SanTan Sun News - 8.1.2021 by Times Media Group

August 1, 2021 | www.santansun.com

Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler

An edition of the East Valley Tribune

Top execs for city, schools settle in Josh Wright is Chandler’s CUSD’s Narducci focuses new city manager on ‘unfinished learning’ BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

You can remove the “acting” from Joshua Wright’s title. As of July 20, Wright is now Chandler’s new city manager following a closed-door meeting July 20 during which City Council picked him for the post from four finalists for the job. The exact terms of Wright’s new contract will be determined by Council Aug. 12. Wright said he is excited to lead the city into the next chapter of its history, which is expected to include a massive expansion of Chandler’s Intel campus and the creation of hundreds of new jobs. “I think Chandler is in an incredible position,” Wright said. “I think Chandler has long been the envy of many cities in the country because of our outstanding financial position.” At 38, Wright is one of Chandler’s

youngest city managers to be appointed in recent years. The city’s last three managers were all considerably older and nearing retirement age at the time they assumed office. Wright notably had the least amount of working experience among the council’s four finalists, but he was the only candidate who had a professional history with Chandler. The new city manager doesn’t think his youthfulness played much of a factor during the appointment process, as Wright tried to focus more on the managerial experience that he brings to overseeing the city’s $1-billion budget and 1,600 employees. “Age is just a number,” Wright said. “It is much more about the philosophy that you bring and the experiences and skills that you bring to the table.” An East Valley native who grew up around Chandler and Tempe, Wright See

MANAGER on page 8

EV cities pay up millions toward $12B pension debt BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Despite an $11.8 billion unfunded liability owed by more than 300 Arizona municipalities, counties and state agencies, some encouraging trends are emerging in the system that provides pensions for nearly 60,000 retired first responders, corrections officers and qualifying elected officials. Shaped in part by the unexpected surge in revenue many of those government entities have seen for nearly a year, those trends aren’t just good news for the retirees who receive pensions from the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System. They’re also good news for Chandler and other taxpayers. One trend involves the largely unflagging health of the stock market that – combined with some astute investment decisions by PSPRS – produced an unaudited return of close to 25 percent on the agency’s investments. Though the final percentage won’t be known for several months pending a routine annual audit, that one-year

return is the biggest the PSPRS has seen in more than 30 years. The other trend not only puts the pension fund on more solid footing, but also spares taxpayers millions of dollars in fees on the unfunded liability owed by municipalities, counties and some state agencies. Over the past fiscal year, many of those employers have paid a total $1.58 billion in additional contributions to PSPRS to whittle down some of their unfunded liability. For taxpayers, that means savings in penalties for the unfunded liability totaling more than $1.7 million. Employers either devoted some of their budget surplus from the 2020-21 fiscal year to pay down their pension debt or borrowed money at interest rates that are less than half and even a third of the 7.3 percent rate PSPRS assesses annually on their unfunded pension liability. That $1.58 billion in extra payments is on top of the $1 billion employers were required to pay on accruing pension See

PENSION on page 12

BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

As the Chandler Unified School District starts off a new school year, Interim Superintendent Frank Narducci is hoping the its 44,000 students are ready to continue the learning that went unfinished last year. As Interim Superintendent Frank Narducci settles into a leadership position that hasn’t had a new occupant in the last 25 years, his transition comes during what is perhaps one of the most precarious times in the district’s history. Enrollment has shrunk, health guidelines keep changing amid the looming threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant and a sizable achievement gap must be addressed in the coming months. Yet, Narducci does not appear to be daunted by the circumstances he’s having to navigate at the start of his tenure.

“We are going into the year optimistic, excited – but also cautious that we move forward making everybody feel comfortable and included,” Narducci said. The new superintendent’s priorities attempt to address lingering academic and social-emotional impact of the pandemic while looking ahead to a brighter future that ensures every CUSD student leaves the district properly equipped for adulthood. Narducci’s goals include implementing more data-driven strategies, studying the district’s changing demographics and helping students catch up on curriculum lessons missed during the disrupted 2019-20 school year. His one-year contract as superintendent doesn’t give Narducci an abundant amount of time to complete his benchmarks, but he seems eager to jump straight into all the complexities See

NARDUCCI on page 9

Hammer with heart

Chandler City Councilman recently hammered away at a wall in an unusual ceremony marking the start of a new training center being built in Chandler by McCarthy Building Companies. To read about the occasion, turn to page 2. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

F E AT U R E STO R I E S Robot-making kids getting center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . .Page 16 Renters in price squeeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . Page 22 Chandler woman in LPGA Open. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SPORTS . . . . . . . . Page 26 EV trio in grueling bike challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . Page 28 Sun Lakes author has new book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . Page 32

More Community . . . . 1-21 Business . . . . . 22-25 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 26 Neighbors . . . .28-31 Arts . . . . . . . . . 32-34 Faith . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Directory . . . . 36-37 Eat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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Chandler Regional expands as demand grows BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center has opened a five-story tower that will add nearly 100 patient beds and six operating rooms to its inventory, making it one of the biggest hospitals in Arizona. More than 200,000 square-feet of new space has been added to the hospital’s east side, allowing staff more room to treat cardiac disease or neurological issues. The five stories include areas to add more beds to the hospital’s intensive care unit, a new pharmacy and a private chapel for patients. The tower’s second floor has 24 patient rooms dedicated to thoracic care, a type of treatment for chest and lung problems that was notably lacking in the East Valley’s medical centers. Mark Slyter, CEO of Dignity Health East Valley, said the new tower raises the hospital’s inventory to 429 beds and offers extra space on its fifth floor for more patient rooms in the future. “We need the space,” he said. “We need these beds and we have for quite some time.” The $190 million expansion of Chandler’s oldest hospital took nearly four years to complete, with most of the work occurring in the middle of the pandemic. Devenney Group Architects and Mc-

Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center's stunning new tower, on the left in this photo, is now open for business with expanded hospital services. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

Carthy Building Companies served as the project’s design-build team. Other partners on the project include WSP, Stantec, RVi, Buehler Engineering, Cannon & Wendt Electrical Co., TDIndustries, The Berg Group, and Schuff Steel Management Company. “We began this major hospital construction expansion project in the sum-

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mer of 2019 not knowing that a global pandemic was just around the corner,” said Nick Pearce, project director with McCarthy Building Companies’ Healthcare Services Team. “We not only made patient safety a top priority but also prioritized the health and safety of the crews, who completed more than 500,000 man hours on the project with-

out incident.” The design-build construction team will remain onsite through the spring of 2022 as they complete the renovations of the existing spaces as well as the garden that serves as a connector of the growing healthcare campus. See

DIGNITY on page 13

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

McCarthy Building bringing training facility here An edition of the East Valley Tribune

BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

McCarthy Building Companies, one of the Valley’s most prominent construction firms, has broken ground on a new training facility that will educate the region’s aspiring carpenters and builders. Located in a 40,000-square-foot building near Kyrene Road and Erie Street, McCarthy’s new workforce center will house the company’s education program that caters to more than 400 local craft workers. Local dignitaries last month met with McCarthy’s leadership team to commemorate the groundbreaking by donning hard hats and breaking down a wall with sledgehammers -- a skill that will likely be learned by the center’s future students. The facility, which is projected to open early next year, includes multiple classrooms and workspaces for McCarthy’s staff to learn new trade skills in prefabrication, technical training and solar power production. Known as “Builders U,” McCarthy’s training program will soon have access to newly renovated rooms and more space to partner with local institutions that provide career and technical education classes. Amber Shepard, McCarthy’s self-perform assistant manager, said the workforce center will be a great recruiting tool for attracting the next generation of builders. “I’m really excited for this facility and bringing in the community,” she said. “Not only is it going to support the development of our current workforce but it’s going to support (the) future workforce.” Shepard was born into the construction industry and credits her father with introducing her to the many career opportunities that exist in the local market. Now she wants to offer the same guidance to high schoolers and college students who may be hesitant about seeking out jobs in construction. “I think there’s a misconception that

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McCarthy Building Companies Vice President Antonia Williams addressed the groundbreaking for her company’s new training facility in Chandler. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

“We use it as a training opportunity as well as a direct support to our job sites across the country,” she added. Plans for creating a new workforce center in Chandler began not long before the construction industry was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. As McCarthy was closing on the center’s property, the rest of society was shutting down and the future of economic development became clouded in uncertainty.

“

I’m really excited for this facility and bringing in the community, not only is it going to support the development of our current workforce but it’s going to support (the) future workforce.

”

– Amber Shepard

construction is hard,” Shepard added. “But it’s really for everyone.” McCarthy is known for building schools, bridges, and hospitals across the country and has contributed to several projects around Chandler. The firm recently built a new elementary school for the Chandler Unified School District and a five-story parking garage in the city’s downtown region. Shepard said the work done at the training center will provide support for McCarthy’s projects by supplementing materials that can be incorporated into the construction of buildings.

Justin Kelton, president of McCarthy’s Southwest region, said McCarthy continued to push the project forward during the pandemic because the company knew it needed to invest in the region’s workforce. “There was no way we weren’t going to do this,” Kelton said. A workforce center can help McCarthy put out a better product, he added, and result in better price certainty for the projects they build. “This is a culmination of what we’ve been doing for years,” the president said. McCarthy expects the workforce

center to assist Arizona in filling the many construction jobs that will be generated in the next few years. According to the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, Arizona will need 228,000 craft professionals by the end of 2024 to support all the development that’s projected across the state. More than 80 percent of employers currently struggle to fill hourly craft jobs or salaried positions in construction, per the Associated General Contractors. Justin Dent, the company’s senior vice president of operations, said the industry needs to engage with young workers and McCarthy’s new workforce center will offer more opportunities of engagement with prospective builders. “We have to invite and get people to join our company and join the trade,” Dent said. McCarthy believes its new facility will help its workers to learn about the many pathways that exist for them to advance their careers. The city’s elected officials approve of McCarthy’s plans to boost the local workforce and are excited to see how the training center assists locals in moving up the career ladder. Councilman Terry Roe said he’s proud that Chandler gets to house a safe place for McCarthy’s construction workers to learn their trade in a controlled environment. “I’ve been a fan of McCarthy for a long time,” Roe said. “Chandler is the city of innovation and I see that in McCarthy.”

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More than 50 new laws to impact schools SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Voluntary-only masking policies are not the only thing that differentiates the new school year from 2020-21. New limits on sex education and on what teachers can tell students about racial and gender discrimination also are coming into play this school year. The Arizona School Boards Association last week briefed school officials on some of the 50 education-related bills passed by the Legislature that impose new mandates or limits on districts this year. And it also discussed changes in funding that will bring districts some additional money as well as other measures that could severely impact school districts. One example of the latter: the Legislature’s continuation of the formula used to reimburse districts for transportation costs, which currently uses the number of miles buses rolled in the previous school year. The ASBA noted it urged the Legislature to change that funding formula because buses didn’t roll much last school year as a result of full and partial campus closures. “The Legislature did nothing to change how that reimbursement is calculated,” said Chuck Essigs of the

Arizona Association of School Business Officials. “So, you’re going to see a big reduction in the miles that are counted in the calculation.” Another possible hit to district pocketbooks could result from loosened qualifications for parents seeking vouchers to send their children to charter or private schools at public school districts’ expense. The Legislature also broadened open enrollment provisions, requiring school districts to post their open-enrollment policies on their websites. Under that legislation, the ASBA noted, “attendance boundaries may not be used to require students to attend certain schools based on the student’s place of residence.” While an individual school’s capacity can still be used to prevent an overload of students, districts “must select students through an equitable selection process like a lottery, giving preference to siblings of a student selected through the lottery.” The change could keep district lawyers busy, ASBA officials said, because the open enrollment policy covers students with disabilities. Thus, they explained, if a child from outside the district who has disabilities wants to enroll in a school that may not have the facilities to accommodate those

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disabilities, “that’ll be a question for your counsel.” The Legislature also codified what already has been a mandate by the state Board of Education: mandatory lessons in junior and senior high school on the Holocaust specifically and genocide generally. And sex education and lessons on discrimination also have new restrictions this year. That includes an absolute ban on sex education of any kind before fifth grade. Parents will need to affirmatively optin to such classes for their children in all grades 6-12. Until now, a parent had to actually opt-out of such instruction. And when district committees are considering a district’s sex-education curricula, those meetings must be in public and any new sex ed courses must be available for public comment for 60 days and the subject of two public hearings within that time period. The new version spells out that the ban on sex education prior to fifth grade does not preclude schools from providing “age and grade-appropriate classroom instruction regarding child assault awareness and abuse prevention.’’ Another measure that failed in the Legislature was a requirement for sep-

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arate parental-signed permission any time there would be a discussion about AIDS and the HIV virus that causes it. Districts are required to review their sex education curricula for compliance with the new legislation by Dec. 15, 2021. Districts also are limited in how they can train employees as well as teach students about racial, ethnic and gender discrimination. The Legislature specifically prohibits “instruction that presents any form of blame or judgment on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex.” Noting teachers could be fined as much as $5,000 for violating that law, the ASBA panelists last week said the definition of “blame” is spelled out in “a little bit of an awkward way.” But the ASBA advised that the legislation is “a little bit more trying to chill some of that discussion rather than actually ban a specific thing.” Other legislative changes noted by the ASBA included a requirement that every elementary campus has a teacher with dyslexia training by next July 1; exempting school personnel from liability in the case of any COVID-19 infections except in a case of gross negligence; and lifting of letter grades for schools and performance evaluations of teachers and principals for the 2020-21 school year.

