Good morning, Chandler. Highs of 111 to 116 are expected Tuesday through Thursday under a major heat risk, so run errands early and stay out of the midday sun.
- 🏫 Chandler Unified superintendent Frank Narducci retires after a 44-year career in the district.
- 🏭 Downtown this week. A Love Island watch party, a Wednesday run club, and Sunday industry night.
- 📅 The week. A free family movie matinee, an open mic, and three Saturday farmers markets.
- 🏠 Property beat. Chandler's median sale price slipped to $520,000 in May.
- 🎓 From the schools. Casteel COLT Day sets schedule pickup for July 13.
- 🎟️ Around the Valley. The Indiana Fever visit Phoenix, plus Dear Evan Hansen and T.I.
A 44-year district career comes to a close
Frank Narducci is retiring after 44 years with Chandler Unified, capping a career that ran from classroom to the superintendent's office of Arizona's largest suburban district.
Key facts:
- Who: Frank Narducci, Chandler Unified School District superintendent.
- What: Retiring after a 44-year career in the district.
- Scope: CUSD runs 40,000-plus students across six high schools: Hamilton, Basha, Chandler HS, Perry, Casteel, and Arizona College Prep.
- Context: His tenure closed with a run on workforce-development programs that tie CUSD to the city's tech and finance employers.
A superintendent change touches every family in the district, not one campus. The governing board's search and timeline are the thing to watch as the new school year approaches.
The week
Monday, July 6
Tuesday, July 7
- 🍔 Chompie's Summer Family Nights. Food trucks and family fun at the deli. Details.
Wednesday, July 8
- 🎸 Live at Cork & Craft: Chad Wilson Bailey. A singer-songwriter with a six-decade songbook. Details.
Thursday, July 9
- 🎤 Powerful Voices Open Mic. Music, comedy, and poetry on one bill. Details.
Friday, July 10
- 🎺 The Originals, a Reel Big Fish tribute. SanTan Gardens Brewery, with food trucks. Details.
Saturday, July 11
- 🥕 Downtown Chandler Farmers Market. Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. Produce, artisan goods, and live music. Details.
- 🍅 Merchant Square Farmers Market. Every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. out front of Merchant Square Antiques. Details.
- 🌽 Summer Gilbert Farmers Market. Now running at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. Details.
Also on all summer: Harkins Summer Movie Fun at Chandler Fashion Center, eight kids' movies over eight weeks for $8, running through July 24. Details.
Property beat
🏠 Chandler's median sale price was $520,000 in May, down 5% from a year ago. Homes sold in a median 49 days, with 293 new listings and 303 sales on the month. Details.
🏭 Tech & Downtown Chandler
What's on around the historic core this week:
📺 Love Island Watch Party at The Uncommon. Tuesday, July 7, 7 p.m. in Downtown Chandler. Details.
🍦 Popsicles for America. Tuesday, July 7, 11 a.m. at 125 E. Commonwealth Ave. A free downtown cool-down. Details.
🚗 History Bites: A Brief History of the Family Road Trip. Tuesday, July 7, noon at the Chandler Museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Drive. Details.
🏃 Run Club at QuartHaus. Wednesday, July 8, 7:30 p.m. from Downtown Chandler. A good standing excuse to beat the heat after sundown. Details.
🍸 Industry Night at Rebel & Rogue. Sunday, July 12, at the Social Hall. Details.
From the schools
🎓 Casteel COLT Day. Casteel High sets student schedule pickup and parking passes for July 13, the first back-to-school marker on the CUSD calendar. Details.
Around the Valley
A few picks worth leaving Chandler for this week.
🏀 Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever. Thursday, July 9, 7 p.m. at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The Fever are the league's biggest road draw this season. Tickets.
🎭 Dear Evan Hansen. Wednesday, July 8, 7:30 p.m. at Phoenix Theatre's Hormel Theatre. The Tony-winning musical in an intimate room. Tickets.
🎤 T.I. Wednesday, July 8, 8 p.m. at The Van Buren in Phoenix. Tickets.
🎸 Wavves. Tuesday, July 7, 8 p.m. at Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix. Surf-punk in a small club. Tickets.