Christmas season officially begins today in Chandler

SANTAN SUN NEWS STAFF It may already seem like the holiday season, but Chandler will make it official tonight, Dec. 7, with the annual lighting of the tumbleweed tree and the Parade of Lights at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. The Parade...

State’s first organ transplant games in Chandler today

By Kevin Reagan Staff Writer Michael Scozzaro’s multiple kidney transplants have not inhibited his competitive streak. The longtime Chandler resident has won several medals over the years by competing in Olympic-style games...

He fled Soviet Union, now gives Chandler ‘bees-ness’

By Kevin Reagan Staff Writer A swarm of buzzing bees sounds almost like soothing music to Stan Moukhtarov. The political refugee has had a turbulent journey the last 24 years – fleeing the crumbling Soviet Union and adjusting...

Alice Cooper reforms band for Christmas Pudding

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Staff Writer Alice Cooper has been embedded into the Valley since he moved here in the late 1960s, but it doesn’t mean his heart isn’t in his home state of Michigan. “Go Lions!” he exclaims as...

Synchronized skating team a first for Arizona

By Zach Alvira Sports Editor It’s a sport that has rarely ever been seen in Arizona, and one that has never had a team representing the Grand Canyon State. That is, until now. The Ice Denettes, a synchronized skating team made...

Chandler bookworm fights to keep her eyesight

By Kevin Reagan Staff Writer Megan Kiriakidis has shelves of books scattered around her Chandler home. The 21-year-old has been an avid reader since she was young – starting the “Harry Potter” books when she was in first...

Father, son celebrate Serrano’s with colorful mural

By Kevin Reagan Staff Writer Noe “Such Styles” Baez used to do his art in the dark of night – hidden from public view and guided only by streaks of moonlight. His brand of graffiti art was not socially accepted back when he...

Mesa banned her tacos, so she’s in Chandler

By Kevin Reagan Staff Writer Alma Kerby never thought she’d be able to open her own brick-and-mortar taco shop. She had already been quite successful selling her special “drowning tacos” out of a food truck on the street...

Business is sweet for Chandler chocolatier

By Kevin Reagan Staff Writer Something sweet was missing in Aurelie Nguyen’s life when her family relocated from Canada to Arizona a few years ago. “When we moved here, we couldn’t find something we were used to like ice...

ImprovMANIA growing in size and impact

By Kevin Reagan Staff Writer ImprovMANIA is doubling in size and adding some room for its growing number of students and audience members. The downtown Chandler comedy venue on Arizona Avenue recently made a deal to take over an...