Sept. 15 – Oct. 5, 2012
www.SanTanSun.com
Dead ducks: mystery for now
BY CODY MATERA A mysterious die-off of ducks at a neighborhood
lake near a bustling Chandler elementary school has alarmed residents and prompted them to seek answers. “There were 12 ducks, all dead,” says Arden Park
resident and Hancock Elementary parent Michelle Jenkins. “My husband and I wondered if someone poisoned them or what.” Resident Jill Irvin first reported the dead ducks. A
math resource teacher at Perry High School, Irvin was driving home when she saw dark, rock-like shapes on the water. Curious, she retrieved her camera, zooming in to discover that the shapes were ducks, their bodies partially submerged.
She called the City of Chandler’s non-emergency number only to be told they couldn’t help because the lake is private property. Her call to the Arizona Game and Fish Department
generated a response from both the governmental agency and the Arden Park Homeowners Association.
SEE Ducks PAGE 8
NATURE’S BEAUTY: Butterflies will be everywhere from 9 a.m. to noon Sat., Sept. 29 during the second annual Dragonfly and Butterfly Bash at Veterans Oasis Park, 4050 E. Chandler Heights Rd. at Lindsay Road, Chandler. The City of Chandler’s Environmental Education Center holds 30-minute guided nature walks over easy terrain to see colorful Monarch butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies. For more on this and other free family events, see Page 44 and visit
www.chandleraz.gov/veterans-oasis. STSN photo
Harvesting fall fun
BY ALISON STANTON Temperatures are starting to cool off, Halloween costumes and candy have arrived at local stores and East Valley families are getting ready to celebrate the arrival of fall. Here is a sampling of the fun and festive events that are coming.
Downtown Spooktacular Local ghosts, ghouls and goblins can enjoy an evening of
DEAD DUCK: Surrounded by garbage and leaves, a dead duck floats in murky water. Submitted photo by Jill Irvin
family-themed activities at the Halloween Spooktacular 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 26 at the Downtown Chandler Library Courtyard, 22 S. Delaware St., Chandler. The free event features games like pumpkin bowling and cupcake walks, a haunted house, face painting and a costume contest. Everyone who plays a game will get candy, so pack trick-or- treat bags. Info: 480-782-2735,
www.chandleraz.gov/special-events.
SEE Fall fun PAGE 9 Trombonist, 94, too hip to get old
BY K. M. LANG Sy Gordon is one cool cat. At the ripe age of 94, the
Gilbert musician entertains Valley audiences with several local ensembles, including the 15-member Sun Lakes Big Band and his own combo, Music A La Carte. Gordon recently added Internet fans when his Chandler Center for the Arts solo was posted on YouTube, but the spotlight is nothing new for a man who lived the Big Band era at the mouthpiece end of a slide trombone – and has the stories to prove it. “I played in Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn, New York for
the Brooklyn Dodgers,” begins one memory. “We had a group called the Brooklyn Dodgers Sym-Phony. In those days, the Dodgers were called the Bums, and we used to march around with raggedy old ...” Gordon interrupts
himself. “Anyway, that was a long time ago.” “He talks like a musician – he’s got the lingo,” says friend and fellow musician Bart Salzman. “He was a serious bandleader – he did four, five gigs a night forever. He’s still a hell of a trombone player.” Gordon’s resume is long and impressive, and includes stints with the Jimmy Dorsey and Lester Lanin orchestras, as well as Ringling Bros. Circus and Shriners bands. He was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps Band from 1942 to 1946, and later toured with the Broadway show, “South Pacific,” a gig he recalls with fondness. “I got all the pictures of all the stars,” says the Brooklyn native. “I just loved the score – “Enchanted
SEE Musician PAGE 12
Learn eight ways to help beautify your smile!
F E AT U R E D S TO R I E S 9/11 memorial open for viewing. . . .COMMUNITY . . . . . . . Page 5 Carebear Preschool grows . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS. . . . . . . . . . Page 19 Perry football starts off strong . . . . .YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . Page 29 Foodies ‘TASTE’ food, drink . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . Page 43 Temples celebrate High Holidays . . . SPIRITUALITY . . Pages 54-55
CLIP IT Coupons . . . . . Center Section More
Community . . . . . . . . 2-17 Business . . . . . . . . . .18-26 Youth. . . . . . . . . . . . .27-36 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . .41-42 Neighbors. . . . . . . . . 43-53 Spirituality . . . . . . . .54-57 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58-70 Directory . . . . . . . . 66-68 Classifieds. . . . . . . . 69-70 Where to eat . . . . . . 71-76
FINALLY FALL: Pumpkins abound at Mother Nature’s Farm, Desert Botanical Gardens and other locations in the SanTan Sun area as fall arrives. Submitted photo
FOREVER YOUNG: Sy Gordon, pictured in his Gilbert home among a career’s worth of memorabilia, starts every day with 300 pushups – and has plenty of energy left for his slide trombone. “I hang out with the young cats, man, and I can dig what they’re doing,” he says. “I’m too hip to get old.” Submitted photo by Bart Salzman
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