34 March 5 - 18, 2011 Publisher’sNote The ICAN kids
“It’s all for the kids” – that’s the mantra you often hear around ICAN, or at any of a number of ICAN volunteer meetings.
Kids as young and impressionable as 5 to those wiser and street-savvy at 18 have a place to go before or after school, during intersession, summer and winter breaks to keep them out of gangs and off drugs, build social
and academic success and give their lives purpose.
ICAN is a resource for homework help, computer access, a healthy snack, job skills development and a friendly smile.
ICAN helps many often low-income, single-parent families with health, nutrition and many other parenting programs.
ICAN is a visible and active resource in the community, providing research- based programs, educating the community about the dangers of substance abuse and working closely with City of Chandler government and law enforcement officials.
ICAN’s Youth Outreach Mission is to provide free, comprehensive out of school time programs that empower youth to be productive, self-confident and responsible citizens.
With an energetic and driven president and CEO in Christy McClendon; many extremely capable and caring assistants like Shelby Pederson and Whitney Renaud; a board of directors who often roll up their shirtsleeves and pitch in when needed; and the vast veritable army of dedicated volunteers who lend their hands, their time and their money to this deserving nonprofit organization. That’s why the SanTan Sun News “adopted” ICAN several years ago as one of our favorites, and why we came up with the ICAN SanTan Sun Family Fun Run and 5K, now in its fourth year.
Yes, it’s a fundraiser – and you know how nonprofits have been hit hard in this barely recovering economy – but it’s also a fun and even educational event. We’ll have lots of our local businesses who are in the health and educational fields who will have informational tables at the event. The fun run and 5K is also a chance to get you, your family and your co-workers out on a beautiful Chandler morning to experience a portion of the City’s recreational facilities that you may not be aware of. And we also have a number of businesses who are donating money to ICAN just to help them out.
That’s because “it’s all for the kids” - and we hope you, your family or your business will take part on March 26 at Tumbleweed Park. See the full page promotion on Page 79, then go online to
www.ICANAZ.org and sign up, either as a runner or walker, a corporate running team, to reserve a space or donate money or a prize. “It’s all for the kids.”
Thanks for reading the SanTan Sun News, and for all your kind notes, cards and CaringBridge comments following last month’s note.
throughout Chandler.
My Listening Tour was developed to get a better grasp on the issues important to residents. Through a series of public outreach meetings hosted by the Chandler Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC), I will be out in the community talking to people about issues and concerns relevant to their areas. Our first meeting was held Jan. 11 at Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School and we had a great turnout. The next meeting is set for March 8 at Kyrene de la Brisas Elementary School in West Chandler.
These meetings provide an open forum for residents to speak out on challenges facing their neighborhoods. After the meetings, members of NAC and the City’s Neighborhood Programs staff develop plans to address the most pressing needs.
I am also excited about Chandler’s first Traditional Neighborhood Academy that began Feb. 2. The Academy provides educational courses, resources and tools for residents of Traditional Neighborhoods, identifies and develops neighborhood community leaders, and instills more pride in ownership and in community.
On Jan. 27, the City Council approved the Voluntary Demo program. I asked staff to bring this program forward to stave off blight by working with property owners to destroy substandard structures. With the help of federal dollars, the owners pay 25 percent of the demolition cost or agree to have a lien placed on the property. Taking down the blighted buildings allows the owner to rebuild, or at the very least, remove eyesores from the area. I’ve been speaking with City staff that has identified a number of vacant residential structures that are clearly no longer habitable, so I believe this will be a very positive influence on the City’s ability to better sustain neighborhoods. Chandler will also soon receive $1.3 million in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to take foreclosed properties in the community off the market and into the hands of eligible buyers. Chandler has already had great success with these funds by working with the nonprofit land trust Newtown on the purchase, renovation and resale of such properties. And finally, while based in Tempe, Newtown will soon make its counseling services available right here in Chandler through an agreement with the City’s Neighborhood Programs office – a great new amenity for residents seeking housing and financial advice at a convenient downtown location.
Neighborhoods are a true asset to our community, and through these community partnerships, they shall remain that way for generations to come. For more information on my initiatives, visit
www.chandleraz.gov/neighborhoods. And you can follow me on Twitter @jaytibshraeny.
Motor Assists help community on many levels
by Councilmember Jack Sellers
Like many other Valley cities, Chandler has faced considerable budgetary challenges. However, we have been successful in continuing to provide excellent service to our residents, in part, through the commitment and dedication of our volunteers.
Laurie Fagen, Publisher Laur u ie Fagen, Publisher
If you’ve driven through Chandler over any period of time, it is likely you have seen one of the Chandler Police Department motorist assist volunteers. They are often busy assisting police officers at accident scenes, helping stranded motorists or simply assisting those who have locked their keys in their vehicle.
Motorist Assists also issue citations for parking violations, perform
Oops - The correct address for Mosaic Dentistry is 290 W. Chandler Heights, Suite 3 in Chandler. Dr. Sam Dominick can be reached at 480-883-0222. We apologize for the error.
DEADLINES:
neighborhood patrols and assist with other non-criminal calls for service. Their work frees police officers to respond to higher priority calls. Consequently, these volunteers have become an integral part of the department and our community policing efforts. With the extensive growth that Chandler
See Community Commentary Page 35
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2002Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 EDITORIAL:
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Fifty square mile coverage area from Price/101 to Greenfield and from Frye to Hunt Highway.
PUBLISHER Laurie Fagen
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CONTRIBUTORS Lori Walter, Suzanne Incorvaia, Kristen Boyd, Susan Hegarty, Kerry Kester, Tracy Thunem, Justin Sremba, Dominica Peterson, Robyn Kelly, Laura Thornburg, Tracy House, Peg Newendyke, Lisa Shore, Judy Cresanta, Vickie Savory
Miriam Van Scott Ann Videan Joan Westlake
Opinion Community Commentary
Neighborhood focus critical to City’s future
by Mayor Jay Tibshraeny
For the first several weeks of my new term as Mayor, I have placed a lot of focus on our City’s greatest asset: neighborhoods. Growing up in Chandler, I watched many of our City’s neighborhoods develop and mature over the years. When I left the City Council for the State Senate eight years ago, this was a different community. We were still in a fairly rapid growth phase.
Today, because of the economy and the fact we are near residential build out, we must now shift the attention to a plan of sustainability. With that in mind, I have announced a number of strategic initiatives that will help residents maintain those great communities situated
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