Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 59

Chandler SERVING THE PHOENIX GAZETTE THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC Monday, May 13, 1996 II 6 around Great garbage-can debate is settled $147 each; metal ones cost $268. Chandler to keep metal containers By Roberto Sanchez Staff writer LISTEN UP It's been a long, long time: A reader is looking for an Oct. 8, 1948, copy, of the Williams Air Force Base newspaper. the Homestead, a subdivision of large lots near Galveston Street, Price and Dobson roads, told the council that people already are angry at losing one of their two weekly garbage pickups. He said the smaller plastic bins would make it harder for him and his neighbors to dispose of bulky grass clippings, tree trimmings and other refuse from their large yards and gardens.

Council members Matt Orlando, Bruno and Sepulveda proposed a pilot program for plastic containers, or perhaps a gradual replacement. But both of those ideas would cause problems with collection, Public Works Director George Selvia said, because collectors use different equipment for plastic and metal canisters. "If the metal containers are more expensive and last less. what are we doing?" Sepulveda asked. "I think what's driving this process is that we know there's savings," he said.

But replacing the containers would have cost the city an estimated $700,000, which scared many council members who questioned the estimates and the city's ability to get its investment back without raising garbage fees. They also were swayed by letters and phone calls from Chandler residents who want the city to keep the meta containers. "They like their metal containers. That's the bottom line," Bruno said. People like Barry Pantzer, a resident of The move was part of a motion to seek bids for a new garbage collection contract.

The current contractor, Browning-Ferris Industries, has a contract that expires in June. Sepulveda had seen the call for bids as an opportunity to get the city to replace its aging metal containers with new, cheaper, more durable containers. Plastic containers last 12 years compared with eight years for jnetal. They need no maintainance, unlike metal containers that require a new coat of paint and to have their bottom panels replaced every other year, at a cost of about $40,000 a year. Plastic bins also cost CHANDLER A debate in the City Council proved that if you are going to talk trash, you'd better pack some metal.

In a 5-1 vote, the City Council decided to keep the popular metal alley garbage containers instead of replacing them with smaller plastic bins. Councilwoman Patti Bruno voted against the motion. Councilman Martin Sepulveda did not cast a vote, which under City Council rules means a "yes." Council-woman Judy Harris did not attend the meeting. Bill Ricketts of Tucson graduated with the WAFB primary flight training class '48-C and plans a reunion for Colorado Springs this October, but cannot find that particular issue of the base newspaper. He believes it contained a complete list of fellow graduates.

Ricketts has been scouring the state for three years without success, so if you have one tucked away or, if you were a member of that class get in touch with him at: 1 1650 E. Calle Aurora, Tucson, AZ 85748. Or phone (520) 885-1438. Trivia: Felix "Doc" Blanchard Compadres net $150,000 from baseball, benefit Heisman Trophy winner at West Point was in that class. Also, the class was the first group of "official" Air Force pilots after the Army Air Corps was dissolved to become what we now know as the U.S.

Air Force. ON THE ROAD By Roberto Sanchez Staff writer Now we know: We recently saw a personalized license in Mesa WYR DOC which we guessed belonged to an electrician. Nope. A Phoenix orthodontist insists it's his and that the plate has to be an orthodontist!" Oh yeah? Could also be: an electrical troubleshooter; a computer technician; a telephone installer; a cable TV guy and maybe a lot of other stuff we couldn't think of just now. Brooks said about half of the money came from profits of Milwaukee Brewers spring baseball games, and the other came from an October fundraiser.

Brooks said the Compadres had to trim their operating expenses to meet their commitments to charities: Attendance at Milwaukee Brewers games was down 20 percent compared with 1994, the last full spring baseball season. "We cut quite a few corners," Brooks said. "But we run a pretty lean operation and our volunteers are key to it. Without them, you can't do it." In past years, the Compadres have contributed as much as $262,000 to local with more than $2 million raised in the past 16 years. This year's contribution was smaller than years past, but it was still a massive improvement over 1995, when only $25,000 was raised from spring baseball games.

"We are very pleased," Brooks said. The Compadres are a nonprofit booster group that manages Compadre Stadium in Chandler. Be cool, doc, we're still partial to your CHANDLER The Chandler Compadres raised more than $150,000 for charities this year, despite a less-than-stellar spring baseball season. Bill Brooks, president of the Compadres, said the group will distribute the bulk of the money, $85,700, to its chief charity, the East Valley Boys Girls Club. The group also is holding an extra $25,000 for matching funds, so their final contribution will be bigger, he said.