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from page 1

attended various Kyrene schools, including an elementary campus located less than a mile from his new office at City Hall. “I have a perspective on Chandler that goes back many years,” Wright said. His parents worked in the healthcare field and taught Wright the value of public service from a young age. They were quiet, selfless individuals, Wright recalled, who demonstrated the nobility in serving the local community. Wright thought he might grow up to work for a nonprofit organization, but redirected his focus to local government as he was attending the University of Arizona. After graduating with a master’s degree in public administration, Wright worked in various roles for the town of Marana before he was appointed town manager of Wickenburg in 2011. Wright claims he managed to double Wickenburg’s funding reserves over a four-year period and implemented the town’s first strategic plan. Once an assistant manager position opened up in Chandler, Wright jumped at the chance to return to his home turf and work at a city he’s always admired. Under former City Manager Marsha Reed, Wright was responsible for overseeing Chandler’s development, human resources and public works departments. He helped guide the city through its interactions with Waymo’s autonomous cars and championed converting Chan-

New City Manager Joshua Wright said he’s ready to lead Chandler into a new and exciting chapter in its history. That chapter could include thousands of new jobs expected by the expansion of Intel's Ocotillo plant, above. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

for however long Council wants him. “I have no aspirations to work in a larger city,” Wright said. “Chandler for me was always at a different level from other cities.” Wright feels his appointment comes at an interesting time when the public’s

is no secret that the past year was one “ofIt the most difficult in history and there exist significant pockets of stress and fatigue throughout the organization. ”

– Joshua Wright

dler’s outdated systems over to digital formats. Wright was asked to temporarily fill Reed’s spot after she retired in March and Wright plans to stay in the position

relationship with local government has started to shift. The expectations citizens have for public services are beginning to change, he said, and Chandler will need to figure

out how it may need to serve its residents differently. “I think the biggest challenge that we have is defining what the city’s role is in tackling some of these challenges and opportunities,” Wright said. Unaffordable housing, equity issues, and low police staffing have all been common complaints made by Chandler’s residents in recent years and the city has been attempting to address them through policy and funding changes. In his application to the city, Wright predicted that one of Chandler’s biggest obstacles in the near future will be finding new ways to retain talented employees. “We need to find creative ways to grow our own talent, including expanded internship programs and a clearer path to helping staff advance through the workforce into positions of greater responsibility,” Wright wrote. Wright has said he plans to prioritize boosting the morale of Chandler’s 1,600 employees after a chaotic year that forced many employees to work from home or take on additional duties. “It is no secret that the past year was one of the most difficult in history and there exist significant pockets of stress and fatigue throughout the organization,” Wright wrote in his application. Council picked Wright over three candidates who collectively had decades of experience working in public service across the country. Milton Dohoney, Sara Hensley, and Tom Hutka – who have all been shortlisted for managerial positions in other cities – were also-rans in the competition for Chandler’s next city manager. Dohoney, Phoenix’s assistant city manager, appeared to be the most familiar with Chandler’s current affairs, having presented a detailed plan to the council outlining how he’d spend his first 180 days as the new city manager. Dohoney’s plan referenced the need to address local issues like affordable housing, aging infrastructure, and the lack of available land for future development. Hensley, a transplant from Texas, has mainly worked in supervising recre-

ational departments for various cities and currently serves as the interim city manager of Denton, Texas. Hutka’s background included overseeing infrastructure and engineering projects for municipalities in Florida and Ohio. For some council members, the vote came down to picking between Wright and Dohoney. Councilwoman Christine Ellis said she had been keen on appointing Dohoney due to his impressive amount of experience, but she didn’t feel much of a connection with the candidate during the interview process. Ellis said she has already built a rapport with Wright since she joined Council earlier this year and feels Wright did a great job presenting himself during the selection process. Other elected officials echoed their trust in Wright’s capabilities to steer Chandler toward greater prosperity. “Joshua has proven himself as a natural and inspiring leader and I look forward to working alongside him to continue leading this community in the direction of innovation and excellence,” said Mayor Kevin Hartke. During a public forum with the four finalists, Wright presented himself as an ethical, independent leader who intends to distinguish his administration from the previous ones. “I will be my own person,” Wright said. “I will not be afraid to make decisions. I will not be afraid to do the right thing.” But Wright hasn’t made it to the top without garnering some critics. Marvin Wessel, a local pilot, had few pleasantries to say about the new city manager after his plane was destroyed in a fire at the city’s airport in 2020. Wessel, who has a pending lawsuit against the city, accused Wright of being misleading during conversations the two had about Wessel’s safety concerns regarding the airport. In his application, Wright acknowledged having had to make decisions that weren’t always popular with the public, but insisted his actions have always been reasonable. “I have often had to make unpopular decisions and deal with difficult situations,” Wright wrote. “However, my life decisions – personally and professionally – have always been fair and ethical.”

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

NARDUCCI

from page 1

that come with running one of Arizona’s largest school districts. Another superintendent would have to spend weeks getting to know the district, Narducci said, but he’s already spent 25 years at Chandler Unified. When Narducci was picked earlier this year to temporarily replace outgoing Superintendent Camille Casteel, he brought with him decades of experience working in Chandler’s schools. He started out as principal of Conley Elementary before advancing up to an administrative role within Casteel’s cabinet, where he got the chance to supervise 32 of the district’s campuses. Narducci said his predecessor leaves behind an impressive legacy that’s intimidating to match, but he thinks CUSD has an opportunity to take a fresh look at the initiatives Casteel set into motion. “Not only do we stand on the shoulders of those who helped us get here,” he said, “but now we have to take that next first step and walk.” Narducci, a native of Tucson, is starting the job as CUSD continues to weave through the uncertain waters of the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike the previous year, CUSD won’t have the authority to mandate mask-wearing or require students and staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. The Legislature stripped public schools of those powers during the last session.

Gov. Doug Ducey has additionally warned districts not to quarantine unvaccinated students exposed to COVID-19, claiming any such policy would violate state law. But state Health Director Dr. Cara Christ said last week that schools should be able to quarantine unvaccinated students and keep them out of class in at least some cases where they have been exposed to COVID-19. Christ told Capitol Media Services she still believes that the best place for children is in school, though she said unvaccinated students should be wearing masks. “I don’t think we want to be tak-

ing broad, sweeping, quarantining entire schools if they’ve got a case of COVID-19,’’ the health director said. Christ said Ducey’s guidance is under review with the spread of the more highly contagious Delta variant of the virus. And it could result in recommendations for greater use of quarantines. “One of the things that we’re talking about here at the department is, with how transmissible it is, that all close contacts should be quarantined potentially,’’ she said. “That’s something that we’re working through right now because we want kids in school,’’ Christ continued. “We want to be able to use that as a tool but we want to be able to use it sparingly and work to implement other strategies to prevent spread.’’ Christ, in her interview, did not address what the governor has ordered. But she said the policies and guidance of her agency, including the use of quarantine for unvaccinated people who have been exposed, has not changed. CUSD intends to make quarantining decisions based on what types of symptoms a child displays at school, Narducci said. If a student is displaying the signs of COVID-19, then they will be asked to go home. Once they’re free of symptoms, they can return to school. Narducci said the district will continue to work closely with the Maricopa County Public Health Department and follow their recommendations – despite any contradictions that may arise

with other government agencies. “We’re getting a conflict between what the governor would like and what has been best practices,” Narducci noted. The mixed messages have been discomforting for the hundreds of Chandler teachers who are attempting to transition back into their familiar routines. Katie Nash, a Chandler High School teacher and president of the Chandler Educators Association, said some teachers are nervous about working in classrooms without the mask mandate and worry how the recent rise in COVID-19 cases might impact Chandler. The district’s hands are tied in trying to mitigate any spread of the virus, she noted, and it’s causing some anxiety among school staff. Furthermore, Nash said Chandler’s teachers will have to focus this year on addressing the missed learning opportunities that occurred during the pandemic. “Our educators know where the gaps are, or will be the first ones to identify where those are as our students return this year,” Nash said. “I have full confidence that our educators will be able to fill in those gaps.” Narducci will be spending a significant amount of his time figuring out how best to utilize federal funds that have been awarded for reversing learning losses experienced during the pandemic. See

NARDUCCI on page 11

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

NARDUCCI

from page 9

The superintendent is currently working on a three-year spending plan that will outline how CUSD intends to use a $30-million federal grant. At least 20 percent of the allocation must be spent on addressing learning gaps and the rest can generally be spent at the district’s discretion. Narducci has already drawn up a preliminary list of goals he thinks the $30-million grant could best be spent on and plans to present his ideas at a public meeting in late August. Most of his goals involve conducting an extensive data analysis to figure out where learning losses have occurred and which students have fallen behind. “We need to help each of our 45 sites for 44,000 students so we know where they are,” Narducci said. “So we’re not treating a classroom or a school or a group as (if) they’re all on the same page.” His plan promises to provide intensive tutoring, extended instructional time and more access to technology for disconnected students. Narducci prefers to not describe the pandemic era as a “learning loss,” since some students didn’t struggle academically as much as their peers. It was more of a period of “unfinished learning,” he explained, because the pandemic didn’t inhibit a student’s capabilities to learn. Regardless of the semantics, CUSD will have to contend with the fact that some students fell off the grid or didn’t show up for standardized testing last year; two factors impacting how the district is able

Interim Superintendent Frank Narducci will be keeping the Chandler Unified Governing Board posted about his activities as the district's new top executive. (File Photo)

to measure academic growth. “We do know that we have a discrepancy in our proficiency so we’ll be looking at how we can grow that by addressing the unfinished learning,” Narducci said. The recovery process is further complicated by the fact that Chandler’s 44,000 students experienced the pandemic differently; some immediately returned to school once campuses reopened while others stayed home for the whole school year. The district has about 500 elementary students planning to enroll this year in a new online school that was quickly devised during the pandemic. That appears to indicate some families are still not ready to send their children back to school. Narducci said the online school has turned out to be a valuable resource for families and teachers have found a way to make the virtual experience resemble an in-person classroom setting.

The successes seen at the elementary level have highlighted some of the weaknesses CUSD has in its secondary online learning, Narducci added. There’s not as much engagement happening at the high school level in online education, the superintendent said, and CUSD will soon be examining how to make improvements. “We want to personalize our learning a little bit more, individualize our learning a little bit more,” the superintendent said. That focus on personalized learning could be appealing to the many students who left CUSD during the pandemic. The district’s average daily membership, a state metric used to measure enrollment, has shrunk by about 2,000 over the last fiscal year. Lana Berry, the district’s chief financial officer, said the enrollment loss has been a bit blindsiding for CUSD – which had been projecting continuous growth before the pandemic – and has resulted

in a $15-million funding gap. “We weren’t ready for that,” Berry said. “We were just fortunate enough that we have been (in) a great fiscal position to where we could cover those issues when they took place.” CUSD has managed to stabilize its budget and avoid any massive layoffs, but the district still wants to try and recoup the students who fled this past year. Narducci said initial data collected by demographers suggests there’s still room for growth in CUSD, allowing the district to potentially return to the position it was in before the pandemic. But no matter the number of students CUSD may have in the coming year, the superintendent said his approach to teaching each of them will remain the same: accommodate their individual needs and prepare them for the future. Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

PENSION

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

from page 1

benefits and the interest on their pension debt. Required contributions to cover the unfunded liabilities account for roughly two-thirds of total required employer contributions each year. “The additional contributions help secure pension stability for employers’ retirees and members while saving taxpayers money by eliminating or reducing unfunded pension debt that will escalate employer costs each year if left unaddressed,” PSPRS spokesman Christian Palmer said. His boss, PSPRS Administrator Mike Townsend, was even more ebullient. “This milestone is the result of an all-out effort to help employers understand and realize the true cost of public safety pension benefits and the taxpayer savings that can be achieved by paying off unfunded pension obligations,” said Townsend. “Although the large amount of additional contributions is great, the other impressive fact is the total number of employers that are taking action. Employers across the state are chopping down a mountain of pension debt.” One thing Townsend didn’t mention is the role he personally played in the employers’ big pay-down effort. Sources said he personally appeared before more than 40 county boards of supervisors and city and town councils to urge them to take advantage of historically low interest rates to pay down

Mike Townsend, administrator of the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, praised the dozens of municipalities, counties and state agencies that have make extra payments on their unfunded pension liability. Phoenix taxpayers are paying additional penalties on an unfunded police and fire pension liability of $3.2 billion.

(Special to SanTan Sun News)

their pension debt. Many of those bodies heeded Townsend’s encouragement, with Gov. Doug Ducey taking the biggest step by adding $500 million each to the unfunded liability owed on pensions for corrections officers and retired state troopers.

The current unfunded liability for retired adult and juvenile corrections officers combined is $1.12 billion while the unfunded liability for Department of Public Safety employees totals $898 million. In the East Valley, Chandler in the 2020-21 fiscal year shelled out an extra

Adam Lowe, MD, FACG

$15 million on its combined police and fire pension liability of more than $271 million. Despite the size of that debt, those two pension funds for Chandler fire and police retirees currently have a higher funding ratio than many Arizona entities that pay into the system. Records show 68.6 percent and 62.7 percent funding levels for Chandler fire and police pension funds, respectively. In May 2020, City Council was told that Chandler had expected to pay off its liability by 2027. But that goal no longer appears to be financially viable, according to Dawn Lang, the city’s management services director, saying it could jeopardize the city’s spending capacity. So, City Council approved a revision to the city’s pension plan that puts off fully funding the debt until 2036. Tempe kicked off the new fiscal year, which began July 1, by paying almost all of its unfunded liability of $343.2 million by paying $341.1 million last month. Gilbert put down an extra $15 million to whittle down an unfunded combined fire-police pension liability of $42.5 million. Records show that even with that debt, Gilbert’s police and fire pensions are funded at a level of 82 percent and 88.8 percent, respectively. That stands in sharp contrast to Mesa, which has not made any extra payment on a debt that totals $231 million for firefighters and $459.8 million for police. Current funding levels for those pension funds are at 45.8 percent for police and 48.5 percent for fire.

