cities and towns were able to win an increase in the municipal share of that tax from 15 to 18 percent.

That could impact Chandler in how much money the state has to dish out to communities in grants and other aid.

Another new issue could be more changes to election laws.

Peters said the Senate audit of the 2020 election continues to be a hot topic at the Capital, and some legislators want even more changes to existing voting laws.

“There’s a new chairmanship in the Senate on the committee that over-

sees election law,” Peters said. “The new chair of that committee has a lot of interest in taking audit findings and making changes to statutes.”

Peters said they will keep a close eye on any proposed changes to voting by mail, saying that it is popular and they’ve had no issues with it in Chandler.

Another tax will also be in the news next year as officials are expected to ask voters to extend the half-cent sales tax for transportation.

On the subject of transportation, Peters told Council there will be no light rail coming to Chandler. He said the focus remains on adding express bus service on Arizona Avenue and improving transit options for the Price Road Corridor.

He said Amtrak officials are pushing for a line between Tucson and Phoenix.

It’s unknown what route that might take and if it may hit parts of Chandler or not.

“Amtrak and Amtrak stakeholders have been advocating for service in this area,” Peters said. “There’s a route kind of that bypasses Phoenix that assumes

most folks are identifying with, or prime for investment in this area.

“You can tell transportation is going to be a big theme next year.”

The other major issues they intend to watch are land use zoning, and changes to building codes, telecommunication fees, and the most important concern in the desert, water rights.

Apodaca said they expect there to be a push to look at land use because of the lack of affordable housing in many parts of the state. That could mean proposing changes to zoning and building codes that would challenge local control.

One issue that is coming up is water because a number of cities and towns have been buying water from towns along the Colorado River. However, Apodaca said their state representatives are concerned because they believe they should be holding on to that water for their own development.

“We’re going to be seeing a lot of water, and water rights-related legislation coming up this session,” Apodaca said.

roll costs are huge with our products coming in at least 30% more expensive than usual,” she said. “It’s a terrible situation to be in, and I can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t know how long people are going to be able to hang in there.”

Many restaurants have had to get creative by either changing restaurant concepts or adding partnered experiences to continue attracting customers

and make up for some of the shortages.

Josh Duren of Cider Corps said these challenges have created a “forced level of creativity” that, in the end, could benefit American small businesses.

Wild Hare partnered with a local chocolate company, Stone Grindz in Scottsdale, to create a tasting event catered by a chocolatier who paired different chocolates with their spirits, and Tilton said they will continue for the

holiday season; by reservation only on Fridays, Saturdays and some Sundays.

At Wicked Brews, live music wasn’t something Mahoney intended to provide, but since introducing it during the pandemic, it has become a regular thing Wednesday and Friday evenings.

“You have to adjust your business plan, know your market and your guests to just stay on top,” he said. “Every penny counts right now.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Camelot’s remodel division surges in pandemic

BY DAVID M. BROWN Contributor

About five years ago, third-generation Scottsdale homebuilder Cammie Hancock Beckert led an extensive renovation of a McCormick Ranch home built in the 1970s by her family’s Camelot Homes.

Founded by her grandparents, JW and Maggie Hancock, more than a half-century ago, the company has built thousands of Valley homes, including $3–$5 million customs in luxury golf communities such as Grayhawk, Desert Mountain and Silverleaf, all in north Scottsdale.

“The home had never had been updated; everything was original,” said Beckert, who lives in Silverleaf with her family. “A friend of a friend asked if we would be interested in remodeling the home. She liked the idea that we were the original builder and was familiar with our current work.

“We took the house down to the studs, rearranged spaces, took down a wall to open up the kitchen, added on in a few places and completely updated the interior finishes,” she added. “The before/after photos were dramatic and something I was proud to be a part of.”

Owners Valerie and David Blanco were enthusiastic. “You helped us get our home to where it is. It feels brand new, and we love the design and interior finishes,” Valerie told Beckert.

Their redo was perfectly timed.

During a management retreat, Camelot Homes had discussed the possibility of adding a division that would offer $350,000-plus remodels of its homes and those built by others.

In 2019, company completed another renovation in Grayhawk.

“So our team said, ‘Let’s get serious about this,’ and we began marketing our Custom & Remodel Division to previous Camelot owners in Grayhawk.”

Then in 2020, the pandemic changed homebuilding. Beckert and others thought the Arizona real estate industry, including new-builds and re-builds, would collapse.

“Well, I said, ‘There goes that,’” she recalled with a smile. “But it ended up just the opposite. “The pandemic intensified the need for this service.”

People felt imprisoned in four walls and couldn’t escape, even by traveling.

“I think just having to sit in our homes during the pandemic caused a lot of people to focus on aspects of their homes that had been bothering them, but they hadn’t made a priority to fix,” she said. ”We can do that tomorrow.”

Since then, clients of the remodeling division have been requesting open floorplans, removing walls and interior-finish makeovers. Other common requests are adding casitas, or separate living quarters, for visiting family and friends; updated workout rooms and offices; dedicated homework spaces;

Above: Scottsdale homeowners Valerie and David Blanco were delighted with the work that Camelot Homes’ remodeling division did with their McCormick Ranch hosue. “You helped us get our home to where it is. It feels brand new, and we love the design and interior finishes,” Valerie said. Right: Third-generation Scottsdale homebuilder Cammie Hancock Beckert led an extensive renovation of a McCormick Ranch home built in the 1970s by her family’s Camelot Homes.

(Courtesy Camelot Homes)

teen rooms; and wine walls or other type of wine storage, she explained.

“A lot of these existing homes might have an open kitchen, but that could be accompanied by a more formal dining room that goes mostly unused, so this space could be repurposed,” she said.

“Or, they want to update their bathroom’s once-popular ornate fixtures and curving ‘snail’ style showers with a sleeker, symmetrical modern look that brings an open, airy feel to even the most intimate of spaces.”

“With 60 percent of homeowners now saying that having outdoor space is more valuable than indoor square footage, many want seamless connections between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Our clients love that they can open up the living room to the outside with the flip of switch thanks to roll away pocket walls or quickly change an open space into a private home office that keeps the kids, and their noise, out,” said Beckert, who expects the division to

triple its business in the next few years.

New technology has helped her team.

This includes 3D cameras that accurately measure a client’s living spaces and HGTV-style renderings provide them with a virtual walk-through of their planned space or allow them to explore different layouts, finishes and fixtures.

Her clients vary from younger professionals wanting to expand their homes to empty nesters, whose space needs have changed.

Many requests come from existing Camelot homeowners who love the location and quality of their aging homes and want to update them to fit their changing lifestyles. About half request space additions, depending on their lot sizes.

Often, people who have visited the company’s models ask if the company can build one of the designs on their property, which the company can do through its Custom division. Or they ask if the company can replicate one of the model home kitchens in their existing homes or provide indoor-outdoor living space.

John and Sandra Moses liked their Camelot Home in the Firenze neighborhood at Grayhawk but needed more space for entertaining; they were considering moving.

Then, they visited Camelot’s luxury White Horse models in Scottsdale.

“We loved the open floorplan and engaged Camelot’s remodel division to help in reconfiguring our space and updating our interior finishes,” Sandra said. “We recently hosted a large dinner party, and everyone loved our new and improved home. We are thrilled with the finished product.”

Beckert is very much at home with her professional role. From youth, her grandmother Maggi and mother, Julie, taught her the value of the woman’s viewpoint in home building, she explained.

After graduating from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications, she worked at NBC affiliate KPNX, The Meyers Group and Nathan and Associates. About 15 years ago, she returned to the family business, first as a sales associate, then marketing manager and today managing director of the Custom & Remodel Division.

For years, people have been regularly calling the company regarding renovations.

“But the answer was always, ‘Sorry, we don’t do custom or remodels,’” she said. “We always knew the demand was there, but we just had to figure out how to offer the same design quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail before we were willing to put the Camelot name on it.”

Information: camelothomes.com/ custom-remodeling.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

EV plumbing firm’s business plan includes charity

BY MELODY BIRKETT Contributor

Some people might think Wayne Decker’s business plan makes no sense.

But Decker, president of PlumbSmart Heating and Air, says it not only makes sense but a lot of cents.

“We charge less than the big players and we still do very well,” he said.

“Our profit margins are still very good. Our guys have every benefit you can imagine and have high compensation. There’s no downside to having this philosophy. They all (other plumbing companies) could have it, but they choose not to because they want to have much greater margins.”

To top it off, charity is a big part of Decker’s business plan: Since the pandemic began, his company has done at least 200 jobs for free for people in need.

Decker started his residential repair plumbing business in 2006 and previously was in the service business, serving homeowners for more than 40 years.

He started his company exactly for the reasons it lives by.

Wayne Decker, president of PlumbSmart Heating and Air in Mesa, find his business plan of charity and lower prices has yielded growth and strong profit margins.

(David Mionton/Staff Writer)

“It was more of an answer to the prevailing attitude which exists today – that plumbing companies are just way too expensive and they charge too much.”

For example, he said a lot of companies charge $400-$1,000 to unclog a toilet that takes about 20-30 minutes.

“If you make $20 an hour, that’s going to be about a week’s take-home pay to unclog a toilet.”

While costs have gone up for parts or items like hot water heaters, PlumbSmart hasn’t raised its labor prices.

“We’re so confident about our prices that even if a customer doesn’t want to

use us, they can still call us…and ask for a price,” said Decker.

“A lot of companies will spend $50,000-$100,000 sending you to a course to establish you as one of the finest sales people you can be. You know what to say. You know how to manipulate. You have financing available.’”

“When you have that attitude, it’s not about what is normal profit because that’s hard to say,” explained Decker, who has about 50 employees.

“It’s very subjective. It’s about how much profit do you want to make?

PlumbSmart is very profitable at about half of what our big-name competitors charge.”

Decker said his focus is on relationships with homeowners, not chasing dollars.

“And the beauty of that is when you have the philosophy the more you give the more you get, your growth is almost unmanageable. You don’t have people who are upset, questioning you, or who have buyer’s remorse. You still grow and make more money.”

During the pandemic, PlumbSmart See

PLUMB on page 36

Family trio acquires EV event center at the right time

BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Timing can be everything in business and for Charles Cotter and his two children, buying Superstition Manor in Mesa could not have come at a better time.

While it caters to a variety of gatherings, its specialty is weddings and Cotter, his son Taylor and daughter Sharley Leavitt, acquired the 10-yearold property on the northwest corner of Signal Butte and Brown roads from the founding Burns family just as the pandemic has been loosening its grip on couples eager to tie the knot.

“Weddings have not only come back in full force. It is a force to be reckoned with,” Taylor said. “You had a lot of people that rescheduled or postponed their wedding for a year and then you still had the busy season on top of that.

And right now, the industry is projected to have more weddings in 2022 than there has ever been in the last several years.

“So, 2022 is supposed to be crazy,” he continued. “We already have over 160 events booked for 2022 and we are projected to break 200.”

They got a taste of that level of business in October, which Taylor called “literally insane” because “it was something like 19 events in eight days….That was our welcome to the new business moment.”

The new owners of Superstition Manor in Mesa are, from left, Charles Cotter and his children, Taylor Cotter and Sharley Leavitt. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

And even more fortunate for them, the sprawling Superstition Manor grounds and mammoth reception center came equipped with three halls that can accommodate between 100 and 250 people, two fully equipped commercial kitchens and a half-kitchen and a staff of some 40 to 50 experienced servers, cooks and other personnel.