Other major recipients include the Chandler Education Foundation, which funnels money for education projects in Chandler's public schools. The group received $10,000 from the Compadres. The Chandler YMCA was also a big winner, netting $17,500. The Child Crisis Center and Family Emergency Services got $4,000 each. My Sister's Place, a center for domestic-violence victims, got $7,000.

Another $11,500 was spent sponsoring youth sports in Chandler. plate. HATS OFF What's Advanced-placement chemistry students Andrew lies and Rupesh Amin of Gilbert High School have advanced to the next level in the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad. The recognition brings no trophy yet.

Instead, the pair has been invited to participate in the next level of the national competition this summer. The reward? Another test. 1 r-: 1 'NnCs ID Jl II Ji iu xaiwr II LET'S SING Sally Orrantia dies; cancer claims activist By Randy Kull Staff writer Do, re, mi Two music majors from Chandler-Gilbert Community College placed first and third in vocal competition for junior college students in Maricopa County. Gilbert resident Pat Neff, president of the CGCC Chorale, was first, and Mesa resident Sean Kirsch, a past president of the chorale, placed third. We presume both are in fine voice after receiving awards of $300 and $100 for their respective efforts.

MESA Sally Mendoza Orrantia, a retired Mesa school teacher and founder of Mesa's English as a Second Lan- a program, died early Thursday of ovarian can cer, one was 68. I ORRANTIA She once told a reporter: "I had determination, and I knew I could do it." And, she recalled, she was merely following the instructions of her father, who often used the phrase: "Saber es poder," or "Knowledge is power." After graduation in 1951 from what is now Arizona State University she married fellow educator Gilbert Orrantia, a retired Mesa High teacher and French and Spanish instructor at Mesa Community College. Mrs. Orrantia volunteered time to numerous civic groups. Among survivors are her husband, Gilbert son Gilbert an FBI agent stationed in New Mexico; daughters Ana Murphy, a nursing instructor at Mesa Community College, and Barbara Zamora, a counselor at Mesa High School; and five grandchildren.

A funeral mass is to be held at 9:30 a.m. today at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 141 N. Macdonald in Mesa. Mrs. Orrantia taught first- "We don't have a new city any more, and we won't in the future." Howard Hargis, a city engineer, on keeping up with street improvements in Tempe.

Heard something interesting? Let us know, we'll spread it Around Town. Leave a message on 497-7945; fax, 497-7978; e-mail SETOWNTALKaol.com or mail to Around Town, 106 Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ 85210. graders in Mesa and Chandler schools in a career that spanned 20 years. She retired in 1983. She grew up the youngest of nine children of Ramon Men doza, a former Mesa chief of police.

Michael Meister Staff photographer PRESSLINE Mrs. Orrantia was one of the Clothes call first Hispanic children to be integrated into Mesa class- Arizona State University student Audrey Freeman moves out of her campus residence to her Phoenix home for the summer. Finals are over for the sophomore. Graduates were awarded degrees in commencement exercises Friday. Summer classes begin for some students later this month.

To ask a quick question To tell us what you think rooms, one graduated irom Mesa High School and was the only Hispanic in her class to continue on to college. ON VACATION Panel urges using override funds for teacher pay By E. J. Anderson Correspondent CHANDLER The Chandler Unified Art Thomason is on vacation. His column will resume May 18.

School District budget committee has recommended using $870,000 in override money to fund teacher salaries, buy new equipment and upgrade technology for the tive ways of acquiring technology, including partnerships with Intel and Motorola. The committee recommended spending $165,000 to upgrade the district's mainframe computer, $35,000 to hire a computer technician, $11,299 to add a special-education aide, $4,500 for summer counselors, $7,000 in scheduling software, $75,000 for support vehicles, and $75,000 to upgrade communication systems at three district schools Hartford, Weinberg and Galveston. The school board is expected to adopt the 1996-97 budget in June. good," said Clark, pointing out that state legislators only recently approved additional funds for current-year funding. "We were all convinced it was the best thing to do for kids." The district budget committee also recommended that teachers receive a minimum 2 percent raise with an extra 1 percent for classified and certified staff members who have reached the top of the pay scale.

The committee also advised that administrators receive a 2 percent raise. The budget committee also recommended that the district pursue alterna override, which was approved by voters in May 1994, is not used. The override allows the school district to increase its operational budget by 10 percent of the funds provided by the state based on student enrollment. "There was a whole list of things we needed to add and we couldn't; imagine going off the override," committee member Karen Clark said. Committee members also were worried about not having $870,000 in a budget year when state funds are still in doubt.

"We didn't think the timing was very 1996-97 school year. .1 It the school board tollows the commit tee's recommendations, Chandler homeowners will be taxed an extra 97 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Art Thomason Committee members say the quality of education would suffer if the five-year.