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March 2 – 15, 2013 45 www.SanTanSun.com Opinion Community Commentary Have a story idea or news tip? Know of an interesting photo opportunity? How about positive feedback or constructive comments? We’d like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected]. Something about the beach As much as we love the desert, there’s something magical about being around a body of water. So, we made a quick trip to the beach recently – Avila (pronounced AV-ill-uh) Beach specifically, along the central coast of California, about an hour north of Santa Barbara. It’s a spot Geoff was familiar with from his days of living in California, and recent travels there found it so charming and picturesque. We were able to take our new rescue kitty, Phantom, who not only did great riding in the car, but provided hours of entertainment – even a few during the middle of the night as cats are wont to do. From its days as a busy fishing village, the discovery of underground seeping oil in Avila Beach led to a $30 million cleanup in the late 1990s, which resulted in a major excavation, razing and rebuilding of many of the ocean front properties – and even included replacing all the sand on the beach. The result is a beautiful pedestrian promenade, just steps from the sparkling white sand, complete with decorative lighting, railings and benches, fabulous tile work and an oceanfront amphitheater. Great restaurants and fun shops, all with fresh, new white siding, make for a enchanting beach town, which is an easy walk from local hotels or rental units. We had overcast skies the first few days of our visit, but even then the roar of the sea, green rolling hills, friendly seagulls, diving pelicans and the ever-present playful sea lions made for relaxing surroundings with a spectacular ocean view. A storm front that brought a few bursts of rain – which hit the SanTan Sun area the next day and brought accompanying snow to even Scottsdale and other higher elevations – did not deter people from surfing or enjoying the pool’s hot tub. But the magic of Avila comes from the amazing color of the sky and the sea, especially when the sun is shining, which is most of the time. It’s an azure type blue that is so pure and vivid it practically takes your breath away. Mix the laid back, off-season tranquility of this beach town with family and friends and it makes for the perfect combination of a peaceful getaway. My brother, Lee Marshall, his wife, Sally, and their 8-year-old son, Sam, drove down from Berkeley, CA, to spend a few days with us. Sam had a heyday digging in the sand, chasing birds, collecting rocks, checking out tide pools and doing other little boy stuff. Lee, Sally, Geoff, our son, Devon, and I talked, napped, ate and even had a great jam session with Lee and Devon on guitar and the rest of us singing Brother Iz’s “Over the Rainbow” and “You Are My Sunshine,” among other tunes. Then one of my dearest girlfriends and her husband joined us for the rest of the week. More good food, walks on the beach, a couple of spa appointments and we were comfortably relaxed by the end of the trip. It was a delightful week, surrounded by the beauty of the ocean and the love of some of the most wonderful people we are so fortunate to have in our lives. Of course, it’s great to be back home in Chandler, but as they say, we’ll always have Avila. And, as always, we appreciate your reading the SanTan Sun News. Mayor gives Chandler two thumbs up BY MAYOR JAY TIBSHRAENEY Chandler Regional Medical Center’s major hospital expansion and plans to add a Level 1 Trauma Center – the first in the Southeast Valley – was one of the many positive stories I noted during the recent State of the City address. I also discussed the importance of the Price Corridor, home to companies like Intel, Orbital Sciences, Air Products, Pay Pal and Pearson Education. And now, Infusionsoft brings its own inspiring story of success and innovation, opening its new headquarters in Chandler with great promise for growth and success. It embodies the importance of fostering small, start-up companies and allowing them to grow. Intel’s $300 million research and design facility in west Chandler is well under way. The project has created 1,000 construction jobs with several hundred permanent jobs upon completion later this year. Continuum, the science and technology park at the former Motorola site, continues to develop and will provide a premier opportunity for additional growth in the coming years. The Price Corridor is indeed an asset to Chandler, making us the innovation and technology hub of the Southwest. To preserve this resource, we