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PENSION on page 13

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

PENSION

from page 12

Why unfunded liabilities are important was outlined in a memo that the Phoenix city administration sent Phoenix City Council last month as it grapples with an unfunded police and fire pension liability totaling more than $3.2 billion. In that memo, city Manager Ed Zuercher and Chief Financial Officer Denise Olson explained the need to whittle down that unfunded liability and “avoid a huge burden” down the road that would require “significantly decreasing services or an increase in taxes.” “This taxpayer burden must be balanced with being fiscally responsible

DIGNITY

from page 3

At COVID-19’s peak last winter, the hospital had more than 300 virus-stricken patients seeking treatment. Slyter said the recent expansion will better equip the hospital for any future surges in new COVID-19 cases. During the pandemic’s roughest peaks, Slyter said Dignity’s staff had to quickly reshuffle resources and carve out new spaces to place critically-ill patients. “If there’s anything good about a pandemic, it really tests your planning and processes... to make sure you can open up more capacity to take care of patients,” Slyter said. The tower allows for enough room for any sudden overflow of cases, the CEO added, so patients won’t have to share like they did during the surge. “Thankfully, we’ll have the space and,

and committed in providing pensions to retirees,” the memo said. And because pension debt is a priority expenditure for any governmental employer, the unfunded liability’s costs “have placed significant budgetary constraints on the City’s ability to provide employee wage and non-pension benefit increases, public services and infrastructure maintenance,” the memo noted. Up until the end of the last century, unfunded pension liability for PSPRS didn’t exist. Then came the housing market crash in 2008 and the subsequent economic collapse that not only adversely impacted the stock market but also reduced government hiring to a crawl.

At the same time, more government employees were retiring and with fewer new employees paying into the plan, the agency’s pension obligations were increasing. As municipalities started putting more of their available revenue into more immediate public services, their pension debt steadily increased – fueled in part by the penalties assessed annually on that debt. Voters in 2016 overwhelmingly approved Prop 124, which reduced cost-ofliving increases in the pensions for retired firefighters, police and elected officials. Those cost-of-living adjustments were now tied to the regional Consumer Price Index with an annual cap of 2 percent.

For nearly 20 years, an annual 4 percent compounded increase had been paid out to retirees, significantly cutting into the amount of money remaining to pay future retirement benefits. But that prop had the strong support of public safety unions, which said the move would make the pension fund more secure. A subsequent for two years later made the same changes in pensions for corrections and probation officers. Not everyone favored the props. The Arizona Tax Research Association and the Goldwater Institute contended the measures provided no short-term financial relief for taxpayers and that savings may occur only years down the road.

hopefully, won’t have to do that in the near future,” Slyter said about the double-occupancy protocol. The Chandler hospital opened in the 1960s with only 40 beds in a small building near McQueen Road and Chandler Boulevard. As the city’s population started to rapidly grow in the following decades, the hospital relocated to a bigger campus near Dobson and Frye roads. Dignity Health, formerly known as Catholic Healthcare West, merged with the Chandler hospital in 1999. Mayor Kevin Hartke said he’s made several visits to the hospital since he moved to Chandler in the 1980s. He’s seen babies born and friends take their last breath inside its walls over the years. Hospitals offer a great place of healing for a community, Hartke said, and the expansion of Chandler’s campus will allow more opportunities for residents to heal.

“This particular tower will help improve the quality of life not just for our community, but all of the East Valley residents,” the mayor said. One of the best perks about hospital expansions in a community, Hartke added, is they generate a jobs that can withstand downturns in the local economy and provide steady employment for Chandler residents. At least 130 new jobs are expected to be created during the first year of the tower’s opening, plus an additional 70 jobs in the following years. Planning for the new tower has been in the works for several years, as the hospital was simultaneously in the process of trying to expand other areas of the facility and improve the range of treatment it could offer patients. The hospital significantly enhanced its services in 2014 by opening a Level 1 trauma center to handle the severest kinds of injuries.

Before Chandler added its trauma center, emergency crews would have to transport East Valley trauma cases to hospitals in Phoenix or Scottsdale to treat gunshot wounds or other serious blunt-force trauma. Slyter said Chandler’s trauma center is now the busiest in Arizona, providing crucial life-or-death services to residents throughout the East Valley. Dignity Health is planning more expansion projects in the coming months, including an addition to its Gilbert campus that should be done by next year. The East Valley will need more medical services in the coming years, Slyter said, as the region prepares to welcome up to one million new residents in the near future. Chandler’s new tower is only the beginning, he said, for what Dignity Health has planned over the next decade. “This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Slyter added.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

Statewide campaign aims at maternal mortality BY MIKENZIE HAMMEL Cronkite News

Danielle Edwards, a registered nurse and mother of two, nearly died because of risky medical mistakes when she gave birth to both her children. During her first pregnancy in 2014, she gained 20 pounds in one week, a sign that her blood pressure was too high. Edwards said she was not given proper medication, putting her at risk for seizures and liver failure. In her second pregnancy in 2016, Edwards said she experienced alarming fits of nausea and dizziness. In the delivery room, her placenta detached from her uterus, cutting off oxygen to her son and causing severe bleeding. She knew something wasn’t right but felt brushed off by hospital staff. “When they realized that it had been going on for probably quite some time during my labor and delivery, that was kind of traumatic for me because I had been telling them something was wrong,” said Edwards, who declined to name the hospital. “They had to put me on oxygen and put me on my left side and all these things. I just felt so terrible that I thought I was going to die. I thought he was going to die.” Now 33 and director of nursing at Pima Medical Institute in Tucson, Edwards said her experiences inspired

The collaborative launched its first program in May, providing hospitals with so-called “pregnancy bundles” – a list of practices for both medical staff and patients – with a goal of reducing complications of hypertension by 20 percent over the next 18 months. “This is a gift to the mom, the care that’s delivered to them which is based on the evidence, meaning research and national guidelines,” said Vicki Buchda, vice president of care improvement at the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association. The U.S. has the highest rate of maternal mortality among developed countries, according to a 2020 report by Danielle Edwards holds her daughter, Amelia, after giving birth in 2014. During her pregnancy, Edwards gained The Commonwealth 20 pounds in a week, a sign of high blood pressure. She now is the patient advocate for the new Arizona Al- Fund, which points to liance for Innovation on Maternal Health to help improve maternal health care. (Courtesy of Danielle Edwards) a lack of providers and inadequate postpartum The AIM Collaborative brings togethher to serve as the patient advocate on care. the new Arizona Alliance for Innovation er 33 hospitals across Arizona to help About 700 women die each year in combat pregnancy-related deaths and on Maternal Health, to “make sure that the U.S. as a result of pregnancy-related address underlying causes using stratehospitals are working to ensure education and safety of our moms out there.” gies based on evidence. See on page 20

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

Fiesta Bowl exec heads EVIT Foundation SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The EVIT Education Foundation board has a new leader. Curt Krizan will take over as chairman, succeeding Larry Christiansen, who will remain an active member of the board. Krizan is one of a number of new appointments made to the EVIT Education Foundation Board over the last year, with Denny Brown now serving as vicechair, Jo Wilson serving as secretary and Thomas Maher taking over the role of board treasurer. Krizan is the chief financial and ticket revenue officer of the Fiesta Bowl and a board member for Visit Phoenix, a nonprofit that works to attract travelers and conventions to the metro-Phoenix market. Brown will continue his efforts to oversee scholarship distribution and encourage volunteerism. Wilson has served on the board since 2019 and previously held the role as the foundation’s executive director.

t? o G ws Ne

Curt Krizan Maher, is a senior vice president for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and joined the Foundation board in May of this year. Christiansen, the CEO of management consulting firm Christiansen Associates, Inc., has served on the EVIT Foundation Board since 2011 and will

continue to do so alongside the following additional members: Roc Arnett, executive director; Giovanni Briseno, Franki Buckman, Tricia Schafer, Joe Zavislak, Jill Okland, Pat Langlin, and EVIT Superintendent Dr. Chad Wilson. Launched in Arizona in 2001, the EVIT Education Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support for students involved in vocational or career training at East Valley high schools. Funded through public and private donations, the foundation “helps ensure that financial barriers do not prevent students from achieving their full academic potential,” according to a release. The EVIT Foundation has helped hundreds of students undergo vocational and career training, awarding more than $500,000 in scholarships over the past five years. Program graduates are ready to begin working in their respective trades immediately upon graduating and have

the training and level of professionalism needed to excel in a wide range of lucrative positions. Some of the foundation’s major supporters include Rolf’s Salons, Berge (now Larry Miller) Ford, Bill Okland Construction, George Brazil Co., Ricoh Office Solutions, Copper State Consulting, AT Stills University Mesa Community College, Great Clips, Farnsworth PT, SRP, Tran-city Life Insurance Co., Pima Medical Institute, Waxie, Arizona Auto Dealers, Assoc., etc. “The continued support for the foundation through fundraising efforts and grants is critical to the continued education of at-risk youths facing financial hardships,” the nonprofit says on its website. “The impact these students will have in our community is unknown, but failing to provide them with training like that offered by EVIT comes at a clear cost to the community.” Information: evitfoundation.org.

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 | AUGUST 1, 2021

Nonprofit opening STEM center for Chandler youth BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer

Si Se Puede, the Chandler nonprofit specializing in science education for local youth, next month is opening a new center for students design and build robots. After receiving a $50,000-grant from the Rogers Corporation earlier this year, the foundation decided to create a “world-class” science center near Arizona Avenue and Elliot Road for the 2,000 students and young adults who participate in their programming. The facility includes classrooms and workshops filled with expensive equipment visitors can use to sculpt, cut and mold all the parts needed to make a fully-functional robot. Once team members finish an invention, they can test it out on a practice course located inside the facility to see how the robot moves around obstacles and picks up objects. Perhaps the center’s most appealing aspect is that students can use it at no cost to them. No other facility in the East Valley area currently exists with these types of services, said Alberto Esparza, founder and president of Si Se Puede. The establishment of a free, fullscale science center will be a monumental step in the nonprofit’s history once it opens next month, Esparza said, and it will better ensure the organiza-

Working toward the construction of Si Se Puedo's new robotics center are, from left, Frank Granillo, Alberto Esparza, Faridodin Lajvardi, Michael Acevedo and Steve Forbes. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)

tion’s ability to continue serving local youth for the years ahead. “If the program is going to survive, then it was time to get a facility,” the president said. The science center is intended to serve a wide multitude of functions: an after-school destination for tech enthusiasts, a training center for teachers, or a meeting hub for like-minded teens.

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Si Se Puede has already partnered up with a LGBTQ organization that wants to use the center’s conference rooms and recording equipment to produce anti-bullying videos. Fredi Lajvardi, the nonprofit’s vice president of STEM programming, said anyone will be invited to use the facility for whatever purpose they may have -even it doesn’t involve robotics.

“The sky’s the limit,” Lajvardi said, “If there’s a need in the community we can fill, that’s what this community center is supposed to do.” Esparza said one of the center’s first scheduled events is a field trip next month with students from Frye Elementary School who will be instructed on how to start robotic-coding clubs. The goal is to share the technical knowledge with younger students, he added, so they can spread that expertise with their peers and begin forming clubs within their classrooms. “Robotics is for everybody and we should make it accessible,” Esparza said. Si Se Puede has earned a positive reputation in recent years for mentoring teenage girls in pursuing careers in science and engineering. The organization’s Spanish name translates to “Yes you can,” a phrase that serves as an inspirational motto for kids who may feel excluded from opportunities due to economic limitations or societal pressures. Si Se Puede’s mission is to break down any barriers that prevent local students from reaching their fullest potential by normalizing their presence in areas that haven’t typically welcomed them. The access to scientific fields for Black and Latina girls has traditionally been limited with statistics showing

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COMMUNITY NEWS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

Poll shows no change in attitudes toward vaccine BY RITHWIK KALALE Cronkite News

Although the percentage of those unwilling to take a COVID-19 vaccine has remained unchanged since May, Arizonans are showing less concern about the risks, according to a new survey by OH Predictive Insights. The online opt-in panel survey of 1,000 adults, conducted from July 6 to July 11, found that 42 percent of Arizonans were “slightly or not at all concerned” about the deadly disease, whereas 35 percent of Arizonans were “extremely or moderately concerned.” “The data showed no statistically meaningful change from May in the number of Arizonans unwilling to take the COVID-19 vaccine (21 percent), while

those who reported already taking the vaccine rose by 8 percent,” according to the survey. The decrease in “pandemic panic” comes at a time when the Arizona Department of Health Services’ daily curve showed an uptick in COVID-19 cases in the past week. Earlier this month, the daily number of new cases exceeded 1,000 for the first time since February. Arizona has recorded more than 18,100 deaths since January 2020. According to the survey, vaccine willingness rates varied among Arizonans of different racial groups, education levels and ages. “College-educated white respondents reported an 81 percent vaccination rate while 57 percent of non-col-

lege-educated white respondents said they had been vaccinated,” the survey said. “However, 58 percent of college-educated Hispanic/Latinos say they have been vaccinated, and a statistically equivalent 56 percent of non-college-educated Hispanic/Latinos are vaccinated as well.” Vaccine hesitancy could be a potential roadblock to achieving herd immunity against COVID-19 in Arizona, according to Mike Noble, OH Predictive Insights’ chief of research. “As the lack of concern among the unvaccinated continues, coupled with the fact that nearly all COVID deaths in the nation are now among the unvaccinated, I echo CDC Director Dr. Walensky’s quote from the White House

COVID briefing: ‘This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,’” Noble said. Of the nearly 160 million fully vaccinated adults across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there have been nearly 6,000 “breakthrough” cases of vaccinated individuals who became so sick they required hospitalization or died. Health experts have also noted a pattern of new COVID-19 cases arising primarily in unvaccinated people. According to the OH Insights survey, vaccine rates were highest among respondents who were “moderately/extremely concerned” about COVID-19 in Arizona, suggesting that this group has reached herd immunity among themselves.

