Chandler’s All-America City Community Celebration begins Wednesday, September 1, 2010, at the Chandler Center for the Arts

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with entertainment and refreshments in the lobby, followed by a presentation in the main auditorium at 7 p.m. The presentation will include a slide show and video highlighting the Chandler delegation’s trip in June to Kansas City, Mo., for the competition. The event will also honor the people, organizations, and corporate sponsors who supported the City’s award application.

Representatives from the three projects that were highlighted in the All-America City award presentation will have information booths at the celebration. Refreshments and drinks will be available thanks to generous donations from several local restaurants, including Serrano’s, Floridino’s and Shangri-La De Old Cathay. The Chandler Unified School District is donating the drinks and desserts.

For more information on Chandler’s All-America City award go to www.chandleraz.gov/allamericacity.

Chandler’s All-America City Sponsors Made this event possible:
All-America City Platinum Partner
- Cox Communications
- 360 Vantage

All-America City Gold Alliance
- Carollo Engineers
- Rockefeller Group Development Corporation

All-America City Silver Sponsor
- Achen Gardner
- Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization
- Chandler Regional Medical Center
- Chapman Automotive Group
- First Credit Union
- J2 Engineering & Environmental Design
- SRP

All-America City Friend of Chandler
- Chandler Kiwanis Club
- Downtown Chandler Community Partnership
- Errand Genie
- Fast Signs
- Mortenson Construction
- San Tan Sun News
- The Smith Group
- Westcor
- Wrangler News

Hope we see you at the All-America City Community Celebration in the Chandler Center for the Arts

Popularity: unranked [?]

Once a thriving grocer with over 150 stores, Chandler-based Bashas’ was hit by the glogal economic downturn and in 2009, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, along with some of its creditors.

Now, after a reorganization and 20 fewer stores, Bashas’ says it has returned to profit and wants to exit from bankruptcy protection. Some creditors, mostly banks, and some bondholders say it is too soon and they are trying to stop the company.

Popularity: 3% [?]

The Hells Angels Facade

Known for supporting such charities as the Toys for Tots campaign and thought of as a hobby group who looks a little rough and likes leather, the Hells Angels have become an accepted part of our culture — and America’s Most Wanted. Beneath this innocuous façade lies the core of a crime syndicate as sinister as an international drug cartel.

Hells Angels Infiltration

In an unprecedented exposé — “Running with the Devil: The True Story of the ATF’s Infiltration of the Hells Angels,” by award-winning author and criminal defense attorney Kerrie Droban — the truth of this organization, and its threat to our communities, comes to light. Her book shatters the public’s image of the Hells Angels as harmless promoters of charitable organizations as it reveals the treacherous inner workings of the brotherhood.

The infamous Sonny Barger once declared that “the Hells Angels would never be infiltrated.” He was wrong, thanks to the ATF agents who risked their lives. Droban’s true-crime novel chronicles the ATF sting and the ensemble cast of undercover agents who posed as members of a Mexican renegade motorcycle club for two years, earning the trust and respect of the vicious Arizona Hells Angels. Their work led to the 2003 bust, in which the ATF seized thousands of rounds of ammunition, explosives, weapons, grenades and napalm.

“There’s a lot of glamour associated with motorcycle riding,” says Droban. “Like the Wild West, there’s an allure that draws bikers to the road in the same way that cowboys were drawn to the trail. Both are striving for a reckless freedom. But there’s a difference between the so-called ‘RUBs’ [Rich Urban Bikers] who dress the part on weekends, put on their leather chaps and vests and take to their cruisers, and the hard-core ‘1-percenters’ who are anti-establishment and involved in criminal exploits. Unfortunately, there are those who confuse the two, with tragic results.”

While both groups may occasionally mix in biker bars or share the open road, the Hells Angels are territorial and ever-mindful of their rank and file structure. Members must earn their “patches” — embroidered Death Head emblems on their leather vests — and embrace a lifestyle that pledges loyalty above all to a brotherhood of misfits.

Hells Angels Subculture

“Ironically, they’re really conformists,” Droban points out. “They strive to belong in a subculture that adheres to strict rules and regulations, a Constitution with bylaws, a felonious code of ethics and an internal government organization complete with a president, vice president, foot soldiers, sponsors, prospects and even a dress code.”