Beyond that, however, two features have made Superstition Manor a high-demand wedding venue, Taylor

said: first, it’s pretty much a one-stopshop for weddings and second, its pristine desert grounds with an unobstructed view of the majestic Superstition Mountains make romantic settings.

Neither Taylor nor his sister are complete strangers to the wedding industry.

Taylor has been in the wedding industry for years as a photographer and videographer and his sister also is a long-time wedding photographer.

For them and their father, buy-

ing Superstition Manor was almost a no-brainer, since they were inheriting an experienced staff and a location that most couples likely will find an ideal venue for exchanging vows.

“What’s really unique is where the property is situated,” Taylor said.

“Across the street is actually a part of Usery Park Preserve and so from a couple of our ceremony yards where people get married, the backdrop is literally raw desert and Superstition Mountains. That’s one of the really unique things about the property: the view is unmatched. If you look out across the street, you don’t see houses.

You don’t see development. You don’t see anything except just straight desert and Superstition Mountain.”

“Then there are lots of places on site as well,” he continued. “The previous owner did an amazing job of landscaping. And even without that view, you could stay just on the property and there is a ridiculous amount of places that you can go and couples can go to take gorgeous photos in a very well-maintained, landscaped area.”

While Arizona currently is between the state’s two biggest wedding seasons of October-November and March-April, this is no time for the Cotter family to relax – and only partly because Superstition manor also caters to charity events, sports banquets for See

WEDDING on page 36

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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North Chandler Place ranked high in Arizona

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Staff Writer

With so much green space on North Chandler Place’s conveniently located continuum of care senior living community, it really stands out from its competitors.

Located at 2555 N. Price Road in Chandler, the community offers apartment homes for adults 55 and older; assisted living; memory care and five-starrated nursing care and rehabilitation.

The independent living residences are separate from the rest of the campus. Apartments range in size from 647 to 1,330 square feet and rent starts at $2,100 per month — a great deal considering that rent includes two meals each day, complimentary use of washers and dryers, basic cable, an emergency call system, and activities.

Kathleen Fanning, community relations director, says the campus had a record-breaking summer with move-in activity.

“It is wonderful that prospective residents chose us because of the amazing sense of community we have cultivated here at North Chandler Place” Fanning says. “I would encourage anyone interested in making a move to act now so that they can take advantage of, and lock-in, our low 2021 rates.”

There is a variety of apartment styles for rent. The largest apartment is 1,330 square feet, which Fanning called “huge.”

“That is a big deal here,” she says.

North Chandler Place provides a continuum of care with many amenities.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

“We’re probably the only place where you can get something that big that isn’t twice our price.”

Fanning encourages all potential residents to shop around and compare and added, “Our campus also offers personal care services with our staff located on-site – a really unique amenity.”

Other accommodations include assisted living and memory care.

Complete with a 24-hour certified care staff, assisted living begins at $1,800 plus care, which is personalized to meet the distinct needs of every individual.

Residents enjoy life-enriching activities

and outings, three meals and snacks each day, and a visit by a licensed nurse on staff.

The memory care suites offer all-inclusive rates starting at $4,200 each month. Residents and their family members appreciate a plethora of amenities that include personalized care plans, weekly laundry, housekeeping, transportation, activities, and emergency assistance.

The North Chandler independent living boasts five floor plans, while assisted living offers three. Memory care has two floor plans.

“Four out of the five floor plans

come with two bathrooms,” Fanning says. “It gives people a guest bathroom, or the spouse a bathroom to themselves. When you compare the square footage and amenities, our price point is outstanding — for the most part, we’re much less expensive than the competitors in our area.”

There is also a skilled nursing and rehabilitation health care center on the North Chandler Place campus. The health care center is ranked among the highest in the state having earned five stars for quality care (visit medicare.gov to learn more).

This small health care facility can accommodate rehab-to-home stays, as well as extended care and hospice services.

“North Chandler Place is a mature, established community with a distinct separation of living spaces and care models,” Fanning says.

She continued that the campus of care is different from many “big-box” retirement communities. “You will not find the glitz and glamour of the newer developments here, but you will find a warm and welcoming feel and the friendliest neighbors around.”

North Chandler Place goes above and beyond to make its residents happy. It offers “all the basics” from bingo to board games to outings to Sedona and Tucson, Fanning says. Guest speakers are featured, and crafts include weaving mats for the homeless. “The most unique feature of our campus is the wonderful residents who call North Chandler home.”

His arcade business evolved from YouTube tutorials

BY GABRIELLA BURTON Contributor

Former YouTuber Will Leinart, owner of the arcade company Joystick, now counts Chandler Fashion Center among his multiple locations of self-monitored machines throughout Arizona.

Leinart began YouTubing in 2011 with an unusual angle: throughout the years, he provided tutorials on claw machines that showed people how to get prizes.

Forming an LLC called Claw Master, the Tempe resident racked up a million subscribers in the process.

“It really helped grow my character, my YouTube helped me fund my career,” Leinart said.

His first company was called Zap, which he bought in 2014. For a few years he kept the name until he realized that the brand had developed a bad reputation and feared it might follow his career.

Enter Joystick.

“When I rebranded in 2018, I started over and then my YouTube started doing better,” Leinart explained. “Then everything worked off each other.”

Now, with 10 years in the arcade industry, Leinart feels that he has gained a lot of experience. And because he is not a large arcade company, he doesn’t have much competition because most other arcade businesses are either far smaller or much bigger than Joystick.

That advantage made it easier for him to navigate through the challenges

Entrepreneur Will Leinart made a reputation with YouTube tutorials showing how people can get prizes on claw machines in arcades. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

of the pandemic, Leinart said.

Joystick’s only obstacle throughout the pandemic occurred when malls were closed and therefore could not access his arcades.

And when malls reopened, he said, he recovered more quickly than other family entertainment centers.

But that doesn’t mean Leinart has avoided all the economic woes associ-

ated with the pandemic.

Like many other businesses large and small, he has had trouble finding workers. He was elated when he recently found Zachary Mott to take on the role of fixing machines and checking security cameras.

“Working for Will is a great experience,” Mott said. “I’ve known him for a while because we met through an ar-

cade enthusiasts’ group but working for him is usually a lot more fun than it is stressful. I also appreciate the flexibility of the job because there doesn’t need to be a person manning every store.

We just watch the cameras.”

Leinart said he just always had a passion for arcades.

“It’s kind of funny because I did like it. I didn’t know I was going to own one, but I knew I enjoyed it. I posted my first video a decade ago which was like, literally almost half my life ago,” Leinart said.

He said he wants to continue creating new experiences for families that enjoy his arcades, and said profit is not as important to him as creating more joy for customers.

It seems to work for fans.

“Some of the games I have played in the arcade are ones I have never seen before. They have the best arcade games,” said Mark Stempel, a Joystick patron at the Chandler mall.

As arcade games begin to move with technology and innovate, Leinart said he might consider getting into the virtual reality industry or expanding into another state. Until then he plans on continuing to do what he loves, opening more arcades.

“I didn’t know I’d be making money because it started from my hobby.

I think that’s how everything should start. Like, don’t think about the money so it will come later,” Leinart said.

Information: joystickarcades.com

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BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

WEDDING

there’s a big Wedding Expo that happens in the Phoenix Convention every year at the beginning of January. So we’re at that.

I mean, there’s literally thousands of couples. We’re already booking for 2023.”

As almost a one-stop shop, the venue offers everything except wedding cakes and flowers and the Cotters have a list of recommended bakers and florists. Video and photography can be added on to the venue’s package.

Those packages include with all-day access to bride and groom suites, a DJ, a pro wedding coordinator a wide variety of décor, chairs, linens, tableware and centerpieces. From Italian to BBQ and beer and wines to top shelf alcohol.

As the Cotters say on their website, “All that’s left for you and your guests to do is party.”

Information: superstitionmanor.com

from page 34

schools and other celebrations.

They are more at a lull because in a few weeks, more than one man will be posing the big question with a holiday-wrapped engagement ring in hand.

And that means, Taylor said, the next big busy period will be January and February, when those couples will hunt for venues.

“So all those engagement rings that are going to be given a Christmas time, people better move fast if they don’t want to lose out,” he said. “We will have more people come and do tours of the venue in January-February in those two months alone than we’ll probably have in any other six to eightmonth segment of the year.”

“It is very, very busy. Everyone gets engaged over the holidays and then

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ple we were serving,” said Decker.

“For us to absorb a couple of hundred or more jobs to help people who really needed it, it was so worth it. Let alone the value – though not intended – of what the general public heard from those ads.

“Our internet communication was blown up by people saying, ‘I don’t need anything for free but any company that has that kind of offer, I want you to be my plumber.’ It was tremendous. It goes along those lines of if you give more, whether you like it or not, you’re going to be blessed, you’re going to get more.

When you chase dollars…in the big picture, I don’t think it helps you.”

In fact, technicians are told by the company to look for “benevolent opportunities, opportunities of compassion to help people,” said Decker.

He recalled getting a call about a woman with a medical disability who had had no hot water for months. A PlumbSmart technician determined she needed a new heater.

“One of my techs took the initiative on understanding what her dire need was,” explained Decker. “This gentleman/tech, on his own, called our office and said, ‘Hey, I have a customer who can’t afford a water heater. She’s an elderly woman and disabled. Can we do this for her for free?’”

Two days later, a tech installed a new hot water heater at no charge. “At PlumbSmart, that’s the way we do business,” said Decker, adding that techs are still paid for comp jobs.

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from page 34

grew 40 percent in 2020 and about another 40 percent in 2021.

Its TV commercials told people the company would fix a plumbing or A/C emergency for free for those who’d fallen on tough financial times.

“A majority of companies would say, ‘You’re absolutely nuts. You’ll be inundated with customers calling to get something for free,’” said Decker.

He said it’s one of the first premises they’re wrong about.

“Approximately 3 percent of all customers may bend the rules to get something over on you. They may lie and cheat and try to get something for free. For those three percent, we can say, ‘God bless you. Give me a big hug. I hope you enjoyed cheating me.’

“And it would not make a difference on our business, our profitability and how we do business. Ninety-seven percent are honest people. When you think of that offer, the humility of having to call a company and take advantage of an offer like that, typically is going to mean they really do need it and they’ve humbled themselves to say, ‘Please come out and help us. We don’t have the money.’”

It’s leads to an additional fringe benefit for his employees that money can’t buy, Decker added.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler falls short to Saguaro in Open championship

BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

It’s the first time since 2015 Chandler’s football program tasted defeat in the postseason.

On Saturday, Dec. 11 at Sun Devil Stadium in the Open Division state championship game, a late touchdown and interception by Saguaro allowed the Sabercats to dethrone the Wolves as the kings of Arizona high school football.

Chandler coach Rick Garretson was blunt with his team’s 20-15 loss in the title game, crediting Saguaro coach Jason Mohns for his team’s performance.

“They were better than us tonight,” Garretson said. “We just couldn’t finish it off. Jason (Mohns) did. That’s the end of it.”

Chandler set the tone with its first drive of the game that shaved more than 7 minutes off the clock. The Wolves took the ball down the field with ease, using a balanced attack behind the arm of Blaine Hipa and legs of Anyale Velazquez. Jeremiah Moore, another running back for the Wolves, capped off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to take an early lead.

