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Slide show of our pictures below!

New Boys & Girls club opens Nov. 16 in Chandler

New Boys & Girls club opens Nov. 16 in Chandler

by Craig Younger - Oct. 23, 2009 11:11 AM
Special for The Republic
 
 
On Nov. 16, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley and Chandler will officially dedicate the new 32,000-square-foot club that will help serve the recreational needs of Chandler youth.


The facility for the Chandler Compadre branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley is at 300 E. Chandler Blvd. It includes two gymnasiums, meeting rooms, multipurpose rooms, teen center, game room, arts room, office space and shared space for other non-profit groups and the world's largest Intel Computer Clubhouse.

The celebration is open to the public and begins at 5 p.m. A dedication ceremony will feature Chandler Mayor Boyd W. Dunn, representatives of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley and the Chandler Compadres.

The festivities, which will include entertainment presented by members of the club, tours of the facility, and food and beverages, conclude by 8 p.m.

The Compadre branch has been at its current location since 1983. The site was home to Seton Catholic High School from 1953 to 1983.

Dunn said the new club "is the culmination of years of hard work and the fulfillment of many promises to the children of Chandler. Every member of the community who has supported this organization over the years, especially those who voted to build this facility, deserve a pat on the back, and I hope they all have an opportunity to visit and see the fruits of their labor."

"The people of Chandler have built the children of their community a facility that exceeds all our hopes and dreams," said Ramon Elias, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley. "We could not succeed without the support of the city of Chandler and our partners, including the Compadres and Intel. And we are committed to using this facility to continue to build the character of the children in our care and give them the support they need to realize their own dreams."

In keeping with the city's new Green Building Program, the facility will be certified through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.


http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/2009/10/23/20091023cr-boysgirls1023.html#

(Please click on the link to the article and post a comment about how wonderful this is, or read the comments and comment back to the ignorant man who commented negatively about the club and kids and racist comments)

Library

My new secret obsession...... Since my  computer has been broken I have become obsessed with the LIBRARY!! And to take it a step further, reading and listening to books on CD. Yesterday I went to the library 2 times! I know it sounds crazy, but think back to being young when you were in elementary school. Do you remember when your class would go to the library and you'd be able to pick out books. It is such a great feeling!! I love to browse the titles and see what new books are there, are what classics are sitting on the shelves. The library even has a certain classic smell to it!! I just love it!!!


Even Carrie Bradshaw talks about the love of the library! The idea of the book has a whole life of it's own, someone somewhere has had this book before it's sorta cool to think about!


I just love it at the library, and I don't understand why anyone would want to BUY a book when you could go check out a book from the library for free!! I've started a new series, the in death series by J.D. Robb aka Nora Roberts. I'm obsessed with reading these books and since last Tuesday, I have now read/listened (depending on what copy the library had available) The first 4 books in the series!!  You figure, I just saved $45.00 alone in "renting" these books!!


Oh, and I have a new secret love of my life, Rourke... I know he's out there somewhere, Irish accent and all......

Man of the year

This is a picture of my father and our family (missing Bethany) after he was awarded the Man of the Year by Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. www.wehelpwomen.com

The award was given by the East Valley branch of the organization. They have an East Valley Executive Council who decided that they would like to begin a new award in the East Valley for a Man and Woman of the Year.

Their criteria included the following:
1. Resident or business is located in the East Valley
2. Has significantly contributed to helping women in the East Valley through (minimum of 2 of these criteria must be met):
a. Demonstrated outstanding leadership and vision;
b. Introduced new and innovative ways to assist women;
c. Committed significant volunteer time to a cause that supports women within the last year;
d. Provided significant monetary investment to FSWF or another cause that supports women;
e. Served as the spokesperson for helping women;
f. Instituted policy change through advocacy;
g. Created collaborative partnerships to accomplish goals.

It was a great event and thanks to Angie C. at work, I was able to attend!! :)