Neither COVID, Ducey backing down as school begins SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

As the 2021-22 school year kicks into high gear, the state’s former top health official has issued a warning about COVID-19. “It’s now crystal clear… Arizona is back in a COVID-19 exponential growth curve,” Will Humble wrote, citing a 48 percent increase in positive test results two weeks ago. “By and large, it is a surge among the unvaccinated,” said Dr. Joshua LaBaer, executive director of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, in a media briefing July 21. “The important take-home message is that the vaccines do work against this Delta variant.” LaBaer said, “Things are definitely accelerating, and if we stay on this trend, we could definitely see a new surge.” Meanwhile, Gov. Doug Ducey is doubling down on his refusal to reimpose mitigation measures to help slow the increasing spread of COVID-19. He issued a statement last week criticizing the Centers for Disease Control for reinstituting a recommendation that people wear masks indoors. “Arizona does not allow mask mandates, vaccine mandates, vaccine passports or discrimination in schools based on who is or isn’t vaccinated. We’ve passed all of this into law, and it will not

Health officials continue to stress that more people need to get a shot to stem the current surge of COVID-19 cases, which mainly involve unvaccinated people in Arizona. (Cronkite News)

trolled Legislature had not just voted to remove them as options. Instead, both the governor and Dr. Cara Christ said last month they are relying on people getting the vaccine

Arizona does not allow mask mandates, vaccine “mandates, vaccine passports or discrimination in schools based on who is or isn’t vaccinated. We’ve passed all of this into law, and it will not change. ”

– Gov. Doug Ducey

change,” Ducey said. The state’s top health official agrees that mandated protections, ranging from wearing masks to occupancy limits at businesses are not appropriate at this time – even if the Republican-con-

as the primary way to address the fact that new infections are now back to where they were in the middle of February. And while daily deaths generally remain in the single-digit range, there

has been an upswing in the number of Arizonans hospitalized with the virus. Ducey said he is focusing on the availability of the vaccine as the method of curbing the spread of the virus. “We will not be listening to the lockdown lobby,’’ said Ducey. Just 3.3 million Arizonans – 46 percent of the population – are fully vaccinated. Even factoring out those younger than 12, for whom the vaccine has not yet been approved, that number only approaches 53 percent of the eligible population. County health department data released last week show 57.3 percent of all eligible Chandler residents are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the most recent county data on COVID-19 cases shows Chandler is at the “high transmission” level with 114 cases per 100,000 people and 13.5 percent new positive test results. Less than a month ago those num-

bers were well below their current level. The state health department reported that about 95 percent of COVID cases in May involved unvaccinated people. That figure was 92 percent last month and is 90 percent so far this month. Christ said her agency is addressing “misinformation’’ about getting inoculated. “There’s also a lot of fear about the vaccines,’’ Christ said. Christ said her two youngest children, both younger than 12 and unable to be vaccinated, are back in school but under her directive to wear masks while they are there. “If you are unvaccinated, we recommend you wear a mask whenever you are with people that you don’t live with,’’ she said. The surge in COVID-19 cases is likely attributable to a combination of See

COVID on page 19

COMMUNITY NEWS

SCIENCE

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

from page 16

that women of color earn less than 10 percent of the nation’s college degrees in STEM topics, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. These gender disparities have prompted Si Se Puede to dedicate its resources for creating opportunities that allow local girls to thrive in scientific fields. The strategy appears to have worked since the nonprofit’s teams of female scientists have earned national awards for their underwater robots and received generous scholarships to further their education. But the last year has certainly tested the nonprofit’s capabilities after the pandemic restricted their ability to connect with students. Si Se Puede attempted to shift programming over to virtual formats, but the hands-on experience of building a robot can’t quite be done through a digital platform. The ongoing pandemic additionally impacted the nonprofit’s finances and constrained its ability to raise funds. Esparza said they received some funding from the federal government, but it was a small amount compared to the thousands of dollars they lost in grants and donations during the pandemic. “Even though we were hurting for funding,” he said, “the programs kept delivering.” The Rogers Corporation grant af-

Some of the robot builders at the new center clearly are Coyotes fans. (Pablo Robles/Staf Photographer)

forded Si Se Puede an opportunity to start 2021 on a more optimistic note by providing the money to sign a lease on a large property that could fit all of the nonprofit’s clubs and programs. Other businesses started pitching in by donating equipment and services to

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renovate the large facility. Esparza said the nonprofit hopes to purchase the building in the next few years so that Si Se Puede can have a permanent home in Chandler. “This is a great opportunity for a grassroots organization to go and continue to meet the demands placed on us by the community,” he said. Esparza, an Arizona native and Arizona State University graduate, formed the organization at a time in his life when he felt a need to connect with his community. In 1993, Esparza was asked to come to Scottsdale and bridge together the local Latino community with city officials. Hispanic families were being taken advantage of by greedy slumlords, he recalled, so Esparza worked to bring more attention to the issue and initiate reforms that could protect vulnerable populations. His work inspired Esparza to continue finding ways to help underserved, low-income families. He started teaching English classes to Spanish-speakers and noticed a need to provide more

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educational opportunities to the East Valley. “That’s where I got the itch to be more involved in community advocacy and that’s where the idea of the foundation came up,” Esparza recalled. The first few years of the nonprofit’s founding weren’t the easiest to navigate. Esparza knew little about starting a foundation and had to learn as he went. There were times when Esparza was putting all his financing into keeping the nonprofit afloat and had to spend some nights sleeping in an unheated office. But a generous grant allowed Si Se Puede to start Lego robotic programs in a number of Chandler schools and the foundation has been gradually growing its footprint in the community ever since. Over the last decade, the nonprofit has continued to strengthen its partnership with the Chandler Unified School District and the opening of the STEM center will hopefully support the district’s many science clubs in need of more resources. Most high schools don’t have the type of machinery that will be available at the nonprofit’s STEM center, according to Steven Forbes, one of Si Se Puede’s mentors. Forbes works at Intel and thinks the science center could serve as a pipeline for all the high-tech jobs that Intel’s planning to bring to Chandler in the coming years through an upcoming expansion of its campus. There are college-level skills that can be taught at the new facility, he added, and the machinery can introduce students to specific elements of engineering they may not know about yet. “The way this facility serves the community is it opens the door up for people who might not know that they want to do this kind of stuff,” Forbes said. Esparza said he wants the new facility to be accessible to anyone in the community needing a space to explore their scientific curiosities. As long as the community will continue to support Si Se Puede with financial sponsorships, he added, then the nonprofit plans to keep the center open to everybody without charging any fees. Information on participating in the nonproﬁt’s programs can be found at sisepuedefoundation.org.

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

Low-income people getting hearing aid help BY MIKENZIE HAMMEL Cronkite News

When Michele Michaels became program manager at the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing four years ago, she started keeping track of those who called seeking services but couldn’t afford the care. Today, her list includes more than 500 names – and is being put to good use. The commission is partnering with Arizona State University’s Speech and Hearing Clinic to provide a year’s worth of hearing care to those who qualify. Patients must be 21 or older and make less than $17,130 individually or less than $23,169 in a two-person household. Michaels now is going through her old list and reaching out to see whether those people still need help. The Hearing Healthcare Assistance Project, as it’s called, is considered a last resort for those who can’t afford private insurance and don’t have government assistance.

COVID

from page17

factors, including the July 4 holiday, the highly-infectious Delta variant, a lack of statewide mitigation measures and a decrease in personal mitigation efforts, according to Dr. Joe Gerald, a researcher at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. Gerald wrote that the current vaccination rates – combined with the large population of individuals infected and recovered from COVID-19 – will likely prevent a surge similar to last summer, but he emphasized the need to prioritize increasing vaccination rates among working-age adults and eligible adolescents. Ducey has also pushed back against school districts that plan to quarantine unvaccinated students who are exposed to COVID-19. In a letter to Peoria and Catalina Foothills school districts, his office said that violated another measure passed by the Legislature that bans districts from requiring students be vaccinated for in-person education. Those districts disagree and are not changing their position. Quarantines have been left as an option by both Kyrene and Tempe Union officials. Ducey’s position also conflicts with advice from the CDC, which states that “contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation, and cleaning and disinfection are also important layers of prevention to keep schools safe.” The governor’s position drew criticism from the Arizona School Boards Association and Kathy Hoffman, the state’s school superintendent, who said the decision puts students – many of whom are not eligible for the vaccine – at risk.

cans and Hispanics in the state have the highest rates of a more serious hearing disability, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Medicare does not cover many essential hearing care services, including exams, fittings for hearing aids or hearing aids themselves, which can cost $500 to $6,000 apiece, depending on the technology. Experts estimate that only 1 in 4 adults who would benefit from a hearing aid has used one. To make the devices more accessible and affordable, Congress in 2017 directed the Food and Drug Administration to create a category of over-the-counter hearing aids for those with mild to moderate hearing loss. On July 9, President Joe Biden ordered that proposed rules for over-thecounter sales be issued within 120 days. The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing and other groups have urged caution about overthe-counter hearing aids, noting the importance of having an evaluation before purchase and expressing concern over

the potential for scams. In addition to the hearing aids provided by Optium, Unitron has provided hearing aids to the ASU Speech and Hearing Clinic for $200 to $250. Clinic workers seek donations to provide the devices to patients for free. Aparna Rao, a clinical associate professor at ASU’s College of Health Solutions, is one of the leads at the speech and hearing clinic. She and her co-workers assist patients with hearing aid care and communication strategies using visual cues. “People (who need) hearing aids just tend to withdraw, become isolated,” Rao said. “So helping them advocate for themselves, get their needs met … is our goal to make the appointment successful.” Rao said the project would not be available to the wider public until Michaels’ list is combed through. The partnership’s ultimate goal is to make hearing services accessible to anyone in Arizona, regardless of insurance or financial state.

to county health departments. That law, ARS 36-624, states that in cases of infectious disease, “the county health department or public health services district may adopt quarantine and sanitary measures consistent with department rules to prevent the spread of the disease.” Attorneys for Catalina Foothills and Peoria school districts say Ducey is misreading a new law and that quarantine is “the appropriate course of action Former state health director Will Humble, now executive director for the Arizona Public Health Association, said COVID-19 except for students who can demonis back on “an exponential growth curve.” strate that they have (File photo) been fully vaccinated.” “A quarantine period for exposed, But, so far, the governor is not backunvaccinated individuals is one of the only tools left to maintain a safe in-per- ing down. “We expect Arizona’s public schools son learning environment,” Hoffman to comply with state law and we’re not said. going to allow anyone to deny Arizona The ASBA argued the governor’s ofkids and education,’’ Karamargin said. fice’s recent position is in conflict with Christ told Capitol Media Services its own health department’s guidance. she still believes that the best place Last year, the state health departfor children is in school. And that may ment advised, “Close contacts are entail having students who are not vacquarantined for 14 days after their last cinated wear masks. exposure with the COVID-19 case.” But Christ said that separating out The county’s guidance to school some unvaccinated students – and districts currently includes a quaranmaybe even some who are vaccinated tine recommendation for unvaccinated but have underlying health conditions students and staff exposed to a positive – may be appropriate when there is a case. confirmed case in a school. Humble argued the governor and “Isolation and quarantine does the state do not have the authority to remain a tool that’s available to local dictate quarantine rules, citing a state public health (agencies) when they are law and other rules giving that power working with school districts,” she said.

“One of the things that we’re talking about here at the department is, with how transmissible it is, that all close contacts should be quarantined potentially,” she said. AFN, Cronkite News and Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.

Participants usually can schedule a consultation with the clinic within two weeks of approval. After that first appointment, patients who fall within a certain hearing loss range will be fitted for hearing aids and directed to an aural rehabilitation program, covered for a year. The project launch in May included a donation of 100 Unitron hearing aids from Optium Hearing Care, an Arizona provider that recently closed. Michaels, who’s hard of hearing, said her genetic condition worsens every year. Her experiences within the deaf and hard of hearing community inspired her to help others. “I certainly get what they’re going through because I’m going through it myself,” said Michaels, whose mother is deaf. Across the country, about 15 percent of adults – more than 30 million people – have some degree of hearing loss, according to federal data. In Arizona, more than 1 million residents – 17 percent of the population – have a hearing loss. And Native Ameri-

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COMMUNITY NEWS

MATERNITY

from page 14

issues, and about 60 percent of those deaths are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black and Indigenous women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and those disparities increase with age, according to the CDC. In Arizona, Native American women are four times more likely to die during birth than white women – the highest rate across the state. With these deaths in the spotlight in recent years, federal and state officials have pushed for legislation to protect mothers. In 2018, former President Donald Trump signed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, which supports state maternal mortality review committees in tracking maternal deaths. The next year, Arizona lawmakers established the Advisory Committee on Maternal Fatalities and Morbidity to review data collection efforts and develop recommendations. Buchda said the AIM Collaborative is the first partnership of this size in Arizona that not only tracks data related to maternal health but actively works to find solutions. The pregnancy packages are designed to provide consistent health care protocols to help hospitals better

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

prepare for, recognize, respond to and report on any complications caused by high blood pressure. For example, facilities will receive standards to spot early warning signs for pre-eclampsia and evaluate pregnant women with hypertension, as well as protocols for educating patients about the signs of hypertension and pre-eclampsia. The goal is to quicken response times when problems arise and integrate extensive follow-up care to ensure the safety of mothers. Dr. Andrew Rubenstein, head of obstetrics and gynecology for Dignity Health Medical Group at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, praised the AIM Collaborative approach of bringing together multiple hospitals and a variety of expertise to improve maternal health. “Without this, we have really failed to really address some of the health care issues that have been plaguing the ever-rising maternal health care crisis,” Rubenstein said, noting the U.S. ranks “lowest among the high-income countries for the parameters of maternal health, disparities and racial inequities and the social determinants of health.” Pregnancy-related complications have been rising and affect tens of thousands of women every year, the CDC reports. Health experts aren’t entirely sure why but point to women giving birth later in life and preexisting conditions, such as obesity. In Arizona, about 900 women a

year experience a severe complication during labor and delivery, and women with chronic hypertension are almost

the effort, “Throughout a lot of our partners

have begun to look at the social determinants of health and look at it with a health equity lens,” she said. “We know care is not equitable in different populations, and we’re working to compensate for that.