Saguaro responded, however, with a long drive itself. Javen Jacobs, who plays the role of a swiss army knife for the Sabercats, dove for the pylon on a jet sweep to put Saguaro on the board.

Much like it did initially, Chandler again came right down the field. A big throw from Hipa and impressive catch by senior wideout Kyion Grayes put the Wolves in position to re-take the lead.

Senior quarterback Kenneth Cooper, who has been used by the Wolves in short-yardage goal line situations, punched it in.

With every blow that Chandler dealt, Saguaro responded. Despite an interception thrown by Sabercats’ quarterback Devon Dampier on their next drive, the defense forced a turnover on

Saguaro senior safety Thomas Dechesaro (32) and junior linebacker John Butler (23) hold on trying to bring down Chandler senior running back Anyale Velazquez (20), in the AIA Open Class Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)

downs. That led to Dampier connecting with Jacobs on a 24-yard touchdown pass before the end of the first half.

“I knew we had it,” Dampier said. “I knew we would win after that, we just had to trust our defense.”

Saguaro didn’t allow Chandler to do much in the second half. The Wolves were held to just 110 yards of offense.

After Chandler’s go-ahead field goal in the third quarter, Saguaro again regained the lead as Dampier found sophomore Jaedon Matthews wide open in the middle of the field.

Hipa was picked off with two

Saguaro senior linebacker Zack Macchiaroli (42) drags down Chandler senior quarterback Blaine Hipa (13) as he throws, in the AIA Open Class Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

(David Minton/Staff Photographer)

minutes remaining. Saguaro began to celebrate.

“I told our guys that they’ve won five in a row, and we weren’t supposed to be here,” Mohns said. “All the pressure was on them. I told them if we just keep hanging around, they were going to make a mistake. We make a play, pressure is on them and finally we pull one out.”

Hipa finished 12 of 23 for 166 yards and two interceptions. Velazquez led the way for the Wolves on the ground with 152 yards on 21 carries.

The loss for Chandler is unfamiliar territory. The last team to beat Chandler in the postseason was Desert Ridge in 2015. Before this season, Chandler’s last loss to an in-state team was in 2017.

The Wolves’ 2022 class was one littered with talent and has three championships under their belts, including Grayes — an Ohio State commit — and Iowa State commit Quaron Adams.

“This was a special class,” Garretson said. “This is the first playoff game we’ve lost in a long time. It’s all good. Congratulations to Jason. They deserve it.”

Saguaro’s quest to the Open Division state championship began two seasons ago when the Sabercats fell in the inaugural title game to Chandler. Last year, Saguaro was forced to forfeit its Open Division quarterfinal matchup due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the team.

The Sabercats were written off this season on several occasions. Many believed Sierra Canyon, a perennial contender in California would knock them off in Scottsdale earlier this season.

Saguaro won.

Some believed the Sabercats would fall to 4A Cactus in the Open Division quarterfinals this season. They won that, too. And behind the legs of Dampier, Saguaro stunned No. 11 nationally ranked Hamilton in the semifinals. Dampier’s legs once again kept many Saguaro drives alive against Chandler on Saturday, rushing for 129 yards on 22 carries.

But his two touchdowns both came through the air as he finished 12-of-17 for 156 yards, including the most important one to Matthews at the end of the game.

“I knew that play was coming,” Matthews said with a smile. “We worked on it all week. Me and Devon had a connection. Looking back on it, I knew we had won.”

The Open Division was arguably created to pin Saguaro, a consistent champion at the 4A level, against teams of Chandler’s caliber.

Now two years later, the Sabercats proved they can hang, and beat, the top teams in the state. And they had to go through Hamilton and Chandler to do it. The last team that faced and beat both blueblood programs in back-toback weeks was Mountain Pointe in 2013. Just like the Sabercats this year, the Pride won a title.

“We figured if we were going to win this game it wouldn’t be pretty,” Mohns said. “It feels surreal. I asked if this really happened. We beat Chandler and Hamilton back-to-back. We took down the blue bloods of Arizona in back-toback weeks. I’m pretty damn proud.”

SPORTS & RECREATION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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Ability 360 helping former, current para-athletes thrive

BY EMERIL GORDON Contributor

Feeling fulfilled in her Paralympic career, four-time Paralympian Kaitlyn Verfuerth continues to give back to the adaptive athletics community through her roles as program specialist and wheelchair tennis coach at Ability 360’s Sports and Fitness Center.

While Verfuerth’s accomplishments speak for themselves, it is the journey she took to get there and the things she’s learned along the way that keeps her involved and wanting to give back to the adaptive sports community.

At 7 years old, Verfuerth was involved in a bad car accident. She was in the middle seat only wearing a seatbelt across her lap and due to impact, she was ejected from her seat and sustained severe damage to her spinal cord. She was paralyzed from the waist down as a result.

“When I woke up (from being knocked unconscious) in the car my mom was covered in blood and my brother was unconscious. I knew I was close to God,” she said.

Soon after getting into rehabilitation from her injury, one of Verfuerth’s therapists told her about the nearby University of Wisconsin Whitewater’s wheelchair basketball program. It is one of the top programs in the country. She attended a camp hosted by the univer-

sity where she was able to try multiple adaptive sports.

While she loved wheelchair basketball, she wanted to play a sport where she didn’t need a whole group of disabled people to play, so she turned to tennis.

She rose to the top of the wheelchair tennis world rather quickly. From the age of 17 on, for about 10 years, she was the top female wheelchair tennis player in the U.S. and top 8 in the world. In 2004, she made her first Paralympic appearance in Athens, finishing fourth in doubles and making it to the round of 16 in singles. She made two more Paralympic appearances in tennis in 2008 and 2016 with her best finish being fourth place in 2008 in the double’s competition. After 2016, Verfuerth and her husband moved from Flagstaff to the Phoenix metro area where she continued to pursue becoming a recreational therapist. She started working at Ability 360 while training for the Tokyo Games in paracanoe.

Verfuerth and others in the disability community are the type of people that Ability 360 strives to create an environment and opportunity to lead an active and meaningful lifestyle.

Nickolas Pryor, Ability 360’s athletics program manager and athlete on the amputee basketball team, is at the helm of making that environment and opportunity possible.

Pryor lost his leg in an accident when

Desert Vista alum Joe Underwood, “right,” alongside athletes he coaches at Ability 360, has taken it upon himself to help empower para-athletes and show them they are capable of competing in their respective sport at a high level. (Courtesy Joe Underwood)

he was younger and joined Arizona State’s wheelchair basketball team when he moved to the state for school.

He landed an internship at Ability 360 See

ABILITY on page 41

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SPORTS & RECREATION

Heroic effort

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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Photo 1: Chandler fans in the stands against Saguaro, in the AIA Open Class Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Photo 2: Chandler senior quarterback Blaine Hipa (13) hands off to senior wide receiver Quaron Adams (3) against Saguaro, in the AIA Open Class Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Photo 3: Chandler senior quarterback Kenneth Cooper Jr. (11) celebrates after a touchdown against Saguaro, in the AIA Open Class Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Photo 4: The Chandler Wolves take the field against Saguaro, in the AIA Open Class Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Photo 5: Chandler senior running back Anyale Velazquez (20) finds a gap in the Saguaro defense, in the AIA Open Class Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

Photo 6: Chandler senior tight end Nason Coleman (5) drives past a tackle attempt by Saguaro senior linebacker Jeremy Campbell (22), in the AIA Open Class Football State Championship game, Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.

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David Minton/Staff Photographer

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SPORTS & RECREATION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

ABILITY

from page 39

and has remained ever since. He hopes to use his role at Ability 360 to reinstate ASU’s wheelchair basketball team “I am in the process of making an agreement between ASU and Ability 360,” he said. “There is no reason why students (especially those with disabilities) should go their entire college career not knowing about us. It’s unacceptable.’’

The agreement that he is trying to make with ASU would be one in which the students who already pay ASU’s fitness and wellness fee would be able to use Ability 360’s facility at no extra cost.

In addition to working on this partnership with ASU, Pryor also helped to launch a wheelchair football team in partnership with the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals, Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks’ willingness to sponsor the facility is what helps keep membership costs low.

“We need to get children (with disabilities) into adaptive sports much earlier than we do,” he said. “Research shows that the earlier they get involved they have a better quality of life. There should really be a pipeline between hospitals and rehabilitation centers to adaptive sports.”

Joe Underwood, Ability 360’s youth swim coach and athlete on the adult wheelchair basketball team, knows well the opportunities that early exposure to adaptive sports can bring.

The Phoenix native was born with Spina Bifida and began swimming in third grade and shortly after playing wheelchair basketball with the Phoenix Wheelchair Suns. He went on to swim for Desert Vista High School and the

Four-time Paralympian Kaitlyn Verfuerth joined the Ability360 team while preparing to compete in the Tokyo Paralympics. She said she is exactly where she wants to be helping fellow para-athletes train. (Courtesy Kaitlyn Verfuerth)

U.S. Paralympic National Team at a world championship in the summer of 2014.

He stopped swimming shortly after to take a scholarship to play wheelchair basketball collegiately at the University of Missouri. In 2018, after graduating, he moved back to the Phoenix area and began coaching the youth swim team and playing basketball at Ability 360.

One of his motivators for returning was simply to give back. He knows that he was fortunate enough to be introduced to adaptive sports early in life and wants to continue to be a part of the growth of adaptive sports and the

Paralympic movement. He hopes to see the day here in the U.S. where para-athletes are paid to play their sport just like the other pros are. This is something that countries like Germany have already begun doing.

“It’s going to take taking a chance,” Underwood said of the future of para-athletes receiving sponsorship money and other pay.

He noted that he doesn’t believe the notion that para-athletes aren’t marketable, and Toyota’s recent sponsorship campaign of Paralympians has shown that it is not true. He thinks there is

41

even a possibility that para-athletes could be more marketable but admitted a huge perspective shift would need to happen here in the U.S. While most people struggle with finding their identity at some point in their life, having a disability can make the struggle weigh heavier on a person. Robert Reed, coach of Ability360s youth wheelchair basketball team and player on the adult team, remembers his struggle with Muscular Dystrophy during his preteen and early teen years that caused him not to be in a great mental space dealing with a lot of depression and feeling alone in his situation.

When he got involved with adaptive sports his mental state improved as he saw he was not the only one dealing with a disability and saw people with disabilities driving, working, and getting married. Those are all things he thought he couldn’t do before.

His own experience made him realize kids are capable of much more than their parents believe.

“I know that I can’t tell the parents how to parent their children,” Reed said. “But I do what I can to drop the hints that will hopefully lead them to believing their child can do things.”

Ability 360 is changing the lives of para-athletes, empowering them to achieve more than they or their family members would have ever thought to be possible.

Verfuerth hopes she can help carrying out Ability 360’s mission.

“This is all I have ever dreamed of doing. I love waking up knowing I am touching the lives of many every day,” Verfuerth said. “There’s no better place to work than here (Ability 360).”

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How Intel is building an inclusive, diverse and well-trained workforce

BY SMRITI SHAKARGAYE Guest Writer

During the pandemic, thousands of Arizonans left the workforce to care for their families when schools and other childcare facilities remained closed.

It was a sudden shift that reflected a growing trend where capable, committed, and ambitious professionals take a break from their careers for several reasons such as starting or raising a family, caring for a family member, military service/spouse, teaching, community service/volunteer work, or continuing education.

