12
April 21 – May 4, 2012
Community
Cosmic project funding may create legacy
The family and friends of Howard
Israel are pursuing funding for a proposed Solar System Walk at Veterans Oasis Park. The local resident, 78, an avid amateur astronomer and one of the first instructors at the park’s Environmental Education Center (EEC), was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and is currently at home under hospice care. The project, conceived to honor
Israel, involves a set of monuments representing the sun and each of our neighboring planets. The monuments would be placed at distances approximating the relative scale of the solar system along a 2,500-foot sidewalk pathway circling the park’s lake. It would also include several interpretive signs, a self-guided tour brochure and a podcast, designed to present park visitors with a better understanding of our place in the cosmos. “My father has always been curious
and he’s been devoted to many areas of study and practice,” says Israel’s daughter, Sharyn Younger of Chandler. “But I never saw anything match his love of the night sky.” Israel is a past vice president of the East Valley Astronomy Club, a group which conducts “Star Parties” at Veterans Oasis Park. Over the years he developed a series of multimedia
presentations he taught at the Arizona Science Center, during cruises on the high seas, as a volunteer with Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff and at the EEC. Completion of the Solar System Walk
is dependent on raising the necessary funds, which Younger estimates at approximately $15,000. The family is soliciting donations from family members, friends and others who share Howard Israel’s interest in astronomy. The East Valley Astronomy Club is a project partner and has established an account for the tax-deductible donations, and representatives of Lowell Observatory and Kitt Peak National Observatory have provided support. Donations are also being sought from local businesses and corporations. “We’re asking for the help of people and businesses who value science and can see the educational benefits of a project like this for the community,” says Younger. The family is hoping to secure the
necessary funds quickly, so the project can become a reality while Israel is still well enough to participate in a dedication ceremony at the park. More information, including donation details, is available at
www.chandlersolarsystemwalk.com.
www.SanTanSun.com
Teens learn about community leadership
Chandler teens ages 14 to 17 have until Fri., April 27 to apply for Chandler’s free
Leaders in Training (L.I.T.) program, which provides them with an opportunity to work alongside City staff and gain valuable work experience and leadership skills. The program runs June 4 through July 13. The six-week course places selected youth in a professional work environment within
the City of Chandler organization, where they perform meaningful work with a mentor who facilitates the development of their job skills. Participants gain hands-on work experience by assisting mentors with day-to-day activities at various job sites including recreation programs. Participation is voluntary; teens do not receive payment. The program’s work week begins from 1 to 3 p.m. on Mondays with job skill and
leadership development workshops presented by members of the local business and government community. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday teens work four-hour shifts, 8 a.m. to noon or 1 to 5 p.m., for a minimum of 12 hours per week. Participants may also attend optional field trips. The L.I.T. application can be downloaded from
www.chandleraz.gov/teens or picked
up at the Chandler Community Center, Snedigar and Tumbleweed recreation centers, the Environmental Education Center, all Chandler libraries and all Chandler high schools. For more information, contact the L.I.T. coordinator, Teo Ruiz, at 480-782-2746 or
teofilio.ruiz@
chandleraz.gov.
Family fun featured at Fire’s open house A day of fun, education and
information is planned at Chandler Fire Department, 211 N. Desert Breeze Blvd., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat., May 12. The free event aims to educate residents about fire services and to share tips on safety, fire prevention and emergency preparedness. In addition to tours of the station,
there will be fire truck and apparatus demonstrations, drowning prevention information and children can experience getting out of a smoke-filled
environment at one of the displays. The department’s mascot will also be there, as well as balloons, popcorn and fire helmets for children. Residents can learn more about
various volunteer opportunities, fire cadet program and Community Emergency Response Teams. The open house will also feature instruction on Hands-Only CPR. For more information, call 480-782- 2120 or visit
www.chandleraz.gov/fire.
New Vistas School
Arizona Top 10
www.NewVistasAZ.com 480-963-2313
670 N. Arizona Ave., Suite 35 Chandler, AZ 85225
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19