”

– Breann Westmore

three times more likely to suffer from complications, according to a report by the Arizona Department of Health Services. Rubenstein said that in order for all communities to be integrated into the AIM effort, hospitals and other health organizations need to support culturally appropriate maternal care, including the use of doulas – women without formal medical training who provide support to

mothers during the birth process. Breann Westmore, maternal infant health director for the Arizona chapter of March of Dimes, a national nonprofit that advocates for moms and babies, said the collaborative also is examining other underlying factors that affect maternal health, such as income, reliable transportation and familial support. “Throughout the effort, a lot of our partners have begun to look at the social determinants of health and look at it with a health equity lens,” she said. “We know care is not equitable in different populations, and we’re working to compensate for that.” Westmore was among those who advocated for passage of SB 1040, which directs the state health department to conduct studies to improve maternal mortality rates. The bill is known as “Arianna’s Law” in memory of Arianna Dodde, who died at 23 after giving birth to her third child in 2018. Her father and stepmother, Vicente and Leticia Garcia, were blindsided by the tragedy because Dodde had previously given birth to two healthy girls. Vicente Garcia believes that if his daughter had been monitored more closely, “she would still be here.” “Before this happened, I thought (maternal care) was great. But it’s been a tough slap in the face with the reality that it’s not so great,” he said. “There are holes in our system that need to be fixed. There’s a lot of room for improvement.”

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EV renters caught in housing price squeeze BY PAUL MARYNIAK Executive Editor

Valley renters are increasingly finding themselves caught between rapidly rising rents and soaring home prices that make buying a house next to impossible. Starter-home prices are rising seven times faster than a typical renter’s income, making saving for a down payment even harder, according to a new analysis by Zillow. The online real estate marketplace earlier this month said its analysis shows first-time buyers need a year longer to save enough for a 20 percent down payment than they did in 2017 and must put away an additional $369 per month in the coming year just to keep up with the forecasted growth in home values. But a report from Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service on July 19 carried depressing news for any buyer, let alone first-timers: Year-over-year sale prices in the Phoenix metro region rose a whopping 46.26 percent in June and the current average price of a home is $507,936. Realtor.com last week report-

This 3,661-square-foot home on W. Kitty Hawk at the Chandler Airport recently sold for $1.55 million. Besides coming with an airplane hangar, the 16-year-old, two-story home has vaulted ceilings, a glass wall leading to the swimming pool and numerous amenities. (Special to the STSN)

ed,“High demand for a limited supply of rental housing has resulted in skyrocketing prices across the nation – and desperation from those seeking more affordable housing options.” Zillow noted, “Monthly payments

can remain affordable even with a smaller down payment, and flexible work options are providing new opportunities for many to buy a home in a less-expensive city.” That likely doesn’t include the Phoe-

nix metro area, where various reports indicate that both rents and house prices are skyrocketing. The Cromford Report, one of the See

RENT on page 23

Popular game store/restaurant coming here SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

A unique “board game restaurant” is setting up shop in Chandler this year as it makes its first foray outside the Northwest. Since 2011, Mox Boarding House has combined game retail sales, in-house game events and an eclectic dining menu at locations in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. Construction has already started on the 10,000-square-foot establishment at 1371 N. Alma School Road but the owners have not said when it would open. ”Mox Chandler will feature their signature retail, restaurant, and event space that customers have come to love from the Mox brand, all served with a unique twist for Arizona patrons,” the city said in a release, adding that it will also house two private rooms for rent and a large patio. Guests will be able to borrow games from the huge game library for free while eating in the restaurant. Mox offers over 1,000 game titles – including miniatures, board games, role-playing games, card games – and runs a kiosk to buy and sell Magic: The Gathering cards. Mox is the retail arm of Card Kingdom, the world’s largest retailer of The Gathering cards. “Stepping into a Mox Boarding House is an instant transportation to

Portland Mox also started offering cocktails. Its menu includes soyglazed Biang Biang Brussels and honey gochujang lollipop wings, a cumin-roasted Peruvian Porn sandwich and smoked brisket friend rice. “It’s easy enough to order online to bring home along with your stack of board games, Magic cards or Warhammer figurines. It’s such a pleasant place to spend time, however, that you might as well sit a spell and, well, cast a few spells,” the newspaper Left: Like its Seattle outlet, all Mox Boarding Houses maintain a large retail space where it sells games of wrote. every description. Right: Mox Boarding House in Portland offers a spacious dining area where patrons About Mox: Founded also can play games while eating. (Facebook) in 2011 by brothers John and Damon Morris, Mox vaulted ceilings and clean, heavy wood somewhere special,” stated Jorel Miller, Boarding House is part of tables for playing, it’s a convincing director of Mox Boarding House. the Card Kingdom family of brands, rebuttal to the false assumption that “Each of our locations provide an which was founded in 1999. opportunity to unplug and spend quality all gaming stores must be cramped and Last month the Mox Portland celedevoid of congeniality,” the newspaper time with others. We offer a sense of brated its one-year anniversary with a community packed with a vast selection reported. block party that included entertainers, “Customers can crack open a freshly balloon artists, giant board games, a of games, good food, and craft beveragpurchased game from the showroom es, for all seeking a unique experience in photobooth and game demos. or borrow one from the generous game an environment like no other.” It also offered a prize wheel spin and Willamette Week in Oregon last year library, then settle in at the expansive gave swag bags to attendees. bar and restaurant, with full service at a described Mox Portland as “a gilded The locations even offer a personal table in the adjacent dining room.” palace of geeky delight.” Along with a 20-handle tap list, the “With chandeliers hanging from See on page 24

HOUSE

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

RENT

from page 22

region’s premier analysts of the Valley housing market, said the median sales price for homes in June was $400,000 – up 24.2 percent from a year ago. That median is higher than the nation-wide home median price of $363,000 that the National Association of Realtors announced last week. Noting the market appears to be cooling as inventory steadily increases, Cromford doesn’t expect home prices to fall – or even weaken – cautioning, “You would be mistaken if you think most sellers are asking less for their homes.” It’s not only home prices that are soaring for renters. Nationally, Realtor.com reported, the median rent hit a new high of $1,575 in June, up 8.1 percent compared with last year. Phoenix is among the 44 of the nation’s 50 largest cities that “posted new highs, squeezing renters even tighter,” Realtor.com said. Looking at markets with the largest year-over-year price increases and median rents in June, it said Phoenix’s median rent soared 20.9 percent to $1,590 – a higher median rent than the national figure. “We are seeing an excessive amount of people showing up for rental properties and turning applications in, probably five times the amount it was a year ago,” one broker told Realtor.com. “Similar to the shortage of homes for sale, the number of homes available to rent is historically low, driving prices up,” it said. “That’s hurting cashstrapped renters vying for places to live that fit in their budgets.” The pandemic’s economic pressures “have not affected everyone equally,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “There has been a lot of government support, so incomes remained steady for a lot of people, and for some Americans, incomes have risen.” Realtor.com surmised the shrinking rental inventory may have been partly impacted by landlords “throwing in the towel” as restrictions like the eviction moratorium make it harder to manage properties and pay their own bills. Phoenix is a good case in point. A memo to City Council last week shows that between March and this month, the city has shelled out $18.8 million in rental assistance to 2,492 households. With only 43 percent of its rental assistance funds expended, the city now wants to “hire approximately 20 additional temporary employees with higher pay to attract more applicants and more highly qualified personnel,” the memo from the City Manager’s office states. It also wants to “increase pay of existing temporary employees to encourage retention” and “add premium pay to staff providing services,” according to the memo. “Across Arizona and the nation, a lot of protections “are still in place but are close to expiring,” Hale said. Renters who are ultimately evicted will need to find new housing going forward, making it harder to find a place to rent, he added.

Zillow based its analysis on a starter home price of $148,500. “If an average renter household saves 10 percent of its income, it would take about six years and five months to save enough for a 20 percent down payment on today’s typical starter home worth about $148,500,” it said. But Zillow also noted that in reality, the typical starter home – the median home in the bottom third of home prices – is worth $270,560. “Without the equity from a previous home sale, first-time home buyers face more challenges in coming up with a down payment,” said Zillow economic data analyst Nicole Bachaud, adding: “In a housing market where prices are rising at record rates, especially when compared to renter incomes, the ever-increasing sum of a 20 percent down payment can feel out of reach. “The good news is that buyers who want to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates can do so without putting a full 20 percent down – most conventional mortgages allow as little as 3 percent to 5 percent. That lower upfront payment comes with higher monthly payments, but the opportunity to build equity can outweigh those extra costs for many.” Zillow forecasts 14.9 percent appreciation over the next year, which would mean renters need to save an additional $369 per month just to keep up. Renters in California face the biggest barriers to saving for down payments. San Francisco renters earn nearly twice as much money as the typical U.S. renter, yet home prices are so high that it would take 17 years and five months 11 years longer than the national average to save enough to put 20 percent down on a local starter home. Pegging a starter home price of $270,560 in Phoenix, Zillow said it will take 10 years and six months to put away enough for a 20 percent down payment but only just under three years for a 5 percent down. The difference in a mortgage payment at those percentages would be $1,133 and $1,551, respectively, it said. “A smaller down payment, of course, comes with tradeoffs on the monthly mortgage payment, such as the private mortgage insurance lenders often require borrowers to carry,” Zillow said. “Buyers may decide the benefits of homeownership and the chance to build equity sooner outweigh the additional housing cost burden each month.” Zillow also reported that its analysis found people of color who rent have even greater obstacles saving for a down payment. “Because of differences in incomes and the lingering impacts of historical inequities, it is more difficult for Black and Latinx renters to come up with a down payment on their first home,” it said. “It would take six years and one month for a white renter earning the median income, and four and a half years for an Asian American renter earning the median income to save for a 20 percent down payment on a starter home, compared with nine years and seven months for a Black renter, and seven years and eight months for a Latinx renter.”

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*Plan-approved locations and restrictions may apply by plan. Under 60-mile one-way trips. All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of St. Louis, Inc., HealthSpring Life & Health Insurance Company, Inc., HealthSpring of Florida, Inc., Bravo Health Mid-Atlantic, Inc., and Bravo Health Pennsylvania, Inc. The Cigna name, logos, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. Cigna complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age disability or sex. Cigna cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no dicrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. English: ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge are available to you. Call 1-888-284-0268 (TTY 711). Spanish: ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-888-284-0268 (TTY 711). Chinese: 注意: 如果您使用繁體中文, 您可以免費獲得語言援助服務. 請致電 1-888-284-0268 (TTY 711). Cigna is contracted with Medicare for PDP plans, HMO and PPO plans in select states, and with select State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in Cigna depends on contract renewal. © 2021 Cigna Y0036_21_92127_M 936621 b

HOUSE

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

from page 22

shopper to help customers decide what game they want to buy for themselves or for a friend. “In the end, all anyone wants is a place to go out and hang out with people and not be judged and be themselves,” John Morris told Wells Fargo Bank in an interview published on its website. Wells Fargo Commercial Banker Kathi Ferrari called Card Kingdom “the most unique business I’ve served in my 18year career at Wells Fargo.” “This is a business where the assets are cards – and not accounts receivables or real estate or equipment – and where the normal lending criteria are out the window,” she said. She “immersed herself in the Card Kingdom world to learn everything she can about the unique business and community and to help the brothers avoid the pitfalls that can sink startups,” the bank said. Now, Ferrari added, “It’s been fun to watch them grow and be so successful.” John Morris told Wells Fargo their business “has doubled four times since we opened that store, and we now employ more than 250 people.” The brothers also have a charitable giving foundation, Engage. It sponsors a game tournament called The Gauntlet that raises more than $100,000 each year for nonprofits, he said. Their online business for Magic: The Gathering cards now ships to 88 different countries and territories. “To me, Card Kingdom is a place that you can make anything happen,” Da-

Mox Boarding House offers a unique gaming experience like no other! Both locations have a huge selection of games, a game library, and a full restaurant with a wide selection of beers and wine on tap. (Facebook)

mon said. “I believe it’s a place that we can make the world a better place.” The board game café concept went

— showcasing how the game could be marketed to high-end customers, according to Wells Fargo.

Each of our locations provide an opportunity to “ unplug and spend quality time with others. We offer

a sense of community packed with a vast selection of games, good food, and craft beverages, for all seeking a unique experience in an environment like no other.

”

– Jorel Miller

over so well that Hasbro added a visit to Card Kingdom’s Bellevue Mox Boarding House in July 2015 as part of its board of directors meeting in Seattle

“We grew up buying and selling things at an early age,” said John Morris. “You don’t notice it as a skill. It’s just what we knew. But neither of us are

sales people, so that was hard.” Their younger brother, Aaron, was the first to get hooked on the Magic: The Gathering card game. In the strategy game, considered the world’s most complex, players assemble and play decks of 60 cards using the spells and other special powers of their associated creatures and characters to finish off their opponents before the same can be done to them. John Morris eventually bought the business from Aaron (called Magic Madness), and the business took off so fast that he was able to quit his day job as a software engineer in Minneapolis. He started Card Kingdom from the basement of Damon’s house in 1999 and convinced Damon to join him as an equity partner in 2001.

At The Village, we care. About your health, your well-being, your fitness, your goals – and about our community, too. Our employees and members work together to give back to charities and causes throughout the Valley. We also do small things that make a big impact. Like donating our old towels and tennis balls to local animal rescues and hosting annual water, sock and shoe drives for people in need. We’re committed to being a big part of your community. And we invite you to join ours.