Today, many of those workers want to re- enter the workforce but get overlooked due to their age or career gap. This has created challenges for our state’s technology industry that is rapidly growing with emerging startups and international powerhouses that need a stable workforce, like Intel in Arizona, where the focus is on how to grow and progress talent by giving them the right training.

As a global company that values experience, Intel wants to normalize career breaks and help bring these professionals back to workforce.

Recently, the company launched

a paid, 16-week returnship program that will train participants to work on projects matching their expertise, abilities, and interests, and by the end of the program they even might gain a full-time employment at Intel. This is a perfect opportunity for job seekers with career gaps to update their skills and develop new ones.

With two new semiconductor chip manufacturing plants under construction, Intel is working to develop a pipeline of potential talent that can fill new high-tech, high-wage jobs while supporting an estimated 15,000 additional indirect jobs in the community.

Currently, the company has 300 plus open positions across all levels and is paving the way to fill them up with suitable candidates through trainings and specialized programs focused on different sections of the community.

And for those young adults who are just embarking on their career journeys, or are still in school, Intel is partnering with the YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix Arizona Equity in STEAM initiative to boost the number of women and people of color in Arizona across STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) careers.

This partnership will fund twen-

ty grants to nonprofit organizations, public or charter schools, or colleges across Arizona to help develop interest in STEAM-related careers. It’s not just a financial award. The winning organizations will also be part of the first YWCA Equity Leadership Learning series to discuss ways in which students from diverse backgrounds can be brought together to explore various STEAM career pathways.

Intel’s Arizona RISE Report explains the company’s aims and goals towards increasing the representation of women and underrepresented minorities in leadership and technical positions worldwide.

Under the direction of CEO Pat Gelsinger, Intel promotes an inclusive culture that welcomes all perspectives and is critical for attracting, retaining, and progressing top talent. His team is committed to providing a work environment where employees from all backgrounds are valued, respected, challenged, acknowledged, and rewarded so they can achieve their full potential. They have successfully brought more women and underrepresented minorities into senior leadership roles and has a goal to continue this in the future.

Recently, Intel’s commitment to investing in the future of Arizona was recognized at 2021 Governor’s Celebration of Innovation where Intel was awarded with the Ed Denison Business Leader of the Year for contributing to Arizona’s technology industry through relentless community involvement, leadership, visibility, and excellence in economic activity.

Arizona Manufacturers Council’s Awards named Intel as the Economic Driver of the Year for making significant positive contributions to economy through their high-skill and high-paying jobs.

Arizona’s Hispanic Chamber of Commerce welcomed Intel into the AZ 2021 Million Dollar Circle of Excellence for its inclusivity and diversity focus. The company was also recognized for its community impact at Phoenix Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropy Awards.

Intel has a long track record of supporting the community and the people who live here since entering Arizona in 1979. With two new semiconductor facilities under construction and plans to hire 3,000 people, the company and the community can benefit from all measures to build a more inclusive future for all Arizonans.

Companies’ competition for repairs hurts consumers

BY DIANE E. BROWN Guest Writer

Not a lot of companies inspire the brand loyalty that Apple does. After all, the maker of Macs since 1984 and iPhones since 2007 did put the world in our pockets.

But while Apple generally garners accolades, one of the company’s core business practices has been rotten to consumers.

For years, Apple has monopolized product repair by withholding the parts and tools that customers and independent repair shops need to fix broken products. That’s finally changing.

Recently, Apple announced that it will begin sharing with the public more than 200 parts and tools for its products, starting with the iPhone 12 and 13 lineups

and its new Macs. This program will presumably grow to include newer smartphone models and Mac computers.

This is a complete U-turn for one of America’s favorite gadget makers.

For years, Apple’s lobbyists told lawmakers that sharing access to parts, service tools, and manuals would result in safety, security, and intellectual property risks. When an iPhone’s battery died, or its screen cracked, Apple insisted that only an Apple-authorized repairperson could fix it.

But independent repair specialists knew that these “concerns” were overblown. In addition to the rising chorus of people who just wanted to fix their own stuff, or choose where to have it fixed, this fall, Apple faced pressure in the boardroom. And Apple, previously defiant and combative, made an about-

face, announcing newly minted support for independent repair.

To be fair, Apple is far from the only company with a history of hostility toward competition in its repair market.

John Deere won’t sell farmers the software tools they need to fix their tractors. Hospital repair technicians trying to focus on COVID-19 patient care say medical device manufacturers have created hurdles to them fixing equipment needed to save lives.

A PIRG study from earlier in 2021 found that repairing more products and using them longer would save Americans $40 billion per year, or $330 per family. And repair not only helps consumers, but repair helps prevent waste.

When people find it inconvenient to fix a product, they’re more likely to give up and buy a new one – especially when

it comes to continuously, incrementally updated products such as smartphones.

Empowering more independent repair options would extend the lifespan of products, reducing the material drain of manufacturing, and reducing the electronic waste heading to landfills.

The right to repair issue goes far beyond phones. Arizonans want to be able to fix their products but too often run into roadblocks erected by manufacturers who want to control the repair process.

Companies should ensure that their products are built to be easy to fix – and, better yet, built to last. But if they don’t, policy makers should.

Diane E. Brown is the executive director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group (Arizona PIRG), a statewide public interest advocacy organization.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Push back on Mesnard’s flat tax with Prop 307 We’re almost there! Tens of thousands of regular Arizonans stood in the scorching sun this summer, collecting signatures to support the 2020 outcome of Prop 208 and push bac,000 on Sen. J.D. Mesnard’s flat tax, signed into law by Gov. Ducey.

The flat tax would replace the current tax rates (2.59 percent on the first $53,000 of household income, then

3.34percent on $53,000 to $106,000, 4.17 percent on $106,000-318,000, and 4.5 percent on anything above $318,000), with a flat tax of 2.5 percent for everyone.

If your taxable income is $50,000, the flat tax will save you $45 on your state taxes. However, if your taxable income is seven times greater, say, $350,000, the flat tax will save you a whopping $4,673. That’s more than 100 times the savings! Not flat and not very fair. If your taxable income is $30,000, you save $27. If it’s $20,000, you save

just $18.

Meanwhile, all those savings for wealthier Arizonans mean fewer social services for everyone. The loss of revenue would reduce the Arizona General Fund by $2 million, with half of that coming out of education, even though Arizonans passed Prop 208 to send money to education.

Senator Mesnard, why do you want to keep Arizona at 51st place in school funding and 50th place in teacher salaries? Why do you think wealthy

Arizonans shouldn’t pay their fair share of state taxes?

With our signatures, we demanded the right to delay any decision on the flat tax until all Arizonans could vote on it. A few legal hurdles remain, as Republicans continue to fight the push-back, but there’s hope.

Watch for Prop 307 on the November 2022 ballot, and vote NO to the flat tax that guts our schools and reduces social services across the board.

-Jan Johnson

43

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

At 97, Sun Lakes author pens novel on flamboyant opera icon

BY SRIANTHI PERERA Contributor

Many biographies have been written about Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, but none read like a thriller.

Sun Lakes playwright, teacher and novelist Mel Weiser’s “Viva Puccini,” a new historical biography in novel form, fills in the gap.

Weiser captures the essence of the composer’s life: adversity, love, tragedy, death and sexual conquest – qualities found in the great master’s operas – and weaves a compelling tale.

“There is anger in it, there is some mystery, there is a tremendous conflict in it,” said Weiser, who at 97 has four other published books and nine produced stage plays to his credit.

“There is excitement in terms of how the mystery is revealed or the mysteries of his life are revealed and how, ultimately, they lead to the inevitable conclusion, his death.”

Why Puccini?

It seems that Puccini chose Weiser as much as Weiser chose him.

Years ago, Weiser read a book on the composer and was so fascinated by him that he scribbled notes on the margins.

“One day, I was sitting in the bedroom where the bookshelves were and across the room from them – this

Left: Book cover of Viva Puccini Right: Sun Lakes author Mel Weiser has published a

page-turner on Italian composer Puccini. (Courtesy of Mel Weiser)

is almost mystical – I’m looking at the bookshelf, and one book from all those books in the shelf, for no reason that I can understand, seemed to jump out at me,” he said.

“I kept staring at it and – I couldn’t read the title of it or anything – so I got out of my chair and I walked over

and pulled this book out and it was the Puccini book.”

Weiser leafed through it, read his own comments and said to himself: “There’s a book in this.”

To research Puccini’s remarkable life further, Weiser bought and read eight different biographies about him. He

browsed online for more tidbits. He listened to his popular operas – “La Boheme,” “Tosca,” “Madame Butterfly” and “Turandot” – and cultivated a deep understanding and appreciation of them.

He read analysis of the compositions.

Then, he began writing the novel.

“I had great fun writing about Puccini,” Weiser said.

While a biography has to be factual, a novel gets more latitude, he noted.

“One sticks to the facts of his life but one embroiders those with imagination,” Weiser explained. “For example, if in a biography it says that he spent a lot of time trying to find time to write his music, that’s very vague.”

“The writer of a novel has considerable latitude and I use that latitude to create situations to indicate how he didn’t have time, what was he doing in those times that he didn’t have time,” he added.

“Or, if it says great conflict with his wife Rivera, now I want to know what those conflicts were like and in biographies you can’t get full details like that but they tell you they had great conflict,” he said. “What was said actually between them: that’s where the novelist comes in, in order to make that moment memorable and understandable.”

See

PUCCINI on page 46

Restaurateur pens inspirational book

BY GERI KOEPPEL Contributor

Randy Walters has been many things in his 68 years: hospital corpsman, painter, restaurateur and minister among them. Now, he’s added another line to his resume: Author.

He drew upon a decade of running restaurants in Chandler to write a book titled “Hamburgers, Hot Dogs & Hugs: Real stories of faith, kindness, caring, hope, and humor served up at a small diner with a plate of comfort food and a side of unconditional love,” published by Me Youniversity Publishing.

During his years helming Pittsburgh Willy’s in the Merchant Square antiques mall from 2008-13 and then Wimpy’s Paradise in downtown Chandler from 2013-18, Walters said many people told him he should write a book.

“I hope people will read these stories and understand any of us can make a difference in somebody’s life,” he said.

He calls love and kindness a “superpower” that everyone has and can use.

The chapters detail interactions Walters had with customers and lessons he’s learned in life. The stories burst with optimism and hope, something that any of his 1,600 or so Facebook friends or his former customers won’t be surprised to hear.

Kim Schulz of Chandler recalls going frequently to Wimpy’s Paradise both

Randy Walters said his new book aims to inspire readers on making a difference.

(Courtesy Randy Walters)

for the award-winning burgers and dogs and his famous free hugs.

“It’s one of those really good hugs,” she said, “the kind that when you’re having a bad day and you want a hug, you know exactly where to get it.”

Schulz continued, “He had this chalkboard outside the restaurant and would write kind and inspiring things.

Even if you didn’t stop in the restaurant, you’d still be inspired to do better in the world.”

She added, “We need more people like that in the world to spread the love and make everybody feel wanted and valued.”

Walters shares tales of welcoming customers experiencing homelessness and how he learned to provide not just food, but dignity. He writes about making Muslim friends through his restaurant and then hosting a “Muffins with Muslims” chat for people who wanted to learn more about a religion often vilified in the media.

Speaking of media, Walters relates in his book how he learned early on how to promote his business with no advertising or marketing budget. He capitalized on Super Bowl XLIII, when his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers played the Arizona Cardinals. He sold hot dogs for $1.22 when the temperature hit 122, reeling in multiple local news stations for coverage.