are working with a consultant to ensure its long-term success. It is one of the most critical studies we will undertake for quite some time. Job creation is taking place in all corners of the community. DBSI, a west Chandler firm, was honored as One of America’s top job creators by the INC. Hire Power awards. In north Chandler, SanTan Brewery is opening a 35,000-square-foot distribution center, a $6 million investment. Aero-Zone, an aircraft parts specialist, just moved to the Chandler Airpark. Understanding the importance of our small business sector, I am unveiling Caffeine and Commerce. This is a series of meetings where members of the business community can gather in a very informal setting to discuss issues and ideas. Nearly 100 people came out to our Mini-HOA academy to learn more about how their homeowner associations work, and to hear about pending legislation. We will continue to concentrate our energy and efforts on making Chandler neighborhoods more sustainable, successful and safe. From 2011 to 2012, we saw a pretty significant decrease in some of our most serious crime categories including robbery, aggravated assault and auto theft. In 2011, our crime rate per capita was at 34.1, down dramatically from a rating of 48 just a decade earlier. We remain fiscally prudent, as we should. We continue to emerge from the recession, but have a ways to go. A careful eye will remain focused on any legislation – state or national – that could be a detriment to our City’s ability to provide service levels that our residents are accustomed to. With that said, we do not anticipate any increase in the City property tax rate in the coming year, and our bond ratings remain among the very best in the state. We continue to hold steady on our long-time fiscal policies with decisions that have helped to weather the economic troubles we have experienced the past five years; a good reason why Chandler has been named one of the best-managed cities in the nation, and one of Money Magazine’s top 50 places to live. It is no accident that Chandler has set itself apart as a City of great achievement. Our neighborhoods continue to flourish and the business sector continues to grow and thrive. The state of the City is in very good shape. Publisher’s Note Laurie Fagen Photo by LightRainImages.com PUBLISHER Laurie Fagen ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION Geoff Hancock ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Darlene Keberle ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Jane Meyer Debbie Jennings WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY Susan Kovacs, n-ergizing AD DESIGN Christine Bryner, Studio 509 LAYOUT DESIGN Tad Smith, The Design Idea Deadline EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING: NOON WED., MARCH 6 FOR THE MARCH 16, 2013 ISSUE 35,000 Total Circulation 27,250+ Driveways Fifty square mile coverage area from Price/101 to Greenfield and from Frye to Hunt Highway. MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 23 Chandler, AZ 85244-0023 TELEPHONE: 480-732-0250 FAX: 480-883-8714 ©2013 SanTan Sun News For News Tips, Editorial Articles, Opinion or Classifieds, email is preferred. NEWS EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] ADS EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEBSITE ADDRESS: www.SanTanSun.com NEWS ASSISTANT Barbara Law CONTRIBUTORS Wendi Olson Stephanie Vatistas Kristen Boyd Blanca Dozal Robyn Kelly Katie Perry Kathie Butters Ximena Rodriguez Pamela Moya Lora Robinson MANAGING EDITOR Susan Henderson EDITOR Lynda Exley PROOFREADER Kristen Sherman WRITERS Tracy House K.M. Lang Selena Larson Alison Stanton SECTION EDITORS Teri Carnicelli Sharon McCarson Kristen Sherman Steven Solomon Mayor Jay Tibshraeny We know you have an opinion! Share it with the SanTan Sun News. Unless you’re the Mayor, however, please keep your Letters to the editor around 200-300 words, or they may be edited for length. Include your first and last name, community or development name in Southern Chandler (Cooper Commons, Ocotillo, Sun Groves, etc.) or ZIP code and daytime phone number for verification. Anonymous letters are not typically accepted. Email is the preferred submission method, to [email protected]. All submitted Letters to the Editor and Community Commentaries become the property of the SanTan Sun News and may be reprinted in part, quoting the letters’ authors, or in their entirety. Your submission to the SanTan Sun News is considered your permission to print your written opinion. Opinions expressed in Community Commentaries, Letters to the Editor or cartoons are those of the author, and not that of the SanTan Sun News.