Get your complimentary VIP trial membership at villageclubs.com

BUSINESS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

Time for a mid-year check on your ﬁnancial condition BY DR. HAROLD WONG Guest Writer

Just like a doctor often gives a patient an annual or semi-annual physical exam, it’s time for your 2021 mid-year financial checkup. Let’s look at your job situation, real estate, investments and tax plan. Job Situation: Nothing is more important than having a secure and substantial source of income. For most people it’s their job and for some it’s their net profit from their own business. Here are the key considerations: • Is your job secure or is there a substantial danger of lay-offs? • If so, what can you do to decrease the probability of being laid-off ? Do you volunteer for job duties and tasks that no one else wants? Have you added skills such as maintaining the company website and social media accounts that are essential to your company? • Are you networking and getting known in your industry so that you have several back-up jobs you can get on short notice if you get laid-off ? Real Estate: For most people it’s their primary home because very few have rental houses or other rental real estate. • With mortgage rates at all-time lows, have you refinanced to get the lowest rate possible but kept the same number of years left on your old loan so that you keep reducing principal

without starting from the beginning? • With a 30-year fixed rate loan, it’s not until year 22 that half of your payment goes to principal and half to interest. It makes sense to have a 15-year loan instead of the standard 30-year loan if you can afford the higher monthly payments. • With our very hot summers, have you maintained your air conditioning units? It’s recommended that you have at least one thorough service annually. If you need to replace your AC units, understand that supply shortages may cause a 3-5 week delay in obtaining new units. • Consider paying $500-600/year for a good home warranty policy to cover most of the smaller items that go wrong in a house. Investments: We have had an

unprecedented 12-year stock market boom since the lows were reached March 9, 2009. • Are you comfortable with 80-90% or more of your total life savings in the stock market, which is typically what I have seen from the hundreds who have seen me for consultations in the last 12 years? • How would you cope if you lost 2550% of your life savings when the next stock market crash occurs? • Are you open to reducing risk by using the Rule of 100? Example: if you are 70-years-old, 100-70 means you should have no more than 30% of your life savings in the stock market. If the market crashes and you lose half of the 30%, you still have 85% of your life savings left. Tax Plan: For many, total taxes paid

(federal, state, and local) exceed any single other item of one’s budget, including housing or food. • Are you paying a professional for tax planning now to reduce your 2021 taxes; or do you just find the cheapest person to fill out your tax return due on April 15, 2022? • In order to enjoy big business deductions such as the 26% solar tax credit and Section 179 expensing provision (where one can deduct 87% of the cost of business equipment), one must “place that equipment in service” by 12/30/2021. That requires that you buy your equipment now as there are logistics delays in many factories. • What’s the impact on your family if you could save $10,000-$50,000+ of income tax each year? Dr. Wong earned his Ph.D. in economics at University of California/ Berkeley and has appeared on over 400 TV/radio programs.

Free live seminars and lunch:

Saturdays, Sept. 18. And Oct. 9 at The Old Spaghetti Factory, 3155 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, starting at 10:45 a.m. Topic is “Double Your Social Security & Other Retirement Income and Pay Less Tax!” RSVP: Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or harold_wong@hotmail.com. His website is www.drharoldwong.com.

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Chandler golf instructor in Women’s Open BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

When Char Carson retired from her corporate job and moved to Arizona in 2006 to pursue teaching, she never imagined that decision generate as much success as she has had on the golf course. Carson has spent the last 10 years as an LPGA Class A Teaching Professional at Springfield Golf Resort in Chandler, a senior community with a course open to the public. Not only has she created lifelong bonds with some of the women in the community she plays with on a weekly basis, but she has also taken her golf game to a new level. On July 15 during the US Senior Women’s Open qualifier at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, she tied for first place with two other golfers. All three were named to the US Women’s Senior Open that took place this weekend through today, Aug. 1, at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn. It’s a goal Carson set for herself in 2018 when she attended the Open as a spectator. Ahead of the event, she said she was still in a state of disbelief that she was able to accomplish her goal. “I’m so excited,” Carson said. “I still think I have a little bit of disbelief. Just to have this happen, it’s unbelievable.” Carson was first introduced to golf as a teenager by her friend, Janet Kielich, who she has known now for 40 years. The two were volleyball teammates growing up, which Carson pursued at a competitive level for 39 years. Kielich had also played golf with her dad on a regular basis and aimed to get Carson involved. However, she hated it. It wasn’t until Carson was 25 years old, she was reintroduced to the game. This time, however, she fell in love with it. Carson and Kielich have remained close ever since. Kielich caddied for her during the US Women’s Open. She took it upon herself to learn the ins and outs of caddying, all to be the best she could be for her friend. “She sent me a three-page checklist of things we need to bring,” Carson said. “I was just cracking up. We were both so excited.” Carson placed eighth overall in her

Left: Carson has had support from the Springfield community, including Donna Sweet, “left,” an 89-year-old who runs the women’s league at the club and still plays five days a week. Right: Char Carson, an LPGA Class A Teaching Professional at Springfield Golf Resort in Chandler, recently qualified to compete in the US Senior Women’s Open, which took place July 29 to Aug. 1 at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn. (Pablo Robles/Staff)

first attempt at qualifying for the Open in 2019. She was named as an alternate with her placing. She flew out to Connecticut in hopes of being called upon to compete in the tournament. The call never came, something she thinks of as a blessing now two years later. “I got to see and be there up close and watch how everything happens,” Carson said. “It was really fascinating. And it inspired me even more for this one, 2021.” With the pandemic still ongoing, the amount of time Carson had between the qualifier and the start of the Open was limited to 10 days. She and Kielich left Sunday, July 25 for Connecticut. They had just three days to get settled in and familiarize themselves with the course. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were practice round days for all the competitors. Carson and Kielich walked the course several times to iden-

tify areas of trouble and to game plan. Because of the different climate, Carson also set out to putt for at least an hour a day to get used to the different speeds on the greens. “Those greens are so different than what we have right now in Arizona,” Carson said. “They’re lightning fast. I was almost tempted to putt on my tile (at home). There will be a lot of short game.” Carson credits much of her success on the course and ability to qualify for the Open to the Springfield community. Even before her qualifying match, residents would often share messages of encouragement and support. When she told them she qualified and would compete at the Open, numerous cards were sent her way. One resident in particular, Donna Sweet, who runs the women’s league at Springfield, has been one of her biggest supporters.

Sweet is in charge of the league’s communication, scoring and pairings while still finds time to play five days a week at 89 years old. “I’ve had the most incredible amount of support from everyone here,” Carson said. “It’s amazing. I want to be Donna at 89. She’s spunky and is my hero.” Carson still believes she would be one of the least experienced golfers at the Open. But that doesn’t take away from all she has accomplished. Overall, to see how far she’s come and to have the opportunity to compete is a rewarding experience in itself. “This was one of those big, audacious goals and I went after it,” Carson said. “I knew what it would take to get here and now that I am, it’s all about what it will take to make the cut. I just really want to take it all in, have fun with it, learn as much as I can and see how the scores turn out.”

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ADOT chief: Plan now for Broadway Curve project BY JOHN HALIKOWSKI Guest Writer

Think about this for a moment: Over the course of a month, the number of people who drive on Interstate 10 in the Broadway Curve area between Baseline Road and 40th Street is nearly as large as the entire population of our great state. But even that incredible number doesn’t sufficiently explain the importance of the I-10 Broadway Curve area – or the 11 miles of I-10 between the Loop 202 (Santan/South Mountain Freeway) and I-17 – in the metro-Phoenix area’s transportation network. I-10 is a key commerce corridor that connects our state with the rest of the nation. More than 4,600 businesses are located along the corridor, including 50 of the region’s largest employers. Millions of Arizonans and visitors use I-10 to reach Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

This month, the Arizona Department of Transportation will begin preliminary work on one of the largest projects in our history to reconstruct and improve this essential freeway and several of its major interchanges. Between now and the end of 2024, we’ll make many important changes to I-10 in the area of the Broadway Curve, including: Increasing the capacity of the roadway by adding travel lanes. When we’re finished, I-10 will have six standard travel lanes and two HOV lanes in each direction between 24th Street and US 60 Superstition Freeway and four lanes and an HOV lane in each direction from US 60 to Ray Road. Creating something new: Collector-Distributor roads that will improve driver safety and traffic flow by separating local traffic entering and exiting the highway from the “through” traffic on I-10 between 40th Street and Baseline Road. Replacing the interchange with State Route 143. The final configuration will include new bridges, four new ramps

connecting I-10 and SR 143 and a new Broadway Road bridge. Improving the interchange at US 60 so drivers can choose whether to use the general-purpose or Collector-Distributor roads. Our team has been working for more than two years not only to develop this project, but also to inform the community about what is ahead. We’ve met with businesses and business leaders; town, city and county officials; leaders from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, freight and transit; and hundreds of others to share our plans. We’re working with emergency responders to make sure they can respond safely and quickly during construction, and reaching out to special-event venues so we can avoid conflicts with major events planned in the Valley in the next few years. You can help, too. Any project this large in this busy of an area will require a significant number of times we will need to close the freeway in one direction or

the other, or at least restrict a few lanes. You can start thinking now about how you’ll get where you need to go if I-10 in the Broadway Curve is closed or too congested because of lane restrictions. The more we plan ahead, the more we can minimize the inconvenience. We’ll do our part, too. We have a website with current information about the project at i10BroadwayCurve.com. While you’re there, sign up to receive email alerts about construction work, lane closures and detour routes. You can also learn more about our free mobile app, The Curve, which provides real-time traffic conditions and more. You can call us on the Bilingual Project Information Line at 602.501.5505 or email us at Info@i10broadwaycurve.com. We’re going to do everything we can to provide a great project for Arizona’s future, safely, on time and on budget. We appreciate your help and support in accomplishing this major project. John Halikowski is director of the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Sinema, Kelly should oppose PRO Act TERRI KIMBLE Guest Writer

Prior to even the founding of our city, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce has been working to increase investments in our communities, create a positive economic climate that attracts new businesses, and promote continued economic expansion that improves citizen’s quality of life. Despite the trials presented in the past year, Chandler businesses have shown resilience, continuing to help our city thrive and grow. However, legislation being considered in the U.S. Senate could jeopardize these local economic developments.

The proposed “Protecting the Right to Organize Act” (PRO Act), S. 420, has the potential to create hardships for business owners by forcing unionization on Arizona workers and workplaces. This proposal, despite its name, is less about protecting the right to organize than it is about giving labor unions power over both workers and local businesses. Arizona is one of 27 states that has adopted “right-to-work” laws, meaning that workers cannot be compelled to pay union dues if they did not vote in favor of unionization or do not support a union’s activities. This law has been critical to protecting workers’ freedom and creating a positive business climate for Arizona – so much so that it has been written into

our state constitution. The PRO Act would rescind all right-towork laws across the country. Not only does this undermine the will of Arizona’s voters, but it will threaten vital economic and employment opportunities that our communities desperately need. The PRO Act would also redefine something known as the “joint employer standard,” which is the criteria used to determine when two or more entities share employer responsibilities for the same worker. This change would have an enormous, negative impact on the business community here in Chandler. By expanding the definition of being a “joint employer,” the PRO Act would threaten the viability of local businesses, particularly those operating

under the franchisor-franchisee model. Businesses in Chandler and throughout Arizona could also find themselves the target of previously unlawful forms of union picketing and boycotts due to the PRO Act. This legislation would lift nearly all limitations on picketing, permitting economic injury to businesses that may be completely unrelated to their labor dispute. This risk has the potential to damage small-businesses, and may even impact consumers. The PRO Act poses a direct threat to Arizona jobs, businesses, and our economic recovery. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly should oppose this harmful legislation and ensure Arizona businesses are able to come back stronger than before. Terri Kimble is president/CEO of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.

Chandler student jazzed by Yale program BY ZIQING KUANG Guest Writer

Over the summer, I had the amazing honor of attending Yale Young Global Scholars’ Politics, Law, and Economics program, which included conversing with some of the most talented and well-known professors, famous political figures and students. Of course, staying at home and sitting in front of the laptop three to four hours a day is not the ideal summer plan. However, I quickly changed my mind about it after just my first session. Since I had chosen the Politics, Law, and Economics session, a lot of the activities that I did surrounded topics like cybersecurity, foreign affairs, and international trade.

These are quite strenuous subjects for young adults; however, all the students in my program were incredibly intelligent and talented. My fellow classmates were definitely my favorite part of the program. They had already pursued a lot of their own personal academic interests and constantly did things outside of their school life to cultivate and pursue them. One of the best parts of the program was the diversity. We had students come in from all over the world, and we were able to analyze issues from multiple perspectives. My seminars covered issues such as: “Can Democracy Exist? A Look Towards Alternate Voting Systems” “Can Religious Fundamentalism Belong in Liberal Politics?” and “Are smartphones corrupting the youth?”

My professors and instructors were incredibly supportive and my sessions were full of meaningful conversations, and I learned much about other peoples’ perspectives. I read a lot about the pandemic, statistics and fundamental basics of politics and law. I learned that our present-day problems in the government have a distinct pattern in our history. I realized that if schools decided to teach more about present-day problems such as legal frameworks, international law, market regulation, and urban agriculture, it would prepare students for real-world issues. I recommend all high school students to continue pursuing their academic interests, even during summer. Even during my grueling classes, I was able to get coffee with my friends and attend parties at night. Our generation clearly has the power

and influence to make real change in politics and media; if we don’t educate ourselves and continue to expand our relevant knowledge, we could so easily make the wrong decision. Education is so crucial in making sure our communities thrive and allow for diversity and inclusion. That is why I will be taking all the skills that I have learned during the two weeks I spent with Yale into my classroom environment and college life. It felt great interacting with such mature and successful students around the world, and it inspired me to make change within my own community. As school is starting back up, I can’t wait to bring those skills and knowledge I learned over the summer to the classroom. Chandler resident Ziqing Kuang, 16, is a student at ACP High School.

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Area friends prepare for tough mountain bike race BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor

They first came together years ago over a glass of their favorite beer at Casual Pint Ocotillo in Chandler. The more that Frank Gavin, Chad Eby and James Welsh spoke, they realized they all shared a common love for biking. Whether on the road or on one of Arizona’s several mountain trails, the three men continued to bond over a sport they all fell in love with at different times in their lives. On Aug. 16, they will take not only their friendship but their love for the sport to a whole new level when they compete in the Leadville 100 in Leadville, CO. “I’m thrilled to be a part of this race,” Gavin said. “It’s kind of a double-edged sword. I’m excited to compete but I wish it came earlier. But overall, I feel privileged to race and to do it with them.” One of the most well-known cross-country mountain bike races in the United States, the Leadville 100 is a 100-mile race that will start and finish in the central Colorado city that is home to just under 3,000 people. It is often thought of as one of the most challenging races in the world, as riders climb more than 2,000 feet on the course. The first Leadville 100 race took place in 1984 to attract tourism to the small city. Since then, it has attracted

From left: Chad Eby, Frank Gavin and James Welsh are preparing to compete in one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world, the Leadville 100 in Colorado on Aug. 16. (Pablo Robles/Staff)

some of the most experienced riders from across the country. Due to the pandemic, the number of racers was limited to just 2,000 people. Hopeful participants must apply and be accepted to race. Often, riders wait several years before they are finally able to compete at an official capacity. That was the case for Gavin.