“I got people lined up out my front door that had seen my segments live, and that’s when it hit me: Media is powerful,” he said.

When Walters was transitioning from Merchant Square to downtown Chandler, his original plan was to open two distinct restaurants: Pittsburgh Willy’s for hot dogs and Wimpy’s Paradise for hamburgers, named after a diner his

father ran before Walters was born.

However, he suffered a heart attack and decided one location would be enough. He later had another heart attack, and in November 2020, lost his son-on-law suddenly to diabetes. Just after that, his wife, Cyndee, was diagnosed with cancer.

And in January 2021, Walters was hospitalized for 20 days with COVID-19 and almost didn’t make it, which he writes about.

He chronicled his battle in real time via Facebook posts and videos, saying, “I wanted to share it with everyone so they knew what really happened during that process.”

At one point, he admitted, “The pain was so bad that I said to God, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’”

But then he recalled his granddaughter Kara’s battle with Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)—a condition that affects blood flow—and how she nearly died three times and made it. About a year before his hospital stay, she was on a ventilator for about a week.

“The day she came off the ventilator, I reached over and she couldn’t talk well, and I kissed her forehead, and I said, ‘Baby, it’s the third time now, you were at death’s door and fought and came back.’ And she looked up at me and See

WALTERS on page 46

44

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Dear Santa, Our elves have a loan crafted just for you!

Scholarships available for East Valley women SANTAN SUN NEWS

Young women who apply to colleges or universities and need help paying for tuition and related expenses might want to turn to the American Association of University Women of East Mesa Branch, which awards scholarships to deserving applicants.

Violet Larney, the branch’s first president, endowed the group through her estate, providing money to fund women scholars from the Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Apache Junction to attend Arizona colleges within the Phoenix metropolitan area.

“Starting with five scholars, we have now expanded our program to 12 scholars working on degrees with majors ranging from elementary education and public policy to chemical and mechanical engineering,” a spokeswoman for AAUW said.

Each scholar is matched with a

mentor from the branch membership who advises, supports and guides each scholar throughout her college years.

“This program has been highly successful with the majority of women completing their education and either transitioning into the workforce or going on to complete advanced degrees,” the spokeswoman said.

Scholarships cover tuition, lab fees, books and other expenses.

Some requirements for the scholarships: GPA of 2.5 or higher for associate degree students and high school seniors; GPA of 3.0 or higher for four-year college students. Each scholar is required to have a mentor from the AAUW of East Mesa Branch.

Each applicant must demonstrate a financial need, and new scholar applicants are required to be full-time See

SCHOLARSHIP on page 45

Rotarian of December

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The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes named Roger Edmonds as the December 2021 Rotarian of the Month. Edmonds, a Sun Lakes resident, has been a member since October 2001 and chairs its dictionary committee. He also is a Rotary International Foundation Paul Harris Fellow+14/Major Donor, performs in children’s plays, works with Hamilton High School Drama Club and distributes drama scholarships. He is active with Valley refugees and assists foster families, prepares meals for those in need and the sick, cooks for Family Promise’s homeless families and has a YouTube “Cooking with Santa Roger’ program. Playing Santa, Edmonds and his wife Judi delivered sweatshirts and a pair of socks to each of the 474 students at Chandler’s Galveston Elementary School. Club info: Sunlakesrotary.com (Courtesy Sun Lakes Rotary)

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

45

Jewish War Vets lines up two speakers SANTAN SUN NEWS

The Jewish War Veterans Copper State Post 619 has lined up speakers for its meeting today, Dec. 19, and next month.

Today at 10 a.m., Tess Mosko Scherer, executive director of the Arizona Art Alliance, will discuss how therapeutic fine arts help veterans deal with the wounds of war, namely post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

Mosko Scherer has a diverse career in the arts spanning more than 30 years. She began as owner and director of Scherer Gallery for 23 years and exhibits nationally, coaches and mentors artists and is active in the Arizona art community.

The AZ Veteran Art Program, which is managed and coordinated by Alliance volunteers, began with the determination to help reduce the military’s suicide rate of 22 per day.

AZ Art Alliance, founded by former naval officer and artist Rita Goldner in 2013 with 16 veterans has grown to 12 locations providing access to a wide range of professional artist instructors and serving over 4,500 men and women

Joselyn Wilkinson

ervation is required by Jan 14 by emailveterans. ing joytoyspartonos@aol.com.

The December meeting will take Jewish War Veterans is the oldest place in the Poolside Card Room at the active national veteran organization in Oakwood Country Club in Sun Lakes. continuous operation in America, with At 10 a.m. Jan 16, Joselyn Wilkinson, more than 400 posts around the counadministrator of the homeless veteran program for the Arizona Department of try. Members & nonveterans represent a wide range of religious affiliations.

Veteran Services will speak.

Support is provided to Arizona veterans Arizona is in the top three of fastest of all religions and beliefs. growing states in the country. With JWV Post 619 members participate in this, accompanied by inflation, comes philanthropic activities to help Jewish an increase in rental properties and a and non-Jewish veterans. During the significant lack of affordable housing. past 25 years, this Post has led a wide Wilkinson said, “Currently, Maricopa range of fundraising activities, includCounty is at a 97 percent occupancy ing poppying at supermarkets and the rate and we are short 250,000 housing Mesa Market Place, and most recently, units in the county.” an online auction, “A Hand Up 4 Vets.”

“In addition, one of the top barriers Money raised from these activities we face in the housing crisis is race equity. Our job is to analyze data to dis- enables the Post to fund parties at the cover racial disparities and barriers with US Veterans Home and VA Hospital, refurbish rooms at the Arizona State people of color being housed.”

Veteran Home and support hospitalThe January meeting will take place ized, homeless and at-risk vets. in the Poolside Card Room at the OakFor additional information about JWV wood Country Club in Sun Lakes. activities or membership, please contact Bagels, lox, coffee and “meet and CLIPPER MAGAZINE Mail Week: 11/29/2021 MARTHA NEESE FOR VON HANSON S Jr. Vice Commander, Elliott Reiss, (480) Proofgreet” Release start at 9:30 a.m. There is no Area: 00973-11-21 Phoenix East Valley MEATS SPIRIT South Reg.; 02763-11-21 Chandler-West charge but to partake in the food, a res- 802-3281, ElliottBarb@q.com.

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from page 44

students. Applicants may be graduating high school seniors, associate degree students, undergraduate students at a four-year college or adult re-entry students. Students who are active

participants in school and community activities are preferred.

The scholarships may be renewed annually if the criteria are met.

Applications for the East Mesa AAUW scholarships are available at the Arizona Community Foundation website –azfoundation.org/Scholarships – AAUW of

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NEIGHBORS

PUCCINI

from page 43

Weiser was fascinated by Puccini’s life for several reasons.

Forced into a music career at an early age, Puccini resisted every effort to shape his future. He preferred to loaf, to pursue women and to cavort with like-minded friends. However, fate decreed that he was to carry on his family’s musical tradition.

Puccini became one of the greatest opera composers of all time. But, along with success, he experienced disappointment and pain.

One reason Weiser was captivated

by Puccini pertained to his relationships with women. His wife, Elvira, was dominating, but she was also the mother of his only child. So, he didn’t leave them.

He loved women and had many affairs. He used to go away from home very often and on those trips, he invariably found some women or some woman found him, Weiser said.

One such affair was scandalous.

WALTERS

from page 43

smiled and said, ‘Papa, I’m hard to kill.’”

That’s when he realized he couldn’t give up.

When asked how he keeps a positive attitude in the face of so many heartbreaks and setbacks, Walters recounted the story of a marine he knew who had lost both legs, most of both arms and his vision to a landmine explosion in Vietnam.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

While on a train journey, a woman introduced herself to him and he found her fascinating.

“She in turn found him very fascinating. He invited her to dinner. That night after dinner they found themselves in bed together,” he said. “He developed a very strong love for her and was even ready to leave his wife for her and proposed to this woman.”

Puccini soon became very careless and used to parade around with her on his arm. “Eventually, the word reached his family and Elvira, and there was madness, threats and everything else,” Weiser said.

The family decided to investigate the woman and discovered that she was a prostitute who had sought him out in the same manner she frequently sought other men.

The family made his life miserable.

“He had to separate himself from her and the separation was dramatic and painful,” Weiser said.

Weiser’s own life is not without drama. He started writing at 19, aboard a WW11 aircraft carrier. It didn’t go down

too well because he was suffering from acute seasickness and unable to perform his duties. He managed to read a book, The Adventures of Cortez, which inspired him to learn how to write well.

“I remember putting the book on my chest and saying to myself, ‘If I could write like this, I could be happy for the rest of my life,’” he said.

He tried to write on board the ship, but he knew nothing about writing and didn’t have much to draw from life experiences.

“Nothing came out and that’s when the decision was made, you had to go and learn what this is all about and how it works,” he said.

The native New Yorker enrolled in college, and went on to teach English, first in the school system and later in college. He taught for more than 30 years, until he found it was “enough.”

At age 55, about the time he retired, he wrote and published his first book.

He had the good fortune to have a friend who knew an agent, who sold the manuscript without any trouble.

“That was a fluke. That never hap-

pened again. After that, it was a struggle as I was learning how to do this,” he said.

Weiser developed his playwriting and directing career alongside teaching.

He has been a stage director of more than 25 professional productions in regional theaters, and once on Broadway.

His last book, On 174th Street: The World of Willie Mittleman, is a delightful family story set in 1930s New York.

His next book, The Crown Of Sammuramat, will be a mystery-thriller linked to the fabled and ancient Assyrian empire.

Creativity keeps Weiser writing and publishing at 97 and enhances his life.

His book shelves are filled with manuscripts awaiting his attention.

“If one is creative, one has to do what that force demands of him. It’s the same with a painter, it’s the same with a sculpturer,” he said. “When one learns how to do something and to do it well, and I’m pleased to say I think I do it well, there’s enormous satisfaction in doing it.

“I just can’t stop.”

“Viva Puccini” is available at amazon. com and barnes&noble.com for $23.95.

Walters recalled saying, “It was an honor and privilege to know you, but can I ask you something? You have every reason to be angry and bitter, but every day you laugh and joke and lift our spirits. How do you do it?” The marine told him to come in close and he put his lips to Walter’s ears and said, “I came home.”

Walters teared up as he stated, “Those three words changed my life. I never felt sorry for myself ever again

the rest of my life because there are always people who are worse off.”

Walters, however, still battles with health issues.

“I lost my spleen to COVID and 30 percent of my right lung to COVID pneumonia. And I can’t walk more than about 60 steps without having to rest.

But I keep thinking back to that marine.

There are people who can’t walk 60 steps. I can walk 60 steps, so I’ll take it.”

So when you see someone park in an

ADA spot and walk into a grocery store, or someone is rude to you at work or makes an unprovoked attack on social media, Walters urges people to pull out their superpowers.

“Everybody’s going through something,” he said. “Be kind. You don’t know.”

“Hamburgers, Hot Dogs & Hugs” will be available Dec. 6 on Amazon as a paperback and on Kindle. Walters can be reached for speaking engagements at damillhunk22@yahoo.com.

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NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

47

Lovin’ Life Expos return to the Valley For those who don’t know, “they’re a band that has a theater in Branson, Missouri where they play during the summer months and then they also have a theater in the East Valley (in Mesa) where they play during the winter months. They were on ‘America’s Got Talent’ at one point,” according to Strickbine.

