Dec. 15 - Jan. 18, 2008 www.SanTanSun.com Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler and our neighboring communities
The true spirit of the season
Clock ticking on
tax planning
by Jennifer Hesse including self-employed and home-
Before ringing in the New Year, based fi rms.
SanTan Sun area residents can take
advantage of year-end tax planning Beware legal hang-ups
strategies and ring up the savings on Major deadlines are still a few months
their 2007 returns. away: corporate returns are due Mar. 17
Getting organized now helps and personal returns are due Apr. 15.
taxpayers prepare themselves for This year, early birds may need to curb
the better deductions available and their eagerness to fi le returns beginning
avoid IRS and Arizona Department of Jan. 14 if the IRS decides to delay the
Revenue notices and audits, says CPA start of tax season because of pending
Dean Johnson of Southern Chandler. Congressional legislation regarding the
“Those who procrastinate the longest Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). If the
are traditionally those that overlook start date is pushed to mid-February,
STSN photo by Gordon Murray
potential deductions,” says Johnson, millions of refunds worth an estimated
ROOM FOR JOY: Ann Schrooten of Fox Crossing and her son, Jack, who has congenital muscular
who with his wife, Linda, handles tax $87 billion could be delayed, according
dystrophy, see his room for the fi rst time after Room for Joy redecorated and transformed it. The
complete story and more photos in the Jan. 19, 2008 issue of the SanTan Sun News.
preparation and planning for individuals
and small to medium sized businesses,
See Tax planning Page 10
Despite fears, Sepulveda heading
immunization rates stable
to Iraq again
Maricopa County below national average
All hope for smoother process this time around
by Natalie Morris by Natalie Morris
Though there is some increased Chandler Council member Martin Sepulveda, a
buzz among SanTan Sun area parents commander in the Navy Reserves, recently notifi ed the
regarding possible negative impact of Mayor and City Council that he will be deployed to Iraq
vaccines, U.S. childhood immunization in the near future. Details about the timing and nature
rates for routinely recommended of his deployment have not been made public, but
vaccines have stayed at or close to according to Mayor Boyd Dunn, Sepulveda shared that
record levels, according to 2006 data his orders are for a period of one year.
released in August 2007 by the Centers “He has told me that he has received orders to be
for Disease Control and Prevention recalled,” says Dunn. “He will be going to Iraq, but we
(CDC).
TOT SHOT: The controversy continues over
have not received the orders and he seems to be not
“Most American children are fully children’s vaccinations, although nearly three- letting us know what exactly is happening.”
vaccinated according to the basic
fourths of Arizona’s youth are fully vaccinated.
When contacted for a statement, Sepulveda declined
recommendations of the CDC and the in-depth comment to the SanTan Sun News, but did
Martin Sepulveda
American Academy of Pediatrics,” says however, is that only 71 percent of share a few brief thoughts.
Renée Kampfe, certifi ed pediatric nurse children in Arizona have received all of “At this time it would be inappropriate for me to comment on what may
practitioner with Pendleton Pediatrics
in Chandler. “What is of local concern, See Immunization Page 6 See Sepulveda Page 12
Teen “draws” on skills to teach art therapy
by Sharon Schnakenburg above and beyond those most adults possess.
While becoming a famous artist may be in the “Laura has the most phenomenal realistic drawing
works, for now, one local Southern Chandler artist is capabilities I have ever seen in a student her age. She
content with where her craft is taking her. is already at a level of representation that most adult
Laura Wasley, a 14-year-old Santan Junior High artists can only aspire to,” Dafonte explains.
eighth-grader, has artistic abilities that might make Having recently asked Laura to draw a portrait of
even an adult green with envy. The creative teen, who her daughter from a photo, Dafonte was amazed at
often receives requests to draw portraits of friends and the results.
teachers’ families, is about to become Mercy Gilbert “When she presented me with the fi nal artwork,
Medical Center’s fi rst art therapy program artist. I was speechless and nearly brought to tears. She
STSN photo
Key to the equation are Laura’s drawing skills,
ART IN ACTION: Mercy Gilbert Medical Center’s fi rst art therapy
which her school art teacher, Dara Dafonte, says are See Artist Page 14 program artist is 14-year-old Laura Wasley.
Wedding
Christmas Eve
MORE
Chandler
Ace
Walk
CNLL
services abound
GOOD STUFF
Jazz Fest is the
downtown
registers
Business Pages 23-28
headliners
holiday
in Jan.
for 2
Opinion Pages 30-31
set divisions
place
SAVE MONEY
Things to do Page 32
Coupons Inside
Where to eat Pages 34-35
IN A+ SECTION:
Neighbors, Clip it!, Youth,
Community Business Neighbors Clip it! Youth Spirituality
AZ Arts, Spirituality,
Page 4 Page 23 Page A+1 Center spread Page A+12 Pages A+25-29
Directory, Classifieds
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