The 73-year-old Chandler resident has ridden bikes for 45 years. He began on a road bike before taking on mountain trails. Even now after a bout with cancer that has limited his performance, he trains five days a week – four days on the street or mountains and one day in his local gym doing core work. Gavin applied to compete in the

Leadville 100 several times but was never accepted. But this year, after convincing Eby and Welsh to apply as a two-man team, all three men received the notice they would be able to race. “All three of us got accepted and I don’t know how that happened,” Gavin said. “I’m 73 and they are in their mid40s. I have one son who is in his mid40s. Both these guys are young enough to be my sons. “The conversations we have, the rides we go on, it keeps me young. The only thing that frustrates me is I can’t keep up with them.” Having the opportunity to race in the Leadville 100 after just one application was a bit of a surprise for Eby. He and Welsh had to quickly make plans to take time off work to head to Leadville early to train. Luckily, both still work from home due to the pandemic. Welsh, who in year’s past traveled out of the country on several occasions for Intel, hasn’t traveled for work since the coronavirus first took hold of the country last year. As the owner of The Pint Ocotillo, Eby, a Chandler resident, also had to move back his five-year anniversary party at the pub. It will now take place on Saturday, Aug. 21. Eby has ridden bikes for most of his See

BIKING on page 30

Sun Lakes Rotarians reflect on busy year SANTAN SUN NEWS

The 2020-21 session of the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes was a busy one despite the curbs imposed on some activities by the pandemic, Club President Jon Lyons told members recently. Throughout the year, club members devoted time and close to $90,000 to local, domestic and international community service organizations as well as East Valley schools, teachers and students. Its work included Classy Closets projects at Anderson Junior High, Humphrey Elementary and Chandler Traditional Academy; the Arizona Patriot Guard – Sun Lakes Help the Homefront Drive; A World in Motion mentoring efforts and on-site support at Chandler’s Auxier Elementary School and Strong Foundations Academy. The club also supported AZCEND, Chandler Boys/Girls Club, Chandler Cares Center, the Chandler–Fry’s gift cards to families in need and Chandler YMCA. The club also distributed 3,200 dictionaries to Chandler Unified School District third graders; facilitated the delivery of 1,744 children’s books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library; and participated in FANS Across America, Harvest Compassion, Matthew Crossing Food Bank, Neighbors Who Care, One Small Step that provided a sweatshirt

Sun Lakes Rotary Vice President Stephen Phair presented a thank you gavel plaque to club President Jon Lyons during the club’s annual report meeting at Cottonwood Palo Verde Country Club. (Dr. Honora Norton/Special to STSN)

and pair of socks to every student at San Marcos Elementary School, the “Drive-by Veterans Celebration/Parade at Auxier Elementary School; Positive Paths scholarships to women, Project Healing Waters’ Recovering Veterans Support. Sun Lakes Rotarians also supported a number of Rotary International programs like its Navajo Water, Mexico/USA Friendship Exchange, PolioPlus Day, International Peacebuilder Club Program.

The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes also thanked its corporate and local sponsors: Earnhardt Automotive, New Horizon Farms, Good Sound Audiology, State Farm Insurance Agency, Built By Referral Realty, DC Steakhouse, Hornecek Golf, and Renaissance Luxury Senior Living. Other sponsors included Moors & Cabot Investments, Hon-Dah Resort & Casino, Home Instead, Robson Adult Communities, Sir Speedy, Harrah’s AK-CHIN Dental Associates, Saba & Romanin Dental Associates, Young Home Team, Ameriprise Financial Services, Ocotillo Foot & Ankle Center, Santa Roger, McCleery & Cole Families, Trust Bank, Swagel Wootton Eye Institute, Debbie Wiltse State Farm, Rob Romanin Sun Lakes Dentistry and Classy Closets. Rotarian of the Month awards went Elaine Ralls, Phyllis Carr, Terrie Sanders, Judi Edmonds, Maureen Alger, Scott Faver, Bill and Val Crump, Don Robins, Margie Wright, Stephen Phair, Camille Casteel, and Howard Rudge. Service Above Self awards went to Don Robins, Terrie Sanders and Judi Edmonds while the John K. McCain Good Guy/Gal Trophy went to Maureen Alger and Rotarians of the Year were Bill and Val Crump. Teacher of the Month awards went to Donna Gustafson, San Tan Junior

High; Lisette Bingold and Cassie Itsell, Navarrete Elementary; Katherine Barton, Basha Elementary; Lisa King, Weinberg Gifted Academy; Jamie Cordova, Casteel High; Allison Lewis, Sanborn Elementary; Kristin Tollefson, CTA Liberty; and Rosie Marie Bogue, Galveston Elementary. Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Sandy Lundberg Educator of the Year Award was Rajani Rastogi. Service Above Self Scholarships were awarded to Lily Steenhard, Casteel High, and Aris Shi, Hamilton, while a vocational scholarship went to Adrianna Camachio of Chandler High. The STEM Programs Award went to Joe Greene, Perry High and the 4-way Test Speech Contest winner was Navaneeth Unnikrishnan, Hamilton High. The club continued to meet via Zoom after its initial meeting of the year in July 2020 and moved into a hybrid format in April, with in-person sessions at Sun Lakes Palo Verde restaurant. The club continues to hold a combination of weekly morning and late afternoon meetings and details are available at sunlakesrotary.com. During the year, the club welcomed new members Kim Rector, Kandi Skrabala, Don Peterson, Dan Halloran, and Dr. Honora Norton with the following sponsors: Marge Wright, Chuck Hawkins, Dick Thomas and Gary Whiting.

NEIGHBORS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

D-backs exec taking over Baseball Hall of Fame BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Staff Writer

Josh Rawitch was in his last week as an executive with the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was the All-Star week and he was just leaving a meeting about the Suns Road Game Rally at Chase Field. Rawitch sounded confident but sentimental about the decade he has spent with the D-backs, most recently as senior vice president, content and communications. On Sept. 9, the 44-year-old Scottsdale resident will begin his tenure as the eighth president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. He, his wife, Erin, and their children, Emily and Braden, will move east on Aug. 6. His last day with the D-backs was July 16 – nearly 10 years to the day when he joined the team. “It’s hard to put into words how cool of a position this is,” Rawitch said about the presidency. “We’ve gone through the process and were able to visit Cooperstown several more times. We’re really, really excited. We loved our decade here, though, and so did the family.” Jane Forbes Clark, chair of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, is looking forward to working with Rawitch as well. “On behalf of our board of directors, I am delighted to welcome Josh as the

Josh Rawitch and his family are picking up and moving to Cooperstown, New York, where he will become the eighth president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. (Special to STSN)

Hall of Fame’s next president, and to welcome him and his family to Cooperstown,” Clark said in a statement. “Josh brings to the Hall of Fame a wealth of expertise from his many years representing the game as a respected baseball executive. We are very much looking forward to his presidency at

the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.” A graduate of Indiana University, Rawitch has spent 27 seasons working in baseball. In his most recent role with the D-backs, Rawitch helmed player and media relations, corporate communications, broadcasting, content

production, social media, creative services, in-game entertainment, Spring Training business operations, team archives, alumni relations, publications and photography. So few businesses, he explained, have an outcome almost daily that can impact an office — happy or sad — at the end of the day. “Derrick (Hall, CEO) has created such a special place to come to work every day, to the extent is I’m going to share that with Cooperstown. “From the first day, Ken Kendrick has blown me away with the way he genuinely cares about the organization and this city and see what this franchise has become.” The D-backs’ managing general partner, Kendrick is on the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Board of Directors. Rawitch has been grateful for this time with Kendrick, Hall and Cullen Maxey, executive vice president, business operations and chief revenue officer. He joined the Diamondbacks after 15 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office. A native of Los Angeles, Rawitch joined the Dodgers’ staff in 1995 and spent parts of five seasons in the team’s marketing department before shifting to public relations. He left the organization to serve as a beat reporter for MaSee

BASEBALL on page 30

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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

to consider aside from the elevation. It’s an unfamiliar trail with various parts that may be hazardous. While daytime temperatures hover in the mid-70s this time of year, overnight lows could potentially dip into the low 30s. They will be well acclimatized, however, as both men will camp rather than stay in a hotel or AirBNB. Though, Eby admits his camper is more of a “mobile hotel room.” Welsh on the other hand, will be “roughing it,” which will allow him to become accustomed to the elements, altitude included. “The altitude is the unknown for us,” said Welsh, who grew up in Scotland and now lives in Gilbert and works for

Intel. “I grew up at sea level. And when I came here, it was the same. So, the more time we spend there before the race the more accustomed to it we will be.” All three men have different expectations for the race. They are excited but know it will be one of the most difficult ventures they’ve ever had on bikes. But all in all, they’re look forward to the point when they all meet at the finish line to celebrate. “This race would be a very difficult thing to do on your own,” Welsh said. “But to have the motivation, we all drive each other. It will be special when we get to the starting line together and the finish line together.”

the relationships you had to have. sport,” Rawitch said. “It’s intoxicating. There was a list of people who might be With the daily grind of it, you have to from page 29 a good fit. I’m very grateful that I came love the sport to work in the sport. I out on the top.” jor League Baseball Advanced Media from grew up loving it as a kid.” That’s not to say he hasn’t had a He almost transferred to baseball 2001-02, after which he returned to the series of highlights with the D-backs. operations with the Dodgers because Dodgers, eventually rising to the position “The 2017 Wild Card and that entire he’s such a student of the game. Rawof vice president of communications. season is unmatched,” Rawitch said. “It was itch loves the atmosphere, the game With decades in baseball, Rawitch is so much fun. That’s at the top of the list. clearly passionate about the sport. It’s a and the business of it. He enjoys cre“Several of the trips we took to ating content, social media and sharing longtime love, as he scored an internJapan, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico story ideas CLIPPER MAGAZINE Maileditors. Week: 08/02/2021 ship with the Dodgers afterMARTHA his freshNEESE FOR VON HANSON S with roofman Release 02763-07-21 and the Dominican Republic were high“EverythingArea: about it is soChandler-West/Gilbert much year of college. MEATS SPIRIT pprove By: 07/19/21 Account #: CL112232 lights. For someone who loves to travel, fun for me,” Rawitch said. “To get the “The world was very diff erent,” he ontact your Account Service Coordinator: Ad #: CL-4803275.INDD it was a highlight to travel while doing chance to work in the mecca of the said. “The fiReddinger-John eld was not nearly as comChad Wilt-Stephanie Hopkins Martha Needs Team: 4J phone: 717-509-9497After my internship, my job and raising the international baseball world is so unreal.” petitive. I returned phone: 480-917-2525 email: 4J@cmag.com email: Marthaneese@aol.com profile of the organization.” Rawitch heard about the open posifor three summers. I was hired full time fax: 480-917-2995 His coworkers, players and execution from Hall of Fame Interim Presithe week after I graduated. I was there Sales Rep: Gary Millslagle tives made an impact on Rawitch — dent Jeff Idelson. for 15 years.” and will continue. “He thought I’d be a really good fit He left for two years, spending one “My wife and kids feel the same for this,” he said. “It’s such an interyear covering the Dodgers and another ❑ ❑ ❑ way,” Rawitch said. “Arizona is a second for the San Francisco Giants for MLB.com. esting position. It had to be someone home for us. Living life in Arizona was within the baseball community, given “There’s just something about this

so fantastic for a decade. The people, the trips and the 2017 Wild Card were the highlights. I actually watched much of that game from the stands with my family. To experience the game like a fan, even though I was working, and to see so much joy in the city was great. We’re seeing it again with the Suns and this watch party. “All the cool community programs we’ve done really stand out. Seeing my kids wear D-backs uniforms and feel the pride is amazing. I feel very, very lucky.” Rawitch is also impressed with the strong and dedicated fans who have stuck with the D-backs during its rough 2021 season. “That’s a true sports town,” he said. “I think it’s because this organization is so engrained in the community. People do realize it’s more than just a baseball team on the field. It’s a civic entity trying to help fans.”