The Duttons’ setlist includes bluegrass, country and pop music.

“They always attract a big crowd,” Strickbine says.

Ms. Senior Arizona 2022 winner Patricia Person will meet and greet with attendees.

“I think a lot of people are anxious to get back out,” Strickbine says.

BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Staff Writer

After a 2020 pandemic pause, the Lovin’ Life After 50 Expos are returning.

They are set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 24, at the Sundial Recreation Center in Sun City, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Mesa Convention Center.

“We’re going to have great entertainment, a lot of informative exhibitors and it’s just a great way to get out and find out what is going on in the community,” says Lovin’ Life After 50 publisher Steve Strickbine. “It’s a great way to meet lots of people and have some fun.”

Previously, Lovin’ Life After 50 Expos have attracted thousands of people who network and gather information, as well as participate in the raffle prize giveaway and take a shot at hourly $100 cash prizes.

“These expos were started as just a way to allow organizations in the community to come together with people over 50 to show what they have to offer,” Strickbine says. “To give them information about things that are coming up in their organizations.

“It has become a very good event though for entertainment and just a great way for getting out.”

Among the exhibitors that will have booths at both the Sun City and Mesa Expos include 4C Medical Group (Op-

After the pandemic hiatus, the Lovin’ Life After 50 Expo is returning in January to Mesa Convention Center. (File photo)

tum Care), Arizona Liver Health, Home Concepts Custom Remodeling, Humana, AFC Physical Medicine and Hospice of the Valley.

Specifically at the Sun City Expo will be Arizona Institute and Cosmetic Laser Center, Edward Jones and MediSolutions LLC. Unique to Mesa are Bright Health Plan, Mesa Marketplace Swap Meet, Emphasis Advisors and National Crema-

tion Society.

“With COVID we are being very careful with how we proceed, and we are following the CDC guidelines of course to make sure that we are operating with best practices to make sure that everybody that does attend stays safe,” Strickbine says.

In terms of entertainment, The Duttons will be returning to the stage once again.

Lovin’ Life After 50 - Sun City Expo

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24 Where: Sundial Recreation Center, 14801 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City Cost: Free Info: lovinlife.com

Lovin’ Life After 50 - Mesa Expo

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 Where: Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St., Mesa Cost: Free Info: lovinlife.com

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

Is your car seat correctly installed?

Chandler Fire Department’s Child Safety Seat Program teaches parents and caregivers how to properly install child safety seats into their vehicle. Certified car seat technicians inspect and install the car seats during Car Seat Clinics.

The clinics are by appointment and usually held on Saturday mornings.

Visit chandleraz.gov/CarSeatClinic to schedule an appointment.

Chinese New Year Celebration!

Date: 庆祝活动时间:

February 4, 2022.

Time: 将向公 放:

5:00 p.m.

Location: 庆祝活动地址:

Tri-City Baptist Church 2211 West Germann Road Chandler, Arizona 85286.

Activities: 庆祝活动:

文艺表演，晚宴，春节团拜，游戏， 红包礼物，团体照，全家福摄影角 (精美背景布置，摄影师). (请参加者着装尽可能体现春节喜庆风格)

虎年新春晚宴晚会 Tri-City Baptist Church and GPCCC invite you to our annual Chinese New Year! 三城浸信会（TBC） 和大凤凰城华人基督教会 （GPCCC） 诚邀参加我们 一年一度的 春节晚宴晚会!

购票方式 Tickets：https://tricityministries.org/asian-ministry 咨询电话 Questions：480-245-7900

50

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Chandler show celebrates quilts’ story magic

BY SRIANTHI PERERA Contributor

Linda McCurry’s art quilt depicts adversity.

Years ago, her Gilbert home caught fire around the chimney; the fire burnt downstairs near the fireplace and upstairs through the master bedroom. Her koi fish died in her pond due to firefighters putting a flame retardant in it.

In flaming red, orange, brown and yellow, she traces the story in her quilt titled “From the Ashes.”

“There was a lot of restoration to do,” McCurry said. “You could say from the ashes we rose and came back as strong as we could.”

Stories such as this are what exhibit curator and judge Ellen M. Blalock sought when she was invited to assemble the City of Chandler’s annual art quilt show.

Art Quilts XXVI: Stitching Stories, featuring 64 story quilts made by 53 artists from across the country, runs through Jan. 8 at Vision Gallery and CCA Gallery.

A resident of Syracuse, New York, Blalock is passionate about story quilts.

“I know that quilters work and artists

work in all kinds of different ways and I wanted to be inclusive of a lot of people’s voices because not everybody does figurative work,” she noted.

“What is also important to me is the story behind the quilt and not just a story the quilt is telling. Somebody may be having the story of why they made the quilt and or it could even be the process,” she added.

Blalock herself is a narrative In her story quilt titled “Seeking Center/Finding Balance,” Shelly artist documenWhite creates a visual snapshot of her goal of “calm” as she tarian who works navigates competing concerns, an overload of information and in photography, confusion. The layered colors of nature, repetitive patterns and video, drawing and topographic lines help chart a path to peace, order, and beauty,” fiber. Most of her she said. (Courtesy of Shelly White.)

creations come in series form, such as the 32-piece Family Quilt Project; Not Crazy, which looks at mental illness in the African American community; and the one on feminism.

In addition to creating picturesque fabric art, Chandler artist-novelist Laurie Fagen often portrays causes important to her. For this show, Fagen chose to highlight a photograph her brother, a nurse practitioner, sent of himself: gowned, gloved and masked for work in the Covid ward.

“I don’t typically manipulate photos in Photoshop for my fiber art, but this one I specifically did because it was the year of the pandemic, he was frazzled and the world was frazzled,” she said.

“So, I changed the colors, I left threads attached to it, I just made it as frazzled as possible.”

Fagen, who also authors crime fiction novels and creates polymer clay jewelry, imparts texture and dimension to her work.

Her recent line of fiber art involves taking photos, printing them on the See

QUILTS on page 52

Massively upgraded Pollack Tempe Cinemas reopens

BY KEN SAIN Staff Writer

When you walk into the newly renovated Pollack Tempe Cinemas, Michael Pollack will be there to greet you himself, wearing his traditional black shirt.

Only it will be a hologram of the Chandler shopping center owner/developer – one of many new additions to his theater complex at Elliot Road and McClintock Drive, which has reopened after a 20-month closure.

There are 15 more holograms on the walls, showcasing some of the products for sale at the snack bar. The sound system has been upgraded, as have all the theater seats.

“We still have some of the things that are the original character that this theater has always had, at least since I’ve had it, and that is all the memorabilia, the collectibles, a lot of the posters and a lot of things that are from movies that are many, many, many, many years ago.”

Pollack added new decorative ceilings, changed the curtains on the sides of the theaters to give it a contemporary look and refurbished the floors.

“It reminds me of Disney,” Pollack said of his sparkling floors.

Pollack said he began planning reopening six to eight months ago. That included ordering three black crystal chandeliers from Spain.

Pretty much everything is new and improved. Some of the major improvements are in the bathrooms – where he installed touchless toilets, sinks, soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers.

called downhill bowling. Or, three, I can figure out how to run a movie theater.”

The time the theater was shut down gave Pollack a chance to make other upgrades. For example, patrons can now purchase their tickets and select their seats online, something they could not do before the pandemic.

However, he did bring back many of the favorites his regular customers enjoy. There are lifesize figures of many entertainment legends, and others, including presidents.

One tradition Pollack is keeping alive involves the holiday lights outside his theaters. He said they put them up last year despite everything being closed down because he felt they needed a little holiday cheer.

Developer Michael Pollack has spent $1 million on upgrading his movie complex at McClintock “At night, it looks absolutely Drive and Elliot Road, Tempe, including new luxurious seating in all the theaters. incredible,” Pollack said. He said (David Minton/Staff Photographer) there are hundreds of thousands of lights in the display and that a lot less. Tickets are only $3.50. The That’s in direct response to the thousands already have visited this year. theater will only be open Fridays, Saturpandemic, which shut his theater down He said he recently went through a for nearly two years beginning in March days and Sundays to start. drive-thru holiday light display and it Pollack didn’t set out to be a theater 2020 after the government ordered all cost him $50.

Pollack said people come owner. He said he bought the strip mall cinemas closed. to his mall at night to take their photos on the southeast corner of McClintock “We sat back and waited until we before his light display for free. felt it was the right timing,” Pollack said. and Elliot about 20 years ago and the “This theater always had its own existing theater owner wanted out. So “First of all, there wasn’t a lot of conidentity, it always had its own uniquehe had three options, which were limittent out, which was difficult. ness,” Pollack said. “But now, it’s over Pollack Tempe Cinemas plays movies ed because the building’s floor sloped the top. You’re not going to find a more that have already been released and are downward. contemporary theater than what you’re “I can tear down that building and on their second run. Movie fans who looking at right now anywhere in the start over,” Pollack recalled saying at are patient can see the top movies a the time. “Two, I can invent a new game United States that I know of.” few weeks after everyone else, but pay

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

51

Back for laughs

After the long pandemic shutdown, comedy is back in Sun Lakes as The ImproVables, Sun Lakes Community Theatre’s comedy improv troupe, will perform at Sun Lakes Country Club for a buffet and show starting at 5 p.m. Feb. 5. Tickets will be available next month at the administrative office of Sun Lakes Country Club. The ImproVables rely on suggestions and ideas from the audience and create scenes off the top of their heads with no scripts and no rehearsal. The re-organized troupe of 20 performers comprises former and new members. “We meet and practice every Monday morning,” founder Phyllis Novy said. “It is a joy to begin each week with laughter.”

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

This bus drive will light up your holiday spirit

BY ALLISON BROWN Contributor

Cruising neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights is a tradition for many families, but sometimes the logistics do not work out.

Kids complain because of the lack of lights, and/or parents miss the views because they have to watch the road.

Jarrod Riddle said this was the case for his family when he was a kid, and it inspired him to offer his own tour through Spirit of Arizona Tours “I thought, ‘What if I find a really good route where friends and family don’t have to worry about the route or driving, they can just hop on a tour and enjoy the lights how they were meant to be enjoyed?’ So, that’s where the idea came from, and it’s been a pretty successful one,” Riddle says.

“We get a lot of families that show up in ugly sweaters or dressed up or some bring Christmas cookies and it gets turned into a nice little family event.”

The tours run at 6 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. through Dec. 31 – except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Each tour starts in Tempe near the 101 and Warner and goes through Tempe and Chandler. The 90-minute tours pass dozens of homes and stop twice for close-up looks.

A longtime Valley resident and certified historian, Riddle has been a tour guide for 10 years. Using his insider in-

Left: Jarrod Riddle he has a five-star rating on Google, TripAdvisor and Yelp. The company earned those stars because, he says, he cares about the customer experience. Right: The tour takes riders through some of the most eye-popping Christmas displays in the East Valley.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

formation, Riddle plans a perfect route that is guaranteed to have great decorations and even avoids traffic delays for an entertaining ride from start to finish.

“If I’m going to offer a Christmas light tour, it’s going to be above and beyond,” Riddle says. “It’s not just going to be random neighborhoods. I made sure to scout out several locations where each street keeps getting better.”

Riddle says the tour hits every decoration imaginable, like music-synchronized light shows, Santa Claus, nativity scenes and, in true Arizona fashion, illuminated cactus.