Get your copy of “Running with the Devil,” to learn more about the Hells Angels.

Popularity: unranked [?]

The City of Chandler says the First Time Homebuyer’s program has helped 11 families purchase homes in the City. They are holding a workshop August 24 to educate more people about the program.

The one hour workshop starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Chandler Community Center, Room 205, 125 E. Commonwealth Avenue.

The First Time Homebuyer program was funded by federal programs; the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and the HOME Investment Partnership Fund (HOME).

The City initiated the program using $1.4 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds and in early spring allocated nearly $707,000 in HOME Investment Partnership Fund funds to extend the opportunity of home ownership to more families.

Under the city program, the land is purchased by the grant money and held in a trust managed by the Newtown Community Development Corporation, a non-profit group working with the City to administer the program. Buyers only pay for the structures.

“Qualified buyers help select the house they want to purchase and the homes receive extensive renovation, including new appliances, paint, carpet, weatherproofing, landscaping and repairs or replacement of roofs, windows, and doors.”

Homes can be purchased in any area of the City and Newtown helps arrange financing and offers down payment assistance, credit repair, homebuyer education and ongoing support after the purchase.

To qualify, buyers cannot have owned a home in the last three years and a family of four cannot make more than $80,000.

To register or learn more, call Chandler Neighborhood Resources Division at 480-782-4320, or contact Newtown Development Corporation at 480-517-1589. Visit the City Website.

Popularity: 100% [?]

A suspect accused of being involved in a marijuana sale gone bad that resulted in the death of undercover Chandler police Detective Carlos Ledesma, has been released from the hospital and booked into jail. Christopher Paul Gonzales was arrested immediately after being released from hospital, on Friday.

Phoenix police say Gonzalez faces charges of suspicion of first-degree murder, possession of a weapon during a drug transaction and possession of marijuana for sale. Gonzales is the sixth suspect arrested.

A public viewing was held last Tuesday, to honor Detective Ledesma, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Killed in the line of duty, the undercover officer was laid to rest in the Chandler Valley of the Sun Cemetery. Thousands of Law Enforcement officers and civilians attended the events in honor Detective Ledesma.

See related story at East Valley Tribune and more information at the Chandler PD website.

Two other undercover officers were shot and injured during the transaction.

Popularity: 58% [?]

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley in Chandler, Arizona recently had a 2.3 kW solar electric system installed.

This was a huge Arizona and local community effort, with Aide Solar, a large-scale producer donating photovoltaic modules, DEGERenergie donating a 5000HD dual axis tracker, and Fronius donating a power inverter

Hawkins Design Group donated the electrical system design, and solar power systems company, SolarCity donated their installation services. To get the project started, the City of Chandler waived permit fees and streamlined the installation process. This project shows that public and private enterprises can work together when they have a common goal.

“This installation is an example of how Chandler will continue its leadership role in developing policies and programs targeted at promoting higher energy efficiency in new and existing buildings.”
Chandler Mayor Boyd W. Dunn

“The cooperative efforts and generosity of all the participating organizations has resulted in the production of clean renewable energy and is a great example for learning about sustainability.”

The 32,000 square foot building, owned and managed by the city of Chandler, is Silver Certified through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, and is compliant with the city’s new Green Building Program. The Boys and Girls Club organization is the primary user of the building, but not the only one.

The project was a great opportunity for the companies and community to work together, to learn how technology can bring community improvements and raise awareness of what can be done.

The combination of photovoltaic panels, and the sophisticated monitoring and tracking systems is a step closer to a Smart Grid, where the entire network is connected to the Internet.

According to DEGERenergie, their solar tracking system will generate around 45 percent more energy than a conventional fixed array, because the tracker ensures the photovoltaic array is always aligned to the brightest area in the sky, harvesting the maximum amount of energy, even on cloudy days. This is the first dual axis installation of the DEGERenergie tracking technology in the Western U.S.

Editor’s Note: LEED certification is an independent authentication system for buildings.

Popularity: 22% [?]