Frank, it was him that convinced us over a couple of beers to do it,” said Eby, who sponsored the team with special race jerseys. “James and I thought it would take a couple of years to get in. I was surprised when we got in. “I put Frank on my team, so he is a part of our group.” Eby and Welsh departed for Leadville on Saturday, July 24, three weeks before the start of the race. The two spent the first week enjoying the city while still working. The two weeks leading up to the race will be spent on the course, familiarizing themselves. There are plenty of factors that go into the Leadville 100 all three men had

from page 28

life. Like Gavin and Welsh, he finds solace while on the road or a trail around the Valley. But he also enjoys mixing his love for biking with his love for brews. On several occasions he has taken part in “Bikes and Brews” events in Arizona, biking from bar to bar. Just like he does during those events, he enjoys spending time with those who share the same passion. Especially if they become some of his best friends. That, alone, makes the trip to Leadville special. “It is very cool and we both blame

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For more community news visit SanTanSun.com

Women’s film festival plans return in 2022 SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

The 2022 Worldwide Women’s Film Festival is back, and filmmaker submissions are now open. The festival will be held next Feb. 1820 at the Harkins Shea 14 Theatres, 7354 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale. Early bird registration is now open on Film Freeway at filmfreeway.com/WorldwideWomensFilmFestival through Sept. 3, with regular registration ending Oct. 1, and late registration ending Nov. 1. Like many other events, the 2020-21 event was canceled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. But during the past year, event founder Kim A. Huenecke has been working hard to make several changes in the festival. For instance, the Worldwide Women’s Film Festival is officially a federally certified nonprofit – a status that Huenecke predicts will help tremendously. “We hope to secure grants and other charitable donations that will be helpful in putting together a festival of this size,” Huenecke explained. “It was so hard to have to cancel the last festival, but we are thrilled to be back supporting women in film.” The new board of directors includes Huenecke as president; Keenan Murray, vice president; Toy Taylor, secretary; Joy Bazanis, graphic designer; and Elaine “E.E.” Moe, board member-at-large. The festival also has a new website and slogan, “We have become the future,” which can be found at the new url at wwfilmfestival.org. Now in its fourth year, the festival shows films with a woman in at

Worldwide Women’s Film Festival festival volunteers include, from left: Sandy Kim, Michelle Allen, Cassandra Nicholson, fest President Kim A. Huenecke and festival co-founder Eva Louis. (Special to STSN)

least one key creative role of writer, producer, director, cinematographer, editor and composer, including for best feature, short, documentary feature, cinematography, visual effects, original music score, sci-fi and web series. However, WWFF goes beyond showcasing women in front of and behind the camera. WWFF strives for inclusiveness and diversity and balance of gender, race, film positions and more. Films under 60 minutes are considered shorts, with films longer than 60

minutes are considered feature length. All genres, narrative and documentary, will be accepted. Film buffs who want to help in a variety of capacities are sought as volunteers as well as sponsors for the film festival. The festival needs ushers, ticket takers, film programming, registration, poster distribution, help with after-party set up and tear down and a host of other tasks. Contact Volunteer Coordinators Jennifer Younghans and January Queen at Sungateagency@gmail.com or January-

Queen@gmail.com. Sponsor packages are available for $50 to $1,000, for awards, workshops, breakfast panel, in-kind donations and more. Visit www.wwfilmfestival.org/ sponsors for details. For more information and updates, visit the festival’s website at www. wwfilmfestival.org, email worldwidewomensfilmfestival@gmail.com or direct message Festival organizations via Facebook at Worldwide Women’s Film Festival.

Sun Lakes author publishes new novel Sacramento and is a recipient of the prestigious International Association of Business Communicators Award of Excellence.

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Sun Lakes author Sandra Givens says she’s incorporated some contemporary issues into her latest novel, “Love at the Ranch.” That book comes after last year’s publication of two novels that she published within eight months of each other – “Second Chances” and “Maui Christmas.” “Love at the Ranch is a sequel to her 2018 novel, “Running Horse Ranch” and Givens devotes part of her book to exploring domestic violence and the possible extinction facing the world’s bee population. Although Givens had noted last year that “readers keep asking me for more about the characters,” she hadn’t planned on writing a sequel but eventually decided to feed their curiosity about her characters. “Love” follows the blossoming romance between characters Cassandra Markham and Jake “Running Horse” Kelly. When they first met, Cassandra was married to a tyrant. Following his death, the two re-connect but Givens poses

got stories “inI’vemyalways head and have

been toying with the idea of what happens on a flight to Paris.

”

– Sandra Givens

Sandra Givens this question to tantalize her readers: will Cassie’s troubled past prevent future happiness? Givens received her B.A. in English from California State University at

Her short story, “Life with Auntie,” was published in 2013. Givens is a member of Romance Writers of America. She travels extensively but noted that the pandemic for a while put an end to that. So she began writing more. Now that she can travel again, Givens hasn’t put writing totally aside and is giving her next novel a lot of thought. “ I’ve always got stories in my head

and have been toying with the idea of what happens on a flight to Paris,” she said, adding that while she is “still noodling it around, after all, who doesn’t love Paris?” Givens published “Second Chances,” late last fall. That novel looks at a young widow who decides it is time to move on with her life. To rediscover who she is without her husband, she sets out on an adventure alone, never knowing what obstacles await her. The novel creates some romantic suspense as the reader begins to wonder if secrets from her past destroy her chance at future happiness. Givens said she enjoys writing as “a good way for me to escape the ugliness of what has happened in this country. I can put the news aside and go off in a fantasy land.” And her endings won’t disappoint readers. “I guess I’m a hopeful romantic – always wanting a happy ending,” she said. “Who doesn’t love being in love? And being loved?” All Givens’ works are available on amazon.com.

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

Chandler Museum slates programs, exhibits SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF

Chandler Museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Drive, Chandler is offering a variety of free programs this month. The museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. It is closed Mondays. Information: 480-7822717 or chandlermuseum.org.Exhibits

Bigger than Boxing: Zora Folley and the 1967 Heavyweight Title, Through Feb. 13, 2022

On March 22, 1967, at Madison Square Garden, New York City, two men face off in the ring for the Heavyweight Championship of the World – Muhammad Ali and the challenger from Chandler, Zora Folley. “Bigger than Boxing” features the stories of these two boxers, the circumstances that weighed heavy on each man, and the fight that was a turning point in both of their careers.

Black and white in black and white: Images of dignity, hope, and diversity in America. Through Oct. 17. At the turn of the 20th century, many African Americans across the country embraced the “New Negro

t? o G ws Ne

Movement,” which set the stage for the Harlem Renaissance. No one better captured the essence of this time of advancement than African American photographer John Johnson. This exhibition includes thirty-one large-scale black and white photographs captured by Johnson from 1910 to 1925.

Programming Museum in a Box

Dive into culture, history, and art at home with a themed activity box. Each Chandler Museum in a Box includes instructions and supplies for three-five activities. Museum in a Box is available for sale in the Museum Store.

Family Edition Build It! Frank Lloyd Wright in Chandler

Explore architecture with a Frank Lloyd Wright themed activity box. Design a city, test your building skills with edible construction supplies, and review shapes hidden within authentic Wright drawings. This Chandler Museum in a Box contains all needed supplies for three activities, stories about Wright’s time in Chandler, and the book Who

Was Frank Lloyd Wright from the popular Who Was? series. $18, Great for ages 7-10, includes enough supplies for two users. While supplies last!

Date Night Edition Sweat and Spar: Boxing Fun for Two

Ready for a date night that packs a punch? Don’t worry about your fitness level, grab your partner and step in the ring. Round 1: Duke it out with your partner in a series of jump rope challenges. Round 2: Find out who can talk the talk. Round 3: Weigh in on issues that matter with conversation cards centered on the exhibition Bigger than Boxing: Zora Folley and the 1967 Heavyweight Title. Round 4: Take a breather by expressing your artistic side, boxing style. This box also includes movie suggestions, drink recipes, and a sweet Chandler’s Zora Folley was beloved by his family and treat. the community, as the exhibit at Chandler Museum $24, Designed for adults. shows. (Special to STSN)

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

ARTS

THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | AUGUST 1, 2021

Gilbert pop punk singer releases new title complete real story. I don’t make up any lies. I just want to keep it as real as possible so that

BY ASHLYN ROBINETTE Staff Writer

A Gilbert pop punk artist has released his latest single. “What’s the Issue” is the title of the new hit by rising singer-songwriter Benjamin Sanchez, otherwise known by his stage name “imfalls.” The 18-year-old started making music in his sister’s garage roughly four years ago and now has a rapidly growing fanbase. He already has drawn about 500,000 Spotify streams, 250,000 SoundCloud streams and 50,000 YouTube views. “As a kid with a dream and a borrowed computer and a little $45 microphone that barely worked, I made do with what I had and slowly tried to build a name for myself,” Falls said. Falls is originally from a Wisconsin small town called Menomonee Falls, from which he picked his stage name. He recently graduated from Highland High School and signed with a forward-thinking startup label in Los Angeles called Wayward Son Music, which caters to young listeners’ experiences instead of old-school genre classifications. Falls is currently focusing on his music career, transitioning from melodic rap to pop and pop punk. He says his songs are directly inspired by personal hardships and heartbreak and are de-

last relationship and reveals the toxicity that can result from a messy breakup. “I had a girlfriend and things didn’t really go so great so I made the song ‘What’s the Point’ for closure, but that just created more problems for us and

As a kid with a dream and a “ borrowed computer and a little $45

microphone that barely worked, I made do with what I had and slowly tried to build a name for myself.

”

– Benjamin Sanchez “imfalls”

you feel good and know you’re not alone through any struggles you’re Benjamin Sanchez of Gilbert, whose stage name is imfalls, has having.” released a new record. (Special to STSN) Connecting with others is signed for anyone to relate to. important to Falls. He said his music His musical realism is inspired by is the only thing that truly allows him Mac Miller and has pop influences from to express himself. He hopes that his 24kGoldn and Iann Dior. emo singles resonate with audiences “My music is the type of music that and help them feel like they’re a part of you just hear and you feel like you’re something. not alone,” Falls said. “If you have a “What’s the Issue” is a sequel to his struggle, my music is there to comfort most popular song “What’s the Point.” you through it. I make everything a Both songs were a product of his

caused drama between everyone I know locally so I made ‘What’s the Issue’ to finalize everything that has been said in the past,” Falls said. “Now, I’m over it and ready to share how I really feel. It’s my moment and it’s time I stop giving her all the time in my head.” Falls said his newest single serves as the final closure for his breakup and believes that listeners who have ever been in love will be able to relate to his lyrics. With around 10 to 15 additional songs finalized and ready to be released, Falls promised, “A lot of pop punk is coming.” ‘What’s the Issue’ is available on all streaming platforms.

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Scripture reminds us there is no future without change RABBI IRWIN WIENER, D.D. Guest Writer

There is no question that change is difficult, nearly impossible at times. We humans are creatures of habit. What is more we seem to constantly refer to the past as though it was something magical. Our past is glamorized for any number of reasons; not least of which is we were, of course, younger. Things were new and exciting, and in most cases, being younger meant we were also healthier. Our past reminds us of a time when life was not yet revealed. As we get older, our dreams tend to fade into the reality that this is now our life. We come to grips with the realization that some of our earlier ambitions will forever go unfulfilled. What is true for an individual is often true for a community. One of the chapters in Scripture illustrates this point; the People of Israel have been escorted out of Egypt by God. They have witnessed firsthand the ten plagues inflicted upon the Egyptians that eventually freed them from their

captivity. While in the desert on their journey to freedom, to a new land, and a new beginning, they were protected by God with a “pillar of cloud” during the day and a “pillar of fire” at night. (Exodus 13:21-22) That generation had witnessed God’s presence in the most intimate way imaginable: from the Exodus to Mt. Sinai and beyond. In spite of all that they had witnessed, the Israelites’ yearnings for life as they once knew it in the slavery of Egypt overpower them. The people yearn to return to their familiar, safe, although miserable lifestyle. (Numbers 14:4) When the opportunity for change confronts the Israelites, a change that will only enhance their lives and national standing, they romanticize their past, as unbearable as it was, and they object to the change. So after having witnessed the most amazing experiences one could possibly imagine, the Israelites complain bitterly to Moses saying: “Were there no graves in Egypt that we were taken to die in the desert? What have you done to us by taking us out of Egypt?” At this point in the narrative one has to feel sorry for God. No matter what God

does not seem to matter. (Exodus 14:11) Some of us can identify with the reluctance to make changes. The unknown can be daunting. It is easier for most of us to travel the familiar route through life. Slavery may be lousy, but at least our next meal was guaranteed. Honestly, with all our twenty-first century sensibilities, are we any different? We know how hard it is to change, because we see it in ourselves. Bad habits and destructive behavior constantly repeat themselves. Our chosen profession may be terribly stressful, even painful, but it pays the bills. We, like our ancient forbearers, are caught between two inseparable tensions in life: constancy and change. The unknown of the future entices us while at the same time scares us. In fact, sometimes it is painful. Is it not ironic that, for example, moving is considered one of the most stressful things a person or family can do, especially in later life? Scripture in its subtle way is teaching us this most difficult lesson, and it is experienced by our own generation today. Even here, in our little corner of the world, we see change-taking place right

before us. Our understanding of our lives has changed dramatically. Some of our friends have left us either through death or because of the need to move on. What was necessary yesterday does not seem necessary today. The one constant, however, is that we are a vital link in the chain of continuity. For that reason alone, we need to cherish and maintain that which we inherited. As we get older, perhaps we should remember that change is necessary for continuation, not stagnation. If we stayed the same – well, there certainly would be no excitement or anticipation. So, now, more than ever, we need to adjust our thinking to accommodate all the change we can absorb. That is the lesson of growth and evolution Scripture endeavors to translate for us. And for sure, it is the path we should be involved with in these later years of our life. We connect because of comfort, and we expand those relationships because, as Scripture reminds us through various exchanges, there is no future without change. Rabbi Irwin Wiener D.D. is spiritual leader of the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregatoion.

Faith requires courage, open mind, strong heart BY REV. MARVIN ARNPRIESTER Guest Writer

Steven Charleston has written the following which I believe speak to the present realities we are living in and through:

Faith is a risk that keeps testing us. Do we believe good will overcome evil? Do we believe healing can happen? Do we believe people can change? Do we believe we can make a difference? There are a thousand questions we confront in a thousand different ways, all asking us if we are still willing to dare

to believe, even in the face of long odds and contrary evidence. Having faith takes courage. It takes an open mind and a strong heart. We are not observers of life, but participants. We act on what we believe. We put ourselves on the line for our faith. The risk is real. But so is the power

that moves us to accept the cost of love and this price of freedom. I respond to his words with this prayer: Lord I believe, help my unbelief… Rev. Marvin Arnpriester is senior pastor of Sun Lakes United Methodist Church.

GriefShare begins in September Sun Lakes United Methodist Church is once again offering GriefShare, a 13week grief recovery program starting Sept. 8 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 4 of the Education Building.

The program is designed to offer help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend. GriefShare serves as a support group to help rebuild one’s life

Chandler United Methodist Church Making and Deploying Disciples for over 100 Years.

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES NOW IN-PERSON AT 8 AM & 9:30 AM Reservations are required and are available on our website or by calling the church office. If you are more comfortable in your car, we will be broadcasting morning worship on 1680AM for both services from the church parking lot.

after a loved one dies. There are three components to each GriefShare session: a video presentation on some aspect of grief; a time of discussion following the video;

a workbook ($15) for taking notes and for completing between sessions. For more information or to make a reservation, call the church office at 480-895-8766.

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SanTan Sun News - 8.1.2021

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