The tour not only goes through some of the best displays in the state, but also the country.

“Two of the streets on the tour compete for best Christmas light displays in America, and one of those streets is basically like a street festival,” Riddle says.

“They have food trucks and Santa Claus who the kids come and talk to.

They do horse carriage rides. So, for that street, I actually let my guests get out and walk it if they want. I give them about 20 to 30 minutes to get out and actually walk the streets themselves. It’s a good,

fun experience.”

There is more to see than the classics, too. One of the unique displays on the tour is a giant, 25-foot-tall Christmas koala who takes up an entire front yard. Riddle says he spoke to the owner and found out the bear was originally from a storefront in Australia.

Apparently, the family brought it with them when they moved to the States and it was passed down to Phoenix residents. Riddle says that it is always a bit of a show-stopper and has a See

LIGHTS on page 54

Left: Annemarie Comes of Mesa created her art quilt “Branching Out” by “weaving” into fabric a cyanotype of a photograph of tree trunks. (Courtesy of Annemarie Comes) Center: Laurie Fagen of Chandler created “Frazzled,” a story quilt portraying her nurse practitioner brother outfitted to work in the COVID ward. (Courtesy of Laurie Fagen) Right: Linda McCurry’s “From the Ashes” depicts a story about her Gilbert home catching on fire. (Courtesy of Linda McCurry)

QUILTS

from page 50

fabric and thread painting with a few miles of thread.

“I embellish the art quilt with thread, give it texture and dimension. That’s my basic technique that I’ve been doing recently. Oftentimes they’re embellished with other things – charms, yarn, ribbon, surface designs, foiling techniques

and adding paint,” she said.

“I love the tactile feel of the fabric and being able to take any fabric and work with them is always just something that’s very satisfying to me,” she said, adding “everything from the design to the creation to the actual manipulation of the fabric, I enjoy the whole process.”

Annemarie Comes of Mesa works in a similar process to weave photography to fabric.

Her quilt titled “Branching Out” is a cyanotype of one of her photographs.

“My image was printed in my dark room in black and white, then turned into a large-scale transparency which was exposed overtop of chemically coated fabric,” she said. “Our Arizona sun was then used to transfer the image onto the fabric.”

“As an Arizona-based photographer, I try to capture special moments in time – a lot of sunsets – so others can enjoy

the beauty, as well,” she added.

After isolating for much of the past months due to the pandemic, Comes relishes the freedom to create art.

“It was wonderful to revisit fabrics/ quilting and the cyanotype process in the past year. It’s so wonderful to allow others to enjoy my image in a quilted form once again,” she said.

Details: visiongallery.org/event/artquilts-xxvi-stitching-stories/

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

53

DJ Dillon Francis celebrates bubbly third album

BY JORDAN HOUSTON Staff Writer

Platinum-selling artist, producer, songwriter DJ Dillon Francis has made waves since dropping out of Santa Monica College – including the recent release of his jovial happy-house third studio album.

In celebration of his 34th birthday, the Los Angeles-based musician recently launched “Happy Machine,” an infectious and bubbly house album boasting a grip of new material. The eight-track piece features previously released songs “Unconditional,” with 220 KID and Bryn Christopher, “Love Me Better,” which recently reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart with Shift K3Y and Marc E. Bassy, and “Reaching Out,” featuring Bow Anderson.

“Happy Machine” seeks to celebrate life, family and friends, while signifying the joyous journey in returning to a post-pandemic era, Francis shared.

“I feel like the reason I named it is so self-explanatory,” Francis said. “I feel like you would have an inkling that it must be a very happy album to listen to – so, be prepared for hooking yourself up with a serotonin IV drip while listening to this.”

The Mad Decent-released album, which exudes optimism and bright beats, is also the 34-year-old’s most collaborative work of art. It highlights contributions from globally recognized songwriters who have worked with the likes of Selena Gomez and Shawn

DJ Dillon Francis Mendes, including Jenna Andrews, MNEK, Teddy Geiger and Sarah Aarons.

Despite its title, Francis said he was the opposite of “happy” when he created the album during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was really going through it, I had been Pelotoning a lot and my favorite instructors happened to all be from the UK,” he explained, noting his favorite instructor frequently played “euphoric” piano house music.

“I started listening to a lot more music in that genre and it was making me so happy, especially for what we were all going through,” he continued.

“Though that, I kept diving into piano house and said, ‘You know what, this is what I want to make right now.”

Since 2011, Francis has built a repu-

tation for himself a champion of the moombahton electronic genre, as well as embracing trap and dance-pop. With numerous chart-hitting records and Grammy nominations under his belt, Francis’ resume includes the No. 1 Dance Radio Airplay hit “Anywhere” (feat. Will Heard), “Candy” (feat. Snappy Jit), No. 1 Billboard Dance Club Songs chart topper “Coming Over” with Kygo (feat. James Hersey), and the RIAA platinum certified “Get Low” with DJ Snake, which surpassed 500 million worldwide streams.

In 2012, Francis made history as “the first moombahton artist to achieve the No. 1 spot on Beatport” on the Something, Something Awesome EP, according to Insomniac. His 2014 major label debut “Money Sucks, Friends Rule” graced Rolling Stone’s Top Electronic Albums of 2014 list, while its 2015 follow up “This Mixtape Is Fire” EP bowed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart. In 2018, Francis earned back-toback Latin American Music Award and Latin Grammy nominations for the song “Sexo,” featuring Residente and iLe. But the path to success wasn’t always a straight arrow for the exuberant entertainer, he shares.

Born in 1987, Francis grew up LA as the son of an alternative medicine doctor. However, he was a fan of mix of punk and electronic music by the time he reached high school. Francis later briefly attended Santa Monica College, in which he also started experimenting with music production.

It wasn’t long before he took the plunge to drop out of college pursue his dreams of making music full time.

Francis recently announced his upcoming Sugar, Spice and Everything Ice U.S. tour with co-headliner Yung Gravy for 2022, featuring stops in New York, Washington, D.C., Austin, Nashville and other locations nationwide.

The platinum-selling artist said he is looking forward to performing for live audiences again, emphasizing the value of interacting with fans.

“It’s really awesome to finally see people ingesting the song,” he shared, recalling a recent performance of “Real Love” in Tampa. “It was already so cool to see people singing it in the crowd. That is such a satisfying feeling because I’ve played them without anybody listening to the songs – I can see the reaction now.”

If you go

Who: Alan Walker; Alesso; Alison Wonderland; Bijou; Chris Lake; Destructo; Diesel, aka Shaquille O’Neal; Dillon Francis; DJ Snake; Excision; Fisher; Gem & Tauri; Gordo; Kaskade; Lost Kings; Madeon (DJ set); Martin Ikin; Nora En Pure; Purple Disco Machine; Seven Lions, and Sonny Fodera When: 6 p.m. Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 Where: Rawhide Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler Cost: Two-day general admission passes are $159; VIP passes are tiered Info: decadencearizona.com

ARTS

54

LIGHTS

from page 52

“Godzilla effect” on kids and adults.

Families and friends are transported to each sight on a luxury bus which is even decorated inside with garland and lights. The bus has 14 captain’s chairs that have armrests and recline for a

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

truly cozy and homey atmosphere.

“They can bring whatever they want on the bus as far as drinks are concerned,” Riddle says. “Since I’m doing the driving, people like to bring hot cocoa for the kids and maybe some canned drinks for the grownups, which is totally fine by me.

“I’ve had people bring little Christ-

mas cookies and stuff like that, so basically they can make it like their own little holiday party.”

This is the Spirit of Arizona’s third year offering the Christmas Lights Tour.

Riddle estimates he has about 900 guests on average per year.

He says the proof is in the pudding when it comes to his tours, as he has a

five-star rating on Google, TripAdvisor and Yelp. The company earned those stars because, he says, he cares about the customer experience.

“Don’t worry about the route, don’t worry about the driving,” Riddle says.

“All you need to do is show up, sit back, relax and enjoy the lights.”

Information: spiritofarizonatours.com

Chandler, EV ring in New Year with music

BY SARAH HABER Contributor

The Chandler Center for the Arts will be saying farewell to 2021 with a special New Year’s Eve show featuring four powerhouse vocalists and a 10-piece orchestra presenting the hits of Broadway shows.

With Musical Director Jr McAlexander, vocals will be provided by Jamie Parnell, Kristen Drathman, Kaitlynn Kleinman Bluth And Jordan Bluth They will be performing the big bold music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Rodgers & Hammerstein, as well as songs from “Mamma Mia!,” “Jersey Boys,” Carole King’s “Beautiful” and more.

There will be a champagne toast and party favors as well as a photo booth for complimentary photos and a special souvenir from the evening for all attendees.

JR McAlexander is the owner, executive producer and genius behind local stage company Showtune Productions.

A 25-year veteran of the professional theatre, he has overseen the music direction of more than 375 productions throughout the United States and Canada, including numerous national touring Broadway companies.

Chandler Center for the Arts Showtime Series also features productions created by Showtune Productions and JR McAlexander.

Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 8 p.m. Dec. 31, Tickets $26 to $46, chandlercenter.org Straight No Chaser singer Jasper Smith predicts the group’s a cappella New Year’s Eve performance at the Mesa Arts Center will be extraordinary.

“This is the last show in our tour, so we are going to pull out all of the stops,” Smith said.

Founded at Indiana University, Straight No Chaser has spent the year on its “Back in the High Life Tour,” push-

Music fills the air on New Year’s Eve New Year’s Eve at Mesa Arts Center. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

ing the deluxe edition of the album “Social Christmasing,” which features “Celebrate Me Home” with Kenny Loggins and “Christmas Show.”

The newest member of Straight No Chaser, Smith describes the shows as “having a little bit of something for everyone. There are all kinds of genres from ’40s, ’50s all the way to Dua Lipa.”

The performances are just as special for Straight No Chaser as they are for fans. In mid-November, a Texas audience member shouted, “I missed you!” “(The concerts) speak to the connection we have with the fans,” he said.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa, 8 p.m., tickets start at $90, mesaartscenter.com Straight No Chaser is among several entertainers ushering in the New Year around the Valley. Here are other ways to celebrate the end of 2021 and what’s to come in 2022.

Linger Longer Lounge

Uptown Phoenix’s Linger Longer Lounge is offering a block party-style evening with two performance areas featuring Meet the Sun, Citrus Clouds and Bee Bohannon. DJs include Layton, Jules Quimby and Jake Stellarwell. The evening will end with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

6522 N. 16th St., Suite 6, Phoenix, 8 p.m., $24 before December 14, $35 between December 15 and December 31, lingerlongerlounge.com

Phoenix Symphony New Year’s Special with Leslie Odom Jr.

Tony and Grammy Award winner, Leslie Odom Jr., lends his pipes to the Phoenix Symphony. Best known for his role as Aaron Burr in “Hamilton,” he will blend classics, pops and surprises to keep attendees glued to their seats.

Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix, 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $44, phoenixsymphony.org

Sublime with Rome

Reggae rockers Sublime with Rome hits the Marquee stage for two nights, including December 31, to ring in 2022. Special guests include Phoenix’s Katastro and The Irie on December 30, and Katastro and Spray Allen on December 31.

Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe, 8:30 p.m., tickets start at $50, luckymanonline.com

Decadence Arizona

Relentless Beats and Global Dance present Decadence Arizona, also for two nights, December 30 and December 31. The epic lineup is Alesso, Alison Wonderland, BIJOU, Chris Lake, DJ Snake, Gem & Tauri, Kaskade, Madeon (DJ set), Martin Ikin, Nora En Pure, Purple Disco Machine and Seven Lions on Dec. 30; Alan Walker, Destructo, Diesel aka Shaquille O’Neal, Dillon Francis, Excision, Fisher, Gordo, Lost Kings, Loud Luxury, Marshmello, Sonny Fodera and TV Boo on NYE. Rawhide Western Town & Event Center, 5700 W. North Loop Road, Chandler, 5 p.m., tickets start at $200, relentlessbeats.com

“My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & The Therapy Continues”

The Chandler Center for the Arts will present songs from Broadway hits with four powerhouse vocalists and an orchestra. (Special to

SanTan Sun News)

Comedian Peter Fogel brings his oneman show to the Herberger Theater Center from December 29 to January 30, including New Year’s Eve. On stage, Fogel shares crazy holiday memories while bringing to life a multitude of hilariously eccentric characters.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix, 8 p.m., tickets start at $69.50, herbergertheater.org

55

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Let ‘Peace on Earth’ not be an empty slogan RABBI IRWIN WIENER Columnist

At this time of the year, we are inundated with slogans. The most prominent of these is “Peace on Earth, good will toward men.”

This came to mind when I could not think how futile the expression if it is only seasonal and is not carried forward in everyday life.

Just 76 years ago, the remnants of the world’s most destructive episode determined that the only salvation for humanity was the formation of the United Nations to never allow the world to fall into the nightmare of total annihilation.

We, the survivors of those horrors are

now witnessing the return to those days of hate and destruction.

We have also attempted to recover from the worst desecration of democracy, containing vitriol and accusatory tones intended to incite distrust and foment the return of uncontrolled discrimination and contempt.

This season dedicated to the worship of God, contains all that is contrary and distasteful in the relationship of man to man. How can we not feel that history is repeating itself, as described by George Santayana – “if we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it”?

We are witnessing the utter destruction of civilization through victimization together with an atmosphere of hate and fear. We turn to God. Will God

listen? Will God answer our call for strength and courage? Only we can answer these questions in the quiet of our hearts and with our intentions in the forefront of decency and civility.

We must remain resolute in our resolve to not let the barbarism we are witnessing transform us into feelings of discouragement. We must make every effort to bear witness to the truths that seem so remote. We must remain steadfast in our determination to remind ourselves that the message of this season of fulfillment and redemption remains a clarion call to action.

Let the despicable acts of depraved individuals make us ever mindful of our responsibilities to make the slogan of this time of the year: “Peace on Earth – good will toward men” be not an empty

motto, but rather a reminder that there is so much more to be done, and at times, seeming to be so little time.

To my Christian colleagues and friends, I extend a wish for the beauty of the significance of this holiday of hope brings true peace to hearts and minds of all who have witnessed the rebirth of salvation continue throughout the year and for a lifetime.

May God show kindness – may God allow us to take the profane incidents to strengthen our determination to rebuild these desecrations to an even stronger display of goodness, mercy, and kindness as our traditions teach and as the prophets declared as they too watched nightmares of despair.

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D., is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation.

Reflections: Is Jesus in the ‘stable’ of your life?

REV. MARVIN ARNPRIESTER Guest Writer

“I only did what you have done a thousand times, or more, when Joseph came to Bethlehem and knocked upon the door.

I did not turn the Christ away, with alibi, so deft.

Like you, I simply gave to him, whatever I had left.”

- Author Unknown I think we have been a bit hard on the innkeeper. In many pageants, the innkeeper is portrayed as a stern, gruff man who did not have time to care about a woman and the baby she was about to deliver.

Luke does not condemn him as he simply reports, “...and laid him in

the manger because there was no place for them in the inn.”

There was a room, I suspect, but the innkeeper never thought of it. There was his room he could have shared but he was too busy with the best business in some time. I doubt it crossed his mind that since he was so busy, he would not be needing his room. He could share it with someone who could use it.

Perhaps the reason we are so hard on the innkeeper is because we know we would have been more thoughtful. We would have done better if we had been there. But, really???

From Thanksgiving until Christmas Day, the whole world moves over, making room for the Baby Jesus. But the room we leave is always in the stable. It really doesn’t matter what we put in our

front yard or in our season greetings.

Because we don’t live there. Most of the places we put Jesus today are the places we don’t need for anything else.

We still put him in the stable.

Jesus wants to be more to us than an eccentric relative who always embarrasses us when he comes. He wants to be more than someone we remember only on his birthday. All the lights, the deco-

rations, the gifts, the inflatable figurines, and pageants are worthless if they only serve to keep Christ in the stable of our lives. There is always room in the stable.

But is there any room in our heart and life for Jesus Christ? He wants more than what we have left.

Rev. Marvin D. Arnpriester is senior pastor of Sun lakes United Methodist Church.

Chandler United Methodist Church Making and Deploying Disciples for over 100 Years.

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

SUNDAY WORSHIP at 8:30 am & 10:00 am All Are Welcome!

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Chandler Gilbert Arc 3250 N. San Marcos Pl, Chandler, AZ 85225 (480) 892-9422 Chandler Gilbert Arc is an IRS Section 501 (c)(3) non profit corporation, and is a Qualifying Charitable Tax Organization registered with the Arizona Department of Revenue. Our QCO code is 20245. Contact the Arizona DOR at (602) 255-3381, or visit www.revenue.state.az.us for more information

DIRECTORY

56

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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DIRECTORY

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58

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Ahwatukee’s oldest eatery marks 50 years

BY GERI KOEPPEL Special to the SanTan Sun News

Rustler’s Rooste, the Westernthemed steakhouse in Ahwatukee Foothills known for its jaw-dropping views and rattlesnake appetizer, turned 50 on Dec. 7.

One of the oldest businesses in the community, the restaurant opened in 1971 on the current site at 8383 S. 48th St., although the original structure burned down April 27, 1985, in an electrical fire.

To put Rustler’s Rooste in historical perspective, consider these dates in Ahwatukee historian Marty Gibson’s “Phoenix’s Ahwatukee-Foothills,” the first of his two books on the community’s history published by Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series.

When the restaurant was built in 1971, Tempe and Chandler officials rejected developer Randall Presley’s bid to have one of those cities annex a fledgling Ahwatukee and land planner Wayne Smith created the first master plan for the community.

It was only the year before, Gibson notes, that Presley had acquired 2,080 acres of remote and isolated land that eventually became known as Ahwatukee Foothills.

The same year the fire burned down Rustler’s Rooste in 1985, Mountain Park Ranch welcomed its first residents and crews were honing in on the final months of work for the opening of I-10 access ramps at Warner and Ray roads.

Within weeks of the fire, Rustler’s Rooste was rebuilt “bigger and better,” according to Ashley Allen, whose grandfather, Hank Beben, and his uncle, Gene Jarzab, started the business.

“My mom started here when she was basically just starting to walk, with my grandmother in the kitchen,” she noted.

Allen recalls the area was basically just dirt when the place first opened as a diner.

“It was literally on a hill with nothing around it,” she said. “Dirt road to come

After a fire gutted it in 1985, right, Rustler’s Rooste was restored with all its Old West splendor. Not pictured is the famous slide that guests can amuse themselves with while waiting for their food. (Special to SanTan Sun News)

area was developed around it, including the condos and resort.

The extra “e” on the end of Rooste wasn’t always there – it was added after the Pointe South Mountain Resort (now Arizona Grand Resort) was built and wanted the restaurant to “fit in” and be an extension of it, Allen explained.

So, what’s the story about the rattlesnake ($19.95)?

They wanted to serve something uniquely Arizonan – but the snakes come from an annual wild roundup in Sweetwater, Texas.

“It’s very impressive,” Allen stated.

“There’s a lot of links on YouTube… They throw them into a pit and auction them

of the servers used to babysit me who “stillSome work here, that’s the kind of staff we have.

It’s very family-oriented. ”

– Ashley Allen

up; dirt road to come down.” She added, “Ahwatukee was like going to California, it was so far away. Now it’s where I live, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Allen never wanted to do anything else besides work in the family business, and she became one of the owners as well as the office manager.

The other owners are her mother, Cathy DeMars, who’s also the general manager; her sister, Stevie DeMars; her grandfather’s uncle’s son Eugene Jarzab; and The Nagel Family, who bought into it.

Ashley spent many special moments – such as prom – at the restaurant as she was growing up. She watched as the

off.”

She said they usually buy more than a thousand pounds a year, but last year ran out due to COVID. “I couldn’t believe the number of people who would call and say, ‘Do you have rattlesnake? No? We’re not coming,’” Allen recalled.

The dish is served with a side of cactus fries.

Besides rattlesnake, one of the main attractions of Rustler’s Rooste is the stunning panorama of the Valley looking north with Camelback Mountain smack in the center.

“You can see from Cardinals Stadium

to Four Peaks,” Allen said. “Fourth of July is huge up here because you can see multiple fireworks shows going on across the Valley all at once… Dust storms up here are amazing. Monsoons are amazing.”

Another draw is the metal slide from the upper to lower floor, originally installed as a way for servers to expedite food delivery.

“They always said they had the fastest tray in the West,” Allen said.

Staff no longer uses it due to liability issues, but patrons enjoy it.

“The slide is a huge hit and it’s used so much every single night,” Allen noted. “I’d say more adults use it than children.”

Speaking of kids, the restaurant offers a “Slide Rider” membership for $7 that entitles cardholders age 10 and younger to eat for free off the kids’ menu with the purchase of an adult entree. And regardless of how young or old you are, all guests get a complementary tower of cotton candy at the end of each meal.

One of the most popular elements of the experience, though, happens before even entering the door, where guest meet Horny the Bull, whose real name is D’Amico.

The business has had a bull in a stable out front ever since it opened, and the latest one was rescued about three years ago after he lost his mother. The distance between the tips of his horns is 6 feet.

“He’s our baby,” Allen said of D’Amico. “He’s like a giant dog I wish I could put in my car and take home and cuddle. He greets all our guests upon entry and he’s the biggest, cutest baby.”

If you happen to miss him, he might

be out getting exercise: “We have a ranch out in north Scottsdale and he gets out and runs around,” Allen explained.

Rustler’s Rooste is open 364 days a year, closing only on Super Bowl Sunday. It was closed for a few months due to COVID-19, which Allen said was “devastating.”

There are just three TVs in the entire place, so the restaurant does not cater to sports fans.

Management does cater to music buffs, with live country and western bands seven nights a week. The house act, Peso Dollar Band, has been performing there since the early 1990s.

In addition to Fourth of July, Easter and Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving is big at Rustler’s Rooste, which serves about 2,700 people.

The Rooste also has a popular pig roast in the spring, though it’s been on hiatus during the pandemic.

Though the restaurant is popular with tourists and groups due to its size – it seats close to 1,000 including the outdoor patio – locals looking to support independent businesses are starting to rediscover it, Allen said.

And it’s not just a go-to place on birthdays or special occasions.

“More of the community is coming and patronizing more and more frequently,” she said.

In addition to the family, many loyal employees have been there for decades.

“Some of the servers used to babysit me who still work here,” Allen said.

“That’s the kind of staff we have. It’s very family-oriented. We’ve known each other forever and ever and ever.”

Information: rustlersrooste.com.

59

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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60

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | DECEMBER 19, 2021

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